after all »
In the end; anyway; referring to something that was believed to be the case, but has now been shown not to be.
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after all »
in spite of everything
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after one's own heart »
Of a person: having the same ideas, opinions or behaviour as oneself.
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after the fact »
Too late; after something is finished or final.
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air rage »
Disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.
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and shit »
Used after a noun or list of nouns in place of "etc".
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Apa Sâmbetei »
"for nothing", "to no result", or that what you have done was destroyed or is rendered useless after you finish it.
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Après-ski »
A place "after skiing". Typically a bar or pub where people go after a day on the slopes to ease off and meet other people.
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at last »
After a long time; eventually.
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baby blues »
Period and feeling of depressiveness after giving birth; a less severe form of postnatal depression.
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back to square one »
Located back at the start, as after a dead-end or failure.
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bail out »
To exit an aircraft while in flight.
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be after »
To try to obtain.
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be after »
To try to capture.
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behind its time »
Showing characteristics of the past; present in one's work after later advances in the field; coming later than could be generally accepted.
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better safe than sorry »
It is preferable to be cautious in one's choices and actions than to suffer afterwards.
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bitter end »
That part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains onboard when a ship is riding at anchor.
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bottom line »
The final balance; the amount of money or profit left after everything has been tallied.
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call off the dogs »
During a one-sided sports contest, to remove the first-string unit of a team from the game after dominating the opponent.
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call off the dogs »
To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
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carry a torch for »
[2] To harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.
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cat's meow »
A highly sought-after and fancy example of something.
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cat's pyjamas »
A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects.
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chase after »
To chase someone.
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chase after »
To pursue someone with romantic intentions; to woo.
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chip off the old block »
Someone who takes after their parent.
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close the stable door after the horse has bolted »
To attempt to prevent a problem only to find it has already happened.
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collect one's thoughts »
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.
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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.
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come to »
To recover consciousness after fainting etc.
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dead last »
The standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.
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deadstick landing »
When a pilot lands a plane after the engine has died; a landing lacking any propulsion control.
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deep water »
Waters suitable for deep-draft ships, especially ocean-going.
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double up »
After a fly ball has been caught.
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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.
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drop back »
Of a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.
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dust off »
To use something after a long time without it.
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enquire after »
To ask about the health of someone.
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fifteen minutes of fame »
A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.
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final cut »
A group, after a selection process getting rid of other candidates.
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first port of call »
The first port that a vessel calls in at after the start of a voyage.
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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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go by the board »
To estimate the velocity of a boat or ship in knots by casting overboard the knotted line to whose end is attached the lead and thereafter counting the knots in the line as it goes aft along the side boards of the vessel.
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go from zero to hero »
To become very popular after being unpopular.
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go in off »
To pot the cue ball accidentally after hitting the object ball.
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gold mine »
A plentiful stockpile of something sought after.
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golden duck »
The score of zero runs after getting out on the first ball faced.
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good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
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good to go »
Ready for use or ready for normal operation, especially after repair or renewal.
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grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
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gunshy »
Fearing the consequences of repeating an act, especially after being reprimanded.
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hair of the dog »
An alcoholic drink taken the morning after to cure a hangover or withdrawal symptoms.
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hammer out »
To come to an agreement after much arguing.
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happily ever after »
Living happily until death. Typically associated with fairy tales.
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he who laughs last laughs best »
success is better after having previously endured ridicule.
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heads or tails »
A game to bet upon a which side of a coin lays face up after it is thrown.
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hold one's liquor »
To be resistant to intoxication or to show few signs of intoxication, even after consuming a significant amount of alcohol.
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holding pattern »
A path taken by an aircraft waiting to land.
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in the long run »
After a very long time; eventually; over a long period of time; more generally.
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inquire after »
To ask about the health of someone.
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jump »
To employ a parachute to leave an aircraft or elevated location.
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keep out »
After being warned, he kept out.
