set in one's ways
Stubborn; opinionated; unchangeable.
My grandfather is so old and set in his ways that he'll eat nothing new.
shake in one's shoes
shake in one's boots
To be very much afraid.
The robber shook in his boots when the police knocked on his door.
sit in
sit in on
To be a member; participate. To be a member of; participate in.
We're having a conference and we'd like you to sit in.
We want you to sit in on the meeting.
To attend but not participate. Often used with on.
Our teacher was invited to sit in on the conference.
skin off one's nose
Matter of interest, concern, or trouble to you. Normally used in the negative.
Go to Jake's party if you wish. It's no skin off my nose.
Grace didn't pay any attention to our argument. It wasn't any skin off her nose.
You could at least say hello to our visitor. It's no skin off your nose.
so that
in order that
For the purpose that. So that is usually followed by can or could; in order that is usually followed by may or might.
Let's get ready now so that we can leave when Father comes.
Betty saved her money in order that she might buy a doll.
With the result that; so.
My pencil fell under my desk, so that I couldn't see it.
George often told stories that weren't true, so that no one believed him when he told about a deer in the school yard.
spin off
To bring something into existence as a byproduct of something that already exists.
When Dr. Catwallender opened his medical practice, he also spun off a small dispensary beside it where patients could get their prescriptions filled.
spin one's wheels
Said of cars stuck in snow or mud whose wheels are turning without the car moving forward.
There was so much snow on the driveway that my car's wheels were spinning in it and we couldn't get going.
To exert effort in a job without making any progress.
I've been working for the firm for two decades, but I feel I am merely spinning my wheels.
spin out
To go out of control.
The bus spun out on the icy road and fell into the ditch.
To make something go out of control.
Tom stepped on the brakes so fast that he spun his car out of control and went off the road.