hit the hay

Jake told me I had to talk to the manager and tell him about the promotion I want. We both know Mr. Johnson is a difficult person but I guess Jake is right and I have to take the bull by the horns and face it.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

3 take the bull by the horns to bravely or confidently deal with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant problem :

Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

take the bull by the horns

take the bull by the ˈhorns idiom
to face a difficult or dangerous situation directly and with courage

• Nora decided to take the bull by the horns and organize things for herself.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

take the bull by the horns

to do something difficult in a brave and determined way:

Why don't you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

take the bull by the horns : to deal with a difficult situation in a very direct or confident way
• She decided to take the bull by the horns and try to solve the problem without any further delay.

0

horse of a different color

horse of a different color [idiom]

(also a horse of another color American English) a completely different matter; entirely something else

horse of a different color - یه موضوع دیگه

یک موضوع کاملا متفاوت، یه موضوع دیگه (متفاوت با مطلب مورد بحث)

Example:

I owe you some money, I know that, but telling lie to cover for your fault has nothing to do with it. It’s really a horse of different color.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

A horse of a different color(also a horse of another color American English) something that is completely different from another thing

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

a horse of a different color

noun phrase

Definition of a horse of a different color

chiefly US, informal

: a very different thing or issueThat's what we'll do when he gets here. But if he doesn't show up…well, that's a horse of a different color

American English

B1 (Intermediate)

0

go to the dogs

go to the dogs [idiom]

If something is going to the dogs, it is in a bad condition (morally or physically) or is becoming worse.

Example:

Sue: Look at that beautiful house, I lived there as a child. Maya: That one in the corner? It’s too old. Maybe once it was beautiful but now it has gone to dogs. It needs lots of renovation I think.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

5 be going to the dogs informal if a country or organization is going to the dogs, it is getting worse and will be difficult to improve

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

go to the dogs

go to the ˈdogs idiom
(NAmE also go to hell in a ˈhandbasket) (informal) to get into a very bad state

• This firm's gone to the dogs since the new management took over.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

go to the dogs

If a country or organization is going to the dogs, it is becoming very much less successful than it was in the past.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

go to the dogs informal : to become ruined : to change to a much worse condition
• Our favorite restaurant has gone to the dogs lately.
• The economy is going to the dogs.

American English

British English

deteriorating and making worse

B1 (Intermediate)

0

turn your back on sb

turn your back on sb [idiom]

To refuse to support someone and leave them without helping

Example:

When she needed my help I turned my back on her and left her alone and now I feel very bad.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

turn your back (on somebody/something)
a) to refuse to help, support, or be involved with someone or something :
How can you turn your back on your own mother?
In his twenties he turned his back on his Catholic faith.
b) to turn so that your back is pointing towards someone or something, and you are not looking at them :
Angrily, she turned her back on him.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

turn your back on sb/sth
1   to move so that you are standing or sitting with your back facing sb/sth
When on stage, try not to turn your back on the audience.
2   to reject sb/sth that you have previously been connected with
She turned her back on them when they needed her.
   Some newspapers have turned their backs on discussion and argument.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

turn your back on sb

C2 to refuse to help someone:

Surely you won't turn your back on them?

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

phrase [VERB inflects, PHRASE noun]

If you turn your back on someone or something, you ignore them, leave them, or reject them.

American English

British English

disappointing yourself and others

C2 (Proficient)

0

out on a limb

out on a limb [idiom]

Having an opinion that is different from most people's and is unpopular

Example:

The senator knew if he agreed with the reform insurance program, he would be out on a limb.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

1 out on a limb alone and without help or support :

All the other countries signed the agreement, leaving Britain out on a limb.

He’d gone out on a limb (= taken a risk ) to help us.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

out on a limb

out on a ˈlimb idiom
(informal) not supported by other people
• Are you prepared to go out on a limb (= risk doing sth that other people are not prepared to do) and make your suspicions public?

• His controversial stance has left him out on a limb.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

out on a limb

having an opinion that is different from most people's and is unpopular:

She's going out on a limb in criticizing her own party leadership.

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

out on a limb : in or into a risky or dangerous position or situation
• She went out on a limb to help you. [=she took a chance; she did something that meant she could be criticized or harmed in some way]
• If you try to oppose the boss yourself, you're likely to get caught out on a limb.

American English

British English

liked or not liked by many people

B1 (Intermediate)

0