ruffle feathers
ruffle one's feathers
Insult or disturb slightly; offend.
The author ruffled some feathers by his portrait of his hometown.
save one's breath
To keep silent because talking will not help; not talk because it will do no good.
Помалкивать, держать язык за зубами, держать свое мнение при себе.
Save your breath; the boss will never give you the day off.
"Save your breath! I'm tired of your endless excuses. You're fired!" said the boss to his employee who was late for work again.
"Помалкивай! Я устал от твоих бесконечных оправданий! Ты уволен!" сказал начальник своему работнику, который снова опоздал на работу.
search me
beats me
I don't know; how should I know? May be considered rude.
When I asked her what time it was, she said, "Search me, I have no watch."
When Elmer asked his wife if she knew why the new neighbors left their garage door open all night, she responded, "Search me."
When I asked Derek why his girlfriend wasn’t at the party yet, he said, "Beats me. I expected her an hour ago."
seat belt
A strong strap used to protect a person in a moving car or other vehicle by holding him in his seat.
When the plane began to land, Billy and his mother fastened their seat belts.
Passengers in automobiles should wear seat belts for safety.
second wind
second breath
get one's second wind
The easier breathing that follows difficult breathing when one makes a severe physical effort, as in running or swimming./
After the first quarter mile, a mile runner usually gets his second wind and can breathe better.
We climbed with labored breathing for half an hour, but then got our second wind and went up more easily.
The refreshed feeling you get after first becoming tired while doing something and then becoming used to it.
Tom became very tired of working at his algebra, but after a while he got his second wind and began to enjoy it.
set great store by
set store by
To like or value; want to keep. Used with a qualifying word between set and store.
George sets great store by that old tennis racket.
Pat doesn't set much store by Mike's advice.
short of breath
Panting and wheezing.
He ran up six flights of stairs so rapidly that he was short of breath for several minutes.
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.