We've found 602 phrases for J (0.147 seconds):

a cat can look at a king »    Alternative form of a cat may look at a king.1982, A J Ayer,

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step »    even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point

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.

a picture paints a thousand words »    A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!

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.

add insult to injury »    To further a loss with mockery or indignity.

all kidding aside »    Used to attempt to make a serious point in a jocular conversation.

all one's eggs in one basket »    Investing heavily in just one area.

all that jazz »    Everything else related to something; other similar things.

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy »    Too much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.

amateur hour »    A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism.

any press is good press »    Being mentioned in the media is beneficial to the subject because it gets publicity.

apple of somebody's eye »    A favourite, a particular preference, or a loved one; the object of somebody's affections.

ark ruffian »    Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, etc. A species of badger.

asphalt jungle »    A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.

assault and battery »    . This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.

at a pinch »    By the skin of one’s teeth; only just; Deo volente; perhaps; if you’re lucky..

back up »    For the non-striker to take a few steps down the pitch, in preparation to taking a run, just as the bowler bowls the ball.

bad joke »    A situation that is badly planned, or illogical.

bang on about »    To keep talking endlessly about the same subject.

bang up »    He’s doing a bang up good job..

bang up job »    Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.

banged up »    Physically injured or wounded.

banged up »    Spending time in prison or jail.

bankers' hours »    Any easy job, especially one with a short working day.

barrel »    A jar. 1 Kings xvii. 12.

barrel »    A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged.

barrel of laughs »    That which is enjoyable or entertaining.

base over apex »    Falling over in a jumbled heap.

bash in »    To injure someone by hitting violently.

bash up »    To assault someone with the intention of causing physical injury.

bat away »    To knock an object, usually a ball.

beam up »    To teleport another person or object in the same manner.

beat one's head against a stone wall »    To waste effort on a futile project.

beat up »    To cause by some other means, injuries comparable to the result of being beaten up.

beddable »    [...] feminine, great body great legs great taste, trained and beddable, Jesus, how beddable.

before you can say Jack Robinson »    Very quickly. Quicker than you expect.

behind bars »    In jail or prison.

believe you me »    An emphatic form of "believe me"; you [the subject] had better believe me [the speaker].

bench jockey »    A baseball term for a player, coach or manager who is annoying and distracts opposition players and umpires from his team's dugout bench with verbal repartee.

between the jigs and the reels »    Eventually, despite all the confusion.

beyond the pale »    Describing behaviour that is considered to be outside the bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgement in civilised company.

big boy »    A large object or person.

birds of a feather »    C1710, Jonathan Swift, "A Conference," lines 11-12.

blessed event »    An occurrence or occasion which is particularly noteworthy and enjoyable.

blood mary »    Vodka and tomato juice

blow up »    To explode something or somebody or destroy something or injure or kill somebody by explosion.

blue note »    Notes added to the major scale for expressive quality in jazz and blues music, particularly the flatted third, fifth and seventh.

bo jook »    Bluffing.

booby prize »    A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.

boot camp »    A short, intensive, quasi-military program generally aimed at young offenders as an alternative to a jail term.

boot camp »    Indoctrination, physical fitness training and basic instruction in service-related subjects for recruits in the Navy and Marine Corps.

born in a barn »    Of humble birth, especially when referring to Jesus Christ.

born on the Fourth of July »    Demonstratively patriotic.

born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »    Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.

bowl of cherries »    An enjoyable experience.

boys will be boys »    It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13But just then there was a slight altercation between Master Tommy and Master Jacky. Boys will be boys and our two twins were no exception to this golden rule.Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish in heart"Boys will be boys", grinned grandpa while he joined his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he gave his grandson for Christmas while the kid was in school.

brass monkey »    A cocktail of vodka, rum and orange juice, sometimes with the addition of galliano.

brass ring »    Figuratively, a prize or goal. Often used with respect to employment goals e.g. promotion, better job, etc.

break a sweat »    January 2008, The Age - Walkovers blaze a trail for women's equal-pay theory.

break the back of »    To achieve the greater part of some project.

breakfast of champions »    An ironic appellation for beer, junk food, or other foods implied to be unhealthy.

bridge »    A prosthesis replacing one or several adjacent teeth.

bright line »    A clear distinction in the context of a legal or moral judgment.

bright-line rule »    A clearly defined rule or standard, comprised of objective factors, which leaves little or no room for varying interpretation.

bring home the bacon »    To have a job and earn money or to lead a successful career.

brown bag »    A short presentation or seminar on a given subject, especially one given at lunchtime.

bum rap »    A false accusation, or an injustice, especially one that leads to imprisonment.

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.

bundle of joy »    A newborn baby.

bundle of joy »    A pet.

bung up »    To close an opening with a cork, cork like object or other improvised obstruction.

bunny hop »    A jump made where both wheels leave the ground.

calling card »    An attribute, object, or behavior which is distinctly characteristic of someone or something.

captain of industry »    A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.

carpe diem »    seize the day, make the most of today, enjoy the present

cast off »    To discard or reject something.

