“Apple of your eye” is the person who you love most. 🍎

Example 1: Harry was his first child and the apple of his eye.
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Example 2: He said that Kelly was the apple of his eye. He could not imagine living without her.

Take it or leave it: Take this one or none, there are no other choices.

”Behind the eight ball” means “in a weak or losing position.”

Example 1: The young basketball player was behind the eight ball because he was the smallest member of his team.⠀

Example 2: John is behind the eight ball because he started writing his term paper far too late.

The idiom ”Gray matter” means “intelligence, ‘brains’.”

Example 1: Ted keeps making mistakes in his job. I don’t think he has a lot of gray matter.⠀

Example 2: Use your gray matter and think how to solve this problem.

The idiom “Nest egg“ means“ An amount of money saved for the future.“

Example 1: Son, we worked hard for many years to build up a nest egg and we’ve decided to spend it on your university education.
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Example 2: Start investing early and invest regularly in order to build a nest egg for the future.

The idiom “Monkey business“ means “silly or dishonest behavior.“ ⠀

Example 1: Our teacher warned us not to try any monkey business while she was out of the room.⠀

Example 2: I want to sleep. Stop disturbing me by your monkey business.

“A little bird told me” means “I was told by a private or secret source.”

Example: A little bird told me that John is not going to get that promotion.

The idiom ”Acid test” means “something that shows the true worth or value of something or someone.”

Origin: from the testing of gold with nitric acid. First recorded in 1890–95.⠀

Example 1: The new party is doing better and better in the polls, but the acid test will be the next election.⠀

Example 2: They’ve always been good friends, but the acid test will come when they have to share a flat.

The idiom ”Through thick and thin” means “through good times and bad times.”

Example 1: We’ve been together through thick and thin, and we won’t leave each other now.⠀

Example 2: My husband has supported Liverpool through thick and thin. He is a true fan.

The idiom ”Up a tree” means “in a difficult situation.”

Example 1: I have no idea how I’m going to get out of this contract - I’m really up a tree now.⠀

Example 2: The student was up a tree when she realized that her final exam was tomorrow, and she hadn’t studied for it at all.

Once there was a clever boy who had a good head on his shoulders. He had a "nest egg" saved up, but one day he decided to spend it all on a monkey. His friends told him he was "behind the eight ball," but he wouldn't listen.

The monkey proved to be problematic and the boy got caught up in some "monkey business" when the monkey stole his neighbor's wallet. The boy was "up a tree" and didn't know what to do.

"A little bird told me" that the only way out was to take the monkey to the animal trainer. The animal trainer put the monkey through an "acid test" of obedience and the monkey passed with flying colors.

The boy realized that he had put his "foot in his mouth" by not listening to his friends and spending all his money on the monkey. He knew he had to "tighten his belt" and start saving again. The animal trainer offered to buy the monkey for a fair price, and the boy had to decide. It was a "take it or leave it" offer.

The boy ultimately decided to sell the monkey and use the money to start saving again. He also realized that his friends were the "apple of his eye," and that he could always count on them "through thick and thin." From then on, he used his "gray matter" to make smart decisions and avoid getting into trouble again.

The idioms used in the funny story are:

1. Tighten your belt
2. Put your foot in your mouth
3. Apple of your eye
4. Take it or leave it
5. Behind the eight ball
6. Gray matter
7. Nest egg
8. Monkey business
9. A little bird told me
10. Acid test
11. Through thick and thin
12. Up a tree