a bit much »
More than is reasonable.
|
a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
|
a watched pot never boils »
A process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.
|
above and beyond »
More than is expected or required.
|
actions speak louder than words »
It is more effective to act directly than to speak of action.
|
age before beauty »
A phrase said to allow older people to go before younger ones.
|
ahead of one's time »
Showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field; coming earlier than could be generally accepted.
|
ahead of the game »
Having completed a task before it is due; ready, prepared, or anticipating.
|
all good things come to an end »
Nothing lasts forever.
|
all hollow »
As a foregone conclusion.
|
all out »
The state of a side having no more men to bat, thus ending its innings.
|
at that »
In addition to what has been said; furthermore; moreover.
|
avant la lettre »
An example of a term before the term was coined. Describing a term used anachronistically.
|
back-cloth star »
An actor who stands upstage, forcing the other actors to face him and turn their backs to the audience, in order to gain more attention to himself.
|
baptism by fire »
A trying ordeal that was not experienced before.
|
beat somebody to the punch »
To do something before somebody else is able to.
|
beauty sleep »
Sleep before midnight, on the belief that early sleep hours conduce to health and beauty.[1].
|
been there, done that »
An assertion that the speaker has personal experience or knowledge of a particular place or topic and is now bored.
|
beer goggles »
The illusion that people are more attractive, brought on by alcohol consumption.
|
before you can say Jack Robinson »
Very quickly. Quicker than you expect.
|
bend somebody's ear »
To bore; to talk too long.
|
better an egg today than a hen tomorrow »
It is better to have a sure thing now than a possibility of more later.
|
better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness »
In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response than to complain about the situation.
|
bigger fish to fry »
A much more pressing issue to attend to.
|
bite off more than one can chew »
To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.
|
black sheep »
A disliked person; one who is disfavored.
|
blind »
An 1800s baseball term meaning no score.
|
blind date »
A romantic meeting between two people who have never met before.
|
bottoming the house »
The process by where someone cleans their house 'from top to bottom'. It is a very thorough clean indeed, even more so than 'spring cleaning'.
|
break down »
To give more detail.
|
break in »
New function more naturally through use or wear.
|
break one's duck »
To score one's first run in an innings.
|
break the bank »
To win more money than is available to be paid.
|
bridge »
A device which connects two or more computer buses, typically in a transparent manner.
|
bridge »
A system which connects two or more local area networks at layer 2.
|
bridge »
An unintended solder connection between two or more components or pins.
|
bring out »
To make a shy person more confident.
|
bros before hoes »
(US, informal) A man should prioritize his male friends over his girlfriend or wife.
|
bros before hos »
Alternative spelling of bros before hoes.
|
browned off »
Annoyed, upset, angry, bored, fed up, disgusted.
|
bucket of bolts »
A piece of machinery that is not worth more than its scrap value, often of old cars.
|
bump up »
To give a more prominent place to; to advance position in queue.
|
bury the lead »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
|
bury the lede »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
|
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.
|
by the way »
Incidentally; a parenthetical statement not timely, central, or crucial to the topic at hand; foregone, passed by, something that has already happened.
|
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.
|
carry on »
To continue or proceed as before.
|
cast pearls before swine »
To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it.
|
catch out »
To put a batsman out by catching the batted ball before it touches the ground.
|
chance'd be a fine thing »
Given to indicate that an aforementioned thing would be desirable but unlikely. Comparable to if I should be so lucky.
|
change one's mind »
To decide differently than one had decided before.
|
cheaper by the dozen »
Things are handled more efficiently as a group, rather than individually.
|
cherry pick »
To position oneself near the opponent's goal to attempt to receive an errant or intentional pass for an easy score, as in basketball or versions of soccer where offsides are not enforced.
|
chew the cud »
To meditate or ponder before answering; to be deep in thought; to ruminate.
|
close one's eyes »
To ignore.
|
come up »
To appear before a judge or court.
|
crack down »
To enforce more stringently or more thoroughly.
|
crack down on »
To enforce laws or punish more vigilantly.
|
creature feature »
A horror film in which one or more monsters plays a prominent role.
|
curveball »
A forespin pitch thrown by rotating the index and middle fingers down and resulting in motion down "curve".
|
cut short »
Interrupt and curtail before the planned end time.
|
cutting edge »
The forefront, or position of greatest advancement in some field.
|
day and age »
A time period of years or more.
|
dead »
: So hated by that they are absolutely ignored.
