a good beginning makes a good ending »
Good beginnings promise a good end; start off on a good note to reap the benefits at the end.
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a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step »
even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point
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a watched pot never boils »
A process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.
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ace of spades »
The playing card belonging to the spades suit and featuring one pip.
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act up »
give trouble
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against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
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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.
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all fired up »
Excited or energized; highly enthusiastic.
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all mouth and no trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
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all mouth and trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
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and counting »
Used to show that the number previously mentioned is continuously changing, i.e. increasing or decreasing.
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answer on a postcard »
To give a brief answer or opinion.
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April showers bring May flowers »
April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains.By extension, that a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness.
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as best one can »
In the best possible way, given the circumstances.
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baby blues »
Period and feeling of depressiveness after giving birth; a less severe form of postnatal depression.
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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.
|
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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blue state »
A state of the United States voting Democratic in a given election, or tending to vote Democratic in general.
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book in »
register
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born in a barn »
Engaging in the annoying behavior of inappropriately, and usually neglectfully, leaving open a door or window.
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »
Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.
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bragging rights »
The prerogative to praise oneself for an accomplishment or for possession of a superior characteristic.
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break down »
To give more detail.
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break ground »
To begin digging in the earth at the start of a new construction, or, originally, for cultivation.
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break into »
To open or begin to use.
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break into »
To begin suddenly.
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break new ground »
To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
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break out »
To begin suddenly; to emerge in a certain condition.
|
bring down »
To make a legitimate rulership lose their position of power.
|
bring forth »
To give birth.
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bring forward »
To make something happen earlier than originally planned.
|
bring owls to Athens »
Forgive me, then, for bringing owls to Athens as a thanks-offering. — Goethe, in a letter to Wilhelm von Humboldt.
|
bring owls to Athens »
Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens. — Herbert Burkert.
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bros before hoes »
(US, informal) A man should prioritize his male friends over his girlfriend or wife.
|
brown bag »
A short presentation or seminar on a given subject, especially one given at lunchtime.
|
bump up »
To give a more prominent place to; to advance position in queue.
|
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.
|
bush telegraph »
A system used by undeveloped societies in remote regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds, word-of-mouth relay, or smoke signals.
|
business before pleasure »
An admonishment that discharging one's obligations must take precedence over devoting time to pursuits meant solely for one's own gratification.
|
business girl »
A prostitute.
|
business girl »
A young woman employed in business or office work.
|
button-down »
Conservative; conventional; unimaginative.
|
by a long shot »
By a wide margin; indicates a very big difference or disparity.
|
by the skin of one's teeth »
Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
|
call the shots »
To make the decisions;to be in charge;to give orders.
|
carry the can »
To take responsibility, especially in a challenging situation.
|
cast aspersions »
To make damaging or spiteful remarks.
|
cast pearls before swine »
To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it.
|
catch on »
To begin to understand; to realize or detect.
|
chance'd be a fine thing »
Given to indicate that an aforementioned thing would be desirable but unlikely. Comparable to if I should be so lucky.
|
charge up »
To recharge, to give electrical power to something.
|
che sera sera »
Used to express a personal philosophy of fatalism1604, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus:Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. / Aye, we must die an everlasting death. / What doctrine call you this ? Che, sera, sera: / What will be*, shall be; Divinity adieu. / These Metaphysics of Magicians, / And necromantic books, are heavenly.
|
chicken feed »
Food given to poultry.
|
chickens coming home to roost »
Consequences visited upon someone who originally had appeared to escape them.
|
circular firing squad »
A political party or other group experiencing considerable disarray because the members are engaging in internal disputes and mutual recrimination.
|
claim to fame »
That for which one has bragging rights; one's reason for being well-known or famous.
|
clean up »
To make a large profit; to win by a large margin, or to win a large amount, especially in gambling. Also clean house.
|
climb the walls »
To behave in a distressed or frantic manner; to feel very agitated.
|
clock in »
To begin work.
|
clout list »
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, benefits, or influence in a political or social situation, especially as a result of having personal, professional, or financial relationships with those in authority.
