a penny saved is a penny earned »
A maxim for thrift that says that money not spent may be spent later, or may earn interest in the meantime
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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.
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act out »
To go through the process of a scene from a play, a charade or a pointless exercise.
|
act out »
To express one's feelings through disruptive actions.
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Adds up »
To enhance. " href="http://powerlawofattraction.com">Law of attraction adds up to the success in life."
|
age before beauty »
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones.
|
albatross »
A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole.
|
ark ruffian »
Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, etc. A species of badger.
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assault and battery »
. This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.
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at death's door »
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health.
|
avant la lettre »
An example of a term before the term was coined. Describing a term used anachronistically.
|
back up »
So as to stop the ball, and prevent overthrows.
|
bang straw »
A nick name for a thresher, but applied to all the servants of a farmer.
|
baptism by fire »
A change in initial attitude or ideals through a traumatic situation.
|
baptism by fire »
A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis.
|
barking dogs seldom bite »
People who make big threats never usually carry them out.
|
big break »
A breakthrough, especially the first big hit of a previously unknown performer or performers in the entertainment industry.
|
big up »
To increase one's muscle mass through exercise.
|
blame Canada »
A catch phrase for shifting attention away from a serious social issue by laying responsibility with Canada.
|
blanket term »
A word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.
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blot one's copy book »
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
|
blue moon »
The third full moon in a quarter that contains four rather than the usual three full moons.
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born in a barn »
Of humble birth, especially when referring to Jesus Christ.
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boys will be boys »
It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13But just then there was a slight altercation between Master Tommy and Master Jacky. Boys will be boys and our two twins were no exception to this golden rule.Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish in heart"Boys will be boys", grinned grandpa while he joined his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he gave his grandson for Christmas while the kid was in school.
|
break in »
New function more naturally through use or wear.
|
break wind »
To flatulate; fart; to expel gases generated during digestion through the anus.
|
brickbat »
A piece of brick used as a weapon, especially if thrown, or placed in something like a sock and used as a club.
|
bring it on »
Used to indicate one's willingness to accept a challenge, confront a threat, etc.
|
camel through the eye of a needle »
Hyperbole to illustrate that something is almost impossible to do or to happen.
|
che sera sera »
Used to express a personal philosophy of fatalism1604, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus:Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. / Aye, we must die an everlasting death. / What doctrine call you this ? Che, sera, sera: / What will be*, shall be; Divinity adieu. / These Metaphysics of Magicians, / And necromantic books, are heavenly.
|
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.
|
chuck away »
To discard, or throw away.
|
clogs to clogs in three generations »
(UK) Wealth earned in one generation seldom lasts through the third (grandchild
|
close in on »
To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.
|
cloud nine »
A state of happiness, elation or bliss; often used in the phrase on cloud nine.
|
cold comfort »
C. 1594, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, act 4, sc. 1.
|
come through »
To survive.
|
come through »
To succeed.
|
come through »
Not to let somebody down, keep one's promise.
|
company »
A military unit, typically consisting of two or three platoons.
|
coug it »
To suddenly lose a contest through reversal of fortune, mistakes, or bad judgment. The phrase is analogous to "blow it", or "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".
|
cough up »
To expel from the lungs, throat, etc. by coughing.
|
crab mentality »
A way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot.
|
cross off »
To strike out; to cross out; to draw a line through.
|
cross out »
To strike out; to draw a line through.
|
cry wolf »
To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failing to get assistance when a real threat appears.
|
curveball »
A forespin pitch thrown by rotating the index and middle fingers down and resulting in motion down "curve".
|
cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
|
cut-and-thrust »
A vehement argument.
|
deep-six »
To throw something overboard from a ship.
|
dirty money »
Money that is illegally gained, illegally transferred or illegally utilized. Especially money gained through forgery, bribery, or thievery.
|
double entendre »
A phrase that has two meanings, especially where one is innocent and literal, the other risqué, bawdy, or ironic; an innuendo..
|
down with his apple-cart »
Knock or throw him down.
|
drag »
To pull along a surface or through a medium, sometimes with difficulty.
|
dressing-down »
A reprimand or rarely, a thrashing.
|
dusty miller »
A formulaic phrase for a miller, related to the dust generated in the milling process.
