Gilded Age levels?
To gild, as in the phrase gilding the lily, is to cover it with a thin layer of gold or something that looks like gold.
Down for the count?
“Down for the count” means a great setback whereas “KO” means total defeat.
Out-of-the-box solutions?
Out-of-the-box solutions means brand new measures.
Coming to a head?
What does "come to a head" mean? What does "head" mean here?
A long shot?
In other words, they took the chance even though they knew the odds were against it.
Nature of the beast?
The nature of the beast means it’s just the way it is, the way things are, even though they are very unpleasant.
Caught up in the moment?
Caught up in the moment means the exiting moment, in this case, of getting married for the first time.
Power play?
Power play is a term in the game of ice hockey describing the situation where one team has one or more players on court than the opposition.
Brick and mortar?
Brick and mortar companies are traditional companies in comparison to the newly coming online companies.
Capturing the imagination
They’re looking for someone who can write lyrics that fascinate people.
Stirring the pot
People stir the political pot in order to disturb the peace, raise disputes and cause unrest.
Foxhole mentality
People who take a foxhole approach to things are people who take things seriously.
Learning it the hard way
To learn a lesson the hard way means we learn it through experience, the bitterer the experience the better.
Big hat, no cattle
In short, people who are all hat and no cattle are not as good as they say they are.
Fighting chance
A fighting chance feels bigger and more real. If the chance is too small, you tend to leave everything to luck and won’t even care to fight.