We've found 865 phrases for AB (0.1 seconds):

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush »    It is preferable to have a small but certain advantage than a mere potential of a greater one.

a bit much »    More than is reasonable.

a cat may look at a king »    Even a purported inferior has certain abilities, even in the presence of a purported superior

a cut above »    Superior to; of a higher quality than.

a gentleman and a scholar »    An admirable person.

a house is not a home »    A home is not merely a building but requires inhabitants and a friendly atmosphere.

a notch above »    Superior to; of a higher quality than.

a picture paints a thousand words »    A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!

a scholar and a gentleman »    An admirable person.

a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »    An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.

a stopped clock is right twice a day »    A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.

abide by »    To accept a decision or law and act in accordance with it; to conform to; to acquiesce; as, to abide by an award.

abide by »    To remain faithful to something or someone; to stand to; to adhere.

abide with »    To remain or live with someone.

able seaman »    ordinary sailor

abominable snowman »    yeti

abound in »    To have something in great numbers or quantities; to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by.

abound with »    To have something in great numbers or quantities; to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by.

about time »    Close to the right time.

about time »    Far past the desired time.

about to »    Indicates something that will happen very soon; indicates that something is imminent.

about turn »    A complete change of opinion, direction, etc.

about turn »    An about face; a military command to a formation of soldiers to reverse the direction in which they are facing.

above and beyond »    More than is expected or required.

above board »    Honestly, reputably.

above one's bend »    Out of one's control or power.

above the law »    Exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.

above the salt »    Of high standing or honor.

absence makes the heart grow fonder »    When someone or something is faraway, you realise how much you love (or miss) them or it.

abstract nonsense »    Details which involve diagram chasing.

abut on »    To border on.

according to »    According to him, every person was to be bought. - Thomas Babington Macaulay.

add up »    To make sense; to be reasonable or consistent.

against all odds »    Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition or probability.

air bed »    inflatable mattress

albatross »    Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.

all that glitters is not gold »    Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not actually be so, things that look nice might not be as good as they look.

all the rage »    Very fashionable and popular, like a craze.

all the tea in China »    Something priceless or invaluable.

all the way to Egery and back »    The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy »    Too much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.

all's fair in love and war »    unpleasant behavior is acceptable during love and conflict.

along about »    Approximately; at around some time.

am I right or am I right »    Rhetorical question from somebody who has stated what they consider to be an unassailable truth.

angel's advocate »    Someone who sees what's good about an idea and supports it.

apples and oranges »    Said of a comparison of items that are not comparable.

around Robin Hood's barn »    The long way around; a roundabout or circuitous route.

arse about face »    Something that is placed or arranged the opposite way to the way it should be.

arse over tit »    Tumbling; falling; upside-down; unstable or unbalanced.

ask around »    To enquire about something to different people.

ask round »    To enquire about something to different people.

at a glance »    Upon cursory examination; an abbreviated review.

at bay »    Cornered; unable to flee.

at bay »    Unable to come closer; at a distance.

at best »    In the most favorable of conditions; at the most.

at death's door »    About to die; in a life-threatening state of health.

at hand »    Readily available; within easy reach; nearby.

at home »    At ease, comfortable.

at loggerheads »    Unable to agree; opposing.

at one's fingertips »    Readily available.

at risk »    vulnerable

at sea »    On the ocean or sea, typically of a ship or person aboard a ship.

autem dipper »    Anabaptist.

babe in arms »    An infant.

babe in the woods »    A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless.

babe magnet »    A person, especially a man, to whom women are attracted.

babes in the wood »    Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.

baby blues »    Blue eyes.

baby blues »    Period and feeling of depressiveness after giving birth; a less severe form of postnatal depression.

bad egg »    disreputable character

bad penny »    A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.

bad taste in one's mouth »    A feeling something is morally despicable as to cause nausea.

bail out on »    To abandon, or stop supporting someone or something.

ballpark figure »    An educated guess or estimation within acceptable bounds.

bang about »    To make a lot of percussive noise while doing an activity.

bang on about »    To keep talking endlessly about the same subject.

bang up job »    Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.

barrel of laughs »    That which is enjoyable or entertaining.

bash about »    To physically damage something or assault someone.

be in for »    To be able to expect or anticipate; to be about to suffer, generally said of something unpleasant.

be left holding the baby »    To be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.

be on about »    Talk about; mean, intend.

be there for »    To be available to provide comfort and support for someone, especially in a period of difficulty.

beat around the bush »    To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.

beat Banaghan »    An Irish saying of one who tells wonderful stories, or of something which is amazing and remarkable.

beat somebody to the punch »    To do something before somebody else is able to.

beat up »    To cause by some other means, injuries comparable to the result of being beaten up.

bed of roses »    A comfortable or luxurious position.

beddable »    Sexually attractive.

beddable »    [...] feminine, great body great legs great taste, trained and beddable, Jesus, how beddable.

beer and skittles »    Something pleasurable.

bent on a splice »    About to be married.

bet dollars to donuts »    To suggest that something is very likely to be true or that one has a strong hunch about something.

bet the farm »    To be absolutely certain, to have no doubts.

better safe than sorry »    It is preferable to be cautious in one's choices and actions than to suffer afterwards.

better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness »    In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response than to complain about the situation.

beyond one's pay grade »    Beyond one's capability.

bid fair »    seem probable

bid fair »    seems probable

bird's-eye view »    The view from directly or high above.

bite off more than one can chew »    To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.

bitter end »    That part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains onboard when a ship is riding at anchor.

black »    Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and colourless.

black babies »    Third world charities, the missions.

blanket term »    A word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.

bleeding edge »    Something very current, or modern where there may actually be a hazard or risk in using it, such as with potentially unstable software. The term relates to a sword.

blessed event »    An occurrence or occasion which is particularly noteworthy and enjoyable.

blessed event »    The birth of a baby.

blot out »    To make something undecipherable; to obliterate.

blow away »    Flabbergast; scintillate; impress greatly.

blow chunks »    To be very bad, inadequate, unpleasant, or miserable; to thoroughly suck.

blow someone's mind »    To astonish someone, to flabbergast someone.

blow this popsicle stand »    To leave an establishment speedily.

blue moon »    Something absurd.

bog standard »    Especially plain, ordinary, or unremarkable; having no special, excess or unusual features; plain vanilla.

bolt bucket »    A machine, especially an automobile. Implies that the machine is clunky or unreliable.

booze can »    A nightclub or bar, especially one which operates illegally or is otherwise disreputable.

borganism »    An organization of autonomous organisms that exhibit collectivism: individual "units" that have merged to yield a unified construct. Such an amalgam may possess a collective consciousness, arguably an emergent phenomenon of social networking.

