a camel is a horse designed by a committee »
An expression critical of committees
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a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
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ace in the hole »
A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.
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across the board »
A racing bet where one bets that the same competitor will place in first, second and third.
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across the board »
Pertaining to all categories or things.
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across the pond »
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
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air rage »
Disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.
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all it's cracked up to be »
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
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all over hell's half acre »
All over the place; everywhere.
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all the rage »
Very fashionable and popular, like a craze.
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and change »
And some quantity, but less than the increment to the next round number.
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and counting »
Used to show that the number previously mentioned is continuously changing, i.e. increasing or decreasing.
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arm candy »
An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public simply so that one or both of the individuals can gain attention, enhance social status, or create an impression of sexual appeal.
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around the bend »
Crazy, insane.
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as if »
In mimicry of.
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as the crow flies »
In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
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ask for »
To increase the likelihood of something by persisting in some action; to invite.
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at cross purposes »
Against one another; contrary in direction or goals.
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at cross-purposes »
Mutually misunderstanding each other's plans, intentions or meanings.
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At ease with nudity »
ISM free identification with nude recreation
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avant la lettre »
An example of a term before the term was coined. Describing a term used anachronistically.
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babes in the wood »
Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.
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bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
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bail out »
To exit an aircraft while in flight.
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balance the books »
To add up all the debits and credits.
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ball up »
To crush into a ball shape.
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banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
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baptism by fire »
A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis.
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barnburner »
Liberal faction of the New York state United States Democratic Party in the mid 19th century.
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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.
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battle cry »
By extension, a strong motto or purpose statement, especially in regards to winning a goal in sports, games or work.
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battle cry »
Something the troops yell out when going to war or battle.
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be had up »
To be accused of, or arrested for a criminal act.
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be in on »
To be a party to a secret shared by a small group of people.
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beat the crap out of »
To beat really badly.
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beat up »
To sail to windward using a series of alternate tacks across the wind.
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behind somebody's back »
Without somebody's knowledge; secretly.
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behind the counter »
Of drugs, dispensed by a pharmacist without needing a doctor's prescription or other form of compliance.
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behind the scenes »
In secret; out of public view.
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believe in »
To ascribe existence to.
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believe in »
To ascribe some powers or other attributes to.
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beyond the pale »
Describing behaviour that is considered to be outside the bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgement in civilised company.
|
big up »
To increase one's muscle mass through exercise.
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bird in the bosom »
A secret pledge that one makes for another.
|
birds and bees »
Informal sex education, especially describing the sexual activity of animals rather than that of people.
|
black »
Lacking cream, milk, and creamer.
|
black »
Overcrowded.
|
black-on-black »
A description of the colors of an automobile .
|
blanket term »
A word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.
|
blow smoke »
To speak with a lack of credibility, sense, purpose, or truth; to speak nonsense.
|
blue state »
A state of the United States voting Democratic in a given election, or tending to vote Democratic in general.
|
bone up »
To study or cram, especially in order to refresh one's knowledge of a topic.
|
boot camp »
Indoctrination, physical fitness training and basic instruction in service-related subjects for recruits in the Navy and Marine Corps.
|
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.
|
bow out »
To resign, or leave, with one's credibility still intact.
|
brick by brick »
To create or build something in a steady, step-by-step fashion.
|
brickbat »
A criticism or uncomplimentary remark hurled at artwork or other recipient.
|
brickbat »
For example, it's quite common for magazines to have a section called Bouquets and Brickbats for compliments and criticisms.
|
bring forth »
To create, generate, bring into existence.
|
broad across the beam »
Without fat on the hips and the bottom.
|
broad shoulders »
The ability to take criticism, or accept responsibility.
|
bucket of bolts »
A piece of machinery that is not worth more than its scrap value, often of old cars.
|
bump up »
To increase something suddenly.
|
bumper crop »
A large yield; an excess of something.
|
burnt to a crisp »
Inedible.
|
butterfly upon a wheel »
An innocent person crushed by life's adversities.
|
by hook or by crook »
By any means possible; one way or another.
|
by the way »
Incidentally; a parenthetical statement not timely, central, or crucial to the topic at hand; foregone, passed by, something that has already happened.
|
cake crumbs »
Crumbs from a cake.
|
cake crumbs »
Hardly anything.
|
calling card »
A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.
|
calling card »
Excrement, especially of a domestic animal.
|
cap over the windmill »
In a crazed manner.
|
carpe diem cras »
seize the day tomorrow, make the most of tomorrow
|
carry a torch for »
[2] To harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.
|
cat's cradle »
A children's string game.
|
cat's cradle »
Any complicated structure which appears to be without purpose.
|
catbird seat »
Expression used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.
|
chalk up »
To attribute, credit, or blame.
|
charley horse »
A muscle cramp, usually in the thigh or leg.
|
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 »
Any summary or quick reference used as a shortcut or reminder, a crib sheet.
|
check is in the mail »
A common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors.
|
cheek by jowl »
In close proximity; crammed uncomfortably close together.
|
circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
|
class clown »
A student who frequently makes jokes or pokes fun; a wiseacre.
|
clay »
A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.
