a question of »
The important question is; the necessary question is.
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ad fontes »
Go to the sources: An expression emphasizing the importance of conducting fundamental research and of consulting primary sources.
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albatross »
A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.
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all cats are grey in the dark »
In the dark, physical appearance is unimportant.
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all important »
vital
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an axe to grind »
A grievance, with implications of confrontation.
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and then some »
Used to confirm preceding utterance, while implying that what was said or asked is an understatement.
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answer back »
To reply impertinently; to talk back.
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apple does not fall far from the tree »
A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient
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arm candy »
An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public simply so that one or both of the individuals can gain attention, enhance social status, or create an impression of sexual appeal.
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asleep at the switch »
Neglectful of an important task, responsibility, or opportunity.
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back burner »
A state of low urgency; a state of low current importance.
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back-burner »
Having low urgency; not currently important.
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back-of-the-envelope »
Approximate, rough, simplified.
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ballpoint pen »
writing implement
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balls up »
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of ball up.
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barn burner »
Any successful or impressive event.
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be-all and end-all »
Something considered to be of the utmost importance; something essential or ultimate.
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beefed out »
Having been improved greatly or upgraded; beefed up.
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big cheese »
A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
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big daddy »
Something or someone of importance.
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big deal »
Something very important, difficult, or of concern.
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big enchilada »
A very important person, especially the highest-ranking individual in an organization.
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big fish in a small pond »
One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.
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big shot »
A person with a reputation of importance or power.
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big up »
To proclaim or exaggerate the importance of.
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bigwig »
A person of importance to a group or organization.
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blimp out »
To become fat or fatter, especially as a result of excessive eating.
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blow away »
Flabbergast; scintillate; impress greatly.
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bolt bucket »
A machine, especially an automobile. Implies that the machine is clunky or unreliable.
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bottom line »
The summary or result; the most important information; the upshot; the net-net.
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bought the farm »
Simple past tense and past participle of buy the farm: died; often refers to death in battle.
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brain fart »
Something ill-considered and said or done impulsively.
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breakfast of champions »
An ironic appellation for beer, junk food, or other foods implied to be unhealthy.
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bridge »
Any of several electrical devices that measure characteristics such as impedance and inductance by balancing different parts of a circuit.
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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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brush up »
To review; to improve an existing but rusty or under-developed skill.
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bum rap »
A false accusation, or an injustice, especially one that leads to imprisonment.
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bung up »
To close an opening with a cork, cork like object or other improvised obstruction.
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bury the lead »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
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bury the lede »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
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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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carry a torch for »
[2] To harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.
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castle in the air »
A visionary project or scheme; a day-dream; an idle fancy; a pipe dream; any plan, desire, or idea that is unlikely to be ever realized; a near impossibility.
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chalkface »
A musical concept or genre in which music is completely improvised and never played twice. Most often mixing elements of hip-hop, metal, punk and avant-garde jazz.
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champ at the bit »
To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
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chase a rainbow »
To pursue something illusory, impractical, or impossible.
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child's play »
Something particularly simple or easy.
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chomp at the bit »
To show impatience or frustration when delayed.
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clean up one's act »
To reform; to improve one's habits.
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clear cut »
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
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close down »
To surround someone, as to impede their movement.
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cold hands, warm heart »
Implies inner beauty; a caring person; warm-hearted
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come across »
To give an appearance or impression; to project a certain image.
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come to a head »
To suddenly make mature or perfected that which was inchoate or imperfectly formed.
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correlation does not imply causation »
(statistics) The observed correlation between two parameters, say, the growth of a market and the growth of a neighbor's child may, in fact, have nothing to do with each other's causation.
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cramp someone's style »
To restrict someone's free actions, or to give the impression of such.
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cry for help »
In her second year at the school Alexis stopped doing her homework and would often scribble on walls. Her teachers wondered whether this was a cry for help, or if she was simply misbehaving.
