a bad workman always blames his tools »
It is not the tools we use which make us good, but rather how we employ them.
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a closed mouth gathers no feet »
One who does not speak can be certain he won't say anything embarrassing.
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a few sandwiches short of a picnic »
Exhibiting disquiet or unsoundness of mind; not sane; mad.
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a good beginning makes a good ending »
Good beginnings promise a good end; start off on a good note to reap the benefits at the end.
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a house is not a home »
A home is not merely a building but requires inhabitants and a friendly atmosphere.
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a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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a little bird told me »
Of information which was gathered from a source not to be overtly exposed.
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a notch above »
Superior to; of a higher quality than.
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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
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a rolling stone gathers no moss »
A person who never settles in one place will never be successful.A person who does not keep active will grow mouldy.
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ace up one's sleeve »
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
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acknowledge the corn »
To cop a plea; to admit to a small error but not a larger one.
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act one's age »
To be mature and not childish.
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after all »
In the end; anyway; referring to something that was believed to be the case, but has now been shown not to be.
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agree to disagree »
To tolerate each other's opinion and stop arguing; to acknowledge that an agreement will not be reached.
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all duck or no dinner »
All or nothing.
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all good things come to an end »
Nothing lasts forever.
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all mouth and no trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
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all mouth and trousers »
Superficial, engaging in empty, boastful talk, but not of real substance.
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all that glitters is not gold »
Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not actually be so, things that look nice might not be as good as they look.
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all thumbs »
Clumsy; awkward; not dextrous.
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all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy »
Too much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.
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all's well that ends well »
Problems do not matter if things turn out well in the end.
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almost doesn't count »
Near success (or correctness) is not deemed success (or correctness).
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another nail in one's coffin »
One in a series of factors which lead, or purport to lead, to downfall.
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Apa Sâmbetei »
"for nothing", "to no result", or that what you have done was destroyed or is rendered useless after you finish it.
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apple does not fall far from the stem »
Alternative form of apple does not fall far from the tree.
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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
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apple does not fall far from the trunk »
Alternative form of apple does not fall far from the tree.
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apple never falls far from the tree »
Alternative form of apple does not fall far from the tree.
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apples and oranges »
Said of a comparison of items that are not comparable.
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are your ears burning »
Said of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
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ask for the moon »
To claim or desire something that one cannot have.
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at a loss for words »
Having nothing to say; stunned to the point of speechlessness.
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at a moment's notice »
Immediately; instantaneously; without need of warning.
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at cross purposes »
Against one another; contrary in direction or goals.
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at large »
On the loose; roaming freely; not confined.
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at peace with »
Not disturbed or upset by.
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at peace with »
Not menacing or hostile toward.
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at rest »
Not moving; stationary.
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away with the fairies »
Not with it, dreaming, not all there.
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back-burner »
Having low urgency; not currently important.
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bad apple »
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
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bail out »
To leave or not attend.
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balance out »
To counteract one another so as to be balanced.
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baptism by fire »
A trying ordeal that was not experienced before.
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bar none »
Without exception; excluding nothing else of the same kind.
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be that as it may »
Even if that is the case; whether that is true or not; nevertheless.
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beam up »
To teleport another person or object in the same manner.
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bear down »
To approach another vessel from windward.
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bear in mind »
Remember; consider; note.
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below par »
Not up to the average or normal standard.
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below the belt »
Unfair; dirty; not according to the generally accepted rules.
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bird in the bosom »
A secret pledge that one makes for another.
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birds of a feather flock together »
People of similar character, background, or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another.
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bite me »
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
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blessed event »
An occurrence or occasion which is particularly noteworthy and enjoyable.
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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!
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blue note »
Notes added to the major scale for expressive quality in jazz and blues music, particularly the flatted third, fifth and seventh.
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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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boss about »
To act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.
|
boss around »
To act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.
|
bridge »
A song contained within another song, often demarcated by meter, key, or melody.
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bridge »
An edge which, if removed, changes a connected graph to one that is not connected.
|
bring owls to Athens »
Perhaps we have not been sufficiently aware that talking about access and its implications in Scandinavia is like bringing owls to Athens. — Herbert Burkert.
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bucket of bolts »
A piece of machinery that is not worth more than its scrap value, often of old cars.
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bugger all »
Nothing.
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burn down »
To burn to nothing.
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burn down »
To completely burn, so that nothing remains.
|
burst someone's bubble »
To disillusion; to disabuse someone of a false notion or rationalization that has grown comfortable.
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busted flush »
A potential flush which ultimately was not filled.
|
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 who's counting »
Used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to.
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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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by the skin of one's teeth »
Barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.
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by the way »
Incidentally; a parenthetical statement not timely, central, or crucial to the topic at hand; foregone, passed by, something that has already happened.
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call someone's bluff »
To take action on the basis that another person is bluffing.
|
can of worms »
A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.
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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.
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cast pearls before swine »
To give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it.
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cast the first stone »
To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing that one is blameless.
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cat got someone's tongue »
Why are you not saying anything?.
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catch a buzz »
To become slightly inebriated, but not yet be drunk.
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cheat sheet »
A sheet of paper containing notes used to assist on a test.
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cheaters never prosper »
One does not gain from cheating.
|
cherry pick »
To position oneself near the opponent's goal to attempt to receive an errant or intentional pass for an easy score, as in basketball or versions of soccer where offsides are not enforced.
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children should be seen and not heard »
Children should behave well and be quiet, especially in the presence of adults.
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chopped liver »
A person or object which is not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.
|
chrome horn »
The front bumper of a car when used to bump another vehicle, usually to inform the driver of the other vehicle, that the first car would like to pass.
|
clean code »
Software code that is formatted correctly and in an organized manner so that another coder can easily read or modify it.
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close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
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close off »
To seal or block the entrance to a road, an area, or a building so that people cannot enter.
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close, but no cigar »
That's almost correct, but not quite.
|
closed book »
A person or thing that cannot be easily understood; someone or something incomprehensible or puzzling.
|
clothes don't make the man »
An aphorism meaning that you cannot judge a person solely by his appearance. Usually pertains to men.
|
come through »
Not to let somebody down, keep one's promise.
