abstract nonsense »
Details which involve diagram chasing.
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all kidding aside »
Used to attempt to make a serious point in a jocular conversation.
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all one's eggs in one basket »
Investing heavily in just one area.
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all the tea in China »
Something priceless or invaluable.
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ask for »
To increase the likelihood of something by persisting in some action; to invite.
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ask in »
To invite someone to enter one's house.
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ask out »
To invite somebody, especially on a date.
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ask round »
To invite someone to your house.
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asphalt jungle »
A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.
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back-of-the-envelope »
Approximate, rough, simplified.
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balancing act »
A performance that involves balancing things precariously and suspensefully.
|
barge in »
To intrude; to enter or interrupt suddenly and without invitation.
|
barrow man »
A man under sentence of transportation; alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt.
|
better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all »
Having experience of love, even if it ended, is better than having no experience of love.Love is worthwhile despite the pain involved in separation.
|
black sheep »
A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person.
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black-on-black »
Something that is invisible or intentionally obfuscated, such as warnings or fine print.
|
blow this pop stand »
To exit or remove oneself from a less than exciting location or environment.
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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.
|
break up »
Of a telephone conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection.
|
brown power »
The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.
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build a better mousetrap »
To invent the next great thing; to have a better idea.
|
bump and grind »
A combination of movements resembling such a dance, as in road racing, whitewater kayaking, or exercising; any activity involving prolonged jarring or shaking.
|
bump and grind »
A sexually suggestive dance involving exaggerated hip movements, especially a striptease dance.
|
button-down »
Conservative; conventional; unimaginative.
|
buy to let »
To purchase a property as in investment, and to let it out for rental instead of living in it.
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catbird seat »
Expression used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.
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change one's mind »
To convince someone to make a decision differing from what a previous one.
|
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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chase down »
To investigate the cause of something.
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chime in »
To talk; to join in conversation or discussion.
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close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
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collect one's thoughts »
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.
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come by »
To obtain; to get, now especially by chance or involuntarily.
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come out of one's shell »
To become a naturist. To convert to naturism.
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come up with »
To invent, create, or think of.
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conversation piece »
interesting object
|
cradle robber »
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.
|
crank up »
To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking.
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darken somebody's doorstep »
To enter somebody else's home uninvited.
|
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.
|
dumb down »
To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.
|
elbow grease »
Effort or hard work, especially physical work involving repeated motion of the forearm, such as scrubbing.
|
elephant in the room »
A problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.
|
fair game »
A game that is fair, that does not involve cheating etc.
|
feet of clay »
To say that someone, who appears strong or invincible, in fact has a hidden weak point which could cause their fall.
|
fifteen minutes of fame »
A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.
|
fix someone's wagon »
To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.
|
fly the freak flag »
To behave in a unconventional or unrestrained manner; to exhibit the uninhibited side of one's personality.
|
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.
|
forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
|
fourth wall »
The imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
|
freak flag »
Unconventional or unrestrained behavior; extreme, nonconformist views; the side of one's personality which harbors a tendency toward such behavior or such views.
|
fresh off the boat »
Newly arrived from a foreign place, especially as an immigrant who is still unfamiliar with the customs and language of his or her new environment.
|
get carried away »
To become excessively involved, to take something too far.
|
get down to business »
To become involved with something work-related.
|
get out of Dodge »
To leave; in particular to leave a difficult or dangerous environment with all possible haste.
|
gift of the gab »
The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.
|
give birth »
To invent a new idea.
|
go against the grain »
To defy convention; to do something in a manner that is unusual or out of the ordinary.
|
go native »
To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.
|
go out with »
Date, be involved in a romantic relationship with.
|
good fences make good neighbors »
It is better to mind one's own business than get involved with other people's affairs.
|
greatest thing since sliced bread »
A relatively recent invention likely to significantly improve people's lives.
|
green state »
A state that is, or is perceived as, environmentally friendly.
|
green with envy »
Consumed by envy; envious to the point where it is noticeable to others.
|
greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
|
gut factor »
Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.
