| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Burn someone down | To publicly humiliate or undermine someone to elevate oneself. | She often tries to burn everyone down in meetings to showcase her own ideas, but it only makes her look petty. |
| Burn someone up | To cause someone significant irritation or anger; also means to scold someone harshly. | It really burns me up when people cut in line at the grocery store; it’s so disrespectful. |
| Burn the candle at both ends | To exhaust oneself by taking on too many responsibilities or staying up late and rising early. | If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’ll end up getting sick and unable to work. |
| Butter one’s bread on both sides | To enjoy a life of luxury or comfort, often due to favorable circumstances or choices. | He’s always travelling to exotic locations and dining at fancy restaurants; it’s clear he butters his bread on both sides. |
| Burn the earth | To move quickly and with determination, often associated with racing or competing. | The athletes burned the earth during the final lap of the marathon, leaving everyone else behind. |
| Scorch the earth | To destroy everything in a specific area, leaving nothing for an enemy or to ensure total devastation. | The army decided to scorch the earth as they retreated, ensuring their enemies would find nothing useful. |
| Burn the water | A fishing term referring to catching fish at night by torchlight; also used in more general contexts. | Local fishermen would often burn the water during the summer months to catch salmon efficiently. |
| Set the Thames on fire | To accomplish something noteworthy or sensational, often used sarcastically to imply mediocrity. | When she presented her project, it was solid, but honestly, she didn’t set the Thames on fire with her ideas. |
| Burst at the seams | To be so full that it appears about to overflow; can also refer to being overwhelmed with emotion. | The concert hall was bursting at the seams with excited fans, eager to see their favourite band perform. |
| Come apart at the seams | To disintegrate or fail under pressure, whether literally or metaphorically. | The old sofa is starting to come apart at the seams, and we might need to consider replacing it soon. |
| Idiom | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bus boy | A person responsible for clearing and setting tables in a restaurant, often an entry-level position. | After the rush hour, the bus boy quickly tidied the tables, preparing for the next wave of customers. |
| Busman | The driver of a bus; typically refers to someone who operates a public transportation vehicle. | As a busman, he enjoyed interacting with passengers, often sharing stories during his routes. |
| Bush baby | A small nocturnal primate found in Africa, known for its large eyes and distinctive calls. | Late at night, the enchanting call of the bush baby echoed through the trees, capturing the attention of hikers. |
| Bushboy | A member of certain nomadic tribes in southern Africa, often known for their traditional lifestyles. | The bushboy demonstrated impressive skills in tracking animals through the dense forest. |
| Bush Negro | Descendants of escaped slaves who have formed communities in the Guianas of South America. | The Bush Negro communities have preserved their unique culture and traditions over generations. |
| Bushman | A member of indigenous nomadic tribes in southern Africa, traditionally hunter-gatherers. | The Bushman shared stories of his ancestors, revealing deep knowledge of the land and its wildlife. |
| Bush telegraph | The informal spread of news or gossip through personal communication rather than official channels. | News of the festival quickly spread through the bush telegraph, and soon everyone was excited to attend. |
| Field telegraph | A portable telecommunication system used by military forces in the field to transmit messages. | The soldiers relied on the field telegraph to coordinate their movements during the exercise. |
| Businessman | An individual engaged in commerce or trade, often involved in managing a business. | The businessman made a significant investment that boosted the local economy. |
| Man of business | Refers to a businessman or an individual’s representative or advisor in financial matters. | As a man of business, he was always looking for new opportunities to expand his client’s portfolio. |
| Bust one’s balls | To work extremely hard or exert oneself to achieve a goal, often under pressure. | With the deadline approaching, I had to bust my balls to finish the project on time. |
| Bust someone’s balls | To tease or mock someone, often playfully, but can also imply hurting someone’s feelings. | The team loved to bust Jerry’s balls about his karaoke skills, but he took it all in good fun. |
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