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.

cat's pyjamas »    A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects.

cat's pyjamas »    That new car was really the cat's pyjamas.

catch air »    To make a jump.

catch big air »    Superlative of catch air; make a big jump high off the ground.

catch-as-catch-can »    A. 1681, John Fryer, Richard Chiswell, Robert Roberts, Robert White, A New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters, Being Nine Years Travels, Begun 1672 and Finished 1681.

caught with one's hand in the cookie jar »    Observed or apprehended while committing a theft, especially while embezzling money.

ceterum censeo »    A formulaic expression used to end a speech by reinforcing one, often unrelated, major view.

chalkface »    A musical concept or genre in which music is completely improvised and never played twice. Most often mixing elements of hip-hop, metal, punk and avant-garde jazz.

cheek by jowl »    In close proximity; crammed uncomfortably close together.

chime in »    To talk; to join in conversation or discussion.

chopped liver »    A Jewish food made by frying liver and onions in schmaltz.

chopped liver »    A person or object which is not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.

class clown »    A student who frequently makes jokes or pokes fun; a wiseacre.

clothes don't make the man »    An aphorism meaning that you cannot judge a person solely by his appearance. Usually pertains to men.

come across »    To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image.

come in »    To join or enter; to begin playing with a group.

come up »    To appear before a judge or court.

comfort woman »    A woman forced, or supposedly recruited, into brothels by the Japanese occupation forces during World War II.

concrete jungle »    An urban or other populated area containing a high density of buildings constructed of concrete or similar materials, especially one which lacks greenery and which seems unattractive, harsh, or unsafe.

conversation piece »    interesting object

cool one's jets »    To become less excited, intense, or active.

coug it »    To suddenly lose a contest through reversal of fortune, mistakes, or bad judgment. The phrase is analogous to "blow it", or "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".

cream in one's jeans »    To ejaculate while wearing one's trousers.

cream in one's jeans »    To experience an orgasm while clothed; to be thoroughly excited or delighted.

cross paths »    To be, by chance, in the same physical place at the same time, as a result of two completely separate journeys.

cross the aisle »    Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.

cross the floor »    Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.

crown jewels »    A part of a company sought by another in a hostile takeover.

crown jewels »    A prized possession or asset.

crown jewels »    The jewelry that accompany the office of rulership in a monarchy. I.e., crown, scepter, signet ring, etc.

crown jewels »    The male genitalia.

cruising for a bruising »    Following a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.

cup of joe »    A cup of coffee.

cut corners »    To do a less than thorough or complete job; to do something poorly or take short cuts.

cut it close »    To judge or finish something close to its limit.

cut of one's jib »    Someone’s general appearance or the implications thereof, especially in relation to making an impression or one’s style..

damson jam »    fruit preserve

dar brincos »    To jump, leap.

dead as a doornail »    Unquestionably dead. Used for both inanimate objects and once living beings.

dead duck »    A project that is doomed to failure from the start.

deathblow »    Something that prevents the completion, or ends the existence of some project etc.

debris field »    Any area, non-dependent of locale, space, or contour, that contains the debris of wreckage, impact, sinking, or other material that once constituted a complete object. Debris fields can be found at the site of air crashes, water vessel sinking, explosions of buildings, collapses, and other events that render a whole entity into components, pieces, or other non-whole items.

deer in the headlights »    A mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety fear, panic, surpriseand/or confusion, or substance abuse. The behavioral signs are like a deer subjected to a car's headlights, such as widely opened eyes and a lack of motor reactions.

deliver the message to Garcia »    What we need is people who get the job done, no matter how. We don't want pickers who'll only learn if we use their preferred learning method. Have you read "A Message to Garcia" ? That's what we need today - young people who can deliver the message to Garcia.

desk jockey »    One who spends his or her time seated at a desk; especially one who is more concerned with procedure, paperwork, or administration than with its ultimate goal or practical consequence.

desperate times call for desperate measures »    In adverse circumstances actions that might have been rejected under other circumstances may become the best choice.

diamonds are a girl's best friend »    A statement that suggests, while love is a luxury, material wealth (particularly jewellery) is more valuable in the long run.

disc jockey »    radio presenter

do justice »    To really allow to be apprehended in its full scope.

do something with mirrors »    To jokingly pretend that one did something using magic mirrors, that one is a magician; a joking explanation of the fantastic or the unexplained.

dodge a bullet »    To have a narrow escape; to avoid injury or disaster.

dog's life »    A life of indolence where the individual may do as he or she pleases, just like a pampered dog.

don't get me started »    About the subject currently being discussed.

don't give up your day job »    Implying that they could not earn a living from it without other regular employment.

don't hold your breath »    "Don't wait." Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned to is unlikely to happen soon or at all.

don't shit where you eat »    (idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.1998 April 14, Nelson Navarro, "Ever faithful, ever true," Manila Standard (Philippines) (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.2003 Oct. 8, Jonathan Valania, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy," Philadelphia Weekly (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.2006 Sept. 19, Michael Musto, "NY Mirror," Village Voice (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.

donkey jacket »    thick garment

double Dutch »    A game of jump rope with two ropes and frequently two jumpers.

down to the wire »    At the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.

drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »    (idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.

draw the short straw »    To select the shortest straw or other object while drawing straws.

dry eye »    Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.

due course »    A. 1735, Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels.

due course »    A. 1803, Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey.

dumb down »    To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.

ear tunnel »    A piece of jewelry that fits into a stretched earlobe hole and makes it seem like a peephole and makes it see-through.

early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise »    platitude from Benjamin Franklin under the pseudonym Poor Richard.