|
hand waving »
Discussion or argumentation involving approximation, vagueness, educated guessing, or the attempt to explain or excuse vagaries.
|
hear the grass grow »
To hear very well due to being in an exceptionally quiet environment.
|
heart to heart »
A sincere, serious, or personal conversation.
|
heaven helps those who help themselves »
A maxim encouraging people to get involved in their own problems.
|
hit on »
To discover, pinpoint; to think up; to realize; to invent.
|
hit the bricks »
To participate in a workplace strike or other job action; to participate in a public protest, especially one involving picketing.
|
hit upon »
To think of; to invent; to realize.
|
hold that thought »
To pause in a conversation for an interruption.
|
hothouse »
An environment in which growth or development is encouraged; a hotbed.
|
if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail »
With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminatelyIf a person is familiar with a certain, single subject/has with them a certain, single instrument, they may have a confirmation bias to believe that it is the answer to/involved in everything.
|
in for an inch, in for a mile »
Given that one is partly involved in or committed to a project, action, position, etc., there is no reason to refrain from becoming fully involved or fully committed.
|
in the swim »
Actively participating in the flow of events; very involved.
|
jack in »
To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.
|
jump rope »
The activity, game or exercise in which a person must jump, bounce or skip repeatedly while a length of rope is swung over and under, both ends held in the hands of the jumper, or alternately, held by two other participants. Often used for athletic training and among schoolchildren. Variations involve speed, chants, varied rope and jumper movement patterns, multiple jumpers and/or multiple ropes.
|
legwork »
Work, especially research or preparation, that involves significant walking, travel, or similar effort.
|
live by the sword, die by the sword »
One who uses violence can expect a violent response. It is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey poetic justice.
|
lock up »
To invest in something long term.
|
log off »
To depart from conversation; to say goodbye.
|
long story short »
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.
|
look into »
To investigate, explore, or consider.
|
make over »
To renovate or to convert to a different use.
|
mince words »
To restrain oneself in a conversation by withholding some comments or using euphemisms.
|
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.
|
necessity is the mother of innovation »
Alternative form of necessity is the mother of invention.
|
necessity is the mother of invention »
A person who is in great need of something will find a way to get it.
|
nickel and dime »
Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.
|
no pain, no gain »
One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals.
|
no slave to fashion »
A person whose style of clothing and appearance are unconventional, informal, or slovenly; a person who takes little interest in how he or she is dressed.
|
none of someone's business »
A matter that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
|
not at all »
Used similarly to you're welcome, as a conventional reply to an expression of gratitude.
|
off the top of one's head »
Without great thought or investigation; extemporaneous; natural; offhand.
|
off-the-wall »
Wildly unconventional; bizarre; absurd.
|
old hat »
Something widely or long practiced, known, or accepted; something conventional.
|
on the anvil »
Refers to anything in the making, being created, or in production, especially in the metalworking field.
|
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.
|
out of touch »
No longer conversant with facts; not aware or realistic.
|
outside the box »
Beyond the bounds of convention.
|
outside world »
The rest of the world outside of some closed, restricted, or remote environment.
|
over and out »
Used to signal the end of a conversation, especially one conducted by CB radio or the like.
|
pain in the neck »
Someone or something which is annoying, irritating or inconvenient.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
parting shot »
An insult or barbed comment issued as the speaker departs or the conversation comes to an end.
|
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 on »
To convey or communicate.
|
peel grapes »
To perform a menial task, eliminating trivial inconveniences.
|
pencil pusher »
One who does routine office work; someone involved mainly in paperwork.
|
perfect storm »
A situation where a calamity is caused by the convergence and amplifying interaction of a number of factors.
|
pile-up »
A traffic accident or collision involving multiple vehicles.
|
pitched battle »
A hostile engagement involving sustained, full-scale fighting between opposing forces in close combat.
|
play fast and loose »
To be recklessly inaccurate, inappropriate, or otherwise ignoring guidelines and conventions.
|
play fast and loose »
To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits ones purpose.