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cut and dried »
Simple, straightforward, clear, or certain.
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cut of one's jib »
Someone’s general appearance or the implications thereof, especially in relation to making an impression or one’s style..
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dawn of a new day »
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
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debris field »
Any area, non-dependent of locale, space, or contour, that contains the debris of wreckage, impact, sinking, or other material that once constituted a complete object. Debris fields can be found at the site of air crashes, water vessel sinking, explosions of buildings, collapses, and other events that render a whole entity into components, pieces, or other non-whole items.
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devil is in the details »
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
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devil's advocate »
One who debates from a view which they may not actually hold, usually to determine its validity, or simply for the sake of argument.
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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.
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do the math »
You can do the calculation yourself, with the implication that you don't have to trust someone else's assertions.
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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.
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don't give up your day job »
Implying that they could not earn a living from it without other regular employment.
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done a bunk »
Simple past tense and past participle of do a bunk.
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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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draw out »
To improve a losing hand to a winning hand by receiving additional cards.
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drop the gloves »
To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.
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dumb down »
To become simpler in expression or content; to become unacceptably simplistic.
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dumb down »
To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.
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dyed in the wool »
Simple past tense and past participle of dye in the wool.
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even handed »
impartial
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everything happens for a reason »
All events are purposeful.Everything happens for a reason, so there is no such thing as failure. Mary-Kate OlsenPeople like to say "everything happens for a reason." If you repeat that in your head long enough that starts to sound like "anything can happen with a razor." Laura KightlingerI believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason - that's how we learn. Drew Barrymore
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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.
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far fetched »
improbable
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feel one's oats »
To feel important; to be empowered.
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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.
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fly-by-night »
Businesses that appear and disappear rapidly, or that give an impression of transience.
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for all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
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four score and seven years ago »
As an opener, a sometimes sarcastic indicator to indicate a past event being mentioned is particularly important.
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get better »
To improve.
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get down to brass tacks »
Deal with the important details.
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get off one's high horse »
To stop acting in an imperious, overbearing or bossy manner.
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gild the lily »
To embellish or improve something unnecessarily; to add superfluous attributes to something.
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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.
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gloss over »
To treat something with less care than it deserves; to skimp.
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go from zero to hero »
To change from negative outcome to positive outcome. To improve one's fortunes significantly.
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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.
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go off at score »
Of a horse, to break suddenly into a gallop; of a person, suddenly to say or do something impetuous.
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go over »
To create a response or impression.
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grand poobah »
A person who is important or high-ranking.
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greatest thing since sliced bread »
A relatively recent invention likely to significantly improve people's lives.
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hair-splitting »
The act of finding exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.
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hair-splittingly »
With exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.
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hard pressed »
Having or likely to have difficulty or to find a task almost impossible.
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have one's head in the clouds »
To have fantastic or impractical dreams; to think impractically.
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have other fish to fry »
To have more important things to do.
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hen's teeth »
Anything very rare or impossible to obtain is said to be like finding hen’s teeth.
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hill of beans »
Something of no importance.
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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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hold one's water »
To be patient; to control one's impulses.
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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.
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horse around »
To play or fiddle; to clown; to do nothing of importance or consequence.
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how's the weather »
Indicating a change of subject to unimportant topics.
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if it ain't broke, don't fix it »
Leave something alone; avoid correcting, fixing, or improving what is already sufficient, as it could end up being detrimental
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if you lie with dogs you will get fleas »
It is important whom to choose as one's closest acquanitances.
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impiastro »
Nuisance, bore.
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impiastro »
Poultice.
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in a nutshell »
In summary; briefly or simply.
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in layman's terms »
Explaining something in simple words.
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in the driver's seat »
Having the most important role in a storyline or recognition. Of primary importance.
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in the wind »
Impending or in the offing; imminent.
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it is what it is »
This circumstance is simply a fact and must be accepted or dealt with as it exists.