|
death knell »
A sign or omen foretelling the death or destruction of something.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
Programmers are consistently dehumanized because so many do indeed deliver the message to Garcia only to be at best ignored.
|
desk jockey »
One who spends his or her time seated at a desk; especially one who is more concerned with procedure, paperwork, or administration than with its ultimate goal or practical consequence.
|
diamonds are a girl's best friend »
A statement that suggests, while love is a luxury, material wealth (particularly jewellery) is more valuable in the long run.
|
die »
Followed by from. General use, though somewhat more common in medical or scientific contexts.
|
diplomatic flu »
An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.
|
don't count your chickens before they're hatched »
You should not count on something before it happens.
|
don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs »
Don't presume to give advice to those who are more experienced.
|
draw out »
To make something last for more time than is necessary; prolong; extend.
|
draw out »
To use means to entice or force to be more open or talkative.
|
drill down »
To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.
|
drive one up the wall »
To make a person very angry or bored; to infuriate.
|
dummy out »
From a video game in the process of localizing that game from a foreign country.
|
dummy run »
A trial or practice before the real attempt.
|
dye in the wool »
To dye woolen fibers before they are spun into thread.
|
dyed-in-the-wool »
Dyed before being formed into cloth.
|
eat someone out of house and home »
To consume such a portion of one's store of food that little is left for the owner.
|
eff off »
A censored form of the phrase f** off.
|
elbow grease »
Effort or hard work, especially physical work involving repeated motion of the forearm, such as scrubbing.
|
elephant in the room »
A problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.
|
emperor's new clothes »
Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.
|
enough is as good as a feast »
Just the right amount is as good as more than enough: there is no value in excess.
|
enough is enough »
One should be satisfied, there should be no more
|
every cloud has a silver lining »
In every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,
|
every which where »
A more emphatic version of everywhere.
|
everything happens for a reason »
All events are purposeful.Everything happens for a reason, so there is no such thing as failure. Mary-Kate OlsenPeople like to say "everything happens for a reason." If you repeat that in your head long enough that starts to sound like "anything can happen with a razor." Laura KightlingerI believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason - that's how we learn. Drew Barrymore
|
f** this »
The phrase emphatically diminishes the activity or event referred to and expresses that the speaker will have no more to do with it.
|
face value »
No more or less than what is stated; a literal or direct meaning or interpretation.
|
fall on deaf ears »
Of a request, complaint, etc, to be ignored.
|
false friend »
A word in a foreign language bearing a deceptive resemblance to a word in one's own language.
|
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.
|
fancypants »
Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.
|
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.
|
file away »
To store in a file.
|
firm up »
To make muscles more toned through physical exercise.
|
firm up »
To make tentative plans more definite.
|
first of all »
Firstly; before anything else.
|
flog a dead horse »
To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more.
|
flower »
An inflorescence that resembles a flower, but actually contains many small florets, such as a sunflower.
|
flutter in the dovecote »
I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.
|
fold up »
To make or become more compact by folding.
|
for good »
Forever; permanently.
|
for good and all »
Permanently, forever.
|
for the heck of it »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
for the hell of it »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
for the sake of it »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
forbidden fruit is the sweetest »
Forbidden things have more worthwhile short-term consequences.
|
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."
|
forewarned, forearmed »
Alternative form of forewarned is forearmed.
|
fountain of youth »
Anything reputed to have the power to restore health and vitality or to restore a youthful appearance.
|
four score and seven years ago »
87 years prior to today.
|
four score and seven years ago »
As an opener, a sometimes sarcastic indicator to indicate a past event being mentioned is particularly important.
|
fresh legs »
Somebody who has yet to play in a match, and therefore has plenty of energy.
|
fresh off the boat »
Newly arrived from a foreign place, especially as an immigrant who is still unfamiliar with the customs and language of his or her new environment.
|
fruit of the poisonous tree »
And which is therefore excluded from being admitted as evidence in a trial.
|
fudge the issue »
Adopt a solution to a specific problem which does not address the larger, more general problem of which the specific problem is an instance.
|
funny money »
Bills of any foreign currency or of counterfeit origin.
|
gandy dancer »
A railway laborer, especially a member of a crew which carries rails and affixes them to ties.
|
get a grip »
To relax; to calm down; to stop being angry; to come to one's senses or become more rational.
|
get a jump on »
To start early, especially to start before something begins or before others begin.
|
give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime »
It is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something, than to do something for them.
