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 new broom sweeps clean »
New management will often make radical changes.
|
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 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 watched pot never boils »
A process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.
|
abstract nonsense »
Details which involve diagram chasing.
|
ace in the hole »
A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.
|
ace up one's sleeve »
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
|
act one's age »
To be mature and not childish.
|
against all odds »
Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition or probability.
|
against the clock »
In a time-restricted manner, to meet a deadline, hurriedly, timed.
|
against the collar »
In a tight spot.
|
against the grain »
Contrary to what is expected; especially, of behavior different from what society expects.
|
against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
|
against the grain »
Unwillingly, reluctantly. It went much against the grain with him, i.e. it was much against his inclination, or against his pluck.
|
age before beauty »
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones.
|
agree to disagree »
To tolerate each other's opinion and stop arguing; to acknowledge that an agreement will not be reached.
|
air rage »
Disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.
|
albatross »
A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole.
|
all mouth and no trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
|
all mouth and trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
|
all the rage »
Very fashionable and popular, like a craze.
|
amber nectar »
Lager beer.
|
argue out »
To discuss to reach an agreed conclusion, or decision.
|
at cross purposes »
Against one another; contrary in direction or goals.
|
at loggerheads »
Unable to agree; opposing.
|
at odds »
In disagreement; conflicting.
|
at sixes and sevens »
In a state of dispute or disagreement.
|
at the mercy of »
In the power of; defenceless/defenseless against.
|
babe magnet »
A person, especially a man, to whom women are attracted.
|
back down »
To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
|
back off »
To become less aggressive, particularly when one had appeared committed to act.
|
back-cloth star »
An actor who stands upstage, forcing the other actors to face him and turn their backs to the audience, in order to gain more attention to himself.
|
bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
|
bad penny »
A counterfeit or damaged penny.
|
bag and baggage »
All one's possessions.
|
bag of bones »
A skinny, malnourished person.
|
bag of rations »
A fussy or overly zealous military superior.
|
bag of wind »
A windbag.
|
baggage »
Heavy baggage; women and children. Also a familiar epithet for a woman; as, cunning baggage, wanton baggage, &c.
|
baggage »
In a metaphorical sense, factors that restrict a person's freedom, often in an intellectual or psychological way: emotional baggage.
|
baggage »
Luggage; traveling equipment.
|
balancing act »
An effort to manage many conflicting or competing items or interests.
|
bald eagle »
american bird
|
bang up job »
Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.
|
banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
|
baptism by fire »
A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis.
|
bare one's teeth »
Of an animal, to show one's teeth as a sign of aggression.
|
bare one's teeth »
To show one's aggression.
|
bash about »
To physically damage something or assault someone.
|
be all ears »
To listen carefully or eagerly; to anticipate.
|
be off »
To be working against a present or former addiction to.
|
be on the edge of one's seat »
To be in suspense; to wait eagerly or anxiously for some resolution.
|
be there or be square »
Used to encourage someone to go somewhere.
|
be up against »
To be challenged by someone or something stronger than oneself.
|
beam up »
To be teleported over a long distance by means of a specific imaginary technology, specifically from the surface of a planet to an orbiting starship.
|
beat Banaghan »
An Irish saying of one who tells wonderful stories, or of something which is amazing and remarkable.
|
beat down »
To haggle someone to sell at a lower price.
|
beat one's head against a stone wall »
To waste effort on a futile project.
|
beefed out »
Muscular, often in an exaggerated way.
|
been to the rodeo »
N.d., Alan Neff, Precious Tribes, Vicious Lies, page 72.
|
behind the eight ball »
At a disadvantage.
|
below par »
Not up to the average or normal standard.
|
bench jockey »
A baseball term for a player, coach or manager who is annoying and distracts opposition players and umpires from his team's dugout bench with verbal repartee.
|
bend one's elbow »
To drink alcoholic beverages, especially at a public house or bar.
|
big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
|
big up »
To proclaim or exaggerate the importance of.
|
bite me »
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
|
black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
|
blot one's copy book »
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
|
blow a fuse »
To lose one's temper; to become enraged.
|
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.
|
bone of contention »
Something that continues to be disputed; something on which no agreement can be reached.
|
born in a barn »
Engaging in the annoying behavior of inappropriately, and usually neglectfully, leaving open a door or window.
|
bottle out »
To fail to perform a promised or planned action due to lack of courage.
|
bounce back »
To recover from a negative without seemingly any damage.
|
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.
|
bragging rights »
The prerogative to praise oneself for an accomplishment or for possession of a superior characteristic.
|
break a leg »
A wish for a successful performance; primarily a valediction to an actor wishing him or her a successful theatrical stage performance.
|
break a sweat »
' , Karon Karter - The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Pilates Method page 119.
|
break a sweat »
January 2008, The Age - Walkovers blaze a trail for women's equal-pay theory.
|
brickbat »
For example, it's quite common for magazines to have a section called Bouquets and Brickbats for compliments and criticisms.
|
brickbat »
Reason Magazine: Daily Brickbat[1].
|
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed »
Alert and in an eager, frisky, or playful mood; full of life.
|
brown bag »
A short presentation or seminar on a given subject, especially one given at lunchtime.
|
buck up »
Cheer up; take courage; take heart.
|
bugger off »
An expression of disagreement or disbelief.
|
bump and grind »
A sexually suggestive dance involving exaggerated hip movements, especially a striptease dance.
|
bury the hatchet »
To stop fighting or arguing; to reach an agreement, or at least a truce.
