live out of a suitcase, keep the ball rolling, burn your fingers, be all bark and no bite, keep your nose clean: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 90. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

1. live out of a suitcase · idiom/lɪv aʊt əv ə ˈsutkeɪs/

   to constantly travel and not have a permanent home

   Since he travels for work almost every week, he practically lives out of a suitcase.

   Origin: From the 1900s — frequent business travelers and entertainers spent so much time on the road they never fully unpacked.

2. keep the ball rolling · idiom/kip ðə bɔl ˈroʊlɪŋ/

   to maintain momentum and keep progress going

   We need to keep the ball rolling on this project, or we’ll fall behind schedule.

   Origin: From bowling and ball games — keeping a ball rolling maintains momentum and prevents the activity from stopping.

3. burn your fingers · idiom/bɜrn jʊr ˈfɪŋɡɚz/

   to suffer losses or consequences due to a mistake

   I invested in a company without doing enough research, and I really burned my fingers when it went bankrupt.

   Origin: An ancient image — touching hot objects burns fingers, so children learn caution from the painful direct experience.

4. be all bark and no bite · idiom/bi ɔl bɑrk ənd noʊ baɪt/

   to act tough but not follow through with threats

   He talks tough, but trust me, he’s all bark and no bite—he wouldn’t actually do anything.

   Origin: From the 1600s — loud barking dogs often look fierce but rarely actually bite, expressing empty intimidation.

5. keep your nose clean · idiom/kip jʊr noʊz klin/

   to stay out of trouble and avoid wrongdoing

   If you want to avoid trouble, just keep your nose clean and don’t get involved in office gossip.

   Origin: From the 1800s — a clean nose was a sign of good behavior, suggesting one stayed away from troublesome dirt.