a cold day in Hell »
An event that will never happen.
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a day late and a dollar short »
Action that was taken too late and too feeble to be of any use.
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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!
|
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".
|
a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
|
a stopped clock is right twice a day »
A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.
|
abide by »
To accept a decision or law and act in accordance with it; to conform to; to acquiesce; as, to abide by an award.
|
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.
|
according to Hoyle »
In strict accordance with the rules, especially of card games; in the proper or expected manner.
|
ad fontes »
Go to the sources: An expression emphasizing the importance of conducting fundamental research and of consulting primary sources.
|
adams ale »
water
|
albatross »
Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
|
all cats are gray at night »
Variant of all cats are grey in the dark.
|
all cats are gray in the dark »
Variant of all cats are grey in the dark.
|
all cats are grey at night »
Variant of all cats are grey in the dark.
|
all cats are grey in the dark »
In the dark, physical appearance is unimportant.
|
all holiday »
A saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded to/.
|
all in a day's work »
A nonchalant dismissal of a significant accomplishment.
|
all the way to Egery and back »
The long way; a roundabout route; a long distance to travel.
|
all things come to those who wait »
(dated) A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.
|
an apple a day »
Healthy eating and living using traditional temperate-zone fresh foods.
|
an apple a day keeps the doctor away »
Apples are healthy and stave off illness.Eat healthy and you won't get sick.
|
Apa Sâmbetei »
Saturday's waters.
|
apple does not fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient
|
Après-ski »
A place "after skiing". Typically a bar or pub where people go after a day on the slopes to ease off and meet other people.
|
around Robin Hood's barn »
The long way around; a roundabout or circuitous route.
|
ash wednesday »
first day of lent
|
ask out »
To invite somebody, especially on a date.
|
at heart »
In spirit; according to one's beliefs, views or feelings; deep down, really, fundamentally.
|
at stake »
In danger; hazarded; pledged; at risk.
|
at the end of the day »
In summary; ultimately.
|
back in the day »
In the past; at one time, especially a time which is fondly remembered.
|
bad penny »
A counterfeit or damaged penny.
|
balloon goes up »
Something exciting or dangerous begins.
|
balum rancum »
A hop or dance, where the women are all prostitutes. N. B. The company dance in their birthday suits.
|
bang up cove »
A dashing fellow who spends his money freely.
|
bankers' hours »
Any easy job, especially one with a short working day.
|
banyan day »
In British naval tradition, this originally referred to a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.
|
banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
|
bash about »
To physically damage something or assault someone.
|
beauty is in the eye of the beholder »
Individuals have different inclinations on what is beautiful. Individuals have different beauty standards.
|
beddable »
Sexually attractive.
|
beddable »
[...] feminine, great body great legs great taste, trained and beddable, Jesus, how beddable.
|
beggars can't be choosers »
(proverb) When resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts.
|
below par »
Not up to the average or normal standard.
|
belt and suspenders »
Redundant systems, affording mutual backup in the event of one failing.
|
better an egg today than a hen tomorrow »
It is better to have a sure thing now than a possibility of more later.
|
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.
|
between a rock and a hard place »
Having the choice between two unpleasant or distasteful options; in a predicament or quandary.
|
big daddy »
Something or someone of importance.
|
big enchilada »
A very important person, especially the highest-ranking individual in an organization.
|
big enchilada »
Some item of high value, especially a top prize or reward.
|
birthday suit »
Nakedness; a lack of clothing.
|
bit on the side »
Secondary lover, mistress.
|
black »
Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and colourless.
|
blame Canada »
A catch phrase for shifting attention away from a serious social issue by laying responsibility with Canada.
|
blind date »
A romantic meeting between two people who have never met before.
|
blot one's copy book »
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
|
bog standard »
Especially plain, ordinary, or unremarkable; having no special, excess or unusual features; plain vanilla.
|
born yesterday »
New, naive, innocent, inexperienced or easily deceived.
|
bounce back »
To recover from a negative without seemingly any damage.
|
bread and butter »
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
|
break up »
Of a telephone conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection.
|
brickbat »
Reason Magazine: Daily Brickbat[1].
|
bridge »
Any of several electrical devices that measure characteristics such as impedance and inductance by balancing different parts of a circuit.
