a few sandwiches short of a picnic »
Exhibiting disquiet or unsoundness of mind; not sane; mad.
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act one's age »
To be mature and not childish.
|
act out »
To express one's feelings through disruptive actions.
|
agree to disagree »
To tolerate each other's opinion and stop arguing; to acknowledge that an agreement will not be reached.
|
air out »
To expose to air; to leave open or spread out, as to allow odor or moisture to dissipate.
|
air out »
To discuss in the open.
|
air rage »
Disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.
|
all hell broke loose »
A great disaster happened or chaos ensued.
|
all in a day's work »
A nonchalant dismissal of a significant accomplishment.
|
all over the map »
Widely scattered or distributed; numerous and differing greatly.
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all over the shop »
Everywhere, scattered, disorganised.
|
all the way to Egery and back »
The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.
|
April showers bring May flowers »
April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains.By extension, that a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness.
|
are your ears burning »
Said of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
|
argue out »
To discuss to reach an agreed conclusion, or decision.
|
arm's length »
Distant, detached.
|
as the crow flies »
In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
|
assault and battery »
. This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.
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at arm's length »
At a distance, away from one's body.
|
at bay »
Unable to come closer; at a distance.
|
at odds »
In disagreement; conflicting.
|
at peace with »
Not disturbed or upset by.
|
at sixes and sevens »
In a state of dispute or disagreement.
|
autem cackler »
Dissenters of every denomination.
|
bad egg »
disreputable character
|
bad penny »
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
|
bad taste in one's mouth »
A feeling of disappointment and frustration.
|
barrel »
A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged.
|
barrel of laughs »
That which is immature, embarrassing, or disgraceful.
|
bat around »
To discuss.
|
bat away »
To avoid by diverting the focus of a discussion.
|
be still my heart »
Calm down, this situation is too exciting or overly distressing.
|
beam up »
To be teleported over a long distance by means of a specific imaginary technology, specifically from the surface of a planet to an orbiting starship.
|
behind closed doors »
Public disclosure.
|
behind the counter »
Of drugs, dispensed by a pharmacist without needing a doctor's prescription or other form of compliance.
|
behind the eight ball »
At a disadvantage.
|
bench jockey »
A baseball term for a player, coach or manager who is annoying and distracts opposition players and umpires from his team's dugout bench with verbal repartee.
|
between a rock and a hard place »
Having the choice between two unpleasant or distasteful options; in a predicament or quandary.
|
between Scylla and Charybdis »
Similar in meaning to between a rock and a hard place.
|
bite me »
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
|
black »
Illegitimate, illegal or disgraced.
|
black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
|
black sheep »
A disliked person; one who is disfavored.
|
blessing in disguise »
A misfortune that has an unexpected benefit.
|
blow away »
To be dispersed as a result of being blown.
|
blow off »
To shoot something with a gun, causing it to come disconnected.
|
blow the whistle »
To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.
|
blow up »
To fail disastrously.
|
blow up in one's face »
To fail disastrously.
|
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.
|
booze can »
A nightclub or bar, especially one which operates illegally or is otherwise disreputable.
|
boys and their toys »
Used to evoke the idea that adult men sometimes dote excessively on machines, automobiles, and gadgets in a childish manner.
|
break in the case »
A new discovery in a case.
|
break up »
To break or separate into pieces; to disintegrate or come apart.
|
break up »
To dissolve; to part.
|
bright line »
A clear distinction in the context of a legal or moral judgment.
|
bring forth »
To display, produce, bring out for display.
|
brown bread »
Bread with a brown colour as distinct from white bread, wholemeal, granary or other specific types of bread.
|
browned off »
Annoyed, upset, angry, bored, fed up, disgusted.
|
brush off »
An abrupt rebuff or dismissal.
|
bugger off »
An expression of disagreement or disbelief.
|
bundle of nerves »
A person with an especially nervous, excitable, or fearful disposition.
|
burst someone's bubble »
To disillusion; to disabuse someone of a false notion or rationalization that has grown comfortable.
|
bush telegraph »
A system used by undeveloped societies in remote regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds, word-of-mouth relay, or smoke signals.
