a chain is only as strong as its weakest link »
An organization (especially a process or a business) is only as strong or powerful as its weakest person. A group of associates is only as strong as its laziest member.
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a drop in the bucket »
An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem.
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a fool and his money are soon parted »
It is easy to get money from foolish people, especially rich ones.
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a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
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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".
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according to »
In a manner conforming or corresponding to; in proportion.
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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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against all odds »
Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition or probability.
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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 over the place »
Everywhere, especially chaotically or in such a way as to make a mess.
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answer back »
To issue echo characters, protocol responses, reflexive connection requests, etc.
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answer for »
To be held responsible for.
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as far as »
With respect to; as relates to.
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as is »
In its present state or condition, especially as a contractual condition of sale.
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