a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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a man is known by the company he keeps »
People are similar in character to their friends.
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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!
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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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abominable snowman »
yeti
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according to »
Our zeal should be according to knowledge. - Thomas Sprat.
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acknowledge the corn »
To cop a plea; to admit to a small error but not a larger one.
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after all »
In the end; anyway; referring to something that was believed to be the case, but has now been shown not to be.
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agree to disagree »
To tolerate each other's opinion and stop arguing; to acknowledge that an agreement will not be reached.
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arse end of nowhere »
A very remote place.
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as far as one knows »
To the best of one's knowledge.
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at once »
Immediately; now; right away.
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at that »
Now that it has been mentioned.
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at the momont »
now
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at this point in time »
Right now.
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beats me »
I don't know; I have no idea.
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been there, done that »
An assertion that the speaker has personal experience or knowledge of a particular place or topic and is now bored.
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behind somebody's back »
Without somebody's knowledge; secretly.
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bend somebody's ear »
Sorry to bend your ear with the whole story, but I think you ought to know.
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better an egg today than a hen tomorrow »
It is better to have a sure thing now than a possibility of more later.
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big break »
A breakthrough, especially the first big hit of a previously unknown performer or performers in the entertainment industry.
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big fish in a small pond »
One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.
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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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bone up »
To study or cram, especially in order to refresh one's knowledge of a topic.
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box the compass »
To know, and be able to recite the 32 points and quarter points of the magnetic compass from North, both clockwise and anticlockwise.
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break the ice »
To start to get to know people, by avoiding awkwardness.
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by heart »
Knowing completely; as having committed completely to memory.
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carry off »
Knowledge, confidence, or familiarity.
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claim to fame »
That for which one has bragging rights; one's reason for being well-known or famous.
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come by »
To obtain; to get, now especially by chance or involuntarily.
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come out of the woodwork »
To appear or emerge as though out of nowhere, frequently in large numbers or quantity.
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come to think of it »
By the way; now that I think about it; indicates something brought to mind.
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come up »
To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly; to come to attention, present itself.
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cooking with gas »
Now doing something in an effective way.
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dead end »
A path or strategy that goes nowhere or is blocked on one end.
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die »
Followed by with. Now rare as indicating direct cause.
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emperor's new clothes »
Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.
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f** knows »
I don't know; nobody knows; it is unclear.
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fair enough »
An expression used to concede a point; denotes that, upon consideration, something is correct or reasonable; an expression of acknowledgment or understanding.
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familiarity breeds contempt »
The more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.
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far be it »
Pewtey in Marriage Guidance Counselor from And Now For Something Completely Different.
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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.
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fish or cut bait »
To choose between taking action now, or forgoing the opportunity and putting that energy into another endeavor; to decide.
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flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
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for my money »
Used to mark a statement made by the speaker as an opinion or something not known with certainty.
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for the record »
Already publicly known.
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for XYZ reasons »
For reasons unknown and not worth speculating on.
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forewarned is forearmed »
Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
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give or take »
Approximately; plus or minus some unknown amount.
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give the devil his due »
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
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give the time of day »
To acknowledge somebody; to give somebody any respect or attention.
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go through the mill »
To experience the suffering or discipline necessary to bring one to a certain degree of knowledge or skill, or to a certain mental state.
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ground rules »
The basic rules or standards; whatever someone must know before proceeding.
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hack into »
To gain unauthorized entry to, particularly by exploiting little-known weaknesses.
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has-been »
A formerly popular or influential person whose popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline. Typically said of professionals or celebrities whose primary success is behind them.
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here and now »
immediately
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hic Rhodus, hic salta »
(politics) Prove what you can do, here and now.
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hit the big time »
To become successful and widely known.
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hold that thought »
Used to acknowledge that one's attention needs to be diverted from what an speaker was saying.
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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.
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hot on »
Knowledgeable about.
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household name »
A brand name that is well known to the great majority of households.
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household name »
A very well-known public figure.
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ignorance is bliss »
Lack of knowledge results in happinessSometime you are more comfortable if you dont know something.
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inside joke »
A joke that is understood or meant to be understood only by certain people who are in the know about the details.
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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
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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.
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knock around »
To be in an unknown place.
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know like the back of one's hand »
To be intimately knowledgeable about something, especially a place.
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know something inside and out »
To know something very thoroughly.
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know the score »
Be aware of a situation, especially of the consequences of misconduct.
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knowledge is power »
With knowledge and/or education, one's potential or ability to succeed in the pursuit of his objectives will certainly increase.
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larger-than-life »
Very imposing, renowned, or impressively influential.
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lead »
Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading.
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lead nowhere »
To have no purpose, to result in nothing.
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let the cat out of the bag »
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
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life is like a box of chocolates »
Life is full of surprises, you never know what will happen next.
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look what the cat's dragged in »
Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
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make for »
????, translator unknown, author Galileo Galilei, Two Chief World Systems.
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middle of nowhere »
Nowhere; any place lacking population, interesting things, or defining characteristics.
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no way »
In no way; nowise.
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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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not a sausage »
John: Do you know how I get to the town center from here?.
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not have the faintest »
To not know; to have no idea.
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now and then »
Sometimes; occasionally.
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now you mention it »
The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling.
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now you're cooking »
A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.
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now you're talking »
A phrase indicating agreement with a previously stated suggestion to change a course of action.
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nut-cutting time »
Time to gather nuts before they are taken by other animals or buried in snow.
