foot in the door
get one's foot in the door
The first step toward getting or doing something; a start toward success; opening.
Don't let Jane get her foot in the door by joining the club or soon she'll want to be president.
keep the wolf from the door
keep the wolves from the door
To avoid hunger, poverty, and/or creditors.
Стараться избегать голода, бедности и/или кредиторов.
"I don't like my job," Mike complained, "but I must do something to keep the wolves from the door."
My grandparents earned barely enough to keep the wolf from the door.
Заработков моих бабушки и дедушки едва хватало, чтобы сводить концы с концами.
lay at one's door
To blame (something) on a person.
The failure of the plan was laid at his door.
lay the blame at one's door
lay the fault at one's door
To say that another person or group is responsible for one's own failure.
The angry coach laid the blame at the door of the players when our college lost the basketball game.
leave the door open
Дословно: оставить дверь открытой. Быть готовым к дальнейшим переговорам, развитию событий.
Both parties left the door open for further negotiations.
Обе стороны сошлись на возможности дальнейших переговоров.
lock the barn door after the horse is stolen
To be careful or try to make something safe when it is too late. A proverb.
After Mary failed the examination, she said she would study hard after that. She wanted to lock the barn door after the horse was stolen.
next door
In or to the next house or apartment.
He lived next door to me.
She telephoned next door to ask about John.
The house next door caught fire.
Very close. Used with to.
The sick man was next door to death.
Printing secrets about our country's missiles is next door to treason.
open its doors
To allow someone or something to enter or join; become open.
That college was started for women only, but a few years ago it opened its doors to men.
To begin doing business; open.
Proffitts Department Store is having a birthday sale; it first opened its doors fifty years ago this month.