a riddle wrapped up in an enigma »
Something very mysterious and hidden.
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ace in the hole »
A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.
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add fuel to fire »
To inflame a situation, to make a situation worse.
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add fuel to the fire »
To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.
|
add insult to injury »
To further a loss with mockery or indignity.
|
add up »
To take a sum.
|
add up »
To accumulate; to amount to.
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add up »
To make sense; to be reasonable or consistent.
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add up to »
To have a particular effect.
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Adds up »
To enhance. " Law of attraction adds up to the success in life."
|
against all odds »
Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition or probability.
|
all at once »
Unexpectedly; without warning; all of a sudden.
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all kidding aside »
Used to attempt to make a serious point in a jocular conversation.
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all of a sudden »
Adv suddenly, quickly.
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all of the sudden »
Suddenly, rapidly.
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as well »
In addition; also.
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at odds »
In disagreement; conflicting.
|
at odds »
on bad terms
|
at that »
In addition to what has been said; furthermore; moreover.
|
balance the books »
To add up all the debits and credits.
|
balls-up »
Something which becomes muddled or botched in some way.
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barge in »
To intrude; to enter or interrupt suddenly and without invitation.
|
barrel »
A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.
|
be off »
To be working against a present or former addiction to.
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be taken ill »
Due to sudden illness.
|
beat up »
To alarm by a sudden attack.
|
beddable »
Sexually attractive.
|
beddable »
[...] feminine, great body great legs great taste, trained and beddable, Jesus, how beddable.
|
beddy-bye »
Bedtime for a toddler, going to sleep, going to bed.
|
bells and whistles »
Extra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.
|
big daddy »
Something or someone of importance.
|
blow up »
To suddenly get very angry.
|
blue note »
Notes added to the major scale for expressive quality in jazz and blues music, particularly the flatted third, fifth and seventh.
|
blurt out »
To say suddenly, without thinking.
|
bottle up »
Keep suppressed and hidden.
|
brass monkey »
A cocktail of vodka, rum and orange juice, sometimes with the addition of galliano.
|
break away »
To leave suddenly.
|
break into »
To begin suddenly.
|
break out »
To begin suddenly; to emerge in a certain condition.
|
bump up »
To increase something suddenly.
|
Cannon fodder »
Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.
|
carry away »
To break under sudden pressure of violent wind.
|
carry someone's water »
To do someone's bidding; to serve someone's interests.
|
cat in the meal-tub »
Something concealed; a hidden danger.
|
catch up »
To pick up suddenly.
|
center field »
The defensive position in the outfield in the middle, typically played by a player that can run fast.
|
close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
|
cold turkey »
The sudden and complete withdrawal of a dependent substance, especially of a drug.
|
come to a head »
To suddenly make mature or perfected that which was inchoate or imperfectly formed.
|
come to a head »
To suddenly reveal that which has lain latent for a time.
|
coug it »
To suddenly lose a contest through reversal of fortune, mistakes, or bad judgment. The phrase is analogous to "blow it", or "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory".
|
crane fly »
daddy longlegs
|
crop up »
To occur, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.
|
curveball »
A forespin pitch thrown by rotating the index and middle fingers down and resulting in motion down "curve".
|
dead of night »
Middle of the night.
|
diamond in the rough »
A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.
|
dirty old man »
An adult male - usually middle-aged or elderly - who acts in a lecherous or lewd manner.
|
dishpan hands »
Hands which are rough, reddish, and dry, as from irritation and chafing caused by immersion in hot water mixed with detergent.
|
do drugs »
To abuse an illegal drug or drugs, especially as a result of chemical addiction.
|
do something with mirrors »
To insinuate one has performed a magic or optical trick with the use of hidden mirrors, insinuating trickery and sham.
|
draw out »
To improve a losing hand to a winning hand by receiving additional cards.
|
drop a bomb »
To announce surprising or alarming information suddenly and without warning.
|
drug of choice »
Substance that a suspect is addicted to.
|
e pluribus unum »
A national motto of the United States of America, meaning "From many, one", or "out of many, one", referring to the integration of 13 independent colonies into one country, and that has taken an additional meaning, giving the pluralistic nature of American society from immigration.
|
eureka moment »
The moment of a sudden unexpected discovery.
|
even money »
A bet which offers odds of 1 to 1.
|
fair to middling »
Only tolerably good.
|
fall off the wagon »
To cease or fail at a regimen of self-improvement or reform; to lapse back into an old habit or addiction.
|
feet of clay »
To say that someone, who appears strong or invincible, in fact has a hidden weak point which could cause their fall.
|
fiddle faddle »
nonsense
|
fit as a fiddle »
Perfectly fit; in excellent health.
|
for good measure »
As a precaution; just in case; added as an extra.
|
forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
|
forbidden fruit »
The fruit forbidden to Adam.
|
forbidden fruit is the sweetest »
Forbidden things have more worthwhile short-term consequences.
