a closed mouth gathers no feet »
One who does not speak can be certain he won't say anything embarrassing.
|
a miss is as good as a mile »
A failure remains a failure, regardless of how close to success one has actually come.
|
a new broom sweeps clean »
New management will often make radical changes.
|
a stopped clock is right twice a day »
A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.
|
about time »
Close to the right time.
|
act like a bull in a china shop »
To act rudely or clumsily in a delicate situation.
|
against the clock »
In a time-restricted manner, to meet a deadline, hurriedly, timed.
|
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.
|
all clear »
permission to proceed
|
all hollow »
As a foregone conclusion.
|
all it's cracked up to be »
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
|
all over the place »
Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.
|
all thumbs »
Clumsy; awkward; not dextrous.
|
all told »
With everything included, counted or summed.
|
all walks of life »
All professions, lifestyles or social classes.
|
apple does not fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient
|
argue out »
To discuss to reach an agreed conclusion, or decision.
|
around the clock »
All the time or seemingly all the time; constantly.
|
ask for the moon »
To claim or desire something that one cannot have.
|
at arm's length »
Avoiding a close relationship.
|
at bay »
Unable to come closer; at a distance.
|
at the wheel »
Driving; in control of a vehicle.
|
atom bomb »
nuclear weapon
|
back into »
To reverse a vehicle into a space.
|
back onto »
To reverse a vehicle onto something.
|
back out »
To reverse a vehicle from a confined space.
|
back up »
To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so.
|
back up »
To move a vehicle backwards.
|
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.
|
balance the books »
To put or keep any closed or conservative system or its analysis in balance.
|
bar none »
Without exception; excluding nothing else of the same kind.
|
barrel »
A waste receptacle.
|
barrel »
The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31 1/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds; of beer 31 gallons; of ale 32 gallons; of crude oil 42 gallons.
|
batten down »
To close or make watertight, referring to hatches and cargo.
|
bear up »
To sail close to the wind.
|
beauty is in the eye of the beholder »
Individuals have different inclinations on what is beautiful. Individuals have different beauty standards.
|
behind closed doors »
Public disclosure.
|
best regards »
Used as a polite closing of a letter.
|
big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
|
big up »
To increase one's muscle mass through exercise.
|
big up »
To proclaim or exaggerate the importance of.
|
bill of goods »
A set of misleading or deceptive claims; misinformation.
|
birthday suit »
Nakedness; a lack of clothing.
|
blind »
A covering for a window to keep out light. The covering may be made of cloth or of narrow slats that can block light or allow it to pass.
|
blood is thicker than water »
Family relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.1866, Anthony Trollope, The Belton Estate, ch. 30,Blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?circa 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, The Scotch Twins, ch. 5,The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!
|
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.
|
blow this popsicle stand »
To leave an establishment speedily.
|
bolt bucket »
A machine, especially an automobile. Implies that the machine is clunky or unreliable.
|
booze can »
A nightclub or bar, especially one which operates illegally or is otherwise disreputable.
|
bottoming the house »
The process by where someone cleans their house 'from top to bottom'. It is a very thorough clean indeed, even more so than 'spring cleaning'.
|
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.
|
boy in the boat »
Clitoris.
|
brain fart »
A lapse in the thought process; an inability to think or remember something clearly.
|
breathe down someone's neck »
To follow someone too closely, making it uncomfortable for them.
|
brick wall »
An obstacle.
|
brickbat »
A piece of brick used as a weapon, especially if thrown, or placed in something like a sock and used as a club.
|
bright line »
A clear distinction in the context of a legal or moral judgment.
|
bright-line rule »
A clear-cut, easy to make decision.
|
bright-line rule »
A clearly defined rule or standard, comprised of objective factors, which leaves little or no room for varying interpretation.
|
brown power »
The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.
|
bung up »
To close an opening with a cork, cork like object or other improvised obstruction.
|
butter fingers »
A clumsy person who always drops things, a klutz.
|
button up »
To fasten all the buttons on a coat, or similar item of clothing, to keep warm.
|
by the skin of one's teeth »
Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
|
call it even »
To declare debts resolved or favors or other exchange equitable.
|
call it quits »
To conclude; to quit or stop an activity.
|
call on »
In a classroom, to select a student.
|
carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task despite obstacles.
|
chain reaction »
A nuclear reaction in which particles produced by the fission of one atom trigger fissions of other atoms.
|
chalkface »
A cliff or quarry exposing chalk, e.g. the White Cliffs of Dover.
|
change one's tune »
To reconsider; rethink; to reach a different conclusion.
|
charley horse »
A muscle cramp, usually in the thigh or leg.
|
cheek by jowl »
In close proximity; crammed uncomfortably close together.
