A cock and bull story - - a false story

A fair crack of the whip -  - a period of importance                                                   

A foregone conclusion -  - an anticipated result    

A round dozen - - a full dozen

After one's own heart - - to one's own liking

Apple of discord -  - matter of dispute

At a low ebb -  - declining

At bay -  - in a tight corner 

At draggers drawn -  - on the point of fighting

At stake - - in danger

 

Bad blood - - ill feeling

Beggars description - - beyond description

Black sheep - - wicked man

Blue blood -  - aristocratic birth

Bottom line - - the essential point

Bring to light -  - make open, published

Bull market -  - rising 

By leaps and bounds  -  - very rapidly

Capital punishment - - death penalty

Carried the day -  - won

Cock and bull story - - absurd story/ unbelievable story                       

Come to light -  - to publish

Cut a sad figure - - cut a sorry figure

Dark horse -  - Unknown person      

Dead language - - a language which is no longer in use                 

Dead letter - - law that not in force

Deep water - - in trouble

Dilly dally - - waste time

Dog days -  - hot weather    

Flesh and blood - - human body                                                        

Gift of the gab -  - power of delivering speech

Herculean task - - a very difficult task

Hold water -  - bear examination

Hush money -  - bribed

In black and white - - in writing

In cold blood -  - in cool brain   

In full swing - - in full activity

In the nick of time -  - in right time  

Ins and outs - - Full details

Irony of fate -  - by bad luck

Lion's share - - major portion

Maiden speech - - first speech

Med over a new leaf   - - I opened a new chapter                                      

On the eve of - - just before

Out and out - - thoroughly

Part and parcel - - an integral part

Pin money - - sundry expenses  

Pros and cons - - advantages and disadvantages

Rank and file - - common person

Red letter day - - memorable day

Show coach - - a very lazy person

Sit on the fence - - remain neutral in a dispute 

Soft soap - - flattery for self motives

Stone's throw - - within very short distance

Through thick and thin - - under all conditions

To be one's wit's end - - not to know what to do

To get along with - - to adjust

To keep one's head - - to keep calm

To meet trouble "half-way”- - to be puzzled

To put the cart before the horse - - to reverse the natural order of things

To raise one's eye-brow - - show surprise or disapproval

To read between the lines - - to grasp the hidden meaning

Up and doing - - active    

White elephant - - a very costly and troublesome possession

Widow's mite - - small contribution of a poor man