|
plead the fifth »
To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
|
preach to the choir »
Speaking as if to convince a person or group of something which that person or group already believes.
|
prevail upon »
To convince; to persuade.
|
push the envelope »
To go beyond established limits; to pioneer.
|
put out feelers »
To explore or watch for; ask around; investigate.
|
rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
|
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.
|
reinvent the wheel »
To redo work unnecessarily when it has already been done satisfactorily; to rethink an already working system, technique, etc. in a pointless attempt to improve it.
|
ring hollow »
To seem to be false or implausible; to be unconvincing.
|
ring off »
To finish a telephone conversation and disconnect.
|
road movie »
A film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.
|
rob the cradle »
To marry or become romantically involved with a much younger person.
|
rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
|
run for one's money »
A difficult challenge for the person indicated, especially one involving a competitive situation.
|
say grace »
To recite a prayer of invocation or thanksgiving at meal time.
|
scope out »
To examine; to scout; to investigate; to check out.
|
see someone's point »
To comprehend the meaning that someone is trying to convey.
|
see the light »
To undergo a spiritual conversion.
|
set aside »
To declare something invalid or null and void.
|
shell out »
To use a program's "shell escape" function to execute an unrelated command or to invoke a subsidiary, interactive shell.
|
shit one's pants »
To involuntarily defecate into one's pants or other clothing.
|
sink one's teeth into »
To become involved in; particularly in an enthusiastic manner.
|
smoke and mirrors »
A deceptive, fraudulent, or unconvincing explanation or description.
|
smoke signal »
A method of long-distance communication sometimes used in ancient and undeveloped societies, consisting of messages conveyed by means of columns or intermittent puffs of smoke.
|
snake oil »
Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.
|
softroader »
. This involves increased ground clearance with tyre, wheel, and suspension tweaks, skid plates and refers to mini SUV or wagons.
|
speak of the devil »
An expression sometimes used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens to arrive on the scene.
|
spring fever »
A feeling of invigoration and restlessness associated with the arrival of the warm weather and renewal of nature in the spring season.
|
step on a rake »
To step on the tines of a garden rake, causing the handle of the rake to rise from the ground rapidly, invariably striking the person walking in the face.
|
strike up »
To start something with somebody else. Usually a conversation or relationship.
|
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.
|
swallow up »
To completely enclose or envelop.
|
swear on a stack of Bibles »
To make a promise or give one's assurance with great conviction.
|
sword and sandal »
Of or pertaining to a genre of books or films relating fantasy-adventure tales involving heroic exploits in ancient or biblical times.
|
take a bath »
To lose a large amount of money in an investment.
|
take over »
To annex a territory by conquest or invasion.
|
take to the cleaners »
To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.
|
talk through one's hat »
To speak lacking expertise, authority, or knowledge; to invent or fabricate facts.
|
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."
|
there, there »
Conveys comfort; used to calm somebody urge somebody to relax, especially when the person is crying.
|
think up »
To create in one’s mind; to invent..
|
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.
|
time and material »
A form of contractual compensation involving payment for materials used and at agreed rates for the those involved in performing the services.
|
time out »
To call for a suspension of activity or conversation.
|
to give a person line »
To allow a person more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him/her, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line.
|
toe the line »
To abide by the rules or conventions.
|
touch with a barge pole »
Get romantically involved with.
|
touch%C3%A9 »
Used in a conversation or debate to concede a point as true, often in response to a successful counter of one's own logic.
|
tough call »
A choice or judgment which is difficult to make, especially one involving only two alternatives.
|
turn the page »
To move on to new involvements or activities; to make a fresh start.
|
until hell freezes over »
Forever; One will never in their life get the results that they want, no matter what they're doing involving the situation.
|
up to »
Doing; involved in.
|
urban fabric »
The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.
|
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.
|
white elephant »
An ornament etc that is unwanted or is a financial burden; an unprofitable investment.
|
who shot John »
A long and involved explanation; a thing of which an explanation would be long and involved.
|
work the room »
To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
|
zero in on »
To converge on something.
|
zip up »
To convert a computer file into a smaller package.
|
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