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »    Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.

boss about »    To act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.

bowl of cherries »    An enjoyable experience.

bowl over »    To overwhelm with astonishment or wonder; to flabbergast.

box the compass »    To know, and be able to recite the 32 points and quarter points of the magnetic compass from North, both clockwise and anticlockwise.

brain fart »    A lapse in the thought process; an inability to think or remember something clearly.

break a leg »    To perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.

break down »    To become unstable, mentally or otherwise.

break off »    To end abruptly, either temporarily or permanently.

break the bank »    To win more money than is available to be paid.

break up »    Of a telephone conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection.

breathe down someone's neck »    To follow someone too closely, making it uncomfortable for them.

breathe easy »    To relax or feel secure about something.

bridge »    A particular form of one hand placed on the table to support the cue when making a shot in cue sports.

bridge »    An elevated platform above the upper deck of a mechanically propelled ship from which it is navigated and from which all activities on deck can be seen and controlled by the captain, etc; smaller ships have a wheelhouse, and sailing ships were controlled from a quarterdeck.

bring about »    To cause to take place.

bring about »    To accomplish, achieve.

bring it weak »    To fail to accomplish an accomplishable task or to make an attempt at less than maximum effort; to "half-ass" or "fake the funk".

bring owls to Athens »    Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens. — Herbert Burkert.

bring to the table »    To provide a suggestion.

broad shoulders »    The ability to take criticism, or accept responsibility.

brush off »    An abrupt rebuff or dismissal.

bug out »    To abandon someone without warning.

bulletproof »    Capable of withstanding a direct shot by a bullet fired from a gun.

bulletproof »    Reliable, infallible, sturdy or error-tolerant.

bulletproof »    Unbreakable, very tough.

bum rap »    An undeservedly unfavorable portrayal or reputation.

bum rush »    Storming into an establishment.

bundle of joy »    A newborn baby.

bundle of nerves »    A person with an especially nervous, excitable, or fearful disposition.

buried treasure »    Something, having been concealed for a long time, which later is found and is profitable.

burst someone's bubble »    To disillusion; to disabuse someone of a false notion or rationalization that has grown comfortable.

bustle with »    To teem with; abound with; to exhibit an energetic and active abundance of a thing; to be full of a certain activity or active beings.

button-down »    Of a collar, able to be buttoned down to the shirt, as over a necktie.

by far »    To a considerably large extent, easily.

by-the-numbers »    Done in a predictable manner; formulaic.

call it even »    To declare debts resolved or favors or other exchange equitable.

calling card »    A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.

camel's nose »    A metaphor for a situation where the permitting of some small act will lead consequently to a larger undesirable act or circumstance.

can of worms »    A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.

can't wait »    To eagerly anticipate; to find it unbearable to wait for a forthcoming pleasurable event.

Cannon fodder »    Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.

captain of industry »    A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.

carved in stone »    Unchangeable.

cash cow »    Someone or something which is a dependable source of appreciable amounts of money; a moneymaker.

cast away »    To abandon or maroon.

cast off »    To let go a cable or rope securing a vessel to a buoy, wharf etc so that she may proceed.

catbird seat »    Expression used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.

caught between the devil and the deep blue sea »    Having a choice between two alternatives, both undesirable.

chance'd be a fine thing »    Given to indicate that an aforementioned thing would be desirable but unlikely. Comparable to if I should be so lucky.

chances are »    It is likely that, it is probable that.

change horses in midstream »    To change plans or approaches at an inopportune time, such as when an effort is already underway, generally considered an inadvisable thing to do.

chat up »    In a friendly, open, or casual manner, sometimes also in a charming or affected manner, usually to curry favor, and sometimes flirtatiously with the intention of establishing a romantic or sexual encounter or relationship with that person.

check out »    Used to draw attention to something and stimulate excitement about it.

cheek by jowl »    In close proximity; crammed uncomfortably close together.

cherry-pick »    To pick out the best, or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light.

chip on one's shoulder »    A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harboured grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove.

circular firing squad »    A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.

clean house »    To reform by removing undesirable personnel and procedures.

clean up one's act »    To reform; to improve one's habits.

close the stable door after the horse has bolted »    To attempt to prevent a problem only to find it has already happened.

coals to Newcastle »    A pointless venture, in the sense of sending something to a place where it's made, or where they already have an abundance.

come about »    To come to pass; to develop; to occur; to take place; to happen.

come about »    To tack; to change tack; to maneuver the bow of a sailing vessel across the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to position a boat with respect to the wind after tacking.

come about »    happen

come in »    Of a broadcast, such as radio or television, to have a strong enough signal to be able to be received well.

come out of the closet »    To tell others about homosexuality, bisexuality or any minority or disapproved-of belief, preference, etc., where previously this had been kept secret.

come to »    To stop a sailing vessel, especially by turning into the wind. See also come about.

come to think of it »    By the way; now that I think about it; indicates something brought to mind.

comply with »    To abide by a set of rules.

consume mass quantities »    To eat or drink abundant amounts of food or beverage.

cook up »    To manufacture; to falsify; to devise an elaborate lie.

copper-bottomed »    Thoroughly reliable.

crab mentality »    A way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot.

cream of the crop »    The best or most desirable among some selection.

creature comfort »    Any small item or detail that makes a person comfortable and at home.

cross the line »    To overstep a boundary, rule, or limit; to go too far or do something unacceptable.

cry all the way to the bank »    To be happy due to the receipt of money, although expressing sorrow about the cause of such receipt.

cry wolf »    To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failing to get assistance when a real threat appears.

crying shame »    A situation that is considered to be a disgrace, or deplorable.

curiosity killed the cat »    One should not be curious about things that can be dangerous.

cut off »    To end abruptly.

darn tootin' »    Absolute, utter, complete, very.

darn tootin' »    Absolutely correct; speaking the truth.

date with destiny »    An inevitable future event or encounter, especially one which is likely to be momentous.

dead »     : So hated by that they are absolutely ignored.

dead »    Broken or inoperable.

dead as a dodo »    Undoubtedly and unquestionably dead.

dead as a doorknob »    Entirely, unquestionably or certainly dead.

dead as a doornail »    Unquestionably dead. Used for both inanimate objects and once living beings.

dead last »    The standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.

dead to rights »    With sufficient evidence to establish responsibility definitively.

deadweight »    The largest weight of cargo a ship is able to carry; i.e, the weight of a ship when fully loaded minus its weight when empty.

death by spellcheck »    The problems caused by spellcheckers being incapable of correcting most homophone confusions.

deep water »    Waters suitable for deep-draft ships, especially ocean-going.

deer in the headlights »    A mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety fear, panic, surpriseand/or confusion, or substance abuse. The behavioral signs are like a deer subjected to a car's headlights, such as widely opened eyes and a lack of motor reactions.

devil is in the details »    The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.

diamond in the rough »    A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.

diamonds are a girl's best friend »    A statement that suggests, while love is a luxury, material wealth (particularly jewellery) is more valuable in the long run.

diplomatic flu »    An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.

dirty laundry »    Unflattering facts or questionable activities that one wants to remain secret, but which some other may use to blackmail with.

do drugs »    To abuse an illegal drug or drugs, especially as a result of chemical addiction.

do one's thing »    To do what one habitually does.

