Without being prepared in advance. For Example: “The President was asked to give a speech off the cuff, so he wasn’t at his best.”

One thing that is very different from another thing, usually inferior. For Example: “You can’t compare Cornell to Harvard. Cornell is a far cry from Harvard.”

When an important decision must be made. For Example: “When it comes to the crunch, you always want to go with your star player.”  

Pretending to be upset by something. For Example: “He acted really upset about not being invited on the trip, but I think he was just crying crocodile tears.”

In a difficult position with no easy way out. For Example: The full saying is “up the creek without a paddle” which means you’re in a bad situation and don’t really have anything that can help you.

Allowing something to happen without outside influence. For Example: The full saying is usually “let nature take its course” which means “just relax and let’s just see how everything works out in the end.”

Someone who watches a lot of television and is therefore assumed to be lazy. For Example: “Did you invite Greg to the party?” “Yes, I did, but I doubt he’ll come. That guy is such a couch potato.”

In a difficult situation. For Example: “When Mary told me I had to choose between her or my career, I really found myself in a tight corner.”

To become tempermental or nervous. For Example: “When the store clerk told Bill they were out of beer, he lost his cool and shouted that he would never return to the store again.”

To remain calm in an adverse situation. For Example: When someone keeps their cool, they don’t become emotionally upset or distracted in a scenario where most people might.

An underdog whose determination usually results in success. For Example: “No one thought Mark stood a chance in that fight, but he is one tough cookie and proved everyone wrong.”

A phrase that indicates the phrase you’re using to describe something is being used with sarcasm. For Example: You might say, “Bill thinks one day he’s going to ‘save the company’ in inverted commas.” What you’re implying is that you don’t believe Bill genuinely intends to save the company.

With great success. For Example: If Sarah needed to score 80% to pass a test and she scored 97% on the test, you would say “she passed the test with flying colors.”

Failing to include someone as part of an activity. For Example: “The government’s health care policy leaves seniors out in the cold.”