a drop in the bucket »
An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem.
|
a little bird told me »
Of information which was gathered from a source not to be overtly exposed.
|
a man's home is his castle »
(US) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
|
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.
|
all holiday »
A saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded to/.
|
all over »
Done; finished; complete.
|
all over but the shouting »
The substance of the contest is complete, leaving only the cheering.
|
all over grumble »
Inferior.
|
all over grumble »
Unsatisfactory.
|
all over hell's half acre »
All over the place; everywhere.
|
all over the board »
Showing a wide range of values with no particular pattern.
|
all over the map »
Widely scattered or distributed; numerous and differing greatly.
|
all over the place »
Everywhere, especially chaotically or in such a way as to make a mess.
|
all over the place »
Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.
|
all over the shop »
Everywhere, scattered, disorganised.
|
all over with »
Completely finished; over.
|
all right, my lover »
An informal affectionate greeting.
|
all-over oneself »
Feeling self-satisfied.
|
an Englishman's home is his castle »
(UK) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
|
ark ruffian »
Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, etc. A species of badger.
|
around Robin Hood's barn »
All over the place.
|
arse over tit »
Tumbling; falling; upside-down; unstable or unbalanced.
|
arsy varsey »
Tumbling upside down; head over heels.
|
as the crow flies »
In a straight line distance between two locations, as opposed to the road distance or over land distance.
|
asphalt jungle »
A city or urban area, where the landscape is covered by pavement and the environment is alienating and unsafe.
|
ass over teakettle »
Frantically.
|
ass over teakettle »
Tumbling upside down.
|
at that »
In addition to what has been said; furthermore; moreover.
|
autem diver »
Pickpockets who practice in churches; also churchwardens and overseers of the poor.
|
back onto »
To overlook something from the rear.
|
back up »
So as to stop the ball, and prevent overthrows.
|
bag of rations »
A fussy or overly zealous military superior.
|
ball up »
To hunch over and pull in one's arms and legs.
|
base over apex »
Falling over in a jumbled heap.
|
be still my heart »
Calm down, this situation is too exciting or overly distressing.
|
be the way to go »
Represent the best of all possible options or courses of action; pre-eminate over all other choices or alternatives.
|
beam up »
To be teleported over a long distance by means of a specific imaginary technology, specifically from the surface of a planet to an orbiting starship.
|
beat up »
To feel badly guilty and accuse oneself over something. Usually followed by over.
|
been there, done that, bought the T-shirt »
Expresses the speaker's complete familiarity with a situation, with overtones of cynicism or exhaustion.
|
beggars can't be choosers »
(proverb) When resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts.
|
bend over backwards »
To make a great effort; to take extraordinary care; to go to great lengths.
|
beside oneself »
Overcome; consumed by an emotion.
|
best laid plans »
A proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed plans when the outcome is uncertain.
|
birds of the feather flock together »
People who are alike physically tend to congregate and socialize together, despite government efforts at forced integration.
|
bit on the side »
Secondary lover, mistress.
|
black »
Overcrowded.
|
black and blue »
Covered in bruises.
|
blind »
A covering for a window to keep out light. The covering may be made of cloth or of narrow slats that can block light or allow it to pass.
|
blow out of proportion »
To overreact to or overstate; to treat too seriously or be overly concerned with.
|
blow over »
To blow on something causing it to topple.
|
blow over »
To pass naturally; to go away; to settle or calm down.
|
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.
|
borganism »
Some forms of government.
|
bounce back »
To recover from a negative without seemingly any damage.
|
bowl over »
To overwhelm with astonishment or wonder; to flabbergast.
|
bowled over »
to be astonished; overwhelmed; surprised; shocked
|
brain surgery »
Something that is overly complex, detailed or confusing.
|
break a sweat »
January 2008, The Age - Walkovers blaze a trail for women's equal-pay theory.
|
break in the case »
A new discovery in a case.