|
cold turkey »
The physiological effects of such a withdrawal.
|
colt over the fence »
An illegitimate child.
|
come across »
To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image.
|
come around »
To change one's mind, especially to begin to agree or appreciate what one was reluctant to accept at first.
|
come full circle »
To complete a cycle of transition, returning to the point of origin.
|
come in »
To join or enter; to begin playing with a group.
|
come out »
To walk onto the field at the beginning of an innings.
|
come up »
To begin to feel the effects of a recreational drug.
|
comfort girl »
A sex slave; prostitute.
|
cool down »
To become less agitated.
|
cool down »
To cause to become less agitated.
|
count sheep »
To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.
|
cowgirl position »
A sex position in which the man lies on his back, and the woman sits on top of him facing him.
|
crack down on »
To enforce laws or punish more vigilantly.
|
cramp someone's style »
To restrict someone's free actions, or to give the impression of such.
|
crashpad »
Any place used for temporary lodging.
|
crashpad »
In the aviation industry, used for a place of temporary lodging for airline flight crews.
|
cross someone's palm »
To give money to a person, especially as a bribe or as an inducement to perform a service.
|
cross the aisle »
Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
|
cross the floor »
Of a member of a parliament, to resign from one's political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one's currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one's new party.
|
cry wolf »
To raise a false alarm; to constantly warn others about an imagined threat, thereby failing to get assistance when a real threat appears.
|
cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
|
cut it fine »
To achieve something at the last possible moment, or with no margin for error.
|
cut one's teeth »
To begin; to gain early experience.
|
dawn of a new day »
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
|
day one »
The very beginning.
|
dead giveaway »
Obvious, easily apparent.
|
dead last »
The standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.
|
deadstick landing »
When a pilot lands a plane after the engine has died; a landing lacking any propulsion control.
|
diamonds are a girl's best friend »
A statement that suggests, while love is a luxury, material wealth (particularly jewellery) is more valuable in the long run.
|
dig in »
To begin eating.
|
dig up »
To discover something by digging; to unearth.
|
divide and conquer »
A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.
|
do something with mirrors »
To insinuate one has performed a magic or optical trick with the use of hidden mirrors, insinuating trickery and sham.
|
do something with mirrors »
To jokingly pretend that one did something using magic mirrors, that one is a magician; a joking explanation of the fantastic or the unexplained.
|
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.
|
dog and pony show »
Originally, a small, traveling circus featuring animals as entertainment.
|
don't give up your day job »
Implying that they could not earn a living from it without other regular employment.
|
don't look a gift horse in the mouth »
Do not unappreciatively question a gift or handout too closely.
|
don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs »
Don't presume to give advice to those who are more experienced.
|
double talk »
Speaking in a mixture of real English and English-sounding gibberish, for humorous effect.
|
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 on »
To sketch or mark with pencil, crayon, etc., on a given surface.
|
dribs and drabs »
A series of negligible amounts.
|
drink off »
To drink the entirety of in a short period; originally and especially, in a single gulp.
|
drive home »
With tangible or powerful demonstration.
|
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.
|
eager beaver »
Who is very excited or enthusiastic to begin a task.
|
earn one's keep »
To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
|
eat one's heart out »
To feel overwhelming sorrow, jealousy or longing, to grieve.
|
eat one's young »
To betray a constituent or charge out of self-serving interests or desperation; savaging.
|
edge out »
To win in a contest or a game by a narrow margin of victory.
|
engine room »
A compartment on a ship in which the engine machinery is located.
|
engine room »
The source of power in a team or other group.
|
even Homer nods »
Not even the most vigilant and expert are immune from erring.
|
every cloud has a silver lining »
In every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,
|
evil twin »
A rogue wireless access point installed near a legitimate one for purposes of eavesdropping or phishing.
|
facts on the ground »
A euphemism, similar to fait accompli, used as an oblique way of saying that discussions over the possession of a given piece of territory has been rendered moot by the presence of military forces.
|
fair game »
An goal or object that may legitimately be sought.
|
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.
|
familiarity breeds contempt »
The more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.
