abide by »
To remain faithful to something or someone; to stand to; to adhere.
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absence makes the heart grow fonder »
When someone or something is faraway, you realise how much you love (or miss) them or it.
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ache for »
To desire, or want something, or someone, very much.
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all walks of life »
All professions, lifestyles or social classes.
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as long as »
While; for some period of time.
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bail out on »
To abandon, or stop supporting someone or something.
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be on the edge of one's seat »
To be in suspense; to wait eagerly or anxiously for some resolution.
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be there for »
To be available to provide comfort and support for someone, especially in a period of difficulty.
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be up against »
To be challenged by someone or something stronger than oneself.
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big daddy »
Something or someone of importance.
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blow the whistle »
To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.
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blow up »
To explode something or somebody or destroy something or injure or kill somebody by explosion.
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call out »
To arrange for a professional to call at your home for some purpose.
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calling card »
An attribute, object, or behavior which is distinctly characteristic of someone or something.
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cash cow »
Someone or something which is a dependable source of appreciable amounts of money; a moneymaker.
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cast one's vote »
To vote for something.
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chalk up to »
To attribute or account for something.
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change hands »
To become the property of someone else; to be bought or sold.
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chopped liver »
A person or object which is not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.
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closed book »
A person or thing that cannot be easily understood; someone or something incomprehensible or puzzling.
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clout list »
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, benefits, or influence in a political or social situation, especially as a result of having personal, professional, or financial relationships with those in authority.
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come on »
A statement or sometimes action reflecting sexual or relational interest.
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creep into »
To enter something or somewhere by creeping.
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crocodile tear »
A tear shed insincerely, in a false display of sorrow or some other emotion.
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dead ringer »
Someone or something that very closely resembles another; someone or something easily mistaken for another.
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depend on »
To be dependent on something or someone for support or help.
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dirty laundry »
A clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry.
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dirty laundry »
Laundry that is unclean or soiled.
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drive away »
To force someone or something to leave.
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every time »
Used to express a strong preference for something.
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evil twin »
A duplicate or counterpart of something or someone that acts in a contrary, nefarious, or insidious manner.
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far be it »
Pewtey in Marriage Guidance Counselor from And Now For Something Completely Different.
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fear »
A phobia, a sense of fear induced by something or someone.
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fill in »
To substitute for somebody or something.
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fit into »
To be of similar cultural or social status as the members of a group of people.
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fix someone's wagon »
To punish someone; to cause injury, distress, or inconvenience for someone.
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flag down »
Use a flag or some kind of signal to get the attention of someone.
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for my money »
Used to mark a statement made by the speaker as an opinion or something not known with certainty.
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get a load of »
To experience someone or something, especially by looking or listening.
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get off »
To stop touching or interfering with something or someone.
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gird up one's loins »
To prepare oneself for something demanding.
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give over »
Usually as an imperative. To tell someone to stop molesting, fooling around, or saying silly things. Or sometimes to stop saying flattering things.
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go for »
To try for something.
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going rate »
The current standard or usual price, rate, or salary for something.
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good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
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granary »
A storage facility for grain or sometimes animal feed.
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grass roots »
The essential foundation or source of something.
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grow cold »
To wane; to lose interest or enthusiasm for something or someone; to become disenchanted or to fall out of love with someone.
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grow out of »
To become too physically large for something, especially clothes.
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grow out of »
To become too mature for something.
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hammer home »
Until or so that a person or group of people understands it.
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hang on »
To keep; to store something for someone.
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have one's name on it »
To be reserved for someone.
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have one's number on it »
Te be destined for someone.
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hind tit »
An inferior source of food or other resources.
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hold off »
To delay someone or something temporarily; to keep at bay.
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hold on »
To keep; to store something for someone.
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how do I get to Carnegie Hall »
A set phrase, spoken as a rhetorical question, which is answered "Practice, practice, practice!" or sometimes with the humorous literal directions to Seventh Avenue between 56th and 57th.
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hunker down »
To take shelter; to prepare oneself for some eventuality; to focus on a task.
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in line »
On a queue; waiting one's turn for something.
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keep an eye open »
To maintain vigilance for someone or something.
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keep out »
To restrain someone or something from entering a place or condition.
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keep out of »
To restrain someone or something from entering a place or condition.
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kick someone when they are down »
To make it worse for someone who is going through a difficult time.
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kill the fatted calf »
To begin a festive celebration and rejoicing for someone's long-awaited return.
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kneel before »
To kneel in front of someone or something, especially in order to worship or supplicate.
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knock out »
To strike or bump someone or something out.
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leave no stone unturned »
To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.
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lose touch »
To cease to be familiar with someone or something or to cease to communicate or have contact.
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make a monkey out of »
To cause a person, organization, or action to appear foolish or inferior; to subject someone or something to ridicule..
