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.
|
ad fontes »
Go to the sources: An expression emphasizing the importance of conducting fundamental research and of consulting primary sources.
|
at heart »
In spirit; according to one's beliefs, views or feelings; deep down, really, fundamentally.
|
barrel of monkeys »
Something very funny or amusing.
|
beer and skittles »
Fun times.
|
bells and whistles »
Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.
|
belly up »
Dead or defunct.
|
brain-dead »
Having an irreversible loss of brain function and cessation of brain activity.
|
bread and butter »
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
|
break in »
New function more naturally through use or wear.
|
bring it weak »
To fail to accomplish an accomplishable task or to make an attempt at less than maximum effort; to "half-ass" or "fake the funk".
|
charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
|
class clown »
A student who frequently makes jokes or pokes fun; a wiseacre.
|
Cold hands, warm heart; Dirty feet, no sweetheart! »
A few old timer's "fun" way to compliment a lady & to find out if she could be courted.
|
conk out »
To stop functioning.
|
deep down »
Fundamentally; in essence; in reality; really.
|
dummy up »
To make a mock-up or prototype version of something, without some or all off its intended functionality.
|
for all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
|
for kicks »
In order to obtain pleasure or excitement; for fun.
|
for the heck of it »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
for the hell of it »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
for the sake of it »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
from the ground up »
From the beginning; starting with the basics, foundation, or fundamentals.
|
funny farm »
An insane asylum.
|
funny money »
A highly inflated currency.
|
funny money »
Bills of any foreign currency or of counterfeit origin.
|
funny money »
Money gained in a devious or sneaky manner.
|
funny money »
Play money.
|
funny stuff »
Irregular, often illegal, activities.
|
get it »
To realize or understand why a joke is funny.
|
give 'em enough rope »
Allow one to function unhindered, or without further overbearing oversight.
|
go down »
To stop functioning, to go offline.
|
golden rule »
A fundamental rule or principle.
|
have a ball »
To enjoy thoroughly; to have lots of fun or excitement.
|
have a blast »
To thoroughly enjoy; to be excited or have lots of fun.
|
in fun »
as a joke; not serious
|
it's one's funeral »
One's decisions or actions will bring undesirable consequences only on oneself.
|
jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in dancing. Often applied to people being funny or showy.
|
jumble sale »
fundraising event
|
just for fun »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
kick up »
To function improperly.
|
kid around »
To engage in playful fun.
|
lame joke »
An attempt at humor which is perceived to have been used previously to the point of being cliche, or was never funny to begin with.
|
lay the groundwork »
To create a foundation; to provide the basics or fundamentals.
|
let the good times roll »
To have fun or live fully; may imply letting things that are going well proceed.
|
live it up »
To have a wonderful life; to live fully and have fun.
|
make fun of »
To tease, ridicule or make jokes about.
|
muck about »
To be playful; full of fun and high spirits.
|
nose test »
An inspection of the nasal passages or a trial of their function, as for breathing difficulties.
|
nuts and bolts »
The basic, inner workings of something; the fundamentals or basics; that which makes something operate, on a basic level.
|
off the rails »
In an abnormal manner, especially in a manner that causes damage or malfunctioning.
|
on the blink »
Functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well. Usually refers to a mechanical or electronic device.
|
out of fix »
Wrong, broken, nonfunctional.
|
out of order »
Not functioning properly.
|
out of pocket »
Lacking funds, or suffering a loss.
|
party pooper »
Someone who unnecessarily dampens fun.
|
pick on »
To bully or make fun of a victim; to bother or harass.
|
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.
|
pull the other one, it's got bells on »
The implication is that one leg has been pulled, and the joker will have more fun with the other one due to the bells.
|
put one foot in front of the other »
To walk, decomposed to stress the fundamentality of the task.
|
put through its paces »
To test completely; to exercise the full range of abilities or functions.
|
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.
|
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.
|
rock up »
To turn up to a place or function unexpectedly, or without notice or prior warning.
|
rubber-chicken dinner »
A formal dinner or event thrown by politicians to raise funds.
|
shell out »
To use a program's "shell escape" function to execute an unrelated command or to invoke a subsidiary, interactive shell.
|
short leash »
Forcing one to function within a strict set of rules, or under great scrutiny or oversight.
|
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.
|
snazz up »
To improve appearance or appeal by increasing stylishness or functionality, or by adding other attractive features.
|
spice up »
To make more exotic, fun or extravagant.
|
the more the merrier »
It is more fun with more people.
|
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.
|
through and through »
Completely; entirely; fundamentally.
|
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.
|
tickle somebody's funny bone »
To amuse; to strike somebody as funny.
|
time flies »
Time seems to pass quickly. Time flies when you're having fun.
|
time flies when you're having fun »
Time seems to pass quicker when one is enjoying oneself.
|
to all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
|
urban fabric »
The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.
|
wet blanket »
A person who takes the fun out of a situation or activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.
|
| Search from any page on the Web with Abbreviations.com AutoSearch. It's free! |
[