Mistakes & Poor Performance

used to say that someone has accepted the responsibility or blame for something and will not pass it to someone else

As the CEO, the buck stops here with me - I'm ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the company.

to be inadequately prepared for a conflict or challenging situation

By the time he realized his mistake, he had already brought a knife to a gunfight and lost the opportunity to make a good impression.

used to say that something or someone has many flaws, problems, or gaps that make it incomplete or unreliable

His alibi has more holes than Swiss cheese; it's clear he's lying about his whereabouts.

a major mistake or error, often made by someone in power, that leads to catastrophic consequences

If the company goes ahead with the merger without doing proper due diligence, it will be a Himalayan blunder that could have disastrous consequences.

to make a mistake, particularly in judging the amount of something

I overshot the mark and added too much salt to the recipe.

a reckless action that may result in serious consequences or failure

By the time the mistake was discovered, the employee had already made several false moves that had cost the company a lot of money.

an accidental and minor mistake made while speaking

He regretted his slip of the tongue during the interview, which cost him the job.

used to refer to a situation where individuals or groups unknowingly support or participate in something that will ultimately bring harm or negative consequences to themselves

By the time they realized the truth, they had already been like turkeys voting for Christmas, and it was too late to change the outcome.

to cause something to suddenly and completely stop, often in a dramatic or unexpected manner

By the time they realized the extent of the problem, the malfunction had brought the entire system to a grinding halt.