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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a pull of the hair for being unfair »
The general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".
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against the grain »
Unwillingly, reluctantly. It went much against the grain with him, i.e. it was much against his inclination, or against his pluck.
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all over the place »
Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.
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all told »
With everything included, counted or summed.
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all wet »
Utterly incorrect; erroneous; uninformed.
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and change »
And some quantity, but less than the increment to the next round number.
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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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ask for »
To increase the likelihood of something by persisting in some action; to invite.
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assault and battery »
. This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.
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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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at a pinch »
in an emergency
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barrow man »
A man under sentence of transportation; alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt.
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beauty is in the eye of the beholder »
Individuals have different inclinations on what is beautiful. Individuals have different beauty standards.
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big up »
To increase one's muscle mass through exercise.
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black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
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blow hot and cold »
To behave inconsistently; to vacillate or to waver, as between extremes of opinion or emotion.
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booby prize »
A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.
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bread and butter »
That which is central or fundamental, as to one's business, survival, or income; a staple or cornerstone.
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breadwinner »
The member of a household who earns all or most of the income
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bright line »
A clear distinction in the context of a legal or moral judgment.
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brown bread »
Bread with a brown colour as distinct from white bread, wholemeal, granary or other specific types of bread.
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bump up »
To increase something suddenly.
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by the by »
Used to introduce a new topic; incidentally.
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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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calling card »
An attribute, object, or behavior which is distinctly characteristic of someone or something.
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catch out »
To discover or expose as fake or insincere.
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change one's mind »
To convince someone to make a decision differing from what a previous one.
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cheese it »
A minced oath used as a warning to stop, hide, or flee.
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climb up »
To make a gradual ascent or increase.
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close shave »
A near accident or mishap; a dangerous or risky encounter or incident.
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closed book »
A person or thing that cannot be easily understood; someone or something incomprehensible or puzzling.
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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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company »
In non-legal context, any business, without respect to incorporation.
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crank up »
To increase, as the volume, power or energy of something.
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crocodile tear »
A tear shed insincerely, in a false display of sorrow or some other emotion.
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damn with faint praise »
To provide praise that is so minimal or inconsequential as to actually amount to criticism.
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dar brincos »
To jump, leap.
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death by spellcheck »
The problems caused by spellcheckers being incapable of correcting most homophone confusions.
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developments »
A group of building complexes or apartments. Often used for low income housing.
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die out »
To become extinct.
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do a bunk »
To escape or flee under incriminating circumstances.
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do a slow burn »
To experience a gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
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don't be penny wise and pound foolish »
Don't be careful when it comes to spending small amounts of money, but careless when spending much larger amounts.Don't focus on minutiae and lose sight of the big picture; don't obsess over tiny inconsequential efficiencies while glaring inefficiencies are going on elsewhere.
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don't shit where you eat »
(idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.1998 April 14, Nelson Navarro, "Ever faithful, ever true," Manila Standard (Philippines) (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.2003 Oct. 8, Jonathan Valania, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy," Philadelphia Weekly (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.2006 Sept. 19, Michael Musto, "NY Mirror," Village Voice (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.
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dormitive principle »
Words.
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double Dutch »
Incomprehensible language.
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drop the writ »
To call a federal or provincial election.
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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,
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feel up to »
To have an inclination to do something.
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feet of clay »
To say that someone, who appears strong or invincible, in fact has a hidden weak point which could cause their fall.
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fishing expedition »
A non-specific search for information, especially incriminating information.
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fix someone's wagon »
To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.
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flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
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flutter in the dovecote »
I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.
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from the bottom of one's heart »
In earnest; sincerely; with one's full feeling.
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full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
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get somebody's goat »
To annoy, infuriate, bother, or incense.
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gift of the gab »
The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.
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go out »
To become extinct, to expire.
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go the way of the dinosaurs »
To go extinct or become obsolete; to fall out of common use or practice; to go off the firsthand market; to become a thing of the past.
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go the way of the dodo »
To go extinct or become obsolete; to fall out of common use or practice; to go out of the firsthand market; to become a thing of the past.
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golden rule »
A fundamental rule or principle.
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golden rule »
The principle that one should treat other people in the manner in which one would want to be treated by them.
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gravy train »
A gorging on luxuries, since someone else foots the bill.
