a cut above »
Superior to; of a higher quality than.
|
a notch above »
Superior to; of a higher quality than.
|
abominable snowman »
yeti
|
abound in »
To have something in great numbers or quantities; to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by.
|
abound with »
To have something in great numbers or quantities; to possess in such abundance as to be characterized by.
|
about time »
Close to the right time.
|
about time »
Far past the desired time.
|
about to »
Indicates something that will happen very soon; indicates that something is imminent.
|
about turn »
A complete change of opinion, direction, etc.
|
about turn »
An about face; a military command to a formation of soldiers to reverse the direction in which they are facing.
|
above and beyond »
More than is expected or required.
|
above board »
Honestly, reputably.
|
above one's bend »
Out of one's control or power.
|
above the law »
Exempt from the laws that apply to everyone else.
|
above the salt »
Of high standing or honor.
|
all the way to Egery and back »
The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.
|
along about »
Approximately; at around some time.
|
angel's advocate »
Someone who sees what's good about an idea and supports it.
|
around Robin Hood's barn »
The long way around; a roundabout or circuitous route.
|
arse about face »
Something that is placed or arranged the opposite way to the way it should be.
|
ask around »
To enquire about something to different people.
|
ask round »
To enquire about something to different people.
|
at death's door »
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health.
|
at sea »
On the ocean or sea, typically of a ship or person aboard a ship.
|
bang about »
To make a lot of percussive noise while doing an activity.
|
bang on about »
To keep talking endlessly about the same subject.
|
bang up job »
Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.
|
bash about »
To physically damage something or assault someone.
|
be in for »
To be able to expect or anticipate; to be about to suffer, generally said of something unpleasant.
|
be on about »
Talk about; mean, intend.
|
beat around the bush »
To delay or avoid talking about something difficult or unpleasant.
|
bent on a splice »
About to be married.
|
bet dollars to donuts »
To suggest that something is very likely to be true or that one has a strong hunch about something.
|
better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness »
In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response than to complain about the situation.
|
bird's-eye view »
The view from directly or high above.
|
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.
|
boss about »
To act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.
|
breathe easy »
To relax or feel secure about something.
|
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.
|
bring about »
To cause to take place.
|
bring about »
To accomplish, achieve.
|
bring owls to Athens »
Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens. — Herbert Burkert.
|
bustle with »
To teem with; abound with; to exhibit an energetic and active abundance of a thing; to be full of a certain activity or active beings.
|
check out »
Used to draw attention to something and stimulate excitement about it.
|
come about »
To come to pass; to develop; to occur; to take place; to happen.
|
come about »
To tack; to change tack; to maneuver the bow of a sailing vessel across the wind so that the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other; to position a boat with respect to the wind after tacking.
|
come about »
happen
|
come out of the closet »
To tell others about homosexuality, bisexuality or any minority or disapproved-of belief, preference, etc., where previously this had been kept secret.
|
come to »
To stop a sailing vessel, especially by turning into the wind. See also come about.
|
come to think of it »
By the way; now that I think about it; indicates something brought to mind.
|
cook up »
To manufacture; to falsify; to devise an elaborate lie.
|
cry all the way to the bank »
To be happy due to the receipt of money, although expressing sorrow about the cause of such receipt.
|
cry wolf »
To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failing to get assistance when a real threat appears.
|
curiosity killed the cat »
One should not be curious about things that can be dangerous.
|
Do the best and live the rest »
First do your work with your 100% dont think about the result
|
don't cry over spilt milk »
It is no use worrying about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.
|
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 get me started »
About the subject currently being discussed.
|
don't go there »
Don't start talking about that.
|
down to the short strokes »
In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
|
drop a hint »
To reveal a clue or hint about something.
|
earn one's keep »
To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
|
enquire after »
To ask about the health of someone.
|
err on the side of caution »
To act in the least risky manner in a situation where one is uncertain about the consequences.
|
fall through »
To be unsuccessful, abort, come to nothing/naught; to be cancelled; not to proceed.
|
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.
|
fancypants »
Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.
|
feed a cold, starve a fever »
Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.
|
fine words butter no parsnips »
Talking about doing something does not get it done.
|
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
|
force someone's hand »
Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.
|
gandy dancer »
A railway laborer, especially a member of a crew which carries rails and affixes them to ties.
|
get cold feet »
To become nervous or anxious and reconsider a decision about an upcoming event.
|
go out »
To leave one's abode to go to public places.
