haul down one's colors
strike one's colors
To pull down a flag, showing you are beaten and want to stop fighting.
After a long battle, the pirate captain hauled down his colors.
To admit you are beaten; say you want to quit.
After losing two sets of tennis, Tom hauled down his color.
have two strikes against one
have two strikes on one
To have things working against you; be hindered in several ways; be in a difficult situation; be unlikely to succeed.
Children from the poorest parts of a city often have two strikes against them before they enter school.
George has two strikes against him already. Everybody is against what he wants to do.
From baseball. Two opportunities wasted in some undertaking, so that only one chance is left.
(In baseball, three strikes are out. If the umpire calls two strikes against the batter, he has only one strike left and will be out if he gets one more strike.)
(In baseball, three strikes are out. If the umpire calls two strikes against the batter, he has only one strike left and will be out if he gets one more strike.)
Poor John has two strikes against him when it comes to his love for Frances: first, he is too fat, and, second, he is bald.
hit home
strike home
To go directly to the mark; strike a vulnerable spot.
His remark hit home when he referred to those who do not contribute sufficiently to the college fund drive.
lightning never strikes twice in the same place
The same accident does not happen twice; the same person does not have the same luck again. A proverb.
Billy won a pony in the contest last year, but lightning never strikes twice in the same place.
make hay while the sun shines
strike while the iron is hot
To do something at the right time; not wait too long.
Воспользоваться возможностью, удобным случаем. "Куй железо пока горячо".
Dick had a free hour so he made hay while the sun shone and got his lesson for the next day.
Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines.
Успешным спортсменам советуют пользоваться удачными стечениями обстоятельств.
My friend told me about a vacancy in their office, so I decided to strike while the iron was hot and quickly applied for the job.
Мой друг рассказал мне о вакансии в их офисе, поэтому я решил воспользоваться возможностью и быстренько подал заявление о приеме на работу.
strike a balance
Находить компромисс между крайностями.
Paul was never able to strike a balance between his work and his hobby.
Пол никогда не мог найти компромисс между работой и хобби.
strike a bargain
To arrive at a price satisfactory to both the buyer and the seller.
After a great deal of haggling, they managed to strike a bargain.
strike a chord
Чувство чего-то знакомого; напоминание о чем-то, что как-то связанно с вами.
The music struck a chord with the listeners.
Музыка тронула слушателей.