250

250Easy money--To bet one's bottom dollar.--

Money. Easy money. EasymoneyEasy moneyEasy moneyeasy money

-1: I heard about this house the owner had to sell in a hurry, so I got it at a very cheap price. A week later I sold it for a 20,000 dollar profit. Talk about your easy money!

******

2: I know you all want to be successful in the future. But the best way to do that is to get a good education. If I were you, I'd study hard and not spend a lot of time in figuring out how to make easy money.

******

MoneyDollar. DollardollarTo bet one's bottom dollar. To betOne's bottom dollar

3: You know, Senator Clark keeps telling the press that he won't run for president in 1996. But I'd bet my bottom dollar that two years from now he'll announce he's a candidate.

1996

******

4: Our company was to deliver the ordered products to our clients before four in the afternoon. However, Larry forgot the whole thing and the client was mad as a wet hen. But I bet my bottom dollar that Larry will blame somebody else for his mistake.

251smart money--mad money--money

Smart money. Smartsmart moneysmartsmart moneySmart moneysmart money

-1: Do you think the economy is heading up or down? The smart money seems to think that business will get better so maybe it's time to put some money into the stock market.

******

2: In the past, interest from my bank account was a good source of income to have after I retire. But interest rates are so low these days that I have to let those smart money people who handle mutual funds take care of my money.

******

Mad money. Madmad mad money

mad moneyMad money

3: The other day we ran out of gas sixty miles from home. I had forgotten my wallet. But we were lucky - my wife remembered she had her mad money, so we were able to buy gas to get back home.

******

4: Last Saturday, my daughter was invited to a dinner party and planned to buy a cake on her way. In the bakery, she found out that she'd forgotten her purse. Fortunately, she had her mad money in her pocket to pay for the cake, so it turned out all right.

252sweet talk--A snow job-- Sweet talk. SweettalkSweet talksweetSweet talkSweet talksweet talk

-1: You know, I think my youngest daughter was born with honey in her mouth! She can sweet-talk me into doing just about anything she wants me to do.

was born with honey in her mouth

******

sweet talk

2: Alex has been working for me over a year. He never misses a chance to say what he thinks I want to hear. He hopes I'll assign him nice jobs and eventually promote him. But I don't buy that kind of sweet talk so I guess he'll be disappointed.

******

sweet talkSnow job. SnowjobA snow jobA snow job

3: I've got to give the teacher a snow job to get her to give me another week. Do you think she'd believe me if I tell her I really wrote the paper, but the dog got it and ate it?

?

******Snow jobsweet talka snow jobsnow job

4: That girl didn't show up for the interview. She said she felt so dizzy on her way that she could not drive anymore and there was no telephone around. But I have this uneasy feeling she's giving me a snow job.

253A fine kettle of fish--To have other fish to fry--Fish. FishfishA fine kettle of fish. FinekettleA fine kettle of fish

a kettle of fish

-1: There I was, stuck on a lonely road 50 miles from home, after I was stupid enough to lock myself out of my car. It was dark and not a house in sight. A fine kettle of fish, I tell you!

,

******

2: He left a fine kettle of fish behind. We couldn't find out what our money had been spent for; we couldnt tell which members had paid their dues, and the rent wasn't paid. What a mess!

******

To have other fish to fry. fry

3: Hey, Joseph, you know I'd sure like to help you raise money for the Red Cross. But I have other fish to fry - I'm chairman of the committee to raise money to fix the roof on my church.

******

4: Honey, they want me to run for Congress, but I said no. I have other fish to fry - I need all my time for my business so I can retire when I reach 50 and we can move to Hawaii.

254to butter up someone--

A nitpicker--To butter up someone. Butter to butter up someonebutterTo butter up someoneto butter up someoneTo butter up someone

-1: Harry is working hard to butter up the boss to get that promotion. The funny thing is if he worked as hard at his job as he does at buttering up people, he'd have a better chance to get what he's after.

******

2: I believe some people are simply born with the talent of buttering up people. Don't you think I haven't tried. I did, but I felt so awkward about flattering people. So I've given up a long time ago.

******

Nitpicker. NitpickerNitpickerA nitpickerNitpicker

3: I hate to sound like a nitpicker, but I found a comma missing in your third paragraph and another comma missing down in the tenth paragraph. Let's try to be more careful from now on.

******

4: My baby sister Carol said that most of her classmates like her taste and compliment her every time she wears a new dress. The nitpicker who criticizes her is her best friend Laura. My sister thinks that Laura is simply jealous of her.

256To go up in smoke--smoke screen-- smokeTo go up in smoke. smokeTo go up in smoke

-1: This big oil company thought there might be a lot of oil in the ground under our farm. They drilled three wells but got nothing out of them buy dirt. So all our dreams of being millionaires went up in smoke.

oilOiloiloilwellwellwell

******

2: I was all set to go to medical school next September. But dad's company suddenly went bankrupt and it's too late to apply for a student loan. I'm afraid my dream of being a doctor has just gone up in smoke.

******

smokeSmoke screen. Screensmoke screenSmoke screen

smoke screen

3: That man talks about how glad he was to retire at age forty-five and enjoy himself. But it's just a smoke screen to hide the fact he got fired from his job and can't find another.