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it's about time »
Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer considered to be long overdue.
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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
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ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
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jack it in »
An imperative to stop doing something that the speaker finds annoying.
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jump the queue »
To desire preferential treatment, undue influence; impatient.
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keep it real »
In the imperative, an exhortation used as a departing salutation.
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keep one's eye on the ball »
To maintain one's concentration fixed on one important theme.
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kick ass »
To be very impressive.
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kick butt »
To be impressive; to be decisively good or pleasant.
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kick up »
To function improperly.
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kick up a fuss »
To show annoyance, or to complain loudly about something, often when it is of little importance in reality.
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knock somebody's socks off »
To impress greatly; amaze; stun.
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knock up »
To impregnate, especially out of wedlock. See knocked up.
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larger-than-life »
Very imposing, renowned, or impressively influential.
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leave well enough alone »
To leave something alone; to avoid attempts to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient.
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leave well enough alone »
To leave something alone; to avoid attempts to correct, fix, or improve what is already sufficient
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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
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let the good times roll »
To have fun or live fully; may imply letting things that are going well proceed.
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lie back and think of England »
. "think of England" refers to the importance of children.
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like gangbusters »
Vigorously, rapidly, zealously, or forcibly; in a manner which has considerable impact.
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listen up »
To listen closely; to pay attention. Often used in the imperative.
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lock up »
To imprison or incarcerate someone.
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long story short »
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.
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look what the cat's dragged in »
Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
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love is blind »
A person who is in love can see no faults or imperfections in the person who is loved.
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mad money »
A sum of money, often relatively small in amount, kept in reserve to use for impulsive, frivolous purposes.
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magic bullet »
A simple remedy to a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.
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make a mountain out of a molehill »
To treat a problem as greater than it is; to blow something out of proportion; to exaggerate the importance of something trivial.
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make it up as one goes along »
To improvise continuously.
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near the knuckle »
Risqué, sexual, suggestive of impropriety..
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needle in a haystack »
Something that is difficult or impossible to locate; something impossibly complex or intractable.
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neither here nor there »
Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent.
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never mind »
It is not important; do not fret.
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no comment »
A refusal to say the obvious impolite retort.
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no frills »
Basic or simple; providing only what is necessary, without anything extra or fancy.
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no screaming hell »
Something that is not particularly effective or impressive; something that is below expectations.
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not the end of the world »
It's of minor importance, at least not as important as it first seemed.
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not to put too fine a point on it »
Used to apologise for a possibly impolite statement one is making.
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nothing to it »
Easy; simple or straightforward.
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number one with a bullet »
Superlative; impossible to beat.
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odd and curious »
A way to designate special coins, namely coins that are both odd and imperfect or seriously damaged.
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off the radar »
Unlikely to happen, or be important in the near future or tending to escape detection or attention.
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off the wagon »
No longer maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from an undesirable habit, especially drinking alcohol.
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off-the-cuff »
Extemporaneous; without prior preparation; impromptu.
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old money »
The imperial system of measurement, as opposed to the metric system.
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on the mend »
Improving or undergoing restoration to a previous, more favorable condition.
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on the wagon »
By extension, maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from some other undesirable habit.
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one in the eye for »
An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.
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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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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.
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out of the question »
Impossible to even contemplate.
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out of the way »
Improper or offensive.
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patience is a virtue »
it is better to be patient than impatient
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peed off »
Simple past tense and past participle of pee off.
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physical break »
A short break in a meeting or in a classroom setting, intended to improve attention.
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pick up »
To improve, increase, or speed up.
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piece of cake »
A job, task or other activity that is easy or simple to do.
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pipe dream »
A plan, desire, or idea that will not likely work; a near impossibility.
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piss up a rope »
To engage in futile or impossible activity.
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play down »
To make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
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play up »
To make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely or obvious; to showcase or highlight.