|
give away the store »
To transact, trade, or negotiate badly, by paying, providing, or conceding too much to the other party.
|
go native »
To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.
|
go off at score »
Of a horse, to break suddenly into a gallop; of a person, suddenly to say or do something impetuous.
|
go out the window »
To vanish or cease, especially due to lack of care, attention, etc.; to be discarded, disregarded, or ignored.
|
go out with »
Often in hopes that the relationship will become more longterm as in definition 1.
|
gold mine »
A mine for gold ore or metal.
|
golden duck »
The score of zero runs after getting out on the first ball faced.
|
goodbye cruel world »
A call said before taking a stiff drink, especially a shot of vodka.
|
goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
|
greener pastures »
Any place or condition that is more favorable or beneficial.
|
ground rules »
The basic rules or standards; whatever someone must know before proceeding.
|
grow on »
To become more likeable to someone.
|
grunt work »
That is considered undesirable and therefore delegated to underlings.
|
gunboat diplomacy »
The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power.
|
halcyon days »
A period of calm, often nostalgic: “halcyon days of yore”, “halcyon days of youth”..
|
halfway decent »
No more than adequate.
|
hang on »
To keep; to store something for someone.
|
harden someone's heart »
To make someone more resistant to something.
|
have eyes bigger than one's belly »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
|
have eyes bigger than one's stomach »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
|
have other fish to fry »
To have more important things to do.
|
have the time of one's life »
To enjoy oneself more than ever before.
|
hindsight is 20/20 »
(idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice.
|
hit the jackpot »
To realise a huge load of luck; to receive a more favorable outcome than imagined.
|
hold on »
To keep; to store something for someone.
|
hot up »
To become more heated.
|
hum and haw »
Procrastinate and take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.
|
ignorance is bliss »
Lack of knowledge results in happinessSometime you are more comfortable if you dont know something.
|
impiastro »
Nuisance, bore.
|
in aid to this fact »
In addition to; and futhermore.
|
in the cards »
Destined or fated to happen; predicted or foreseen.
|
in the long run »
After a very long time; eventually; over a long period of time; more generally.
|
in unity there is strength »
More can be accomplished by a team with a common goal, than individuals.
|
it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings »
There are more developments yet to come.
|
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.
|
jump the gun »
To begin a race too soon, before the starting gun goes off.
|
jump to conclusions »
Make conclusions before being presented with all the evidence.
|
jumped-up »
Describes a person who thinks he is superior in some way that the speaker disagrees with. For instance, of a higher class, or has more authority than they have in reality.
|
just for fun »
For no particular reason, just because it is fun, entertaining; for to relieve boredom.
|
keep your shirt on »
An admonition to be more patient or to calm down.
|
kernel of truth »
A core accuracy at the heart of a claim or narrative which also contains dubious or fictitious elements.
|
kneel before »
To kneel in front of someone or something, especially in order to worship or supplicate.
|
knock off »
An imitation, especially one of poorer quality.
|
knock up »
To exhaust; wear out; weary; beat; tire out; to fatigue until unable to do more.
|
knock up »
To gently hit the ball back and forth before a tennis match, as practice or warm-up, and to gauge the state of the playing surface, lighting, etc. See knock-up.
|
know the score »
Be aware of a situation, especially of the consequences of misconduct.
|
ladies first »
A phrase encouraging polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men.
|
last trump »
Forever.
|
last word »
The final statement uttered by a person before death.
|
lay down »
To stock, store for the future. See also lay by.
|
lay open »
In Japan and South Korea, to publish a patent for initial public review, prior to the formal application for registration.
|
lay up »
To store; to put by.
|
lead time »
The amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion, e.g. the time required to manufacture or procure a product; the time required before something can be provided or delivered.
|
less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
|
lighten up »
To become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax.
|
link whore »
Someone who goes to great lengths to get other people to link to his/her website or blog.
|
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 drink »
Any drink containing more than 5 ounces of liquid and less than 9 ounces. Typically, a long drink will have lots of ice and mixer.
|
look before you leap »
Don't jump into something too precipitously; be at least a bit foresightful or circumspect.
|
look into »
To investigate, explore, or consider.
|
look the other way »
To ignore something wrong. Similar to connive.
|
look through rose-tinted glasses »
Alternative spelling of wear rose-colored glasses.
|
loose end »
A small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved, before a task can be considered complete.
|
make a meal of »
To spend more time and energy on some task than it warrants; to make something overly complicated.