******

4: Sam's been telling everybody his wife is having an affair. But we think this is nothing but a smoke screen for his plan to divorce her for a younger woman and save paying her a lot of alimony.

257On top of the world--

Off the top of one's head--topOn top of the world. On top of the world

-1: Who would imagine somebody like Lee could even graduate from college - confined to a wheel chair! Now he's going to America all by himself. Nobody could feel more on top of the world right now!

wheel-chairWheel-chairWheelchairwheel-chair

******

2: I really admire Alice. Thirty years of hard work raising kids. Her youngest son just got married and all her children are doing well. She tells me she's on top of the world now for the first time in her life.

******

topOff the top of one's head. Head Off the top of one's headoff the top of one's head

3: Sorry, I can't give you the exact figure off the top of my head. But I guess the percentage of working women in the American labor force right now is about, oh say, 47%.

......

******

4: You know, I didn't study for this English quiz. So when the teacher called my name, I was frozen. Then standing up to recite the poem, I found myself doing it off the top of my head! Can you believe that?

258handed something on a silver platter--

to go over like a lead balloon--silver lead

To be handed something on a silver platter. To be handed somethingon a silver platterTo be handed something on a silver platter

-1: Joe got handed his job here on a silver platter because he's the president's son. But I don't know how long he can last because he simply is not qualified to handle it and is already in a lot of trouble.

***

2: Everybody in the office thought Jack had more chances than I did to get the promotion. But at the last minute he found a better paying job and left our company. So I got handed the promotion on a silver platter. Isn't it wonderful!

***

To go over like a lead balloon. Leadballoonto go over like a lead balloonto go over like a lead balloon to go over like a lead balloon3: When I gave my speech to the club, I started off with a joke to get the audience in a good mood. But my joke went over like a lead balloon - nobody even cracked a smile. And it almost ruined the rest of the speech for me.

***

4: I told my kids if they stop watching TV for a week before their final exams, I'll take them to the zoo to see the pandas the first week of their summer vacation. But my suggestion went over like a lead balloon.

259Pinhead--On pins and needles--

pinPinpinClothespins, hairpins, rolling pins. Clothespinshairpinsrolling pinspin Pinhead. PinheadpinheadHeadPinhead pinhead

-1Jack is one of the best-looking men in the office. Too bad he's such a pinhead. If you talk to him for two minutes, you realize he doesn't have a brain in his head.

2We have to admit Mark is really a pinhead. But I respect him because he works so hard. The problem is that some of our workers like to make fun of him. No wonder he lacks self esteem. It's a darn shame!

!

guyis a nice guy

On pins and needles. Pinneedleon pins and needles

3Did you notice that young man pacing back and forth in the waiting room like a caged tiger? He was certainly on pins and needles - I'll bet this is the first time his wife has ever had a baby.

4When the jury foreman started to read the verdict, the boxer's face was white as a sheet. He tried to look calm and confident but everybody in the courtroom knew he was on pins and needles.

jury foremanJuryForeman

260To cook up--Smart cookies--tough cookie--cookCookcook cookcookto cookupTo cook up

-1: Oh, no! It's after seven o'clock and I promised Susan I'd meet her in front of her office right at six. I better cook up a good story or I'll be in big trouble.

***

2: I could see my dad was really angry when I got home yesterday. I cooked up a story about taking a sick classmate to the hospital. But my dad asked for his name and telephone number. So I had to tell the truth. I'm now grounded for a week.

to be groundedgrounded

***

cookiecookieCookiecookiecookiecookie cookieSmart cookies and tough cookies. Smart cookiestough cookiesSmartsmart cookiesmart cookie

3: When my sister was only ten years old I saw what a smart cookie she was going to be. And I was right; she's in Harvard medical school and she gets the highest grades in her class.

***

tough cookietoughToughtough cookies

4: Our boss is sure one tough cookie. If you don't work hard, he'll fire you from your job in a minute. The good thing is that he's fair-minded; do good work and he'll pay you top wages.

261Fly-by-night--Off the cuff--Fly-by-night. Fly-by-nightflybybynightflynightfly-by-nightfly-by-nightfly-by-night

-1: This new auto dealer opened up with promises to sell cars cheaper than anybody else. But his business turned out to be fly-by-night: he collected people's deposits on new cars and then disappeared with everybody's money.

******

2: They told me I could take a four-city trip for only three hundred dollars, including hotels and meals. But after I sent my deposit of $150, I never heard from them any more and I have no way to contact them. Clearly, it was a fly-by-night organization.

******

Off the cuff. CuffOff the cuffoff the cuff

3: You want to know how many people work for our agency? Off the cuff, I'd say about two thousand. But I'll have to look up the exact number and get back to you later.

******

4: If you want to borrow 80% of the total amount, with the interest rate at 7.5%, off the cuff, you probably will have to pay a little over fifteen hundred dollars a month. But I've got to do a detailed calculation before I can give you an exact number.

(262gold mine--Born with a silver spoon in his mouth--Gold mine. Goldminegold mineGoldgold

Gold minegold rush

a gold mine

-1: If you are famous enough, giving public lectures in America can be a real gold mine. Why, when Mister Gorbachev visited Virginia, he made $125,000 in speaking fees in four days.

