a man's home is his castle »
(US) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
|
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!
|
all the marbles »
Everything; all that is to be had.
|
an Englishman's home is his castle »
(UK) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
|
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.
|
arm and a leg »
A relatively high price for an item or service; an exorbitant price.
|
asphalt jungle »
A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.
|
at hand »
Readily available; within easy reach; nearby.
|
at peace with »
Not disturbed or upset by.
|
beam up »
To be teleported over a long distance by means of a specific imaginary technology, specifically from the surface of a planet to an orbiting starship.
|
beat off »
To masturbate.
|
beat one's meat »
To masturbate.
|
beat up »
To verbally assault repeatedly.
|
beggars can't be choosers »
(proverb) When resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts.
|
bench jockey »
A baseball term for a player, coach or manager who is annoying and distracts opposition players and umpires from his team's dugout bench with verbal repartee.
|
best laid plans »
A proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the outcome is uncertain.
|
black »
Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and colourless.
|
boys will be boys »
It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13But just then there was a slight altercation between Master Tommy and Master Jacky. Boys will be boys and our two twins were no exception to this golden rule.Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish in heart"Boys will be boys", grinned grandpa while he joined his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he gave his grandson for Christmas while the kid was in school.
|
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.
|
buff the muffin »
To masturbate.
|
camel through the eye of a needle »
Hyperbole to illustrate that something is almost impossible to do or to happen.
|
carbon copy »
duplicate
|
carry a torch for »
[2] To harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.
|
cause a stir »
To cause controversy, or raise a disturbance.
|
chip on one's shoulder »
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harboured grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove.
|
choke the chicken »
To masturbate.
|
city slicker »
One accustomed to a city or urban lifestyle or unsuited to life in the country.
|
concrete jungle »
An urban or other populated area containing a high density of buildings constructed of concrete or similar materials, especially one which lacks greenery and which seems unattractive, harsh, or unsafe.
|
daylight robbery »
An exorbitant charge for a product or service.
|
deep-six »
To throw something overboard from a ship.
|
divide and conquer »
A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.
|
drop back »
Of a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.
|
due course »
A. 1399, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales.
|
first rate »
Superb, exceptional; of the best sort; very high quality.
|
fix up »
To repair or refurbish.
|
flick the bean »
To masturbate by stimulating the clitoris.
|
flutter in the dovecote »
A disturbance, usually one caused within a prescribed group of people.
|
forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
|
forbidden fruit »
The fruit forbidden to Adam.
|
forbidden fruit is the sweetest »
Forbidden things have more worthwhile short-term consequences.
|
freak flag »
Unconventional or unrestrained behavior; extreme, nonconformist views; the side of one's personality which harbors a tendency toward such behavior or such views.
|
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"
|
get away with »
To do something which is prohibited, forbidden or generally not allowed, and not be punished for the action.
|
get into trouble »
To perform an action which is illegal, prohibited, forbidden or proscribed and to become subject to punishment for such action.
|
get off one's high horse »
To stop acting in an imperious, overbearing or bossy manner.
|
get the bacon bad »
To be morbidly obese.
|
give 'em enough rope »
Allow one to function unhindered, or without further overbearing oversight.
|
go by the board »
To estimate the velocity of a boat or ship in knots by casting overboard the knotted line to whose end is attached the lead and thereafter counting the knots in the line as it goes aft along the side boards of the vessel.
|
go by the board »
To fall or to go overboard; to be cast over the side of a ship.
|
go mad »
Used to indicate that the second verb represents an action that is out of character.
|
go overboard »
Fall out of a vessel.
|
go overboard »
Go too far, be excessive.
|
god forbid »
Don't let it be.
|
harsh one's mellow »
Disturbing someone otherwise in a state of calm.
|
have had it up to here »
To have become very frustrated or angry; to have reached the limit of one's patience or forbearance.
|
have the wind up »
To be frightened or disturbed.
|
highway robbery »
Said of excessive or exorbitant prices.
|
in stride »
Without disturbing one's course of activities.
|
in the offing »
Nearby, soon to come, in the near future.
|
in the wake of »
In the noticeable disturbance of water behind .
|
it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog »
(rare or obsolete, proverb) If a person is determined to punish someone, they will find a way to do so.1596
|
it's all grist to the mill »
Everything referred to in the present context has some sort of use.1999, Simon Blackburn, Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (Oxford University Press paperback, ISBN 0199690871), ch. 7 section 6: "Kant
|
jump »
To propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne.
