We've found 836 phrases for CON (0.116 seconds):

a good voice to beg bacon »    Said in ridicule of a bad voice.

a leopard cannot change its spots »    One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.

a rising tide lifts all boats »    Benefits provided to a few may lead to conditions that are beneficial to all.

abide by »    To accept a decision or law and act in accordance with it; to conform to; to acquiesce; as, to abide by an award.

above one's bend »    Out of one's control or power.

accident of birth »    Reference to the fact that various benefits or detriments to the life of a person arise from the circumstances into which that person was born, these being entirely beyond his control.

according to »    In a manner conforming or corresponding to; in proportion.

across the board »    A racing bet where one bets that the same competitor will place in first, second and third.

ad fontes »    Go to the sources: An expression emphasizing the importance of conducting fundamental research and of consulting primary sources.

add fuel to the fire »    To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.

add up »    To make sense; to be reasonable or consistent.

against the grain »    Contrary to what is expected; especially, of behavior different from what society expects.

all hollow »    As a foregone conclusion.

all in all »    everything considered

all kidding aside »    Used to attempt to make a serious point in a jocular conversation.

all over but the shouting »    The substance of the contest is complete, leaving only the cheering.

all over the place »    Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.

all the time »    Always; constantly; for the complete duration.

all things being equal »    Without considering or being affected by external factors.

all's fair in love and war »    unpleasant behavior is acceptable during love and conflict.

am I right or am I right »    Rhetorical question from somebody who has stated what they consider to be an unassailable truth.

an axe to grind »    A grievance, with implications of confrontation.

and counting »    Used to show that the number previously mentioned is continuously changing, i.e. increasing or decreasing.

and how »    Used to strongly confirm preceding utterance.

and so forth »    Indicates that a list continues in a similar manner.

and so on »    Indicates that a list continues in a similar manner.

and then some »    Used to confirm preceding utterance, while implying that what was said or asked is an understatement.

answer back »    To issue echo characters, protocol responses, reflexive connection requests, etc.

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

apply oneself »    To put forth a concerted effort; to try; to focus.

argue out »    To discuss to reach an agreed conclusion, or decision.

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.

around the clock »    All the time or seemingly all the time; constantly.

as is »    In its present state or condition, especially as a contractual condition of sale.

as long as »    Depending upon some condition or requirement; provided that; if, assuming; so long as.

as you sow, so shall you reap »    The personal consequences of one's actions are in proportion to the good or bad intentions towards others.

at a stand »    In a state of confusion or uncertainty; undecided what to do next.

at best »    In the most favorable of conditions; at the most.

at cross purposes »    Against one another; contrary in direction or goals.

at large »    On the loose; roaming freely; not confined.

at odds »    In disagreement; conflicting.

at sea »    Confused, lost, or adrift; bewildered.

at sixes and sevens »    In a state of confusion.

at the wheel »    Driving; in control of a vehicle.

at the wheel »    In control of the situation; in charge.

back down »    To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.

back out »    To reverse a vehicle from a confined space.

bacon fed »    Fat, greasy.

bacon-faced »    Having a fat, sleek face.

balance the books »    To put or keep any closed or conservative system or its analysis in balance.

balancing act »    An effort to manage many conflicting or competing items or interests.

barrel »    A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.

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.

barrow man »    A man under sentence of transportation; alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt.

be-all and end-all »    Something considered to be of the utmost importance; something essential or ultimate.

bear in mind »    Remember; consider; note.

bear out »    To corroborate, prove, or confirm; to demonstrate; to provide evidence for.

beat a dead horse »    To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.

beauty sleep »    C. 1900, Ralph Connor, The Man From Glengarry, ch. 23.

beauty sleep »    Sleep before midnight, on the belief that early sleep hours conduce to health and beauty.[1].

bee in one's bonnet »    Something of particular interest or concern; an obsession.

been to the rodeo »    Exposed to conmen and hucksters; experienced.

beer goggles »    The illusion that people are more attractive, brought on by alcohol consumption.

beside oneself »    Overcome; consumed by an emotion.

best of both worlds »    A combination of two seemingly contradictory benefits.

between the jigs and the reels »    Eventually, despite all the confusion.

beyond the pale »    Describing behaviour that is considered to be outside the bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgement in civilised company.

big deal »    Something very important, difficult, or of concern.

bird of one's own brain »    One's own idea or conception.

birds of a feather »    C1710, Jonathan Swift, "A Conference," lines 11-12.

birds of a feather flock together »    People of similar character, background, or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another.

birds of the feather flock together »    People who are alike physically tend to congregate and socialize together, despite government efforts at forced integration.

bit on the side »    Secondary lover, mistress.

bite me »    An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.

bite the bullet »    To accept a negative aspect of a situation in order to continue moving forward.

bite the bullet »    To endure a punishment or consequence with dignity or stoicism.

black sheep »    A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person.

blind »    Any device intended to conceal or hide; as, a duck blind.

blow hot and cold »    To behave inconsistently; to vacillate or to waver, as between extremes of opinion or emotion.

blow off »    To vent, usually, to reduce pressure in a container.

blow off »    To shoot something with a gun, causing it to come disconnected.

blow out of proportion »    To overreact to or overstate; to treat too seriously or be overly concerned with.

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.

blue moon »    The third full moon in a quarter that contains four rather than the usual three full moons.

bluewash »    To tout a business or organization's commitment to social responsibility, and to use this perception for public relations and economic gain; to present a humanitarian front in this manner.

bone of contention »    Something that continues to be disputed; something on which no agreement can be reached.

booby prize »    A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.

borganism »    An organization of autonomous organisms that exhibit collectivism: individual "units" that have merged to yield a unified construct. Such an amalgam may possess a collective consciousness, arguably an emergent phenomenon of social networking.

