36 SEN TRANS BT

The panel proposed that the new law should be implemented immediately, which is exactly what is needed. (DOCTOR)

The panel’s proposal that the new law should be implemented immediately is just what the doctor ordered.

Because they managed the firm instinctively, they ended up completely ruining the annual budget. (HASH)

Flying by the seat of their pants, they ended up making a (complete) hash of the annual budget.

He is eager to argue over trivial things, which annoys me intensely. (SQUARE)

What sets my teeth on edge is his eagerness to pick a square over trivial things.

The lead developer does exactly what he wants and completely refuses to obey the rules. (LAW)

Being a law unto himself, the lead developer completely refuses to toe the line.

The journalist’s unfair and personal attack during the interview resulted in him being reprimanded. (BELT)

Due to the journalist’s hitting below the belt during the interview, he was taken to task.

The peace negotiations abruptly stopped being successful because both sides lost their energy and enthusiasm. (STEAM)

Had both sides not run out of steam, the peace negotiations would not have hit the buffers.

Constant criticism is just a normal part of this job, so you should accept it calmly. (COURSE)

Inasmuch as constant criticism is par for the course in this job, you should roll with the punches.

Fortunately, the team narrowly escaped the devastating avalanche. (SKIN)

Fortune smiled on the team that they survived the devastating avalanche by the skin of their teeth.

It is absolutely essential that the government finally take responsibility and decisively resolve this immensely complicated problem. (PLATE)

It is high time the government stepped up to the plate and cut the Gordian knot.

The border dispute was such a highly volatile situation that his remarks only exacerbated the ongoing conflict. (KEG)

So much of a powder keg was the border dispute that his remarks only added fuel to the flames.

The manager fiercely scolded the employees to prove that he was the one in absolute control. (ROOST)

With an eye to proving that he ruled the roost, the manager read the employees the riot act.

She was absolutely determined to retaliate and was able to defeat the deceitful spy using his exact tactics. (TASTE)

Hell-bent on giving the deceitful spy a taste of his own medicine, she was able to beat him at his own game.

It was wrong of the director that he didn’t control the expenses tightly. (REIN)

The director should have kept a tight rein on the expenses.

Repeating his aggressive behaviour automatically, the official job-slasher just continued to provoke sensational gossip everywhere he went. (HABIT)

By force of habit, the official job-slasher just continued to set tongues wagging everywhere he went.

The interrogation was such an agonizing ordeal as we kept pressing him to confess. (CANARY)

If we had not kept pressing him to sing like a canary, the interrogation would not have been like pulling teeth.

She spoke frankly and admitted that missing out on the promotion was a very hard reality to accept. (BONES)

She made no bones about the fact that missing out on the promotion was a bitter pill to swallow.

She ignored all advice and acted recklessly, so she must now be punished for her wrongdoings. (RAP)

Having sailed close to the wind, she must now take the rap for her wrongdoings.

The moment more important matters cropped up, the company decided to delay its expansion plan. (FISH)

As soon as there were bigger fish to fry, the company decided to put its expansion plan on the back burner.

Faced with two terrible options, she chose the one that seemed slightly less damaging to her career. (ROCK)

Caught between a rock and a hard place, she chose the lesser of two evils.

As soon as the panic over the cyberattack had subsided, they realised they could not remember the recovery code. (DUST)

No sooner had the dust settled than they realised the recovery code had slipped their minds.

Although they were completely paralyzed with fear, they bravely spoke out against that pompous director. (SPOT)

Though completely rooted to the spot, they put their heads above the parapet.

Because he was desperate to pass the exam, he studied the textbooks continuously without a break. (PORED)

In desperation to pass the exam, he pored over the textbooks day and night.

I want to join the party to relax after a stressful week. (FEET)

In a bid to put my feet up after a stressful week, I am up for joining the party.

I would like Peter to clarify this matter in order to dispel the false public rumors. (LIGHT)

I wish Peter would shed light on this matter in order to set the record straight.

The hospital director is strictly answerable to the frontline medical staff first, and indirectly to the administrative clerks. (EXTENSION)

It is strictly to the frontline medical staff that the hospital director is answerable first, and by extension, to the pen pushers.

The social media team has the task of deflecting relentless attacks from aggressive online commenters. (FEND)

It falls to the social media team to fend off aggressive keyboard warriors.

He only decided to go to bed after he completely exhausted all his energy. (FUMES)

Only after he was running on fumes did he decide to turn in.

As far as I am aware, he will definitely choose to alter the plans in this extreme emergency. (FIT)

To the best of my knowledge, he will see fit to alter the plans in this do or die situation.

The fact that he suddenly resigned immediately became the only thing the press discussed. (DISCUSSION)

His sudden resignation immediately became the only topic of discussion for the press.

Even though it completely contradicted conventional wisdom, the founder decided to keep pushing his strategy. (GRAIN)

Much as it went against the grain, the founder decided to double down.

Almost immediately after the ambitious newcomer attracted everyone’s attention at the gala, the experienced investors evaluated him. (SPLASH)

Barely had the newcomer made a splash when the investors sized him up.

He was scolded severely by his boss because he went too far with his joke. (MARK)

On account of overstepping the mark, he was hauled over the coals by his boss.

Her refusal to be made the scapegoat for this doomed fiasco is understandable. (CAN)

It is understandable that she refuses to carry the can for this dead duck.

Instead of trying to innovate needlessly, you should follow the successful examples set by previous directors. (WHEEL)

In lieu of trying to reinvent the wheel, you should take a leaf out of previous directors’ book.

However hard he tried to appear fearless, it was obvious to us that he was utterly terrified. (FRONT)

Try as he might to put on a brave front, he was shaking in his boots.

Wanting to achieve the required standard, the dedicated student put in far more effort than expected. (MAKE)

So as to make the grade, the student went the extra mile.