a cat can look at a king »
Alternative form of a cat may look at a king.1982, A J Ayer,
|
a picture is worth a thousand words »
Alternative form of a picture paints a thousand words.
|
a watched kettle never boils »
Alternative form of a watched pot never boils.
|
albatross »
Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
|
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.
|
all over the board »
Showing a wide range of values with no particular pattern.
|
all over the place »
Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.
|
all things being equal »
Without considering or being affected by external factors.
|
apple does not fall far from the stem »
Alternative form of apple does not fall far from the tree.
|
apple does not fall far from the trunk »
Alternative form of apple does not fall far from the tree.
|
apple never falls far from the tree »
Alternative form of apple does not fall far from the tree.
|
back-assward »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
back-asswards »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
backassward »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
backasswards »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
bale out »
Alternative spelling of bail out.
|
banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
|
barking dogs never bite »
Alternative form of barking dogs seldom bite.
|
bass-ackward »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
bass-ackwards »
Alternative form of ass-backwards.
|
bassackward »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
bassackwards »
Alternative form of bass-ackwards.
|
be the way to go »
Represent the best of all possible options or courses of action; pre-eminate over all other choices or alternatives.
|
beat up »
To sail to windward using a series of alternate tacks across the wind.
|
bee in one's bonnet »
Something of particular interest or concern; an obsession.
|
big deal »
Something very important, difficult, or of concern.
|
birds of the feather flock together »
People who are alike physically tend to congregate and socialize together, despite government efforts at forced integration.
|
bleeding edge »
Something very current, or modern where there may actually be a hazard or risk in using it, such as with potentially unstable software. The term relates to a sword.
|
blow out of proportion »
To overreact to or overstate; to treat too seriously or be overly concerned with.
|
blow the whistle »
To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.
|
boot camp »
A short, intensive, quasi-military program generally aimed at young offenders as an alternative to a jail term.
|
borganism »
Some forms of government.
|
broken-hearted »
Alternative spelling of brokenhearted. Feeling depressed, despondent, or hopeless, especially over losing a love.
|
bros before hos »
Alternative spelling of bros before hoes.
|
bust a cap in someone's ass »
Alternative form of pop a cap in someone's ass.
|
but who's counting »
Used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to.
|
buttoned-down »
Alternative form of button-down.
|
caught between the devil and the deep blue sea »
Having a choice between two alternatives, both undesirable.
|
circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
|
close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
|
cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
Alternative form of carry the message to Garcia.
|
desk jockey »
One who spends his or her time seated at a desk; especially one who is more concerned with procedure, paperwork, or administration than with its ultimate goal or practical consequence.
|
desperate times require desperate measures »
Alternative form of desperate times call for desperate measures.
|
diplomatic flu »
An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.
|
don't cry over spilled milk »
Alternative spelling of don't cry over spilt milk.
|
don't dip your pen in company ink »
Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink.
|
early bird catches the worm »
Alternative form of early bird gets the worm.
|
even Jove nods »
Alternative form of even Homer nods.
|
every rule has an exception »
Alternative form of there is an exception to every rule.
|
everything and the kitchen sink »
Alternative form of everything but the kitchen sink.
|
fancypants »
Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.
|
fifteen minutes of fame »
Alternate form of 15 minutes of fame.
|
fine line »
A difference, albeit vague and difficult to discern.
|
for that matter »
As far as that is concerned.
|
forewarned, forearmed »
Alternative form of forewarned is forearmed.
|
fortune favors the brave »
Alternative form of fortune favors the bold.
|
fortune favours the bold »
Alternative form of fortune favors the bold.
|
fortune favours the brave »
Alternative form of fortune favors the bold.
|
fourth estate »
Which governed legislation.
|
friend with benefits »
A friendship with no reserves when it comes to the release of shared sexual tension thus leading to sexual fraternization.
|
give somebody pause »
To give somebody cause for concern.
|
go with the flow »
To act as others are acting, conforming to common behavior patterns with an attitude of calm acceptance.
|
good old boy »
A friendly, unambitious, relatively uneducated, sometimes racially biased white man who embodies the stereotype of the folksy culture of the rural southern USA.
|
grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
great oaks from little acorns grow »
Alternative form of mighty oaks from little acorns grow.
|
handwriting on the wall »
Alternative form of writing on the wall. A divine prediction or sentence to fate.
|
have someone by the short hairs »
To have someone in a difficult situation in which he or she is without alternatives and can be controlled.
|
he who laughs last laughs hardest »
Alternative form of he who laughs last laughs best.
