The person who arrives first is the one who is
successful.

A book or paper that is dog-eared has the pages turned down at the corners as a result of a lot of use. For example, “And my dad had this deep admiration for
worn, dog-eared books.” https://www.latimes.com/home/la-lh-rachel-ashwell20150415-story.html

Used to tell someone to stop and consider carefully their decision or opinion about something.

Said if you know who gave you the information being
discussed but do not want to say who it was.

To avoid talking about what is important.
For example, “You know
where you stand [with Cleary]. There's no beating around the bush…”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/you-d-take-it-naden-s-ultimate-sacrifice-forgrand-final-triumph-20201018-p56664.html

Tears that you cry when you are not really sad or sorry. For example, “So stop shading crocodile tears.” https://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/23/nigeria-battles-to-stop-spread-ofal-qaeda-chaos-in-africa/

To allow a secret to be known, usually without
intending to.

To do things in the wrong order.
For example, “We’ve sort
of put the cart before the horse,” she says. “If we’re telling the world that prevalence
[of animal cases] is low, then we have to look at high numbers."
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/07/first-dog-to-test-positivefor-covid-in-us-dies/

To achieve two things at once.
For example, “I can bring
your suit to the cleaners when I pick up the kids and kill two birds with one stone.”
https://theprint.in/yourturn/reader-view-india-depends-on-china-in-many-waysto-disregard-that-isnt-a-smart-decision/455381/

Very difficult to understand.
For example, “While the government’s strategy
on Covid might be as clear as mud, on the problem of a partisan school sector, it has recently struck a remarkably forthright position.”
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/it-s-time-for-schools-to-be-politicallyimpartial

If people are dropping like flies, they are dying or falling down in large numbers or stopping an activity.

To be very worried, upset, or angry about
something. “My mother had a cow when I said I was going to buy a motorcycle.”

If you hear something (straight) from the
horse's mouth, you hear it from the person who has direct personal knowledge of
it.
For example, “On Tuesday, straight from the horse’s mouth, an NHS nurse told me that they
had been told to turn off the NHS test-and-trace app while in the hospital (GSK
tells UK staff: turn off Covid test-and-trace app while at work, 6 October). I’m
staying with Prof Tim Spector’s Covid-19 app. How valid is the NHS app? Kathleen
Hines. Washington, Tyne and Wear”
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/07/johnson-the-general-tostarmers-captain

To show someone the middle finger as an act of contempt or anger.
For example, “Berlin has eschewed polite public messaging on the coronavirus in favour
of a more direct reminder of the rules by flipping the bird to people who won’t wear
a mask.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/14/berlin-gives-middlefinger-to-anti-maskers-in-tourism-agency-ad

To make a move after you have given a speech or performance, as a way of making an impressive ending.
For example, “Mark Hamill drops the mic on the BidenTrump debate with a tweet about Star Wars” https://mashable.com/article/markhamill-biden-trump-debate/

Seeming dishonest or false. For example, “There's something fishy going on here.” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bastard-machine/is-bristol-palin-billycarter-186644

Unable to see well. “I'm as blind as a bat without my
glasses.”

To waste effort on something when there is no chance
of succeeding.

A search that is completely unsuccessful and a waste of time because the person or thing being searched for does not exist or is somewhere
else.
For example, “Fake kidnapping video sends police on wild goose chase”
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-09-30-fake-kidnappingvideo-sends-police-on-wild-goose-chase/

Costing too much.
For example,
“Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCTunqv1Xt4

To exaggerate the importance of something
trivial. For example, “Did the nation make a mountain out of a molehill here?”
https://nation.time.com/2011/09/16/the-lessons-of-ending-dont-ask-dont-tell/

To be in a state of extreme happiness.
For example, “Achieve hog
heaven with this Triple Pork Stuffed Pork Tenderloin”
https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/lifestyle/food/6713122-Achieve-hog-heavenwith-this-Triple-Pork-Stuffed-Pork-Tenderloin

To stop talking as if you were better or smarter
than other people.
For example, “Sometimes when I find myself slipping into what I call “snobspeak,” I hearken back to an old Waylon Jennings song. In “Back to the Basics of
Love, ” Waylon’s words give me a swift rhetorical kick, knocking me off my high
horse so I can explain in plain English the qualities of a particular wine.”
https://www.wvgazettemail.com/life/food_and_dining/vines_and_vittles/vinesvittles-it-doesnt-take-a-snob-to-appreciate-wine/article_9c620a71-e3f5-51eba505-b0c126e1759e.html

Someone or something that is very easy for an enemy to shoot or attack.

For example, “'I feel like a sitting duck': how the threat of coronavirus affects our most
vulnerable” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/01/i-feel-like-a-sittingduck-how-the-threat-of-coronavirus-affects-our-most-vulnerable

To die or to stop working.
For example, “Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE