a bad workman always blames his tools »
It is not the tools we use which make us good, but rather how we employ them.
|
a good beginning makes a good ending »
Good beginnings promise a good end; start off on a good note to reap the benefits at the end.
|
a good man is hard to find »
Men who make good husbands or workers are rare.
|
a good voice to beg bacon »
Said in ridicule of a bad voice.
|
a miss is as good as a mile »
A failure remains a failure, regardless of how close to success one has actually come.
|
a nod is as good as a wink »
The hint, suggestion etc can be understood without further explaining.
|
all good things come to an end »
Nothing lasts forever.
|
all it's cracked up to be »
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
|
all that glitters is not gold »
Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not actually be so, things that look nice might not be as good as they look.
|
all well and good »
Basically good, but with some shortcoming or limitation.
|
angel's advocate »
Someone who sees what's good about an idea and supports it.
|
any press is good press »
Being mentioned in the media is beneficial to the subject because it gets publicity.
|
as good as one's word »
Faithful to a promise one has made.
|
as luck would have it »
As it happened; how it turned out; by good fortune; fortunately or luckily.
|
as you sow, so shall you reap »
The personal consequences of one's actions are in proportion to the good or bad intentions towards others.
|
bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
|
bang up »
He’s doing a bang up good job..
|
better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness »
In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response than to complain about the situation.
|
beyond the pale »
Describing behaviour that is considered to be outside the bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgement in civilised company.
|
bill of goods »
A collection of items purchased or offered for sale.
|
bill of goods »
A set of misleading or deceptive claims; misinformation.
|
black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
|
burn one's candle at both ends »
To work extremely or excessively hard; to work too hard for good health or peace of mind.
|
bye-bye »
Goodbye.
|
carrot and stick »
Simultaneous rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior.
|
curate's egg »
A thing which has good and bad parts.
|
cut the mustard »
To suffice; to be good or effective enough.
|
deliver the goods »
To keep one's promises.
|
diamond in the rough »
A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.
|
don't let the bedbugs bite »
Used to wish a person a good night's sleep.
|
eat one's own dog food »
To use or consume the economic goods or services that oneself is producing; to be part of a closed household economy.
|
embarrassment of riches »
An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.
|
enough is as good as a feast »
Just the right amount is as good as more than enough: there is no value in excess.
|
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.
|
fair to middling »
Only tolerably good.
|
fare thee well »
Goodbye, farewell.
|
fine feathers make fine birds »
Something that appears beautiful or good is by definition beautiful or good.
|
fit as a lop »
In good health, fitness.
|
for good »
Forever; permanently.
|
for good and all »
Permanently, forever.
|
for good measure »
As a precaution; just in case; added as an extra.
|
for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
|
for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses surprise or amazement.
|
four-leaf clover »
A bringer of good luck.
|
give as good as one gets »
To behave toward others in a manner resembling or commensurate with their behavior towards oneself, especially in a situation where one is insulted or otherwise ill-treated.
|
go the extra mile »
To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
|
good and »
Very; exceptionally; utterly.
|
good drunk »
A person who is cheerful and companionable when intoxicated, retaining reasonable control of his or her mental and emotional faculties.
|
good egg »
A good person, someone to be trusted; a friend.
|
good enough for jazz »
Good enough.
|
good evening »
greeting
|
good fences make good neighbors »
It is better to mind one's own business than get involved with other people's affairs.
|
good for you »
well done
|
good job »
Well done; congratulations!.
|
good luck with that »
An expression wishing someone success in an unlikely enterprise.
|
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.
|
good old boy »
A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow.
|
good on you »
An exclamation of encouragement or congratulation; well done.
|
good riddance »
Used to indicate that a departure, or loss is welcome.
|
good things come to those who wait »
A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.
|
good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
|
good to go »
Ready for use or ready for normal operation, especially after repair or renewal.
|
good turn »
A good deed; a thoughtful or selfless act.
|
goodbye cruel world »
A call said before taking a stiff drink, especially a shot of vodka.
|
goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
|
gut factor »
Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.
|
halfway decent »
Good - better than expected.
|
have a good time »
To enjoy oneself.
|
have a scream »
To have a good time, to have a blast.
|
have an eye for »
To have good taste; to have the ability to discriminate or identify quality.
|
have it made »
To have accomplished all there is to do; to have no further work or difficulty; to have achieved a lifestyle characterized by good fortune and comfort.
|
honest-to-goodness »
Real; genuine.
|
hot cross buns »
good friday cakes
|
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 spice »
When one is hungry, anything will taste good.
|
in kind »
In the form of goods and service rather than money.
|
in shape »
In a good state of physical fitness or bodily appearance.
|
in shape »
In good condition, repair; in a good state.
|
in the pink »
In very good health.
|
it pays to advertise »
Good qualities do not get rewarded automatically.
|
it's all good »
Used to express unconcern.
|
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good »
There is usually something of benefit to someone, no matter how bad the situation.
