a bad workman always blames his tools »
It is not the tools we use which make us good, but rather how we employ them.
|
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.
|
a good man is hard to find »
Men who make good husbands or workers are rare.
|
a good voice to beg bacon »
Said in ridicule of a bad voice.
|
a miss is as good as a mile »
A failure remains a failure, regardless of how close to success one has actually come.
|
a nod is as good as a wink »
The hint, suggestion etc can be understood without further explaining.
|
a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
|
a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
|
against all odds »
Despite seemingly insurmountable opposition or probability.
|
against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
|
air out »
To expose to air; to leave open or spread out, as to allow odor or moisture to dissipate.
|
all good things come to an end »
Nothing lasts forever.
|
all it's cracked up to be »
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
|
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.
|
all well and good »
Basically good, but with some shortcoming or limitation.
|
almighty dollar »
The dollar, satirically characterized as a being a god.
|
am I right or am I right »
Rhetorical question from somebody who has stated what they consider to be an unassailable truth.
|
an apple a day »
Healthy eating and living using traditional temperate-zone fresh foods.
|
angel's advocate »
Someone who sees what's good about an idea and supports it.
|
any press is good press »
Being mentioned in the media is beneficial to the subject because it gets publicity.
|
apple of somebody's eye »
A favourite, a particular preference, or a loved one; the object of somebody's affections.
|
April showers bring May flowers »
April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains.By extension, that a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness.
|
are your ears burning »
Said of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
|
around Robin Hood's barn »
All over the place.
|
around Robin Hood's barn »
The long way around; a roundabout or circuitous route.
|
as good as one's word »
Faithful to a promise one has made.
|
as long as »
While; for some period of time.
|
as luck would have it »
As it happened; how it turned out; by good fortune; fortunately or luckily.
|
as you sow, so shall you reap »
The personal consequences of one's actions are in proportion to the good or bad intentions towards others.
|
ask for »
To increase the likelihood of something by persisting in some action; to invite.
|
ask out »
To invite somebody, especially on a date.
|
ass into gear »
Get going; get moving; start producing.
|
at arm's length »
At a distance, away from one's body.
|
at odds »
In disagreement; conflicting.
|
at odds »
on bad terms
|
babe in the woods »
A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless.
|
babes in the wood »
Criminals in the stocks, or pillory.
|
baby blues »
Period and feeling of depressiveness after giving birth; a less severe form of postnatal depression.
|
back gammon player »
A sodomite.
|
back-to-back »
With one's back facing somebody else's back.
|
backseat driver »
By extension, anybody offering unsolicited or unwelcome advice.
|
bad blood »
A serious feud or grudge.
|
bad blood »
Feelings of hostility or ill will.
|
bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
|
bang out »
To do something quickly, in a slipshod, or unprofessional manner.
|
bang up »
He’s doing a bang up good job..
|
bankers' hours »
The period between 10am and 3pm.
|
banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
|
be there for »
To be available to provide comfort and support for someone, especially in a period of difficulty.
|
beat somebody to the punch »
To do something before somebody else is able to.
|
beddable »
[...] feminine, great body great legs great taste, trained and beddable, Jesus, how beddable.
|
beddy-bye »
Bedtime for a toddler, going to sleep, going to bed.
|
been to the rodeo »
Exposed to conmen and hucksters; experienced.
|
been to the rodeo »
N.d., Alan Neff, Precious Tribes, Vicious Lies, page 72.
|
behind somebody's back »
Without somebody's knowledge; secretly.
|
bend somebody's ear »
Sorry to bend your ear with the whole story, but I think you ought to know.
|
bend somebody's ear »
To bore; to talk too long.
|
better an egg today than a hen tomorrow »
It is better to have a sure thing now than a possibility of more later.
|
better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness »
In the face of bad times or hopelessness, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response than to complain about the situation.
|
beyond the pale »
Describing behaviour that is considered to be outside the bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgement in civilised company.
|
big boys »
The people or bodies with the most influence and/or power.
|
bill of goods »
A collection of items purchased or offered for sale.
|
bill of goods »
A set of misleading or deceptive claims; misinformation.
|
black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
|
bleeding edge »
Something very current, or modern where there may actually be a hazard or risk in using it, such as with potentially unstable software. The term relates to a sword.
|
blink of an eye »
A very short period of time; quickly.
|
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!
|
blood mary »
Vodka and tomato juice
|
blow chunks »
To vomit chunks of undigested food.
|
blow up »
To explode or be destroyed by explosion.
|
blow up »
To explode something or somebody or destroy something or injure or kill somebody by explosion.
|
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.
|
bottom of the line »
The worst, the most lackluster, or lowest quality currently on the market, especially among selections in a product line.
|
brass monkey »
A cocktail of vodka, rum and orange juice, sometimes with the addition of galliano.
|
break a leg »
To perform well in a theatrical production or comparable endeavor.
|
break a sweat »
' , Karon Karter - The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Pilates Method page 119.
|
breakfast of champions »
An ironic appellation for beer, junk food, or other foods implied to be unhealthy.
|
bridge »
A song contained within another song, often demarcated by meter, key, or melody.
|
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed »
Alert and in an eager, frisky, or playful mood; full of life.
|
bring forth »
To produce, bear as fruit.
|
bring forth »
To display, produce, bring out for display.
|
bring in »
To introduce a new rule, law, or system of organisation.
|
bring in »
To introduce a person or group of people to an organisation.
|
brown power »
The production of electricity made from conventional sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.
|
bug off »
Used to tell somebody to leave them alone.
|
bunny hug »
A sweatshirt with a hood.
|
burn one's candle at both ends »
To work extremely or excessively hard; to work too hard for good health or peace of mind.
|
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.
|
by the by »
Used to introduce a new topic; incidentally.
|
by the Grace of God »
By divine right.
|
by the Grace of God »
Used as part of the titles of royalty.
|
bye-bye »
Goodbye.
|
call on »
To visit somebody; to pay a call.
|
call on »
To request or ask of somebody; to select for a task.
