a fishing expedition
an attempt to discover the facts about something by collecting a lot of information, often secretly
be on the ball
to be quick to understand and react to things
hang up one's boots
to retire from playing a sport
learn/know the ropes
to learn/know how to do a job or activity
race against time
a situation in which something must happen or be done quickly because little time is available
sail through something
to do something easily and confidently
be skating on thin ice
to be doing something that is dangerous or involves risks
take someone for a ride
to deceive or cheat someone
paddle your own canoe
If you describe a person as paddling their own canoe, you mean that they are independent and do not need help from anyone else
go/swim against the tide
to not follow what everyone else is doing
two can play at that game
something that you say when you intend to harm someone in the same way as they harmed you
a waiting game
a situation in which you delay taking any action, so that you can watch how a situation develops and see what it is best for you to do
take/knock the wind out of someone's sails
to make someone feel less confident or less determined to do something, usually by saying or doing something that they are not expecting
be in full swing
If an event is in full swing, it has already been happening for a period of time and there is a lot of activity
