Bald-faced liar
One who tells blatantly obvious or impudent untruths easily and with little or no attempt to disguise the lie
Examples
Everyone knows he is just a bald-faced liar. It’s a wonder anyone believes a thing he says anymore.
A bald faced liar!
Parallel universe or alternative universe
A realm of existence and experience that is fundamentally different from the one that most humans share; a separate reality
Examples
I don’t understand him—I think he lives in a parallel universe.
Barry lives in an alternative parallel universe?
Ring fence
To put (an amount of money) aside for a specific purpose
Examples
The money was ring-fenced for education programs.
Just ring fence what you have and buckle down
The dole
Benefit paid by the state to the unemployed
Examples
“they are receiving the dole”
“my next dole cheque”
The only people that should be on the dole are the…
A pile of junk
Any collection of objects that are considered to be of little to no value; useless, worthless
Example
It looked good but was a pile of junk.
Alive and kicking
Definitely alive; lively and active
Examples
This is a fun, on-the-ground story about a place whose history is alive and kicking.
Two years in a row, the Cinderella story is alive and kicking!
Two tier alive and kicking!
Pass the buck
Shift responsibility or blame elsewhere
Example
Oh no pass the buck time again…when will they realize the retric is wearing a bit thin…it’s your problem now so deal with it you useless bunch of muppets…
On a par with
The same as or equal to…; At the same level or standard as…
Examples
The new version of the software is on a par with the old one.
His new book is on par with his bestsellers.
It is on a par with our statues. Everyone seems to want to rip them down. These things are our history, like it or not.
Helmet
Someone who is acting foolish, silly, or just plain stupid. It is often used in a playful or teasing manner to poke fun at someone’s lack of intelligence or common sense.
Examples
‘Don’t be such a helmet, you forgot your keys again!’
He is a helmet
Play ball
Work willingly with others; cooperate
Example
“if his lawyers won’t play ball, there’s nothing we can do”
English Journalistic Gems 