|
calling card »
A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
|
can of worms »
A complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems.
|
Cannon fodder »
Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.
|
carpe diem »
seize the day, make the most of today, enjoy the present
|
carrot and stick »
Simultaneous rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior.
|
carry a tune »
To produce music, especially to sing, with accurate pitch.
|
carry one's weight »
To contribute or produce one's fair share, as of work, money, etc.
|
carry the message to Garcia »
To perform a requisite task without having been informed specifically by what method to do so.
|
cash cow »
A product, service, or enterprise that generates ongoing, high net free cash flows.
|
catch flies »
An ostensible product of awkwardly having one's mouth open wide.
|
catmeat »
Catfood consisting of meat.
|
chain reaction »
A nuclear reaction in which particles produced by the fission of one atom trigger fissions of other atoms.
|
check out »
To obtain computer source code from a repository.
|
chew somebody out »
To berate; to shout at someone.
|
chew the scenery »
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
|
chicken feed »
Food given to poultry.
|
chopped liver »
A Jewish food made by frying liver and onions in schmaltz.
|
clay »
The material of the human body.
|
clean code »
Software code that is formatted correctly and in an organized manner so that another coder can easily read or modify it.
|
close up »
To shut a building or a business for a period of time.
|
closed book »
A person or thing that cannot be easily understood; someone or something incomprehensible or puzzling.
|
cold snap »
A period of exceptionally cold weather.
|
collect dust »
To remain untouched and unused for a long period of time.
|
come on »
To get one's period, start menstruating.
|
come out in the wash »
Of problems or difficulties, to work out, resolve, or become understood eventually and naturally.
|
come out of the woodwork »
To appear or emerge as though out of nowhere, frequently in large numbers or quantity.
|
come through »
Not to let somebody down, keep one's promise.
|
company »
In legal context, an entity that manufactures or sells products , or provides services as a commercial venture. A corporation.
|
consume mass quantities »
To eat or drink abundant amounts of food or beverage.
|
cookie-cutter »
A solution to a problem that can be applied in many situations without modification.
|
corner the market »
To monopolize a resource or commodity, as with the intent of driving up prices.
|
crank out »
To produce in large volumes mechanically or as if by machine.
|
crashpad »
Any place used for temporary lodging.
|
crashpad »
In the aviation industry, used for a place of temporary lodging for airline flight crews.
|
crocodile tear »
A tear shed insincerely, in a false display of sorrow or some other emotion.
|
crocodile tears »
A display of tears that is forced or false.
|
crocodile tears »
Plural form of crocodile tear.
|
crystal clear »
Completely clear and understood.
|
crystal-clear »
Completely clear and understood.
|
curate's egg »
A thing which has good and bad parts.
|
cut a wide swath »
To clear a broad track through a grassland, woodland, geographical region, or other area, either by natural means or by human action.
|
cut somebody some slack »
To be patient or lenient with somebody; to relax standards or expectations.
|
cut the mustard »
To suffice; to be good or effective enough.
|
darken somebody's doorstep »
To enter somebody else's home uninvited.
|
dawn on »
To occur to somebody; to be realized.
|
day and age »
A time period of years or more.
|
daylight robbery »
An exorbitant charge for a product or service.
|
dead »
Unproductive.
|
dead as a dodo »
That has become out of date.
|
dead as a dodo »
Undoubtedly and unquestionably dead.
|
dead wood »
Dead limbs and branches still attached to a living tree.
|
dead wood »
Personnel no longer contributing to an organization.
|
deliver the goods »
To keep one's promises.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
What we need is people who get the job done, no matter how. We don't want pickers who'll only learn if we use their preferred learning method. Have you read "A Message to Garcia" ? That's what we need today - young people who can deliver the message to Garcia.
|
diamond in the rough »
A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.
|
dish up »
To serve cooked food.
|
do a number on »
To damage; to treat harshly; to produce ill effects.
|
dodge a bullet »
To have a narrow escape; to avoid injury or disaster.
|
does a bear shit in the woods »
Rhetorical question in response to a question where the answer is an emphatic yes.
|
don't let the bedbugs bite »
Used to wish a person a good night's sleep.
|
don't take any wooden nickels »
Do not permit yourself be cheated or duped; do not be naive.
|
double cream »
dairy product
|
down on one's luck »
Unlucky or undergoing a period of bad luck, especially with respect to financial matters.
|
down pat »
Thoroughly practiced, rehearsed, or understood.
|
draw a blank »
To be unable to produce a required piece of information.
|
draw out »
To physically extract, as blood from a vein.
|
drink off »
To drink the entirety of in a short period; originally and especially, in a single gulp.
|
drop somebody a line »
To write, call or visit somebody.
|
dry eye »
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca , an eye disease caused by decreased tear production.
|
earn one's keep »
To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
|
eat one's own dog food »
To test the beta programs that are in the test phase on one's own computers; to dogfood.
|
eat one's own dog food »
To use or consume the economic goods or services that oneself is producing; to be part of a closed household economy.
|
eat out of somebody's hand »
To behave in a docile, submissive way towards somebody.
|
eat someone out of house and home »
To consume such a portion of one's store of food that little is left for the owner.
|
egg somebody on »
To tease, provoke or encourage.
|
embarrassment of riches »
An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.
|
end of the line »
Final cessation or discontinuance of a process, institution, or person, especially one which has existed for a considerable period of time; death.
|
enough is as good as a feast »
Just the right amount is as good as more than enough: there is no value in excess.
|
even Homer nods »
Not even the most vigilant and expert are immune from erring.
|
even Jove nods »
Alternative form of even Homer nods.
|
even money »
A bet which offers odds of 1 to 1.
|
every cloud has a silver lining »
In every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,
|
every Jack has his Jill »
everybody will find someone to have a romantic relationship with at some point in their life
|
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.
|
everybody and his cousin »
Everybody; a huge crowd; too many people.
|
everybody and their brother »
A large number of people; most people.
|
f** knows »
I don't know; nobody knows; it is unclear.
