Book of Idioms, Episode 14

"Hide the children" is a colorful expression that refers to protecting children from seeing ugly, obscene, or gruesome things. As an idiom, it refers to something more abstract, like politics.
Ex.: "This election season will be very ugly. My advice: hide the children. It's not going to be pretty!"

To "send someone packing" is to make that person leave. One packs luggage when departing.
Example: "Secret Service agents were sent packing from Colombia when they were discovered engaged in unprofessional activities." This is also frequently used as a sports metaphor.

To stay on track, or keep on the right track, is to continue to make positive progress.
Example: World leaders hope that the global economy will stay on track towards a strong recovery.

the beginning of the end:
- the time when something that has been good starts to be less good or to end
* In this generation, the children understand Navajo but don't speak it, and that's the beginning of the end.

 To "dig something" is slang for liking/ enjoying something.

been there, done that (seen the movie, bought the T-shirt) Or been there, seen that, done that :
- (spoken) to say that you are no longer interested in doing something because you already have a lot of experience with it
* "I'd like to live in the country." "Not me. I grew up in the middle of nowhere- been there, done that, don't ever want to go back."

"Get a grip!" is a phrase used to urge someone to calm themselves, to get control of themselves, to cease having nervous and frightened reactions.
Example: (UK) Conservative MPs unhappy about the way David Cameron was running the Government had been told to "get a grip". (No, the MP's were NOT happy.)

To "shed light" on a subject is to draw attention to it.
Example: "The report shed light on the current state of the oil industry." This means the state of the oil industry became more clear as a result of the report. It's just an example of usage.

be loaded for bear:
- to be ready, eager, and completely prepared to do something
* Three hours before the game started, the Cardinals fans were loaded for bear.

To "set out on your own" is to leave behind the financial support of your family. A recent headline reads, "Soros son sets out on his own," meaning a son of George Soros, famous billionaire, is determined to succeed or fail on his own without his father's money bailing him out of various problems.

an eager beaver:
someone who is annoying or seems silly because they are too excited about doing sth
* Tammy was such an eager beaver to get the invitation in the mailbox that she forgot to pit stamps on them.

➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary . You might also like ⏬

➤ Book of Idioms

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature