1. As far as I’m concerned I’ve never danced a step since I married. (w.S. Maugham)

2. Betty found a place for us here, and as far as I’m concerned I don’ t care where I go while I’m writing the novel. It’s quiet enough here. (J. Wain)

3. As far as this evening was concerned, Mor was anxious to warn Demoyte not to mention the matter in Nan’s presence (I. Murdoch)

4. “I have taken the liberty, my lord, of advancing the breakfast hour as far as you are concerned. Everything is ready in the dining room. (A. Christie)

5. So far as his own meager store of money was concerned he gave the most of it to his beloved church. (Th. Dreiser)

to be in (out of) one’s element – to be in (not in) a suitable or satisfying atmosphere or surroundings

1.…and I was in my element that afternoon knowing that nobody could beat me at running… (A. Sillitoe)

2. Erik went out to the plant at least once a week, sometimes every day, but he could not rid of the growing suspicion that he was out of his element as an engineer. (M. Wilson)

3. He was determined to do good, not to any individual person but to a country, a continent, a world. Well, he was in his element now with the whole universe to improve. (Gr. Greene)

to make the best (the most) of – to get along with, as best one can; to use in the most profitable way

1. Sir Leopold was well placed and he made the best of his height. (I. Murdoch)

2. And all the time she was thinking how to make the most of, what she had, for the children’s sake. (D. Lawrence)

3. She took her right unconsciously, they came natural to her and she knew exactly how to make the most of them. (J. Galsworthy)

4. Her taste was so great, her tact so sure, that she was able to make the most of herself. She was determined that if people called her ugly they should be forced in the same breath to confess that she was perfectly gowned. (W.S. Maugham)

5. In a handsome gold frame was a copy of Velasquez’s Innocent, that Stroeve had made in Rome, and placed so as to make the most of their decorative effect were a number of Stroeve’s pictures, all in splendid frames. (W.S. Maugham)

there is no doing (denying, telling, avoiding, mistaking, waiting, stopping, prompting, smoking, talking etc.) – it is impossible to do (deny, tell etc.); one can’t do (deny etc.)

1. Tim Burke had left Ireland when he was a child but there was no mistaking his nationality although long residence in London and the frequenting of cinemas had introduced a Cockney intonation into his brogue and a number of Americanisms among the flowery locutions of his Dublin speech. (I. Murdoch)

2. When she took a thing into her head, there was no stopping her. (J. Galsworthy)

3. “Can’t you tell me, Mr.Lumley, just what it is that you don’t like about the rooms?” There was no mistaking the injured truculence in the landlady’s voice. (J. Wain)

to turn over a new leaf – to make a new start; to give up bad ways and habits

1. He intended to take an opportunity this afternoon of speaking to Irene. A word in time saved nine; and now that she was going to live in the country there was a chance for her to turn over a new leaf. (J. Galsworthy)

2. But to people like Ralph Paton to turn over a new leaf is easier in theory than in practice. (A. Christie)

to know (a person) by sight – to be familiar with his appearance only

1. I don’t think we have met before, although I know you by sight. (Gr. Greene)

2. Quite a lot of people were waiting for the London train, many of them known by sight by Mor. (I. Murdoch)

3. “Here’s somebody I don’t know”, said Susie. “But I do, at least, by sight”, answered Burdon. (W.S. Maugham)

to talk nineteen to the dozen – to talk continually; to talk a lot and incessantly

1. At tea-time he came down into the drawing-room, and found them talking, as he expressed it, nineteen to the dozen. (J. Galsworthy)

2. Victoria had an early meal in the dining-room with Hamilton Clipp, the latter talking nineteen to the dozen on every subject under the sun. (A. Christie)

3. He’ll tell you all about himself. He talks nineteen to the dozen. (W.S. Maugham)

to be at a loose end – to have no definite occupation

1. Campion was a mining engineer, whom the Sulton on his way to England had met at Singapore and finding him at a loose end had commissioned to go to Semibulu. (W.S. Maugham)

2. He seemed to be at a loose end and when his visit to his friends was drawing to a close she told him they would be very much pleased if he would come and spend a fortnight with them. (W.S. Maugham)

3. She’s at a loose end, you know, badly wants something to do. (J. Galsworthy)

4. “Oh, there you are”, he said as soon as Charles emerged. “You’ll be at a loose end for a bit this morning, I expect?” (J. Wain)

at (the) latest (most, best, worst) – before or not later than

1. I will be with you at latest by ten. (Gr. Greene)

2. I’ll bet that we’re finished with the experiment in another two, and selfish into the bargain. (J. Galsworthy)