1. flying colors success, victory
2. little by little gradually
3. call off cancel
4. come into receive, especially after anothers death
5. put off postpone
6. stop by make a brief visit on ones way elsewhere
7. tie up hinder
8. be out for trying to get
9. fill in for take anothers place
10. turn down ① refuse or reject ② reduce the loudness of
11. go off begin to ring
12. cut down lesson; reduce; limit
13. come up with produce; supply
14. make it ① achieve a specific goal ② succeed in general
15. catch ones eye attract ones 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 ones 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 sth. without complaining
30. turn out to be come to be; prove
31. bite off more than one can chew attempt sth. that exceeds ones ability
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. leave well(enough)alone dont try to improve what is already satisfactory
38. touch on mention a subject briefly or casually
39. see to it take care; take the responsibility make sure
40. give away give as a present
41. get along with live or work in harmony with
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 without much delay
47. play by ear ① play an instrument without using written music; ② handle a matter without adequate preparation 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 sth. 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 ones time not hurry
65. boil down to indicate, especially as a final judgment 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 assist
70. ring a bell sound familiar
71. snap out of it ① change ones habits, attitude, etc, suddenly ② regain ones 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 reference 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. spell out explain very clearly or in detail
81. fall back on rely on
82. wrap up bring to an end, especially a successful conclusion
83. save ones breath keep silent because talking will not help
84. hold up ① delay; hinder ② endure, last
85. have ones hands full be very busy; be able to do no more
86. How come? How is it? Why?
87. stick around stay or wait nearby
88. make out get along; manage
89. turn up appear, turn out, show up
90. hold off postpone; delay
91. over ones head beyond ones power to understand
92. stock up buy up; lay in a good supply of
93. keep up continue
94. tie up occupy completely
95. in and out coming in and going out often
96. make ends meet make ones income suffice without incurring debt
97. on and on without stopping
98. out of this world wonderful; great
99. in a row ① in line; in alignment ② in succession; successively
100. wait around waiting in vain