|
God works in mysterious ways »
Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...
|
green about the gills »
Having the appearance of being ill.
|
gut factor »
Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.
|
hang about »
To stay, linger or loiter.
|
have one's head in the clouds »
To daydream; to think about matters other than the present reality.
|
have one's wits about one »
To remain calm, composed, or aware.
|
have second thoughts »
To change one's opinion, or be uneasy about a previous decision.
|
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.
|
head and shoulders »
"He was head and shoulders above the others in the law firm.".
|
head scratcher »
July 2002, Fox News - Attorney: Williams' Kids Near Compromise About Father's Remains.
|
here goes nothing »
Indicates a lack of confidence or certainty about the activity about to be tried.
|
hereinabove »
Above this, in this document.
|
hit the bricks »
To travel about, especially on foot.
|
hot on »
Knowledgeable about.
|
how's the weather »
An inquiry about the weather.
|
huckleberry above a persimmon »
Something better than something else.
|
hunger is a good sauce »
(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.
|
hunger is the best sauce »
Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.
|
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle »
(colloquial, vulgar, humorous) It is fruitless to speculate about counterfactual situations."We would have won the match if we'd had a decent goalkeeper.""And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle!"
|
inquire after »
To ask about the health of someone.
|
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 about time »
Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer considered to be long overdue.
|
jump about »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
|
jump about »
To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.
|
just about »
Almost.
|
keep mum »
Do not talk; especially keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.
|
keep quiet »
To refrain from talking about something; to keep a secret.
|
keep shtum »
Don't tell anyone; especially, keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.
|
keep up »
To ensure that one remains well-informed about something.
|
kick up a fuss »
To show annoyance, or to complain loudly about something, often when it is of little importance in reality.
|
kit and caboodle »
Everything entirely, the whole lot.
|
kit and kaboodle »
Everything; the lot.
|
knock about »
An informal game, usually football.
|
knock up »
To become exhausted or worn out; to fail of strength; to become wearied, as with labor; to give out.
|
know like the back of one's hand »
To be intimately knowledgeable about something, especially a place.
|
labor of love »
A task performed voluntarily without expectation of reimbursement; an altruistic work or undertaking.
|
lay about »
To strike blows in all directions.
|
lay about »
To set about, with infinitive or gerund.
|
life's not all skittles and beer »
Skittles and Beer refers to the carefree, indulgent bar life; skittles being a British pub game. Thus, life's not all skittles and beer means that not everything is about pleasure.
|
Living high on the hog »
Living richly, often above one's means
|
look back »
To reminisce about a past time.
|
look up »
To obtain information about something from a text source.
|
lower the boom on »
To terminate or abolish something.
|
make fun of »
To tease, ridicule or make jokes about.
|
make it snappy »
Do it quickly; be quick about it.
|
make no bones about »
To see no difficulty in, have no objection to.
|
man up »
To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.
|
man up »
To staff adequately; to staff up; to successfully fill all needed labor positions.
|
mark down »
To write a memorandum about.
|
mean the world to »
To be loved or cared about a great deal by.
|
monkey business »
Do your homework and forget about all this monkey business.
|
muck about »
To do random unplanned work or spend time idly.
|
muck about »
To do somethings with a piece of equipment when you do not understand how it works.
|
muck about »
To be playful; full of fun and high spirits.
|
muck around »
Means the same as muck about.
|
mull over »
To think deeply about something; to ponder, deliberate or ruminate.
|
no biggie »
Not a big deal, not something to worry about.
|
no news is good news »
A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.
|
no two ways about it »
No other possible action, choice or option.
|
none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
|
not leave one's thoughts »
Said when one keeps thinking about something.
|
nothing to write home about »
Not exceptional; not noteworthy or especially good.
|
off the chain »
Free from work or direct supervision. In reference to slave labor, where workers are chained, or to the figurative chain of workers of an assembly line.
|
on a whim »
Done without thinking seriously about the consequences.
|
on about »
Speaking about, talking of.
|
on top of »
Fully informed about, and in control of something; up to speed with.
|
open one's big mouth »
To speak about things, when it would be better to stay silent.
|
or so »
approximately; there abouts
|
out of sight, out of mind »
When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about.
|
pachyderm »
What others say about him or her.
|
play games »
To deceive, to lie about one's intentions.
|
pony in the barn »
An exciting and real prospect, something to be legitimately excited about.
|
potter about »
To potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner.
