against the grain »
Unwillingly, reluctantly. It went much against the grain with him, i.e. it was much against his inclination, or against his pluck.
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ask for it »
To provoke an unwanted action.
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backseat driver »
By extension, anybody offering unsolicited or unwelcome advice.
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bad penny »
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
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be at one's beck and call »
To be in the position of serving someone in any way they desire, usually unwillingly.
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booby prize »
A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.
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deep-six »
To get rid of something unwanted.
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devil is in the details »
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
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fall in »
To collapse inwards.
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great unwashed »
A contemptuous term for the populace, particularly the working class.
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greenwash »
A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.
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guilt trip »
A feeling of shame or embarrassment, especially if self-indulgent, unwarranted, exaggerated or felt over a significant period of time.
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hospital pass »
An unwinnable case, often passed to a newly-qualified member of the firm.
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ill advisedly »
unwisely
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jump »
To cause oneself to leave an elevated location and fall downward.
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kick in »
To kick or strike so as to cause the object struck to collapse or fall inwards.
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landing strip »
A runway for aircraft, especially one which is auxiliary or temporary.
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last resort »
The only remaining, unwanted, option or choice.
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look what the cat's dragged in »
Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
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mess up »
To make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
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not a pretty sight »
Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.
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off one's game »
Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell.
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on sufferance »
Unwillingly agreed to or barely tolerated.
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one in the eye for »
An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.
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out of sorts »
Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.
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peanut gallery »
Any source of heckling, unwelcome commentary or criticism, especially from a know-it-all or of an inexpert nature.
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shoot the bull »
To chinwag; to talk idly.
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sit through »
To unwillingly stay seated until the end of an event.
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slop bowl »
One of the four components of the traditional tea set. Tea drinkers emptied their unwanted, cold tea into the slop bowl before refilling their cups with fresh, hot tea.
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stave in »
To stave from the outside, to crush inward, to cause to collapse inward.
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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.
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swing the lead »
To pretend to be unwell so that you do not have to work.
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take liberties »
To behave disrespectfully, especially to make unwanted sexual advances.
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tempus fugit »
time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.
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the straw that broke the camel's back »
A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something.
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tight-lipped »
Unwilling to divulge information.
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turn down »
To reposition by turning, flipping, etc. in a downward direction.
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unwashed masses »
Of people who are considered by someone to be somehow uneducated, uninformed, godless, or in some other way unqualified for inclusion in the speaker's elite circles.
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walk into »
meet with unwittingly
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weed out »
To remove unwanted elements from a group.
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white elephant »
An ornament etc that is unwanted or is a financial burden; an unprofitable investment.
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write down »
To make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset.
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