a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush »
It is preferable to have a small but certain advantage than a mere potential of a greater one.
|
a drop in the bucket »
An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem.
|
a number of »
Several of.
|
a pull of the hair for being unfair »
The general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".
|
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.
|
agree to disagree »
To tolerate each other's opinion and stop arguing; to acknowledge that an agreement will not be reached.
|
ahead of one's time »
Showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field; coming earlier than could be generally accepted.
|
all in all »
Generally; for the most part; mostly.
|
along the lines »
In a general direction or manner.
|
an apple a day »
Healthy eating and living using traditional temperate-zone fresh foods.
|
and how »
Used to strongly confirm preceding utterance.
|
and then some »
Used to confirm preceding utterance, while implying that what was said or asked is an understatement.
|
as a rule »
In general; most often.
|
at large »
In general; as a whole.
|
at risk »
vulnerable
|
autem mort »
A married woman; also a female beggar with several children hired or borrowed to excite charity.
|
balance out »
To counteract one another so as to be balanced.
|
bang up job »
Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.
|
barnburner »
Liberal faction of the New York state United States Democratic Party in the mid 19th century.
|
be in for »
To be able to expect or anticipate; to be about to suffer, generally said of something unpleasant.
|
beefed out »
Muscular, often in an exaggerated way.
|
behind its time »
Showing characteristics of the past; present in one's work after later advances in the field; coming later than could be generally accepted.
|
below par »
Not up to the average or normal standard.
|
below the belt »
Unfair; dirty; not according to the generally accepted rules.
|
bend one's elbow »
To drink alcoholic beverages, especially at a public house or bar.
|
bend the truth »
To change or leave out certain facts of a story or situation, generally in order to elicit a specific response in the audience.
|
better safe than sorry »
It is preferable to be cautious in one's choices and actions than to suffer afterwards.
|
big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
|
big up »
To proclaim or exaggerate the importance of.
|
bite someone's head off »
To severely berate someone.
|
black-on-black »
A reference to interactions between black people .
|
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.
|
blot out »
To make something undecipherable; to obliterate.
|
blow chunks »
To be very bad, inadequate, unpleasant, or miserable; to thoroughly suck.
|
blue state »
A state of the United States voting Democratic in a given election, or tending to vote Democratic in general.
|
boot camp »
A short, intensive, quasi-military program generally aimed at young offenders as an alternative to a jail term.
|
booze can »
A nightclub or bar, especially one which operates illegally or is otherwise disreputable.
|
bouncing off the walls »
Moving hyperactively.
|
box-office bomb »
A motion picture that generates relatively low revenue at the box office, especially that which is less than the budget for the motion picture.
|
break wind »
To flatulate; fart; to expel gases generated during digestion through the anus.
|
bridge »
A prosthesis replacing one or several adjacent teeth.
|
bridge »
Any of several electrical devices that measure characteristics such as impedance and inductance by balancing different parts of a circuit.
|
bring forth »
To create, generate, bring into existence.
|
bring forward »
To call up for consideration.
|
bugger up »
To break or spoil something, or make it inoperative, useless etc.
|
bulletproof »
Reliable, infallible, sturdy or error-tolerant.
|
bump and grind »
A sexually suggestive dance involving exaggerated hip movements, especially a striptease dance.
|
bunny hop »
A dance from the big band era, a variation of the conga.
|
burn rubber »
To accelerate so rapidly from standstill that it leaves a mark of burnt rubber on the road from the tire.
|
business end »
The part of a tool or other similar item, that is physically used for its operation, rather than the part which is held.
|
bust chops »
To nag; to berate or hound in an effort to elicit action.
|
by and large »
Mostly, generally; with few exceptions.
|
by far »
To a considerably large extent, easily.
|
can of worms »
A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
|
captain of industry »
A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.
|
carry 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.
|
cash cow »
A product, service, or enterprise that generates ongoing, high net free cash flows.
|
change horses in midstream »
To change plans or approaches at an inopportune time, such as when an effort is already underway, generally considered an inadvisable thing to do.
|
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.
|
chew somebody out »
To berate; to shout at someone.
|
chew the fat »
To chat idly or generally waste time talking.
