cream of the crop
The best of a group; the top choice.
May Queen candidates were lovely, but Betsy and Nancy were the cream of the crop.
The students had drawn many good pictures and the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up when the parents came to visit.
cross a bridge before one comes to it
don't cross your bridges until you come to them
To worry about future events or trouble before they happen. Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb.
"Can I be a soldier when I grow up, Mother?" asked Johnny. "Don't cross that bridge until you come to it," said his mother.
cross the wire
To finish a race.
The Russian crossed the wire just behind the American.
crow before one is out of the woods
To be glad or brag before you are safe from danger or trouble. Usually used in negative sentences, often as a proverb, Don't crow before you are out of the woods.
John thought his team would win because the game was almost over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of the woods.
Often used in a short form, out of the woods.
Mary nearly died during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet.
crux of the matter
The basic issue at hand; the core essence that one must face.
The crux of the matter is that he is incompetent and we will have to fire him.
curiosity killed the cat
Getting too nosy may lead a person into trouble. A proverb.
"Curiosity killed the cat," Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just before Christmas.
cut a swathe
cut a wide swath
To mow a path through a field.
The farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his scythe.
To cut down as if by mowing.
The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines of enemy soldiers.
To attract notice; make an impression; seem important.
Выставлять напоказ; пускать пыль в глаза; создавать ажиотаж, шумиху.
The movie star cut a wide swathe when he walked down the street.
John tries to show off and cut a big swathe with the girls.
This actress cut a wide swath at once when she appeared on the screen for the first time.
Актриса привлекла к себе внимание сразу после выхода фильма на экраны.
cut from the same cloth
made from the same mold
Иметь много общего; быть похожими.
She and her brother are cut from the same cloth. They both tell lies all the time.
Она и её брат очень похожи. Она оба постоянно врут.