|
climb up »
To make a gradual ascent or increase.
|
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 up »
Unintentionally; to screw up, mess up or f** up.
|
come a cropper »
To fall headlong from a horse.
|
come a cropper »
To suffer some misfortune; to fail.
|
come about »
To tack; to change tack; to maneuver the bow of a sailing vessel across the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to position a boat with respect to the wind after tacking.
|
come across »
To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image.
|
come across »
To find, usually by accident.
|
come out of the closet »
To tell others about homosexuality, bisexuality or any minority or disapproved-of belief, preference, etc., where previously this had been kept secret.
|
come unhinged »
To become angered or crazy; to lose control of one's senses or sanity.
|
come up »
To begin to feel the effects of a recreational drug.
|
come up with »
To invent, create, or think of.
|
comfort woman »
A woman forced, or supposedly recruited, into brothels by the Japanese occupation forces during World War II.
|
company »
The entire crew of a ship.
|
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.
|
crab mentality »
A way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot.
|
crack a crib »
To break into a house.
|
crack down »
To enforce more stringently or more thoroughly.
|
crack down on »
To enforce laws or punish more vigilantly.
|
crack of dawn »
The first moment of daylight; sunrise.
|
crack on »
Task.
|
crack up »
To laugh heartily.
|
crack up »
To cause to laugh heartily.
|
crack up »
To become insane; to suffer a mental breakdown.
|
cradle robber »
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.
|
cramp someone's style »
To restrict someone's free actions, or to give the impression of such.
|
crane fly »
daddy longlegs
|
crank out »
To produce in large volumes mechanically or as if by machine.
|
crank up »
To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking.
|
crank up »
To increase, as the volume, power or energy of something.
|
crap out »
To break down.
|
crash and burn »
To fail utterly.
|
crash course »
A quick, intense course of learning, especially one which is informal or hurried.
|
crashpad »
Any place used for temporary lodging.
|
crashpad »
In the aviation industry, used for a place of temporary lodging for airline flight crews.
|
cream in one's jeans »
To ejaculate while wearing one's trousers.
|
cream in one's jeans »
To experience an orgasm while clothed; to be thoroughly excited or delighted.
|
cream of the crop »
The best or most desirable among some selection.
|
creature comfort »
Any small item or detail that makes a person comfortable and at home.
|
creature feature »
A horror film in which one or more monsters plays a prominent role.
|
creep into »
To enter something or somewhere by creeping.
|
creep into »
To enter surreptitiously.
|
creep up »
To advance with stealth, unnoticed.
|
crème de la crème »
Best of the best; something that's superlative. The very best.
|
criss-cross applesauce »
Cross-legged.
|
crocodile tear »
A tear shed insincerely, in a false display of sorrow or some other emotion.
|
crocodile tears »
A display of tears that is forced or false.
|
crocodile tears »
Plural form of crocodile tear.
|
crop up »
To occur, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.
|
cross my heart »
A declaration that the speaker is telling the truth.
|
cross off »
To strike out; to cross out; to draw a line through.
|
cross off »
To finish; to mark something as complete.
|
cross out »
To strike out; to draw a line through.
|
cross paths »
August 5 2004, SFGate.com.
|
cross paths »
To be, by chance, in the same physical place at the same time, as a result of two completely separate journeys.
|
cross someone's palm »
To give money to a person, especially as a bribe or as an inducement to perform a service.
|
cross someone's path »
To meet by chance.
|
cross that bridge when one comes to it »
To deal with a problem or situation only when it arises.
|
cross the aisle »
Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
|
cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
|
cross the floor »
Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
|
cross the floor »
To vote against one's own political party in parliament.
|
cross the line »
To cross the equator, as a vessel at sea.
|
cross the line »
To overstep a boundary, rule, or limit; to go too far or do something unacceptable.
|
cross the Rubicon »
To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.
|
crown jewels »
A part of a company sought by another in a hostile takeover.
|
crown jewels »
A prized possession or asset.
|
crown jewels »
The jewelry that accompany the office of rulership in a monarchy. I.e., crown, scepter, signet ring, etc.
|
crown jewels »
The male genitalia.
|
crowned heads »
monarchs
|
cruising for a bruising »
Following a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.
|
crunch numbers »
To figure; to do the math.
|
crush out »
To force out or separate by pressure.
|
cry all the way to the bank »
To be happy due to the receipt of money, although expressing sorrow about the cause of such receipt.
|
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 off »
To cancel something that one has previously arranged with someone.
|
cry one's eyes out »
To moan.
|
cry one's eyes out »
To weep for an elongated time, or in an excessive manner.
|
cry out »
To shout in a loud voice, due to pain, or fear, or unhappiness.
|
cry out against »
To complain strongly, usually as a group.
|
cry out for »
To say that a situation needs a thing, or a solution urgently.
|
cry someone a river »
To try to obtain the sympathy of another person by complaining or sniveling.
|
cry someone a river »
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
|
cry the blues »
To complain, especially in order to obtain sympathy for one's own purportedly sad situation.
|
cry the blues »
To sing in the style of blues music.
|
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.
|
crying shame »
It's a crying shame that so much money has been wasted on this pointless political campaign.