******

2: I've been in this stock business all my life. To some, it seems to be a gold mine, but I know how dangerous it can be. If you know nothing about stocks or you don't have a good stock broker, you could easily lose your money.

******

Silver.

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth

3: I'll tell you the good thing about our boss. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and doesn't have to work at all. But he really works harder than anybody in the office.

******

4: My cousin Thomas was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He's now forty years old and has never worked a single day in his life. Sometimes I envy him very much. But in fact if I didn't work I would be very miserable.

263Steamroller-- Under one's own steam--Steam.

Steam.1769steam

Steamroller steamrollerSteamrollersteamrollersteamroller

-1: Sometimes one political party or the other wins the White House and a big majority in both houses of Congress. Then it becomes a steamroller that flattens the opposition until the next election.

******

steamrollersteamroller

2: The basketball team of Roosevelt High School has several strong and good athletes. But our team is made of students who are basically new to good athletes. So, last night the Roosevelt team steamrolled us 38 to 0. I can tell you, that's not fun!

380 ******

steamUnder one's own steam.steamunder your own steam

steam

3: Thanks for offering me a ride. I appreciate it, but I drove my own car to the office today, so I'll get to the party under my own steam. see you later!

264Goody two shoes--to fill the shoes--

Shoe. ShoeshoesshoesshoeGoody two shoes. GoodygoodygoodygoodGoodyTwo shoesgoody two shoesGoody two shoes Karen1: I wonder how we can help Karen loosen up and be a little more tolerant of common human flaws. She's such a goody two shoes that all the men I know are afraid to ask her out on a date.goody two shoesgoody two shoes"a" That person is a goody two shoes****** ******

2: It's true Eleanor isn't dating anybody steady right now. But don't get the idea she's a goody two shoes. She's not only smart and attractive - she's also a real fun person to be around.

****** ******

To fill the shoes. to fill the shoes

3: Are you sure you're ready to fill John's first wife's shoes? Remember, she was a full-time wife and mother. But you're a full-time career woman with no experience taking care of kids.

****** ******

to fill the shoes

4: Nobody else wants to work as hard as Helen did without a lot higher salary. That's why the boss is having a tough time finding anybody to fill Helen's shoes for the same money.

265To go full steam aheadahead--To blow off steamsteam--

steam To go To go full steam ahead. Fullsteamaheadfull steam ahead. Fullsteamahead To go full steam To go full steam aheadahead

to go full steam aheadto go full steam aheadto go fullto go full steam aheadsteam ahead toto go full steam aheadgo full steam ahead

-1: White House sources tell us that President Clinton has told his-1: White House sources tell us that President Clinton has told his staff to go full steam ahead to draft a new health care bill to send to staff to go full steam ahead to draft a new health care bill to send to Congress before the end of the month. Congress before the end of the month.

****** ******

-2: I assigned the team two weeks ago to study the problem and find a-2: I assigned the team two weeks ago to study the problem and find a solution. But I was told nothing has been done so far. So I called the solution. But I was told nothing has been done so far. So I called the team leader in today and told him to go full steam ahead and send me a team leader in today and told him to go full steam ahead and send me a report by the end of the week. report by the end of the week.

****** ******

steamsteam To blow off steam. To blow To blow off steam. To blow ::To blow off steamsteam

toto blow off steamblow off steam

-3: I'm sorry I yelled at you people. What happened wasn't your fault --3: I'm sorry I yelled at you people. What happened wasn't your fault - I know that. But things have gone wrong all day, and I had to blow off I know that. But things have gone wrong all day, and I had to blow off steam at somebody! steam at somebody!

****** ******

-4: Jack, I know you have a lot of troubles in your office. But you-4: Jack, I know you have a lot of troubles in your office. But you can't always blow steam off at your wife and kids if you want to maintain can't always blow steam off at your wife and kids if you want to maintain your marriage. If you go on like this, one day your family will be ruined. your marriage. If you go on like this, one day your family will be ruined.

266to lower the boom--throw away the key--

To lower the boom. To lowerboomto lower the boom

-1: The new chief of police announced today that he was going to lower the boom on drug peddlers by putting a lot more officers in neighborhoods where the situation is worst.

****** ******

2: I was robbed in broad daylight last year. The police caught the guy but set him free after six weeks. I don't understand this, why can't they lower the boom on these criminals so that they will think twice before they do something bad.

,

****** ******

To throw away the key. To throw awaykey

throw away the keyto throw away the key

3: You remember that man who shot three people when he held up a bank? The judge locked him up and threw away the key: she sentenced him to life in prison with no chance of parole.

****** ******

4: I don't think to throw away the key is the answer to the ever increasing rate of criminal cases. We must impose death sentences on those murderers who kill people without even blinking an eye? Only that may stop them killing so freely.

267a slap on the wrist.-- A slap on the wrist. Slapa slap on the face WristA slap on the wriston the wrist

a slap on the wrist

-1: I hoped the judge would send this guy to jail. But all he gave him was a slap on the wrist - he fined him two hundred dollars and suspended his driver's license for 30 days.

, ****** ****** A slap on the wrist

2: Last time when I had a minor mistake in a report, Mr. Johnson gave mea severe warning and even threatened to fire me. Now, Lisa has made a really serious blunder, but I'm sure he'll give her a slap on the wrist.