|
chicken out »
To shy away from a daring task; to decline, refuse, or avoid something due to fear or uncertainty.
|
chrome horn »
The front bumper of a car when used to bump another vehicle, usually to inform the driver of the other vehicle, that the first car would like to pass.
|
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.
|
circles around »
Far faster or better than.
|
claim to fame »
That for which one has bragging rights; one's reason for being well-known or famous.
|
clam up »
To become silent; to stop talking, to shut up.
|
clamp down on »
To take measures to stop something; to put an end to.
|
class clown »
A student who frequently makes jokes or pokes fun; a wiseacre.
|
clay »
A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.
|
clay »
A tennis court surface.
|
clay »
An earth material with ductile qualities.
|
clay »
The material of the human body.
|
clean code »
Software code that is formatted correctly and in an organized manner so that another coder can easily read or modify it.
|
clean house »
To clean the interior of a house.
|
clean house »
To reform by removing undesirable personnel and procedures.
|
clean out »
To clean, especially to tidy by removing the contents.
|
clean out »
To empty completely; to remove all money or possessions from.
|
clean someone's clock »
To defeat decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.
|
clean up »
To become clean, handsome, smart in appearance, e.g. for a special occasion, especially when it is out of character to be seen as such.
|
clean up »
To make a large profit; to win by a large margin, or to win a large amount, especially in gambling. Also clean house.
|
clean up »
To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy.
|
clean up one's act »
To reform; to improve one's habits.
|
clear cut »
Having had all vegetation removed.
|
clear cut »
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
|
clear the decks »
To prepare for action.
|
clear the decks »
To remove, or fasten, all loose material, or partitions prior to a naval engagement.
|
clear up »
To clarify, to correct a misconception.
|
clear up »
Of stormy weather, to dissipate, to become calm.
|
climb the walls »
To behave in a distressed or frantic manner; to feel very agitated.
|
climb up »
To make a gradual ascent or increase.
|
climb up »
To gradually ascend something.
|
climbing the walls »
Present participle of climb the walls.
|
clock in »
To be measured at.
|
clock in »
To begin work.
|
clock up »
To accumulate a large amount of time.
|
clock up »
To accumulate a large distance.
|
clogs to clogs in three generations »
(UK) Wealth earned in one generation seldom lasts through the third (grandchild
|
close as wax »
Miserly.
|
close down »
To stop trading as a business.
|
close down »
To surround someone, as to impede their movement.
|
close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
|
close fisted »
stingy
|
close in on »
To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.
|
close in on »
To catch up with in a chase; to near the end of a pursuit.
|
close in on »
To near a goal or completion.
|
close off »
To seal or block the entrance to a road, an area, or a building so that people cannot enter.
|
close one's eyes »
To ignore.
|
close shave »
A near accident or mishap; a dangerous or risky encounter or incident.
|
close shave »
A shave that is very short or near the skin.
|
close the stable door after the horse has bolted »
To attempt to prevent a problem only to find it has already happened.
|
close to home »
Affecting people close to, or within, ones family circle.
|
close up »
To move people closer together.
|
close up »
To shut a building or a business for a period of time.
|
close up »
To heal a cut or other wound.
|
close up shop »
To shut down a shop; to end a business activity.
|
close, but no cigar »
That's almost correct, but not quite.
|
closed book »
A person or thing that cannot be easily understood; someone or something incomprehensible or puzzling.
|
clothes don't make the man »
An aphorism meaning that you cannot judge a person solely by his appearance. Usually pertains to men.
|
cloud nine »
A state of happiness, elation or bliss; often used in the phrase on cloud nine.
|
cloud up »
To become cloudy.
|
clout list »
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, benefits, or influence in a political or social situation, especially as a result of having personal, professional, or financial relationships with those in authority.
|
clue in »
To inform, instruct, or tell.
|
clue stick »
A metaphorical stick used to beat information or understanding into a slow learner.
|
clutter up »
To fill with rubbish.
|
combine harvester »
farm vehicle
|
come clean »
To confess; admit.
|
come full circle »
To complete a cycle of transition, returning to the point of origin.
|
come full circle »
To make a complete change or reform.
|
come out »
To come out of the closet.
|
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.
|
company »
Keep the house clean, I have company coming.
|
cordon off »
To protect from intrusion by enclosing in a rope barrier.
|
corner the market »
To have exclusive possession; to possess something to a high or excessive degree.
|
cream in one's jeans »
To experience an orgasm while clothed; to be thoroughly excited or delighted.
|
cross my heart »
A declaration that the speaker is telling the truth.
|
crystal clear »
Completely clear and understood.
|
crystal-clear »
Completely clear and understood.
