clip one's wings
have one's wings clipped
To limit or hold you back, bring you under control; prevent your success.
When the new president tried to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings.
Jim was spending too much time on dates when he needed to study so his father stopped his allowance; that clipped his wings.
close its doors
close one's doors
To keep someone or something from entering or joining; become closed.
The club has closed its doors to new members.
To fail as a business; go bankrupt.
The fire was so damaging that the store had to close its doors.
Business was so poor that we had to close our doors after six months.
close one's eyes
shut one's eyes
To refuse to see or think about.
The park is beautiful if you shut your eyes to the litter.
The ice was very thin, but the boys shut their eyes to the danger and went skating.
coin money
mint money
To make a lot of money quickly; profit heavily; gain big profit.
Fred coined money with many cigarette vending machines and juke boxes.
come by honestly
To inherit (a characteristic) from your parents.
Joe comes by his hot temper honestly; his father is the same way.
come into one's own
To receive the wealth or respect that you should have.
John's grandfather died and left him a million dollars; when John is 21, he will come into his own.
With the success of the Model T Ford, the automobile industry came into its own.
come one's way
To be experienced by someone; happen to you.
Tom said that if the chance to become a sailor ever came his way, he would take it.
I hope bad luck isn't coming our way.
Luck came Bill's way today and he hit a home run.
come to one's senses
Become conscious again; wake up.
The boxer was knocked out and did not come to his senses for several minutes.
The doctors gave Tom an anesthetic before his operation; then the doctor took out Tom's appendix before he came to his senses.
To think clearly; behave as usual or as you should; act sensibly.
A boy threw a snowball at me and before I could come to my senses he ran away.
Don't act so foolishly. Come to your senses!