|
bush league »
A low-ranking or inferior level among groups, professions, organizations, etc.
|
bush league »
A professional sports association at the lower levels of minor league organization.
|
bust chops »
To nag; to berate or hound in an effort to elicit action.
|
but then »
Then again, on the other hand; used to show that the opposite viewpoint is possible.
|
button-down »
Conservative; conventional; unimaginative.
|
can't wait »
To eagerly anticipate; to find it unbearable to wait for a forthcoming pleasurable event.
|
carry on »
To take baggage or luggage onto an airplane, rather than check it.
|
carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task despite obstacles.
|
carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task without having been informed specifically by what method to do so.
|
cash in »
To profit from; to use an opportunity to maximum advantage, especially financially.
|
cast aspersions »
To make damaging or spiteful remarks.
|
cat and mouse game »
Two individuals and/or groups repeatedly keeping check on each other in a suspicious or self-protective way, often with the goal of one or both parties trying to gain a malicious advantage over the other.
|
catbird seat »
Expression used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.
|
charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
|
che sera sera »
Used to express a personal philosophy of fatalism1604, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus:Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. / Aye, we must die an everlasting death. / What doctrine call you this ? Che, sera, sera: / What will be*, shall be; Divinity adieu. / These Metaphysics of Magicians, / And necromantic books, are heavenly.
|
check out »
To have one's purchases recorded and bagged at a supermarket, and pay for it.
|
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.
|
chew the scenery »
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
|
circle the wagons »
To draw a wagon train into a circle to allow the wagons to provide cover when under attack.
|
circle the wagons »
To prepare to defend against an attack.
|
circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
|
claim to fame »
That for which one has bragging rights; one's reason for being well-known or famous.
|
clear the decks »
To remove, or fasten, all loose material, or partitions prior to a naval engagement.
|
climb the walls »
To behave in a distressed or frantic manner; to feel very agitated.
|
come across »
To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image.
|
come around »
To change one's mind, especially to begin to agree or appreciate what one was reluctant to accept at first.
|
come of age »
To mature, or become fully developed.
|
come of age »
To reach a specific age where one is legally considered to be an adult.
|
come on »
An expression of encouragement.
|
come the acid »
To exaggerate.
|
come to terms »
To reach an agreement or settle a dispute.
|
consume mass quantities »
To eat or drink abundant amounts of food or beverage.
|
cool down »
To become less agitated.
|
cool down »
To cause to become less agitated.
|
coon's age »
A very long time.
|
count sheep »
To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.
|
covenant of salt »
A long-lasting agreement.
|
cradle robber »
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.
|
cross the floor »
To vote against one's own political party in parliament.
|
cry out against »
To complain strongly, usually as a group.
|
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.
|
cut a wide swath »
To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.
|
cut up »
To aggressively move in front of another vehicle.
|
day and age »
A time period of years or more.
|
dead set against »
Completely opposed, with no possibility of a change of mind.
|
debris field »
Any area, non-dependent of locale, space, or contour, that contains the debris of wreckage, impact, sinking, or other material that once constituted a complete object. Debris fields can be found at the site of air crashes, water vessel sinking, explosions of buildings, collapses, and other events that render a whole entity into components, pieces, or other non-whole items.
|
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"....
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
...heaves in a deep breath, gathers himself as though he's crossed a continent to deliver the message to Garcia.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
Alternative form of carry the message to Garcia.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
Programmers are consistently dehumanized because so many do indeed deliver the message to Garcia only to be at best ignored.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
What we need is people who get the job done, no matter how. We don't want pickers who'll only learn if we use their preferred learning method. Have you read "A Message to Garcia" ? That's what we need today - young people who can deliver the message to Garcia.
|
devil's advocate »
A canon lawyer appointed by the Church to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate.
|
dirty old man »
An adult male - usually middle-aged or elderly - who acts in a lecherous or lewd manner.
|
do a number on »
To damage; to treat harshly; to produce ill effects.
|
do something with mirrors »
To insinuate one has performed a magic or optical trick with the use of hidden mirrors, insinuating trickery and sham.
|
do something with mirrors »
To jokingly pretend that one did something using magic mirrors, that one is a magician; a joking explanation of the fantastic or the unexplained.
|
do the nasty »
To engage in sexual intercourse.
|
do without »
To manage despite the lack of something.
|
dog it »
To underperform; to lag behind; to fail to exert effort.
|
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.
|
done deal »
An agreement that has been finally resolved or decided.
|
double Dutch »
A language game akin to pig Latin.
|
double Dutch »
Incomprehensible language.
|
down in the dumps »
Sad; lacking engagement or enthusiasm.
|
down in the mouth »
Sad or discouraged, especially as indicated by one's facial appearance.
|
down-to-earth »
Practical; realistic; pragmatic.
|
drag »
To act or proceed slowly or without enthusiasm; to be reluctant.
|
drag »
To move a mouse cursor while holding down a button on the mouse, often to move something on the screen.
|
drag »
To move slowly.
|
drag »
To pull along a surface or through a medium, sometimes with difficulty.
|
drag one's feet »
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
|
drag out »
To extend or lengthen excessively.
|
drag out »
To haul or bring out forcefully or as though with force.
|
drama queen »
Any exaggeratedly dramatic person.
|
drink from a firehose »
To take a small amount from an enormous, hard-to-manage quantity.
|
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.
|
Drop out of warp »
Dis-engage the cruise control on the car
|
drop the gloves »
To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.
|
drum up »
To generate or encourage; to campaign for.
|
due course »
Regular or appropriate passage or occurrence.
|
dumb down »
To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.