eat one's heart out »    To feel overwhelming sorrow, jealousy or longing, to grieve.

enough is as good as a feast »    Just the right amount is as good as more than enough: there is no value in excess.

even Jove nods »    Alternative form of even Homer nods.

every cloud has a silver lining »    In every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,

every Jack has his Jill »    everybody will find someone to have a romantic relationship with at some point in their life

every man Jack »    All the members of a group with no exceptions.

extract the urine »    To mess around, cajole.

eye candy »    Any object or sight with considerable visual appeal.

eye for an eye »    Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.

eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth »    Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.

factotum »    Jack of all trades.

fair game »    An goal or object that may legitimately be sought.

fall in with »    To join a group of people.

fall on one's sword »    To resign from a job or other position of responsibility, especially when pressured to do so.

falling out »    A disagreement; a major difference of opinion.

family jewels »    Testicles.

feed a cold, starve a fever »    Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.

fifteen minutes of fame »    A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.

fill somebody's shoes »    To do somebody's job; to perform or assume somebody's role.

first things first »    Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls

fishtail »    The tail of a fish, or an object resembling this.

fix someone's wagon »    To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.

flower »    The vulva, especially the labia majora.

for good measure »    As a precaution; just in case; added as an extra.

for goodness' sake »    This interjection expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.

for goodness' sake »    This interjection expresses surprise or amazement.

for the heck of it »    For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.

for the hell of it »    For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.

for the love of »    Used to form interjections expressing exasperation.

for the sake of it »    For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.

fourth estate »    Journalism or journalists considered as a group; the Press.

free ride »    An opportunity or benefit which has no cost, especially one enjoyed or undertaken at the expense of others.

fresh start »    A new beginning, without prejudices.

from time to time »    C. 1595, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 3, sc. 3.

game plan »    Any strategy devised to reach a given objective.

gang up »    To join together, as a gang.

gang up on »    To join together in a gang in order to overpower someone else.

gapers' block »    A traffic jam resulting from motorists slowing to look at a motor vehicle collision or other roadside distraction.

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"

get a jump on »    To start early, especially to start before something begins or before others begin.

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.

get into trouble »    To perform an action which is illegal, prohibited, forbidden or proscribed and to become subject to punishment for such action.

get it »    To realize or understand why a joke is funny.

get one's foot in the door »    To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job.

get someone's nose out of joint »    To become angry; to take offense or take exception.

get someone's nose out of joint »    To make someone angry.

give a sneck posset »    To give someone a cold reception; to close the door on someone; to reject them.

give notice »    To announce one's intent to leave a job; to inform an employer that one is leaving.

give somebody the brush-off »    To rebuff, snub or curtly reject someone.

give somebody the cold shoulder »    To snub, resist or reject somebody; to regard somebody distantly.

go all the way »    To continue to the conclusion of a task or project.

go along for the ride »    To accompany someone passively, or to take a passive role in a project.

go by the board »    To be superseded, rejected, or obliterated; to pass by with little consequence; to amount to nothing.

go in off »    To pot the cue ball accidentally after hitting the object ball.

go jump in the lake »    Used to tell a person that to go away, or that their request will not be met.

go large »    To enjoy oneself to the maximum.

go the extra mile »    To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.

go to work »    To go to one's job, as by commuting.

God works in mysterious ways »    Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...

golden hello »    A payment offered to an employee as an inducement to join, especially if currently working for a competitor.

good enough for jazz »    Good enough.

good job »    Well done; congratulations!.

grate »    A horizontal metal grille through which water, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.

gratuitous violence »    Violence that is not justified.

gunboat diplomacy »    The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power.

hard done by »    Used, cheated, dejected.

hatchet job »    A treatment which serves primarily to disparage its subject; a piece of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.

haul off »    To alter course so as to get farther away from an object.

have a ball »    To enjoy thoroughly; to have lots of fun or excitement.

have a blast »    To thoroughly enjoy; to be excited or have lots of fun.

have a good time »    To enjoy oneself.

have a screw loose »    A phrase meaning that the subject is insane or irrational.

have a whale of a time »    To enjoy oneself greatly.

have one's work cut out for one »    To face a large task or project.

have other fish to fry »    C. 1710, Jonathan Swift, The Journal to Stella, ch. 2, Letter 15.

have the time of one's life »    To enjoy oneself immensely.

have the time of one's life »    To enjoy oneself more than ever before.

head scratcher »    July 2002, Fox News - Attorney: Williams' Kids Near Compromise About Father's Remains.

hear, hear »    Let us hear and applaud the previous speaker; I endorse the previous statement; Expression of support, agreement, or enthusiasm for what has just been said.

heebie-jeebies »    A general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea.

hell hath no fury like a woman scorned »    A woman will make someone suffer if they reject her.

