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 something 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 ab

　　ility

　　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

　　35.tear oneself away from--depart with great reluctance; force oneself to leave

　　36.tie up--engage or occupy completely

　　37.touch on--mention a subject briefly or casually

　　39.see to it--take care;take the responsibility;make sure

　　40.get along with--live or work in harmony with

　　41.give away--give as present

　　42.account for--explain

　　43.out of print--no longer available for purchase from the publisher

　　44.send out--distribute

　　45.in no time--in a very brief time;almost at once

　　46.before long--soon;without much delay

　　47.play by ear--(1)play an instrument without using written music (2)handle a matter without adequate preparation or guidance

　　48.wear and tear--loss or damage caused by use

　　49.come what may--no matter what happens

　　50.drop by--make a short or unplanned visit

　　51.be short of--not having enough

　　52.cut it out--stop doing sth

　　53.be sick of--be tired of;having a strong dislike of

　　54.look for a needle in a haystack(a bottle)--search for something in a place where it is hopelessly lost.

　　55.knock oneself out--work very hard;make a great effort

　　56.run up against--encounter

　　57.far from--anything but;not at all

　　58.far from it--by no means;not at all

　　59.hang on to--hold tightly;keep firmly