WordValeVocabulary pack
Headline Expressions
- kick the can down the roadto delay dealing with a problem
- move the goalpoststo change the rules unfairly once progress is made
- a hard sellsomething difficult to persuade people to accept
- back to the drawing boardtime to start planning again after a failure
- the elephant in the rooman obvious problem everyone avoids mentioning
- a perfect storma rare combination of factors making things very bad
- a double-edged swordsomething with both good and bad effects
- the writing on the wallclear signs that something bad will happen
- a tipping pointthe moment when change becomes unstoppable
- a wake-up callan event that alerts people to a problem
- in the crosshairstargeted for criticism or attack
- under firebeing strongly criticized
- on thin icein a risky situation
- draw a line in the sandto set a limit that must not be crossed
- throw cold water onto discourage an idea
- a slippery slopea step that may lead to worse outcomes
- a level playing fielda situation that is fair for everyone
- moving the needlemaking a noticeable difference
- a game changersomething that transforms a situation
- a race to the bottomcompetition that lowers standards
- double downto commit even more strongly to a position
- walk backto retract or soften a statement
- pass the buckto shift responsibility to someone else
- sit on the fenceto avoid taking a side
- a red linea limit that must not be crossed
- a smoking gunclear evidence of wrongdoing
- a seat at the tablea role in making decisions
- a wild cardan unpredictable factor
- dead in the waterfailed with no chance of progress
- an uphill battlea struggle against difficult odds
- the buck stops hereresponsibility lies with me
- rock the boatto cause trouble by challenging a situation
- a shot across the bowa warning of more serious action
- a band-aid solutiona quick fix that does not solve the real problem
- weather the stormto get through a difficult period
- turn the tideto reverse a trend
- on the chopping blockat risk of being cut or eliminated
- a lightning roda person or thing that attracts criticism
- a political footballan issue argued over for political gain
- a silver lininga hopeful aspect of a bad situation
- stem the tideto stop something from getting worse
- a dark horsean unexpected contender
- the court of public opinionhow the public judges something
- in the pipelinebeing planned or developed
- par for the coursenormal or expected, though not good
- a step changea significant improvement or change
- a U-turna complete reversal of policy
- a war of wordsa heated public argument
- ruffle feathersto annoy or upset people
- the jury is still outno decision or conclusion has been reached
- fly under the radarto avoid attention
- blindsidedsurprised by something unexpected and unwelcome
- a vote of no confidencea formal sign of lost trust in a leader
- all bets are offthe outcome is now unpredictable
- go back to square oneto start again from the beginning
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