PAVE THE WAY FOR SOMETHING
The agreement will pave the way for restoring economic ties.
GET OUT OF HAND
We decided to leave before things got out of hand.
Things got a little out of hand at the party and three windows were broken.
PULL THE PLUG ON SOMETHING
The television company pulled the plug on the series after only five episodes.
FALL SHORT OF
The party is likely to fall short of a parliamentary majority
GET UNDERWAY
The film festival gets underway on 11 July .
SET YOUR SIGHTS ON SOMETHING
She set her sights on becoming the first woman president of the United States.
PICK YOURSELF UP
Nobody knows if Jim will ever pick himself up after his wife left him.
IN DUE COURSE
We will announce the results of our investigation in due course.
AS LONG AS
SO LONG AS
My parents don’t care what job I do as long as I’m happy.
COME NATURALLY
Making money came naturally to him.
BREAK NEW GROUND
The company broke new ground in the field of computers.
DEAD SET AGAINST SOMETHING /
DOING SOMETHING
We are absolutely set against the tax increase.
COMMON GROUND
We found ourselves on common ground on the question of education.
Despite of our disagreements, we have been able to fins some common ground.
A PLAGUE OF SOMETHING
[pleig]
Trees throughout the Northeast are being attacked by a plague of insects.
IN THE PAY OF
It emerged that some ministers were in the pay of the drug companies.
BURNING ISSUE
BURNING QUESTION
The burning question is: can the Internet be regulated?
TO YOUR COST
George is not always honest, as I discovered to my cost.
TURN OF EVENTS
an unexpected/strange/dramatic turn of events
A LONG SHOT
It’s a long shot, but I’ll ask her.
It's a long shot, but you could try phoning him at home.
LOSE YOUR COOL
When I feel like I'm about to lose my cool, I just leave the room.