GO BALLISTIC

My boss always goes ballistic if I forget to take her the morning report at 9 am.

IRON GUTS

They say you shouldn't eat chillis but I was OK. I must have iron guts.

LIKE GETTING BLOOD FROM A STONE

Getting the truth out of her is like getting blood out of a stone.

REMAIN MUM (formal)
STAY MUM / KEEP MUM (less formal)
A good friend can keep mum about your deepest darkest secrets.
The hospital authorities also kept mum about his visit.
Margo tried to remain mum about the surprise party.
Rob stayed mum about eating the last biscuit.

MUM'S THE WORD !

I know I can rely upon your discretion, mum's the word!
Go out and have some fun, but remember, mum's the word!

CASH COW
Everyone sees the SME market as the big cash cow that nobody has cracked yet,’ he said.
Parking fines are a real cash cow for local government.
Tha Star Wars franchise is a cash cow.

FACE THE MUSIC

If she lied to me, then she'll just have to face the music.

COST THE EARTH
COST A BOMB
COST A PACKET
COST A MINT
COST A FORTUNE
COST A PRETTY PENNY
COST AN ARM AND A LEG

MAKE YOURSELF SCARCE
/skɛːs/
Dad is really angry with you, so you'd better make yourself scarce.
The boy had made himself scarce in the past week, obviously avoiding the messengers for the day.

DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

So, as a short cut to happiness, drugs are double-edged swords.
Being famous is often a double-edged sword.

THE VILLAIN OF THE PIECE

The villain of the piece was an English cameraman, who forgot to press his safety switch.
In the debate about global warming, coal-fired power stations are usually seen as the villainof the piece.

GIVE OR TAKE

1. There are 25 students in my class, give or take.

2. It's a one hour drive, give or take a few minutes.

GIVEN THE FACT THAT

I can't believe your English is so good, given the fact that you've only studied for a year.
That hotel will be expensive, given the fact that it's in New York city.

RULE OF THUMB
/θʌm/

As a rule of thumb, you should try to return business phone calls in less than 24 hours.
In America it's a general rule of thumb that you give a 20% tip.

SWEEP THE BOARD

Australia swept the board in the swimming, with gold medals in every race.

THEREBY HANG A TALE

"Why are you limping?"
"Ah, thereby hangs a tale."

IT'S POURING DOWN
IT'S GOOD WEATHER FOR DUCKS
IT'S THROWING IT DOWN
IT'S SHEETING DOWN

BE LIKE A BEAR WITH A SORE THROAT

ON YOUR LAST LEGS

We`d been out walking all day and I was on my last legs when we reached the hotel.

HAVE TOO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE

With three kids and a full-time job, she`s got enough on her plate already.

RUN / WORK ONESELF INTO THE GROUND

I know I got sick because I worked myself into the ground.

COME / FALL APART ALL THE SEAMS

Our customer complaints are 30 % since our manager resigned. Everything is coming apart at the seams.

BACK SEAT DRIVER

YOU KNOW THE DRILL

WAKE UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED

(SOMETING) RINGS A BELL

Have you heard about this?
- Ahm.....it rings a bell

MAKE A SPLASH

Cameron Diaz made a big splash in "The mask"

His first book made a big splash.

HIT HOME

Her face went pale as his words hit home.

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING

PUSH BOUNDARIES

We ame to push the boundaries of what we can achieve.

TO TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

He says he has turned over a new leaf, but I have my doubts.