a day late and a dollar short »
Action that was taken too late and too feeble to be of any use.
|
a drop in the bucket »
An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem.
|
act out »
To express one's feelings through disruptive actions.
|
actions speak louder than words »
It is more effective to act directly than to speak of action.
|
Adds up »
To enhance. " action.com">Law of attraction adds up to the success in life."
|
all bark and no bite »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
|
all hat and no cattle »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
|
all talk and no action »
Speaking, promising, or boasting much, but doing little
|
an offer one can't refuse »
An offer from one side in any transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
|
an offer one can't refuse »
An offer from one side in any transaction with the results of failing to accept so unattractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
|
as you sow, so shall you reap »
The personal consequences of one's actions are in proportion to the good or bad intentions towards others.
|
ask for »
To increase the likelihood of something by persisting in some action; to invite.
|
ask for it »
To provoke an unwanted action.
|
barnburner »
Liberal faction of the New York state United States Democratic Party in the mid 19th century.
|
be the way to go »
Represent the best of all possible options or courses of action; pre-eminate over all other choices or alternatives.
|
better safe than sorry »
It is preferable to be cautious in one's choices and actions than to suffer afterwards.
|
black-on-black »
A reference to interactions between black people .
|
blow the whistle »
To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.
|
blow the whistle »
To make a piercing sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game.
|
blow-by-blow »
Detailing every action or occurrence completely.
|
bottle out »
To fail to perform a promised or planned action due to lack of courage.
|
bowl a googly »
Something unexpected, underhand or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
|
burn one's fingers »
To harm oneself; to suffer consequences of one's actions.
|
bust chops »
To nag; to berate or hound in an effort to elicit action.
|
by one's own hand »
As a result of one's own actions, especially with reference to death by suicide.
|
call someone's bluff »
To take action on the basis that another person is bluffing.
|
can of worms »
A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
|
cat that ate the canary »
A person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.
|
chain reaction »
A nuclear reaction in which particles produced by the fission of one atom trigger fissions of other atoms.
|
chain reaction »
A series of events, each one causing the next.
|
clear the decks »
To prepare for action.
|
come on »
A statement or sometimes action reflecting sexual or relational interest.
|
cop-out »
Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
|
cramp someone's style »
To restrict someone's free actions, or to give the impression of such.
|
cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
|
cross the Rubicon »
To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.
|
cruising for a bruising »
Following a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.
|
cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
|
damn the torpedoes »
Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.
|
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.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
...grasp the demands and exactions of business life. He learns that the main thing to do is to "deliver the message to Garcia"....
|
desperate times call for desperate measures »
In adverse circumstances actions that might have been rejected under other circumstances may become the best choice.
|
discretion is the better part of valour »
It is often wise to refrain from seemingly brave speech or action.1597
|
do someone proud »
To cause someone to feel pride, admiration, or satisfaction.
|
drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »
(idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.
|
drop the gloves »
To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.
|
every dog has its day »
Everyone has a time of success and satisfaction.
|
face the music »
To accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
|
fair game »
Actions permissible by the rules.
|
false step »
An erroneous action or decision.
|
fish or cut bait »
To choose between taking action now, or forgoing the opportunity and putting that energy into another endeavor; to decide.
|
fourth wall »
The imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
|
full marks »
To exclaim complete satisfaction with someone's efforts.
|
gapers' block »
A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.
|
get a rise out of »
To obtain a reaction from someone, especially one of annoyance.
|
get away with »
To do something which is prohibited, forbidden or generally not allowed, and not be punished for the action.
|
get in someone's hair »
To hinder someone or interfere with their actions.
|
get into trouble »
To perform an action which is illegal, prohibited, forbidden or proscribed and to become subject to punishment for such action.
|
get on someone's wick »
To annoy or upset someone, usually by repeated disagreeable actions.
|
get the ball rolling »
To begin; to start some action; to set in motion.
|
ghost train »
fairground attraction
|
give him enough rope and he'll hang himself »
If one gives someone enough freedom of action, they may destroy themselves by foolish actions.
|
give hostage to fortune »
To take an action or make a statement that is risky because it could cause you trouble later.
|
give somebody a piece of one's mind »
To express one's opinion strongly; to voice one's disagreement or dissatisfaction.
