a closed mouth gathers no feet »
One who does not speak can be certain he won't say anything embarrassing.
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a dumb priest never got a parish »
(Irish) Those who fail to speak up fail to get what they want.
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a friend in need is a friend indeed »
A true friend is one who helps you when you are in need.
|
a good man is hard to find »
Men who make good husbands or workers are rare.
|
a rolling stone gathers no moss »
A person who never settles in one place will never be successful.A person who does not keep active will grow mouldy.
|
all things come to those who wait »
(dated) A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.
|
am I right or am I right »
Rhetorical question from somebody who has stated what they consider to be an unassailable truth.
|
angel's advocate »
Someone who sees what's good about an idea and supports it.
|
are your ears burning »
Said of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
|
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 candy »
An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public simply so that one or both of the individuals can gain attention, enhance social status, or create an impression of sexual appeal.
|
at large »
In general; as a whole.
|
autem diver »
Pickpockets who practice in churches; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor.
|
babe in the woods »
A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless.
|
babe magnet »
A person, especially a man, to whom women are attracted.
|
back-cloth star »
An actor who stands upstage, forcing the other actors to face him and turn their backs to the audience, in order to gain more attention to himself.
|
backseat driver »
A passenger in a car who insists on giving the driver directions.
|
bad apple »
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
|
bad egg »
Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
|
badge bunny »
A woman who is romantically attracted to police officers and who seeks out their companionship.
|
bang up cove »
A dashing fellow who spends his money freely.
|
bar fly »
A person who frequents bars or lounges to get drunk.
|
bar star »
A female who frequents bars or lounges, usually late at night.
|
barking dogs seldom bite »
People who make big threats never usually carry them out.
|
barrow man »
A man under sentence of transportation; alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt.
|
bawdy basket »
The twenty-third rank of canters, who carry pins, tape, ballads, and obscene books to sell, but live mostly by stealing.
|
beat Banaghan »
An Irish saying of one who tells wonderful stories, or of something which is amazing and remarkable.
|
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.
|
bend somebody's ear »
Sorry to bend your ear with the whole story, but I think you ought to know.
|
big fish in a small pond »
One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.
|
big gun »
Someone who is powerful or influential most often in plural form.
|
big mouth »
The mouth of someone who talks too much, especially by making exaggerated claims or by inappropriately revealing information.
|
birds of the feather flock together »
People who are alike physically tend to congregate and socialize together, despite government efforts at forced integration.
|
bite one's tongue »
An admonishment to someone who has said something unfeeling or harsh.
|
black sheep »
A disliked person; one who is disfavored.
|
blind »
A player who is or was forced to make a bet.
|
blind date »
A romantic meeting between two people who have never met before.
|
blood is thicker than water »
Family relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.1866, Anthony Trollope, The Belton Estate, ch. 30,Blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?circa 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, The Scotch Twins, ch. 5,The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!
|
born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »
Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.
|
brain surgeon »
Someone who does brain surgery.
|
breadwinner »
The member of a household who earns all or most of the income
|
break off »
To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping.
|
break up »
To stop a fight; to separate people who are fighting.
|
bring owls to Athens »
Who brings owls to Athens? — Euelpides, in Aristophanes' Birds.
|
broken vessel »
A person who is destroyed or forgotten, or who feels flawed or broken.
|
brown bread »
Bread with a brown colour as distinct from white bread, wholemeal, granary or other specific types of bread.
|
brown noser »
One who sucks up; a bootlicker, ass-kisser, sycophant.
|
bundle of energy »
One who is especially lively, continually active, or industrious.
|
busy beaver »
Someone who is very busy or hard-working.
|
but who's counting »
Used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to.
|
butter fingers »
A clumsy person who always drops things, a klutz.
|
can of worms »
A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.
|
Cannon fodder »
Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.
|
captain of industry »
A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.
|
cast pearls before swine »
To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it.
|
cat that ate the canary »
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
|
cat that ate the canary »
A person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.
|
catmeat »
Someone who has been badly beaten.
|
cattle call »
An audition which is open to the public and thus draws a large number of applicants, many of whom are inexperienced.
|
charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
|
chickens coming home to roost »
Consequences visited upon someone who originally had appeared to escape them.
|
chip off the old block »
Someone who takes after their parent.