269Wild and woolly--Dyed in the wool--Wool. WoolwoolWild and woolly.

Wild and woollyWoollywoolwool lywoollyWoolly

-1: The young people next door had a wild and woolly party last night! Loud music and people yelling at the top of their voices - I couldn't get to sleep until four in the morning.

******

2: Most of our interns keep quiet and try very hard to learn. But, Jack and Bill get wild and woolly when they have free time; yelling and laughing disturbing everybody around. Maybe we ought to let them go.

******

woolDyed in the wool. Dyeddyed in the wool

3: Bill Jones is a dyed in the wool Republican and his wife Betty is a dyed in the wool Democrat. They argue about politics all the time but you know something - they get along better than any other couple I know.

.

******

4: Mary is a dyed in the wool liberal. She believes Washington should spend more money on the poor. But John is firmly against our welfare system. He says it encourages the poor to rely on the government and not work.

270To walk down the aisle--To walk the plank.-- walkWalkTo walk down the aisle. To walk downaisle,

to walk down the aisle

-1: Do you remember how the royal couple walked down the aisle in Westminster Cathedral over ten years ago? I hoped they'd be happy forever after and I'm sorry to see them splitting up.

Westminster Cathedral

******

2: My sister says she won't walk down the aisle with the first man who asks her. What she wants is to establish a career and have some financial independence like so many women these days.

******

To walk the plank. Plankto walk the plankto walk the plank

to walk the plank

3: When a new man goes to the White House, all the top officials appointed by the old administration have to be ready to walk the plank to make room for the new president to appoint his own people.

******

4: When you take over the store, think twice about making the manager walk the plank. It may not be easy to find another one as honest and efficient as he is.

271To eat one's words--From the word go--wordword

To eat one's words. wordsTo eat one's wordsTo eat one's wordsto eat one's words

-1: Michael, I'm really embarrassed that I have to eat my own words. The money I expected to receive last week didn't arrive. But I'm sure it's in the mail so l can pay you back before Saturday.

*****

2: When we got married my younger brother predicted it would never last, that we weren't the right type for each other. But he's certainly had to eat his words and admit he was wrong.

to eat one's words

*****

wordFrom the word go. From the word goTake your marks Get setGo

Go

3: The first time we met I knew this was the only one I wanted to marry. Yes, sir, it was love from the word go. And, you know, we've been happy together almost fifty years.

*****

4: When Mary and I met, I was dazzled. But I learned right away we had nothing in common. I knew from the word go it wouldn't work no matter how beautiful she was.

(273One-liner--Punch line

.

One-liner. OnelinerlineOne-linerlinerone-linerone-liner

-1: Some important politicians and businessmen keep a man on their staff just to write one-liners for them. They like to have a few one-liners handy any time they have to make a speech.

,

****

2: Debby, thank you so much for the book on American humor you gave me. I checked the book on my flight to Boston and found two perfect one-liners for my speech. And they really warmed up the crowd for what I had to say.

****

Punch line. PunchLinePunch line

punch linepunchA punch line

3: I wish somebody would tell Joe that he shouldnt try to tell those long jokes. They're so long that half the time he forgets the punch line and people just don't laugh.

****

punch line

4: I don't know how to tell my son Jack he simply has no talent as a comedian. For one thing he always laughs at his own joke before he gets to the punch line. Which means nobody laughs at the end of the job.

274play fast and loose--hard and fast--

fastFastfastTo play fast and loose. to playfastloose

play fast and looseTo play fast and looseto play fast and loose

-1: I feel sorry for Mary - Jim has been playing fast and loose with her affections too long. Why doesn't she make up her mind once and for all, and just get rid of the man?

******

To play fast and loose

2: Gary played fast and loose with his brother's high office, raking in bribes from people who wanted favors from the government. It's a good thing the FBI finally caught him!

******

fastHard and Fast. Hard and fastHard and fast fastFast friendfast friendhard and fast

3: At our house there's a hard and fast rule against us kids hanging out downtown late at night. We all have to be home by ten o'clock. And no exceptions, either!

******

4: That country now has a hard and fast rule against a teacher taking money to raise a student's grade. It's not only dishonest but it's unfair to all the other students in the class.

275Sitting pretty--to sit tight--sitSitting pretty. sitSitting to sitpretty sitting prettySitting pretty

"I'm sitting pretty in a pretty little city."

Sitting prettysitting pretty,

-1: Federal workers thought they were sitting pretty until the White House announced its plans for reform. The plan calls for cutting a quarter million jobs so now people are worried.

******

2: Mister Lee is really sitting pretty now - the other dry cleaner down the block sold out to an oriental grocery store, which means he now has no competition for two miles around.

******

To sit tight. TightTo sit tight,to sit tight

3: Now just sit tight and wait: Mary'll be here in a minute. I can't wait to see her reaction when she sees you - she'll be so surprised and happy she may cry.

******

...

4: Remember that scene when she had to sit tight in the attic while German soldiers searched the house downstairs? I was holding my breath hoping they wouldn'0t find her hiding place.

.

276to sit on one's hands--to sit on the fence--to sit on the fencesitsitsit

To sit on one's hands. to sit on one's handsto sit on one's handsTo sit on one's handssit on their hands - to sit on one's hands

-1: Man, that's sure a tough audience out there tonight! I thought I sounded great but the audience really sat on their hands - I tell you I never want to come back to this lousy place!