Do the best and live the rest »    First do your work with your 100% dont think about the result

dog's life »    A miserable, unhappy existence.

don't cry over spilt milk »    It is no use worrying about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.

don't drop the soap »    (idiomatic) Used as a mockery to someone who is about to be or should be confined in prison.

don't get me started »    About the subject currently being discussed.

don't go there »    Don't start talking about that.

don't look at me »    A response indicating that one is not willing or able to perform a task.

don't shit where you eat »    (idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.1998 April 14, Nelson Navarro, "Ever faithful, ever true," Manila Standard (Philippines) (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.2003 Oct. 8, Jonathan Valania, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy," Philadelphia Weekly (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.2006 Sept. 19, Michael Musto, "NY Mirror," Village Voice (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.

don't shoot the messenger »    The bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for the bad news.

double-edged sword »    A benefit that is also a liability, or that carries some significant but non-obvious cost or risk.

down the drain »    Wasted, squandered; irretrievable.

down to the short strokes »    In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.

draw a blank »    To be unable to produce a required piece of information.

dress up »    To present in a favorable light.

dribs and drabs »    A series of negligible amounts.

drill down »    To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.

drip »    To have a superabundance of valuable things. Usually followed by "with".

drop a hint »    To reveal a clue or hint about something.

drug on the market »    Something which is overabundant at the moment and thus not in demand.

due course »    A. 1803, Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey.

dumb down »    To become simpler in expression or content; to become unacceptably simplistic.

dyed-in-the-wool »    Firmly established in a person's beliefs or habits; deeply ingrained in the nature of a person or thing.

earn one's keep »    To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.

embarrassment of riches »    An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.

end of the line »    Final cessation or discontinuance of a process, institution, or person, especially one which has existed for a considerable period of time; death.

end of the world »    End of habitability for life on Earth.

enquire after »    To ask about the health of someone.

err on the side of caution »    To act in the least risky manner in a situation where one is uncertain about the consequences.

even money »    By extension, an event that is somewhat likely to happen, but far from inevitable.

every silver lining has a cloud »    Every good situation has the potential to turn bad.2007, Diab A. Shetayh, Actuality : The Reality RequiemA great partnership isn't a self-maintaining entity. Perseverance and persistence make it thrive. For every silver lining has a cloud. Ignorance of this reality is not an option.

execution style »    Resembling an execution; with the victim aware, but unable to defend himself or resist.

eye candy »    Any object or sight with considerable visual appeal.

f** someone over »    To exploit somebody in a way which result in an advantage to oneself, at the cost of the other party gaining a considerable disadvantage.

face up to »    To confront a condition or situation, typically one that is unpleasant or uncomfortable.

fair and square »    Within the applicable rules.

fair enough »    An expression used to concede a point; denotes that, upon consideration, something is correct or reasonable; an expression of acknowledgment or understanding.

fair to middling »    Only tolerably good.

fall off the wagon »    To cease or fail at a regimen of self-improvement or reform; to lapse back into an old habit or addiction.

fall through »    To be unsuccessful, abort, come to nothing/naught; to be cancelled; not to proceed.

familiarity breeds contempt »    The more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.

fancypants »    Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.

far fetched »    improbable

fat of the land »    The greatest part of anything; the finest and most abundant share of resources; the cream of the crop.

fear »    A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.

feast or famine »    A situation in which something is always either extremely abundant or in extremely short supply.

feather one's nest »    To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth.

feed a cold, starve a fever »    Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.

feed the dragon »    To buy or sell products labeled as "Made in China.".

feel up to »    To be confident in being able to do something.

fight a losing battle »    To try to do something so difficult that it will probably end in failure.

fill in »    To fill; to replace material that is absent or has been removed.

fine words butter no parsnips »    Talking about doing something does not get it done.

first among equals »    In the British and other parliamentary systems, a term used to describe the relationship of the prime minister to the other members of the cabinet.

first things first »    Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls

fits and starts »    Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.

flash in the pan »    A career notable for early success not followed by significant accomplishment.

flat chat »    At maximum capability or speed.

flower »    The vulva, especially the labia majora.

flutter in the dovecote »    I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.

fly in the ointment »    Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.

fools rush in where angels fear to tread »    A person who does not plan ahead and think matters through becomes involved in risky or unfavorable situations which prudent people avoid.

footloose and fancy free »    Able to do as one pleases, unconstrained by social ties or responsibilities.

force of habit »    An act that has been repeated to the point where the performance of the act becomes automatic.

force someone's hand »    Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.

free rein »    The absence of constraints; freedom to make decisions.

full-fledged »    Having all its feathers; able to fly.

game face »    The expression of one who is prepared for or is facing a lot of difficult and/or undesirable work, especially when it is imminent.

gandy dancer »    A railway laborer, especially a member of a crew which carries rails and affixes them to ties.

garbage in, garbage out »    (computing, information technology) If input data is not complete, accurate, and timely, then the resulting output is unreliable and of no useful value.1963, Raymond Crowley, "Robot Tax Collector Seeks Indications of 'Fudging'," Times Daily (Alabama, USA), 1 April (retrieved 26 July 2010):Officials explained that the quality of the computer's work depends on the quality of the data fed into it. Neil Hoke, administrative assistant to Stewart, quoted an adage of computer men: "Garbage in, garbage out."2008, Roger K. Lewis, "'In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software," Washington Post, 19 July (retrieved 26 July 2010):The old caveat "GIGO"

get by the balls »    To have complete control over someone, especially of a woman abusing a man's infatuation with her.

get cold feet »    To become nervous or anxious and reconsider a decision about an upcoming event.

get on someone's wick »    To annoy or upset someone, usually by repeated disagreeable actions.

get one's back up »    To become angry, defensive, or irritable.

get stuck »    To be unable to make progress.

gift of the gab »    The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.

give birth »    To produce new life into the world; to have a baby. Transitive when used with to.

give ear »    Dante Gabriel Rosetti, A Death-Parting, lines 5-6.

go native »    To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.

go out »    To leave one's abode to go to public places.

go south »    To become unfavorable; to decrease; to take a turn for the worse.

go through hell »    To have a miserable experience.

go too far »    To exceed an unstated limit, especially a limit of acceptable behaviour.

go without saying »    To be obvious, apparent or clear, or already established.

God works in mysterious ways »    Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...

gold mine »    A very profitable economic venture.

golden handcuffs »    Any arrangement or agreement designed to provide extremely favorable benefits or pay, so as to discourage participant from wanting to leave, especially to retain a choice employee.

golf widow »    A woman who is deprived of her husband's time and attention due to his regular absence in order to play golf.

good drunk »    A person who is cheerful and companionable when intoxicated, retaining reasonable control of his or her mental and emotional faculties.

good old boy »    A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow.

grab and go »    To get something quickly.

grab bag »    A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.

grab bag »    Any random assortment, selection or possibility.

gravy train »    An occupation or any lucrative endeavor that generates considerable income whilst requiring little effort and carrying little risk.

green about the gills »    Having the appearance of being ill.

green fingers »    A seemingly natural gardening ability.

green with envy »    Consumed by envy; envious to the point where it is noticeable to others.

greener pastures »    Any place or condition that is more favorable or beneficial.

grow on »    To become more likeable to someone.

grunt work »    That is considered undesirable and therefore delegated to underlings.

guilty as sin »    Unquestionably guilty.

gut factor »    Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.

hair-splitting »    The act of finding exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.

hair-splittingly »    With exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.

hammer and tongs »    With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.

hand in hand »    Naturally, ordinarily or predictably together; commonly having a correlation or relationship.

handbags at dawn »    A catty squabble.

hang about »    To stay, linger or loiter.

hang out to dry »    To abandon someone who is in need or in danger.

hanging offence »    A crime so serious that it is punishable by means of death by hanging.

hardwired »    Not changeable.

have a bun in the oven »    To be pregnant; to be expecting a baby.

have an eye for »    To have good taste; to have the ability to discriminate or identify quality.

