add the finishing touches
To complete; finish.
Mary's first novel promised to be excellent; however, her editor suggested that she should add some finishing touches before accepting it.
against the grain
go against the grain
Across rather than with the direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat).
He sandpapered the wood against the grain.
So as to annoy or trouble, or to cause anger or dislike. Usually follows go.
His coarse and rude ways went against the grain with me.
It went against the grain with him to have to listen to her gossip.
against time
against the clock
As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit.
John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against.
As fast as possible; so as to do or finish something before a certain time.
It was a race against the clock whether the doctor would get to the accident soon enough to save the injured man.
So as to cause delay by using up time.
The outlaw talked against time with the sheriff, hoping that his gang would come and rescue him.
air one's dirty linen in public
wash one's dirty linen in public
To talk about your private quarrels or disgraces where others can hear; make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret.
Дословно - проветривать своё грязное бельё на публике. Обсуждать свои личные ссоры или проблемы на публике.
Everyone in the school knew that the superintendent and the principal were angry with each other because they aired their dirty linen in public.
No one knew that the boys' mother was a drug addict, because the family did not wash its dirty linen in public.
She has a habit of airing everyone's dirty linen in public.
У неё привычка обсуждать чужие проблемы на публике.
alarm bells ringing
Появление причин для беспокойства о чем-то или переживаний по какому-то поводу.
Alarm bells started to ring when I failed my final university exams.
Я по-настоящему забеспокоился, когда провалил мои финальные экзамены в университете.
alive and kicking
Very active; vigorous; full of energy.
Grandpa was taken to the hospital with pneumonia, but he was discharged yesterday and is alive and kicking.
all good things must come to an end
Все хорошее когда-нибудь заканчивается.
All good things must come to an end and we soon had to return home from our holiday.
Все хорошее когда-нибудь заканчивается и нам вскоре пришлось вернуться домой из отпуска.
all in a day's work
all in the day's work
Unpleasant or bad but to be expected; not harder than usual; not unusual.
Что-то неприятное, но чего можно было ожидать или от чего можно легко избавиться.
Keeping ants away from a picnic lunch is all in the day's work.
When the car had a flat tire, Father said that it was all in a day's work.
Oh, don’t worry, it was all in a day’s work.
О, не переживай, это был пустяк, не проблема.