,

******

to sit on one's handsEmily

2: Emily loved the idea, but she sat on her hands for two weeks. I finally realized we should have asked her to be the director. We did, and now she's working harder for the club than anybody else.

to sit on her hands,

******

sitTo sit on the fence. Fenceto sit on the fenceto sit on the fenceTo sit on the fenceto sit on the fence

to sit on the fenceto sit on the fence

3: Jack sat on the fence for weeks before he made up his mind to go out for baseball instead of track. A good choice for the school: he turns out to be the best player on the team.

******

4: I've decided to vote for the man already in office. But Sally is still sitting on the fence. Maybe she'll vote for the independent candidate. We'll just have to wait and see.

277life in the fast lane--Go nowhere fast--fastLife in the fast lane. fastlanefast lane

life in the fast lane Tomlife in the fast lane

-1: Tom is a hotel manager. He works 60 hours a week, but he's always flying to Hong Kong, Tokyo or New York and enjoys life in the fast lane.

fast lane

******

Tom Billlife in the fast lane

2: Bill used to enjoy life in the fast lane in New York, but his family didn't. Now he's happier living a quiet life in a small town with his wife and two kids.

Bill life in the fast lane life on a fast tracktrack

3: It's a place where you can't slow down - a fast track.

******

Go nowhere fastnowherenowhereGo nowherefastGo nowhere fast

4: I've been working on this problem all evening and I'm going nowhere fast! Could you help me out, because I just don't know how to do it.

go nowhere fast

******

Burden, Burdenfamily historyfamily historyfamily historygo nowhere fast

5: Those people in the novel are going nowhere fast. They bear burdens of their family history and are never able to solve any of their problems.

278wing it--take someone under your wing--wing wing wing itwingwing it

wing itwing wing it

-1: I don't like my job. No matter how much time I spend on a speech for my boss, he wings it instead of reading it the way I wrote it.

Wing it

****

talk show, talkshowtalk showHosttalk show hostInterviewReview wing it

2: A good talk show host will interview a writer without reading his books. He'll read some reviews so he can wing it when he talks to the writer on his show.

****

wing take someone under your wing,wing it wing

missionary. MissionaryEducate. Educatetake someone under your wing

3: Foreign missionaries took her under their wing and gave her food and clothes. But they also educated her to be a teacher for women in her country.

take someone under your wing

279Start from scratch--up to scratch--scratch[]

scratch the surface--scratchscratchscratch your skin with your fingernailsYou scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Scratch

scratchStart from scratchKentucky Fried Chickenstart from scratch

-1: He started from scratch with a small chicken restaurant down south. But he worked hard, had some luck and now Kentucky Fried Chicken is sold around the world.

scratchstart from scratch

******

up to scratchUp to scratchscratch38up to scratch up to scratchup to scratch

2: Sorry but that cloth you sent us isn't up to scratch. It's too thin and the color is too dark. We can't use it so I'm shipping it back.

up to scratch

******

scratchscratchscratch

3: My wife and I are saving as much as we can - we are trying to get enough scratch to buy a house.

******

scratchscratch the surface. SurfaceScratch the surfacescratch the surface

4: We don't have much yet because we've just started to scratch the surface. But we are putting more men on the job and we will dig deeper into the facts.

scratch the surface(280raise the devil--devil's advocate--

devil

raise the devil. Raiseraise the devil

raise the devil

-1Ask Tom to come right now! I just found out he shipped the watches to New York instead of Los Angeles. I'm going to raise the devil with him.

TomTomTomraise the devil

raise the devil with someone. with

******

raise the devilraise the deviltuitionparent

2We raised tuition ten percent last year. If we raise it again, our students and their parents will raise the devil with us and some of them will go somewhere else next year.

raise the devil

******

devil's advocate. Advocateadvocatedevil's advocate

Devil's advocatedevil's advocate

devil's advocate devil's advocate

3I'm in favor of moving too, but let me be the devil's advocate for a moment. Let's take a look at how much money we might save by staying right here.

devil's advocatedevil's advocate

******

devil's advocate

4We all agree women should have equal rights to work. But I'll be devil's advocate and ask, wasn't it better in the old days when women stayed home to cook, clean house and have babies?

? 281There's going to be the devil to pay

give the devil his due--

devildevil

There's going to be the devil to pay.

-1: Oh, oh, Bill! Wait till dad sees what you did to his car! You know how much he loves that car - there's going to be the devil to pay as soon as he gets home.

Bill

there's going to be the devil to pay

***there's going to be the devil to paythere's going to be the devil to pay

2It's already two weeks late. No matter how long it takes, you have to finish it tonight. There's going to be the devil to pay if it's not on the boss's desk in the morning.

There's going to be the devil to pay

***give the devil his due. Duegive the devil his duegive the devil his due

3That man has been stealing, fighting and selling drugs. But give the devil his due - when he saw the little girl fall into the river, he risked his life to save her.

give the devil his due

***Give the devil his duedevildevil

elect. Electget electedBill

4We're doing everything we can to beat Bill. But to give the devil his due, he's honest, knows a lot, and would probably do a good job if he gets elected.

