a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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against the clock »
In a time-restricted manner, to meet a deadline, hurriedly, timed.
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albatross »
Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
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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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almost doesn't count »
Near success (or correctness) is not deemed success (or correctness).
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any press is good press »
Being mentioned in the media is beneficial to the subject because it gets publicity.
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armed forces »
The Services
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ask my arse »
A common reply to any question; still deemed wit at sea, and formerly at court, under the denomination of selling bargains.
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at a moment's notice »
Immediately; instantaneously; without need of warning.
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at once »
Immediately; now; right away.
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au fait »
fully informed;
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bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
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bang up job »
Something done very well; something performed above average or better than expected.
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beside oneself »
Overcome; consumed by an emotion.
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big fish in a small pond »
One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.
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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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boot camp »
A short, intensive, quasi-military program generally aimed at young offenders as an alternative to a jail term.
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bowled over »
to be astonished; overwhelmed; surprised; shocked
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busy work »
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
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but seriously folks »
Directs attention to immediately preceding failed attempt at humor.
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carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task without having been informed specifically by what method to do so.
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charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
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cheek by jowl »
In close proximity; crammed uncomfortably close together.
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chew the cud »
To meditate or ponder before answering; to be deep in thought; to ruminate.
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chip on one's shoulder »
A form of challenge in the same spirit as a medieval knight throwing down his gauntlet.
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city slicker »
One accustomed to a city or urban lifestyle or unsuited to life in the country.
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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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copper-bottomed »
Having lower parts made of or covered by copper.
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copper-bottomed »
Thoroughly reliable.
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cover one's ass »
To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that one is not blamed or punished for one's conduct.
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dead duck »
A project that is doomed to failure from the start.
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dead in the water »
Nearly dead, doomed.
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die »
Followed by from. General use, though somewhat more common in medical or scientific contexts.
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do a »
To emulate the behavior/behaviour that is generally attributed to the individual named.
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do something with mirrors »
To insinuate one has performed a magic or optical trick with the use of hidden mirrors, insinuating trickery and sham.
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drag »
To pull along a surface or through a medium, sometimes with difficulty.
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drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
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drop back »
Of a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.
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drug of choice »
The best-choice medication to treat a particular medical problem.
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dyed-in-the-wool »
Dyed before being formed into cloth.
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eat up »
To accept or believe entirely, immediately, and without questioning.
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fall off the turnip truck »
To be naive, uninformed, or unsophisticated, in the manner of a rustic person.
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feel free »
Don't be ashamed, be my guest.
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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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forewarned is forearmed »
Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
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forewarned, forearmed »
Alternative form of forewarned is forearmed.
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free range »
not intensively farmed
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from the get-go »
From the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting.
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from the word go »
From the very beginning; from the outset; immediately upon starting.
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full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
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gallows humor »
Comedy that makes light of death or other very serious matters.
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go between »
an intermediary
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green with envy »
Consumed by envy; envious to the point where it is noticeable to others.
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grey area »
An area intermediate between two mutually exclusive states or categories where the border between the two is fuzzy.
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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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happy medium »
A balanced position between two opposite extremes.
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here and now »
immediately
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high ground »
A location which is at a relatively high elevation, especially in comparison to the immediate surrounding area.
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hit the ground running »
To begin an activity immediately and with full commitment.
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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.
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ill fated »
doomed
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in cold blood »
In a ruthless and unfeeling manner; premeditated and deliberate.
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in the limelight »
In the focus of attention, especially from the media.
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in the loop »
Informed; up to date; current; part of the discussion.
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in the twinkling of an eye »
Immediately; instantaneously.
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into thin air »
Immediately and inexplicably out of sight.
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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 at the chance »
To immediately accept an offer.
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jumped-up »
We're doomed if this wee jumped-up monkey gets Gordon Smith's blessing.
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keep up »
To ensure that one remains well-informed about something.
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labor of love »
A task performed voluntarily without expectation of reimbursement; an altruistic work or undertaking.
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laughter is the best medicine »
It is healthy to laugh.
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lead a charmed life »
To always be lucky and safe from danger.
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like water off a duck's back »
Without immediate or lasting effects.
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magic bullet »
A simple remedy to a difficult or complex problem, especially a cure for a disease.
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make a stink »
To complain; to demand attention or remedy for a problem.
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meatball surgery »
A nickname for surgery that is meant to be performed rapidly to stabilize the patient as quickly as possible.