|
e mail »
electronic message
|
eager beaver »
Who is very excited or enthusiastic to begin a task.
|
eat one's young »
To betray a constituent or charge out of self-serving interests or desperation; savaging.
|
economical with the truth »
Not telling the whole truth, especially in order to present a false image of a situation; untruthful; lying. Often used with sarcasm or satire.
|
egg on »
To encourage or coax a person to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.
|
egg somebody on »
To tease, provoke or encourage.
|
estate agent »
property seller
|
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,
|
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.
|
fair weather friend »
Only when it is advantageous or easy.
|
fall behind »
To be progressively below average in performance.
|
fall in with »
To accept a set of generally agreed rules, or a suggestion.
|
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.
|
falling out »
A disagreement; a major difference of opinion.
|
false friend »
A word in a foreign language bearing a deceptive resemblance to a word in one's own language.
|
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.
|
far be it »
Pewtey in Marriage Guidance Counselor from And Now For Something Completely Different.
|
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.
|
federal case »
Any over-exaggerated ordeal.
|
feed the dragon »
To buy or sell products labeled as "Made in China.".
|
feed the dragon »
To the People's Republic of China.
|
fend and prove »
To engage in argument.
|
fend off »
Away; to turn away; to defend against; to repel with force or effort.
|
fight a losing battle »
To continue to wage war when it is clear that one is not going to win.
|
film out »
To transfer images or animation from videotape or digital files to a traditional celluloid film print.
|
fine line »
A difference, albeit vague and difficult to discern.
|
first port of call »
The first port that a vessel calls in at after the start of a voyage.
|
fit to be tied »
Very agitated or distressed; enraged.
|
five-finger discount »
Theft or pilferage, typically of a small item; shoplifting.
|
fix someone's wagon »
To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.
|
flag down »
Use a flag or some kind of signal to get the attention of someone.
|
flight of fancy »
An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative.
|
flogging the land »
Damaging agricultural land through excessive grazing or clearing.
|
fly in the ointment »
Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.
|
fly off the handle »
To become very angry or enraged; to throw a fit or go crazy.
|
fly the freak flag »
To behave in a unconventional or unrestrained manner; to exhibit the uninhibited side of one's personality.
|
fold one's tent »
To withdraw, especially in a discreet manner; to disengage; to quit.
|
for keeps »
With an agreement or intention to retain what one gains or receives.
|
force someone's hand »
Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.
|
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."
|
four score and seven years ago »
87 years prior to today.
|
four score and seven years ago »
As an opener, a sometimes sarcastic indicator to indicate a past event being mentioned is particularly important.
|
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.
|
freak flag »
Unconventional or unrestrained behavior; extreme, nonconformist views; the side of one's personality which harbors a tendency toward such behavior or such views.
|
fresh off the boat »
Newly arrived from a foreign place, especially as an immigrant who is still unfamiliar with the customs and language of his or her new environment.
|
fresh out of »
Of someone who has recently left one stage of life to begin another.
|
from cover to cover »
All the way to the last page.
|
from scratch »
From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation; starting from raw ingredients.
|
front and center »
A command to come to the center of attention of an assemblage, as of military personnel or students.
|
fruit of the union »
A child, especially from a marriage or similar union.
|
full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
|
full of it »
Speaking nonsense; lying, exaggerating, or boasting.
|
gagging for it »
Up for it, having a strong desire for sex.
|
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 »
Lineage.
|
get a leg up »
To gain some advantage; to get a head start.
|
get bent out of shape »
To take offense; to become angry, agitated or upset.
|
get by »
To subsist; to succeed, survive, or manage, at least at a minimum level.
|
get it into one's head »
imagine
|
get on someone's wick »
To annoy or upset someone, usually by repeated disagreeable actions.
|
give hostage to fortune »
He was very cautious with his words and gave no hostages to fortune.
|
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.
|
glad rags »
best clothes
|
go against the grain »
To defy convention; to do something in a manner that is unusual or out of the ordinary.
|
go back to the drawing board »
To start again; to scrap a previous idea or plan and try again from the beginning.
|
go for broke »
To wager everything.
|
go for it »
A cry of encouragement.
|
go in for »
To engage or take part in something.
|
go in the out door »
To engage in anal sex.
|
go native »
Of a contractor or consultant, to begin working directly as an employee for a company and cease to work through a contracting firm or agency.
|
go on the rampage »
To behave violently or to riot.
|
go up against »
To challenge someone.
|
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.
|
gone to the dogs »
To have fallen into disrepair or ruin; to have been stagnant or depreciated.
|
gongoozle »
To leisurely watch the passage of boats, from the bank of a canal, lock or bridge.
|
good on you »
An exclamation of encouragement or congratulation; well done.
|
goof off »
To dawdle; to engage in idle activity or inactivity.
|
grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
|
grab bag »
Any random assortment, selection or possibility.
|
granary »
A storage facility for grain or sometimes animal feed.
|
greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
|
grow a pair »
To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.
|
guilt trip »
A feeling of shame or embarrassment, especially if self-indulgent, unwarranted, exaggerated or felt over a significant period of time.
|
hammer out »
To come to an agreement after much arguing.
|
hand waving »
Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
|
handbags at dawn »
A catty squabble.
|
hatchet job »
A treatment which serves primarily to disparage its subject; a piece of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.
|
have a fit »
To become suddenly enraged.
|
have ants in one's pants »
To be agitated and constantly fidgeting.
|
have at »
To attack; to engage in combat with.
|
have egg on one's face »
To suffer embarrassment or humiliation; to damage one's reputation.
