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 pull of the hair for being unfair »
The general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".
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all fired up »
Excited or energized; highly enthusiastic.
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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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bottom of the ninth »
By extension, any last chance or final opportunity.
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bottom of the ninth »
In baseball, the second part of the ninth and final inning. The end of the game.
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bring down the house »
To garner enthusiastic or wild applause.
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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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deafening silence »
A silence, or a lack of any response, that signifies disapproval or lack of any enthusiasm.
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dive in »
To start a new endeavor enthusiastically and wholeheartedly.
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down in the dumps »
Sad; lacking engagement or enthusiasm.
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drag »
To act or proceed slowly or without enthusiasm; to be reluctant.
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eager beaver »
Who is very excited or enthusiastic to begin a task.
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eleventh hour »
Nearly too late; the last minute.
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