1. Rids the high horse
Meaning – To feel proud
Usage – He is riding the high horse because of his father's recent success in the business.
2. By fits and starts
Meaning – With irregular bursts of activity
Usage – The economy was recovering by fits and starts.
3. A bee in one’s bonnet
Meaning – An obsession, often with something that is strange or a source of agitation
Usage – It seems that he still has a bee in his bonnet over the criticism he got in the staff meeting.
4. See-through
Meaning – To apprehend one's true nature or character despite some affectation or deception
Usage – We saw through his superficial charm.
5. Take after
Meaning – To resemble one, as in appearance, behavior, attitude, etc.
Usage – She takes after me with her fair hair and skin, but she has her mother's eyes.
6. Break up
Meaning – To be inaudible or indecipherable, as of a voice on the telephone or a broadcast of some kind
Usage – I'm sorry, can you repeat that? You're breaking up.
7. Stand by
Meaning – Support
Usage – I feel as though I have to stand by my brother even if he goes to jail.
8. A bull in a China shop
Meaning – One who is aggressive and clumsy in a situation that requires delicacy and care.
Usage – My son is always like a bull in a China shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum.
9. Change (one’s) mind
Meaning – To change one's original opinion, choice, or plan
Usage – I guess he changed his mind and decided to go to the beach instead.
10. Spick and span
Meaning – Totally clean and/or organized
Usage – I plan to spend the day cleaning so that this place is spick and span when my mother arrives.
11. Give in
Meaning – To collapse, crumble, or cave in
Usage – We were able to get the kids out of the house before the roof gave in.
12. Leaps and bounds
Meaning – By very large degrees; rapidly or in quick progress forward
Usage – Our puppy has grown leaps and bounds since we switched it to a new brand of dog food.
13. Wide of the mark
Meaning – Incorrect or inaccurate
Usage – That comparison isn't as wide of the mark as it seems.
14. Out of the world
Meaning – Extraordinary
Usage – His singing at the auditions was out of the world.
15. Sweep under the carpet
Meaning – Keep hidden
Usage – The senator has been accused of trying to sweep his former drug use under the carpet.
Verifying, please be patient.