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »    Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.

bottom of the ninth »    In baseball, the second part of the ninth and final inning. The end of the game.

brain fart »    Something ill-considered and said or done impulsively.

brain surgery »    Something that is overly complex, detailed or confusing.

break ground »    To begin digging in the earth at the start of a new construction, or, originally, for cultivation.

break out »    To begin suddenly; to emerge in a certain condition.

break up »    Of a telephone conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection.

bridge »    A construction or natural feature that spans a divide.

bridge »    A device which connects two or more computer buses, typically in a transparent manner.

bridge »    A song contained within another song, often demarcated by meter, key, or melody.

bridge »    A system which connects two or more local area networks at layer 2.

bridge »    A valence bond, atom or chain of atoms that connects two different parts of a molecule; the atoms so connected being bridgeheads.

bridge »    An edge which, if removed, changes a connected graph to one that is not connected.

bridge »    An elevated platform above the upper deck of a mechanically propelled ship from which it is navigated and from which all activities on deck can be seen and controlled by the captain, etc; smaller ships have a wheelhouse, and sailing ships were controlled from a quarterdeck.

bridge »    An unintended solder connection between two or more components or pins.

bright line »    A clear distinction in the context of a legal or moral judgment.

bring forward »    To call up for consideration.

bring home the bacon »    To have a job and earn money or to lead a successful career.

bring it on »    Used to indicate one's willingness to accept a challenge, confront a threat, etc.

bring off »    To succeed in doing something considered to be very difficult.

bring out »    To make a shy person more confident.

bring owls to Athens »    To undertake a pointless venture, one that is redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical.

bring round »    To resuscitate; to cause to regain consciousness.

brown power »    The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.

built like a brick shithouse »    Exceptionally well constructed; strong or tough.

built like a tank »    Sturdy; exceptionally well constructed.

bundle of energy »    One who is especially lively, continually active, or industrious.

bundle of energy »    The energy associated with being lively, continually active, or industrious.

bundle of nerves »    A lively, continually active person.

bunny hop »    A dance from the big band era, a variation of the conga.

buried treasure »    Something, having been concealed for a long time, which later is found and is profitable.

burn one's bridges »    To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc.

burn one's fingers »    To harm oneself; to suffer consequences of one's actions.

bury the lead »    To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.

bury the lede »    To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.

but who's counting »    Used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to.

button-down »    Conservative; conventional; unimaginative.

by far »    To a considerably large extent, easily.

call it quits »    To conclude; to quit or stop an activity.

call off the dogs »    During a one-sided sports contest, to remove the first-string unit of a team from the game after dominating the opponent.

camel's nose »    A metaphor for a situation where the permitting of some small act will lead consequently to a larger undesirable act or circumstance.

can of worms »    A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.

can of worms »    A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.

captain of industry »    A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.

carry off »    Knowledge, confidence, or familiarity.

carry on »    To continue or proceed as before.

carry one's weight »    To contribute or produce one's fair share, as of work, money, etc.

cat in the meal-tub »    Something concealed; a hidden danger.

cat that ate the canary »    A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.

catmeat »    Catfood consisting of meat.

cause a stir »    To cause controversy, or raise a disturbance.

chalkface »    A musical concept or genre in which music is completely improvised and never played twice. Most often mixing elements of hip-hop, metal, punk and avant-garde jazz.

change horses in midstream »    To change plans or approaches at an inopportune time, such as when an effort is already underway, generally considered an inadvisable thing to do.

change one's mind »    To convince someone to make a decision differing from what a previous one.

change one's tune »    To reconsider; rethink; to reach a different conclusion.

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.

cheat sheet »    A sheet of paper containing notes used to assist on a test.

chickens coming home to roost »    Consequences visited upon someone who originally had appeared to escape them.

chime in »    To talk; to join in conversation or discussion.

chip in »    To contribute.

chip in »    To make a contribution; help in a small way; especially, to pay for a part of something.

chip in »    To put into the pot the amount of chips or money required to continue.

chump change »    A sum of money considered to be insignificant.

chump change »    An amount of remuneration, reward, or other monetary recompense considered to be insultingly small.

circular firing squad »    A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.

clean out »    To clean, especially to tidy by removing the contents.

clear up »    To clarify, to correct a misconception.

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.

cock of the walk »    A proud or conceited person.

cold comfort »    Much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one needs or desires.

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.

come clean »    To confess; admit.

come down with »    To contract or get; to show symptoms of a minor illness.

come of age »    To reach a specific age where one is legally considered to be an adult.

come out of one's shell »    To become a naturist. To convert to naturism.

come round »    To recover consciousness.

come to »    To recover consciousness after fainting etc.

come to grips »    To confront or deal with directly.

come unhinged »    To become angered or crazy; to lose control of one's senses or sanity.

company »    A military unit, typically consisting of two or three platoons.

company »    In legal context, an entity that manufactures or sells products , or provides services as a commercial venture. A corporation.

company »    In non-legal context, any business, without respect to incorporation.

con man »    swindler

concrete jungle »    An urban or other populated area containing a high density of buildings constructed of concrete or similar materials, especially one which lacks greenery and which seems unattractive, harsh, or unsafe.

conk out »    To fall fast asleep; to sleep soundly.

conk out »    To stop functioning.

conk out »    To die.

consume mass quantities »    To eat or drink abundant amounts of food or beverage.

consume mass quantities »    To use large amounts of any resource.

controlled substance »    Except for very limited professional testing purposes.

conversation piece »    interesting object

coop up »    To confine in a restricted place or situation.

copious free time »    A hypothetical time set aside for performing time-consuming tasks, however insinuating that the speaker really has no free time.

coug it »    To suddenly lose a contest through reversal of fortune, mistakes, or bad judgment. The phrase is analogous to "blow it", or "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".

cough up »    To lose a competition by one's own mistakes, usually near the end of the contest.

cover one's ass »    To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that one is not blamed or punished for one's conduct.

cover up »    To conceal or disguise.

cross the Rubicon »    To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.

cry for help »    Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.

cry for help »    In her second year at the school Alexis stopped doing her homework and would often scribble on walls. Her teachers wondered whether this was a cry for help, or if she was simply misbehaving.

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.

crying shame »    A situation that is considered to be a disgrace, or deplorable.

cube out »    To reach the volume limit of a container.

cut off »    To isolate or remove from contact.

damn by association »    Discredit or condemn a position, person, or thing by attacking those things with which he/she/it is associated.

damn with faint praise »    To provide praise that is so minimal or inconsequential as to actually amount to criticism.

dark horse »    A candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.

day in, day out »    Every day; daily; constantly or continuously; especially, of something that has become routine or monotonous.

dead heat »    A close race or contest in which no winner is apparent.

dead last »    The standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.

dead wood »    Personnel no longer contributing to an organization.

deadstick landing »    When a pilot lands a plane after the engine has died; a landing lacking any propulsion control.

death by spellcheck »    The problems caused by spellcheckers being incapable of correcting most homophone confusions.