|
chew the scenery »
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
|
chump change »
An amount of remuneration, reward, or other monetary recompense considered to be insultingly small.
|
circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
|
clay »
A mineral substance made up of small crystals of silica and alumina, that is ductile when moist; the material of pre-fired ceramics.
|
clogs to clogs in three generations »
(UK) Wealth earned in one generation seldom lasts through the third (grandchild
|
cold shoulder »
A deliberate act of disrespect; a slight or snub.
|
come the acid »
To exaggerate.
|
consume mass quantities »
To eat or drink abundant amounts of food or beverage.
|
cool down »
To become cooler, to be reduced in temperature.
|
cool down »
To cause something temperature to lower.
|
cotton to »
To like; approve of, accept, or tolerate.
|
cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
|
cut of one's jib »
Someone’s general appearance or the implications thereof, especially in relation to making an impression or one’s style..
|
dead »
Broken or inoperable.
|
dead last »
The standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.
|
desperate times call for desperate measures »
In adverse circumstances actions that might have been rejected under other circumstances may become the best choice.
|
desperate times require desperate measures »
Alternative form of desperate times call for desperate measures.
|
devil is in the details »
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
|
die »
Followed by from. General use, though somewhat more common in medical or scientific contexts.
|
die »
Followed by of. General use.
|
divide and conquer »
A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.
|
do a »
To emulate the behavior/behaviour that is generally attributed to the individual named.
|
do-or-die »
Requiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.
|
dog's life »
A miserable, unhappy existence.
|
double entendre »
A phrase that has two meanings, especially where one is innocent and literal, the other risqué, bawdy, or ironic; an innuendo..
|
drama queen »
Any exaggeratedly dramatic person.
|
draw the line »
To set a boundary, rule, or limit, especially on what one will tolerate.
|
drip »
To have a superabundance of valuable things. Usually followed by "with".
|
drop the writ »
To call a federal or provincial election.
|
drug on the market »
Something which is overabundant at the moment and thus not in demand.
|
drum up »
To generate or encourage; to campaign for.
|
dry eye »
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.
|
dusty miller »
A formulaic phrase for a miller, related to the dust generated in the milling process.
|
dusty miller »
One of several species of plants with leaves of a dusty appearance: Centaurea cineraria, Senecio cineraria, and Lychnis coronaria.
|
earn one's keep »
To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
|
eat one's young »
To betray a constituent or charge out of self-serving interests or desperation; savaging.
|
embarrassment of riches »
An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.
|
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.
|
every cloud has a silver lining »
In every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,
|
every silver lining has a cloud »
Every good situation has the potential to turn bad.2007, Diab A. Shetayh, Actuality : The Reality RequiemA great partnership isn't a self-maintaining entity. Perseverance and persistence make it thrive. For every silver lining has a cloud. Ignorance of this reality is not an option.
|
eye candy »
Any object or sight with considerable visual appeal.
|
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.
|
f** with »
To mess with; to interact with in a careless or inappropriate way.
|
face value »
No more or less than what is stated; a literal or direct meaning or interpretation.
|
factotum »
A general servant.
|
fair enough »
An expression used to concede a point; denotes that, upon consideration, something is correct or reasonable; an expression of acknowledgment or understanding.
|
fair to middling »
Only tolerably good.
|
fall behind »
To be progressively below average in performance.
|
fall in with »
To accept a set of generally agreed rules, or a suggestion.
|
fear »
Extreme veneration or awe, as toward a supreme being or deity.
|
federal case »
Any over-exaggerated ordeal.
|
fire on all cylinders »
To operate as effectively as possible.
|
first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
|
five-finger discount »
Theft or pilferage, typically of a small item; shoplifting.
|
fly in the face of »
To act in a manner highly contrary to; to counteract or contradict.
|
food chain »
A hierarchy.
|
for crying out loud »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
|
for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
|
for heaven's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
|
for Pete's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
|
for the birds »
Worthless; pointless; not deserving serious consideration.
|
for the love of »
Used to form interjections expressing exasperation.
|
for the most part »
Mostly; in general; usually.
|
fudge the issue »
Adopt a solution to a specific problem which does not address the larger, more general problem of which the specific problem is an instance.