|
jump on »
To attack someone verbally, or criticise them over strongly for small errors.
|
lash out »
To make a fierce verbal attack.
|
legal duty »
A duty prescribed by the law, to act or forbear from acting.
|
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
|
let someone have it »
To verbally assail someone.
|
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).
|
lose one's marbles »
To go crazy.
|
make someone's skin crawl »
To disturb or bother; to frighten or disgust.
|
make waves »
To cause a disturbance.
|
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
|
mouthful of marbles »
An indistinct, muffled or garbled manner of speaking.
|
off one's game »
C. 1910, Ralph Henry Barbour, "The Dub" in The New Boy at Hilltop and Other Stories.
|
old saw »
A cliché, saying, or overused expression; especially a proverb or maxim.
|
on the uptake »
In understanding or in the ability to absorb new information; especially in the phrases "quick on the uptake" and "slow on the uptake".
|
out of kilter »
Disturbed; out of order; not working or adjusted properly.
|
out of sight »
Superb, excellent.
|
out of sight, out of mind »
When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
parting shot »
An insult or barbed comment issued as the speaker departs or the conversation comes to an end.
|
pay through the nose »
To pay a high price, especially an exorbitant or excessive amount, either in money or in some other manner.
|
perfect storm »
A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.
|
pissing contest »
An argument which is instigated, or exacerbated while consuming alcohol.
|
plus fours »
knickerbockers
|
price out of the market »
To charge an exorbitant price for a service or product so that no one will purchase it.
|
proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
|
proverbs go in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1932, Bertrand Russell,
|
proverbs hunt in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
|
proverbs often come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
|
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.
|
pull up »
Drive close to something, especially a curb.
|
put the wind up »
To frighten or disturb.
|
raise hell »
To cause a great disturbance.
|
rat race »
An activity or situation which is congested with participants and which is hectic or tedious, especially in the context of a busy, modern urban lifestyle.
|
rip off »
To charge an exorbitant or unfair rate.
|
robber baron »
In Europe, an aristocrat who charged exorbitant fees or otherwise exacted money from people who journeyed across land or waterways which he controlled.
|
rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
|
rub somebody the wrong way »
To bother, disturb, irritate, or annoy.
|
ruffle some feathers »
To disturb; to arouse resentment, anger, or concern.
|
run for the roses »
Nickname for the Kentucky Derby horse race.
|
scissorbill »
And railroad term for someone who refused to join the union or who openly colluded with management to thwart the union.
|
scissorbill »
Someone considered contemptible or foolish.
|
scissorbill »
The black skimmer bird native to the Atlantic states, USA.
|
settle someone's hash »
To physically or verbally subdue someone.
|
shotgun »
A play formation in which the quarterback is a few feet behind the snapper when the ball is hiked, ideally allowing for an easier pass play.
|
sick puppy »
In a morbid or gruesome way.
|
sit out »
To lean out to the windward side of a sailboat in order to counterbalance the effects of the wind on the sails.
|
smart off »
To show disrespect verbally.
|
smooth operator »
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
|
soak up »
Absorb.
|
spill one's seed »
To masturbate or to ejaculate when the penis has been withdrawn from one's partner.
|
stew in one's juices »
To be alone and self-absorbed in an uncomfortable state of mind, especially while experiencing the unpleasant effects of one's own actions.
|
suck up »
To absorb fluid.
|
take in »
To absorb or comprehend.
|
tell off »
To speak to someone rudely, disrespectfully or angrily; to berate; to unleash one's fury verbally towards someone.
|
the calm before the storm »
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm.
|
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.
|
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak »
(proverbs) For much as one wishes to achieve something, the frailties of the human body often make it impossible.
|
the world is one's lobster »
(UK, humorous) intentional misrendering of the proverb "the world is one's oyster"
|
throw a wobbly »
To burst out into a verbal uproar.
|
too big for one's britches »
Disturbingly confident, unacceptably cocky.
|
too hot to hold »
A place that has too much police activity to harbor a fugitive unnoticed.
|
touch off »
To start; to cause, especially used for unstable situations that may magnify if disturbed.
|
touch oneself »
To masturbate.
|
urban fabric »
The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.
|
wank off »
To masturbate.
|
word of mouth »
Verbal means of passing of information.
|
yank off »
To masturbate.
|
| New: We also know Zip Codes FYI! |
[