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.