Talk about ability and progress

Patrick: He's OK, and he knows his stuff, but he's not very encouraging. I always do my best, but he doesn't think muck of me.

Charlotte: I'm getting on well, and that's largely thanks to Peter Rose. He really motivates me and brings out the best in me.

Erin: At first I thought he was a bit out of touch, and he wasn't very friendly, but we just got off on the wrong foot. He thought I wasn't pulling my weight, when in fact I was just too shy to say anything. But now I like him a lot more.

know your stuff

know a lot about a particular subject or job

When it comes to restoring grand pianos, Mr. Morley really knows his stuff.
在修复三角钢琴方面，莫利先生确实深谙其道。

do your best = try your best

try as hard as you can to do something

It doesn't matter if you fail, just do your best.

not think much of somebody/something

to have a low opinion of someone or something
not like someone or something very much

think the world of someone/something

to have a very high opinion of someone or something
like or love someone/something very much

The children think the world of her.
孩子们非常喜欢她。

think a lot of someone/something

think a great deal of someone or something;
think highly of someone or something;
think much of someone or something
to have a very good opinion about someone or something

get on

to deal with a job or situation or to make progress

How are you getting on with your essay?
你文章写得怎么样了？

thanks to somebody/something

used to say that something has happened because of somebody/something

Some ski resorts opened early, thanks to a late-October snowstorm.
一些滑雪胜地提前开放了，这多亏10月末的一场暴风雪。

bring out the best/worst in somebody

make somebody behave in the best or worst way that they can

Mrs. Smith must bring out the best in her students—they all get good grades in her class and are very engaged with the subject matter.

be out of touch (with something)

to not have the latest knowledge about a subject, situation, or the way people feel
not know or understand recent ideas in a particular subject or area

I don't know what kind of music kids listen to these days — I'm really out of touch.

get off on the wrong/right foot

to start a relationship badly or well

Simon and I got off on the wrong foot but we’re good friends now.

pull your weight

to work as hard as other people in a group

The others had complained that Sarah wasn't pulling her weight.