a chain is only as strong as its weakest link »
An organization (especially a process or a business) is only as strong or powerful as its weakest person. A group of associates is only as strong as its laziest member.
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a gentleman and a scholar »
An admirable person.
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a man's home is his castle »
(US) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
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a rolling stone gathers no moss »
A person who never settles in one place will never be successful.A person who does not keep active will grow mouldy.
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a scholar and a gentleman »
An admirable person.
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a stopped clock is right twice a day »
A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.
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accident of birth »
Reference to the fact that various benefits or detriments to the life of a person arise from the circumstances into which that person was born, these being entirely beyond his control.
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according to »
According to him, every person was to be bought. - Thomas Babington Macaulay.
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after one's own heart »
Of a person: having the same ideas, opinions or behaviour as oneself.
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all holiday »
A saying signifying that it is all over with the business or person spoken of or alluded to/.
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an Englishman's home is his castle »
(UK) a proverbial expression of personal privacy and security
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arm candy »
An attractive, seemingly romantic companion who accompanies a person in public simply so that one or both of the individuals can gain attention, enhance social status, or create an impression of sexual appeal.
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as you sow, so shall you reap »
The personal consequences of one's actions are in proportion to the good or bad intentions towards others.
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at sea »
On the ocean or sea, typically of a ship or person aboard a ship.
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babe in the woods »
A person who is innocent, naive, inexperienced, or helpless.
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babe magnet »
A person, especially a man, to whom women are attracted.
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bad apple »
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
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bad news »
An irritating, troublesome, or harmful person, situation, or thing.
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bad penny »
A person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.
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bag of bones »
A skinny, malnourished person.
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baggage »
In a metaphorical sense, factors that restrict a person's freedom, often in an intellectual or psychological way: emotional baggage.
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bail out »
To secure the release of an arrested person by providing bail money.
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ball-breaker »
A person or task which is excessively demanding or punishing.
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balls up »
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of ball up.
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bar fly »
A person who frequents bars or lounges to get drunk.
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beam up »
To teleport another person or object in the same manner.
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beauty is only skin deep »
What matters is a person's character, rather than his/her appearance.
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been there, done that »
An assertion that the speaker has personal experience or knowledge of a particular place or topic and is now bored.
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best of the bunch »
The best or most preferred person or item within a group.
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big boy »
A large object or person.
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big cheese »
A very important figure, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
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big enchilada »
A very important person, especially the highest-ranking individual in an organization.
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big kahuna »
A boss, leader, chieftain, or top-ranking person in an organization.
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big shot »
A person with a reputation of importance or power.
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big wheel »
A person with a great deal of power or influence, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.
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bigwig »
A person of importance to a group or organization.
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black sheep »
A disliked person; one who is disfavored.
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black sheep »
A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person.
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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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boss about »
To act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.
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boss around »
To act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.
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brass neck »
A person with gall.
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break someone's heart »
To cause a person to feel grief or sadness.
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bring in »
To introduce a person or group of people to an organisation.
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bring out »
To make a shy person more confident.
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broken vessel »
A person who is destroyed or forgotten, or who feels flawed or broken.
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built like a brick shithouse »
Of a person, with an exceptionally well-developed chest.
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bump up »
To promote a person to a higher grade.
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bundle of nerves »
A lively, continually active person.
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bundle of nerves »
A person with an especially nervous, excitable, or fearful disposition.
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butter fingers »
A clumsy person who always drops things, a klutz.
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butter up »
To flatter, especially with the intent of personal gain.
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butterfly upon a wheel »
An innocent person crushed by life's adversities.
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call someone's bluff »
To take action on the basis that another person is bluffing.
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Cannon fodder »
Military personnel who are regarded as expendable when attacking the enemy.
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captain of industry »
A prominent business person who owns or is the highest-ranking executive of one or more major firms, especially one who has considerable wealth and influence.
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cast the first stone »
To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing that one is blameless.
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cat that ate the canary »
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
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cat that ate the canary »
A person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.
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cat's meow »
A self-satisfied person.
|
charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
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chat up »
In a friendly, open, or casual manner, sometimes also in a charming or affected manner, usually to curry favor, and sometimes flirtatiously with the intention of establishing a romantic or sexual encounter or relationship with that person.