BillBillBill

give the devil his due

282fair shake--

fair-weather friend--fair-haired boy--fairFair

fairfair shakefairfair shakefair shake

-1: The candidates get a fair shake during the debates. They take turns being asked questions and have the same amount of time to answer and to make a final statement at the end.

fair shake

******

fairfair weatherfair-weather friend Fair-weather friendfair-weather friend

2: When Joe was rich, everybody in town was his best friend. But after he lost his money, most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends who pretended they didn't even know him.

Joe

fair-weather friend

******

Fairfair-haired boy Fair-haired boy

3: That young guy in the nice private office isn't as good as a lot of other people in the place. But he's the fair-haired boy, because he's the owner's nephew.

fair-haired boy 283 go whole hog--

the whole nine yardsa whole new ball game--

wholeGo whole hoghoghoggo whole hoghog

go whole hogMercedesMercedes

-1: My wife and I worked hard all our lives and put three kids through college. Now we have a little money. We've always wanted a good car so we went whole hog and bought a Mercedes.

Mercedes

go whole hog

******

the whole nine yardsYard the whole nine yardsgo whole hog

go the whole nine yards

2: This player wanted three million dollars a year. That's twice as much as the team wanted to pay. But they really needed him so they went the whole nine yards and paid him what he asked.

go the whole nine yards

******

a whole new ball game A whole new ball game

a whole new ball game

3: The Republicans were having a hard time finding anybody to run against this popular senator. But now he's retiring so it's a whole new ball game - many people want to run for the job.

a whole new ball game

284get in on the ground floor--

mop the floor with--glass ceiling--hit the ceiling--floorceilingFloorceilingthe ground floorget in on the ground floorGet in on the ground floor

-1: He got in on the ground floor when he bought a lot of stock in a new computer company. People thought he was crazy but the company was a big success and now the stock is worth many times more.

get in on the ground floor

******

floormop the floor withmop the floor with

GiantsRedskins

2: This afternoon the New York Giants mopped the floor with the Washington Redskins. The score was 41-7, the biggest loss the Redskins had suffered in many years.

417

mop the floor with

******

ceilingGlass ceiling

3: I think these six women can certainly prove their firm has a glass ceiling: the firm has 19 senior partners and all of them are men. It's hard to believe that they've never had even one woman lawyer qualified for a top spot there.

glass ceiling

******

ceilinghit the ceiling

4: When I got home and saw what my dog had done , I really hit the ceiling. The dog got up on my desk and chewed up the papers there, including a long report I was writing for my boss.

hit the ceiling

285run like clockwork--cut and run--Dry run--dry runrunrun like clockwork Cclockworkrun like clockwork

run like clockwork

-1: Some parents like a military school, because it runs like clockwork. Everything is strict and runs on time from physical training to classes and self-study.

run like clockwork

****

runcut and runCut and run cut and runcut and run

2: When the price of new houses dropped so fast, a lot of builders simply cut and ran - they abandoned the houses they were building and that started the bad times in the real estate market.

cut and run

****

runDry runDry runrundry run

3: Okay, this is our last dry run - the show opens tomorrow. So come on, people, be serious! This is your last chance to improve before we have a live audience sitting out there.

dry rundry runThe plane dry runs

286Lie low--let sleeping dogs lie--Lielie, lielie lowLie lowlie low

lie lowguiltGuilt sense of guilt

-1: She changed her name and moved across the country. It would have been easy for her to lie low the rest of her life. Except for one thing - she couldn't get over her sense of guilt over the killing.

lie low

******

lie lowlie lowannounce Announce

2: I know Senator Blank wants to run for president. Right now he's lying low, not saying anything, but he's waiting for the right moment to announce he's in the race.

Blank

lie low

******

lielet sleeping dogs lie Let sleeping dogs lie

Peter

let sleeping dogs lie

3: Better let sleeping dogs lie. The boss likes Peter so much, and you are just like fish in a big pond. Be smart and stay quiet until your chance comes.

Peter

let sleeping dogs lie

******

let sleeping dogs lieGreenGreenGreen

4: Mr. Green is trying to let sleeping dogs lie. Both sides feel so strongly about this issue that if he stands on either side, he is sure to make a lot of enemies.

Green

let sleeping dogs lie(287blow-out--wing-ding--bash--

Blast--partypartyblow-out BlowoutBlow-outblow-out blow-outorchestra

-1: Sally's wedding reception was a real blow-out. More than three hundred guests, the best food and drink, a big orchestra for dancing - it must cost her father much money.

SallySally

blow-out

******

wing-ding Wing-dingblow-out Wing-dingWing- ding

-2: Our company made good money this year so our New Year party was the best wing-ding. There was plenty to eat and drink and most of us stayed later than we ever had before.

wing-ding

******

BashBashBash

-3: More than a hundred people came to the bash we gave for Johnny when he left for the college in California. Johnny had such a good time that he almost missed his plane.