|
business before pleasure »
An admonishment that discharging one's obligations must take precedence over devoting time to pursuits meant solely for one's own gratification.
|
by a long shot »
By a wide margin; indicates a very big difference or disparity.
|
calling card »
An attribute, object, or behavior which is distinctly characteristic of someone or something.
|
cast away »
To discard.
|
cast off »
To discard or reject something.
|
catch out »
To discover or expose as fake or insincere.
|
cause a stir »
To cause controversy, or raise a disturbance.
|
chew the scenery »
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
|
chime in »
To talk; to join in conversation or discussion.
|
chip in »
To interrupt a discussion for the purpose of making a comment.
|
chuck away »
To discard, or throw away.
|
chuck out »
To discard, to dispose of.
|
circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
|
clear up »
Of stormy weather, to dissipate, to become calm.
|
climb the walls »
To behave in a distressed or frantic manner; to feel very agitated.
|
clock up »
To accumulate a large distance.
|
cock a snook »
To spread one hand, place the thumb on the nose and wriggle some of the fingers as a gesture of disrespect.
|
cold shoulder »
A deliberate act of disrespect; a slight or snub.
|
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 on »
To encounter, discover; to come upon.
|
come on »
An expression of disbelief.
|
come out »
To be discovered, be revealed.
|
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 to grief »
To have a disastrous outcome.
|
come to terms »
To reach an agreement or settle a dispute.
|
country mile »
A long way, a great distance.
|
cover up »
To conceal or disguise.
|
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.
|
cry for help »
Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.
|
crying shame »
A situation that is considered to be a disgrace, or deplorable.
|
cut up »
distress greatly
|
damn by association »
Discredit or condemn a position, person, or thing by attacking those things with which he/she/it is associated.
|
damn the torpedoes »
Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.
|
dark horse »
A candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.
|
deafening silence »
A silence, or a lack of any response, that signifies disapproval or lack of any enthusiasm.
|
deep six »
To discard, cancel, halt; to completely put an end to something.
|
dig up »
To discover something by digging; to unearth.
|
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 word »
The name of a topic that a person does not like to hear or discuss.
|
disc jockey »
radio presenter
|
discretion is the better part of valour »
It is often wise to refrain from seemingly brave speech or action.1597
|
dish out »
On to a dish ready for eating.
|
dish out »
To distribute or deliver something.
|
dish up »
To serve cooked food.
|
dishpan hands »
Hands which are rough, reddish, and dry, as from irritation and chafing caused by immersion in hot water mixed with detergent.
|
dismal science »
Nickname for economics or for the field of political economy.
|
dodge a bullet »
To have a narrow escape; to avoid injury or disaster.
|
dog and pony show »
Any presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate.
|
dog's breakfast »
An unappealing mixture; a disorderly situation; a mess.
|
don't get me started »
About the subject currently being discussed.
|
down in the mouth »
Sad or discouraged, especially as indicated by one's facial appearance.
|
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.
|
Drop out of warp »
Dis-engage the cruise control on the car
|
drop the gloves »
To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.
|
dry eye »
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.
|
ears are burning »
Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.
|
eat one's hat »
Used in a result clause to express disbelief in the conditional clause proposition.
|
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.
|
enough to make the angels weep »
Something so distressing that it causes one to lose hope and faith.
|
eureka moment »
The moment of a sudden unexpected discovery.
|
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.
|
facts on the ground »
A euphemism, similar to fait accompli, used as an oblique way of saying that discussions over the possession of a given piece of territory has been rendered moot by the presence of military forces.
|
fall off a truck »
Of an item of merchandise, to come into a person's possession without having been paid for; to be acquired illegally.
|
fall off the back of a lorry »
Of an item of merchandise, to come into a perons's possession without having been paid for; to have been acquired illegally.
|
falling out »
A disagreement; a major difference of opinion.
|
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.
|
far and wide »
Over a great distance, or large area; nearly everywhere.
|
far be it »
A disclaimer stating that the person speaking will not do something.
|
far cry »
Something very dissimilar or different.
|
fencepost problem »
In computer programming, a problem dealing with how to treat the initial or boundary values of a discrete problem.
