make a dent in

speak the same language

prepare the ground

big wheel

spill one's guts

grit one's teeth

go to the wall

stick one's nose in

under a cloud

split the difference

hold the purse strings

know the score

close one's mind to

fall to pieces

spread one's wings

slip through one's fingers

spread oneself

hold the purse strings

Dear John

every which way

ivory tower

easy as pie

the chicken or the egg

stand corrected

down on one's luck

push one's luck

steal the spotlight

slow off the mark

go haywire

steam up

limber up

to the ears

step out of line

buckle down

shell game

burn the midnight oil

stick one's nose in

have a life of one's own

smooth over

between a rock and a hard place