set the pace
pace-setter
pace-setting
To decide on a rate of speed of travel or rules that are followed by others.
The scoutmaster set the pace so that the shorter boys would not get tired trying to keep up.
Louise set the pace in selling tickets for the school play.
John is the pace-setter of the class.
Bob's time in the cross-country race was pace-setting.
The country is growing at a pace-setting rate.
set the stage for
To prepare the way or situation for (an event); to make a situation ready for something to happen.
The country's economic problems set the stage for a depression.
set the world on fire
To do something outstanding; act in a way that attracts much attention or makes you famous.
John works hard, but he will never set the world on fire.
Mary could set the world on fire with her piano playing.
shake the dust from one's feet
To depart or leave with some measure of disgust or displeasure.
Jim was so unhappy in our small, provincial town that he was glad to shake the dust from his feet and move to New York.
shoe on the other foot
The opposite is true; places are changed.
Противоположная сторона оказывается правой; смена мнений.
He was my captain in the army but now the shoe is on the other foot.
I used to advise my children to eat healthy food. Now my daughter is a nutritionist and the shoe is on the other foot - she advises me!
Раньше я советовала детям есть здоровую пищу. Теперь моя дочь диетолог, и все поменялось – она советует мне!
shoot from the hip
To fire a gun held at the hip without aiming by aligning the barrel with one's eye.
In many Western movies the heroic sheriff defeats the villains by shooting from the hip.
To speak sincerely, frankly, and without subterfuge.
"What kind of an administrator will Mr. Brown be?" the head of the search committee asked. "He shoots straight from the hip," he was assured.
shoot the breeze
bat the breeze
fan the breeze
shoot the bull
To talk.
Jim shot the breeze with his neighbor while the children were playing.
Come into the kitchen and we'll bat the breeze over a cup of coffee.
The women were shooting the breeze about Jim's latest trouble with the police.
The fishermen were shooting the bull about the school of sail fish they had seen.
shoot the works
To spare no expense or effort; get or give everything.
Billy shot the works when he bought his bicycle; he got a bell, a light, a basket, and chrome trimmings on it, too.
The Greens shot the works on their daughter's wedding reception.
To go the limit; take a risk.
The motor of Tom's boat was dangerously hot, but he decided to shoot the works and try to win the race.