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.

deer in the headlights »    A mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety fear, panic, surpriseand/or confusion, or substance abuse. The behavioral signs are like a deer subjected to a car's headlights, such as widely opened eyes and a lack of motor reactions.

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 »    Programmers are consistently dehumanized because so many do indeed deliver the message to Garcia only to be at best ignored.

desk jockey »    One who spends his or her time seated at a desk; especially one who is more concerned with procedure, paperwork, or administration than with its ultimate goal or practical consequence.

devil is in the details »    The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.

die »    Followed by for. Often expressing wider contextual motivations, though sometimes indicating direct causes.

die »    Followed by from. General use, though somewhat more common in medical or scientific contexts.

dirty laundry »    A clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry.

dirty word »    A word that is considered vulgar, not necessarily sexual in nature.

dismal science »    Nickname for economics or for the field of political economy.

divide and conquer »    A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.

do-or-die »    Requiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.

dog and pony show »    Any presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate.

don't be penny wise and pound foolish »    Don't be careful when it comes to spending small amounts of money, but careless when spending much larger amounts.Don't focus on minutiae and lose sight of the big picture; don't obsess over tiny inconsequential efficiencies while glaring inefficiencies are going on elsewhere.

don't drop the soap »    (idiomatic) Used as a mockery to someone who is about to be or should be confined in prison.

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.

double Dutch »    Sex using a condom and the contraceptive pill at the same time.

double up »    To have a secondary use.

drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »    (idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.

draw on »    To advance, continue; to move or pass slowly or continuously, as under a pulling force.

draw out »    To extract, bring out, as concealed information; elicit; educe.

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 out of warp »    Dis-engage the cruise control on the car

dry eye »    Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.

dumb down »    To become simpler in expression or content; to become unacceptably simplistic.

dumb down »    To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.

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.

eat one's young »    To betray a constituent or charge out of self-serving interests or desperation; savaging.

eat someone out of house and home »    To consume such a portion of one's store of food that little is left for the owner.

eat up »    To consume completely.

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.

edge out »    To win in a contest or a game by a narrow margin of victory.

elephant in the room »    A problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.

end of the line »    Final cessation or discontinuance of a process, institution, or person, especially one which has existed for a considerable period of time; death.

end up »    To conclude, turn out, sometimes unexpectedly.

err on the side of caution »    To act in the least risky manner in a situation where one is uncertain about the consequences.

even keel »    A state of having one's emotions under control and balanced.

even keel »    Of a business or other activity which is under control and running smoothly.

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,

evil twin »    A duplicate or counterpart of something or someone that acts in a contrary, nefarious, or insidious manner.

eye candy »    Any object or sight with considerable visual appeal.

eye of the beholder »    The evaluation depending on perception of person who sees and considers.

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.

face off »    Either an actual or a figurative face to face confrontation, especially a bitter one.

face the music »    To accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.

face up to »    To confront a condition or situation, typically one that is unpleasant or uncomfortable.

fair enough »    An expression used to concede a point; denotes that, upon consideration, something is correct or reasonable; an expression of acknowledgment or understanding.

fall in line »    To submit to the rules of a higher authority; obey; conform.

fall together »    To contract.

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.

fancypants »    Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.

farm out »    To subcontract some task to another; to outsource.

fear »    A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.

feel up to »    To be confident in being able to do something.

fifth wheel »    A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multi-directional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer.

fight a losing battle »    To continue to wage war when it is clear that one is not going to win.

find one's feet »    To grow in confidence in a new situation as one gains experience.

fine print »    The details, restrictions, terms, or conditions, especially of a contract, often printed in very small type.

first loser »    Second place.

first loser »    The second place finisher in auto racing competition.

fix someone's wagon »    To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.

flat-footed »    Having the specific physical condition of flat feet.

flipside »    A necessary consequence or corollary of something; especially one seen as opposite, or as pro versus con.

flower »    Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.

flower »    An inflorescence that resembles a flower, but actually contains many small florets, such as a sunflower.

flutter in the dovecote »    I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.

fly in the face of »    To act in a manner highly contrary to; to counteract or contradict.

fly the freak flag »    To behave in a unconventional or unrestrained manner; to exhibit the uninhibited side of one's personality.

footloose and fancy free »    Able to do as one pleases, unconstrained by social ties or responsibilities.

for all intensive purposes »    Misconstruction of “for all intents and purposes”.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].

for that matter »    As far as that is concerned.

for the birds »    Worthless; pointless; not deserving serious consideration.

forbidden fruit is the sweetest »    Forbidden things have more worthwhile short-term consequences.

fourth estate »    Journalism or journalists considered as a group; the Press.

fox in the henhouse »    A relationships wherein a predator is granted free reign within the prey's home confinement, often used in the political sense.

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.

free rein »    The absence of constraints; freedom to make decisions.

free-for-all »    Chaos; a chaotic situation lacking rules or control.

french letter »    A condom.

front runner »    The most likely winners in a contest, election, etc.

full English »    A cooked breakfast consisting of bacon and eggs, and other foods.

full tilt boogie »    Out of control.

get a handle on »    To build or acquire a basic level of understanding or control.

get a room »    A jocular or sarcastic expression commanding a couple to stop displaying affection in public, and to rent a hotel or motel room to continue amorous activities in private.

get by the balls »    To have complete control over someone, especially of a woman abusing a man's infatuation with her.

get cold feet »    To become nervous or anxious and reconsider a decision about an upcoming event.

get off »    Consequences.

get one's claws into »    Have a controlling influence over.

get one's foot in the door »    To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job.

get one's wires crossed »    To get confused or mixed up; to make a mistake.

get the bacon bad »    To be morbidly obese.

get the better of »    To overwhelm or overcome; to influence heavily; to tend to control or persuade.

gift of the gab »    The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.

give away the store »    To transact, trade, or negotiate badly, by paying, providing, or conceding too much to the other party.

give some skin »    To greet or congratulate someone by slapping his or her palm; see slap me five.

give somebody pause »    To give somebody cause for concern.

go against the grain »    To defy convention; to do something in a manner that is unusual or out of the ordinary.

go all the way »    To continue to the conclusion of a task or project.

go by the board »    To be superseded, rejected, or obliterated; to pass by with little consequence; to amount to nothing.

go figure »    Expresses perplexity, confusion, surprise, or puzzlement.

go from strength to strength »    To continue to get stronger[1].

go mad »    Used to indicate that the second verb represents an action that is out of character.