|
crystal clear »
Completely clear and understood.
|
crystal-clear »
Completely clear and understood.
|
cut red tape »
To reduce bureaucracy.
|
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.
|
day nursery »
creche
|
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.
|
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.
|
dictated but not read »
Dictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated the text so annotated.
|
dig up dirt »
To examine in order to find negative information for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.
|
dirty laundry »
Unflattering facts or questionable activities that one wants to remain secret, but which some other may use to blackmail with.
|
discretion is the better part of valour »
It is often wise to refrain from seemingly brave speech or action.1597
|
do a bunk »
To escape or flee under incriminating circumstances.
|
do a slow burn »
To experience a gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
|
does Macy's tell Gimbel's »
(US, dated, colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question with the implied answer being that competitors do not share business secrets with one another.
|
don't cry over spilled milk »
Alternative spelling of don't cry over spilt milk.
|
don't cry over spilt milk »
It is no use worrying about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.
|
dot the i's and cross the t's »
To take care of every detail, even minor ones; To be meticulous or thorough.
|
double cream »
dairy product
|
down the road, not across the street »
Along the radial artery rather than across the wrist from side to side.
|
drag »
To move a mouse cursor while holding down a button on the mouse, often to move something on the screen.
|
drag one's feet »
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
|
draw on »
To sketch or mark with pencil, crayon, etc., on a given surface.
|
drop a bomb »
To release faeces from the bowels; to excrete.
|
drop back »
Of a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.
|
Drop out of warp »
Dis-engage the cruise control on the car
|
drop the ball »
To fail in one's responsibilities or duties, or to make a mistake, especially at a critical point or when the result is very negative.
|
dry eye »
An eye which is not crying, i.e. someone emotionally unmoved.
|
dry eye »
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.
|
dry one's eyes »
To cease crying.
|
eat crow »
To recognize that one has been shown to be mistaken or outdone, especially by admitting that one has made a humiliating error.
|
elbow grease »
Effort or hard work, especially physical work involving repeated motion of the forearm, such as scrubbing.
|
every nook and cranny »
Everywhere.
|
everybody and his cousin »
Everybody; a huge crowd; too many people.
|
fade out »
decrease gradually
|
fail over »
To automatically switch processing from a failed component in a critical system to its live spare or backup component.
|
fall apart »
To be emotionally in crisis.
|
fall over »
Of a computer program, to crash.
|
fall through the cracks »
To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.
|
far cry »
Something very dissimilar or different.
|
fat of the land »
The greatest part of anything; the finest and most abundant share of resources; the cream of the crop.
|
feed a cold, starve a fever »
Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.
|
fencepost problem »
In computer programming, a problem dealing with how to treat the initial or boundary values of a discrete problem.
|
film critic »
movie reviewer
|
first among equals »
In the British and other parliamentary systems, a term used to describe the relationship of the prime minister to the other members of the cabinet.
|
first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
|
fishing expedition »
A non-specific search for information, especially incriminating information.
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
|
flesh out »
To complete; to create details from a basic outline, structure or skeleton.
|
flog a dead horse »
To attempt to get extra work out of a ship's crew during the dead horse period.
|
flutter in the dovecote »
A disturbance, usually one caused within a prescribed group of people.
|
fly off the handle »
To become very angry or enraged; to throw a fit or go crazy.
|
fly-by-night »
A creatures which flies at night; a nocturnal flier or traveler.
|
fly-by-night »
One who departs or flees at night in order to avoid creditors, law enforcement etc. .
|
fold one's tent »
To withdraw, especially in a discreet manner; to disengage; to quit.
|
for crying out loud »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
|
forewarned is forearmed »
Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
|
from scratch »
From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation; starting from raw ingredients.
|
full-fledged »
Having full qualification, credentials or preparation; entire; real.
|
gandy dancer »
A railway laborer, especially a member of a crew which carries rails and affixes them to ties.
|
garbage in, garbage out »
(computing, information technology) If input data is not complete, accurate, and timely, then the resulting output is unreliable and of no useful value.1963, Raymond Crowley, "Robot Tax Collector Seeks Indications of 'Fudging'," Times Daily (Alabama, USA), 1 April (retrieved 26 July 2010):Officials explained that the quality of the computer's work depends on the quality of the data fed into it. Neil Hoke, administrative assistant to Stewart, quoted an adage of computer men: "Garbage in, garbage out."2008, Roger K. Lewis, "'In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software," Washington Post, 19 July (retrieved 26 July 2010):The old caveat "GIGO"
|
get cracking »
To get started; to get busy.
|
get into trouble »
To perform an action which is illegal, prohibited, forbidden or proscribed and to become subject to punishment for such action.
|
get on somebody's case »
To lecture, berate, or complain to somebody, especially to find fault or criticize.
|
get one's wires crossed »
To get confused or mixed up; to make a mistake.
|
get over »
cross, surmount
|
get something over with »
To do something quickly and hastily; without procrastination, especially so as to have something unpleasant behind oneself.
|
give somebody the creeps »
To give someone a feeling of uneasiness or mild fright.
|
gloss over »
To cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash.