|
f** someone over »
To exploit somebody in a way which result in an advantage to oneself, at the cost of the other party gaining a considerable disadvantage.
|
face to face »
In person; directly; in the physical presence of somebody.
|
factor space »
In a product space.
|
fair to middling »
Only tolerably good.
|
faith will move mountains »
Belief in oneself (read sometimes as belief in God) can help one overcome any hurdle in life's path.
|
fall for »
To fall in love with somebody.
|
fall on one's sword »
To commit suicide by allowing one’s body to drop onto the point of one’s sword..
|
familiarity breeds contempt »
The more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.
|
fare thee well »
Goodbye, farewell.
|
fat chance »
Little or no likelihood of occurrence or success.
|
feed a cold, starve a fever »
Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.
|
feed the dragon »
To buy or sell products labeled as "Made in China.".
|
field day »
A great time or a great deal to do, at somebody else's expense.
|
fight fire with fire »
To respond to an attack with a similar or identical method.
|
fill in »
To inform somebody, especially to supply someone missing or missed information.
|
fill in »
To substitute for somebody or something.
|
fill somebody's shoes »
To do somebody's job; to perform or assume somebody's role.
|
fine feathers make fine birds »
Something that appears beautiful or good is by definition beautiful or good.
|
fish out »
To deplete the supply of fish in a given body of water.
|
fit as a lop »
In good health, fitness.
|
flog a dead horse »
To attempt to get extra work out of a ship's crew during the dead horse period.
|
food chain »
A hierarchy.
|
food chain »
The feeding relationships between species in a biotic community.
|
for good »
Forever; permanently.
|
for good and all »
Permanently, forever.
|
for good measure »
As a precaution; just in case; added as an extra.
|
for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
|
for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses surprise or amazement.
|
four score and seven years ago »
87 years prior to today.
|
four-leaf clover »
A bringer of good luck.
|
fresh legs »
Somebody who has yet to play in a match, and therefore has plenty of energy.
|
full English »
A cooked breakfast consisting of bacon and eggs, and other foods.
|
full of beans »
Incorrect; uninformed; exaggerating or expressing falsehood.
|
full of shit »
Characterized by speaking nonsense or falsehoods.
|
gentleman of the back door »
A sodomite.
|
get on somebody's case »
To lecture, berate, or complain to somebody, especially to find fault or criticize.
|
get on somebody's nerves »
To annoy or irritate; to bother.
|
get out of bed on the wrong side »
To start the day in a bad mood for no apparent reason.
|
get out of Dodge »
To leave; in particular to leave a difficult or dangerous environment with all possible haste.
|
get somebody's goat »
To annoy, infuriate, bother, or incense.
|
give and take »
A process of compromise or accommodation.
|
give as good as one gets »
To behave toward others in a manner resembling or commensurate with their behavior towards oneself, especially in a situation where one is insulted or otherwise ill-treated.
|
give birth »
To produce new life into the world; to have a baby. Transitive when used with to.
|
give somebody a hand »
To help, aid, or assist.
|
give somebody a hard time »
To tease, kid, or rib.
|
give somebody a piece of one's mind »
To express one's opinion strongly; to voice one's disagreement or dissatisfaction.
|
give somebody an earful »
To shout very loudly at someone.
|
give somebody pause »
To give somebody cause for concern.
|
give somebody the brush-off »
To rebuff, snub or curtly reject someone.
|
give somebody the cold shoulder »
To snub, resist or reject somebody; to regard somebody distantly.
|
give somebody the creeps »
To give someone a feeling of uneasiness or mild fright.
|
give somebody the heave-ho »
To fire, expel or break up with someone.
|
give somebody the runaround »
Especially by providing useless information or directions .
|
give somebody the slip »
To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.
|
give somebody what-for »
To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.
|
give the time of day »
To acknowledge somebody; to give somebody any respect or attention.
|
go by the wayside »
To become obsolete or outmoded.
|
go down the wrong way »
To swallow food or drink so that it goes down the wrong tube in one's throat and makes one cough or for a short period lose one's breath or choke.
|
go Dutch »
To pay for one's own food and bills, or split the cost, when eating at a restaurant or going out for entertainment.
|
go off »
To explode.
|
go off »
To explode metaphorically; to become very angry.
|
go out »
To leave one's abode to go to public places.
|
go the extra mile »
To make an extra effort; to do a particularly good job.
|
go the way of the dodo »
To go extinct or become obsolete; to fall out of common use or practice; to go out of the firsthand market; to become a thing of the past.
|
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 fearing »
pious
|
god forbid »
Don't let it be.
|
God helps those who help themselves »
Fortune comes to those who make a genuine effort to accomplish things.
|
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 and »
Very; exceptionally; utterly.
|
good drunk »
A person who is cheerful and companionable when intoxicated, retaining reasonable control of his or her mental and emotional faculties.
|
good egg »
A good person, someone to be trusted; a friend.
|
good enough for jazz »
Good enough.
|
good evening »
greeting
|
good fences make good neighbors »
It is better to mind one's own business than get involved with other people's affairs.
|
good for you »
well done
|
good job »
Well done; congratulations!.
|
good luck with that »
An expression wishing someone success in an unlikely enterprise.
|
good old boy »
A friendly, unambitious, relatively uneducated, sometimes racially biased white man who embodies the stereotype of the folksy culture of the rural southern USA.
|
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.
|
good on you »
An exclamation of encouragement or congratulation; well done.
|
good riddance »
Used to indicate that a departure, or loss is welcome.
|
good things come to those who wait »
A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.
|
good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
|
good to go »
Ready for use or ready for normal operation, especially after repair or renewal.
|
good turn »
A good deed; a thoughtful or selfless act.
|
goodbye cruel world »
A call said before taking a stiff drink, especially a shot of vodka.
|
goodbye cruel world »
An exclamation made before commiting suicide, or in a suicide note.
|
goon squad »
A group of individuals serving as enforcers, bodyguards, and the like, especially persons hired for such a purpose and using violent, thuggish methods.
