calling down
dressing down
give one a dressing down
A scolding; reprimand.
The judge gave the boy a calling down for speeding.
The sergeant gave the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined.
carry the ball
To take the most important or difficult part in an action or business.
Брать наиболее важную или трудную часть работы или проекта; быть ответственным за что-то.
None of the other boys would tell the principal about their breaking the window, and John had to carry the ball.
When the going is rough, Fred can always be depended on to carry the ball.
The director decided to let his assistant carry the ball on the assignment for the new contract.
Директор принял решение позволить своему ассистенту быть ответственным за задание по подписанию нового контракта.
The director let his assistant carry the ball on the assignment for the new sale's contract.
Директор позволил своему ассистенту взять на себя ответственность за распределение по новому торговому контракту.
Davis had to carry the ball while the boss was away.
Девис пришлось быть за главного, пока ее начальник отсутствовал.
climb the wall
To react to a challenging situation with too great an emotional response, frustration, tension, and anxiety.
By the time I got the letter that I was hired, I was ready to climb the wall.
To be so disinterested or bored as to be most anxious to get away at any cost.
If the chairman doesn't stop talking, I'll climb the wall.
close call
close shave
A situation involving a narrow escape from danger.
That sure was a close call when that truck came near us from the right!
When Tim fell off his bicycle in front of a bus, it was a very close shave.
Bob, that car nearly hit us! What a close call.
We had a close call when a small fire in our kitchen almost spread to the rest of the house.
corn ball
A superficially sentimental movie or musical in which the word "love" is mentioned too often; a theatrical performance that is trivially sentimental.
That movie last night was a corn ball.
A person who behaves in a superficially sentimental manner or likes performances portraying such behavior.
Suzie can't stand Joe; she thinks he's a corn ball.
crystal ball
A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass) that is used by fortune-tellers.
The fortune-teller at the fair looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip next year.
Any means of predicting the future.
My crystal ball tells me you'll be making the honor roll.
doll up
get dolled up
get all dolled up
To dress in fine or fancy clothes.
The girls dolled up for the big school dance of the year.
The girls were all dolled up for the Christmas party.
To make more pretty or attractive.
The classrooms were all dolled up with Christmas decorations.
down one's alley
up one's alley
Suited to your tastes and abilities; what you like or like to do.
Baseball is right down Jim's alley.