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common or garden variety »
Ordinary, standard. Nothing special.
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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.
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could not get elected dogcatcher »
Is unpopular.
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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.
|
creep up »
To advance with stealth, unnoticed.
|
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.
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cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
|
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.
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crown jewels »
A part of a company sought by another in a hostile takeover.
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cry someone a river »
To try to obtain the sympathy of another person by complaining or sniveling.
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cry someone a river »
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
|
curiosity killed the cat »
One should not be curious about things that can be dangerous.
|
cut up »
To aggressively move in front of another vehicle.
|
daily grind »
The difficult, routine, or monotonous tasks of daily work.
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day in, day out »
Every day; daily; constantly or continuously; especially, of something that has become routine or monotonous.
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dead »
Figuratively, not alive; lacking life.
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dead »
Not in play.
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dead ringer »
Someone or something that very closely resembles another; someone or something easily mistaken for another.
|
dead weight »
Weight that does not move.
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devil's advocate »
One who debates from a view which they may not actually hold, usually to determine its validity, or simply for the sake of argument.
|
dictated but not read »
Dictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated the text so annotated.
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dirty word »
A word that is considered vulgar, not necessarily sexual in nature.
|
dirty word »
The name of a topic that a person does not like to hear or discuss.
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do as I say and not as I do »
Don't imitate my behavior but obey my instructions.
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does Macy's tell Gimbel's »
(US, dated, colloquial, rhetorical question) A rhetorical question with the implied answer being that competitors do not share business secrets with one another.
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don't count your chickens before they're hatched »
You should not count on something before it happens.
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don't cry over spilt milk »
It is no use worrying about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.
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don't give up your day job »
Implying that they could not earn a living from it without other regular employment.
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don't look a gift horse in the mouth »
Do not unappreciatively question a gift or handout too closely.
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don't look at me »
A response indicating that one is not willing or able to perform a task.
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don't shit where you eat »
(idiomatic, vulgar) One should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.1998 April 14, Nelson Navarro, "Ever faithful, ever true," Manila Standard (Philippines) (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):The guiding principle is Don't shit where you eat. Office romances are always destructive of morale and objectivity.2003 Oct. 8, Jonathan Valania, "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Pussy," Philadelphia Weekly (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Limbaugh was scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the NAB convention in, of all places, Philadelphia, thus violating the cardinal law of the animal kingdom: Don't shit where you eat.2006 Sept. 19, Michael Musto, "NY Mirror," Village Voice (retrieved 12 Aug. 2011):Mitchell refused to indulge in on-set romances with either gender. "You don't shit where you eat," he told me, plainly.
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don't shoot the messenger »
The bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for the bad news.
|
don't take any wooden nickels »
Do not permit yourself be cheated or duped; do not be naive.
|
double-tongued »
Saying one thing to one person and something different to another; double talking; deceitful in speech.
|
down the road, not across the street »
Along the radial artery rather than across the wrist from side to side.
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drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »
(idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.
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drill down »
To examine information at another level or in greater detail; especially in a database, to navigate to a more detailed level or record.
|
drop a dime »
To make a phone call, usually means calling the police to report another's activities.
|
drop a line »
A note or telegram.
|
drug on the market »
Something which is overabundant at the moment and thus not in demand.
|
dry eye »
An eye which is not crying, i.e. someone emotionally unmoved.
|
duly noted »
In a due, fit, or becoming manner; as it ought to be; properly.
|
dummy up »
To not answer questions.
|
each to his own »
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion or tastes.My housemate is a strict vegan. I personally could never not eat meat, but each to his own.
|
ears are burning »
Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.
|
economical with the truth »
Not telling the whole truth, especially in order to present a false image of a situation; untruthful; lying. Often used with sarcasm or satire.
|
empty promise »
A promise that is either not going to be carried out, worthless or meaningless.
|
even Homer nods »
Not even the most vigilant and expert are immune from erring.
|
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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everything but the kitchen sink »
Almost everything, whether needed or not.
|
f** all »
Nothing at all or very little.
|
face value »
The amount or value listed on a bill, note, stamp, etc.; the stated value or amount.
|
factor space »
A space obtained from another by identification of points that are equivalent to one another in some equivalence relation.
|
fair enough »
An expression used to concede a point; denotes that, upon consideration, something is correct or reasonable; an expression of acknowledgment or understanding.
|
fair game »
A game that is fair, that does not involve cheating etc.
|
fall through »
To be unsuccessful, abort, come to nothing/naught; to be cancelled; not to proceed.
|
fall through the cracks »
To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.
|
far be it »
A disclaimer stating that the person speaking will not do something.
|
farm out »
To subcontract some task to another; to outsource.
|
feed into »
To be a tributary of another river or waterway.
|
fight a losing battle »
To continue to wage war when it is clear that one is not going to win.
|
fine words butter no parsnips »
Talking about doing something does not get it done.
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fire off »
To write a note or letter quickly.
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fish or cut bait »
To choose between taking action now, or forgoing the opportunity and putting that energy into another endeavor; to decide.
|
flash in the pan »
A career notable for early success not followed by significant accomplishment.
|
flog a dead horse »
To attempt to get more out of something that cannot give more.
|
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.
|
for my money »
Used to mark a statement made by the speaker as an opinion or something not known with certainty.
|
for the birds »
Worthless; pointless; not deserving serious consideration.
|
for XYZ reasons »
For reasons unknown and not worth speculating on.
|
forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
|
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."
|
free range »
not intensively farmed
|
fresh out of »
Of someone who has recently left one stage of life to begin another.
|
frig it »
An expression of frustration similar to, but not as coarse as f** it.
|
from my cold, dead hands »
A statement that something will not be taken away from you until the day you die.
|
from pillar to post »
To another; hither and thither, to and fro.
|
fudge the issue »
Adopt a solution to a specific problem which does not address the larger, more general problem of which the specific problem is an instance.
