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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asphalt jungle »
A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.
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bite the bullet »
To accept a negative aspect of a situation in order to continue moving forward.
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cast aspersions »
To make damaging or spiteful remarks.
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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"....
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facts on the ground »
Some aspects of the situation in a particular location.
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for crying out loud »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
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for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
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for heaven's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
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for Pete's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
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for the love of »
Used to form interjections expressing exasperation.
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get it »
To understand, comprehend, or grasp.
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grasp all, lose all »
one who wants everything, may lose it all
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grasp at straws »
To guess randomly at or pursue any apparent option, as due to lack of options or information.
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hand in hand »
Holding or clasping hands.
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hang on »
To hold, grasp, or grip.
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have a handle on »
To be in control; to understand or grasp.
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hold on »
To hold, grasp, or grip.
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hold somebody's hand »
To grasp or hold a person's hand.
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jack of all trades, master of none »
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
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miss the point »
To fail to grasp the meaning of an utterance.
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out of house and home »
In a manner that deprives one of dwelling or some aspect thereof.
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pick up »
To lift; to grasp and raise.
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pick up »
To learn, to grasp; to begin to understand.
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stop the lights »
An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.
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take someone's point »
To grasp the essential meaning of what a person is saying.
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take to »
To adapt to; to learn, grasp or master.
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there ya go »
Expressing exasperation.
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there you go »
Expressing exasperation.
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up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
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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.
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