a cut below »
Inferior to; of a lower quality than.
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a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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a watched pot never boils »
A process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.
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against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
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age before beauty »
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones.
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air out »
To expose to air; to leave open or spread out, as to allow odor or moisture to dissipate.
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all hollow »
As a foregone conclusion.
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all hollow »
Common misspelling of all hallow.
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allow for »
To take into account when making plans.
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April showers bring May flowers »
April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains.By extension, that a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness.
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at a loss »
Below the cost or price of purchase.
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back burner »
A state of low urgency; a state of low current importance.
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back off »
To lower the setting of.
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back to the drawing board »
Back to the beginning following an unsuccessful attempt.
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back-burner »
Having low urgency; not currently important.
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