|
dye in the wool »
To dye woolen fibers before they are spun into thread.
|
ear tunnel »
A piece of jewelry that fits into a stretched earlobe hole and makes it seem like a peephole and makes it see-through.
|
eff off »
A censored form of the phrase f** off.
|
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.
|
f** this »
The phrase emphatically diminishes the activity or event referred to and expresses that the speaker will have no more to do with it.
|
fall apart »
To break into pieces through being in a dilapidated state.
|
fall through »
To be unsuccessful, abort, come to nothing/naught; to be cancelled; not to proceed.
|
fall through the cracks »
To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.
|
fear »
A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
|
firm up »
To make muscles more toned through physical exercise.
|
flogging the land »
Damaging agricultural land through excessive grazing or clearing.
|
fly off the handle »
To become very angry or enraged; to throw a fit or go crazy.
|
follow through »
To finish; to complete, especially, of a commitment.
|
fools rush in where angels fear to tread »
A person who does not plan ahead and think matters through becomes involved in risky or unfavorable situations which prudent people avoid.
|
four-leaf clover »
An uncommon variation of the clover, having four leaves instead of the usual three.
|
fourth wall »
The imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
|
frog in one's throat »
Any temporary physical difficulty in speaking.
|
frog in one's throat »
Hoarseness or the need to cough.
|
from soup to nuts »
From beginning to end; throughout.
|
give me liberty or give me death »
A set-phrase indicating enormous displeasure at any over-authoritarian policy or law.
|
go down the wrong way »
To swallow food or drink so that it goes down the wrong tube in one's throat and makes one cough or for a short period lose one's breath or choke.
|
go native »
Of a contractor or consultant, to begin working directly as an employee for a company and cease to work through a contracting firm or agency.
|
go through hell »
To have a miserable experience.
|
go through hell »
Winston Churchill.
|
go through the mill »
To experience the suffering or discipline necessary to bring one to a certain degree of knowledge or skill, or to a certain mental state.
|
go through with »
To proceed; to continue.
|
grate »
A horizontal metal grille through which water, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.
|
hang by a thread »
To be in danger, calling for precise caution. To be in a precarious situation.
|
hash out »
To work through the details of something; especially to work through difficulties.
|
have a frog in one's throat »
To feel the need to cough; to have a tickle in one's throat; to have a scratchy or uneven voice.
|
have a screw loose »
A phrase meaning that the subject is insane or irrational.
|
have the run of »
To have permission or freedom to move around throughout an area or to use something at will.
|
head-in-the-sand »
Exhibiting disregard or denial of a problem or threat.
|
heads or tails »
A game to bet upon a which side of a coin lays face up after it is thrown.
|
hear on the grapevine »
To hear rumors; to learn through friends of friends.
|
hear through the grapevine »
To hear rumors; to learn through friends of friends.
|
hold somebody's hand »
To guide somebody through the basics or assist with excessively small details.
|
honest injun »
A phrase used to emphasize the truth of something.
|
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.
|
how do I get to Carnegie Hall »
A set phrase, spoken as a rhetorical question, which is answered "Practice, practice, practice!" or sometimes with the humorous literal directions to Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th.
|
idiot mittens »
Mittens connected by yarn or string running through one sleeve, along the back and out the other sleeve of a coat, to prevent the mittens becoming lost. Generally worn by small children.
|
if looks could kill »
A phrase said upon catching sight of someone's giving you a particularly nasty look of discontent or disapproval.
|
in for a penny, in for a pound »
Expressing recognition that one must, having started something, see it through to its end, rather than stopping short thereof; accepting that one must
|
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God »
The rich can afford more immoral behavior than the poor.
|
jump through hoops »
To put forth effort for the sake of appearance or demonstration.
|
kick someone when they are down »
To make it worse for someone who is going through a difficult time.
|
ladies first »
A phrase encouraging polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men.
|
lay down »
To sacrifice, especially in the phrase "to lay down one's life.".
|
leaf through »
Rapidly reading short sections at random.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
He stripped down to a pair of see-through briefs that left nothing to the imagination.
|
less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
|
lie through one's teeth »
To tell a gross or egregious untruth.
|
live wire »
An electrical wire through which there is a flow of electrical current.
|
loaded word »
Any word, set phrase or idiom that has strong positive or negative connotations beyond their ordinary definition.