|
go back to the drawing board »
To start again; to scrap a previous idea or plan and try again from the beginning.
|
go blue »
Of states and counties, to be carried by a Democratic candidate in a given U.S. election.
|
go down »
To decrease; to change from a greater value to a lesser one.
|
go for it »
A cry of encouragement.
|
go over »
To create a response or impression.
|
go over »
To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze.
|
go south »
To become unfavorable; to decrease; to take a turn for the worse.
|
golden ticket »
A qualification, person or thing that can provide lucrative opportunities.
|
goodbye cruel world »
A call said before taking a stiff drink, especially a shot of vodka.
|
goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
|
gravy train »
An occupation or any lucrative endeavor that generates considerable income whilst requiring little effort and carrying little risk.
|
hand it to somebody »
To give somebody credit or praise.
|
hanging offence »
A crime so serious that it is punishable by means of death by hanging.
|
hatchet job »
A treatment which serves primarily to disparage its subject; a piece of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.
|
have a frog in one's throat »
To feel the need to cough; to have a tickle in one's throat; to have a scratchy or uneven voice.
|
have a scream »
To have a good time, to have a blast.
|
have a screw loose »
A phrase meaning that the subject is insane or irrational.
|
have an eye for »
To have good taste; to have the ability to discriminate or identify quality.
|
have bats in one's belfry »
To be crazy or eccentric.
|
head scratcher »
A device used to scratch the head.
|
head scratcher »
A particularly puzzling or confusing event.
|
head scratcher »
December 2007, W:Daily News Tribune - Golden Globes nominations a head-scratcher.
|
head scratcher »
July 2002, Fox News - Attorney: Williams' Kids Near Compromise About Father's Remains.
|
head south »
Alternative form of go south; to decrease or become unfavorable; to take a turn for the worse.
|
hike up »
To raise or increase sharply.
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his back is up »
He is offended or angry; an expression or idea taken from a cat; that animal, when angry, always raising its back. An allusion also sometimes used to jeer a crooked man.
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hit the rock »
To make a gesture to show celebration, friendship, or to be part of a secret handshake by one person raising their fist so the fist is pointing at the person and the other person lightly punches the fist.
|
hit the rock »
To use crack cocaine.
|
hold water »
To withstand scrutiny or criticism; to be valid.
|
hold with the hare and run with the hounds »
To oppose an action or behavior and yet engage in the same action or behavior; to be a hypocrite.
|
holding pattern »
A path taken by an aircraft waiting to land.
|
honey trap »
The use of a seductive woman to entice a man into revealing secret information.
|
hospital pass »
A throw that stays in the air long enough that it allows too many people to get underneath it, increasing the risk of injury and a trip to the hospital. Thus, a hospital pass.
|
hot cross buns »
good friday cakes
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hot off the presses »
Freshly printed, minted, written, or created.
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hot up »
To increase in temperature.
|
hum and haw »
Procrastinate and take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.
|
hung the moon »
To view or be viewed with uncritical or excessive awe, reverence, or infatuation.
|
ice cream »
dessert item
|
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.
|
in bed with »
Engaging in a close mutually beneficial relationship, especially secretly and illicitly.
|
in for a dime, in for a dollar »
Americanised form of in for a penny, in for a pound.1983, Allen Drury, Decision, p. 356:In for a dime, in for a dollar, he thought crazily, and said what he had to say in a voice he forced to stay level and calm.1998, Ellen Miller, Like Being Killed, p. 47:In for a dime, in for a dollar. I whispered to Gerry,
|
in the dock »
Under scrutiny; subject to critical inspection.
|
in the hot seat »
Under pressure to perform; under scrutiny; at the center of attention.
|
in the woods »
In critical condition; near death's door.
|
inside job »
A crime or other illicit action committed by or with the help of someone either employed by the victim or entrusted with access to the victim's affairs and premises.
|
it takes all kinds to make a world »
Diversity is essential: the world would be incomplete if everyone were alike.He irons his clothes how?! That's crazy! Well, I guess it takes all kinds.
|
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
|
jack up »
To raise, increase, or accelerate; often said of prices, fees, or rates. See also jack up the price.
|
jack up »
To ruin; wreck; mess up; screw up; sometimes as a bowdlerized substitution for f** up.
|
jump »
To employ a parachute to leave an aircraft or elevated location.
|
jump on »
To attack someone verbally, or criticise them over strongly for small errors.
|
jump on the bandwagon »
To profit from a craze; to join a trend.
|
jumped-up »
Describes a person who thinks he is superior in some way that the speaker disagrees with. For instance, of a higher class, or has more authority than they have in reality.
|
keep a lid on »
To keep something secret.
|
keep down »
To cause not to increase or rise.
|
keep mum »
Do not talk; especially keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.
|
keep one's lips sealed »
To keep quiet; to keep a secret; to not tell.
|
keep one's mouth shut »
To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly.
|
keep quiet »
To refrain from talking about something; to keep a secret.
|
keep shtum »
Don't tell anyone; especially, keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.
|
kicking and screaming »
With extreme reluctance.
