a cat can look at a king »
Alternative form of a cat may look at a king.1982, A J Ayer,
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a cat may look at a king »
Even a purported inferior has certain abilities, even in the presence of a purported superior
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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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all bark and no bite »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
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all hat and no cattle »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
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all over the place »
Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.
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all talk and no action »
Speaking, promising, or boasting much, but doing little
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allow for »
To take into account when making plans.
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apple does not fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient
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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.
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at a pinch »
By the skin of one’s teeth; only just; Deo volente; perhaps; if you’re lucky..
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at work »
Working, in the process of doing work.
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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.
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bag of bones »
A skinny, malnourished person.
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bang on about »
To keep talking endlessly about the same subject.
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bankers' hours »
Any easy job, especially one with a short working day.
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bar none »
Without exception; excluding nothing else of the same kind.
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barking dogs never bite »
Alternative form of barking dogs seldom bite.
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barking dogs seldom bite »
People who make big threats never usually carry them out.
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barrel »
A jar. 1 Kings xvii. 12.
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be off »
To be working against a present or former addiction to.
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beat around the bush »
To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.
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beauty is only skin deep »
What matters is a person's character, rather than his/her appearance.
|
best laid plans »
A proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the outcome is uncertain.
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big cheese »
A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
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big enchilada »
A very important person, especially the highest-ranking individual in an organization.
|
big kahuna »
A boss, leader, chieftain, or top-ranking person in an organization.
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big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
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big wheel »
A person with a great deal of power or influence, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
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black »
Lacking cream, milk, and creamer.
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blood is thicker than water »
Family relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.1866, Anthony Trollope, The Belton Estate, ch. 30,Blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?circa 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, The Scotch Twins, ch. 5,The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!
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blurt out »
To say suddenly, without thinking.
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boil down »
As an allusion to the cooking technique of reducing liquids by heat, one boils down a problem, argument, etc. to its most central elements.
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borganism »
An organization of autonomous organisms that exhibit collectivism: individual "units" that have merged to yield a unified construct. Such an amalgam may possess a collective consciousness, arguably an emergent phenomenon of social networking.
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born in a barn »
Lacking a sense of etiquette; ill-mannered.
|
brass monkey »
A kind of inexpensive liqueur.
|
break off »
To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping.
|
breathe down someone's neck »
To follow someone too closely, making it uncomfortable for them.
|
bridge »
A particular form of one hand placed on the table to support the cue when making a shot in cue sports.
|
bring down »
To make something flying fall to the ground. Usually by firing a weapon of some kind.
|
bring owls to Athens »
Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens. — Herbert Burkert.
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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.
|
bush league »
A low-ranking or inferior level among groups, professions, organizations, etc.
|
busy beaver »
Someone who is very busy or hard-working.
|
by leaps and bounds »
Rapidly. Said of making progress.
|
by the skin of one's teeth »
Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
|
calling card »
A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.
|
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.
|
Cannon fodder »
Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.
|
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.
|
cherry picking »
Selecting only the best from a group or other range of choices.
|
chew the fat »
To chat idly or generally waste time talking.
|
chip in »
To interrupt a discussion for the purpose of making a comment.
|
clam up »
To become silent; to stop talking, to shut up.
|
close shave »
A shave that is very short or near the skin.
|
cold fish »
A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.
|
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.
|
come about »
To tack; to change tack; to maneuver the bow of a sailing vessel across the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to position a boat with respect to the wind after tacking.
|
cookie-cutter »
Of or pertaining to identical looking things.
|
cooking with gas »
Now doing something in an effective way.
|
count sheep »
To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.
|
crab mentality »
A way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot.
|
crank up »
To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking.
|
cue up »
The act of taking aim on the cue ball with the cue in a game of snooker, or billiards, etc.
|
cut of one's jib »
Someone’s general appearance or the implications thereof, especially in relation to making an impression or one’s style..
|
damn by association »
Discredit or condemn a position, person, or thing by attacking those things with which he/she/it is associated.
|
darn tootin' »
Absolutely correct; speaking the truth.
|
dead »
Figuratively, not alive; lacking life.
|
deadstick landing »
When a pilot lands a plane after the engine has died; a landing lacking any propulsion control.
