a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
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all hollow »
As a foregone conclusion.
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an offer one can't refuse »
An offer from one side in any transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
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an offer one can't refuse »
An offer from one side in any transaction with the results of failing to accept so unattractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
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as best one can »
In the best possible way, given the circumstances.
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ask for the moon »
To claim or desire something that one cannot have.
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bite off more than one can chew »
To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.
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bottoming the house »
The process by where someone cleans their house 'from top to bottom'. It is a very thorough clean indeed, even more so than 'spring cleaning'.
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break up »
Of a telephone conversation, to cease to be understandable because of a bad connection.
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calling card »
A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.
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chain reaction »
A series of events, each one causing the next.
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cop-out »
An excuse made in order to avoid performing a task or duty; a reason offered when someone cops out.
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cross that bridge when one comes to it »
To deal with a problem or situation only when it arises.
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death by spellcheck »
The problems caused by spellcheckers being incapable of correcting most homophone confusions.
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drop a dime »
To make a phone call, usually means calling the police to report another's activities.
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e pluribus unum »
A national motto of the United States of America, meaning "From many, one", or "out of many, one", referring to the integration of 13 independent colonies into one country, and that has taken an additional meaning, giving the pluralistic nature of American society from immigration.
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every man has a price »
Everyone can be bribed or corrupted for a certain price.
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fall between two stools »
To attempt two tasks and fail at both, when either one could have been accomplished singly.
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flutter in the dovecote »
A disturbance, usually one caused within a prescribed group of people.
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for all one is worth »
Intensely, vigorously, with as much effort as one can supply.
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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.
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hang up »
To terminate a phone call.
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have eyes bigger than one's belly »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
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have eyes bigger than one's stomach »
To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy.
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if the mountain won't come to Muhammad »
"If one cannot get one's own way, one must bow to the inevitable.".
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in too deep »
In a situation where one can't cope.
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jack of all trades »
One competent in many endeavors, especially one who excels in none of them.
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level best »
The very best that one can do.
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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.
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mind over matter »
Willpower alone can overcome a physical problem.
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on hold »
Waiting on a telephone call.
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one can run but one can't hide »
There is nothing someone can do to evade something.You can run but you can't hide.
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one can't hold two watermelons in one hand »
do not attempt to take on more than you can handle
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one candle short of a box »
not bright; stupid
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one card shy of a full deck »
Mentally deranged; demented; insane.
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over and out »
Used to signal the end of a conversation, especially one conducted by CB radio or the like.
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over one's head »
More complex or confusing than one can understand; beyond one’s comprehension..
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ring back »
To return a phone call.
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ring back »
To make another phone call to the same person.
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ring in »
To make a phone call to one's usual place of work.
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ring off »
To finish a telephone conversation and disconnect.
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ring out »
To make a phone call from an internal phone system to a general telephone network number.
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sabre-rattling »
Any threat, such as one company threatening another with a lawsuit.
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scissorbill »
Someone considered contemptible or foolish.
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so quiet one can hear a pin drop »
Said during a lull in a normally bustling place or scene, or as the result of a sudden dramatic or tense moment.
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some days you get the bear, other days the bear gets you »
One cannot always overcome a powerful adversary.
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stone cold »
Very cold; lacking any semblance of warmth.
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the end of one's rope »
At the limit of one’s patience, when one is so frustrated or annoyed that one can no longer take it..
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the whole nine yards »
All the way; with everything done completely or thoroughly.
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throw enough mud at the wall, 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.2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at [1] on 02 Nov 06,Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at [2] on 02 Nov 06,Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at [3] on 02 Nov 06,I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at [6] on 02 Nov 06,They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isn
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two's company, three's a crowd »
One companion is better than two.
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walk the talk »
To do what one said one could do, or would do, not just making empty promises. To walk one's talk is to be innocent of hypocrisy.
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year dot »
A very long time ago, from the beginning or as far back as one can remember.
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you can't say fairer than that »
That is good, reasonable, or fair; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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