|
look through rose-tinted glasses »
Alternative spelling of wear rose-colored glasses.
|
lump in one's throat »
A feeling of emotional sadness. On the point of crying.
|
lump to one's throat »
A feeling of emotional sadness. On the point of crying.
|
make it »
To survive, to live through something.
|
me three »
Used to express agreement, after someone has already said "me too".
|
mess up »
To make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
|
mess up »
To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.
|
misery loves company »
Misery is easier to bear when one is not the only one miserable.1995, Chris Abbott,
|
mouth breather »
A person who routinely inhales and exhales through the mouth, instead of through the nose.
|
now you're cooking »
A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.
|
now you're talking »
A phrase indicating agreement with a previously stated suggestion to change a course of action.
|
nudge nudge wink wink »
A phrase added at the end of the sentence to hint that the speaker is referring to something else, euphemistically.
|
of course »
Acknowledges the validity of the associated phrase.
|
of course »
Asserts that the associated phrase should not be argued, particularly if it is obvious or there is no choice in the matter.
|
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".
|
one side »
You should move to one side and allow me to go through the passageway you are blocking.
|
one thousand »
Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which each iteration is sequentially numbered and supposed to be approximately one second in length.
|
one's bark is worse than one's bite »
The individual acts threatening but is relatively harmless.
|
one-night stand »
A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the parties has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship. As the phrase implies, the relationship lasts for only one night.
|
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.
|
open a can of whoop ass »
A good-humored threat of physical harm.
|
out of house and home »
Cassandra Chrones Moore, Haunted Housing: How Toxic Scare Stories Are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home.
|
out of the woods »
Out of peril; likely to recover or prevail over trouble; finished with the worst or most threatening part of a problem or illness.
|
out on one's ear »
Fired, dismissed or thrown out, especially for some wrongdoing or otherwise with disgrace.
|
over the moon »
Delighted, thrilled.
|
parking lot »
A major thruway blocked by stop and go traffic.
|
pass through »
To transit something.
|
pass through »
To make something move through something else.
|
pass through »
To infiltrate.
|
pay one's dues »
To acquire status or to earn the right to enjoy certain benefits, especially through lengthy experience, hardship, or service to an organization.
|
pay through the nose »
To pay a high price, especially an exorbitant or excessive amount, either in money or in some other manner.
|
peashooter »
A toy gun, consisting of a tube through which peas or small objects are blown.
|
penny wise and pound foolish »
Prudent and thrifty with small amounts of money, but wasteful and profligate with large amounts.
|
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones »
Do not criticize others if you have weaknesses yourself.
|
pickle »
A children’s game with three participants that emulates a baseball rundown.
|
piss money up the wall »
To waste money, normally through ineptness in business.
|
pitch a tent »
To have an erection that shows through the trousers.
|
play the race card »
Mark Fuhrman, Murder in Brentwood p.153.
|
power behind the throne »
Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.
|
pull an all-nighter »
Work diligently throughout the night.
|
pull my finger »
A phrase used when playing a prank regarding flatulence, in which a mark is asked to pull the finger of the person playing the prank, who simultaneously flatulates so as to suggest a causal relationship between the pulling of the finger and the resulting expulsion of gas.
|
put through its paces »
To test completely; to exercise the full range of abilities or functions.
|
put through the wringer »
To interrogate or scrutinize closely; to subject to some trial or ordeal.
|
put up with »
To tolerate, suffer through, or allow, esp. something annoying.
|
quote unquote »
Emphasizes the following word or phrase for irony, as used almost exclusively in spoken language.
|
rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
|
rip to shreds »
To rip up, so that only shreds remain.
|
rip to shreds »
To severely devalue, to refute.
|
rubber-chicken dinner »
A formal dinner or event thrown by politicians to raise funds.
|
rule out »
To cross an item out by drawing a straight line through it, as with a ruler.
|
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 for »
To try to obtain political position through the democratic voting process.
|
run into the ground »
To wear out, especially through excessive use.
|
run through »
To go through by running.
|
run through »
To briefly summarise.
|
run through »
To repeat something.
|
run through »
To use completely, in a short space of time. Usually money.
|
run through »
To pervade, of a quality that is characteristic of a group, organisation, or system.
