a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush »
It is preferable to have a small but certain advantage than a mere potential of a greater one.
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a different ballpark »
Something totally unrelated or of a vastly different scale or scope.
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a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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a man's home is his castle »
(US) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
|
accident of birth »
Reference to the fact that various benefits or detriments to the life of a person arise from the circumstances into which that person was born, these being entirely beyond his control.
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ace in the hole »
A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.
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ace up one's sleeve »
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
|
ahead of one's time »
Showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field; coming earlier than could be generally accepted.
|
albatross »
Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
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all cats are gray at night »
Variant of all cats are grey in the dark.
|
all cats are gray in the dark »
Variant of all cats are grey in the dark.
|
all cats are grey at night »
Variant of all cats are grey in the dark.
|
all over the board »
Showing a wide range of values with no particular pattern.
|
all that glitters is not gold »
Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not actually be so, things that look nice might not be as good as they look.
|
all the tea in China »
Something priceless or invaluable.
|
an axe to grind »
A grievance, with implications of confrontation.
|
an Englishman's home is his castle »
(UK) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
|
arsy varsey »
Tumbling upside down; head over heels.
|
at hand »
Readily available; within easy reach; nearby.
|
at one's fingertips »
Readily available.
|
avant la lettre »
An example of a term before the term was coined. Describing a term used anachronistically.
|
balance the books »
To put or keep any closed or conservative system or its analysis in balance.
|
bang for the buck »
Efficiency; cost-effectiveness; value.
|
bang straw »
A nick name for a thresher, but applied to all the servants of a farmer.
|
banyan day »
In British naval tradition, this originally referred to a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.
|
baptism by fire »
A rite of passage through the survival or success of a crisis.
|
barrel »
The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31 1/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds; of beer 31 gallons; of ale 32 gallons; of crude oil 42 gallons.
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be there for »
To be available to provide comfort and support for someone, especially in a period of difficulty.
|
bear on »
To be relevant to.
|
behind its time »
Showing characteristics of the past; present in one's work after later advances in the field; coming later than could be generally accepted.
|
behind the bit »
An equestrian term, meaning that the horse is evading the bit.
|
behind the eight ball »
At a disadvantage.
|
below par »
Having a price below its face value.
|
beside the point »
Irrelevant, moot.
|
big enchilada »
Some item of high value, especially a top prize or reward.
|
bigger fish to fry »
A higher valued result or target to reach.
|
bite me »
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
|
blanket term »
A word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.
|
blow hot and cold »
To behave inconsistently; to vacillate or to waver, as between extremes of opinion or emotion.
|
bog standard »
Especially plain, ordinary, or unremarkable; having no special, excess or unusual features; plain vanilla.
|
boil down to »
to be equivalent to; to reduce to.
|
brass farthing »
Something worthless or of small value.
|
bread and butter »
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
|
break a leg »
A wish for a successful performance; primarily a valediction to an actor wishing him or her a successful theatrical stage performance.
|
break even »
To stay the same; to neither advance nor regress.
|
break ground »
To begin digging in the earth at the start of a new construction, or, originally, for cultivation.
|
break ground »
To initiate a new venture, or to advance beyond previous achievements.
|
break new ground »
To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
|
break the bank »
To win more money than is available to be paid.
|
break the buck »
Fall below the value of one dollar per share.[1].
|
bridge »
A valence bond, atom or chain of atoms that connects two different parts of a molecule; the atoms so connected being bridgeheads.
|
bridge »
An elevated platform above the upper deck of a mechanically propelled ship from which it is navigated and from which all activities on deck can be seen and controlled by the captain, etc; smaller ships have a wheelhouse, and sailing ships were controlled from a quarterdeck.
|
bright-line rule »
A clearly defined rule or standard, comprised of objective factors, which leaves little or no room for varying interpretation.
|
bucket of bolts »
A piece of machinery that is not worth more than its scrap value, often of old cars.
|
bump up »
To give a more prominent place to; to advance position in queue.
|
bunny hop »
A dance from the big band era, a variation of the conga.
|
busman's holiday »
A holiday or vacation during which you do the same thing that you do for your usual work.
|
button-down »
Conservative; conventional; unimaginative.
|
carry one's own weight »
A variant of carry one's weight.
|
cash in »
To profit from; to use an opportunity to maximum advantage, especially financially.
|
cast pearls before swine »
To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it.
