Making Decisions Idioms and Phrases! Learn common Making Decisions Idioms, Phrases, and sayings in English with meaning and example sentences.
Phrases & Idioms for Making Decisions
List of 20+ Useful Making Decisions Idioms and Phrases in English
(Give Someone) Carte Blanche
Meaning: Allow someone complete freedom; entrust a decision to someone
Example: The new manager will be given carte blanche as long as she can increase the company’s profits.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Meaning: it’s better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by seeking to get more
Example: Here is a good advice: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
All Things Being Equal
Meaning: provided that other factors or circumstances remain the same
Example: All things being equal, a small car will cost less than a larger one.
All Things Considered
Meaning: Taking all factors into consideration
Example: All things considered, we had a good trip. With the bad weather, it could have taken much longer.
All Told
Meaning: With everything taken into consideration
Example: All told, the buildings will total 2.6 million square feet of enclosed space.
At the end of the day
Meaning: used to say the most important fact in a situation
Example: Commuters were heading homeward at the end of the day.
Fish or Cut Bait (usually an exclamation)
Meaning: Make a decision or give someone else a chance
Example: You’ve kept us waiting for weeks on the decision. It’s time to fish or cut bait.
Flip-Flop (v. or n.)
Meaning: To vacillate between two choices, to be indecisive
Example: FLIP-FLOPS Today, bistables used in practical circuits almost invariably take the form of integrated circuits.
Hobson’s Choice
Meaning: A choice among bad options
Example: They’re offering a Hobson’s choice between higher prices and reduced quality. I think we can hold out for a better option.
In Two Minds
Meaning: be unable to decide between alternatives
Example: I was in two minds about leaving London; my friends were there, but at the same time I really wanted to work abroad.
Like watching paint dry
Meaning: (of an activity or experience) extremely boring.
Example: She spent an hour showing us her holiday photographs; it was just like watching the paint dry.
Low hanging fruit
Meaning: the most easily achieved of a set of tasks, measures, goals, etc.
Example: it’s more difficult to produce new drugs – all the low-hanging fruit has been picked
Read: Dog Idioms and Phrases in the English Language
Make up your mind
Meaning: to decide which of two or more choices you want, especially after thinking for a long time
Example: To make up your mind about what to do, we suggest that you read several of the books your son has read.
My way or the highway
Meaning: said to assert the view that there is no alternative (apart from leaving) but to accept the speaker’s opinions or policies.
Example: Boehner mocked the president, saying this is not time for the same old my way or the highway theatrics.
No strings attached
Meaning: used to show that an offer or opportunity carries no special conditions or restrictions.
Example: It’s a business proposition, pure and simple. No strings attached.
On the Bubble
Meaning: (of a sports player or team) occupying the last qualifying position on a team or for a tournament, and liable to be replaced by another.
Example: While the particle on the bubble surface slips in an unstable state, the particle can detach from the bubble surface as the bubble is disturbed slightly.
On the Same Page
Meaning: in agreement
Example: Try to place them on the same page so you can see they all work together.
One step at a time
Meaning: slowly and carefully, doing just a little at a time
Example: A standard computer would proceed one step at a time, while we approach the issue from many different angles at once.
Out of the Loop
Meaning: to have or not have the special knowledge or power that belongs to a particular group of people
Example: However, inside the loop, there is a break statement that will break out of the loop.
Raise Red Flags
Meaning: something that gives a warning of a bad or dangerous situation or event
Example: A high default rate or low repayment rate should generally raise red flags, education experts agree.
Rubber-Stamp (v.)
Meaning: Approve something without consideration, as a formality
Example: They rubber-stamped his design without serious discussion.
Sit on the fence
Meaning: to avoid saying which side of an argument you support
Example: The weakness of the book is that it sits on the fence on important issues.
Split Hairs
Meaning: to pay too much attention in an argument to details that are very small and not important
Example: I found it dull to split hairs over the privacy of a person who counted on one’s card.
Take a back seat
Meaning: to allow somebody to play a more important or active role than you do in a particular situation
Example: You need to take a back seat and think about both past and future.
Take It or Leave It (command)
Meaning: You must decide now whether you will accept this proposal.
Example: This is our final offer – take it or leave it.
The Bottom Line
Meaning: the most important thing to consider when you are discussing or deciding something, etc.
Example: The bottom line is that recycling isn’t profitable.
The Icing On The Cake
Meaning: an attractive but inessential addition or enhancement.
Example: The icing on the cake would be being able to reunite people with property they’ve had stolen.
The light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: a reason to believe that a bad situation will end soon or that a long and difficult job will be finished soon
Example: They are falling deeper into debt, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
To Make A Mountain Out Of A Molehill
Meaning: exaggerate the importance of something trivial.
Example: They were too embarrassed or didn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill.
To Stick To Your Guns
Meaning: refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism.
Example: My parents didn’t want me to be an actor, but I stuck to my guns.
Up for Grabs
Meaning: Available
Example: There are hundreds of prizes up for grabs in our competition.
Read: Animal idioms in English
Up In Arms
Meaning: protesting angrily about something
Example: They’re up in arms about/over the new management scheme.
Up in the Air
Meaning: Not yet decided
Example: All the crowd cheered and threw their hats up in the air.
