a cat can look at a king »
Alternative form of a cat may look at a king.1982, A J Ayer,
|
a little bird told me »
Of information which was gathered from a source not to be overtly exposed.
|
a picture is worth a thousand words »
Alternative form of a picture paints a thousand words.
|
a stopped clock is right twice a day »
A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.
|
a watched kettle never boils »
Alternative form of a watched pot never boils.
|
abide by »
To accept a decision or law and act in accordance with it; to conform to; to acquiesce; as, to abide by an award.
|
about turn »
An about face; a military command to a formation of soldiers to reverse the direction in which they are facing.
|
according to »
In a manner conforming or corresponding to; in proportion.
|
act on »
To act decisively on the basis of information received or deduced.
|
admiral of the blue »
A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as was formerly the custom among men of that vocation.
|
against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
|
all right, my lover »
An informal affectionate greeting.
|
all wet »
Utterly incorrect; erroneous; uninformed.
|
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.
|
ask my arse »
A common reply to any question; still deemed wit at sea, and formerly at court, under the denomination of selling bargains.
|
au fait »
fully informed;
|
baby blues »
Period and feeling of depressiveness after giving birth; a less severe form of postnatal depression.
|
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.
|
balancing act »
A performance that involves balancing things precariously and suspensefully.
|
balls up »
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of ball up.
|
bang up job »
Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.
|
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 off »
To be working against a present or former addiction to.
|
behind the counter »
Of drugs, dispensed by a pharmacist without needing a doctor's prescription or other form of compliance.
|
believe you me »
An emphatic form of "believe me"; you [the subject] had better believe me [the speaker].
|
big boys »
Plural form of big boy.
|
big break »
A breakthrough, especially the first big hit of a previously unknown performer or performers in the entertainment industry.
|
big gun »
Someone who is powerful or influential most often in plural form.
|
big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
|
bill of goods »
A set of misleading or deceptive claims; misinformation.
|
bird in the hand »
Shortened form of "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".
|
birds and bees »
Informal sex education, especially describing the sexual activity of animals rather than that of people.
|
black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
|
black sheep »
A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person.
|
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.
|
booby prize »
A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.
|
borganism »
Some forms of government.
|
bottle out »
To fail to perform a promised or planned action due to lack of courage.
|
bottom line »
The summary or result; the most important information; the upshot; the net-net.
|
break a leg »
A wish for a successful performance; primarily a valediction to an actor wishing him or her a successful theatrical stage performance.
|
break a leg »
To perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.
|
bridge »
A particular form of one hand placed on the table to support the cue when making a shot in cue sports.
|
bridge »
An elevated platform above the upper deck of a mechanically propelled ship from which it is navigated and from which all activities on deck can be seen and controlled by the captain, etc; smaller ships have a wheelhouse, and sailing ships were controlled from a quarterdeck.
|
bros before hoes »
(US, informal) A man should prioritize his male friends over his girlfriend or wife.
|
bull session »
An informal meeting among men.
|
bust a cap in someone's ass »
Alternative form of pop a cap in someone's ass.
|
busy work »
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
|
buttoned-down »
Alternative form of button-down.
|
by the numbers »
To do something exactly, precisely, or in a formulaic way.
|
by-the-numbers »
Done in a predictable manner; formulaic.
|
calling card »
A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
|
carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task despite obstacles.
|
carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task without having been informed specifically by what method to do so.
|
carry water for »
To perform menial tasks for; to serve; to assist.
|
ceterum censeo »
A formulaic expression used to end a speech by reinforcing one, often unrelated, major view.
|
chew the scenery »
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
|
chip on one's shoulder »
A form of challenge in the same spirit as a medieval knight throwing down his gauntlet.
|
chrome horn »
The front bumper of a car when used to bump another vehicle, usually to inform the driver of the other vehicle, that the first car would like to pass.
|
cite chapter and verse »
To speak authoritatively, providing detailed factual information.