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meal ticket »
Someone or something that provides income or livelihood, especially as an exploited source.
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non-starter »
Someone or something who was listed to start in a race, but did not start in the race.
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not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To approach something or someone.
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odd one out »
Something or someone in a group that is different or exceptional, that does not fit.
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offer affordances »
To give elbow room or leeway for something to happen.
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on hold »
On reserve; being held for someone.
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one in the eye for »
An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.
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open fire »
To begin firing at something or someone.
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or so »
approximately; there abouts
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or what »
Or something else; allows for the existence of an unexpressed alternative to what was said.
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out of house and home »
In a manner that deprives one of dwelling or some aspect thereof.
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out of sorts »
Irritable or somewhat unwell, with vague medical symptoms.
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out on one's ear »
Fired, dismissed or thrown out, especially for some wrongdoing or otherwise with disgrace.
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pain in the neck »
Someone or something which is annoying, irritating or inconvenient.
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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.
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pay up »
To pay for something in total, after a certain amount of time after receiving a purchase.
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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.
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play fast and loose »
To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits ones purpose.
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play second fiddle »
To play a subsidiary or subordinate role to someone or something else.
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pour oil on troubled waters »
To calm something or someone who is tenacious or misbehaving.
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problem child »
Someone or something persistently difficult or vexing; a frequent source of trouble or annoyance.
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put to the test »
To test something or someone; to evaluate, scrutinize or explore by testing or experimentation.
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quiet down »
To make someone or something become quieter.
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quieten down »
To make someone or something become quieter.
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rabble rouser »
Someone or something that tends to inspire mobs; something controversial or provocative.
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ride roughshod over »
To act in a bullying or inconsiderate manner; to display disregard towards someone or something.
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rocking horse shit »
A metaphor for something exceedingly rare or, more likely, nonexistent.
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run down »
To find something or someone after searching for a long time.
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run up against »
Begin to encounter problems with someone or something.
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scissorbill »
And railroad term for someone who refused to join the union or who openly colluded with management to thwart the union.
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scrimp and save »
To scrimp greatly; to economize; to live very frugally, particularly when saving for something.
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second nature »
A mindset, skill, or type of behavior so ingrained through habit or practice that it seems natural, automatic, or without a basis in conscious thought.
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see a man »
To take one's leave for some urgent purpose, especially to go to the bathroom.
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sell-by date »
Used to indicate that something, or someone, is old and out of date.
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send up »
To imitate someone or something for the purpose of satirical humour.
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show the flag »
To represent one's country or some other group in a manner intended to suggest the authority or importance of that country or group.
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sight for sore eyes »
A pleasing sight, something that is beautiful to look at.
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slag off »
To talk insultingly to or about someone or something.
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soft hearted »
Be kind; Fall for someone
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sort oneself out »
To organize or solve one's personal problems.
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stand off »
To stand some distance apart form something or someone.
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steal a march on »
To get ahead of someone or something by starting earlier.
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stepping stone »
Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
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stump up »
To pay for something. Often indicating reluctance to pay.
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suck hind tit »
To feed from an inferior source of food.
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take a back seat »
To be second to someone or something; to be less important or have a lower priority.
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take over »
To become more successful than someone or something else.
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take the rap »
To be blamed or punished for something, especially for the actions of another.
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thorn in the flesh »
A persistent difficulty or something very annoying that will not go away.
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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
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throw to the dogs »
To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as into the streets.
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throw to the wolves »
To remove or cast out someone or something out of one's protection, such as onto the streets, especially towards predators.
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thus and such »
A placeholder or generic name for something.
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top shelf »
Books, magazines, or movies that have adult content, or soft-core porn.
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turn away »
To rotate the body or head so as not to face someone or something.
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under fire »
Criticized or held responsible for something.
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vote with one's feet »
To show a lack of support for something by departing or otherwise absenting oneself.
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vote with one's feet »
To show support for something by going to or otherwise being present somewhere.
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wait up »
To stay awake waiting for somebody to return.
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walk on eggshells »
To be overly careful in dealing with a person or situation because they get angry or offended very easily; to try very hard not to upset someone or something.
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walk the line »
To behave in an authorized or socially accepted manner, especially as prescribed by law or morality; to exercise self-control.
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weigh down »
To be too much for someone to cope with.
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wheel around »
To transport someone or something to various locations by pushing a wheeled transporter such as a wheelchair or a wheelbarrow or trolley.
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who pays the piper calls the tune »
One who pays for something controls it.
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window dressing »
A means of creating a deceptively favourable impression of something or someone; something for appearance only.
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winkle out »
To acquire something or someone with difficulty.
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world »
An individual or group perspective or social setting.
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world-beater »
Someone or something superior to all others of its sort.
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wrap up »
To fold and secure something to be the cover or protection for something.
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