see the light
To understand or agree, often suddenly; accept another's explanation or decision.
I did not approve of his action, but he explained his reason and then I saw the light.
Bill wanted Harry to help him, but Harry wasn't in the mood until Bill offered to pay him. Then Harry saw the light.
Mary thought it was fun to date older boys but when they started drinking, she saw the light.
seize the opportunity
To exploit a chance.
His wealthy uncle offered to send him to Harvard and he wisely seized the opportunity.
sell down the river
sell someone down the river
To give harmful information about someone or something to one's enemies; betray.
Дать информацию, которая может причинить ущерб, чьему-либо врагу; предавать.
The traitor sold his country down the river to the enemy army.
The criminal told the hiding place of his companions and sold them down the river.
The traitor sold his country down the river to the enemy army.
Предатель выдал секреты своей страны вражеской армии.
The company sold us down the river, lying to us about how well they were doing and then cutting the jobs when it suited them.
Компания нас предала, обманывая нас о своем состоянии и сокращая рабочие места, когда им вздумается.
sell snow to the Eskimos
To sell something to people who already have a large quantity of the same or similar goods.
My Alaskan friend said, "One of the hottest businesses in Alaska is refrigeration. You could say that I, as a refrigerator expert, am selling snow to the Eskimos."
send to the minors
To dismiss someone; tell them off; terminate a relationship. A baseball term.
"What did you do to your girlfriend?" Ernie asked Bert, when Bert started dating Jane. "I sent her to the minors," Bert answered with a sneer.
separate the men from the boys
To show who has strength, courage and loyalty and find who do not.
When the ship hit an iceberg and sank, it separated the men from the boys.
The mile run separates the men from the boys.
separate the sheep from the goats
Отделить овец от козлищ.
Examining job applications is the first stage in separating the sheep from the goats.
Просмотр заявлений о приеме на работу – это первая стадия отбора.
serve the purpose
serve one’s purpose
To be useful, to suit one’s needs or requirements.
I don’t have a screwdriver to open this, but I think that a knife will serve the purpose.
Jane prefers working to studying, so it served her purpose to drop out of school and take that job.