ace of spades »
The playing card belonging to the spades suit and featuring one pip.
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act out »
To go through the process of a scene from a play, a charade or a pointless exercise.
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as good as one's word »
Faithful to a promise one has made.
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barrel »
A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.
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basket case »
One made powerless or ineffective, as by nerves, panic or stress.
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beefed out »
Having been improved greatly or upgraded; beefed up.
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beyond one's pay grade »
Beyond one's capability.
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beyond one's pay grade »
Beyond one's level of authority.
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big kahuna »
A boss, leader, chieftain, or top-ranking person in an organization.
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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.
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blind »
A covering for a window to keep out light. The covering may be made of cloth or of narrow slats that can block light or allow it to pass.
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blow chunks »
To be very bad, inadequate, unpleasant, or miserable; to thoroughly suck.
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bogged down »
Stuck; mired, as in detail, difficulty; delayed or made slower.
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brown power »
The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.
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bump up »
To promote a person to a higher grade.
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bunny hop »
A jump made where both wheels leave the ground.
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bury the lead »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
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bury the lede »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
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by trade »
As a profession; professionally.
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call a spade a spade »
To speak the truth; to say things as they really are.
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carried away »
Made excessively emotional or excited.
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caveat lector »
Reader beware.
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chopped liver »
A Jewish food made by frying liver and onions in schmaltz.
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clay »
A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.
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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.
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cop-out »
An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.
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cop-out »
Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
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copper-bottomed »
Having lower parts made of or covered by copper.
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cutting edge »
The sharp edge of the blade of a knife.
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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.
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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.
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dumb down »
To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.
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eat crow »
To recognize that one has been shown to be mistaken or outdone, especially by admitting that one has made a humiliating error.
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esprit de corps »
A shared spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group, for example of a military unit.
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every cloud has a silver lining »
In every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,
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factotum »
Jack of all trades.
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fade out »
A type of transition used in movies usually at the end of a scene, in which the transition fades to black from the cut.
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fade out »
decrease gradually
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fall short »
To be less satisfactory than expected; to be inadequate or insufficient.
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feed the dragon »
To buy or sell products labeled as "Made in China.".
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field day »
A parade day.
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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
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flunk out »
Often requiring a retaking of the course or academic year.
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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.
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fly-by-night »
Traveling businessmen and tradesmen.
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for my money »
Used to mark a statement made by the speaker as an opinion or something not known with certainty.
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forewarned is forearmed »
Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
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get the better of »
To overwhelm or overcome; to influence heavily; to tend to control or persuade.
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give away the store »
To transact, trade, or negotiate badly, by paying, providing, or conceding too much to the other party.
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give somebody the slip »
To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.
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goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
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grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
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groaning »
That is heavily laden.
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gut reaction »
An instantaneous reaction made without thought.
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halfway decent »
No more than adequate.
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hand grenade »
small explosive device
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hard-nosed »
Hardheaded.
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have a way with »
To be skilled, adept, or graceful in something.
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have it made »
To have accomplished all there is to do; to have no further work or difficulty; to have achieved a lifestyle characterized by good fortune and comfort.
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hotheaded »
Easily excited or angered.
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house of cards »
A structure made by laying cards perpendicularly on top of each other.
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household name »
A genericized trademark or anepronym.
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humble pie »
A pie made from the offal of deer or hog.
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in black and white »
Having it displayed using shades of gray/gray rather than colour/color .
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in black and white »
Using shades of grey/gray rather than colour/color.
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in spades »
Beyond doubt.
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in spades »
To excess, a lot, considerably; without restraint.
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in the making »
In development; in the process of being made.
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ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
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jack of all trades »
One competent in many endeavors, especially one who excels in none of them.
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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.
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jack of all trades, master of none »
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
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jump the gun »
To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.
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keep away from »
To evade.
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kick off the team »
In sports, to dismiss an athlete from a team, usually for misconduct, poor academic performance or other offenses.
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knock up »
In the morning as by knocking at the door; rouse; call; summon; also, to go door-to-door on election day to persuade a candidate's supporters to go to the polling station and vote. See also knocker up.
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lapsed academic »
A person formerly employed as a professor or researcher in a university or other institution of higher education, especially one who no longer attempts to remain current in his or her former academic field.
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lay off »
made redundant
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leader of the free world »
The President of the United States.
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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.
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level-headed »
Sensible; rational; possessing sound judgment.
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loaded for bear »
Mentally prepared for a daunting situation or confrontation.
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loaded for bear »
Thoroughly equipped, as for a demanding task or confrontation.
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loaded word »
Any word, set phrase or idiom that has strong positive or negative connotations beyond their ordinary definition.
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long absent, soon forgotten »
Love fades away when people are distant and don't keep close physical contact.
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lord of the flies »
A ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.
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made in China »
Cheaply manufactured in East Asia.
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made in China »
Manufactured in the People's Republic of China.
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made in China »
Of poor or low quality.
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made in Japan »
Cheaply manufactured in East Asia.
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made in Japan »
Manufactured in Japan.
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made in Japan »
Of poor or low quality.
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made in the shade »
In a condition characterized by comfort, success, easy living, or general well-being.
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make a meal of »
That is the eleventh edit that you have made to that word, you are really making a meal of it.
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make an example of »
He made an example of the drunken sailor with twenty lashes, to show that he must have a sober crew.
