a watched pot never boils »
A process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.
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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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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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as far as one knows »
To the best of one's knowledge.
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back up »
For the non-striker to take a few steps down the pitch, in preparation to taking a run, just as the bowler bowls the ball.
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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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bone up »
To study or cram, especially in order to refresh one's knowledge of a topic.
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bowl a googly »
Something unexpected, underhand or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
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bowl of cherries »
An enjoyable experience.
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bowl out »
And thus end their innings.
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bowl over »
To overwhelm with astonishment or wonder; to flabbergast.
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bowled over »
to be astonished; overwhelmed; surprised; shocked
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bring owls to Athens »
Forgive me, then, for bringing owls to Athens as a thanks-offering. — Goethe, in a letter to Wilhelm von Humboldt.
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bring owls to Athens »
Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens. — Herbert Burkert.
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bring owls to Athens »
To undertake a pointless venture, one that is redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical.
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bring owls to Athens »
Who brings owls to Athens? — Euelpides, in Aristophanes' Birds.
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carry off »
Knowledge, confidence, or familiarity.
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cheek by jowl »
In close proximity; crammed uncomfortably close together.
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drag »
To act or proceed slowly or without enthusiasm; to be reluctant.
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drag »
To move slowly.
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drag one's feet »
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
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draw on »
To advance, continue; to move or pass slowly or continuously, as under a pulling force.
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drip »
To leak slowly.
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emperor's new clothes »
Something obvious and embarrassing that is politely ignored or that goes unacknowledged.
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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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filter down »
Of a liquid; to move slowly down to lower substrate levels.
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filter down »
Of information, or resources; to move slowly down to lower levels of an organisation, or population.
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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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garbage in, garbage out »
(computing, information technology) If input data is not complete, accurate, and timely, then the resulting output is unreliable and of no useful value.1963, Raymond Crowley, "Robot Tax Collector Seeks Indications of 'Fudging'," Times Daily (Alabama, USA), 1 April (retrieved 26 July 2010):Officials explained that the quality of the computer's work depends on the quality of the data fed into it. Neil Hoke, administrative assistant to Stewart, quoted an adage of computer men: "Garbage in, garbage out."2008, Roger K. Lewis, "'In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software," Washington Post, 19 July (retrieved 26 July 2010):The old caveat "GIGO"
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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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hold that thought »
Used to acknowledge that one's attention needs to be diverted from what an speaker was saying.
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hot on »
Knowledgeable about.
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hunger is a good sauce »
(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.
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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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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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know like the back of one's hand »
To be intimately knowledgeable about something, especially a place.
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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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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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mills of the gods grind slowly »
Justice may arrive slowly, but it cannot be avoided.
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near miss »
narrowly avoided accident
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neither fish nor fowl »
Said of something not easily categorized or not fitting neatly into any established group.
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night owl »
One who stays up late at night or goes to bed late.
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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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of course »
Acknowledges the validity of the associated phrase.
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on the prowl »
Hunting or seeking.
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one at a time »
Individually, as opposed to collectively; slowly or methodically, figuratively.
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one step at a time »
Slowly and carefully, ensuring that each action has been completed successfully before taking the next.
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own up »
To acknowledge, confess, or admit guilt. Often used with to.
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party to »
Privy to; having knowledge of.
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pick somebody's brain »
To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.
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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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punch bowl waterfall »
A plunging waterfall descending from a narrow stream into a pool.
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rag the puck »
To proceed slowly at any activity in order to use up time; to stall for time.
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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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run down »
To lose power slowly. Used for a machine, battery, or other powered device.
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run for the roses »
A college football game or series of games played with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the championship Rose Bowl game.
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run up »
Of a bowler, to run, or walk up to the bowling crease in order to bowl a ball.
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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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short of a length »
Of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.
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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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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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slowly but surely »
In a slow, yet careful manner
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stand back »
To stand a long way behind the wicket so as to catch balls from a fast bowler.
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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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stand up »
To stand immediately behind the wicket so as to catch balls from a slow or spin bowler, and to attempt to stump the batsman.
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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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take a shot in the dark »
To try on something without having any knowledge about the subject.
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take one's time »
To go about something slowly and carefully.
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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 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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tip of the hat »
A gesture of acknowledgement; often, an expression of gratitude.
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tip one's hat »
To acknowledge or show respect; to honor.
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touch%C3%A9 »
An acknowledgement of a hit.
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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.
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what do I know »
Implies that a statement is based on a guess or assumption rather than on knowledge or evidence.
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whistle in the dark »
To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it.
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