Head-butt and butt heads

If you are 'head-butted,' it means someone has bumped or hit you with their head. It's usually something kids or pets do. Interestingly, it different from but related to 'butting heads.' This is when two people keep disagreeing and can't reach any consensus, as if their heads were actually bumping, or butting, together.

Examples:
-Your cat keeps head-butting me. I think she likes me.
-She just wants to get her smell on you.

-Dad and I just don't agree on anything! It's so frustrating to talk to him.
-Yeah, you guys do butt heads a lot!

Bleeding-heart liberal

A "bleeding-heart liberal' can be used in a derogatory way to describe someone who cares about issues such as peace, the environment, equality, justice and animal rights. However, some so-called 'bleeding-heart liberals' embrace the term.

Example:
-There goes your sister, off to another one of her protests. Bleeding-heart liberal.
-Oh, be quiet, dad! You should respect her for standing up for what she believes in!

Bite the bullet

When it's time to 'bite the bullet,' it means that it's time to face whatever you've been avoiding once and for all and deal with the consequences.

-Have you talked to your parents about your credit card bill?
-Not yet. Guess I'd better just bite the bullet. Hopefully they won't be too mad.

Bull in a china shop

If someone is a 'bull in a china shop,' it means they are somewhat clumsy -- not very graceful -- and prone to breaking things.

Example:
-I'm sorry for breaking your vase, Mom.
-It's okay. You're a bull in a china shop.

Bat-shit crazy

'Bat-shit crazy' is used to describe someone who you think is just plain crazy and beyond any hope of getting better. In reality, it's not usually used to describe a person who is truly mentally ill, but rather a person who has such outlandish, uninformed and offensive beliefs that you're sure they must be crazy.

Example:
-That presidential candidate is bat-shit crazy!
-I know! If he wins, I'm moving to Canada!

Bend over backwards

To 'bend over backwards' for someone means that you do everything you possibly can to make them happy in a difficult situation.

Example:
-My pillow's too hard, the bathroom door squeaks, and the nurses come in at all hours of the night, taking my blood pressure.
-I'm sorry, Mom! I know it's no fun being in the hospital, but I have been bending over backwards to make this as tolerable as possible. Tomorrow I'll bring your pillow from home and some WD-40 for the door.

Between a rock and a hard place

If you're 'between a rock and a hard place,' it means you're in a difficult situation with no good way out. No matter what you decide to do, there will be negative consequences to your actions.

Example:
-I can buy groceries and pay my bills this month, or I can refill my prescriptions.
-You're definitely between a rock and a hard place.

Back to Square One

'Back to Square One' is where you find yourself when you have to start something that you have worked on all over again, from the beginning.

Example:
-Well, since our supervisor didn't like our ideas, we're back to Square One.
-Ugh.

Black Friday

'Black Friday' is known as the official start to the holiday shopping season. It is the day after Thanksgiving. Many stores open very early, at midnight or 5 a.m., and have huge mark-downs on popular items.

It is called 'black' because in accounting, that means that the store has profits, as opposed to red, which would mean debt.

Example:
-I heard Toys-R-Us is having a huge sale on Black Friday! I can't wait to get my grandson a bouncy horse.
-We'd better get there early so they don't sell out! I bet it'll be packed!