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.

hit the bricks »    To participate in a workplace strike or other job action; to participate in a public protest, especially one involving picketing.

hit the jackpot »    To realise a huge load of luck; to receive a more favorable outcome than imagined.

hit the spot »    To be particularly pleasing or appropriate; to be just right.

hold your fire »    Do not discharge your weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder, now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.

home run »    The portion of a journey that ends at home.

honest injun »    A phrase used to emphasize the truth of something.

horse's ass »    A jerk; an unpleasant, unlikable person; an asshole.

horses for courses »    A person suited for one job may not be suited for another job, regardless of their expertise in the former job.

horses for courses »    The practice of choosing the best person for a particular job.

hospital pass »    A throw that stays in the air long enough that it allows too many people to get underneath it, increasing the risk of injury and a trip to the hospital. Thus, a hospital pass.

hot potato »    A child's game in which players pass a ball or other item between them, with the object of avoiding being left holding the item when time expires.

household name »    A brand name that is well known to the great majority of households.

how do you like them apples »    Directed jestingly or mockingly at someone who has received surprising information, ridiculing the situation.

how's the weather »    Indicating a change of subject to unimportant topics.

if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail »    With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminatelyIf a person is familiar with a certain, single subject/has with them a certain, single instrument, they may have a confirmation bias to believe that it is the answer to/involved in everything.

if you can't beat them, join them »    If your adversaries are stronger than yourself, it is better to join the adversaries.

in for an inch, in for a mile »    Given that one is partly involved in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from becoming fully involved or fully committed.

in fun »    as a joke; not serious

in one's pocket »    Subject to one's whims because of bribery.

in the dock »    Under scrutiny; subject to critical inspection.

in the doghouse »    In trouble; the subject of somebody's anger or disapproval.

inside job »    A crime or other illicit action committed by or with the help of someone either employed by the victim or entrusted with access to the victim's affairs and premises.

inside joke »    A joke that is understood or meant to be understood only by certain people who are in the know about the details.

it's a long road that has no turning »    encouragement when things are not going well. Just as a long road eventually has a turning, problems also eventually have a solution, even though one might have to wait.

it's not the whistle that pulls the train »    Boasting and loud talk should not be mistaken for the work that produces real achievements; bravado is no proof of action.1956, James Reston, "Washington: It's Not the Whistle that Pulls the Train," New York Times, 1 July, p. E8:

it's not what you know but who you know »    For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know

jack in »    To stop doing a regular activity. Often a job or studies.

jack in »    To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.

jack it in »    An imperative to stop doing something that the speaker finds annoying.

jack of all trades »    One competent in many endeavors, especially one who excels in none of them.

jack of all trades, master of none »    A master of integration, who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring their disciplines together in a practical manner; a polymath; a renaissance man.

jack of all trades, master of none »    A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.

jack up »    To raise, hoist, or lift a thing using a jack, or similar means.

jack up »    To raise, increase, or accelerate; often said of prices, fees, or rates. See also jack up the price.

jack up »    To ruin; wreck; mess up; screw up; sometimes as a bowdlerized substitution for f** up.

jack-tar »    Alternative spelling of jacktar.

jacktar »    Nickname for a sailor in the Royal Navy.

jet set »    A set of wealthy people who travel for pleasure.

jet setting »    The actions of the jet set; travelling from one fashionable location to another by jet.

jet-setter »    A member of the jet set, a rich person who travels for pleasure.

jet-setting »    The actions of the jet set; travelling from one fashionable location to another by jet.

jew down »    To bargain or haggle with a seller in order to obtain a lower price for a good or service.

jive turkey »    Someone who is jiving, as in behaving in a glib and disingenuous fashion.

jive turkey »    Someone who is jiving, as in dancing. Often applied to people being funny or showy.

joe job »    An act of e-mail spamming where the sender's identity and address are those of an innocent third party, intended either to tarnish that person's reputation or to flood that person's e-mail with bounces.

joe job »    An uninteresting, low-level, low-paying job.

join the club »    An expression of sympathy for a shared experience.

join up »    To enlist or enroll.

jolly someone along »    To make someone happy or compliant, as by encouragement or flattery.

jug ears »    Ears whose plane is markedly not parallel to the plane of the head.

jumble sale »    fundraising event

jumbo jet »    airliner

jump »    By jerking the body violently.

jump »    That is further forward.

jump »    To attack suddenly and violently.

jump »    To cause oneself to leave an elevated location and fall downward.

jump »    To employ a move in certain board games where one game piece is moved from one legal position to another passing over the position of another piece.

jump »    To employ a parachute to leave an aircraft or elevated location.

jump »    To force to jump.

jump »    To propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne.

jump about »    To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.

jump about »    To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.

jump around »    To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.

jump around »    To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.

jump at »    To accept something enthusiastically. Usually an opportunity, or chance, or job etc.

jump at the chance »    To immediately accept an offer.

jump down »    To leave an elevated position to a lower position by one jump.

jump for joy »    Exalt, [rejoice]], feel elation.

jump in »    To enter something quickly. Usually a mode of transport.

jump off »    To participate in the final round of an equestrian showjumping event.

jump off »    To move from an elevated place by one jump.

jump on »    To board a public transport vehicle.

jump on »    To attack someone verbally, or criticise them over strongly for small errors.

jump on the bandwagon »    To profit from a craze; to join a trend.

jump rope »    A single jump in this game or activity, counted as a measure of achievement.

jump rope »    The activity, game or exercise in which a person must jump, bounce or skip repeatedly while a length of rope is swung over and under, both ends held in the hands of the jumper, or alternately, held by two other participants. Often used for athletic training and among schoolchildren. Variations involve speed, chants, varied rope and jumper movement patterns, multiple jumpers and/or multiple ropes.

jump rope »    The length of rope, sometimes with handles, casing or other additions, used in that activity.

jump ship »    To depart a project without warning.

jump ship »    To part from a ship.

