out of the question

out of the question: impossible, not feasible

• Stephen told Deborah that it was out of the question for her to borrow his new car.
• Don't expect me to do that again. It's absolutely out of the question.

to have a say in

to have a say in: to share involvement in (also: to have a voice in)

• The new vice-president was promised that she would have a say in developing the company's international expansion.
• The students are trying to have a voice in college affairs by gaining representation on administrative committees.

to live it up

to live it up: to spend money freely, to live luxuriously

• The teacher occasionally took the class on field trips just to liven things up a bit.
• After receiving a large inheritance from a rich aunt, I was able to live it up for years.

to get off one's chest

to get off one's chest: to express one's true feelings (S)

This idiom is used when someone has long waited to express themselves.

• Ellen felt a lot better when she finally talked to a counselor and got the problem off her chest.
• Faye hasn't shared her concern about her marriage with her husband yet. I think that she should get it off her chest soon.

search me

search me: I don't know (also: beats me )

This idiom is used informally, usually as a command form.

• When Mr.Nguyer asked his wife if she knew why the mail hadn't arrived she responded, "Search me."
• When I asked Derek why his girlfriend wasn't at the party yet, he said, "Beats me. I expected her an hour ago."

to let slide

to let slide: to neglect a duty (S); to ignore a situation (S)

• Terry knew that she should have paid the electric bill on time instead of letting it slide. Now the utility company has turned off her service.
• When he tried to get a rise out of me by mentioning my failure to receive a promotion at work, I just let it slide.

by the way

by the way: incidentally

This idiom is used when someone thinks of something further in the course of a conversation.

• Movies are my favorite form of entertainment. Oh, by the way, have you seen the new picture that's playing at the Bijou?
• Vera's been divorced for three years now. She told me, by the way, that she never plans to remarry.

to pick up the tab

to pick up the tab: to pay the cost or bill

This idiom applies when someone pays for the cost of another person's meal, ticket, etc.

• The advertising manager is flying to Puerto Rico for a conference, and her firm is picking up the tab.
• The government picked up the tab for the visiting dignitary. It paid for all of the lodging and meals, as well as transportation, during his stay.

to hang around

to hang around: to stay or remain where one is, to wait (also: to stick around)

This idiom is used when someone is waiting for something to happen or for someone to arrive.

• Todd had to hang around the house all day until the new furniture was finally delivered in the late afternoon.
• Why don't you stick around for a while and see if Sarah eventually shows up?

to rub the wrong way

to rub the wrong way: to cause to feel negative about oneself; to make a bad impression (S)

A noun or pronoun must separate this idiom.

• That salesman rubbed me the wrong way. He tried to convince me to buy a car that I didn't even like.
• The job applicant was qualified for the position, but her strange personality rubbed the interviewer the wrong way.