|
class clown »
A student who frequently makes jokes or pokes fun; a wiseacre.
|
clout list »
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, benefits, or influence in a political or social situation, especially as a result of having personal, professional, or financial relationships with those in authority.
|
cop-out »
A person who cops out.
|
cradle robber »
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.
|
cut in »
Especially, to dance with someone who is already dancing by replacing his or her partner.
|
dark horse »
A candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.
|
dead duck »
One who is in serious danger or trouble.
|
deadbeat dad »
A man, especially one who is divorced or estranged from his partner, who fails to provide monetary child support when he is legally required to do so.
|
debris field »
Any area, non-dependent of locale, space, or contour, that contains the debris of wreckage, impact, sinking, or other material that once constituted a complete object. Debris fields can be found at the site of air crashes, water vessel sinking, explosions of buildings, collapses, and other events that render a whole entity into components, pieces, or other non-whole items.
|
deep thinker »
A person whose thoughts are profound; an intellectual.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
What we need is people who get the job done, no matter how. We don't want pickers who'll only learn if we use their preferred learning method. Have you read "A Message to Garcia" ? That's what we need today - young people who can deliver the message to Garcia.
|
desk jockey »
One who spends his or her time seated at a desk; especially one who is more concerned with procedure, paperwork, or administration than with its ultimate goal or practical consequence.
|
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.
|
diamond in the rough »
A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.
|
dictated but not read »
Dictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated the text so annotated.
|
dim bulb »
A person who is slow-witted.
|
dirty old man »
An adult male - usually middle-aged or elderly - who acts in a lecherous or lewd manner.
|
dive in »
To start a new endeavor enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
|
don't drop the soap »
(idiomatic) Used as a mockery to someone who is about to be or should be confined in prison.
|
don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs »
Don't presume to give advice to those who are more experienced.
|
down-and-outer »
Someone who is down and out.
|
drama queen »
Who behaves and speaks in an overly dramatic manner so as to garner attention.
|
drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
|
drop in »
One who arrives unannounced or without an appointment.
|
eager beaver »
Who is very excited or enthusiastic to begin a task.
|
economical with the truth »
Not telling the whole truth, especially in order to present a false image of a situation; untruthful; lying. Often used with sarcasm or satire.
|
eye of the beholder »
The evaluation depending on perception of person who sees and considers.
|
fashion plate »
A person who dresses in especially stylish fashions.
|
feet of clay »
To say that someone, who appears strong or invincible, in fact has a hidden weak point which could cause their fall.
|
finders keepers »
The doctrine that whoever finds something is allowed to keep it
|
first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates the theory that the earth is flat.
|
fly-by-night »
One who departs or flees at night in order to avoid creditors, law enforcement etc. .
|
fools rush in where angels fear to tread »
A person who does not plan ahead and think matters through becomes involved in risky or unfavorable situations which prudent people avoid.
|
fortune favors the bold »
Luck is usually on the side of those who take chances and risks.
|
four-eyes »
A person who wears spectacles.
|
fresh legs »
Somebody who has yet to play in a match, and therefore has plenty of energy.
|
fresh off the boat »
Newly arrived from a foreign place, especially as an immigrant who is still unfamiliar with the customs and language of his or her new environment.
|
fresh out of »
Of someone who has recently left one stage of life to begin another.
|
friend with benefits »
A friend with whom one has such a relationship.
|
full whack »
The whole amount.
|
game face »
The expression of one who is prepared for or is facing a lot of difficult and/or undesirable work, especially when it is imminent.
|
give the devil his due »
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
|
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 the whole hog »
To do something as entirely or completely as possible; to reserve or hold back nothing.
|
God helps those who help themselves »
Fortune comes to those who make a genuine effort to accomplish things.
|
golf widow »
A woman who is deprived of her husband's time and attention due to his regular absence in order to play golf.
|
good drunk »
A person who is cheerful and companionable when intoxicated, retaining reasonable control of his or her mental and emotional faculties.
|
good old boy »
A friendly, unambitious, relatively uneducated, sometimes racially biased white man who embodies the stereotype of the folksy culture of the rural southern USA.
|
good old boy »
A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow.
|
good things come to those who wait »
A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.
|
grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
|
grand poobah »
A person who is important or high-ranking.