|
brim over »
To overflow over the brim.
|
broken-hearted »
Alternative spelling of brokenhearted. Feeling depressed, despondent, or hopeless, especially over losing a love.
|
bros before hoes »
(US, informal) A man should prioritize his male friends over his girlfriend or wife.
|
burn out »
To tire due to overwork.
|
bush telegraph »
A system used by undeveloped societies in remote regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds, word-of-mouth relay, or smoke signals.
|
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.
|
button-down »
Of a collar, able to be buttoned down to the shirt, as over a necktie.
|
cap over the windmill »
In a crazed manner.
|
cat and mouse game »
Two individuals and/or groups repeatedly keeping check on each other in a suspicious or self-protective way, often with the goal of one or both parties trying to gain a malicious advantage over the other.
|
catch out »
To discover or expose as fake or insincere.
|
cause a stir »
To cause controversy, or raise a disturbance.
|
chalkface »
A cliff or quarry exposing chalk, e.g. the White Cliffs of Dover.
|
circle the wagons »
To draw a wagon train into a circle to allow the wagons to provide cover when under attack.
|
close enough for government work »
It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing.
|
cock of the walk »
W:The Pogues - w:The Irish Rover.
|
colt over the fence »
An illegitimate child.
|
come down »
To recover from drug-induced euphoria.
|
come on »
To encounter, discover; to come upon.
|
come out »
To be discovered, be revealed.
|
come round »
To recover consciousness.
|
come to »
To recover consciousness after fainting etc.
|
company »
As he had worked for the CIA for over 30 years, he would soon take retirement from the company.
|
copper-bottomed »
Having lower parts made of or covered by copper.
|
cover one's ass »
To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that one is not blamed or punished for one's conduct.
|
cover one's bases »
To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely.
|
cover up »
To conceal or disguise.
|
crab mentality »
A way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs in which one tries to escape over the side, but is relentlessly pulled down by the others in the pot.
|
cross the aisle »
To vote, unite, or otherwise co-operate with members of another political party in order to achieve governmental or political action.
|
cross the line »
To overstep a boundary, rule, or limit; to go too far or do something unacceptable.
|
crown jewels »
A part of a company sought by another in a hostile takeover.
|
deep-six »
To throw something overboard from a ship.
|
devil is in the details »
The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.
|
dig up »
To discover something by digging; to unearth.
|
diplomatic flu »
An illness feigned by one or more government officials or other public figures as an excuse for an absence really based on political reasons.
|
divide and conquer »
A combination of political, military and economic strategies that aim to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy.(computing) Applied to various algorithms, such as quicksort, that solve a problem by splitting it recursively into smaller problems until all of the remaining problems are trivial.(as imperative, proverb) In order to rule securely, don't allow alliances of your enemies.
|
dog and pony show »
Any presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate.
|
don't be penny wise and pound foolish »
Don't be careful when it comes to spending small amounts of money, but careless when spending much larger amounts.Don't focus on minutiae and lose sight of the big picture; don't obsess over tiny inconsequential efficiencies while glaring inefficiencies are going on elsewhere.
|
don't cry over spilled milk »
Alternative spelling of don't cry over spilt milk.
|
don't cry over spilt milk »
It is no use worrying about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.
|
drama queen »
Who behaves and speaks in an overly dramatic manner so as to garner attention.
|
drive the porcelain bus »
To vomit, especially while drunk or hung over.
|
drown out »
To cover, obscure, or hide by being louder than.
|
drug on the market »
Something which is overabundant at the moment and thus not in demand.
|
eat one's heart out »
To feel overwhelming sorrow, jealousy or longing, to grieve.
|
embarrassment of riches »
An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.
|
eureka moment »
The moment of a sudden unexpected discovery.
|
every which way »
All over; in every direction.
|
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.
|
facts on the ground »
A euphemism, similar to fait accompli, used as an oblique way of saying that discussions over the possession of a given piece of territory has been rendered moot by the presence of military forces.