|
have it in for »
To be very angry at; to have a grudge against.
|
have it large »
To engage intensely in pleasure-seeking activities.
|
have it off »
To engage in sexual intercourse.
|
hear, hear »
Let us hear and applaud the previous speaker; I endorse the previous statement; Expression of support, agreement, or enthusiasm for what has just been said.
|
heart of glass »
A very fragile romantic state.
|
heaven helps those who help themselves »
A maxim encouraging people to get involved in their own problems.
|
high ground »
A position of advantage or superiority in a conflict or competition.
|
high on the hog »
Well off; living comfortably or extravagantly.
|
historical figure »
A person who lived long ago, usually of some historical note or importance.
|
history repeats itself »
Things that have happened in the past will happen again.
|
hit a snag »
To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.
|
hit the headlines »
To appear prominently in the news, especially on the front page.
|
hit the jackpot »
To realise a huge load of luck; to receive a more favorable outcome than imagined.
|
hold all the aces »
To be in a strong position when one is competing with someone else, having all the advantages.
|
hold down »
To continue, to hold and to manage well.
|
hold up »
To fulfil / fulfill or complete one's part of an agreement.
|
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.
|
hot dog »
sausage in a roll
|
hot to trot »
Eager for sexual activity.
|
hot to trot »
Eager to begin; anxious to get going.
|
hothouse »
An environment in which growth or development is encouraged; a hotbed.
|
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.
|
in a league of one's own »
Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.
|
in a state »
Agitated and anxious.
|
in bed with »
Engaging in a close mutually beneficial relationship, especially secretly and illicitly.
|
in business »
Engaged in business activity.
|
in Dutch »
Written or spoken in the dutch language.
|
in its infancy »
Still in an early stage.
|
in the face of »
Despite, against, contrary to.
|
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 this day and age »
In the current time period of years.
|
inside track »
Any advantage.
|
it's a long road that has no turning »
encouragement when things are not going well. Just as a long road eventually has a turning, problems also eventually have a solution, even though one might have to wait.
|
it's not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
|
jew down »
To bargain or haggle with a seller in order to obtain a lower price for a good or service.
|
jolly someone along »
To make someone happy or compliant, as by encouragement or flattery.
|
jump on the bandwagon »
To profit from a craze; to join a trend.
|
jumped-up »
Describes a person who thinks he is superior in some way that the speaker disagrees with. For instance, of a higher class, or has more authority than they have in reality.
|
keep up with »
To manage to remain beside or just behind that is moving away from one.
|
keep up with »
To manage to follow .
|
keep up with the Joneses »
To do or buy things for status, show, or image rather than out of need, especially for the purpose of competing with friends or neighbors.
|
kid around »
To engage in playful fun.
|
king »
A playing card with the image of a king on it.
|
knock back »
To drink an alcoholic beverage swiftly or often.
|
knock over »
To rob; to stage a heist.
|
knocked up »
"pregnant", typically outside of marriage.
|
knuckle dragger »
A large, strong, and rather dimwitted person.
|
ladies first »
A phrase encouraging polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men.
|
larger-than-life »
Of greater size or magnitude than is naturally or normally the case.
|
lay off »
From employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume, often with a severance package.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
He stripped down to a pair of see-through briefs that left nothing to the imagination.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
To cover or hide very little or nothing.
|
leave somebody holding the bag »
To abandon somebody, leaving the responsibility or blame.
|
legal beagle »
A skillful and adroit attorney.
|
legal eagle »
A skillful and adroit attorney.
|
lemonize »
To damage something and then deny or be aloof from the damage.
|
let sleeping dogs lie »
To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.
|
let the cat out of the bag »
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
|
lick one's chops »
To anticipate something eagerly.
|
lick one's wounds »
He's just off licking his wounds. He'll be back to try again.
|
life's a bitch »
An expression of acceptance of misfortune.1950, Joy Davidman, Weeping Bay, page 184:She'd have been willing enough to use them, poor dead little bitch. Life's a bitch. Life's a bad joke.
|
like it or lump it »
To accept a situation whether one agrees with it or not.
|
link whoring »
The practice of going out of one's way to place links to one's website on someone else's webpage.
|
lion »
An individual who shows strength and courage, attributes associated with the lion.
|
lion »
The arms of the University of the West Indies are Barry wavy of six Argent and Azure an open Book proper bound Gules garnished Or on a Chief of the third a Lion passant guardant Erminois. Crest: A Pelican proper. . See talk page.
|
liquid courage »
Alcohol drunk to induce a feeling of courage in the drinker.
|
live large »
To have a lavish or overly-extravagant lifestyle.
|
lock lips »
To kiss on the lips; to engage in a French kiss.
|
log out »
To exit an account in a computer system so that it doesn't recognize you until you log in again.
|
look daggers »
To stare sharply at someone to indicate disapproval without actually speaking.
|
look out for number one »
To act in one's own interests; to act in a manner advantageous primarily to oneself.
|
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.
|
look-in »
A quick short pass to a receiver running diagonally toward the center of the field.
|
Loose cannon »
A cannon that breaks loose during battle or a storm and causes serious damage to the ship and its crew.
|
Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
|
lose out »
To be at a disadvantage.
|
love nest »
Vagina.
|
magic bullet »
A simple remedy to a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.
|
magnum opus »
greatest work
|
make a mountain out of a molehill »
To treat a problem as greater than it is; to blow something out of proportion; to exaggerate the importance of something trivial.
|
make believe »
To pretend or imagine.
|
make hay »
To take advantage of an opportunity.
