A coat of varnish (paint)

Example

Next weekend I have to give a coat of varnish at the fence

To blow somebody off

Example

I am very mad, this morning I had an appointment with a realtor, guess what he blew me off

To clutch at straws

Example
Use of spy-cameras like an attempt to clutch at straws for the investigation

Run at breakneck speed

Example

We run at breakneck speed to arrive in time

Down the road

Example
This is a great idea, but a marketable product is many years down the road

Give somebody the slip

Example

We have been tailing after him for days until he gave us the slip

To be in the red

Example
A lot of workers were in the red at the end of their first year

To have one's paper in order

Example

This business demands to have your papers in order more than ever

Get (sink) your teeth into

Example

It's time you get your teeth into your new job if you want to start a career

Rise to the occasion/challenge

Example

When faced with a difficult problem, the team rose to the challenge and found a creative solution

To rattle on about something

Example
Gina is nice but she rattles on about things too much

Didn't cut the mustard

Example

When you're a young  you always feel the pressure that you can't cut the mustard

To clinch the deal

Example

After months of negotiations he is about to clinch a deal with an german healthcare industry

Not hold breath

Example

If you are waiting for Zoe to apologise about yesterday argument, don't hold your breath

Starving

Example

I'm starving. I want to eat