abstract nonsense »
Details which involve diagram chasing.
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balancing act »
A performance that involves balancing things precariously and suspensefully.
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be left holding the baby »
To be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.
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better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all »
Having experience of love, even if it ended, is better than having no experience of love.Love is worthwhile despite the pain involved in separation.
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »
Born rich or in a wealthy family.
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »
Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.
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break up »
To dissolve; to part.
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bump and grind »
A combination of movements resembling such a dance, as in road racing, whitewater kayaking, or exercising; any activity involving prolonged jarring or shaking.
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bump and grind »
A sexually suggestive dance involving exaggerated hip movements, especially a striptease dance.
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call it even »
To declare debts resolved or favors or other exchange equitable.
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come out in the wash »
Of problems or difficulties, to work out, resolve, or become understood eventually and naturally.
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cradle robber »
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.
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crank up »
To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking.
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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 trick »
To work; to be successful; to solve a problem.
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done deal »
An agreement that has been finally resolved or decided.
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elbow grease »
Effort or hard work, especially physical work involving repeated motion of the forearm, such as scrubbing.
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elephant in the room »
A problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.
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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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every silver lining has a cloud »
Every good situation has the potential to turn bad.2007, Diab A. Shetayh, Actuality : The Reality RequiemA great partnership isn't a self-maintaining entity. Perseverance and persistence make it thrive. For every silver lining has a cloud. Ignorance of this reality is not an option.
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fair game »
A game that is fair, that does not involve cheating etc.
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fifteen minutes of fame »
A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.
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flower »
The vulva, especially the labia majora.
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fools rush in where angels fear to tread »
A person who does not plan ahead and think matters through becomes involved in risky or unfavorable situations which prudent people avoid.
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for keeps »
To compete seriously, with a strong resolve to win or succeed, as in sports or business.
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forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
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get carried away »
To become excessively involved, to take something too far.
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get down to business »
To become involved with something work-related.
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give him enough rope and he'll hang himself »
If one gives someone enough freedom of action, they may destroy themselves by foolish actions.
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go out with »
Date, be involved in a romantic relationship with.
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God helps those who help themselves »
Fortune comes to those who make a genuine effort to accomplish things.
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good fences make good neighbors »
It is better to mind one's own business than get involved with other people's affairs.
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hand waving »
Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
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heaven helps those who help themselves »
A maxim encouraging people to get involved in their own problems.
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hit the bricks »
To participate in a workplace strike or other job action; to participate in a public protest, especially one involving picketing.
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if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail »
With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminatelyIf a person is familiar with a certain, single subject/has with them a certain, single instrument, they may have a confirmation bias to believe that it is the answer to/involved in everything.
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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 swim »
Actively participating in the flow of events; very involved.
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iron out »
To resolve (a dispute); to solve (a problem).
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jack in »
To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.
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jump rope »
The activity, game or exercise in which a person must jump, bounce or skip repeatedly while a length of rope is swung over and under, both ends held in the hands of the jumper, or alternately, held by two other participants. Often used for athletic training and among schoolchildren. Variations involve speed, chants, varied rope and jumper movement patterns, multiple jumpers and/or multiple ropes.
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kill two birds with one stone »
To solve two problems at once.
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legwork »
Work, especially research or preparation, that involves significant walking, travel, or similar effort.
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long story short »
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.
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loose end »
A small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved, before a task can be considered complete.
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loose ends »
unresolved details
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make amends »
To repair a relationship; to make up; to resolve an argument or fight; to make reparations or redress.
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make up »
To resolve, forgive or smooth over an argument or fight.
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meals on wheels »
Food delivered to the homes of those unable to cook for themselves.
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mercury »
A silvery-colored metallic chemical element, liquid at room temperature, with atomic number 80 and symbol Hg.
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nickel and dime »
Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.
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none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
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palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
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pass the buck »
To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
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pencil pusher »
One who does routine office work; someone involved mainly in paperwork.
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pick up stitches »
Stitches to the knitting needle that were previously bound off, or that belong to the selvage, during the process of knitting or entrelac.
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pile-up »
A traffic accident or collision involving multiple vehicles.
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pitched battle »
A hostile engagement involving sustained, full-scale fighting between opposing forces in close combat.
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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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pull a »
He pulled an Elvis and got really fat.
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road movie »
A film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.
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rob Peter to pay Paul »
To solve a problem in a way that makes another problem worse.
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rob the cradle »
To marry or become romantically involved with a much younger person.
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run around after »
To spend a lot of time doing things for another person or group of people. Often used when that person could reasonably do the things for themselves.
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run for one's money »
A difficult challenge for the person indicated, especially one involving a competitive situation.
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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".
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silver bullet »
A bullet made of silver, usually with reference to the folkloric belief that such bullets are the only weapons which can kill a werewolf.
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silver bullet »
A cocktail somewhat like a martini.
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silver bullet »
Any straightforward solution perceived to have great effectiveness or bring miraculous results.
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silver screen »
By extension, the movies or that related to movies or cinema.
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silver screen »
The cinema screen onto which movies are projected.
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silver spoon »
Wealth passed down or inherited.
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silver surfer »
An elderly person who regularly uses the Internet.
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silver-tongue »
The trait of being clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
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silver-tongued »
Eloquent and articulate.
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sink one's teeth into »
To become involved in; particularly in an enthusiastic manner.
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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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sort oneself out »
To organize or solve one's personal problems.
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suck in »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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suck into »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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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 care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves »
If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500:Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ?used to say?Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.1912, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion ii. 132:Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii.:Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.1999,
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the end all-be all »
Something ultimate; the best part of something; the thing which solves all problems associated with something.
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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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there's no accounting for taste »
When it comes to subjective matters of taste, people have wildly different opinions.Disagreements about matters of taste can't be objectively resolved.
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thrash out »
To discuss something so fully as to resolve a problem or conflict; to hammer out.
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throw to the wolves »
To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.
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throw to the wolves »
To sacrifice someone, especially in an attempt to save oneself.
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tie up »
To complete, finish, or resolve.
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time and material »
A form of contractual compensation involving payment for materials used and at agreed rates for the those involved in performing the services.
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touch with a barge pole »
Get romantically involved with.
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tough call »
A choice or judgment which is difficult to make, especially one involving only two alternatives.
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truth will out »
A mystery will always be solved, or a truth will always be discoveredTruth will eventually and inevitably be discovered.
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tuits »
Virtual tokens for an amount of time or attention that a particular issue would need to resolve.
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turn the page »
To move on to new involvements or activities; to make a fresh start.
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twelve-ounce curls »
Drinking beer.
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two heads are better than one »
Some problems may be solved more easily by two (or more) people working together than by one working alone.
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until hell freezes over »
Forever; One will never in their life get the results that they want, no matter what they're doing involving the situation.
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up to »
Doing; involved in.
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wait for the other shoe to drop »
To defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved.
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wash one's hands of »
To absolve oneself of responsibility or future blame for.
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whistle Dixie »
To engage in a pointless or unproductive activity; to do something without resolve, seriousness or commitment.
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who shot John »
A long and involved explanation; a thing of which an explanation would be long and involved.
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yak shaving »
Any apparently useless activity which, by allowing you to overcome intermediate difficulties, allows you to solve a larger problem.
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you made your bed, now sleep in it »
A moralizing rejection said to someone looking for an easy out, especially of a situation they put themselves into.
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