a few sandwiches short of a picnic »
Exhibiting disquiet or unsoundness of mind; not sane; mad.
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a picture is worth a thousand words »
Alternative form of a picture paints a thousand words.
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a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
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Après-ski »
A place "after skiing". Typically a bar or pub where people go after a day on the slopes to ease off and meet other people.
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are your ears burning »
Said of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
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ark ruffian »
Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, etc. A species of badger.
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at sea »
On the ocean or sea, typically of a ship or person aboard a ship.
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autem diver »
Pickpockets who practice in churches; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor.
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bad taste in one's mouth »
A feeling something is morally despicable as to cause nausea.
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banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
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beat around the bush »
To treat a topic but omit its main points, often intentionally.
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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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big picture »
The main film in a double feature.
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big picture »
The totality of a situation.
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bone up »
To study or cram, especially in order to refresh one's knowledge of a topic.
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box-office bomb »
A motion picture that generates relatively low revenue at the box office, especially that which is less than the budget for the motion picture.
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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 by »
Used to introduce a new topic; incidentally.
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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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cat and mouse game »
Two individuals and/or groups repeatedly keeping check on each other in a suspicious or self-protective way, often with the goal of one or both parties trying to gain a malicious advantage over the other.
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cat in the sack »
Something to be suspicious of.
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catch up »
To pick up suddenly.
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center field »
The defensive position in the outfield in the middle, typically played by a player that can run fast.
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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.
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cherry pick »
To select only the best from a range of options.
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cherry picking »
Selecting only the best from a group or other range of choices.
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cherry-pick »
To pick out the best, or most desirable items from a list or group, especially to obtain some advantage or to present something in the best possible light.
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clean up »
To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy.
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company »
A military unit, typically consisting of two or three platoons.
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deliver the message to Garcia »
What we need is people who get the job done, no matter how. We don't want pickers who'll only learn if we use their preferred learning method. Have you read "A Message to Garcia" ? That's what we need today - young people who can deliver the message to Garcia.
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dirty word »
The name of a topic that a person does not like to hear or discuss.
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don't be penny wise and pound foolish »
Don't be careful when it comes to spending small amounts of money, but careless when spending much larger amounts.Don't focus on minutiae and lose sight of the big picture; don't obsess over tiny inconsequential efficiencies while glaring inefficiencies are going on elsewhere.
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ears are burning »
Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.
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face up to »
To confront a condition or situation, typically one that is unpleasant or uncomfortable.
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fashion plate »
A picture, usually an advertisement, showing the latest fashion in clothing.
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fifth wheel »
A very large trailer that is towed with a pickup truck.
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five-finger discount »
Theft or pilferage, typically of a small item; shoplifting.
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flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
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gratuitous violence »
The artificial depiction of excessive violence.
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greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
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grey area »
A topic that is not clearly one thing or the other.
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gunboat diplomacy »
The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power.
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happily ever after »
Living happily until death. Typically associated with fairy tales.
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has-been »
A formerly popular or influential person whose popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline. Typically said of professionals or celebrities whose primary success is behind them.
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have a bone to pick »
To have a complaint or grievance with somebody.
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have to do with the price of tea in China »
To have any relation or bearing whatsoever on the topic at hand, usually used to emphasize the lack of relationship of a non sequitur.
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hit the bricks »
To participate in a workplace strike or other job action; to participate in a public protest, especially one involving picketing.
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horse opera »
A theatrical production, film, or program on radio or television depicting adventures of characters in the American Old West; a western.
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how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
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how's the weather »
Indicating a change of subject to unimportant topics.
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hunger is the best spice »
When one is hungry, anything will taste good.
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jungle telegraph »
A system used by primitive cultures in remote tropical regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds or a relay of runners.
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king of hearts »
picture card
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knocked up »
"pregnant", typically outside of marriage.
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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.
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new school »
A style, way of thinking, or method for accomplishing a task that is typical of the current era, as opposed to former eras.
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nose-pick »
To pick boogers from the nose.
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nose-picker »
One who picks their nose.
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nose-picking »
To insert a finger into one's nostril, especially to remove mucus.
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odd one out »
A visual puzzle where the guesser has to choose which word/picture/symbol etc. does not fit with the others.
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on average »
Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
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on the line »
On a level with the eye of the spectator; said of a picture, as hung in an exhibition of pictures.
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on the sly »
Slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.