|
cuckoo clock »
ornate timepiece
|
cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
|
cut and dried »
Simple, straightforward, clear, or certain.
|
cut it close »
To judge or finish something close to its limit.
|
cut one's coat according to one's cloth »
Live according to your means.
|
cut up »
To aggressively move in front of another vehicle.
|
cut up »
To behave like a clown.
|
day and night »
All the time; round the clock; unceasingly.
|
dead heat »
A close race or contest in which no winner is apparent.
|
dead ringer »
Someone or something that very closely resembles another; someone or something easily mistaken for another.
|
dirty laundry »
A clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry.
|
dirty laundry »
Laundry that is unclean or soiled.
|
do up »
To fasten a piece of clothing.
|
don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly »
Driving (a vehicle) very fast is a dangerous act.
|
don't look a gift horse in the mouth »
Do not unappreciatively question a gift or handout too closely.
|
draw stumps »
To declare an end to the days play, and remove the bails and sometimes the stumps.
|
dress down »
To wear casual or informal clothes.
|
dress up »
To wear smart clothes for an occasion.
|
dressed to the nines »
Very fancily or formally dressed; wearing very showy or splendid clothing.
|
drive away »
To depart by driving a vehicle.
|
drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
|
drop a hint »
To reveal a clue or hint about something.
|
dyed-in-the-wool »
Dyed before being formed into cloth.
|
eat one's hat »
Used in a result clause to express disbelief in the conditional clause proposition.
|
eat one's own dog food »
To use or consume the economic goods or services that oneself is producing; to be part of a closed household economy.
|
emperor's new clothes »
Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.
|
end up »
To conclude, turn out, sometimes unexpectedly.
|
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,
|
every silver lining has a cloud »
Every good situation has the potential to turn bad.2007, Diab A. Shetayh, Actuality : The Reality RequiemA great partnership isn't a self-maintaining entity. Perseverance and persistence make it thrive. For every silver lining has a cloud. Ignorance of this reality is not an option.
|
eye up »
To examine closely something coveted.
|
f** knows »
I don't know; nobody knows; it is unclear.
|
f**ing hell »
An exclamation of anger.
|
f**ing hell »
An exclamation of great surprise.
|
face that would stop a clock »
A shockingly attractive face.
|
face that would stop a clock »
A shockingly unattractive face.
|
fair off »
To clear.
|
fall into »
To be classified as; to fall under.
|
family jewels »
Testicles.
|
far be it »
A disclaimer stating that the person speaking will not do something.
|
farmer's tan »
The tan line left by clothing, especially, by a short-sleeved shirt.
|
fashion plate »
A picture, usually an advertisement, showing the latest fashion in clothing.
|
feel up to »
To have an inclination to do something.
|
feet of clay »
To say that someone, who appears strong or invincible, in fact has a hidden weak point which could cause their fall.
|
fence in »
To enclose with a fence.
|
field day »
A day of class taken away from school for a field trip.
|
field day »
Top-to-bottom all-hands cleaning.
|
fight a losing battle »
To continue to wage war when it is clear that one is not going to win.
|
firm up »
To make muscles more toned through physical exercise.
|
first class »
excellent
|
first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
|
five by five »
I hear you loud and clear
|
flick the bean »
To masturbate by stimulating the clitoris.
|
flogging the land »
Damaging agricultural land through excessive grazing or clearing.
|
flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
|
fly the coop »
To escape from a pen or similar enclosure.
|
for the record »
Already publicly known.
|
four-eyes »
A person who wears spectacles.
|
four-leaf clover »
A bringer of good luck.
|
four-leaf clover »
An uncommon variation of the clover, having four leaves instead of the usual three.
|
four-on-the-floor »
Relating to a vehicle with a four-speed manual transmission mounted beside the driver on the floor of the vehicle.
|
fruit of the poisonous tree »
And which is therefore excluded from being admitted as evidence in a trial.
|
full marks »
To exclaim complete satisfaction with someone's efforts.
|
gapers' block »
A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.
|
get one's claws into »
Have a controlling influence over.
|
get out of here! »
An exclamation of disbelief.
|
get something straight »
To understand; to clarify.
|
give a sneck posset »
To give someone a cold reception; to close the door on someone; to reject them.
|
glad rags »
best clothes
|
go all the way »
To continue to the conclusion of a task or project.
|
go belly-up »
To fail or fold; especially, to close or shut down a business; to go out of business.
|
go off »
To begin clanging or making noise.
|
go public »
Make public, announce publicly or to the press.
|
go round in circles »
To repeatedly do the same thing; without making any progress.
|
go to pot »
To decline or deteriorate.
|
go to seed »
To deteriorate; to decline into an unkempt or debased condition.
|
go to the dogs »
To decline or deteriorate.
