... and a cherry on top.

Expression: "... and a cherry on top"

Meaning: When making a sundae you add ice cream, maybe some fruit, maybe some candies, and then probably some whipped cream. The cherry on top represents not only completion, but also that everything wanted is included. The cherry itself is just a little bit extra. Over time, the phrase has evolved to mean not only that everything is included, even when ice cream is not involved, but a little bit extra as well.

Example: "My new car has GPS, satellite radio, heated seats, and a cherry on top."

Costs an Arm and a Leg

Expression: "costs an arm and a leg"

Meaning: There are several possible origins for this idiom, and one logical origin is in warfare. While many troops lose their lives in battle, many survive with lost limbs. Therefore, whatever the outcome of the war, these latter troops paid for that outcome, literally, with their arms and their legs. So if their country remained free after an invasion, for example, then a disabled veteran might say that their freedom cost him an arm and a leg. We won't discuss every other possible origin for this expression, but, over time, the cost of an arm and a leg has evolved to mean a very, very high price.

Example: Attending universities is known to be very expensive. Many years ago, in frustration, a student wrote a check to his university payable in the amount of "an arm and a leg."

Back to the Drawing Board

Expression: "back to the drawing board"

Meaning: Some projects start out with a real drawing board. Whether this board contains written ideas or simple drawings, all further work begins from this first task. When a project fails, the team really goes back to the drawing board to begin anew. Over time, this expression has evolved to mean restarting something from the very beginning, even though an actual drawing board may not be used.

Example: the project failed, so you say, "we have to go back to the drawing board."

Hit the Nail on the Head

Expression: "hit the nail on the head"

Meaning: Hitting a nail on its head with a hammer is difficult. It requires precision. The expression is used to tell someone that he or she used logic to determine something precisely. He or she deduced the exact answer, not just a close answer or some related information.

Example: we are trying to solve a mystery and you find the answer, so I say, "you hit the nail on the head."

Burning Bridges

Expression: "burning bridges"

Meaning: This expression comes from legendary military battles in which commanders have ordered their troops to burn the bridges they just crossed in order to prevent their own escape. The troops then have the greatest motivation to win the battle, because failure could only result in their death or capture. Over time, this phrase has evolved to mean eliminating one's option of going back to a previous state, such as quitting a job or ending a relationship in such a bad way that there is no chance of returning. One then has greater motivation to succeed at an alternative, because the consequences of failure are too severe.

Example: "He burned his bridges by quitting his job like that. He will never work there again."

Sleep Like a Baby

Expression: "sleep like a baby"

Meaning: Babies sleep through loud noises and a lot of movement. While the subject of this expression is usually an adult, it means that that person slept through, is sleeping through, or will likely sleep through great disturbances, just like a baby might. This idiom implies that the deep sleep results from being far more tired than normal, perhaps from exhaustion, medication, or other causes.

Example: "I woke up early and worked all day; tonight I'll sleep like a baby."