|
grace period »
A length of time during which rules or penalties do not take effect or are withheld.
|
grind to a halt »
Coming to a standstill, or ceasing to be productive or make progress, due to an obstacle.
|
guilt trip »
A feeling of shame or embarrassment, especially if self-indulgent, unwarranted, exaggerated or felt over a significant period of time.
|
guilt trip »
Remarks intended to produce such a feeling.
|
guinea pig »
A tailless rodent of the Cavia genus, with short ears and larger than a hamster; the species Cavia porcellus is often kept as a pet.
|
gulp down »
To eat very quickly without chewing the food properly.
|
gut factor »
Feelings about what feels right or wrong, good or bad. An inner persuasion that one may feel convinced is the appropriate decision.
|
halcyon days »
A period of calm, often nostalgic: “halcyon days of yore”, “halcyon days of youth”..
|
halcyon days »
Period of calm during the winter, when storms do not occur.
|
half a mind »
A moderate inclination.
|
halfway decent »
Good - better than expected.
|
hand it to somebody »
To give somebody credit or praise.
|
hatchet man »
Someone who carries out brutal and unpleasant duties on behalf of another, such as firing dead wood employees.
|
hate somebody's guts »
To despise; to hate intensely or passionately.
|
haul somebody over the coals »
To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.
|
have a bone to pick »
To have a complaint or grievance with somebody.
|
have a good time »
To enjoy oneself.
|
have a scream »
To have a good time, to have a blast.
|
have an eye for »
To have good taste; to have the ability to discriminate or identify quality.
|
have eyes bigger than one's belly »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
|
have eyes bigger than one's stomach »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
|
have it made »
To have accomplished all there is to do; to have no further work or difficulty; to have achieved a lifestyle characterized by good fortune and comfort.
|
head to toe »
Entirely; completely; over one's full body.
|
heat wave »
A period of exceptionally hot weather.
|
hell or high water »
Highly adverse circumstances; acts of God.
|
hic Rhodus, hic salta »
(politics) Prove what you can do, here and now.
|
hind tit »
An inferior source of food or other resources.
|
hit home »
To be especially memorable or meaningful; to be fully understood, believed or appreciated.
|
hit one out of the ballpark »
To produce a spectacular achievement.
|
hold somebody's hand »
To grasp or hold a person's hand.
|
hold somebody's hand »
To guide somebody through the basics or assist with excessively small details.
|
holding pattern »
Any failure to advance; useless or unproductive activity.
|
homeless dumping »
The practice of hospital employees or emergency workers releasing homeless patients on the streets instead of placing them into the custody of a relative or shelter or retaining them in a hospital where they may require expensive medical care.
|
honest-to-goodness »
Real; genuine.
|
horse opera »
A theatrical production, film, or program on radio or television depicting adventures of characters in the American Old West; a western.
|
hot cross buns »
good friday cakes
|
hot on somebody's heels »
Close behind; pursuing or following closely.
|
hot potato »
An awkward or delicate problem with which nobody wants to be associated.
|
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.
|
hunger is the best sauce »
Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.
|
hunger is the best spice »
When one is hungry, anything will taste good.
|
ice over »
To become covered in ice, usually of a body of water.
|
if it's all the same »
If it makes no difference; if nobody minds; if it doesn't bother anyone.
|
if you love somebody, set them free »
One should be willing to let go of someone they love if they truly love them.
|
in cold blood »
In a ruthless and unfeeling manner; premeditated and deliberate.
|
in hot water »
In trouble; in the position of arousing somebody's anger or displeasure.
|
in kind »
In the form of goods and service rather than money.
|
in order »
In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body.
|
in other words »
Stated or interpreted another way; introduces an explanation.
|
in shape »
In a good state of physical fitness or bodily appearance.
|
in shape »
In good condition, repair; in a good state.
|
in the doghouse »
In trouble; the subject of somebody's anger or disapproval.
|
in the long run »
After a very long time; eventually; over a long period of time; more generally.
|
in the pink »
In very good health.
|
in the woods »
In critical condition; near death's door.
|
in this day and age »
In the current time period of years.
|
inside joke »
A joke that is understood or meant to be understood only by certain people who are in the know about the details.
|
installed base »
The number of units of a system or product that are currently in use.
|
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God »
The rich can afford more immoral behavior than the poor.
|
it pays to advertise »
Good qualities do not get rewarded automatically.
|
it's all good »
Used to express unconcern.
|
it's all grist to the mill »
Everything referred to in the present context has some sort of use.1999, Simon Blackburn, Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (Oxford University Press paperback, ISBN 0199690871), ch. 7 section 6: "Kant
|
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good »
There is usually something of benefit to someone, no matter how bad the situation.
|
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:
|
jew down »
To bargain or haggle with a seller in order to obtain a lower price for a good or service.
|
joe job »
An act of e-mail spamming where the sender's identity and address are those of an innocent third party, intended either to tarnish that person's reputation or to flood that person's e-mail with bounces.
|
jump »
By jerking the body violently.
|
jump »
To propel oneself rapidly upward such that momentum causes the body to become airborne.
|
jump in »
To enter something quickly. Usually a mode of transport.
|
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 somebody in stitches »
To keep somebody laughing hard or amused.
|
keep somebody posted »
To inform or to keep somebody up to date.
|
kick butt »
To be impressive; to be decisively good or pleasant.
|
kick down »
To break or demolish something by physical bodily force.
|
kill the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
|
kiss of death »
Something that may seem good and favourable but that actually brings ruin to hopes, plans, etc.
|
kit and caboodle »
Everything entirely, the whole lot.
|
kit and kaboodle »
Everything; the lot.
|
knacker's yard »
That area of a slaughterhouse where carcasses unfit for human consumption are rendered down to produce useful materials such as glue.
|
knock on wood »
A self-directive to undertake the customary action to ward off bad luck.
|
knock on wood »
To take a customary action to ward off some misfortune that is believed to be attracted my a presumptuous statement.