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che sara sara »
Used to express a personal philosophy of fatalism1892 March 17, Cigarette,
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che sera sera »
Used to express a personal philosophy of fatalism1604, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus:Why then belike we must sin, / And so consequently die. / Aye, we must die an everlasting death. / What doctrine call you this ? Che, sera, sera: / What will be*, shall be; Divinity adieu. / These Metaphysics of Magicians, / And necromantic books, are heavenly.
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chopped liver »
A person or object which is not worthy of being noticed; someone or something insignificant.
|
clean house »
To reform by removing undesirable personnel and procedures.
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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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clothes don't make the man »
An aphorism meaning that you cannot judge a person solely by his appearance. Usually pertains to men.
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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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cock of the walk »
A proud or conceited person.
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cold fish »
A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.
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cold hands, warm heart »
Implies inner beauty; a caring person; warm-hearted
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cop-out »
A person who cops out.
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cradle robber »
A person who marries or becomes romantically involved with someone who is much younger or who employs or otherwise engages a young person for a purpose inappropriate for his or her age.
|
creature comfort »
Any small item or detail that makes a person comfortable and at home.
|
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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cry someone a river »
To try to obtain the sympathy of another person by complaining or sniveling.
|
cry someone a river »
To weep profusely or excessively in the presence of another person.
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cutie pie »
A cute person.
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damn by association »
Discredit or condemn a position, person, or thing by attacking those things with which he/she/it is associated.
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dead wood »
Personnel no longer contributing to an organization.
|
deep thinker »
A person whose thoughts are profound; an intellectual.
|
diamond in the rough »
A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.
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dictated but not read »
Dictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated the text so annotated.
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dig up dirt »
To examine in order to find negative information for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.
|
dim bulb »
A person who is slow-witted.
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dirty word »
The name of a topic that a person does not like to hear or discuss.
|
don't let the bedbugs bite »
Used to wish a person a good night's sleep.
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double-tongued »
Saying one thing to one person and something different to another; double talking; deceitful in speech.
|
drama queen »
Any exaggeratedly dramatic person.
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drive one up the wall »
To make a person very angry or bored; to infuriate.
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dumb bunny »
A stupid person.
|
dyed-in-the-wool »
Firmly established in a person's beliefs or habits; deeply ingrained in the nature of a person or thing.
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each to his own »
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion or tastes.My housemate is a strict vegan. I personally could never not eat meat, but each to his own.
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egg on »
To encourage or coax a person to do something, especially something foolhardy or reckless.
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end of the line »
Final cessation or discontinuance of a process, institution, or person, especially one which has existed for a considerable period of time; death.
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esthetically challenged »
Of a person, ugly.
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eye candy »
A very attractive person or persons, or the salient visible physical attributes of same.
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eye for an eye »
Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
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eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth »
Compensation for injury caused by a person, in the form of inflicting of an identical injury on that person.
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eye of the beholder »
The evaluation depending on perception of person who sees and considers.
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face to face »
In person; directly; in the physical presence of somebody.
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factotum »
A person having many diverse activities or responsibilities.
|
fall away »
To cease to support a person or cause.
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fall off a truck »
Of an item of merchandise, to come into a person's possession without having been paid for; to be acquired illegally.
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fall off the turnip truck »
To be naive, uninformed, or unsophisticated, in the manner of a rustic person.
|
familiarity breeds contempt »
The more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.
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far be it »
A disclaimer stating that the person speaking will not do something.
|
fashion plate »
A person who dresses in especially stylish fashions.
|
feather one's nest »
To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth.
|
feed a cold, starve a fever »
Eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.
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fifteen minutes of fame »
A very short time in the spotlight or brief flurry with fame, after which the person or subject involved is quickly forgotten.
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first among equals »
A person or position that if formally equivalent to others in a group, but is superior in some attribute.
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flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates an outlandish, discredited theory; a person who refuses to acknowledge the truth despite overwhelming evidence.
|
flat-earther »
A person who believes or advocates the theory that the earth is flat.
|
fly the freak flag »
To behave in a unconventional or unrestrained manner; to exhibit the uninhibited side of one's personality.
|
fools rush in where angels fear to tread »
A person who does not plan ahead and think matters through becomes involved in risky or unfavorable situations which prudent people avoid.