|
go without saying »
To be obvious, apparent or clear, or already established.
|
golden syrup »
light treacle
|
good on you »
An exclamation of encouragement or congratulation; well done.
|
goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
|
gray area »
A part that is not clear or certain; something that is open to interpretation.
|
great minds think alike »
Used to emphasize a coincidence, or two people reaching the same conclusion in any manner at the same time.
|
great unwashed »
A contemptuous term for the populace, particularly the working class.
|
grey area »
A topic that is not clearly one thing or the other.
|
grey area »
An area intermediate between two mutually exclusive states or categories where the border between the two is fuzzy.
|
grind to a halt »
Coming to a standstill, or ceasing to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacle.
|
grow out of »
To become too physically large for something, especially clothes.
|
gunk up »
To soil or dirty; to mess up; to clog.
|
half a mind »
A moderate inclination.
|
ham fisted »
clumsy
|
hand in glove »
In very close cooperation.
|
hand in hand »
Holding or clasping hands.
|
hand-in-glove »
Closely cooperative.
|
hang a Louie »
Make a left turn while driving a vehicle.
|
hang a Ralph »
Make a right turn while driving a vehicle.
|
hang on »
To pay close attention.
|
hang out to dry »
To attach washing to a clothesline to dry.
|
hardwired »
Of devices, closely or tightly coupled.
|
has-been »
A formerly popular or influential person whose popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline. Typically said of professionals or celebrities whose primary success is behind them.
|
have one's head in the clouds »
To daydream; to think about matters other than the present reality.
|
have one's head in the clouds »
To have fantastic or impractical dreams; to think impractically.
|
hem in »
enclose, confine
|
hindsight is 20/20 »
(idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice.
|
hit the pavement »
To get moving in an automobile or other road vehicle.
|
hit the road »
To begin traveling in an automobile or other road vehicle.
|
hold one's breath »
To inhale and then intentionally close the epiglottis so that one's breath is not exhaled.
|
home in on »
To focus or narrow down to something; to find or draw closer, as by trial and error or a gradual seeking process.
|
hoover up »
Into a vacuum cleaner, irrespective of brand.
|
horse around »
To play or fiddle; to clown; to do nothing of importance or consequence.
|
hot lunch »
A sexual act in which a pouch of clingfilm or similar material filled with faeces is placed in one of the participants' mouth and subsequently penetrated by the second participant.
|
hot on somebody's heels »
Close behind; pursuing or following closely.
|
how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
|
ice up »
To become clogged with ice, usually of a mechanical device.
|
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle »
(colloquial, vulgar, humorous) It is fruitless to speculate about counterfactual situations."We would have won the match if we'd had a decent goalkeeper.""And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle!"
|
if you lie with dogs you will get fleas »
It is important whom to choose as one's closest acquanitances.
|
in a league of one's own »
Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.
|
in bed with »
Engaging in a close mutually beneficial relationship, especially secretly and illicitly.
|
in black and white »
Explicitly, in writing, clearly and without doubt or misunderstanding, without any grey areas.
|
in broad daylight »
In a blatant and publicly visible manner.
|
in clover »
Happy and contented.
|
in clover »
In a condition of prosperity.
|
in detail »
Thoroughly; including every detail.
|
in focus »
Clearly perceived.
|
in focus »
Sharp and clear with no fuzziness.
|
in front of one's nose »
Plain; clearly apparent; obvious.
|
in no uncertain terms »
With great clarity, emphasis, or exactness; without any ambiguity.
|
in one's right mind »
Sane, sensible, reasonable; thinking clearly.
|
in the clear »
Not guilty or not suspected of wrongdoing.
|
in your face »
An exclamation of derision or contempt.
|
inner circle »
The closest of friends of a person.
|
into detail »
Thoroughly; including every detail.
|
it takes all kinds to make a world »
Diversity is essential: the world would be incomplete if everyone were alike.He irons his clothes how?! That's crazy! Well, I guess it takes all kinds.
|
jack in »
To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.
|
join the club »
An expression of sympathy for a shared experience.
|
jump on »
To board a public transport vehicle.
|
jump to conclusions »
Make conclusions before being presented with all the evidence.
|
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 a close watch on »
To pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.
|
keep one's cards close to one's chest »
To avoid revealing one's thoughts, circumstances, or plans.
|
keep one's eyes peeled »
To watch closely; to look for.
|
keep straight »
To avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized.
|
keep your friends close, and your enemies closer »
One should be on their toes and alert of their surroundings if malicious people are around, to ensure such people can't wreak havoc in one's life.
|
kernel of truth »
A core accuracy at the heart of a claim or narrative which also contains dubious or fictitious elements.
