Against
all odds = despite the difficulties
Be at
a loss for words = be so surprised that one does not know what to say
Be
broke = have no money at all
Be
fed up with = be weary
Be
flat out = be exhausted
Be
full of beans = be lively
Be
hard of hearing = be rather deaf
Be
hard on sb = treat sb in a strict or unfair way
Be in
a good/bad mood = feel happy/sad
Be in
sb’s shoes =be in sb’s position
Be on
good terms with = be friendly with
Be
out of practice = lack practice
Be
out of work = be unemployed
Be
short of sth = not have enough
Be
sound asleep = be sleeping deeply
Be
thick = be stupid
Behind
bars = in prison
Break
a record =make a record (Olympic, world etc)
Break
sb’s heart = make sb very sad
Burst
into laughter /tears= start laughing /crying
By
and large =mainly
Change
one’s mind = decide to do sth different
Catch
hold of =grasp
Cut a
long story short = tell sb sth briefly
Do
one’s best = try as hard as possible
Do sb
a favour = do sth to help sb
Do
sth behind sb’s back = act without sb else’s knowledge
Do
sth for a living = have a job and earn money
Drop
sb a line = send sb an informal letter
Eat
like a horse = eat a lot of food
Fall
in love with = begin to feel romantic
love for sb
Feel/be/look
worn out = feel/be/look exhausted
Fight
like cat and dog = disagree violently
Fit
like a glove = (of clothes) fit very well
Get
along with = be on friendly terms
Get
in touch with = communicate with sb one hasn’t seen recently
Get into
a mess = get into a difficult situation
Get
on sb’s nerves = irritate sb
Get
rid of = remove or dispose of
Give
sb a hand = help sb
Give
sb a ring = telephone sb
Give
sb a lift / a ride = take in car
Give
sb one’s word =make a promise
Go
sightseeing = visit the sights
Have
a good / bad time = enjoy/ not enjoy oneself
Have
second thoughts =reconsider
Have
a memory like an elephant = never forget
Have
an early/ late night = go to bed early/ late
Have
sth on the tip of one’s tongue = be on the point of remembering and saying sth
Have
the time of one’s life = experience a period of exceptional happiness
Hit
the roof = get very angry
In a
flash = very quickly
In
black and white = in writing
In
cold blood = without any feeling of remorse
Keep
an eye on sth =guard
Keep
in touch with sb = maintain contact by writing,visiting etc
Keep
one’s fingers crossed = wish for good luck
Keep
one’s head = remain calm
Learn
sth by heart = memorize
Lose
heart = become discouraged
Lose
one’s head = panic; lose self-control
Lose
one’s temper = become angry
Make
a fortune = make a lot of money
Make
a fuss = complain loudly
Make
a living = earn money
Make
allowances for sb = consider sb’s weaknesses
Make
one’s blood boil =make sb angry
Make
oneself at home = act and feel as if one were in one’s own house
Make
room for sth/sb = allow enough free space
Make
sure = check
Make
up one’s mind = decide
Make
fun of = mock, ridicule
Out
of the blue = suddenly and unexpectedly
Out
of date = old fashioned
Out
of breath = breathless, gasping
out
of sight = outside visible range / amazing
pick
sb up =collect in vehicle
Pour
with rain = rain heavily
Pull
sb’ s leg = make fun of sb by pretending sth is true
Put
an end / a stop to sth = end sth completely
Put
sth by for a rainy day = save for future times of need
Put
the blame on sb = say sb is responsible for sth bad
Ring
a bell = sound familiar
Sleep
like a log = sleep very deeply
Spend
money like water = spend money quickly or in large amounts
Swim
like a fish = swim very well
Take
advantage of = exploit
Take
a look = look at sth quickly
Take
it easy = don’t be worried or excited
Take
part in = participate
Take
place = occur, happen
Take
sth into account = regard, consider
Tell
the world = tell everybody
Throw
a party = have a party
Work a miracle = make
sth that seems impossible happen 
