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 → lesson; 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 sth. without complaining
30. turn out to be → come to be; prove
31. bite off more than one can chew → attempt sth. that exceeds one’s 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 → don’t 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. se