use every trick in the book
To avail oneself of any means at all in order to achieve one's goal, not exclusive of possibly immoral or illegal acts.
Algernon used every trick in the book to get Maxine to go out with him, but she kept refusing.
use one's bean
use one's noodle
use one's noggin
use one's head
To use your brain or mind; think; have common sense. Often used as a command.
If you used your bean you wouldn't be in trouble now.
Never point a gun at anybody, John. Use your head!
use up
To use until nothing is left; spend or consume completely.
Don't use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with.
Jack used up his last dollar to see the movies.
To tire completely; make very tired; exhaust; leave no strength or force in. Usually used in the passive.
After rowing the boat across the lake, Robert was used up.
used to be
did use to be
Formerly or once was.
Mary used to be small; but she has grown up.
Dick used to be the best pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are better than he is.
used to
did use to
Did formerly; did in the past.
This idiom is used to indicate a past situation, action, or habit that does not exist in the present.
Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past.
This idiom is used to indicate a past situation, action, or habit that does not exist in the present.
Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past.
Uncle Henry used to have a beard, but he shaved it off.
Did your father use to work at the bank?
People used to say that tomatoes were poison.
I used to live in New York, but I moved to California two years ago.
Kim used to smoke cigarettes, but she stopped the habit last month.
Sometimes used without the infinitive.
I don't go to that school any more, but I used to.
We don't visit Helen as much as we used to.
I used to go to the movies often. Did you use to?
wear the trousers
wear the pants
To have a man's authority; be the boss of a family or household.
Обладать авторитетом среди людей; быть главным в семье, домашнем кругу.
Mr. Wilson is henpecked by his wife; she wears the trousers in that family.
Mrs. Jones talks a lot but Mr. Jones wears the pants in their house.
The salesman hesitated. It was difficult to see who wore the trousers in the couple.
Продавец колебался. Было трудно понять, кто в этой паре главный.