|
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.
|
dicky-bird »
Endearing term for a small bird, often used when talking with young children.
|
divide and conquer »
A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.
|
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.
|
don't go there »
Don't start talking about that.
|
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.
|
double Dutch »
A language game akin to pig Latin.
|
double talk »
Speaking in a mixture of real English and English-sounding gibberish, for humorous effect.
|
double-tongued »
Saying one thing to one person and something different to another; double talking; deceitful in speech.
|
down in the dumps »
Sad; lacking engagement or enthusiasm.
|
down to the short strokes »
In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
|
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 a bath »
To fill a bathtub with water in preparation for taking a bath.
|
draw back »
To withdraw from an undertaking.
|
every king needs a queen »
Every man needs a woman to be with for the rest of his life.
|
face that would stop a clock »
A shockingly attractive face.
|
face that would stop a clock »
A shockingly unattractive face.
|
far be it »
A disclaimer stating that the person speaking will not do something.
|
feather one's nest »
To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth.
|
fifth wheel »
A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multi-directional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer.
|
find out »
To discover, as by asking or exploring.
|
fine words butter no parsnips »
Talking about doing something does not get it done.
|
fish or cut bait »
To choose between taking action now, or forgoing the opportunity and putting that energy into another endeavor; to decide.
|
flag down »
Use a flag or some kind of signal to get the attention of someone.
|
flight of fancy »
An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative.
|
flunk out »
Often requiring a retaking of the course or academic year.
|
fool's errand »
A foolish undertaking, especially one that is purposeless, fruitless, nonsensical, or certain to fail.
|
fool's errand »
Such an undertaking, assigned as a prank.
|
for all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
|
free-for-all »
Chaos; a chaotic situation lacking rules or control.
|
frog in one's throat »
Any temporary physical difficulty in speaking.
|
frying pan »
cooking utensil
|
full of hot air »
Talking a lot, especially without saying anything of value or meaning.
|
full of it »
Speaking nonsense; lying, exaggerating, or boasting.
|
full of shit »
Characterized by speaking nonsense or falsehoods.
|
get a load of »
To experience someone or something, especially by looking or listening.
|
get busy »
Start working, usually in opposition to idleness.
|
get cracking »
To get started; to get busy.
|
give some skin »
To greet or congratulate someone by slapping his or her palm; see slap me five.
|
go away »
Command asking someone to leave them alone.
|
go native »
Of a contractor or consultant, to begin working directly as an employee for a company and cease to work through a contracting firm or agency.
|
go off »
To begin clanging or making noise.
|
go round in circles »
To repeatedly do the same thing; without making any progress.
|
go to sleep »
An expression used to dismiss an extremely foolish statement, or to dismiss somebody that one does not feel like talking to.
|
golden hello »
A payment offered to an employee as an inducement to join, especially if currently working for a competitor.
|
goodbye cruel world »
A call said before taking a stiff drink, especially a shot of vodka.
|
grand poobah »
A person who is important or high-ranking.
|
great unwashed »
A contemptuous term for the populace, particularly the working class.
|
hack into »
To reduce something to by hacking with a cutting instrument.
|
have a heart »
To be kind or sympathetic; to treat others kindly.
|
have it large »
To engage intensely in pleasure-seeking activities.
|
head honcho »
The person in charge; the highest-ranking person in an organization.
|
heart of gold »
A kind, compassionate, or caring attitude; kindheartedness.
|
heart-breaking »
That causes extreme sorrow or grief.
|
hedge one's bets »
To reduce the risk of making a mistake, by keeping one's options open.
|
hem and haw »
To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.
|
here's to »
Denoting proposed salutation while drinking alcohol, toast.
|
hit on »
To flirt with; to approach and speak to (someone), seeking romance, love, sex, etc.
|
hit one's stride »
When walking or running, to reach a full or comfortable pace.
|
hole in one »
A round that is completed by sinking the ball in a single shot or attempt, with one hit.
|
home in on »
To focus or narrow down to something; to find or draw closer, as by trial and error or a gradual seeking process.
|
hoover up »
Quickly, especially by taking it into the mouth directly from the plate rather than using cutlery.
|
hot desking »
The working practice of sharing desks or workstations between workers, as a means of saving space and resources.