|
knocking on heaven's door »
Dying, close to death.
|
lame joke »
An attempt at humor which is perceived to have been used previously to the point of being cliche, or was never funny to begin with.
|
last minute »
Point in time, too close to a deadline to reasonably begin a critical task.
|
last word »
The finest, highest, or ultimate representative of some class of objects.
|
laughing stock »
An object of ridicule, someone who is publicly ridiculed; a butt of sport.
|
laundry list »
Originally, a list of articles of clothing that had been sent to be laundered.
|
lay down »
To lie down; to place oneself in a reclined or horizontal position, on a bed or similar, for the purpose of resting.
|
lay it on the line »
To state something, for example an ultimatum, strongly and clearly.
|
lay open »
to disclose
|
let on »
To reveal, disclose, or divulge.
|
let somebody in on »
To disclose; to tell somebody a secret or share privileged information.
|
let the cat out of the bag »
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
|
let-down »
A disappointment or anticlimax.
|
licence to print money »
The authority to print money, usually given to a central bank exclusively as the issuer of currency.
|
lick one's chops »
To use one's tongue to remove moistness from the sides of one's mouth, as when salivating or at the conclusion of a meal.
|
listen up »
To listen closely; to pay attention. Often used in the imperative.
|
lock up »
To close all doors and windows of a place securely.
|
long absent, soon forgotten »
Love fades away when people are distant and don't keep close physical contact.
|
long goodbye »
Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.
|
long shot »
A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into which the closeups will be edited later.
|
long shot »
Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working. The term arose from the accuracy of early ship guns, which were effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.
|
long story short »
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.
|
lose the plot »
To have one's results decline severely in quality or suddenly fall below an acceptable standard, especially when compared to past excellence.
|
lower the boom »
To use one's superior physical strength; clobber.
|
make up one's mind »
To decide; to reach a conclusion.
|
man of parts »
A man that is talented in multiple areas of life. This includes but is not limited to the area of seduction. He puts very little emphasis on memorized scripts or "peacocking" and instead relies on individualized ways to charm a woman.
|
meat market »
Or night club.
|
mixed message »
Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent.
|
monkey wrench »
A problem, obstacle or dilemma; something unexpected or troublesome.
|
mop up »
To clean with a mop; especially to clean up a spill or mess.
|
move heaven and earth »
To do whatever is necessary, including extreme or unusual actions; to go to extremes.
|
muck out »
To clean the excrement and other rubbish from the area where an animal is kept, such as a horse stable or a dog kennel.
|
muscle in »
To interfere, or intrude forcibly.
|
muscle in on »
To interfere with, or intrude on something forcibly.
|
my way or the highway »
Will be excluded.
|
nail biter »
An engaging or exciting cliffhanger.
|
ne'er cast a clout til May be out »
Advice not to change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.
|
neck and neck »
Very close in progress, as in a race or contest.
|
nightcap »
A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.
|
no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney »
Regardless of how many clever points or fine distinctions one makes, what one is saying is still false or is still nonsense.
|
no slave to fashion »
A person whose style of clothing and appearance are unconventional, informal, or slovenly; a person who takes little interest in how he or she is dressed.
|
not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce , The Fiend's Delight In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.
|
nugget of truth »
January 2008, Chicago Tribune - Clinton's Hispanic edge over Obama.
|
off the beaten path »
In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known.
|
off-roader »
A vehicle that is designed to drive off the road.
|
old saw »
A cliché, saying, or overused expression; especially a proverb or maxim.
|
on cloud nine »
Very happy, blissful.
|
on hand »
close by; ready to help
|
on one's deathbed »
Close to death.
|
on spec »
I'm writing an article on spec. I hope some magazine will buy it.
|
on the brink »
Very nearly; imminent; close.
|
on the clock »
Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge.
|
on the clock »
In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event.
|
on the clock »
In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event.
|
on the clock »
Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.
|
on the clock »
Remunerated per unit of time.
|
on the clock »
Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.
|
on the point »
Very nearly; imminent; close.
|
on the skids »
In decline; going downhill; in trouble.
|
on the verge »
Very near or close.
|
on the wane »
In a period of decrease or decline.
|
once and for all »
Finally, permanently, conclusively.
