to get rid of: to eliminate, to remove; to discard, to throw away Examples of TO GET RID OF Maybe we need some legislation to get rid of fast food in fast-food restaurants. The only thing I’d get rid of is the breadmaker, but I have nowhere to put that.

once and for all: finally, absolutely Examples of ONCE AND FOR ALL We’re going to solve this mystery once and for all, the detective thought to himself. After trying repeatedly, they were able to get the engine fixed once and for all.

had better: should, ought to, be advisable to Examples of HAD BETTER “You had better tell me what’s going on!” the suspicious father demanded. “Stephanie had better confess to stealing the candy,” Nancy thought, “or I might get in trouble!”  

ill at ease: uncomfortable or worried in a situation Examples of ILL AT EASE The financial crisis last September especially made people become ill at ease. There is anticipation, but there is also an ill-at-ease feeling about it all.

touch and go: risky, uncertain until the end Examples of TOUCH AND GO The outcome of the soccer final was touch and go for the entire match. It was touch and go at one stage whether I would make the journey to hospital.

to blow up: to inflate, to fill with air; to explode, to destroy (or be destroyed) by explosion Examples of TO BLOW UP Linda must have been pretty angry to blow up at you like that. A storm blew up off the east coast.