|
managerial inbreeding »
Bad management, caused by managers making poor selection choices in recruitment, rewards, and promotions of the staff that report to them, leading to another generation of managers who lack the necessary skill sets to reward and promote the most effective staff.
|
marry in haste, repent at leisure »
Getting married too soon will lead to a bad marriage.
|
match made in heaven »
A marriage that is likely to be happy and successful because the two people are very compatible with each other.
|
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.
|
me three »
Used to express agreement, after someone has already said "me too".
|
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
|
mend fences »
To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.
|
mess of pottage »
Something of trivial value, especially of immediate value.
|
mess up »
To damage; injure.
|
miner's canary »
A caged bird kept caged in mines because its demise provided a warning of dangerous levels of toxic gases.
|
miners' canary »
A caged bird kept caged in mines because its demise provided a warning of dangerous levels of toxic gases.
|
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.
|
mixed bag »
Any bag containing a mixture of something.
|
mixed bag »
By extension, a group of entities with few characteristics in common; an assortment.
|
mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
|
mixed message »
Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent.
|
mouth of a sailor »
The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
|
move the goal posts »
To unilaterally change the rules, or terms of an agreement, especially in an unfair or underhand way.
|
move the goalposts »
To alter the agreed basis, scope, standards or target of a procedure or task during its course, especially to do so to someone's advantage.
|
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 »
An engaging or exciting cliffhanger.
|
nest egg »
A natural or artificial egg placed in a bird's nest, to encourage the bird to lay its own eggs there.
|
never in a month of Sundays »
Never in a month of Sundays would I have imagined that you'd be this tall in real life!.
|
nightcap »
A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.
|
nine lives »
Durability; near immunity to damage.
|
nip and tuck »
So evenly matched that the advantage shifts from one to the other, and the outcome is uncertain.
|
nip in the bud »
To stop something at an early stage.
|
noarch »
Short for "no architecture". It is a term used mainly in package management systems to mark packages which are architecture independent. Such packages usually contain graphics, documentation or similar data that can be used on any architecture.
|
nobody's perfect »
Used when someone's mistakes or flaws are acknowledged, to remind that everyone else makes mistakes and has flaws1995, New York Magazine Vol. 28, No. 5, 30 January 1995, The de-moralization of society (Book Review)Hypocrisy, particularly in sexual matters, is excused on the grounds that hey, nobody's perfect, and at least folks back then felt bad enough to lie.2000, Madonna, Nobody's PerfectI feel so sad. What I did wasn't right. I feel so bad and I must say to you: Sorry, but nobody's perfect. Nobody's perfect. What did you expect? I'm doing my best
|
nose test »
An inspection of the nasal passages or a trial of their function, as for breathing difficulties.
|
not a sausage »
Absolutely nothing, none of something.
|
not a sausage »
Jill: Not a sausage I'm afraid, I'm just visiting.
|
not a sausage »
John: Do you know how I get to the town center from here?.
|
now you're talking »
A phrase indicating agreement with a previously stated suggestion to change a course of action.
|
nugget of truth »
January 2008, Chicago Tribune - Clinton's Hispanic edge over Obama.
|
odd and curious »
A way to designate special coins, namely coins that are both odd and imperfect or seriously damaged.
|
of course »
Indicates enthusiastic agreement.
|
off the rails »
In an abnormal manner, especially in a manner that causes damage or malfunctioning.
|
off the wagon »
No longer maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from an undesirable habit, especially drinking alcohol.
|
old time used to be »
Somebody Loan Me A Dime. lyrics by Boz Scaggs.
|
on acid »
Exaggerated, bizarre or unpredictable.
|
on at »
nagging
|
on average »
Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
|
on board »
Agreeing or supporting.
|
on board »
Even when I am on board the plane, I can never feel secure that my luggage is, too.
|
on board »
It's a good idea, but let's see if we can get a few more of the management team on board.
|
on one's feet »
Being well again after a bout of illness.
|
on spec »
I'm writing an article on spec. I hope some magazine will buy it.
|
on steroids »
To a greater degree, exaggerating the characteristics of the previously named object.
|
on sufferance »
Unwillingly agreed to or barely tolerated.
|
on the clock »
Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge.
|
on the clock »
Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.
|
on the defensive »
Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
|
on the make »
Actively seeking an opportunity for self-advancement; eager to ingratiate oneself to others in order to secure some advantage.
|
on the rag »
Menstruating.
|
on the ropes »
Leaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse.
|
on the wagon »
By extension, maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from some other undesirable habit.
|
once again »
Again.
|
one side »
You should move to one side and allow me to go through the passageway you are blocking.
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone..
|
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.
|
out of one's league »
In a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others, whose accomplishments, preparedness, or other characteristics are on a significantly higher or lower level than one's own.
|
out of reach »
The adult magazines were out of reach of toddlers.
|
out of sorts »
Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.
|
out the door »
The exact image, a lookalike.
|
over a barrel »
In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, in which one may be controlled or victimized.
|
over and over »
Repeatedly; again and again; many times.
|
over the top »
Bold; beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; excessive; outrageous.
|
pardon my French »
Please excuse my swearing or bad language.
|
pick up stitches »
Stitches to the knitting needle that were previously bound off, or that belong to the selvage, during the process of knitting or entrelac.
|
piss up a rope »
To engage in futile or impossible activity.
|
pit against »
To set someone in opposition to someone else.
|
pitched battle »
A hostile engagement involving sustained, full-scale fighting between opposing forces in close combat.
|
play around »
To engage in sexual practices outside of marriage.