jump someone's bones »    To have sex.

jump the gun »    To act or begin too soon or without due caution.

jump the gun »    To begin a race too soon, before the starting gun goes off.

jump the gun »    To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.

jump the queue »    To desire preferential treatment, undue influence; impatient.

jump the queue »    To move into a queue ahead of others who have been waiting longer or that have a higher priority; push in.

jump the shark »    To undergo a storyline development which is so ridiculous that previous quality is considered to have been lost.

jump through hoops »    To put forth effort for the sake of appearance or demonstration.

jump to conclusions »    Make conclusions before being presented with all the evidence.

jump up »    To move from one position to a higher position by one jump.

jumped-up »    Describes a person who thinks he is superior in some way that the speaker disagrees with. For instance, of a higher class, or has more authority than they have in reality.

jumped-up »    We're doomed if this wee jumped-up monkey gets Gordon Smith's blessing.

jungle telegraph »    A gossip network; an informal communication system within a group or organization.

jungle telegraph »    A system used by primitive cultures in remote tropical regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds or a relay of runners.

just about »    Almost.

just another pretty face »    Someone who is attractive, but not too distinguished.

just deserts »    A punishment or reward that is considered to be what the recipient deserved.

just for fun »    For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.

just in case »    If and only if.

just in case »    In the event; should there be a need.

just like that »    In that manner.

just like that »    Unexpectedly, without warning.

just the same »    Anyway; despite.

just what the doctor ordered »    Exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation.

kangaroo court »    A judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding, or a group which conducts such proceedings, which is without proper authority, abusive, or otherwise unjust.

keep one's eye on the ball »    My ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.

keep the wolf from the door »    To delay sexual ejaculation.

keep up with »    To manage to remain beside or just behind that is moving away from one.

keep up with the Joneses »    To do or buy things for status, show, or image rather than out of need, especially for the purpose of competing with friends or neighbors.

kick in »    To kick or strike so as to cause the object struck to collapse or fall inwards.

kill the fatted calf »    To begin a festive celebration and rejoicing for someone's long-awaited return.

knacker's yard »    A place to send a person or object that is spent beyond all reasonable use.

knee high to a grasshopper »    Short; especially relating to when the subject was a small child.

knowledge is power »    With knowledge and/or education, one's potential or ability to succeed in the pursuit of his objectives will certainly increase.

l'esprit de l'escalier »    The experience of thinking of a devastating rejoinder only after leaving the scene of the debate.

laced-up »    Fixed in the sprockets of the projector.

lady's man »    A man who attracts women and enjoys their company.

lame joke »    An attempt at humor which is perceived to have been used previously to the point of being cliche, or was never funny to begin with.

lap up »    To revel in, to overtly enjoy.

last trump »    The moment of God's final judgement on Earth.

last word »    The finest, highest, or ultimate representative of some class of objects.

laughing stock »    An object of ridicule, someone who is publicly ridiculed; a butt of sport.

law of the jungle »    The survival of the fittest, strongest or most cunning.

lay open »    In Japan and South Korea, to publish a patent for initial public review, prior to the formal application for registration.

lean and mean »    Efficient because of having nothing in excess of what is needed, and single-minded in one's objective.

leg pull »    To joke

less is more »    That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres

let one's hair down »    To relax and enjoy oneself.

level-headed »    Sensible; rational; possessing sound judgment.

lick one's wounds »    He's just off licking his wounds. He'll be back to try again.

life of the party »    A person who participates in entertainment events in a very enthusiastic manner and who has a leading role in inspiring others to join in the spirit of festivity.

life's a bitch »    An expression of acceptance of misfortune.1950, Joy Davidman, Weeping Bay, page 184:She'd have been willing enough to use them, poor dead little bitch. Life's a bitch. Life's a bad joke.

light bucket »    Nickname for a reflecting telescope, especially one with a relatively large aperture and suitable for observing deep sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies.

like a cat on a hot tin roof »    Jumpy, nervous.

line one's pockets »    To accumulate personal wealth, especially in an illegal or morally objectionable manner.

lion's share »    The majority; a large or generous portion.

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).

live by the sword, die by the sword »    One who uses violence can expect a violent response. It is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey poetic justice.

look before you leap »    Don't jump into something too precipitously; be at least a bit foresightful or circumspect.

look off »    To mislead by directing one's apparent attention away from one's true object of intent.

loose end »    A small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved, before a task can be considered complete.

made in Japan »    Cheaply manufactured in East Asia.

made in Japan »    Manufactured in Japan.

made in Japan »    Of poor or low quality.

make a monkey out of »    To cause a person, organization, or action to appear foolish or inferior; to subject someone or something to ridicule..

make fun of »    To tease, ridicule or make jokes about.

make game of »    To ridicule; to jest.

make light of »    To regard without due seriousness; to joke or disregard inappropriately.

make no bones about »    To see no difficulty in, have no objection to.

map out »    To organise the basic plan for a project.

