a little bird told me »
Of information which was gathered from a source not to be overtly exposed.
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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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act on »
To act decisively on the basis of information received or deduced.
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all right, my lover »
An informal affectionate greeting.
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all wet »
Utterly incorrect; erroneous; uninformed.
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au fait »
fully informed;
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big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
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bill of goods »
A set of misleading or deceptive claims; misinformation.
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birds and bees »
Informal sex education, especially describing the sexual activity of animals rather than that of people.
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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.
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bottom line »
The summary or result; the most important information; the upshot; the net-net.
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bros before hoes »
(US, informal) A man should prioritize his male friends over his girlfriend or wife.
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bull session »
An informal meeting among men.
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carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task without having been informed specifically by what method to do so.
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ceterum censeo »
A formulaic expression used to end a speech by reinforcing one, often unrelated, major view.
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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.
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cite chapter and verse »
To speak authoritatively, providing detailed factual information.
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clue in »
To inform, instruct, or tell.
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clue stick »
A metaphorical stick used to beat information or understanding into a slow learner.
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cook the books »
To manipulate accounting information, esp. illegally, by a corporation.
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crash course »
A quick, intense course of learning, especially one which is informal or hurried.
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dash off »
To write quickly or informally.
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dig up dirt »
To examine in order to find negative information for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.
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draw a blank »
To be unable to produce a required piece of information.
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draw out »
To extract, bring out, as concealed information; elicit; educe.
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dress down »
To wear casual or informal clothes.
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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.
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drop a bomb »
To announce surprising or alarming information suddenly and without warning.
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fall off the turnip truck »
To be naive, uninformed, or unsophisticated, in the manner of a rustic person.
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fill in »
To inform somebody, especially to supply someone missing or missed information.
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fill in »
To complete a form or questionnaire with requested information.
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filter down »
Of information, or resources; to move slowly down to lower levels of an organisation, or population.
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fire away »
To begin to talk or present information quickly.
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fishing expedition »
A non-specific search for information, especially incriminating information.
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full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
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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"
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give notice »
To announce one's intent to leave a job; to inform an employer that one is leaving.
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give somebody the runaround »
Especially by providing useless information or directions .
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grasp at straws »
To guess randomly at or pursue any apparent option, as due to lack of options or information.
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greasy spoon »
An inexpensive diner or other informal restaurant, especially one specializing in frying or grilling.
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heads up »
Used as an informal warning, caution, or call for attention; pay attention!.
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honey trap »
The use of a seductive woman to entice a man into revealing secret information.
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how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
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how do you like them apples »
Directed jestingly or mockingly at someone who has received surprising information, ridiculing the situation.
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how's tricks »
Informal greeting roughly equivalent to How are you?.
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in the dark »
Without information.
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in the loop »
Informed; up to date; current; part of the discussion.
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jump the gun »
To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.
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jungle telegraph »
A gossip network; an informal communication system within a group or organization.
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keep somebody posted »
To inform or to keep somebody up to date.
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keep up »
To ensure that one remains well-informed about something.
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knock about »
An informal game, usually football.
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let somebody in on »
To disclose; to tell somebody a secret or share privileged information.
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look up »
To obtain information about something from a text source.
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mike up »
To fit a microphone and transmitter to a person. Usually for television performers, or for police informers.
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no comment »
An "official" refusal to relay any further information, as a response to a newspaper reporter's question.
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no news is good news »
A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.
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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.
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none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
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nose 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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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".
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on top of »
Fully informed about, and in control of something; up to speed with.
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out of the loop »
Not informed up to date; current; not kept part of the discussion.
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pass muster »
To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection.
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pick somebody's brain »
To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.
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private eye »
A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.
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put someone down as »
To assume someone has a particular character from very little information.
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read out »
To read something and say the words to inform other people.
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read out »
To read some data and inform the person using the device.
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right back »
Used in several informal constructions to indicate return -- especially imminent return to a point of origin.
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run by »
To inform someone briefly of the main points of an idea.
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run by »
To repeat some information.
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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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shoot off at the mouth »
To disclose some information that was supposed to be secret.
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shore up »
To strengthen, reinforce, or consolidate.
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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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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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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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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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tell all »
To reveal everything, particularly information that is normally withheld.
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tell on »
To inform on.
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third degree »
Intensive rough interrogation in order to extract information or a confession.
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tight-lipped »
Unwilling to divulge information.
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tip off »
To alert or inform someone.
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tip off »
information
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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 front »
Open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful.
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up on »
Well-informed about.
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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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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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word of mouth »
Verbal means of passing of information.
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