|
grasp all, lose all »
one who wants everything, may lose it all
|
grass widow »
A married woman whose husband is away.
|
grass widower »
A married man whose wife is away.
|
hang out to dry »
To abandon someone who is in need or in danger.
|
happy camper »
One who is thoroughly content or satisfied.
|
has-been »
A formerly popular or influential person whose popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline. Typically said of professionals or celebrities whose primary success is behind them.
|
hatchet man »
Someone who carries out brutal and unpleasant duties on behalf of another, such as firing dead wood employees.
|
he who laughs last laughs best »
success is better after having previously endured ridicule.
|
he who laughs last laughs hardest »
Alternative form of he who laughs last laughs best.
|
he who smelt it dealt it »
(colloquial, originally) A person who calls attention to or complains about a fart is likely trying to pretend it wasn't his or her own.(colloquial, by extension) Used to suggest that a person calling attention to or complaining about a given problem may in fact be the source of the problem.
|
heaven helps those who help themselves »
A maxim encouraging people to get involved in their own problems.
|
historical figure »
A fictional or fabricated person who was was given historical importance in legends and myth.
|
historical figure »
A person who lived long ago, usually of some historical note or importance.
|
horse's mouth »
Source; someone who directly experienced or witnessed something.
|
how do you like them apples »
Directed jestingly or mockingly at someone who has received surprising information, ridiculing the situation.
|
if you lie with dogs you will get fleas »
It is important whom to choose as one's closest acquanitances.
|
inside joke »
A joke that is understood or meant to be understood only by certain people who are in the know about the details.
|
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
|
jack of all trades »
One competent in many endeavors, especially one who excels in none of them.
|
jack of all trades, master of none »
A master of integration, who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring their disciplines together in a practical manner; a polymath; a renaissance man.
|
jack of all trades, master of none »
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
|
jet set »
A set of wealthy people who travel for pleasure.
|
jet-setter »
A member of the jet set, a rich person who travels for pleasure.
|
jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in behaving in a glib and disingenuous fashion.
|
jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in dancing. Often applied to people being funny or showy.
|
jug ears »
Ears whose plane is markedly not parallel to the plane of the head.
|
jump the queue »
To move into a queue ahead of others who have been waiting longer or that have a higher priority; push in.
|
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.
|
just another pretty face »
Someone who is attractive, but not too distinguished.
|
kick someone when they are down »
To make it worse for someone who is going through a difficult time.
|
kill the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
|
king »
A male monarch; member of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation.
|
kit and caboodle »
Everything entirely, the whole lot.
|
knight in shining armor »
A person who will rescue a dangerous situation; a hero.
|
lady's man »
A man who attracts women and enjoys their company.
|
lapsed academic »
A person formerly employed as a professor or researcher in a university or other institution of higher education, especially one who no longer attempts to remain current in his or her former academic field.
|
last of the big spenders »
Someone who doesn't spend much money.
|
late bloomer »
A person who lives a child's life comparatively later than their peers.
|
late bloomer »
A person who reaches puberty comparatively later than their peers.
|
laughing stock »
An object of ridicule, someone who is publicly ridiculed; a butt of sport.
|
lay to rest »
To bury one who has died.
|
life of the party »
A person who participates in entertainment events in a very enthusiastic manner and who has a leading role in inspiring others to join in the spirit of festivity.
|
link whore »
Someone who goes to great lengths to get other people to link to his/her website or blog.
|
link whoring »
The practice of going out of one's way to place links to one's website on someone else's webpage.
|
lion »
A large cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly to much of Europe. The term may apply to the species as a whole, to individuals, or to male individuals. It also applies to related species like mountain lions.
|
lion »
An individual who shows strength and courage, attributes associated with the lion.
|
live by the sword, die by the sword »
One who uses violence can expect a violent response. It is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey poetic justice.
|
live one »
Someone who is easily fooled, victimized, or ridiculed.
|
live one »
Someone who is eccentric, nonconformist, or otherwise peculiar.
|
lone gunman »
An individual person who acts on his or her own initiative, without partners, especially one who has sole responsibility for doing something questionable, confidential, or iniquitous.
|
long time »
Used as part of greeting of two people who have not been in contact for a long time.
