absence makes the heart grow fonder »
When someone or something is faraway, you realise how much you love (or miss) them or it.
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all fur coat and no knickers »
Of superficial appearance and with no real substance beneath.
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all mouth and no trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
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all mouth and trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
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at heart »
In spirit; according to one's beliefs, views or feelings; deep down, really, fundamentally.
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bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
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be on to »
To figure out; to realize the truth.
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beat the crap out of »
To beat really badly.
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beat the shit out of »
To beat really badly.
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bite of the reality sandwich »
A wake-up call, a reality check.
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call a spade a spade »
To speak the truth; to say things as they really are.
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castle in the air »
A visionary project or scheme; a day-dream; an idle fancy; a pipe dream; any plan, desire, or idea that is unlikely to be ever realized; a near impossibility.
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cat's pyjamas »
That new car was really the cat's pyjamas.
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catch on »
To begin to understand; to realize or detect.
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copious free time »
A hypothetical time set aside for performing time-consuming tasks, however insinuating that the speaker really has no free time.
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cotton on »
To realize; come to understand.
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cry wolf »
To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failing to get assistance when a real threat appears.
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dawn on »
To occur to somebody; to be realized.
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deep down »
Fundamentally; in essence; in reality; really.
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diplomatic flu »
An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.
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do justice »
To really allow to be apprehended in its full scope.
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double talk »
Speaking in a mixture of real English and English-sounding gibberish, for humorous effect.
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down-to-earth »
Practical; realistic; pragmatic.
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dummy run »
A trial or practice before the real attempt.
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every silver lining has a cloud »
Every good situation has the potential to turn bad.2007, Diab A. Shetayh, Actuality : The Reality RequiemA great partnership isn't a self-maintaining entity. Perseverance and persistence make it thrive. For every silver lining has a cloud. Ignorance of this reality is not an option.
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flight of fancy »
An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative.
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full-fledged »
Having full qualification, credentials or preparation; entire; real.
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get it »
To realize or understand why a joke is funny.
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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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have one's head in the clouds »
To daydream; to think about matters other than the present reality.
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hit on »
To discover, pinpoint; to think up; to realize; to invent.
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hit the jackpot »
To realise a huge load of luck; to receive a more favorable outcome than imagined.
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hit upon »
To think of; to invent; to realize.
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honest-to-goodness »
Real; genuine.
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it's not the whistle that pulls the train »
Boasting and loud talk should not be mistaken for the work that produces real achievements; bravado is no proof of action.1956, James Reston, "Washington: It's Not the Whistle that Pulls the Train," New York Times, 1 July, p. E8:
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ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
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jumped-up »
Describes a person who thinks he is superior in some way that the speaker disagrees with. For instance, of a higher class, or has more authority than they have in reality.
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keep it real »
In the imperative, an exhortation used as a departing salutation.
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keep it real »
To be authentic, true to oneself; to be cool.
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kick up a fuss »
To show annoyance, or to complain loudly about something, often when it is of little importance in reality.
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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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make a meal of »
That is the eleventh edit that you have made to that word, you are really making a meal of it.
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more cry than wool »
Asserted but not grounded in reality.
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more equal »
Ostensibly equal, but in reality more privileged.
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never in a month of Sundays »
Never in a month of Sundays would I have imagined that you'd be this tall in real life!.
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out of touch »
No longer conversant with facts; not aware or realistic.
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patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels »
The appeal to patriotism is often used to distract the public from real issues.
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pea patch »
A realm of endeavor.
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pony in the barn »
An exciting and real prospect, something to be legitimately excited about.
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pull a »
He pulled an Elvis and got really fat.
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put into practice »
To take a theory and make it a practical reality.
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real deal »
A thing or person which is genuine, authentic, or worthy of serious regard.
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real job »
A hobby that takes all of a person's free time.
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real job »
A job that can't be replaced advantageously by a machine or a procedure.
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real job »
A job which requires the employee to, work regular hours for a consistent wage that often exceeds the provisions of applicable minimum wage legislation. A job that produces a living wage.
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real Macoy »
The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation.
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real McCoy »
The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation.
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real McKoy »
The genuine thing, neither a substitute nor an imitation.
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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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reality check »
A check or review to make sure something is consistent, reasonable, etc.
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reality check »
A wake-up call, reminder.
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school of hard knocks »
An education consisting of real-world experiences, especially harsh experiences.
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seagull approach »
The occurence of casual, ill-informed and hasty decisions or comments made by outside authorities who lack an understanding of the local issues or a real understanding of the facts of a particular situ.
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see a man about a horse »
A message signaling one needs to go missing for a short while, for any reason, without giving a real explanation.
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shoot oneself in the foot »
To act against one's own interests, e.g., by saying what one is really thinking.
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show one's true colors »
To reveal how one really is, as opposed to how one has been portrayed.
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smallpox blanket »
An apparently benevolent offering whose real intent is to disrupt, destabilize or weaken.
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sniff test »
An informal reality check of an idea or proposal, using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
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strip away »
To ignore a factor which obscures the reality.
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sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
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take the red pill »
To understand the world in its previously unknown reality.
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talk is cheap »
It is easy to make boastful or unrealistic statements which are not supported by actions or evidence.
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the grass is always greener on the other side »
Other circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality are often not
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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.
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the proof of the pudding is in the eating »
The only real test of something is as what it is intended to be used for.
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throw a sickie »
To take a day off from work, supposedly because of ill health. The illness could be either real or feigned.
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throw enough mud at the wall and 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.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.
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university of life »
The real world as a source of instruction, as opposed to a formal education.
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wake up and smell the coffee »
To face reality and stop deluding oneself.
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walk around »
To walk with no real planned destination, but to just walk, to meander "around".
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what you see is what you get »
The image corresponds to the reality.
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when he's at home »
In reality; in fact; when it comes down to it.
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