|
far and away »
By a large degree or margin; greatly.
|
film out »
To transfer images or animation from videotape or digital files to a traditional celluloid film print.
|
fire away »
To begin shooting at an enemy.
|
fire away »
To begin to talk or present information quickly.
|
first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
|
fish out »
To deplete the supply of fish in a given body of water.
|
fit to be tied »
Very agitated or distressed; enraged.
|
flea in one's ear »
A stinging rebuke or rebuff.
|
flight of fancy »
An idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative.
|
flog a dead horse »
To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more.
|
flogging the land »
Damaging agricultural land through excessive grazing or clearing.
|
fly-by-night »
Businesses that appear and disappear rapidly, or that give an impression of transience.
|
for starters »
as a beginning
|
fourth estate »
Which governed legislation.
|
fourth wall »
The imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
|
fresh out of »
Of someone who has recently left one stage of life to begin another.
|
fresh start »
A new beginning, without prejudices.
|
from scratch »
From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation; starting from raw ingredients.
|
from soup to nuts »
From beginning to end; throughout.
|
from the get-go »
From the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting.
|
from the ground up »
From the beginning; starting with the basics, foundation, or fundamentals.
|
from the word go »
From the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting.
|
full tilt boogie »
At the most extreme level.
|
full tilt boogie »
In an extremely focused manner.
|
full tilt boogie »
Intensely, fast paced.
|
full tilt boogie »
Out of control.
|
full to the gills »
Completely or overly full.
|
funny money »
Bills of any foreign currency or of counterfeit origin.
|
gagging for it »
Up for it, having a strong desire for sex.
|
game plan »
Any strategy devised to reach a given objective.
|
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 a jump on »
To start early, especially to start before something begins or before others begin.
|
get bent out of shape »
To take offense; to become angry, agitated or upset.
|
get it »
To possess a preferred outlook on a given issue or issues.
|
get it into one's head »
imagine
|
get off the ground »
To succeed or begin to succeed.
|
get one's feet wet »
To begin gaining experience; To take a risk and try something new.
|
get the ball rolling »
To begin; to start some action; to set in motion.
|
giant panda »
chinese animal
|
gift of the gab »
The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.
|
gild the lily »
To embellish or improve something unnecessarily; to add superfluous attributes to something.
|
gimme a five »
A request to receive a high five.
|
gin and tonic »
alcoholic drink
|
ginger beer »
soft drink
|
ginger snap »
biscuit
|
gird up one's loins »
To prepare oneself for something demanding.
|
give 'em enough rope »
Allow one to function unhindered, or without further overbearing oversight.
|
give 110%25 »
Make the maximum possible effort.
|
give a f** »
To care.
|
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 a ring »
On the telephone.
|
give a shit »
To care, often used in the negative.
|
give a sneck posset »
To fasten the door latch.
|
give a sneck posset »
To give someone a cold reception; to close the door on someone; to reject them.
|
give and take »
A process of compromise or accommodation.
|
give as good as one gets »
To behave toward others in a manner resembling or commensurate with their behavior towards oneself, especially in a situation where one is insulted or otherwise ill-treated.
|
give away the store »
To transact, trade, or negotiate badly, by paying, providing, or conceding too much to the other party.
|
give birth »
To invent a new idea.
|
give birth »
To produce new life into the world; to have a baby. Transitive when used with to.
|
give chase »
To chase or pursue a person.
|
give curry »
Angrily.
|
give ear »
Dante Gabriel Rosetti, A Death-Parting, lines 5-6.
|
give ear »
To listen: to devote one's attention to an auditory event.
|
give face »
To honor; to pay respect.
|
give head »
To perform oral sex on another person.
|
give heed »
Pay attention to.
|
give him enough rope and he'll hang himself »
If one gives someone enough freedom of action, they may destroy themselves by foolish actions.
|
give hostage to fortune »
He was very cautious with his words and gave no hostages to fortune.
|
give hostage to fortune »
To take an action or make a statement that is risky because it could cause you trouble later.
|
give in »
To collapse or fall.
|
give in »
To droop the head.
