To end relations with someone either profesionally or personally. For Example: A friend might ask, “are you still dating George?” To which one could reply, “no, I gave him the boot.”

Following the rules to their exact letter. For Example: If you do something “by the book,” you’re doing it exactly as intended with no deviation from a prescribed plan.

Stirring controversy or bringing sensitive issues to the forefront is “rocking the boat”. For Example: “It implies that everything was smooth beforehand and by broaching that subject you “rocked the boat.

A poker term that means identifying when someone is lying or being deceitful in hopes of misleading you. For Example: “He was acting like an expert on astronomy, but when I asked him his thoughts on quantum physics I clearly had called his bluff, he didn’t know how to respond.

Something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly. For Example: If one received an unexpected raise from their boss, they might tell a friend, “oh, and I got a raise out of the blue today which was nice!”