keep one's nose to the grindstone
have one's nose to the grindstone
hold one's nose to the grindstone
To work hard all the time; keep busy with boring or tiresome work.
Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves as much as possible to start her own business.
kill the goose that laid the golden egg
To spoil something that is good or something that you have, by being greedy. A proverb.
Mrs. Jones gives you an apple from her tree whenever you go by her house, but don't kill the goose that laid the golden egg by bothering her too much.
knock cold
To render unconscious.
The blow on the chin knocked Harry cold.
lay hold of
To take hold of; grasp; grab.
He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.
To get possession of.
He sold every washing machine he could lay hold of.
To understand.
Some ideas in this science book are hard to lay hold of.
leave holding the bag
leave holding the sack
To cause (someone) not to have something needed; leave without anything.
In the rush for seats, Joe was left holding the bag.
To force (someone) to take the whole responsibility or blame for something that others should share.
When the ball hit the glass, the team scattered and left George holding the bag.
After the party, the other girls on the clean-up committee went away with their dates, and left Mary holding the bag.
of old
Of ancient times; of long ago. From earlier experience.
Knights of old had to wear armor in battle.
You won't get any money from Freddie. I know him of old.
old as the hills
older than the hills
Very old; ancient.
Очень старый; античный.
"Why didn't you laugh?" she asked. "Because that joke is as old as the hills," he answered.
This canard is older than the hills.
Эта газетная «утка» уже с бородой.
old boy network
old school tie
A system whereby men who went to the same school help each other to get good jobs, regardless of their ability or training.
Peter got his lucrative job thanks to the old boy network rather than because of his qualifications.