|
how do you like them apples »
Directed jestingly or mockingly at someone who has received surprising information, ridiculing the situation.
|
hum and haw »
Procrastinate and take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.
|
idiot light »
Any warning light or indicator on the dashboard of a car, designed to alert the driver of problems, such as the parking brake being on or the oil being low.
|
in a bind »
In a difficult situation, usually of one's own making; having a dilemma; faced with a problem or a set of problems for which there is no easy solution.
|
in kind »
In the form of goods and service rather than money.
|
in one's right mind »
Sane, sensible, reasonable; thinking clearly.
|
in one's stockinged feet »
Wearing socks, stockings or other hosiery on one's feet but no shoes.
|
in the black »
Having positive net income; having greater income than expenses; making a profit.
|
in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king »
Among others with a disadvantage or disability, the one with the mildest disadvantage or disability is regarded as the greatest.Even someone without much talent or ability is considered special by those with no talent or ability at all.
|
in the making »
In development; in the process of being made.
|
in the way »
Obstructing, blocking, or hindering.
|
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God »
The rich can afford more immoral behavior than the poor.
|
it takes all kinds to make a world »
Diversity is essential: the world would be incomplete if everyone were alike.He irons his clothes how?! That's crazy! Well, I guess it takes all kinds.
|
it's better to ask forgiveness than permission »
The value of acting promptly and making a mistake requiring forgiveness is greater than value of delaying to get permission.
|
jump »
By jerking the body violently.
|
keep on truckin' »
To continue or persist, regardless of circumstances or setbacks; to keep trying or striving.
|
keep one's mouth shut »
To keep a secret; to refrain from speaking indiscreetly or carelessly.
|
keep quiet »
To refrain from talking about something; to keep a secret.
|
kick oneself »
To reproach oneself for making a mistake or missing an opportunity.
|
kick the habit »
To recover from or quit an addiction or habit. For example, to quit smoking, drinking, burping, or drug addiction.
|
kick up »
Into the air while running or walking or driving.
|
kicking and screaming »
With extreme reluctance.
|
kind »
Affectionate, showing benevolence.
|
kind »
Favorable.
|
kind »
Mild, gentle, forgiving.
|
kind of »
Slightly; somewhat; sort of.
|
kindred soul »
Someone with the same feelings or attitudes as oneself; kindred spirit.
|
kindred spirit »
Someone with the same feelings or attitudes as oneself.
|
king »
A male monarch; member of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation.
|
king »
A playing card with the image of a king on it.
|
king »
A powerful or influential person.
|
king of hearts »
picture card
|
knock up »
In the morning as by knocking at the door; rouse; call; summon; also, to go door-to-door on election day to persuade a candidate's supporters to go to the polling station and vote. See also knocker up.
|
knocking on heaven's door »
Dying, close to death.
|
l'esprit de l'escalier »
The experience of thinking of a devastating rejoinder only after leaving the scene of the debate.
|
labor of love »
A task performed voluntarily without expectation of reimbursement; an altruistic work or undertaking.
|
leather working »
The technology of making products from leather.
|
leave no stone unturned »
To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.
|
legwork »
Work, especially research or preparation, that involves significant walking, travel, or similar effort.
|
let sleeping dogs lie »
To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.
|
lick one's wounds »
He's just off licking his wounds. He'll be back to try again.
|
lily-livered »
Cowardly, lacking bravery.
|
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).
|
long shot »
Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working. The term arose from the accuracy of early ship guns, which were effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.
|
look daggers »
To stare sharply at someone to indicate disapproval without actually speaking.
|
looking glass »
mirror
|
lord of the flies »
A ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.
|
make a meal of »
That is the eleventh edit that you have made to that word, you are really making a meal of it.
|
make book »
To gamble, either by placing or taking bets.
|
make someone's skin crawl »
To disturb or bother; to frighten or disgust.
|
make the welkin ring »
By extension of.
|
make the welkin ring »
By extension of , to celebrate or revel.
|
make the welkin ring »
To make a loud noise.
|
man of parts »
A man that is talented in multiple areas of life. This includes but is not limited to the area of seduction. He puts very little emphasis on memorized scripts or "peacocking" and instead relies on individualized ways to charm a woman.
