Idiomatic Expressions

You probably know what these phrases mean, you may use them yourself. But what do they mean? Phrases usually have meaning that go beyond the words in the phrase.Study the phrases below and familiarize yourself with their proper uses.
1. Dead Ringer
Meaning: To look like someone else.
Example: She told me I was dead ringer for Dilbert.Is that good?
2. Clean your clock
Meaning: To deliver a thorough thrashing.
Example: If you don't get out of my favorite chair I will have to clean your clock.
3. At the end of my rope
Meaning: To have run out of patience, or out of alternatives.
Example: I am at the end of my rope with this job, I quit!
4. Bite your tongue
Meaning: Be silent.
Example: When the boss says something that is less than brilliant, sometimes you need to bite your tongue.
5. Brown Nosing
Meaning: To be excessively attentive and overly nice in an attempt to ingratiate oneself with a superior.
Example: He got the promotion by driving his boss to the airport, running errands, and general brown nosing.
6. By the Short hairs
Meaning: To have control over someone, an indisputable advantage.
Example: The IRS has definitely had you by the short hairs, you must pay your taxes.
7. Can't get a word in edgewise
Meaning: Unable to break into a conversation, no pause in a discussion.
Example: Don't you guys ever shut up???I can't get a word in edgewise.
8. Charm the pants off
Meaning: Very charming.
Example: He showed up for dinner and charmed the pants off her parents.
9. Cut to the chase
Meaning: Get to the point.
Example: This story is dragging on, cut to the chase and tell me about the sex and scandal.
10. A dog's breakfast
Meaning: A mess, vomit.
Example: I tried my hand at oil painting but the results ended up looking like a dog's
breakfast
Are You A Nitpicker?
Many years ago when I was doing stuff for BBC radio I got an interview with a very important producer and I planned to tell this guy about a brilliant (at least I thought so) synopsis for a comedy series. The main character was to be such a 'pettifogger'. The grand man asked me to describe some of the characteristics of this central figure. I started off in an animated way and said that for example his desk would be a work of art with everything in its right place with pencils and pens in staright lines and - and then I happened to look down at the desk 'Mr Big Producer' was sitting at and saw that his desk was exactly like that. I lost the will to live at this stage and sad to say the 'brilliant' idea was never accepted.