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone..
|
or else »
Clean up your room, or else!.
|
out of it »
Disoriented; not thinking clearly.
|
out of the way »
Remote or secluded.
|
out of whole cloth »
Fabricated, fictitious.
|
out to lunch »
Clueless, inattentive or careless.
|
outside world »
The rest of the world outside of some closed, restricted, or remote environment.
|
overkill »
A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons.
|
pack up »
To clear away.
|
paint with a broad brush »
To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.
|
party crasher »
Someone who attempts and often gains entry to a party or club to which they were not invited, often using social engineering techniques. The party crasher usually tries to blend into the party so as not to be kicked out.
|
pass on »
To skip or decline.
|
pass the buck »
To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
|
pencil skirt »
clothing item
|
physical break »
A short break in a meeting or in a classroom setting, intended to improve attention.
|
pick up »
To clean up; to return to an organized state.
|
piece of work »
A product or manufactured article, especially an item of art or craft.
|
pile-up »
A traffic accident or collision involving multiple vehicles.
|
pitched battle »
A hostile engagement involving sustained, full-scale fighting between opposing forces in close combat.
|
play Old Harry »
Blenkiron and I have been moving in the best circles as skilled American engineers who are going to play Old Harry with the British on the Tigris. — John Buchan, "Greenmantle", 1916..
|
pop one's clogs »
To die.
|
potter's clay »
A nation or kingdom.
|
potter's clay »
A person or people created and shaped by God.
|
potter's clay »
I am the potter’s clay.
|
potter's clay »
The clay used by a potter.
|
potter's clay »
We are but potter’s clay.
|
pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
|
pronunciamiento »
A pronouncement or "declaration".
|
pull out »
To maneuver a vehicle from the side of a road onto the lane.
|
pull up »
Drive close to something, especially a curb.
|
pump up »
To cause one's muscles to swell by means of focussed weightlifting.
|
put across »
To explain or state something clearly and understandably.
|
put away »
To store away, place out of the way, clean up, or organize.
|
put down »
To drop someone off, or let them out of a vehicle.
|
put on »
To don clothing or equipment.
|
put on »
clothe oneself in
|
put one's hands together »
To clap; to applaud.
|
put one's money where one's mouth is »
More generally, to take an obvious stake in the truth of a claim that one is making.
|
put oneself across »
To explain one's ideas and opinions clearly so that another person can understand them and get a picture of your personality.
|
put something into perspective »
To compare with something similar to give a clearer, more accurate idea.
|
put the clock back »
To change the time in a time zone to an earlier time.
|
put the clock forward »
To change the time in a time zone to a later time.
|
put through the wringer »
To interrogate or scrutinize closely; to subject to some trial or ordeal.
|
put words in somebody's mouth »
To attribute to somebody something he or she did not say; to claim inaccurately that somebody said or intended something.
|
put your hands together »
Clap; applaud.
|
quantum mechanics »
The branch of physics which studies matter and energy at the level of atoms and other elementary particles, and substitutes probabilistic mechanisms for classical Newtonian ones.
|
quote unquote »
Emphasizes the following word or phrase for irony, as used almost exclusively in spoken language.
|
rake »
A set of coupled rail vehicles, normally coaches or wagons.
|
reckon with »
To settle accounts with or to settle claims with.
|
red face test »
A hypothetical test of a person's embarrassment, that is either passed or failed. Saying one passes the red face test means one would not blush and thus would not be embarrassed by disclosing something to others or doing something, and saying one fails the red face test means a situation would cause them discernible embarrassment.
|
red herring »
A clue that is misleading or that has been falsified, intended to divert attention.
|
red mist »
Anger sufficient to cloud judgement, to stop clear thinking.
|
ride shotgun »
To ride in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, next to the driver.
|
ring around »
To call a number of people by phone, usually a circle of friends, to organise something.
|
ring round »
To call a number of people by phone, usually a circle of friends, to organise something.
|
road to Damascus »
That was my Road to Damascus moment. They played one hit after another and this is the song I remember most clearly.
|
rock up »
To work one's way vertically up a chimney or cleft using a rocking movement.
|
round of applause »
An outburst of clapping among a group or audience. Often asked for by the Master of Ceremonies at a concert or other performance.
|
round the clock »
Nonstop, 24 hours per day.
|
rumor mill »
A group or network of persons who originate or promulgate gossip and other unsubstantiated claims.
|
run down »
To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them.
|
run down »
To reduce the size or stock levels of a business, often with a view to closure.
|
run into »
To blend into; to be followed by or adjacent to without there being a clear boundary.
|
run on fumes »
To operate a vehicle that is low on fuel.
|
run out the clock »
To preserve a lead in a game by retaining possession, to waste time.
|
run up »
To make something, usually an item of clothing, very quickly.
|
screen out »
To use a screen, grate, sieve or similar means to separate large from small objects or particles.
|
screen out »
Figuratively, to exclude.
|
second childhood »
The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior.
|
second sight »
clairvoyance
|
set aside »
To declare something invalid or null and void.
|
set in one's ways »
Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or established preferences.
|
set the Thames on fire »
To achieve something amazing; to do something which brings great public acclaim.