|
garbage in, garbage out »
(computing, information technology) If input data is not complete, accurate, and timely, then the resulting output is unreliable and of no useful value.1963, Raymond Crowley, "Robot Tax Collector Seeks Indications of 'Fudging'," Times Daily (Alabama, USA), 1 April (retrieved 26 July 2010):Officials explained that the quality of the computer's work depends on the quality of the data fed into it. Neil Hoke, administrative assistant to Stewart, quoted an adage of computer men: "Garbage in, garbage out."2008, Roger K. Lewis, "'In Architectural Design, Brains and Talent Trump the Best Software," Washington Post, 19 July (retrieved 26 July 2010):The old caveat "GIGO"
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get away with »
To do something which is prohibited, forbidden or generally not allowed, and not be punished for the action.
|
get away with murder »
To do something bad or illegal and not be punished.
|
get off »
To move from being on top of to not being on top of it.
|
get off »
To move to not being on top of it.
|
give head »
To perform oral sex on another person.
|
give notice »
To announce one's intent to leave a job; to inform an employer that one is leaving.
|
give over »
To entrust something to another.
|
go all out »
To reserve nothing; to put forth all possible effort or resources.
|
go by the board »
To be superseded, rejected, or obliterated; to pass by with little consequence; to amount to nothing.
|
go by the board »
To estimate the velocity of a boat or ship in knots by casting overboard the knotted line to whose end is attached the lead and thereafter counting the knots in the line as it goes aft along the side boards of the vessel.
|
go commando »
To not wear underpants.
|
go jump in the lake »
Used to tell a person that to go away, or that their request will not be met.
|
go the whole hog »
To do something as entirely or completely as possible; to reserve or hold back nothing.
|
go to sleep »
An expression used to dismiss an extremely foolish statement, or to dismiss somebody that one does not feel like talking to.
|
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...
|
good old boy »
A male friend or chum, especially a schoolmate; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in social and business situations; a decent, dependable fellow.
|
goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
|
grace period »
A length of time during which rules or penalties do not take effect or are withheld.
|
grate »
A horizontal metal grille through which water, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.
|
gratuitous violence »
Violence that is not justified.
|
gray area »
A part that is not clear or certain; something that is open to interpretation.
|
grease monkey »
A mechanic, often with the specific connotation of an automobile mechanic.
|
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.
|
green with envy »
Consumed by envy; envious to the point where it is noticeable to others.
|
grey area »
A topic that is not clearly one thing or the other.
|
hair-splitting »
The act of finding exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.
|
hair-splittingly »
With exceedingly small differences which are probably neither important nor noticeable to most people.
|
halcyon days »
Period of calm during the winter, when storms do not occur.
|
hang out »
To spend time doing nothing in particular.
|
hang out with »
To spend time with friends, doing nothing in particular.
|
hardwired »
Not changeable.
|
hatchet man »
Someone who carries out brutal and unpleasant duties on behalf of another, such as firing dead wood employees.
|
have been around »
To be experienced in worldly matters; to be seasoned, not naive.
|
head-on »
Direct, abrupt, blunt or unequivocal; not prevaricating.
|
heads-up »
A warning or call to pay attention; an advisory notice.
|
hen's tooth »
Anything not naturally occuring.
|
here and there »
In one place and another.
|
here goes nothing »
Indicates a lack of confidence or certainty about the activity about to be tried.
|
here's to »
Denoting proposed salutation while drinking alcohol, toast.
|
hide one's light under a bushel »
For a person to keep some talent or skill hidden from other people. The tone is that a person having a talent which they can be proud of ought not hide it.
|
hiding to nothing »
A situation in which victory has little or no value, but defeat has a huge cost.
|
hindsight is 20/20 »
(idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice.
|
historical figure »
A person who lived long ago, usually of some historical note or importance.
|
hit someone for six »
To hit another person very hard.
|
hoist by one's own petard »
To be hurt, or destroyed by one's own plot or device, of one's own doing which one intended for another; to be "blown up by one's own bomb".
|
hold a candle »
To compare; to be even remotely of the same quality, skill, etc. as another.
|
hold one's breath »
To inhale and then intentionally close the epiglottis so that one's breath is not exhaled.
|
hold the fort »
To assume responsibility, especially in another’s absence..
|
hold your fire »
Do not discharge your weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder, now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.
|
honorable mention »
An award or recognition given to something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way.
|
horse around »
To play or fiddle; to clown; to do nothing of importance or consequence.
|
horse sense »
Common sense, especially with a connotation of folk wisdom independent from, and trumping, formal education.
|
horses for courses »
A person suited for one job may not be suited for another job, regardless of their expertise in the former job.
|
how are you »
An informal greeting, not requiring a literal response. Typical responses include.
|
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 pigs had wings they would fly »
(colloquial) Expresses speakers skepticism toward a hypothetical argument by another.
|
if the mountain won't come to Muhammad »
"If one cannot get one's own way, one must bow to the inevitable.".
|
if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen »
If you cannot handle the pressure, you should not be in a position where you have to deal with it.
|
in a league of one's own »
Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.
|
in character »
Acting as the character, not as oneself.
|
in evidence »
Visibly present; noticeable.
|
in fun »
as a joke; not serious
|
in no way, shape, or form »
Not in any way at all; not at all, nohow.
|
in other words »
Stated or interpreted another way; introduces an explanation.
|
in spite of »
Despite, irrespective of, notwithstanding.
|
in the clear »
Not guilty or not suspected of wrongdoing.
|
in the wake of »
In the noticeable disturbance of water behind .
|
inside baseball »
Technical matters concerning baseball not apparent to spectators.
|
it ain't the whistle that pulls the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
it is not the whistle that pulls the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
it isn't the whistle that pulls the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
it pays to advertise »
Good qualities do not get rewarded automatically.
|
it's a long road that has no turning »
encouragement when things are not going well. Just as a long road eventually has a turning, problems also eventually have a solution, even though one might have to wait.