|
man up »
To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.
|
managerial inbreeding »
Bad management, caused by managers making poor selection choices in recruitment, rewards, and promotions of the staff that report to them, leading to another generation of managers who lack the necessary skill sets to reward and promote the most effective staff.
|
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
|
meat rack »
A place where people can meet looking for sexual partners.
|
member for Barkshire »
Said of one troubled with a cough, vulgarly styled barking.
|
middle of nowhere »
Nowhere; any place lacking population, interesting things, or defining characteristics.
|
mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
|
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.
|
mouthful of marbles »
An indistinct, muffled or garbled manner of speaking.
|
mug's game »
A foolish, profitless, or hopeless undertaking.
|
never change a running system »
Don't change something that is working
|
new school »
A style, way of thinking, or method for accomplishing a task that is typical of the current era, as opposed to former eras.
|
no skin off one's back »
No harm to one.
|
no skin off one's nose »
No harm to one.
|
nose-picking »
To insert a finger into one's nostril, especially to remove mucus.
|
not leave one's thoughts »
Said when one keeps thinking about something.
|
not to put too fine a point on it »
Used to apologise for a possibly impolite statement one is making.
|
not worth a dime »
Worthless, lacking in value.
|
now you're cooking »
A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.
|
now you're talking »
A phrase indicating agreement with a previously stated suggestion to change a course of action.
|
nuts and bolts »
The basic, inner workings of something; the fundamentals or basics; that which makes something operate, on a basic level.
|
off the wagon »
No longer maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from an undesirable habit, especially drinking alcohol.
|
old money »
The monetary system used in the United Kingdom before decimalisation and consisting of pounds, shillings, and pence.
|
on a whim »
Done without thinking seriously about the consequences.
|
on about »
Speaking about, talking of.
|
on the anvil »
Refers to anything in the making, being created, or in production, especially in the metalworking field.
|
on the blink »
Functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well. Usually refers to a mechanical or electronic device.
|
on the clock »
Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.
|
on the game »
Working as a prostitute.
|
on the make »
Actively seeking a romantic encounter or relationship.
|
on the make »
Actively seeking an opportunity for self-advancement; eager to ingratiate oneself to others in order to secure some advantage.
|
on the prowl »
Hunting or seeking.
|
on the pull »
Seeking the intimate company of a member of the opposite sex.
|
one good turn deserves another »
One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.
|
one side »
You should move to one side and allow me to go through the passageway you are blocking.
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone..
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
Words spoken by Neil Armstrong when taking the first steps on the moon.
|
one step at a time »
Slowly and carefully, ensuring that each action has been completed successfully before taking the next.
|
orange up »
To make more prominent by making orange or adding orange colour.
|
out of gas »
Lacking fuel.
|
out of gas »
Tired; lacking energy or motivation.
|
out of house and home »
Cassandra Chrones Moore, Haunted Housing: How Toxic Scare Stories Are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home.
|
out of it »
Disoriented; not thinking clearly.
|
out of kilter »
Disturbed; out of order; not working or adjusted properly.
|
out of pocket »
Lacking funds, or suffering a loss.
|
out of whack »
Not working or operating properly.
|
pachyderm »
A member of the obsolete taxonomic group Pachydermata, grouping of thick-skinned, hoofed animals such as the rhinoceros, hippopotamus, elephant, pig and horse.
|
pachyderm »
Someone with thick skin. It is used for animals such as an elephant or a hippopotamus.
|
packing heat »
Carrying one or more firearms on one's person, especially in a concealed manner.
|
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.
|
pan out »
By swirling dirt or crushed rock in a pan of water, in the manner of a traditional prospector seeking gold.
|
parking lot »
A major thruway blocked by stop and go traffic.
|
parking lot »
An open area, generally paved, where automobiles may be left when not in use.
|
pick one's nose »
The act of picking one's nose, insertion of a finger or other object into one's nostril.
|
pickin' and grinnin' »
Vigorously playing folk or country music on a stringed musical instrument, especially the guitar or banjo, while smiling broadly.
|
play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
|
potter's clay »
A nation or kingdom.
|
preach to the choir »
Speaking as if to convince a person or group of something which that person or group already believes.
|
prop up the bar »
To spend time drinking alcohol at the bar in a pub.
|
pull one's socks up »
To start making an effort; to renew or redouble one's efforts.
|
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 strings »
To manipulate, especially by asking favours of.
|
put a lid on it »
To be quiet; shut up; to stop talking about something or making noise.
