above and beyond »
More than is expected or required.
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according to Hoyle »
In strict accordance with the rules, especially of card games; in the proper or expected manner.
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against the grain »
Contrary to what is expected; especially, of behavior different from what society expects.
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all at once »
Unexpectedly; without warning; all of a sudden.
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bang up job »
Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.
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be in for »
To be able to expect or anticipate; to be about to suffer, generally said of something unpleasant.
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before you can say Jack Robinson »
Very quickly. Quicker than you expect.
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blessing in disguise »
A misfortune that has an unexpected benefit.
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bowl a googly »
Something unexpected, underhand or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
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come out with »
To say something unexpected.
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come short »
Fail to meet (expectations or standards)
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come up »
To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly; to come to attention, present itself.
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count on »
To rely upon, trust, or expect.
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crop up »
To occur, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.
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curveball »
An unexpected turn of events initiated by an opponent or chance.
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cut somebody some slack »
To be patient or lenient with somebody; to relax standards or expectations.
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damp squib »
Anything that doesn’t work properly, or fails to come up to expectations..
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dark horse »
A candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.
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dark horse »
An unexpected success.
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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.
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end up »
To conclude, turn out, sometimes unexpectedly.
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end up »
To arrive at a destination, sometimes unexpectedly.
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eureka moment »
The moment of a sudden unexpected discovery.
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fall short »
To be less satisfactory than expected; to be inadequate or insufficient.
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fire off »
To ask an unexpected question rapidly.
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for the nonce »
For the time being, with the expectation that the situation may change.
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halfway decent »
Good - better than expected.
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have a bun in the oven »
To be pregnant; to be expecting a baby.
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hit a snag »
To encounter an unexpected problem or delay.
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hit someone for six »
Be affected in a devastating way by some unexpected news.
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in line »
Suitable or appropriate; keeping with expectations, norms, ideals, or rules.
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just like that »
Unexpectedly, without warning.
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kids will be kids »
You cannot expect children to act like adults.
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labor of love »
A task performed voluntarily without expectation of reimbursement; an altruistic work or undertaking.
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live by the sword, die by the sword »
One who uses violence can expect a violent response. It is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey poetic justice.
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live up »
To fulfil the expectations placed upon.
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look forward »
To anticipate or expect; especially, to expect something to be pleasant.
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look forward to »
To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure.
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man up »
To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.
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march to the beat of a different drum »
To do things in one's own way regardless of societal norms and expectations.
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matter of course »
An expected or customary outcome.
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measure up »
To meet expectations; to be as good as.
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monkey wrench »
A problem, obstacle or dilemma; something unexpected or troublesome.
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music to one's ear »
Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.
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no screaming hell »
Something that is not particularly effective or impressive; something that is below expectations.
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nobody's perfect »
Used when someone's mistakes or flaws are acknowledged, to remind that everyone else makes mistakes and has flaws1995, New York Magazine Vol. 28, No. 5, 30 January 1995, The de-moralization of society (Book Review)Hypocrisy, particularly in sexual matters, is excused on the grounds that hey, nobody's perfect, and at least folks back then felt bad enough to lie.2000, Madonna, Nobody's PerfectI feel so sad. What I did wasn't right. I feel so bad and I must say to you: Sorry, but nobody's perfect. Nobody's perfect. What did you expect? I'm doing my best
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not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
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on track »
Proceeding as planned, as expected, or in a manner consistent with an established pattern.
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one-night stand »
A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the parties has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship. As the phrase implies, the relationship lasts for only one night.
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one-night stand »
An occasion when a performer or team of them expects to perform at a theater for a single evening.
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out of character »
Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.
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out of nowhere »
In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.
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out of the blue »
Unexpectedly; without warning or preparation.
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over the top »
Bold; beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; excessive; outrageous.
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par for the course »
To be expected; normal; common; usual.
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payback's a bitch »
Usually a complete sentence: I will get revenge when you least expect it.
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plan on »
To expect; to prepare future actions based on.
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pop out »
To leave a room or building with the expectation of returning soon.
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push one's luck »
To take an excessive risk or to attempt some task unlikely to succeed, especially after having already been unexpectedly lucky.
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raise the bar »
To raise standards or expectations, especially by creating something to a higher standard.
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reckon on »
To plan on; to expect.
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reckon upon »
To plan upon; to expect.
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rock up »
To turn up to a place or function unexpectedly, or without notice or prior warning.
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slam dunk »
A task expected to present no difficulty.
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so much as »
Even; suggests a minimum, especially regarding what might be expected.
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spanner »
A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome.
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stand by »
To wait in expectation of some event; to make ready.
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sure enough »
Just like one would expect.
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teething troubles »
Small problems such as are to be expected with some any new and untried system or product.
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three Rs »
The basic education any child can expect to receive, but not necessarily limited to reading, writing and arithmetic.
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throw a spanner in the works »
To be a problem, dilemma or obstacle, something unexpected or troublesome.
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throw somebody a curve »
To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
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top dog »
In a competition, the one expected to win.
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turn up »
To show up; to appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
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turn up for the book »
A very unexpected, usually pleasant, surprise.
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walk in on »
To enter suddenly or unexpectedly while something is happening; to intrude or interrupt by entering.
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what it says on the tin »
Exactly what is described or what one would expect from the name.
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whistle walk »
The path slaves took to deliver food from the kitchen building of a plantation to the main dining room. Slaves were expected to whistle during this walk in order to assure their masters that they were not eating the food.
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work like a charm »
works great - exactly as expected
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