|
fail over »
To automatically switch processing from a failed component in a critical system to its live spare or backup component.
|
faith will move mountains »
Belief in oneself (read sometimes as belief in God) can help one overcome any hurdle in life's path.
|
fall over »
To fall from an upright or standing position to a horizontal or prone position.
|
fall over »
Of an argument, to fail to be valid.
|
fall over »
Of a computer program, to crash.
|
fancypants »
Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.
|
far and wide »
Over a great distance, or large area; nearly everywhere.
|
federal case »
Any over-exaggerated ordeal.
|
fight tooth and nail »
To use every means possible to overcome a difficult opposition.
|
figure out »
To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
|
find out »
To discover, as by asking or exploring.
|
first things first »
Deal with matters of highest priority first; deal with matters in logical sequence.1922, H. G. Wells, The Secret Places of the Heart, ch.4,"First things first," said Sir Richmond. If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.1999, Frank Pellegrini, "House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty," Time, 23 Jul.,Judging by the polls
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
|
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.
|
fork over »
Hundreds of spectators forked over the 70 bucks for tickets.
|
fork over »
I forked over half the allotment this morning.
|
fork over »
To turn over soil with a gardening fork.
|
four-leaf clover »
A bringer of good luck.
|
four-leaf clover »
An uncommon variation of the clover, having four leaves instead of the usual three.
|
fourth estate »
Which governed legislation.
|
from A to Z »
Covering a complete range; comprehensively.
|
from cover to cover »
All the way to the last page.
|
from here to Sunday »
Everywhere; all over the place.
|
full to the gills »
Completely or overly full.
|
gang up on »
To join together in a gang in order to overpower someone else.
|
get better »
To recover from an illness.
|
get by the balls »
To have complete control over someone, especially of a woman abusing a man's infatuation with her.
|
get it over with »
To do or finish, especially said of something unpleasant.
|
get off one's high horse »
To stop acting in an imperious, overbearing or bossy manner.
|
get one's claws into »
Have a controlling influence over.
|
get one's knickers in a twist »
To become overwrought or unnecessarily upset over a trivial matter.
|
get over »
To forget, and move on.
|
get over »
To overcome something.
|
get over »
To recover from something.
|
get over »
surmount
|
get over »
cross, surmount
|
get something over with »
To do something quickly and hastily; without procrastination, especially so as to have something unpleasant behind oneself.
|
get the better of »
To overwhelm or overcome; to influence heavily; to tend to control or persuade.
|
give 'em enough rope »
Allow one to function unhindered, or without further overbearing oversight.
|
give me liberty or give me death »
A set-phrase indicating enormous displeasure at any over-authoritarian policy or law.
|
give over »
To devote oneself to a particular activity.
|
give over »
To entrust something to another.
|
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.
|
gloss over »
To cover up a mistake or a crime; to hush up or whitewash.
|
gloss over »
To treat something with less care than it deserves; to skimp.
|
go by the board »
To estimate the velocity of a boat or ship in knots by casting overboard the knotted line to whose end is attached the lead and thereafter counting the knots in the line as it goes aft along the side boards of the vessel.
|
go by the board »
To fall or to go overboard; to be cast over the side of a ship.
|
go over »
To create a response or impression.
|
go over »
To look at carefully; to scrutinize; to analyze.
|
go overboard »
Fall out of a vessel.
|
go overboard »
Go too far, be excessive.
|
good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
|
grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
guilt trip »
A feeling of shame or embarrassment, especially if self-indulgent, unwarranted, exaggerated or felt over a significant period of time.
|
hair of the dog »
An alcoholic drink taken the morning after to cure a hangover or withdrawal symptoms.
|
ham it up »
To act or emote, especially to overact or act badly.
|
hand over »
To relinquish control or possession of something to someone.