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of course »
Acknowledges the validity of the associated phrase.
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off the beaten path »
In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known.
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old hat »
Something widely or long practiced, known, or accepted; something conventional.
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on the tip of one's tongue »
Known but not quite remembered.
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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-hit wonder »
A person or group known for achieving only a single major accomplishment.
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one-trick pony »
A performing animal that knows only one trick.
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or else »
Go now, or else you'll have to stay all night.
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out of house and home »
Global Checkup: How Healthy is Earth?, Science NOW.
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out of nowhere »
In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.
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out on the tiles »
I've had a pint of bitter and now I'm feeling better and I'm out on the tiles." Led Zeppelin in their song "Out on the tiles", 1970.
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own up »
To acknowledge, confess, or admit guilt. Often used with to.
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party animal »
A person known for frequent, enthusiastic attendance at parties, especially one whose partying behavior is exuberant or excessive.
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party to »
Privy to; having knowledge of.
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peanut gallery »
Any source of heckling, unwelcome commentary or criticism, especially from a know-it-all or of an inexpert nature.
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pencil whip »
To approve a document without actually knowing or reviewing what it is that is being approved.
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pick somebody's brain »
To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.
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pig in a poke »
Something whose true value is concealed or unknown, especially something offered for sale.
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play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
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poacher turned gamekeeper »
A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
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rediscover fire »
To relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.
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remains to be seen »
Is not yet known.
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rule of thumb »
A general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge.
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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 off at the mouth »
Don't let [presidential press secretary Ron] Ziegler shoot off at the mouth without our knowledge.
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shot in the dark »
A guess, attempt, or choice made with little or no evidence or knowledge.
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shy bairns get noot »
(Geordie) Alternative spelling of shy bairns get nowt.
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shy bairns get nowt »
If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.A' forgot te ask hor for me money back!Wye, shy bairns get nowt
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slippery as an eel »
So crafty, or cunning that they cannot be caught by the police, although it is known that they are acting illegally.
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snow in »
By a large snowfall.
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snow job »
An attempt to persuade a person using flattery or deception.
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snow on the mountaintop »
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
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snow on the rooftop »
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
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snowball's chance in hell »
Little or no likelihood of occurrence or success.
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snowed under »
Have too much work.
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so far »
Until now; previously; yet.
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so far »
as yet; up till now
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so far so good »
Up to this point, all is OK.Well, you've packed your bags for the holiday, bought your tickets, reserved the hotel and put the dog in kennels. So far so good, now let's get to Minorca without any troubles.
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so-and-so »
A placeholder name, used when a name is not known; a generic name.
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speak out »
To assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known.
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speak up »
To make oneself or one's opinions known; to advocate or assert oneself.
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spin one's wheels »
To make no progress despite making an effort; to get nowhere.
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stand corrected »
Said to acknowledge someone who corrects something that one says or writes that was not correct.
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take a shot in the dark »
To try on something without having any knowledge about the subject.
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take a walk in the snow »
See walk in the snow.
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take it to the bank »
Said to emphasize that something is known for sure.
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take the red pill »
To understand the world in its previously unknown reality.
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talk like an apothecary »
To use hard or gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this profession, who are commonly as superficial in their learning as they are pedantic in their language.
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talk out one's ass »
To speak authoritatively on a subject which one actually knows little about; to exaggerate.
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talk the talk »
Speak like an expert, claim to be knowledgeable about something.
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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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tell apart »
To be able to know the difference between things; to distinguish.
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the nose knows »
Despite the addressee's belief that the speaker was unaware of something, the speaker, in fact, was already aware.
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there may be snow on the rooftop but there is fire in the furnace »
Even if a person is in his or her senior years, with gray hair, he or she can still have ambition and energy, especially sexual energy.
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there's no time like the present »
Now (i.e., the present time) is an appropriate time to take a particular action.
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there's nowt so queer as folk »
Nothing is as strange as people can be.
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throw enough mud at the wall and 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.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.
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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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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.
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tip of the hat »
A gesture of acknowledgement; often, an expression of gratitude.
|
tip one's hat »
To acknowledge or show respect; to honor.
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to date »
Until now; until the present time.
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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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touch%C3%A9 »
An acknowledgement of a hit.
|
touch%C3%A9 »
An acknowledgement of the success, appropriateness or superiority of an argument, sometimes used sarcastically to mock one's opponent's absurd logic.
|
tried and true »
Well-established and tested; known to work or succeed based on extensive experience.
|
walk in the snow »
An occasion when a momentous career decision is made, especially a decision to resign or retire.
|
wash out »
To lose traction while going around a turn, especially in cycling, motorsports and skiing/snowboarding.
|
what do I know »
Implies that a statement is based on a guess or assumption rather than on knowledge or evidence.
|
whistle in the dark »
To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it.
|
wine tosser »
A person who talks a great deal about wine but actually knows very little.
|
work against the clock »
To work very quickly because you know you only have a very limited period of time to do something.
|
wouldn't you know it »
Expresses dismay or annoyance, especially at bad luck or misfortune.
|
you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows »
You don't need an expert to tell you what you already know.
|
you know it »
Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.
|
you know what »
A phrase used to get someone's attention before announcing something.
|
you knows it »
Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.
|
you knows it »
You're right; I wholeheartedly agree with your statement.
|
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.
|
you never know what you've got till it's gone »
Good friends and acquaintances shouldn't be taken for granted.
|
yours sincerely »
A polite formula to end a letter, especially when the recipient’s name is known to the sender.
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