back to the drawing board »
Back to the beginning following an unsuccessful attempt.
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backseat driver »
A passenger in a car who insists on giving the driver directions.
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bad joke »
A situation that is badly planned, or illogical.
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baggage »
In a metaphorical sense, factors that restrict a person's freedom, often in an intellectual or psychological way: emotional baggage.
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balloon goes up »
Something exciting or dangerous begins.
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banyan day »
In British naval tradition, this originally referred to a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.
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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.
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beam up »
To be teleported over a long distance by means of a specific imaginary technology, specifically from the surface of a planet to an orbiting starship.
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bear down »
When giving birth, to push.
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beat out »
To win by a narrow margin.
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beat up »
To give a severe beating to.
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beggars can't be choosers »
(proverb) When resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts.
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black »
Illegitimate, illegal or disgraced.
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black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
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blanket term »
A word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.
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