|
give in »
To relent or yield.
|
give it a go »
To try or attempt.
|
give it a whirl »
To try, test or attempt.
|
give it one's best shot »
To make one's best effort or attempt; to try as hard as possible.
|
give it the gun »
Literal meaning.
|
give me liberty or give me death »
A set-phrase indicating enormous displeasure at any over-authoritarian policy or law.
|
give notice »
To announce one's intent to leave a job; to inform an employer that one is leaving.
|
give of oneself »
To devote oneself unselfishly to a task, especially to give time and energy.
|
give or take »
Approximately; plus or minus some unknown amount.
|
give over »
To devote oneself to a particular activity.
|
give over »
To entrust something to another.
|
give over »
Usually as an imperative. To tell someone to stop molesting, fooling around, or saying silly things. Or sometimes to stop saying flattering things.
|
give some skin »
To greet or congratulate someone by slapping his or her palm; see slap me five.
|
give somebody a hand »
To help, aid, or assist.
|
give somebody a hard time »
To tease, kid, or rib.
|
give somebody a piece of one's mind »
To express one's opinion strongly; to voice one's disagreement or dissatisfaction.
|
give somebody an earful »
To shout very loudly at someone.
|
give somebody pause »
To give somebody cause for concern.
|
give somebody the brush-off »
To rebuff, snub or curtly reject someone.
|
give somebody the cold shoulder »
To snub, resist or reject somebody; to regard somebody distantly.
|
give somebody the creeps »
To give someone a feeling of uneasiness or mild fright.
|
give somebody the heave-ho »
To fire, expel or break up with someone.
|
give somebody the runaround »
Especially by providing useless information or directions .
|
give somebody the slip »
To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.
|
give somebody what-for »
To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.
|
give someone the chair »
To execute a person by means of the electric chair.
|
give someone the eye »
To show flirtatious signs with the eye.
|
give someone what for »
To punish; to rebuke.
|
give the boot »
To fire, to sack, to dismiss.
|
give the devil his due »
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
|
give the elbow »
To terminate the employment of.
|
give the lie to »
To prove something to be false; to refute.
|
give the time of day »
To acknowledge somebody; to give somebody any respect or attention.
|
go ahead »
To proceed; to begin.
|
go back to the drawing board »
To start again; to scrap a previous idea or plan and try again from the beginning.
|
go blue »
Of states and counties, to be carried by a Democratic candidate in a given U.S. election.
|
go native »
Of a contractor or consultant, to begin working directly as an employee for a company and cease to work through a contracting firm or agency.
|
go native »
To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.
|
go off »
To begin clanging or making noise.
|
go red »
Of states or counties, to be carried by a Republican candidate in a given U.S. election.
|
go to work »
To begin performing some task or work.
|
goon squad »
A group of individuals serving as enforcers, bodyguards, and the like, especially persons hired for such a purpose and using violent, thuggish methods.
|
grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
|
granary »
A fertile, grain-growing region.
|
gravy train »
A gorging on luxuries, since someone else foots the bill.
|
green about the gills »
Having the appearance of being ill.
|
greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
|
gut feeling »
An instinct or intuition; an immediate or basic feeling or reaction without a logical rationale.
|
halcyon days »
A period of calm, often nostalgic: “halcyon days of yore”, “halcyon days of youth”..
|
hand in »
To give something to a responsible person.
|
hand it to somebody »
To give somebody credit or praise.
|
hanging offence »
A crime so serious that it is punishable by means of death by hanging.
|
have ants in one's pants »
To be agitated and constantly fidgeting.
|
he who smelt it dealt it »
(colloquial, originally) A person who calls attention to or complains about a fart is likely trying to pretend it wasn't his or her own.(colloquial, by extension) Used to suggest that a person calling attention to or complaining about a given problem may in fact be the source of the problem.
|
head for the hills »
To travel to a higher elevation, especially to a rural region on vacation.
|
head girl »
senior female pupil
|
head start »
For example, prior to the beginning of a race.
|
heart of glass »
A very fragile romantic state.
