16 - I can talk about study

• it is not for want/lack of trying = used to say that sb is trying hard even though they are failing
• night after night = every night for a period of time
• hold sb back = stop sb being as successful as they should be
• show signs of sth = show that sth seems to be happening
• next to nothing = almost nothing
• pull your socks up = used to tell sb that they are not doing well and must work harder
• have nothing/something/little/a lot to show for sth = have achieved nothing/something/little/a lot as a result of sth that you have done
• turn over a new leaf = change your life by stopping a bad habit or becoming a better person
• apply yourself = work hard on sth; give your full attention to something
• with flying colours = very well; with a very high mark/grade
• scrape through sth = succeed in doing with difficulty, especially passing an exam
• tell sb off = talk angrily to sb for doing sth wrong
• as a matter of routine/course = as a habit; as the usual way of doing sth
• cut sth out = stop doing sth, especially sth wrong
• mark sb down = reduce the mark/grade given to sb in an exam
• two weeks running = two weeks after another
• come on = improve
• in/by leaps and bounds - very quickly, in large amounts