ballpark estimate »
A ballpark figure, a very rough approximation.
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ballpark figure »
An educated guess or estimation within acceptable bounds.
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be on to »
To figure out; to realize the truth.
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big cheese »
A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
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brass ring »
Figuratively, a prize or goal. Often used with respect to employment goals e.g. promotion, better job, etc.
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break up »
To stop a fight; to separate people who are fighting.
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bury the hatchet »
To stop fighting or arguing; to reach an agreement, or at least a truce.
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clean someone's clock »
To defeat decisively, in a physical fight or other competition or negotiation.
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company »
A unit of firefighters and their equipment.
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crunch numbers »
To figure; to do the math.
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dead »
Figuratively, not alive; lacking life.
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diplomatic flu »
An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.
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drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
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drop the gloves »
To fight.
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duke it out »
To fight, especially with the fists.
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face off »
Either an actual or a figurative face to face confrontation, especially a bitter one.
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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.
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fight a losing battle »
To continue to wage war when it is clear that one is not going to win.
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fight a losing battle »
To try to do something so difficult that it will probably end in failure.
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fight fire with fire »
To respond to an attack with a similar or identical method.
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fight fires »
To deal with urgent matters and minor emergencies rather than longer-term work.
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fight off »
To succeed in defeating a challenge, or an attack.
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fight off »
To resist, particularly an infection or an emotion.
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fight shy of »
To avoid something.
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fight tooth and nail »
To use every means possible to overcome a difficult opposition.
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figure out »
To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
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get in »
To get into or inside something, literally or figuratively.
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go figure »
Expresses perplexity, confusion, surprise, or puzzlement.
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go to the mat »
To continue to struggle or fight until either victorious or defeated.
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historical figure »
A fictional or fabricated person who was was given historical importance in legends and myth.
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historical figure »
A person who lived long ago, usually of some historical note or importance.
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household name »
A very well-known public figure.
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in effigy »
Symbolizing, usually as an effigy.
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kick ass »
To beat someone in a fight.
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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.
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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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make amends »
To repair a relationship; to make up; to resolve an argument or fight; to make reparations or redress.
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make up »
To resolve, forgive or smooth over an argument or fight.
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measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
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mix it up »
To compete vigorously, to quarrel, or to fight physically.
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off the chain »
Free from work or direct supervision. In reference to slave labor, where workers are chained, or to the figurative chain of workers of an assembly line.
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on the ladder »
Figuratively a property ladder, owning property.
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one at a time »
Individually, as opposed to collectively; slowly or methodically, figuratively.
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pitched battle »
A hostile engagement involving sustained, full-scale fighting between opposing forces in close combat.
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prize fighter »
boxer
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punch up »
to fight
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put two and two together »
To figure out; to deduce or discern.
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put up »
To present, especially in "put up a fight".
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put up one's dukes »
Prepare to fight; literally, to raise your fists.
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run into »
To reach a large figure.
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screen out »
Figuratively, to exclude.
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square off »
To get ready for a fight.
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square off »
To get in the fighting position.
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square up »
To get ready for a fight.
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square up »
To get in the fighting position.
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stand down »
To wait; to stop pursuing or fighting.
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stop someone in his tracks »
To prevent someone from continuing along a path or way, literal or figurative, he has begun going along.
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take on »
To attempt to fight or compete.
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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.
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the pen is mightier than the sword »
More influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting.
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there and back »
One or for a round trip journey, literal or figurative.
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throw down »
To fight, incite to fight, or approach with the intent to fight; to make a stand.
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turf war »
A fight or confrontation between two divisions or parties for access to resources or capital.
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under erasure »
Of a bit of text, written and strickenthrough; hence, figuratively in some sense both present and absent.
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up in arms »
Angry; preparing for a fight.
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wage war »
A figurative allusion to pay discrepancies.
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wail on »
To strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.
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wash away »
To eliminate, in a figurative sense.
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whale on »
To strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.
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wind back the clock »
Figuratively to return in time to an earlier period of history.
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wing it »
To improvise; to make things up or figure things out as one goes; or to perform with little or no preparation.
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write off »
Figuratively, to assign a low value to something.
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you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
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