have eyes in the back of one's head »    To be particularly, especially uncannily, observant; a perceived ability to see in all directions at once.

have one's head in the clouds »    To daydream; to think about matters other than the present reality.

have one's wits about one »    To remain calm, composed, or aware.

have second thoughts »    To change one's opinion, or be uneasy about a previous decision.

he who smelt it dealt it »    (colloquial, originally) A person who calls attention to or complains about a fart is likely trying to pretend it wasn't his or her own.(colloquial, by extension) Used to suggest that a person calling attention to or complaining about a given problem may in fact be the source of the problem.

head and shoulders »    "He was head and shoulders above the others in the law firm.".

head and shoulders »    To a considerable degree; better; outstanding.

head scratcher »    July 2002, Fox News - Attorney: Williams' Kids Near Compromise About Father's Remains.

head south »    Alternative form of go south; to decrease or become unfavorable; to take a turn for the worse.

head-on »    Direct, abrupt, blunt or unequivocal; not prevaricating.

here goes nothing »    Indicates a lack of confidence or certainty about the activity about to be tried.

hereinabove »    Above this, in this document.

high on the hog »    Well off; living comfortably or extravagantly.

high road »    A course of action which is honorable, dignified, or respectable.

hindsight is 20/20 »    (idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice.

historical figure »    A fictional or fabricated person who was was given historical importance in legends and myth.

hit home »    To be especially memorable or meaningful; to be fully understood, believed or appreciated.

hit one's stride »    When walking or running, to reach a full or comfortable pace.

hit the bricks »    To travel about, especially on foot.

hit the jackpot »    To realise a huge load of luck; to receive a more favorable outcome than imagined.

hold a grudge »    Far longer than is reasonable.

hold one's own »    To stand up to; to give a respectable performance; to provide worthy competition.

hold someone's feet to the fire »    To maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on someone in order to induce him or her to comply with one's desires; to hold someone accountable for his or her actions.

hold the fort »    To assume responsibility, especially in another’s absence..

hole in one »    Any rare, wonderful, or remarkable accomplishment.

home away from home »    A place in which one is as comfortable as one's actual home.

honesty is the best policy »    Honesty is the most honorable and fulfilling way to live one's life.

honorable mention »    An award or recognition given to something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way.

horse's ass »    A jerk; an unpleasant, unlikable person; an asshole.

Horsefeathers »    Absolute nonsense; poppycock

hospital pass »    An unwinnable case, often passed to a newly-qualified member of the firm.

hot on »    Knowledgeable about.

how's the weather »    An inquiry about the weather.

huckleberry above a persimmon »    Something better than something else.

hunger is a good sauce »    (dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.

hunger is the best sauce »    Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.

if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle »    (colloquial, vulgar, humorous) It is fruitless to speculate about counterfactual situations."We would have won the match if we'd had a decent goalkeeper.""And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle!"

if the mountain won't come to Muhammad »    "If one cannot get one's own way, one must bow to the inevitable.".

if the shoe fits »    If it has all of the characteristics of a thing, it probably is that thing.

ignorance is bliss »    Lack of knowledge results in happinessSometime you are more comfortable if you dont know something.

in a pig's eye »    Very unlikely; probably never.

in a pinch »    In an urgent or difficult situation; when no other solution is available.

in Abraham's bosom »    No longer living. Dead.

in evidence »    Visibly present; noticeable.

in line »    Suitable or appropriate; keeping with expectations, norms, ideals, or rules.

in one's right mind »    Sane, sensible, reasonable; thinking clearly.

in spades »    To excess, a lot, considerably; without restraint.

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king »    Among others with a disadvantage or disability, the one with the mildest disadvantage or disability is regarded as the greatest.Even someone without much talent or ability is considered special by those with no talent or ability at all.

in the wake of »    In the noticeable disturbance of water behind .

inquire after »    To ask about the health of someone.

inside joke »    A joke that is understood or meant to be understood only by certain people who are in the know about the details.

into thin air »    Immediately and inexplicably out of sight.

it's about time »    Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer considered to be long overdue.

it's one's funeral »    One's decisions or actions will bring undesirable consequences only on oneself.

jack of all trades, master of none »    A master of integration, who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring their disciplines together in a practical manner; a polymath; a renaissance man.

jet setting »    The actions of the jet set; travelling from one fashionable location to another by jet.

jet-setting »    The actions of the jet set; travelling from one fashionable location to another by jet.

jump about »    To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.

jump about »    To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.

just about »    Almost.

kangaroo court »    A judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, or a group which conducts such proceedings, which is without proper authority, abusive, or otherwise unjust.

keep mum »    Do not talk; especially keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.

keep one's options open »    To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available.

keep quiet »    To refrain from talking about something; to keep a secret.

keep shtum »    Don't tell anyone; especially, keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.

keep tabs on »    To monitor; to keep track of; to watch.

keep up »    To ensure that one remains well-informed about something.

kettle of fish »    A situation which is recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation, and which is not necessarily unfavorable.

kick around »    To abuse or mistreat; to bully.

kick the habit »    To recover from or quit an addiction or habit. For example, to quit smoking, drinking, burping, or drug addiction.

kick up a fuss »    To show annoyance, or to complain loudly about something, often when it is of little importance in reality.

kill the messenger »    To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.

kill the rabbit »    To get a positive test result from an old-fashioned pregnancy test.

kind »    Favorable.

kiss of death »    Something that may seem good and favourable but that actually brings ruin to hopes, plans, etc.

kit and caboodle »    Everything entirely, the whole lot.

kit and kaboodle »    Everything; the lot.

kitchen table software »    Especially in the early years of personal computers, a set of computer programs developed by an entrepreneurial advanced amateur or self-employed professional computer programmer in his or her own home; software developed by a small business using the services of such programmers.

knacker's yard »    A place to send a person or object that is spent beyond all reasonable use.

knock about »    An informal game, usually football.

knock up »    To put together, fabricate, or assemble, particularly if done hastily or temporarily. See also knock together.

knock up »    To exhaust; wear out; weary; beat; tire out; to fatigue until unable to do more.

knock up »    To become exhausted or worn out; to fail of strength; to become wearied, as with labor; to give out.

know like the back of one's hand »    To be intimately knowledgeable about something, especially a place.

knowledge is power »    With knowledge and/or education, one's potential or ability to succeed in the pursuit of his objectives will certainly increase.

labor of love »    A task performed voluntarily without expectation of reimbursement; an altruistic work or undertaking.

lady abbess »    A bawd, the mistress of a brothel.

last minute »    Point in time, too close to a deadline to reasonably begin a critical task.

late model »    Recently designed or fabricated; new.

lay about »    To strike blows in all directions.

lay about »    To set about, with infinitive or gerund.

lay down »    To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate .

lay up »    To disable.

leave behind »    To abandon.

leave no stone unturned »    To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.

leave somebody high and dry »    To abandon somebody; to stop providing assistance at a crucial moment.

leave somebody holding the bag »    To abandon somebody, leaving the responsibility or blame.

leave somebody in the lurch »    To abandon somebody; especially, to abandon somebody and leave him or her in a difficult situation.

less is more »    That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres

letters after one's name »    A list of abbreviations, separated by commas, representing the academic qualifications and civil or military honours achieved by a person.

level up »    To progress to the next level of player character stats and abilities. Often used in role-playing games when the character has aquired enough experience points.