|
clean code »
Software code that is formatted correctly and in an organized manner so that another coder can easily read or modify it.
|
clean house »
To reform by removing undesirable personnel and procedures.
|
clean up one's act »
To reform; to improve one's habits.
|
clue in »
To inform, instruct, or tell.
|
clue stick »
A metaphorical stick used to beat information or understanding into a slow learner.
|
come down to us »
To survive to the present day; to be extant in some form.
|
come full circle »
To make a complete change or reform.
|
come out »
To make a formal debut in society.
|
come to a head »
To suddenly make mature or perfected that which was inchoate or imperfectly formed.
|
cook the books »
To manipulate accounting information, esp. illegally, by a corporation.
|
cop out »
To avoid or shirk, either by failing to perform, or by performing in a grossly insufficient, negligent, or superficial manner.
|
cop-out »
An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.
|
cop-out »
Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
|
copious free time »
A hypothetical time set aside for performing time-consuming tasks, however insinuating that the speaker really has no free time.
|
crash course »
A quick, intense course of learning, especially one which is informal or hurried.
|
crocodile tears »
Plural form of crocodile tear.
|
cross someone's palm »
To give money to a person, especially as a bribe or as an inducement to perform a service.
|
cut a swath »
Variant form of cut a wide swath.
|
dash off »
To write quickly or informally.
|
days »
Plural form of day.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
Alternative form of carry the message to Garcia.
|
desperate times require desperate measures »
Alternative form of desperate times call for desperate measures.
|
developments »
Plural form of development.
|
dig up dirt »
To examine in order to find negative information for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.
|
do something with mirrors »
To insinuate one has performed a magic or optical trick with the use of hidden mirrors, insinuating trickery and sham.
|
do the hard yards »
To perform a difficult task or tasks.
|
do the honors »
Perform a duty.
|
do the honours »
Perform a duty.
|
dog it »
To underperform; to lag behind; to fail to exert effort.
|
dogs »
Plural form of dog.
|
don't dip your pen in company ink »
Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink.
|
don't look at me »
A response indicating that one is not willing or able to perform a task.
|
double entendre »
Plural form of double entendre.
|
double talk »
Lying, especially in a formal political statement.
|
drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »
(idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.
|
draw a blank »
To be unable to produce a required piece of information.
|
draw out »
To extract, bring out, as concealed information; elicit; educe.
|
dress down »
To wear casual or informal clothes.
|
dressed to the nines »
Very fancily or formally dressed; wearing very showy or splendid clothing.
|
drill down »
To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.
|
drop a bomb »
To announce surprising or alarming information suddenly and without warning.
|
dusty miller »
A formulaic phrase for a miller, related to the dust generated in the milling process.
|
dyed-in-the-wool »
Dyed before being formed into cloth.
|
early bird catches the worm »
Alternative form of early bird gets the worm.
|
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 out »
To perform cunnilingus.
|
eat pussy »
To perform cunnilingus.
|
eff off »
A censored form of the phrase f** off.
|
end of »
A short form of end of story.
|
even Jove nods »
Alternative form of even Homer nods.
|
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 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.
|
eye for an eye »
Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
|
eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth »
Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
|
fall behind »
To be progressively below average in performance.
|
fall in line »
To submit to the rules of a higher authority; obey; conform.
|
fall off the turnip truck »
To be naive, uninformed, or unsophisticated, in the manner of a rustic person.
|
fall off the wagon »
To cease or fail at a regimen of self-improvement or reform; to lapse back into an old habit or addiction.
|
fifteen minutes of fame »
Alternate form of 15 minutes of fame.
|
fill in »
To inform somebody, especially to supply someone missing or missed information.
|
fill in »
To complete a form or questionnaire with requested information.
|
fill somebody's shoes »
To do somebody's job; to perform or assume somebody's role.
|
filter down »
Of information, or resources; to move slowly down to lower levels of an organisation, or population.