|
hand over fist »
Quickly or in great quantity, especially in reference to earning money.
|
haul somebody over the coals »
To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.
|
have an axe to grind »
To have a dispute, resentment, or grudge, sometimes with a disposition to act on that resentment covertly; to have a bias; to take issue with something.
|
head over heels »
At top speed; frantically.
|
head over heels »
Hopelessly smitten.
|
head over heels »
Tumbling upside down.
|
head to toe »
Entirely; completely; over one's full body.
|
here you are »
Said when you hand something over to someone or do a favour to them, usually to draw the recipient's attention to the exchange; Equivalent to “thank you” when receiving something..
|
hit on »
To discover, pinpoint; to think up; to realize; to invent.
|
hit one out of the ballpark »
To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium.
|
hold over »
Something left from an earlier time.
|
hold with the hare and run with the hounds »
To remain neutral by attempting to placate two factions or both sides of a controversy.
|
hoover up »
Into a vacuum cleaner, irrespective of brand.
|
hoover up »
Quickly, especially by taking it into the mouth directly from the plate rather than using cutlery.
|
ice over »
To become covered in ice, usually of a body of water.
|
in clover »
Happy and contented.
|
in clover »
In a condition of prosperity.
|
in order »
In accordance with the procedural rules governing formal meetings of a deliberative body.
|
in the long run »
After a very long time; eventually; over a long period of time; more generally.
|
it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings »
There are more developments yet to come.
|
it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog »
(rare or obsolete, proverb) If a person is determined to punish someone, they will find a way to do so.1596
|
it's about time »
Used to express impatience at the eventual occurrence of something that the speaker or writer considered to be long overdue.
|
ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
|
jump »
To employ a move in certain board games where one game piece is moved from one legal position to another passing over the position of another piece.
|
jump on »
To attack someone verbally, or criticise them over strongly for small errors.
|
jump rope »
The activity, game or exercise in which a person must jump, bounce or skip repeatedly while a length of rope is swung over and under, both ends held in the hands of the jumper, or alternately, held by two other participants. Often used for athletic training and among schoolchildren. Variations involve speed, chants, varied rope and jumper movement patterns, multiple jumpers and/or multiple ropes.
|
jungle telegraph »
A system used by primitive cultures in remote tropical regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds or a relay of runners.
|
keel over »
Of a vessel: to roll so far on its side that it cannot recover; to capsize.
|
keel over »
To collapse in a faint; to black out; to die.
|
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 oneself to oneself »
To be introverted; to stay away from others.
|
keep the wolf from the door »
To ward off poverty or hunger.
|
kick the habit »
To recover from or quit an addiction or habit. For example, to quit smoking, drinking, burping, or drug addiction.
|
knock over »
To bump or strike something in such a way as to tip it.
|
knock over »
To rob; to stage a heist.
|
la goutte d'eau qui fait d%C3%A9border le vase »
The drop of water that makes the vase overflow.
|
lap up »
To revel in, to overtly enjoy.
|
lead »
A roof covered with lead sheets or terne plates.
|
lead »
Sheets or plates of lead used as a covering for roofs.
|
leave nothing to the imagination »
To cover or hide very little or nothing.
|
left and right »
All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
|
left, right and center »
All over the place; indiscriminately; frequently or excessively.
|
lick one's wounds »
To withdraw temporarily while recovering from a defeat.
|
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).
|
live large »
To have a lavish or overly-extravagant lifestyle.
|
look over »
To scan-read and check for errors.
|
loose ends »
Leftover items that have not been addressed or attended to.
|
lord of the flies »
A ruler over a worthless kingdom; leader of a meaningless microcosm.
|
lower the boom »
To suddenly overpower, with "on".
|
lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
|
lucky dip »
A game in which prizes are covered up and mixed together in a container, so that contestants can dip their hand into the container and randomly pull out a prize.
|
make a meal of »
To spend more time and energy on some task than it warrants; to make something overly complicated.
