a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
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a pull of the hair for being unfair »
The general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".
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accident of birth »
Reference to the fact that various benefits or detriments to the life of a person arise from the circumstances into which that person was born, these being entirely beyond his control.
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all things being equal »
Without considering or being affected by external factors.
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almighty dollar »
The dollar, satirically characterized as a being a god.
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any press is good press »
Being mentioned in the media is beneficial to the subject because it gets publicity.
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at hand »
Being at the moment the center of attention or the cause of trouble.
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back away »
Of your attention on the thing in front being avoided.
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barrel »
The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31 1/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds; of beer 31 gallons; of ale 32 gallons; of crude oil 42 gallons.
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beat up »
To cause by some other means, injuries comparable to the result of being beaten up.
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blow away »
To be dispersed as a result of being blown.
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break ground »
To lift off the sea bottom when being weighed.
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bridge »
A valence bond, atom or chain of atoms that connects two different parts of a molecule; the atoms so connected being bridgeheads.
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bundle of energy »
The energy associated with being lively, continually active, or industrious.
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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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carry a torch for »
[2] To harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.
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catch-as-catch-can »
A. 1681, John Fryer, Richard Chiswell, Robert Roberts, Robert White, A New Account of East-India and Persia, in Eight Letters, Being Nine Years Travels, Begun 1672 and Finished 1681.
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chopped liver »
A person or object which is not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.
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claim to fame »
That for which one has bragging rights; one's reason for being well-known or famous.
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collect one's thoughts »
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.
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dead as a doornail »
Unquestionably dead. Used for both inanimate objects and once living beings.
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death by spellcheck »
The problems caused by spellcheckers being incapable of correcting most homophone confusions.
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does Macy's tell Gimbel's »
(US, dated, colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question with the implied answer being that competitors do not share business secrets with one another.
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don't get me started »
About the subject currently being discussed.
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drown out »
To cover, obscure, or hide by being louder than.
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dyed-in-the-wool »
Dyed before being formed into cloth.
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early bath »
Being shown a red card in soccer.
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ears are burning »
Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.
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fall apart »
To break into pieces through being in a dilapidated state.
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fancypants »
Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.
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fear »
Extreme veneration or awe, as toward a supreme being or deity.
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feel up to »
To be confident in being able to do something.
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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
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for the nonce »
For the time being, with the expectation that the situation may change.
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for the record »
For the purpose of being recorded.
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for the time being »
Temporarily; until later.
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four score and seven years ago »
As an opener, a sometimes sarcastic indicator to indicate a past event being mentioned is particularly important.
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fruit of the poisonous tree »
And which is therefore excluded from being admitted as evidence in a trial.
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full as a goog »
Having eaten too much, or being drunk.
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get a grip »
To relax; to calm down; to stop being angry; to come to one's senses or become more rational.
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get off »
To move from being on top of to not being on top of it.
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get off »
To move to not being on top of it.
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go from zero to hero »
To become very popular after being unpopular.
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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...
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green about the gills »
Having the appearance of being ill.
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gunshy »
Being afraid to use a gun.
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gunshy »
Fearing the consequences of repeating an act, especially after being reprimanded.
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haste makes waste »
One makes mistakes when being too hasty.
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hear the grass grow »
To hear very well due to being in an exceptionally quiet environment.
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high cotton »
The best of times; a time of well being.
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hot potato »
A child's game in which players pass a ball or other item between them, with the object of avoiding being left holding the item when time expires.
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humble pie »
Humility, being humble.
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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.
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hunger is the best sauce »
Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.
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idiot light »
Any warning light or indicator on the dashboard of a car, designed to alert the driver of problems, such as the parking brake being on or the oil being low.
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if it ain't broke, don't fix it »
Leave something alone; avoid correcting, fixing, or improving what is already sufficient, as it could end up being detrimental
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in for a dime, in for a dollar »
Americanised form of in for a penny, in for a pound.1983, Allen Drury, Decision, p. 356:In for a dime, in for a dollar, he thought crazily, and said what he had to say in a voice he forced to stay level and calm.1998, Ellen Miller, Like Being Killed, p. 47:In for a dime, in for a dollar. I whispered to Gerry,
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in the making »
In development; in the process of being made.
