1.flying colors--success,victory
2.little by little--gradually
3.call off--cancel
4.come into--receive,especially after another's death
5.put off--postpone
6.stop by--make a brief visit on one's way elsewhere
7.tie up--hinder
8.be out for--trying to get
9.fill in for--take another's place
10.turn down--(1)refuse or reject
(2)reduce the loudness of
11.go off--begin to ring
12.cut down--lessen;reduce;limit
13.come up with--produce;supply
14.make it--(1)achieve a specific goal
(2)succeed in general
15.catch one's eye--attract one's attention
16.care for--(1)like;value
(2)look after;take care of
17.head and shoulders above--much better
18.catch on--become popular
19.on the whole--in general
20.fill sb in--tell what sb should know
21.in a nutshell--in a few words
22.from top to bottom--completely;entirely
23.take the plunge--enter with sudden decision upon an unfamiliar course of
action
24.on the tip of one's tongue--unable to be recalled
25.cheer up--feel happy;stop being sad or discouraged;become hopeful
26.hold off--postpone;delay
27.on cloud nine--a state of perfect happiness
28.back out--withdraw from an undertaking
29.grin and bear it--be as cheerful as possible in pain or trouble;do someth
ing without complaining
30.turn out to be--come to be;prove
31.bite off more than one can chew--attempt something that exceeds one's abi
lity
32.in the air--uncertain
33.get hold off--find a person so you can speak with him
34.learn the ropes--acquire thorough or special knowledge of a job