a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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a stopped clock is right twice a day »
A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.
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about turn »
A complete change of opinion, direction, etc.
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about turn »
An about face; a military command to a formation of soldiers to reverse the direction in which they are facing.
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above and beyond »
More than is expected or required.
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according to »
According to the directions, the glue takes 24 hours to dry.
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according to Hoyle »
In strict accordance with the rules, especially of card games; in the proper or expected manner.
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actions speak louder than words »
It is more effective to act directly than to speak of action.
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add up to »
To have a particular effect.
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against the grain »
Contrary to what is expected; especially, of behavior different from what society expects.
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all at once »
Unexpectedly; without warning; all of a sudden.
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all nations »
A composition of all the different spirits sold in a dram-shop, collected in a vessel into which the drainings of the bottles and quartern pots are emptied.
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all right, my lover »
An informal affectionate greeting.
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all things being equal »
Without considering or being affected by external factors.
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all wet »
Utterly incorrect; erroneous; uninformed.
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