would rather: prefer to (also: would just as soon) Examples of WOULD RATHER I would rather go biking than running, because biking is easier on my knees. He would rather go to the salad bar, but she wanted to go to the steakhouse.

to go around: to be sufficient or adequate for everyone present; to circulate,to move from place to place Examples of TO GO AROUND Because there was more than enough dinner to go around, Sandy invited her next-door neighbor and his kids, too. For the number of people who are graduating from college, there just aren’t…

in no time: very quickly, rapidly Examples of IN NO TIME Cupcakes are easy and fast to bake; I’ll have them done in no time. Henry was just around the corner and so he got there in no time.

to take pains: to work carefully and conscientiously Examples of TO TAKE PAINS She takes pains to do everything well; she’s our best employee. She takes pains to conceal his true identity from her villagers and even her husband.

Crocodile tears: False or fake tears. Examples: Politicians love to cry crocodile tears about how hard it is to cut government spending. President Obama shed his crocodile tears for the latest group of victims.

to look down on: to feel superior to, to think of someone as less important Examples of TO LOOK DOWN ON People who are in positions of power should be careful not to look down on those who work for them. A lot of people look down on us because we’re homeless,” she says.