Definition:
This means that one has put more food on their plate than they can eat.

Example:
Wife to husband at dinner – “I served myself way too much food.  I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach.”

Definition:
This means to work very hard to accomplish something or to please someone.

Example:
Singer to director – “You will not be disappointed in hiring me.  You can depend on me at any time.  I will bend over backwards to make this production a big, big success!

Definition:
This refers to a warning or mild punishment that is not severe.

Example:
Father – “I am grounding our son for a week because he went to a party again without our permission.”
Mother – “That punishment is just a slap on the wrist. He needs to be grounded for two weeks, no cell phone use and no allowance.”

Definition:
This idiom is used to describe a strong verbal disagreement between two people.

Example:
Father – “I can hear those two girls arguing from across the street.”

Mother – “Your daughters have been at each at each other’s throats all morning, arguing about whose turn it is to clean the bathroom.”

Definition:
Normally used with the verbs cost, pay, and charge.  It means that something is much too expensive for your budget.

Example:
Friend (1) – “I love your handbag.  The leather is so soft and the color is beautiful!”
Friend (2) – “Thank you.  I love it too, but it cost me an arm and a leg.  Now I can’t afford to pay my rent for the month!”

Definition:
This saying is used to describe someone who is upset about something that happened in the past and holds a grudge.  This person usually is argumentative and seems to be angry most of the time.

Example:
College friend A – “What is Jack’s problem?  All I said was that my father helped me buy a used car for my birthday and he got angry and said I was just spoiled and lazy.”

College friend B – “Jack has never had a good relationship with his father, and he resents us for still having  good relationships with our fathers.  He has a real big chip on his shoulder and is unpleasant most of the time which is why people don’t want to be around him.”

Definition:
This means that one is not well-coordinated physically especially with the hands.

Example:
Teenage boy (to guitarist) – “Wow, you can really play those chords!  I’m just all thumbs when I play the guitar.”