|
full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
|
full of it »
Speaking nonsense; lying, exaggerating, or boasting.
|
get away with »
To do something which is prohibited, forbidden or generally not allowed, and not be punished for the action.
|
get in »
To get into or inside something, literally or figuratively.
|
get on somebody's case »
To lecture, berate, or complain to somebody, especially to find fault or criticize.
|
get someone's back up »
To annoy a person either deliberately or inadvertently.
|
get the drift »
To understand, at least at some basic or general level.
|
give it the gun »
Literal meaning.
|
give over »
Usually as an imperative. To tell someone to stop molesting, fooling around, or saying silly things. Or sometimes to stop saying flattering things.
|
give somebody what-for »
To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.
|
go along with »
To comply with something, even if reluctantly; to accept or tolerate.
|
go by »
To pass, to go past, without much interaction.
|
go by the board »
To be superseded, rejected, or obliterated; to pass by with little consequence; to amount to nothing.
|
go down the pan »
To fail or degenerate rapidly.
|
go down the tubes »
To fail or degenerate rapidly.
|
go downhill »
To worsen or degenerate.
|
go through hell »
To have a miserable experience.
|
golden handshake »
A generous severance payment, especially as an inducement to leave employment.
|
good to go »
Ready for use or ready for normal operation, especially after repair or renewal.
|
grain of salt »
A bit of common sense and skepticism. Generally used in some form of to take with a grain of salt.
|
gravy train »
An occupation or any lucrative endeavor that generates considerable income whilst requiring little effort and carrying little risk.
|
guilt trip »
A feeling of shame or embarrassment, especially if self-indulgent, unwarranted, exaggerated or felt over a significant period of time.
|
gun it »
To accelerate or speed up quickly or suddenly.
|
half a mind »
A moderate inclination.
|
ham it up »
To act or emote, especially to overact or act badly.
|
hand in glove »
In very close cooperation.
|
hand-in-glove »
Closely cooperative.
|
head and shoulders »
To a considerable degree; better; outstanding.
|
heebie-jeebies »
A general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea.
|
hem and haw »
To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.
|
hit the pavement »
Literal meaning.
|
horse opera »
A theatrical production, film, or program on radio or television depicting adventures of characters in the American Old West; a western.
|
horse opera »
An equestrian show, as in a circus.
|
hot up »
To increase in temperature.
|
how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
|
how do I get to Carnegie Hall »
A set phrase, spoken as a rhetorical question, which is answered "Practice, practice, practice!" or sometimes with the humorous literal directions to Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th.
|
hunger is a good sauce »
(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.
|
idiot mittens »
Mittens connected by yarn or string running through one sleeve, along the back and out the other sleeve of a coat, to prevent the mittens becoming lost. Generally worn by small children.
|
in cold blood »
In a ruthless and unfeeling manner; premeditated and deliberate.
|
in order »
In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body.
|
in spades »
To excess, a lot, considerably; without restraint.
|
in the long run »
After a very long time; eventually; over a long period of time; more generally.
|
in the running »
Of a candidate, potential or likely; worthy of consideration.
|
in thunderation »
In any set of circumstances whatsoever.
|
it takes two to tango »
Some things need the active cooperation of two parties; blame is to be laid on both parties in a conflict.
|
it's not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
|
it's one's funeral »
One's decisions or actions will bring undesirable consequences only on oneself.
|
itchy trigger finger »
A tendency to act in haste or without consideration.
|
ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
|
jack it in »
An imperative to stop doing something that the speaker finds annoying.
|
jack up »
To raise, increase, or accelerate; often said of prices, fees, or rates. See also jack up the price.
|
keep it real »
In the imperative, an exhortation used as a departing salutation.
|
kick off »
To force the weaning of a bovine cow's calf by restricting the calf's access to its mother's udders. Used figuratively or literally.
|
knock back »
To drink an alcoholic beverage swiftly or often.
|
knuckle under »
To yield or cooperate when pressured or forced to do so.
|
last-ditch »
Final, as a last resort; done in desperation.
|
lay off »
From employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume, often with a severance package.
|
lay rubber »
To accelerate so rapidly from standstill that it leaves a mark of burnt rubber on the road from the tire.
|
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
|
licence to print money »
A means of generating a large income with little effort.
