above the law »
Exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.
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act out »
To go through the process of a scene from a play, a charade or a pointless exercise.
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an axe to grind »
A grievance, with implications of confrontation.
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at sixes and sevens »
In a state of confusion.
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at sixes and sevens »
In a state of dispute or disagreement.
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big up »
To increase one's muscle mass through exercise.
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boxer shorts »
underwear
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bump and grind »
A combination of movements resembling such a dance, as in road racing, whitewater kayaking, or exercising; any activity involving prolonged jarring or shaking.
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bust one's chops »
To exert oneself.
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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.
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cat that ate the canary »
A person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.
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cut a wide swath »
To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.
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developments »
A group of building complexes or apartments. Often used for low income housing.
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dishpan hands »
Hands which are rough, reddish, and dry, as from irritation and chafing caused by immersion in hot water mixed with detergent.
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dog it »
To underperform; to lag behind; to fail to exert effort.
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execution style »
Resembling an execution; with the victim aware, but unable to defend himself or resist.
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firm up »
To make muscles more toned through physical exercise.
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force someone's hand »
Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.
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gandy dancer »
A railway laborer, especially a member of a crew which carries rails and affixes them to ties.
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get one's wires crossed »
To get confused or mixed up; to make a mistake.
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get the axe »
To be fired, axed, terminated.
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give someone the chair »
To execute a person by means of the electric chair.
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have an axe to grind »
To have a dispute, resentment, or grudge, sometimes with a disposition to act on that resentment covertly; to have a bias; to take issue with something.
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hospital pass »
A poorly executed pass to a team-mate causing the receiver to present an easy target for a defender, and thus be tackled hard.
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hospital pass »
Exempting one from regular activities, to instead visit a hospital.
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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.
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keep one's eye on the ball »
To maintain one's concentration fixed on one important theme.
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knocked for a six »
to be defeated; outwitted; outfoxed; beaten
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laced-up »
Fixed in the sprockets of the projector.
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last burst of fire »
A state of exertion where one gives one's all; expending all of one's remaining energy in a final effort to achieve one's goal.
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light middleweight »
type of boxer
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long drink »
Any drink containing more than 5 ounces of liquid and less than 9 ounces. Typically, a long drink will have lots of ice and mixer.
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lucky dip »
A game in which prizes are covered up and mixed together in a container, so that contestants can dip their hand into the container and randomly pull out a prize.
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mixed bag »
Any bag containing a mixture of something.
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mixed bag »
By extension, a group of entities with few characteristics in common; an assortment.
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mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
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mixed blessing »
Something that has both good and bad features.
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mixed message »
Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent.
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necktie party »
An execution by hanging, especially a lynching.
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nut-cutting time »
Time to exert maximum effort, for example, due to an approaching deadline or a looming competitive situation.
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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.
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off balance »
Surprised; perplexed.
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on wheels »
Having wheels affixed to the bottom, and so transportable.
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penguin suit »
A tuxedo.
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prize fighter »
boxer
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put down »
To make prices, or taxes, lower.
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put one's mind to it »
To apply oneself; to exert a directed effort.
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put one's shoulder to the wheel »
To work or exert oneself heavily or with full effort.
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put the pedal to the metal »
To exert maximum effort.
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put through its paces »
To test completely; to exercise the full range of abilities or functions.
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rake »
A garden tool with a row of pointed teeth fixed to a long handle, used for collecting grass or debris, or for loosening soil.
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reap what one sows »
To receive as a reward or harvest in the same measure as one's exertions, in a good or a bad sense. To receive justice.
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rein in »
To stop or slow something, by exercising control.
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run oneself ragged »
To work or exert oneself to the point of exhaustion.
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shell out »
To use a program's "shell escape" function to execute an unrelated command or to invoke a subsidiary, interactive shell.
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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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sit back »
To relax, to not exert oneself.
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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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stay put »
To remain in one fixed place.
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take down »
To remove something from a wall or similar vertical surface to which it is fixed.
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throw one's weight around »
To exercise influence or authority especially to an excessive degree or in an objectionable manner.
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tonic water »
mixer
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tune up »
To make preparations for vigorous exercise; to warm up.
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turn away »
To bend or turn from a fixed course.
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walk the line »
To behave in an authorized or socially accepted manner, especially as prescribed by law or morality; to exercise self-control.
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warm up »
To prepare for executing an already-learned activity by a limited amount of additional practice.
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wear out »
To exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness, as by continued strain or exertion.
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wear out »
To become exhausted, tired, fatigued, or weary, as by continued strain or exertion.
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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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work out »
To habitually exercise rigorously, especially by lifting weights, in order to increase strength or muscle mass or maintain fitness.
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work out »
To do exercises, especially physical.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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