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 off half-cocked »    To take a premature or ill-considered action.

go on »    To continue; expand upon.

go through with »    To proceed; to continue.

go to seed »    To deteriorate; to decline into an unkempt or debased condition.

go to the mat »    To continue to struggle or fight until either victorious or defeated.

go with the flow »    To act as others are acting, conforming to common behavior patterns with an attitude of calm acceptance.

God works in mysterious ways »    Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...

gold mine »    A very profitable economic venture.

gold standard »    A test or measure of comparison that is considered ultimate or ideal.

good drunk »    A person who is cheerful and companionable when intoxicated, retaining reasonable control of his or her mental and emotional faculties.

good job »    Well done; congratulations!.

good on you »    An exclamation of encouragement or congratulation; well done.

grab bag »    A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.

gravy train »    An occupation or any lucrative endeavor that generates considerable income whilst requiring little effort and carrying little risk.

grease monkey »    A mechanic, often with the specific connotation of an automobile mechanic.

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.

green with envy »    Consumed by envy; envious to the point where it is noticeable to others.

greener pastures »    Any place or condition that is more favorable or beneficial.

greenwash »    A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.

grunt work »    That is considered undesirable and therefore delegated to underlings.

gunboat diplomacy »    The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power.

gunshy »    Fearing the consequences of repeating an act, especially after being reprimanded.

gussie up »    To make fancy or attractive, as by artificial or contrived means.

gut factor »    Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.

hand over »    To relinquish control or possession of something to someone.

happy camper »    One who is thoroughly content or satisfied.

have a handle on »    To be in control; to understand or grasp.

have ants in one's pants »    To be agitated and constantly fidgeting.

have in mind »    To consider, to contemplate, to intend.

have it coming »    To deserve or merit, as the consequences of one's actions.

have it your way »    Do something the way you want to, but be prepared for the consequences.

have second thoughts »    To change one's opinion, or be uneasy about a previous decision.

have someone by the short hairs »    To have someone in a difficult situation in which he or she is without alternatives and can be controlled.

have tickets on oneself »    To be conceited.

head and shoulders »    To a considerable degree; better; outstanding.

head scratcher »    A particularly puzzling or confusing event.

head start »    A factor conducive to superiority and success.

heart to heart »    A sincere, serious, or personal conversation.

hem and haw »    To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.

hem in »    enclose, confine

herd cats »    To attempt to control those resistant to control.

here goes nothing »    Indicates a lack of confidence or certainty about the activity about to be tried.

high ground »    A position of advantage or superiority in a conflict or competition.

hit the bottle »    To continually drink alcohol to excess, particularly in response to a setback.

hog heaven »    A state of contented bliss.

hold back »    To act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power.

hold back »    To contain; stop.

hold down »    To continue, to hold and to manage well.

hold one's liquor »    To be resistant to intoxication or to show few signs of intoxication, even after consuming a significant amount of alcohol.

hold one's water »    To be patient; to control one's impulses.

hold that thought »    To pause in a conversation for an interruption.

hold with the hare and run with the hounds »    To remain neutral by attempting to placate two factions or both sides of a controversy.

horse around »    To play or fiddle; to clown; to do nothing of importance or consequence.

horse sense »    Common sense, especially with a connotation of folk wisdom independent from, and trumping, formal education.

hot and cold »    Ambivalent; having conflicting emotions.

hot button »    A central issue, concern or characteristic, especially one that motivates people to make a choice.

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.

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.

hunger is the best sauce »    Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.

idiot mittens »    Mittens connected by yarn or string running through one sleeve, along the back and out the other sleeve of a coat, to prevent the mittens becoming lost. Generally worn by small children.

if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail »    With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminatelyIf a person is familiar with a certain, single subject/has with them a certain, single instrument, they may have a confirmation bias to believe that it is the answer to/involved in everything.

if looks could kill »    A phrase said upon catching sight of someone's giving you a particularly nasty look of discontent or disapproval.

in a league of one's own »    Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.

in clover »    Happy and contented.

in clover »    In a condition of prosperity.

in hand »    under control

in light of »    Given, considering.

in shape »    In good condition, repair; in a good state.

in spades »    To excess, a lot, considerably; without restraint.

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 the running »    Of a candidate, potential or likely; worthy of consideration.

in the woods »    In critical condition; near death's door.

in touch »    In contact, or in communication.

in vain »    In a disrespectful manner, especially when concerning religion.

in view of »    Considering.

in your face »    An exclamation of derision or contempt.

inside baseball »    Technical matters concerning baseball not apparent to spectators.

it takes two to tango »    Some things need the active cooperation of two parties; blame is to be laid on both parties in a conflict.

it's about time »    Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer considered to be long overdue.

it's all good »    Used to express unconcern.

it's all grist to the mill »    Everything referred to in the present context has some sort of use.1999, Simon Blackburn, Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (Oxford University Press paperback, ISBN 0199690871), ch. 7 section 6: "Kant

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

it's one's funeral »    One's decisions or actions will bring undesirable consequences only on oneself.

itchy trigger finger »    A tendency to act in haste or without consideration.

ivory tower »    A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.

jack in »    To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.

jump the shark »    To undergo a storyline development which is so ridiculous that previous quality is considered to have been lost.

jump to conclusions »    Make conclusions before being presented with all the evidence.

just deserts »    A punishment or reward that is considered to be what the recipient deserved.

kangaroo court »    A judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, or a group which conducts such proceedings, which is without proper authority, abusive, or otherwise unjust.

keep a weather eye open »    To be alert; to concentrate on a matter in hand.

keep down »    To restrain or control.

keep down »    To lie low. To stay concealed by not standing up.

keep it up »    To maintain or continue a positive streak.

keep on »    Persist or continue.

keep on truckin' »    To continue or persist, regardless of circumstances or setbacks; to keep trying or striving.

keep one's eye on the ball »    To maintain one's concentration fixed on one important theme.

keep out »    To refrain from entering a place or condition.

keep out »    To restrain someone or something from entering a place or condition.

keep out of »    To stay away from a place or condition.

keep out of »    To restrain someone or something from entering a place or condition.

keep straight »    To avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized.

kernel of truth »    A core accuracy at the heart of a claim or narrative which also contains dubious or fictitious elements.

key off »    To take as a controlling input datum.

kick in »    To start or connect suddenly.

kick in »    To contribute, especially to a collection of money.

kick off the team »    In sports, to dismiss an athlete from a team, usually for misconduct, poor academic performance or other offenses.

kick out »    To stop, stall, or disconnect suddenly.

knacker's yard »    That area of a slaughterhouse where carcasses unfit for human consumption are rendered down to produce useful materials such as glue.

knock out »    To render someone unconscious, as by a blow to the head.

knock the living daylights out of »    To knock out; to hit and cause to be unconscious.

knock-on effect »    A secondary, often unintended effect.

knock-on effect »    The continued running of an engine after the ignition has been turned off; dieseling.

know the score »    Be aware of a situation, especially of the consequences of misconduct.

lap up »    To consume by lapping.

lead »    I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top. — Bacon.

leave no stone unturned »    To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.

lemon law »    A law dealing with defective items, especially automobiles, and consumers' rights.

let go and let God »    To consciously surrender one's free will to the will of God.