|
bright-line rule »
A clearly defined rule or standard, comprised of objective factors, which leaves little or no room for varying interpretation.
|
brighten up »
Brighten up my day.
|
bring owls to Athens »
To undertake a pointless venture, one that is redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical.
|
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.
|
bump and grind »
A sexually suggestive dance involving exaggerated hip movements, especially a striptease dance.
|
bunk off »
We all bunked off school yesterday to watch the football.
|
bunny hop »
A dance from the big band era, a variation of the conga.
|
bunny hug »
A style of dance.
|
bury the lead »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
|
bury the lede »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
|
busman's holiday »
A holiday or vacation during which you do the same thing that you do for your usual work.
|
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.
|
call it a day »
To cease the activity for the day.
|
call it a day »
To retire.
|
calling card »
A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.
|
Cannon fodder »
Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.
|
carpe diem »
seize the day, make the most of today, enjoy the present
|
carpe diem cras »
seize the day tomorrow, make the most of tomorrow
|
carry coals to Newcastle »
To do something that is unneeded or redundant.
|
cash cow »
Someone or something which is a dependable source of appreciable amounts of money; a moneymaker.
|
cast aspersions »
To make damaging or spiteful remarks.
|
castle in the air »
A visionary project or scheme; a day-dream; an idle fancy; a pipe dream; any plan, desire, or idea that is unlikely to be ever realized; a near impossibility.
|
cat in the meal-tub »
Something concealed; a hidden danger.
|
catch on »
To become popular; to become commonplace; to become the standard.
|
caucus race »
The competitive process in which a political party selects their candidate, esp. presidential; a primary election via caucus.
|
chicken out »
To shy away from a daring task; to decline, refuse, or avoid something due to fear or uncertainty.
|
close shave »
A near accident or mishap; a dangerous or risky encounter or incident.
|
coals to Newcastle »
A pointless venture, in the sense of sending something to a place where it's made, or where they already have an abundance.
|
come down to us »
To survive to the present day; to be extant in some form.
|
come short »
Fail to meet (expectations or standards)
|
common or garden variety »
Ordinary, standard. Nothing special.
|
common-and-garden »
Ordinary, standard.
|
common-or-garden »
Ordinary, standard.
|
consume mass quantities »
To eat or drink abundant amounts of food or beverage.
|
cop-out »
Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
|
crack of dawn »
The first moment of daylight; sunrise.
|
crane fly »
daddy longlegs
|
cross the line »
To overstep a boundary, rule, or limit; to go too far or do something unacceptable.
|
curiosity killed the cat »
One should not be curious about things that can be dangerous.
|
cut a rug »
To dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half of the twentieth century.
|
cut in »
Especially, to dance with someone who is already dancing by replacing his or her partner.
|
cut somebody some slack »
To be patient or lenient with somebody; to relax standards or expectations.
|
daily grind »
The difficult, routine, or monotonous tasks of daily work.
|
damn by association »
Discredit or condemn a position, person, or thing by attacking those things with which he/she/it is associated.
|
damn the torpedoes »
Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.
|
damn with faint praise »
To provide praise that is so minimal or inconsequential as to actually amount to criticism.
|
damned if one does and damned if one doesn't »
A dilemma where either choice results in a negative outcome.
|
damp squib »
A firework that fails to go off, due to wetting.
|
damp squib »
Anything that doesn’t work properly, or fails to come up to expectations..
|
damson jam »
fruit preserve
|
dar brincos »
To jump, leap.
|
dark horse »
A candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.
|
dark horse »
An unexpected success.
|
darken somebody's doorstep »
To enter somebody else's home uninvited.
|
darn tootin' »
Absolute, utter, complete, very.
|
darn tootin' »
Absolutely correct; speaking the truth.
|
dash off »
To leave a place quickly or briefly.
|
dash off »
To write quickly or informally.
|
date with destiny »
An inevitable future event or encounter, especially one which is likely to be momentous.
|
dawn of a new day »
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
|
dawn on »
To occur to somebody; to be realized.
|
day and age »
A time period of years or more.
|
day and night »
All the time; round the clock; unceasingly.
|
day in, day out »
Every day; daily; constantly or continuously; especially, of something that has become routine or monotonous.
|
day nursery »
creche
|
day one »
The very beginning.
|
day out »
An excursion, returning home on the same day.