lie back and think of England »    Used to preface any unpleasant but inevitable experience.

life's not all skittles and beer »    Skittles and Beer refers to the carefree, indulgent bar life; skittles being a British pub game. Thus, life's not all skittles and beer means that not everything is about pleasure.

light bucket »    Nickname for a reflecting telescope, especially one with a relatively large aperture and suitable for observing deep sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies.

like gangbusters »    Vigorously, rapidly, zealously, or forcibly; in a manner which has considerable impact.

line one's pockets »    To accumulate personal wealth, especially in an illegal or morally objectionable manner.

lip service »    Empty talk; words absent of action or intention.

little pitchers have big ears »    Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, Abbeychurch, ch. 2:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."1939, "Bedtime Bedlam," Time, 17 Apr.:A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.2002, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ISBN 9780743455961, p. 185:I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).

live in sin »    To cohabit as if man and wife without being married.

lone gunman »    An individual person who acts on his or her own initiative, without partners, especially one who has sole responsibility for doing something questionable, confidential, or iniquitous.

long absent, soon forgotten »    Love fades away when people are distant and don't keep close physical contact.

long goodbye »    Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.

longpig »    Human flesh when cooked in cannabalistic rituals in certain Pacific Islands, due to the allegeded similarity to cooked pork.

look back »    To reminisce about a past time.

look up »    To obtain information about something from a text source.

look what the cat's dragged in »    Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.

Loose cannon »    An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.

lose the plot »    To cease to be behaving in a predictable and/or rational manner.

lose the plot »    To have one's results decline severely in quality or suddenly fall below an acceptable standard, especially when compared to past excellence.

low-hanging fruit »    Easily obtained gains; what can be obtained by readily available means.

lower the boom on »    To terminate or abolish something.

make a living »    To earn enough income to support oneself and, if applicable, one's family.

make do with »    To get along with whatever is available.

make fun of »    To tease, ridicule or make jokes about.

make hay while the sun shines »    To act while an opportunity exists; to take action while a situation is favorable.

make it snappy »    Do it quickly; be quick about it.

make no bones about »    To see no difficulty in, have no objection to.

make out »    To fabricate a story.

make sense »    To be coherent or reasonable.

man up »    To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.

man up »    To staff adequately; to staff up; to successfully fill all needed labor positions.

mark down »    To write a memorandum about.

match made in hell »    A marriage that is likely to be unhappy or abusive and unsuccessful because the two people are very incompatible with each other.

meals on wheels »    Food delivered to the homes of those unable to cook for themselves.

mean the world to »    To be loved or cared about a great deal by.

meatball surgery »    A nickname for surgery that is meant to be performed rapidly to stabilize the patient as quickly as possible.

memory lane »    A set of recollections available to be reviewed, especially accompanied by a feeling of nostalgia.

misery loves company »    Misery is easier to bear when one is not the only one miserable.1995, Chris Abbott,

money maker »    Something profitable.

monkey business »    An activity that may be considered illegal, questionable, or a vice, but not felonious.

monkey business »    Do your homework and forget about all this monkey business.

monkey wrench »    A wrench with a smooth adjustable jaw to grip different sizes of nuts.

moral high ground »    A position or point of view which is ethically superior or more reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.

more like it »    Better, more desirable.

moses basket »    portable cradle

muck about »    To do random unplanned work or spend time idly.

muck about »    To do somethings with a piece of equipment when you do not understand how it works.

muck about »    To be playful; full of fun and high spirits.

muck around »    Means the same as muck about.

muck out »    To clean the excrement and other rubbish from the area where an animal is kept, such as a horse stable or a dog kennel.

mull over »    To think deeply about something; to ponder, deliberate or ruminate.

music to one's ear »    Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.

mutual admiration society »    A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.

nail biter »    A nervous or uncomfortable situation.

necker's knob »    A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.

needle in a haystack »    Something that is difficult or impossible to locate; something impossibly complex or intractable.

neither fish nor fowl »    Said of something not easily categorized or not fitting neatly into any established group.

nervous hit »    A production which receives generally favorably notice, but is not assured of success.

never in a million years »    Absolutely not.

nightcap »    A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.

nine day wonder »    Something that generates interest for a limited time and is then abandoned.

nine lives »    Durability; near immunity to damage.

no biggie »    Not a big deal, not something to worry about.

no dice »    An unacceptable alternative.

no dice »    An unfavorable result.

no news is good news »    A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.

no two ways about it »    No other possible action, choice or option.

no-show »    An absence; somebody who doesn't show up or a failure to show up.

none of someone's business »    A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.

not a chance »    Absolutely not; no way.

not a pretty sight »    Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.

not a sausage »    Absolutely nothing, none of something.

not bad »    Reasonably good.

not be able to get a word in edgeways »    To be unable to say a single word because of someone else's talkativeness.

not in Kansas anymore »    No longer in quiet and comfortable surroundings; in the big city.

not leave one's thoughts »    Said when one keeps thinking about something.

not on your life »    Absolutely not; under no circumstances.

not on your tintype »    An answer indicating outright rejection or denial; no way; absolutely not.

nothing to sneeze at »    Not bad; decent; acceptable; worthwhile.

nothing to write home about »    Not exceptional; not noteworthy or especially good.

now you're cooking »    A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.

of an »    Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.

off chance »    A condition of not being likely or probable.

off the chain »    Free from work or direct supervision. In reference to slave labor, where workers are chained, or to the figurative chain of workers of an assembly line.

off the rails »    In an abnormal manner, especially in a manner that causes damage or malfunctioning.

off the table »    Beyond consideration.

off the wagon »    No longer maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from an undesirable habit, especially drinking alcohol.

off-the-shelf »    As purchased or as commonly available, without modification or customization.

off-the-wall »    Wildly unconventional; bizarre; absurd.

old habits die hard »    Existing habits are hard to change.

old school »    Characteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.

on a whim »    Done without thinking seriously about the consequences.

on about »    Speaking about, talking of.

on acid »    Exaggerated, bizarre or unpredictable.

on edge »    Tense, nervous or irritable.

on end »    Remarkably long; continuously.

on hand »    Available; ready; in stock.

on one's feet »    Being stable or capable, especially in a financial or emotional sense.

on one's hands »    Being one's liability or responsibility; with which one is lumbered.

on the bubble »    Holding the last qualifying position with qualification still in progress, and thus liable to lose that position.

on the clock »    Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.

on the mend »    Improving or undergoing restoration to a previous, more favorable condition.

on the plus side »    Positively; from a favorable view or perspective.

on the uptake »    In understanding or in the ability to absorb new information; especially in the phrases "quick on the uptake" and "slow on the uptake".

on the wagon »    By extension, maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from some other undesirable habit.

on top of »    Fully informed about, and in control of something; up to speed with.

on track »    Proceeding as planned, as expected, or in a manner consistent with an established pattern.

on wheels »    Having wheels affixed to the bottom, and so transportable.

on wheels »    Mobile; able to be moved.

one who hesitates is lost »    A person who spends too much time contemplating what to do may miss a valuable but fleeting opportunity.

one-night stand »    A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the parties has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship. As the phrase implies, the relationship lasts for only one night.

one-track mind »    That said to be possessed by someone who is obsessed with something or only able to think of one thing.

open one's big mouth »    To speak about things, when it would be better to stay silent.