|
prawn cocktail offensive »
A strategy of the Labour Party in winning over important people in the world of finance.
|
private eye »
A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.
|
put a lid on it »
To be quiet; shut up; to stop talking about something or making noise.
|
put a stop to »
To terminate or abolish something.
|
put about »
To change direction.
|
put an end to »
To terminate or abolish something.
|
put the cat among the pigeons »
Professor Stephen Hawking put the cat among the pigeons last week with his cheery remarks about comet Machholz-2, which some astronomers believe could be heading our way. — The Times, 19 September 1994.
|
rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
|
reflect on »
To think carefully about something, and give it due consideration.
|
root around »
Alternative form of root about.
|
roses are red »
The start of a generic poem about love.
|
run about »
To be very busy doing many different things.
|
run around with »
To spend a lot of time with a person or group of people. Often used to talk about a person's group of friends that one does not like much.
|
scratch one's head »
To puzzle, ponder, or wonder about something.
|
sea legs »
The ability, when walking aboard ship, to anticipate the motion of the deck so as to walk steadily without losing balance.
|
see a man about a horse »
A message signaling one needs to go missing for a short while, for any reason, without giving a real explanation.
|
seize the day »
To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.
|
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".
|
shit happens »
Bad things happen, and there is nothing we can do about it.
|
Shittin in high cotton »
Living well, often above one's means
|
shoot oneself in the foot »
To deliberately sabotage an activity in order to avoid obligation, though it causes personal suffering. Origins in first world war trench warfare.
|
short strokes »
The final steps of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
|
slag off »
To talk insultingly to or about someone or something.
|
so-called »
Same as above, without the negative connotation.
|
soapbox »
A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.
|
song and dance »
An excessively elaborate story or excuse used to justify something.
|
sound off »
To hold forth about something in an opinionated manner.
|
sour grapes »
A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.
|
square meal »
A satisfying meal, especially suitable for one performing physical labor.
|
stand from under »
To escape something falling or being thrown from above.
|
stretch one's legs »
To walk about, especially after prolonged time sitting or lying down.
|
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof »
No need to worry about the future; the present provides enough to worry about.
|
swings and roundabouts »
Offsetting gains and losses.
|
switch off »
To lose interest, and start thinking about something else.
|
take a shot in the dark »
To try on something without having any knowledge about the subject.
|
take away »
To leave a memory or impression in one's mind that you think about later.
|
take one's time »
To go about something slowly and carefully.
|
talk out one's ass »
To speak authoritatively on a subject which one actually knows little about; to exaggerate.
|
talk the talk »
Speak like an expert, claim to be knowledgeable about something.
|
there's no accounting for taste »
When it comes to subjective matters of taste, people have wildly different opinions.Disagreements about matters of taste can't be objectively resolved.
|
think about »
To ponder.
|
three skips of a louse »
Said about some trifling or insignificant matter.
|
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
|
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.
|
throw enough mud at the wall, 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.2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at [1] on 02 Nov 06,Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at [2] on 02 Nov 06,Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at [3] on 02 Nov 06,I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at [6] on 02 Nov 06,They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isn
|
timing is everything »
Consideration of other events can greatly influence some desired outcome (such as an audience laughing to a comedian's joke).Telling the old joke about a butt-crack was not a good idea, just as the plumber arrived, Bob.You know what they say: "timing is everything." I'm sure we can find another plumber before the house floods.
|
to the tune of »
Roughly; about; as much as; to the sum of, to the extent of.
|
to thine own self be true »
The easiest person to deceive is oneself."This above all:to thine own self be true,and it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare
|
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
|
truth be told »
Used when admitting something one might otherwise lie about, e.g. to keep up appearances or be polite.
|
turnabout is fair play »
It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against him.
|
up on »
Well-informed about.
|
up-to-date »
Informed about the latest news or developments.
|
wade in »
To interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.
|
watch one's mouth »
To be careful about what one says, especially with regard to disrespectful or profane language.
|
wax lyrical »
To talk about something with much interest or excitement.
|
wear one's heart on one's sleeve »
To be extremely transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
|
willful ignorance »
A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.
|
wine tosser »
A person who talks a great deal about wine but actually knows very little.
|
wipe the slate clean »
To forget about previous differences and disagreements, and make a fresh start.
|
write up »
To write about positively.
|
you can't judge a book by its cover »
It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.
|
zone out »
To stop paying attention and think about something else, or to think about nothing.
|
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