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.

life of Riley »    An ideal life of carefree prosperity and contentment.

like gangbusters »    Vigorously, rapidly, zealously, or forcibly; in a manner which has considerable impact.

like hot cakes »    Quickly, especially by purchase or consumption.

live by the sword, die by the sword »    One who uses violence can expect a violent response. It is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey poetic justice.

live on »    To survive solely by consuming a certain thing.

live one »    Someone who is eccentric, nonconformist, or otherwise peculiar.

loaded for bear »    Mentally prepared for a daunting situation or confrontation.

loaded for bear »    Thoroughly equipped, as for a demanding task or confrontation.

loaded word »    Any word, set phrase or idiom that has strong positive or negative connotations beyond their ordinary definition.

lock horns »    To come into conflict.

log off »    To depart from conversation; to say goodbye.

lone gunman »    An individual person who acts on his or her own initiative, without partners, especially one who has sole responsibility for doing something questionable, confidential, or iniquitous.

long absent, soon forgotten »    Love fades away when people are distant and don't keep close physical contact.

long drink »    Any drink containing more than 5 ounces of liquid and less than 9 ounces. Typically, a long drink will have lots of ice and mixer.

long story short »    Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.

long time »    Used as part of greeting of two people who have not been in contact for a long time.

long ways, long lies »    Someone who comes back from a far-off country can tell lies without fear of being contradicted.

look into »    To investigate, explore, or consider.

look the other way »    To ignore something wrong. Similar to connive.

Loose cannon »    An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.

loose end »    A small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved, before a task can be considered complete.

lose it »    To lose control of a situation.

lose one's cool »    To become upset or disconcerted; to lose one's temper.

lose touch »    To cease to be familiar with someone or something or to cease to communicate or have contact.

louse up »    Mess up; confuse; put into a state of disorder.

low blow »    A rhetorical attack that is considered unfair or unscrupulous.

lucky dip »    A game in which prizes are covered up and mixed together in a container, so that contestants can dip their hand into the container and randomly pull out a prize.

mad money »    A sum of money kept in reserve or to insulate oneself financially in the event of the sudden breakdown of a relationship in which one is economically dependent.

made in the shade »    In a condition characterized by comfort, success, easy living, or general well-being.

make book »    To be very confident.

make it up as one goes along »    To improvise continuously.

make over »    To renovate or to convert to a different use.

make up »    To constitute; to compose; to form.

make up one's mind »    To decide; to reach a conclusion.

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.

match made in hell »    A very unsuccessful or conflicting combination of two people or things.

meaty »    Of, relating to, or containing meat.

mess up »    To cause a problem with; to introduce an error or mistake in; to make muddled or confused; spoil; ruin.

mess up »    To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.

might makes right »    The stronger and more powerful rule others, control the situation or determine right and wrong.

mill around »    To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.

mince words »    To restrain oneself in a conversation by withholding some comments or using euphemisms.

mind one's own business »    To concern oneself only with what is of interest to oneself and not interfere in the affairs of others.

mint condition »    Used, but still like new, as if freshly minted.

mix up »    To confuse or reverse.

mix up »    confused situation

mixed bag »    Any bag containing a mixture of something.

mixed message »    Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent.

monkey business »    An activity that is considered silly, or stupid, or time-wasting.

monkey business »    An activity that may be considered illegal, questionable, or a vice, but not felonious.

moral high ground »    A position or point of view which is ethically superior or more reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.

morning, noon and night »    Constantly; ceaselessly; without stopping.

music to one's ear »    Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.

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.

neck and neck »    Very close in progress, as in a race or contest.

never mind »    Do not be concerned.

never you mind »    Do not concern yourself with it; it is none of your business.

nightcap »    The second game of a doubleheader.

no glove, no love »    Without a condom, there will be no sex.

no man is an island »    All people are connected to other people and dependent on other people.1623, John Donne,

no pain, no gain »    One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals.

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.

no strings attached »    Without conditions or obligations; without a catch.

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.

nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat »    The idea/proposed action is inconsequential to the current situation.

nosebleed seat »    A seat high in the back of bleachers, stands, or the balcony at a theater.

not at all »    Used similarly to you're welcome, as a conventional reply to an expression of gratitude.

not give a monkey's »    Not to have the slightest interest or concern.

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.

off chance »    A condition of not being likely or probable.

off the hook »    Of a telephone, having an open connection; not hung up.

off the rails »    Out of control.

off the table »    Beyond consideration.

off-color »    Considered dirty, vulgar or obscene.

off-the-wall »    Wildly unconventional; bizarre; absurd.

offer one's condolences »    To offer sympathy to someone.

Old Fart »    An elderly person who holds views that are considered old-fashioned.

old hat »    Something widely or long practiced, known, or accepted; something conventional.

old money »    The monetary system used in the United Kingdom before decimalisation and consisting of pounds, shillings, and pence.

old school »    Characteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.

on a whim »    Done without thinking seriously about the consequences.

on all fours »    Similar in nature or effect to something else; consistent.

on end »    Remarkably long; continuously.

on its merits »    Considering only intrinsic good points and bad points, without prejudice or other considerations, such as procedural ones.

on second thought »    After reconsidering; on further consideration.

on the ball »    Being in control of the ball.

on the bounce »    Consecutively, in succession.

on the cheap »    Economically, especially if too economically.

on the line »    In a contest or enterprise.

on the loose »    Not incarcerated or in captivity; not under control.

on the mend »    Improving or undergoing restoration to a previous, more favorable condition.

on the pill »    Using oral contraceptives.

on the run »    Constantly traveling or moving from place to place.

on the sly »    Slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.

on top of »    Fully informed about, and in control of something; up to speed with.