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put a sock in it »
To be quiet; to shut one's mouth; to stop talking.
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put one's money where one's mouth is »
More generally, to take an obvious stake in the truth of a claim that one is making.
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put the cat among the pigeons »
Professor Stephen Hawking put the cat among the pigeons last week with his cheery remarks about comet Machholz-2, which some astronomers believe could be heading our way. — The Times, 19 September 1994.
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rank and file »
Those lacking any particular title or status; those having no station.
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red mist »
Anger sufficient to cloud judgement, to stop clear thinking.
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reinvent the wheel »
To redo work unnecessarily when it has already been done satisfactorily; to rethink an already working system, technique, etc. in a pointless attempt to improve it.
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revenge is a dish best served cold »
An expression that emotional detachment is ideal when taking revenge, as one is righting the wrongs that have been done to the doer.
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rock up »
To work one's way vertically up a chimney or cleft using a rocking movement.
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rocking horse »
toy
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rocking horse shit »
A metaphor for something exceedingly rare or, more likely, nonexistent.
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rocking-horse shit »
Alternative form of rocking horse shit.
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rose-colored glasses »
An optimistic perception of something; a positive opinion; seeing something in a positive way, often thinking of it as better than it actually is.
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rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
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run a bath »
To fill a bathtub with water in preparation for taking a bath.
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run a mile »
To escape, flee or leave a situation or relationship, usually as a result of a shocking or sudden announcement or revelation.
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run for the roses »
A hard-fought competition or demanding challenge of any kind.
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run on »
To continue talking for a long time.
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running on empty »
Losing enthusiasm or willingness, lacking energy.
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sea legs »
The ability, when walking aboard ship, to anticipate the motion of the deck so as to walk steadily without losing balance.
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send somebody packing »
To expel or eject somebody; to chase off or force out.
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set to work »
To begin working at.
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set to work »
To begin working.
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set to work »
To cause to begin working.
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shanks' mare »
One's own legs used for walking; to "travel by shanks' mare" or "ride on shanks' mare" is to walk to your destination.
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sharp tongue »
The practice or characteristic of speaking to others in a harsh, critical, or insulting manner.
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shit or get off the pot »
To choose between taking action now, or foregoing the opportunity until a later date.
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shoot oneself in the foot »
To act against one's own interests, e.g., by saying what one is really thinking.
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shoot the breeze »
To chat idly or generally waste time talking.
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shoot the moon »
To take a risk which may result in great rewards; to succeed after taking such a risk.
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short strokes »
The final steps of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
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shrinking violet »
A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.
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shuffle »
An instance of walking without lifting one's feet.
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shut one's face »
To stop talking; to be quiet.
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shut one's mouth »
To stop talking; to be quiet.
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silver-tongue »
The trait of being clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
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skin and bones »
Said of one who is emaciated; very skinny, as from lack of nutrition.
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skin deep »
superficial
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skin diver »
underwater swimmer
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skin in the game »
A stake; something at risk.
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skinny as a rail »
Especially of a person, very skinny.
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slam dunk »
Tacking on top of the wind of the following yacht in close quarters.
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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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smoking gun »
Evidence, particularly of a crime, that is difficult or impossible to dispute.
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soapbox »
A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.
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soft hearted »
Be kind; Fall for someone
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soft shoe »
A kind of tap dancing performed in soft-soled shoes, popular in vaudeville.
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spanner »
A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
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spill one's guts »
To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change of motive or an incentive.
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spin one's wheels »
To make no progress despite making an effort; to get nowhere.
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staircase wit »
Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so.
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step on a rake »
To step on the tines of a garden rake, causing the handle of the rake to rise from the ground rapidly, invariably striking the person walking in the face.
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stick up »
To put up by sticking.
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sticking at nothing »
Being ruthless
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sticking point »
A disputed issue or state of affairs that causes an interruption or outright impasse in progress towards some goal or resolution, especially in negotiation or argumentation.
