to eat one's words
to take back what one has said
She ate her words when she realised she was talking badly about the boss right to his face.
to make a splash
to attract a lot of attention
Fred made a splash in the meeting today when his phone started ringing.
to be on the safe side
to create a sense of security and minimise any possible risk
We recorded a video of the incident just to be on the safe side.
as far as one can tell
to conclude something based on the available information
As far as I could tell, the shop was closed today.
to go down the drain
All of his efforts on the new product went down the drain when the office caught fire.
to go down in history
to be remembered forever; recorded in history books
His speech will go down in history as one of the greatest!
to go down a storm
to be well received by an audience
The opening band went down a storm! It was their first concert!
to take a rain check
to politely decline an offer with the exception of taking it up at a later time
I can't go to the museum today, but I am happy to take a rain check! How about next week?
to take the biscuit
to be the most foolish or remarkable part of something
Tara has done some pretty terrible things, but stealing Joe's cat takes the biscuit.
to take advantage of
to make unfair use of someone/something for one's personal benefit
He took advantage of the boss by showing up late to work each day.
to call sth. off / to call off sth.
to cool off = to make colder
We had to call the festival off when we found out that it was going to rain.
to come to a head
to reach a critical point
The situation came to a head when she showed up to a family party drunk.
to make a bee-line for
to go directly toward sth./someone
Tommy made a bee-line for his mum when he saw her after school.
to draw a blank
to fail to recall from memory
I am sorry, I am drawing a blank. I can't remember her address.
to put it mildly
to express that sth. is usually worse than it is being said
To put it mildly, I don't really like Mary.
to have the upper hand
to have a superior or more powerful position
Patrick has the upper hand in receiving the promotion as he has been with the company for over 10 years.
to have one's work cut out
to be faced with a difficult or lengthy task
We have to paint the entire house this weekend! We've got our work cut out for us.
to hit the ground running
to get started quickly or with great success
Miguel hit the ground running when he was promoted to manager. He made lots of amazing changes.
to keep your nose clean
Keep your nose clean when you go out tonight. I don't want a phone call from the police in the middle of the night.
to look alive
to move more quickly or engage in a more active way
It is the final half of the game! Look alive out there!
to go out on a limb
to put oneself in a vulnerable position
He went out on a limb when he proposed to his girlfriend at the Beyonce concert. I am relieved she said yes!
to go to the dogs
to become ruined or become worse
This TV show has really gone to the dogs. What were the writers thinking?
to run the gauntlet
to experience harsh criticisms or harsh treatment by others
Celebrities have to run the gauntlet of journalists every single day.
to lie low
We are lying low for now until our neighbours forget about the big party we had.
to bury the hatchet
Tom and Greg buried the hatchet by drinking a few beers together and discussing their problems.
to go to town
to do sth. with a great amount of enthusiasm
The production team really went to town on the set design! It looks like we are actually in Rome!
to come in handy
That book about phrasal verbs came in handy when I started my English course.
to buy time
to temporarily delay sth. from happening
He hadn't finished his project, so he tried to buy time by saying he had been feeling under the weather.
to be there for someone
to be available to provide support or comfort to someone
You are my best friend! I am always going to be there for you no matter what happens!
to put a damper/dampener on sth.
to make sth. less strong or exciting
Sandy's bad attitude really put a dampener on her surprise birthday party.