|
fudge the issue »
Adopt a solution to a specific problem which does not address the larger, more general problem of which the specific problem is an instance.
|
get away with »
To do something which is prohibited, forbidden or generally not allowed, and not be punished for the action.
|
get into trouble »
To perform an action which is illegal, prohibited, forbidden or proscribed and to become subject to punishment for such action.
|
gild the lily »
To embellish or improve something unnecessarily; to add superfluous attributes to something.
|
go off at score »
Of a horse, to break suddenly into a gallop; of a person, suddenly to say or do something impetuous.
|
good riddance »
Used to indicate that a departure, or loss is welcome.
|
gun it »
To accelerate or speed up quickly or suddenly.
|
have a fit »
To become suddenly enraged.
|
hide one's light under a bushel »
For a person to keep some talent or skill hidden from other people. The tone is that a person having a talent which they can be proud of ought not hide it.
|
high noon »
Exactly noon; midday; the middle of the day.
|
hit upon »
To address.
|
horse around »
To play or fiddle; to clown; to do nothing of importance or consequence.
|
in addition »
Also; as well; besides.
|
in addition »
also
|
in aid to this fact »
In addition to; and futhermore.
|
instance in »
To cite an instance; to adduce an example.
|
joe job »
An act of e-mail spamming where the sender's identity and address are those of an innocent third party, intended either to tarnish that person's reputation or to flood that person's e-mail with bounces.
|
jump »
To attack suddenly and violently.
|
jump rope »
The length of rope, sometimes with handles, casing or other additions, used in that activity.
|
kick in »
To start or connect suddenly.
|
kick off »
To shut down or turn_off suddenly.
|
kick off »
To force the weaning of a bovine cow's calf by restricting the calf's access to its mother's udders. Used figuratively or literally.
|
kick out »
To stop, stall, or disconnect suddenly.
|
kick the habit »
To recover from or quit an addiction or habit. For example, to quit smoking, drinking, burping, or drug addiction.
|
ladies and gentlemen »
Used to address an audience.
|
lash out »
To make a sudden blow.
|
lay low »
To remain hidden or to hide oneself.
|
lemonize »
To add lemon.
|
light middleweight »
type of boxer
|
long finger »
Middle finger.
|
loose ends »
Leftover items that have not been addressed or attended to.
|
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.
|
lower the boom »
To suddenly overpower, with "on".
|
mad money »
A sum of money kept in reserve or to insulate oneself financially in the event of the sudden breakdown of a relationship in which one is economically dependent.
|
mark up »
To add coding to text so that it will display properly on a computer.
|
mess around »
To fiddle idly.
|
mess up »
To cause a problem with; to introduce an error or mistake in; to make muddled or confused; spoil; ruin.
|
middle ground »
A compromise position between extremes.
|
middle ground »
The middle distance.
|
middle of nowhere »
Nowhere; any place lacking population, interesting things, or defining characteristics.
|
middle of the road »
Having a centrist attitude or philosophy; not extreme, especially politically.
|
middle of the road »
Of a type of melodic popular music that has wide appeal.
|
monkey on one's back »
An addiction, especially to narcotic drugs.
|
murder will out »
Secrets or hidden crimes will eventually be exposed or discovered.
|
ne'er cast a clout til May be out »
Advice not to change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.
|
no ifs, ands, or buts »
Period; exactly so; without modification, limitation, or addendum.
|
nudge nudge wink wink »
A phrase added at the end of the sentence to hint that the speaker is referring to something else, euphemistically.
|
odd and curious »
A way to designate special coins, namely coins that are both odd and imperfect or seriously damaged.
|
odd and curious »
On the Isle of Man, the common or general man.
|
odd one out »
A visual puzzle where the guesser has to choose which word/picture/symbol etc. does not fit with the others.
|
odd one out »
Something or someone in a group that is different or exceptional, that does not fit.
|
odds and ends »
Miscellaneous things.
|
on the ladder »
Figuratively a property ladder, owning property.
|
on top of »
In addition to something else.
|
orange up »
To make more prominent by making orange or adding orange colour.
|
out of reach »
The adult magazines were out of reach of toddlers.
|
out to lunch »
Away eating lunch or for a midday break; especially, away from work or a job.
|
pay the fiddler »
To contribute in order to participate.
|
pay the fiddler »
To face the consequences of one’s actions..
|
play second fiddle »
To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else.
|
play someone like a fiddle »
Skilfully.
|
pop off »
To die suddenly.
|
pop up »
appear suddenly
|
puddle jumper »
A small passenger airplane, typically used for shorter connecting trips to smaller airports.
|
put down »
To add a name to a list.
|
put on »
To record, to add to a record or document.
|
queer fish »
An odd or eccentric person.
|
ridden hard and put away wet »
Mistreated; not properly cared for.
|
ride tall in the saddle »
To act or conduct oneself in a manner that is imposing, impressive, resolute, or manly.