on track »    Proceeding as planned, as expected, or in a manner consistent with an established pattern.

once and for all »    Finally, permanently, conclusively.

one in the eye for »    An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.

one thousand »    Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which each iteration is sequentially numbered and supposed to be approximately one second in length.

one who hesitates is lost »    A person who spends too much time contemplating what to do may miss a valuable but fleeting opportunity.

out of character »    Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.

out of the question »    Impossible to even contemplate.

out of touch »    No longer conversant with facts; not aware or realistic.

out of touch »    No longer maintaining contact or communications.

outside the box »    Beyond the bounds of convention.

outsider »    A competitor or contestant who has little chance of winning; a long shot; a dark horse.

over a barrel »    In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, in which one may be controlled or victimized.

over and out »    Used to signal the end of a conversation, especially one conducted by CB radio or the like.

over one's head »    More complex or confusing than one can understand; beyond one’s comprehension..

own up »    To acknowledge, confess, or admit guilt. Often used with to.

packing heat »    Carrying one or more firearms on one's person, especially in a concealed manner.

pain in the neck »    Someone or something which is annoying, irritating or inconvenient.

parting shot »    An insult or barbed comment issued as the speaker departs or the conversation comes to an end.

pass on »    To convey or communicate.

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.

pass the hat »    To ask for money, especially from a group of people; to solicit donations or contributions.

pay for it »    To suffer the consequences of one's actions.

pay the fiddler »    To contribute in order to participate.

pay the fiddler »    To face the consequences of one’s actions..

pay the piper »    To pay a monetary debt or experience unfavorable consequences, especially when the payment or consequences are inevitable in spite of attempts to avoid them.

peachy keen »    Extremely good, exactly right; all right. Often used in the negative or with an ironic or sarcastic connotation to mean the opposite.

peashooter »    A toy gun, consisting of a tube through which peas or small objects are blown.

peel grapes »    To perform a menial task, eliminating trivial inconveniences.

penny for your thoughts »    Used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another, especially when the person appears pensive or conflicted.

people person »    Someone who is happier or more skilled at dealing with people rather than things or concepts.

perfect storm »    A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.

perfect storm »    A situation where a calamity is caused by the convergence and amplifying interaction of a number of factors.

pickle »    Any vegetable preserved in vinegar and consumed as relish.

piece of ass »    A very attractive woman, when considered as a sex object.

pig in a poke »    Something whose true value is concealed or unknown, especially something offered for sale.

pissing contest »    A boys' prankish competition to determine who can urinate the furthest up a wall.

pissing contest »    An argument which is instigated, or exacerbated while consuming alcohol.

pissing contest »    An immature dispute over some trivial matter.

pitch in »    To help out; lend assistance; contribute; to do one's part.

pitched battle »    An intense, rancorous argument or confrontation.

play fast and loose »    To be recklessly inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise ignoring guidelines and conventions.

play fast and loose »    To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits ones purpose.

play possum »    To dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive.

play second fiddle »    To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else.

plead the fifth »    To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.

plug away »    To persist or continue, as with an effort.

plus  »    (literally) The more it changes, the more it's the same thing (sometimes loosely translated as the more things change, the more they stay the same).Although the outward appearance may change, fundamentals are constant.

poison pen »    A usually intentionally rude, spiteful, and/or condescending piece of writing directed at a person, group, lifestyle, way of thought, or other target.

poison tree bears poison fruit »    Unethical actions in the service of good intentions will have immoral or unethical consequences.

power up »    To turn the electrical power on to a device as a precondition to make it operational.

preach to the choir »    Speaking as if to convince a person or group of something which that person or group already believes.

pretty penny »    A considerable amount of money; a high price or a high income.

prevail upon »    To convince; to persuade.

pride comes before a fall »    A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.

problem child »    A child who is particularly difficult to raise or educate, especially due to a lack of self-control and disruptive and antisocial behavior.

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.

puddle jumper »    A small passenger airplane, typically used for shorter connecting trips to smaller airports.

pull one's finger out »    To stop wasting time in preliminaries, and concentrate on the important task.

pull one's head in »    To withdraw as a turtle might; to discontinue support of a particular argument.

pull out »    To use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control.

pull out »    To remove something from a container.

put down for »    To record that someone has offered to help, or contribute something.

put forward »    To propose for consideration.

put one past somebody »    To deceive, trick, or fool, especially by concealing something.

put someone in mind of »    To remind someone of; to inspire a mental image or awareness of; to cause thoughts concerning.

put together »    To assemble, construct, or build.

quick-and-dirty »    Done or constructed in a hasty, approximate, temporarily adequate manner, but not exact, fully formed, or reliable for a long period of time.

quite a bit »    A considerable amount.

rabble rouser »    Someone or something that tends to inspire mobs; something controversial or provocative.

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.

raise the spectre »    To cause concern that something unfortunate might happen.

rat race »    An activity or situation which is congested with participants and which is hectic or tedious, especially in the context of a busy, modern urban lifestyle.

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.

real men don't eat quiche »    (aphorism, humorous) The stereotypical man does not do things that are considered effeminate, as to do so would imply they are effeminate.

reality check »    A check or review to make sure something is consistent, reasonable, etc.

rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic »    To do something pointless or insignificant that will soon be overtaken by events, or that contributes nothing to the solution of a current problem.

red mist »    Uncontrollable rage.

red tape »    A derisive term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.

rediscover fire »    To relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.

reflect on »    To think carefully about something, and give it due consideration.

rein in »    To stop or slow something, by exercising control.

rely on »    To be confident in.

rex-pat »    A repeat expatriate, one who becomes ex-patriated a second time.

ride roughshod over »    To act in a bullying or inconsiderate manner; to display disregard towards someone or something.

ride tall in the saddle »    To act or conduct oneself in a manner that is imposing, impressive, resolute, or manly.

right back »    Used in several informal constructions to indicate return -- especially imminent return to a point of origin.

ring hollow »    To seem to be false or implausible; to be unconvincing.

ring off »    To finish a telephone conversation and disconnect.

ring off the hook »    Of a telephone, to ring constantly or excessively.

roadwarrior »    A person who carries a mobile device such as a laptop or PDA and uses wireless internet connections to work.

robber baron »    In Europe, an aristocrat who charged exorbitant fees or otherwise exacted money from people who journeyed across land or waterways which he controlled.

rock the boat »    To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.

rock the house »    To jam at a concert, get down.

rocket science »    Anything overly complex, detailed or confusing.

rocket scientist »    Someone qualified to understand or handle that which is overly complex, detailed or confusing; a genius.