|
kill the goose that lays the golden eggs »
To seek short term gain at the sacrifice of long term profit.
|
knowledge is power »
With knowledge and/or education, one's potential or ability to succeed in the pursuit of his objectives will certainly increase.
|
landing strip »
A runway for aircraft, especially one which is auxiliary or temporary.
|
last minute »
Point in time, too close to a deadline to reasonably begin a critical task.
|
lay down »
To sacrifice, especially in the phrase "to lay down one's life.".
|
lay the groundwork »
To create a foundation; to provide the basics or fundamentals.
|
leave somebody high and dry »
To abandon somebody; to stop providing assistance at a crucial moment.
|
left and right »
All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
|
left, right and center »
All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
|
legal duty »
A duty prescribed by the law, to act or forbear from acting.
|
less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
|
let in on »
To tell someone a secret.
|
let slip »
To divulge a secret, as by accident or mistake.
|
let somebody in on »
To disclose; to tell somebody a secret or share privileged information.
|
let the cat out of the bag »
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
|
like crazy »
To a great or excessive degree; with great speed, output, enthusiasm, etc.
|
like nobody's business »
In an extreme manner; rapidly; excessively; like crazy.
|
lion »
The arms of the University of the West Indies are Barry wavy of six Argent and Azure an open Book proper bound Gules garnished Or on a Chief of the third a Lion passant guardant Erminois. Crest: A Pelican proper. . See talk page.
|
listen in »
To eavesdrop; to listen secretly.
|
little pitchers have big ears »
Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, Abbeychurch, ch. 2:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."1939, "Bedtime Bedlam," Time, 17 Apr.:A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.2002, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ISBN 9780743455961, p. 185:I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).
|
long finger »
A state of postponement or procrastination.
|
long finger »
[hire purchase]] or credit.
|
Loose cannon »
A cannon that breaks loose during battle or a storm and causes serious damage to the ship and its crew.
|
lord of the flies »
A ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.
|
lose one's head »
To go crazy.
|
lose one's marbles »
To go crazy.
|
lose one's temper »
To be explosively angry. To get very cross.
|
low blow »
A rhetorical attack that is considered unfair or unscrupulous.
|
lump in one's throat »
A feeling of emotional sadness. On the point of crying.
|
lump to one's throat »
A feeling of emotional sadness. On the point of crying.
|
mad as a March hare »
Crazy, demented.
|
make an example of »
He made an example of the drunken sailor with twenty lashes, to show that he must have a sober crew.
|
make someone's skin crawl »
To disturb or bother; to frighten or disgust.
|
man of parts »
A man that is talented in multiple areas of life. This includes but is not limited to the area of seduction. He puts very little emphasis on memorized scripts or "peacocking" and instead relies on individualized ways to charm a woman.
|
man up »
His station, prepared for departure of an aircraft, ship, etc.
|
managerial inbreeding »
Bad management, caused by managers making poor selection choices in recruitment, rewards, and promotions of the staff that report to them, leading to another generation of managers who lack the necessary skill sets to reward and promote the most effective staff.
|
mark up »
To increase the price of something between its wholesale and retail phase.
|
measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
|
mike up »
To fit a microphone and transmitter to a person. Usually for television performers, or for police informers.
|
mock up »
To create a model or demonstration; to create a preliminary version or sample.
|
mocking is catching »
An admonishment to be careful of criticising others, lest the same happen to you.Mocking is Catching was the title of a 1726 song by Henry Carey.
|
more cry than wool »
Asserted but not grounded in reality.
|
moses basket »
portable cradle
|
muck out »
To clean the excrement and other rubbish from the area where an animal is kept, such as a horse stable or a dog kennel.
|
mum's the word »
The accompanying facts are a secret, not to be divulged.
|
murder will out »
Secrets or hidden crimes will eventually be exposed or discovered.
|
no screaming hell »
Something that is not particularly effective or impressive; something that is below expectations.
|
nobody's perfect »
Used when someone's mistakes or flaws are acknowledged, to remind that everyone else makes mistakes and has flaws1995, New York Magazine Vol. 28, No. 5, 30 January 1995, The de-moralization of society (Book Review)Hypocrisy, particularly in sexual matters, is excused on the grounds that hey, nobody's perfect, and at least folks back then felt bad enough to lie.2000, Madonna, Nobody's PerfectI feel so sad. What I did wasn't right. I feel so bad and I must say to you: Sorry, but nobody's perfect. Nobody's perfect. What did you expect? I'm doing my best
|
nose test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
|
not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
|
not cricket »
Unsportsmanlike.
|
noughts and crosses »
pen and paper game
|
off one's rocker »
Crazy; insane.
|
off the chain »
Crazy and exciting; delirious and wild. By analogy to a frenetic dog when unleashed.
|
off the deep end »
Crazy, erratic, or irrational.
|
on spec »
Short form of "on speculation": Creating a work with the hope of selling it, as opposed to creating a work "on commission" for hire.
|
on the anvil »
Refers to anything in the making, being created, or in production, especially in the metalworking field.
|
on the cuff »
On credit, with payment to be made later.
|
on the defensive »
Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
|
on the level »
A discreet reference to freemasonry.
