I don't like the old hat that you gave me, but beggars can't be choosers.It doesn't matter whether people like the free food or not. Beggars can't be choosers.

Well, I don't want to be the one to cast the first stone, but she sang horribly.John always casts the first stone. Does he think he's perfect?

Jane is such a gossip. She was really cutting Mrs. Jones up.The professor really cut up my essay.

The critic did not say that he disliked the play, but he damned it with faint praise.Mrs. Brown is very proud of her son's achievements, but damns her daughter's with faint praise.

We were unable to find fault with the meal.Some people are always finding fault.

I stopped whistling when I got a dirty look from Ann.I got a dirty look from the teacher. I don't know why.

Hey, stupid! You want to get run over? Get a life!You worthless jerk! Get a life!

I don't know why I should get it in the neck. I didn't break the window.Bill got it in the neck for being late.

Now, now, hold your fire until I've had a chance to explain.Hold your fire, Bill. You're too quick to complain.

I'm tired of your being on my case all the time.It seems as if someone is always on his back.

It seems as if it's always open season on politicians.At the news conference, it was open season on the mayor.

Why are you always picking at me?You always seem to be picking at your car.

The lawyer picked holes in the witness's story.They will pick holes in your argument.She picked my story to pieces.

Stop picking on me!Why are you always picking on your dog?Don't pick on our house. It's old, but we love it.

I didn't pull any punches. I told her just what I thought of her.The teacher doesn't pull any punches when it comes to discipline.

I like to rub it in. You deserve it!Why do you have to rub in everything I do wrong?

Why are you always running your friends down?Don't run down my paintings! You just don't understand art!

Tom is always tearing Jane down. I guess he doesn't like her.It's not nice to tear down the people who work in your office.Why are you always tearing my projects down?

I wish you would stop bad-mouthing my car.Harry badmouths everything he doesn't understand.

This car has gotten a bad rap, and I don't know why.Butter has been getting sort of a bad rap lately.

Stop bagging on me! I'm tired of all your complaining.If you are going to bag on everyone all the time, I don't want to hear about it.

I am sick of your college-bashing!I hope you'll excuse the broker-bashing, but some of these guys don't play fair.On T.V. they had a long session of candidatebashing, and then they read the sports news.

She really blasted the plan in front of the board.He blasted his brother until we all left in embarrassment.

The senator leveled a blast at the administration.The administration delivered an enormous blast at the Senate hearing.

You're always bumrapping your car!Don't bum rap me! I'll sue!

Please stop dinging my little brother. He's a good kid.The reviewer dinged the book, but it sold well anyway.

The critics all dished the opening of the play mercilessly.I wish you would stop dishing me all the time.

There is no need to do a dump on me. I didn't wreck your car.The boss—mad as a wet hen—dumped all over me.That rotten jerk really did a dump on my car. Look at that fender!

I really feel dumped on.The jerk who designed this stupid congested stairway hasn't been dumped on enough.

Don't get down on me. I didn't do it!I'm gonna get down on him for that.

Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.The papers are knocking my favorite candidate again.

I knocked his plans into a cocked hat.You've knocked everything into a cocked hat.

There's no need to lay a trip on me. I agree with you.When he finally does get there, I'm going to lay a heavy trip on him like he'll never forget.

Mary is such a nit-picker.Nitpickers drive me crazy.

I am tired of all your nit- ing.Enough nit-picking! What are the major problems?

You have been on my case long enough. Mind your own business!The boss has been on my tail about the large number of telephone calls I make.

Please don't poor-mouth my brother.There's no need to poor-mouth your clothing.

Please stop taking potshots at me!He took a potshot at my old car.

I won't pull my punches with you. This is lousy.He never pulls any punches. He always talks straight.

If another sidewalk superintendent comes in here and tries to tell me how to manage this office, heads will roll.I hate to be a sidewalk superintendent, but this plan is all wrong.

Please don't slam my car. It's the best I can do.The secretary was slamming the boss in one room, and the boss was slamming the secretary in another.

Harry took another slam at the sales record the sales force had produced for the meeting.I don't want to hear another nasty and hateful slam at my sister. Is that clear?

I explained the plan, but the boss spiked it immediately.I hate to see my ideas spiked like that.

They really took me apart, but what the hell?The editorial took the whole board apart.

The cops have been taking some heat about the Quincy killing.If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

I was late, and the boss tore me apart.I thought my paper was good, but the prof tore it apart.

Don't be so thin-skinned. You can't expect everyone to like you.He's a thin-skinned guy.I'm too thinskinned to be a bill collector.