|
make over »
To renovate or to convert to a different use.
|
make over »
To transfer ownership, especially by means of a legal document.
|
make up »
To resolve, forgive or smooth over an argument or fight.
|
mama's boy »
A male person, especially a young man or boy, who is overly attached to or influenced by his mother; a sissy.
|
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
|
mind over matter »
Willpower alone can overcome a physical problem.
|
miss the boat »
To fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action.
|
mother hen »
An outspoken and overprotective woman dealing with others' affairs.
|
mover and shaker »
Someone who has power and influence in some field or activity.
|
mull over »
To think deeply about something; to ponder, deliberate or ruminate.
|
murder will out »
A murderer will always be discovered.
|
murder will out »
Secrets or hidden crimes will eventually be exposed or discovered.
|
no cover »
Without a cover charge.
|
nugget of truth »
January 2008, Chicago Tribune - Clinton's Hispanic edge over Obama.
|
old hat »
Something uninteresting, hackneyed, or passé due to overuse or long-standing familiarity..
|
old saw »
A cliché, saying, or overused expression; especially a proverb or maxim.
|
on the mend »
Healing or recovering, as from an injury or illness.
|
orphan drug »
But which is not manufactured or marketed because the demand is insufficient to cover the costs of supply.
|
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 a barrel »
In a disadvantageous or helpless situation, in which one may be controlled or victimized.
|
over and out »
Used to signal the end of a conversation, especially one conducted by CB radio or the like.
|
over and over »
Repeatedly; again and again; many times.
|
over my dead body »
Under no circumstances; absolutely not.
|
over one's head »
More complex or confusing than one can understand; beyond one’s comprehension..
|
over one's head »
Performing at a level greatly superior to one's usual level of performance.
|
over the hill »
Old, past the prime of life.
|
over the moon »
Delighted, thrilled.
|
over the top »
Bold; beyond normal, expected, or reasonable limits; excessive; outrageous.
|
over the transom »
Said of an unsolicited work submitted for publication.
|
overkill »
A destructive capacity that exceeds that needed to destroy an enemy; especially with nuclear weapons.
|
overkill »
An unnecessary excess of whatever is needed to achieve a goal.
|
overleap »
To ignore.
|
overleap »
To leap over, to jump over, to cross by jumping.
|
overleap »
To omit.
|
painting rocks »
Pointless or futile work organised by the government, supposedly to increase employment but in fact merely disguising the unemployment level.
|
palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
|
paper »
A written document, generally shorter than a book , in particular one written for the Government.
|
pass by »
To pass over. disregard, overlook.
|
pay off »
To bribe, especially to deter oversight.
|
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.
|
pissing contest »
An immature dispute over some trivial matter.
|
pore over »
To examine something carefully and attentively.
|
power behind the throne »
Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.
|
prawn cocktail offensive »
A strategy of the Labour Party in winning over important people in the world of finance.
|
pride comes before a fall »
A person who is extremely proud of his or her abilities will often suffer a setback or failure, because he or she tends to be overconfident and to make errors of judgment.
|
pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
|
proverbs come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1979, Irving Howe, John Hollander, David Bromwich, Literature as Experience: An Anthology, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, ISBN 0155511130, page 325:Sometimes proverbs come in pairs, the first one providing the context, the second, the revision.
|
proverbs go in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.1932, Bertrand Russell,
|
proverbs hunt in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
|
proverbs often come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
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proverbs run in pairs »
Every proverb seems to be contradicted by another proverb with an opposed message, such as "too many cooks spoil the broth" and "many hands make light work."1863, Sir Richard Burton, Abeokuta and the Camaroons Mountains, vol. 1, Tinsley (London), p. 309:Moreover, all the world over, proverbs run in pairs, and pull both ways: for the most part one neutralizes, by contradiction, the other.
