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.
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against all odds »
Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition or probability.
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against the clock »
In a time-restricted manner, to meet a deadline, hurriedly, timed.
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against the collar »
In a tight spot.
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against the grain »
Contrary to what is expected; especially, of behavior different from what society expects.
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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.
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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.
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at cross purposes »
Against one another; contrary in direction or goals.
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at the mercy of »
In the power of; defenceless/defenseless against.
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be off »
To be working against a present or former addiction to.
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be up against »
To be challenged by someone or something stronger than oneself.
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beat one's head against a stone wall »
To waste effort on a futile project.
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brickbat »
For example, it's quite common for magazines to have a section called Bouquets and Brickbats for compliments and criticisms.
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brickbat »
Reason Magazine: Daily Brickbat[1].
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but then »
Then again, on the other hand; used to show that the opposite viewpoint is possible.
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circle the wagons »
To prepare to defend against an attack.
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cross the floor »
To vote against one's own political party in parliament.
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cry out against »
To complain strongly, usually as a group.
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dead set against »
Completely opposed, with no possibility of a change of mind.
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devil's advocate »
A canon lawyer appointed by the Church to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate.
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fend off »
Away; to turn away; to defend against; to repel with force or effort.
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go against the grain »
To defy convention; to do something in a manner that is unusual or out of the ordinary.
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go back to the drawing board »
To start again; to scrap a previous idea or plan and try again from the beginning.
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go up against »
To challenge someone.
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hand waving »
Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
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have it in for »
To be very angry at; to have a grudge against.
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high on the hog »
Well off; living comfortably or extravagantly.
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history repeats itself »
Things that have happened in the past will happen again.
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in the face of »
Despite, against, contrary to.
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lick one's wounds »
He's just off licking his wounds. He'll be back to try again.
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live large »
To have a lavish or overly-extravagant lifestyle.
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log out »
To exit an account in a computer system so that it doesn't recognize you until you log in again.
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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
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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
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on one's feet »
Being well again after a bout of illness.
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on spec »
I'm writing an article on spec. I hope some magazine will buy it.
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on the defensive »
Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
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on the ropes »
Leaning against the ropes of the boxing ring, as when exhausted and nearing defeat or collapse.
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once again »
Again.
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out of reach »
The adult magazines were out of reach of toddlers.
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over and over »
Repeatedly; again and again; many times.
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pit against »
To set someone in opposition to someone else.
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play one against another »
To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation.
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poacher turned gamekeeper »
A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
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purple prose »
Extravagant or flowery writing, especially in a literary work.
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push the boat out »
To do something, especially spend money, more extravagantly than usual, particularly for a celebration.
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rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
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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.
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rub up against »
To touch something with one's body.
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rub up against »
To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.
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rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
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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.
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run up against »
Begin to encounter problems with someone or something.
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sell ice to Eskimos »
To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.
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set off »
To count an addition in one thing against a reduction in something else.
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shoot oneself in the foot »
To act against one's own interests, e.g., by saying what one is really thinking.
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smear campaign »
An effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda.
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soft mick »
An extravagant person.
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spice up »
To make more exotic, fun or extravagant.
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stand up against »
To defy or challenge someone.
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start over »
To begin again; to return to the beginning.
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take against »
To stop liking someone. Become unfriendly.
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take against »
He took against me when I was promoted over him.
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tear up »
Or against.
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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 dogs bark, but the caravan goes on »
Life goes on, even if some will try to stop or talk against progress.
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then again »
From another point of view; on the other hand; on second thought.
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think better of it »
To change one's mind; especially to decide against.
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throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick »
Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.
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time after time »
Again and again; repeatedly; every time; always.
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top shelf »
Books, magazines, or movies that have adult content, or soft-core porn.
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turn against »
To rebel or oppose something formerly supported.
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turn against »
To rotate against or in opposition to something.
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turn on »
To rebel; to go against something formerly supported.
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turnabout is fair play »
It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against him.
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two can play that game »
The tactics and/or strategies of an enemy can be used against him.
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up against »
Facing; challenging, or opposing.
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up against »
In contact with, abutting.
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up to »
Against; next to; near; towards.
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uphill battle »
A challenge with the odds of success stacked strongly against.
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work against the clock »
To work very quickly because you know you only have a very limited period of time to do something.
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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.
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yield up »
To give something against one's will.
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you can say that again »
That is very true.
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