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medicine man »
sharman
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mend one's ways »
To recognise one's failings and attempt to remedy them.
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mess of pottage »
Something of trivial value, especially of immediate value.
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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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not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
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not the end of the world »
It's of minor importance, at least not as important as it first seemed.
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off the bat »
From the start; immediately; right away.
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on ice »
Performed by ice skaters as an ice show.
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on sight »
Immediately when sighted.
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on steroids »
To a greater degree, exaggerating the characteristics of the previously named object.
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on the back burner »
Not immediate; inactive; receiving less than full or regular attention.
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on the double »
Rapidly or immediately.
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on top of »
Fully informed about, and in control of something; up to speed with.
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one-night stand »
A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the parties has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship. As the phrase implies, the relationship lasts for only one night.
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out of sorts »
Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.
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out of the box »
Immediately, without intervention from the customer.
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out of the loop »
Not informed up to date; current; not kept part of the discussion.
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pickle »
Any vegetable preserved in vinegar and consumed as relish.
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play with fire »
To put oneself in a precarious situation with a high risk of getting harmed, particularly emotionally or financially.
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pull a »
To emulate a behaviour generally attributed to the individual named.
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quick-and-dirty »
Done or constructed in a hasty, approximate, temporarily adequate manner, but not exact, fully formed, or reliable for a long period of time.
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raise a stink »
To complain; to demand attention or remedy for a problem.
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right away »
Very soon; quickly; immediately.
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run away »
To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.
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seagull approach »
The occurence of casual, ill-informed and hasty decisions or comments made by outside authorities who lack an understanding of the local issues or a real understanding of the facts of a particular situ.
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second banana »
A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.
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smell like a rose »
To be regarded as appealing, virtuous, or respectable; to be untainted or unharmed.
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snake oil »
A type of 19th century patent medicine sold in the United States that claimed to contain snake fat, supposedly a Native American remedy for various ailments.
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snake oil »
Snake oil is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat joint pain.
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so so »
mediocre
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so-called »
So named; called by such a name, with a very strong connotation that the item is not worthy of that name.
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socialized medicine »
A politically charged term used to contrast such systems with free market alternatives and emphasize the perceived link to socialism.
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socialized medicine »
An umbrella term for any system of government-run health care.
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soft shoe »
A kind of tap dancing performed in soft-soled shoes, popular in vaudeville.
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spaghetti western »
Nickname for a motion picture produced by an Italian-based company and filmed in Europe, depicting a tale of cowboys and desperadoes set in the American Old West.
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stand up »
To stand immediately behind the wicket so as to catch balls from a slow or spin bowler, and to attempt to stump the batsman.
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stick one's nose in »
To be nosy; to meddle or interfere in the affairs of another.
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straight away »
Very soon; quickly; immediately.
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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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straight out of the chute »
Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.
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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 it easy »
Immediately calm yourself down; your state of panic does not help.
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take the rap »
To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the actions of another.
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talk like an apothecary »
To use hard or gallipot words: from the assumed gravity and affectation of knowledge generally put on by the gentlemen of this profession, who are commonly as superficial in their learning as they are pedantic in their language.
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tempus fugit »
time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.
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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 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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timing is everything »
Consideration of other events can greatly influence some desired outcome (such as an audience laughing to a comedian's joke).Telling the old joke about a butt-crack was not a good idea, just as the plumber arrived, Bob.You know what they say: "timing is everything." I'm sure we can find another plumber before the house floods.
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tin ear »
Insensitivity to and inability to appreciate the elements of performed music or the rhythm, elegance, or nuances of language.
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tin god »
An individual that abuses or exceeds his authority over others, frequently in petty ways; for example a low-level manager in situational comedies and other entertainment.
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top banana »
The principal comedian in a vaudeville or burlesque show.
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tout de suite »
Immediately, right away.
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two birds with one stone »
Any two things that were performed or completed at the same time by one action.
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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.
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up on »
Well-informed about.
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up to here »
Overwhelmed, busy, buried or swamped.
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up to speed »
Fully informed; current.
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up-to-date »
Informed about the latest news or developments.
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used to »
Accustomed to; in the habit of.
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walk the line »
To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc..
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white coat hypertension »
Elevated blood pressure measured by a medical practitioner and deemed to result from the patient's emotional response to the medical environment.
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willful ignorance »
A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.
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wooden-top »
Uniformed police officers.
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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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