STAND GUARD
Armed soldiers stood guard over him.
GO WITHOUT SAYING
It goes without saying that eating these foods to replace every meal is not a good idea.
CATCH (SOMEONE) OFF GUARD
The news caught her completely off guard – she didn't know what to say.
SURE ENOUGH
He said he'd left the book on the desk, and sure enough, there it was.
GET YOUR OWN WAY
She always gets her own way in the end.
LET YOURSELF GO
1. Come on, enjoy yourself, let yourself go!
2. He has let himself go since he lost his job.
SPEAK YOUR MIND
She’s never hesitated about speaking her mind.
IN YOUR OWN RIGHT
Her father’s a well-known author, but she’s an excellent writer in her own right.
DRIVE SOMEONE ROUND THE BEND
That humming noise is driving me round the bend.
MAKE MATTERS / THINGS WORSE
These new crops are making matters worse by destroying traditional agriculture.
BACK ON THE MENU
The restaurant stopped doing my favourite curry, but now it's back on the menu.
RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS
I raised my eyebrows, quite surprised to hear the news.
LAY SOMETHING BARE
The government took action after research laid bare the level of sexism.
KEEP (HOLD) SOMETHING AT BAY
1. The government hopes to keep inflation at bay.
2. He held the police at bay for several hours.
GO OFF THE RAILS
RUN OFF THE RAILS
At 17 he suddenly went off the rails and started stealing.
COME TO TERMS WITH SOMETHING
George and Elizabeth have come to terms with the fact that they will never have children.
Counselling helped her come to terms with her grief.
STIFF UPPER LIP
He was taught to keep a stiff upper lip, whatever happens.
COME TO FRUITION
His extravagant ideas were never brought to fruition.
Their efforts came to fruition many years later.
FRUITION
/fruːˈɪʃ.ən/