|
daylight robbery »
An exorbitant charge for a product or service.
|
days »
Life.
|
days »
Plural form of day.
|
dead as a dodo »
That has become out of date.
|
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.
|
deep down »
Fundamentally; in essence; in reality; really.
|
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.
|
devil's advocate »
A canon lawyer appointed by the Church to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate.
|
dimber damber upright man »
The chief of a gang of thieves or gypsies.
|
do a number on »
To damage; to treat harshly; to produce ill effects.
|
do one's damnedest »
To do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way.
|
do one's darnedest »
To do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way.
|
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.
|
don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly »
Driving (a vehicle) very fast is a dangerous act.
|
don't give up your day job »
Implying that they could not earn a living from it without other regular employment.
|
don't shit where you eat »
(idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.1998 April 14, Nelson Navarro, "Ever faithful, ever true," Manila Standard (Philippines) (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.2003 Oct. 8, Jonathan Valania, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy," Philadelphia Weekly (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.2006 Sept. 19, Michael Musto, "NY Mirror," Village Voice (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.
|
double cream »
dairy product
|
double Dutch »
A date where both man and woman pay for their portion of the bill.
|
double up »
To have a secondary use.
|
drag one's feet »
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
|
drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »
(idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.
|
draw stumps »
To cease doing something, at least for the day.
|
draw stumps »
To declare an end to the days play, and remove the bails and sometimes the stumps.
|
draw the line »
To set a boundary, rule, or limit, especially on what one will tolerate.
|
drill down »
To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.
|
drip »
To have a superabundance of valuable things. Usually followed by "with".
|
drug on the market »
Something which is overabundant at the moment and thus not in demand.
|
embarrassment of riches »
An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.
|
every day is a school day »
You learn something new every day.
|
every dog has its day »
Everyone has a time of success and satisfaction.
|
fall apart »
To break into pieces through being in a dilapidated state.
|
far be it »
Pewtey in Marriage Guidance Counselor from And Now For Something Completely Different.
|
fat of the land »
The greatest part of anything; the finest and most abundant share of resources; the cream of the crop.
|
fear »
A strong, uncontrollable, unpleasant emotion caused by actual or perceived danger or threat.
|
feast or famine »
A situation in which something is always either extremely abundant or in extremely short supply.
|
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.
|
fencepost problem »
In computer programming, a problem dealing with how to treat the initial or boundary values of a discrete problem.
|
field day »
A day of class taken away from school for a field trip.
|
field day »
A great time or a great deal to do, at somebody else's expense.
|
field day »
A great time or a great deal to do.
|
field day »
A parade day.
|
field day »
A school day for athletic events; a sports day.
|
field day »
Top-to-bottom all-hands cleaning.
|
final cut »
A group, after a selection process getting rid of other candidates.
|
flogging the land »
Damaging agricultural land through excessive grazing or clearing.
|
forbidden fruit »
The fruit forbidden to Adam.
|
four score and seven years ago »
87 years prior to today.
|
fourth wall »
The boundary between the fiction and the audience.
|
fox in the henhouse »
A relationships wherein a predator is granted free reign within the prey's home confinement, often used in the political sense.
|
from here to Sunday »
Everywhere; all over the place.
|
from my cold, dead hands »
A statement that something will not be taken away from you until the day you die.
|
from the ground up »
From the beginning; starting with the basics, foundation, or fundamentals.
|
fruit of one's loins »
C. 1950, Kay Boyle, "Adam's Death" in Fifty Stories , ISBN 9780811212069, p. 541.
|
gandy dancer »
A railway laborer, especially a member of a crew which carries rails and affixes them to ties.
|
garbage in, garbage out »
(computing, information technology) If input data is not complete, accurate, and timely, then the resulting output is unreliable and of no useful value.1963, Raymond Crowley, "Robot Tax Collector Seeks Indications of 'Fudging'," Times Daily (Alabama, USA), 1 April (retrieved 26 July 2010):Officials explained that the quality of the computer's work depends on the quality of the data fed into it. Neil Hoke, administrative assistant to Stewart, quoted an adage of computer men: "Garbage in, garbage out."2008, Roger K. Lewis, "'In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software," Washington Post, 19 July (retrieved 26 July 2010):The old caveat "GIGO"
|
get off »
To complete a shift or a day's work.