|
heaven helps those who help themselves »
A maxim encouraging people to get involved in their own problems.
|
hell and half of Georgia »
A very large region; everywhere.
|
historical figure »
A fictional or fabricated person who was was given historical importance in legends and myth.
|
hit the ground running »
To begin an activity immediately and with full commitment.
|
hit the jackpot »
To realise a huge load of luck; to receive a more favorable outcome than imagined.
|
hit the road »
To begin traveling in an automobile or other road vehicle.
|
hold one's own »
To stand up to; to give a respectable performance; to provide worthy competition.
|
hold your fire »
Do not discharge your weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder, now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.
|
home is where you hang your hat »
Rather than feeling nostalgic or sentimental, one should simply accept any place where one happens to reside as one's home.1948, Ruth L. Yorck, "D.P.
|
honorable mention »
An award or recognition given to something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way.
|
hot to trot »
Eager to begin; anxious to get going.
|
how do I get to Carnegie Hall »
A set phrase, spoken as a rhetorical question, which is answered "Practice, practice, practice!" or sometimes with the humorous literal directions to Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th.
|
if looks could kill »
A phrase said upon catching sight of someone's giving you a particularly nasty look of discontent or disapproval.
|
in a state »
Agitated and anxious.
|
in bed with »
Engaging in a close mutually beneficial relationship, especially secretly and illicitly.
|
in for an inch, in for a mile »
Given that one is partly involved in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from becoming fully involved or fully committed.
|
in light of »
Given, considering.
|
in the first place »
To begin with; earlier; first; at the start.
|
in vain »
In a disrespectful manner, especially when concerning religion.
|
index finger »
digit
|
it's better to ask forgiveness than permission »
The value of acting promptly and making a mistake requiring forgiveness is greater than value of delaying to get permission.
|
it's not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
|
jump the gun »
To act or begin too soon or without due caution.
|
jump the gun »
To begin a race too soon, before the starting gun goes off.
|
jungle telegraph »
A system used by primitive cultures in remote tropical regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds or a relay of runners.
|
just what the doctor ordered »
Exactly what is necessary or useful in a given situation.
|
keep an eye open »
To maintain vigilance for a possibly dangerous situation.
|
keep an eye open »
To maintain vigilance for someone or something.
|
keep buggin on »
Never quit; go on
|
kick with the other foot »
To belong to a different religion.
|
kill the fatted calf »
To begin a festive celebration and rejoicing for someone's long-awaited return.
|
kind »
Mild, gentle, forgiving.
|
kiss and make up »
To settle one's differences and forgive.
|
knock up »
To become exhausted or worn out; to fail of strength; to become wearied, as with labor; to give out.
|
knock-on effect »
The continued running of an engine after the ignition has been turned off; dieseling.
|
ladies first »
A phrase encouraging polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men.
|
lame joke »
An attempt at humor which is perceived to have been used previously to the point of being cliche, or was never funny to begin with.
|
last burst of fire »
A state of exertion where one gives one's all; expending all of one's remaining energy in a final effort to achieve one's goal.
|
last minute »
Point in time, too close to a deadline to reasonably begin a critical task.
|
laundry list »
Originally, a list of articles of clothing that had been sent to be laundered.
|
lay down »
To give up, surrender, or yield , usually by placing it on the ground.
|
lay down the law »
To present the law that applies to a given case.
|
lay open »
In Japan and South Korea, to publish a patent for initial public review, prior to the formal application for registration.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
He stripped down to a pair of see-through briefs that left nothing to the imagination.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
To cover or hide very little or nothing.
|
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
|
let her rip »
To set off or allow to begin.
|
let off »
To forgive and not punish.
|
let's roll »
Used to suggest that an action should begin.
|
licence to print money »
The authority to print money, usually given to a central bank exclusively as the issuer of currency.
|
lie through one's teeth »
To tell a gross or egregious untruth.
|
look out »
Be vigilant and aware.
|
love nest »
Vagina.
|
low-hanging fruit »
Easily obtained gains; what can be obtained by readily available means.
|
magic bullet »
A simple remedy to a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.
|
make believe »
To pretend or imagine.