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park the car in Harvard Yard »
A sentence used to illustrate that the Boston accent is non-rhotic; typically pronounced "pahk the cah in Hahvad Yahd".
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pick of the litter »
The best person or item in a group.
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pick on »
To bully or make fun of a victim; to bother or harass.
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pick one's nose »
The act of picking one's nose, insertion of a finger or other object into one's nostril.
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pick somebody's brain »
To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.
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pick up »
To lift; to grasp and raise.
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pick up »
To collect an object, especially in passing.
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pick up »
To clean up; to return to an organized state.
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pick up »
To collect a passenger.
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pick up »
To improve, increase, or speed up.
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pick up »
To restart or resume.
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pick up »
To learn, to grasp; to begin to understand.
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pick up »
To receive.
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pick up »
To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on".
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pick up »
To point out (a person's behaviour, habits or actions),in a critical manner.
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pick up »
To meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes, especially in a social situation, sometimes used with "on".
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pick up »
To answer a telephone. See pick up the phone.
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pick up »
To pay for.
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pick up speed »
accelerate
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pick up stitches »
Stitches to the knitting needle that were previously bound off, or that belong to the selvage, during the process of knitting or entrelac.
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pick up the tab »
To accept a charge and pay for it, especially at a bar or restaurant.
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pickin' and grinnin' »
Vigorously playing folk or country music on a stringed musical instrument, especially the guitar or banjo, while smiling broadly.
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pickle »
Any vegetable preserved in vinegar and consumed as relish.
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pickle »
A children’s game with three participants that emulates a baseball rundown.
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pickle »
A cucumber preserved in a solution, usually a brine or a vinegar syrup.
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pickle »
A difficult situation, peril.
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pickle »
A penis.
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pickle »
A rundown.
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pickle »
An affectionate term for a loved one.
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pickle »
The brine used for preserving food.
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poster child »
One who is a prototypical or quintessential example of something.
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power chord »
A chord or combination of notes used in rock music and typically selected to sound good at high volume and high levels of distortion. Power chords make extensive use of intervals such as open fourths and fifths.
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pretty pictures »
Image supplements in a presentation: graphs, charts, etc.
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puddle jumper »
A small passenger airplane, typically used for shorter connecting trips to smaller airports.
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put oneself across »
To explain one's ideas and opinions clearly so that another person can understand them and get a picture of your personality.
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real men don't eat quiche »
(aphorism, humorous) The stereotypical man does not do things that are considered effeminate, as to do so would imply they are effeminate.
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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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shoot 'em up »
A short story, novel, television show, film, computer game, or other narrative which depicts considerable gunplay.
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short sighted »
myopic
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sick joke »
A joke which is in poor taste, especially one which depicts as amusing a situation which the listener considers to be tragic or disgusting.
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side issue »
An issue or topic which is not of direct significance to a primary concern.
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sit on the fence »
To remain neutral on a certain topic, to not have a stance or opinion.
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smack of »
To seem like; to appear or give an impression or feeling of; to arouse suspicion of.
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smell a rat »
To sense something suspicious.
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spaghetti western »
Nickname for a motion picture produced by an Italian-based company and filmed in Europe, depicting a tale of cowboys and desperadoes set in the American Old West.
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speak to »
To address a particular topic.
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spic and span »
Perfectly clean.
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spice up »
To enhance the flavor of something by adding spice to it.
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spice up »
To make more exotic, fun or extravagant.
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spick and span »
Alternative form of spick-and-span.
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spill one's guts »
To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change of motive or an incentive.
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stand out »
To be obvious or conspicuous, in contrast to one's surroundings.
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stiff upper lip »
The quality of being resolute and showing self-restraint, associated with stereotypical British people.
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sweetheart deal »
A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favorable terms to the other, especially in suspicious circumstances.
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take a picture »
To photographically capture an image.
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the finger »
An obscene gesture, typically consisting of extending the middle finger at somebody.
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the pick of the litter »
The absolute best one has to offer.
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think tank »
A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government.
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trench mouth »
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a severe bacterial infection of the gums, typically characterized by inflammation, bleeding, deep ulceration, necrotized tissue, pain, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, and halitosis.
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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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under a cloud »
Under suspicion; subject to critical inspection.
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variety is the spice of life »
Variety is what makes life interesting
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warts and all »
Of or pertaining to a description or other depiction which reveals the full range of characteristics of a person or thing, including the shortcomings and imperfections.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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