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

mess around »    To joke, kid, or play.

mess up »    To damage; injure.

mighty oaks from little acorns grow »    Something great can come from a modest beginning.Don't give up on the project - mighty oaks from little acorns grow!

mills of the gods grind slowly »    Justice may arrive slowly, but it cannot be avoided.

mind you »    Used to draw attention to adjacent words.

money talks »    It is easier to accomplish goals using money instead of just talk.

monkey business »    Wasting time, or effort, on some foolish project.

monkey wrench »    A wrench with a smooth adjustable jaw to grip different sizes of nuts.

muck in »    To join in attaining a common aim.

naked as a jaybird »    Stark naked; nude; especially, naked in a public setting and without embarrassment.

ne'er cast a clout til May be out »    Advice not to change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.

nightcap »    A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.

nighthawk »    A New World nightjar.

no joy »    A negative outcome.

no man is an island »    All people are connected to other people and dependent on other people.1623, John Donne,

nobody's perfect »    Used when someone's mistakes or flaws are acknowledged, to remind that everyone else makes mistakes and has flaws1995, New York Magazine Vol. 28, No. 5, 30 January 1995, The de-moralization of society (Book Review)Hypocrisy, particularly in sexual matters, is excused on the grounds that hey, nobody's perfect, and at least folks back then felt bad enough to lie.2000, Madonna, Nobody's PerfectI feel so sad. What I did wasn't right. I feel so bad and I must say to you: Sorry, but nobody's perfect. Nobody's perfect. What did you expect? I'm doing my best

nose test »    An inspection of an object using the sense of smell, as for freshness of food.

not a sausage »    Jill: Not a sausage I'm afraid, I'm just visiting.

not a sausage »    John: Do you know how I get to the town center from here?.

not on your tintype »    An answer indicating outright rejection or denial; no way; absolutely not.

now you mention it »    The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling.

now you're cooking »    A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.

nugget of truth »    January 2008, Chicago Tribune - Clinton's Hispanic edge over Obama.

object lesson »    A lesson taught using a familiar or unusual object as a focus.

object lesson »    A punishment intended as a deterrent to others.

object lesson »    An example that typifies a principle.

object lesson »    Anything used an example or lesson which serves to warn others as to the outcomes that result from a particular action or behavior, as exemplified by the fates of those who followed that course.

on board »    Joining in or participating.

on its merits »    Considering only intrinsic good points and bad points, without prejudice or other considerations, such as procedural ones.

on steroids »    To a greater degree, exaggerating the characteristics of the previously named object.

on the clock »    Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.

on the mend »    Healing or recovering, as from an injury or illness.

on the town »    Casually enjoying the nightlife of a town or city.

one of his majesty's bad bargains »    A worthless soldier, a malingeror.

one's jig is up »    Alternative form of the jig is up. [for one].

one-hit wonder »    A person or group known for achieving only a single major accomplishment.

ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »    (biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.

out of house and home »    Helping Your Dog Adjust to a New Home, The Progressive Animal Welfare Society.

out of kilter »    Disturbed; out of order; not working or adjusted properly.

out to lunch »    Away eating lunch or for a midday break; especially, away from work or a job.

overleap »    To leap over, to jump over, to cross by jumping.

paint with a broad brush »    To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.

paper »    A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting .

parking lot »    A major thruway blocked by stop and go traffic.

pass the buck »    To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.

patience of Job »    An great amount of patience.

patience of Job »    From the Bible, James Ch.5 V.11.

pay one's dues »    To acquire status or to earn the right to enjoy certain benefits, especially through lengthy experience, hardship, or service to an organization.

payback's a bitch »    Usually a complete sentence as an interjection: I am amused that someone got their revenge on you...but you certainly had it coming.

peaches and cream »    A very enjoyable experience.

peashooter »    A toy gun, consisting of a tube through which peas or small objects are blown.

perfect storm »    A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.

pick one's nose »    The act of picking one's nose, insertion of a finger or other object into one's nostril.

pick up »    To collect an object, especially in passing.

pickin' and grinnin' »    Vigorously playing folk or country music on a stringed musical instrument, especially the guitar or banjo, while smiling broadly.

piece of ass »    A very attractive woman, when considered as a sex object.

piece of cake »    A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple to do.

play along »    To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.

play Old Harry »    Blenkiron and I have been moving in the best circles as skilled American engineers who are going to play Old Harry with the British on the Tigris. — John Buchan, "Greenmantle", 1916..

point blank »    The distance between a gun and a target such that it requires minimal effort in aiming it. In particular no allowance needs to be made for the effects of gravity, target movement or wind in aiming the projectile.

point of no return »    The point in any journey, process, or sequence of events when it is no longer possible to reverse course or stop the process.

pride comes before a fall »    A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.

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.

puddle jumper »    A small passenger airplane, typically used for shorter connecting trips to smaller airports.

puff up »    To swell due to injury or illness.

pull somebody's leg »    To tease someone; to lead someone on; to goad someone into overreacting. It usually implies teasing or goading by jokingly lying.

pull the other leg »    In imperative/precative form, used to imply that the speaker does not accept or believe what another has just said.

pull the other one, it's got bells on »    The implication is that one leg has been pulled, and the joker will have more fun with the other one due to the bells.

pull together »    To unite for a common objective.

put a damper on »    To stop people from enjoying an activity.

put through the wringer »    To interrogate or scrutinize closely; to subject to some trial or ordeal.

put up »    To cajole or dare to do something.

rake »    The sloped edge of a roof at or adjacent to the first or last rafter.

ramp up »    Of a project or operation, to start up.

real job »    A hobby that takes all of a person's free time.

real job »    A job that can't be replaced advantageously by a machine or a procedure.