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knock-on effect »
The continued running of an engine after the ignition has been turned off; dieseling.
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l'esprit de l'escalier »
The experience of thinking of a devastating rejoinder only after leaving the scene of the debate.
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landing strip »
A runway for aircraft, especially one which is auxiliary or temporary.
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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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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).
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look after »
To watch or protect; to keep safe.
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man up »
His station, prepared for departure of an aircraft, ship, etc.
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me three »
Used to express agreement, after someone has already said "me too".
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meet one's maker »
To die or to pass into the afterlife.
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mend fences »
To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.
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music to one's ear »
Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.
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on a full stomach »
Directly after eating, after a meal.
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on one's feet »
Being well again after a bout of illness.
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on second thought »
After reconsidering; on further consideration.
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one-hit wonder »
A musical performer or musical group known for a single hit song, especially after failing at later attempts at success.
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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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pay off »
To become worthwhile after a lapse.
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pay up »
To pay for something in total, after a certain amount of time after receiving a purchase.
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pelt of the dog »
An immoderate, excessive quantity of alcohol drunk the morning after whilst suffering withdrawal symptoms or a hangover, which goes beyond alleviating the complaint to causing drunkenness; cf. hair of the dog.
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penalty box »
That is assessed after an infraction.
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piece of work »
A product or manufactured article, especially an item of art or craft.
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point of no return »
The point in an aircraft's flight when there is insufficient fuel to reverse direction and return to the place of origin.
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pull oneself together »
To become mentally focused after a period of being unfocused.
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push one's luck »
To take an excessive risk or to attempt some task unlikely to succeed, especially after having already been unexpectedly lucky.
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put down »
To land an aircraft.
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rake »
The sloped edge of a roof at or adjacent to the first or last rafter.
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rise from the ashes »
To make a comeback after a long hiatus. To come back into common use or practice. To come back into popularity. To come back to being a thing of today.
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road to Damascus »
That was my Road to Damascus moment. They played one hit after another and this is the song I remember most clearly.
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rub off on »
To adapt to a way of behaving after constant exposure to it.
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run after »
To chase.
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run after »
To make a determined effort to win someone's affections.
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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.
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run down »
To find something or someone after searching for a long time.
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safe and sound »
Having come to no harm, especially after being exposed to danger.
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serpentine »
Of, or having attributes associated with, the mythological serpent, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.
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shift gears »
To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another shaft, especially in a motor vehicle.
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shoot the moon »
To take a risk which may result in great rewards; to succeed after taking such a risk.
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sign in »
In order to get into the office after hours, you'll have to sign in at the security desk.
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sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
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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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slippery as an eel »
So crafty, or cunning that they cannot be caught by the police, although it is known that they are acting illegally.
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snake eyes »
Two ones, after rolling two dice.
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spill one's guts »
To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change of motive or an incentive.
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stretch one's legs »
To walk about, especially after prolonged time sitting or lying down.
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sweet hereafter »
Heaven; paradise as enjoyed in the afterlife.
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take after »
In appearance or habit.
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take after »
To follow someone's example.
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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,
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they're only after one thing »
Men are only interested in sex.
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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
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time after time »
Again and again; repeatedly; every time; always.
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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
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touch down »
To land an aircraft.
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train wreck »
The aftermath of a train crash.
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try one's hand »
To attempt a skill, craft, or trade.
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twenty-twenty hindsight »
Perfect understanding of events only after they have happened.
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wash down »
To help to swallow by drinking a liquid, after eating something, or taking a pill.
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wee small hours »
The very early morning, just after midnight, when most people are asleep.
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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.
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work over »
To improve a prototype, or first draft.
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you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
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you can't take it with you »
It is not possible to take one's material wealth to whatever world may await one after death.1900, E. Phillips Oppenheim, A Millionaire of Yesterday, ch. 6:"The clause which
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you name it »
Used after a short list to show that further examples are unnecessary; all kinds of things.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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