pull yourself up by your bootstraps, cry over spilled milk, keep your cool, be a tough nut to crack, a slap on the wrist: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 68. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. pull yourself up by your bootstraps · idiom/pʊl jʊrˈsɛlf ʌp baɪ jʊr ˈbutstræps/

   to succeed through hard work and determination

   Even though he grew up in poverty, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps and built a successful career.

   Origin: From an 1834 American tall tale — physically pulling oneself up by boot straps was impossible, originally satirical.

2. cry over spilled milk · idiom/kraɪ ˈoʊvɚ spɪlt mɪlk/

   to be upset over something that cannot be changed

   There’s no use crying over spilled milk—what’s done is done, and we need to focus on fixing the problem.

   Origin: From the 1600s English proverb — spilt milk cannot be returned to the cup, so crying over it serves no purpose.

3. keep your cool · idiom/kip jʊr kul/

   to stay calm under pressure

   Even though the interviewer was trying to intimidate him, Jack managed to keep his cool and answer confidently.

   Origin: American slang from the 1930s — 'cool' meant emotionally controlled, the opposite of being heated by anger.

4. be a tough nut to crack · idiom/bi ə tʌf nʌt tu kræk/

   to be difficult to understand or deal with

   Negotiating with the client was tough—he was a real tough nut to crack and refused to compromise.

   Origin: An 18th-century expression — comparing difficult people or problems to nuts with shells that resist all cracking.

5. a slap on the wrist · idiom/ə slæp ɔn ðə rɪst/

   a mild punishment for a serious mistake

   The company was caught cheating on taxes, but they only got a slap on the wrist and had to pay a small fine.

   Origin: From child discipline — a light slap on the wrist was the mildest possible physical punishment for misbehavior.