a riddle wrapped up in an enigma »
Something very mysterious and hidden.
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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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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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after one's own heart »
Of a person: having the same ideas, opinions or behaviour as oneself.
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air rage »
Disruptive behaviour on an aircraft.
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albatross »
Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
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all bark and no bite »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
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all hat and no cattle »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
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all kidding aside »
Used to attempt to make a serious point in a jocular conversation.
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and counting »
Used to show that the number previously mentioned is continuously changing, i.e. increasing or decreasing.
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back down »
To take a less aggressive position in a conflict than one previously has or has planned to.
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bad blood »
A serious feud or grudge.
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bad egg »
Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
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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.
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balancing act »
A performance that involves balancing things precariously and suspensefully.
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