· for a song以级低的价钱，廉价地
i got the rare edition of the book for a song in the flea market.
· sound someone out试探某人的意见
have you sounded the principal out on postponing the final examination?
· call a spade a spade有什么就说什么
we are good friends. call a spade a spade. don't tell me in a round-about way.
· spick and span干干净净
the housewife always keeps her kitchen spick and span.
· go for a spin出去兜风
the city dwellers like going for a spin to the country on weekends.
· spine-chilling令人毛骨悚然
he likes horrible films. those spine-chilling pictures to us are pleasant to his eyes.
· the spirit is willing; but the flesh is weak.心有余而力不足
a: how many times have you tried quitting smoking? b: it's not that the spirit is not willing, but that the flesh is weak.
· win one's spurs受到奖赏
she won her spurs as a popular writer immediately after her first book became a best-seller.
· put the squeeze on someone对某人施加压力
the new situation is putting the squeeze on all companies engaged in this business.
· stand up to someone与某人大胆对抗
the soldier stood up to the officer and was place in confinement.
· thank one's lucky stars感到万幸
i should thank your lucky stars that you missed the plane which crashed into the sea.
· get off to a flying start来了开门红
our kindergarten got off to a flying start by having 100 children to sign up in the first month.