|
make up »
To resolve, forgive or smooth over an argument or fight.
|
matter of course »
A natural or logical outcome.
|
memory lane »
A set of recollections available to be reviewed, especially accompanied by a feeling of nostalgia.
|
mess up »
To make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
|
mess up »
To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.
|
mighty oaks from little acorns grow »
Something great can come from a modest beginning.Don't give up on the project - mighty oaks from little acorns grow!
|
nail biter »
An engaging or exciting cliffhanger.
|
neck of the woods »
A local neighbourhood or region.
|
necktie party »
An execution by hanging, especially a lynching.
|
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!.
|
never look a gift horse in the mouth »
Alternative form of don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
|
no biggie »
Not a big deal, not something to worry about.
|
not a pretty sight »
Something visually unappealing, ranging from mildly unattractive to utterly disgusting in appearance.
|
not give a monkey's »
Not to have the slightest interest or concern.
|
not to put too fine a point on it »
Used to apologise for a possibly impolite statement one is making.
|
now you're cooking »
A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.
|
of an »
Belonging to the same.
|
of an »
Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.
|
offer affordances »
To give elbow room or leeway for something to happen.
|
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.
|
old time used to be »
Ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend. Often used in songs.
|
on at »
nagging
|
on the up-and-up »
Legitimate; honest; upright.
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
A cliché used to exaggerate an accomplishment or milestone..
|
one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind »
Words spoken by Neil Armstrong when taking the first steps on the moon.
|
ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »
(biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.
|
open fire »
To begin firing at something or someone.
|
out of character »
Not in character; not successfully performing within the mindset of a given character in a theatrical performance. See also break character, drop character.
|
pack up »
To give in.
|
pack up »
To prepare for shipping, as a gift.
|
party crasher »
Someone who attempts and often gains entry to a party or club to which they were not invited, often using social engineering techniques. The party crasher usually tries to blend into the party so as not to be kicked out.
|
pass the buck »
To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
|
perfect storm »
A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.
|
pick up »
To learn, to grasp; to begin to understand.
|
play ball »
An expression used at the beginning of a game of baseball.
|
play Old Harry »
Blenkiron and I have been moving in the best circles as skilled American engineers who are going to play Old Harry with the British on the Tigris. — John Buchan, "Greenmantle", 1916..
|
point of no return »
The point in an aircraft's flight when there is insufficient fuel to reverse direction and return to the place of origin.
|
pony in the barn »
An exciting and real prospect, something to be legitimately excited about.
|
pop the cherry »
To break the hymen; to lose one's virginity.
|
poster girl »
See poster child.
|
powers that be »
The holders of power or the authorities in a given situation, especially as seen as being faceless or unreasonably bureaucratic.
|
pull oneself up by one's bootstraps »
To begin an enterprise or recover from a setback without any outside help; to succeed only on one's own effort or abilities.
|
punch bowl waterfall »
A plunging waterfall descending from a narrow stream into a pool.
|
put back »
To return something to it's original place.
|
put forth »
To give or supply; to make or create.
|
put something into perspective »
To compare with something similar to give a clearer, more accurate idea.
|
quicumque vult »
A forward girl, ready to oblige every man that shall ask her.
|
raring to go »
Extremely eager or anxious to begin.
|
real job »
A job which requires the employee to, work regular hours for a consistent wage that often exceeds the provisions of applicable minimum wage legislation. A job that produces a living wage.
|
red state »
A state of the United States voting Republican in a given election, or tending to vote Republican in general.
|
reflect on »
To think carefully about something, and give it due consideration.
|
reflect on »
To give an impression of .
|
rev up »
To increase the speed of an engine, especially that of a stationary motor car.
|
rhyme or reason »
Logic. Common sense.
|
right back »
Used in several informal constructions to indicate return -- especially imminent return to a point of origin.
|
ring up »
To enter a payment into a cash register, or till in a shop.
|
round off »
To change a number into an approximation having fewer significant digits.
|
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.
|
rumor mill »
A group or network of persons who originate or promulgate gossip and other unsubstantiated claims.