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.

rub off on »    To adapt to a way of behaving after constant exposure to it.

ruffle some feathers »    To disturb; to arouse resentment, anger, or concern.

rum go »    An odd affair; a surprising event; a confusing experience; a queer thing.

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 contravene.

run off with »    To steal or abscond.

run on »    To continue without interruption.

run on »    To continue talking for a long time.

run rampant »    To go unchecked or without control; to be wild or excessive.

run roughshod over »    To treat roughly or without care, respect, or moderation; to act without control; to damage.

run something up the flagpole »    To float an idea that one suspects might be controversial.

runner up »    second-placed competitor

save someone's bacon »    To save someone's life.

school of hard knocks »    An education consisting of real-world experiences, especially harsh experiences.

scissorbill »    Someone considered contemptible or foolish.

screw it »    "I don't care enough to continue"; whatever.

screw this »    "I don't care enough to continue"; "This is too stressful for me"; whatever.

scrimp and save »    To scrimp greatly; to economize; to live very frugally, particularly when saving for something.

second banana »    A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.

second banana »    A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.

second childhood »    A childlike state in any adult, resulting from mental illness, trauma, or other conditions.

second childhood »    The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior.

second fiddle »    A fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle.

second fiddle »    A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.

second fiddle »    The person playing second fiddle.

second hand »    used

second nature »    A mindset, skill, or type of behavior so ingrained through habit or practice that it seems natural, automatic, or without a basis in conscious thought.

second sight »    clairvoyance

second string »    In sports, a unit of players that plays behind the first string.

second string »    Not as good; of a lower quality or condition.

second-guess »    Presumably from trying to guess with second sight.

second-guess »    Presumably from trying to improve with a second stab.

see a man »    A bland euphemism to conceal one's true purpose.

see eye to eye »    To agree with someone; to concur; to get along.

see someone through »    To constitute ample supply for one for.

see someone's point »    To comprehend the meaning that someone is trying to convey.

see the light »    To undergo a spiritual conversion.

sell a bargain »    A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".

seller's market »    An excess of demand over supply, leading to abnormally high prices; a market condition favoring the seller.

set in one's ways »    Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or established preferences.

set the stage »    To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.

sex machine »    Someone with considerable sexual prowess.

sexual congress »    Intercourse.

sexual congress »    Loose translation of the title of Aristophanes' play Ecclesiazousae, more literally translated as Assemblywomen.

shitstorm »    Considerable backlash from the public.

shoo-in »    A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.

shoot 'em up »    A short story, novel, television show, film, computer game, or other narrative which depicts considerable gunplay.

shoot first and ask questions later »    To take action with serious consequences without delay, preserving the benefit of surprise by not providing indication of one's intent.

shore up »    To strengthen, reinforce, or consolidate.

shotgun »    A gun which fires loads consisting of small metal balls, called shot, from a cartridge.

shrinking violet »    A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.

shroud »    That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects; a garment.

shrouded »    Concealed or hidden from sight, as if by a shroud.

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.

side issue »    An issue or topic which is not of direct significance to a primary concern.

sitting duck »    An obvious or unconcealed target.

skip rope »    To jump over a rope, both of whose ends are held by the jumper or by two others, while the rope is moved under the jumper's feet in a continual rhythm; to play the game of jump rope or exercise by jumping rope.

sleep on »    To consider after a period of sleep, implying a decision will be made the next day.

slippery slope »    A logical argument that follows a chain of events or causes and effects to some conclusion.

small fry »    One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.

small potatoes »    One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.

smoke and mirrors »    A deceptive, fraudulent, or unconvincing explanation or description.

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.

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.

snot-nosed »    Young and arrogant or conceited.

so long as »    Depending upon some condition or requirement; provided that; if, assuming; as long as.

so on and so forth »    Indicates that a list continues in a similar manner.

so-called »    Same as above, without the negative connotation.

so-called »    So named; called by such a name, with a very strong connotation that the item is not worthy of that name.

socialized medicine »    A politically charged term used to contrast such systems with free market alternatives and emphasize the perceived link to socialism.

soft shoe »    A speech, explanation, sales pitch, or other set of remarks delivered in a restrained or conciliatory manner in order to persuade, distract, or otherwise influence someone.

soldier on »    To continue or persist, despite adversity or difficulty.

sort out »    To separate from the remainder of a group; often construed with from.

sound as a bell »    In excellent condition.

sow the wind, reap the whirlwind »    Every decision has consequences; a person's actions will come back to him.

spark off »    To initiate something by providing the necessary conditions.

speak of the devil »    An expression sometimes used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens to arrive on the scene.

spectator sport »    An activity which consists of watching or observing.

spill one's guts »    To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change of motive or an incentive.

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 out »    To be obvious or conspicuous, in contrast to one's surroundings.

stay the course »    To persist or continue.

stick it out »    To persist or continue.

stick with »    To continue or persist; to stick to.

stickhandle »    To maintain individual possession of the puck or ball by controlling it with movements of one's stick, especially to do so in a skillful manner.

still water runs deep »    A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect

still waters run deep »    A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect.

stop someone in his tracks »    To prevent someone from continuing along a path or way, literal or figurative, he has begun going along.

storm in a tea-kettle »    A big fuss made in a small context.

straight out of the chute »    Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.

straighten out »    To eliminate confusion from or concerning.

strike through »    Partly obliterate text by drawing a continuous line through the centre thereof, usually to indicate the deletion of an error or obsolete information.

strike up »    To start something with somebody else. Usually a conversation or relationship.

stuck up »    Snobbish, conceited; believing oneself to be better than others; haughty.

sure of oneself »    Self-confident.

surprise surprise »    An indication that the unsurprising happened, especially contrary to someone's hopes or assertions.

swear on a stack of Bibles »    To make a promise or give one's assurance with great conviction.

sweetheart deal »    A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favorable terms to the other, especially in suspicious circumstances.

tail between one's legs »    A reaction to a confrontation, specifically one with excessive shame and hurt pride.

take a back seat »    To be second to someone or something; to be less important or have a lower priority.

take a number »    Recognize that many others are in the same situation; recognize that one's concerns are not of high priority; be prepared to wait.

take a powder »    To leave in a hurry; run away; scram; depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with a connotation of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.

