have a lot to answer for	be the main causes of sth
is not all as it's cracked up to be	not as good as people say
have the edge over	slighlty better than
leave a lot to be desired	is not as good as we might expect
have all the makings of	is likely to develop into
on the big side	bigger that you expect it to be
a dead loss	completely useles
rough and ready	crude and lacking sophistication
throw the baby out with the bathwater	change things
get/jump/leap on the bandwagon	get involved in sth already successful
play devil's advocate	pretend to be against sth so people argue over it
drive sb to distraction	make sb very angry or bored
make an exhibition of yourself	to do things in public that makes you seem foolish
do sth under false pretences	tell lies about who you are or what you're doing
never do anything by halves	always make a great effort and do things well
be a laughing stock	be laughed at