JohnnyJohnnyJohnny

bash

******

Blastblast blast

blast

-4: Sure, I'm tired but it was worth it - a fantastic blast, at least until the police came and made us turn down the music because people could hear us two blocks away.

blast(288Stag party--

Hen party

tailgate party--Tailgatebaby shower-- showerstag partystagstag partyStag partystag party -1 I don't feel so good this morning. I gave my brother a stag party last night because he's getting married today and we stayed out too late and had too much to drink. Stag party

***** stag party Hen partyHenhen partyhen party 2 I'll be home tonight to take care of the kids because Susan has a hen party with the women she went to college with. Friday it's my turn - I'm going to a stag party to play poker. Susan hen party

***** stag party hen partytailgate partyTailgatetailgate party 3We had a great tailgater party before the Washington Redskins played the New York Giants. But that was the only good part of the day: the Giants beat our Redskins by 21 points. Tailgate party

***** baby shower. Baby showershowerSusanSusan 4The baby shower will surely be a happy occasion, but it seems like only yesterday that Susan was a little girl herself. Now she'll be a mother. Where does the time go, I wonder? Susan

289wet blanket--throw a wet blanket on-- security blanket-- Blanket .Wet blanket. wet.Wet blanket. wet wet blanketwet blanket wet blanketwet blanket

-1 I can't decide whether I should invite my girlfriend's brother Tom to the party. After all he is her brother. But he's such a wet blanket I'm afraid he'll spoil the party for all my other guests. -1 I can't decide whether I should invite my girlfriend's brother Tom to the party. After all he is her brother. But he's such a wet blanket I'm afraid he'll spoil the party for all my other guests.

Tom Tom TomTom TomTom

wet blanketwet blanket

****** ******

Wet blanket Wet blanket throw a wet blanket onthrow a wet blanket on a wet blanketa wet blanket wet blanketwet blanket

2 My friends and I were going to the beach this weekend for some sun and swimming. But the weather forecast threw a wet blanket on our plans - it says it'll be rainy and cold. 2 My friends and I were going to the beach this weekend for some sun and swimming. But the weather forecast threw a wet blanket on our plans - it says it'll be rainy and cold.

wet blanketwet blanket wet blanketwet blanket

****** ******

Security blanketSecurity blanket Security Security Security blanket Security blanket Security blanketSecurity blanket security blanketsecurity blanket

3 I was small for my age so I made friends with the biggest boy in my class. He was my security blanket - none of the other kids dared give me any trouble when he was around. 3 I was small for my age so I made friends with the biggest boy in my class. He was my security blanket - none of the other kids dared give me any trouble when he was around.

security blanketsecurity blanket

290Push somebody around--Pushover--when push comes to shove--push. push around. Push somebody around He's pushing him around. push around? ,push aroundpush around.

-1 I'm sick of Mr. Jones pushing us around. I'm going to find another job, and when I do, I'll go in and tell him what I think of him and then slam the door on my way out.

Jones

push around

******

pushpushover. PushoverPushoverpushoverPeter

2 My friend Peter is a pushover for anybody in trouble. Yesterday on our way back from lunch he saw an old man begging. And he immediately handed him a ten-dollar bill.

Peter

pushover

******

when push comes to shove. Shove, pushshovewhen push comes to shove

Blank

3Mr. Blank is getting a lot of letters and phone calls from people on this bill and he won't say how he'll vote. But when Congress votes Tuesday and push comes to shove, I think he'll vote in favor of it.

Blank

when push comes to shove291pull for--Pull through--pull your leg--

pull the plug --pushpullpull for. Pull forPull through. Pull throughpull forpull through

-1Hi, Jim! You look pretty good today. Everybody at the office says hello - we're all pulling for you to pull through this operation and get back to work as soon as you can. Jim!

Pull forpull through

******

pull your leg. Pull your leg

2This memo told me I was being transferred to Buffalo, where winter is really bad. I was worried when I saw people laughing at me, and I remembered it was April Fool's Day, and I realized my friends are pulling my leg.

BuffaloBuffalo

pull one's leg

******

pull the plug. plug Pull the plugpull the plug

3Business has been terrible for six months and is getting worse every day. I hate to say this but maybe the best thing to do is pull the plug and just close up shop for good.

pull the plug292rat race--

treadmill--

salt mine--rat raceratracerat racerat race -1Man, look at the time! Almost two o'clock! Got to get back to the rat race - I've got people coming to see me all afternoon. ! rat race rat race

*****

treadmillTreadmilltreadmill 2 Well, it was a great holiday. But I'm afraid it's back to the treadmill Monday morning with everybody else. However, I have two more weeks of vacation at summer time. treadmill

***** salt mineSaltminesalt minetreadmill salt mine 3I've been working in this place for 29 years. It's a real salt mine and I'm just waiting to finish 30 years and retire and get a good pension. salt mine

293class act--a hard act to follow--

get your act together--

actactclass act Classfirst classclass actclass act

-1I always shop there. Not only do they have top goods and fair prices, but sales people who are friendly and helpful. It's a real class act - in fact the best store in town.

class act

******

hard act to follow Hard act to followacthard act to followclass acthard act to follow

2Johnson found Kennedy a hard act to follow. Johnson was a master politician but Kennedy was young, handsome, full of vigor, a better speaker with plenty of wit and humor. So it took Johnson a long time to win people's confidence.

a hard act to follow

******

get your act togetherGet your act together get your act together

3Son, you can't live with us the rest of your life. It's time to get your act together, settle down and get married and start living your own life.

