Above water
Not in extreme difficulty. Especially said of finances
（尤指财务上）勉强应付过去，惨淡经营
- The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.
公司遇到了一些问题，但我们还得勉强应付下去。
Cut corners
Economize by reducing quality; take shortcuts
（做事）图省事，贪便宜，取捷径
- Spend freely on the things which will enrich your life and cut corners on those which don’t matter.
学会在那些能丰富你的生活的东西上花钱，对于无关紧要的物品则能省就省。
Head (go) south
Decline, get worse
下降，变坏
- A lot of things may go south, but you absolutely have a lot of reasons to be thankful.
很多事情可能会让你失意，但还是会有很多的理由让你心存感恩。
In a jam
In need of help, in a difficult spot
陷入困境，需要帮助
- Can you go to the meeting of me? I'm in a jam.
你能代我去参加会议吗？我现在有点麻烦事。
In hot water
In need of help; in trouble
陷入困境；惹上麻烦
- He found himself in hot water over his comments about immigration.
他发现自己针对移民事务发表的那些言论给自己惹上了麻烦。
Red tape
Difficult bureaucratic or governmental requirements
繁文缛节；官僚作风；拖拉费时的繁琐手续
- We must cut through the red tape.
我们必须要克服官僚文牍主义。
(The) last straw
A problem or insult that finally demands a response
（压垮骆驼的）最后一根稻草；使人最终崩溃的一击
- She's always been rude to me, but it was the last straw when she started insulting my mother.
她一直对我很粗鲁，但让我终于无法忍受的是她竟然开始辱骂我的母亲。
Think outside the box
Try to solve a problem in an original way; think creatively
跳出传统的思维框框，以新的眼光看问题，独辟蹊径
- Instead of telling an interviewer you think outside the box, actually do it.
与其告诉面试官你很有想法，不如在面试中真正展现出来。
(An) uphill climb
A difficult process
向上爬坡，过程艰难
- Senator McCain says he has an uphill climb to the White House.
鉴于总体的政治气氛，麦凯恩参议员承认他入主白宫的道路艰难。
