avant la lettre »
An example of a term before the term was coined. Describing a term used anachronistically.
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bite one's tongue »
An admonishment to someone who has said something unfeeling or harsh.
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blow someone's mind »
To astonish someone, to flabbergast someone.
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bowl over »
To overwhelm with astonishment or wonder; to flabbergast.
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bowled over »
to be astonished; overwhelmed; surprised; shocked
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breakfast of champions »
An ironic appellation for beer, junk food, or other foods implied to be unhealthy.
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bury the lead »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
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bury the lede »
To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
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business before pleasure »
An admonishment that discharging one's obligations must take precedence over devoting time to pursuits meant solely for one's own gratification.
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buzz up »
To allow entrance into a building from a higher floor by triggering an electronic lock.
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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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chopped liver »
A Jewish food made by frying liver and onions in schmaltz.
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conk out »
To stop functioning.
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devil's advocate »
A canon lawyer appointed by the Church to argue against the canonization of the proposed candidate.
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dog my cats »
Used as a mild oath, or as an expression of astonishment.
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double entendre »
A phrase that has two meanings, especially where one is innocent and literal, the other risqué, bawdy, or ironic; an innuendo..
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e mail »
electronic message
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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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eat up »
To accept or believe entirely, immediately, and without questioning.
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flutter in the dovecote »
I further argued that the principal cause for the political deadlock that persisted for thirty years after the guns fell silent was Israeli intransigence rather than Arab intransigence. The appearance of the first wave of revisionist studies excited a great deal of interest and controversy in the media and more than a flutter in the academic dovecote. — Israel Confronts Its Past.
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gin and tonic »
alcoholic drink
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give somebody what-for »
To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.
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go down »
To stop functioning, to go offline.
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go native »
To adopt the lifestyle or outlook of local inhabitants, especially when dwelling in a colonial region; to become less refined under the influence of a less cultured, more primitive, or simpler social environment.
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honorable mention »
An award or recognition given to something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way.
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hook, line and sinker »
Naively or unquestioningly.
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jack in »
To insert an electronic coupling into a receptacle; to connect to something, whether involving a physical medium or not.
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keep tabs on »
To monitor; to keep track of; to watch.
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keep your hair on »
An admonition to stay calm.
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keep your shirt on »
An admonition to be more patient or to calm down.
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knock for a loop »
To astonish; to surprise very much.
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lemonize »
To add lemon.
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lemonize »
To damage something and then deny or be aloof from the damage.
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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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mocking is catching »
An admonishment to be careful of criticising others, lest the same happen to you.Mocking is Catching was the title of a 1726 song by Henry Carey.
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monkey business »
An activity that may be considered illegal, questionable, or a vice, but not felonious.
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mouth organ »
harmonica
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nice guy »
An adult male who seeks sexual attraction and romantic intimacy, but only finds cordial friendship and platonic love.
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off the rails »
In an abnormal manner, especially in a manner that causes damage or malfunctioning.
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on the blink »
Functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well. Usually refers to a mechanical or electronic device.
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out of order »
Not functioning properly.
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peachy keen »
Extremely good, exactly right; all right. Often used in the negative or with an ironic or sarcastic connotation to mean the opposite.
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play the ponies »
To bet on horse racing.
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quantum mechanics »
The branch of physics which studies matter and energy at the level of atoms and other elementary particles, and substitutes probabilistic mechanisms for classical Newtonian ones.
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rain check »
In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.
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round of applause »
An outburst of clapping among a group or audience. Often asked for by the Master of Ceremonies at a concert or other performance.
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rule of thumb »
A general guideline, rather than a strict rule; an approximate measure or means of reckoning based on experience or common knowledge.
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spring onion »
scallion
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step down »
To gradually reduce something, a little at a time, as an electronic step down transformer.
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take to task »
To lecture, berate, admonish, or hold somebody accountable for his or her actions.
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tell off »
To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish.
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that's just me »
Indicates the expression of a personal opinion, but often used ironically as an understatement.
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the plot thickens »
Used, often ironically, to describe an increasingly complex or mysterious situation.
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tomorrow is another day »
Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed
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tonic water »
mixer
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wooden spoon »
An ironic prize for finishing last in a competition.
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yes-man »
A person of unquestioning obedience.
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