|
fire away »
To begin to talk or present information quickly.
|
first among equals »
A person or position that if formally equivalent to others in a group, but is superior in some attribute.
|
fishing expedition »
A non-specific search for information, especially incriminating information.
|
for the love of »
Used to form interjections expressing exasperation.
|
force of habit »
An act that has been repeated to the point where the performance of the act becomes automatic.
|
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.
|
four-on-the-floor »
Characterised by a steady, uniformly accented beat with a 4/4 time signature.
|
freak flag »
Unconventional or unrestrained behavior; extreme, nonconformist views; the side of one's personality which harbors a tendency toward such behavior or such views.
|
full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
|
garbage in, garbage out »
(computing, information technology) If input data is not complete, accurate, and timely, then the resulting output is unreliable and of no useful value.1963, Raymond Crowley, "Robot Tax Collector Seeks Indications of 'Fudging'," Times Daily (Alabama, USA), 1 April (retrieved 26 July 2010):Officials explained that the quality of the computer's work depends on the quality of the data fed into it. Neil Hoke, administrative assistant to Stewart, quoted an adage of computer men: "Garbage in, garbage out."2008, Roger K. Lewis, "'In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software," Washington Post, 19 July (retrieved 26 July 2010):The old caveat "GIGO"
|
get into trouble »
To perform an action which is illegal, prohibited, forbidden or proscribed and to become subject to punishment for such action.
|
give a man a fish »
Shortened form of give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime
|
give head »
To perform oral sex on another person.
|
give notice »
To announce one's intent to leave a job; to inform an employer that one is leaving.
|
give somebody the runaround »
Especially by providing useless information or directions .
|
go down »
To perform oral sex.
|
go to seed »
To pass from flowering or ripening to the formation of seeds.
|
go to work »
To begin performing some task or work.
|
go with the flow »
To act as others are acting, conforming to common behavior patterns with an attitude of calm acceptance.
|
grain of salt »
A bit of common sense and skepticism. Generally used in some form of to take with a grain of salt.
|
grasp at straws »
To guess randomly at or pursue any apparent option, as due to lack of options or information.
|
greasy spoon »
An inexpensive diner or other informal restaurant, especially one specializing in frying or grilling.
|
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.
|
hardwired »
Designed to perform a specific task.
|
has-been »
A formerly popular or influential person whose popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline. Typically said of professionals or celebrities whose primary success is behind them.
|
have the floor »
To have permission or time to speak, especially in a formal situation.
|
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.
|
heads up »
Used as an informal warning, caution, or call for attention; pay attention!.
|
hen's teeth »
Plural form of hen's tooth.
|
hens' teeth »
Alternative form of hen's teeth.
|
hold one's own »
To stand up to; to give a respectable performance; to provide worthy competition.
|
honey trap »
The use of a seductive woman to entice a man into revealing secret information.
|
horse sense »
Common sense, especially with a connotation of folk wisdom independent from, and trumping, formal education.
|
horses for courses »
A person suited for one job may not be suited for another job, regardless of their expertise in the former job.
|
how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
|
how do you like them apples »
Directed jestingly or mockingly at someone who has received surprising information, ridiculing the situation.
|
how's tricks »
Informal greeting roughly equivalent to How are you?.
|
if pigs had wings »
Shortened form of if pigs had wings they would fly.
|
in any way, shape, or form »
In any way at all; whatsoever.
|
in for a dime, in for a dollar »
Americanised form of in for a penny, in for a pound.1983, Allen Drury, Decision, p. 356:In for a dime, in for a dollar, he thought crazily, and said what he had to say in a voice he forced to stay level and calm.1998, Ellen Miller, Like Being Killed, p. 47:In for a dime, in for a dollar. I whispered to Gerry,
|
in kind »
In the form of goods and service rather than money.
|
in no way, shape, or form »
Not in any way at all; not at all, nohow.
