To Chicken Out

Context #1 - 

Tim: Have you heard about the new ride and Magic Mountain called the Death Drop?

John:  Yeah, I heard it's super scary.  Have you been on it?

Tim:  Well, we went there this weekend and I was going to go on it with my friends, but I chickened out at the last minute.

John:  Really?  That must have been a little embarrassing.

Tim:  Yeah, it was!

Context #2 -

Christine: Did you hear about Steve and Carol's anniversary trip to Yosemite?

Stacy:  No, what happened?

Christine:  They agreed to go bungee jumping off this bridge, but Carol was ready to jump and then chickened out.

Stacy: Oh no!  How did Steve take it?

Christine:  He wasn't upset at all.  He actually thought it was kind of funny.

Meaning:  to chicken out is used when someone gets too scared or too afraid to do something so they back out or don't attempt it. 

http://languagesystems.edu/

Hole in the wall

Context #1 

Sam: Last night we found this really awesome restaurant for authentic southern BBQ!

Tony: Really?  Where is it?

Sam: It's a tiny little hole in the wall right on the corner of Main St. and First.  The food is cheap and delicious!

Context #2 

Jenny: So, how was your trip to San Diego? 

Sara: It was great!  We found this little hole in the wall downtown that had the best Mexican food I've ever had.

Jenny:  Wow! That sounds good!

Meaning: In American English, the term hole in the wall is used to describe a small restaurant that is usually cheap and delicious, but sometimes a little dirty looking.  It sometimes can mean that the place is a little dirty looking but with good food or a cozy atmosphere.  

http://languagesystems.edu/