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.
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above board »
Honestly, reputably.
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ahead of the game »
Having completed a task before it is due; ready, prepared, or anticipating.
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all it's cracked up to be »
As good as claims or reputation would suggest.
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all set »
Ready; prepared.
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answer back »
To reply impertinently; to talk back.
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answer back »
To reply to a question at a later time.
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as a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly »
Foolish people repeatedly do foolish things.
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ask my arse »
A common reply to any question; still deemed wit at sea, and formerly at court, under the denomination of selling bargains.
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at the ready »
Ready; in a state of preparation or waiting; in position or anticipation.
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back up »
For the non-striker to take a few steps down the pitch, in preparation to taking a run, just as the bowler bowls the ball.
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bad egg »
Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
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bad egg »
disreputable character
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bad money drives out good »
Debased coinage (with low levels of precious metals) replaces purer coinage (with higher levels of precious metals).(metaphorically) Mediocre talent drives away real talent.
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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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batten down the hatches »
Prepare for trouble.
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bawl out »
To deliver a loud, hard scolding or lecture; to reprimand.
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be the way to go »
Represent the best of all possible options or courses of action; pre-eminate over all other choices or alternatives.
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beat up »
Repeatedly bomb a military target or targets.
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beat up »
To verbally assault repeatedly.
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bench jockey »
A baseball term for a player, coach or manager who is annoying and distracts opposition players and umpires from his team's dugout bench with verbal repartee.
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big shot »
A person with a reputation of importance or power.
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blot one's copy book »
To damage one's own reputation through bad behavior.
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booze can »
A nightclub or bar, especially one which operates illegally or is otherwise disreputable.
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bridge »
A prosthesis replacing one or several adjacent teeth.
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bum rap »
An undeservedly unfavorable portrayal or reputation.
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burn one's bridges »
To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc.
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call up »
An order to report for military service.
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calling card »
A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.
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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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catch hell »
Be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
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catch it »
Be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
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caught with one's pants down »
Caught off guard, unprepared, or in an embarrassing situation.
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check out »
To obtain computer source code from a repository.
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chew out »
To lecture, scold, reprimand, or rebuke.
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circle the wagons »
To prepare to defend against an attack.
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clear the decks »
To prepare for action.
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collect one's thoughts »
To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc.
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cook up »
To prepare a heroin dose by heating.
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cook up »
To prepare a meal.
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cover one's ass »
To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that one is not blamed or punished for one's conduct.
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cover one's bases »
To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely.
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creep into »
To enter surreptitiously.
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cut in »
Especially, to dance with someone who is already dancing by replacing his or her partner.
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cut in »
When painting, to paint edges, corners, or trim in preparation for rolling larger areas.
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draw a bath »
To fill a bathtub with water in preparation for taking a bath.
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dressing-down »
A reprimand or rarely, a thrashing.
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drive-by media »
Media professionals who "spray" a bunch of repetitive misstatements, mistaken and misinterpreted news reports to cause excitement and confusion. They then figuratively "drive off" leaving the cleanup of their mess and hysteria to others, to correct and properly explain and interpret.
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drop a dime »
To make a phone call, usually means calling the police to report another's activities.
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drop the gloves »
To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.
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elbow grease »
Effort or hard work, especially physical work involving repeated motion of the forearm, such as scrubbing.
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everything happens for a reason »
All events are purposeful.Everything happens for a reason, so there is no such thing as failure. Mary-Kate OlsenPeople like to say "everything happens for a reason." If you repeat that in your head long enough that starts to sound like "anything can happen with a razor." Laura KightlingerI believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason - that's how we learn. Drew Barrymore
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fancypants »
Alternative spelling of fancy pants. The condition of being overly showy; concerned more about one's reputation than anything else.
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feed the dragon »
To the People's Republic of China.
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fend off »
Away; to turn away; to defend against; to repel with force or effort.
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fill in »
To fill; to replace material that is absent or has been removed.
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fire drill »
An organised practice to prepare occupants of an office, school or other public building for evacuation in the event of a fire.
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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
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fix up »
To repair or refurbish.
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flat-footed »
Unprepared to act.
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flower »
The best examples or representatives of a group.
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force of habit »
An act that has been repeated to the point where the performance of the act becomes automatic.
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forewarned is forearmed »
Advance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."
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fountain of youth »
Anything reputed to have the power to restore health and vitality or to restore a youthful appearance.
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from scratch »
From the beginning; starting with no advantage or prior preparation; starting from raw ingredients.
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full-fledged »
Having full qualification, credentials or preparation; entire; real.
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game face »
The expression of one who is prepared for or is facing a lot of difficult and/or undesirable work, especially when it is imminent.
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gear up »
To prepare for an activity.
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get on someone's wick »
To annoy or upset someone, usually by repeated disagreeable actions.