|
figure out »
To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
|
find out »
To discover, as by asking or exploring.
|
fine line »
A difference, albeit vague and difficult to discern.
|
fit to be tied »
Very agitated or distressed; enraged.
|
five-finger discount »
Theft or pilferage, typically of a small item; shoplifting.
|
fix someone's wagon »
To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
|
flutter in the dovecote »
A disturbance, usually one caused within a prescribed group of people.
|
fly in the ointment »
Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.
|
fly-by-night »
Businesses that appear and disappear rapidly, or that give an impression of transience.
|
fold one's tent »
To withdraw, especially in a discreet manner; to disengage; to quit.
|
fool's paradise »
A state of happiness due to illusion or false hope.
|
from here to ya-ya »
A very long distance.
|
fruit salad »
dessert dish
|
gapers' block »
A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.
|
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 off »
To disembark from mass transportation, such as a bus or train.
|
get off »
To disembark.
|
get on someone's wick »
To annoy or upset someone, usually by repeated disagreeable actions.
|
get one's marching orders »
To be dismissed disgracefully.
|
get out of here! »
An exclamation of disbelief.
|
get the boot »
To be dismissed from employment.
|
get the chop »
To be dismissed from employment.
|
gets down »
dismounts
|
give me liberty or give me death »
A set-phrase indicating enormous displeasure at any over-authoritarian policy or law.
|
give somebody a piece of one's mind »
To express one's opinion strongly; to voice one's disagreement or dissatisfaction.
|
give somebody the cold shoulder »
To snub, resist or reject somebody; to regard somebody distantly.
|
give the boot »
To fire, to sack, to dismiss.
|
give the devil his due »
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
|
go out the window »
To vanish or cease, especially due to lack of care, attention, etc.; to be discarded, disregarded, or ignored.
|
go the distance »
To have the endurance to see a difficult sustained challenge to its natural end without faltering.
|
go the distance »
To participate in a boxing match for its maximum number of rounds.
|
go through the mill »
To experience the suffering or discipline necessary to bring one to a certain degree of knowledge or skill, or to a certain mental state.
|
go to sleep »
An expression used to dismiss an extremely foolish statement, or to dismiss somebody that one does not feel like talking to.
|
golden handcuffs »
Any arrangement or agreement designed to provide extremely favorable benefits or pay, so as to discourage participant from wanting to leave, especially to retain a choice employee.
|
gone to the dogs »
To have fallen into disrepair or ruin; to have been stagnant or depreciated.
|
grow cold »
To wane; to lose interest or enthusiasm for something or someone; to become disenchanted or to fall out of love with someone.
|
gunboat diplomacy »
The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power.
|
hand waving »
Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
|
harsh one's mellow »
Disturbing someone otherwise in a state of calm.
|
hatchet job »
A treatment which serves primarily to disparage its subject; a piece of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.
|
have an axe to grind »
To have a dispute, resentment, or grudge, sometimes with a disposition to act on that resentment covertly; to have a bias; to take issue with something.
|
have an eye for »
To have good taste; to have the ability to discriminate or identify quality.
|
have the wind up »
To be frightened or disturbed.
|
head-in-the-sand »
Exhibiting disregard or denial of a problem or threat.
|
hear the grass grow »
To be very aware or discerning; to pay attention to every small detail.
|
hem and haw »
To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.
|
hit on »
To discover, pinpoint; to think up; to realize; to invent.
|
hold your fire »
Do not discharge your weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder, now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.
|
home stretch »
The final part of a distance or the final effort needed to finish.
|
horse of a different color »
An unrelated or only incidentally related matter with distinctly different significance.
|
hot mess »
Refers to a person, thing, or situation in such a state of disarray or disapproval by peers, often in reference to physical appearance, perceived to be disastrously embarrassing, pitiful, or beyond repair.
|
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 black and white »
Having it displayed using shades of gray/gray rather than colour/color .
|
in Dutch »
In trouble or in disfavor.
|
in hot water »
In trouble; in the position of arousing somebody's anger or displeasure.
|
in stride »
Without disturbing one's course of activities.
