banyan day »
In British naval tradition, this originally referred to a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.
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break ground »
To begin digging in the earth at the start of a new construction, or, originally, for cultivation.
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break new ground »
To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
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bring forward »
To make something happen earlier than originally planned.
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chickens coming home to roost »
Consequences visited upon someone who originally had appeared to escape them.
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dog and pony show »
Originally, a small, traveling circus featuring animals as entertainment.
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drink off »
To drink the entirety of in a short period; originally and especially, in a single gulp.
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he who smelt it dealt it »
(colloquial, originally) A person who calls attention to or complains about a fart is likely trying to pretend it wasn't his or her own.(colloquial, by extension) Used to suggest that a person calling attention to or complaining about a given problem may in fact be the source of the problem.
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hold your fire »
Do not discharge your weapon. Used originally for weapons needing a spark or lighting of a fuse to ignite gunpowder, now sometimes used to mean any weapon launching a projectile.
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laundry list »
Originally, a list of articles of clothing that had been sent to be laundered.
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