relaxed and informal.

The atmosphere in our office is always free and easy.

• the [child/house/mother, etc.] from hell
• the chosen few
• the coast is clear
• the cock of the walk
• the comings and goings
• the common touch
• the conventional wisdom
• the corridors of power
• the cream of the crop
• the curtain comes down on
• the curtain comes down on something
• the curtain falls
• the curtain falls on
• the curtain falls on something
• the cut and thrust of
• the cut and thrust of something
• the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
• the day of reckoning
• the dead hand of
• the dead hand of something
• the death knell
• the demon drink
• the devil finds work for idle hands.
• the devil take the hindmost
• the dice are loaded against