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gravy train »
An occupation or any lucrative endeavor that generates considerable income whilst requiring little effort and carrying little risk.
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great minds think alike »
Used to emphasize a coincidence, or two people reaching the same conclusion in any manner at the same time.
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greatest thing since sliced bread »
A relatively recent invention likely to significantly improve people's lives.
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gut factor »
Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.
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gut feeling »
An instinct or intuition; an immediate or basic feeling or reaction without a logical rationale.
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half a mind »
A moderate inclination.
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hardwired »
In humans and animals, genetically determined, instinctive behavior, as opposed to learned behavior.
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heads will roll »
Some people will be fired for incompetence.
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heart to heart »
A sincere, serious, or personal conversation.
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hike up »
To raise or increase sharply.
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horse of a different color »
An unrelated or only incidentally related matter with distinctly different significance.
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hospital pass »
A throw that stays in the air long enough that it allows too many people to get underneath it, increasing the risk of injury and a trip to the hospital. Thus, a hospital pass.
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hot button »
The principal desire that a salesman needs to "hit" in order to make a sale.
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hot up »
To increase in temperature.
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house cooling party »
A party to celebrate when a person decides to leave a house or flat, and sometimes to help prepare the space for the incoming residents.
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how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
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in a pinch »
In an urgent or difficult situation; when no other solution is available.
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in detail »
Thoroughly; including every detail.
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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.
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in the black »
Having positive net income; having greater income than expenses; making a profit.
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into detail »
Thoroughly; including every detail.
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it is what it is »
This thing has its own distinct nature; this thing is itself.
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it takes all kinds to make a world »
Diversity is essential: the world would be incomplete if everyone were alike.He irons his clothes how?! That's crazy! Well, I guess it takes all kinds.
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jack up »
To raise, increase, or accelerate; often said of prices, fees, or rates. See also jack up the price.
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keep down »
To cause not to increase or rise.
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kill off »
To eliminate, or make extinct.
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knowledge is power »
With knowledge and/or education, one's potential or ability to succeed in the pursuit of his objectives will certainly increase.
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licence to print money »
A means of generating a large income with little effort.
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lock up »
To imprison or incarcerate someone.
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long since »
Past.
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make a living »
To earn enough income to support oneself and, if applicable, one's family.
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man of parts »
A man that is talented in multiple areas of life. This includes but is not limited to the area of seduction. He puts very little emphasis on memorized scripts or "peacocking" and instead relies on individualized ways to charm a woman.
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mark up »
To increase the price of something between its wholesale and retail phase.
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match made in hell »
A marriage that is likely to be unhappy or abusive and unsuccessful because the two people are very incompatible with each other.
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meal ticket »
Someone or something that provides income or livelihood, especially as an exploited source.
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measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
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mess up »
To make a mistake; to do something incorrectly; to perform poorly.
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mince words »
To restrain oneself in a conversation by withholding some comments or using euphemisms.
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mixed message »
Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent.
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motor mouth »
One who talks incessantly; a chatty or loquacious person.
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mouthful of marbles »
An indistinct, muffled or garbled manner of speaking.
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move heaven and earth »
To do whatever is necessary, including extreme or unusual actions; to go to extremes.
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no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney »
Regardless of how many clever points or fine distinctions one makes, what one is saying is still false or is still nonsense.
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no pain, no gain »
One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals.
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nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat »
The idea/proposed action is inconsequential to the current situation.
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object lesson »
An example that typifies a principle.
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on the level »
Honest, sincere, straightforward.
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on the loose »
Not incarcerated or in captivity; not under control.
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on the sly »
Slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.
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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 character »
Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.
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pain in the neck »
Someone or something which is annoying, irritating or inconvenient.
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painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
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pay the bills »
To provide enough income to sustain one's lifestyle.
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pearl of wisdom »
A succinct, insightful saying, piece of advice, or moral precept.
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peel grapes »
To perform a menial task, eliminating trivial inconveniences.
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penny pincher »
One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.
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pick up »
To improve, increase, or speed up.
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pinch and a punch for the first of the month »
Said the first day of a new month, accompanied by a pinch and a punch to the victim.
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pinch-hit »
To bat in place of another player.
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pinch-hit »
To do something in the place of another person who is not able to perform or is less skilled; to substitute or stand in for somebody.
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pinchpenny »
One who spends little money; one who is very frugal or cautious with money.
