(figuratively) to ask for the moon, to ask the impossible

on the defensive, on the back foot

(figuratively) to run out the clock, to play for time, to use delaying tactics, to stall

(transitive with à) to shake hands with

(informal, figuratively) to tighten up on discipline, to be more severe

(informal, slang) broke

(figuratively) to call the shots, to call the tune

(figuratively) to lose face

(figuratively, transitive with à) to refresh someone's memory, to jog someone's memory

(dated, informal) to chase skirt, to gallivant