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.

reap what one sows »    To receive as a reward or harvest in the same measure as one's exertions, in a good or a bad sense. To receive justice.

red mist »    Anger sufficient to cloud judgement, to stop clear thinking.

rim job »    Anilingus; act where one person licks the other's anus.

road movie »    A film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.

robber baron »    In Europe, an aristocrat who charged exorbitant fees or otherwise exacted money from people who journeyed across land or waterways which he controlled.

rock the house »    To jam at a concert, get down.

round off »    To change the shape of an object to make it more circular.

rub it in »    To add insult to injury; to emphasize one's strengths or another's weaknesses in a manner that degrades another.

rub salt in the wound »    To make an injury feel worse.

rule out »    To reject an option from a list of possibilities.

rules OK »    To be popularly accepted, or supported by the general majority of people.

run away »    To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.

run down »    To hit someone with a car or other vehicle and injure or kill them.

run into »    To blend into; to be followed by or adjacent to without there being a clear boundary.

run over »    To drive over, causing injury or death.

rush hour »    The times of the day when traffic jams are commonplace, due mainly to people commuting to or from work.

scare the bejeebers out of »    To thoroughly terrify.

scissorbill »    And railroad term for someone who refused to join the union or who openly colluded with management to thwart the union.

screen out »    To use a screen, grate, sieve or similar means to separate large from small objects or particles.

screw back »    To cue the cue ball in such a way as to impart backspin. On impact, the ball will follow a reverse trajectory according to the spin.

second childhood »    The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior.

seize the day »    To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.

sell »    To pretend that an opponent's blows or maneuvers are causing legitimate injury; to act.

send somebody packing »    To expel or eject somebody; to chase off or force out.

set aside »    To disagree with something and reject or overturn it.

set off »    To leave; to begin a journey or trip.

sexual enjoyment »    Sexual intercourse that produces physical and psychological pleasure.

shotgun approach »    An approach in which the subject is indiscriminate and haphazard, using breadth, spread, or quantity in lieu of accuracy, planning, etc.

show somebody the door »    To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.

sick joke »    A joke which is in poor taste, especially one which depicts as amusing a situation which the listener considers to be tragic or disgusting.

sight unseen »    Not having seen the object beforehand.

signet ring »    jewellery item

silver screen »    The cinema screen onto which movies are projected.

sing soprano »    To suffer castration or an injury to the testicles.

singing soprano »    Castrated or injured in the testicles.

skip rope »    To jump over a rope, both of whose ends are held by the jumper or by two others, while the rope is moved under the jumper's feet in a continual rhythm; to play the game of jump rope or exercise by jumping rope.

smart arse »    One who is particularly flippant or insolent or tends to make snide remarks or jokes.

smell test »    An assessment of a subject's ability to detect and distinguish odors.

smell test »    An inspection of an object using the sense of smell, as for freshness of food.

snake oil »    Snake oil is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat joint pain.

snow job »    An attempt to persuade a person using flattery or deception.

soft sawder »    Cajoling or flattery.

song and dance »    An excessively elaborate story or excuse used to justify something.

spanner »    A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts.

spectator sport »    Something, especially a process or activity, which is a popular object of observation; an activity which a person prefers to watch rather than to participate in.

spill one's seed »    To masturbate or to ejaculate when the penis has been withdrawn from one's partner.

stand up »    To jilt or shirk.

stew in one's juices »    To be alone and self-absorbed in an uncomfortable state of mind, especially while experiencing the unpleasant effects of one's own actions.

stop and smell the roses »    To relax; to take time out and enjoy or appreciate life.

stop the lights »    An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.

straight man »    A member of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in preparatory dialog with the principal comedian; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.

stupid is as stupid does »    A person's intelligence may be judged by the wisdom of his or her actions.

suck off »    To fellate a man until he ejaculates.

sure enough »    Just like one would expect.

sweet hereafter »    Heaven; paradise as enjoyed in the afterlife.

swot up on »    To study particularly hard to learn a subject quickly.

tag along »    To accompany, join, or follow; to go with.

take a joke »    To accept a joke at one's expense.

take a shot in the dark »    To try on something without having any knowledge about the subject.

take exception »    To take offense; to object or protest.

take part »    To participate or join.

take the biscuit »    To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.

take the cake »    To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.

talk of the town »    A subject discussed by many people.

talk out one's ass »    To speak authoritatively on a subject which one actually knows little about; to exaggerate.

tall order »    A big job; a difficult challenge.

tar with the same brush »    To characterize using the same undesirable attribute, especially unjustly.

task force »    A group of people working towards a particular task, project, or activity, especially assigned in a particular capacity.

team up »    To join into a team, or into teams.

team up with »    To associate with another in a joint enterprise.

tempest in a teapot »    A major fuss over a trivial matter.

that's just me »    Indicates the expression of a personal opinion, but often used ironically as an understatement.

that's the ticket »    That's just right; that's just what is needed.

that's the way life is »    That is the way things happenCertain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything [1], page 279:That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption [2], ISBN 0310511011, page 45:There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, ISBN 059524050X, page 337:Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.

the end justifies the means »    Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can only be considered morally right or wrong by virtue of the morality of the outcome.

the ends justify the means »    Alternative form of the end justifies the means.

