To Scratch the surface

Example 1: 

Katya: Hey,​Yuko! What did you learn about in school today?

Yuko: Our professor talked about space. We learned about stars, planets, and black holes. It was so interesting!

Katya: Wow! I've always wondered if there could be life on other planets. Did you learn about that?

Yuko: No, our lesson was only one hour long. The professor only scratched the surface. I will have to learn a lot more about space before I can understand it completely.

Example 2: 

Amy: How was your trip to Los Angeles?

Jason: It was great, but I wish it had been​ longer. I was there for a week, and I got to see the Santa Monica Pier, the Hollywood sign, and the ​Dodger Stadium. But I feel like there is so much more to see and do in LA. I barely scratched the surface. 

Meaning: To ​talk about a topic on a superficial level; not go deeply into the subject; only deal with a small part of a problem or situation.

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Street Smart

Idiom: street smart(s); used as an adjective or noun

Context #1:

Lenny: So Mayra got a new place.

Bruce: Really? Where is it?

Lenny: Over on 4th, kind of near the freeway.

Bruce: Isn't that kind of a bad neighborhood?

Lenny: Yeah, but she's street smart. She grew up in an area like that, so she knows how to survive. And she's saving a ton of money compared to her last place.

Meaning: The expression street smart means that someone knows how to survive in dangerous urban areas, usually because they have experience living in similar areas. The expression can be used as an adjective, as in the example above, or as the non-count noun street smarts, as in the next example:

Context #2

Don't go into that neighborhood without any

street smarts; it can be a rough area, and

people walk around with expensive jewelry and talking on expensive mobile phones are likely to get mugged.

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To take a rain​ ​check

Context #1: 

Arias and Varysun are talking on the phone.

​

Arias: Hey Varysun! Can you remind me what time we are going to watch the movie Change of Thrones?

Varysun: Actually, I'm feeling a little sick today.

Arias: Oh, no! What happened?

Varysun: I don't know for sure​,​ but my stomach has been hurting and I've been in bed all day.

Arias: That sounds terrible! Is there anything I can get you?

Varysun: No, thank you, I've just been drinking a lot of 

​water​ and resting.

Arias: I'm glad you are taking care of yourself. 

Varysun: Do you think we could take a rain check on going to the movies?

Arias: Yes! Of course. Once you feel better we can pick another date and time to watch Change of Thrones.

Varysun: Thank you for being so understanding!

Arias: No worries at all, my friend! Feel better and get well soon.

Varysun: Okay, bye now.

Arias: Bye!

Context #2:

Branishk and Ramsayon are cousins who are hanging out at The Rose Garden.

Branishk: I thought you and Sansara were going to Santa Barbara this weekend, no?

Ramsayon: We were but she said she needed to take a rain check.

Branishk: Really? Why? What happened?

Ramsayon: Well, her sister had to have an emergency surgery​,​ so she decided to help​ her this weekend.

Branishk: That's really nice of her. Were you able to get a refund from the hotel?

Ramsayon: We were going to stay at my friend's place, so​ we didn't loose any money. 

Branishk: That's good!

Meaning: To reschedule plans for later

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A kick!!

Context #1  

Tom: What are you doing?

Chris: I'm putting Tabasco sauce in my humus.

Tom: Why?

Chris: Well, the humus tastes good, but it needs a little kick.

Context #2

Suzie: What did you order?

Teresa: I ordered the Thai green curry.

Suzie: I've had that before.  I hope you like spicy food because that green curry really has a kick.

Meaning: "a kick" is a common American expression that means a spicy component when it comes to food.  It is usually used with the verbs "to have," "to need" and "to give."   

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One swallow does not make a summer

 Context #1

Jay: I can’t believe mom bought us a trip to Hawaii. Maybe she’ll get us a car too.

Saul: Calm down Jay. One swallow does not make a summer. Remember that mom has money limitations. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Jay: You don’t think mom would do that for us? 

Saul: Be realistic. Just because mom got a new job, doesn’t mean she can afford everything.

Context #2

Peter: I got into college in NY. I’m not worried anymore. I’m sure all the other colleges will accept me too.

Sonia: One swallow does not make a summer buddy. Every school has different standards and rules. Let’s not get too confident about what schools will accept you yet. You should wait before making a decision.

Peter: But this was the most difficult school to get into. How can the other schools not accept me?

Sonia: Sometimes school departments make a difference. It’s not necessarily the entire university that makes that decision. 

Meaning: The expression "one swallow does not make a summer" means that just because one good thing happened, you cannot expect every other thing that will happen to be good. For example, some people think that if something good happens at the beginning of a trip, it’s a sign that everything else will go well. In reality, that is not true. In the first example, Jay thinks that because the mother bought them a trip, surely she will also buy them a car, but there’s no evidence to prove this. It’s just a feeling. In the second example, Peter thinks every college he applied to will accept him because he got into the most difficult one. However, that’s just his belief, not a fact. He is not aware that most universities have differences in acceptance policies and that the standards of each department in that college vary. 

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