Book of Idioms, Episode 10

To be "savvy" is to be knowledgeable, skilled, and generally more advanced, all relating to a particular area of knowledge. To be "tech savvy" is to be savvy in relation to modern technology such as computers ("information technology"). Not an idiom, but I thought it was useful.

Costs a pretty penny: When something is said to "cost a pretty penny," it is expensive.
Example: "That jacket must have cost a pretty penny. Is that designer leather?"

I haven't researched this, but when Americans use "you know," for things the listener can't possibly know, is this some sort of shortened form of "you should know" (or "you should know that...") ? Just thinking out loud.

crank something up
* make the sound of music louder
* We cranked up the volume .

To "wing it" is to improvise.
Ex.: "I was totally winging it when she told me to pick a restaurant for our date. Restaurant!? I don't know anything about restaurants. When I eat out, it's usually at Burger King!" This young man had no plan. He simply guessed and hoped he was right. He was winging it.

If I say something is "off the top of my head," I am relying solely on memory and not on any written reference or outside authority.
Ex.: "Off the top of my head, that company has branch offices in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia. I'd have to check to find out where any others might be."

In American politics, the term "strategery" is used as an idiom, simply meaning "strategy". It is used to mock the pronunciation of the word by George W. Bush during a debate in the year 2000.
Ex.: "Some believe Joe Biden's performance in the vice-presidential debate was some kind of deep strategery."

A "trend-setter" is a person who is on the leading edge, someone whose behavior is followed by numerous others.
Ex.: "Kate Middleton has been hailed as a trend-setter for women's fashion since her marriage to Prince William."

To "not lift a finger" is to not make even the most minimal effort.
Ex.: "She didn't even lift a finger to help the other students in her group with their project. That means everyone else has to work even harder." (Here, "even" is added purely for emphasis.)

The expression "so-called" is used to suggest that something is called X, but is not actually X. It is often used in sarcasm.
Ex.: "My so-called friends won't lift a finger to help me move into my new house!"

"Crunch time" is when events seem to be compressed within a short time period. This is when success or failure is decided.
Ex.: "October is crunch time for both candidates in the American presidential election." (Voting day is in early November.)

As an idiom, "a bitter pill to swallow" means unexpected bad news that is not fatal, but cannot be changed and can only be endured.
Ex.: "The hit to short-term earnings was a bitter pill for investors to suffer, but the long-term benefits of the merger promosed eventual rewards."

To "lead with your chin" is to attack in such a way that leaves you exposed to counter-attack. You are on offense, but you are vulnerable. This is a boxing reference.
Ex.: "Robert led with his chin when he criticized John's performance while Robert's own is so poor."
➤ Read more idioms and phrases, English grammar and vocabulary at Basic English Grammar And Vocabulary . You might also like ⏬

➤ Idioms about Animals

➤ Idioms of Expression

➤ Idioms on Food

➤ Idiomatic Expressions

➤ Origin of Idioms

➤ Proverbs

➤ Idioms on Situation

➤ Idioms on Temperature