To break through = to manage to get past or through something that is in your way / to manage to do something successfully when there

is a difficulty that is preventing you. To become second nature To get sidetracked = to get distracted To praise = to speak favourably or with admiration to deserve praise Praise the Lord ! to diagnose with to undergo surgery to undergo chemotherapy To acquire a tougher mental attitude To seize opportunities / a chance/ power / control / the initiative - seizure / an epileptic seizure To earn ones living On a whim = impulsively To work ones fingers to the bone To be envious of To perk up= to become more cheerful, active, interested in what is happening around you To get stingier To compliment somebody on To discourage somebody from To compensate somebody for To benefit from To be involved in / with To apologise for To be obsessed with To make up for = to compensate To count on = to rely A far cry from = very different from The world is your oyster = there is no limit Well- heeled relation = wealthy Looming on the horizon = approaching/ appearing as a large unclear shape As far back as ( the late 50s )