bucket list
A bucket list is a list of things a person would like to do or achieve before a certain age or before dying.
"I have never visited the pyramids of Egypt but they're on my bucket list."
kick the bucket
To kick the bucket is a lighthearted way of talking about death.
"He will inherit when his grandfather kicks the bucket!"
buckle down
If you buckle down to something, you give it your full attention and start to work seriously at it in order to obtain results.
"Eva will have to buckle down (to her revision work) if she wants to pass the exam."
nip something in the bud
If you nip a problem or an unacceptable situation in the bud, you stop it at an early stage, before it develops or becomes worse.
"He wanted to be a clown, but his parents soon nipped that idea in the bud."
build bridges
If a person builds bridges between opposing groups, they help them to cooperate and understand each other better.
"A mediator is trying to build bridges between the local community and the owners of the new plant."
take the bull by the horns
To take the bull by the horns means that a person decides to act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem.
"When the argument turned into a fight, the bar owner took the bull by the horns and called the police."
bulldoze someone into doing something
A person who is bulldozed into doing something is forced to do it, especially by being intimidated or pressured in some way.
"A property developer bulldozed my grandfather into selling his house “
a bundle of nerves
If you describe someone as a bundle of nerves, you mean that they are very nervous, tense or worried.
"My son is doing his driving test today. Needless to say he's a bundle of nerves!"
the burden of proof
The burden of proof is the necessity imposed by the law to prove that what one says is true.
"The burden of proof lies with the claimant."
burn your bridges
If you burn your bridges, you do something that will be impossible to rectify in the future.
"If you refuse the offer, be careful not to burn your bridges by insulting them. They may make a better proposal later."
burn the candle at both ends
If you burn the candle at both ends, you exhaust yourself by doing too much, especially going to bed late and getting up early.
"Scott looks exhausted - I'll bet he's been burning the candle at both ends lately."
burn your fingers / get your fingers burnt
If you burn your fingers (or get your fingers burnt), you suffer financially as a result of foolish behaviour.
"Jack got his fingers burnt playing on the stock market."
on the back burner
If you put a project or issue on the back burner, you decide to deal with it at a later date because you do not consider it to be that urgent or important.
"When Julie was offered a promotion, she put her MBA plans on the back burner."
the burning question
What everyone is asking, and what we all want to know about, is called the burning question.
"Who leaked the information? That's the burning question!"