Foundering in a Sea of Idioms

Having been in the UK for over a decade, I felt confident I was fully bi-lingual. At a recent gathering, however, I used the term “nickel and dime” (as in, “these fees are going to nickel and dime me to death”) and was met with blank stares.
It was also brought to my attention—via Expatmum—that Brits are unaware of what it means to “get the drop” on someone.


Don't get your knickers in a knotIf I had been made aware of these potholes in my linguistic education, say, a year ago, I might not have...