1. a change of pace 改变步调；换口味
You can't do these chemistry experiments all day long. You certainly need a change of pace.

2. a far cry from 相距甚远
The published book is a far cry from the early manuscript.

3. and how 的确
A：She' s a good dancer.　
B：And how .

4. a matter of time 时间问题
It is only a matter of time.

5. a phone call away 一个电话之远，即愿意过来帮忙
If you need my help, do let me know. Just remember I am a phone call away.

6. a while back 不久以前
Well, I listened to that CD you lent me a while back.

7. all along 一直
I knew it all along.

8. anything but 绝对不
I was anything but happy about going.

9. account for 解释 　　
How do you account for it?

10. after all 毕竟；终究
A：I' ve just seen the X-rays and your teeth look just fine.
B：I see. Then there is nothing to worry about after all.

11. allergic to 对……过敏
Oh man! Something in this room is making my eyes itch. I must be allergic to something.

12. at sb' s service 愿为某人服务
I am at your service at any time.

13. around the clock 24小时不停
Martha studied around the clock for management exam.

14. as far as I know 就我所知
But as far as I know, he once won the world champion at the Olympic Games.

15. at home with 对……很熟悉
She is at home with problems like this.

16. back out
退出
A：Wasn' t Bert supposed to sing tonight?
B：Yes, but he backed out at last minute.
不履行 　　
She finally backed out of her promise.

17. be cut out for 适合于，有做某事物的天赋
She is cut out for a dancer.

18. be absorbed in 全神贯注于某事物
She has been absorbed in a horrorfiction. I can' t tear her away.

19. be addicted to 对某事物上瘾
She has been addicted to drugs for years.

20. be attached to 对某事物有感情
A：I' m amazed that you are still driving that old car of yours. I thought you would have gotten rid of it years ago.
B：It runs well and I' ve actually been quite attached to it.