Slang/Idiomatic Terms

A state of low priority in which something is temporarily ignored or given less attention so that more important things can be dealt with first

We had to put the website redesign on the back burner while we focused on launching the new product.

A person who is considered a failure or embarrassment by their family or group because they behave differently from others

My uncle was the black sheep of the family because he dropped out of school and never kept a steady job.

A product, service, or part of a business that consistently makes a lot of money with little effort

The company's smartphone app became a cash cow, earning millions of dollars every month.

A person who is not well known but who surprises people by being more successful or talented than expected

Nobody expected her to win the competition, but she turned out to be a dark horse and took first place.

A person or thing that looks exactly like someone or something else

My new classmate is a dead ringer for a famous actor — everyone does a double take when they first meet him.

An invisible barrier that prevents certain groups of people, especially women, from reaching the highest positions in a company or society

She worked harder than anyone in the office but kept hitting the glass ceiling whenever she applied for senior positions.

A situation or topic that is very controversial or difficult to deal with and that people prefer to avoid

The question of raising taxes was a political hot potato that none of the candidates wanted to discuss directly.

A situation in which someone, often an academic or intellectual, lives separated from the real problems and difficulties of ordinary life

The professor's ideas sounded great in theory, but critics said he was living in an ivory tower and did not understand everyday people's struggles.

A person in an official position, such as a politician, who has lost power or will soon leave their job and therefore has little influence

After losing the election, the president became a lame duck and struggled to pass any new laws.

A person who behaves in an unpredictable and uncontrolled way that may cause problems for others

The new manager was a loose cannon who made important decisions without telling anyone on the team.

A person who was someone's romantic partner in the past

She was surprised to run into an old flame at the supermarket and felt a little nervous talking to him again.

Something that takes attention away from the real issue or leads people to a wrong conclusion

The detective realized that the broken window was just a red herring and the thief had actually used the back door.

A person, idea, or thing that people respect so much that they refuse to question or criticize it

Free parking at the office was a sacred cow that no manager dared to take away from the employees.

A simple and perfect solution to a complicated problem

The new software is helpful, but the manager warned the team not to treat it as a silver bullet for all their customer service problems.

A piece of evidence that proves without any doubt that someone is guilty or that something happened

The email the journalist discovered was the smoking gun that proved the director had been lying to the public.

A weak or false version of someone's argument that is easy to attack, used to make it seem like you have defeated the real argument

Instead of addressing her actual proposal, he set up a straw man by pretending she wanted to close the entire department.

A task or request that is very difficult to achieve or fulfill

Finishing the entire report by tomorrow morning is a tall order, but I will do my best to get it done.

A person who ruins other people's fun or excitement by being negative or complaining

Don't be such a wet blanket — come dancing with us and enjoy the party!

Something that is expensive to maintain but has little or no practical use or value

The new stadium turned into a white elephant because it was too costly to run and rarely used.

A person or thing whose behavior or effect is unpredictable and could change a situation in any direction

The weather is the wild card in our outdoor wedding plans — everything depends on whether it rains or not.