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100

I'm tired. Let's pack it in for the day.

[to pack it in] to quit

100

He had big plans to open a new business, but things didn't pan out.

to pan out -to turn out all right

100

Laptop computers are all the rage these days.

rage- [all the rage] popular

100

Don't expect the magazine to attack any of our sacred cows.

a sacred cow -any individual or organization that is above criticism

100

We arrived so late that we saw only the tail end of the movie.

the tail end - the end part

200

This new weapon really packs a punch.

This new weapon really packs a wallop.

[to pack a wallop/punch] to carry or have a large amount of power

200

It's par for the course for new trainees to feel scared on the first day.

par for the course - typical for the situation

200

The employees raised a stink when they were asked to work late.

[to raise a stink] to complain or protest strongly; to cause a disturbance

200

Alma gets saddled with most of the problems in this office.

saddled with -responsible for

200

That sergeant is tailor-made for this mission.

tailor-made -exactly right for a certain person, place, situation, etc.

300

Chris finally left home to paddle his own canoe in Chicago.

to paddle one's own canoe- to work without help; to earn one's own living; to support oneself

300

Lately, Mike's reports are poorly written and haven't been passing muster.

[to pass muster] to be satisfactory; to be acceptable in accordance with some standard(s)

300

When the boss hears about this problem, she'll raise the roof.

[to raise the roof] to complain vigorously; to become angry

300

Marcella considers her friend Stephanie to be the salt of the earth.

[the salt of the earth] the best of people

300

I don't like to be in meetings with Melissa when she goes off on a wild tangent about something.

a tangent- [to go off on a tangent] to start talking about something unrelated to the topic at hand

400

My brother can be a pain in the neck when he takes my books without permission.

a pain in the neck - someone or something extremely disagreeable or unpleasant

400

Ivan always passes the buck to another manager whenever he has difficulties in the office.

[to pass the buck] to pass a problem or responsibility to another instead of taking care of it oneself

400

Hal was raked over the coals for being late.

[to rake over the coals] to reprimand severely; to scold

400

Ignore him. You can take what he says with a grain of salt.

[to take something with a grain of salt] to not pay much attention to something

400

No one wants to tangle with that drill sergeant.

to tangle with - to argue or fight with someone

500

Anthony has explained the very simple plan three different times to you. Do you also need me to paint a picture?

paint- 1. [to paint a picture] to explain in more minute detail, usually said sarcastically

500

I hear they're going to put Mr. Smith out to pasture next month.

[to put out to pasture] to force into retirement, like what you might do with an aging racehorse

500

The concert promoter was getting a rake-off of about I 5%.

[a rake-off] a share or amount taken illegally

500

He was embarrassed by the incident and tried unsuccessfully to save face

[to save face] to keep one's dignity or prestige after a setback

500

The studio thought their latest film would be a blockbuster, but it tanked completely its first weekend in wide release. 

to tank - to fail totally and rapidly

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