|
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.
|
cat that ate the canary »
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
|
catbird seat »
Expression used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.
|
chalkface »
A musical concept or genre in which music is completely improvised and never played twice. Most often mixing elements of hip-hop, metal, punk and avant-garde jazz.
|
charge up »
To motivate, to instill someone with determination.
|
check in »
To announce or record one's arrival at a hotel, airport etc.
|
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.
|
chip on one's shoulder »
A form of challenge in the same spirit as a medieval knight throwing down his gauntlet.
|
chip on one's shoulder »
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harboured grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove.
|
chump-change »
Of or pertaining to something of little monetary value.
|
clear the decks »
To remove, or fasten, all loose material, or partitions prior to a naval engagement.
|
cock-and-bull story »
A far-fetched and fanciful story or tale of highly dubious validity.
|
common or garden variety »
Ordinary, standard. Nothing special.
|
creep up »
To advance with stealth, unnoticed.
|
cut a swath »
Variant form of cut a wide swath.
|
cutting edge »
The forefront, or position of greatest advancement in some field.
|
deafening silence »
A silence, or a lack of any response, that signifies disapproval or lack of any enthusiasm.
|
devil's advocate »
One who debates from a view which they may not actually hold, usually to determine its validity, or simply for the sake of argument.
|
diamonds are a girl's best friend »
A statement that suggests, while love is a luxury, material wealth (particularly jewellery) is more valuable in the long run.
|
die »
Followed by for. Often expressing wider contextual motivations, though sometimes indicating direct causes.
|
dig up »
To excavate something.
|
discretion is the better part of valour »
It is often wise to refrain from seemingly brave speech or action.1597
|
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.
|
don't shit where you eat »
(idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.1998 April 14, Nelson Navarro, "Ever faithful, ever true," Manila Standard (Philippines) (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.2003 Oct. 8, Jonathan Valania, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy," Philadelphia Weekly (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.2006 Sept. 19, Michael Musto, "NY Mirror," Village Voice (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.
|
down for the count »
Decisively beaten; rendered irrelevant for the long term.
|
down the drain »
Wasted, squandered; irretrievable.
|
draw on »
To advance, continue; to move or pass slowly or continuously, as under a pulling force.
|
drip »
To have a superabundance of valuable things. Usually followed by "with".
|
dry out »
To have excess water evaporate or be otherwise removed.
|
eat one's young »
To betray a constituent or charge out of self-serving interests or desperation; savaging.
|
end of the world »
Any change that seems catastrophic or devastating.
|
enough is as good as a feast »
Just the right amount is as good as more than enough: there is no value in excess.
|
eye of the beholder »
The evaluation depending on perception of person who sees and considers.
|
f** someone over »
To exploit somebody in a way which result in an advantage to oneself, at the cost of the other party gaining a considerable disadvantage.
|
face value »
No more or less than what is stated; a literal or direct meaning or interpretation.
|
face value »
The amount or value listed on a bill, note, stamp, etc.; the stated value or amount.
|
factor space »
A space obtained from another by identification of points that are equivalent to one another in some equivalence relation.
|
factotum »
A general servant.
|
fair weather friend »
Only when it is advantageous or easy.
|
fall off »
To diminish in size or value.
|
fall over »
Of an argument, to fail to be valid.
|
familiarity breeds contempt »
The more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.
|
feather one's nest »
To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth.
|
fencepost problem »
In computer programming, a problem dealing with how to treat the initial or boundary values of a discrete problem.
|
fine line »
A difference, albeit vague and difficult to discern.
|
fire drill »
An organised practice to prepare occupants of an office, school or other public building for evacuation in the event of a fire.
|
first among equals »
A person or position that if formally equivalent to others in a group, but is superior in some attribute.
|
fits and starts »
Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.
|
flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
|
flower »
The vulva, especially the labia majora.
|
forewarned is forearmed »
Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
|
four-leaf clover »
An uncommon variation of the clover, having four leaves instead of the usual three.
|
from scratch »
From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation; starting from raw ingredients.
|
full of hot air »
Talking a lot, especially without saying anything of value or meaning.
|
full speed ahead »
Maximum effort without reservations or delay.
|
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"
|
garden variety »
Ordinary, common, or unexceptional.
|
get a leg up »
To gain some advantage; to get a head start.
