touch and go: risky, uncertain until the end Examples of TOUCH AND GO The outcome of the soccer final was touch and go for the entire match. It was touch and go at one stage whether I would make the journey to hospital.

to shut up: to close for a period of time; to be quiet, to stop talking Examples of TO SHUT UP She just WOULD NOT SHUT UP, and eventually Duncan took to just yelling over her. In cases like these they just need to shut up and take a big bite of humble pie

to put off: to postpone Examples of PUT OF The procrastinating student decided to put off doing his homework until the last minute. The Judge decided to put off reaching a decision until he’d thought about what he heard.

easier said than done: You say easier said than done when you think that what has been suggested is very difficult:Examples of EASIER SAID THAN DONE That’s easier said than done at this time of year for Payne and dozens like her. Attempting to slow down the best offense in the league is easier said…

to take for granted: not to appreciate fully; to assume to be true withoutgiving much thoughtA noun or pronoun often follows the verb take. Examples of TO TAKE FOR GRANTED Most citizens in Africa do not have these luxuries we take for granted. These people are being careless and taking for granted the lives that…

to lay off: to abstain from, stop using as a habit; to release or discharge from a job (also: related idiom: to let go) Examples of TO LAY OFF Today is my 30th birthday, but I should probably lay off the cake and champagne. He said the company had to lay off employees and has…