1. My cousin Betty is the black [?] of the family.

2. I'm not sure how long I'll stay at the party. I'll just play it by [?].

3. I haven't got e-mail at home.I'll have to write to you by [?] mail.

4. You can't make a decision on any kind of funding without consulting him - he has a [?] in every pie.

5. Bea's getting married next month. She's having her [?] party next week.

6. If you're in our [?] of the woods, we hope you'll come see us.

7. This is the first time I've tried to make this dish. Will you be my [?] and try it?

8. At a very early age she made up her [?] to become an actress.

9. Are you going to Joe's [?] party next weekend?

10. It was something that had been bothering me for some time and it felt good to get it off my [?].

11. She's a little bit stressed. She's up to her [?] in work.

12 . I really put my [?] in it with Julie. I didn't realise she was a vegetarian.

13. My father had just died and I needed a [?] to cry on.