|
sexual congress »
Loose translation of the title of Aristophanes' play Ecclesiazousae, more literally translated as Assemblywomen.
|
shake on it »
To agree; to close a deal.
|
shift gears »
To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another shaft, especially in a motor vehicle.
|
shit one's pants »
To involuntarily defecate into one's pants or other clothing.
|
shoot down »
To the point of preclusion.
|
shoot off at the mouth »
To disclose some information that was supposed to be secret.
|
short of a length »
Of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.
|
shotgun »
The front passenger seat in a vehicle, next to the driver.
|
show somebody the door »
To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
|
shroud »
See also Wikipedia article on Shroud.
|
shroud »
That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects; a garment.
|
shut down »
To close, terminate, or end.
|
sign off »
Term used to describe the closing of a radio or television station's studios and cessation of a broadcasting signal, usually during the overnight hours.
|
silver-tongue »
The trait of being clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
|
sing soprano »
To suffer castration or an injury to the testicles.
|
singing soprano »
Castrated or injured in the testicles.
|
sink in »
Become clear in one's mind.
|
sit back »
To recline while still in a seated position, with one's back on the frame of the seat.
|
sit out »
To decline to participate; particularly, to decline to dance.
|
slam dunk »
Tacking on top of the wind of the following yacht in close quarters.
|
slippery slope »
A logical argument that follows a chain of events or causes and effects to some conclusion.
|
smooth operator »
A skillful, manipulative person, con artist, or clever scoundrel.
|
snake oil »
A type of 19th century patent medicine sold in the United States that claimed to contain snake fat, supposedly a Native American remedy for various ailments.
|
snappy comeback »
A prompt, clever retort.
|
sneck posset »
A cold reception, closing the door on a visitor.
|
social death »
The alienation of certain people from society to the point of being forgotten, excluded, or ignored in society.
|
softroader »
. This involves increased ground clearance with tyre, wheel, and suspension tweaks, skid plates and refers to mini SUV or wagons.
|
sort out »
To clarify by reviewing mentally.
|
spanner »
A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome.
|
spare tyre »
An extra tyre carried in case one of the vehicle's tyres is damaged or deflated.
|
speak for »
To claim, reserve, or occupy.
|
spic and span »
Perfectly clean.
|
spill the beans »
To reveal a secret; to disclose.
|
squaring the circle »
A hopeless or impossible task.
|
squaring the circle »
The historical problem of how to construct, using compass and ruler, a square having the same area as a given circle.
|
stand off »
To prevent any would-be attacker from coming close by adopting an offensive posture.
|
stand stock still »
Paul Travers' Adventures, by Sam T. Clover.
|
steer clear »
To avoid; to dodge; to sidestep.
|
stick with »
To remain close by.
|
sticky fingers »
An inclination to steal.
|
stitch up »
To close by sewing.
|
stop press »
The event or news article important enough to delay or interrupt the print, or require a reprint, of a publication, particularly of a newspaper edition.
|
strip down »
To remove all of one's clothing.
|
strip off »
To remove anything by stripping, e.g. items of clothing or paint from the side of a ship.
|
stumbing-block »
A hindrance, obstacle or impediment.
|
stumbling block »
A hindrance, obstacle or impediment.
|
swallow up »
To completely enclose or envelop.
|
sword and sorcery »
Of or pertaining to a genre of narratives—including short stories, novels, television shows, films, and computer games—which combines wizardry and other fantastical supernatural elements with violent combat using medieval weaponry..
|
take a bow »
To accept applause at the end of a performance in a theatre. Often this includes actually bowing to the audience.
|
take down »
To lower an item of clothing without removing it.
|
take it easy »
An informal greeting for parting or closing.
|
take one's hat off to »
To publicly praise or thank.
|
take the fifth »
To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.
|
take the wheel »
To be in control of the steering wheel of a vehicle or a vessel.
|
take to the cleaners »
To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.
|
take up with »
To form a close relationship with someone.
|
talk the talk »
Speak like an expert, claim to be knowledgeable about something.
|
tell tales »
To be lying, to be making false claims.
|
the man »
The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations; the system, as coordinated outside of one’s control..
|
the shoemaker's children go barefoot »
One often neglects those closest to oneself.
|
thick as thieves »
Intimate, close-knit.
|
throw a spanner in the works »
To be a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.
|
throw dirt enough, and some will stick »
If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say
|
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.
|
timeserver »
A device, node or program that distributes the correct time to clients in a network.
|
tip-off »
An obvious clue or indication.
|
tone up »
To strengthen and make the muscles of the body firmer by regular excercise.
|
too big for one's boots »
Far less capable than one's claims to be.
|
toss-up »
A decision in which neither choice is clearly favorable or unfavorable, or for which the outcome does not matter.
