a day late and a dollar short »
Action that was taken too late and too feeble to be of any use.
|
a different ballpark »
Something totally unrelated or of a vastly different scale or scope.
|
a penny saved is a penny earned »
A maxim for thrift that says that money not spent may be spent later, or may earn interest in the meantime
|
account for »
To explain by relating circumstances; to show that some one, thing or members of a group are present or have been processed.
|
add up »
To accumulate; to amount to.
|
after the fact »
Too late; after something is finished or final.
|
ahead of one's time »
Showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field; coming earlier than could be generally accepted.
|
air bed »
inflatable mattress
|
all that jazz »
Everything else related to something; other similar things.
|
answer back »
To reply to a question at a later time.
|
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
|
arm and a leg »
A relatively high price for an item or service; an exorbitant price.
|
arm's length »
Independent, but related.
|
as all get-out »
Extremely; to a superlative degree; very much.
|
as far as »
With respect to; as relates to.
|
at all hours »
Late into the night or early morning; when people ought to be sleeping.
|
at arm's length »
Avoiding a close relationship.
|
at latter Lammas »
Never.
|
bar star »
A female who frequents bars or lounges, usually late at night.
|
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.
|
barrel »
The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31 1/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds; of beer 31 gallons; of ale 32 gallons; of crude oil 42 gallons.
|
behind its time »
Showing characteristics of the past; present in one's work after later advances in the field; coming later than could be generally accepted.
|
better an egg today than a hen tomorrow »
It is better to have a sure thing now than a possibility of more later.
|
better than sex »
Superlative; wonderful.
|
beyond the black stump »
Extremely remote, outside the populated area.
|
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.
|
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.
|
bleeding edge »
Something very current, or modern where there may actually be a hazard or risk in using it, such as with potentially unstable software. The term relates to a sword.
|
blind »
A covering for a window to keep out light. The covering may be made of cloth or of narrow slats that can block light or allow it to pass.
|
blood is thicker than water »
Family relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.1866, Anthony Trollope, The Belton Estate, ch. 30,Blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?circa 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, The Scotch Twins, ch. 5,The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!
|
blow away »
Flabbergast; scintillate; impress greatly.
|
blow hot and cold »
To behave inconsistently; to vacillate or to waver, as between extremes of opinion or emotion.
|
blow up »
To inflate or fill with air.
|
blue note »
Notes added to the major scale for expressive quality in jazz and blues music, particularly the flatted third, fifth and seventh.
|
bluewash »
To tout a business or organization's commitment to social responsibility, and to use this perception for public relations and economic gain; to present a humanitarian front in this manner.
|
boot camp »
Indoctrination, physical fitness training and basic instruction in service-related subjects for recruits in the Navy and Marine Corps.
|
box-office bomb »
A motion picture that generates relatively low revenue at the box office, especially that which is less than the budget for the motion picture.
|
branch out »
To attempt something new or different, but related.
|
break a sweat »
' , Karon Karter - The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Pilates Method page 119.
|
break up »
To end a relationship.
|
break wind »
To flatulate; fart; to expel gases generated during digestion through the anus.
|
breakfast of champions »
An ironic appellation for beer, junk food, or other foods implied to be unhealthy.
|
bridge »
An elevated platform above the upper deck of a mechanically propelled ship from which it is navigated and from which all activities on deck can be seen and controlled by the captain, etc; smaller ships have a wheelhouse, and sailing ships were controlled from a quarterdeck.
|
build up »
To accumulate, to pile up.
|
buried treasure »
Something, having been concealed for a long time, which later is found and is profitable.
|
burn the midnight oil »
To work studiously, especially late into the night.
|
butter up »
To flatter, especially with the intent of personal gain.
|
call in »
To withdraw something from sale or circulation.
|
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.
|
catch big air »
Superlative of catch air; make a big jump high off the ground.
|
center field »
The part of a baseball field which is beyond the infield and straight ahead left if you stand on home plate and face the pitcher.
|
ceterum censeo »
A formulaic expression used to end a speech by reinforcing one, often unrelated, major view.
|
chat up »
In a friendly, open, or casual manner, sometimes also in a charming or affected manner, usually to curry favor, and sometimes flirtatiously with the intention of establishing a romantic or sexual encounter or relationship with that person.
|
check out »
Used to draw attention to something and stimulate excitement about it.
|
clock up »
To accumulate a large amount of time.
