amateur hour »
A situation or activity in which the participants show a lack of skill, sound judgment, or professionalism.
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bang about »
To make a lot of percussive noise while doing an activity.
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bang around »
To make a lot of percussive noise while doing an activity.
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birds and bees »
Informal sex education, especially describing the sexual activity of animals rather than that of people.
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brain-dead »
Having an irreversible loss of brain function and cessation of brain activity.
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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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business as usual »
The normal course of an activity, particularly in circumstances that are out of the ordinary.
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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.
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busy work »
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
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call it a day »
To cease the activity for the day.
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call it quits »
To conclude; to quit or stop an activity.
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center field »
A central role in some activity that requires speed.
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close up shop »
To shut down a shop; to end a business activity.
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cut out »
Well suited; appropriate; fit for a particular activity or purpose.
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even keel »
Of a business or other activity which is under control and running smoothly.
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f** this »
The phrase emphatically diminishes the activity or event referred to and expresses that the speaker will have no more to do with it.
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fits and starts »
Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.
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gear up »
To prepare for an activity.
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give over »
To devote oneself to a particular activity.
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good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
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goof off »
To dawdle; to engage in idle activity or inactivity.
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grass roots »
People and society at the local level rather than at the national centre of political activity.
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here goes nothing »
Indicates a lack of confidence or certainty about the activity about to be tried.
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hit the ground running »
To begin an activity immediately and with full commitment.
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holding pattern »
Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity.
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hot to trot »
Eager for sexual activity.
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hustle and bustle »
A large amount of activity and work, usually in a noisy surrounding.
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in business »
Engaged in business activity.
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in business »
Ready to proceed in a desired activity.
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jack in »
To stop doing a regular activity. Often a job or studies.
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jump rope »
A single jump in this game or activity, counted as a measure of achievement.
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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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jump rope »
The length of rope, sometimes with handles, casing or other additions, used in that activity.
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knock around »
To do a relaxing activity.
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lose one's touch »
To lose one's special mastery of or knack for a particular skill or activity.
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mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
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monkey business »
An activity that is considered silly, or stupid, or time-wasting.
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monkey business »
An activity that may be considered illegal, questionable, or a vice, but not felonious.
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mover and shaker »
Someone who has power and influence in some field or activity.
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of an »
Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.
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off one's game »
Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell.
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old hand »
A person who is experienced at a certain activity.
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on the fly »
Spontaneously or extemporaneously; done as one goes, or during another activity.
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piece of cake »
A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple to do.
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piffy on a rock bun »
A person ignored or sidelined from an activity.
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piss up a rope »
To engage in futile or impossible activity.
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pound sand »
To engage in a futile activity.
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practice makes perfect »
If one practices an activity enough, one will eventually master it.
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put a damper on »
To stop people from enjoying an activity.
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quiet down »
To reduce intensity of an activity.
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quieten down »
To reduce intensity of an activity.
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rag the puck »
To proceed slowly at any activity in order to use up time; to stall for time.
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rat race »
An activity or situation which is congested with participants and which is hectic or tedious, especially in the context of a busy, modern urban lifestyle.
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shape up or ship out »
To either improve one's behavior or else be required to leave; to either improve one's performance in an activity or else withdraw from that activity completely.
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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.
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sigh of relief »
A reassurance or support, something that reduces stress from an arduous activity.
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spectator sport »
A sporting activity which has a relatively high ratio of watchers to direct participants.
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spectator sport »
An activity which consists of watching or observing.
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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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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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stir-crazy »
By extension, restless, uncomfortable, or impatient due to inactivity.
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take five »
To take a five-minute break from some activity, take a short break from some activity.
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task force »
A group of people working towards a particular task, project, or activity, especially assigned in a particular capacity.
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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 shooting match »
Everything; the entire collection, endeavor, or activity.
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tilt at windmills »
To go on a wild goose chase; to persistently engage in a futile activity.
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time out »
To call for a suspension of activity or conversation.
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too hot to hold »
A place that has too much police activity to harbor a fugitive unnoticed.
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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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wet blanket »
A person who takes the fun out of a situation or activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.
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whistle Dixie »
To engage in a pointless or unproductive activity; to do something without resolve, seriousness or commitment.
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yak shaving »
Any apparently useless activity which, by allowing you to overcome intermediate difficulties, allows you to solve a larger problem.
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