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point out »
To identify with a bodily gesture, notably by pointing a finger or implement.
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point the finger »
To accuse; to direct or imply blame.
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pop in »
To visit in an impromptu manner.
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pour out »
To talk volubly and deeply. Usually implies telling the truth.
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prawn cocktail offensive »
A strategy of the Labour Party in winning over important people in the world of finance.
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pull one's finger out »
To stop wasting time in preliminaries, and concentrate on the important task.
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pull somebody's leg »
To tease someone; to lead someone on; to goad someone into overreacting. It usually implies teasing or goading by jokingly lying.
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pull the other leg »
In imperative/precative form, used to imply that the speaker does not accept or believe what another has just said.
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pull the other one, it's got bells on »
The implication is that one leg has been pulled, and the joker will have more fun with the other one due to the bells.
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pure and simple »
Plain and unadorned.
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put aside »
To ignore or intentionally forget something, temporarily or permanently, so that more important things can have one's attention.
|
put on the dog »
To dress up; to put on airs; to make a show of wealth and/or importance; to be pretentious.
|
put one's best foot forward »
To show oneself in the best or most positive way possible; to make a favorable impression.
|
rain check »
In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.
|
real men don't eat quiche »
(aphorism, humorous) The stereotypical man does not do things that are considered effeminate, as to do so would imply they are effeminate.
|
reflect on »
To give an impression of .
|
reinvent the wheel »
To redo work unnecessarily when it has already been done satisfactorily; to rethink an already working system, technique, etc. in a pointless attempt to improve it.
|
rest on one's laurels »
To rely on a past success instead of trying to improve oneself further.
|
ride tall in the saddle »
To act or conduct oneself in a manner that is imposing, impressive, resolute, or manly.
|
ride tall in the saddle »
To ride a horse in an erect, imposing manner.
|
ring false »
To seem to be incorrect, or implausible.
|
ring hollow »
To seem to be false or implausible; to be unconvincing.
|
road to Damascus »
A road to Damascus moment, or change, is an important point in someone's life where a great change, or reversal, of ideas or beliefs occurs.
|
Rome wasn't built in a day »
It takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive.
|
rule out »
To make something impossible.
|
run through »
To impale a person with a blade, usually a sword.
|
sabre-rattling »
A flamboyant display of military power as an implied threat that it might be used.
|
sack out »
To fall asleep, usually from implied exhaustion.
|
sainted »
Simple past tense and past participle of saint.
|
screw back »
To cue the cue ball in such a way as to impart backspin. On impact, the ball will follow a reverse trajectory according to the spin.
|
scrimp and save »
To scrimp greatly; to economize; to live very frugally, particularly when saving for something.
|
second-guess »
Presumably from trying to improve with a second stab.
|
see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
|
set down »
Simple sum of parts set + down, to place, especially on the ground or a surface; to cease carrying.
|
sex up »
To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.
|
shacked up »
Simple past tense and past participle of shack up.
|
shape up »
To improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.
|
shape up or ship out »
To either improve one's behavior or else be required to leave; to either improve one's performance in an activity or else withdraw from that activity completely.
|
show the flag »
To represent one's country or some other group in a manner intended to suggest the authority or importance of that country or group.
|
showstopper »
Any impediment that prevents all further progress.
|
skeleton crew »
The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency or shut down, and at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.
|
skimp and save »
Alternative form of scrimp and save.
|
slam dunk »
An impressively forceful dunk.
|
sleep on »
To consider after a period of sleep, implying a decision will be made the next day.
|
slippery as an eel »
So slippery that it is almost impossible to hold with one's hands.
|
smack of »
To seem like; to appear or give an impression or feeling of; to arouse suspicion of.
|
small fry »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
|
small potatoes »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
|
smoking gun »
Evidence, particularly of a crime, that is difficult or impossible to dispute.
|
snazz up »
To improve appearance or appeal by increasing stylishness or functionality, or by adding other attractive features.
