| bite the bullet /baɪt ðə ˈbʊlɪt/ | do something difficult you have been avoiding | I finally bit the bullet and went to the dentist. |
| the tip of the iceberg /ðə ˌtɪp əv ði ˈaɪsbɜːɡ/ | a small visible part of a much bigger problem | The broken window is just the tip of the iceberg — the whole house needs repairs. |
| don't count your chickens /dəʊnt kaʊnt jɔː ˈtʃɪkɪnz/ | don't be sure of success before it happens | We're winning 2–0, but don't count your chickens — there's still half an hour. |
| bite off more than you can chew /baɪt ɒf mɔː ðən juː kən tʃuː/ | try to do more than you can manage | Three clubs and a part-time job? You've bitten off more than you can chew. |
| sit on the fence /sɪt ɒn ðə ˈfens/ | avoid choosing a side | Stop sitting on the fence — do you want pizza or sushi? |
| pull your weight /pʊl jɔː ˈweɪt/ | do your fair share of the work | If everyone pulls their weight, we'll finish the project on time. |
| grey area /ˌɡreɪ ˈeəriə/ | something that is not clearly right or wrong | Downloading old games is a legal grey area. |
| ballpark figure /ˈbɔːlpɑːk ˌfɪɡə/ | a rough estimate | I don't need the exact price — just give me a ballpark figure. |
| at the end of your tether /ət ði ˌend əv jɔː ˈteðə/ | having no patience or energy left | After three nights of noisy neighbours, I was at the end of my tether. |
| burn your bridges /bɜːn jɔː ˈbrɪdʒɪz/ | do something that makes it impossible to go back | Don't leave on bad terms — never burn your bridges. |