as luck would have it
As it happened; by chance; luckily or unluckily.
As luck would have it, no one was in the building when the explosion occurred.
As luck would have it, there was rain on the day of the picnic.
be itching to
have an itch for
To have a very strong desire to do something.
Jack is itching to travel abroad.
be on the ball
get on the ball
have on the ball
Paying attention and doing things well. Used after is or get.
Ben is really on the ball in school.
The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team.
Jim was the only one who caught that serious error in the bookkeeping statements. He’s really on the ball.
Ella was certainly on the ball when she remembered to reconfirm our flight arrangements. All the rest of us would have forgotten.
John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball.
The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball.
That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. Used after have.
I can't believe Molly got that report done so quickly - she really has something on the ball.
I'm so glad that my assistant has something on the ball because I'm too scatterbrained to manage my schedule on my own.
bee in one's bonnet
have a bee in one's bonnet
put a bee in one's bonnet
A fixed idea that seems fanciful, odd, or crazy.
Состояние навязчивой идеи, как правило странной или сумасбродной.
Robert Fulton had a bee in his bonnet about a steamboat.
Grandmother has some bee in her bonnet about going to the dance.
She's got a bee in her bonnet about moving to New York!
У неё навязчивая идея о переезде в Нью-Йорк!
bone to pick
crow to pick
have a bone to pick
pick a bone
A reason for dispute; something to complain of or argue about. Often used jokingly.
"I have a bone to pick with you," he said.
There was always a crow to pick about which one would shave first in the morning.
I accept your apology and will let bygones be bygones. However, I do have a bone to pick with you.
clip one's wings
have one's wings clipped
To limit or hold you back, bring you under control; prevent your success.
When the new president tried to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings.
Jim was spending too much time on dates when he needed to study so his father stopped his allowance; that clipped his wings.
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.
cut out
have one's work cut out
To stop; quit.
All right, now - let's cut out the talking.
He was teasing the dog and Joe told him to cut it out.
He kept bothering her, so finally she told him to cut it out. However, he wouldn’t knock it off until her larger brother appeared.
To displace in favor.
Tony cut Ed out with Mary.
John cut out two or three other men in trying for a better job.
Made ready; given for action; facing. Often used in the phrase "have one's work cut out for one."
Mary agreed to stay with her teacher's children all day; she did not know what was cut out for her.
If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he has his work cut out for him.
Suited to; fitted for.
Warren seemed to be cut out for the law. It was clear very early that Fred was cut out to he a doctor.
To remove by cutting.
The child likes to cut out pictures from the newspaper and to paste them in a notebook.