come out in the open
get out in the open
To reveal one's true identity or intentions.
Fred finally came out in the open and admitted that he was gay.
To declare one's position openly.
The conservative Democratic candidate came out in the open and declared that he would join the Republican party.
come to the point
get to the point
To talk about the important thing; reach the important facts of the matter; reach the central question or fact.
Henry was giving a lot of history and explanation, but his father asked him to come to the point.
A good newspaper story must come right to the point and save the details for later.
come up in the world
rise in the world
To gain success, wealth, or importance in life; rise to a position of greater wealth or importance.
He had come up in the world since he peddled his wife's baked goods from a pushcart.
count one's chickens before they're hatched
To depend on getting a profit or gain before you have it; make plans that suppose something will happen; be too sure that something will happen. Usually used in negative sentences.
When Jim said that he would be made captain of the team, John told him not to count his chickens before they were hatched.
Maybe some of your customers won't pay, and then where will you be? Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
cover ground
cover the ground
To go a distance; travel.
Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover ground so quickly.
To move over an area at a speed that is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground.
The new infielder really covers the ground at second base.
Herby's new car really covers ground!
To give or receive the important facts and details about a subject.
If you're thinking about a trip to Europe, the airline has a booklet that covers the ground pretty well.
The class spent two days studying the Revolutionary War, because they couldn't cover that much ground in one day.
cover the waterfront
To talk or write all about something; talk about something all possible ways.
The principal pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior.
crack the whip
To get obedience or cooperation by threats of punishment.
If the children won't behave when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip.
crash the gate
gate crasher
To enter without a ticket or without paying; attend without an invitation or permission.
Bob got into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate.
Three boys tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in.