|
head south »
Alternative form of go south; to decrease or become unfavorable; to take a turn for the worse.
|
hear the grass grow »
To be very aware or discerning; to pay attention to every small detail.
|
hens' teeth »
Alternative form of hen's teeth.
|
holding pattern »
A path taken by an aircraft waiting to land.
|
holding pattern »
Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity.
|
horse opera »
A theatrical production, film, or program on radio or television depicting adventures of characters in the American Old West; a western.
|
hospital pass »
A throw that stays in the air long enough that it allows too many people to get underneath it, increasing the risk of injury and a trip to the hospital. Thus, a hospital pass.
|
hot button »
A central issue, concern or characteristic, especially one that motivates people to make a choice.
|
hunger is a good sauce »
(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.
|
hunger is the best sauce »
Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.
|
in order »
In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body.
|
in vain »
In a disrespectful manner, especially when concerning religion.
|
inside baseball »
Technical matters concerning baseball not apparent to spectators.
|
it ain't the whistle that pulls the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
it is not the whistle that pulls the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
it isn't the whistle that pulls the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
it's all good »
Used to express unconcern.
|
jack-tar »
Alternative spelling of jacktar.
|
jump rope »
The activity, game or exercise in which a person must jump, bounce or skip repeatedly while a length of rope is swung over and under, both ends held in the hands of the jumper, or alternately, held by two other participants. Often used for athletic training and among schoolchildren. Variations involve speed, chants, varied rope and jumper movement patterns, multiple jumpers and/or multiple ropes.
|
kernel of truth »
A core accuracy at the heart of a claim or narrative which also contains dubious or fictitious elements.
|
kettle of fish »
A situation which is recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation, and which is not necessarily unfavorable.
|
ladies man »
Alternative spelling of lady's man.
|
ladies' man »
Alternative spelling of lady's man.
|
landing strip »
A cultivated pubic hair pattern in which much of the pubic hair is removed, leaving only a central vertical line or rectangle.
|
latter day »
modern
|
lead »
A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
|
little pitchers have long ears »
Alternative form of little pitchers have big ears.
|
look through rose-tinted glasses »
Alternative spelling of wear rose-colored glasses.
|
loved up »
Alternative spelling of loved-up.
|
lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
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.
|
make out »
To discern.
|
measure twice, cut once »
Alternative form of measure twice and cut once.
|
mind one's own business »
To concern oneself only with what is of interest to oneself and not interfere in the affairs of others.
|
mind one's P's and Q's »
Alternative spelling of mind one's p's and q's.
|
money can't buy happiness »
Money can buy external things, but true happiness comes from inside.
|
nail biter »
One who bites or chews his or her fingernails.
|
necessity is the mother of innovation »
Alternative form of necessity is the mother of invention.
|
never look a gift horse in the mouth »
Alternative form of don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
|
never mind »
Do not be concerned.
|
never you mind »
Do not concern yourself with it; it is none of your business.
|
nickel-and-dime »
Alternative spelling of nickel and dime.
|
nightcap »
A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.
|
no dice »
An unacceptable alternative.
|
not give a monkey's »
Not to have the slightest interest or concern.
|
old school »
Characteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.
|
on a regular basis »
Regularly, occurring in regular time intervals or patterns.
|
on an irregular basis »
Irregularly, occurring in irregular time intervals or patterns.
|
on track »
Proceeding as planned, as expected, or in a manner consistent with an established pattern.
|
one's jig is up »
Alternative form of the jig is up. [for one].
|
or else »
Otherwise or as an alternative.
|
or what »
Or something else; allows for the existence of an unexpressed alternative to what was said.
|
outside world »
The world external to the human mind.
|
paint oneself into a corner »
To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
|
painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
|
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.
|
park that thought »
Alternative form of hold that thought.
|
pass the buck »
To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
|
pick up »
To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on".
|
pride cometh before a fall »
Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.
|
pride goes before a fall »
Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.
|
pride goeth before a fall »
Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.
|
pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
|
proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
|
proverbs go in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1932, Bertrand Russell,
|
proverbs hunt in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
|
proverbs often come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
|
put someone in mind of »
To remind someone of; to inspire a mental image or awareness of; to cause thoughts concerning.
|
put two and two together »
To figure out; to deduce or discern.
|
raise the spectre »
To cause concern that something unfortunate might happen.
|
rat race »
An activity or situation which is congested with participants and which is hectic or tedious, especially in the context of a busy, modern urban lifestyle.
|
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.
|
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.
|
ring out »
To make a phone call from an internal phone system to a general telephone network number.
