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An accomplished liar
Everyday language contains some archaic words that are only used in one
context, like wreak havoc and militate against. Since we don’t wreak or
militate every day, it’s easy to get these wrong and say mitigate against and reap havoc. So why don't we just avoid these cliches and say cause havoc and work against? (People seem to have got tired of "militate", thank heavens.)
accomplished liar
(skilled)
allay fears (soothe)
amicable divorce (friendly)
arrant nonsense (utter)
assailed by doubt (attacked)
bounden duty (duty)
dabble in black magic
dwindling stocks
dulcet tones (sweet)
figment of the imagination (product)
fleet footed/fleet of foot (fast)
indissolubly linked (indivisibly)
inspissated gloom (saturated)
irredeemably naff
labour under the delusion
lull into
a sense of false security (hypnotise)
militate against
(work)
pent up emotions/fears (bottled)
permeated with melancholy (saturated)
ply a trade (carry on)
redoubtable old lady (terrifying old bat)
salve your
conscience (soothe)
serried ranks Merriam-Webster: "crowded or pressed
together”
stanch the
bleeding (stop)
stem the flow/tide (stop)
straitened circumstances (reduced)
strident feminist
(as people don't say any more. Perhaps because the feminists seem to have disappeared.)
tenuous connection
(fragile, slight)
unmitigated disaster
(total, complete, utter)
wanton destruction
(irresponsible)
wax lyrical
(become poetic) The only other thing that waxes is the moon; then
itwanes.
woe betide (ill
befall)
wreak havoc
(cause)
wrest control (seize, grab, twist) | 