|
touch cloth »
To be on the point of soiling oneself.
|
trailer park trash »
Lower-class people who live in trailer parks.
|
trailer trash »
Deleted from the movie trailer. Not included in theatrical run.
|
trigger-happy »
Inclined to behave recklessly, especially with machinery.
|
trigger-happy »
Inclined to react excessively or violently at the slightest provocation.
|
turn a phrase »
To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.
|
turn back »
No turn a dial anticlockwise or adjust a clock or other meter to an earlier time or reading.
|
turn down »
To refuse, decline, or deny.
|
turn over »
To produce, complete, or cycle through.
|
turn up »
To belay or make fast a line on a cleat or pin.
|
twiddle one's thumbs »
To circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored.
|
two left feet »
Exhibiting particular clumsiness, especially at dancing or at soccer.
|
two wrongs don't make a right »
(ethics) A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.1915, William MacLeod Raine, The Highgrader, ch. 15:"But when it comes to taking what belongs to another
|
two-fisted drinker »
Either someone who can handle their liquor well, or an alcoholic clutching a drink in each hand.
|
two-second rule »
A rule of thumb for safe driving by which a driver must maintain a two-second distance from the vehicle in front.
|
uncle sam »
the us government
|
under a cloud »
Under suspicion; subject to critical inspection.
|
under one's nose »
Directly in front of one; clearly visible.
|
under the microscope »
Under close scrutiny or examination.
|
underwater basket weaving »
An easy and useless college or high school class.
|
unwashed masses »
Of people who are considered by someone to be somehow uneducated, uninformed, godless, or in some other way unqualified for inclusion in the speaker's elite circles.
|
up for grabs »
Available for anyone to obtain, claim or win.
|
up front »
Open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful.
|
up to »
Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.
|
up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
|
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.
|
verge on »
To approach or come close to something; to border or be on the edge of something.
|
wall in »
To enclose by surrounding with walls.
|
waltz Matilda »
To travel with a swag; that is, with one's belongings wrapped in a cloth.
|
warts and all »
Of or pertaining to a description or other depiction which reveals the full range of characteristics of a person or thing, including the shortcomings and imperfections.
|
wash out »
To lose traction while going around a turn, especially in cycling, motorsports and skiing/snowboarding.
|
wash up »
To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
|
washed out »
Of clothes. When they lose some of their original colour from being washed so often.
|
watch out »
To be aware or conscious; to look closely or carefully; to use caution. Often used in the imperative.
|
well, I never »
An exclamation of great surprise.
|
whack-a-mole »
The practice of trying to stop something that persistently occurs in an apparently random manner at the point where the occurrence is noticed, such as terminating spammers' e-mail accounts or closing pop-up advertisement windows.
|
what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
|
wherever you go, there you are »
(colloquial, clich
|
white on rice »
A descriptive analogy of closeness. See like white on rice.
|
willful ignorance »
A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.
|
wind back the clock »
Figuratively to return in time to an earlier period of history.
|
wipe the slate clean »
To forget about previous differences and disagreements, and make a fresh start.
|
wolf in sheep's clothing »
Something harmful or problematic disguised as something peaceful or pleasant.
|
word on the wire »
The rumour or news going around on the Internet, in business, on the street, or in social circles.
|
work against the clock »
To work very quickly because you know you only have a very limited period of time to do something.
|
work around the clock »
To work all day and all night without a break, because it is imperative to finish something.
|
work out »
To conclude with the correct solution.
|
work out »
To habitually exercise rigorously, especially by lifting weights, in order to increase strength or muscle mass or maintain fitness.
|
wrap in the flag »
To claim one's cause deserves support for patriotic reasons or that one's own motives are patriotic.
|
wrap up »
To wear more clothes as protection from the weather; to bundle up.
|
wrong side of the tracks »
. May refer to area where the working class, poor or extremely poor live.
|
yank off »
To remove something, like a piece of cloth or bread, by tearing it with one quick strong pull.
|
yellow press »
Newspapers which publish sensationalist articles rather than well researched and sober journalism.
|
yield up »
To disclose something hidden.
|
you can't get a quart into a pint pot »
What is being discussed is not possible.They've asked me to get to New York by five o'clock, but you can't get a quart into a pint pot!
|
you can't take it with you »
It is not possible to take one's material wealth to whatever world may await one after death.1900, E. Phillips Oppenheim, A Millionaire of Yesterday, ch. 6:"The clause which
|
yours truly »
A closing in a note or letter.
|
zip up »
To close with a zip fastener.
|
zip up »
To close as if with a zip fastener.
|
zoom in »
To focus a zoom lens in order to obtain a larger image, or a closer view.
|
| New: We also know Zip Codes FYI! |
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