cherry-pick, have a lot on your plate, stick to your guns, throw caution to the wind, go down the rabbit hole: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 33. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. cherry-pick · idiom/ˈtʃɛriˌpɪk/

   to selectively choose the best options while ignoring others

   He cherry-picked only the most flattering reviews for his restaurant's website.

   Origin: From the 1960s — fruit pickers select only the ripest cherries, leaving the imperfect ones unwanted on the tree.

2. have a lot on your plate · idiom/hæv ə lɑt ɔn jʊr pleɪt/

   to have many responsibilities or commitments

   With work, school, and family responsibilities, she really has a lot on her plate.

   Origin: An early 1900s expression — comparing tasks to food on a plate, where overload becomes impossible to finish.

3. stick to your guns · idiom/stɪk tu jʊr ɡʌnz/

   to stand firm in your beliefs or decisions despite opposition

   Despite pressure from others, he stuck to his guns and refused to change his decision.

   Origin: From naval warfare — sailors had to remain at their cannons under fire, regardless of how dangerous it became.

4. throw caution to the wind · idiom/θroʊ ˈkɔʃən tu ðə wɪnd/

   to act recklessly, without worrying about consequences

   He threw caution to the wind and spent all his savings on a round-the-world trip.

   Origin: From the 1500s — caution is imagined as something physical that can be thrown away when boldness takes over.

5. go down the rabbit hole · idiom/ɡoʊ daʊn ə ˈræbɪt hoʊl/

   to become deeply absorbed in something, often losing track of time

   What started as a simple internet search led her down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.

   Origin: From Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (1865) — Alice falls into a confusing world by following a rabbit underground.