|
go by »
To pass, to go past, without much interaction.
|
go mad »
Used to indicate that the second verb represents an action that is out of character.
|
go off half-cocked »
To take a premature or ill-considered action.
|
grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
gut feeling »
An instinct or intuition; an immediate or basic feeling or reaction without a logical rationale.
|
gut reaction »
An instantaneous reaction made without thought.
|
have it coming »
To deserve or merit, as the consequences of one's actions.
|
hem and haw »
To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.
|
high road »
A course of action which is honorable, dignified, or respectable.
|
hit the bricks »
To participate in a workplace strike or other job action; to participate in a public protest, especially one involving picketing.
|
hold off »
To delay commencing an action (until some specified time or event has passed).
|
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 with the hare and run with the hounds »
To oppose an action or behavior and yet engage in the same action or behavior; to be a hypocrite.
|
hold with the hare and run with the hounds »
To remain neutral by attempting to placate two factions or both sides of a controversy.
|
in fact »
Resulting from the actions of parties.
|
in for an inch, in for a mile »
Given that one is partly involved in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from becoming fully involved or fully committed.
|
inside job »
A crime or other illicit action committed by or with the help of someone either employed by the victim or entrusted with access to the victim's affairs and premises.
|
it's not the whistle that pulls the train »
Boasting and loud talk should not be mistaken for the work that produces real achievements; bravado is no proof of action.1956, James Reston, "Washington: It's Not the Whistle that Pulls the Train," New York Times, 1 July, p. E8:
|
it's one's funeral »
One's decisions or actions will bring undesirable consequences only on oneself.
|
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.
|
knock on wood »
A self-directive to undertake the customary action to ward off bad luck.
|
knock on wood »
To take a customary action to ward off some misfortune that is believed to be attracted my a presumptuous statement.
|
la goutte d'eau qui fait d%C3%A9border le vase »
The final thing that is too much and forces a reaction; the straw that broke the camel's back.
|
let's roll »
Used to suggest that an action should begin.
|
lip service »
Empty talk; words absent of action or intention.
|
Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
|
low road »
A course of action which is undignified, wrongful, or otherwise unseemly.
|
lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
make a monkey out of »
To cause a person, organization, or action to appear foolish or inferior; to subject someone or something to ridicule..
|
make a virtue of necessity »
To make the best of a difficult situation; to recast or portray an action or situation in which one has no alternatives as an action or situation which was deliberately chosen on its merits.
|
make hay while the sun shines »
To act while an opportunity exists; to take action while a situation is favorable.
|
make someone's day »
To make someone happy or to be a source of satisfaction.
|
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.
|
measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
|
mess up »
To make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
|
miss the boat »
To fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action.
|
move heaven and earth »
To do whatever is necessary, including extreme or unusual actions; to go to extremes.
|
nice guy »
An adult male who seeks sexual attraction and romantic intimacy, but only finds cordial friendship and platonic love.
|
no good deed ever goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no good deed goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no two ways about it »
No other possible action, choice or option.
|
nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat »
The idea/proposed action is inconsequential to the current situation.
|
now you're talking »
A phrase indicating agreement with a previously stated suggestion to change a course of action.
|
object lesson »
Anything used an example or lesson which serves to warn others as to the outcomes that result from a particular action or behavior, as exemplified by the fates of those who followed that course.
|
one fell swoop »
One stroke; one action or event with many results.
|
one step at a time »
Slowly and carefully, ensuring that each action has been completed successfully before taking the next.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
pay for it »
To suffer the consequences of one's actions.
|
pay the fiddler »
To face the consequences of one’s actions..
|
penalty box »
That is assessed after an infraction.
|
perfect storm »
A situation where a calamity is caused by the convergence and amplifying interaction of a number of factors.
|
pick up »
To point out (a person's behaviour, habits or actions),in a critical manner.
|
plan on »
To expect; to prepare future actions based on.
|
play the race card »
To assert that race or racism is responsible for a course of events, especially when race is not of particular significance to the issue in question; to attempt to inspire a particular reaction by raising the issue of race.
|
pleased as Punch »
Pleased with one's actions or achievements.
|
poison tree bears poison fruit »
Unethical actions in the service of good intentions will have immoral or unethical consequences.
|
pull the trigger »
To commit to a course of action.
