The Ministry of Higher and secondary education of the Republic of Uzbekistan State World Languages University

to go about something the wrong way – to use the wrong method or approach to achieve an object. ‘If you wanted Howard to back your project you went about it the wrong way contradicting him at dinner.’

at the parting of the ways – a time when it is best to separate. ‘I am so sorry, Tim, but I’m afraid we’ve come to a parting of the ways. We are only making each other unhappy.’ From the Bible, Ezekiel XXI, 21: ‘For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways…’

to go one’s own way – to follow one’s inclinations, to rely on one’s own judgement and ignore other people’s. ‘All right, Tom, go your own way, if that’s how you feel about it, but I wish you would listen to us just once.’

to have a way with one – to have a natural charm, which is very persuasive. ‘Jenny certainly has a way with her. I found myself agreeing with everything she said.’

to have come a long way – to have accomplished a great deal. ‘You’ve come a long way since we last met. You were a clerk then, and now you own your own factory.’

in a big way – on a large scale. ‘Ian is very ambitious, he does everything in a big way.’ / in a small way – on a small scale, only to a small extent. ‘If you could help me, even in a small way, I should be most grateful.’

to find out the hard way – to learn the truth from one’s own painful experience. ‘We warned you that you wouldn’t like boarding school but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ve found out the hard way.’

to make way for – to surrender one’s position to someone else. ‘You’ve done a wonderful job for the Company, but we think, Sir, that at the age of seventy it is only fair you should make way for a younger man.’

to have it one’s own way – to insist on doing what one wants despite arguments to the contrary. ‘Have it your own way, Hugh, but if things go wrong, don’t blame us.’