|
roadwarrior »
A person who carries a mobile device such as a laptop or PDA and uses wireless internet connections to work.
|
roadwarrior »
Alternative spelling of road warrior.
|
rocking-horse shit »
Alternative form of rocking horse shit.
|
root around »
Alternative form of root about.
|
ropable »
Alternative spelling of ropeable. Able to be roped.
|
ruffle some feathers »
To disturb; to arouse resentment, anger, or concern.
|
rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
run hot and cold »
To alternate between two opposite extremes, such as enthusiasm and disinterest or success and failure.
|
run in »
Alternative spelling of run-in.
|
run out »
Alternative spelling of runout.
|
sea legs »
Alternative name of surimi.
|
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.
|
serpentine »
Sinuous; curving in alternate directions.
|
shotgun »
A one-story dwelling with no hallways or corridors, with the rooms arranged in a straight line. Mostly heard in the southern United States.
|
shotgun shack »
A house with no internal barrier between the front and back doors.
|
shy bairns get noot »
(Geordie) Alternative spelling of shy bairns get nowt.
|
side issue »
An issue or topic which is not of direct significance to a primary concern.
|
sign off »
Term used to describe the closing of a radio or television station's studios and cessation of a broadcasting signal, usually during the overnight hours.
|
silver surfer »
An elderly person who regularly uses the Internet.
|
six of one, half a dozen of the other »
The two alternatives are equivalent or indifferent; it doesn't matter which one we choose.
|
skimp and save »
Alternative form of scrimp and save.
|
smoke signal »
An indirect message or indication, especially concerning a future event.
|
socialized medicine »
A politically charged term used to contrast such systems with free market alternatives and emphasize the perceived link to socialism.
|
socialized medicine »
An umbrella term for any system of government-run health care.
|
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.
|
speak of the devil and he appears »
Alternative form of speak of the devil.
|
spick and span »
Alternative form of spick-and-span.
|
stick it to the man »
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commercialization, big business or government.
|
stick-in-the-mud »
Alternative spelling of stick in the mud.
|
straighten out »
To eliminate confusion from or concerning.
|
switch off »
To alternate between; to trade.
|
sword and sorcery »
Of or pertaining to a genre of narratives—including short stories, novels, television shows, films, and computer games—which combines wizardry and other fantastical supernatural elements with violent combat using medieval weaponry..
|
tag team »
Two or more people or groups acting alternately to accomplish some task.
|
take a number »
Recognize that many others are in the same situation; recognize that one's concerns are not of high priority; be prepared to wait.
|
take down a peg »
Alternative form of pull down a peg.
|
take out »
Alternative spelling of takeout.
|
take the Michael »
Alternative form of take the mickey, usually considered more polite.
|
take the mick »
Alternative form of take the mickey.
|
talk of the devil »
Alternative form of speak of the devil.
|
tempus fugit »
time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.
|
that's that »
There is nothing more to say or to do concerning the matter.
|
the ends justify the means »
Alternative form of the end justifies the means.
|
the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you take »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
|
the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you're going to get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
|
the man »
The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations; the system, as coordinated outside of one’s control..
|
the proof is in the pudding »
Alternative form of the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
|
the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
|
the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you take »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
|
the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you're going to get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
|
the sky is the moon »
A new modern combination of "the sky is the limit" and "shoot for the moon".
|
the whistle does not pull the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
the whistle doesn't pull the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
think tank »
A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government.
|
tiger team »
A specialized group tasked with testing the effectiveness of an organization's ability to protect assets by attempting to circumvent, defeat or otherwise thwart that organization's internal and external security.
|
tomato tomato »
Uses insignificant pronunciation difference to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
|
touch a nerve »
To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment.
|
tough call »
A choice or judgment which is difficult to make, especially one involving only two alternatives.
|
uncle sam »
the us government
|
up shit creek »
Alternative form of up the creek.
|
up shit creek without a paddle »
Alternative form of up the creek without a paddle.
|
well ain't that the catfish in the trap »
A sentence commonly spoken in the Southern United States. It can often be used in place of "well, I'll be damned". Used to express surprise.
|
what of it »
So what? Who cares? Expresses disinterest, disregard or lack of concern.
|
when in Rome, do as the Romans »
Alternative form of when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
|
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.
|
word on the wire »
The rumour or news going around on the Internet, in business, on the street, or in social circles.
|
you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
|
you can't judge a book by its cover »
It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.
|
you can't tell a book by its cover »
Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover.
|
you don't dip your pen in the company's ink »
Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink.
|
you don't dip your pen in the inkwell »
Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink.
|
| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
[