|
jew down »
To bargain or haggle with a seller in order to obtain a lower price for a good or service.
|
kick butt »
To be impressive; to be decisively good or pleasant.
|
kiss of death »
Something that may seem good and favourable but that actually brings ruin to hopes, plans, etc.
|
lead »
I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top. — Bacon.
|
let the good times roll »
To have fun or live fully; may imply letting things that are going well proceed.
|
like a million bucks »
Extremely good or well.
|
like a million dollars »
Extremely good or well.
|
log off »
To depart from conversation; to say goodbye.
|
long goodbye »
Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.
|
make head or tail of »
To determine to be good or bad.
|
make out like a bandit »
To profit greatly; to get an excessively good deal.
|
man up »
To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.
|
measure up »
To meet expectations; to be as good as.
|
mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
|
mixed blessing »
Something that has both good and bad features.
|
money for old rope »
Money exchanged for goods of low value.
|
music to one's ear »
Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.
|
nearly never bulled a cow »
(Irish) Near enough is not good enough.
|
no good deed ever goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no good deed goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no news is good news »
A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.
|
no slouch »
Pretty good; not bad.
|
nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat »
The idea/proposed action is inconsequential to the current situation.
|
not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
|
not bad »
Reasonably good.
|
not half bad »
Pretty good; okay; decent.
|
nothing to write home about »
Not exceptional; not noteworthy or especially good.
|
on a roll »
Having a streak of good luck or good progress or success.
|
on board »
It's a good idea, but let's see if we can get a few more of the management team on board.
|
on good terms with »
Friendly towards; having good relations with.
|
on its merits »
Considering only intrinsic good points and bad points, without prejudice or other considerations, such as procedural ones.
|
one good turn deserves another »
One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.
|
open a can of whoop ass »
A good-humored threat of physical harm.
|
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.
|
pay for »
To exchange for, especially money for goods or services.
|
peachy keen »
Extremely good, exactly right; all right. Often used in the negative or with an ironic or sarcastic connotation to mean the opposite.
|
poison tree bears poison fruit »
Unethical actions in the service of good intentions will have immoral or unethical consequences.
|
power chord »
A chord or combination of notes used in rock music and typically selected to sound good at high volume and high levels of distortion. Power chords make extensive use of intervals such as open fourths and fifths.
|
price is right »
The cost of a thing is reasonable and of good value.
|
reach an early grave »
To resign near the start for good.
|
reap what one sows »
To receive as a reward or harvest in the same measure as one's exertions, in a good or a bad sense. To receive justice.
|
ride one's luck »
To avoid failure only by good fortune.
|
right as rain »
Very good; healthy.
|
rough and ready »
Crude or unpolished, but still fit for use; good enough.
|
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.
|
say goodbye »
To separate from someone.
|
say goodbye »
To wish someone farewell upon their leaving.
|
second string »
Not as good; of a lower quality or condition.
|
sell »
To agree to transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money.
|
sell someone a bill of goods »
To deceive or cheat someone.
|
short of a length »
Of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.
|
so far so good »
Up to this point, all is OK.Well, you've packed your bags for the holiday, bought your tickets, reserved the hotel and put the dog in kennels. So far so good, now let's get to Minorca without any troubles.
|
spare the rod and spoil the child »
If one does not discipline a child, he or she will never learn obedience and good manners.
|
streak of good luck »
A series of lucky events.
|
sweet dreams »
Phrase said to someone before they fall asleep, wishing them a good sleep.
|
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.
|
take away from »
To make something seem not so good or interesting.
|
take one's leave »
Say goodbye.
|
take the cake »
To be especially good or outstanding.
|
the icing on the cake »
Something wonderful at the end of something good.
|
the road to hell is paved with good intentions »
well-intended acts can lead to disaster
|
the way to a man's heart is through his stomach »
Cooking for a man is a good way to win his affections.
|
thick and thin »
Both good and bad times.
|
think the world of »
To have a good opinion; to esteem; to admire.
|
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.
|
to die for »
Very good; exquisite; excellent; particularly desirable.
|
top notch »
Very good; of the highest quality.
|
turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
|
up to no good »
Misbehaving, being mischievous.
|
warm fuzzy »
A good impression; a feeling of comfort or trust.
|
what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
|
what's the good of »
What is the purpose or advantage of.
|
whistle past the graveyard »
To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome.
|
white goods »
fridges, washing machines, etc
|
window dressing »
The goods and trimmings used in such display.
|
winter rat »
An old, unattractive automobile, purchased for little money, to be driven during brutal Great Lakes winters while the owner's "good" car remains garaged and protected from corrosive road salt for the season.
|
worth one's while »
Good and important enough for one to spend time, effort, or money on.
|
you can't say fairer than that »
That is good, reasonable, or fair; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.
|
you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
|
you never know what you've got till it's gone »
Good friends and acquaintances shouldn't be taken for granted.
|
| New: We also know Zip Codes FYI! |
[