write checks one can't cash
To make promises one cannot keep, or to make boasts that are not true.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Don't write checks you can't cash with your boss.”
“The candidate promised to lower taxes, but he is writing checks he cannot cash.”
“You are writing checks you can't cash by telling your friends you will pay for the entire vacation when you haven't even saved enough for the flight.”
“By committing to a project timeline that was clearly impossible, the manager was writing checks he could not cash, eventually losing the trust of his entire team.”
A check (or "cheque" in British English) is a document that orders a financial institution to pay a specific amount of money. The money would be taken from the account of the person who wrote the check and paid to the person in whose name the check has been issued. If one writes a check for an amount of money one does not have available in the associated account, also known as writing a bad check, the resulting check cannot be cashed by the receiving party. In this situation, a promise of payment was made by writing the check, but the promise is not honored due to insufficient funds.
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as best one can
In the best possible way, given one's circumstances and abilities.
- 02
as far as one knows
To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or situation.
- 03
back to square one
Located back at the start, as after a dead end or failure.
- 04
beat as one
To share the same feelings.
- 05
become one flesh
To join together in marriage; to develop a unifying bond as a result of marrying.
- 06
beggars can't be choosers
Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available.
- 07
bite off more than one can chew
To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.
- 08
bite the big one
To perform poorly; to fail.
Last updated August 10, 2026