waste one's talent on a petty job(cut blocks with a razor)

drop old habits and reform

shout at the top of one's voice

more or less(to some extent)

as level as a die(true as a die)

resolve(make up one's mind)

Before you beat a dog,find out who's its master.

beat a drowning dog( completely crush a defeated enemy; beat the mad dog even through it is already in the water)

show high ideals by simple living

to turn deaf ear to(be in at one ear and out at the other)

East and West

As timid as a mouse

The heavens open.(The rains comes down in buckets.)

plainly dressed or richly adorned

neither swords nor spears can penetrate(a rigid way of thinking)

modulation in tone

cut a dash(make a brilliant figure)

have pity on(show mercy)

the lovely sun in winter--a man of kindness

A small leak will sink a great ship.