a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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a man's home is his castle »
(US) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
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an Englishman's home is his castle »
(UK) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
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baptism by fire »
A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis.
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boil down to »
to be equivalent to; to reduce to.
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bread and butter »
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
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break ground »
To begin digging in the earth at the start of a new construction, or, originally, for cultivation.
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break new ground »
To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
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cat that ate the canary »
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
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charge up »
To motivate, to instill someone with determination.
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check in »
To announce or record one's arrival at a hotel, airport etc.
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die »
Followed by for. Often expressing wider contextual motivations, though sometimes indicating direct causes.
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factor space »
A space obtained from another by identification of points that are equivalent to one another in some equivalence relation.
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first among equals »
A person or position that if formally equivalent to others in a group, but is superior in some attribute.
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get a room »
A jocular or sarcastic expression commanding a couple to stop displaying affection in public, and to rent a hotel or motel room to continue amorous activities in private.
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head and shoulders »
"She was head and shoulders better than any of her rivals.".
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here you are »
Said when you hand something over to someone or do a favour to them, usually to draw the recipient's attention to the exchange; Equivalent to “thank you” when receiving something..
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hot and cold »
Ambivalent; having conflicting emotions.
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hot button »
A central issue, concern or characteristic, especially one that motivates people to make a choice.
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how's tricks »
Informal greeting roughly equivalent to How are you?.
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kick up the arse »
A severe reprimand, especially one to motivate someone into doing something.
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landing strip »
A cultivated pubic hair pattern in which much of the pubic hair is removed, leaving only a central vertical line or rectangle.
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law of the jungle »
The survival of the fittest, strongest or most cunning.
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leave no stone unturned »
To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.
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lick one's chops »
To use one's tongue to remove moistness from the sides of one's mouth, as when salivating or at the conclusion of a meal.
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live wire »
An especially energetic, alert, or vivacious person.
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look what the cat's dragged in »
Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
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one and the same »
The same person or thing. Used to emphasize the identity or equivalence of two things.
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out of gas »
Tired; lacking energy or motivation.
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out of nowhere »
In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.
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palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
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prima donna »
diva
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private branch exchange »
Telephone lines.
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private eye »
A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.
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run out of steam »
To run out of energy; to run out of motivation.
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six of one, half a dozen of the other »
The two alternatives are equivalent or indifferent; it doesn't matter which one we choose.
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spring fever »
A feeling of invigoration and restlessness associated with the arrival of the warm weather and renewal of nature in the spring season.
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spring fever »
A feeling of laziness or listlessness associated with the arrival of the warm, comfortable weather of the spring season.
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stone's throw »
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
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take apart »
To move someone away from others to be able to talk to, or give them something in private.
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tell you the truth »
Used to positively assert the frank honesty of an associated statement of set of statements; equivalent to "to you tell the truth".
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thorn in the flesh »
Ivar Specto. The Soviet Union and the Muslim World, 1917-1958.
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tit for tat »
Equivalent retribution, an eye for an eye, returning exactly what you get.
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turf war »
A dispute over territory between rival gangs.
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up to »
Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.
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when the shit hits the fan »
A reference to the messy consequences of a secret or private situation becoming public.
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with a vengeance »
Intensely motivated; resolute; forceful.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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