a rising tide lifts all boats »
Benefits provided to a few may lead to conditions that are beneficial to all.
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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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a stopped clock is right twice a day »
A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.
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about to »
Indicates something that will happen very soon; indicates that something is imminent.
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about turn »
An about face; a military command to a formation of soldiers to reverse the direction in which they are facing.
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abstract nonsense »
Details which involve diagram chasing.
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accident of birth »
Reference to the fact that various benefits or detriments to the life of a person arise from the circumstances into which that person was born, these being entirely beyond his control.
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accident waiting to happen »
A thing or situation which is almost certain to eventually lead to an accident.
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according to Hoyle »
In strict accordance with the rules, especially of card games; in the proper or expected manner.
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ace up one's sleeve »
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
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across the pond »
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
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act like a bull in a china shop »
To act rudely or clumsily in a delicate situation.
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add fuel to the fire »
To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.
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add up to »
To have a particular effect.
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admiral of the blue »
A landlord or publican wearing a blue apron, as was formerly the custom among men of that vocation.
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