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.
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at all hours »
Late into the night or early morning; when people ought to be sleeping.
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bail out »
To remove water from a boat by scooping it out.
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break off »
To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping.
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carry a torch for »
[2] To harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.
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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.
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cop-out »
Avoidance or inadequate performance of a task or duty; the action of copping out.
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creep into »
To enter something or somewhere by creeping.
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cut a wide swath »
To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.
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evil twin »
A rogue wireless access point installed near a legitimate one for purposes of eavesdropping or phishing.
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fast asleep »
Sleeping, in a deep sleep.
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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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hand in hand »
Holding or clasping hands.
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hard shoulder »
mortorway shopping area
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hedge one's bets »
To reduce the risk of making a mistake, by keeping one's options open.
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helping hand »
Any assistance, help or aid.
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homeless dumping »
The practice of hospital employees or emergency workers releasing homeless patients on the streets instead of placing them into the custody of a relative or shelter or retaining them in a hospital where they may require expensive medical care.
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hopping mad »
Extremely angry; furious to the point of outburst.
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horse sense »
Common sense, especially with a connotation of folk wisdom independent from, and trumping, formal education.
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in for a penny, in for a pound »
Expressing recognition that one must, having started something, see it through to its end, rather than stopping short thereof; accepting that one must
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in line »
Suitable or appropriate; keeping with expectations, norms, ideals, or rules.
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jump about »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
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jump around »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
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jump off »
To participate in the final round of an equestrian showjumping event.
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kick the habit »
To recover from or quit an addiction or habit. For example, to quit smoking, drinking, burping, or drug addiction.
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lap up »
To consume by lapping.
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let sleeping dogs lie »
To leave things as they are; especially, to avoid restarting or rekindling an old argument; to leave disagreements in the past.
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life's a bitch »
An expression of acceptance of misfortune.1950, Joy Davidman, Weeping Bay, page 184:She'd have been willing enough to use them, poor dead little bitch. Life's a bitch. Life's a bad joke.
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morning, noon and night »
Constantly; ceaselessly; without stopping.
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necker's knob »
A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.
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nightcap »
A warm cloth cap worn while sleeping, often with pajamas. Nightcaps were common in northern Europe before central heating was available, when homes were cold at night.
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out of house and home »
Helping Your Dog Adjust to a New Home, The Progressive Animal Welfare Society.
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overleap »
To leap over, to jump over, to cross by jumping.
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pachyderm »
A member of the obsolete taxonomic group Pachydermata, grouping of thick-skinned, hoofed animals such as the rhinoceros, hippopotamus, elephant, pig and horse.
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pack up »
To prepare for shipping, as a gift.
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paper »
Wrapping paper.
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piping hot »
Very hot.
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pump up »
To inflate with a pumping action.
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rip off »
To pull off by ripping.
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round of applause »
An outburst of clapping among a group or audience. Often asked for by the Master of Ceremonies at a concert or other performance.
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scrape off »
To remove something by a scraping action.
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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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sleep in »
To sleep late; to go on sleeping past one's customary or planned hour.
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sleeping at the switch »
Variant form of asleep at the switch.
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sleeping policeman »
A speed bump.
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sound asleep »
Sleeping still and silently.
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stepping razor »
A dangerous person, who is not to be messed with.
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stepping stone »
A stone that can be stepped on in crossing something, especially a marsh or creek.
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stepping stone »
Something used as a way to progress to something or somewhere else.
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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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straight out of the chute »
Something done immediately, or "from the beginning". Taken from rodeo routine: the bucking bronco, or bull, or the calf for the calf-roping contest is kept in a narrow pen, a chute, until it is released and dashes out to its fate.
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strip off »
To remove anything by stripping, e.g. items of clothing or paint from the side of a ship.
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strip off »
To be removed by stripping.
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tack up »
To prepare a horse for riding by equipping it with tack.
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tipping it down »
Raining heavily.
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turn down »
To reposition by turning, flipping, etc. in a downward direction.
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turn up »
To reposition by rotating, flipping, etc. upwards.
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whipped cream »
dessert topping
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whistle past the graveyard »
To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome.
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window-shopping »
The browsing of shop windows without any intention of buying.
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wipe away »
To remove or erase with a wiping motion.
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| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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