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pull oneself up by one's bootstraps »
To begin an enterprise or recover from a setback without any outside help; to succeed only on one's own effort or abilities.
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pull over »
To cause to pull over.
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pull rank »
To assert one's authority over a subordinate who disagrees.
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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.
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put one over »
To fool, trick or deceive.
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quantum mechanics »
Something overly complicated or detailed.
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rabble rouser »
Someone or something that tends to inspire mobs; something controversial or provocative.
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rags to riches »
In a biographical context, from poverty to exceptional wealth.
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rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic »
To do something pointless or insignificant that will soon be overtaken by events, or that contributes nothing to the solution of a current problem.
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rediscover fire »
To relearn fundamental concepts, principles or practices that had been previously well known and widely practiced at a prior time in human society.
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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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road movie »
A film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.
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rocket science »
Anything overly complex, detailed or confusing.
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rocket scientist »
Someone qualified to understand or handle that which is overly complex, detailed or confusing; a genius.
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run across »
To find or discover by chance.
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run off »
To pour or spill off or over.
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run over »
To exceed the allotted time.
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run over »
To cross by running.
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run over »
To drive over, causing injury or death.
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run over »
To briefly describe.
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run over »
To practice quickly, briefly.
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run over »
To overflow.
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run over »
to rehearse
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run roughshod over »
To treat roughly or without care, respect, or moderation; to act without control; to damage.
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run something up the flagpole »
To float an idea that one suspects might be controversial.
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see the forest for the trees »
To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the bigger picture, or the broader, more general situation. Generally used in the negative.
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seller's market »
An excess of demand over supply, leading to abnormally high prices; a market condition favoring the seller.
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senior note »
A bond that takes priority over other debt securities sold by the issuer. In the event the issuer goes bankrupt, senior debt must be repaid before other creditors receive any payment.
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set aside »
To disagree with something and reject or overturn it.
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settle upon »
To decide something over other options.
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short leash »
Forcing one to function within a strict set of rules, or under great scrutiny or oversight.
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shroud »
A covered place used as a retreat or shelter, as a cave or den; also, a vault or crypt.
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shroud »
That which clothes, covers, conceals, or protects; a garment.
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shroud »
That which covers or shelters like a shroud.
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sign off »
Term used to describe the closing of a radio or television station's studios and cessation of a broadcasting signal, usually during the overnight hours.
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skip rope »
To jump over a rope, both of whose ends are held by the jumper or by two others, while the rope is moved under the jumper's feet in a continual rhythm; to play the game of jump rope or exercise by jumping rope.
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slip into something a little more comfortable »
To wear something suitable to be stripped off by a lover.
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socialized medicine »
An umbrella term for any system of government-run health care.
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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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some days you get the bear, other days the bear gets you »
One cannot always overcome a powerful adversary.
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soup-to-nuts »
Comprehensive; complete; covering all of something.
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spill over »
To enter into another zone by way of accident or overcrowding; to overflow.
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spit it out »
To overcome reluctance to say something particular or to speak in general.
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stand stock still »
Paul Travers' Adventures, by Sam T. Clover.
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stand the test of time »
To remain useful or valued over a long period of time; to last a long time.
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stars in one's eyes »
The state of being overly or extremely impressed with something; enchanted with romance.
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start over »
To begin again; to return to the beginning.
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stick it to the man »
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commercialization, big business or government.
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stuffed like a turkey »
Engorged from overeating.
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stuffed shirt »
One who is overly official or officious; somebody in charge but not necessarily in power or effective.
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stumble across »
To discover or find something by accident.
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stumble on »
To discover or find something by accident.
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stumble upon »
To discover or find something by accident.
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take against »
He took against me when I was promoted over him.
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take over »
To assume control of something, especially by force; to usurp.
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take over »
To adopt a further responsibility or duty.
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take over »
To relieve someone temporarily.
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take over »
To buy out the ownership of a business.
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take over »
To appropriate something without permission.
