oddball(be off the wall; have a button missing)

be all mouth and trousers(all talk and no action)

Desperation drives a dog to jump over a wall.

brood on(take somthing to heart)

follow one's bigoted course(be hellbent on having one's way)

can't be thankful enough to

treat somebody with special esteem(look at somebody with new eyes; have a completely new appraisal of somebody)

The nation is prosperous and the people are strong and powerful

stand still and refuse to make progress

come to a successful end

The country is prosperous and the people are at peace.

a person in solitary splendour(the odd man out)

so grateful as to shed tears

be deeply grateful for sb.'s kindness

move the heaven and the earth--deeply moving

celebrate peace by singing and dancing

a bright sky and a benign sun; in the open day

plough a lone furrow

of every description(all kinds of)

just talk for the sake of talking