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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apron string hold »
An estate held by a man during his wife's life.
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be left holding the baby »
To be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.
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bear hug »
wrestling hold
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beauty is in the eye of the beholder »
Individuals have different inclinations on what is beautiful. Individuals have different beauty standards.
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breadwinner »
The member of a household who earns all or most of the income
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carry out »
To hold while moving something out.
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devil's advocate »
One who debates from a view which they may not actually hold, usually to determine its validity, or simply for the sake of argument.
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don't hold your breath »
"Don't wait." Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned to is unlikely to happen soon or at all.
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drag »
To move a mouse cursor while holding down a button on the mouse, often to move something on the screen.
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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.
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eye of the beholder »
The evaluation depending on perception of person who sees and considers.
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flat out »
Bluntly, no holds barred.
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flat-footed »
To firmly hold and maintain a decision; to stand one's ground.
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go the whole hog »
To do something as entirely or completely as possible; to reserve or hold back nothing.
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