|
on the sly »
Slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.
|
on the square »
A discrete, unassuming reference to freemasonry.
|
on the wane »
In a period of decrease or decline.
|
on tiptoe »
We crept out on tiptoe so as not to wake the children.
|
ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »
(biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.
|
overleap »
To leap over, to jump over, to cross by jumping.
|
paint oneself into a corner »
To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
|
paint with a broad brush »
To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.
|
painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
|
pan out »
By swirling dirt or crushed rock in a pan of water, in the manner of a traditional prospector seeking gold.
|
party crasher »
Someone who attempts and often gains entry to a party or club to which they were not invited, often using social engineering techniques. The party crasher usually tries to blend into the party so as not to be kicked out.
|
peaches and cream »
A very enjoyable experience.
|
peaches-and-cream »
Of facial complexion, smooth, with attractive yellow-pink coloring.
|
peanut gallery »
Any source of heckling, unwelcome commentary or criticism, especially from a know-it-all or of an inexpert nature.
|
pendre la cr%C3%A9maill%C3%A8re »
To have a housewarming party.
|
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones »
Do not criticize others if you have weaknesses yourself.
|
pick up »
To improve, increase, or speed up.
|
pick up »
To point out (a person's behaviour, habits or actions),in a critical manner.
|
piece of work »
A product or manufactured article, especially an item of art or craft.
|
plead the fifth »
To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
|
point of no return »
The point in an aircraft's flight when there is insufficient fuel to reverse direction and return to the place of origin.
|
potter »
God, the creator.
|
potter's clay »
A person or people created and shaped by God.
|
potter's field »
A public place where strangers, paupers, and criminals are buried.
|
powers that be »
The holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially as seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.
|
pre-war »
Describing the most recent or significant war in a culture's history.
|
pre-war »
Describing the period before a war.
|
pre-war »
Describing the period before the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
|
pretzel »
A toasted bread or cracker usually in the shape of a loose knot.
|
prevention is better than cure »
it is better to prevent the creation of a bad thing, than to destroy it.
|
price on one's head »
A compensation for capturing or killing a person, especially someone guilty of a crime.
|
put across »
To explain or state something clearly and understandably.
|
put across »
To perform a theatrical production.
|
put down »
To land an aircraft.
|
put forth »
To give or supply; to make or create.
|
put off »
To procrastinate.
|
put oneself across »
To explain one's ideas and opinions clearly so that another person can understand them and get a picture of your personality.
|
put through the wringer »
To interrogate or scrutinize closely; to subject to some trial or ordeal.
|
put to the test »
To test something or someone; to evaluate, scrutinize or explore by testing or experimentation.
|
quick-and-dirty »
Of or pertaining to the creation or repair of software or hardware in a manner which permits operation within a brief period of time, although with compromised functionality or reliability.
|
quicumque vult »
The Athanasian Creed.
|
rag bagger »
A sailboat, usually a cruising sailboats which tend to carry and store lots of supplies along the deck, or any sailboat that looks like a neglected vessel, or messy vessel.
|
rag bagger »
A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.
|
raise the bar »
To raise standards or expectations, especially by creating something to a higher standard.
|
raise the stakes »
To increase in significance or risk.
|
ramp up »
To increase rapidly to a new value.
|
red tape »
A derisive term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.
|
rev up »
To increase the speed of an engine, especially that of a stationary motor car.
|
rob the cradle »
To marry or become romantically involved with a much younger person.
|
rob the cradle »
To use a young person for a purpose inappropriate to his or her age.
|
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.
|
Rome wasn't built in a day »
It takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive.
|
rough and ready »
Crude or unpolished, but still fit for use; good enough.
|
round the bend »
Crazy, mad or insane.
|
rule out »
To cross an item out by drawing a straight line through it, as with a ruler.
|
run across »
To cross by running.
|
run across »
To find or discover by chance.
|
run away with »
To leave secretly with another person. Usually with the intention of getting married or of living together against the wishes of the family.
|
run down »
To criticize someone or an organisation, often unfairly.
|
run for »
To try to obtain political position through the democratic voting process.
|
run off with »
To leave with someone with the intention of living with them or marrying them. Usually in secret because other people think it is wrong.
|
run over »
To cross by running.
|
run over »
To briefly describe.
|
run up »
Of a bowler, to run, or walk up to the bowling crease in order to bowl a ball.
|
sacred cow »
Something which cannot be tampered with, or criticized, for fear of public outcry.
|
scrape off »
To remove something by a scraping action.
|
scrape the bottom of the barrel »
To use the least desirable parts of something.
|
scrape through »
To marginally manage to progress.
|
scrape together »
To collect, assemble or gather small amounts , from various sources, with some difficulty.
|
scratch one's head »
To puzzle, ponder, or wonder about something.
|
scratch that »
To disregard, omit, or ignore the previous statement.
|
scratch the surface »
To barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible.
|
scream »
A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
|
scream »
An entertaingly outrageous person.
|
scream »
Used as an intensifier.
|
scream bloody murder »
To protest loudly or angrily.
|
screen out »
To use a screen, grate, sieve or similar means to separate large from small objects or particles.
