diamond in the rough
rough diamond
A very smart person without a formal education who may have untutored manners.
Jack never went to school but he is extremely talented; he is a veritable diamond in the rough.
fall through
To fail; be ruined; not happen or be done.
Jim's plans to go to college fell through at the last moment.
Mr. Jones' deal to sell his house fell through.
Our plan to travel to Europe last summer fell through when we were unable to save up enough money.
Felix made plans to have a party for everyone in his office, but they fell through at the last moment.
follow through
To finish a movement that you have started; continue an action to its natural ending.
A football passer should follow through after he throws the ball.
To finish an action that you have started.
Bob drew plans for a table for his mother, but he did not follow through by making it.
get through one's head
To understand or believe.
Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let him go to camp if his grades didn't improve.
At last Mary got it through her head that she had failed to pass the test.
To make someone understand or believe.
I'll get it through his head if it takes all night.
get through to
break through to
To be understood by; make (someone) understand.
The little boy could not get through to his housemother.
Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to strangers.
When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work and support himself.
Some of the students in my reading class understand English so poorly that it is difficult to get through to them.
The doctors have never succeeded in breaking through to Mr. Ames, who is a silent and secretive patient.
get through
to get through doing something
to get through with something
To finish; to complete.
Barry got through his homework by late evening.
I didn't get through studying last night until almost eleven o'clock.
At what time does your wife get through with work every day?
To pass a course or an examination.
I got through every one of my courses except mathematics.
go through channels
work through channels
To go through the proper procedures and officials.
At a state university everybody must work through channels to get things done.
If you go through proper channels in this company, it’s sometimes impossible to get anything done quickly.
The police told the important civic leader that even she had to go through channels in reporting the burglary of her house.
go through hell and high water
To go through danger, or trouble.
John is ready to go through hell and high water to help his chum.
The soldiers went through hell and high water to capture the fort.