handwriting on the wall
A sign that something bad will happen.
When Bill's team lost four games in a row, he saw the handwriting on the wall.
John's employer had less and less work for him; John could read the handwriting on the wall and looked for another job.
A warning; a message of some urgency.
"This nuclear plant is about to explode, I think," the chief engineer said. "We'd better get out of here in a hurry, the handwriting is on the wall."
hole-in-the-wall
hole in the wall
A small place to live, stay in, or work in; a small, hidden, or inferior place.
The jewelry store occupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall.
When Mr. and Mrs. Green were first married, they lived in a little hole-in-fhe-wall in a cheap apartment building.
A tunnel.
Let's get through this hole in the wall, then we'll change seats.
look like the cat that ate the canary
look like the cat that swallowed the canary
To seem very self-satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success.
Выглядеть очень довольным; выглядеть как если бы вы только-что добились большого успеха; выглядеть как кот нализавшийся сливок.
Peter bet on the poorest horse in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the canary.
When she won the prize, she went home looking like the cat that swallowed the canary.
There was a big smile on Jimmy’s face and he looked like the cat that ate the canary.
Джим широко улыбался и имел очень довольный вид.
off the wall
off-the-wall
Strange; out of the ordinary; stupid.
He has been making off-the-wall remarks all day; something must he the matter with him.
pack a punch
pack a wallop
To be able to give a powerful blow; have a dangerous fist.
He packed a mean punch.
To have a violent effect; be powerful.
It was vodka, and it packed quite a wallop.
stone wall
brick wall
run into a stone wall
run into a brick wall
Something hard to overcome; an idea or belief that is hard to change.
The students ran into a brick wall when they asked the principal to put off the examination.
Dick tried to change Father's mind about letting him use the car Saturday night, but he was up against a stone wall.
swallow one's pride
pocket one's pride
To bring your pride under control; humble yourself.
After Bill lost the race, he swallowed his pride and shook hands with the winner.
swallow up
To do away with; absorb; engulf.
My expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary.