above all - most importantly
account for - explain
as a matter of fact - in fact ,to speak the truth
as a rule - generally ;normally
about to - be ready to;be on the point of doing something
an old hand - be an experienced persom
any day now -soon
approach sb -talk to sb
be fed up with - be out of patience with
be on one''s own - live independently
be on the safe side - take no chances
be out of something - have no longer in supply
be tired of - be bored with ,frustrated with
be up to ones''ears - be extremely busy
be up to someone -be a person''s responsibility
be out for -trying to get
be out of the question - be unacceptable ,impossible
bite off more than one can chew - take on more than one can handle
break down - cease to function
break the ice - begin to be friendly wuth people one doesn''t know
break the news - inform or give bad news
brush up on - imporve noe''s knowledge of something through study
bump into - meet unexpectedly
by and large - in general
by heart - by memory
by all means - absolutely ,definitely
by no means - in no way
call off -cancel
cheer up - be happy
come down with - become sick with
come into -receive,especially after another''s death
come up with - think of
count on - depend upon
count out - eliminate
die down - become quiet ,become less
do without - manage without something
drop by - visit informally; pay a short visit
every other - alternate
fall behind - lag; fail to accomplish something on time
fall through - fail to happen or be completed
far cry form - completely different from;a long way
feel like - have a desire or wish for
feel up to - feel well enough to or be capabele of
few and far between - not happening often; rate
figure out - determine; reason out by thinking
fill in for -take another''s place
fill sb.in - tell what sb. should know
fish out of water - out of one''s element or natural environment
flying colors -success,victory
for good - permanently; forever
for the time being - for now; temporarily
get away with - escape without punishment
get rid of - give something away; sell, destroy, or throw away something
get the ball rolling - start something; make a beginning
get the hang of - understand; learn
give a hand - help
go without saying - understood; clear without needing to be stated
go off -begin to ring
hang on - keep hold of; persevere;keep doing something
hard to come by - difficult to obtain
have a heart - have kind feelings; be understanding
have a hunch - have an idea based on feelings rather than reason
hold off - delay;postpone
hop to it - get started on something quickly
hit it off - get along well with someone
ill at ease - uncomfortable
in hot water - in trouble
in the air -uncertain
in the dark - keep someone without knowdge; information from somenoe
in the lone run - looking toward the future; eventually
ins and outs - all the details; the various parts and difficulties to be seen
iron out - remove the difficulties or find an answer for
jump to conclusions - arrive too quickly at a decision or opinion
keep an eye on - watch closely
keep one''sfingers crossed - wish that nothing goes wrong
keep on one''s toes - be ready for action; prepared
knock oneself out - make a great effort
learn the ropes - learn the rules and routines of a place or activity
little by little -gradually
make ends meet - to get just enough money for noe''s needs