|
knock somebody's socks off »
To impress greatly; amaze; stun.
|
last trump »
The moment of God's final judgement on Earth.
|
late model »
Recently designed or fabricated; new.
|
latter day »
modern
|
lay an egg »
To produce a failure or flop; to do something which is unsuccessful.
|
lay an egg »
To produce an egg.
|
lead »
I would have the tower two stories, and goodly leads upon the top. — Bacon.
|
lead someone down the garden path »
To deceive, hoodwink.
|
lead time »
The amount of time between the initiation of some process and its completion, e.g. the time required to manufacture or procure a product; the time required before something can be provided or delivered.
|
leap year »
Period of 366 days
|
leather working »
The technology of making products from leather.
|
leave somebody high and dry »
To abandon somebody; to stop providing assistance at a crucial moment.
|
leave somebody holding the bag »
To abandon somebody, leaving the responsibility or blame.
|
leave somebody in the lurch »
To abandon somebody; especially, to abandon somebody and leave him or her in a difficult situation.
|
less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
|
let down »
To disappoint; to betray or fail somebody.
|
let go and let God »
To consciously surrender one's free will to the will of God.
|
let off »
To cause to explode.
|
let somebody down »
To fail somebody; to disappoint or to fail to uphold a commitment.
|
let somebody in on »
To disclose; to tell somebody a secret or share privileged information.
|
let the good times roll »
To have fun or live fully; may imply letting things that are going well proceed.
|
life and limb »
Existence together with bodily faculties.
|
lift up »
To lighten the mood of someone.
|
like a million bucks »
Extremely good or well.
|
like a million dollars »
Extremely good or well.
|
like father, like son »
A son will have traits similar to his father upon reaching adulthood.
|
like nobody's business »
In an extreme manner; rapidly; excessively; like crazy.
|
little pitchers have big ears »
Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, Abbeychurch, ch. 2:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."1939, "Bedtime Bedlam," Time, 17 Apr.:A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.2002, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ISBN 9780743455961, p. 185:I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).
|
log off »
To depart from conversation; to say goodbye.
|
long goodbye »
Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.
|
long run »
An extended period of time.
|
long story short »
Introducing a short version of, or simply the conclusion of, an involved story.
|
make for »
To tend to produce or result in.
|
make head or tail of »
To determine to be good or bad.
|
make out like a bandit »
To profit greatly; to get an excessively good deal.
|
man of few words »
A man who doesn't speak much, or speaks only for a short period of time.
|
man proposes, God disposes »
Things don't always work out as they were planned.
|
man up »
To "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.
|
mark up »
To add coding to text so that it will display properly on a computer.
|
meal ticket »
A ticket or voucher that can be exchanged for food.
|
meal ticket »
Someone or something that provides income or livelihood, especially as an exploited source.
|
meals on wheels »
Food delivered to the homes of those unable to cook for themselves.
|
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
|
measure up »
To meet expectations; to be as good as.
|
meaty »
Of a person or a body part, large and solid.
|
meet up »
To meet somebody, by arrangement.
|
mess up »
To cause a problem with; to introduce an error or mistake in; to make muddled or confused; spoil; ruin.
|
middle of the road »
Of a type of melodic popular music that has wide appeal.
|
mighty oaks from little acorns grow »
Something great can come from a modest beginning.Don't give up on the project - mighty oaks from little acorns grow!
|
mills of the gods grind slowly »
Justice may arrive slowly, but it cannot be avoided.
|
mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
|
mixed blessing »
Something that has both good and bad features.
|
mock up »
To create a model or demonstration; to create a preliminary version or sample.
|
money for old rope »
Money exchanged for goods of low value.
|
mop the floor with somebody »
To trounce or defeat thoroughly or in a humiliating manner.
|
move one's body »
To dance.
|
music to one's ear »
Some unexpected good news; a favorable outcome after some initial confusion or delay.
|
nearly never bulled a cow »
(Irish) Near enough is not good enough.
|
neck of the woods »
A local neighbourhood or region.
|
nervous hit »
A production which receives generally favorably notice, but is not assured of success.
|
new school »
A style, way of thinking, or method for accomplishing a task that is typical of the current era, as opposed to former eras.
|
no good deed ever goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no good deed goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no ifs, ands, or buts »
Period; exactly so; without modification, limitation, or addendum.
|
no news is good news »
A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened.
|
no slouch »
Pretty good; not bad.
|
no-show »
An absence; somebody who doesn't show up or a failure to show up.
|
nobody's perfect »
Used when someone's mistakes or flaws are acknowledged, to remind that everyone else makes mistakes and has flaws1995, New York Magazine Vol. 28, No. 5, 30 January 1995, The de-moralization of society (Book Review)Hypocrisy, particularly in sexual matters, is excused on the grounds that hey, nobody's perfect, and at least folks back then felt bad enough to lie.2000, Madonna, Nobody's PerfectI feel so sad. What I did wasn't right. I feel so bad and I must say to you: Sorry, but nobody's perfect. Nobody's perfect. What did you expect? I'm doing my best
|
nod off »
To fall asleep, especially while in a seated position or in inappropriate circumstances.
|
nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat »
The idea/proposed action is inconsequential to the current situation.
|
nose test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
|
nose test »
An inspection of an object using the sense of smell, as for freshness of food.
|
not all it's cracked up to be »
Not as good as claimed; falling short of expectations.
|
not bad »
Reasonably good.
|
not half bad »
Pretty good; okay; decent.
|
nothing to write home about »
Not exceptional; not noteworthy or especially good.
|
odd and curious »
A way to designate special coins, namely coins that are both odd and imperfect or seriously damaged.
|
odd and curious »
On the Isle of Man, the common or general man.
|
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.
|
odds and ends »
Miscellaneous things.
|
off-the-shelf »
As purchased or as commonly available, without modification or customization.
|
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.
|
old time used to be »
Somebody Loan Me A Dime. lyrics by Boz Scaggs.
|
on a roll »
Having a streak of good luck or good progress or success.
