Englisch - Ich versteh nur Bahnhof!

to be well-off

to be comfortable

not to be short of a bob or two

to swear like a trooper

to vanish into thin air

it's raining cats and dogs

it's chucking it down

it's pissing down (vulg)

to go down the drain

to go phut

to fall through

to come to nothing

The tide has turned.

not to mince one's words

to pull one's punches

like lightening

like wildfire

Don't panic!

Stay cool!

Don't get your knickers in a twist (vulg)

to be in a cold sweat

to give sbd a wide berth

to steer clear of sbd

to put the fat in the fire

to make the shit hit the fan (vulg)

to pour oil on troubled waters

to smell a rat

to sense something fishy

to be a tough nut to crack

to sound things out

to be as honest as the day is long

He won't overcharge you. He is as honest as the day is long.

to scream blue/bloody murder (coll)

to raise a hue and cry (coll)

to raise Cain (coll)

to scream the place down (coll)

to raise merry hell (coll)

As soon as they heard about the cuts that were to be made in their department all the sociologists screamed blue murder and protestet to the Treasurer of the university.

like mad (coll)

for all one is worth (coll)

like anything (coll)

like blazes (coll)

hell for leather (coll)

like a bat out of hell (coll)

The tennis player chased after the ball like mad, but could not reach it before it bounced.

to earn (make) a bit on the side (coll)

He has earned a bit on the side with his articles for newspapers.

with the carrot and stick treatment

The only way to teach some children is with the carrot and stick treatment, they say.

1. to be on one's last legs (coll), to be at the end of one's days, to be approaching the end of one's days, to be at death's door, to have one foot in the grave (coll)

My dog is very old and on his last legs. I ought to have him put down.

2. to be on the last lap (coll), to be in the home stretch (coll)

We are in the home stretch and will have it finished by next week.

to scotch that (coll), to put paid to that (coll), to put the (tin) lid on that (coll), to knock that on the head (coll)

My daughter really wanted to go to Spain on holiday, but I had to scotch that.

to bite on the bullet, to grit one's teeth and keep going, to keep a stiff upper lip (coll)

He was very upset when his girlfriend left him, but he kept a stiff upper lip and did not show his feelings.

1. to foot the bill (coll)

I had to foot the bill for the repairs to my son's car.

2. to take the rap (coll), to face the music (coll), to carry the can (coll), to be left holding the baby (coll)

He had to take the rap for making a mess of the new accounting system.

to put sth by, to save (for a rainy day)

You should always save for a rainy day.

to go the way of all flesh (coll)

Our rowing club has been losing members for years, and now it has gone the way of all flesh.

to call the tune (coll), to rule the roost (coll), to lay down the law (coll)

The boss's son calls the tune around here - no-one else has any influence at all.

to fall out with sbd (coll), to have a row with sbd (coll)

I had a row with him about the new computer system he said we needed. I thought it would be a waste of money.

to take sbd up on an offer (coll)

He said he would drive me home in his car and I took him up on his offer.