above all - most importantly
    account for - explain
    as a matter of fact - in fact ,to speak the truth
    as a rule - generally ;normally
    about to - be ready to; be on the point of doing something
    an old hand - be an experienced person
    any day now -soon
    approach sb -talk to sb
    be fed up with - be out of patience with
    be on one's own - live independently
    be on the safe side - take no chances
    be out of something - have no longer in supply
    be tired of - be bored with ,frustrated with
    be up to ones' ears - be extremely busy
    be up to someone -be a person's responsibility
    be out for -trying to get
    be out of the question - be unacceptable ,impossible
    bite off more than one can chew - take on more than one can handle
    break down - cease to function
    break the ice - begin to be friendly with people one doesn't know
    break the news - inform or give bad news
    brush up on - improve one's knowledge of something through study
    bump into - meet unexpectedly
    by and large - in general
    by heart - by memory
    by all means - absolutely ,definitely
    by no means - in no way
    call off -cancel
    cheer up - be happy
    come down with - become sick with
    come into -receive, especially after another's death
    come up with - think of
    count on - depend upon
    count out - eliminate
    die down - become quiet ,become less
    do without - manage without something
    drop by - visit informally; pay a short visit
    every other - alternate
    fall behind - lag; fail to accomplish something on time
    fall through - fail to happen or be completed
    far cry form - completely different from; a long way
    feel like - have a desire or wish for
    feel up to - feel well enough to or be capable of
    few and far between - not happening often; rate
    figure out - determine; reason out by thinking
    fill in for -take another's place
    fill sb. in - tell what sb. should know
    fish out of water - out of one's element or natural environment
    flying colors -success, victory
    for good - permanently; forever
    for the time being - for now; temporarily
    get away with - escape without punishment
    get rid of - give something away; sell, destroy, or throw away something
    get the ball rolling - start something; make a beginning
    get the hang of - understand; learn
    give a hand - help
    go without saying - understood; clear without needing to be stated
    go off -begin to ring