|
it's not the whistle that pulls the train »
Boasting and loud talk should not be mistaken for the work that produces real achievements; bravado is no proof of action.1956, James Reston, "Washington: It's Not the Whistle that Pulls the Train," New York Times, 1 July, p. E8:
|
it's not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
|
jack in »
To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.
|
jack of all trades, master of none »
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
|
jet setting »
The actions of the jet set; travelling from one fashionable location to another by jet.
|
jet-setting »
The actions of the jet set; travelling from one fashionable location to another by jet.
|
jug ears »
Ears whose plane is markedly not parallel to the plane of the head.
|
jump »
To employ a move in certain board games where one game piece is moved from one legal position to another passing over the position of another piece.
|
jump the gun »
To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.
|
just another pretty face »
Someone who is attractive, but not too distinguished.
|
keel over »
Of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover; to capsize.
|
keep down »
To cause not to increase or rise.
|
keep down »
Not to vomit.
|
keep down »
To lie low. To stay concealed by not standing up.
|
keep mum »
Do not talk; especially keep silent about something that may be sensitive or secret.
|
keep one's eye on the ball »
My ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.
|
keep one's lips sealed »
To keep quiet; to keep a secret; to not tell.
|
keep one's options open »
To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available.
|
kettle of fish »
A situation which is recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation, and which is not necessarily unfavorable.
|
kick the bucket »
Of a machine, to break down such that it cannot be repaired.
|
kids will be kids »
You cannot expect children to act like adults.
|
kiss up »
To pay false flattery to another, particularly a superior at work, in order to get special attention.
|
lay down the law »
To authoritatively or dogmatically assert what is permitted or not permitted.
|
lay off »
To place all or part of a bet with another bookmaker in order to reduce risk.
|
lead »
To estimate velocity in knots.
|
lead nowhere »
To have no purpose, to result in nothing.
|
lean and mean »
Efficient because of having nothing in excess of what is needed, and single-minded in one's objective.
|
leave no stone unturned »
To do a task very carefully and thoroughly, not missing any step.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
He stripped down to a pair of see-through briefs that left nothing to the imagination.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
To cover or hide very little or nothing.
|
let alone »
Much less; to say nothing of.
|
let off »
To forgive and not punish.
|
lex dubia non obligat »
(law) A doubtful law is not binding.
|
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.
|
like it or lump it »
To accept a situation whether one agrees with it or not.
|
live one »
A person, thing, or situation which is particularly interesting, noteworthy, or urgent.
|
loaded word »
Any word, set phrase or idiom that has strong positive or negative connotations beyond their ordinary definition.
|
long time »
Used as part of greeting of two people who have not been in contact for a long time.
|
loose end »
The end of a rope that has not been fastened.
|
loose ends »
Leftover items that have not been addressed or attended to.
|
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.
|
lump it »
To endure, accept, put up with a situation one does not like.
|
man of parts »
A man that is talented in multiple areas of life. This includes but is not limited to the area of seduction. He puts very little emphasis on memorized scripts or "peacocking" and instead relies on individualized ways to charm a woman.
|
managerial inbreeding »
Bad management, caused by managers making poor selection choices in recruitment, rewards, and promotions of the staff that report to them, leading to another generation of managers who lack the necessary skill sets to reward and promote the most effective staff.
|
manoeuvre the apostles »
To rob Peter to pay Paul; that is, to borrow money of one man to pay another.
|
mark time »
Marching in place; not going anywhere.
|
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
|
middle of the road »
Having a centrist attitude or philosophy; not extreme, especially politically.
|
mills of the gods grind slowly »
Justice may arrive slowly, but it cannot be avoided.
|
mind one's own business »
To concern oneself only with what is of interest to oneself and not interfere in the affairs of others.
|
misery loves company »
Misery is easier to bear when one is not the only one miserable.1995, Chris Abbott,
|
miss out »
To miss an experience or lose an opportunity, etc. that should not be missed.
|
monkey business »
An activity that may be considered illegal, questionable, or a vice, but not felonious.
|
more cry than wool »
Asserted but not grounded in reality.
|
move on »
To leave somewhere for another place.
|
muck about »
To do somethings with a piece of equipment when you do not understand how it works.
|
mum's the word »
The accompanying facts are a secret, not to be divulged.
|
mutual admiration society »
A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.
|
nary a »
Not one; none.
|
ne'er cast a clout til May be out »
Advice not to change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.
|
nearly never bulled a cow »
(Irish) Near enough is not good enough.
|
neither fish nor fowl »
Said of something not easily categorized or not fitting neatly into any established group.
|
neither here nor there »
Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent.
|
nervous hit »
A production which receives generally favorably notice, but is not assured of success.
|
never in a million years »
Absolutely not.
|
never mind »
Do not be concerned.
|
never mind »
It is not important; do not fret.
|
never you mind »
Do not concern yourself with it; it is none of your business.
|
no biggie »
Not a big deal, not something to worry about.
|
no fear »
certainly not
|
no great shakes »
Unexceptional; not special or noteworthy; not very effective.
|
no news is good news »
A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.
|
no screaming hell »
Something that is not particularly effective or impressive; something that is below expectations.
|
no slouch »
Pretty good; not bad.
|
non-starter »
An idea or argument that cannot be sensibly debated.
|
non-starter »
Someone or something who was listed to start in a race, but did not start in the race.
|
non-starter »
Something that is not going to happen.
|
none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
|
none too »
Not very
|
not a chance »
Absolutely not; no way.
|
not a pretty sight »
Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.
|
not a pretty sight »
Something visually unappealing, ranging from mildly unattractive to utterly disgusting in appearance.
|
not a sausage »
Absolutely nothing, none of something.
|
not a sausage »
Jill: Not a sausage I'm afraid, I'm just visiting.
|
not a sausage »
John: Do you know how I get to the town center from here?.
|
not a zack »
No amount of money; no money at all.
|
not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
|
not at all »
Not.
|
not at all »
Used similarly to you're welcome, as a conventional reply to an expression of gratitude.
|
not bad »
Reasonably good.