or so »    approximately; there abouts

out of bounds »    Beyond the bounds of civility or morality; extremely unreasonable.

out of line »    Inappropriate or unsuitable, especially by reason of being unmannerly or indelicate.

out of nowhere »    In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.

out of order »    Inappropriate or unsuitable.

out of reach »    Inaccessible or unattainable.

out of sight, out of mind »    When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about.

out of sorts »    Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.

out of stock »    Temporarily unavailable for sale.

out of the mouths of babes »    The greatest wisdom comes from children, who are not afraid or weary of the world and its pressures.

out of whole cloth »    Fabricated, fictitious.

over my dead body »    Under no circumstances; absolutely not.

over the top »    Bold; beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; excessive; outrageous.

ox is in the ditch »    This is a big problem; there is unavoidable or demanding work ahead.

pachyderm »    What others say about him or her.

pass the buck »    To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.

pay for »    To be punished or held accountable for.

pay the piper »    To pay a monetary debt or experience unfavorable consequences, especially when the payment or consequences are inevitable in spite of attempts to avoid them.

peaches and cream »    A very enjoyable experience.

peel out »    To start abruptly from a standing stop, accelerating rapidly, especially so as to produce skid marks.

pi%C3%A8ce de r%C3%A9sistance »    A masterpiece; the most memorable accomplishment of one’s career or lifetime..

pick somebody's brain »    To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.

pick up »    To point out (a person's behaviour, habits or actions),in a critical manner.

pick up the tab »    To accept a charge and pay for it, especially at a bar or restaurant.

pickle »    Any vegetable preserved in vinegar and consumed as relish.

piece de resistance »    A masterpiece; the most memorable accomplishment of one’s career or lifetime..

pinch-hit »    To do something in the place of another person who is not able to perform or is less skilled; to substitute or stand in for somebody.

play games »    To deceive, to lie about one's intentions.

play hookey »    To be absent without permission, especially from school.

point out »    To identify with a bodily gesture, notably by pointing a finger or implement.

pony in the barn »    An exciting and real prospect, something to be legitimately excited about.

poor power »    Limited ability.

potter about »    To potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner.

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely »    The corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total.Lord Acton see: Wikiquote

powers that be »    The holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially as seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.

prawn cocktail offensive »    A strategy of the Labour Party in winning over important people in the world of finance.

pretty penny »    A considerable amount of money; a high price or a high income.

price is right »    The cost of a thing is reasonable and of good value.

pride comes before a fall »    A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.

private eye »    A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.

proverbs run in pairs »    Every proverb seems to be contradicted by another proverb with an opposed message, such as "too many cooks spoil the broth" and "many hands make light work."1863, Sir Richard Burton, Abeokuta and the Camaroons Mountains, vol. 1, Tinsley (London), p. 309:Moreover, all the world over, proverbs run in pairs, and pull both ways: for the most part one neutralizes, by contradiction, the other.

pulcher »    Noble, honorable, excellent.

pull a face »    To make an abnormal facial expression.

pull oneself up by one's bootstraps »    To begin an enterprise or recover from a setback without any outside help; to succeed only on one's own effort or abilities.

push the envelope »    To go beyond established limits; to pioneer.

put a lid on it »    To be quiet; shut up; to stop talking about something or making noise.

put a stop to »    To terminate or abolish something.

put about »    To change direction.

put across »    To explain or state something clearly and understandably.

put an end to »    To terminate or abolish something.

put down »    To place a baby somewhere to sleep.

put one's best foot forward »    To show oneself in the best or most positive way possible; to make a favorable impression.

put the cat among the pigeons »    Professor Stephen Hawking put the cat among the pigeons last week with his cheery remarks about comet Machholz-2, which some astronomers believe could be heading our way. — The Times, 19 September 1994.

put through its paces »    To test completely; to exercise the full range of abilities or functions.

put up or shut up »    Desist from saying something unless one is able to prove it.

quantum mechanics »    The branch of physics which studies matter and energy at the level of atoms and other elementary particles, and substitutes probabilistic mechanisms for classical Newtonian ones.

quick on the uptake »    Able to readily understand things; intelligent.

quick-and-dirty »    Done or constructed in a hasty, approximate, temporarily adequate manner, but not exact, fully formed, or reliable for a long period of time.

quick-and-dirty »    Of or pertaining to the creation or repair of software or hardware in a manner which permits operation within a brief period of time, although with compromised functionality or reliability.

quite a bit »    A considerable amount.

Rabbit »    Caught like a rabbit in the headlights.

rabble rouser »    Someone or something that tends to inspire mobs; something controversial or provocative.

rag-chewing »    A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.

rain check »    In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.

ramp up »    To be in the process of learning a new ability.

real job »    A job which requires the employee to, work regular hours for a consistent wage that often exceeds the provisions of applicable minimum wage legislation. A job that produces a living wage.

reality check »    A check or review to make sure something is consistent, reasonable, etc.

red mist »    Uncontrollable rage.

reflect on »    To think carefully about something, and give it due consideration.

ride the short bus »    To have a need for a special education program, as because learning disabled.

ride the short bus »    To participate in a special education program, such as for those with learning disabilities.

robber baron »    Especially in the 19th-century and early 20th-century, a business tycoon who had great wealth and influence but whose methods were morally questionable.

romper suit »    baby's outfit

root around »    Alternative form of root about.

ropable »    Alternative spelling of ropeable. Able to be roped.

ropable »    Upset; irate.

roses are red »    The start of a generic poem about love.

rule with an iron fist »    To rule with absolute authority or to the detriment of the people. To rule tyrannically.

rules are made to be broken »    it is acceptable to break rules.

run about »    To be very busy doing many different things.

run around after »    To spend a lot of time doing things for another person or group of people. Often used when that person could reasonably do the things for themselves.

run around with »    To spend a lot of time with a person or group of people. Often used to talk about a person's group of friends that one does not like much.

run for one's money »    A reasonable opportunity to succeed, perform acceptably, or escape harm, especially in a difficult situation.

run off with »    To steal or abscond.

run to »    To reach the limit of one's abilities or tastes.

sabre-rattling »    A flamboyant display of military power as an implied threat that it might be used.

sabre-rattling »    Any threat, such as one company threatening another with a lawsuit.

scrape the bottom of the barrel »    To use the least desirable parts of something.

scratch one's head »    To puzzle, ponder, or wonder about something.

scrounge up »    To seek or find despite a lack of apparent resources or availability.

sea legs »    Ability to travel by ship without becoming seasick.

sea legs »    The ability, when walking aboard ship, to anticipate the motion of the deck so as to walk steadily without losing balance.

second nature »    A mindset, skill, or type of behavior so ingrained through habit or practice that it seems natural, automatic, or without a basis in conscious thought.

second-guess »    Presumably from trying to guess with second sight.

second-guess »    Presumably from trying to improve with a second stab.

see a man about a horse »    A message signaling one needs to go missing for a short while, for any reason, without giving a real explanation.

see through »    To be able to predict or read someone.

seize the day »    To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.

sell a bargain »    A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".

sell out »    To abandon one's supporters or principles to seek profit or other personal advantage.

sell-by date »    The final date on which a perishable product can be legally sold to the public.

seller's market »    An excess of demand over supply, leading to abnormally high prices; a market condition favoring the seller.