|
get a room »
A jocular or sarcastic expression commanding a couple to stop displaying affection in public, and to rent a hotel or motel room to continue amorous activities in private.
|
give somebody the slip »
To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.
|
go down »
To decrease; to change from a greater value to a lesser one.
|
go for »
To be equally valid or appropriate.
|
go out the window »
To vanish or cease, especially due to lack of care, attention, etc.; to be discarded, disregarded, or ignored.
|
gold standard »
A monetary system where the value of circulating money is linked to the value of gold.
|
green light »
Approval, or permission to proceed.
|
hand waving »
Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
|
hang an arse »
To hang back, to be afraid to advance.
|
hard-nosed »
Guided by practical experience and observation rather than by theory.
|
have a bone to pick »
To have a complaint or grievance with somebody.
|
have eyes in the back of one's head »
To be particularly, especially uncannily, observant; a perceived ability to see in all directions at once.
|
have to do »
To relate; to be relevant.
|
head and shoulders »
"She was head and shoulders better than any of her rivals.".
|
head for the hills »
To travel to a higher elevation, especially to a rural region on vacation.
|
head-on »
Direct, abrupt, blunt or unequivocal; not prevaricating.
|
here you are »
Said when you hand something over to someone or do a favour to them, usually to draw the recipient's attention to the exchange; Equivalent to “thank you” when receiving something..
|
hiding to nothing »
A situation in which victory has little or no value, but defeat has a huge cost.
|
high ground »
A location which is at a relatively high elevation, especially in comparison to the immediate surrounding area.
|
high ground »
A position of advantage or superiority in a conflict or competition.
|
high on the hog »
Well off; living comfortably or extravagantly.
|
hindsight is 20/20 »
(idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice.
|
hit someone for six »
Be affected in a devastating way by some unexpected news.
|
hold all the aces »
To be in a strong position when one is competing with someone else, having all the advantages.
|
hold water »
To withstand scrutiny or criticism; to be valid.
|
holding pattern »
Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity.
|
hoover up »
Into a vacuum cleaner, irrespective of brand.
|
hot and cold »
Ambivalent; having conflicting emotions.
|
hot button »
A central issue, concern or characteristic, especially one that motivates people to make a choice.
|
hot mess »
Refers to a person, thing, or situation in such a state of disarray or disapproval by peers, often in reference to physical appearance, perceived to be disastrously embarrassing, pitiful, or beyond repair.
|
how's tricks »
Informal greeting roughly equivalent to How are you?.
|
if looks could kill »
A phrase said upon catching sight of someone's giving you a particularly nasty look of discontent or disapproval.
|
in a pinch »
In an urgent or difficult situation; when no other solution is available.
|
in the doghouse »
In trouble; the subject of somebody's anger or disapproval.
|
in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king »
Among others with a disadvantage or disability, the one with the mildest disadvantage or disability is regarded as the greatest.Even someone without much talent or ability is considered special by those with no talent or ability at all.
|
in vain »
19C, Friedrich Nietzsche.
|
in vain »
In a disrespectful manner, especially when concerning religion.
|
in vain »
Without success; ending in failure.
|
inside track »
Any advantage.
|
it's better to ask forgiveness than permission »
The value of acting promptly and making a mistake requiring forgiveness is greater than value of delaying to get permission.
|
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:
|
it's not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
|
jump »
To cause oneself to leave an elevated location and fall downward.
|
jump »
To employ a parachute to leave an aircraft or elevated location.
|
jump down »
To leave an elevated position to a lower position by one jump.
|
jump off »
To move from an elevated place by one jump.
|
jump rope »
The activity, game or exercise in which a person must jump, bounce or skip repeatedly while a length of rope is swung over and under, both ends held in the hands of the jumper, or alternately, held by two other participants. Often used for athletic training and among schoolchildren. Variations involve speed, chants, varied rope and jumper movement patterns, multiple jumpers and/or multiple ropes.
|
keep away from »
To evade.
|
keep one's options open »
To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available.
|
kick up the arse »
A severe reprimand, especially one to motivate someone into doing something.
|
kitchen table software »
Especially in the early years of personal computers, a set of computer programs developed by an entrepreneurial advanced amateur or self-employed professional computer programmer in his or her own home; software developed by a small business using the services of such programmers.
|
l'esprit de l'escalier »
The experience of thinking of a devastating rejoinder only after leaving the scene of the debate.
