a rising tide lifts all boats »
Benefits provided to a few may lead to conditions that are beneficial to all.
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abide by »
To accept a decision or law and act in accordance with it; to conform to; to acquiesce; as, to abide by an award.
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act on »
To act decisively on the basis of information received or deduced.
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all talk and no action »
Speaking, promising, or boasting much, but doing little
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argue out »
To discuss to reach an agreed conclusion, or decision.
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baptism by fire »
A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis.
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bill of goods »
A set of misleading or deceptive claims; misinformation.
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black-on-black »
Something that is invisible or intentionally obfuscated, such as warnings or fine print.
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blind as a bat »
Nearly totally blind, having a very poor sense of vision.
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booby prize »
A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.
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break up »
To break or separate into pieces; to disintegrate or come apart.
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bright-line rule »
A clear-cut, easy to make decision.
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bring out »
To cause a visible symptom such as spots or a rash.
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bump and grind »
A combination of movements resembling such a dance, as in road racing, whitewater kayaking, or exercising; any activity involving prolonged jarring or shaking.
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burst someone's bubble »
To disillusion; to disabuse someone of a false notion or rationalization that has grown comfortable.
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butt heads »
To argue uncompromisingly with someone.
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call on »
To visit somebody; to pay a call.
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call the shots »
To make the decisions;to be in charge;to give orders.
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calling card »
A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
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can of worms »
A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
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carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task despite obstacles.
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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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castle in the air »
A visionary project or scheme; a day-dream; an idle fancy; a pipe dream; any plan, desire, or idea that is unlikely to be ever realized; a near impossibility.
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change of heart »
A change of one's opinion, belief or decision.
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change one's mind »
To convince someone to make a decision differing from what a previous one.
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charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
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chickens coming home to roost »
Consequences visited upon someone who originally had appeared to escape them.
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clean someone's clock »
To defeat decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.
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collect one's thoughts »
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.
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come in »
Of a broadcast, such as radio or television, to have a strong enough signal to be able to be received well.
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company »
Social visitors.
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cross the Rubicon »
To make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences.
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cruising for a bruising »
Following a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.
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dawn of a new day »
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
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dead air »
An unintended interruption in a radio broadcast during which there is no sound; a similar interruption of a television broadcast in which there is neither sound nor a video signal.
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devil is in the details »
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
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down for the count »
Decisively beaten; rendered irrelevant for the long term.
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down to the short strokes »
In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
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drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
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drop a bomb »
To announce surprising or alarming information suddenly and without warning.
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drop somebody a line »
To write, call or visit somebody.
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eye candy »
A very attractive person or persons, or the salient visible physical attributes of same.
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fall apart »
To be emotionally in crisis.
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fall on one's face »
To fail, especially in a dramatic or particularly decisive manner.
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false step »
An erroneous action or decision.
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flat-footed »
To firmly hold and maintain a decision; to stand one's ground.
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flutter in the dovecote »
I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.
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flying visit »
A very short visit.
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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.
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free rein »
The absence of constraints; freedom to make decisions.
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gapers' block »
A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.
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get cold feet »
To become nervous or anxious and reconsider a decision about an upcoming event.
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get the boot »
To be voted off a competition in a reality television show.
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get the chop »
To be eliminated from a competition in a reality television program.
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go on »
To make a decision based on.
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grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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gut factor »
Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.
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hard hitting »
uncompromising
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have second thoughts »
To change one's opinion, or be uneasy about a previous decision.
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head-on »
Of a collision, from the front or in the direction of motion.
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his back is up »
He is offended or angry; an expression or idea taken from a cat; that animal, when angry, always raising its back. An allusion also sometimes used to jeer a crooked man.
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hit the rock »
To make a gesture to show celebration, friendship, or to be part of a secret handshake by one person raising their fist so the fist is pointing at the person and the other person lightly punches the fist.
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horse opera »
A theatrical production, film, or program on radio or television depicting adventures of characters in the American Old West; a western.
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hospital pass »
Exempting one from regular activities, to instead visit a hospital.
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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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hum and haw »
Procrastinate and take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.
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idiot box »
Television.
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in broad daylight »
In a blatant and publicly visible manner.
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in evidence »
Visibly present; noticeable.
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in for a dime, in for a dollar »
Americanised form of in for a penny, in for a pound.1983, Allen Drury, Decision, p. 356:In for a dime, in for a dollar, he thought crazily, and said what he had to say in a voice he forced to stay level and calm.1998, Ellen Miller, Like Being Killed, p. 47:In for a dime, in for a dollar. I whispered to Gerry,
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in your face »
An exclamation of derision or contempt.
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it's one's funeral »
One's decisions or actions will bring undesirable consequences only on oneself.
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jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in behaving in a glib and disingenuous fashion.
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jumble sale »
fundraising event
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keep one's options open »
To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available.
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kick butt »
To be impressive; to be decisively good or pleasant.