|
not be able to get a word in edgeways »
To be unable to say a single word because of someone else's talkativeness.
|
not be caught dead »
To refuse completely to do something.
|
not cricket »
Unsportsmanlike.
|
not give a monkey's »
Not to have the slightest interest or concern.
|
not half bad »
Pretty good; okay; decent.
|
not have a leg to stand on »
To lack support, as in an argument, debate, or negotiation.
|
not have the faintest »
To not know; to have no idea.
|
not in Kansas anymore »
No longer in quiet and comfortable surroundings; in the big city.
|
not leave one's thoughts »
Said when one keeps thinking about something.
|
not long for this world »
Unlikely to remain for much time.
|
not much of anything »
Very little; not a lot.
|
not on your life »
Absolutely not; under no circumstances.
|
not on your nelly »
Not on your life, an emphatic form of no.
|
not on your tintype »
An answer indicating outright rejection or denial; no way; absolutely not.
|
not quite »
Almost, very nearly.
|
not the end of the world »
It's of minor importance, at least not as important as it first seemed.
|
not to put too fine a point on it »
Used to apologise for a possibly impolite statement one is making.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce , The Fiend's Delight In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce, The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Vol. 8.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Francis Lynde, The Quickening.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To approach something or someone.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
|
not very »
Not.
|
not win for losing »
To repeatedly fail in one's gambles or efforts.
|
not worth a brass farthing »
Worth nothing or next to nothing.
|
not worth a dime »
Worthless, lacking in value.
|
not worth a plug nickel »
Having no or almost no value; worthless.
|
notch up »
To achieve something.
|
nothing flat »
Amount of time; no time at all.
|
nothing special »
Ordinary, run-of-the-mill.
|
nothing to it »
Easy; simple or straightforward.
|
nothing to sneeze at »
Not bad; decent; acceptable; worthwhile.
|
nothing to write home about »
Not exceptional; not noteworthy or especially good.
|
nothing ventured, nothing gained »
If one takes no risks, one will not gain any benefits.
|
odd one out »
A visual puzzle where the guesser has to choose which word/picture/symbol etc. does not fit with the others.
|
odd one out »
Something or someone in a group that is different or exceptional, that does not fit.
|
of course »
Asserts that the associated phrase should not be argued, particularly if it is obvious or there is no choice in the matter.
|
of sorts »
Resembling; similar to; in a way; partial or not entire; somewhat.
|
off balance »
Not physical balanced; not having physical equilibrium.
|
off board »
Not on or in a means of transportation.
|
off board »
Not participating.
|
off chance »
A condition of not being likely or probable.
|
off the beaten path »
In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known.
|
off the beaten track »
In a place or places not commonly visited.
|
off the hook »
Of a telephone, having an open connection; not hung up.
|
off the mark »
Inaccurate; not correct or appropriate.
|
old school »
Characteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.
|
on accident »
Accidentally; not intentionally; because of error, misfortune, or lack of caution.
|
on average »
Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
|
on ice »
Not being used, or not to be used e.g.
|
on the back burner »
Not immediate; inactive; receiving less than full or regular attention.
|
on the blink »
Functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well. Usually refers to a mechanical or electronic device.
|
on the face of »
Notwithstanding.
|
on the fly »
Spontaneously or extemporaneously; done as one goes, or during another activity.
|
on the loose »
Not incarcerated or in captivity; not under control.
|
on the other hand »
From another point of view.
|
on the sly »
Slyly, in an inconspicuous manner, so as not to be seen; secretly; stealthily.
|
on the spur of the moment »
On very short notice; spontaneously.
|
on the tip of one's tongue »
Known but not quite remembered.
|
on tiptoe »
We crept out on tiptoe so as not to wake the children.
|
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 another »
each other
|
one brick short of a full load »
Not mentally sound; insane.
|
one can run but one can't hide »
There is nothing someone can do to evade something.You can run but you can't hide.
|
one can't hold two watermelons in one hand »
do not attempt to take on more than you can handle
|
one candle short of a box »
not bright; stupid
|
one good turn deserves another »
One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.
|
one swallow does not a summer make »
One sighting or instance of an event does not necessarily indicate a trend.
|
one swallow does not make a summer »
A sign is not proof
|
one swallow doesn't make a summer »
One sighting or instance of an event does not necessarily indicate a trend.
|
one-note »
Having only one opinion, outlook, tone, etc., especially as expressed repetitively; without variety or range.
|
one-trick pony »
A person or group noteworthy for only a single achievement, skill, or characteristic.
|
only fools and horses work »
Philosophy of life that people who do not look for an easy way of earning a living are foolish.
|
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.
|
opposite number »
A person who holds a position in an organization that corresponds to that held by another person in an other organization; a counterpart.
|
opt out »
To choose not to participate in something.
|
orphan drug »
But which is not manufactured or marketed because the demand is insufficient to cover the costs of supply.
|
out loud »
Using the voice; not silently; aloud.
|
out of character »
Not acting; not "on"; behaving within one's natural personality rather than that of a character in a performance piece.
|
out of character »
Not in character; not successfully performing within the mindset of a given character in a theatrical performance. See also break character, drop character.
|
out of date »
Not current, outmoded, out of style, or too old to be used.
|
out of it »
Disoriented; not thinking clearly.
|
out of it »
Not participating in some trend or group.
|
out of kilter »
Disturbed; out of order; not working or adjusted properly.
|
out of order »
Not functioning properly.
|
out of place »
Not in the proper situation or arrangement, or inappropriate for the circumstances.
|
out of place »
She comes in out of the storm with not a hair out of place.
|
out of proportion »
Not in a proper or pleasing relation to other things, especially in terms of size.
|
out of sight »
Not accessible to view.
|
out of sight »
The notice was out of sight behind the door.
|
out of sight, out of mind »
When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about.
|
out of the loop »
Not informed up to date; current; not kept part of the discussion.
|
out of the mouths of babes »
The greatest wisdom comes from children, who are not afraid or weary of the world and its pressures.
|
out of the way »
Not obstructing or hindering; not in the way.
