1.flying colors-success, victory
2.little by little-gradually
3.call off-cancel
4.come into-receive, especially after another's death
5.put off-postpone
6.stop by-make a brief visit on one's way elsewhere
7.tie up-hinder
8.be out for-trying to get
9.fill in for-take another's place
10.turn down- (1) refuse or reject (2) reduce the loudness of
11.go off-begin to ring
12.cut down-lessen; reduce; limit
13.come up with-produce; supply
14.make it- (1) achieve a specific goal (2) succeed in general
15.catch one's eye-attract one's attention
16.care for- (1) like; value (2) look after; take care of
17.head and shoulders above-much better
18.catch on-become popular
19.on the whole-in general
20.fill sb in-tell what sb should know
21.in a nutshell-in a few words
22.from top to bottom-completely; entirely
23.take the plunge-enter with sudden decision upon an unfamiliar course of action
24.on the tip of one's tongue-unable to be recalled
25.cheer up-feel happy; stop being sad or discouraged; become hopeful
26.hold off-postpone; delay
27.on cloud nine-a state of perfect happiness
28.back out-withdraw from an undertaking
29.grin and bear it-be as cheerful as possible in pain or trouble; do something without complaining
30.turn out to be-come to be; prove
31.bite off more than one can chew-attempt something that exceeds one's ab
ility
32.in the air-uncertain
33.get hold off-find a person so you can speak with him
34.learn the ropes-acquire thorough or special knowledge of a job
35.tear oneself away from-depart with great reluctance; force oneself to leave
36.tie up-engage or occupy completely
37.touch on-mention a subject briefly or casually
39.see to it-take care;take the responsibility;make sure
40.get along with-live or work in harmony with
41.give away-give as present
42.account for-explain
43.out of print-no longer available for purchase from the publisher
44.send out-distribute
45.in no time-in a very brief time;almost at once
46.before long-soon;without much delay
47.play by ear-(1)play an instrument without using written music (2)handle a matter without adequate preparation or guidance
48.wear and tear-loss or damage caused by use
49.come what may-no matter what happens
50.drop by-make a short or unplanned visit
51.be short of-not having enough
52.cut it out-stop doing sth
53.be sick of-be tired of;having a strong dislike of
54.look for a needle in a haystack(a bottle)-search for something in a place where it is hopelessly lost.
55.knock oneself out-work very hard;make a great effort
56.run up against-encounter
57.far from-anything but;not at all
58.far from it-by no means;not at all
59.hang on to-hold tightly;keep firmly
60.get nowhere-be unsuccessful;obtain no result
61.day in and day out-every day;all the time
62.break down-cease to function
63.get going-get started;begin to move
64.take one's time-not hurry
65.boil down to-indicate,especially as a final judgement or analysis
66.make up-take a test for the second time
67.put up with-bear with patience;tolerate
68.by and by-before long
69.give someone a hand-help;assist
70.ring a bell-sound familiar
71.snap out of it-
(1)change one's habits,attitude,etc,suddenly
(2)regain one's composure,energy,or good spirits;recover
72.raise the roof-make trouble;start a fight or an argument
73.get away with-escape without punishment
74.on business-with definite work to do
75.look up-search for;as an item of information,in a referance book
76.let up-(1)cease;stop (2)slacken;abate
77.in any case(or event)-no matter what happens
78.come out-be published
79.look into-investigate;inspect
80.fall back on-rely on
81.spell out-explain very clearly or in detail
82.wrap up-bring to end,especially a successful conclusion