take away »    To make someone leave a place and go somewhere else. Usually not with the person's consent.

take kindly »    To accept or condone.

take one's eye off the ball »    To lose one's concentration on what is most important.

take one's time »    To take more time to do something than is considered acceptable.

take out of context »    To interpret something in a manner in which it was not intended to be understood, often deliberately.

take over »    To assume control of something, especially by force; to usurp.

take over »    To annex a territory by conquest or invasion.

take sides »    To ally oneself with a given opinion, agenda or group; to support one side or viewpoint in a competition or confrontation.

take the bull by the horns »    To confront a difficulty, rather than avoiding it.

take the heat »    To take the blame; to be the focus of anger or scrutiny; to take the consequences.

take the Michael »    Alternative form of take the mickey, usually considered more polite.

take the wheel »    To assume control of a situation.

take the wheel »    To be in control of the steering wheel of a vehicle or a vessel.

take the wind out of someone's sails »    To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue.

take up with »    To be contented to receive; to receive without opposition; to put up with.

talk down »    To speak condescendingly or as though the listener is inferior.

tempus fugit »    time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.

test bed »    Any venue, setup, etc. used for experimentation, testing, proving a concept, etc.

that's that »    There is nothing more to say or to do concerning the matter.

that's what's up »    Used to express acquiescence or concurrence.

the end justifies the means »    Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can only be considered morally right or wrong by virtue of the morality of the outcome.

the finger »    An obscene gesture, typically consisting of extending the middle finger at somebody.

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 »    The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations; the system, as coordinated outside of one’s control..

the terrorists will have won »    Phrase used following a description of an activity to indicate that if that activity is not continued or carried out, those who seek to disrupt normal activities through terror will have succeeded, an which is an unacceptable result.

the thing of it »    The important point to consider.

then again »    From another point of view; on the other hand; on second thought.

there, there »    Conveys comfort; used to calm somebody urge somebody to relax, especially when the person is crying.

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.

think through »    To fully consider an action, and understand all its consequences.

think twice »    To reconsider, use judgement; to proceed with caution or thought.

third degree »    Intensive rough interrogation in order to extract information or a confession.

third string »    A unit of players that plays behind the first and second strings; a junior varsity team.

third string »    Of a decidedly lower quality or condition.

thrash out »    To discuss something so fully as to resolve a problem or conflict; to hammer out.

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

throw for a loop »    To confuse or disorient; to throw off; to mix up.

throw money away »    To spend money foolishly or indiscriminately; to waste money without regard of the consequences.

throw off »    To confuse; especially, to lose a pursuer.

throw one's hat in the ring »    To announce one's candidacy in a contest.

throw smoke »    To consistently pitch fastballs that are difficult to hit.

throwing money away »    The act of spending money foolishly; wasting money without regard of the consequences.

tie up »    link, connection

tie up loose ends »    To deal with the minor consequences of a previous action; to tidy up, finish, or complete.

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.

time out »    To call for a suspension of activity or conversation.

timeserver »    A person who conforms to current opinions, especially for reasons of personal advantage; an opportunist.

timing is everything »    Consideration of other events can greatly influence some desired outcome (such as an audience laughing to a comedian's joke).Telling the old joke about a butt-crack was not a good idea, just as the plumber arrived, Bob.You know what they say: "timing is everything." I'm sure we can find another plumber before the house floods.

to give a person line »    To allow a person more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him/her, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line.

to go »    Served in a package or takeout container so as to be taken away from a restaurant rather than eaten on the premises.

to one's heart's content »    Until satisfied; as much as is wished.

to the victor go the spoils »    The winner of a conflict wins additional benefits, beyond just the subject of the conflict.

toe the line »    To abide by the rules or conventions.

tomorrow is another day »    Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed

too big for one's britches »    Disturbingly confident, unacceptably cocky.

top shelf »    Books, magazines, or movies that have adult content, or soft-core porn.

touch a nerve »    To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment.

touch base »    To consult, visit, or communicate with.

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.

touchy-feely »    Having a fondness for physical contact with other people, especially to an excessive degree.

turf war »    A fight or confrontation between two divisions or parties for access to resources or capital.

turn down »    To reduce the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.

turn heads »    To garner a considerable amount of attention.

turn up »    To increase the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.

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.

under one's hat »    Concealed; confidential; secret.

under one's thumb »    Completely controlled by someone; at someone’s command..

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 against »    In contact with, abutting.

up to »    Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.

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.

victory at sea »    Ocean conditions very windblown and messy, possibly to the point of being inimical to surfing and other water sports.

virgin territory »    By extension, ideas or concepts or activities that have not yet been tried, explored or developed.

wade in »    To interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.

walk the line »    To behave in an authorized or socially accepted manner, especially as prescribed by law or morality; to exercise self-control.

walk the line »    To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc..

warm the cockles of someone's heart »    To provide happiness, to bring a deeply-felt contentment.

watch out »    To be aware or conscious; to look closely or carefully; to use caution. Often used in the imperative.

water under the bridge »    Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.

watered-down »    Diluted; containing extra water.

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.

wear out »    To deteriorate or become unusable or ineffective due to continued use, exposure, or strain.

wear out »    To exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness, as by continued strain or exertion.

wear out »    To become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary, as by continued strain or exertion.

wet boy »    A contractor assassin or hit man.

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.

what of it »    So what? Who cares? Expresses disinterest, disregard or lack of concern.

when the cat's away the mice will play »    In the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances.

when the shit hits the fan »    A reference to the messy consequences of a secret or private situation becoming public.

when, as, and if »    Used to indicate the timing and contingency of some obligation in contracts, especially financial.

where's the beef »    Where is the content? So what?.

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 past the graveyard »    To enter a situation with little or no understanding of the possible consequences.

white marriage »    An unconsummated marriage.

who pays the piper calls the tune »    One who pays for something controls it.

wild horses »    A force not subject to human control and normally stronger than a man.

willy nilly »    Without regard for consequences or the will of those affected.

work out »    To conclude with the correct solution.

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.

worse for wear »    In poor physical condition due to long or heavy use.

wrap it before you tap it »    wear a condom before sexual intercourse.

write down »    In a simple or condescending style.

you can hang your hat on that »    It's something to put faith in, to rely upon or trust (when used in a positive connotation).

you can't judge a book by its cover »    It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.

zero in on »    To concentrate or focus one's attention on at task.

zero in on »    To converge on something.

zip up »    To convert a computer file into a smaller package.

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