To keep oneself in hand (to hold oneself in check) —

to control one's feelings, not to get angry, to be reserved, to be self-contained

1. Quickly I took myself in hand and, with a glance at the weather, decided on a short walk. (A. Cronin)

2. I had to hold myself in check. (A. Cronin)

3. For the moment Jan could not remember where she was. Then she pulled herself together and smiled. (D. Cusack)

(4) to let one (friend, etc.) down — to fail a person in a time of need

to leave somebody in the lurch — to leave (a person) in difficulties, in a helpless, embarrassing, a difficult situation; to desert, abandon one in a dangerous situation

1. "I was almost afraid..." she broke off, but I finished the sent­ence for her: "That I would let you down." (A. Cronin)

2. You obviously can't let that poor girl down, so I'll have to run you up in the car. We probably won't be able to beat the train, but we'll do our best. (D. Cusack)

3. "He wanted to do an experiment on scattering, and I — I let him down halfway through. I got mixed up with something else outside," he explained vaguely. (M. Wilson)

4. Be a pal. Come on now, don't leave me in the lurch. All I want is a little help now and again. (J. Wain)

(5) to mean well — to have kindly feelings towards, to have good intentions

1.... at least he meant well. (A. Cronin)

2. She's very earnest, means well, quite decent, in fact. (A. Cronin)

(6) that's that (that's all there is to it, that's the end of it) — that's all about it (shows finality)

to leave it at that — not to discuss or argue further, avoid further and more bitter disappointment.

1. I'm not going to let you, so that's that. (W. S. Maugham) 1. "I'm sorry Mr. Braceweight, but as a matter of fact I'm think­ing of getting married myself one of these days." "Oh," said Mr. Braceweight faintly. "Oh, well. That's that of course." (J. Wain)

3. "Nothing of the kind," he answered. "I can't avoid business relations, and that's all there is to it." (Th. Dreiser)

4. It's no use, Sister. I can't work miracles. Someone's got to die to make a bed available for Mrs. Smith and that's all there is to it. (D. Cusack)

5. I found nothing in my re-reading of Freud's works that cast any light on the subject I had in mind. I can only relate facts and leave it at that. (W. S. Maugham)

(7) to bring oneself to do something — to get oneself to do something, to make oneself do something

1. I could not bring myself to tell him that I had not seen Jean for the past four days. (A. Cronin)

2. With a considerable effort, he brought himself to look the suede shoe man straight in the eyes. (J. Wain)

3. Then she lay back for a long time before she could bring herself to eat. (D. Cusack)

(8) to go the right (wrong) way about i t — to do it in

the right (wrong) way

1. Doreen sighed. "I don't think you're going the right way about it. It doesn't do for people like Bart to get things too easily. I wonder how many girls he's had since he's been away?" (D. Cusack)

2. If you wish me to do anything for you, Mr. Lickcheese, let me tell you that you are not going the right way about it in speaking ill of Mr. Sartorius. (B. Shaw)

3. I believe it. It just seems to me the wrong way to go about it. (D. Cusack)

(9) to get things (it) straight — to clear things up

1. To get it straight —your name is Walter and I heard you call my employer Daddy, which means you're his son. (J. Wain)

2. Listen, let's get this straight. Are you calling me a thief? (J. Salinger)

3. Don't worry. I'll get things straight in the morning. (Gr. Greene)

things will straighten out — things will work out

1. "You mustn't feel bad," he said kindly; "things will straighten out in the course of time." (Th. Dreiser)

2. You'll probably find the first year rather confusing and hard work between the two schedules, but things will straighten out after a while. (M. Wilson)

3. There's a lot you could do, Erik. For one thing, you could straighten out things for Hugo. (M. Wilson)

(10) to get something right (wrong) — to understand a matter thoroughly or clearly so that no misunderstanding is possible (not to understand a matter clearly so that misunder­standing is possible)

1. "Look. You've got it all wrong," said Walter. (J. Wain)

2. You've got it all wrong, if you think I don't want a decent place to live in as much as you do. (J. Lindsay)

(11) catch one doing — do not expect somebody to do it

1. "Catch me riding on a bus!" Sammy let out his roar. "Not likely!" he said. (I. Murdoch)

2. Please forget about that man for a few minutes, anyway. No man's worth getting that worked up about. Catch me doing it! (D. Parker)

3. And, mind you, it's me that makes it pay so well. Catch him going down to collect his own rents! Not likely! (B. Shaw)

Exercises

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