get your act together

294go over with a bang

get a bang out of--more bang for the bucka bigger bangmore bang

bangbangI always get a bang out of Madonna's music.I really enjoy Madonna's music. banggo over with a bang go over with a bang -1This play certainly went over with a bang. In fact, after each act the audience stood up and clapped and cheered for five minutes before anybody could quiet them down. go over with a bang

***** get a bang out ofGet a bang out of I get a bang out of you Green? 2We always get a bang out of eating dinner at the Green's house. The food is great, and they are always in such good spirits that they make us feel good too. Green get a bang out of

***** more bang for the buckBuckfor the buckMore bang for the buck 3I think this other system is a better deal for us. It's faster and has more memory for the same price. It'll give us more bang for the buck. more bang for the bucka bigger bangmore bang

295step up to the plate--not get to first base--

touch all the bases--

home plateplate plate: step up to the plate:

-1Senator Smith will be the first to step up to the plate tomorrow to ask other senators to vote yes in favor of the President's Health Care Bill.

Smith

step up to the plate

******

home platebasebaseballbase: get to first base Go to first baseget to first base

2Poor Bill, he's been in love with this girl for at least a year but he can't get to first base with her. He cant even get her to go out and have a cup of coffee with him.

Bill

not get to first base

******

basebasebase: touch all the bases Touch all the bases

3This new proposal looks good to me. But before we go ahead, let's touch all the bases to make sure it's okay: our sales manager, our production chief, our accountant, and of courses our lawyers. We don't want any trouble later.

touch all the bases

296have a ball--a ball of fire--ball up-- ball - :have a ballhave a ball have a ballballhave a ballhad a ball: -1 Well, you sure had a ball at the party, didn't you! Dancing and talking and drinking with all these people I didn't know. Too bad you didn't have any time to spend with me! : have a ball

***** ballball of fireBall of fireJimmyJimmya ball of fire? 2 Jimmy was just an average student in school and nobody thought he'd do much with his life. But I'm glad to say he turned out to be a real ball of fire in the real estate business. Jimmy a ball of fire

***** Ball of fireballballBall upball upball upBall up 3 I'm all balled up about how to use this new software. Three different people have tried to show me how it works, but each one has a different explanation on how to use it. be balled upball up: 4The lead singer really balled up the concert. ball up

297has a lot on the ball--start the ball rolling--keep the ball rolling

ballpark figure--

ballball: have a lot on the ball Have a lot on the ballSusanhave a lot on the ball -1True Susan hasn't published a book for ten years. But I believe she still has a lot on the ball as a writer. And I'm sure the critics will see that when her new book comes out this winter. : Susan has a lot on the ball

***** ballkeep the ball rolling keep the ball rolling: start the ball rolling start the ball rolling 2Mr. Smith starts the ball rolling by telling the group about his own painful experience with drugs. This loosens people up and they tell their own stories and keep the ball rolling. Smith start the ball rollingkeep the ball rolling ***** ball: ballpark figureBallparkfigurein the ballparkIn the ballparkballpark figurein the ballparkballpark figure 3According to my ballpark figure the monthly mortgage payment is about $1400. Since both of us work I think we can handle it okay. So what do you say -- should we go ahead and buy the place? 1400? ? ballpark figure

298Plug--plug away at--plug in--plugplugplugplugplug -1I have a contract for two million dollars a year to plug these shoes on TV. They've already filmed three plugs and you'll see the first plug next week - I think you'll like it.

***** : to plug these shoesplug three plugsthe first plugplugplugplug awayplug away 2I started my novel five years ago. It's been hard to find the time with all my other work, but I've kept plugging away every weekend and yesterday I started the last chapter. ?plugging away every weekendplug away

***** plugplug inplugplug inplug inbe plugged in to: 3See that tall man who just walked in. He's a good news source: he's a lawyer who's plugged in to the leaders of both political parties and is really in touch with what's going on. plug in

299have a bear by the tail--loaded for bear--: bear: have a bear by the tailBear have a bear by the tail -1: All Joe tried to do was end the fight between his two sisters but he ended up having a bear by the tail. The whole family got mad at him and now nobody will even speak to him. : Joe have a bear by the tail

***** : loaded for bearloadedloaded for bearloaded for bear ? 2: Nobody thought the challenger had a chance to win. He looked too small and too slow. But he had trained extra hard and came into the ring loaded for bear. And he knocked out the champ in Round Six. loaded for bear

***** bulls and bearsbull bearbulls and bearsbull bear GreenGreen bear? 3: Most people I know on Wall Street think the market is headed up but my friend Green is a real bear: he's looked hard at it and thinks it will drop 200 points in the next 30 days. Green bear

300Cut a deal--raw deal-- shady deal--dealDeal: cut a dealCut a deal

-1After six months of negotiations the two airlines announced today they have cut a deal to share their domestic and international routes and increase their traffic to Europe and Asia.

:

cut a deal

****

deal: raw dealraw deal?

1Old Mr. Green sure got a raw deal from that company where he'd worked for 30 years. When times got hard and they had to cut staff, they fired him with two weeks notice and only two weeks pay.

Greenraw deal

****

: shady dealShadyshady deal? shady deal

3They are investigating the man in charge of the road construction. They think he's cut some shady deals with contractors who paid him bribes under the table to get contracts to repair city roads and bridges.

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