cut the ground from under
To make (someone) fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for (a person) in advance.
Выбить почву из под ног.
Paul wanted to he captain but we cut the ground from under him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team.
Several workers applied for the retiring foreman's job, but the owner cut the ground from under them by hiring a foreman from another company.
The politician cut the ground out from under his opponent.
Политик выбил почву из под ног своего соперника.
cut the mustard
To do well enough in what needs to be done; to succeed.
His older brothers and sisters helped Max through high school, but he couldn't cut the mustard in college.
cut to the bone
To make (something) the least or smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything extra or unnecessary from.
Father cut Jane's allowance to the bone for disobeying him.
When father lost his job, our living expenses had to be cut to the bone.
cut to the chase
Перейти к делу
Let’s stop all this chatter and cut to the chase.
Давайте перестанем болтать и перейдем к делу.
cut to the quick
To hurt someone's feelings deeply.
The children 's teasing cut Mary to the quick.
dance to another tune
To talk or act differently, usually better because things have changed; be more polite or obedient because you are forced to do it.
Johnny refused to do his homework but punishment made him dance to another tune.
dark of the moon
A time when the moon is not shining or cannot be seen.
A was the dark of the moon when the scouts reached camp and they had to use flashlights to find their tents.
darken one's door
darken the door
To appear, as in a doorway; enter someone's home or establishment. Used in negative imperative sentences especially with never and again.
If you leave this house now, never darken my door again.
After a son shamed his father by having to go to prison, the father told him never to darken his door again.