「関の山」（せきのやま） is used for something that is the best, most, highest, biggest, etc. you can expect or do. That’s the utmost thing you can...

「喜怒哀楽」（き ど あい らく） is human emotions. 「喜」（き） is joy or happiness; 「怒」（ど）　anger; 「哀」（あい） sorrow; and 「楽」（らく） again joy or happiness.

「先手を打つ」（せんてを うつ）is to do something before it can be done by someone else. This expression comes from the game of shogi. Synonyms are...

「根掘り葉掘り」（ねほり はほり）is used for the way someone tries to find out details about someone else’s private life in an impolite way. 「根堀り」（ねほり）...

「群を抜く」（ぐんを ぬく）is to be preeminent or much better than other people. Such a person rises above the crowd. 「群」is a herd: a group of animals...

「ご挨拶」（ごあいさつ） is ironically used when someone’s response or way of speaking is very rude, thoughtless, or inconsiderate. To mean this, you...

「手が出ない」（てが でない）is used when something is beyond your ability or you can’t manage or afford to do something.

「秋風が吹く」（あきかぜが ふく）or 「秋風が立つ」（あきかぜが たつ）is to no longer feel romantic love for someone. 「秋風」（あきかぜ） is fall/autumn wind or breeze. Why autumn...

「愛のむち」（あいの むち）is treating or dealing with you in a strict way because they want to help you or change your behavior. They do so because...

「土下座する」（どげざする） is to be in or move into a position where your body is supported on your knees and bend your body forward when you ask for...

「逃がした魚は大きい」（にがした さかなは おおきい） is used for someone or something that you were close to get but could not. You regret it so much that it...

「顔に書いてある」（かおにかいてある） is used in a situation where someone’s feeling is very obvious to other people from the expression on his/her face.

「蛙の面に水」（かえるの つらに みず） is used to say that something, especially criticism or advice, has no effect on someone. Isn’t it interesting that...

「際」（きわ）is the outside limit of an object, a surface, or an area, or the time when you are almost in a very new, dangerous, or exciting...

「絶交」（ぜっこう） is to end a relationship with someone.

「駄目元」（だめもと） is informally used when you try to do something even if you know it will not be successful, because trying it can’t do any...

「病みつき」（やみつき） is enjoying something very much, so that you want to do it, see it, eat it, etc. as much as possible.

「憂鬱」（ゆううつ） is sadness, gloom, or depression. Although the writing of the kanjis is very hard, it is commonly used in speech.

「拍手喝采」（はくしゅ かっさい） is the noise made by a group of people clapping and sometimes shouting to show their approval or enjoyment.

「色眼鏡で見る」（いろめがねで みる） is to look at something or someone with a prejudice or bias for or especially against. 「色眼鏡」（いろめがね） is colored glasses.