|
out of touch »
No longer conversant with facts; not aware or realistic.
|
out of wedlock »
Of parents not legally married.
|
out of whack »
Not in proper alignment.
|
out of whack »
Not in proper balance; unbalanced.
|
out of whack »
Not working or operating properly.
|
out of work »
Unemployed, or having nothing to do.
|
outshout »
To shout louder or for longer than another.
|
outsider »
One who is not part of a community or organization.
|
over my dead body »
Under no circumstances; absolutely not.
|
parking lot »
An open area, generally paved, where automobiles may be left when not in use.
|
party crasher »
Someone who attempts and often gains entry to a party or club to which they were not invited, often using social engineering techniques. The party crasher usually tries to blend into the party so as not to be kicked out.
|
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.
|
peachy keen »
Extremely good, exactly right; all right. Often used in the negative or with an ironic or sarcastic connotation to mean the opposite.
|
penny for your thoughts »
Used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another, especially when the person appears pensive or conflicted.
|
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones »
Do not criticize others if you have weaknesses yourself.
|
perp walk »
The intentional public display before news cameras of someone in police custody, especially someone famous or notorious, for the purpose of satisfying public interest, demonstrating the authorities' effectiveness, or shaming the person.
|
peter out »
To dwindle; to trail off; to diminish to nothing.
|
pick up »
To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on".
|
pinch-hit »
To bat in place of another player.
|
pinch-hit »
To do something in the place of another person who is not able to perform or is less skilled; to substitute or stand in for somebody.
|
pink slip »
Notice of the termination of employment.
|
pipe dream »
A plan, desire, or idea that will not likely work; a near impossibility.
|
play one against another »
To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation.
|
play the race card »
To assert that race or racism is responsible for a course of events, especially when race is not of particular significance to the issue in question; to attempt to inspire a particular reaction by raising the issue of race.
|
point out »
To identify with a bodily gesture, notably by pointing a finger or implement.
|
power chord »
A chord or combination of notes used in rock music and typically selected to sound good at high volume and high levels of distortion. Power chords make extensive use of intervals such as open fourths and fifths.
|
pretzel »
A toasted bread or cracker usually in the shape of a loose knot.
|
pretzel »
Anything that is knotted, twisted, or tangled.
|
proverbs run in pairs »
Every proverb seems to be contradicted by another proverb with an opposed message, such as "too many cooks spoil the broth" and "many hands make light work."1863, Sir Richard Burton, Abeokuta and the Camaroons Mountains, vol. 1, Tinsley (London), p. 309:Moreover, all the world over, proverbs run in pairs, and pull both ways: for the most part one neutralizes, by contradiction, the other.
|
pull out all the stops »
To reserve or hold back nothing.
|
pull the other leg »
In imperative/precative form, used to imply that the speaker does not accept or believe what another has just said.
|
put oneself across »
To explain one's ideas and opinions clearly so that another person can understand them and get a picture of your personality.
|
put words in somebody's mouth »
To attribute to somebody something he or she did not say; to claim inaccurately that somebody said or intended something.
|
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.
|
rain check »
In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.
|
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.
|
rainy day »
A difficult period of need, when things do not go right.
|
read between the lines »
To infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly.
|
real men don't eat quiche »
(aphorism, humorous) The stereotypical man does not do things that are considered effeminate, as to do so would imply they are effeminate.
|
rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic »
To do something pointless or insignificant that will soon be overtaken by events, or that contributes nothing to the solution of a current problem.
|
reckon without »
To ignore that which cannot readily be ignored.
|
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.
|
remains to be seen »
Is not yet known.
|
ridden hard and put away wet »
Mistreated; not properly cared for.
|
ring back »
To make another phone call to the same person.
|
road to Damascus »
That was my Road to Damascus moment. They played one hit after another and this is the song I remember most clearly.
|
rob Peter to pay Paul »
To solve a problem in a way that makes another problem worse.
|
rock up »
To turn up to a place or function unexpectedly, or without notice or prior warning.
|
round down »
To the greatest integer that is not greater than it, or to some other lower value, especially a whole number of hundreds, thousands, etc.
|
round up »
To the smallest integer that is not less than it, or to some other greater value, especially a whole number of hundreds, thousands, etc.
|
rub it in »
To add insult to injury; to emphasize one's strengths or another's weaknesses in a manner that degrades another.
|
rub up against »
To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.
|
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.
|
run around with »
To spend a lot of time with a person or group of people. Often used to talk about a person's group of friends that one does not like much.
|
run away with »
To leave secretly with another person. Usually with the intention of getting married or of living together against the wishes of the family.
|
run-of-the-mill »
Ordinary; not special.
|
sabre-rattling »
Any threat, such as one company threatening another with a lawsuit.
|
sacred cow »
Something which cannot be tampered with, or criticized, for fear of public outcry.
|
same old story »
What usually happens, a happening which is not surprising.
|
second string »
Not as good; of a lower quality or condition.
|
see the light »
To gain an understanding of something previously not understood, especially in a sudden insight.
|
see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
|
seeing is believing »
You need to see something to believe it; visible facts cannot be denied.
|
seize the day »
To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.
|
senior note »
A bond that takes priority over other debt securities sold by the issuer. In the event the issuer goes bankrupt, senior debt must be repaid before other creditors receive any payment.
|
settle for »
To accept or allow something, especially something not entirely desirable.
|
shift gears »
To change the gear by which motion is transmitted from a powered shaft to another shaft, especially in a motor vehicle.
|
shirtless »
Not wearing a shirt. Having a bare torso.
|
shit happens »
Bad things happen, and there is nothing we can do about it.
|
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.
|
shoot one's bolt »
To use up one's resources, especially a singular one or one not readily restored.
|
shoulder to cry on »
Someone offering emotional support to another in distress.
|
shuffle »
A rhythm commonly used in blues music. Consists of a series of triplet notes with the middle note missing, so that it sounds like a long note followed by a short note. Sounds like a walker dragging one foot.
|
shy bairns get nowt »
If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.A' forgot te ask hor for me money back!Wye, shy bairns get nowt
|
side issue »
An issue or topic which is not of direct significance to a primary concern.
|
sight unseen »
Not having seen the object beforehand.
|
silence is golden »
Peace and quiet have immense value.Often the best choice is to say nothing.
|
sit back »
To relax, to not exert oneself.
|
sit on the fence »
To remain neutral on a certain topic, to not have a stance or opinion.
|
six feet under »
Buried six feet underground; not alive; dead.
|
sleep together »
To be intimate with another person in the same bed.
|
slip through the cracks »
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
|
slippery as an eel »
So crafty, or cunning that they cannot be caught by the police, although it is known that they are acting illegally.