|
in order »
In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body.
|
in the dark »
Without information.
|
in the hot seat »
Under pressure to perform; under scrutiny; at the center of attention.
|
in the loop »
Informed; up to date; current; part of the discussion.
|
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.
|
jump the gun »
To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.
|
jungle telegraph »
A gossip network; an informal communication system within a group or organization.
|
keep somebody posted »
To inform or to keep somebody up to date.
|
keep up »
To ensure that one remains well-informed about something.
|
kick off the team »
In sports, to dismiss an athlete from a team, usually for misconduct, poor academic performance or other offenses.
|
knock about »
An informal game, usually football.
|
labor of love »
A task performed voluntarily without expectation of reimbursement; an altruistic work or undertaking.
|
lapsed academic »
A person formerly employed as a professor or researcher in a university or other institution of higher education, especially one who no longer attempts to remain current in his or her former academic field.
|
lay down »
To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate .
|
lay open »
In Japan and South Korea, to publish a patent for initial public review, prior to the formal application for registration.
|
let somebody in on »
To disclose; to tell somebody a secret or share privileged information.
|
lick out »
To perform cunnilingus on.
|
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.
|
little pitchers have long ears »
Alternative form of little pitchers have big ears.
|
live one »
Someone who is eccentric, nonconformist, or otherwise peculiar.
|
look up »
To obtain information about something from a text source.
|
make up »
To constitute; to compose; to form.
|
many hands make light work »
A large number of people co-operating can perform tasks easily.
|
measure twice, cut once »
Alternative form of measure twice and cut once.
|
meatball surgery »
A nickname for surgery that is meant to be performed rapidly to stabilize the patient as quickly as possible.
|
mess up »
To botch, bungle; to perform poorly on.
|
mess up »
To make a mistake; to do something incorrectly; to perform poorly.
|
mike up »
To fit a microphone and transmitter to a person. Usually for television performers, or for police informers.
|
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.
|
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.
|
nip in the bud »
To remove a bud from a plant to prevent flower and fruit from forming.
|
no comment »
An "official" refusal to relay any further information, as a response to a newspaper reporter's question.
|
no news is good news »
A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.
|
no prize for guessing »
Used to form expressions emphasizing the unsurprising nature of what follows.
|
no slave to fashion »
A person whose style of clothing and appearance are unconventional, informal, or slovenly; a person who takes little interest in how he or she is dressed.
|
no time like the present »
A shortened form of there's no time like the present
|
none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
|
nose test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
|
not on your nelly »
Not on your life, an emphatic form of no.
|
off one's game »
Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell.
|
off one's game »
Playing or competing below one's usual level of performance.
|
off the hook »
Performing extraordinarily well.
|
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 ice »
Performed by ice skaters as an ice show.
|
on spec »
Short form of "on speculation": Creating a work with the hope of selling it, as opposed to creating a work "on commission" for hire.
|
on the bubble »
Having qualification for an event depend on the upcoming performances of other competitors.
|
on the uptake »
In understanding or in the ability to absorb new information; especially in the phrases "quick on the uptake" and "slow on the uptake".
|
on top of »
Fully informed about, and in control of something; up to speed with.
|
one's jig is up »
Alternative form of the jig is up. [for one].
|
one-hit wonder »
A musical performer or musical group known for a single hit song, especially after failing at later attempts at success.
|
one-night stand »
An occasion when a performer or team of them expects to perform at a theater for a single evening.
|
one-trick pony »
A performing animal that knows only one trick.
|
ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »
(biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.
|
out of character »
Not acting; not "on"; behaving within one's natural personality rather than that of a character in a performance piece.
|
out of character »
Not in character; not successfully performing within the mindset of a given character in a theatrical performance. See also break character, drop character.
|
out of the loop »
Not informed up to date; current; not kept part of the discussion.
|
over one's head »
Performing at a level greatly superior to one's usual level of performance.
