draw a line under something, be a fly on the wall, get your ducks in a row, hit rock bottom, go down in flames: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 62. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. draw a line under something · idiom/drɔ ə laɪn ˈʌndɚ ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

   to officially move on from a situation

   It’s time to draw a line under this issue and move forward.

   Origin: From bookkeeping — drawing a line under figures officially closed those accounts before opening fresh new ones.

2. be a fly on the wall · idiom/bi ə flaɪ ɔn ðə wɔl/

   to secretly observe or listen without being noticed

   I’d love to be a fly on the wall when they discuss the merger.

   Origin: American 1920s expression — a fly on a wall observes everything in a room without anyone noticing its presence.

3. get your ducks in a row · idiom/ɡɛt jʊr dʌks ɪn ə roʊ/

   to get everything well-organized and prepared

   Before starting the project, we need to get our ducks in a row and organize all the necessary materials.

   Origin: Possibly from a 1930s American carnival shooting game — wooden ducks were lined up in a neat row to shoot at.

4. hit rock bottom · idiom/hɪt rɑk ˈbɑɾəm/

   to reach the lowest possible point in life or a situation

   After losing his job, his house, and his savings, he felt like he had hit rock bottom.

   Origin: From mining — once a digger struck rock at the bottom of a pit, no further descent was physically possible.

5. go down in flames · idiom/ɡoʊ daʊn ɪn fleɪmz/

   to fail spectacularly and completely

   Their new business went down in flames after just three months because they didn’t plan properly.

   Origin: From aerial warfare in the 1900s — shot-down aircraft visibly fell from the sky engulfed in fire.