|
get out of bed on the wrong side »
To start the day in a bad mood for no apparent reason.
|
get out of Dodge »
To leave; in particular to leave a difficult or dangerous environment with all possible haste.
|
giant panda »
chinese animal
|
give a man a fish »
Shortened form of give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime
|
give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime »
It is more worthwhile to teach someone to do something, than to do something for them.
|
give and take »
A process of compromise or accommodation.
|
give ear »
Dante Gabriel Rosetti, A Death-Parting, lines 5-6.
|
give the time of day »
To acknowledge somebody; to give somebody any respect or attention.
|
go blue »
Of states and counties, to be carried by a Democratic candidate in a given U.S. election.
|
go out with »
Date, be involved in a romantic relationship with.
|
go red »
Of states or counties, to be carried by a Republican candidate in a given U.S. election.
|
going rate »
The current standard or usual price, rate, or salary for something.
|
gold standard »
A monetary system where the value of circulating money is linked to the value of gold.
|
gold standard »
A test or measure of comparison that is considered ultimate or ideal.
|
golden rule »
A fundamental rule or principle.
|
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 riddance »
Used to indicate that a departure, or loss is welcome.
|
goof off »
To dawdle; to engage in idle activity or inactivity.
|
grass roots »
The essential foundation or source of something.
|
great dane »
dog
|
greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
|
ground rules »
The basic rules or standards; whatever someone must know before proceeding.
|
halcyon days »
A period of calm, often nostalgic: “halcyon days of yore”, “halcyon days of youth”..
|
halcyon days »
Period of calm during the winter, when storms do not occur.
|
handbags at dawn »
A catty squabble.
|
hang by a thread »
To be in danger, calling for precise caution. To be in a precarious situation.
|
hang out to dry »
To abandon someone who is in need or in danger.
|
hang up one's boots »
Retire, call it a day.
|
have egg on one's face »
To suffer embarrassment or humiliation; to damage one's reputation.
|
have one's head in the clouds »
To daydream; to think about matters other than the present reality.
|
head scratcher »
December 2007, W:Daily News Tribune - Golden Globes nominations a head-scratcher.
|
high noon »
Exactly noon; midday; the middle of the day.
|
horizontal dancing »
Sexual intercourse.
|
hot cross buns »
good friday cakes
|
hot spot »
dangerous place; accident place
|
house of cards »
A structure or argument built on a shaky foundation.
|
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.
|
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.
|
in all my born days »
Ever.
|
in broad daylight »
In a blatant and publicly visible manner.
|
in broad daylight »
In ample natural illumination, during the daytime.
|
in order »
In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body.
|
in the dark »
Without information.
|
in the dark »
Without light; somewhere that is dark.
|
in the loop »
Informed; up to date; current; part of the discussion.
|
in the running »
Of a candidate, potential or likely; worthy of consideration.
|
in this day and age »
In the current time period of years.
|
jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in dancing. Often applied to people being funny or showy.
|
keep an eye open »
To maintain vigilance for a possibly dangerous situation.
|
keep somebody posted »
To inform or to keep somebody up to date.
|
key off »
To take as a controlling input datum.
|
knight in shining armor »
A person who will rescue a dangerous situation; a hero.
|
knock the living daylights out of »
To knock out; to hit and cause to be unconscious.
|
knock up »
In the morning as by knocking at the door; rouse; call; summon; also, to go door-to-door on election day to persuade a candidate's supporters to go to the polling station and vote. See also knocker up.
|
knock-on effect »
A secondary, often unintended effect.
|
latter day »
modern
|
lay off »
made redundant
|
lay the groundwork »
To create a foundation; to provide the basics or fundamentals.
|
lead a charmed life »
To always be lucky and safe from danger.
|
leap year »
Period of 366 days
|
legwork »
Skillful or vigorous use of the legs, as in dance or sports.
|
lemonize »
To damage something and then deny or be aloof from the damage.
|
less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
|
life's a bitch »
An expression of acceptance of misfortune.1950, Joy Davidman, Weeping Bay, page 184:She'd have been willing enough to use them, poor dead little bitch. Life's a bitch. Life's a bad joke.
|
lion »
The arms of the University of the West Indies are Barry wavy of six Argent and Azure an open Book proper bound Gules garnished Or on a Chief of the third a Lion passant guardant Erminois. Crest: A Pelican proper. . See talk page.
