Hot Shot Words and Phrases

I was at a school recently where the students had read and analyzed my books for elements like theme, purpose, characters, etc.

They also noted what they called, "Hot Shot Words and Phrases" from the books. 

Here are some of the ones they noted:

the pearly gates of heaven
a tough nut to crack
a little tornado of excitement
say your prayers and kiss the earth good-bye
dern
jerked
bumfuzzled
whomper-jawed
hot-to-trot
bejeezus
chicken hair
rickety
yakking