1. Comparing two totally different things
   Going to the grocery store
2. Visiting the sick
   Snooping around

To "compare apples and oranges" is an impossible feat since the two fruits are obviously different from each other. Thus, this common phrase means to make a futile comparison of two totally different things.

1. The handyman is not good.
   Photography is dead.
2. Visuals are more effective than words.
   A mailman is coming.

When "a picture paints a thousand words," it means that one singular visual alone, such as a painting or a photograph, can say much more than mere words convey. That's because the visual can prompt more thoughts, therefore more words, so it can "say" or state many more things.

1. Super broke
   Be in deep debt
2. Just inherited money
   Financially the same

To "break even" means that you didn't earn any money in a financial process or transaction, but you also didn't lose any. So in a way, that's not such a bad thing. But on the other hand, it's also not a good thing!

1. The food went bad.
   Someone entered the room.
2. You lost money.
   Accidentally shared private information

When you "spill the beans," that means you accidentally just shared some kind of information that should have remained private. It's also one way of goading someone to talk, to spill the beans, meaning you want them to share a secret or information you don't know yet.

1. A hungry one
   An unpleasant one
2. An unknown one
   A happy one

"Curiosity killed the cat" implies that any kind of deeply inquisitive move or gesture could lead someone to a very unpleasant, often tricky situation. The trickiness could lead one intro deep trouble, or even dangerous circumstances. It's actually a form of discouragement for very curious people.

1. Taking a shower
   In big trouble!
2. Overeating
   A budding chef

To be "in hot water" means you are currently in some kind of problematic situation, so much so that it could lead to disastrous consequences. It's like imitating boiling water, and getting in contact with this liquid in this state is not ideal, ever, for any human, at any time.

1. You don't have enough money on which live
   You can get germs.
2. You're always sick.
   You're not getting out of the house more often.

When someone is living a "hand to mouth" kind of existence, this implies that they only have sufficient money to buy very specific and immediate needs, and once spent, they don't have anything in excess. There's a form of financial insecurity going on there.

1. Be more proactive in thought.
   Get some exercise in your life.
2. Respect your elders.
   Don't worry until you reach a certain point.

Unnecessary worrying causes stress as we all know, especially if one is fretting about a situation that hasn't really arrived, or a about problem that has not yet manifested. The common phrase, "cross that bridge when you get there," means don't worry about it yet.

1. Avoid working like the plague.
   Don't covet your colleague's wife.
2. Don't overlook the small stuff that can cause big problems.
   Don't speak about him when he's not present.

When you get a bit sloppy or careless in preparing something, you may tend to overlook some small matter that could cause you big headaches to repair later on. This is essentially what "the devil is in the details" means and pertains to being thorough so as to avoid bigger headaches later on.

1. Overcommitted
   Choked
2. Insulted the chef
   Entered the kitchen without permission

To "bite off more than you can chew" implies that you overcommitted to a task, job or duty that you thought was manageable at the beginning, only to discover later on that it's a rather daunting task. It's a tricky situation to be in.

1. Sleep on it.
   Burn the midnight oil.
2. Relax and see where things go.
   Wash your hands.

When someone advises you to just "go with the flow," it means relax and let the current take you wherever it will lead. The current is not literally pertaining to a body of water, but it's about circumstances, opportunities, or something similar that is yet to unfold, so just go with it.

1. Any way that makes the relationship more interesting
   Call it quits
2. It's impossible.
   Cook meals together

"To spice things up" means to make something more interesting, more exciting, or more vibrant. It's like when one is cooking a dish, it could be more flavorful by adding spices for extra seasoning, making it more delicious. Life can get spiced up, too, in this sense.

1. Satisfied
   Dead
2. Betrayed
   Honored

"To stab someone in the back" essentially means to betray them, big time. It's irritating if you find yourself being betrayed by your peers or colleagues, but it's even more painful if you get stabbed by someone you truly care for, like a friend or relative.

1. You're into intermittent fasting.
   You're deeply thinking about a serious thing.
2. You feel lightheaded.
   You're not scared of what's about to come.

"Food for thought" is a common phrase we often use, and it pertains to something that we are deeply thinking about, or something we're seriously considering. This usually means a major game changer in life is making you decide on something huge.

1. Enter at your own risk.
   Beware of the price.
2. Unwrap your gifts.
   Get straight to the point.

To "cut right to the chase," a person needs to stop meandering and talking endlessly without reaching any point or conclusion. This common phrase suggests that the speaker should just get straight to the point of what they're trying to say.

1. Don't be egotistical.
   You stink.
2. Be cheerful and stay positive.
   Leave others alone.

If someone tells you to "keep your chin up," it's meant to be a cheerful and positive encouragement. This is usually uttered whenever someone looks downtrodden, sad or defeated, like their head is always bowed down in shame. So keeping the chin up means overcoming that negative feeling.

1. Being a glutton
   Being a beggar
2. Being a spoiled brat
   Being rich

To be "born with a silver spoon in your mouth" means that you come from a very rich and affluent family background. It probably alludes to the fact that expensive cutlery is used by upperclass people, and perhaps they were made of expensive silver back in the day.