|
play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
|
play on words »
A pun, or similar humorous use of language such as a double entendre.
|
play one against another »
To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation.
|
poacher turned gamekeeper »
A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
|
pop the question »
To propose marriage.
|
pork sausages »
bangers
|
potty mouth »
The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
|
pound sand »
To engage in a futile activity.
|
pretty pictures »
Image supplements in a presentation: graphs, charts, etc.
|
proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
|
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.
|
pull rank »
To assert one's authority over a subordinate who disagrees.
|
pull teeth »
To remove teeth, usually because they are diseased or damaged.
|
pump iron »
To lift weights; to engage in weight or strength training.
|
purple prose »
Extravagant or flowery writing, especially in a literary work.
|
push the boat out »
To do something, especially spend money, more extravagantly than usual, particularly for a celebration.
|
put away »
To catch a fly ball or tag out a baserunner.
|
put by »
To run a ship aground intentionally to avoid a collision.
|
put someone in mind of »
To remind someone of; to inspire a mental image or awareness of; to cause thoughts concerning.
|
put the feedbag on »
To dine; to eat.
|
quote unquote »
Emphasizes the following word or phrase for irony, as used almost exclusively in spoken language.
|
rag bagger »
A sailboat, usually a cruising sailboats which tend to carry and store lots of supplies along the deck, or any sailboat that looks like a neglected vessel, or messy vessel.
|
rag bagger »
A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.
|
rag doll »
soft toy
|
rag the puck »
To proceed slowly at any activity in order to use up time; to stall for time.
|
rag the puck »
To retain possession of the puck by skillful skating and stickhandling without attempting to score, as a deliberate tactic intended to use up time.
|
rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
|
rags to riches »
In a biographical context, from poverty to exceptional wealth.
|
rain on someone's parade »
To disappoint or discourage someone.
|
raise the flag and see who salutes »
It generates, usually as a preliminary step.
|
rake »
A set of coupled rail vehicles, normally coaches or wagons.
|
raring to go »
Extremely eager or anxious to begin.
|
rattle someone's cage »
To demand attention; to nag, nudge, or remind.
|
reach an early grave »
To be sentenced to death before the age of 18.
|
reach an early grave »
To die young. To die before the age of 80.
|
real job »
A job that can't be replaced advantageously by a machine or a procedure.
|
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.
|
red flag »
A cue, warning, or alert; a sign or signal that something is wrong.
|
red mist »
Uncontrollable rage.
|
redolent »
Fragrant or aromatic; having a sweet scent.
|
right on »
An expression of enthusiasm or encouragement.
|
ring a bell »
To seem at least vaguely familiar.
|
ringside seat »
Any vantage point providing an excellent view.
|
rob the cradle »
To use a young person for a purpose inappropriate to his or her age.
|
rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
|
roll out the red carpet »
To extend the utmost hospitality; to treat someone as an honored guest; to welcome or host, especially in a showy or extravagant manner.
|
rub up against »
To touch something with one's body.
|
rub up against »
To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.
|
rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
|
rugby league »
sport
|
rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
run afoul of »
To become entangled in; to run aground on.
|
run away with »
To leave secretly with another person. Usually with the intention of getting married or of living together against the wishes of the family.
|
run away with »
To be misled by imagining that one's desires can come true.
|
run into the ground »
To mismanage to the point of ruin.
|
run oneself ragged »
To work or exert oneself to the point of exhaustion.
|
run roughshod over »
To treat roughly or without care, respect, or moderation; to act without control; to damage.
|
run somebody ragged »
To exhaust; to demand excessive effort or work from somebody.
|
run something up the flagpole »
To float an idea that one suspects might be controversial.
|
run up »
To bring a flag to the top of it's flag pole.
|
run up against »
Begin to encounter problems with someone or something.
|
said and done »
Agreed to and accomplished or finished.
|
scissorbill »
And railroad term for someone who refused to join the union or who openly colluded with management to thwart the union.
|
scrape through »
To marginally manage to progress.
|
scream »
An entertaingly outrageous person.
|
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.
|
seagull manager »
A manager who comes into the workplace or office only on occasion, especially when a problem arises or to criticize or critique employees.
|
secret agent »
spy
|
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 eye to eye »
To agree with someone; to concur; to get along.
|
sell »
To agree to transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money.
|
sell ice to Eskimos »
To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.
|
sell out »
To abandon one's supporters or principles to seek profit or other personal advantage.
|
set aside »
To disagree with something and reject or overturn it.
|
set of pipes »
A wind instrument incorporating multiple pipes, such as a panpipe or bagpipe.
|
set off »
To count an addition in one thing against a reduction in something else.
|
set the stage »
To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.
|
sex up »
To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.
|
shake on it »
To agree; to close a deal.
|
shake the pagoda tree »
To find a source of easy enrichment; to become absurdly rich in a short time.
|
shank-nag »
To travel on foot.
|
shanks' nag »
Transportation by foot. To "take a shanks' nag" means using one's own legs to walk.
|
shoo-in »
A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.
|
shoot off at the mouth »
To boast, or brag, or talk too much.
|
shoot one's mouth off »
To make reckless or exaggerated statements.
|
shoot oneself in the foot »
To act against one's own interests, e.g., by saying what one is really thinking.
|
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 bull »
To chinwag; to talk idly.
|
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.
|
show the flag »
To display the flag of one's country, especially as an expression of patriotic pride.
|
show the flag »
To represent one's country or some other group in a manner intended to suggest the authority or importance of that country or group.
|
shroud »
The branching top of a tree; foliage.
