to give (someone) a break

to give (someone) a break: to provide a person with another opportunity or chance (S); not to expect too much work from (S); not to expect someone to believe (S)

This idiom is always divided by a noun or pronoun, and it is often used in a command form. For the third definition, the pronoun me must be used. This definition used to express disbelief or disagreement and is considered impolite in formal settings.

• The driver pleaded with the police officer to give him a break and not issue him a ticket for speeding.
• When the students heard how much homework the teacher wanted them to do over the holiday, they begged, "Give us a break, Professor Doyle !"
• Oh, Jim, give me a break! That's a terrible excuse for being late.

to cover for

to cover for: to take someone's place temporarily, to substitute for; to protect someone by lying or deceiving

• Go ahead and take your coffee break. I'll cover for you until you return.
• The criminal made his wife cover for him when the police asked if the man had been home all day. She swore that he had been there.

to make (someone) tick

to make (someone) tick: to motivate to behave or act in a certain way (S)

This idiom is used within a what-clause.

• If a salesperson knows what makes a customer tick, he will be able to sell a lot of merchandise.
• It's been impossible for us to figure out what makes our new boss tick. One moment she seems pleasant and then the next moment she's upset.

it figures

it figures : it seems likely, reasonable, or typical

This idiom is either followed by a that-clause or by no other part of grammar.

• It figures that the children  were willing to help with the yard-work only if they received a reward for doing so.
• When I told Evan that his secretary was unhappy about not getting a raise, he said that it figured.

to fall for

to fall for: to fall in love quickly; to be fooled or tricked by

• Samantha and Derek never expected to fall for each other like they did, but they got married within two weeks of having met.
• The Masons wanted to believe their son, but unfortunately they had fallen for his lies too many times to be deceived once again.

to be with in

to be with in: to be able to focus or concentrate on (also: to get with it)

to be with it in the negative has the same meaning as to feel out of it. The related form to get with it is used in commands.

• Jack's really with it today. I've never seen him play such good soccer.
• You've done only a small amount of work in two hours. You're not with in today, are you?
• It's no excuse to say that you feel out of it. We need everyone's help on this, so get with it !

to be with someone / to go along with

to be with (someone): to support, to back (also: to go along with); to understand or follow what someone is saying

• Although others thought that we shouldn't go along with Jerry, I told Jerry that I was with him on his proposal for reorganizing the staff.
• After turning left at the traffic light, go two blocks and turn right on Madison. After three more blocks, turn right again. Are you still with me?

face-to-face

face-to-face: direct, personal; directly, personally (written without hyphens)

This idiom can be used both as an adjective (the first definition) and as an adverb (the second definition).

• The workers' representatives had a face-to-face meeting with management to resolve the salary issue.
• The stepmother and her teenage soon talked face to face about his troubles in school.

to trade in

to trade in: to receive credit for the value of an old item towards the purchase of a new item (S)

This idiom is used to form the noun trade-in.

• The car dealership offered me $1000 for my old car if I traded it in for a new model.
• The appliance company was offering a $50 trade-in during the special promotion for its new line of refrigerators.

to get cold feet

to get cold feet: to become unable or afraid to do something

This idiom is usually used in the case of an important or dangerous action.

• Karl was supposed to marry Elaine this weekend, but at the last moment he got cold feet.
• Only one of the rock climbers got cold feet when the group reached the base of the hundred-meter cliff.