a sore point/spot: a subject which someone would prefer not to talk about because it makes them angry or embarrassedExamples Try not to mention baldness while he’s here – it’s a sore spot for him. Annual running operation now comes to $5.4 million, a sore point in Parliament.

in a hurry: hurried, rushed (also:in a rush) Examples of IN A HURRY I didn’t do the best job because I was in a hurry to finish the order. The puppy was pulling at his leash, in a hurry to explore the park.

a lost cause: a hopeless case, a person or situation having no hope of positivechange. Examples of A LOST CAUSE Repeat these steps as necessary to remove the stain, but it may be a lost cause. Even this late in the game, the search for the black boxes is not a lost cause.

to go up: to increase (also: to drive up); to be constructed, to be erected Examples of TO GO UP As a matter of fact, that’s more often the case than when earnings are going up. Not because rates are going up, but because they were under-insured in the past.

at last: finally, after a long time. Examples of AT LAST “At last, I’ll be in New York City,” the tourist thought to herself excitedly. At last, Sherlock solved the mystery.

to miss the boat: to ​lose an ​opportunity to do something by being ​slow to ​act Examples of TO MISS THE BOAT There were ​tickets ​available last ​week, but he ​missed the ​boat by ​waiting till today to ​try to ​buy some. The precious metals market was looking up several months ago, but unfortunately most…