|
shuffle »
A rhythm commonly used in blues music. Consists of a series of triplet notes with the middle note missing, so that it sounds like a long note followed by a short note. Sounds like a walker dragging one foot.
|
sick joke »
A joke which is in poor taste, especially one which depicts as amusing a situation which the listener considers to be tragic or disgusting.
|
sign in »
To take some action to access a secured program or web page on a computer; to log in.
|
sign on the dotted line »
To formalize an agreement.
|
simmer down »
To decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement.
|
sing along »
A gathering or event where participants are encouraged to add their voices in song.
|
sing from the same hymnbook »
To make the same or similar statements, especially to express the same opinions in public as a result of a prior agreement.
|
sitting pretty »
In a favorable situation, especially a situation in which one possesses an advantage.
|
size up »
To evaluate; to estimate or anticipate the magnitude, difficulty, or strength of something.
|
slag off »
To talk insultingly to or about someone or something.
|
smear campaign »
An effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda.
|
smoke signal »
A method of long-distance communication sometimes used in ancient and undeveloped societies, consisting of messages conveyed by means of columns or intermittent puffs of smoke.
|
smoke signal »
An indirect message or indication, especially concerning a future event.
|
snake oil »
Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.
|
snow on the mountaintop »
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
|
snow on the rooftop »
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
|
so far so good »
Up to this point, all is OK.Well, you've packed your bags for the holiday, bought your tickets, reserved the hotel and put the dog in kennels. So far so good, now let's get to Minorca without any troubles.
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so so »
average
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soft mick »
An extravagant person.
|
soft sawder »
"How the old boy swallowed my soft sawder and Brummagem notes!" —Tom Taylor, The Ticket-of-Leave Man.
|
soft sawder »
"If she goes to act ugly, I'll give her a dose of "soft sawder"; that will take the frown out of her frontispiece...!" —Thomas Haliburton, "The Trotting Horse" — first usage.
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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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spaghetti western »
Nickname for a motion picture produced by an Italian-based company and filmed in Europe, depicting a tale of cowboys and desperadoes set in the American Old West.
|
spanner »
A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
|
spare tyre »
An extra tyre carried in case one of the vehicle's tyres is damaged or deflated.
|
speak for oneself »
Expressing disagreement with an opinion expressed by another.
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spice up »
To make more exotic, fun or extravagant.
|
spin doctor »
news manager
|
squint like a bag of nails »
To squint very much, as though one's eyes were directed as many ways as the points of a bag of nails.
|
stage of the game »
A point in the progress of an ongoing dispute or process.
|
stand up against »
To defy or challenge someone.
|
start over »
To begin again; to return to the beginning.
|
stop up »
To fill a hole or cavity, or block an opening or passage, as with a plug.
|
straight man »
A member of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in preparatory dialog with the principal comedian; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.
|
strap on a pair »
To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.
|
stretch the truth »
To exaggerate, often to the point where the truth is obscured or lost.
|
sweeten the pot »
To increase a wager.
|
sweetheart deal »
A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favorable terms to the other, especially in suspicious circumstances.
|
tag along »
To accompany, join, or follow; to go with.
|
tag team »
Two or more people or groups acting alternately to accomplish some task.
|
take a picture »
To photographically capture an image.
|
take against »
To stop liking someone. Become unfriendly.
|
take against »
He took against me when I was promoted over him.
|
take heart »
Be courageous; regain one's courage.
|
take its toll »
To affect, especially negatively; to damage or degrade; to cause destruction.
|
take sides »
To ally oneself with a given opinion, agenda or group; to support one side or viewpoint in a competition or confrontation.
|
take someone's point »
To agree with what a person says; to understand a person's argument and be persuaded by it.
|
take something in stride »
To cope with something without much effort; to accept or manage something well.
|
take the plunge »
To get engaged.
|
take the wind out of someone's sails »
To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue.
|
talk dirty »
To use profane language, especially sexual vulgarities for the purpose of arousal.
|
talk like an apothecary »
To use hard or gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this profession, who are commonly as superficial in their learning as they are pedantic in their language.
|
talk out one's ass »
To speak authoritatively on a subject which one actually knows little about; to exaggerate.
|
tall tale »
A greatly exaggerated, fantastic story.
|
tart up »
To modify or repackage a product, service, or idea to make it more attractive or easier to sell.
|
tear one's hair out »
To react with extreme agitation.
|
tear up »
Or against.
|
tear up »
To damage.
|
tear up the pea patch »
To put on a notable performance, especially in sports; to go on a rampage.
|
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.
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the beast with two backs »
Two people engaged in sexual intercourse.
|
the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on »
Life goes on, even if some will try to stop or talk against progress.
|
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."
|
the man in the street »
average person
|
the other day »
Recently; lately; a few days ago.
|
the shoe is on the other foot »
The roles of people in a situation have been reversed, such the advantage has shifted to a party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
the show »
The major leagues.
|
the upper hand »
An advantage or lead.
|
then again »
From another point of view; on the other hand; on second thought.
|
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 fool like an old fool »
Age does not bring wisdom.
|
think better of it »
To change one's mind; especially to decide against.
|
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.
|
throw a fit »
To become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.
|
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
|
thumb a ride »
To flag or signal a passing vehicle in hopes of securing passage.
|
thumb a ride »
To secure a ride by flagging down a vehicle.
|
tick off »
To annoy, aggravate.
|
tickle someone's fancy »
To amuse, entertain, or appeal to someone; to stimulate someone's imagination in a favorable manner.