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forbidden fruit »
Illicit pleasure; something that one should not take or get involved with, such as an another person's spouse.
|
four-eyes »
A person who wears spectacles.
|
freak flag »
Unconventional or unrestrained behavior; extreme, nonconformist views; the side of one's personality which harbors a tendency toward such behavior or such views.
|
front and center »
A command to come to the center of attention of an assemblage, as of military personnel or students.
|
get someone's back up »
To annoy a person either deliberately or inadvertently.
|
give chase »
To chase or pursue a person.
|
give head »
To perform oral sex on another person.
|
give someone the chair »
To execute a person by means of the electric chair.
|
give the devil his due »
To acknowledge the positive qualities of a person who is unpleasant or disliked.
|
go jump in the lake »
Used to tell a person that to go away, or that their request will not be met.
|
go off at score »
Of a horse, to break suddenly into a gallop; of a person, suddenly to say or do something impetuous.
|
go to someone's head »
To strongly affect a person, especially to the detriment of their senses or mental faculties.
|
God works in mysterious ways »
Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.Expressing that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways - maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...
|
golden ticket »
A qualification, person or thing that can provide lucrative opportunities.
|
good drunk »
A person who is cheerful and companionable when intoxicated, retaining reasonable control of his or her mental and emotional faculties.
|
good egg »
A good person, someone to be trusted; a friend.
|
goon squad »
A group of individuals serving as enforcers, bodyguards, and the like, especially persons hired for such a purpose and using violent, thuggish methods.
|
grand poobah »
A person who is important or high-ranking.
|
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.
|
grease someone's palm »
To bribe a person.
|
green thumb »
A person with this skill.
|
hammer home »
Until or so that a person or group of people understands it.
|
hand in »
To give something to a responsible person.
|
has-been »
A formerly popular or influential person whose popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline. Typically said of professionals or celebrities whose primary success is behind them.
|
have a green thumb »
A person with a green thumb, a natural skill for gardening.
|
have one's ducks in a row »
To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multi-person effort coordinated towards the exact same goal.
|
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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head honcho »
The person in charge; the highest-ranking person in an organization.
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hear out »
To listen to someone until that person has finished.
|
heart to heart »
A sincere, serious, or personal conversation.
|
hide nor hair »
A trace, indication, or evidence, especially of a person.
|
hide one's light under a bushel »
For a person to keep some talent or skill hidden from other people. The tone is that a person having a talent which they can be proud of ought not hide it.
|
historical figure »
A fictional or fabricated person who was was given historical importance in legends and myth.
|
historical figure »
A person who lived long ago, usually of some historical note or importance.
|
hit someone for six »
To hit another person very hard.
|
hit the rock »
To make a gesture to show celebration, friendship, or to be part of a secret handshake by one person raising their fist so the fist is pointing at the person and the other person lightly punches the fist.
|
hold somebody's hand »
To grasp or hold a person's hand.
|
hold someone's feet to the fire »
To maintain personal, social, political, or legal pressure on someone in order to induce him or her to comply with one's desires; to hold someone accountable for his or her actions.
|
horse's ass »
A jerk; an unpleasant, unlikable person; an asshole.
|
horse's ass »
A thing or person which is visually unappealing.
|
horses for courses »
A person suited for one job may not be suited for another job, regardless of their expertise in the former job.
|
horses for courses »
The practice of choosing the best person for a particular job.
|
hot mess »
Refers to a person, thing, or situation in such a state of disarray or disapproval by peers, often in reference to physical appearance, perceived to be disastrously embarrassing, pitiful, or beyond repair.
|
house cooling party »
A party to celebrate when a person decides to leave a house or flat, and sometimes to help prepare the space for the incoming residents.
|
if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail »
With limited tools, single-minded people apply them inappropriately or indiscriminatelyIf a person is familiar with a certain, single subject/has with them a certain, single instrument, they may have a confirmation bias to believe that it is the answer to/involved in everything.
|
in person »
actually present
|
inner circle »
The closest of friends of a person.
|
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 not what you know but who you know »
For success, and especially to obtain employment, one's knowledge and skills are less useful and less important than one's network of personal contacts.1951, G. P. Bush and L. H. Hattery, "Federal Recruitment of Junior Engineers," Science, vol. 114, no. 2966, p. 456:Eighty-four students referred to political influence as a disadvantage of federal employment with such remarks as: "There are too many political connections necessary . . . it's not what you know but who you know
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jack of all trades, master of none »
A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.