|
run through »
To impale a person with a blade, usually a sword.
|
sabre-rattling »
A flamboyant display of military power as an implied threat that it might be used.
|
sabre-rattling »
Any threat, such as one company threatening another with a lawsuit.
|
scrape through »
To marginally manage to progress.
|
second nature »
A mindset, skill, or type of behavior so ingrained through habit or practice that it seems natural, automatic, or without a basis in conscious thought.
|
see a man »
To take one's leave for some urgent purpose, especially to go to the bathroom.
|
see someone through »
To constitute ample supply for one for.
|
see someone through »
To suffice for a time.
|
see something through »
To fulfill a commitment.
|
see through »
To be able to predict or read someone.
|
see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
|
sell wolf tickets »
To make empty threats or promises; to bluff.
|
shoot through like a Bondi tram »
To leave in haste.
|
shrinking violet »
A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.
|
shroud »
A covered place used as a retreat or shelter, as a cave or den; also, a vault or crypt.
|
shroud »
A rope or cable serving to support the mast sideways.
|
shroud »
Especially, the dress for the dead; a winding sheet.
|
shroud »
One of the two annular plates at the periphery of a water wheel, which form the sides of the buckets; a shroud plate.
|
shroud »
See also Wikipedia article on Shroud.
|
shroud »
That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects; a garment.
|
shroud »
That which covers or shelters like a shroud.
|
shroud »
The branching top of a tree; foliage.
|
shrouded »
Concealed or hidden from sight, as if by a shroud.
|
shrouded »
Wearing, or provided with a shroud.
|
shrug off »
To ignore or disregard; to be indifferent.
|
sigh of relief »
A release of stress through breathing motions.
|
sit through »
To unwillingly stay seated until the end of an event.
|
slip through the cracks »
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
|
stand from under »
To escape something falling or being thrown from above.
|
stat whore »
Through unscrupulous or tacky means.
|
stock phrase »
A phrase frequently or habitually used by a person or group, and thus associated with them.
|
stone's throw »
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
|
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.
|
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.
|
sweat »
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
|
sweet dreams »
Phrase said to someone before they fall asleep, wishing them a good sleep.
|
take one's lumps »
To endure through criticism or other adversity.
|
take to the cleaners »
To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.
|
take up »
That which takes up or tightens; specifically, a device in a sewing machine for drawing up the slack thread as the needle rises, in completing a stitch.
|
talk through one's hat »
To assert something as true or valid; to bluff.
|
talk through one's hat »
To speak lacking expertise, authority, or knowledge; to invent or fabricate facts.
|
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 the way life is »
That is the way things happenCertain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything [1], page 279:That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption [2], ISBN 0310511011, page 45:There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, ISBN 059524050X, page 337:Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.
|
the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get »
(vulgar) The sexual satisfactions that one receives from a spouse or romantic partner are not sufficient to compensate for the significant periods of bad faith and unpleasant treatment which such relationships routinely involve.1971, Allen Churchill, The Literary Decade, ISBN 9780135375228:Years later she expressed her disillusionment with sex by saying, "The fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."1999, Ben Sonnenberg, Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy, ISBN 9781582430454, p. 93:Maitland got drunk at his parties and threw his arm around you and pulled you over to his wife and made you look down her dress, saying, "The trouble with marriage is that the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."2008, Joseph Heywood, Blue Wolf In Green Fire, ISBN 9781599213590, p. 63:"I can't believe a little pussy got me into dis mess." "Shit happens," Service said. "Sometimes the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."
|
the terrorists will have won »
Phrase used following a description of an activity to indicate that if that activity is not continued or carried out, those who seek to disrupt normal activities through terror will have succeeded, an which is an unacceptable result.
|
the way to a man's heart is through his stomach »
Cooking for a man is a good way to win his affections.
|
the world over »
All over the world; globally; throughout the world.
|
think of England »
To tolerate or endure bad sex. Used in conjunction with "I just lie on my back and.." "I just go through the motions and..." etc.
|
think through »
To fully consider an action, and understand all its consequences.
|
thrash out »
To discuss something so fully as to resolve a problem or conflict; to hammer out.
|
three Rs »
The basic education any child can expect to receive, but not necessarily limited to reading, writing and arithmetic.