|
on board »
It's a good idea, but let's see if we can get a few more of the management team on board.
|
on good terms with »
Friendly towards; having good relations with.
|
on high »
"The Lord our God who dwelleth on high" Psalms 63:5.
|
on its merits »
Considering only intrinsic good points and bad points, without prejudice or other considerations, such as procedural ones.
|
on one's watch »
During the period of time when one is in a position of authority or responsibility.
|
on the anvil »
Refers to anything in the making, being created, or in production, especially in the metalworking field.
|
on the nose »
Smelly, malodorous.
|
on the wane »
In a period of decrease or decline.
|
one at a time »
Individually, as opposed to collectively; slowly or methodically, figuratively.
|
one good turn deserves another »
One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.
|
one's days are numbered »
Some period of time, such as a term of employment or a lifetime, is coming to an end.
|
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.
|
open a can of whoop ass »
A good-humored threat of physical harm.
|
out of date »
Not current, outmoded, out of style, or too old to be used.
|
out of reach »
The adult magazines were out of reach of toddlers.
|
out of the woods »
Out of peril; likely to recover or prevail over trouble; finished with the worst or most threatening part of a problem or illness.
|
over my dead body »
Under no circumstances; absolutely not.
|
paint oneself into a corner »
To create a predicament or problem for oneself; to do something that leaves one with no good alternatives or solutions.
|
palm off »
To attempt to pass off a counterfeit or inferior product as genuine.
|
pay for »
To exchange for, especially money for goods or services.
|
peachy keen »
Extremely good, exactly right; all right. Often used in the negative or with an ironic or sarcastic connotation to mean the opposite.
|
peel out »
To start abruptly from a standing stop, accelerating rapidly, especially so as to produce skid marks.
|
pelt of the dog »
An immoderate, excessive quantity of alcohol drunk the morning after whilst suffering withdrawal symptoms or a hangover, which goes beyond alleviating the complaint to causing drunkenness; cf. hair of the dog.
|
perfect storm »
A powerful hurricane or other major weather disturbance, especially as produced by a combination of meteorological conditions.
|
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.
|
phase in »
To introduce something little by little.
|
pick somebody's brain »
To seek information from someone knowledgeable; to ask questions of someone.
|
pick up »
To meet and seduce somebody for romantic purposes, especially in a social situation, sometimes used with "on".
|
pickle »
The brine used for preserving food.
|
piece of work »
A product or manufactured article, especially an item of art or craft.
|
pin down »
To corner somebody in order to get a firm answer.
|
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.
|
play the race card »
Mark Fuhrman, Murder in Brentwood p.153.
|
point out »
To identify with a bodily gesture, notably by pointing a finger or implement.
|
poison tree bears poison fruit »
Unethical actions in the service of good intentions will have immoral or unethical consequences.
|
pot calling the kettle black »
A situation in which somebody comments on or accuses someone else of a fault which the accuser shares.
|
potter »
God, the creator.
|
potter's clay »
A person or people created and shaped by God.
|
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.
|
pre-war »
Describing the period before a war.
|
pre-war »
Describing the period before the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
|
price is right »
The cost of a thing is reasonable and of good value.
|
price out of the market »
To charge an exorbitant price for a service or product so that no one will purchase it.
|
prime of life »
The period of one's mature life when one is at a peak of health and performance.
|
pull oneself together »
To become mentally focused after a period of being unfocused.
|
pull out »
To use coitus interruptus as a method of birth control.
|
pull somebody's leg »
To tease someone; to lead someone on; to goad someone into overreacting. It usually implies teasing or goading by jokingly lying.
|
pull the plug »
To cease from production or publication.
|
put across »
To perform a theatrical production.
|
put by »
To preserve food by canning, freezing, drying, etc.
|
put hair on somebody's chest »
To make a person stronger or more masculine.
|
put one past somebody »
To deceive, trick, or fool, especially by concealing something.
|
put somebody in his place »
To bring somebody down; to humble or insult.
|
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.
|
queer fish »
An odd or eccentric person.
|
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.
|
quick-and-dirty »
Of or pertaining to the creation or repair of software or hardware in a manner which permits operation within a brief period of time, although with compromised functionality or reliability.
|
rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
|
rainy day »
A difficult period of need, when things do not go right.
|
raise somebody's hackles »
Make someone angry.
|
rat race »
An activity or situation which is congested with participants and which is hectic or tedious, especially in the context of a busy, modern urban lifestyle.
|
reach an early grave »
To resign near the start for good.
|
read somebody the riot act »
To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.
|
read somebody's lips »
To discern what somebody is saying by watching the shape of the mouth rather than by hearing the sounds of the words.
|
real job »
A job which requires the employee to, work regular hours for a consistent wage that often exceeds the provisions of applicable minimum wage legislation. A job that produces a living wage.
|
reap what one sows »
To receive as a reward or harvest in the same measure as one's exertions, in a good or a bad sense. To receive justice.
|
ride one's luck »
To avoid failure only by good fortune.
|
ride roughshod over »
To act in a bullying or inconsiderate manner; to display disregard towards someone or something.
|
right as rain »
Very good; healthy.
|
rise from the ashes »
To make a comeback after a long hiatus. To come back into common use or practice. To come back into popularity. To come back to being a thing of today.
|
roach coach »
Whimsically, a catering or food truck.
|
robber baron »
Especially in the 19th-century and early 20th-century, a business tycoon who had great wealth and influence but whose methods were morally questionable.
|
rough and ready »
Crude or unpolished, but still fit for use; good enough.
|
rough sledding »
A difficult period of time.
|
rub somebody the wrong way »
To bother, disturb, irritate, or annoy.
|
rub up against »
To touch something with one's body.
|
rub up against »
To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.
|
rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
|
rum go »
An odd affair; a surprising event; a confusing experience; a queer thing.
|
rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
run away »
To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.
|
run roughshod over »
To treat roughly or without care, respect, or moderation; to act without control; to damage.
|
run somebody ragged »
To exhaust; to demand excessive effort or work from somebody.
