about turn »
A complete change of opinion, direction, etc.
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all fired up »
Excited or energized; highly enthusiastic.
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angle for »
To try to obtain something by subtle indirect means. Political manoeuvres, suggestion, etc.
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answer back »
To issue echo characters, protocol responses, reflexive connection requests, etc.
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ark ruffian »
Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, etc. A species of badger.
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baggage »
Heavy baggage; women and children. Also a familiar epithet for a woman; as, cunning baggage, wanton baggage, &c.
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beauty sleep »
C. 1900, Ralph Connor, The Man From Glengarry, ch. 23.
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board up »
To block doors or windows with boards, either to prevent access or as protection from storms, etc.
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boil down »
As an allusion to the cooking technique of reducing liquids by heat, one boils down a problem, argument, etc. to its most central elements.
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bone up »
To study or cram, especially in order to refresh one's knowledge of a topic.
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born on the Fourth of July »
Demonstratively patriotic.
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bragging rights »
The prerogative to praise oneself for an accomplishment or for possession of a superior characteristic.
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brass ring »
Figuratively, a prize or goal. Often used with respect to employment goals e.g. promotion, better job, etc.
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bring it on »
Used to indicate one's willingness to accept a challenge, confront a threat, etc.
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bugger up »
To break or spoil something, or make it inoperative, useless etc.
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burn one's bridges »
To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc.
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bush league »
A low-ranking or inferior level among groups, professions, organizations, etc.
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by-the-numbers »
Done in a predictable manner; formulaic.
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carry one's weight »
To contribute or produce one's fair share, as of work, money, etc.
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check in »
To announce or record one's arrival at a hotel, airport etc.
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clear cut »
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
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cold comfort »
C. 1594, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, act 4, sc. 1.
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collect one's thoughts »
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.
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come out of the closet »
To tell others about homosexuality, bisexuality or any minority or disapproved-of belief, preference, etc., where previously this had been kept secret.
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come to »
To recover consciousness after fainting etc.
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company »
The Boys in Company C.
|
cough up »
To expel from the lungs, throat, etc. by coughing.
|
crown jewels »
The jewelry that accompany the office of rulership in a monarchy. I.e., crown, scepter, signet ring, etc.
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cry the blues »
To sing in the style of blues music.
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cue up »
The act of taking aim on the cue ball with the cue in a game of snooker, or billiards, etc.
|
dead »
Stationary; static.
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deathblow »
Something that prevents the completion, or ends the existence of some project etc.
|
do up »
To redecorate a room etc.
|
down-to-earth »
Practical; realistic; pragmatic.
|
draw on »
To sketch or mark with pencil, crayon, etc., on a given surface.
|
dumb down »
To become simpler in expression or content; to become unacceptably simplistic.
|
eat someone out of house and home »
C. 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 2, Act II Scene I.
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expose oneself »
To appear nude in public.
|
face value »
The amount or value listed on a bill, note, stamp, etc.; the stated value or amount.
|
fair game »
A game that is fair, that does not involve cheating etc.
|
fall in line »
C. 2004, Career Soldiers, "Won't Waste My Life".
|
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.
|
fly-by-night »
One who departs or flees at night in order to avoid creditors, law enforcement etc. .
|
force of habit »
An act that has been repeated to the point where the performance of the act becomes automatic.
|
from time to time »
C. 1595, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 3, sc. 3.
|
front runner »
The most likely winners in a contest, election, etc.
|
fruit of one's loins »
C. 1950, Kay Boyle, "Adam's Death" in Fifty Stories , ISBN 9780811212069, p. 541.
|
full of beans »
Energetic and enthusiastic.
|
full of oneself »
Egotistical, believing oneself to be superior to others; preoccupied with one's own work, interests, point of view, etc.
|
get one's act together »
To become serious, organized, worthwhile, etc.
|
go out the window »
To vanish or cease, especially due to lack of care, attention, etc.; to be discarded, disregarded, or ignored.
|
grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
|
grease monkey »
A mechanic, often with the specific connotation of an automobile mechanic.
|
have bats in one's belfry »
To be crazy or eccentric.
|
have other fish to fry »
C. 1710, Jonathan Swift, The Journal to Stella, ch. 2, Letter 15.
|
hit on »
To flirt with; to approach and speak to (someone), seeking romance, love, sex, etc.
|
hit one's stride »
To reach a full level of efficiency, competence, comfort, etc.; to get going.
|
hold a candle »
To compare; to be even remotely of the same quality, skill, etc. as another.
|
hot and heavy »
Enthusiastic.
|
in for an inch, in for a mile »
Given that one is partly involved in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from becoming fully involved or fully committed.
|
jump at »
To accept something enthusiastically. Usually an opportunity, or chance, or job etc.
|
kiss of death »
Something that may seem good and favourable but that actually brings ruin to hopes, plans, etc.
|
knock up »
To gently hit the ball back and forth before a tennis match, as practice or warm-up, and to gauge the state of the playing surface, lighting, etc. See knock-up.
|
laughing stock »
C. 1598, William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, act 3, sc. 1.
|
light up »
To light a cigarette, pipe, etc.
|
like crazy »
To a great or excessive degree; with great speed, output, enthusiasm, etc.
