a cold day in Hell »
An event that will never happen.
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a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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about to »
Indicates something that will happen very soon; indicates that something is imminent.
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accident waiting to happen »
A thing or situation which is almost certain to eventually lead to an accident.
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all hell broke loose »
A great disaster happened or chaos ensued.
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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 luck would have it »
As it happened; how it turned out; by good fortune; fortunately or luckily.
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at a pinch »
By the skin of one’s teeth; only just; Deo volente; perhaps; if you’re lucky..
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ball up »
To crush into a ball shape.
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barrel of laughs »
A toy in the shape of a barrel that emits sounds of laughter.
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boys will be boys »
It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13But just then there was a slight altercation between Master Tommy and Master Jacky. Boys will be boys and our two twins were no exception to this golden rule.Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish in heart"Boys will be boys", grinned grandpa while he joined his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he gave his grandson for Christmas while the kid was in school.
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bring forward »
To make something happen earlier than originally planned.
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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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by the way »
Incidentally; a parenthetical statement not timely, central, or crucial to the topic at hand; foregone, passed by, something that has already happened.
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camel through the eye of a needle »
Hyperbole to illustrate that something is almost impossible to do or to happen.
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