|
jet-setter »
A member of the jet set, a rich person who travels for pleasure.
|
joe job »
An act of e-mail spamming where the sender's identity and address are those of an innocent third party, intended either to tarnish that person's reputation or to flood that person's e-mail with bounces.
|
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.
|
jumped-up »
Describes a person who thinks he is superior in some way that the speaker disagrees with. For instance, of a higher class, or has more authority than they have in reality.
|
king »
A powerful or influential person.
|
kitchen table software »
Especially in the early years of personal computers, a set of computer programs developed by an entrepreneurial advanced amateur or self-employed professional computer programmer in his or her own home; software developed by a small business using the services of such programmers.
|
knacker's yard »
A place to send a person or object that is spent beyond all reasonable use.
|
knight in shining armor »
A person who will rescue a dangerous situation; a hero.
|
knock out »
To exhaust a personal or animal.
|
knuckle dragger »
A large, strong, and rather dimwitted person.
|
lapsed academic »
A person formerly employed as a professor or researcher in a university or other institution of higher education, especially one who no longer attempts to remain current in his or her former academic field.
|
last word »
The final statement uttered by a person before death.
|
late bloomer »
A person who lives a child's life comparatively later than their peers.
|
late bloomer »
A person who reaches puberty comparatively later than their peers.
|
letters after one's name »
A list of abbreviations, separated by commas, representing the academic qualifications and civil or military honours achieved by a person.
|
life of the party »
A person who participates in entertainment events in a very enthusiastic manner and who has a leading role in inspiring others to join in the spirit of festivity.
|
line one's pockets »
To accumulate personal wealth, especially in an illegal or morally objectionable manner.
|
lion »
A famous person.
|
live one »
A person, thing, or situation which is particularly interesting, noteworthy, or urgent.
|
live wire »
An especially energetic, alert, or vivacious person.
|
lone gunman »
An individual person who acts on his or her own initiative, without partners, especially one who has sole responsibility for doing something questionable, confidential, or iniquitous.
|
long goodbye »
Nickname for Alzheimer's disease, especially for the final phase of the disease, during which the patient suffers a progressive decline of cognitive and motor skills and gradually loses the ability to recognize and to communicate with family and friends.[1]; nickname for the relationship between a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that person's family or friends.
|
Loose cannon »
An uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own friends, faction, political party, etc.
|
lot lizard »
A customer or salesperson at a used car lot.
|
lot lizard »
A low or stupid person.
|
love is blind »
A person who is in love can see no faults or imperfections in the person who is loved.
|
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.
|
make a monkey out of »
To cause a person, organization, or action to appear foolish or inferior; to subject someone or something to ridicule..
|
make someone's teeth itch »
To bother or unsettle a person; to put someone on edge.
|
mama's boy »
A male person, especially a young man or boy, who is overly attached to or influenced by his mother; a sissy.
|
meaty »
Of a person or a body part, large and solid.
|
mike up »
To fit a microphone and transmitter to a person. Usually for television performers, or for police informers.
|
morning person »
A person whose who wakes up without difficulty early each morning and who is alert and active during the first part of the day.
|
motor mouth »
One who talks incessantly; a chatty or loquacious person.
|
mouse potato »
A person who spends excessive amounts of time using a computer.
|
mouth breather »
A person who is boorish, stupid, or otherwise unattractive.
|
mouth breather »
A person who routinely inhales and exhales through the mouth, instead of through the nose.
|
mouth of a sailor »
The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
|
muckety muck »
A person in a position of power, authority, or status.
|
necessity is the mother of invention »
A person who is in great need of something will find a way to get it.
|
night person »
A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours, and who usually sleeps during part of the daytime.
|
nighthawk »
A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours.
|
no slave to fashion »
A person whose style of clothing and appearance are unconventional, informal, or slovenly; a person who takes little interest in how he or she is dressed.
|
no spring chicken »
Said of a person who is no longer particularly young.
|
Old Fart »
An elderly person who holds views that are considered old-fashioned.
|
old fogey »
Old person.
|
old hand »
A person who is experienced at a certain activity.
|
once you go black, you never go back »
An expression assuming that once a person of another race gets in a sexual relationship with a black person they won't return to their own race.
