took my breath away：What he did really took my breath away.
付之一炬
Because of a blast, that new house just committed to the flames.
生龙活虎
alive and kicking：Nessie says it is alive and kicking under different names By Sussy.
仗势欺人
John always pulls rank on others.
白手起家
started from scratch：He is a successful business who started from scratch.
任劳任怨
to bear hardship without complaint
自作自受
As you make your bed so you must lie on it.
自讨苦吃
to make a rod for one's own back
自力更生
to shift for oneself
自扫门前雪
After us the deluge.
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回头浪子
the return of a prodigal son
先下手为强
Offence is the best defence.
同甘共苦
to share one's joys and sorrows
因地制宜
act according to circumstances
有勇无谋
more brave than wise
有备无患
Good watch prevents misfortune.
有志者事竟成
Where there is a will, there is a way.
有钱能使鬼推磨
Money makes the world go around. /Money talks.
有其父必有其子 Like father, like son.
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江山易改本性难移
a fox may grow gray, but never good（The leopard cannot change his spots；you cannot make a crab walk straight）
三岁看老
The child is father of the man.
百无一失
Not a single miss in a hundred times.
百依百顺
She expects us to jump through hoops for her.
眼见为实
To see is to believe. (Seeing is believing.)
吃得苦中苦，方为人上人
If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the bitterest of the bitter.
每人一生中皆有得意之日 Every dog has its day.
色是假，美是空
Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty.
知足者富
He who feels contented is rich.
早起的鸟儿有虫吃
The early bird catches the worm.
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知足常乐
Happy is he who is content
知人知面不知心
It's easy to know men's faces, but not their hearts.
知己知彼百战百胜
Know your enemy and know yourself.
空中楼阁
castles in the air
金科玉律 the gold rule
奇装异服 a fantastic garb
明辨事非
to distinguish right from wrong
雨后春笋
like bamboo shoots after a spring shower
雨过天青
After a storm comes a calm.
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秀才不出门能知天下事
A scholar does not step outside his gate, yet he knows the happenings under the sun.
事实胜于雄辩
Facts are most convincing.
以毒攻毒
to set a thief to catch a thief
以怨报德
He is a person who bites the hand that feeds one.
以逸待劳
To wait at ease till the enemy is exhausted.
以寡敌众
to fight against longer odds
以德报怨
I think it is better for you to render/return good for evil .
以其人之道还治其人之身
to pay somebody (back) in his own coin
以子之矛，攻子之盾
to turn a person's battery against himself
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