|
in the doghouse »
In trouble; the subject of somebody's anger or disapproval.
|
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 loop »
Informed; up to date; current; part of the discussion.
|
in the wake of »
In the noticeable disturbance of water behind .
|
in vain »
In a disrespectful manner, especially when concerning religion.
|
iron out »
To resolve (a dispute); to solve (a problem).
|
it is what it is »
This thing has its own distinct nature; this thing is itself.
|
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
|
ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
|
jack of all trades, master of none »
A master of integration, who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring their disciplines together in a practical manner; a polymath; a renaissance man.
|
jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in behaving in a glib and disingenuous fashion.
|
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.
|
jungle telegraph »
A system used by primitive cultures in remote tropical regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds or a relay of runners.
|
just another pretty face »
Someone who is attractive, but not too distinguished.
|
keep one's mouth shut »
To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly.
|
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.
|
lay open »
to disclose
|
lay up »
To disable.
|
left and right »
All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
|
left, right and center »
All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
|
left-handed compliment »
A complimentary remark which is ambiguous or ineptly worded, so that it may be interpreted as having an unflattering or dismissive sense.
|
let down »
To disappoint; to betray or fail somebody.
|
let go »
To dismiss from employment.
|
let on »
To reveal, disclose, or divulge.
|
let sleeping dogs lie »
To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.
|
let somebody down »
To fail somebody; to disappoint or to fail to uphold a commitment.
|
let somebody in on »
To disclose; to tell somebody a secret or share privileged information.
|
let the cat out of the bag »
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
|
let-down »
A disappointment or anticlimax.
|
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 absent, soon forgotten »
Love fades away when people are distant and don't keep close physical contact.
|
long goodbye »
Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.
|
long haul »
Travelling a long distance.
|
long shot »
Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working. The term arose from the accuracy of early ship guns, which were effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.
|
look daggers »
To stare sharply at someone to indicate disapproval without actually speaking.
|
look what the cat's dragged in »
Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
|
lose face »
To lose the respect of others, to be humiliated or experience public disgrace.
|
lose one's cool »
To become upset or disconcerted; to lose one's temper.
|
lose one's shirt »
To lose all of one's money; to go broke; to undergo financial ruin or disaster.
|
lose out »
To be at a disadvantage.
|
louse up »
Mess up; confuse; put into a state of disorder.
|
magic bullet »
A simple remedy to a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.
|
make light of »
To regard without due seriousness; to joke or disregard inappropriately.
|
make out »
To discern.
|
make someone's skin crawl »
To disturb or bother; to frighten or disgust.
|
make waves »
To cause a disturbance.
|
man proposes, God disposes »
Things don't always work out as they were planned.
|
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.
|
mark up »
To add coding to text so that it will display properly on a computer.
|
melt into »
To disappear into.
|
mend fences »
To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.
|
mess up »
To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss.
|
mess up »
To make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
|
mess up »
To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.
|
mess with »
To diss; to put down.
|
mete out »
To distribute something in portions; to apportion or dole out.
|
middle ground »
The middle distance.
|
mill around »
To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
|
miner's canary »
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
|
miners' canary »
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
|
mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
|
monkey on one's back »
A state of persistent distress or worry or the cause of such a state.
|
mouthful of marbles »
An indistinct, muffled or garbled manner of speaking.
|
murder will out »
A murderer will always be discovered.
|
murder will out »
Secrets or hidden crimes will eventually be exposed or discovered.
|
my arse »
Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
my eye »
Expression of disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
my foot »
Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
no love lost »
Dislike, animosity.
|
no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney »
Regardless of how many clever points or fine distinctions one makes, what one is saying is still false or is still nonsense.
|
no pain, no gain »
One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals.
|
not a pretty sight »
Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.
|
not a pretty sight »
Something visually unappealing, ranging from mildly unattractive to utterly disgusting in appearance.
|
oh, well »
An expression of disappointment or resignation; too bad; pity.
|
on the clock »
Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge.
|
on the clock »
Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.
|
on the level »
A discreet reference to freemasonry.
|
on the square »
A discrete, unassuming reference to freemasonry.
|
out of character »
Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.