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slippery slope »
A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious.
|
sniff out »
To find, especially to find something that cannot be seen.
|
snot-nosed »
Young and arrogant or conceited.
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so-and-so »
A placeholder name, used when a name is not known; a generic name.
|
so-called »
Same as above, without the negative connotation.
|
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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sod all »
Nothing.
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soft sawder »
"How the old boy swallowed my soft sawder and Brummagem notes!" —Tom Taylor, The Ticket-of-Leave Man.
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soft touch »
A person or group which is sympathetic, accommodating, easily overcome, or easily persuaded, especially one which loans or readily gives money to another.
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some days you get the bear, other days the bear gets you »
One cannot always overcome a powerful adversary.
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sort of »
Approximately; in a way; partially; not quite; somewhat.
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sour grapes »
A putting down or expression of disdain about something that one desires but cannot have.
|
spare the rod and spoil the child »
If one does not discipline a child, he or she will never learn obedience and good manners.
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speak for oneself »
Expressing disagreement with an opinion expressed by another.
|
spill over »
To enter into another zone by way of accident or overcrowding; to overflow.
|
spur of the moment »
Impluse; short notice; a lack of planning.
|
stand by »
To do nothing. To be inactive in a situation.
|
stand corrected »
Said to acknowledge someone who corrects something that one says or writes that was not correct.
|
stand in someone's shoes »
To see from another's point of view; to feel what another feels.
|
standard fare »
The usual price for travel by air, rail, or another means of transport.
|
stay up »
To remain awake, to not go to bed.
|
stepping razor »
A dangerous person, who is not to be messed with.
|
stick in the mud »
A person unwilling to participate in activities, often because he or she believes the activity is not wholly kosher; a party pooper.
|
stick one's nose in »
To be nosy; to meddle or interfere in the affairs of another.
|
stick out »
To be prominent, noticeable, or obtrusive.
|
sticking at nothing »
Being ruthless
|
straight face »
A face that is expressionless, especially not laughing.
|
stroke of work »
With "do not do a", to do none of the assigned task at all.
|
stuffed shirt »
One who is overly official or officious; somebody in charge but not necessarily in power or effective.
|
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.
|
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.
|
swing the lead »
To pretend to be unwell so that you do not have to work.
|
take a bullet »
To purposely receive a gunshot that was intended for another.
|
take a leaf out of someone's book »
To adopt an idea or practice of another person.
|
take a number »
Recognize that many others are in the same situation; recognize that one's concerns are not of high priority; be prepared to wait.
|
take a powder »
To leave in a hurry; run away; scram; depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with a connotation of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.
|
take away »
To make someone leave a place and go somewhere else. Usually not with the person's consent.
|
take away from »
To make something seem not so good or interesting.
|
take down »
To write a note. Usually to record something that is said.
|
take into account »
Or pay attention to; to notice.
|
take it easy »
Immediately calm yourself down; your state of panic does not help.
|
take no notice of »
To ignore.
|
take out of context »
To interpret something in a manner in which it was not intended to be understood, often deliberately.
|
take something in one's stride »
Not to allow oneself to be set back, daunted, upset or embarrassed by unpleasant or undesirable circumstances.
|
take the rap »
To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the actions of another.
|
take up the cudgel for »
To make a defense for in lieu of another person.
|
take with a pinch of salt »
Not take entirely seriously.
|
talk is cheap »
It is easy to make boastful or unrealistic statements which are not supported by actions or evidence.
|
talk out of turn »
To make a remark or provide information when it is inappropriate or indiscreet to do so, or when one does not have permission or the authority to do so.
|
team up with »
To associate with another in a joint enterprise.
|
tear up the pea patch »
To put on a notable performance, especially in sports; to go on a rampage.
|
tell it to Sweeney »
I do not believe what you said.
|
tell it to the marines »
I do not believe what you said.
|
ten foot pole »
See not touch something with a ten foot pole.
|
thanks for nothing »
Expression of displeasure towards a person who has not provided what was wanted.
|
that's that »
There is nothing more to say or to do concerning the matter.
|
that's the way life is »
That is the way things happenCertain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything [1], page 279:That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption [2], ISBN 0310511011, page 45:There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, ISBN 059524050X, page 337:Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.
|
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."
|
the grass is always greener on the other side »
Other circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality are often not
|
the map is not the territory »
Our models of the world, and our sensations of the world, are not the true world.
|
the more things change, the more they stay the same »
A proverb making the observation that turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.
|
the sky is the limit »
Nothing is impossible or out of reach
|
the terrorists will have won »
Phrase used following a description of an activity to indicate that if that activity is not continued or carried out, those who seek to disrupt normal activities through terror will have succeeded, an which is an unacceptable result.
|
the whistle does not pull the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
the whistle doesn't pull the train »
Alternative form of it's not the whistle that pulls the train.
|
then again »
From another point of view; on the other hand; on second thought.
|
there are two sides to every question »
One should not make a judgement until one hears the other side.
|
there but for the grace of God go I »
A recognition that others' misfortune could be one's own, if it weren't for the blessing/kindness/luck bestowed by fate or the Divine.Man's fate is in God's hands.More generally, our fate is not entirely in our own hands.
|
there is nothing new under the sun »
There is nothing truly novel in existence. Every new idea has some sort of precedent or echo from the past.