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."

the jig is up »    An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defence", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered.".

the man »    The best man for a job.

the name of the game »    The overall purpose; the principal goal, or objective.

the show »    The major leagues.

there and back »    One or for a round trip journey, literal or figurative.

there are two sides to every question »    One should not make a judgement until one hears the other side.

there you have it »    Used to introduce a speaker's interpretation of what has just transpired or been described.

there's no accounting for taste »    When it comes to subjective matters of taste, people have wildly different opinions.Disagreements about matters of taste can't be objectively resolved.

think of England »    To tolerate or endure bad sex. Used in conjunction with "I just lie on my back and.." "I just go through the motions and..." etc.

think over »    To ponder or reflect on a subject.

think twice »    To reconsider, use judgement; to proceed with caution or thought.

third string »    A unit of players that plays behind the first and second strings; a junior varsity team.

three Rs »    The basic precepts of any subject matter.

throw dirt enough, and some will stick »    If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say

throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick »    Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at [1] on 02 Nov 06,Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at [2] on 02 Nov 06,Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at [3] on 02 Nov 06,I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at [6] on 02 Nov 06,They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isn

throw one's weight around »    To exercise influence or authority especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.

thumb one's nose »    To act disrespectfully, especially by flouting the object of disrespect.

tickle the ivories »    I don't have as much time as I'd like, but I still enjoy tickling the ivories from time to time.

time flies when you're having fun »    Time seems to pass quicker when one is enjoying oneself.

timing is everything »    Consideration of other events can greatly influence some desired outcome (such as an audience laughing to a comedian's joke).Telling the old joke about a butt-crack was not a good idea, just as the plumber arrived, Bob.You know what they say: "timing is everything." I'm sure we can find another plumber before the house floods.

tip of the iceberg »    Only the beginning; just a small indication of a larger possibility; a problem is much bigger than it seems.

to the victor go the spoils »    The winner of a conflict wins additional benefits, beyond just the subject of the conflict.

today we are all »    An expression indicating that the speaker empathizes with members of an identifiable group that was the subject of a disaster, and projects that others empathize as well.

today we are all »    September 12, 2001: Jean-Marie Colombani, "Today, We Are All Americans", Le Monde.

tomorrow is another day »    Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed

tongue-in-cheek »    Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.

touch judge »    rugby official

touch up »    To make slight corrections or adjustments; to fill in or perfect.

tough call »    A choice or judgment which is difficult to make, especially one involving only two alternatives.

track record »    An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.

travel junkie »    Who are using their time and money to seek out adventure holidays and travel.

trick out »    To trick out; to mod or customize an object, typically for the purpose of both personalization as well as enhancing the object's performance capabilities and more particularly for the purpose of performing stunts with that object.

tune up »    To make adjustments to an engine in order to improve its performance.

turn back »    No turn a dial anticlockwise or adjust a clock or other meter to an earlier time or reading.

turn out »    To refuse service or shelter; to eject or evict.

turn the other cheek »    To accept a punishment or an injury and not act out revenge or retaliate.

twist someone's arm »    To coerce, force, or cajole.

two wrongs make a right »    A logical fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another

under a cloud »    Under suspicion; subject to critical inspection.

under fire »    Subjected to enemy attack.

under pressure »    Being subjected to physical pressure.

under pressure »    Subjected to pressure.

under the yoke »    Under subjugation.

urban fabric »    The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.

vote down »    By a majority vote.

walk around »    To walk with no real planned destination, but to just walk, to meander "around".

walk the talk »    To do what one said one could do, or would do, not just making empty promises. To walk one's talk is to be innocent of hypocrisy.

wedding ring »    jewellery item

wee small hours »    The very early morning, just after midnight, when most people are asleep.

wet behind the ears »    Inexperienced; not seasoned; new; just beginning.

whatever it takes »    Anything that may be required to achieve an objective.

when in Rome »    Adjust to local customs.

when you're up to your neck in alligators, it's easy to forget that the initial objective was to drain the swamp »    Only because it seems so urgent.

where there's muck there's brass »    (UK, Irish) There is money to be made in unpleasant dirty jobs.

who shot John »    A long and involved explanation; a thing of which an explanation would be long and involved.

wild horses »    A force not subject to human control and normally stronger than a man.

wind up one's bottoms »    To finish a job.

winkle out »    Tom managed to winkle the truth out of John eventually.

wits' end »    A. 1911, John Muir, in John Muir and Michael P. Branch, John Muir's Last Journey: South to the Amazon and East to Africa, 2002, page 138.

work over »    To physically attack someone to cause them injury.

work spouse »    A man or woman in the workplace with whom one shares a special relationship having bonds similar to those of a marriage: special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and unusual degree of honesty or openness.

worm's-eye view »    A view of an object from below, from the ground.

write down »    To make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset.

write one's own ticket »    To be empowered to choose whatever job, financial arrangement, or course of action one desires.

yellow journalism »    Material published in a broadcast or periodical, such as a tabloid newspaper or magazine, which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.

yellow press »    Newspapers which publish sensationalist articles rather than well researched and sober journalism.

yoke together »    To unite, or join, or combine.

you can't judge a book by its cover »    It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.

you can't tell a book by its cover »    Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover.

you made your bed, now sleep in it »    A moralizing rejection said to someone looking for an easy out, especially of a situation they put themselves into.

your mileage may vary »    To express a possible difference in taste, "this is just my opinion, your opinion may be different".

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