|
out of it »
Disoriented; not thinking clearly.
|
out of kilter »
Disturbed; out of order; not working or adjusted properly.
|
out of the loop »
Not informed up to date; current; not kept part of the discussion.
|
out on one's ear »
Fired, dismissed or thrown out, especially for some wrongdoing or otherwise with disgrace.
|
over a barrel »
In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, in which one may be controlled or victimized.
|
pain in the ass »
Something that causes discomfort or is otherwise troublesome.
|
painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
|
pass by »
To pass over. disregard, overlook.
|
pass out »
To distribute, to hand out.
|
patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels »
The appeal to patriotism is often used to distract the public from real issues.
|
pay out »
To distribute money; to disburse.
|
perfect storm »
A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.
|
perp walk »
The intentional public display before news cameras of someone in police custody, especially someone famous or notorious, for the purpose of satisfying public interest, demonstrating the authorities' effectiveness, or shaming the person.
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pick up »
To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on".
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pissing contest »
An immature dispute over some trivial matter.
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play around »
To behave in a silly, or childish, or irresponsible way.
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play hardball »
To use every means possible to achieve a goal, especially in disregarding the harm caused.
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play possum »
To dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive.
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plump up »
To shake or arrange so as to be fatter or more evenly distributed.
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point blank »
The distance between a gun and a target such that it requires minimal effort in aiming it. In particular no allowance needs to be made for the effects of gravity, target movement or wind in aiming the projectile.
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power chord »
A chord or combination of notes used in rock music and typically selected to sound good at high volume and high levels of distortion. Power chords make extensive use of intervals such as open fourths and fifths.
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preprogram »
To predispose to certain thoughts or behaviours.
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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.
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pull one's head in »
To withdraw as a turtle might; to discontinue support of a particular argument.
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pull rank »
To assert one's authority over a subordinate who disagrees.
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pull teeth »
To remove teeth, usually because they are diseased or damaged.
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put the wind up »
To frighten or disturb.
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put two and two together »
To figure out; to deduce or discern.
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rain on someone's parade »
To disappoint or discourage someone.
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raise Cain »
To behave in a disruptive manner.
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raise hell »
To cause a great disturbance.
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read somebody's lips »
To discern what somebody is saying by watching the shape of the mouth rather than by hearing the sounds of the words.
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red face test »
A hypothetical test of a person's embarrassment, that is either passed or failed. Saying one passes the red face test means one would not blush and thus would not be embarrassed by disclosing something to others or doing something, and saying one fails the red face test means a situation would cause them discernible embarrassment.
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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.
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revenge is a dish best served cold »
An expression that emotional detachment is ideal when taking revenge, as one is righting the wrongs that have been done to the doer.
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ride roughshod over »
To act in a bullying or inconsiderate manner; to display disregard towards someone or something.
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ride the short bus »
To have a need for a special education program, as because learning disabled.
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ride the short bus »
To participate in a special education program, such as for those with learning disabilities.
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ring off »
To finish a telephone conversation and disconnect.
|
rivet counter »
A person who has an obsession with the minutae of their particular interest. Anyone preoccupied with small distinguishing features between different items.
|
rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
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rub somebody the wrong way »
To bother, disturb, irritate, or annoy.
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ruffle some feathers »
To disturb; to arouse resentment, anger, or concern.
|
run across »
To find or discover by chance.
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run hot and cold »
To alternate between two opposite extremes, such as enthusiasm and disinterest or success and failure.
|
run into the ground »
To discuss ad nauseam.
|
sabre-rattling »
A flamboyant display of military power as an implied threat that it might be used.
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scratch that »
To disregard, omit, or ignore the previous statement.
|
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.
|
see red »
To receive a red card, and be dismissed from the playing field.
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see the forest for the trees »
To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the bigger picture, or the broader, more general situation. Generally used in the negative.
|
send away »
To dismiss from one's presence.
|
set aside »
To disagree with something and reject or overturn it.
|
set back »
To remove from or allow distance.
|
shit-eating grin »
A broad smile indicating self-awareness that may suggest self-satisfaction, smugness, discomfort, or embarrassment.
|
shoot off at the mouth »
To disclose some information that was supposed to be secret.
|
short of a length »
Of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.
|
shotgun 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.