|
ride tall in the saddle »
To ride a horse in an erect, imposing manner.
|
rough sledding »
A difficult period of time.
|
round out »
To make more complete by adding details.
|
rub it in »
To add insult to injury; to emphasize one's strengths or another's weaknesses in a manner that degrades another.
|
rum go »
An odd affair; a surprising event; a confusing experience; a queer thing.
|
run a mile »
To escape, flee or leave a situation or relationship, usually as a result of a shocking or sudden announcement or revelation.
|
run out on »
To leave a partner suddenly and without prior warning.
|
second fiddle »
A fiddle part in harmony to the first fiddle.
|
second fiddle »
A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.
|
second fiddle »
The person playing second fiddle.
|
see the light »
To gain an understanding of something previously not understood, especially in a sudden insight.
|
see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
|
set off »
To count an addition in one thing against a reduction in something else.
|
shotgun wedding »
A wedding in which the bride is already pregnant.
|
show up »
To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically.
|
shrouded »
Concealed or hidden from sight, as if by a shroud.
|
shuffle »
A rhythm commonly used in blues music. Consists of a series of triplet notes with the middle note missing, so that it sounds like a long note followed by a short note. Sounds like a walker dragging one foot.
|
shy bladder »
An inability to urinate in the presence of others.
|
sing along »
A gathering or event where participants are encouraged to add their voices in song.
|
snap someone's head off »
To suddenly and sharply rebuke or insult a person, especially in response to a harmless remark.
|
snazz up »
To improve appearance or appeal by increasing stylishness or functionality, or by adding other attractive features.
|
so quiet one can hear a pin drop »
Said during a lull in a normally bustling place or scene, or as the result of a sudden dramatic or tense moment.
|
speak to »
To address a particular topic.
|
spice up »
To enhance the flavor of something by adding spice to it.
|
spring to mind »
To appear suddenly in one's thoughts, often as an example of something.
|
start up »
To rise suddenly.
|
stick one's nose in »
To be nosy; to meddle or interfere in the affairs of another.
|
stop dead »
To stop suddenly.
|
stop on a dime »
To stop dead; stop suddenly.
|
sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
|
take aback »
Of a ship: to catch it with the sails aback suddenly.
|
take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves »
If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500:Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ?used to say?Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.1912, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion ii. 132:Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii.:Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.1999,
|
tall in the saddle »
Imposing, impressive; resolute; manly.
|
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 Devil »
Used to add emphasis to a question or statement.
|
the finger »
An obscene gesture, typically consisting of extending the middle finger at somebody.
|
the nose knows »
Despite the addressee's belief that the speaker was unaware of something, the speaker, in fact, was already aware.
|
the proof is in the pudding »
Alternative form of the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
|
the proof of the pudding is in the eating »
The only real test of something is as what it is intended to be used for.
|
the straw that broke the camel's back »
A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something.
|
three-martini lunch »
A leisurely, expensive, midday meal associated with drinking, which is tax-deductible because business is discussed.
|
to go »
Belonging to the subgroup that have not passed or have not been finished or have not been addressed yet.
|
to the victor go the spoils »
The winner of a conflict wins additional benefits, beyond just the subject of the conflict.
|
tumble to »
To discover, or suddenly understand something.
|
turn up »
To show up; to appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
|
twiddle one's thumbs »
To circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored.
|
twiddle one's thumbs »
To wait or dawdle; to accomplish nothing useful or lack a useful occupation.
|
under wraps »
Secret or hidden.
|
up a creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation, without any help. Superlative form of up a creek: most up a creek.
|
up one's sleeve »
Hidden, in reserve.
|
up shit creek without a paddle »
Alternative form of up the creek without a paddle.
|
up the creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation with no means of rectifying it.
|
uphill battle »
A challenge with the odds of success stacked strongly against.
|
walk in on »
To enter suddenly or unexpectedly while something is happening; to intrude or interrupt by entering.
|
walk out »
To leave suddenly, especially as a form of protest.
|
warm up »
To prepare for executing an already-learned activity by a limited amount of additional practice.
|
wash over »
Said of the way an emotion affects one suddenly.
|
water down »
To dilute; to add water.
|
wedding ring »
jewellery item
|
what in God's name »
Used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question.
|
what is more »
Furthermore, or in addition, moreover.
|
what on Earth »
Used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question.
|
what the Devil »
Used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question.
|
what the dickens »
Euphemism for what the Devil, used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning a question.
|
white wedding »
A wedding in which the bride is still a virgin.
|
why in God's name »
Used to add emphasis to "why" when beginning question.
|
why on Earth »
Used to add emphasis to "why" when beginning a question.
|
why the dickens »
Euphemism for why the Devil, used to add emphasis to "why" when beginning a question.
|
yield up »
To disclose something hidden.
|
zonk out »
To fall suddenly into a very deep sleep.
|
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