last-ditch attempt	a final attempt/effort
cut one's losses	give up doing sth to prevent futher damages
the tip of the iceberg	the tiniest sign of bigger problem
vanish into thin air	to disappear completely
out of hand	out of control
not have a hope in hell	to have no chance
lend a hand	to help
sit tight	not to change one's possition
close call	a close encounter with danger
chance it	to take a risk
pick up the pieces	to restore a situation after disaster
back to square one	back to the beginning
by the skin of one's teeth	only just
with one's bare hands	without tools/machinery etc
safe and sound	safe and uninjured
be in a tight corner	in difficult/awkward situation
deliver the goods	to produce promised results
have one's back against the wall	to be in desperate situation in which one must struggle to survive
at the end of one's tether	at the point of losing one's patience
throw in the towel	give up