|
la goutte d'eau qui fait d%C3%A9border le vase »
The drop of water that makes the vase overflow.
|
la goutte d'eau qui fait d%C3%A9border le vase »
The final thing that is too much and forces a reaction; the straw that broke the camel's back.
|
landing strip »
A cultivated pubic hair pattern in which much of the pubic hair is removed, leaving only a central vertical line or rectangle.
|
law of the jungle »
The survival of the fittest, strongest or most cunning.
|
lead »
Vertical space in advance of a row or between rows of text. Also known as leading.
|
leave no stone unturned »
To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.
|
lick one's chops »
To use one's tongue to remove moistness from the sides of one's mouth, as when salivating or at the conclusion of a meal.
|
lift up »
To elevate to a higher position.
|
live large »
To have a lavish or overly-extravagant lifestyle.
|
live wire »
An especially energetic, alert, or vivacious person.
|
look daggers »
To stare sharply at someone to indicate disapproval without actually speaking.
|
look forward to »
To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure.
|
look out for number one »
To act in one's own interests; to act in a manner advantageous primarily to oneself.
|
look what the cat's dragged in »
Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
|
lose out »
To be at a disadvantage.
|
love nest »
Vagina.
|
low-hanging fruit »
Easily obtained gains; what can be obtained by readily available means.
|
make do with »
To get along with whatever is available.
|
make hay »
To take advantage of an opportunity.
|
make over »
To renovate or to convert to a different use.
|
memory lane »
A set of recollections available to be reviewed, especially accompanied by a feeling of nostalgia.
|
mess of pottage »
Something of trivial value, especially of immediate value.
|
mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
|
miss the boat »
To fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action.
|
mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
|
money for old rope »
Money exchanged for goods of low value.
|
move out »
To vacate one's place of residence.
|
move the goalposts »
To alter the agreed basis, scope, standards or target of a procedure or task during its course, especially to do so to someone's advantage.
|
my arse »
Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
my eye »
Expression of disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
my foot »
Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
necessity is the mother of innovation »
Alternative form of necessity is the mother of invention.
|
necker's knob »
A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.
|
neither here nor there »
Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent.
|
nightcap »
A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.
|
nip and tuck »
So evenly matched that the advantage shifts from one to the other, and the outcome is uncertain.
|
not worth a dime »
Worthless, lacking in value.
|
not worth a plug nickel »
Having no or almost no value; worthless.
|
of course »
Acknowledges the validity of the associated phrase.
|
off the reservation »
Violating rules.
|
off-the-shelf »
As purchased or as commonly available, without modification or customization.
|
on a regular basis »
Regularly, occurring in regular time intervals or patterns.
|
on an irregular basis »
Irregularly, occurring in irregular time intervals or patterns.
|
on hand »
Available; ready; in stock.
|
on the make »
Actively seeking an opportunity for self-advancement; eager to ingratiate oneself to others in order to secure some advantage.
|
one and the same »
The same person or thing. Used to emphasize the identity or equivalence of two things.
|
one can run but one can't hide »
There is nothing someone can do to evade something.You can run but you can't hide.
|
one who hesitates is lost »
A person who spends too much time contemplating what to do may miss a valuable but fleeting opportunity.
|
one-note »
Having only one opinion, outlook, tone, etc., especially as expressed repetitively; without variety or range.
|
out of gas »
Tired; lacking energy or motivation.
|
out of nowhere »
In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.
|
out of sorts »
Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.
|
out of stock »
Temporarily unavailable for sale.
|
out of the woods »
Out of peril; likely to recover or prevail over trouble; finished with the worst or most threatening part of a problem or illness.
|
over a barrel »
In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, in which one may be controlled or victimized.
|
paint with a broad brush »
To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
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".
|
pee off »
Euphemistic variant of piss off.
|
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.
|
pig in a poke »
Something whose true value is concealed or unknown, especially something offered for sale.
|
piss and vinegar »
Exuberance or enthusiasm, especially to an excessive degree; bravado; youthful energy.
|
play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
|
play to the gallery »
To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval.
|
potter about »
To potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner.
|
potter around »
To potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner.
|
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.
|
preprogram »
To program something in advance.
|
prevail upon »
To convince; to persuade.
|
price is right »
The cost of a thing is reasonable and of good value.
|
prima donna »
diva
|
private branch exchange »
Telephone lines.
|
private eye »
A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.
|
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.
|
pull apart »
To open something by pulling on various parts of it.
|
purple prose »
Extravagant or flowery writing, especially in a literary work.
|
push the boat out »
To do something, especially spend money, more extravagantly than usual, particularly for a celebration.
|
put to the test »
To test something or someone; to evaluate, scrutinize or explore by testing or experimentation.
|
ramp up »
To increase rapidly to a new value.