|
one and the same »
The same person or thing. Used to emphasize the identity or equivalence of two things.
|
one who hesitates is lost »
A person who spends too much time contemplating what to do may miss a valuable but fleeting opportunity.
|
one-hit wonder »
A person or group known for achieving only a single major accomplishment.
|
one-man band »
An organisation or business that is effectively run by only one person.
|
one-trick pony »
A person or group noteworthy for only a single achievement, skill, or characteristic.
|
opposite number »
A person who holds a position in an organization that corresponds to that held by another person in an other organization; a counterpart.
|
out of character »
Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.
|
out of character »
Not acting; not "on"; behaving within one's natural personality rather than that of a character in a performance piece.
|
packing heat »
Carrying one or more firearms on one's person, especially in a concealed manner.
|
paper trail »
The records left by a person or organization in the course of activities.
|
party animal »
A person known for frequent, enthusiastic attendance at parties, especially one whose partying behavior is exuberant or excessive.
|
pencil-neck »
A person with a very thin neck.
|
pencil-neck »
An insubstantial person; a weakling.
|
pencilneck »
A person with a very thin neck.
|
pencilneck »
An insubstantial person; a weakling.
|
penny for your thoughts »
Used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another, especially when the person appears pensive or conflicted.
|
people person »
Someone who is happier or more skilled at dealing with people rather than things or concepts.
|
perp walk »
The intentional public display before news cameras of someone in police custody, especially someone famous or notorious, for the purpose of satisfying public interest, demonstrating the authorities' effectiveness, or shaming the person.
|
personal computers »
PCs
|
pick of the litter »
The best person or item in a group.
|
pick up »
To point out (a person's behaviour, habits or actions),in a critical manner.
|
piffy on a rock bun »
A person ignored or sidelined from an activity.
|
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.
|
play one against another »
To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation.
|
play the field »
To date more than one person at the same time.
|
poacher turned gamekeeper »
A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
|
poison »
Something that harms a person or thing.
|
poison pen »
A usually intentionally rude, spiteful, and/or condescending piece of writing directed at a person, group, lifestyle, way of thought, or other target.
|
potter's clay »
A person or people created and shaped by God.
|
potty mouth »
The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
|
power behind the throne »
Someone who appears to be without special status, but who has great covert influence on a person in authority.
|
preach to the choir »
Speaking as if to convince a person or group of something which that person or group already believes.
|
price on one's head »
A compensation for capturing or killing a person, especially someone guilty of a crime.
|
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.
|
private eye »
A private personal detective, employed to gather information about someone.
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pull my finger »
A phrase used when playing a prank regarding flatulence, in which a mark is asked to pull the finger of the person playing the prank, who simultaneously flatulates so as to suggest a causal relationship between the pulling of the finger and the resulting expulsion of gas.
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pump up »
To excite a person or group to a frenzy.
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put hair on somebody's chest »
To make a person stronger or more masculine.
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put oneself across »
To explain one's ideas and opinions clearly so that another person can understand them and get a picture of your personality.
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put oneself in someone's shoes »
To try to look at a situation from a different point of view; as if one were the other person. To empathise.
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queer fish »
An odd or eccentric person.
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read out »
To read some data and inform the person using the device.
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real deal »
A thing or person which is genuine, authentic, or worthy of serious regard.
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real job »
A hobby that takes all of a person's free time.
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red face test »
A hypothetical test of a person's embarrassment, that is either passed or failed. Saying one passes the red face test means one would not blush and thus would not be embarrassed by disclosing something to others or doing something, and saying one fails the red face test means a situation would cause them discernible embarrassment.
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rim job »
Anilingus; act where one person licks the other's anus.
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ring back »
To make another phone call to the same person.
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rivet counter »
A person who has an obsession with the minutae of their particular interest. Anyone preoccupied with small distinguishing features between different items.
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roadwarrior »
A person who carries a mobile device such as a laptop or PDA and uses wireless internet connections to work.
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rob the cradle »
To marry or become romantically involved with a much younger person.
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rob the cradle »
To use a young person for a purpose inappropriate to his or her age.
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rolling stone »
A person who moves around a lot and never settles down.
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rub up against »
To touch another person with one's body in a sexually stimulating manner.
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rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
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rumor campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
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rumor mill »
A group or network of persons who originate or promulgate gossip and other unsubstantiated claims.