|
like gangbusters »
Vigorously, rapidly, zealously, or forcibly; in a manner which has considerable impact.
|
lion »
A large cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly to much of Europe. The term may apply to the species as a whole, to individuals, or to male individuals. It also applies to related species like mountain lions.
|
listen up »
To listen closely; to pay attention. Often used in the imperative.
|
lock up »
To imprison or incarcerate someone.
|
made in the shade »
In a condition characterized by comfort, success, easy living, or general well-being.
|
make a mountain out of a molehill »
To treat a problem as greater than it is; to blow something out of proportion; to exaggerate the importance of something trivial.
|
make a virtue of necessity »
To make the best of a difficult situation; to recast or portray an action or situation in which one has no alternatives as an action or situation which was deliberately chosen on its merits.
|
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.
|
many hands make light work »
A large number of people co-operating can perform tasks easily.
|
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
|
mercury »
A silvery-colored metallic chemical element, liquid at room temperature, with atomic number 80 and symbol Hg.
|
misery loves company »
Misery is easier to bear when one is not the only one miserable.1995, Chris Abbott,
|
miss the point »
To fail to grasp the meaning of an utterance.
|
moral high ground »
A position or point of view which is ethically superior or more reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.
|
move the goal posts »
To unilaterally change the rules, or terms of an agreement, especially in an unfair or underhand way.
|
mull over »
To think deeply about something; to ponder, deliberate or ruminate.
|
mutton dressed as lamb »
A mature woman dressed in a style more suited to a young woman, especially if a deliberate attempt to appear young.
|
mutual admiration society »
A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.
|
nervous hit »
A production which receives generally favorably notice, but is not assured of success.
|
new school »
A style, way of thinking, or method for accomplishing a task that is typical of the current era, as opposed to former eras.
|
nickel and dime »
Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.
|
nightcap »
A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.
|
nine day wonder »
Something that generates interest for a limited time and is then abandoned.
|
nugget of truth »
A small amount of truth in a generally untrue statement.
|
nuts and bolts »
The basic, inner workings of something; the fundamentals or basics; that which makes something operate, on a basic level.
|
odd and curious »
On the Isle of Man, the common or general man.
|
off the table »
Beyond consideration.
|
oil burner »
A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.
|
old money »
Families that have been wealthy for generations or members of such families.
|
old school »
Characteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.
|
on acid »
Exaggerated, bizarre or unpredictable.
|
on average »
Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
|
on its merits »
Considering only intrinsic good points and bad points, without prejudice or other considerations, such as procedural ones.
|
on purpose »
Purposefully; with intention; deliberately.
|
on second thought »
After reconsidering; on further consideration.
|
on steroids »
To a greater degree, exaggerating the characteristics of the previously named object.
|
on sufferance »
Unwillingly agreed to or barely tolerated.
|
on the clock »
Remunerated per unit of time.
|
on the clock »
Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.
|
on the loose »
Not incarcerated or in captivity; not under control.
|
on the right track »
Using the correct general approach to a particular task or problem; pursuing something in a promising way.
|
one card shy of a full deck »
Mentally deranged; demented; insane.
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone..
|
one thousand »
Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which each iteration is sequentially numbered and supposed to be approximately one second in length.
|
one-man band »
A musician who plays several musical instruments at once.
|
out of whack »
Not working or operating properly.
|
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.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
paper »
A written document, generally shorter than a book , in particular one written for the Government.
|
parking lot »
An open area, generally paved, where automobiles may be left when not in use.
|
party animal »
A person known for frequent, enthusiastic attendance at parties, especially one whose partying behavior is exuberant or excessive.
|
peel out »
To start abruptly from a standing stop, accelerating rapidly, especially so as to produce skid marks.
|
pelt of the dog »
An immoderate, excessive quantity of alcohol drunk the morning after whilst suffering withdrawal symptoms or a hangover, which goes beyond alleviating the complaint to causing drunkenness; cf. hair of the dog.
|
perfect storm »
A situation where a calamity is caused by the convergence and amplifying interaction of a number of factors.
|
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.
|
pick up speed »
accelerate
|
piss and vinegar »
Exuberance or enthusiasm, especially to an excessive degree; bravado; youthful energy.
|
play ball »
To work together; to cooperate.
|
plus »
(literally) The more it changes, the more it's the same thing (sometimes loosely translated as the more things change, the more they stay the same).Although the outward appearance may change, fundamentals are constant.
|
potter »
One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
|
power up »
To turn the electrical power on to a device as a precondition to make it operational.
|
power up »
To become ready for operation as a result of the provision of electrical power.
|
pretty penny »
A considerable amount of money; a high price or a high income.