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get ready »
prepare oneself
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gird up one's loins »
To prepare oneself for something demanding.
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go mad »
Used to indicate that the second verb represents an action that is out of character.
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go red »
Of states or counties, to be carried by a Republican candidate in a given U.S. election.
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go round in circles »
To repeatedly do the same thing; without making any progress.
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gone to the dogs »
To have fallen into disrepair or ruin; to have been stagnant or depreciated.
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good to go »
Ready for some specific task or ready for normal activity, especially after preparation or recovery.
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good to go »
Ready for use or ready for normal operation, especially after repair or renewal.
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grass snake »
reptile
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gunshy »
Fearing the consequences of repeating an act, especially after being reprimanded.
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hatchet job »
A treatment which serves primarily to disparage its subject; a piece of criticism which aims to destroy a reputation.
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have egg on one's face »
To suffer embarrassment or humiliation; to damage one's reputation.
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have it your way »
Do something the way you want to, but be prepared for the consequences.
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have someone's guts for garters »
To reprimand severely.
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history repeats itself »
Things that have happened in the past will happen again.
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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.
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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.
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hunker down »
To take shelter; to prepare oneself for some eventuality; to focus on a task.
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in order »
Ready, prepared; orderly; tidy.
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in shape »
In good condition, repair; in a good state.
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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.
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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.
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keep down »
To repress.
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kick oneself »
To reproach oneself for making a mistake or missing an opportunity.
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kick the bucket »
Of a machine, to break down such that it cannot be repaired.
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kick up the arse »
A severe reprimand, especially one to motivate someone into doing something.
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kill off »
To represent or portray as being dead.
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kill the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
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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.
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knock out of the box »
To cause a pitcher to be replaced by heavy hitting.
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knock out of the box »
To cause something to be replaced by something else.
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last word »
The finest, highest, or ultimate representative of some class of objects.
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legwork »
Work, especially research or preparation, that involves significant walking, travel, or similar effort.
|
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.
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lie in wait »
prepare an ambush
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like the new time »
Furiously or vigorously, repeatedly.
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lion »
A stylized representation of a large cat, used on a coat of arms.
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loaded for bear »
Mentally prepared for a daunting situation or confrontation.
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made in China »
Manufactured in the People's Republic of China.
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make amends »
To repair a relationship; to make up; to resolve an argument or fight; to make reparations or redress.
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man up »
His station, prepared for departure of an aircraft, ship, etc.
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managerial inbreeding »
Bad management, caused by managers making poor selection choices in recruitment, rewards, and promotions of the staff that report to them, leading to another generation of managers who lack the necessary skill sets to reward and promote the most effective staff.
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marry in haste, repent at leisure »
Getting married too soon will lead to a bad marriage.
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marry in haste, repent at leisure »
Two things together too soon will lead to problems.
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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
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mend fences »
To repair damage to a friendship or relationship after a disagreement or other mishap.
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mind-numbing »
Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual stimulation.
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mop up »
To fix problems; to correct or repair.
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moral high ground »
A position or point of view which is ethically superior or more reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.
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no comment »
An "official" refusal to relay any further information, as a response to a newspaper reporter's question.
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not a pretty sight »
Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.
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not at all »
Used similarly to you're welcome, as a conventional reply to an expression of gratitude.
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not win for losing »
To repeatedly fail in one's gambles or efforts.
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off-the-cuff »
Extemporaneous; without prior preparation; impromptu.
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on the defensive »
Prepared to defend or protect against criticism, attack or aggression.
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on the spot »
Having to answer or decide without warning or preparation.
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on tiptoe »
We crept out on tiptoe so as not to wake the children.
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one-note »
Having only one opinion, outlook, tone, etc., especially as expressed repetitively; without variety or range.
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out of one's depth »
To be in a situation which one is poorly prepared or unprepared to handle.
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out of one's league »
In a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others, whose accomplishments, preparedness, or other characteristics are on a significantly higher or lower level than one's own.
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out of the blue »
Unexpectedly; without warning or preparation.
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over and over »
Repeatedly; again and again; many times.
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pack up »
To prepare for shipping, as a gift.
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paper »
A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting .
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pardon me »
Polite expression to get someone to repeat.
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pass off »
To misrepresent something.
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pay out »
To repay, take revenge.
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plan on »
To expect; to prepare future actions based on.
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play the same tape »
To repeat exactly what one previously said or did.
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preprogram »
To predispose to certain thoughts or behaviours.
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preprogram »
To program something in advance.
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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.
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put down »
To replace the telephone receiver and terminate a call. To hang up.
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put off »
To offend, repulse, or frighten.
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put up one's dukes »
Prepare to fight; literally, to raise your fists.
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quick-and-dirty »
Of or pertaining to the creation or repair of software or hardware in a manner which permits operation within a brief period of time, although with compromised functionality or reliability.
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re run »
repeat
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read somebody the riot act »
To scold or berate somebody; to reprimand.