set in »    become established

set in one's ways »    Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or established preferences.

set the stage »    To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.

set up shop »    To establish a business.

settle for »    To accept or allow something, especially something not entirely desirable.

settle in »    To get comfortable or established, as in a new place.

sex machine »    Someone with considerable sexual prowess.

sex up »    To enhance in terms of fashionable appeal.

sex up »    To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.

shake the pagoda tree »    To find a source of easy enrichment; to become absurdly rich in a short time.

shape up »    To improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.

shit happens »    Bad things happen, and there is nothing we can do about it.

shitstorm »    Considerable backlash from the public.

shoot 'em up »    A short story, novel, television show, film, computer game, or other narrative which depicts considerable gunplay.

shoot oneself in the foot »    To deliberately sabotage an activity in order to avoid obligation, though it causes personal suffering. Origins in first world war trench warfare.

shoot the messenger »    To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.

short strokes »    The final steps of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.

show the flag »    Of a naval vessel or military force, to identify itself by displaying the flag of its country of origin, especially in order to establish an authoritative presence and to exert diplomatic or political influence.

shrinking violet »    A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.

shroud »    A rope or cable serving to support the mast sideways.

shy bladder »    An inability to urinate in the presence of others.

sitting pretty »    Having a comfortable or certain supply of money or resources.

sitting pretty »    In a favorable situation, especially a situation in which one possesses an advantage.

skirt chaser »    A man with amorous intentions who habitually seeks out female companionship.

slag off »    To talk insultingly to or about someone or something.

slip into something a little more comfortable »    To wear something suitable to be stripped off by a lover.

slippery slope »    A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious.

smallpox blanket »    An apparently benevolent offering whose real intent is to disrupt, destabilize or weaken.

smell like a rose »    To be regarded as appealing, virtuous, or respectable; to be untainted or unharmed.

smell test »    An assessment of a subject's ability to detect and distinguish odors.

snake oil »    Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.

snug as a bug in a rug »    Very cosy and comfortable.

so-called »    Same as above, without the negative connotation.

soak up »    Absorb.

soapbox »    A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.

soft as a grape »    someone who is limited in their ability

soft spot »    A point of vulnerability in a defence.

soft touch »    A comfortable situation; an easy task or undemanding occupation, especially one which is comfortably remunerative.

song and dance »    An excessively elaborate story or excuse used to justify something.

sound off »    To hold forth about something in an opinionated manner.

sour grapes »    A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.

spring fever »    A feeling of laziness or listlessness associated with the arrival of the warm, comfortable weather of the spring season.

square meal »    A satisfying meal, especially suitable for one performing physical labor.

stab in the back »    An act of betrayal or treachery.

stand back »    To abstain from participation.

stand from under »    To escape something falling or being thrown from above.

stand to reason »    To make sense; to seem logical, reasonable, or rational.

standard fare »    Menu items or dining options which are regularly available in a restaurant or other place where food is served.

step on a rake »    To step on the tines of a garden rake, causing the handle of the rake to rise from the ground rapidly, invariably striking the person walking in the face.

stew in one's juices »    To be alone and self-absorbed in an uncomfortable state of mind, especially while experiencing the unpleasant effects of one's own actions.

stick one's neck out »    To take a risk, putting oneself in a vulnerable position.

stick out »    To be prominent, noticeable, or obtrusive.

stickhandle »    To deal capably and swiftly with a situation, especially in a manner which deflects potential problems.

still water runs deep »    A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect

still waters run deep »    A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect.

stir-crazy »    By extension, restless, uncomfortable, or impatient due to inactivity.

stock phrase »    A phrase frequently or habitually used by a person or group, and thus associated with them.

stretch one's legs »    To walk about, especially after prolonged time sitting or lying down.

suck up »    To absorb fluid.

sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof »    No need to worry about the future; the present provides enough to worry about.

sure as eggs is eggs »    Absolutely certain.

swear off »    To quit or cease completely, or to promise to quit, as of a bad habit.

sweeten the pot »    To make something more desirable.

sweetheart deal »    A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favorable terms to the other, especially in suspicious circumstances.

swings and roundabouts »    Offsetting gains and losses.

switch off »    To turn a switch to the "off" position in order to stop or disable a device.

switch off »    To lose interest, and start thinking about something else.

switch on »    To turn a switch to the "on" position in order to start or enable a device.

take a shot in the dark »    To try on something without having any knowledge about the subject.

take a stab at »    To attempt or try.

take a stab at »    To guess.

take aback »    To surprise or shock; to discomfit.

take aback »    Of a ship: to catch it with the sails aback suddenly.

take after »    In appearance or habit.

take apart »    To move someone away from others to be able to talk to, or give them something in private.

take away »    To remove something, either material or abstract, so that a person no longer has it.

take away »    To leave a memory or impression in one's mind that you think about later.

take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves »    If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500:Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ?used to say?Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.1912, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion ii. 132:Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii.:Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.1999,

take in »    To absorb or comprehend.

take off »    To absent oneself from work or other responsibility, especially with permission.

take one's lumps »    To receive physical abuse and to survive.

take one's time »    To go about something slowly and carefully.

take one's time »    To take more time to do something than is considered acceptable.

take something in one's stride »    Not to allow oneself to be set back, daunted, upset or embarrassed by unpleasant or undesirable circumstances.

take the biscuit »    To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.

take the cake »    To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.

take to »    To begin, as a new habit or practice.

take to task »    To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions.

take to the cleaners »    To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.

talk out one's ass »    To speak authoritatively on a subject which one actually knows little about; to exaggerate.

talk somebody under the table »    With excessive talk or numerous arguments.

talk the talk »    Speak like an expert, claim to be knowledgeable about something.

talk through one's hat »    To speak lacking expertise, authority, or knowledge; to invent or fabricate facts.

tar with the same brush »    To characterize using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly.

taxi driver »    cabby

tear up the pea patch »    To put on a notable performance, especially in sports; to go on a rampage.

tell apart »    To be able to know the difference between things; to distinguish.

tempus fugit »    time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.

that's the way life is »    That is the way things happenCertain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything [1], page 279:That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption [2], ISBN 0310511011, page 45:There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, ISBN 059524050X, page 337:Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree »    A child grows up to be very similar to its parents in the way they act and in their physical abilities.

the early bird gets the worm »    Whoever arrives first has the best chance of success; some opportunities are only available to the first competitors.

the grass is always greener on the other side »    Other circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality are often not

the pick of the litter »    The absolute best one has to offer.

the pits »    Something miserable or unpleasant.

the rabbit died »    A statement spoken to indicate one's own pregnancy, or that someone has found out they are pregnant.

the straw that broke the camel's back »    A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something.

the terrorists will have won »    Phrase used following a description of an activity to indicate that if that activity is not continued or carried out, those who seek to disrupt normal activities through terror will have succeeded, an which is an unacceptable result.

the world is one's oyster »    In order to achieve something in this world, one has to grab the opportunity.

there are plenty more fish in the sea »    There are many more potential opportunities available.

there are plenty of fish in the sea »    There are many more potential opportunities available.

there is an exception to every rule »    Usually said in a situation when the rule is incorrect and unusable.

there's no accounting for taste »    When it comes to subjective matters of taste, people have wildly different opinions.Disagreements about matters of taste can't be objectively resolved.

