There is no hard and fast rule regarding this subject.

To hold somebody to ransom

To give a rap on the knuckles

I did not mind what he was saying, he was only <u><em>talking through his hat</em></u>.

There was a job for me <u><em>to cut my teeth on</em></u>.

To put somebody in his place

To turn the cover

Kamal was left <u><em>high and dry</em></u> by his friends when he lost all his money.

To cut the cackle