|
long ways, long lies »
Someone who comes back from a far-off country can tell lies without fear of being contradicted.
|
Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
|
love is blind »
A person who is in love can see no faults or imperfections in the person who is loved.
|
mama's boy »
A male person, especially a young man or boy, who is overly attached to or influenced by his mother; a sissy.
|
man of few words »
A man who doesn't speak much, or speaks only for a short period of time.
|
managerial inbreeding »
Bad management, caused by managers making poor selection choices in recruitment, rewards, and promotions of the staff that report to them, leading to another generation of managers who lack the necessary skill sets to reward and promote the most effective staff.
|
mark up »
To increase the price of something between its wholesale and retail phase.
|
miner's canary »
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
|
miners' canary »
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
|
morning person »
A person whose who wakes up without difficulty early each morning and who is alert and active during the first part of the day.
|
mother hen »
A female chicken who bears eggs or chicks.
|
motor mouth »
One who talks incessantly; a chatty or loquacious person.
|
mouse potato »
A person who spends excessive amounts of time using a computer.
|
mouth breather »
A person who is boorish, stupid, or otherwise unattractive.
|
mouth breather »
A person who routinely inhales and exhales through the mouth, instead of through the nose.
|
mover and shaker »
Someone who has power and influence in some field or activity.
|
mutual admiration society »
A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.
|
nail biter »
One who bites or chews his or her fingernails.
|
necessity is the mother of invention »
A person who is in great need of something will find a way to get it.
|
nice guy »
An adult male who seeks sexual attraction and romantic intimacy, but only finds cordial friendship and platonic love.
|
night owl »
One who stays up late at night or goes to bed late.
|
night person »
A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours, and who usually sleeps during part of the daytime.
|
nighthawk »
A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours.
|
no brainer »
Something that supposedly doesn’t take much intellectual thought. Whoever says that something is a no brainer is usually the one with no brains.
|
no rest for the wicked »
(humorous) People who are wicked must work harder than normal people.
|
no slave to fashion »
A person whose style of clothing and appearance are unconventional, informal, or slovenly; a person who takes little interest in how he or she is dressed.
|
no spring chicken »
Said of a person who is no longer particularly young.
|
no-show »
An absence; somebody who doesn't show up or a failure to show up.
|
non-starter »
Someone or something who was listed to start in a race, but did not start in the race.
|
nose-picker »
One who picks their nose.
|
object lesson »
Anything used an example or lesson which serves to warn others as to the outcomes that result from a particular action or behavior, as exemplified by the fates of those who followed that course.
|
oil burner »
A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.
|
Old Fart »
An elderly person who holds views that are considered old-fashioned.
|
old hand »
A person who is experienced at a certain activity.
|
on high »
"The Lord our God who dwelleth on high" Psalms 63:5.
|
on the whole »
For the most part; apart from some insignificant details.
|
one in the eye for »
An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.
|
one who hesitates is lost »
A person who spends too much time contemplating what to do may miss a valuable but fleeting opportunity.
|
one-man band »
A musician who plays several musical instruments at once.
|
one-track mind »
That said to be possessed by someone who is obsessed with something or only able to think of one thing.
|
only fools and horses work »
Philosophy of life that people who do not look for an easy way of earning a living are foolish.
|
open a can of whoop ass »
A good-humored threat of physical harm.
|
open a can of whoop ass »
I'm gonna open up a can of whoop-ass on ya.
|
opposite number »
A person who holds a position in an organization that corresponds to that held by another person in an other organization; a counterpart.
|
opposites attract »
people who are completely different make ideal partners.
|
out of one's league »
In a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others, whose accomplishments, preparedness, or other characteristics are on a significantly higher or lower level than one's own.
|
out of the mouths of babes »
The greatest wisdom comes from children, who are not afraid or weary of the world and its pressures.
|
out of whole cloth »
Fabricated, fictitious.
|
outsider »
A competitor or contestant who has little chance of winning; a long shot; a dark horse.
|
outsider »
One who is not part of a community or organization.
|
pachyderm »
Someone who is insensitive.
|
party animal »
A person known for frequent, enthusiastic attendance at parties, especially one whose partying behavior is exuberant or excessive.
|
party crasher »
Someone who attempts and often gains entry to a party or club to which they were not invited, often using social engineering techniques. The party crasher usually tries to blend into the party so as not to be kicked out.