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run around after »
To spend a lot of time doing things for another person or group of people. Often used when that person could reasonably do the things for themselves.
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run around with »
To spend a lot of time with a person or group of people. Often used to talk about a person's group of friends that one does not like much.
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run away with »
To leave secretly with another person. Usually with the intention of getting married or of living together against the wishes of the family.
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run for one's money »
A difficult challenge for the person indicated, especially one involving a competitive situation.
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run through »
To impale a person with a blade, usually a sword.
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scream »
An entertaingly outrageous person.
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second banana »
A person who serves in a supporting, secondary, or subsidiary capacity; an assistant.
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second childhood »
The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior.
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second fiddle »
A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.
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second fiddle »
The person playing second fiddle.
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see you later »
A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
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sell out »
To abandon one's supporters or principles to seek profit or other personal advantage.
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shoot oneself in the foot »
To deliberately sabotage an activity in order to avoid obligation, though it causes personal suffering. Origins in first world war trench warfare.
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short fuse »
The personality trait of being quick to anger.
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short temper »
The personality trait of being quick to anger.
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shrinking violet »
A very shy person, who avoids contact with others if avoidable.
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silver surfer »
An elderly person who regularly uses the Internet.
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skeleton crew »
The minimum number of personnel needed to operate and maintain an item at its most simple operating requirements, such as a ship or business, during an emergency or shut down, and at the same time, to keep vital functions operating.
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skinny as a rail »
Especially of a person, very skinny.
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sleep together »
To be intimate with another person in the same bed.
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sleepy head »
A very tired person.
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slob »
A lazy and slovenly person.
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slob »
A term used to insult a lazy, obese person.
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small arms »
Firearms designed to be carried and fired by a single person; often held in the hand.
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small fry »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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small potatoes »
One or more persons or things of relatively little consequence, importance, or value.
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smooth operator »
A person who accomplishes tasks with efficiency and grace, especially one with verbal skills who is persuasive in interpersonal relationships, negotiation, etc.
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smooth operator »
A skillful, manipulative person, con artist, or clever scoundrel.
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snake in the grass »
A treacherous person.
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snap someone's head off »
To suddenly and sharply rebuke or insult a person, especially in response to a harmless remark.
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sneak up »
To approach a person or animal without being seen or heard.
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sneak up on »
To approach a person or animal without being seen or heard.
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snow job »
An attempt to persuade a person using flattery or deception.
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soapbox »
A crate for packing soap, or, by extension, any inexpensive crude platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it, especially when used for speeches.
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soft mick »
An extravagant person.
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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 people »
Expresses disgust at the actions of a person; a response to a person doing something silly, bizarre, nonsensical or ill-mannered.
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sort oneself out »
To organize or solve one's personal problems.
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sow the wind, reap the whirlwind »
Every decision has consequences; a person's actions will come back to him.
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spanner »
A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
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speak of the devil »
An expression sometimes used when a person mentioned in the current conversation happens to arrive on the scene.
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spectator sport »
Something, especially a process or activity, which is a popular object of observation; an activity which a person prefers to watch rather than to participate in.
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squeaky wheel gets the grease »
The person who complains or speaks up most loudly receives the redress or attention which he or she seeks.
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step on a rake »
To step on the tines of a garden rake, causing the handle of the rake to rise from the ground rapidly, invariably striking the person walking in the face.
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stepping razor »
A dangerous person, who is not to be messed with.
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stick in the mud »
A person unwilling to participate in activities, often because he or she believes the activity is not wholly kosher; a party pooper.
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still water runs deep »
A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect
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still waters run deep »
A person with a calm appearance has, or may have, considerable inner emotion, character, or intellect.
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stock phrase »
A phrase frequently or habitually used by a person or group, and thus associated with them.
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stone's throw »
A short distance, roughly equivalent to how far a person can throw a stone.
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stupid is as stupid does »
A person's intelligence may be judged by the wisdom of his or her actions.
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suck in »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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suck into »
To cause someone to become slowly more and more involved in a business or situation that is often not to that person's liking.
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suck up »
To adulate or flatter somebody excessively, generally to obtain some personal benefit or favour.
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take a leaf out of someone's book »
To adopt an idea or practice of another person.
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take away »
To remove something, either material or abstract, so that a person no longer has it.
