barrel of monkeys »
Something very funny or amusing.
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beefed out »
Muscular, often in an exaggerated way.
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beggars can't be choosers »
(proverb) When resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts.
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big up »
To increase one's muscle mass through exercise.
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bitter pill »
Something unpleasant that must be accepted or endured.
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blue note »
Notes added to the major scale for expressive quality in jazz and blues music, particularly the flatted third, fifth and seventh.
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built like a tank »
Broad shouldered and of solid, muscular build.
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business before pleasure »
An admonishment that discharging one's obligations must take precedence over devoting time to pursuits meant solely for one's own gratification.
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carry a tune »
To produce music, especially to sing, with accurate pitch.
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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.
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charley horse »
A muscle cramp, usually in the thigh or leg.
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che sera sera »
Used to express a personal philosophy of fatalism1604, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus:Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. / Aye, we must die an everlasting death. / What doctrine call you this ? Che, sera, sera: / What will be*, shall be; Divinity adieu. / These Metaphysics of Magicians, / And necromantic books, are heavenly.
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cry the blues »
To sing in the style of blues music.
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cut the mustard »
To suffice; to be good or effective enough.
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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.
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face the music »
To accept or confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
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firm up »
To make muscles more toned through physical exercise.
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get a kick out of »
To be delighted by; to be amused by.
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ground rules »
The basic rules or standards; whatever someone must know before proceeding.
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if the mountain won't come to Muhammad »
"If one cannot get one's own way, one must bow to the inevitable.".
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in for a penny, in for a pound »
Expressing recognition that one must, having started something, see it through to its end, rather than stopping short thereof; accepting that one must
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it is what it is »
This circumstance is simply a fact and must be accepted or dealt with as it exists.
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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.
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keep somebody in stitches »
To keep somebody laughing hard or amused.
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make an example of »
He made an example of the drunken sailor with twenty lashes, to show that he must have a sober crew.
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mess up »
To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss.
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middle of the road »
Of a type of melodic popular music that has wide appeal.
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money doesn't grow on trees »
You must work in order to have money.
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muscle in »
To interfere, or intrude forcibly.
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muscle in on »
To interfere with, or intrude on something forcibly.
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music to one's ear »
Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.
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no pain, no gain »
One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals.
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no rest for the wicked »
(humorous) People who are wicked must work harder than normal people.
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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
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one-hit wonder »
A musical performer or musical group known for a single hit song, especially after failing at later attempts at success.
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one-man band »
A musician who plays several musical instruments at once.
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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.
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pachyderm »
A member of the obsolete taxonomic group Pachydermata, grouping of thick-skinned, hoofed animals such as the rhinoceros, hippopotamus, elephant, pig and horse.
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pachyderm »
Someone with thick skin. It is used for animals such as an elephant or a hippopotamus.
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part and parcel »
An integral or essential piece; that which must be done or accepted as part of something else.
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pass muster »
To adequately pass a formal or informal inspection.
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pass muster »
To measure up to a particular standard.
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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.
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pickin' and grinnin' »
Vigorously playing folk or country music on a stringed musical instrument, especially the guitar or banjo, while smiling broadly.
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power chord »
A chord or combination of notes used in rock music and typically selected to sound good at high volume and high levels of distortion. Power chords make extensive use of intervals such as open fourths and fifths.
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pump up »
To cause one's muscles to swell by means of focussed weightlifting.
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put on »
To play recorded music.
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scream »
A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
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sell a bargain »
A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".
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senior note »
A bond that takes priority over other debt securities sold by the issuer. In the event the issuer goes bankrupt, senior debt must be repaid before other creditors receive any payment.
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shuffle »
A rhythm commonly used in blues music. Consists of a series of triplet notes with the middle note missing, so that it sounds like a long note followed by a short note. Sounds like a walker dragging one foot.
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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.
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sing soprano »
To perform vocal music in a higher pitch than alto.
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spanner »
A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
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strike up »
To start something, usually playing live music.
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thorn in the flesh »
Ivar Specto. The Soviet Union and the Muslim World, 1917-1958.
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tickle pink »
To thoroughly delight or amuse; to elate.
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tickle somebody's funny bone »
To amuse; to strike somebody as funny.
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tickle someone's fancy »
To amuse, entertain, or appeal to someone; to stimulate someone's imagination in a favorable manner.
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tin ear »
Insensitivity to and inability to appreciate the elements of performed music or the rhythm, elegance, or nuances of language.
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to thine own self be true »
The easiest person to deceive is oneself."This above all:to thine own self be true,and it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare
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tone up »
To strengthen and make the muscles of the body firmer by regular excercise.
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turn into a pumpkin »
Used to indicate a curfew, or the time by which one must depart.
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two-second rule »
A rule of thumb for safe driving by which a driver must maintain a two-second distance from the vehicle in front.
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valley of the shadow of death »
Valleys on earth one must walk through, that is, part of the human experience.
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water under the bridge »
Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
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work out »
To habitually exercise rigorously, especially by lifting weights, in order to increase strength or muscle mass or maintain fitness.
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