Learn Some Idiomatic Expressions (3)

Learn some idiomatic expressions. The English language is rich in idiomatic expressions. A student with only limited knowledge of idioms will find himself or herself in a serious disadvantage in reading, discussions and debates.
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(3)

Not for love or money: not at any price.
e.g. All tickets are sold out; you won't get one for love or money.

To crown it all: on top of everything else.
e.g. He forgot to bring the documents. To crown it all, he forgot his passport.

Become second nature: become habitual.
e.g. You have to continue practicing it until it becomes second nature to you.

Walls have ears: be careful what you say.
e.g. If I were you, I would shut up; walls have ears.

A house of cards: an idea that has no foundation.
e.g. His proposal is no more than a house of cards.

Go to the wall: fail; go bankrupt.
e.g. His business overseas has gone to the wall.
e.g. In this day and age, the weakest go to the wall.

As close as an oyster: secretive.
e.g. You can never get any information from him; he is as close as an oyster.

Like a fish out of water: in an awkward or unfamiliar environment.
e.g. In a room full of ladies, he felt like a fish out of water.

Milk and water: feeble; weak.
e.g. These milk-and-water economic policies won't help the economy at all.

Stephen Lau