IDIOMS XIII

Idioms are often colorful and unexpected ways to express common situations. For example, if a person has passed a critical point and is out of danger, we might say he's "out of the woods." Or, if there's still a possibility of difficulties, we might say, he's "not out of the woods yet."Can you think of an idiomatic expression that describes the following mundane situations in an interesting way?

1. Accept and deal with something difficult in a calm way

2. Enjoy the beauty of each day and don't worry about the future

3. Something or someone so superior to another that there is no comparison

4. Very comfortable and easy - often with "no" to emphasize that something is not easy. 

5. Start a conversation or otherwise ease a tense situation with some activity

6. Eliminate corruption and/or inefficiency, as in a company

7. Be in charge, make the decisions, as in a family

8. Skeptical, unwilling to accept something without proof

9. Make a living, earn enough money to live

10. Cause or mark the end of something, as a career

11. Evoke tumultuous, long-lasting applause, as an opera aria might do

12. Done or said spontaneously, informal, without preparation

13. Family loyalty will always be stronger than other relationships 

14. Arrange something so that the results will likely favor a certain outcome

15. Abandon someone at a critical moment, forcing them to be responsible for the situation

Answers:

1. Take in stride

2. Stop and smell the roses

3. Can't hold a candle to

4. Bed of roses

5. Break the ice

6. Clean house

7. Wear the pants

8. Be from Missouri

9. Bring home the bacon

10. Bring down the curtain

11. Bring down the house

12. Off the cuff

13. Blood is thicker than water

14. Stack the deck 

15. Leave holding the bag or Leave in the lurch