|
sow one's wild oats »
To spread one's genes around by impregnating many females.
|
spoil the ship for a hap'orth of tar »
To have something important fail for want of a small amount of money or effort.
|
spruce up »
To refresh, revamp; to freshen or improve something, especially its appearance.
|
spur of the moment »
Impluse; short notice; a lack of planning.
|
squaring the circle »
A hopeless or impossible task.
|
stars in one's eyes »
The state of being overly or extremely impressed with something; enchanted with romance.
|
sticking point »
A disputed issue or state of affairs that causes an interruption or outright impasse in progress towards some goal or resolution, especially in negotiation or argumentation.
|
stir-crazy »
By extension, restless, uncomfortable, or impatient due to inactivity.
|
stop press »
The event or news article important enough to delay or interrupt the print, or require a reprint, of a publication, particularly of a newspaper edition.
|
stop the presses »
An imperative form used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
|
strut one's stuff »
To behave, or to perform in a showy or ostentatious manner, especially in a way to impress others; to show off.
|
stumbing-block »
A hindrance, obstacle or impediment.
|
stumbling block »
A hindrance, obstacle or impediment.
|
sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
|
take a back seat »
To be second to someone or something; to be less important or have a lower priority.
|
take away »
To leave a memory or impression in one's mind that you think about later.
|
take one's eye off the ball »
To lose one's concentration on what is most important.
|
talk back »
To reply impertinently; to answer in a cheeky manner.
|
tall in the saddle »
Imposing, impressive; resolute; manly.
|
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.
|
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 long and short of it »
The gist; the essence or substance; the most important or salient features; said of a summary or digest.
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the sky is the limit »
Nothing is impossible or out of reach
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the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak »
(proverbs) For much as one wishes to achieve something, the frailties of the human body often make it impossible.
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the thing of it »
The important point to consider.
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tickled pink »
Simple past tense and past participle of tickle pink.
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to all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
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tough love »
The compassionate use of stringent disciplinary measures, to attempt to improve someone's behavior.
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tuckered out »
Simple past tense and past participle of tucker out.
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tune up »
To make adjustments to an engine in order to improve its performance.
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turn a blind eye »
To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper.
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turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
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under lock and key »
Imprisoned with little or no chance of escape.
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under the impression »
Thinking or making assumptions, often incorrectly.
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unring a bell »
To perform the impossible.
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up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
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valley of death »
Death; or a place or period where death is impending.
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warm fuzzy »
A good impression; a feeling of comfort or trust.
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warts and all »
Of or pertaining to a description or other depiction which reveals the full range of characteristics of a person or thing, including the shortcomings and imperfections.
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watch one's mouth »
In the imperative form, used as a warning to avoid or stop using inappropriate language, especially profanity, or disrespectful utterances.
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watch out »
To be aware or conscious; to look closely or carefully; to use caution. Often used in the imperative.
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water down »
To simplify or oversimplify; to make easier; to make less difficult.
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watered-down »
Weakened or simplified.
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what do I know »
Implies that a statement is based on a guess or assumption rather than on knowledge or evidence.
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will on »
To wish intensely that someone succeeds in what they are doing. Often implies a silent, or almost inaudible wish.
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wimp out »
To behave like a wimp.
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window dressing »
A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only.
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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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without fail »
Certainly; by all means; as a matter of importance.
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work around the clock »
To work all day and all night without a break, because it is imperative to finish something.
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work over »
To improve a prototype, or first draft.
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worth one's while »
Good and important enough for one to spend time, effort, or money on.
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write down »
In a simple or condescending style.
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you can't polish a turd »
(vulgar) Something inherently bad cannot be improved.
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you can't teach an old dog new tricks »
It is impossible, or almost impossible, to change people's habits or traits or mindset.
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you're never too old to learn »
It is possible to learn new things, at any age; (implying) follow your desires and dreams
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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