memory lane
Visiting the old neighborhood was a walk down memory lane.
uphill battle
Starting her own business has proven to be an uphill battle.
go with the flow
Just relax and go with the flow!
go against the flow
She has her own way of thinking and she’s not afraid to go against the flow.
water under the bridge
We had our differences in the past, but that’s all water under the bridge now.
cross that bridge when one comes to it
I don’t know how we’ll pay the bills if you quit your job, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
a thorn in the/someone’s flesh/side
He’s been a thorn in my side for years.
a thorn in the side of the industry
nip (something) in the bud
Inflation will only get worse if the government doesn’t do something right now to nip it in the bud.
beat about the bush
Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.
put down roots
putting down roots in a new place
get to the bottom of
Police are working furiously to get to the bottom of this recent string of violent crimes.
the grass is always greener on the other side (of the fence)
Many people think the grass is always greener on the other side, and that their coworkers have better, warmer, and more supportive professional networks. — Rsm Discovery, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023
on the fence
Many consumers are still on the fence, waiting for a less expensive computer to come along.
square off
The two teams squared off for the championship.
eagle eye
students working under the eagle eyes of the teacher
an editor with an eagle eye
on the heels of
came close on the heels of the announcement
come/follow close/hard/hot on the heels of (something)
His resignation comes hard on the heels of the announcement that the company is going bankrupt.
stick one’s neck out
Come on, stick your neck out.
in the air
There was a sense of anticipation in the air.
keep abreast of
keeping abreast of the latest fashion trends
damn with faint praise
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer,
And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer;
Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.
— “Epistle to Dr Arbuthnot” by Alexander Pope