Back Office
- Meaning: Support services for a business
- Example: Companies like to have their main offices in prestigious locations, but the back office can really be anywhere.
Castle in the Air
- Meaning: An impractical plan
- Example: Ten years ago, people thought the waterfront park was a castle in the air, but the mayor backed it persistently, and now it’s a reality.
Darken Someone’s Door(step)
- Meaning: Make an unwanted visit to someone’s home
- Example: I’ve already given you too much help, and you’ve wasted it all. Don’t darken my door again.
Note: This expression has a melodramatic flavor, and it’s less common in the USA but certainly understood.
From Pillar to Post
- Meaning: From one place to another, in a forced, random way
- Example: I tried to renew my license. I was sent from pillar to post, but I still don’t have my new license!
Get In on the Ground Floor
- Meaning: Invest in or join something while it is still small
- Example: Most people haven’t heard about Elon Musk’s new Hyperloop project, but it could be huge. I want to get in on the ground floor.
Hit a Wall
- Meaning: Suddenly stop making forward progress
- Example: The highway project hit a wall after state funding was suspended during the recession.
Hit the Roof
- Meaning: Explode in rage; become extremely angry
- Example: As predicted, the boss hit the roof when she heard about the cost overruns.
Off the Wall
- Meaning: Odd, strange, unexpected
- Example: Peter can always be counted on to enliven a meeting with off-the-wall comments – today he started talking about panda bears.
Window Dressing
- Meaning: A misleading disguise intended to present a favorable impression
- Example: The government has taken a few measures to reduce unemployment, but they’re basically just window dressing.
Window Shop
- Meaning: To look at merchandise in a store without intending to buy it
- Example: I can’t afford that coat. But it’s fun to window shop!
Note: This may be used even when there is no window involved.
Writing (Handwriting) on the Wall
- Meaning: Hints of coming disaster
- Example: The chairman tried to pretend that the company is prospering, but I can see the handwriting on the wall.
Note: This is of biblical origin.
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