From "rags to riches" or from "riches to rags"

Underpriviliged Talking about "success"

Do legwork A stroke of luck
Guide someone onto the correct path Make a go of (business/project)
Put back into sth Resounding success
Wearing (activity/job) Overcome problems
Use elbow grease Have nothing to do
Not put a foot wrong Be at a loose end
Overcome adversity Go from strength to strength
Short cut Twiddle your thumbs
Fulfil potential Not lift a finger
Through blood, sweat and tears
A dropout
Pull yourself up by the bootstraps Busy
Burn the candle at both ends
Have enough on your plate
Have your plate full
Be up to your eyes (ears) in work

Be happy
UNIT 1: SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT Be exultant/be in an exultant mood
Be ecstatic
Be blissfully happy
Idioms Be full of the joys of spring
Steal the show Be thrilled to bits
Keep on top of things Feel on top of the world
Work your way up to the top Float/walk on air
Work your fingers to the bone Be over the moon
Have a feather in your cap
Rub smb up the wrong way Be unhappy
Keep up with the Joneses Dejected
Have the world at your feet Forlorn
Devastated
Distraught
Down
Describing "job" Miserable
Collocations. Talking about "job"
Worthwhile
Be open to offers
Proper
Take up the post
Cushy Talking about "failure" Hold the position
Dead-end A flop Carve a niche for yourself
High-powered An umitigated disaster Opposite number
Tedious Come bottom Join the staff
Humdrum Come unstuck Maternity leave
Menial Be out of your depth Do a job share
Taxing Go downhill Go freelance
Plum
Have a substantial volume of work
Earn a good living
Describing "employee" Proverbs Aspects of the job
Describing "employee" It never rains but it pours Build up a network of contacts
Be adept at Variety is the spice of life Members of staff
Conscientious First come, first served Go part-time
Methodical Where there's a will, there is a way Make a living
Clueless (about) Necessity is the mother of invention Lay off staff
Indecisive It takes two to tango Take priority over
Rome wasn't buit in a day Put together CV
Nothing ventured, nothing gained A tempting offer
Move up the ladder
Be put on a fast-track scheme
Hand in resignation
Have a change of heart
Get prioroties right