|
screen out »
Figuratively, to exclude.
|
screen test »
movie audition
|
screw back »
To cue the cue ball in such a way as to impart backspin. On impact, the ball will follow a reverse trajectory according to the spin.
|
screw it »
"I don't care enough to continue"; whatever.
|
screw the pooch »
To screw up; to fail in dramatic and ignominious fashion.
|
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.
|
scrounge up »
To seek or find despite a lack of apparent resources or availability.
|
seagull manager »
A manager who comes into the workplace or office only on occasion, especially when a problem arises or to criticize or critique employees.
|
secret agent »
spy
|
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".
|
senior note »
A bond that takes priority over other debt securities sold by the issuer. In the event the issuer goes bankrupt, senior debt must be repaid before other creditors receive any payment.
|
serpentine »
Of, or having attributes associated with, the mythological serpent, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.
|
sharp tongue »
The practice or characteristic of speaking to others in a harsh, critical, or insulting manner.
|
shoot off at the mouth »
Don't let [presidential press secretary Ron] Ziegler shoot off at the mouth without our knowledge.
|
shoot off at the mouth »
To disclose some information that was supposed to be secret.
|
short leash »
Forcing one to function within a strict set of rules, or under great scrutiny or oversight.
|
shotgun approach »
An approach in which the subject is indiscriminate and haphazard, using breadth, spread, or quantity in lieu of accuracy, planning, etc.
|
shoulder to cry on »
Someone offering emotional support to another in distress.
|
shroud »
A covered place used as a retreat or shelter, as a cave or den; also, a vault or crypt.
|
sign off »
Term used to describe the closing of a radio or television station's studios and cessation of a broadcasting signal, usually during the overnight hours.
|
silver screen »
By extension, the movies or that related to movies or cinema.
|
silver screen »
The cinema screen onto which movies are projected.
|
simmer down »
To decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement.
|
skeleton crew »
The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency or shut down, and at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.
|
skimp and save »
Alternative form of scrimp and save.
|
slip through the cracks »
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
|
slippery as an eel »
So crafty, or cunning that they cannot be caught by the police, although it is known that they are acting illegally.
|
slow burn »
A gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
|
smell test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
|
smoke and mirrors »
A deceptive, fraudulent, or unconvincing explanation or description.
|
smoking gun »
Evidence, particularly of a crime, that is difficult or impossible to dispute.
|
snazz up »
To improve appearance or appeal by increasing stylishness or functionality, or by adding other attractive features.
|
so so »
mediocre
|
soapbox »
A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.
|
softly softly »
Discreet, low-key, careful.
|
softroader »
. This involves increased ground clearance with tyre, wheel, and suspension tweaks, skid plates and refers to mini SUV or wagons.
|
spanner »
A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
|
speed up »
To accelerate, to increase speed.
|
spill one's guts »
To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change of motive or an incentive.
|
spill over »
To enter into another zone by way of accident or overcrowding; to overflow.
|
spill the beans »
To reveal a secret; to disclose.
|
spin a yarn »
To tell or create a story, especially one which is lengthy or far-fetched.
|
spy on »
To secretly watch; to surveil.
|
square cut »
cricket stroke
|
squirrel away »
To stash or hide; to hoard, collect, save, or accumulate; to create a reserve, stash, or hoard of some supply, so as to recall a squirrel's burying of nuts.
|
stat whore »
Through unscrupulous or tacky means.
|
stave in »
To stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to collapse inward.
|
steal away »
To leave secretively.
|
stem the tide »
To slow or stop the increase.
|
step in front of a moving train »
To sacrifice one's own life for a noble and loyal cause.
|
step up »
To increase speed or rate.
|
stepping stone »
A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
|
stick in someone's craw »
To cause lasting annoyance, irritation, or hard feelings.
|
stir-crazy »
By extension, restless, uncomfortable, or impatient due to inactivity.
|
stir-crazy »
Of a prisoner, mentally unbalanced due to prolonged incarceration.
|
stitch up »
To maliciously or dishonestly incriminate someone.
|
stop the lights »
An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.
|
stop up »
To increase the aperture of a photographic lens, moving from an f/stop represented by a higher number to an f/stop represented by a lower number and causing more light to pass into the camera.
|
stumble across »
To discover or find something by accident.
|
stumble across »
To meet somebody by chance.
|
success has many fathers, failure is an orphan »
Many will seek credit for success, few will accept responsibility for failure.
|
sweeten the pot »
To increase a wager.
|
swing for the fences »
To swing at the ball as hard as possible, with the aim of getting a home run, increasing the chance of missing the ball.
|
swing state »
A state which may vote Democratic or Republican, in a given election or generally; a purple state.
|
take a crack at »
To attempt or try.
|
take a crap »
To defecate.
|
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 apart »
To criticise someone.
|
take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves »
If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500:Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ?used to say?Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.1912, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion ii. 132:Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii.:Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.1999,
|
take leave of one's senses »
To go crazy; to stop behaving rationally.
|
take one's lumps »
To endure through criticism or other adversity.
|
take the fifth »
To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.
|
take the heat »
To take the blame; to be the focus of anger or scrutiny; to take the consequences.