|
lion's den »
Any dangerous or frightening place.
|
loaded for bear »
Mentally prepared for a daunting situation or confrontation.
|
look daggers »
To stare sharply at someone to indicate disapproval without actually speaking.
|
Loose cannon »
A cannon that breaks loose during battle or a storm and causes serious damage to the ship and its crew.
|
Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
|
lose the plot »
To have one's results decline severely in quality or suddenly fall below an acceptable standard, especially when compared to past excellence.
|
make someone's day »
To make someone happy or to be a source of satisfaction.
|
make the cut »
To succeed; to be chosen out of a field of candidates or possibilities.
|
mandare a monte »
To mess up, to ruin.
|
many happy returns »
A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!.
|
mend fences »
To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.
|
mess up »
To damage; injure.
|
miner's canary »
A caged bird kept caged in mines because its demise provided a warning of dangerous levels of toxic gases.
|
miner's canary »
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
|
miners' canary »
A caged bird kept caged in mines because its demise provided a warning of dangerous levels of toxic gases.
|
miners' canary »
Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
|
month of Sundays »
A very long time; too long.
|
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.
|
move one's body »
To dance.
|
move the goalposts »
To alter the agreed basis, scope, standards or target of a procedure or task during its course, especially to do so to someone's advantage.
|
my arse »
Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
my eye »
Expression of disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
my foot »
Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
|
never in a month of Sundays »
At no time whatsoever.
|
never in a month of Sundays »
Never in a month of Sundays would I have imagined that you'd be this tall in real life!.
|
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.
|
nine day wonder »
Something that generates interest for a limited time and is then abandoned.
|
nine lives »
Durability; near immunity to damage.
|
noarch »
Short for "no architecture". It is a term used mainly in package management systems to mark packages which are architecture independent. Such packages usually contain graphics, documentation or similar data that can be used on any architecture.
|
nuts and bolts »
The basic, inner workings of something; the fundamentals or basics; that which makes something operate, on a basic level.
|
odd and curious »
A way to designate special coins, namely coins that are both odd and imperfect or seriously damaged.
|
of an »
Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.
|
off the radar »
Unlikely to happen, or be important in the near future or tending to escape detection or attention.
|
off the rails »
In an abnormal manner, especially in a manner that causes damage or malfunctioning.
|
offer affordances »
To give elbow room or leeway for something to happen.
|
oh dark hundred »
Some unspecified hour in the early morning.
|
oh dark thirty »
Some unspecified hour in the early morning.
|
old school »
Characteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.
|
on thin ice »
In a dangerous, hazardous, or delicate situation; at risk.
|
one of those days »
A bad day.
|
one's days are numbered »
Some period of time, such as a term of employment or a lifetime, is coming to an end.
|
other days, other ways »
People of the past thought and acted differently.
|
out of date »
Not current, outmoded, out of style, or too old to be used.
|
out of sight »
You better stay out of sight for a few days.
|
out of the loop »
Not informed up to date; current; not kept part of the discussion.
|
out to lunch »
Away eating lunch or for a midday break; especially, away from work or a job.
|
outsider »
A competitor or contestant who has little chance of winning; a long shot; a dark horse.
|
ox is in the ditch »
This is a big problem; there is unavoidable or demanding work ahead.
|
party animal »
A person known for frequent, enthusiastic attendance at parties, especially one whose partying behavior is exuberant or excessive.
|
party pooper »
Someone who unnecessarily dampens fun.
|
pass muster »
To measure up to a particular standard.
|
pinch and a punch for the first of the month »
Said the first day of a new month, accompanied by a pinch and a punch to the victim.
|
play the field »
To date more than one person at the same time.
|
plus »
(literally) The more it changes, the more it's the same thing (sometimes loosely translated as the more things change, the more they stay the same).Although the outward appearance may change, fundamentals are constant.
|
present day »
current
|
proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
|
pull teeth »
To remove teeth, usually because they are diseased or damaged.
|
pull up stumps »
To cease doing something, at least for the day.
|
pushing up daisies »
Dead.
|
put a damper on »
To stop people from enjoying an activity.
|
put across »
To explain or state something clearly and understandably.
|
put one foot in front of the other »
To walk, decomposed to stress the fundamentality of the task.
