出人头地
Through his hard work, he finally came to the fore.

出类拔萃
John towers above the rest in math. (in a class by itself; out of the common run)

史无前例
without precedent （in history）：His excellent performance at that play is without precedent in history.

令人发指
His cruelty to animals make our hair stand on end.

令人咋舌
took my breath away：What he did really took my breath away.

付之一炬
Because of a blast, that new house just committed to the flames.

生龙活虎
alive and kicking：Nessie says it is alive and kicking under different names By Sussy.

仗势欺人
John always pulls rank on others.

白手起家
started from scratch：He is a successful business who started from scratch.

任劳任怨
to bear hardship without complaint  

小Car笔记：

tower：高耸，屹立， 超过，胜过，塔 【常用词组】①a tower of strength：中流砥柱，中流砥柱 ②water tower ：自来水塔
in a class by itself：独一无二(独具一格)
hair stand on end：毛骨悚然，令人发指hardship：艰难，苦难，辛苦 【常用短语】①hardship subsidy 生活困难补贴 ②economic hardship：经济困难

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