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proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
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pull a »
To emulate a behaviour generally attributed to the individual named.
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pull the other leg »
In imperative/precative form, used to imply that the speaker does not accept or believe what another has just said.
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purple prose »
Extravagant or flowery writing, especially in a literary work.
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put forward »
To propose for consideration.
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put one's foot down »
To make a car go faster, accelerate.
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put one's money where one's mouth is »
More generally, to take an obvious stake in the truth of a claim that one is making.
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put someone's back up »
To annoy someone deliberately.
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put the hammer down »
To drive quickly; to step on the accelerator.
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put up one's dukes »
Prepare to fight; literally, to raise your fists.
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put up with »
To tolerate, suffer through, or allow, esp. something annoying.
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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.
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quite a bit »
A considerable amount.
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rag the puck »
To retain possession of the puck by skillful skating and stickhandling without attempting to score, as a deliberate tactic intended to use up time.
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rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
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rain check »
In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.
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raise the flag and see who salutes »
It generates, usually as a preliminary step.
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ramp up »
Of a project or operation, to start up.
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read somebody the riot act »
To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.
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red state »
A state of the United States voting Republican in a given election, or tending to vote Republican in general.
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reflect on »
To think carefully about something, and give it due consideration.
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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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right back »
Used in several informal constructions to indicate return -- especially imminent return to a point of origin.
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ring out »
To make a phone call from an internal phone system to a general telephone network number.
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root up »
To dig or pull up by the roots; to deracinate.
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rub out »
delete, erase
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rule of thumb »
A general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge.
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rules OK »
To be popularly accepted, or supported by the general majority of people.
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rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
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run off »
To operate by a particular energy source.
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run on »
To operate with a particular energy source.
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run on fumes »
By extension, to operate with few resources or little money.
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run on fumes »
To operate a vehicle that is low on fuel.
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run roughshod over »
To treat roughly or without care, respect, or moderation; to act without control; to damage.
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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.
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send up »
To make prices or temperatures etc. rise.
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set one's cap at »
. Or, more generally, to choose something as a goal.
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sex machine »
Someone with considerable sexual prowess.
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sex up »
To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.
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sexual congress »
Loose translation of the title of Aristophanes' play Ecclesiazousae, more literally translated as Assemblywomen.
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shell out »
To use a program's "shell escape" function to execute an unrelated command or to invoke a subsidiary, interactive shell.
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shift gears »
To change pace or mode of operation.
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shitstorm »
Considerable backlash from the public.
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shoo-in »
A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.
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shoot 'em up »
A short story, novel, television show, film, computer game, or other narrative which depicts considerable gunplay.
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shoot one's mouth off »
To make reckless or exaggerated statements.
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shoot oneself in the foot »
To deliberately sabotage an activity in order to avoid obligation, though it causes personal suffering. Origins in first world war trench warfare.
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shoot the breeze »
To chat idly or generally waste time talking.
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sign of the times »
A symbol of an era; a zeitgeist.
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sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
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since when »
Used to indicate doubt as to the veracity of a statement.
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sit still »
To accept, tolerate, or acquiesce.
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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.
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slow down »
Decelerate.
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slow up »
To slow, slow down, decelerate.
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smooth operator »
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
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smooth operator »
A skillful, manipulative person, con artist, or clever scoundrel.
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snake oil »
Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.
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so so »
average
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soap opera »
TV series
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soft spot »
A point of vulnerability in a defence.
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soft touch »
A comfortable situation; an easy task or undemanding occupation, especially one which is comfortably remunerative.
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spaghetti western »
Nickname for a motion picture produced by an Italian-based company and filmed in Europe, depicting a tale of cowboys and desperadoes set in the American Old West.