|
put the pedal to the metal »
To exert maximum effort.
|
put the pedal to the metal »
To press the gas pedal to the maximum extent.
|
put up »
To cajole or dare to do something.
|
rain check »
To provide a service at a later date.
|
rainy day »
A difficult period of need, when things do not go right.
|
raise one's hand »
To dare to question.
|
raise the bar »
To raise standards or expectations, especially by creating something to a higher standard.
|
read out »
To read some data and inform the person using the device.
|
red letter day »
Usually very positive, sometimes very negative.
|
rediscover fire »
To relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.
|
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.
|
road to Damascus »
A road to Damascus moment, or change, is an important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
|
road to Damascus »
That was my Road to Damascus moment. They played one hit after another and this is the song I remember most clearly.
|
roadwarrior »
A person who carries a mobile device such as a laptop or PDA and uses wireless internet connections to work.
|
Rome wasn't built in a day »
It takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive.
|
round the clock »
Nonstop, 24 hours per day.
|
rub off on »
To adapt to a way of behaving after constant exposure to it.
|
rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
run into »
To blend into; to be followed by or adjacent to without there being a clear boundary.
|
run roughshod over »
To treat roughly or without care, respect, or moderation; to act without control; to damage.
|
rush hour »
The times of the day when traffic jams are commonplace, due mainly to people commuting to or from work.
|
safe and sound »
Having come to no harm, especially after being exposed to danger.
|
save the day »
To rescue the situation.
|
second banana »
A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.
|
second banana »
A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.
|
see you next Tuesday »
A euphemism for cunt.
|
seize the day »
To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.
|
seize the day »
To make the most of today by achieving fulfillment in a philosophical or spiritual sense.
|
sell-by date »
The final date on which a perishable product can be legally sold to the public.
|
sell-by date »
Used to indicate that something, or someone, is old and out of date.
|
shake the pagoda tree »
To find a source of easy enrichment; to become absurdly rich in a short time.
|
shit or get off the pot »
To choose between taking action now, or foregoing the opportunity until a later date.
|
shoo-in »
A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.
|
shore up »
To strengthen, reinforce, or consolidate.
|
shot in the dark »
A guess, attempt, or choice made with little or no evidence or knowledge.
|
shrinking violet »
A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.
|
sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
|
sit out »
To decline to participate; particularly, to decline to dance.
|
skate on thin ice »
In a risky, potentially dangerous or delicate situation.
|
sleep on »
To consider after a period of sleep, implying a decision will be made the next day.
|
sleep on it »
To postpone a decision until the following day to avoid making a hasty choice.
|
smear campaign »
An effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda.
|
smell the barn »
To experience heightened anticipation or to act with renewed speed or energy as one approaches a destination, goal, or other desired outcome, like a livestock animal at day's end returning to its barn.
|
so far so good »
Up to this point, all is OK.Well, you've packed your bags for the holiday, bought your tickets, reserved the hotel and put the dog in kennels. So far so good, now let's get to Minorca without any troubles.
|
soft shoe »
A kind of tap dancing performed in soft-soled shoes, popular in vaudeville.
|
soft touch »
A person or group which is sympathetic, accommodating, easily overcome, or easily persuaded, especially one which loans or readily gives money to another.
|
some days you get the bear, other days the bear gets you »
One cannot always overcome a powerful adversary.
|
song and dance »
An excessively complex set of instructions.
|
song and dance »
An excessively elaborate story or excuse used to justify something.
|
sour grapes »
A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.
|
spare tyre »
An extra tyre carried in case one of the vehicle's tyres is damaged or deflated.
|
special needs »
Needs for special care, services or accommodations.
|
standard fare »
Menu items or dining options which are regularly available in a restaurant or other place where food is served.
|
standard fare »
Something which is normal, routine, or unexceptional; something which is commonly provided or encountered.
|
standard fare »
The usual price for travel by air, rail, or another means of transport.
|
step out »
To date, to be in a romantic relationship.
|
stepping razor »
A dangerous person, who is not to be messed with.
|
sticks and stones »
Evocative of the saying "sticks and stones may (or will) break my bones, but words (or names) will never hurt (or harm) me".1957, Brendan Gill, The Day the Money Stopped
|
straight out of the chute »
Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.