1. Doing some illegal logging
   Putting dogs to sleep
2. Making a misguided decision
   Carrying someone else's bag

For someone to be "barking at the wrong tree" means they are being hugely mistaken about something yet they still go on with the wrong lead. It can also pertain to accusing someone of wrongdoing, even if all evidence points to someone else.

1. Suitors with gifts
   Romantic gestures
2. Pillow talk whispers
   Sweet food items, like desserts and candy

Someone who has a "sweet tooth" will always be looking for something sweet to eat. It doesn't matter if it's a dessert, snack, or just some small candies people bring with them; they just have to have some sweets sometimes. These are the people who eat desserts first before meals.

1. The person who heard the information first
   The media
2. The zookeeper
   The main source of the information

If you want to verify a piece of information, or if you want to hear something that needs to be confirmed, then you are advised to hear it "straight from the horse's mouth." This means you have to hear it uttered or have it verified directly by the main source of the information, and no one else.

1. Avoid facing a particular issue
   Going to the beach
2. Sleeping on the sofa
   Looking for a new job

To "bury your head in the sand" implies that there is something you're not trying to address, but it needs to be addressed. It could be that you're avoiding to face the situation or evading a particular issue. It also shows how you're going about and pretending that the issue doesn't exist for you.

1. Clean up your desk.
   Wait for the rain to stop.
2. Call your friend immediately.
   Wait for things to calm down.

When something big or exciting just happened, or if you received some big news, the first instinct is to do something in reaction to that big stimulus. But you should first "let the dust settle," meaning give things time to calm down for a bit, before taking the next step or before making decisions.

1. Cry
   Heavier, bigger or more serious moves
2. Quit the race.
   Go back to square one.

"Drastic times call for drastic measures" means you have run out of options available for you in a certain situation, and there is no other recourse left but to take some desperate actions that have heavier, bigger or more serious moves. Even careful planning is thrown out during such times.

1. Losing money
   Doing great
2. A start-up
   Not earning money

To be "in the red" signifies that one is losing money, to the point that there is no money being earned while there are expenses being paid at the same time. This could also mean that the money coming in is less than what's going out.

1. Theater tickets that are very expensive
   A task that a specific person could do, if forced enough
2. An X-ray and cast
   Money

If you are good at convincing people to do something, whether it's for your benefit or not, then you are essentially "twisting their arm," so to speak. It's a bit like forcing someone to do a specific task, and you're really good at persuading them to agree with you.

1. Some kind of ability you had is fading.
   You should call more often.
2. Hide from someone
   You sleep a lot.

When you used to be really good at doing something or making something work, then you find yourself failing at it lately, that means you're "losing your touch." It could be applied to the lost ability to do some small, mundane things, or the bigger life-affecting ones.

1. Write someone a letter.
   Dress nicely.
2. Go to the farm.
   Settle one's debt.

You need "to pony up" when someone is already asking back for the money you owe them. This common phrase could also be applied to other things that one needs to settle, not just strictly debts. It could pertain to paying someone's share of things, like bills or rent.

1. Being tardy
   Gambling a lot
2. Showing that they lack talent in another department
   Gossiping endlessly about people at the office

When someone advises you "don't give up the day job," that means you somehow lack talent or skill in doing something, so you should not pursue that thing professionally, since you won't earn a living from it. It's actually meant as an insult, but it could also be meant as a half-joke.

1. You're under the sun.
   Things happen once in a blue moon.
2. No disturbance will mar an event or plan.
   Climate change is upon us.

When you're planning something, like a meet-up with a friend, and they say that it will happen "rain or shine," that means no disturbance will ruin the plan. Therefore, there will be no cancellations, no matter whatr happens.

1. Buy some groceries.
   Practice good grooming.
2. Win their favor.
   Ask for a raise.

If you need to win someone's favor, then you can "butter up" this person. This means you will do your best to get them to your side. You also butter up someone if you want them to give you access to where you want to go, or if you want them to afford you some special treatment.

1. Making it rain
   Staring at the sky all the time
2. Doing things that lead nowhere
   Counting chickens before they are hatched

When someone is "chasing rainbows," that means they are trying to do things that really lead them nowhere. It is often applied to pursuing things in line with a personal dream or goal, but the efforts are just futile for some reason.

1. Being successful
   Causing trouble
2. Either of the two above
   None of the above

For someone who's currently "making waves," that could be interpreted in two ways. The negative aspect is when you're making waves by causing trouble or being disruptive in a bad way. The positive aspect is when you seem to be doing such a good job that you're making a big impression in the industry.

1. You're burning the midnight oil.
   You judge a book by its cover.
2. You're the greatest!
   You're always hungry.

If someone or something is referred to as being "the best thing since sliced bread," then that someone or something must be truly awesome and great. This phrase might be referring to how slicers "refined" our way of consuming bread.

1. Has a sweet tooth
   Glutton
2. Intelligent
   Lazy

When someone tells you that you're a "smart cookie," that means you are intelligent. But this common phrase could also be uttered as a sarcastic comment, which can also border on insult. It's best to see what the real intention is within the entire conversation.

1. The event is over.
   Someone collapsed.
2. People are escaping.
   They want a refund.

Whenever a show or event is over, the host sometimes says "Elvis has left the building" to signify its end. Elvis here refers to Elvis Presley, of course, since people used to shout for an encore after his performances. An announcer would say this phrase to make Elvis fans leave the venue.