|
clock up »
To accumulate a large distance.
|
cloud nine »
A state of happiness, elation or bliss; often used in the phrase on cloud nine.
|
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.
|
cock a hoop »
elated
|
cold comfort »
Much less reassurance, consolation, aid, or pleasure than one needs or desires.
|
come on »
A statement or sometimes action reflecting sexual or relational interest.
|
come to a head »
To suddenly reveal that which has lain latent for a time.
|
company »
A military unit, typically consisting of two or three platoons.
|
concrete jungle »
An urban or other populated area containing a high density of buildings constructed of concrete or similar materials, especially one which lacks greenery and which seems unattractive, harsh, or unsafe.
|
cook the books »
To manipulate accounting information, esp. illegally, by a corporation.
|
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.
|
cream in one's jeans »
To ejaculate while wearing one's trousers.
|
crème de la crème »
Best of the best; something that's superlative. The very best.
|
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.
|
curry favor »
To seek to gain favor by flattery or attention.
|
cut of one's jib »
Someone’s general appearance or the implications thereof, especially in relation to making an impression or one’s style..
|
cut off »
To isolate or remove from contact.
|
cut the cheese »
To flatulate.
|
dead »
Without interest to one of the senses; dull; flat.
|
deep end »
The part of a swimming pool with relatively deep water.
|
dirty laundry »
Unflattering facts or questionable activities that one wants to remain secret, but which some other may use to blackmail with.
|
do a »
To emulate the behavior/behaviour that is generally attributed to the individual named.
|
do the math »
You can do the calculation yourself, with the implication that you don't have to trust someone else's assertions.
|
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.
|
double Dutch »
A language game akin to pig Latin.
|
dusty miller »
A formulaic phrase for a miller, related to the dust generated in the milling process.
|
early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise »
platitude from Benjamin Franklin under the pseudonym Poor Richard.
|
eleventh hour »
Nearly too late; the last minute.
|
every Jack has his Jill »
everybody will find someone to have a romantic relationship with at some point in their life
|
factor space »
A space obtained from another by identification of points that are equivalent to one another in some equivalence relation.
|
fashion plate »
A person who dresses in especially stylish fashions.
|
fashion plate »
A picture, usually an advertisement, showing the latest fashion in clothing.
|
fifth wheel »
A type of trailer hitch, which consists of a horseshoe-shaped plate on a multi-directional pivot, with a locking pin to couple with the kingpin of a truck trailer.
|
filter down »
Of information, or resources; to move slowly down to lower levels of an organisation, or population.
|
first among equals »
In the British and other parliamentary systems, a term used to describe the relationship of the prime minister to the other members of the cabinet.
|
flat chat »
At maximum capability or speed.
|
flat chat »
Extremely busy.
|
flat out »
At top speed.
|
flat out »
Bluntly, no holds barred.
|
flat-chested »
Having a flat chest; having small breasts.
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates the theory that the earth is flat.
|
flat-footed »
Having feet which are flat.
|
flat-footed »
Having the specific physical condition of flat feet.
|
flat-footed »
To firmly hold and maintain a decision; to stand one's ground.
|
flat-footed »
Unprepared to act.
|
flick the bean »
To masturbate by stimulating the clitoris.
|
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.
|
flipside »
Later or tomorrow.
|
food chain »
The feeding relationships between species in a biotic community.
|
for the time being »
Temporarily; until later.
|
for XYZ reasons »
For reasons unknown and not worth speculating on.
|
four-on-the-floor »
Relating to a vehicle with a four-speed manual transmission mounted beside the driver on the floor of the vehicle.
|
fourth estate »
Which governed legislation.
|
fox in the henhouse »
A relationships wherein a predator is granted free reign within the prey's home confinement, often used in the political sense.
|
friend with benefits »
A friend with whom one has such a relationship.
|
funny money »
A highly inflated currency.
|
get down to business »
To become involved with something work-related.
|
get one's foot in the door »
To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job.
|
give a sneck posset »
To fasten the door latch.
|
give hostage to fortune »
To take an action or make a statement that is risky because it could cause you trouble later.
|
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.
|
go out with »
Often in hopes that the relationship will become more longterm as in definition 1.
|
go out with »
Date, be involved in a romantic relationship with.
|
God works in mysterious ways »
Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...
|
gold standard »
A monetary system where the value of circulating money is linked to the value of gold.
|
good job »
Well done; congratulations!.