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real job »
A job that can't be replaced advantageously by a machine or a procedure.
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ring a bell »
To seem at least vaguely familiar.
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ringside seat »
Any vantage point providing an excellent view.
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rip to shreds »
To severely devalue, to refute.
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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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round down »
To the greatest integer that is not greater than it, or to some other lower value, especially a whole number of hundreds, thousands, etc.
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round up »
To the smallest integer that is not less than it, or to some other greater value, especially a whole number of hundreds, thousands, etc.
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run out of steam »
To run out of energy; to run out of motivation.
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run the gamut »
To encompass the full range or variety possible.
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run through »
To pervade, of a quality that is characteristic of a group, organisation, or system.
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run to »
To reach a particular maximum amount, size, value, etc.
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scrape together »
To collect, assemble or gather small amounts , from various sources, with some difficulty.
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scrounge up »
To seek or find despite a lack of apparent resources or availability.
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second banana »
A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.
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sell out »
To abandon one's supporters or principles to seek profit or other personal advantage.
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separate the wheat from the chaff »
To select only that which is of value.
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set aside »
To declare something invalid or null and void.
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shoot the moon »
To attain great heights, a high value, or a numerically high measurement.
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show the flag »
Of a naval vessel or military force, to identify itself by displaying the flag of its country of origin, especially in order to establish an authoritative presence and to exert diplomatic or political influence.
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shroud »
A covered place used as a retreat or shelter, as a cave or den; also, a vault or crypt.
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silence is golden »
Peace and quiet have immense value.Often the best choice is to say nothing.
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sitting pretty »
In a favorable situation, especially a situation in which one possesses an advantage.
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six of one, half a dozen of the other »
The two alternatives are equivalent or indifferent; it doesn't matter which one we choose.
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size up »
To evaluate; to estimate or anticipate the magnitude, difficulty, or strength of something.
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sleeping at the switch »
Variant form of asleep at the switch.
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sleeves from one's vest »
Something non-existent; something of no value or cost.
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small fry »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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small potatoes »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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snake oil »
A type of 19th century patent medicine sold in the United States that claimed to contain snake fat, supposedly a Native American remedy for various ailments.
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soapbox »
Especially when only tangentially relevant to an ongoing discussion.
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soft mick »
An extravagant person.
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soft shoe »
A kind of tap dancing performed in soft-soled shoes, popular in vaudeville.
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space out »
To plant seedlings etc at regular intervals with a calculated space between them.
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spectator sport »
Something, especially a process or activity, which is a popular object of observation; an activity which a person prefers to watch rather than to participate in.
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spice up »
To make more exotic, fun or extravagant.
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spring fever »
A feeling of invigoration and restlessness associated with the arrival of the warm weather and renewal of nature in the spring season.
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spring fever »
A feeling of laziness or listlessness associated with the arrival of the warm, comfortable weather of the spring season.
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spruce up »
To refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance.
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stand the test of time »
To remain useful or valued over a long period of time; to last a long time.
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standard fare »
Menu items or dining options which are regularly available in a restaurant or other place where food is served.
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step on a rake »
To step on the tines of a garden rake, causing the handle of the rake to rise from the ground rapidly, invariably striking the person walking in the face.
|
stone's throw »
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
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sword and sorcery »
Of or pertaining to a genre of narratives—including short stories, novels, television shows, films, and computer games—which combines wizardry and other fantastical supernatural elements with violent combat using medieval weaponry..
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take a tumble »
To fall in price or value.
|
take apart »
To move someone away from others to be able to talk to, or give them something in private.
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take for granted »
To give little attention to or to underestimate the value of, to fail to appreciate.
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take liberties »
To behave disrespectfully, especially to make unwanted sexual advances.
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take over »
To annex a territory by conquest or invasion.
|
take the lead »
To become the leader, to advance into first place.
|
take to the cleaners »
To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.
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take to the hills »
To flee or vanish; to run away.
|
talk through one's hat »
To assert something as true or valid; to bluff.
