Idiomatic prepositional phrases 1
The boss didn't punish Kevin for coming late. He must be ... his good books.
The boss didn't punish Kevin for coming late. He must be in his good books.
Although the police suspected him, he had an alibi for when the crime was commited, so now he is ... the clear.
Although the police suspected him, he had an alibi for when the crime was commited, so now he is in the clear.
My mom always says that you have to work hard to earn money because it ...
My mom always says that you have to work hard to earn money because it doesn't grow on trees.
She didn't like the meal and it was very expensive. She had to ... a lot of money to pay for it.
She didn't like the meal and it was very expensive. She had to cough up a lot of money to pay for it.
Demanding money by threatening to tell a secret.
Blackmail
He's almost dying; I'm afraid he's ... his last legs.
He's almost dying; I'm afraid he's on his last legs.
She's very busy at the moment; she's ... her eyes in work.
She's very busy at the moment; she's up to her eyes in work.
I couldn't use my credit card anymore because I was ...
I couldn't use my credit card anymore because I was in the red.
She has to pay for a lot of things this month and there's not much money left. She's ...
She has to pay for a lot of things this month and there's not much money left. She's stretched too thin.
Breaking and entering for the purpose of stealing.
Burglary
There's nothing else she can do now - the matter is completely ... her hands.
There's nothing else she can do now - the matter is completely out of her hands.
He came from a very poor family, so he learnt ... first hand what it was like to be hungry.
He came from a very poor family, so he learnt at first hand what it was like to be hungry.
He had to look for a job everywhere. He searched high and low.
I don't want to move in the next 5 years. I am going to ... for a while.
I don't want to move in the next 5 years. I am going to stay put for a while.
Stealing money in your care usually over a period of time.
Embezzlement
People told one another the news. It was passed ... word of mouth.
People told one another the news. It was passed by word of mouth.
The police arrived just in time; they came ... the eleventh hour.
The police arrived just in time; they came at the eleventh hour.
Only one person works in their family, so it's hard for them to ...
Only one person works in their family, so it's hard for them to live within their means.
He was trying to fool me and sell me a damaged car for a huge amount of money. He was trying to ...
He was trying to fool me and sell me a damaged car for a huge amount of money. He was trying to take me to the cleaners.
Getting money from someone by tricking them.
Fraud
Since he won Wimbledon, everyone wants to interview him. He's ... great demand.
Since he won Wimbledon, everyone wants to interview him. He's in great demand.
They lived on only $25 a week. They lived ... a shoestring.
They lived on only $25 a week. They lived on a shoestring.
It's very expensive! It costs ...
It's very expensive! It costs an arm and a leg.
The apartment wasn't expensive at all. We rented it ...
The apartment wasn't expensive at all. We rented it for a song.
Paying for a favor or something illegal.
Bribery