1. "to have (many) irons in the fire": to have a lot of activities going on at the same time（同时有许多事，想马上全部做完，但又不知从何开始，似乎忙得不可开交）

2. "to talk over (one's) head(s)": to use large or big words so that the audience will not understand the exact meaning（指所谈论的内容过于专业或高深，非一般人可以理解；也指有人为了表现自己才学非凡，故意谈些高深理论或用些难字，吓唬别人乎源）

3. "to put (something) back into (in) its cage": to put something under control (can control某件事情，多半指政治、健康等)

4. "to keep (one's) fingers crossed": to hope something good will happen（祝福某人好运或一切顺利。把食指与中指交叉，祈求好运，是老外的迷信，但在写信或正式场合，多半是用“I wish you best (good) luck!”或“good (best) luck to you!”）

5. "to stretch (one's) legs": to relax or to take a short break（久坐后，把腿舒展一下，或稍微休息一下）

6. "to read between the lines": to interpret the hidden meaning or a hidden message; to discern the true fact（从字里行间体会隐含的意义；领会言外之意或能了解其中的真正意义）

7. "to let off steam": to give vent to one's anger （发泄、出气，像放掉蒸汽以减少压力似的。这与“to fly off the handle”意思相近，但比“to lose temper”委婉客气些）

8. "to pay through the nose": to pay too much for something or excessively expensive （花费太多，代价过高，与“to cost an arm and a leg”意义相近）

9. "to take center stage": to be in the spotlight（引人注目的中心人物；以某人为公众瞩目的对象）

10. "to drag (one's) feet": to procrastinate or postpone（慢慢的拖延，行动迟缓，拖拖拉拉）

11. "to paint(someone or oneself)into a corner": to trap oneself or someone; to be in trouble（使自己或某人陷入困境, 应该注意的是即使主语是复数形式，corner 仍然用单数）

12. "to ask(someone) for (one's) hand": to ask girl's parents for marriage approval（指男人请求女方家长应允将女儿嫁给他， 这里的“someone”是指女方的家长，“one”则是指要求婚的对象，hand 只能用单数形式）

13. "to move onward and upward": to be promoted; from good to better situation（情况得以改善，或往更好的情况发展）

14. "to call a spade a spade": to be honest, blunt or frank（直言不讳，有啥说啥）

15. "to play cat and mouse": to play games with aggressive and passive attitude（玩猫戏老鼠的把戏，欲擒故纵）

16. "to go on the dole": (of the unemployed) to live on public welfare（失业人员依靠政府救济金生活。）

17. "to be in the hot seat": to be under lots of pressure or in a difficult position（处于困境，面对很多压力）

18. "to make waves": to make trouble（惹是生非，与“rock the boat”意思相近）

19. "to keep (one's) nose clean": to keep away from trouble（远离是非，少惹麻烦）

20. "to drive (someone) up the wall": to annoy or upset someone（惹人生气或者不高兴）

21. "to write(someone or something)off": to throw away or to discard(抛弃或者丢弃); to deduct a business loss（在经商失败时，也用于报销、注销或扣除损失的数额中）

22. "to take up with (someone)": to date someone or to fall in love with someone（对某人产生兴趣，或与某人开始亲密交往）

23. "to pave the way to (or for)": to make the path or to lay a groundwork of something（为……铺平道路或为……做好准备）

24. "to paint the town red": to enjoy oneself; to have a good time（尽情享受）