Summary
Highlights
This video is the 83rd part of the American Idiom series, presenting five new idioms from #411 to #415. The format includes guessing the meaning, then revealing the answer with an additional example. It's recommended to pause the video to think about the answers.
The idiom 'go out on a limb' means to be in a dangerous position. An example is, 'I don't want to go out on a limb but I think I can afford a new car even though I'm not making a lot of money right now.' Another example is a mayor criticizing his own party members, which puts him in a dangerous position.
To 'catch or be caught flat-footed' means to be caught unprepared or unaware of something. For instance, police catching bank robbers 'flat-footed' with prior information. Another example is a wife being 'caught flat-footed' when an unexpected number of guests arrive at a party.
The idiom 'play one's cards right' means to do things in a well-planned and intelligent way. For example, 'If Teddy plays his cards right, he has a good chance of getting that promotion.' This also applies to selling a car intelligently to maximize profit.
'When or after the dust settles' refers to when things return to normal. An example is waiting for things to calm down at work before asking for a raise. Another instance is a president addressing the nation after the election when things have stabilized.
To have 'a hot hand' signifies a continuous period of luck or success. For example, someone without much stock market experience having 'a hot hand' and making a lot of money. However, a 'hot hand' in gambling often doesn't last, as seen in an example where winnings are quickly lost.