|
there's no fool like an old fool »
Age does not bring wisdom.
|
there's no I in team »
A team game is focused on the team, not on the individual.
|
there's no point crying over spilt milk »
You should not be upset over something that cannot be undone.
|
there's no such thing as a free lunch »
Nothing is free; everything has a price.
|
there's nowt so queer as folk »
Nothing is as strange as people can be.
|
third hand »
Not new, having more than one previous owner.
|
thorn in the flesh »
A persistent difficulty or something very annoying that will not go away.
|
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.
|
three Rs »
The basic education any child can expect to receive, but not necessarily limited to reading, writing and arithmetic.
|
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.
|
tie the knot »
To marry, wed, get married.
|
time is money »
When a person's time is not used productively; time is valuable and should not be wasted.
|
time off »
A period of time where one is not required to work.
|
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.
|
to go »
Belonging to the subgroup that have not passed or have not been finished or have not been addressed yet.
|
to thine own self be true »
The easiest person to deceive is oneself."This above all:to thine own self be true,and it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare
|
tomorrow is another day »
Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed
|
tongue-in-cheek »
Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.
|
too hot to hold »
A place that has too much police activity to harbor a fugitive unnoticed.
|
top notch »
Very good; of the highest quality.
|
top off »
To fill completely; to fill or refill the final portion of something not empty.
|
toss-up »
A decision in which neither choice is clearly favorable or unfavorable, or for which the outcome does not matter.
|
touchy-feely »
Driven by intuition or emotion, with a connotation of de-emphasis of rational thought or logic.
|
trailer trash »
Deleted from the movie trailer. Not included in theatrical run.
|
treat them mean, keep them keen »
A woman will be more interested in a man if he is not kind to her.
|
turn away »
To rotate the body or head so as not to face someone or something.
|
turn the other cheek »
To accept a punishment or an injury and not act out revenge or retaliate.
|
turn to stone »
To become completely still, not moving.
|
twiddle one's thumbs »
To circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored.
|
twiddle one's thumbs »
To wait or dawdle; to accomplish nothing useful or lack a useful occupation.
|
two wrongs don't make a right »
(ethics) A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.1915, William MacLeod Raine, The Highgrader, ch. 15:"But when it comes to taking what belongs to another
|
two wrongs make a right »
A logical fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another
|
under one's breath »
Softly, so as not to be heard.
|
under the radar »
Without attracting notice; in an undetected or secretive manner.
|
under way »
A vessel is said to be underway when she is not anchored, moored, aground, or beached[1]. Compare with make way.
|
virgin territory »
By extension, ideas or concepts or activities that have not yet been tried, explored or developed.
|
wait for the other shoe to drop »
To await a seemingly inevitable event, especially one which is not desirable.
|
wait for the other shoe to drop »
To defer action or decision until another matter is finished or resolved.
|
walk on eggshells »
To be overly careful in dealing with a person or situation because they get angry or offended very easily; to try very hard not to upset someone or something.
|
walk the talk »
To do what one said one could do, or would do, not just making empty promises. To walk one's talk is to be innocent of hypocrisy.
|
wank off »
To sexually stimulate another's penis.
|
wash over »
To pass unnoticed so that one is unaffected by it.
|
waste breath »
To speak in a manner which is needless or futile; in discussion or argument to make points which are not appreciated or heeded.
|
waste not, want not »
If one is not wasteful then one will not be needy.
|
water over the dam »
An event or set of events which has already happened and cannot be changed.
|
water under the bridge »
Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
|
wear down »
To have one's long hair styled in a free, low-hanging, unencumbered style; i.e., not in an up-do or ponytail.
|
wear out »
To exhaust; to cause or contribute to another's exhaustion, fatigue, or weariness, as by continued strain or exertion.
|
wear out »
Of a shirt, not tucked into the pants; worn in a casual manner.
|
weekend warrior »
A person who indulges in a sport or pastime on an infrequent basis, usually on weekends when work commitments are not present.
|
wet behind the ears »
Inexperienced; not seasoned; new; just beginning.
|
whack-a-mole »
The practice of trying to stop something that persistently occurs in an apparently random manner at the point where the occurrence is noticed, such as terminating spammers' e-mail accounts or closing pop-up advertisement windows.
|
what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander »
If something is acceptable for one person, it is acceptable for another.
|
when Hell freezes over »
Never; not in this lifetime; not a chance.
|
whistle walk »
The path slaves took to deliver food from the kitchen building of a plantation to the main dining room. Slaves were expected to whistle during this walk in order to assure their masters that they were not eating the food.
|
wild horses »
A force not subject to human control and normally stronger than a man.
|
willy nilly »
Whether desired or not.
|
wine tosser »
A person who buys wine, but does not drink it.
|
with flying colors »
Extremely well; in an exceptional, noteworthy, or extraordinary manner.
|
write off »
To record an notional expense such as amortization or depreciation.
|
yell silently »
To think very strong thoughts, that one wishes to yell out loud but does not.
|
you can hang your hat on that »
It's something to put faith in, to rely upon or trust (when used in a positive connotation).
|
you can't always get what you want »
It is not always possible to get what is wanted.
|
you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
|
you can't get a quart into a pint pot »
What is being discussed is not possible.They've asked me to get to New York by five o'clock, but you can't get a quart into a pint pot!
|
you can't judge a book by its cover »
It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.
|
you can't make a silk purse of a sow's ear »
It is not possible to produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.
|
you can't polish a turd »
(vulgar) Something inherently bad cannot be improved.
|
you can't say fairer than that »
That is good, reasonable, or fair; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.
|
you can't take it with you »
It is not possible to take one's material wealth to whatever world may await one after death.1900, E. Phillips Oppenheim, A Millionaire of Yesterday, ch. 6:"The clause which
|
you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone »
It is advantageous not to rely solely on being nice.
|
you snooze you lose »
If you are not alert and attentive, you will not be successful.
|
yours truly »
A closing in a note or letter.
|
zone out »
To stop paying attention and think about something else, or to think about nothing.
|
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