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make an exhibition of oneself »
She had far too much to drink and made an exhibition of herself by flirting with everyone.
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make the grade »
To prove satisfactory; to be successful or worthy of merit.
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man made »
artificial
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man up »
To staff adequately; to staff up; to successfully fill all needed labor positions.
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match made in heaven »
A marriage that is likely to be happy and successful because the two people are very compatible with each other.
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match made in heaven »
A very successful combination of two people or things.
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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.
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match made in hell »
A very unsuccessful or conflicting combination of two people or things.
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melon head »
A melon-headed whale.
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mine arse on a bandbox »
An answer to the offer of any thing inadequate to the purpose for which it is proffered, like offering a bandbox for a seat.
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nightcap »
The second game of a doubleheader.
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off-roader »
A vehicle that is designed to drive off the road.
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on one's soapbox »
Stating or professing one's opinion; attempting to persuade others of something.
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on opposite sides of the barricades »
Of starkly different, opposite views on an issue.
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on the cuff »
On credit, with payment to be made later.
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one can run but one can't hide »
There is nothing someone can do to evade something.You can run but you can't hide.
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ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »
(biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.
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out the window »
Made obsolete; altered drastically as a result of situational change.
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paper »
A sheet material used for writing on or printing on , usually made by draining cellulose fibres from a suspension in water.
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paper »
A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting .
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parade of horribles »
A parade featuring a progression of people wearing comic and grotesque costumes.
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parade of horribles »
A rhetorical device employing a series of progressively more terrible results following from an act.
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pass muster »
To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection.
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play along »
To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
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point blank »
The distance between a gun and a target such that it requires minimal effort in aiming it. In particular no allowance needs to be made for the effects of gravity, target movement or wind in aiming the projectile.
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prevail upon »
To convince; to persuade.
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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.
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rain on someone's parade »
To disappoint or discourage someone.
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rose-colored glasses »
Glasses that are tinted in a pink or rose shade.
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rub it in »
To add insult to injury; to emphasize one's strengths or another's weaknesses in a manner that degrades another.
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rules are made to be broken »
it is acceptable to break rules.
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run through »
To pervade, of a quality that is characteristic of a group, organisation, or system.
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run through »
To impale a person with a blade, usually a sword.
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seagull approach »
The occurence of casual, ill-informed and hasty decisions or comments made by outside authorities who lack an understanding of the local issues or a real understanding of the facts of a particular situ.
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see the forest for the trees »
To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the bigger picture, or the broader, more general situation. Generally used in the negative.
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sell ice to Eskimos »
To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.
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shot in the dark »
A guess, attempt, or choice made with little or no evidence or knowledge.
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silver bullet »
A bullet made of silver, usually with reference to the folkloric belief that such bullets are the only weapons which can kill a werewolf.
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sleep on »
To consider after a period of sleep, implying a decision will be made the next day.
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snow job »
An attempt to persuade a person using flattery or deception.
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so there »
A defiant expression used to finish a poorly-made argument.
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soft shoe »
A speech, explanation, sales pitch, or other set of remarks delivered in a restrained or conciliatory manner in order to persuade, distract, or otherwise influence someone.
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soft touch »
A person or group which is sympathetic, accommodating, easily overcome, or easily persuaded, especially one which loans or readily gives money to another.
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softroader »
. This involves increased ground clearance with tyre, wheel, and suspension tweaks, skid plates and refers to mini SUV or wagons.
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storm in a tea-kettle »
A big fuss made in a small context.
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sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
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switch off »
To alternate between; to trade.
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take its toll »
To affect, especially negatively; to damage or degrade; to cause destruction.
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take someone's point »
To agree with what a person says; to understand a person's argument and be persuaded by it.
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take the lead »
To assume leadership over a group.
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take the lead »
To become the leader, to advance into first place.
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talk over »
To persuade someone; to talk around.
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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."
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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
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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.
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throw in at the deep end »
To introduce a person to a new situation without adequately preparing him or her.
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top banana »
The boss, the leader.
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trick of the trade »
A shortcut or other quick, or very effective way of doing things, that professional workers learn from experience.
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trigger-happy »
Having a tendency or desire to shoot a firearm irresponsibly before adequately identifying the target.
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try one's hand »
To attempt a skill, craft, or trade.
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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
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under the table »
Secretly or without reporting, especially of payments made or business transacted.
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up to scratch »
Sufficient; adequate; of acceptable or satisfactory quality.
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up to snuff »
Adequate; of acceptable or quality; satisfying an appropriate standard.
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valley of death »
Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Charge of the Light Brigade.
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wade in »
To interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.
|
wade through »
To do a boring, repetitive research task.
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walk in the snow »
An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.
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wear off »
To disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused.
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where there's muck there's brass »
(UK, Irish) There is money to be made in unpleasant dirty jobs.
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win over »
To persuade someone, gain someone's support, or make someone understand the truth or validity of something.
|
wooden spoon »
A spoon made from wood.
|
worth one's salt »
Competent or adept.
|
wrestling with a pig »
To engage in a pointless task that leaves one worse off for having made an honest attempt.
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you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar »
It's easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude than with rude demands and negativity.
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you made your bed, now sleep in it »
A moralizing rejection said to someone looking for an easy out, especially of a situation they put themselves into.
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