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in the works »
Being planned or worked upon.
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jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in dancing. Often applied to people being funny or showy.
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jump about »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
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jump about »
To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.
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jump around »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
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jump around »
To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.
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jump to conclusions »
Make conclusions before being presented with all the evidence.
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keep one's eye on the ball »
My ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.
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keep out »
After being warned, he kept out.
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kill off »
To represent or portray as being dead.
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lame joke »
An attempt at humor which is perceived to have been used previously to the point of being cliche, or was never funny to begin with.
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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.
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live in sin »
To cohabit as if man and wife without being married.
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long ways, long lies »
Someone who comes back from a far-off country can tell lies without fear of being contradicted.
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made in the shade »
In a condition characterized by comfort, success, easy living, or general well-being.
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naked ape »
A human being.
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off chance »
A condition of not being likely or probable.
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on hold »
On reserve; being held for someone.
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on ice »
Not being used, or not to be used e.g.
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on one's feet »
Being stable or capable, especially in a financial or emotional sense.
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on one's feet »
Being standing up.
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on one's feet »
Being well again after a bout of illness.
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on one's hands »
Being one's liability or responsibility; with which one is lumbered.
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on the anvil »
Refers to anything in the making, being created, or in production, especially in the metalworking field.
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on the ball »
Being in control of the ball.
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out of line »
Inappropriate or unsuitable, especially by reason of being unmannerly or indelicate.
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pencil whip »
To approve a document without actually knowing or reviewing what it is that is being approved.
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pipe down »
To be quiet; to refrain from being noisy.
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plead the fifth »
To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
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powers that be »
The holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially as seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.
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pull oneself together »
To become mentally focused after a period of being unfocused.
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rest his soul »
Used parenthetically to mark the referent as being deceased.
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rise from the ashes »
To make a comeback after a long hiatus. To come back into common use or practice. To come back into popularity. To come back to being a thing of today.
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run into »
To blend into; to be followed by or adjacent to without there being a clear boundary.
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safe and sound »
Having come to no harm, especially after being exposed to danger.
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see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
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short fuse »
The personality trait of being quick to anger.
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short temper »
The personality trait of being quick to anger.
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sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
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silver-tongue »
The trait of being clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
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sneak off »
To leave a place, or a meeting, without being seen or heard.
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sneak up »
To approach a person or animal without being seen or heard.
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sneak up on »
To approach a person or animal without being seen or heard.
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social death »
The alienation of certain people from society to the point of being forgotten, excluded, or ignored in society.
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stand from under »
To escape something falling or being thrown from above.
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stars in one's eyes »
The state of being overly or extremely impressed with something; enchanted with romance.
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sticking at nothing »
Being ruthless
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stiff upper lip »
The quality of being resolute and showing self-restraint, associated with stereotypical British people.
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sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
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take away »
To prevent, or limit, someone from being somewhere, or from doing something.
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tempus fugit »
time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.
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toss-upness »
The quality of being a toss-up, usually used in reference to a toss-up state in American presidential elections.
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try out »
To undergo a test before being selected for a team etc.
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turn in one's grave »
To be appalled, offended or disgusted by something, despite being deceased.
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under pressure »
Being subjected to physical pressure.
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up to no good »
Misbehaving, being mischievous.
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victory at sea »
Ocean conditions very windblown and messy, possibly to the point of being inimical to surfing and other water sports.
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vote with one's feet »
To show support for something by going to or otherwise being present somewhere.
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walls have ears »
There is a risk of being heard, so pay attention to what you say.
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washed out »
Of clothes. When they lose some of their original colour from being washed so often.
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wear off »
To disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused.
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wear rose-colored glasses »
To see the positive in things while being oblivious to the negative.
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you can't get a quart into a pint pot »
What is being discussed is not possible.They've asked me to get to New York by five o'clock, but you can't get a quart into a pint pot!
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you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone »
It is advantageous not to rely solely on being nice.
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