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plead the fifth »
To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
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preach to the choir »
Speaking as if to convince a person or group of something which that person or group already believes.
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pretty penny »
A considerable amount of money; a high price or a high income.
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prevail upon »
To convince; to persuade.
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raise the stakes »
To increase in significance or risk.
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ramp up »
To increase rapidly to a new value.
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rediscover fire »
To relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.
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rev up »
To increase the speed of an engine, especially that of a stationary motor car.
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ride roughshod over »
To act in a bullying or inconsiderate manner; to display disregard towards someone or something.
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ring false »
To seem to be incorrect, or implausible.
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ring hollow »
To seem to be false or implausible; to be unconvincing.
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sell out »
To abandon one's supporters or principles to seek profit or other personal advantage.
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set in one's ways »
Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or established preferences.
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set of pipes »
A wind instrument incorporating multiple pipes, such as a panpipe or bagpipe.
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show somebody the door »
To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
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since when »
From what time.
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since when »
Used to indicate doubt as to the veracity of a statement.
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slow burn »
A gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
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smoke and mirrors »
A deceptive, fraudulent, or unconvincing explanation or description.
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snazz up »
To improve appearance or appeal by increasing stylishness or functionality, or by adding other attractive features.
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softroader »
. This involves increased ground clearance with tyre, wheel, and suspension tweaks, skid plates and refers to mini SUV or wagons.
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speed up »
To accelerate, to increase speed.
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spill one's guts »
To confess, or to divulge secrets, typically speaking freely and at length after a change of motive or an incentive.
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stem the tide »
To slow or stop the increase.
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step up »
To increase speed or rate.
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sticky fingers »
An inclination to steal.
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stir-crazy »
Of a prisoner, mentally unbalanced due to prolonged incarceration.
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stitch up »
To maliciously or dishonestly incriminate someone.
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stop the lights »
An interjection expressing exasperation or incredulity. or to illustrate the humour in a situation.
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stop up »
To increase the aperture of a photographic lens, moving from an f/stop represented by a higher number to an f/stop represented by a lower number and causing more light to pass into the camera.
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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.
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suffer fools gladly »
To be tolerant of stupidity or incompetence in other people.
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sweeten the pot »
To increase a wager.
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swing for the fences »
To swing at the ball as hard as possible, with the aim of getting a home run, increasing the chance of missing the ball.
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sword and sorcery »
Of or pertaining to a genre of narratives—including short stories, novels, television shows, films, and computer games—which combines wizardry and other fantastical supernatural elements with violent combat using medieval weaponry..
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take a bow »
To accept applause at the end of a performance in a theatre. Often this includes actually bowing to the audience.
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take the fifth »
To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.
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take with a pinch of salt »
Not take entirely seriously.
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the man »
The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations; the system, as coordinated outside of one’s control..
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the name of the game »
The overall purpose; the principal goal, or objective.
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the plot thickens »
Used, often ironically, to describe an increasingly complex or mysterious situation.
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there is an exception to every rule »
Usually said in a situation when the rule is incorrect and unusable.
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through the roof »
Rapidly increasing.
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throw down »
To fight, incite to fight, or approach with the intent to fight; to make a stand.
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throw enough mud at the wall and 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.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.
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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
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to the point »
Relevant or pertinent; succinct; specific.
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tomorrow is another day »
Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed
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top banana »
The principal comedian in a vaudeville or burlesque show.
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trailer trash »
Deleted from the movie trailer. Not included in theatrical run.
|
trigger-happy »
Inclined to behave recklessly, especially with machinery.
|
trigger-happy »
Inclined to react excessively or violently at the slightest provocation.
|
turn one on »
To increase interest.
|
turn up »
To increase the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.
|
under the impression »
Thinking or making assumptions, often incorrectly.
|
unwashed masses »
Of people who are considered by someone to be somehow uneducated, uninformed, godless, or in some other way unqualified for inclusion in the speaker's elite circles.
|
war bride »
A company or individual whose business is increased by warfare.
|
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.
|
whomp up »
To incite or generate.
|
work out »
To habitually exercise rigorously, especially by lifting weights, in order to increase strength or muscle mass or maintain fitness.
|
yellowbelly »
Someone from Lincolnshire.
|
you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
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yours sincerely »
A polite formula to end a letter, especially when the recipient’s name is known to the sender.
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