|
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof »
No need to worry about the future; the present provides enough to worry about.
|
swim with sharks »
To operate among dangerous people.
|
swings and roundabouts »
Offsetting gains and losses.
|
sword and sandal »
Of or pertaining to a genre of books or films relating fantasy-adventure tales involving heroic exploits in ancient or biblical times.
|
take a shot in the dark »
To try on something without having any knowledge about the subject.
|
take its toll »
To affect, especially negatively; to damage or degrade; to cause destruction.
|
take sides »
To ally oneself with a given opinion, agenda or group; to support one side or viewpoint in a competition or confrontation.
|
take something in one's stride »
Not to allow oneself to be set back, daunted, upset or embarrassed by unpleasant or undesirable circumstances.
|
take the piss »
Everyone takes the piss out of the bankers these days.
|
take to »
To adapt to; to learn, grasp or master.
|
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.
|
talking head »
A pundit who discusses issues of the day, especially one on TV.
|
tear up »
To damage.
|
that'll be the day »
Said in reply to something that one believes will never happen.
|
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.
|
the other day »
Recently; lately; a few days ago.
|
think tank »
A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government.
|
three-martini lunch »
A leisurely, expensive, midday meal associated with drinking, which is tax-deductible because business is discussed.
|
through and through »
Completely; entirely; fundamentally.
|
throw a sickie »
To take a day off from work, supposedly because of ill health. The illness could be either real or feigned.
|
throw away »
To place a son or daughter for adoption.
|
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
|
throw one's hat in the ring »
To announce one's candidacy in a contest.
|
throw to the wolves »
To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.
|
to date »
Until now; until the present time.
|
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
|
today we are all »
An expression indicating that the speaker empathizes with members of an identifiable group that was the subject of a disaster, and projects that others empathize as well.
|
today we are all »
August 12, 2008:, Robert Barnes, "McCain to Georgian President: "Today, We Are All Georgians"", Washington Post.
|
today we are all »
March 11, 2004: Denis MacShane, Guardian Unlimited.
|
today we are all »
September 12, 2001: Jean-Marie Colombani, "Today, We Are All Americans", Le Monde.
|
tomato tomato »
Uses insignificant pronunciation difference to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
|
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
|
touch-and-go »
Precarious, delicate, dangerous, risky, sensitive or of uncertain outcome.
|
travel iron »
holiday accessory
|
travel junkie »
Who are using their time and money to seek out adventure holidays and travel.
|
twiddle one's thumbs »
To wait or dawdle; to accomplish nothing useful or lack a useful occupation.
|
two left feet »
Exhibiting particular clumsiness, especially at dancing or at soccer.
|
under the radar »
Without attracting notice; in an undetected or secretive manner.
|
up hill and down dale »
Here and there; everywhere.
|
up to snuff »
Adequate; of acceptable or quality; satisfying an appropriate standard.
|
up-to-date »
Current; recent; the latest.
|
up-to-date »
Informed about the latest news or developments.
|
walk the line »
To mark or secure a boundary by walking along it.
|
waltz Matilda »
To travel with a swag; that is, with one's belongings wrapped in a cloth.
|
water over the dam »
An event or set of events which has already happened and cannot be changed.
|
weak sister »
A person or thing which is the least robust or least dependable member of a group.
|
wear out »
To cause to become damaged, useless, or ineffective through continued use, especially hard, heavy, or careless use.
|
weather the storm »
To reach the end of a very difficult situation without too much harm or damage.
|
wee small hours »
He worked into the wee small hours to get everything perfect for the opening day.
|
well ain't that the catfish in the trap »
A sentence commonly spoken in the Southern United States. It can often be used in place of "well, I'll be damned". Used to express surprise.
|
whisper campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
whistle in the dark »
To speak of something despite having little knowledge of it.
|
white trash »
A poorly educated white person with low moral and social standards and low social status.
|
whole enchilada »
All of something or a group of related things taken in totality.
|
work around the clock »
To work all day and all night without a break, because it is imperative to finish something.
|
work the room »
To interact with one's audience, taking queues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
|
wreak havoc »
To cause damage, disruption, or destruction.
|
you can't take it with you »
It is not possible to take one's material wealth to whatever world may await one after death.1900, E. Phillips Oppenheim, A Millionaire of Yesterday, ch. 6:"The clause which
|
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