across the board »
A racing bet where one bets that the same competitor will place in first, second and third.
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at the end of the road »
No longer in the competition. Voted off. Eliminated.
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balancing act »
An effort to manage many conflicting or competing items or interests.
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bundle of joy »
A pet.
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caucus race »
A political competition; the game of campaigning and one-upmanship to get votes and be elected.
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caucus race »
The competitive process in which a political party selects their candidate, esp. presidential; a primary election via caucus.
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clean someone's clock »
To defeat decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.
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cough up »
To lose a competition by one's own mistakes, usually near the end of the contest.
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does Macy's tell Gimbel's »
(US, dated, colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question with the implied answer being that competitors do not share business secrets with one another.
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drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
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ear trumpet »
old hearing aid
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first loser »
The second place finisher in auto racing competition.
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flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
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for keeps »
To compete seriously, with a strong resolve to win or succeed, as in sports or business.
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for Pete's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
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get the boot »
To be voted off a competition in a reality television show.
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get the chop »
To be eliminated from a competition in a reality television program.
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go in for »
To enter a competition.
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go off at score »
Of a horse, to break suddenly into a gallop; of a person, suddenly to say or do something impetuous.
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golden hello »
A payment offered to an employee as an inducement to join, especially if currently working for a competitor.
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guinea pig »
A tailless rodent of the Cavia genus, with short ears and larger than a hamster; the species Cavia porcellus is often kept as a pet.
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heads will roll »
Some people will be fired for incompetence.
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high ground »
A position of advantage or superiority in a conflict or competition.
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hit one's stride »
To reach a full level of efficiency, competence, comfort, etc.; to get going.
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hoist by one's own petard »
To be hurt, or destroyed by one's own plot or device, of one's own doing which one intended for another; to be "blown up by one's own bomb".
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hold all the aces »
To be in a strong position when one is competing with someone else, having all the advantages.
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hold one's own »
To stand up to; to give a respectable performance; to provide worthy competition.
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in a league of one's own »
Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.
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jack of all trades »
One competent in many endeavors, especially one who excels in none of them.
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jack of all trades, master of none »
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
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keep up with the Joneses »
To do or buy things for status, show, or image rather than out of need, especially for the purpose of competing with friends or neighbors.
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look-in »
A chance to participate, compete, or succeed.
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manoeuvre the apostles »
To rob Peter to pay Paul; that is, to borrow money of one man to pay another.
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mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
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mix it up »
To compete vigorously, to quarrel, or to fight physically.
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nickel and dime »
Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.
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nut-cutting time »
Time to exert maximum effort, for example, due to an approaching deadline or a looming competitive situation.
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off one's game »
Playing or competing below one's usual level of performance.
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on the bubble »
Having qualification for an event depend on the upcoming performances of other competitors.
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one up »
To outdo, to do something slightly better than a competitor's prior effort.
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one-note »
Having only one opinion, outlook, tone, etc., especially as expressed repetitively; without variety or range.
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one-up »
To outdo, to do something slightly better than a competitor's prior effort.
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one-upmanship »
A succession of instances of outdoing a competitor.
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one-upmanship »
The art or practice of successively outdoing a competitor.
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out of the running »
No longer in competition.
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outsider »
A competitor or contestant who has little chance of winning; a long shot; a dark horse.
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peter out »
To dwindle; to trail off; to diminish to nothing.
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petits pois »
small peas
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pissing contest »
A boys' prankish competition to determine who can urinate the furthest up a wall.
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play one against another »
To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation.
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rob Peter to pay Paul »
To solve a problem in a way that makes another problem worse.
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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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rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
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run for one's money »
A difficult challenge for the person indicated, especially one involving a competitive situation.
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run for the roses »
A hard-fought competition or demanding challenge of any kind.
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runner up »
second-placed competitor
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sticky fingers »
A petty thief or petty thieves.
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suffer fools gladly »
To be tolerant of stupidity or incompetence in other people.
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take on »
To attempt to fight or compete.
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take sides »
To ally oneself with a given opinion, agenda or group; to support one side or viewpoint in a competition or confrontation.
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teacher's pet »
A student who is perceived to be favored by the teacher.
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teacher's pet »
favourite pupil
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the early bird gets the worm »
Whoever arrives first has the best chance of success; some opportunities are only available to the first competitors.
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the jig is up »
An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defence", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered.".
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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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tin god »
An individual that abuses or exceeds his authority over others, frequently in petty ways; for example a low-level manager in situational comedies and other entertainment.
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top dog »
In a competition, the one expected to win.
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wade through »
To do a boring, repetitive research task.
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walk the walk »
Act competently, like an expert.
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wall to wall carpets »
floor coverings
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way out of a paper bag »
A minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform such.
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wooden spoon »
An ironic prize for finishing last in a competition.
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worth one's salt »
Competent or adept.
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