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sticking point »
The point at which a process or thing, especially a state of mind or emotion, reaches its greatest strength and remains steadfast; sticking-place.
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sticking-place »
The point at which a process or thing, especially a state of mind or emotion, reaches its greatest strength and remains steadfast; sticking point.
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stone cold »
Very cold; lacking any semblance of warmth.
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straight out of the chute »
Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.
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such as »
Like, of the kind mentioned.
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suck in »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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suck into »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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sweat »
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
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sweet tooth »
A liking for foods that are sweet; a weakness for sweets.
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switch off »
To lose interest, and start thinking about something else.
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take a hike »
To go hiking.
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take a licking »
To suffer a defeat or a beating.
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take a powder »
To leave in a hurry; run away; scram; depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with a connotation of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.
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take against »
To stop liking someone. Become unfriendly.
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take kindly »
To accept or condone.
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take the piss »
Are you takin' the piss? You'll get yer 'ead bashed in.
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taking to ones heels »
running away
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taking upon oneself »
venturing
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talk through one's hat »
To speak lacking expertise, authority, or knowledge; to invent or fabricate facts.
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talking head »
A pundit who discusses issues of the day, especially one on TV.
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task force »
A group of people working towards a particular task, project, or activity, especially assigned in a particular capacity.
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tell tales »
To be lying, to be making false claims.
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test the waters »
To explore or probe, as before making a commitment.
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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 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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the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you take »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you're going to get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the more things change, the more they stay the same »
A proverb making the observation that turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.
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the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you take »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the screwing you get isn't worth the screwing you're going to get »
Alternative form of the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get.
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the way to a man's heart is through his stomach »
Cooking for a man is a good way to win his affections.
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there but for the grace of God go I »
A recognition that others' misfortune could be one's own, if it weren't for the blessing/kindness/luck bestowed by fate or the Divine.Man's fate is in God's hands.More generally, our fate is not entirely in our own hands.
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there's more than one way to skin a cat »
A problem generally has more than one solution.
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thin-skinned »
Having a thin skin.
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thin-skinned »
Overly sensitive to criticism; quick to take offence; touchy.
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three-martini lunch »
A leisurely, expensive, midday meal associated with drinking, which is tax-deductible because business is discussed.
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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
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throw shapes »
To act tough or put up a front. For example, to threaten a person by making "karate chops" at them, without actually doing harm or knowing karate.
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to all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
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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
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track record »
An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.
|
treat them mean, keep them keen »
A woman will be more interested in a man if he is not kind to her.
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turn a phrase »
To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.
|
turn into a pumpkin »
Used to indicate a curfew, or the time by which one must depart.
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twelve-ounce curls »
Drinking beer.
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two heads are better than one »
Some problems may be solved more easily by two (or more) people working together than by one working alone.
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two wrongs don't make a right »
(ethics) A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.1915, William MacLeod Raine, The Highgrader, ch. 15:"But when it comes to taking what belongs to another
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under the impression »
Thinking or making assumptions, often incorrectly.
|
underwater basket weaving »
"Sure, somewhere out there, college slackers were taking broom ball and underwater basket weaving." — The Columbus Dispatch, September 15, 2005.
|
wade in »
To interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.
|
walk the line »
To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it.
|
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.
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walking on air »
very happy
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wash down »
To help to swallow by drinking a liquid, after eating something, or taking a pill.
|
washed out »
To be very tired and lacking energy.
|
wear out »
To punish by spanking.
|
weigh in »
To bring in one's weight, metaphorically speaking, to bear on an issue.
|
what's cooking »
What's happening?; what's going on?; how are you?.
|
wishful thinking »
Decision-making based on self-delusion.
|
wishful thinking »
The illusion that what one would like is actually true.
|
work the room »
To interact with one's audience, taking queues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
|
working girl »
A prostitute.
|
working girl »
A young woman who works.
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wrong side of the tracks »
. May refer to area where the working class, poor or extremely poor live.
|
yellow card »
booking
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you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs »
In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that something should be destroyed.
|
you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone »
It is advantageous not to rely solely on being nice.
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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.
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you name it »
Used after a short list to show that further examples are unnecessary; all kinds of things.
|
zip one's lip »
To stop talking; to be quiet.
|
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