I've never filed my own taxes before, so I'm sort of flying blind.
2) Hold In High Regard-to have a large amount of respect or admiration for someone-
I've always held my father in high regard for his hard work to provide for us.
3) Cash In-take advantage of or exploit a situation-
The breweries were cashing in on the rediscovered taste for real ales.
4) Hot Off The Press-to be freshly printed, to be a newly-circulating bit of news or gossip-
The latest edition of the student newspaper is hot off the press, and my class is going to distribute it at lunch.
5) Be Home And Hosed-to have successfully completed something, as a project or activity-
I'm pretty sure I did well on that last exam, so it looks like I'm home and hosed for the semester.
6) Need Like A Hole In The Head-to have absolutely no need or use for something-
We have enough problems with the business as it is, so we need an audit right now like we need a hole in the head.
7) On The Ball-alert to new ideas, methods, and trends-
Maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball.
8) Clam Up-to become silent suddenly, usually because you are embarrassed or nervous, or do not want to talk about a particular subject-
He just clams up if you ask him about his childhood.
9) Tough Customer-a strong, determined person who is not easily intimidated, discouraged, or defeated-
She had a difficult childhood, but it made her into a tough customer later in life.
10) Bursting At The Seams-to have a very large number of people-
Now that they have six children, their little house is bursting at the seams.
11) Push The Boat Out-be lavish in one's spending or celebrations-
From fine wines to the delights of the theatre, this is your chance to push the boat out.
12) Yoke Around Someone's Neck-something that oppresses people, a burden-
The Smiths have a huge mortgage that has become a yoke around their necks.
13) Up And About-moving around, especially after a period of injury, illness, or inactivity-
The surgery went very well, and the doctor is optimistic that she'll be up and about soon.
14) Be Snowed Under-to have so much work that you have problems dealing with it all-
I'm absolutely snowed under with work at the moment, so I'll catch up with you later.
15) On A Tight Leash-under someone's strict control, not allowed by someone to have very much independence or autonomy-
Everyone feels like they're on a tight leash at the office ever since that new manager took over.
16) Be On A Collision Course-of a person, group, or object, to be on a certain path to conflict, collision, destruction, or ruin with someone or something else-
The radical coalition is set to be on a collision course with the majority government this year.
17) Expand One's Horizons-to have or seek out new experiences, especially if one's experiences have been relatively limited-
I can't believe that Molly has never left the state before! She seriously needs to expand her horizons!
18) A Slap On The Wrist-a mild reprimand or punishment-
The few perpetrators that were prosecuted only got a slap on the wrist.
19) Cover A Lot Of Ground-to travel a long distance, to review a large amount of information or discuss many topics-
We need to cover a lot of ground in American History before the exam date.
20) A Whole Raft Of-a very large number or collection of people or things-
We had a whole raft of problems on opening night, but I think most of the issues have been resolved.
