to land on one's feet: to recover safely form an unpleasant or dangerous situation
o After a series of personal and professional difficulties, it's amazing that George has landed on his feet so quickly.
o Some young adults get into so much trouble at school that they are never able to land on their feet again. They drop out before graduating.
to dish out: to distribute in large quantity (S); to speak of others in a critical manner (S)
o Mary's mom dished out two or three scoops of ice cream for each child at the birthday party.
o Larry can't seem to take any criticism of his actions but he certainly likes to dish it out.
to get through to: to communicate with, to make someone understand (also: to break through to)
This idiom has the meaning of to make someone "catch on" (Lesson 29, eighth idiom, the first definition)
o Some of the students in my reading class understand English so poorly that it is difficult to get through to them.
o The doctors have never succeeded in breaking though to Mr. Ames, who is a silent and secretive patient.
to keep one's word: to fulfill a promise, to be responsible
An idiom with the opposite meaning is to break one's word.
o Suzanne kept her word to me not to let on to others that I intend to step down next month.
o Thomas always intends to keep his word, but invariably the end result is that he breaks his word. He just isn't capable of being a responsible person.
to be over one's head: to be very busy, to have too much to do (also: to be up to one's ears); to be beyond one's ability to understand
o I'd love to take a week off for a hiking trip, but at the moment I am over my head in work. Maybe next week when I'm only up to my ears!
o It was impossible for the tutor to get through to Bill about the physics problem because the subject matter was over Bill's head.
to ask for: to deserve, to receive a just punishment (also: to bring upon)
o If you drink alcohol and then drive a car, you're only asking for trouble.
o Don't complain about your cut in salary. You asked for it by refusing to heed our repeated warnings not to be late and inefficient.
to be a far cry from: to be very different from
o I enjoyed visiting Seattle
o Ned is enjoying his new job, but his responsibilities are a far cry from what he was told they would be.
by all means: certainly, definitely, naturally (also: of course); using any possible way or method
o If the Johnsons invite us for dinner, then by all means we have to return the invitation. Of cause, we don't have to invite their children, too.
o In order to ensure its survival, the ailing company has to obtain an infusion of cash by all means.
to get out from under: to restore one's financial security, to resolve a difficult financial obligation
o After years of struggling to get ahead, the young couple finally got out from under their debts.
o The ailing company, succeeding in obtaining the necessary cash, was able to get out from under its financial burdens.
to take the bull by the horns: to handle a difficult situation with determination
This idiom is usually used when someone has been postponing an action for some time and finally wants or needs to resolve it.
o After three years of faithful service, Jake decided to take the bull by the horns and ask his boss for a raise.
o Vic has been engaged to Laura for a long time now, and I know that he loves her. He should take the bull by the horns and ask her to marry him.
to give (someone) a hand: to assist, to aid, to help (also: to lend someone a hand) (S)
o Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?
o When Terry's car broke down at night on the highway, no one would stop to lend her a hand.
to give (someone) a big hand: to clap one's hands in applause, to applaud (S)
o After the talented new vocalist had sung her number, the audience gave her a big hand.
o Should we give a big hand to each beauty contestant is as she is introduced, or should we wait until all the introductions are finished?
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