Idioms - part 1

White elephant
 
1) She got this brand new BMW from her father as a birthday gift. The problem is that she is unemployed so this is a white elephant for her.

it means

She got this brand new BMW from her father as a birthday gift. The problem is that she is unemployed and she cannot sell it and has no money to mantain it.

2) That new copy machine that was bought for us couple of weeks ago is like a white elphant. It just stands there in the corner of our office and nobody knows how to use it. Besides, we don't need anything so high-tech.

it means

That new copy machine that was bought for us couple of weeks ago is very complicated and expensive to maintain. It just stands there in the corner of our office and nobody knows how to use it. Besides, we don't need anything so high-tech.

                                                                                               CHECK
 
To smell a rat
 
1) The minute I came in, I smelled a rat. Sure enough, I had been robbed!

it means

The minute I came in, I knew that something was wrong. Sure enough, I had been robbed!

2) When I saw our new CEO I immediately smelled a rat. That guy has no previous experience, no formal education but he is our former CEO's brother. No wonder, he got a job!

it means

When I saw our new CEO I knew that something was wrong. That guy has no previous experience, no formal education but he is our former CEO's brother. No wonder, he got a job!


                                                                                                CHECK