|
park that thought »
Alternative form of hold that thought.
|
pass muster »
To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection.
|
peel grapes »
To perform a menial task, eliminating trivial inconveniences.
|
pick somebody's brain »
To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.
|
pile up »
To form a pile, stack, or heap.
|
pinch-hit »
To do something in the place of another person who is not able to perform or is less skilled; to substitute or stand in for somebody.
|
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.
|
prime of life »
The period of one's mature life when one is at a peak of health and performance.
|
private eye »
A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.
|
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.
|
pull the other leg »
In imperative/precative form, used to imply that the speaker does not accept or believe what another has just said.
|
put across »
To perform a theatrical production.
|
put by »
To perform an action without attracting attention.
|
put someone down as »
To assume someone has a particular character from very little information.
|
quick-and-dirty »
Done or constructed in a hasty, approximate, temporarily adequate manner, but not exact, fully formed, or reliable for a long period of time.
|
read out »
To read something and say the words to inform other people.
|
read out »
To read some data and inform the person using the device.
|
right back »
Used in several informal constructions to indicate return -- especially imminent return to a point of origin.
|
rocking-horse shit »
Alternative form of rocking horse shit.
|
root around »
Alternative form of root about.
|
round of applause »
An outburst of clapping among a group or audience. Often asked for by the Master of Ceremonies at a concert or other performance.
|
rubber-chicken dinner »
A formal dinner or event thrown by politicians to raise funds.
|
run away »
To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.
|
run by »
To inform someone briefly of the main points of an idea.
|
run by »
To repeat some information.
|
run for one's money »
A reasonable opportunity to succeed, perform acceptably, or escape harm, especially in a difficult situation.
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sauce for the goose »
A short form of what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
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scream »
A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
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sea change »
A profound transformation.
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seagull approach »
The occurence of casual, ill-informed and hasty decisions or comments made by outside authorities who lack an understanding of the local issues or a real understanding of the facts of a particular situ.
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serpentine »
Having the shape or form of a snake.
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shape up »
To take shape; to transform into or become.
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shape up or ship out »
To either improve one's behavior or else be required to leave; to either improve one's performance in an activity or else withdraw from that activity completely.
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shoot off at the mouth »
To disclose some information that was supposed to be secret.
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shotgun »
A play formation in which the quarterback is a few feet behind the snapper when the ball is hiked, ideally allowing for an easier pass play.
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show somebody the door »
To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
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show up »
To outperform or one-up, often in an arrogant manner.
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showstopper »
A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive reaction strong enough to pause the production.
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shroud »
One of the two annular plates at the periphery of a water wheel, which form the sides of the buckets; a shroud plate.
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sign on the dotted line »
To formalize an agreement.
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sing soprano »
To perform vocal music in a higher pitch than alto.
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sit in »
form of protest
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sixth former »
senior pupil
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skimp and save »
Alternative form of scrimp and save.
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sleeping at the switch »
Variant form of asleep at the switch.
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smell test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
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sniff test »
An informal reality check of an idea or proposal, using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
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soapbox »
A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.
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soft shoe »
A kind of tap dancing performed in soft-soled shoes, popular in vaudeville.
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speak of the devil and he appears »
Alternative form of speak of the devil.
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spick and span »
Alternative form of spick-and-span.
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square meal »
A satisfying meal, especially suitable for one performing physical labor.
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stand off »
To stand some distance apart form something or someone.
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step down »
To gradually reduce something, a little at a time, as an electronic step down transformer.
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stop the presses »
An imperative form used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
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straight man »
A member of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in preparatory dialog with the principal comedian; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.
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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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strut one's stuff »
To behave, or to perform in a showy or ostentatious manner, especially in a way to impress others; to show off.
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swan song »
A final performance or accomplishment, especially one before retirement.
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take a bow »
To accept applause at the end of a performance in a theatre. Often this includes actually bowing to the audience.