|
run away with »
To be misled by imagining that one's desires can come true.
|
run back »
To take someone home by car. Give someone a lift to their house.
|
run up against »
Begin to encounter problems with someone or something.
|
say grace »
To recite a prayer of invocation or thanksgiving at meal time.
|
scrape through »
To marginally manage to progress.
|
scratch the surface »
To barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible.
|
scream »
A form of singing associated with the metal and screamo styles of music. It is a loud, rough, distorted version of the voice; rather than the normal voice of the singer.
|
see a man about a horse »
A message signaling one needs to go missing for a short while, for any reason, without giving a real explanation.
|
sell »
To pretend that an opponent's blows or maneuvers are causing legitimate injury; to act.
|
serpentine »
Of, or having attributes associated with, the mythological serpent, such as craftiness or deceitfulness.
|
set of pipes »
Voice for singing.
|
set off »
To begin; to cause; to initiate.
|
set off »
To leave; to begin a journey or trip.
|
set to »
begin work
|
set to work »
To begin working at.
|
set to work »
To begin working.
|
set to work »
To cause to begin working.
|
sexual enjoyment »
Sexual intercourse that produces physical and psychological pleasure.
|
shoot oneself in the foot »
To deliberately sabotage an activity in order to avoid obligation, though it causes personal suffering. Origins in first world war trench warfare.
|
show the flag »
Of a naval vessel or military force, to identify itself by displaying the flag of its country of origin, especially in order to establish an authoritative presence and to exert diplomatic or political influence.
|
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.
|
sick joke »
A joke which is in poor taste, especially one which depicts as amusing a situation which the listener considers to be tragic or disgusting.
|
sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
|
sign on »
register as unemployed
|
simmer down »
To decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement.
|
singing from the same hymnbook »
Present participle of sing from the same hymnbook.
|
singing soprano »
Castrated or injured in the testicles.
|
sit out »
To escape a hold while face-down by swinging one's legs around into the sitting position.
|
slanging match »
A row; an argument in which names are called.
|
slippery slope »
A logical argument that follows a chain of events or causes and effects to some conclusion.
|
smack of »
To seem like; to appear or give an impression or feeling of; to arouse suspicion of.
|
snow on the mountaintop »
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
|
snow on the rooftop »
Gray or white hair on one's head, especially as an indication of aging.
|
so much for »
An expression of disregard, or resignation; something said upon giving up, quitting, or disposing of something.
|
soapbox »
A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.
|
soft sawder »
"If she goes to act ugly, I'll give her a dose of "soft sawder"; that will take the frown out of her frontispiece...!" —Thomas Haliburton, "The Trotting Horse" — first usage.
|
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.
|
speak to »
To give evidence regarding something; to attest for.
|
square one »
The place where one begins; a lack of progress.
|
squaring the circle »
The historical problem of how to construct, using compass and ruler, a square having the same area as a given circle.
|
stand to reason »
To make sense; to seem logical, reasonable, or rational.
|
start off »
To begin.
|
start off on the wrong foot »
To begin badly; especially, to begin a relationship badly.
|
start over »
To begin again; to return to the beginning.
|
start up »
To begin to operate.
|
start up »
To begin.
|
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 man »
A member of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in preparatory dialog with the principal comedian; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.
|
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.
|
string up »
To die by hanging.
|
string up »
To kill by hanging, especially to lynch.
|
swear on a stack of Bibles »
To make a promise or give one's assurance with great conviction.
|
swing state »
A state which may vote Democratic or Republican, in a given election or generally; a purple state.
|
take apart »
To move someone away from others to be able to talk to, or give them something in private.
|
take down »
To remove something from a hanging position.
|
take for granted »
To give little attention to or to underestimate the value of, to fail to appreciate.
|
take off »
To leave the ground and begin flight; to ascend into the air.
|
take on »
To begin to have or exhibit.
|
take sides »
To ally oneself with a given opinion, agenda or group; to support one side or viewpoint in a competition or confrontation.
|
take the biscuit »
To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.
|
take the cake »
To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.
|
take to »
To begin, as a new habit or practice.