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speed up »
To accelerate, to increase speed.
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spit it out »
To overcome reluctance to say something particular or to speak in general.
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stamp out »
To get rid of, eradicate.
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stand for »
To tolerate.
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start up »
To begin to operate.
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step on it »
To drive fast; to step on the accelerator.
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step up »
accelerate
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stick in the mud »
More generally, one who is slow, old-fashioned, or unprogressive; an old fogey.
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stick one's neck out »
To take a risk, putting oneself in a vulnerable position.
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still water runs deep »
A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect
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still waters run deep »
A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect.
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stir-crazy »
Of a prisoner, mentally unbalanced due to prolonged incarceration.
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stop someone in his tracks »
To prevent someone from continuing along a path or way, literal or figurative, he has begun going along.
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stop the lights »
An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.
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stop the presses »
An imperative form used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
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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.
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stretch the truth »
To exaggerate, often to the point where the truth is obscured or lost.
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strike through »
Partly obliterate text by drawing a continuous line through the centre thereof, usually to indicate the deletion of an error or obsolete information.
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suck up »
To adulate or flatter somebody excessively, generally to obtain some personal benefit or favour.
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suffer fools gladly »
To be tolerant of stupidity or incompetence in other people.
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sweat »
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
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swim with sharks »
To operate among dangerous people.
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swing for the fences »
To act in a way that might generate a very good result, but which also has a large chance of failing.
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swing state »
A state which may vote Democratic or Republican, in a given election or generally; a purple state.
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take out of context »
To interpret something in a manner in which it was not intended to be understood, often deliberately.
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take sitting down »
To tolerate, accept, or acquiesce; to take no action.
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take to task »
To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions.
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talk like an apothecary »
To use hard or gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this profession, who are commonly as superficial in their learning as they are pedantic in their language.
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talk out one's ass »
To speak authoritatively on a subject which one actually knows little about; to exaggerate.
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tall tale »
A greatly exaggerated, fantastic story.
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tell off »
To speak to someone rudely, disrespectfully or angrily; to berate; to unleash one's fury verbally towards someone.
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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."
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the man in the street »
average person
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the name of the game »
The overall purpose; the principal goal, or objective.
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the pits »
Something miserable or unpleasant.
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there and back »
One or for a round trip journey, literal or figurative.
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there but for the grace of God go I »
A recognition that others' misfortune could be one's own, if it weren't for the blessing/kindness/luck bestowed by fate or the Divine.Man's fate is in God's hands.More generally, our fate is not entirely in our own hands.
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there ya go »
Expressing exasperation.
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there you go »
Expressing exasperation.
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there's more than one way to skin a cat »
A problem generally has more than one solution.
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think of England »
To tolerate or endure bad sex. Used in conjunction with "I just lie on my back and.." "I just go through the motions and..." etc.
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three Rs »
The basic education received in primary schools. Literally; reading, writing and arithmetic.
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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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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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to be the cat's whiskers »
To perform better than was generally supposed possible.
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to the letter »
Literally, exactly, to follow the rules as they're written.
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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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turn a blind eye »
To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper.
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turn heads »
To garner a considerable amount of attention.
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under erasure »
Of a bit of text, written and strickenthrough; hence, figuratively in some sense both present and absent.
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under way »
In operation, in progress, commenced.
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up in the air »
Literal: up in or into the sky or air.
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ups and downs »
Periods of positive and negative events, moods, or interactions; highs and lows.
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wack out »
To become deranged.
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watch one's mouth »
In the imperative form, used as a warning to avoid or stop using inappropriate language, especially profanity, or disrespectful utterances.
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watch out »
To be aware or conscious; to look closely or carefully; to use caution. Often used in the imperative.
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whisper campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
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white lie »
A deliberate, untrue statement which does no harm or is intended to produce a favorable result.
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whomp up »
To incite or generate.
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wipe away »
To remove or erase with a wiping motion.
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wipe out »
To physically erase something written.
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wits' end »
Limit of one's sanity or mental capacity; point of desperation.
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work around the clock »
To work all day and all night without a break, because it is imperative to finish something.
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work the room »
To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
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work the room »
To interact with one's audience, taking queues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
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world »
Human collective existence; existence in general.
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