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take away »
To make someone leave a place and go somewhere else. Usually not with the person's consent.
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take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves »
If you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500:Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ?used to say?Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.1912, G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion ii. 132:Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii.:Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.1999,
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take it out on »
To unleash one's anger on [a person or thing other than the one that caused it].
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take someone's point »
To agree with what a person says; to understand a person's argument and be persuaded by it.
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take someone's point »
To grasp the essential meaning of what a person is saying.
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take to the cleaners »
To take a significant quantity of a person's money or valuables, through gambling, unfavorable investing, fraud, litigation, etc.
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take up the cudgel for »
To make a defense for in lieu of another person.
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take upon »
To take charge of an item of business, or an obligation, as a personal initiative.
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talk up »
In such a way as to make the thing or person sound better than it actually is.
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thanks for nothing »
Expression of displeasure towards a person who has not provided what was wanted.
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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 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 in the street »
average person
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there may be snow on the rooftop but there is fire in the furnace »
Even if a person is in his or her senior years, with gray hair, he or she can still have ambition and energy, especially sexual energy.
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there, there »
Conveys comfort; used to calm somebody urge somebody to relax, especially when the person is crying.
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third wheel »
A person or thing that serves no useful purpose.
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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 in at the deep end »
To introduce a person to a new situation without adequately preparing him or her.
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throw shapes »
To act tough or put up a front. For example, to threaten a person by making "karate chops" at them, without actually doing harm or knowing karate.
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tight lips »
Of a person, silence or reticence.
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time is money »
When a person's time is not used productively; time is valuable and should not be wasted.
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timeserver »
A person who conforms to current opinions, especially for reasons of personal advantage; an opportunist.
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to each his own »
Every person is entitled to his or her personal preferences and tastes.
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to give a person line »
To allow a person more or less liberty until it is convenient to stop or check him/her, like a hooked fish that swims away with the line.
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to thine own self be true »
The easiest person to deceive is oneself."This above all:to thine own self be true,and it must follow, as the night the day,Thou canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare
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tough cookie »
A person who can endure physical or mental hardship; a hardened, strong-willed person.
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track record »
An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.
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trash out »
To criticize the person spoken to in a rant.
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trick out »
To trick out; to mod or customize an object, typically for the purpose of both personalization as well as enhancing the object's performance capabilities and more particularly for the purpose of performing stunts with that object.
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up one's alley »
Matching a person's interests or abilities well.
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vertically challenged »
Of a person, short.
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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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warts and all »
Of or pertaining to a description or other depiction which reveals the full range of characteristics of a person or thing, including the shortcomings and imperfections.
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weak sister »
A person or thing which is the least robust or least dependable member of a group.
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weak sister »
A person who is cowardly or indecisive.
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weekend warrior »
A person who indulges in a sport or pastime on an infrequent basis, usually on weekends when work commitments are not present.
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weigh up »
To assess a person or situation.
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wet blanket »
A person who takes the fun out of a situation or activity, as by pessimism, demands, dullness, etc.
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what goes around comes around »
The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.
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what's in it for me »
To me, personally?.
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what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander »
If something is acceptable for one person, it is acceptable for another.
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when it rains, it pours »
If a person encounters bad luck, more bad luck will follow.
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whisper campaign »
A method of persuasion in which damaging rumors or innuendo are deliberately spread concerning a person or other target, while the source of the rumors tries to avoid detection.
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white trash »
A poorly educated white person with low moral and social standards and low social status.
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who's 'she', the cat's mother%3F »
A rebuke especially directed towards children for having referred to their mother, or any other woman in the third person, instead of using a properly respectful title or their name when appropriate.
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willful ignorance »
A bad faith decision to avoid becoming informed about something so as to avoid having to make undesirable decisions that such information might prompt. It may also be shown as for a person to have no clue in a decision but still goes ahead in their decision.
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wine tosser »
A person who buys wine, but does not drink it.
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wine tosser »
A person who talks a great deal about wine but actually knows very little.
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wouldn't say boo to a goose »
Describing a quiet, exceptionally shy person.
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yes man »
A person who always agrees with his employer or superior.
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yes-man »
A person of unquestioning obedience.
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you make the bed you lie in »
A person's circumstances are normally the result of his or her own actions.
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you pays your money and you takes your choice »
Each person should make their own decisions.
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