put one's best foot forward
To try to make a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best.
During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward.
When Ted applied for the job he put his best foot forward.
sign one's own death warrant
To cause your own death or the loss of something you want very much.
Mr. Carter had lung trouble, and the doctor told him he would sign his own death warrant if he didn't stop smoking.
When Jim's fiancee saw him on a date with another girl, he signed his own death warrant.
tug-of-war
tug of war
A game in which two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, trying to pull the other team over a line marked on the ground.
The tug-of-war ended when both teams tumbled in a heap.
A contest in which two sides try to defeat each other; struggle.
A tug-of-war developed between the boys who wanted to go fishing and those who wanted to go hiking.
Betty felt a tug-of-war between her wish to go to the movies and her realizing she had to do her homework.
The tug of war between the union men and management ended in a long strike.
war baby
A person born during a war.
War babies began to increase college enrollments early in the 1960s.
The war babies forced many towns to build new schools.
ward off
To deflect; avert.
Vitamin C is known to ward off the common cold.
warm one's blood
To make you feel warm or excited.
When the Bakers came to visit on a cold night, Mr. Harmon offered them a drink to warm their blood.
warm out
To learn through persistent questioning; draw out from.
I finally wormed out of her the reason she broke off her engagement to Larry.
warm the bench
To act as a substitute on an athletic team.
Bill has been warming the bench for three football seasons; he hopes that the coach will let him play this year.