|
tilt at windmills »
To attack imaginary enemies.
|
tilt at windmills »
To go on a wild goose chase; to persistently engage in a futile activity.
|
time after time »
Again and again; repeatedly; every time; always.
|
time and material »
A form of contractual compensation involving payment for materials used and at agreed rates for the those involved in performing the services.
|
timeserver »
A person who conforms to current opinions, especially for reasons of personal advantage; an opportunist.
|
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.
|
tip one's hand »
To inadvertently reveal any secret, particularly a secret that puts one at an advantage or disadvantage.
|
to go »
Served in a package or takeout container so as to be taken away from a restaurant rather than eaten on the premises.
|
toot one's own horn »
To promote oneself; to boast or brag; to tout.
|
top shelf »
Books, magazines, or movies that have adult content, or soft-core porn.
|
touch off »
To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.
|
trip out »
To have a fit, to become enraged.
|
trip out »
To have as an image in one's mind.
|
turn against »
To rebel or oppose something formerly supported.
|
turn against »
To rotate against or in opposition to something.
|
turn off »
To repulse, disgust, or discourage.
|
turn on »
To rebel; to go against something formerly supported.
|
turn on »
To attract, give pleasure, or encourage.
|
turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
|
turn the air blue »
To speak a stream of bad language; to curse and swear.
|
turn the page »
To move on to new involvements or activities; to make a fresh start.
|
turn the page »
To proceed to the next page in a book.
|
turn the tables »
To reverse a situation, such that the advantage has shifted to the party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
turn-on »
Something that attracts, gives pleasure, or encourages, especially sexually.
|
turnabout is fair play »
It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against him.
|
two can play that game »
The tactics and/or strategies of an enemy can be used against him.
|
under a spell »
Bewitched, held by the power of a magical spell.
|
under one's wing »
Under one's protection, sponsorship, or tutelage.
|
under way »
A vessel is said to be underway when she is not anchored, moored, aground, or beached[1]. Compare with make way.
|
up against »
Facing; challenging, or opposing.
|
up against »
In contact with, abutting.
|
up to »
Against; next to; near; towards.
|
uphill battle »
A challenge with the odds of success stacked strongly against.
|
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.
|
wage war »
A figurative allusion to pay discrepancies.
|
walk out »
To stage a walkout or strike.
|
waltz Matilda »
To travel with a swag; that is, with one's belongings wrapped in a cloth.
|
watch one's mouth »
In the imperative form, used as a warning to avoid or stop using inappropriate language, especially profanity, or disrespectful utterances.
|
watch one's mouth »
To be careful about what one says, especially with regard to disrespectful or profane language.
|
way out of a paper bag »
A minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform such.
|
way to go »
An expression of congratulations, encouragement, or approval.
|
wear out »
To cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use, especially hard, heavy, or careless use.
|
weather the storm »
To reach the end of a very difficult situation without too much harm or damage.
|
what you see is what you get »
The image corresponds to the reality.
|
what you see is what you get »
The screen image resembles the printed output.
|
what's the good of »
What is the purpose or advantage of.
|
what's up »
A casual greeting with usage similar to "How are you?" or "Nice to meet you".
|
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.
|
whisper campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
whistle Dixie »
To engage in a pointless or unproductive activity; to do something without resolve, seriousness or commitment.
|
white marriage »
An unconsummated marriage.
|
winkle out »
Tom managed to winkle the truth out of John eventually.
|
winter rat »
An old, unattractive automobile, purchased for little money, to be driven during brutal Great Lakes winters while the owner's "good" car remains garaged and protected from corrosive road salt for the season.
|
wipe the slate clean »
To forget about previous differences and disagreements, and make a fresh start.
|
with bated breath »
Eagerly; with great anticipation.
|
wits' end »
A. 1911, John Muir, in John Muir and Michael P. Branch, John Muir's Last Journey: South to the Amazon and East to Africa, 2002, page 138.
|
work against the clock »
To work very quickly because you know you only have a very limited period of time to do something.
|
work spouse »
A man or woman in the workplace with whom one shares a special relationship having bonds similar to those of a marriage: special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and unusual degree of honesty or openness.
|
work the room »
To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
|
wrap in the flag »
To claim one's cause deserves support for patriotic reasons or that one's own motives are patriotic.
|
wreak havoc »
To cause damage, disruption, or destruction.
|
wrestling with a pig »
To engage in a pointless task that leaves one worse off for having made an honest attempt.
|
year dot »
A very long time ago, from the beginning or as far back as one can remember.
|
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.
|
yellow-bellied »
Uncourageous.
|
yes man »
A person who always agrees with his employer or superior.
|
yes to death »
To agree with someone, often sarcastically.
|
yield up »
To give something against one's will.
|
you bet »
Expresses support, agreement, certainty or emphasis.
|
you can say that again »
That is very true.
|
you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone »
It is advantageous not to rely solely on being nice.
|
you know it »
Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.
|
you knows it »
Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.
|
you knows it »
You're right; I wholeheartedly agree with your statement.
|
you're never too old to learn »
It is possible to learn new things, at any age; (implying) follow your desires and dreams
|
your mileage may vary »
It may work differently in your situation, or be different in your experience.
|
your mileage may vary »
To express a possible difference in taste, "this is just my opinion, your opinion may be different".
|
zig when one should zag »
To misstep or err.
|
zip up »
To convert a computer file into a smaller package.
|
zoom in »
To focus a zoom lens in order to obtain a larger image, or a closer view.
|
zoom out »
To focus a zoom lens in order to obtain a smaller image, or a more distant view.
|
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