|
rush hour »
busy travel period
|
saw wood »
To snore loudly.
|
say goodbye »
To separate from someone.
|
say goodbye »
To wish someone farewell upon their leaving.
|
scream bloody murder »
To protest loudly or angrily.
|
second childhood »
A childlike state in any adult, resulting from mental illness, trauma, or other conditions.
|
second childhood »
The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior.
|
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.
|
seize the day »
To make the most of today by achieving fulfillment in a philosophical or spiritual sense.
|
sell »
To agree to transfer goods or provide services in exchange for money.
|
sell out »
To sell all of a product that is in stock.
|
sell someone a bill of goods »
To deceive or cheat someone.
|
sell-by date »
The final date on which a perishable product can be legally sold to the public.
|
send somebody packing »
To expel or eject somebody; to chase off or force out.
|
send up »
parody
|
serve somebody right »
To happen to someone who is thought to deserve it.
|
set off »
To cause to explode.
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sex up »
To arouse somebody sexually.
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sexual enjoyment »
Sexual intercourse that produces physical and psychological pleasure.
|
shake a leg »
To get busy; to get going; to be productive.
|
shake the pagoda tree »
To find a source of easy enrichment; to become absurdly rich in a short time.
|
shift gears »
To change pace or mode of operation.
|
shoo-in »
A candidate or contestant generally agreed upon as the presumptive winner; somebody who is well-liked or widely agreed upon.
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shoot the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
|
short of a length »
Of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.
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show somebody the door »
To dismiss or reject; to exclude someone who was formerly included.
|
show somebody the door »
To escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering, etc.
|
showstopper »
A performance or segment of a theatrical production that induces a positive reaction strong enough to pause the production.
|
shuffle off this mortal coil »
To die; to divest oneself of one's mortal body.
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sit in for »
To substitute; to take somebody's place.
|
sleep on »
To consider after a period of sleep, implying a decision will be made the next day.
|
sleep with the fishes »
To be killed and have one's body disposed off in the sea or other body of water.
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slim chance »
Little or no likelihood of occurrence or success.
|
smell test »
An assessment of a subject's ability to detect and distinguish odors.
|
smell test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
|
smell test »
An inspection of an object using the sense of smell, as for freshness of food.
|
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.
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snake oil »
Any product with exaggerated marketing but questionable or unverifiable quality.
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snowball's chance in hell »
Little or no likelihood of occurrence or success.
|
so far so good »
Up to this point, all is OK.Well, you've packed your bags for the holiday, bought your tickets, reserved the hotel and put the dog in kennels. So far so good, now let's get to Minorca without any troubles.
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sod all »
Nothing.
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sod off »
Go away.
|
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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sow one's wild oats »
To indulge in a period of irresponsible behavior, particularly sexually; Often used in reference to young adults or to the recently divorced.
|
spaghetti western »
Nickname for a motion picture produced by an Italian-based company and filmed in Europe, depicting a tale of cowboys and desperadoes set in the American Old West.
|
spare the rod and spoil the child »
If one does not discipline a child, he or she will never learn obedience and good manners.
|
spark spread »
The difference between the cost of the fuel required to produce a unit of electricity, and the price of that same unit of electricity.
|
speak for »
To speak on somebody's behalf.
|
special needs »
Needs for special care, services or accommodations.
|
stand the test of time »
To remain useful or valued over a long period of time; to last a long time.
|
standard fare »
Menu items or dining options which are regularly available in a restaurant or other place where food is served.
|
steal somebody's thunder »
To detract from somebody's accomplishments or glory; to undermine.
|
steer clear »
To avoid; to dodge; to sidestep.
|
stop the presses »
An imperative form used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.
|
straight out of the chute »
Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.
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streak of good luck »
A series of lucky events.
|
stretch out »
To fully extend a part of the body.
|
strike up »
To start something with somebody else. Usually a conversation or relationship.
|
stuffed shirt »
One who is overly official or officious; somebody in charge but not necessarily in power or effective.
|
stumble across »
To meet somebody by chance.
|
stumble on »
To meet somebody by chance.
|
stumble upon »
To meet somebody by chance.
|
suck hind tit »
To feed from an inferior source of food.
|
suck up »
To adulate or flatter somebody excessively, generally to obtain some personal benefit or favour.
|
summer and winter »
To spend extended periods of time with; to test.
|
sweat »
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
|
sweet dreams »
Phrase said to someone before they fall asleep, wishing them a good sleep.
|
sweet tooth »
A liking for foods that are sweet; a weakness for sweets.
|
swing for the fences »
To act in a way that might generate a very good result, but which also has a large chance of failing.
|
take away from »
To make something seem not so good or interesting.
|
take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves »
If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500:Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ?used to say?Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.1912, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion ii. 132:Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii.:Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.1999,
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take in »
To deceive; to hoodwink.
|
take on »
To acquire, bring in, or introduce.
|
take one's leave »
Say goodbye.
|
take out of context »
To interpret something in a manner in which it was not intended to be understood, often deliberately.
|
take somebody's word for it »
To believe what somebody tells one.
|
take the cake »
To be especially good or outstanding.
|
take to task »
To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions.
|
talk somebody under the table »
With excessive talk or numerous arguments.
|
tart up »
To modify or repackage a product, service, or idea to make it more attractive or easier to sell.
|
tear a strip off somebody »
To scold vigorously.
|
teething troubles »
Small problems such as are to be expected with some any new and untried system or product.
|
than a bygod »
Used with a comparative to express extreme heat or cold.
|
the calm before the storm »
A period of peace before a disturbance or crisis; an unnatural or false calm before a storm.
|
the finger »
An obscene gesture, typically consisting of extending the middle finger at somebody.
|
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 icing on the cake »
Something wonderful at the end of something good.
|
the long arm of the law »
The body of law enforcement officers.
|
the map is not the territory »
Our models of the world, and our sensations of the world, are not the true world.