|
Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
|
lucky break »
A stroke of luck; a fortunate event, particularly of the sort that propels one to success, fame, etc.
|
make a virtue of necessity »
C. 1595, William Shakespeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, act 4, sc.1.
|
make an exhibition of oneself »
To embarrass oneself or others in public.
|
man up »
His station, prepared for departure of an aircraft, ship, etc.
|
man up »
To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.
|
meaty »
Resembling meat in flavour, etc.
|
mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
|
miss out »
To miss an experience or lose an opportunity, etc. that should not be missed.
|
mouth of a sailor »
The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
|
narrow down »
Make more specific.
|
nightcap »
A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.
|
odd one out »
A visual puzzle where the guesser has to choose which word/picture/symbol etc. does not fit with the others.
|
off one's game »
C. 1910, Ralph Henry Barbour, "The Dub" in The New Boy at Hilltop and Other Stories.
|
on spec »
I'm writing an article on spec. I hope some magazine will buy it.
|
one-note »
Having only one opinion, outlook, tone, etc., especially as expressed repetitively; without variety or range.
|
one-trick pony »
A person or group noteworthy for only a single achievement, skill, or characteristic.
|
out of touch »
No longer conversant with facts; not aware or realistic.
|
parking lot »
A major thruway blocked by stop and go traffic.
|
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.
|
play possum »
To feign sleep, illness, etc.
|
potty mouth »
The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
|
powers that be »
The holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially as seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.
|
pretty pictures »
Image supplements in a presentation: graphs, charts, etc.
|
put by »
To preserve food by canning, freezing, drying, etc.
|
put on »
To play recorded music.
|
reality check »
A check or review to make sure something is consistent, reasonable, etc.
|
reinvent the wheel »
To redo work unnecessarily when it has already been done satisfactorily; to rethink an already working system, technique, etc. in a pointless attempt to improve it.
|
rhyme or reason »
Logic. Common sense.
|
ride the rails »
To travel by railway train, trolley, etc.
|
rose-coloured »
Cheerfully optimistic.
|
round down »
To the greatest integer that is not greater than it, or to some other lower value, especially a whole number of hundreds, thousands, etc.
|
round up »
To the smallest integer that is not less than it, or to some other greater value, especially a whole number of hundreds, thousands, etc.
|
run to »
To reach a particular maximum amount, size, value, etc.
|
scream »
A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
|
sell-by date »
The final date on which a perishable product can be legally sold to the public.
|
send away »
To send to a particular place for a long time, as a family member, an employee, etc.
|
send up »
To make prices or temperatures etc. rise.
|
shitstorm »
Considerable backlash from the public.
|
shotgun approach »
An approach in which the subject is indiscriminate and haphazard, using breadth, spread, or quantity in lieu of accuracy, planning, etc.
|
show off »
To exhibit; to demonstrate one's skill, talent, etc. for its own sake.
|
show somebody the door »
To escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering, etc.
|
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.
|
smooth operator »
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
|
so-and-so »
Anything generic.
|
speak to »
To address a particular topic.
|
straw poll »
A survey of opinion which is unofficial, casual, or ad hoc.
|
strike up »
To start something, usually playing live music.
|
take a dim view of »
To dislike; to regard with skepticism, disbelief, disfavor, etc.
|
take to the cleaners »
To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.
|
taper off »
To diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.
|
test bed »
Any venue, setup, etc. used for experimentation, testing, proving a concept, etc.
|
the whole nine yards »
And everything. Often used, like etc., to finish out a list.
|
think of England »
To tolerate or endure bad sex. Used in conjunction with "I just lie on my back and.." "I just go through the motions and..." etc.
|
three Rs »
The basic education any child can expect to receive, but not necessarily limited to reading, writing and arithmetic.
|
three Rs »
The basic education received in primary schools. Literally; reading, writing and arithmetic.
|
throw a fit »
To become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.
|
tie up »
To secure with rope, string, etc.
|
to the point »
Relevant or pertinent; succinct; specific.
|
tone down »
To make a television program, piece of writing, etc. less offensive and so more suitable for a family audience.
|
touch%C3%A9 »
An acknowledgement of the success, appropriateness or superiority of an argument, sometimes used sarcastically to mock one's opponent's absurd logic.
|
touch%C3%A9 »
Used in a conversation or debate to concede a point as true, often in response to a successful counter of one's own logic.
|
touchy-feely »
Driven by intuition or emotion, with a connotation of de-emphasis of rational thought or logic.
|
try out »
To undergo a test before being selected for a team etc.
|
tune in »
To select a channel, station, etc., as on television or radio.
|
turn down »
To reposition by turning, flipping, etc. in a downward direction.
|
turn up »
To reposition by rotating, flipping, etc. upwards.
|
walk the line »
To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc..
|
wash up »
To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
|
wear out »
Of apparel, displayed in public.
|
wet blanket »
A person who takes the fun out of a situation or activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.
|
what's eating somebody »
? Inquired of somebody who is upset, worried, angry, etc.
|
when the shit hits the fan »
A reference to the messy consequences of a secret or private situation becoming public.
|
wrap in the flag »
To claim one's cause deserves support for patriotic reasons or that one's own motives are patriotic.
|
you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
|
zoom down »
To move quickly along a particular route, list, etc.
|
| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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