barrow man »
A man under sentence of transportation; alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt.
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beyond the pale »
Describing behaviour that is considered to be outside the bounds of morality, good behaviour or judgement in civilised company.
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cross someone's palm »
To give money to a person, especially as a bribe or as an inducement to perform a service.
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flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
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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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give some skin »
To greet or congratulate someone by slapping his or her palm; see slap me five.
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go off the boil »
To lose interest; to pall.
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grease someone's palm »
To bribe a person.
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hot button »
The principal desire that a salesman needs to "hit" in order to make a sale.
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palace politics »
The relationships and interactions of top-level officials, advisors and other powerbrokers within a government, especially as involving internal rivalry and intrigue.
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palm off »
To attempt to pass off a counterfeit or inferior product as genuine.
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run through »
To impale a person with a blade, usually a sword.
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sex up »
To make more palatable or acceptable to the general public; to improve the image or perception.
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straight man »
A member of a team of comic performers who plays a supporting role by helping to set up jokes and punch lines through engaging in preparatory dialog with the principal comedian; a foil who plays such a role in theatrical comedy.
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the name of the game »
The overall purpose; the principal goal, or objective.
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