|
the road to hell is paved with good intentions »
well-intended acts can lead to disaster
|
the sky is the moon »
A new modern combination of "the sky is the limit" and "shoot for the moon".
|
the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak »
(proverbs) For much as one wishes to achieve something, the frailties of the human body often make it impossible.
|
the way to a man's heart is through his stomach »
Cooking for a man is a good way to win his affections.
|
the whole world and his dog »
Everybody; too many people; a huge crowd.
|
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 you have it »
Used to introduce a speaker's interpretation of what has just transpired or been described.
|
there, there »
Conveys comfort; used to calm somebody urge somebody to relax, especially when the person is crying.
|
thick and thin »
Both good and bad times.
|
think the world of »
To have a good opinion; to esteem; to admire.
|
throw dirt enough, and some will stick »
If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at [1] on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say
|
throw down »
To accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".
|
throw in at the deep end »
To introduce a person to a new situation without adequately preparing him or her.
|
throw off »
To introduce errors or inaccuracies; to skew.
|
throw somebody a curve »
To pitch a curve ball.
|
throw somebody a curve »
To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.
|
tickle somebody's funny bone »
To amuse; to strike somebody as funny.
|
tide over »
To support or sustain someone, especially financially, for a limited period.
|
time heals all wounds »
Negative feelings eventually erode away
|
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.
|
timeserver »
A device, node or program that distributes the correct time to clients in a network.
|
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.
|
tin god »
An individual that abuses or exceeds his authority over others, frequently in petty ways; for example a low-level manager in situational comedies and other entertainment.
|
to die for »
Very good; exquisite; excellent; particularly desirable.
|
to that end »
For that reason, with that goal, intending to produce that result.
|
today we are all »
An expression indicating that the speaker empathizes with members of an identifiable group that was the subject of a disaster, and projects that others empathize as well.
|
today we are all »
August 12, 2008:, Robert Barnes, "McCain to Georgian President: "Today, We Are All Georgians"", Washington Post.
|
today we are all »
March 11, 2004: Denis MacShane, Guardian Unlimited.
|
today we are all »
September 12, 2001: Jean-Marie Colombani, "Today, We Are All Americans", Le Monde.
|
tone up »
To strengthen and make the muscles of the body firmer by regular excercise.
|
too many cooks spoil the broth »
If too many people try to take charge at a task, the end product might be ruined.
|
top notch »
Very good; of the highest quality.
|
top of the line »
The best, fanciest, or highest quality, especially among selections in a product line.
|
touch a nerve »
To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment.
|
track record »
An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.
|
trench mouth »
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, a severe bacterial infection of the gums, typically characterized by inflammation, bleeding, deep ulceration, necrotized tissue, pain, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, fatigue, and halitosis.
|
trick out »
To trick out; to mod or customize an object, typically for the purpose of both personalization as well as enhancing the object's performance capabilities and more particularly for the purpose of performing stunts with that object.
|
trip to the woodshed »
An occasion on which a reprimand or punishment is administered.
|
trump up »
Heavily publicise, promote or market a product.
|
try out one's own chops »
To produce one's own records with one's own vocals.
|
turn away »
To rotate the body or head so as not to face someone or something.
|
turn out »
To produce; make.
|
turn over »
To produce, complete, or cycle through.
|
turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
|
twist in the wind »
To wait for an uncomfortably long period of time.
|
two cents »
A nearly worthless amount, alluding to placing a copper penny on each of the eyelids of a pauper's or slave's body before burial.
|
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
|
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.
|
up to no good »
Misbehaving, being mischievous.
|
uphill battle »
A challenge with the odds of success stacked strongly against.
|
ups and downs »
Periods of positive and negative events, moods, or interactions; highs and lows.
|
valley of death »
Death; or a place or period where death is impending.
|
wait up »
To stay awake waiting for somebody to return.
|
warm fuzzy »
A good impression; a feeling of comfort or trust.
|
warm up »
To reheat food.
|
wash away »
To eliminate, or destroy by fast moving water, such as in a flood, or a high sea.
|
wash out »
To wear away by the flow of water; to erode.
|
what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
|
what in God's name »
Used to add emphasis to "what" when beginning question.
|
what's eating somebody »
? Inquired of somebody who is upset, worried, angry, etc.
|
what's the good of »
What is the purpose or advantage of.
|
whip up »
To produce something quickly, especially of a meal.
|
whisper campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
|
whistle Dixie »
To engage in a pointless or unproductive activity; to do something without resolve, seriousness or commitment.
|
whistle past the graveyard »
To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome.
|
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.
|
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 goods »
fridges, washing machines, etc
|
white lie »
A deliberate, untrue statement which does no harm or is intended to produce a favorable result.
|
whomp up »
To produce quickly, particularly a meal.
|
why in God's name »
Used to add emphasis to "why" when beginning question.
|
wind back the clock »
Figuratively to return in time to an earlier period of history.
|
window dressing »
The goods and trimmings used in such display.
|
window dressing »
These latest modifications are mere window dressing, the same problems remain.
|
winter rat »
An old, unattractive automobile, purchased for little money, to be driven during brutal Great Lakes winters while the owner's "good" car remains garaged and protected from corrosive road salt for the season.
|
wipe somebody's eye »
To defeat; to humiliate.
|
woo back »
To gain somebody back by wooing him or her.
|
wooden spoon »
A spoon made from wood.
|
wooden spoon »
An ironic prize for finishing last in a competition.
|
wooden-top »
Uniformed police officers.
|
work against the clock »
To work very quickly because you know you only have a very limited period of time to do something.
|
work one's fingers to the bone »
Work especially hard, usually for an extended period.
|
worth one's while »
Good and important enough for one to spend time, effort, or money on.
|
write up »
To produce by writing.
|
yellow journalism »
Material published in a broadcast or periodical, such as a tabloid newspaper or magazine, which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.
|
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 say fairer than that »
That is good, reasonable, or fair; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.
|
you get what you pay for »
In commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say so
|
you never know what you've got till it's gone »
Good friends and acquaintances shouldn't be taken for granted.
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