dry run

dry run: rehearsal, practice session

• The college president requested a dry run of the graduation ceremony in order to ensure that all aspects that all aspects went smoothly.
• Before the manager presented the re-organizational plans to the board of directors, he did several dry runs of his presentation.

to get out of line

to get out of line: to disobey or ignore normal procedures or rules (also: to step out of line)

• When a child gets out of line in that teacher's class, she uses the old-fashioned method of making the child sit in the corner of the room.
• Any employee who steps out of line by coming to work in an unacceptable condition will be fired.

to draw the line at

to draw the line at: to determine to be unacceptable, to refuse to consider

• I don't mind helping him with his homework, but I draw the line at writing a term paper for him.
• The conference organizers tried to accommodate the needs of the various groups, but they drew the line at extending the conference by two days.

to be out

to be out: to be unpopular on no longer in fashion; to be away from one's work or home

• These days, loose jeans are in and tight jeans are out.
• I'm sorry, Mr.Jensen is out at the moment. Could I take a message?

to be in

to be in: to be popular or fashionable; to be available at one's work or home

• Most young people tend to want anything that is in at the time, but a few don'e care about current trends.
• Could you please tell me when Mrs.Zachary will be in? I'd like to talk to her soon.

to talk back to

to talk back to: to answer in a rude manner, to speak to disrespectfully

• Billy, if you talk back to me like that once more, you're going to spend the rest of the day in your room.
• The school principal had to reprimand the child for talking back to her teacher.

behind (one's) back

behind (one's) back: without one's knowledge, secretly

This idiom is used to describe acts of betrayal or dishonesty. It is often used with the verbs to go and to talk.

• After Carlo agreed to sell his car to me, he went behind my back and sold it to someone else instead.
• Bekah was angry when she discovered that her friends had been saying rude things about her behind her back.

to give (someone) a big hand

to give (someone) a big hand: to clap one's hands in applause, to applaud (S)

• After the talented new vocalist had sung her number, the audience gave her a big hand.
• Should we give a big hand to each performer as she is introduced, or should we wait until all the introductions are finished?

to give (someone) a hand

to give (someone) a hand: to assist, to aid, to help (also: to lend someone a hand) (S)

• Would you give me a hand lifting this heavy box?
• When Terry's car broke down at night on the highway, no one would stop to lend her a hand.

to take the bull by the horns

to take the bull by the horns: to handle a difficult situation with determination

This idiom is usually used when someone has been postponing an action for some time and finally wants or needs to resolve it.

• After three years of faithful service, Jake decided to take the bull by the horns and ask his boss for a raise.
• Vic has been going out with Laura for a long time now, and I know that he loves her. He should take the bull by the horns and ask her to marry him.