put on one's thinking cap
To think hard and long about some problem or question.
Задумываться серьезно о том, как решить проблему.
Miss Stone told her pupils to put on their thinking caps before answering the question.
The economy is in a mess, it's time for everyone to put their thinking caps on.
Экономика в беспорядке, пора каждому серьезно подумать о том, как решить эту проблему.
rain on one's parade
Расстраивать чьи-то планы.
"I am going to throw a big New Year party. Please don’t rain on my parade."
"Я собираюсь провести большую новогоднюю вечеринку. Пожалуйста, не расстраивайте мои планы."
rest on one's laurels
To be satisfied with the success you have already won; stop trying to win new honors.
Getting an A in chemistry almost caused Mike to rest on his laurels.
rest on one's oars
To stop trying; stop working for a while; rest.
The man who wants to become a millionaire can never rest on his oars.
A high school student who wants to go to college cannot rest on his oars.
ride on one's coattails
To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body.
"We will never get our Ph.D. program approved on our own," said the head of the modern dance department, "but we might succeed if we stay in the Division of Fine Arts, riding on their coattails, as it were."
set back on one's heels
knock back on one's heels
To give an unpleasant surprise; upset suddenly; stop or turn back (someone's) progress.
Jack brags too much and it set him back on his heels when the coach told him he wasn't as good a player as he thought he was.
Jean was doing very well in school until sickness knocked her back on her heels.
sit on one's hands
To do nothing; fail or refuse to do anything.
We asked Bill for help with our project, but he sat on his hands.
spring on one
To approach someone unexpectedly with an unpleasant idea or project.
Our firm was merely six weeks old when they sprang the news on me that I had to go to Algiers to open a new branch there.