|
party pooper »
Someone who unnecessarily dampens fun.
|
pencil pusher »
One who does routine office work; someone involved mainly in paperwork.
|
penny pincher »
One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.
|
people person »
Someone who is happier or more skilled at dealing with people rather than things or concepts.
|
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones »
Do not criticize others if you have weaknesses yourself.
|
pig in a poke »
Something whose true value is concealed or unknown, especially something offered for sale.
|
pinch-hit »
To do something in the place of another person who is not able to perform or is less skilled; to substitute or stand in for somebody.
|
pinchpenny »
One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.
|
pissing contest »
A boys' prankish competition to determine who can urinate the furthest up a wall.
|
play Old Harry »
Blenkiron and I have been moving in the best circles as skilled American engineers who are going to play Old Harry with the British on the Tigris. — John Buchan, "Greenmantle", 1916..
|
poacher turned gamekeeper »
A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
|
possession is nine-tenths of the law »
One who has possession of a thing has some right to it; a popular statement of the doctrine of adverse possession.
|
poster child »
One who is a prototypical or quintessential example of something.
|
potter »
One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
|
potter »
One who places flowers or other plants inside their pots.
|
pound of flesh »
Something which is owed and which will be hurtful or difficult to provide; a debt owed to someone who is merciless and demanding.
|
pour oil on troubled waters »
To calm something or someone who is tenacious or misbehaving.
|
power behind the throne »
Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.
|
pride comes before a fall »
A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.
|
problem child »
A child who is particularly difficult to raise or educate, especially due to a lack of self-control and disruptive and antisocial behavior.
|
pull my finger »
A phrase used when playing a prank regarding flatulence, in which a mark is asked to pull the finger of the person playing the prank, who simultaneously flatulates so as to suggest a causal relationship between the pulling of the finger and the resulting expulsion of gas.
|
pull rank »
To assert one's authority over a subordinate who disagrees.
|
rag bagger »
A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.
|
raise the flag and see who salutes »
It generates, usually as a preliminary step.
|
rex-pat »
A repeat expatriate, one who becomes ex-patriated a second time.
|
rivet counter »
A person who has an obsession with the minutae of their particular interest. Anyone preoccupied with small distinguishing features between different items.
|
roadwarrior »
A person who carries a mobile device such as a laptop or PDA and uses wireless internet connections to work.
|
robber baron »
Especially in the 19th-century and early 20th-century, a business tycoon who had great wealth and influence but whose methods were morally questionable.
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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.
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rolling stone »
A person who moves around a lot and never settles down.
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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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rumor mill »
A group or network of persons who originate or promulgate gossip and other unsubstantiated claims.
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scissorbill »
And railroad term for someone who refused to join the union or who openly colluded with management to thwart the union.
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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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seagull manager »
A manager who comes into the workplace or office only on occasion, especially when a problem arises or to criticize or critique employees.
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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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second banana »
A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.
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sell a bargain »
A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".
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serve somebody right »
To happen to someone who is thought to deserve it.
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sharp cookie »
One who is intelligent, bright, or sharp; especially, one who can identify attempts to deceive or mislead.
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shoo-in »
A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.
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shoot the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
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show somebody the door »
To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
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shrinking violet »
A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.
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silver surfer »
An elderly person who regularly uses the Internet.
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skin and bones »
Said of one who is emaciated; very skinny, as from lack of nutrition.
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skip rope »
To jump over a rope, both of whose ends are held by the jumper or by two others, while the rope is moved under the jumper's feet in a continual rhythm; to play the game of jump rope or exercise by jumping rope.
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skirt chaser »
A man with amorous intentions who habitually seeks out female companionship.
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smallpox blanket »
An apparently benevolent offering whose real intent is to disrupt, destabilize or weaken.
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smart arse »
One who is particularly flippant or insolent or tends to make snide remarks or jokes.
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smooth operator »
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
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soft as a grape »
someone who is limited in their ability
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squeaky wheel gets the grease »
The person who complains or speaks up most loudly receives the redress or attention which he or she seeks.
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stand corrected »
Said to acknowledge someone who corrects something that one says or writes that was not correct.
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stat whore »
Through unscrupulous or tacky means.
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stepping razor »
A dangerous person, who is not to be messed with.
