idioms

  break the back of something (to accomplish a hard task) It took me three days to break the back of the work. The technicians want to break the back of the beast and turn the electricity on before dark. Also: break the back of the beast    – English …

can’t cut the mustard  informal (not able to do what is needed) If he can’t cut the mustard, then we’ll get someone else to do the job. Jim is a very likeable man, but he just can’t cut the mustard. envocabulary.com

  all at once (suddenly or unexpectedly) All at once the lights went out.   (at the same time) Don’t get crazy and spend it all at once. Please talk one at a time; if you talk all at once, I cannot understand you. envocabulary.com

  have a mind like a sieve (have a poor memory) I have lost my keys again. I have a mind like a sieve. How could you forget my birthday? You do have a mind like a sieve! envocabulary.com

  bigger fish to fry (more important issues to deal with) I don’t spend much time watching TV; I have bigger fish to fry. The project is not worth our time. I think we have bigger fish to fry.      – English Vocabulary