Idioms — Set 55

Set 55 of Idioms covers 5 idioms: go with your gut, test the waters, have a change of heart, hold all the cards, bark up the wrong tree. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. go with your gut · idiom/ɡoʊ wɪð jʊr ɡʌt/

   to trust your instincts when making a decision

   I don’t know why, but I’ll go with my gut and choose this option.

   Origin: A 20th-century phrase reflecting the old belief that the gut, not just the brain, holds instinctive knowledge.

2. test the waters · idiom/tɛst ðə ˈwɔɾɚz/

   to test an idea or situation before fully committing

   Before launching the product, they tested the waters with a small group of customers.

   Origin: An ancient image — swimmers dipped a toe into water first to feel the temperature before fully diving in.

3. have a change of heart · idiom/hæv ə tʃeɪndʒ əv hɑrt/

   to change your opinion or feelings about something

   She had a change of heart and decided to stay in the relationship.

   Origin: From the 1800s — based on the ancient belief that the heart, not the mind, was the seat of personal feelings.

4. hold all the cards · idiom/hoʊld ɔl ðə kɑrdz/

   to be in complete control of a situation

   He holds all the cards in the negotiation, so we need to be careful.

   Origin: From card games — holding all the cards means you control the game's outcome and decisions completely.

5. bark up the wrong tree · idiom/bɑrk ʌp ðə rɔŋ tri/

   to blame or accuse the wrong person or thing

   If you think I stole your phone, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

   Origin: From American hunting in the 1800s — dogs would bark at the wrong tree, having lost the trail of their prey.