To cry wolf

To give a false colouring

To cool one's heels

To give/get the bird

He knew she was dead but was completely <u><em>at sea</em></u> about the cause of her death.

If you pass this difficult examination, it will be a <u><em>feather in your cap</em></u>.

In the armed forces, it is considered a great privilege to <u><em>die in harness</em></u>.

To tell you <u><em>in a nutshell</em></u>, lust for power and money has almost spoiled him.

The popularity of the yesterday's superstar is <u><em>on the wane</em></u>.