be down and out:疲憊不堪，一蹶不振
　EX: After about ten years of no business at all, they are practi cally down and out. 　EX: I don't think you realize that I am down and out.

double date:兩對伴侶的約會
　EX: Sometimes it's more fun to go on a double date.
go off the deep end:魯莽行事，感情用事
　EX: He surely went off the deep end when he bought that restaurant. 　EX: Matt warned his roommate not to go off the deep end and get married.

go the whole hog¹:全力以赴
　EX: When Bob became interested in model airplanes, he went the whole hog.
jump out of the frying pan into fire:每況欲下(from bad to worse)
　EX: You're jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. By trying to straighten out with Mr.Bagnell, you're getting your self in trouble with Mrs. Bagnell.
jump down one's throat:橫加指責
　EX: I don't mind being corrected when I am wrong, but you don't need to jump down my throat.

lick into shape:塑造，訓練整頓
　EX: Two years in the army will lick him into shape. 　EX: The inspection² was announced at two o'clock, and they had the place licked into shape.

look down one's nose at:嗤之以鼻，瞧不起
　EX:The man is a snob³. He looks down his nose at most people. 　EX:He looks down his nose at theoffer. (meaning he doesn't care about the offer.)

make heavy weather:發覺某事有困難
　EX:Though the investment is at present making heavy weather, the future is regarded with confidence.

make head or tail of: 弄清楚，懂得
　EX:Can you understand this letter? I've read it through twice and I juse can't make head of tail of it.

Stand to reason 清楚而且合乎邏輯
　 Ex:It stands to reason that too many shopping choices can be as bad as too few. 　 Ex:If you drink too much coffee a day, it stands to reason that your health will suffer.

kick around 私下討論一下
　 Ex: We haven't decided⁴ where to go on vacation. I think we'd better kick it around for a while.

put two and two together 找出解決之道
　 Ex: At first, he couldn't understand the directions for assembling the bookcase, but later on he was able to put two ond two together.

fake steps 採取必要措施
　 Ex: The executive committee has faken steps to guarantee salary raises for each employee. 　

be on good terms with 和…交情不錯
　 Ex: Lisa is on good terms with everyone in the office. 　 Ex: Are you on good terms with the people on the team?
throw a curve 誤導、欺騙
　 Ex: Sam's girlfriend is easily confused when Some one throws her a curve. 　 Ex: Tim threw me a curve when he first denied and then admitted to lying about the banking⁶ error.

let the cat out of the bag 洩漏祕密
　 Ex: The boy'ss cousin accidentally let the cat out of the bag when she tole him about the surprise party. 　Ex: I didn't mean to let the cat out of the bah and ruin the fun.
butter up 討好、諂媚
　 Ex: After Rock yubs Katie the wrong way, he tries to butter her up. 　Ex: Corey buttered up all his feachers in the hope that he would get better grades.
out of character 和一貫的性格、行為不一致
　 Ex: It's out of character for Frank to be so concemed about the feelings of other people. 　Ex: Keeping good hours would be out of characfer for John and Susan.

up to one's neck 非常忙碌
　Ex: Since Terry agreed to be the chief editor, she has been up to her neck in work

cutt off all ties: 斷卻一切關係
　 EX: After dumping the boy, Shelly cut off all ties with him. 　 EX: Ken⁵ changed his job two years ago, and he has cut off all ties with former coworkers ever since.
have a chip on one's shoulder 心懷怨恨
　 EX: Calvin has a chip on his shoulder, because he has heard a lot of rumors⁷ spread by his best friend.