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tell you the truth »
Used to positively assert the frank honesty of an associated statement of set of statements; equivalent to "to you tell the truth".
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that's the way life is »
That is the way things happenCertain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything [1], page 279:That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption [2], ISBN 0310511011, page 45:There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, ISBN 059524050X, page 337:Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.
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the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on »
Life goes on, even if some will try to stop or talk against progress.
|
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 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 shoe is on the other foot »
The roles of people in a situation have been reversed, such the advantage has shifted to a party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
the upper hand »
An advantage or lead.
|
there are plenty more fish in the sea »
There are many more potential opportunities available.
|
there are plenty of fish in the sea »
There are many more potential opportunities available.
|
third string »
A unit of players that plays behind the first and second strings; a junior varsity team.
|
thorn in the flesh »
Ivar Specto. The Soviet Union and the Muslim World, 1917-1958.
|
those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay »
(archaic) One should take immediate advantage of an opportunity that may not be available later.
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throw the baby out with the bathwater »
To discard something valuable, often inadvertently, in the process of removing waste.
|
throw to the dogs »
To give up on something valuable.
|
thumbs up »
A gesture signifying approval or okay; a thumb pointing up out of a fist.
|
thumbs up »
An approval or okay.
|
tick off »
To annoy, aggravate.
|
time is money »
When a person's time is not used productively; time is valuable and should not be wasted.
|
timeserver »
A person who conforms to current opinions, especially for reasons of personal advantage; an opportunist.
|
tip one's hand »
To inadvertently reveal any secret, particularly a secret that puts one at an advantage or disadvantage.
|
tit for tat »
Equivalent retribution, an eye for an eye, returning exactly what you get.
|
to the point »
Relevant or pertinent; succinct; specific.
|
tomorrow is another day »
Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed
|
top banana »
The principal comedian in a vaudeville or burlesque show.
|
turf war »
A dispute over territory between rival gangs.
|
turn the tables »
To reverse a situation, such that the advantage has shifted to the party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
two bob »
A small amount of value.
|
two thumbs up »
A hand gesture indicating strong approval.
|
two thumbs up »
The strong approval itself.
|
up for grabs »
Available for anyone to obtain, claim or win.
|
up to »
Considering all members of an equivalence class the same.
|
valley of death »
Death; or a place or period where death is impending.
|
valley of death »
Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Charge of the Light Brigade.
|
valley of death »
The phase of a startup business beginning with the entrepreneur's fulltime commitment to it and ending when the business has achieved sustainable cash flow.
|
valley of the shadow of death »
Valleys on earth one must walk through, that is, part of the human experience.
|
variable tandem repeat locus »
Any DNA sequence that exists in multiple copies strung together in various tandem lengths.
|
variety is the spice of life »
Variety is what makes life interesting
|
way to go »
An expression of congratulations, encouragement, or approval.
|
what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
|
what's the good of »
What is the purpose or advantage of.
|
wheel around »
To transport someone or something to various locations by pushing a wheeled transporter such as a wheelchair or a wheelbarrow or trolley.
|
when the cat's away »
People are likely to take advantage of the absence of authority or enforcement of compliance.
|
when the cat's away the mice will play »
In the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances.
|
when the shit hits the fan »
A reference to the messy consequences of a secret or private situation becoming public.
|
white coat hypertension »
Elevated blood pressure measured by a medical practitioner and deemed to result from the patient's emotional response to the medical environment.
|
wild-goose chase »
A task whose execution is inordinately complex relative to the value of the outcome.
|
win over »
To persuade someone, gain someone's support, or make someone understand the truth or validity of something.
|
with a vengeance »
Intensely motivated; resolute; forceful.
|
worlds apart »
Vastly different.
|
worth its weight in gold »
Highly valuable.
|
worth the risk »
The benefit of the success is more valuable than the problems caused by the potential loss.
|
write down »
To make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset.
|
write off »
To reduce an asset's book value to zero.
|
write off »
Figuratively, to assign a low value to something.
|
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.
|
you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone »
It is advantageous not to rely solely on being nice.
|
you know it »
Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.
|
you knows it »
Indicates agreement, approval, encouragement.
|
your mileage may vary »
It may work differently in your situation, or be different in your experience.
|
your mileage may vary »
To express a possible difference in taste, "this is just my opinion, your opinion may be different".
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