|
good old boy »
A friendly, unambitious, relatively uneducated, sometimes racially biased white man who embodies the stereotype of the folksy culture of the rural southern USA.
|
good on you »
An exclamation of encouragement or congratulation; well done.
|
grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
greatest thing since sliced bread »
A relatively recent invention likely to significantly improve people's lives.
|
hand in hand »
Naturally, ordinarily or predictably together; commonly having a correlation or relationship.
|
have a flat »
To be the owner of an apartment.
|
have a flat »
To have a flat tyre.
|
have eyes bigger than one's belly »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
|
have eyes bigger than one's stomach »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
|
have in mind »
To consider, to contemplate, to intend.
|
have to do »
To relate; to be relevant.
|
have to do with the price of tea in China »
To have any relation or bearing whatsoever on the topic at hand, usually used to emphasize the lack of relationship of a non sequitur.
|
hem and haw »
To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.
|
high ground »
A location which is at a relatively high elevation, especially in comparison to the immediate surrounding area.
|
hold out »
To set something aside or save it for later.
|
homeless dumping »
The practice of hospital employees or emergency workers releasing homeless patients on the streets instead of placing them into the custody of a relative or shelter or retaining them in a hospital where they may require expensive medical care.
|
hoover up »
Quickly, especially by taking it into the mouth directly from the plate rather than using cutlery.
|
horse of a different color »
An unrelated or only incidentally related matter with distinctly different significance.
|
hot chocolate »
warm drink
|
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.
|
hunger is a good sauce »
(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.
|
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle »
(colloquial, vulgar, humorous) It is fruitless to speculate about counterfactual situations."We would have won the match if we'd had a decent goalkeeper.""And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle!"
|
in bed with »
Engaging in a close mutually beneficial relationship, especially secretly and illicitly.
|
in broad daylight »
In a blatant and publicly visible manner.
|
it's never too late to mend »
You
|
jolly someone along »
To make someone happy or compliant, as by encouragement or flattery.
|
jump for joy »
Exalt, [rejoice]], feel elation.
|
keep the wolf from the door »
To delay sexual ejaculation.
|
kiss up »
To pay false flattery to another, particularly a superior at work, in order to get special attention.
|
kiss up »
To pay false flattery.
|
kiss up to »
To pay false flattery to; to flatter in excess.
|
knee high to a grasshopper »
Short; especially relating to when the subject was a small child.
|
latch onto »
To obtain, acquire or get and keep hold of something.
|
late bloomer »
A person who lives a child's life comparatively later than their peers.
|
late bloomer »
A person who reaches puberty comparatively later than their peers.
|
late model »
Recently designed or fabricated; new.
|
latter day »
modern
|
lay down »
To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate .
|
lead »
A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
|
lead »
Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs.
|
left field »
The part of a baseball field which is beyond the infield and to your left if you stand on home plate and face the pitcher.
|
left-handed compliment »
A complimentary remark which is ambiguous or ineptly worded, so that it may be interpreted as having an unflattering or dismissive sense.
|
life is like a box of chocolates »
Life is full of surprises, you never know what will happen next.
|
light bucket »
Nickname for a reflecting telescope, especially one with a relatively large aperture and suitable for observing deep sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies.
|
line one's pockets »
To accumulate personal wealth, especially in an illegal or morally objectionable manner.
|
lion »
A large cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly to much of Europe. The term may apply to the species as a whole, to individuals, or to male individuals. It also applies to related species like mountain lions.
|
long goodbye »
Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.
|
long shot »
A master shot, the primary wide shot of a scene into which the closeups will be edited later.
|
lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
mad money »
A sum of money kept in reserve or to insulate oneself financially in the event of the sudden breakdown of a relationship in which one is economically dependent.
|
mad money »
A sum of money, often relatively small in amount, kept in reserve to use for impulsive, frivolous purposes.
|
make amends »
To repair a relationship; to make up; to resolve an argument or fight; to make reparations or redress.
|
make an honest woman »
Especially if she is having a sexual relationship.
|
make for »
????, translator unknown, author Galileo Galilei, Two Chief World Systems.
|
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
|
meaty »
Of, relating to, or containing meat.
|
mend fences »
To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.
|
mess around »
To have a non-committal sexual relationship.
|
mess up »
To discombobulate, utterly confuse, or confound psychologically; to throw into a state of mental disarray.