|
tear one's hair out »
To react with extreme agitation.
|
tempus fugit »
time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.
|
the long and short of it »
The gist; the essence or substance; the most important or salient features; said of a summary or digest.
|
thin edge of the wedge »
Beginning; opening; precedent.
|
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.
|
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, 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 in the towel »
To quit; to give up.
|
throw to the dogs »
To give up on something valuable.
|
thumb a ride »
To secure a ride by flagging down a vehicle.
|
tickle someone's fancy »
To amuse, entertain, or appeal to someone; to stimulate someone's imagination in a favorable manner.
|
tiger team »
An engineering or other group assembled to tackle especially difficult or critical problems, often outside the normal chain of command.
|
tilt at windmills »
To attack imaginary enemies.
|
tip of the iceberg »
Only the beginning; just a small indication of a larger possibility; a problem is much bigger than it seems.
|
to give a person line »
To allow a person more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him/her, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line.
|
to go »
Belonging to the subgroup that have not passed or have not been finished or have not been addressed yet.
|
to the gills »
Entirely or extremely; to the greatest degree possible.
|
today we are all »
August 12, 2008:, Robert Barnes, "McCain to Georgian President: "Today, We Are All Georgians"", Washington Post.
|
too hot to hold »
A place that has too much police activity to harbor a fugitive unnoticed.
|
touch%C3%A9 »
An acknowledgement of the success, appropriateness or superiority of an argument, sometimes used sarcastically to mock one's opponent's absurd logic.
|
touch%C3%A9 »
Used in a conversation or debate to concede a point as true, often in response to a successful counter of one's own logic.
|
touchy-feely »
Driven by intuition or emotion, with a connotation of de-emphasis of rational thought or logic.
|
trench mouth »
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a severe bacterial infection of the gums, typically characterized by inflammation, bleeding, deep ulceration, necrotized tissue, pain, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, and halitosis.
|
true believer »
A strict follower of a religious doctrine.
|
tune up »
To make adjustments to an engine in order to improve its performance.
|
turn in »
To submit something; to give.
|
turn on »
To attract, give pleasure, or encourage.
|
turn over »
To relinquish; give back.
|
turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
|
turn-on »
Something that attracts, gives pleasure, or encourages, especially sexually.
|
two can play that game »
The tactics and/or strategies of an enemy can be used against him.
|
two wrongs make a right »
A logical fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another
|
under a spell »
Bewitched, held by the power of a magical spell.
|
under the knife »
Undergoing a surgical procedure.
|
unring a bell »
To reverse the ringing of a bell.
|
up against »
Facing; challenging, or opposing.
|
up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
|
valley of death »
The phase of a startup business beginning with the entrepreneur's fulltime commitment to it and ending when the business has achieved sustainable cash flow.
|
virgin territory »
By extension, ideas or concepts or activities that have not yet been tried, explored or developed.
|
virgin territory »
Land that has never been explored or developed.
|
waltz Matilda »
To travel with a swag; that is, with one's belongings wrapped in a cloth.
|
washed out »
Of clothes. When they lose some of their original colour from being washed so often.
|
water to my mill »
What energizes you; what stimulates you.
|
water under the bridge »
Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
|
wear down »
To have one's long hair styled in a free, low-hanging, unencumbered style; i.e., not in an up-do or ponytail.
|
well begun is half done »
Much depends on the beginning of an endeavor.
|
wet behind the ears »
Inexperienced; not seasoned; new; just beginning.
|
what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
|
what in God's name »
Used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
wind back »
To wind a tape, cassette, or film, etc towards the beginning; to rewind.
|
work the room »
To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
|
working girl »
A prostitute.
|
working girl »
A young woman who works.
|
wring out »
To force someone to give something, usually truth, or money.
|
year dot »
A very long time ago, from the beginning or as far back as one can remember.
|
yield up »
To give something against one's will.
|
you only get what you give »
There is a positive correlation between the effort one puts in and the benefits one receives.
|
you shouldn't have »
Used to express gratitude at unnecessary generosity, especially when receiving a gift.
|
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