angle for »
To try to obtain something by subtle indirect means. Political manoeuvres, suggestion, etc.
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beam up »
To be teleported over a long distance by means of a specific imaginary technology, specifically from the surface of a planet to an orbiting starship.
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beat up »
To cause by some other means, injuries comparable to the result of being beaten up.
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break in »
To enter by force or illicit means.
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by all means »
Yes certainly; definitely.
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by dint of »
By reason of; by means of.
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by hook or by crook »
By any means possible; one way or another.
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by no means »
Certainly not; definitely not.
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cry for help »
Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.
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cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
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cut one's coat according to one's cloth »
Live according to your means.
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draw out »
To use means to entice or force to be more open or talkative.
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drop a dime »
To make a phone call, usually means calling the police to report another's activities.
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fight tooth and nail »
To use every means possible to overcome a difficult opposition.
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give someone the chair »
To execute a person by means of the electric chair.
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gussie up »
To make fancy or attractive, as by artificial or contrived means.
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hanging offence »
A crime so serious that it is punishable by means of death by hanging.
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hot desking »
The working practice of sharing desks or workstations between workers, as a means of saving space and resources.
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jack up »
To raise, hoist, or lift a thing using a jack, or similar means.
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less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
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licence to print money »
A means of generating a large income with little effort.
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life's not all skittles and beer »
Skittles and Beer refers to the carefree, indulgent bar life; skittles being a British pub game. Thus, life's not all skittles and beer means that not everything is about pleasure.
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live by the sword, die by the sword »
One who uses violence can expect a violent response. It is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey poetic justice.
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Living high on the hog »
Living richly, often above one's means
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low-hanging fruit »
Easily obtained gains; what can be obtained by readily available means.
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make over »
To transfer ownership, especially by means of a legal document.
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muck around »
Means the same as muck about.
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off board »
Not on or in a means of transportation.
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on board »
On or in a means of transportation.
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play hardball »
To use every means possible to achieve a goal, especially in disregarding the harm caused.
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pump up »
To inflate by means of a pump.
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pump up »
To cause one's muscles to swell by means of focussed weightlifting.
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red face test »
A hypothetical test of a person's embarrassment, that is either passed or failed. Saying one passes the red face test means one would not blush and thus would not be embarrassed by disclosing something to others or doing something, and saying one fails the red face test means a situation would cause them discernible embarrassment.
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rule of thumb »
A general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge.
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screen out »
To use a screen, grate, sieve or similar means to separate large from small objects or particles.
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shanks' nag »
Transportation by foot. To "take a shanks' nag" means using one's own legs to walk.
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Shittin in high cotton »
Living well, often above one's means
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shoot the moon »
To hit the moon, with a rocket or by other means.
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smoke signal »
A method of long-distance communication sometimes used in ancient and undeveloped societies, consisting of messages conveyed by means of columns or intermittent puffs of smoke.
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standard fare »
The usual price for travel by air, rail, or another means of transport.
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stat whore »
Through unscrupulous or tacky means.
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string up »
To suspend by means of rope, cord or similar material.
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the end justifies the means »
Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can only be considered morally right or wrong by virtue of the morality of the outcome.
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the ends justify the means »
Alternative form of the end justifies the means.
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the jig is up »
An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defence", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered.".
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turn down »
To reduce the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.
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turn up »
To increase the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.
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two for two »
In baseball, meeting two out of two attempts at-bat. Specifically, it means the batter has reached base safely two out of two times.
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up the creek without a paddle »
In a difficult situation with no means of rectifying it.
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window dressing »
A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only.
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without fail »
Certainly; by all means; as a matter of importance.
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word of mouth »
Verbal means of passing of information.
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