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take down a peg »
Alternative form of pull down a peg.
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take in »
To foster or adopt a child informally.
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take it easy »
An informal greeting for parting or closing.
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take the Michael »
Alternative form of take the mickey, usually considered more polite.
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take the mick »
Alternative form of take the mickey.
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take up with »
To form a close relationship with someone.
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talk of the devil »
Alternative form of speak of the devil.
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talk out of turn »
To make a remark or provide information when it is inappropriate or indiscreet to do so, or when one does not have permission or the authority to do so.
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tear up the pea patch »
To put on a notable performance, especially in sports; to go on a rampage.
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tell all »
To reveal everything, particularly information that is normally withheld.
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tell on »
To inform on.
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the ends justify the means »
Alternative form of the end justifies the means.
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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.
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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.
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the proof is in the pudding »
Alternative form of the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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the whistle does not pull the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
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the whistle doesn't pull the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
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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.
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third degree »
Intensive rough interrogation in order to extract information or a confession.
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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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throw out »
To dismiss or expel someone from any longer performing duty or attending somewhere.
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tight-lipped »
Unwilling to divulge information.
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time and material »
A form of contractual compensation involving payment for materials used and at agreed rates for the those involved in performing the services.
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time and tide »
Shortened form of time and tide wait for no man
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timeserver »
A person who conforms to current opinions, especially for reasons of personal advantage; an opportunist.
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tin ear »
Insensitivity to and inability to appreciate the elements of performed music or the rhythm, elegance, or nuances of language.
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tip off »
To alert or inform someone.
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tip off »
information
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to be the cat's whiskers »
To perform better than was generally supposed possible.
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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.
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track record »
An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.
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trick out »
To trick out; to mod or customize an object, typically for the purpose of both personalization as well as enhancing the object's performance capabilities and more particularly for the purpose of performing stunts with that object.
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tune up »
To make adjustments to an engine in order to improve its performance.
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turn a trick »
To perform a sexual service for a customer.
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turn against »
To rebel or oppose something formerly supported.
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turn into »
To transform into; become.
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turn on »
To rebel; to go against something formerly supported.
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two birds with one stone »
Any two things that were performed or completed at the same time by one action.
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under the gun »
Under great pressure to perform.
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university of life »
The real world as a source of instruction, as opposed to a formal education.
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unring a bell »
To perform the impossible.
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unwashed masses »
Of people who are considered by someone to be somehow uneducated, uninformed, godless, or in some other way unqualified for inclusion in the speaker's elite circles.
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up a creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation, without any help. Superlative form of up a creek: most up a creek.
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up front »
Open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful.
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up on »
Well-informed about.
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up shit creek »
Alternative form of up the creek.
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up shit creek without a paddle »
Alternative form of up the creek without a paddle.
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up to speed »
Fully informed; current.
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up-to-date »
Informed about the latest news or developments.
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walk out »
To leave suddenly, especially as a form of protest.
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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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way out of a paper bag »
A minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform such.
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when in Rome, do as the Romans »
Alternative form of when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
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whistle-blower »
One who reports a problem or violation to the authorities; especially, an employee or former employee who reports a violation by an employer.
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wild horses »
Plural form of wild horse.
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willful ignorance »
A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.
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willies »
Plural form of willy.
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wing it »
To improvise; to make things up or figure things out as one goes; or to perform with little or no preparation.
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with no further ado »
Without any other formalities; with no further delay.
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wooden-top »
Uniformed police officers.
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word of mouth »
Verbal means of passing of information.
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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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wrap up »
To form a cylinder by rolling a sheet of something.
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write out »
To write in full length or expanded form.
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you can't tell a book by its cover »
Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover.
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you don't dip your pen in the company's ink »
Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink.
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you don't dip your pen in the inkwell »
Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink.
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yours sincerely »
A polite formula to end a letter, especially when the recipient’s name is known to the sender.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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