|
pump up »
To inflate with a pumping action.
|
put by »
To perform an action without attracting attention.
|
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.
|
ride herd on »
To supervise a group of people, such as workers, and/or their actions, i.e. their work.
|
road movie »
A film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.
|
run away »
To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.
|
save face »
To take an action or make a gesture intended to preserve one's reputation or honour.
|
scrape off »
To remove something by a scraping action.
|
scratch the surface »
To barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible.
|
shit or get off the pot »
To choose between taking action now, or foregoing the opportunity until a later date.
|
shit-eating grin »
A broad smile indicating self-awareness that may suggest self-satisfaction, smugness, discomfort, or embarrassment.
|
shoot first and ask questions later »
To take action with serious consequences without delay, preserving the benefit of surprise by not providing indication of one's intent.
|
showstopper »
A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive reaction strong enough to pause the production.
|
sign in »
To take some action to access a secured program or web page on a computer; to log in.
|
some people »
Expresses disgust at the actions of a person; a response to a person doing something silly, bizarre, nonsensical or ill-mannered.
|
sow the wind, reap the whirlwind »
Every decision has consequences; a person's actions will come back to him.
|
staircase wit »
Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so.
|
step up to the plate »
To initiate action; to assume a responsibility.
|
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 it to the man »
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commercialization, big business or government.
|
stupid is as stupid does »
A person's intelligence may be judged by the wisdom of his or her actions.
|
sweetheart deal »
A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favorable terms to the other, especially in suspicious circumstances.
|
tail between one's legs »
A reaction to a confrontation, specifically one with excessive shame and hurt pride.
|
take sitting down »
To tolerate, accept, or acquiesce; to take no action.
|
take the rap »
To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the actions of another.
|
take to task »
To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions.
|
talk is cheap »
It is easy to make boastful or unrealistic statements which are not supported by actions or evidence.
|
the end justifies the means »
Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can only be considered morally right or wrong by virtue of the morality of the outcome.
|
the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get »
(vulgar) The sexual satisfactions that one receives from a spouse or romantic partner are not sufficient to compensate for the significant periods of bad faith and unpleasant treatment which such relationships routinely involve.1971, Allen Churchill, The Literary Decade, ISBN 9780135375228:Years later she expressed her disillusionment with sex by saying, "The fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."1999, Ben Sonnenberg, Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy, ISBN 9781582430454, p. 93:Maitland got drunk at his parties and threw his arm around you and pulled you over to his wife and made you look down her dress, saying, "The trouble with marriage is that the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."2008, Joseph Heywood, Blue Wolf In Green Fire, ISBN 9781599213590, p. 63:"I can't believe a little pussy got me into dis mess." "Shit happens," Service said. "Sometimes the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."
|
there's no time like the present »
Now (i.e., the present time) is an appropriate time to take a particular action.
|
think through »
To fully consider an action, and understand all its consequences.
|
throw somebody a curve »
To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
|
tie up loose ends »
To deal with the minor consequences of a previous action; to tidy up, finish, or complete.
|
time and tide wait for no man »
action is necessary without delay
|
two birds with one stone »
Any two things that were performed or completed at the same time by one action.
|
two wrongs don't make a right »
(ethics) A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.1915, William MacLeod Raine, The Highgrader, ch. 15:"But when it comes to taking what belongs to another
|
two wrongs make a right »
A logical fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another
|
ups and downs »
Periods of positive and negative events, moods, or interactions; highs and lows.
|
wait for the other shoe to drop »
To defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved.
|
walk a tightrope »
To undertake a precarious course of action.
|
wash out »
To lose traction while going around a turn, especially in cycling, motorsports and skiing/snowboarding.
|
what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
|
when push comes to shove »
When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult.
|
when the going gets tough, the tough get going »
in difficult times, it is the strong-willed who take action.
|
work the room »
To interact with one's audience, taking queues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
|
wrap around one's fingers »
To make one susceptible to desire, in that their behavior or actions are influenced.
|
write one's own ticket »
To be empowered to choose whatever job, financial arrangement, or course of action one desires.
|
you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
|
you make the bed you lie in »
A person's circumstances are normally the result of his or her own actions.
|
| Like Phrases.net? Why won't you tell a friend about us? |
[