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show somebody the door »
To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
|
show the flag »
Of a naval vessel or military force, to identify itself by displaying the flag of its country of origin, especially in order to establish an authoritative presence and to exert diplomatic or political influence.
|
show the flag »
To display the flag of one's country, especially as an expression of patriotic pride.
|
shrug off »
To ignore or disregard; to be indifferent.
|
shut the hell up »
Indicating disbelief.
|
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.
|
sleep with the fishes »
To be killed and have one's body disposed off in the sea or other body of water.
|
smallpox blanket »
An apparently benevolent offering whose real intent is to disrupt, destabilize or weaken.
|
smart off »
To show disrespect verbally.
|
smell test »
An assessment of a subject's ability to detect and distinguish odors.
|
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 »
A type of flare or combustion device sometimes used as a distress signal.
|
smoking gun »
Evidence, particularly of a crime, that is difficult or impossible to dispute.
|
so much for »
An expression of disregard, or resignation; something said upon giving up, quitting, or disposing of something.
|
soapbox »
Especially when only tangentially relevant to an ongoing discussion.
|
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.
|
softly softly »
Discreet, low-key, careful.
|
some people »
Expresses disgust at the actions of a person; a response to a person doing something silly, bizarre, nonsensical or ill-mannered.
|
sour grapes »
A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.
|
space out »
To stupefy, intoxicate, disorient, or lose attention or focus, especially by the use of drugs.
|
spare the rod and spoil the child »
If one does not discipline a child, he or she will never learn obedience and good manners.
|
speak for oneself »
Expressing disagreement with an opinion expressed by another.
|
spill the beans »
To reveal a secret; to disclose.
|
spit the dummy »
To a situation childishly, in an angry or frustrated manner.
|
split up »
Separate, disassociate, cause to come apart.
|
stage of the game »
A point in the progress of an ongoing dispute or process.
|
stand back »
To maintain a safe distance from a hazard.
|
stand off »
To stand some distance apart form something or someone.
|
sticker shock »
Disgust, shock, or fright upon learning the price of an item offered for sale.
|
sticking point »
A disputed issue or state of affairs that causes an interruption or outright impasse in progress towards some goal or resolution, especially in negotiation or argumentation.
|
stitch up »
To maliciously or dishonestly incriminate someone.
|
stone's throw »
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
|
stumble across »
To discover or find something by accident.
|
stumble on »
To discover or find something by accident.
|
stumble upon »
To discover or find something by accident.
|
sweet hereafter »
Heaven; paradise as enjoyed in the afterlife.
|
switch off »
To turn a switch to the "off" position in order to stop or disable a device.
|
take a dim view of »
To dislike; to regard with skepticism, disbelief, disfavor, etc.
|
take aback »
To surprise or shock; to discomfit.
|
take apart »
To dismantle something into it's component pieces.
|
take liberties »
To behave disrespectfully, especially to make unwanted sexual advances.
|
take the wind out of someone's sails »
To discourage someone greatly; to cause someone to lose hope or the will to continue.
|
talk of the town »
A subject discussed by many people.
|
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.
|
talk over »
To discuss.
|
talking head »
A pundit who discusses issues of the day, especially one on TV.
|
tell apart »
To be able to know the difference between things; to distinguish.
|
tell off »
To speak to someone rudely, disrespectfully or angrily; to berate; to unleash one's fury verbally towards someone.
|
thanks for nothing »
Expression of displeasure towards a person who has not provided what was wanted.
|
the bigger they are, the harder they fall »
The larger something is, the more disastrous and spectacular its downfall
|
the calm before the storm »
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm.
|
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 jig is up »
An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defence", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered.".
|
the road to hell is paved with good intentions »
well-intended acts can lead to disaster
|
the shoe is on the other foot »
The roles of people in a situation have been reversed, such the advantage has shifted to a party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
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.
|
there's no accounting for taste »
When it comes to subjective matters of taste, people have wildly different opinions.Disagreements about matters of taste can't be objectively resolved.
