[Community wiki]: The results of a collaboration by Len and Gamow:
Number 1:
T_ _ E = IM taken out of TIME = I'm out of time
Number 2:
O _ E R _ T _ O _ = OPERATION without PAIN = painless operation
Number 3:
Swear on a stack of bibles
Number 4:
hoppin = center part of SHOPPING = Shopping center
Number 5:
injury + insult = To add insult to injury
Number 6:
COLT jr. = young gun
Number 7:
a cut above the rest
Number 8:
GIFIREN = FIRE in GIN = fire engine
Number 9:
VA DERS = space in VADERS = space invaders
Number 10:
ABDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ = Long time no see
Number 11:
WINEEEEEE = WIN with Es = to win with ease
Number 12:
SOMething = the start of something big
Number 13:
to make ends meet
Number 14:
double date
Number 15:
LIPS LIPS = two lips = tulips