the last straw

the last straw: the final event in a series of unacceptable actions

• When John asked to borrow money from me for the fourth time, it was the last straw. I finally told him that I couldn't lend him any more.
• I can't believe that my roommate left the door to our apartment unlocked again. It's the last straw; I'm moving out.

to go through channels

to go through channels: to send a request through the normal way

This idiom can be used with the adjective proper.

• If you go through the proper channels in this company, it's sometimes impossible to get anything done quickly.
• The police told the mayor that even she had to go through channels in reporting the burglary of her house.

to turn over

to turn over: to place upside down (S); to flip, to turn upside down; to pass or give control to someone (S)

• The teacher asked the students to turn the answer sheet over and to write a short essay on the back.
• Don't forget to turn over the eggs, or they will burn.
• Mr. Colllins has decided to turn over his jewelry store to his son at the end of the year.

to drop off

to drop off: to fall asleep; to take to a certain location (S); to decrease (for the third definition, also: to fall off)

• My mother dropped off during the boring television show; her head was nodding up and down.
• I don't mind dropping you off at the store on my way to work.
• Business has been dropping off rapidly recently, but fortunately it hasn't been falling off as quickly as for our competitors.

to cover up

to cover up: to conceal, to hide (S)

This idiom is used for events that are potentially embarrassing to one's reputation, as well as against the law. The noun coverup derives from this idiom.

• The office worker tried to cover up his crimes, but everyone found out that he had been stealing office supplies.
• The political coverup of the bribery scandal failed and was reported by all the major media.

to kick the habit

to kick the habit: to stop a bad habit

• Once a child becomes accustomed to chewing his nails, it's difficult to kick the habit.
• The doctor advised the heavy cigarette smoker that his heart had become damaged and that he should kick the habit right away.

to be looking up

to be looking up: to appear promising or optimistic, to be improving

This idiom is used in a continuous tense, very often with the subject things.

• The board chairman is glad to report that things are looking up for the company after several years of declining sales.
• Prospects for buildings that new library in the downtown area are looking up.

to pull together

to pull together: to gather, to collect (information) (S); to gain control of one's emotions (S)

A reflexive pronoun must be used for the second definition.

• The reporter pulled together information from several sources in preparing the newspaper article.
• Mr. Simpson was so frightened when he heard footsteps behind him on the lonely, dark street that it took several minutes to pull himself together.

to make up with

to make up with: to resolve differences with

This idiom is used for differences of opinion between friends and lovers.

• Gundula made up with her roommate after their serious misunderstanding about arrangements for the party.
• After the bad quarrel the two lovers kissed and made up with each other.

to make up

to make up: to meet or fulfill a missed obligation at a later time (S); to create, to invent (an idea) (S); to apply cosmetics to (S); to comprise, to be composed of

Note that all of the definitions are separable except the last one.

• The teacher allowed several students who missed the exam to make it up during the next class.
• The little boy made up a bad excuse for wearing his dirty shoes in the house, so his mother punished him.
• Iris was able to make her face up in half the normal time because she didn't use much makeup.
• Two separate bodies- the House of Representatives and the Senate - make up the Congress of the United States.