List of Idioms B, page 15

bricks and mortar / bricks and clicks

An established trading company (office/shop) is referred to as a 'brick-and-mortar' business.
'Click companies' refer to internet-based operations.
Companies which do both are called 'bricks and clicks'.
"Click businesses are usually more flexible than brick-and-mortar operations."
 

(a) bridge too far

A bridge too far is an action, goal or aim which is too ambitious and can potentially lead to difficulty or failure.
"Alex is clever, but in my opinion taking the higher exam would be a bridge too far for him.”
 

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

A person who is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is very enthusiastic and full of energy.
"Gary was fantastic. He arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 7am and worked with us all day."
 

bring the house down

If you bring the house down, you give a very successful performance.
"If Charlie sings like that on Saturday, he'll bring the house down."
 

bring something/nothing to the table

If you participate in negotiations and bring nothing to the table, you have nothing of interest to offer the other side.
"We'll never reach an agreement if we don't all bring something to the table."
 

bring someone to heel

If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner, you bring them to heel.
"The boy had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed to bring him to heel."
 

bring up the rear

Someone who brings up the rear is the last person in a group of people who are walking or running.
"The pupils walked calmly down the corridor, with the teacher bringing up the rear."
 

in broad daylight

If something happens in broad daylight, it takes place in the clear light of day when everyone can see what's going on.
"His car was stolen in front of the bank, in broad daylight, and apparently there was not one witness!"
 

(as) broad as it's long

This expression means that there is no real difference which alternative is chosen.
"Take the high-speed train, or fly and take a taxi? It's as broad as it's long."
 

broad strokes

If something is described or defined with/in broad strokes, it is outlined in a very general way, without any details.
"In a few broad strokes he summed up the situation."
 

(a) broken watch is right twice a day

This expression means that even someone who is usually wrong can still be right once in a while.
"I don’t usually trust Jack’s intuitions, but I think he’s right this time! As the saying goes: “a broken watch is right twice a day”!
 

(as) brown as a berry

To say that someone is as brown as a berry means that they are very tanned.
"Judy came back from her holiday as brown as a berry."
 

browned off

If you are browned off, you are bored, fed up or disheartened.
"Tom is browned off with his job."
 

have a brush with something

When you have a brush with something, such as the law, you encounter or experience it briefly.
"He had a brush with the law for speeding a few years ago, but he has had a clean record ever since."
 

the bubble has burst

To say that means that the success of an idea, a product or a situation has suddenly stopped.
"The video game was a phenomenal success but the bubble has burst."
 

pass the buck

If a person passes the buck, they make someone else deal with something that they should take responsibility or blame for, when they are unwilling or incapable of doing it themselves.
"Sam takes the easy way out. Whenever a problem arises, he immediately passes the buck!"