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stick in the mud »
A person unwilling to participate in activities, often because he or she believes the activity is not wholly kosher; a party pooper.
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stick in the mud »
More generally, one who is slow, old-fashioned, or unprogressive; an old fogey.
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straight man »
A member of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in preparatory dialog with the principal comedian; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.
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stuffed shirt »
One who is overly official or officious; somebody in charge but not necessarily in power or effective.
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such as »
Those who.
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swear by »
To wholeheartedly trust.
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talk like an apothecary »
To use hard or gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this profession, who are commonly as superficial in their learning as they are pedantic in their language.
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talking head »
A pundit who discusses issues of the day, especially one on TV.
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teacher's pet »
A student who is perceived to be favored by the teacher.
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thanks for nothing »
Expression of displeasure towards a person who has not provided what was wanted.
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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 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 jig is up »
An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defence", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered.".
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the terrorists will have won »
Phrase used following a description of an activity to indicate that if that activity is not continued or carried out, those who seek to disrupt normal activities through terror will have succeeded, an which is an unacceptable result.
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the whole nine yards »
All the way; with everything done completely or thoroughly.
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the whole nine yards »
And everything. Often used, like etc., to finish out a list.
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the whole shooting match »
Everything; the entire collection, endeavor, or activity.
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the whole world and his dog »
Everybody; too many people; a huge crowd.
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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 dirt enough, and some will stick »
If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say
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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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timeserver »
A person who conforms to current opinions, especially for reasons of personal advantage; an opportunist.
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tough cookie »
A person who can endure physical or mental hardship; a hardened, strong-willed person.
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trailer park trash »
Lower-class people who live in trailer parks.
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travel junkie »
Who are using their time and money to seek out adventure holidays and travel.
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two-fisted drinker »
Either someone who can handle their liquor well, or an alcoholic clutching a drink in each hand.
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unwashed masses »
Of people who are considered by someone to be somehow uneducated, uninformed, godless, or in some other way unqualified for inclusion in the speaker's elite circles.
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up-and-comer »
Someone who is up-and-coming, who has begun to be successful in some field and is likely to become even more successful in the future.
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war bride »
A company or individual whose business is increased by warfare.
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war bride »
A woman who marries a man who is on active duty military in wartime.
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weak sister »
A person who is cowardly or indecisive.
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weekend warrior »
A person who indulges in a sport or pastime on an infrequent basis, usually on weekends when work commitments are not present.
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wet blanket »
A person who takes the fun out of a situation or activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.
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what of it »
So what? Who cares? Expresses disinterest, disregard or lack of concern.
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what's eating somebody »
? Inquired of somebody who is upset, worried, angry, etc.
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when the going gets tough, the tough get going »
in difficult times, it is the strong-willed who take action.
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whistle-blower »
One who reports a problem or violation to the authorities; especially, an employee or former employee who reports a violation by an employer.
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who pays the piper calls the tune »
One who pays for something controls it.
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who shot John »
A long and involved explanation; a thing of which an explanation would be long and involved.
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who's 'she', the cat's mother%3F »
A rebuke especially directed towards children for having referred to their mother, or any other woman in the third person, instead of using a properly respectful title or their name when appropriate.
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whole enchilada »
All of something or a group of related things taken in totality.
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whole shebang »
A building or house and everything in it.
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whole shebang »
Everything; the entire thing.
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whomp on »
To assail with overwhelming force; to defeat decisively.
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whomp up »
To incite or generate.
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whomp up »
To produce quickly, particularly a meal.
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whoop it up »
To have a great time; to party or revel excessively or noisily.
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wild-goose chase »
A task whose execution is inordinately complex relative to the value of the outcome.
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wine tosser »
A person who buys wine, but does not drink it.
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wine tosser »
A person who talks a great deal about wine but actually knows very little.
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work spouse »
A man or woman in the workplace with whom one shares a special relationship having bonds similar to those of a marriage: special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and unusual degree of honesty or openness.
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working girl »
A young woman who works.
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worry wart »
One who worries excessively or unnecessarily.
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yes man »
A person who always agrees with his employer or superior.
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you and whose army%3F »
You can't do all that on your own.
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you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
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you knows it »
You're right; I wholeheartedly agree with your statement.
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