there's no place like home »    one feels the most comfortable at home

think about »    To ponder.

those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay »    (archaic) One should take immediate advantage of an opportunity that may not be available later.

three skips of a louse »    Said about some trifling or insignificant matter.

throw dirt enough, and some will stick »    If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say

throw down »    Admirably or forcefully.

throw down »    To accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".

throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick »    Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.

throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick »    Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at [1] on 02 Nov 06,Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at [2] on 02 Nov 06,Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at [3] on 02 Nov 06,I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at [6] on 02 Nov 06,They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isn

throw one's weight around »    To exercise influence or authority especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.

throw the baby out with the bathwater »    To discard something valuable, often inadvertently, in the process of removing waste.

throw to the dogs »    To give up on something valuable.

tickle someone's fancy »    To amuse, entertain, or appeal to someone; to stimulate someone's imagination in a favorable manner.

tiger team »    A specialized group tasked with testing the effectiveness of an organization's ability to protect assets by attempting to circumvent, defeat or otherwise thwart that organization's internal and external security.

time is money »    When a person's time is not used productively; time is valuable and should not be wasted.

timing is everything »    Consideration of other events can greatly influence some desired outcome (such as an audience laughing to a comedian's joke).Telling the old joke about a butt-crack was not a good idea, just as the plumber arrived, Bob.You know what they say: "timing is everything." I'm sure we can find another plumber before the house floods.

tin ear »    Insensitivity to and inability to appreciate the elements of performed music or the rhythm, elegance, or nuances of language.

tin god »    An individual that abuses or exceeds his authority over others, frequently in petty ways; for example a low-level manager in situational comedies and other entertainment.

to die for »    Very good; exquisite; excellent; particularly desirable.

to the moon »    To a very distant or unreachable place.

to the tune of »    Roughly; about; as much as; to the sum of, to the extent of.

to thine own self be true »    The easiest person to deceive is oneself."This above all:to thine own self be true,and it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare

today we are all »    An expression indicating that the speaker empathizes with members of an identifiable group that was the subject of a disaster, and projects that others empathize as well.

toe the line »    To abide by the rules or conventions.

tomorrow is another day »    Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed

tone down »    To make a television program, piece of writing, etc. less offensive and so more suitable for a family audience.

tongue-tied »    Unable to speak; at a loss for words.

too big for one's boots »    Far less capable than one's claims to be.

too big for one's britches »    Disturbingly confident, unacceptably cocky.

toss-up »    A decision in which neither choice is clearly favorable or unfavorable, or for which the outcome does not matter.

touch off »    To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.

touch%C3%A9 »    An acknowledgement of the success, appropriateness or superiority of an argument, sometimes used sarcastically to mock one's opponent's absurd logic.

train wreck »    An inevitable disaster.

trick out »    To trick out; to mod or customize an object, typically for the purpose of both personalization as well as enhancing the object's performance capabilities and more particularly for the purpose of performing stunts with that object.

tried and true »    Well-established and tested; known to work or succeed based on extensive experience.

true blue »    Indubitably loyal or faithful.

truth be told »    Used when admitting something one might otherwise lie about, e.g. to keep up appearances or be polite.

truth will out »    A mystery will always be solved, or a truth will always be discoveredTruth will eventually and inevitably be discovered.

tuck in »    To push the fabric at the bottom of a shirt under the pants.

tune in, turn on, drop out »    Pay attention to the new way of living; take drugs; abandon the established ways.

turn a phrase »    To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.

turn heads »    To garner a considerable amount of attention.

turn one's back »    To forsake, to abandon; to ignore.

turn over a new leaf »    To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.

turn the tables »    To reverse a situation, such that the advantage has shifted to the party which was previously disadvantaged.

turnabout is fair play »    It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against him.

twist in the wind »    To wait for an uncomfortably long period of time.

under erasure »    Of a bit of text, written and strickenthrough; hence, figuratively in some sense both present and absent.

under the table »    Secretly or without reporting, especially of payments made or business transacted.

up against »    In contact with, abutting.

up for grabs »    Available for anyone to obtain, claim or win.

up on »    Well-informed about.

up one's alley »    Matching a person's interests or abilities well.

up the ante »    To make something more desirable.

up to »    Able; willing.

up to scratch »    Sufficient; adequate; of acceptable or satisfactory quality.

up to snuff »    Adequate; of acceptable or quality; satisfying an appropriate standard.

up-to-date »    Informed about the latest news or developments.

urban fabric »    The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.

used to »    Accustomed to; in the habit of.

valley of death »    The phase of a startup business beginning with the entrepreneur's fulltime commitment to it and ending when the business has achieved sustainable cash flow.

variable tandem repeat locus »    Any DNA sequence that exists in multiple copies strung together in various tandem lengths.

vote with one's feet »    To show a lack of support for something by departing or otherwise absenting oneself.

vouch for »    To affirm the truth or reliability of.

wade in »    To interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.

wait for the other shoe to drop »    To await a seemingly inevitable event, especially one which is not desirable.

wake up on the wrong side of bed »    To feel grumpy, irritable; to be easily annoyed.

walk away from »    To abandon or leave; to shun.

walk out on »    To abandon or desert someone, especially a spouse.

walked out on »    To abandoned; to desert

walked out on »    To abandoned; to desert

walked out on »    To abandoned; to desert

wash one's hands of »    To absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame for.

watch one's mouth »    To be careful about what one says, especially with regard to disrespectful or profane language.

wax lyrical »    To talk about something with much interest or excitement.

way out of a paper bag »    A minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform such.

weak sister »    A person or thing which is the least robust or least dependable member of a group.

wear off »    To disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused.

wear one's heart on one's sleeve »    To be extremely transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.

wear out »    To deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain.

what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander »    If something is acceptable for one person, it is acceptable for another.

when the cat's away »    People are likely to take advantage of the absence of authority or enforcement of compliance.

when the cat's away the mice will play »    In the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances.

where there's smoke, there's fire »    If there is telltale evidence of some event, the event is probably occurring.

white elephant »    An ornament etc that is unwanted or is a financial burden; an unprofitable investment.

white lie »    A deliberate, untrue statement which does no harm or is intended to produce a favorable result.

willful ignorance »    A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.

window dressing »    A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only.

wine tosser »    A person who talks a great deal about wine but actually knows very little.

wipe the slate clean »    To forget about previous differences and disagreements, and make a fresh start.

wolf down »    Quickly and without regard for table manners.

work out »    To habitually exercise rigorously, especially by lifting weights, in order to increase strength or muscle mass or maintain fitness.

world »    A planet,especially one which is inhabited or inhabitable.

worth its weight in gold »    Highly valuable.

worth the risk »    The benefit of the success is more valuable than the problems caused by the potential loss.

write off »    unrepairable car

write up »    To write about positively.

yellow journalism »    Material published in a broadcast or periodical, such as a tabloid newspaper or magazine, which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.

you can't judge a book by its cover »    It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.

you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear »    It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs »    In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that something should be destroyed.

you can't say fairer than that »    That is good, reasonable, or fair; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.

you can't teach an old dog new tricks »    It is impossible, or almost impossible, to change people's habits or traits or mindset.

you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette »    In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that something should be destroyed.

zone out »    To stop paying attention and think about something else, or to think about nothing.

Like Phrases.net?  Why won't you tell a friend about us?