|
mark my words »
Listen to me; used before a statement one wishes to emphasize.
|
matter of fact »
A more factual correction.
|
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
|
mercury »
A silvery-colored metallic chemical element, liquid at room temperature, with atomic number 80 and symbol Hg.
|
might makes right »
The stronger and more powerful rule others, control the situation or determine right and wrong.
|
mind the store »
To remain present in a retail business, in order to maintain the security of the premises and to serve customers.
|
mind the store »
To take active responsibility for a group or process, especially within an organization.
|
moral high ground »
A position or point of view which is ethically superior or more reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.
|
more cry than wool »
Asserted but not grounded in reality.
|
more equal »
Ostensibly equal, but in reality more privileged.
|
more haste, less speed »
When we are in a hurry, we often end up completing our task slower.
|
more like it »
Better, more desirable.
|
much of a muchness »
Of two or more things, having little difference of any significance between them.
|
mutton dressed as lamb »
A mature woman dressed in a style more suited to a young woman, especially if a deliberate attempt to appear young.
|
mutual admiration society »
A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.
|
narrow down »
Make more specific.
|
necker's knob »
A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.
|
nightcap »
A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.
|
nightcap »
A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.
|
no score »
In a sporting event, a score of zero to zero.
|
not in Kansas anymore »
No longer in quiet and comfortable surroundings; in the big city.
|
now you're cooking »
A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.
|
number one »
First; foremost; best.
|
nut-cutting time »
Time to gather nuts before they are taken by other animals or buried in snow.
|
of all people »
Especially; more than other people.
|
of an »
Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.
|
old money »
The monetary system used in the United Kingdom before decimalisation and consisting of pounds, shillings, and pence.
|
on board »
It's a good idea, but let's see if we can get a few more of the management team on board.
|
on one's high horse »
Self-righteous; proceeding on the belief one is more correct or proper than others.
|
on the mend »
Improving or undergoing restoration to a previous, more favorable condition.
|
one another »
Used of a reciprocal relationship among a group of more than two people or things; compare each other.
|
one can't hold two watermelons in one hand »
do not attempt to take on more than you can handle
|
one step at a time »
Slowly and carefully, ensuring that each action has been completed successfully before taking the next.
|
one step forward, two steps back »
A situation in which progress is more than offset by adverse developments.
|
open a can of whoop ass »
A good-humored threat of physical harm.
|
orange up »
To make more orange.
|
orange up »
To make more prominent by making orange or adding orange colour.
|
orange up »
To become more orange.
|
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 one's league »
In a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others, whose accomplishments, preparedness, or other characteristics are on a significantly higher or lower level than one's own.
|
over one's head »
More complex or confusing than one can understand; beyond one’s comprehension..
|
overleap »
To ignore.
|
pack away »
To store away, place out of the way, or stash, especially for the longer term.
|
packing heat »
Carrying one or more firearms on one's person, especially in a concealed manner.
|
paper »
A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting .
|
parade of horribles »
A rhetorical device employing a series of progressively more terrible results following from an act.
|
people person »
Someone who is happier or more skilled at dealing with people rather than things or concepts.
|
pep up »
To make stronger or more interesting.
|
perp walk »
The intentional public display before news cameras of someone in police custody, especially someone famous or notorious, for the purpose of satisfying public interest, demonstrating the authorities' effectiveness, or shaming the person.
|
piffy on a rock bun »
A person ignored or sidelined from an activity.
|
play fast and loose »
To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits ones purpose.
|
play it by ear »
To play a song according to how it sounds, rather than from a written score.
|
play the field »
To date more than one person at the same time.
|
play up »
To make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely or obvious; to showcase or highlight.
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plump up »
To shake or arrange so as to be fatter or more evenly distributed.
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plus »
(literally) The more it changes, the more it's the same thing (sometimes loosely translated as the more things change, the more they stay the same).Although the outward appearance may change, fundamentals are constant.
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pore over »
To examine something carefully and attentively.
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pre-war »
Describing the period before a war.
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pre-war »
Describing the period before the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
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pride comes before a fall »
A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.
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pride cometh before a fall »
Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.
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pride goes before a fall »
Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.
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pride goeth before a fall »
Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.
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prone out »
In order to be propelled shorewards by a broken wave.