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last word »
A final decision, or the right to make such a decision.
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lean towards »
To favor in a decision.
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little pitchers have big ears »
Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, Abbeychurch, ch. 2:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."1939, "Bedtime Bedlam," Time, 17 Apr.:A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.2002, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ISBN 9780743455961, p. 185:I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).
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look-in »
A brief visit.
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lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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make a decision »
To decide.
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measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
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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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mocking is catching »
An admonishment to be careful of criticising others, lest the same happen to you.Mocking is Catching was the title of a 1726 song by Henry Carey.
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no prize for guessing »
Used to form expressions emphasizing the unsurprising nature of what follows.
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not a sausage »
Jill: Not a sausage I'm afraid, I'm just visiting.
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off the beaten path »
In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known.
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off the beaten track »
In a place or places not commonly visited.
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off the chain »
Free from work or direct supervision. In reference to slave labor, where workers are chained, or to the figurative chain of workers of an assembly line.
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on the right track »
Using the correct general approach to a particular task or problem; pursuing something in a promising way.
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painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
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pile-up »
A traffic accident or collision involving multiple vehicles.
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play the race card »
To assert that race or racism is responsible for a course of events, especially when race is not of particular significance to the issue in question; to attempt to inspire a particular reaction by raising the issue of race.
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pop in »
To visit in an impromptu manner.
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power up »
To become ready for operation as a result of the provision of electrical power.
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pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
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proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
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pushing up daisies »
Dead.
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put by »
To run a ship aground intentionally to avoid a collision.
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rag bagger »
A sailboat, usually a cruising sailboats which tend to carry and store lots of supplies along the deck, or any sailboat that looks like a neglected vessel, or messy vessel.
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rag bagger »
A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.
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real job »
A job which requires the employee to, work regular hours for a consistent wage that often exceeds the provisions of applicable minimum wage legislation. A job that produces a living wage.
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red tape »
A derisive term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.
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rein in »
To stop or slow something, by exercising control.
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rum go »
An odd affair; a surprising event; a confusing experience; a queer thing.
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run hot and cold »
To alternate between two opposite extremes, such as enthusiasm and disinterest or success and failure.
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same old story »
What usually happens, a happening which is not surprising.
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say so »
power of decision
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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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seeing is believing »
You need to see something to believe it; visible facts cannot be denied.
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settle on »
To make a decision or selection; to decide.
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sexual tension »
Physically induced libidinal unrest arising between two individuals when aware of each other's presence.
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shoot 'em up »
A short story, novel, television show, film, computer game, or other narrative which depicts considerable gunplay.
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show up »
To make visible; to expose.
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sign off »
Term used to describe the closing of a radio or television station's studios and cessation of a broadcasting signal, usually during the overnight hours.
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sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
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sit in »
To attend something for one time, as a visitor.
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sleep on »
To consider after a period of sleep, implying a decision will be made the next day.
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sleep on it »
To postpone a decision until the following day to avoid making a hasty choice.
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sneck posset »
A cold reception, closing the door on a visitor.
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sow the wind, reap the whirlwind »
Every decision has consequences; a person's actions will come back to him.
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stare someone in the face »
To be extremely visible and obvious.
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stop the presses »
An imperative form used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
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surprise surprise »
An indication that the unsurprising happened, especially contrary to someone's hopes or assertions.
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sword and sorcery »
Of or pertaining to a genre of narratives—including short stories, novels, television shows, films, and computer games—which combines wizardry and other fantastical supernatural elements with violent combat using medieval weaponry..
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the ball is in your court »
It is your turn to do something; often making a decision.
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the calm before the storm »
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm.
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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."
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to die for »
Very good; exquisite; excellent; particularly desirable.
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tone down »
To make a television program, piece of writing, etc. less offensive and so more suitable for a family audience.
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toss-up »
A decision in which neither choice is clearly favorable or unfavorable, or for which the outcome does not matter.
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touch base »
To consult, visit, or communicate with.
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tune in »
To select a channel, station, etc., as on television or radio.
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turf war »
A fight or confrontation between two divisions or parties for access to resources or capital.
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turn a hair »
To become afraid or visibly upset.
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turn around »
An upset; a suprising comeback.
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under one's nose »
Directly in front of one; clearly visible.
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up to »
The option or decision of.
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wait for the other shoe to drop »
To defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved.
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walk in the snow »
An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.
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weak sister »
A person who is cowardly or indecisive.
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what of it »
So what? Who cares? Expresses disinterest, disregard or lack of concern.
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whomp on »
To assail with overwhelming force; to defeat decisively.
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whoop it up »
To have a great time; to party or revel excessively or noisily.
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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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wishful thinking »
Decision-making based on self-delusion.
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you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
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you can't say fairer than that »
That is good, reasonable, or fair; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.
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you pays your money and you takes your choice »
Each person should make their own decisions.
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