|
middle of nowhere »
Nowhere; any place lacking population, interesting things, or defining characteristics.
|
mill around »
To move or circulate in a confused or disorderly manner within a limited area.
|
mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
|
miss the boat »
To fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action.
|
move the goal posts »
To unilaterally change the rules, or terms of an agreement, especially in an unfair or underhand way.
|
neither here nor there »
Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent.
|
nice guy »
An adult male who seeks sexual attraction and romantic intimacy, but only finds cordial friendship and platonic love.
|
night owl »
One who stays up late at night or goes to bed late.
|
nothing flat »
Amount of time; no time at all.
|
number one with a bullet »
Superlative; impossible to beat.
|
of late »
In the recent past; recently; lately.
|
off the reservation »
Violating rules.
|
on good terms with »
Friendly towards; having good relations with.
|
on spec »
Short form of "on speculation": Creating a work with the hope of selling it, as opposed to creating a work "on commission" for hire.
|
on the cuff »
On credit, with payment to be made later.
|
on the make »
Actively seeking a romantic encounter or relationship.
|
once you go black, you never go back »
An expression assuming that once a person of another race gets in a sexual relationship with a black person they won't return to their own race.
|
one another »
Used of a reciprocal relationship among a group of more than two people or things; compare each other.
|
one who hesitates is lost »
A person who spends too much time contemplating what to do may miss a valuable but fleeting opportunity.
|
one's bark is worse than one's bite »
The individual acts threatening but is relatively harmless.
|
one-hit wonder »
A musical performer or musical group known for a single hit song, especially after failing at later attempts at success.
|
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.
|
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.
|
out of proportion »
Not in a proper or pleasing relation to other things, especially in terms of size.
|
out of the question »
Impossible to even contemplate.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
pickle »
A children’s game with three participants that emulates a baseball rundown.
|
pile up »
To collect or accumulate, as a backlog.
|
pitch woo »
To flatter.
|
play one against another »
To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation.
|
plus »
(literally) The more it changes, the more it's the same thing (sometimes loosely translated as the more things change, the more they stay the same).Although the outward appearance may change, fundamentals are constant.
|
pop off »
To release flatulence, in most cases, in short rapid succession.
|
puff out »
To inflate.
|
puff up »
To inflate with air.
|
pull a »
To emulate a behaviour generally attributed to the individual named.
|
pull my finger »
A phrase used when playing a prank regarding flatulence, in which a mark is asked to pull the finger of the person playing the prank, who simultaneously flatulates so as to suggest a causal relationship between the pulling of the finger and the resulting expulsion of gas.
|
pull strings »
To manipulate, especially by asking favours of.
|
pump up »
To inflate by means of a pump.
|
pump up »
To inflate with a pumping action.
|
put forward »
To change the time in a time zone to a later time.
|
put the clock forward »
To change the time in a time zone to a later time.
|
quarter of »
"I need twenty minutes to get to the shop." "You'll be late. It's already a quarter of.".
|
rain check »
To provide a service at a later date.
|
rain cheque »
Any voucher or note issued by a store to allow a customer to get a special or sale price later if an item is out of stock.
|
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.
|
rebound relationship »
A relationship proceeding a longterm relationship, usually short in duration and used to help mend the "broken heart".
|
red tape »
A derisive term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.
|
rub up against »
To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.
|
run a mile »
To escape, flee or leave a situation or relationship, usually as a result of a shocking or sudden announcement or revelation.
|
run up »
To accumulate a debt.
|
see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
|
sell »
To promote a particular viewpoint; to manipulate towards a desired end.
|
sell a bargain »
A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".
|
sex up »
To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.
|
sexual congress »
Loose translation of the title of Aristophanes' play Ecclesiazousae, more literally translated as Assemblywomen.
|
sexual relation »
Behaviour of a sexual nature between one or more individuals.
|
shell out »
To use a program's "shell escape" function to execute an unrelated command or to invoke a subsidiary, interactive shell.
|
shit or get off the pot »
To choose between taking action now, or foregoing the opportunity until a later date.
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shoot first and ask questions later »
To act boldly.
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shoot first and ask questions later »
To take action with serious consequences without delay, preserving the benefit of surprise by not providing indication of one's intent.
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shroud »
One of the two annular plates at the periphery of a water wheel, which form the sides of the buckets; a shroud plate.
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silver screen »
By extension, the movies or that related to movies or cinema.