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proverbs run in pairs »
Every proverb seems to be contradicted by another proverb with an opposed message, such as "too many cooks spoil the broth" and "many hands make light work."1863, Sir Richard Burton, Abeokuta and the Camaroons Mountains, vol. 1, Tinsley (London), p. 309:Moreover, all the world over, proverbs run in pairs, and pull both ways: for the most part one neutralizes, by contradiction, the other.
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pull the other one, it's got bells on »
The implication is that one leg has been pulled, and the joker will have more fun with the other one due to the bells.
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push the boat out »
To do something, especially spend money, more extravagantly than usual, particularly for a celebration.
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put aside »
To ignore or intentionally forget something, temporarily or permanently, so that more important things can have one's attention.
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put away »
To store away, place out of the way, clean up, or organize.
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put hair on somebody's chest »
To make a person stronger or more masculine.
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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 out feelers »
To explore or watch for; ask around; investigate.
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put something into perspective »
To compare with something similar to give a clearer, more accurate idea.
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put the cart before the horse »
To put things in the wrong order or with the wrong priorities.
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put to the test »
To test something or someone; to evaluate, scrutinize or explore by testing or experimentation.
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put up »
To store away.
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quarter of »
Fifteen minutes before the next hour.
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queer one's pitch »
To make a task more difficult for the speaker.
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rag bagger »
A sailboat, usually a cruising sailboats which tend to carry and store lots of supplies along the deck, or any sailboat that looks like a neglected vessel, or messy vessel.
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rag the puck »
To retain possession of the puck by skillful skating and stickhandling without attempting to score, as a deliberate tactic intended to use up time.
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rain cheque »
Any voucher or note issued by a store to allow a customer to get a special or sale price later if an item is out of stock.
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reach an early grave »
To be sentenced to death before the age of 18.
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reach an early grave »
To die young. To die before the age of 80.
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reckon without »
To ignore that which cannot readily be ignored.
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rocking horse shit »
A metaphor for something exceedingly rare or, more likely, nonexistent.
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roll out the red carpet »
To extend the utmost hospitality; to treat someone as an honored guest; to welcome or host, especially in a showy or extravagant manner.
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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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rose-colored glasses »
Glasses that are tinted in a pink or rose shade.
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round off »
To change the shape of an object to make it more circular.
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round out »
To make more complete by adding details.
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saw wood »
To snore loudly.
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scratch that »
To disregard, omit, or ignore the previous statement.
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see the forest for the trees »
To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the bigger picture, or the broader, more general situation. Generally used in the negative.
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send to Coventry »
To ostracize, or systematically ignore someone.
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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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sent to Coventry »
Ostracised, ignored.
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set one's cap at »
. Or, more generally, to choose something as a goal.
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sex up »
To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.
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sex up »
To make more sexually attractive.
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sexual congress »
Loose translation of the title of Aristophanes' play Ecclesiazousae, more literally translated as Assemblywomen.
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sexual relation »
Behaviour of a sexual nature between one or more individuals.
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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 one's bolt »
To use up one's resources, especially a singular one or one not readily restored.
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shoot the moon »
To achieve the lowest score possible, such that the player is usually rewarded with bonus points.
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shore up »
To strengthen, reinforce, or consolidate.
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shrug off »
To ignore or disregard; to be indifferent.
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sight for sore eyes »
A pleasing sight, something that is beautiful to look at.
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sight unseen »
Not having seen the object beforehand.
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slip into something a little more comfortable »
To wear something suitable to be stripped off by a lover.
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slop bowl »
One of the four components of the traditional tea set. Tea drinkers emptied their unwanted, cold tea into the slop bowl before refilling their cups with fresh, hot tea.
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small fry »
One or more children.
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small fry »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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small fry »
One or more small or immature fish.
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small potatoes »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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social death »
The alienation of certain people from society to the point of being forgotten, excluded, or ignored in society.
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speak up »
To talk more loudly or plainly.
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spice up »
To make more exotic, fun or extravagant.
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stat whore »
Through unscrupulous or tacky means.
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stick in the mud »
More generally, one who is slow, old-fashioned, or unprogressive; an old fogey.
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stop up »
To increase the aperture of a photographic lens, moving from an f/stop represented by a higher number to an f/stop represented by a lower number and causing more light to pass into the camera.
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strip away »
To ignore a factor which obscures the reality.
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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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sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
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swallow one's pride »
To set aside one's feelings of pride and adopt a more humble or appropriate stance.
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swan song »
A final performance or accomplishment, especially one before retirement.
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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 dreams »
Phrase said to someone before they fall asleep, wishing them a good sleep.