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take the shadow for the substance »
To be easily deceived, credulous, superficial.
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talk out of turn »
To make a remark or provide information when it is inappropriate or indiscreet to do so, or when one does not have permission or the authority to do so.
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tartufo »
Hypocrite; tartuffe.
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tea service »
crockery set
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that's the way the cookie crumbles »
That is the way things happen; that's life.
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the calm before the storm »
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm.
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the plot thickens »
Used, often ironically, to describe an increasingly complex or mysterious situation.
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the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you take »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you're going to get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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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.
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the whole world and his dog »
Everybody; too many people; a huge crowd.
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there you have it »
Used to introduce a speaker's interpretation of what has just transpired or been described.
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there's no point crying over spilt milk »
You should not be upset over something that cannot be undone.
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there, there »
Conveys comfort; used to calm somebody urge somebody to relax, especially when the person is crying.
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thin end of the wedge »
Something that if allowed or accepted to a small degree would lead to systematic encroachment.
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thin-skinned »
Overly sensitive to criticism; quick to take offence; touchy.
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think up »
To create in one’s mind; to invent..
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three-on-the-tree »
On an automobile, describing the gearshift lever of a steering column-mounted three-speed manual transmission.
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through the roof »
Rapidly increasing.
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throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick »
Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.
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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
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throw money away »
To spend money foolishly or indiscriminately; to waste money without regard of the consequences.
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throw one's cap over the windmill »
To act in a crazed manner.
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throw to the wolves »
To sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.
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tiger team »
An engineering or other group assembled to tackle especially difficult or critical problems, often outside the normal chain of command.
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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.
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tip one's hand »
To inadvertently reveal any secret, particularly a secret that puts one at an advantage or disadvantage.
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top up »
To extend the credit of something.
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touch down »
To land an aircraft.
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tough nut to crack »
A difficult or sticky problem.
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train wreck »
The aftermath of a train crash.
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trash out »
To criticize the person spoken to in a rant.
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trench mouth »
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a severe bacterial infection of the gums, typically characterized by inflammation, bleeding, deep ulceration, necrotized tissue, pain, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, and halitosis.
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try one's hand »
To attempt a skill, craft, or trade.
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turn a phrase »
To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.
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turn one on »
To increase interest.
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turn the corner »
To pass a critical point.
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turn up »
To increase the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.
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twelfth man »
reserve in cricket
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two's company, three's a crowd »
One companion is better than two.
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under a cloud »
Under suspicion; subject to critical inspection.
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under fire »
Criticized or held responsible for something.
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under one's hat »
Concealed; confidential; secret.
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under the microscope »
Under close scrutiny or examination.
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under the radar »
Without attracting notice; in an undetected or secretive manner.
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under the table »
Secretly or without reporting, especially of payments made or business transacted.
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under the wire »
Across the finish line.
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under wraps »
Secret or hidden.
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up a creek »
In trouble; in a difficult situation.
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up a creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation, without any help. Superlative form of up a creek: most up a creek.
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up shit creek »
Alternative form of up the creek.
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up shit creek without a paddle »
Alternative form of up the creek without a paddle.
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up the creek »
In trouble.
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up the creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation with no means of rectifying it.
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up the wall »
Crazy, mad.
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up to scratch »
Sufficient; adequate; of acceptable or satisfactory quality.
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up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
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upper crust »
The social elite.
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upper crust »
The topmost layer of a bread, pastry dish, or other item with a hardened coating.
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wage war »
A figurative allusion to pay discrepancies.
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walk in the park »
A recreational walk in a park.
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walk it off »
To walk or pace in order to relieve a pain or cramp.
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walk the line »
To behave in an authorized or socially accepted manner, especially as prescribed by law or morality; to exercise self-control.
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walk the talk »
To do what one said one could do, or would do, not just making empty promises. To walk one's talk is to be innocent of hypocrisy.
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war bride »
A company or individual whose business is increased by warfare.
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warts and all »
Of or pertaining to a description or other depiction which reveals the full range of characteristics of a person or thing, including the shortcomings and imperfections.
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what it says on the tin »
Exactly what is described or what one would expect from the name.
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what you see is what you get »
The screen image resembles the printed output.
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whatever creams your twinkie »
Do what you will, whatever makes you happy.
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when push comes to shove »
When the pressure is on; when the situation is critical or urgent; when the time has come for action, even if it is difficult.
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when the chips are down »
When the pressure is on; when the situation is urgent or critical.
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when the shit hits the fan »
A reference to the messy consequences of a secret or private situation becoming public.
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whipped cream »
dessert topping
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white on rice »
A descriptive analogy of closeness. See like white on rice.
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window dressing »
A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only.
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wipe out »
To crash, fall over.
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work out »
To habitually exercise rigorously, especially by lifting weights, in order to increase strength or muscle mass or maintain fitness.
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work the crowd »
To work the room.
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wouldn't say boo to a goose »
Describing a quiet, exceptionally shy person.
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you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
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you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours »
If you do me a favor then I will do you a favor; quid pro quo.
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you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette »
In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that something should be destroyed.
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