take a toll

do A dirt

put the cart before the horse

at the onset

straight face

jot down

set the scene

average out

farm out

stumble upon

back to the drawing board

be in with

get a grip on

bad blood

go deep

ante up

come out ahead

bend one's ear

be analogous to

go up in smoke

scratch the surface

talk around

be big on

rub shoulders with

make a killing

make headway

be hard hit

hang tough

stab A in the back

to the root

over my dead body

be home free

party out

early in the day

on one's deathbed

be in with

at a stroke

compare notes

be jammed with

work away