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sweeten the pot »
To make something more desirable.
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tag team »
Two or more people or groups acting alternately to accomplish some task.
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take no notice of »
To ignore.
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take one's time »
To take more time to do something than is considered acceptable.
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take over »
To become more successful than someone or something else.
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take the Michael »
Alternative form of take the mickey, usually considered more polite.
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talk someone's ear off »
To talk excessively or far more than is wanted or appreciated.
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tart up »
To modify or repackage a product, service, or idea to make it more attractive or easier to sell.
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teacher's pet »
A student who is perceived to be favored by the teacher.
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test the waters »
To explore or probe, as before making a commitment.
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that's that »
There is nothing more to say or to do concerning the matter.
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that's the way life is »
That is the way things happenCertain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything [1], page 279:That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption [2], ISBN 0310511011, page 45:There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, ISBN 059524050X, page 337:Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.
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the bigger they are, the harder they fall »
The larger something is, the more disastrous and spectacular its downfall
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the calm before the storm »
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm.
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the die is cast »
The future is determined; there are no more options; events will proceed in an irreversible manner.
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the grass is always greener on the other side »
Other circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality are often not
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the more the merrier »
It is more fun with more people.
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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 pen is mightier than the sword »
More influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting.
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the straw that broke the camel's back »
A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something.
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there are plenty more fish in the sea »
There are many more potential opportunities available.
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there are plenty of fish in the sea »
There are many more potential opportunities available.
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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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third hand »
Not new, having more than one previous owner.
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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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to boot »
Moreover, on top of that, besides, also.
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to give a person line »
To allow a person more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him/her, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line.
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tone down »
To make a television program, piece of writing, etc. less offensive and so more suitable for a family audience.
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top it all off »
To emphasize or underscore; to make something even better or worse.
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top oneself »
To outdo oneself or do more than one's previous best.
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top shelf »
Books, magazines, or movies that have adult content, or soft-core porn.
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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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trick out »
To trick out; to mod or customize an object, typically for the purpose of both personalization as well as enhancing the object's performance capabilities and more particularly for the purpose of performing stunts with that object.
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trigger-happy »
Having a tendency or desire to shoot a firearm irresponsibly before adequately identifying the target.
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try out »
To undergo a test before being selected for a team etc.
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tuits »
If I had more tuits.[1].
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tune out »
To fail to pay attention to; to ignore.
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turn a blind eye »
To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper.
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turn one's back »
To forsake, to abandon; to ignore.
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twiddle one's thumbs »
To circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored.
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two cents »
A nearly worthless amount, alluding to placing a copper penny on each of the eyelids of a pauper's or slave's body before burial.
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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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under the wire »
At the last minute; before the deadline; barely on time; nearly late.
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under way »
A vessel is said to be underway when she is not anchored, moored, aground, or beached[1]. Compare with make way.
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until hell freezes over »
Forever; One will never in their life get the results that they want, no matter what they're doing involving the situation.
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until one is blue in the face »
Forever; for a hopelessly long time.
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up the ante »
To make something more desirable.
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up the ying yang »
Far more than one needs.
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up to »
As much as; no more than.
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up-and-comer »
Someone who is up-and-coming, who has begun to be successful in some field and is likely to become even more successful in the future.
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virgin territory »
By extension, ideas or concepts or activities that have not yet been tried, explored or developed.
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virgin territory »
Land that has never been explored or developed.
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warm down »
Gentle excercise at the end of a training session before cooling off.
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warm up »
To make an audience enthusiastic or animated before a show.
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wear rose-colored glasses »
To see the positive in things while being oblivious to the negative.
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what is more »
Furthermore, or in addition, moreover.
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when it rains, it pours »
If a person encounters bad luck, more bad luck will follow.
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white hole »
A theoretically possible but physically highly unlikely singularity which would emit matter and energy; the antithesis of a black hole.
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window dressing »
The decorative display of retail merchandise in store windows.
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worth the risk »
The benefit of the success is more valuable than the problems caused by the potential loss.
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wrap it before you tap it »
wear a condom before sexual intercourse.
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wrap up »
To wear more clothes as protection from the weather; to bundle up.
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you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar »
It's easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude than with rude demands and negativity.
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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 get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
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you know what »
A phrase used to get someone's attention before announcing something.
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zoom in »
So as to make it larger and possibly more detailed.
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zoom out »
To focus a zoom lens in order to obtain a smaller image, or a more distant view.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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