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take over »
To annex a territory by conquest or invasion.
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take over »
To become more successful than someone or something else.
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take the lead »
To assume leadership over a group.
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take the reins »
To assume charge over.
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talk over »
To discuss.
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talk over »
To persuade someone; to talk around.
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tempest in a teapot »
A major fuss over a trivial matter.
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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."
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the jig is up »
An expression used to mean "We have been caught out and have no defence", or if spoken to a person who's just been found out as the perpetrator of an offense, it means "You've been discovered.".
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the man »
The oppressive powers that be, including the government and corporations; the system, as coordinated outside of one’s control..
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the more things change, the more they stay the same »
A proverb making the observation that turbulent changes do not affect reality on a deeper level other than to cement the status quo.
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the name of the game »
The overall purpose; the principal goal, or objective.
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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.
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the world is one's lobster »
(UK, humorous) intentional misrendering of the proverb "the world is one's oyster"
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the world over »
All over the world; globally; throughout the world.
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there's no point crying over spilt milk »
You should not be upset over something that cannot be undone.
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thin-skinned »
Overly sensitive to criticism; quick to take offence; touchy.
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think over »
To ponder or reflect on a subject.
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think tank »
A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government.
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throw enough mud at the wall and 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.2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at [1] on 02 Nov 06,In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at [2] on 02 Nov 06,I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at [3] on 02 Nov 06,Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at [4] on 02 Nov 06,Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at [5] on 02 Nov 06,Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.
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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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throw one's cap over the windmill »
To act in a crazed manner.
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tick over »
To run smoothly and without problems.
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tide over »
To support or sustain someone, especially financially, for a limited period.
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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.
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to boot »
Moreover, on top of that, besides, also.
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to spare »
left over
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truth will out »
A mystery will always be solved, or a truth will always be discoveredTruth will eventually and inevitably be discovered.
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tumble to »
To discover, or suddenly understand something.
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turf war »
A dispute over territory between rival gangs.
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turn a blind eye »
To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper.
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turn over »
To flip over; to rotate top to bottom.
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turn over »
To produce, complete, or cycle through.
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turn over »
To relinquish; give back.
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turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
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turn upside down »
To flip over; to rotate top to bottom.
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uncle sam »
the us government
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under the weather »
Somewhat intoxicated or suffering from a hangover.
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until hell freezes over »
Forever; One will never in their life get the results that they want, no matter what they're doing involving the situation.
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up to here »
Overwhelmed, busy, buried or swamped.
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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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wall to wall carpets »
floor coverings
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wash over »
To pass unnoticed so that one is unaffected by it.
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wash over »
Said of the way an emotion affects one suddenly.
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wash over »
Of open water. To surge over the banks, or other retaining structure.
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watch over »
To guard and protect.
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water down »
To simplify or oversimplify; to make easier; to make less difficult.
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water over the dam »
An event or set of events which has already happened and cannot be changed.
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wear off »
To disappear because of being abraded, over-polished, or abused.
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what is more »
Furthermore, or in addition, moreover.
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when Hell freezes over »
Never; not in this lifetime; not a chance.
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whomp on »
To assail with overwhelming force; to defeat decisively.
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win over »
To persuade someone, gain someone's support, or make someone understand the truth or validity of something.
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wipe out »
To crash, fall over.
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work over »
To improve a prototype, or first draft.
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work over »
To physically attack someone to cause them injury.
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wrap up »
To fold and secure something to be the cover or protection for something.
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written all over someone's face »
Very obvious, from someone's facial expression.
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yak shaving »
Any apparently useless activity which, by allowing you to overcome intermediate difficulties, allows you to solve a larger problem.
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you can't fight city hall »
(chiefly US) Nothing can be done to change the situation, because it is a governmental decision.I see they're going to build the airport after all. I suppose you can't fight city hall.
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you can't judge a book by its cover »
It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.
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you can't tell a book by its cover »
Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover.
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