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real job »
A job that can't be replaced advantageously by a machine or a procedure.
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red state »
A state of the United States voting Republican in a given election, or tending to vote Republican in general.
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rex-pat »
A repeat expatriate, one who becomes ex-patriated a second time.
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roll up one's sleeves »
To prepare to work.
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run a bath »
To fill a bathtub with water in preparation for taking a bath.
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run by »
To repeat some information.
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run through »
To repeat something.
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rustle up »
To quickly prepare something.
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save face »
To take an action or make a gesture intended to preserve one's reputation or honour.
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sell ice to Eskimos »
To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.
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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 the stage »
To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.
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shoot the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
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show the flag »
To represent one's country or some other group in a manner intended to suggest the authority or importance of that country or group.
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slap on the wrist »
A mild or too-mild punishment; a reprimand.
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smear campaign »
An effort to damage or call into question someone's reputation, by propounding negative propaganda.
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spare tire »
An extra wheel or tire carried as a replacement in case of a flat.
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stand for »
To mean; to symbolize; to represent.
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stand in for »
To replace; to act as a double or substitute for.
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stop press »
The event or news article important enough to delay or interrupt the print, or require a reprint, of a publication, particularly of a newspaper edition.
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stop up »
To increase the aperture of a photographic lens, moving from an f/stop represented by a higher number to an f/stop represented by a lower number and causing more light to pass into the camera.
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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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swing state »
A state which may vote Democratic or Republican, in a given election or generally; a purple state.
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tack up »
To prepare a horse for riding by equipping it with tack.
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take a number »
Recognize that many others are in the same situation; recognize that one's concerns are not of high priority; be prepared to wait.
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talk back »
To reply impertinently; to answer in a cheeky manner.
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tart up »
To modify or repackage a product, service, or idea to make it more attractive or easier to sell.
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tell off »
To rebuke, to reprimand, or to admonish.
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telling off »
A reprimand, reproach, or lecture.
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tempus fugit »
time flies (used as an alternative to this phrase)."Meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes", expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment.
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that'll be the day »
Said in reply to something that one believes will never happen.
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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 down »
To accomplish or produce something in a grand, respectable, or successful manner; to "represent".
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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 in at the deep end »
To introduce a person to a new situation without adequately preparing him or her.
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tick off »
To reprimand.
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time after time »
Again and again; repeatedly; every time; always.
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tomorrow is another day »
Tomorrow will bring new opportunities and a fresh start for one's endeavors.1600, author unknown, "Phillidaes Love-call to her Coridon, and his replying" (song), in England's Helicon, printed at London by I.R. for John Flasket:Phil. Yonder comes my Mother, Coridon,whether shall I flie?Cor. Under yonder Beech my lovely one,while she passeth by.Say to her thy true-Love was not heere,remember, remember,to morrow is another day:1896, Amelia E. Barr, A Knight of the Nets, ch. 8:"Well, well, my dear lass, to-night we cannot work, but we may sleep. . . . Keep a still heart tonight, and tomorrow is another day."1936, Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind, ch. 63:"Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."2005, Fran Schumer, "JERSEY: In Princeton, Taking On Harvard's Fuss About Women," New York Times, 19 June (retrieved 18 Aug. 2009):"Half of me is depressed
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trip to the woodshed »
An occasion on which a reprimand or punishment is administered.
|
tune up »
To make preparations for vigorous exercise; to warm up.
|
turn down »
To reposition by turning, flipping, etc. in a downward direction.
|
turn off »
To repulse, disgust, or discourage.
|
turn up »
To reposition by rotating, flipping, etc. upwards.
|
under the table »
Secretly or without reporting, especially of payments made or business transacted.
|
up in arms »
Angry; preparing for a fight.
|
valley of death »
The phase of a startup business beginning with the entrepreneur's fulltime commitment to it and ending when the business has achieved sustainable cash flow.
|
variable tandem repeat locus »
Any DNA sequence that exists in multiple copies strung together in various tandem lengths.
|
wade through »
To do a boring, repetitive research task.
|
wage war »
A figurative allusion to pay discrepancies.
|
wail on »
To strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.
|
warm up »
To prepare for executing an already-learned activity by a limited amount of additional practice.
|
wash up »
To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
|
whale on »
To strike an opponent heavily and repeatedly in a fight.
|
whistle-blower »
One who reports a problem or violation to the authorities; especially, an employee or former employee who reports a violation by an employer.
|
whitewash »
A victory without reply.
|
wing it »
To improvise; to make things up or figure things out as one goes; or to perform with little or no preparation.
|
write off »
unrepairable car
|
yellow-bellied »
Pertaining to an animal or reptile that has a yellow belly.
|
you bet »
Certainly; you're welcome; a reply to thank you or to a request.
|
| BTW, Why won't you become an editor? |
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