|
three Rs »
The basic education received in primary schools. Literally; reading, writing and arithmetic.
|
three Rs »
The basic precepts of any subject matter.
|
three sheets to the wind »
Drunk.
|
three skips of a louse »
Said about some trifling or insignificant matter.
|
three-martini lunch »
A leisurely, expensive, midday meal associated with drinking, which is tax-deductible because business is discussed.
|
three-on-the-tree »
On an automobile, describing the gearshift lever of a steering column-mounted three-speed manual transmission.
|
through and through »
Completely; entirely; fundamentally.
|
through the roof »
Rapidly increasing.
|
throw a fit »
To become angry, enraged, or upset; to act or react with an outburst, as by shouting, swearing, etc.
|
throw a sickie »
To take a day off from work, supposedly because of ill health. The illness could be either real or feigned.
|
throw a spanner in the works »
To be a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.
|
throw a wobbly »
To burst out into a verbal uproar.
|
throw away »
To discard or dispose of something.
|
throw away »
To place a son or daughter for adoption.
|
throw caution to the wind »
Do something despite the risks.
|
throw cold water on »
To belittle or dismiss; to cast doubt upon; to debunk.
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throw dirt enough, and some will stick »
If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say
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throw down »
To cause something one is holding to drop, often forcefully.
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throw down »
Admirably or forcefully.
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throw down »
To fight, incite to fight, or approach with the intent to fight; to make a stand.
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throw down »
To accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".
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throw down the gauntlet »
To issue a challenge.
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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.
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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 for a loop »
To confuse or disorient; to throw off; to mix up.
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throw in at the deep end »
To introduce a person to a new situation without adequately preparing him or her.
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throw in the towel »
To quit; to give up.
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throw money away »
To spend money foolishly or indiscriminately; to waste money without regard of the consequences.
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throw off »
To confuse; especially, to lose a pursuer.
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throw off »
To introduce errors or inaccuracies; to skew.
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throw off balance »
To unsettle, to catch by surprise.
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throw one's cap over the windmill »
To act in a crazed manner.
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throw one's hat in the ring »
To announce one's candidacy in a contest.
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throw one's toys out of the pram »
To lose one's temper; to throw a tantrum.
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throw one's weight around »
To exercise influence or authority especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.
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throw out »
To discard; to dispense with something; to throw away.
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throw out »
To dismiss or expel someone from any longer performing duty or attending somewhere.
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throw shapes »
To act tough or put up a front. For example, to threaten a person by making "karate chops" at them, without actually doing harm or knowing karate.
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throw smoke »
To consistently pitch fastballs that are difficult to hit.
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throw somebody a curve »
To pitch a curve ball.
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throw somebody a curve »
To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
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throw the baby out with the bathwater »
To discard something valuable, often inadvertently, in the process of removing waste.
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throw the book at »
To apply the harshest possible punishment to.
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throw to the dogs »
To give up on something valuable.
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throw to the dogs »
To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as into the streets.
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throw to the dogs »
To throw away useless.
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throw to the wolves »
To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.
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throw to the wolves »
To sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.
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throw under the bus »
To betray or blame; to use as a scapegoat.
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throw under the bus »
To discard or disown.
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throw up »
To vomit.
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throw up »
To erect.
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throw up »
To display a gang sign using the hands.
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throwing money away »
The act of spending money foolishly; wasting money without regard of the consequences.
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turn a phrase »
To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.
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turn of phrase »
An artful phrasing of words.
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turn over »
To produce, complete, or cycle through.
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two's company, three's a crowd »
One companion is better than two.
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under erasure »
Of a bit of text, written and strickenthrough; hence, figuratively in some sense both present and absent.
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up to eleven »
Beyond the maximum possible threshold.
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up to snuff »
Mentally alert, shrewd, savvy.
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valley of the shadow of death »
Valleys on earth one must walk through, that is, part of the human experience.
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vote out »
To expel the holder of an office or other position through an act of voting.
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wade through »
To do a boring, repetitive research task.
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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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wear one's heart on one's sleeve »
To be extremely transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
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wear out »
To cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use, especially hard, heavy, or careless use.
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wring out »
To squeeze a wet material, either by twisting with one's hands, or by passing it through a wringer, to remove the water.
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you know what »
A phrase used to get someone's attention before announcing something.
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