|
thrash out »
To discuss something so fully as to resolve a problem or conflict; to hammer out.
|
three-martini lunch »
A leisurely, expensive, midday meal associated with drinking, which is tax-deductible because business is discussed.
|
throw away »
To discard or dispose of something.
|
throw cold water on »
To belittle or dismiss; to cast doubt upon; to debunk.
|
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.
|
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 out »
To discard; to dispense with something; to throw away.
|
throw out »
To dismiss or expel someone from any longer performing duty or attending somewhere.
|
throw the baby out with the bathwater »
To discard something valuable, often inadvertently, in the process of removing waste.
|
throw under the bus »
To discard or disown.
|
throw up »
To display a gang sign using the hands.
|
thumb one's nose »
To act disrespectfully, especially by flouting the object of disrespect.
|
thumb one's nose »
To place a thumb upon the tip of the nose, usually while simultaneous wiggling one's fingers, in a gesture of disrespect.
|
tight ship »
A well-organized and highly disciplined organization.
|
time out of mind »
The distant past beyond anyone's memory.
|
timeserver »
A device, node or program that distributes the correct time to clients in a network.
|
tip one's hand »
To inadvertently reveal any secret, particularly a secret that puts one at an advantage or disadvantage.
|
to the moon »
To a very distant or unreachable place.
|
today we are all »
An expression indicating that the speaker empathizes with members of an identifiable group that was the subject of a disaster, and projects that others empathize as well.
|
tomato tomato »
Uses insignificant pronunciation difference to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
|
too big for one's britches »
Disturbingly confident, unacceptably cocky.
|
torque off »
To annoy, distress, or anger.
|
touch off »
To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.
|
tough love »
The compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures, to attempt to improve someone's behavior.
|
train wreck »
An inevitable disaster.
|
truth will out »
A mystery will always be solved, or a truth will always be discoveredTruth will eventually and inevitably be discovered.
|
tumble to »
To discover, or suddenly understand something.
|
turf war »
A dispute over territory between rival gangs.
|
turn in one's grave »
To be appalled, offended or disgusted by something, despite being deceased.
|
turn off »
To repulse, disgust, or discourage.
|
turn the tables »
To reverse a situation, such that the advantage has shifted to the party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
twist in the wind »
To be unassisted and without comfort in a situation likely to result in distress or failure.
|
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.
|
underwater basket weaving »
"Sure, somewhere out there, college slackers were taking broom ball and underwater basket weaving." — The Columbus Dispatch, September 15, 2005.
|
up front »
Open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful.
|
upper crust »
The topmost layer of a bread, pastry dish, or other item with a hardened coating.
|
wage war »
A figurative allusion to pay discrepancies.
|
wash up »
To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
|
waste breath »
To speak in a manner which is needless or futile; in discussion or argument to make points which are not appreciated or heeded.
|
watch one's mouth »
In the imperative form, used as a warning to avoid or stop using inappropriate language, especially profanity, or disrespectful utterances.
|
watch one's mouth »
To be careful about what one says, especially with regard to disrespectful or profane language.
|
way back when »
A time in the distant past.
|
wear off »
To disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused.
|
wear out »
Of apparel, displayed in public.
|
what of it »
So what? Who cares? Expresses disinterest, disregard or lack of concern.
|
what's up with »
Used to express disbelief or curiosity.
|
window dressing »
The decorative display of retail merchandise in store windows.
|
window dressing »
The goods and trimmings used in such display.
|
wipe the slate clean »
To forget about previous differences and disagreements, and make a fresh start.
|
wolf in sheep's clothing »
Something harmful or problematic disguised as something peaceful or pleasant.
|
wouldn't you know it »
Expresses dismay or annoyance, especially at bad luck or misfortune.
|
wreak havoc »
To cause damage, disruption, or destruction.
|
yield up »
To disclose something hidden.
|
you can't get a quart into a pint pot »
What is being discussed is not possible.They've asked me to get to New York by five o'clock, but you can't get a quart into a pint pot!
|
you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
|
zoom along »
To proceed quickly a long distance.
|
zoom out »
To focus a zoom lens in order to obtain a smaller image, or a more distant view.
|
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