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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a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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ass into gear »
Get going; get moving; start producing.
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been to the rodeo »
Exposed to conmen and hucksters; experienced.
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been to the rodeo »
N.d., Alan Neff, Precious Tribes, Vicious Lies, page 72.
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bottom of the line »
The worst, the most lackluster, or lowest quality currently on the market, especially among selections in a product line.
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break a leg »
To perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.
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bring forth »
To produce, bear as fruit.
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bring forth »
To display, produce, bring out for display.
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bring in »
To introduce a new rule, law, or system of organisation.
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bring in »
To introduce a person or group of people to an organisation.
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brown power »
The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.
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busy work »
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
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by the by »
Used to introduce a new topic; incidentally.
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calling card »
A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
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can of worms »
A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
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carry a tune »
To produce music, especially to sing, with accurate pitch.
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carry one's weight »
To contribute or produce one's fair share, as of work, money, etc.
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cash cow »
A product, service, or enterprise that generates ongoing, high net free cash flows.
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catch flies »
An ostensible product of awkwardly having one's mouth open wide.
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chain reaction »
A nuclear reaction in which particles produced by the fission of one atom trigger fissions of other atoms.
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company »
In legal context, an entity that manufactures or sells products , or provides services as a commercial venture. A corporation.
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crank out »
To produce in large volumes mechanically or as if by machine.
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daylight robbery »
An exorbitant charge for a product or service.
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dead »
Unproductive.
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do a number on »
To damage; to treat harshly; to produce ill effects.
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double cream »
dairy product
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draw a blank »
To be unable to produce a required piece of information.
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dry eye »
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.
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eat one's own dog food »
To use or consume the economic goods or services that oneself is producing; to be part of a closed household economy.
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factor space »
In a product space.
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feed the dragon »
To buy or sell products labeled as "Made in China.".
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give birth »
To produce new life into the world; to have a baby. Transitive when used with to.
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grind to a halt »
Coming to a standstill, or ceasing to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacle.
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guilt trip »
Remarks intended to produce such a feeling.
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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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hit one out of the ballpark »
To produce a spectacular achievement.
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holding pattern »
Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity.
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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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in other words »
Stated or interpreted another way; introduces an explanation.
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installed base »
The number of units of a system or product that are currently in use.
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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
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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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knacker's yard »
That area of a slaughterhouse where carcasses unfit for human consumption are rendered down to produce useful materials such as glue.
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lay an egg »
To produce a failure or flop; to do something which is unsuccessful.
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lay an egg »
To produce an egg.
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lead time »
The amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion, e.g. the time required to manufacture or procure a product; the time required before something can be provided or delivered.
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leather working »
The technology of making products from leather.
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long story short »
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.
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make for »
To tend to produce or result in.
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mess up »
To cause a problem with; to introduce an error or mistake in; to make muddled or confused; spoil; ruin.
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nervous hit »
A production which receives generally favorably notice, but is not assured of success.
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on the anvil »
Refers to anything in the making, being created, or in production, especially in the metalworking field.
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palm off »
To attempt to pass off a counterfeit or inferior product as genuine.
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peel out »
To start abruptly from a standing stop, accelerating rapidly, especially so as to produce skid marks.
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perfect storm »
A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.
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phase in »
To introduce something little by little.
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piece of work »
A product or manufactured article, especially an item of art or craft.
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price out of the market »
To charge an exorbitant price for a service or product so that no one will purchase it.
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pull the plug »
To cease from production or publication.
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put across »
To perform a theatrical production.
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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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sell out »
To sell all of a product that is in stock.
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sell-by date »
The final date on which a perishable product can be legally sold to the public.
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send up »
parody
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sexual enjoyment »
Sexual intercourse that produces physical and psychological pleasure.
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shake a leg »
To get busy; to get going; to be productive.
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showstopper »
A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive reaction strong enough to pause the production.
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snake oil »
Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.
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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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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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spark spread »
The difference between the cost of the fuel required to produce a unit of electricity, and the price of that same unit of electricity.
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stop the presses »
An imperative form used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
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straight out of the chute »
Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.
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take on »
To acquire, bring in, or introduce.
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tart up »
To modify or repackage a product, service, or idea to make it more attractive or easier to sell.
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teething troubles »
Small problems such as are to be expected with some any new and untried system or product.
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there you have it »
Used to introduce a speaker's interpretation of what has just transpired or been described.
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throw down »
To accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".
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throw in at the deep end »
To introduce a person to a new situation without adequately preparing him or her.
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throw off »
To introduce errors or inaccuracies; to skew.
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throw somebody a curve »
To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
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time heals all wounds »
Negative feelings eventually erode away
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time is money »
When a person's time is not used productively; time is valuable and should not be wasted.
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to that end »
For that reason, with that goal, intending to produce that result.
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too many cooks spoil the broth »
If too many people try to take charge at a task, the end product might be ruined.
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top of the line »
The best, fanciest, or highest quality, especially among selections in a product line.
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touch a nerve »
To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment.
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track record »
An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.
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trump up »
Heavily publicise, promote or market a product.
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try out one's own chops »
To produce one's own records with one's own vocals.
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turn out »
To produce; make.
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turn over »
To produce, complete, or cycle through.
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wash out »
To wear away by the flow of water; to erode.
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whip up »
To produce something quickly, especially of a meal.
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whistle Dixie »
To engage in a pointless or unproductive activity; to do something without resolve, seriousness or commitment.
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white lie »
A deliberate, untrue statement which does no harm or is intended to produce a favorable result.
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whomp up »
To produce quickly, particularly a meal.
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write up »
To produce by writing.
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you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear »
It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
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