idioms 21:

pat sb/yourself on the back
to praise someone or feel pleased with yourself for doing something well:
• She should pat herself on the back and take a well-earned break.
• Too many people are patting the players on the back and telling them how great they are.

a pat on the back :
INFORMAL praise for something that you have done well:
• I think you all deserve a pat on the back for your hard work.
• She deserves a pat on the back for keeping things going while you were away. [often + for]

Pat on the shoulder:


swallow your pride: to do something even though it embarrasses you or you feel that you should not have to do it:
• He'll have to swallow his pride and apologize.
• I swallowed my pride and did as I was told.


To be in tune with sb/sth :
to be able to realize, understand, or agree with what someone else thinks or wants:
• He sees himself as a political outsider who is in tune with the American voters. --opposite be out of tune with sb/sth

To say sth under your breath:
in a very quiet voice:
• "Son of a bitch," Bill muttered under his breath.


To hate sb guts:

to dislike someone very much:
• The two of them hate each other's guts.

To have bone to pick with sb :
SPOKEN used to tell someone that you are annoyed with them and want to talk about it:
• I have a bone to pick with you! Why didn't you tell me Sheila was coming over tonight?

To take sth with a grain of salt:
to not completely believe what someone tells you because you know that they often lie or are wrong:
• When Kevin talks sometimes you have to take it with a grain of salt.

To play the second fiddle to sb:
to be slightly lower in rank or less important than someone or something else:
• He was never more than a B-movie actor, playing second fiddle to actors like Errol Flynn.