SUCCESS AND FAILURE

MAKE A KILLING (idiom)

ACHIEVE GREAT FINANCIAL SUCCESS (Joe made a killing on the stock exchange. He can now retire without any worries)

MAKE A COMEBACK (idiom)

ACHIEVE SUCCESS AGAIN AFTER A PERIOD OF FAILURE (After losing so many matches, everyone was shocked when their team made a comeback and won the championship)

FALL THROUGH (phrasal verb)

BE UNSUCCESSFUL (We'd been organising the trip for months, but in the end our plans fell through)

GO UP IN SMOKE (idiom)

COME TO AN END BEFORE PRODUCING A RESULT (Paulina's dream of a white wedding went up in smoke after her fiance left her)

FAIL (verb)

COULDN'T MANAGE TO DO SOMETHING (Dave had a wonderful opportunity to impress his new boss, but in the end he failed)

CUT YOUR LOSSES (idiom)

END OR STOP BEING INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT IS ALREADY FAILING, IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE LOSS OF MONEY, TIME OR EFFORT INVESTED IN IT (The project is failing. Let's cut our losses before it's too late)

COME TO NOTHING (expression)

FAIL, NOT HAVING FUTURE (If you don't have a little luck on your side, all your hard work may come to nothing)

HAVE GOT IT MADE (idiom)

HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE (Dominic has a big house, a happy family and a great job. He's got it made)

GO/COME UP IN THE WORLD (idiom)

RICHER/MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN BEFORE OR HAVING A HIGHER SOCIAL STATUS (Anita has just bought an expensive apartment right in the most fashionable area of the city. She is certainly coming up in the world)

MADE IT (verb + pronoun)

SUCCEED (After years of hard and patience, Joe finally made it. He's a millionaire now)

PROSPER (verb)

TO BE RICH (Despite the financial crisis, some banks are continuing to prosper)

COME OFF (phrasal verb)

TO HAPPEN AS PLANNED, OR TO SUCCEED (Do you think his plan will come off in the end)

WITH FLYING COLOURS (idiom)

VERY SUCCESSFULLY (James passed his exam with flying colours. He's very proud of himself)