STAND GUARD

Armed soldiers stood guard over him.

GO WITHOUT SAYING

It goes without saying that eating these foods to replace every meal is not a good idea.

CATCH (SOMEONE) OFF GUARD

The news caught her completely off guard – she didn't know what to say.

SURE ENOUGH

He said he'd left the book on the desk, and sure enough, there it was.

GET YOUR OWN WAY

She always gets her own way in the end.

LET YOURSELF GO

1. Come on, enjoy yourself, let yourself go!

2. He has let himself go since he lost his job.

SPEAK YOUR MIND

She’s never hesitated about speaking her mind.

IN YOUR OWN RIGHT

Her father’s a well-known author, but she’s an excellent writer in her own right.

DRIVE SOMEONE ROUND THE BEND

That humming noise is driving me round the bend.

MAKE MATTERS / THINGS WORSE

These new crops are making matters worse by destroying traditional agriculture.

BACK ON THE MENU

The restaurant stopped doing my favourite curry, but now it's back on the menu.

RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS

I raised my eyebrows, quite surprised to hear the news.

LAY SOMETHING BARE

The government took action after research laid bare the level of sexism.

KEEP (HOLD) SOMETHING AT BAY

1. The government hopes to keep inflation at bay.
2. He held the police at bay for several hours.

GO OFF THE RAILS
RUN OFF THE RAILS

At 17 he suddenly went off the rails and started stealing.

COME TO TERMS WITH SOMETHING

George and Elizabeth have come to terms with the fact that they will never have children.
Counselling helped her come to terms with her grief.

STIFF UPPER LIP

He was taught to keep a stiff upper lip, whatever happens.

COME TO FRUITION
His extravagant ideas were never brought to fruition.
Their efforts came to fruition many years later.

FRUITION
/fruːˈɪʃ.ən/