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silver-tongued »
Eloquent and articulate.
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sleep in »
To sleep late; to go on sleeping past one's customary or planned hour.
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small fry »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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small potatoes »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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smooth operator »
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
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smooth operator »
A skillful, manipulative person, con artist, or clever scoundrel.
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sneck posset »
A fastened latch.
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snow job »
An attempt to persuade a person using flattery or deception.
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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.
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soft sawder »
Cajoling or flattery.
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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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space out »
To plant seedlings etc at regular intervals with a calculated space between them.
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spare tire »
An extra wheel or tire carried as a replacement in case of a flat.
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spare tire »
Excess weight or fat accumulated near the waist.
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spare tyre »
An extra tyre carried in case one of the vehicle's tyres is damaged or deflated.
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spectator sport »
A sporting activity which has a relatively high ratio of watchers to direct participants.
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spill one's seed »
To masturbate or to ejaculate when the penis has been withdrawn from one's partner.
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squirrel away »
To stash or hide; to hoard, collect, save, or accumulate; to create a reserve, stash, or hoard of some supply, so as to recall a squirrel's burying of nuts.
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staircase wit »
Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so.
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start off on the wrong foot »
To begin badly; especially, to begin a relationship badly.
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step out »
To date, to be in a romantic relationship.
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step up to the plate »
To initiate action; to assume a responsibility.
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strike up »
To start something with somebody else. Usually a conversation or relationship.
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suck off »
To fellate a man until he ejaculates.
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suck up »
To adulate or flatter somebody excessively, generally to obtain some personal benefit or favour.
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sweat »
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
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sword and sandal »
Of or pertaining to a genre of books or films relating fantasy-adventure tales involving heroic exploits in ancient or biblical times.
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take away »
To leave a memory or impression in one's mind that you think about later.
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take back »
To resume a relationship.
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take up with »
To form a close relationship with someone.
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the course of true love never did run smooth »
There will always be problems in a relationship.
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the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get »
(vulgar) The sexual satisfactions that one receives from a spouse or romantic partner are not sufficient to compensate for the significant periods of bad faith and unpleasant treatment which such relationships routinely involve.1971, Allen Churchill, The Literary Decade, ISBN 9780135375228:Years later she expressed her disillusionment with sex by saying, "The fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."1999, Ben Sonnenberg, Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy, ISBN 9781582430454, p. 93:Maitland got drunk at his parties and threw his arm around you and pulled you over to his wife and made you look down her dress, saying, "The trouble with marriage is that the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."2008, Joseph Heywood, Blue Wolf In Green Fire, ISBN 9781599213590, p. 63:"I can't believe a little pussy got me into dis mess." "Shit happens," Service said. "Sometimes the fucking you get isn't worth the fucking you get."
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the other day »
Recently; lately; a few days ago.
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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.
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those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay »
(archaic) One should take immediate advantage of an opportunity that may not be available later.
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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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tickle pink »
To thoroughly delight or amuse; to elate.
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tickle someone's fancy »
To amuse, entertain, or appeal to someone; to stimulate someone's imagination in a favorable manner.
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under the wire »
At the last minute; before the deadline; barely on time; nearly late.
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up a creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation, without any help. Superlative form of up a creek: most up a creek.
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up-to-date »
Current; recent; the latest.
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up-to-date »
Informed about the latest news or developments.
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wank off »
To sexually stimulate another's penis.
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water to my mill »
What energizes you; what stimulates you.
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way to go »
An expression of congratulations, encouragement, or approval.
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whatever floats your boat »
What makes you happy; what stimulates you.
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whistle-blower »
One who reports a problem or violation to the authorities; especially, an employee or former employee who reports a violation by an employer.
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whole enchilada »
All of something or a group of related things taken in totality.
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wild-goose chase »
A task whose execution is inordinately complex relative to the value of the outcome.
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window dressing »
These latest modifications are mere window dressing, the same problems remain.
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wipe the slate clean »
To forget about previous differences and disagreements, and make a fresh start.
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work out »
To calculate.
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work spouse »
A man or woman in the workplace with whom one shares a special relationship having bonds similar to those of a marriage: special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and unusual degree of honesty or openness.
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wrap up »
To summarize or recapitulate.
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you don't dip your pen in company ink »
One should avoid romantic relationships in the workplace.
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you only get what you give »
There is a positive correlation between the effort one puts in and the benefits one receives.
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