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 persom

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 wuth people one doesn't know

break the news - inform or give bad news

brush up on - imporve noe'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