a drop in the bucket »
An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem.
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ahead of the game »
Having completed a task before it is due; ready, prepared, or anticipating.
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all set »
Ready; prepared.
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apple does not fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient
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at home »
In the home of one's parents.
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batten down the hatches »
Prepare for trouble.
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bridge »
A device which connects two or more computer buses, typically in a transparent manner.
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by the skin of one's teeth »
Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
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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.
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caught with one's pants down »
Caught off guard, unprepared, or in an embarrassing situation.
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chip off the old block »
Someone who takes after their parent.
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circle the wagons »
To prepare to defend against an attack.
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clear the decks »
To prepare for action.
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cook up »
To prepare a heroin dose by heating.
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cook up »
To prepare a meal.
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cover one's bases »
To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely.
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dead giveaway »
Obvious, easily apparent.
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dead heat »
A close race or contest in which no winner is apparent.
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doss down »
To sleep on someone's sofa or floor because there is no bed spare.
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drop the gloves »
To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.
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fail over »
To automatically switch processing from a failed component in a critical system to its live spare or backup component.
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fire drill »
An organised practice to prepare occupants of an office, school or other public building for evacuation in the event of a fire.
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flat-footed »
Unprepared to act.
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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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game face »
The expression of one who is prepared for or is facing a lot of difficult and/or undesirable work, especially when it is imminent.
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gear up »
To prepare for an activity.
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get out of bed on the wrong side »
To start the day in a bad mood for no apparent reason.
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get ready »
prepare oneself
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gird up one's loins »
To prepare oneself for something demanding.
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go without saying »
To be obvious, apparent or clear, or already established.
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God works in mysterious ways »
Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...
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grasp at straws »
To guess randomly at or pursue any apparent option, as due to lack of options or information.
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have it your way »
Do something the way you want to, but be prepared for the consequences.
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hold a candle »
To compare; to be even remotely of the same quality, skill, etc. as another.
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house cooling party »
A party to celebrate when a person decides to leave a house or flat, and sometimes to help prepare the space for the incoming residents.
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hunker down »
To take shelter; to prepare oneself for some eventuality; to focus on a task.
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in front of one's nose »
Plain; clearly apparent; obvious.
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in order »
Ready, prepared; orderly; tidy.
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inside baseball »
Technical matters concerning baseball not apparent to spectators.
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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
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lie in wait »
prepare an ambush
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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).
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loaded for bear »
Mentally prepared for a daunting situation or confrontation.
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look off »
To mislead by directing one's apparent attention away from one's true object of intent.
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lose the plot »
To have one's results decline severely in quality or suddenly fall below an acceptable standard, especially when compared to past excellence.
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man up »
His station, prepared for departure of an aircraft, ship, etc.
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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
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moment of truth »
A deciding instant; the time when a test determines or makes it apparent whether something will succeed.
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oil burner »
A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.
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on the defensive »
Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
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on the face of it »
Apparently; as far as can be seen or determined.
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one another »
Used of a reciprocal relationship among a group of more than two people or things; compare each other.
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out of one's depth »
To be in a situation which one is poorly prepared or unprepared to handle.
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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.
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out of wedlock »
Of parents not legally married.
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pack up »
To prepare for shipping, as a gift.
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pare down »
To reduce by paring or a similar gradual process.
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plan on »
To expect; to prepare future actions based on.
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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 up one's dukes »
Prepare to fight; literally, to raise your fists.
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rest his soul »
Used parenthetically to mark the referent as being deceased.
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roll up one's sleeves »
To prepare to work.
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rustle up »
To quickly prepare something.
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scrounge up »
To seek or find despite a lack of apparent resources or availability.
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sell a bargain »
A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".
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set the stage »
To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.
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smallpox blanket »
An apparently benevolent offering whose real intent is to disrupt, destabilize or weaken.
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spare the rod and spoil the child »
If one does not discipline a child, he or she will never learn obedience and good manners.
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spare tire »
An extra wheel or tire carried as a replacement in case of a flat.
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spare tire »
Excess weight or fat accumulated near the waist.
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spare tyre »
A large stomach and rolls of fat around the waist.
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spare tyre »
An extra tyre carried in case one of the vehicle's tyres is damaged or deflated.
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tack up »
To prepare a horse for riding by equipping it with tack.
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take a number »
Recognize that many others are in the same situation; recognize that one's concerns are not of high priority; be prepared to wait.
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the apple doesn't fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents in the way they act and in their physical abilities.
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to spare »
left over
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under one's nose »
Obvious or apparent.
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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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warm up »
To prepare for executing an already-learned activity by a limited amount of additional practice.
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wear one's heart on one's sleeve »
To be extremely transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
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wear out »
Of apparel, displayed in public.
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whack-a-mole »
The practice of trying to stop something that persistently occurs in an apparently random manner at the point where the occurrence is noticed, such as terminating spammers' e-mail accounts or closing pop-up advertisement windows.
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yak shaving »
Any apparently useless activity which, by allowing you to overcome intermediate difficulties, allows you to solve a larger problem.
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