a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush »
It is preferable to have a small but certain advantage than a mere potential of a greater one.
|
a great deal »
Very much; to a great extent; a lot; lots.
|
a life of its own »
An independent existence with some characteristics of life.
|
a new broom sweeps clean »
New management will often make radical changes.
|
a picture paints a thousand words »
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album:If a picture paints a thousand wordsThen why can't I paint you;The words will never showThe you I've come to know.1989, Alan Kay, quoted in K?o-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, ISBN 9971506645, p. 9:Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, ISBN 1904788734, p. 52:See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!
|
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.
|
add fuel to the fire »
To worsen a conflict between people; to inflame an already tense situation.
|
add up »
To make sense; to be reasonable or consistent.
|
all bark and no bite »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
|
all ears »
Listening intently; fully focused.
|
all eyes »
Watching alertly or attentively.
|
all eyes and ears »
To be attentive.
|
all hat and no cattle »
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
|
all over the place »
Inconsistent; lacking a clear pattern.
|
all the time »
Very often; frequently.
|
all very well »
All right, to a certain extent.
|
all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy »
Too much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.
|
April showers bring May flowers »
April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains.By extension, that a period of discomfort can provide the basis for a period of happiness.
|
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.
|
as a rule »
In general; most often.
|
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.
|
assault and battery »
. This legal distinction exists only in jurisdictions that distinguish assault as threatened violence rather than actual violence.
|
at cross-purposes »
Mutually misunderstanding each other's plans, intentions or meanings.
|
at death's door »
About to die; in a life-threatening state of health.
|
at hand »
Being at the moment the center of attention or the cause of trouble.
|
autem gogler »
Pretended French prophet.
|
back away »
Of your attention on the thing in front being avoided.
|
back-cloth star »
An actor who stands upstage, forcing the other actors to face him and turn their backs to the audience, in order to gain more attention to himself.
|
backseat driver »
By extension, anybody offering unsolicited or unwelcome advice.
|
baggage »
In a metaphorical sense, factors that restrict a person's freedom, often in an intellectual or psychological way: emotional baggage.
|
bail out »
To leave or not attend.
|
barrow man »
A man under sentence of transportation; alluding to the convicts at Woolwich, who are principally employed in wheeling barrows full of brick or dirt.
|
bash up »
To assault someone with the intention of causing physical injury.
|
batten down »
To close or make watertight, referring to hatches and cargo.
|
batten down the hatches »
Prepare for trouble.
|
battle cry »
By extension, a strong motto or purpose statement, especially in regards to winning a goal in sports, games or work.
|
be all ears »
To listen carefully or eagerly; to anticipate.
|
be around »
To be alive, existent, or present.
|
be on about »
Talk about; mean, intend.
|
bear down »
To intensify one's efforts.
|
beat around the bush »
To treat a topic but omit its main points, often intentionally.
|
beat up »
To cause by some other means, injuries comparable to the result of being beaten up.
|
beefed out »
Muscular, often in an exaggerated way.
|
believe in »
To ascribe existence to.
|
big gun »
Someone who is powerful or influential most often in plural form.
|
big top »
circus tent
|
bigger fish to fry »
A much more pressing issue to attend to.
|
bird in the hand »
Shortened form of "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".
|
birds of a feather flock together »
People of similar character, background, or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another.
|
birds of the feather flock together »
People who are alike physically tend to congregate and socialize together, despite government efforts at forced integration.
|
bite me »
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
|
black magic »
Magic derived from evil forces, as distinct from good or benign forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing harm.
|
black-on-black »
Something that is invisible or intentionally obfuscated, such as warnings or fine print.
|
blame Canada »
A catch phrase for shifting attention away from a serious social issue by laying responsibility with Canada.
|
blanket term »
A word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. The degree of relation may vary. Blanket terms often trade specificity for ease-of-use; in other words, a blanket term by itself gives little detail about the things that it describes or the relationships between them, but is easy to say and remember. Blanket terms often originate as slang, and eventually become integrated into the general vocabulary.
|
bleeding edge »
Something very current, or modern where there may actually be a hazard or risk in using it, such as with potentially unstable software. The term relates to a sword.
|
blind »
Any device intended to conceal or hide; as, a duck blind.
|
blow hot and cold »
To behave inconsistently; to vacillate or to waver, as between extremes of opinion or emotion.
|
blue state »
A state of the United States voting Democratic in a given election, or tending to vote Democratic in general.
|
bone of contention »
Something that continues to be disputed; something on which no agreement can be reached.
|
booby prize »
A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.
|
boot camp »
A short, intensive, quasi-military program generally aimed at young offenders as an alternative to a jail term.
|
boot camp »
Any short, intensive course of training.
|
bottom of the ninth »
By extension, any last chance or final opportunity.
|
bought the farm »
Simple past tense and past participle of buy the farm: died; often refers to death in battle.
|
box on the ear »
Administered on the victim's ear, usually by an educator, to enforce attention.
|
boys will be boys »
It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.1922, James Joyce, Ulysses Chapter 13But just then there was a slight altercation between Master Tommy and Master Jacky. Boys will be boys and our two twins were no exception to this golden rule.Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish in heart"Boys will be boys", grinned grandpa while he joined his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he gave his grandson for Christmas while the kid was in school.
|
brass ring »
Figuratively, a prize or goal. Often used with respect to employment goals e.g. promotion, better job, etc.
|
break new ground »
By extension, to initiate a new venture.
|
bridge »
A song contained within another song, often demarcated by meter, key, or melody.
|
bridge »
An unintended solder connection between two or more components or pins.
|
bridge »
Cue for extended or tedious shots. Also called a spider.
|
brighten up »
To become brighter.
|
brighten up »
To make cheerful.
|
brighten up »
Brighten up my day.
|
brighten up »
Brighten up a room.
|
bring forth »
To create, generate, bring into existence.
|
broken vessel »
A person who is destroyed or forgotten, or who feels flawed or broken.
|
bucket of bolts »
A piece of machinery that is not worth more than its scrap value, often of old cars.
|
buckle up »
To fasten one's seat belt or safety belt.
|
bum steer »
Bad advice, regardless of intention.
|
buoy up »
To uplift, hearten, inspire or raise the spirits.
|
busted flush »
A potential flush which ultimately was not filled.
|
busted flush »
Anything which ends up worthless despite great potential.
|
busy work »
Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.
|
but seriously folks »
Directs attention to immediately preceding failed attempt at humor.
|
but who's counting »
Used as a retort or comeback, often to deprecate oneself or another for excessive concern or attention to.
|
butter up »
To flatter, especially with the intent of personal gain.
|
button up »
To fasten with a button or buttons.
|
button up »
To fasten all the buttons on a coat, or similar item of clothing, to keep warm.
|
buy out »
To purchase the entire stock or extent of something.
|
buy the farm »
To die; often, to die in battle.
|
by far »
To a considerably large extent, easily.
|
calling card »
A small printed card which identifies the bearer, traditionally presented for introduction when making a social visit to a home or when attending a formal social event or business meeting.
|
can of worms »
A troublesome situation; an issue whose resolution is difficult or contentious, but not necessarily complex.
|
carry on »
To act or behave; especially to act or behave so as to attract attention.
|
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.
|
catbird seat »
Expression used to describe an enviable position, often one of great advantage.
|
catch flies »
An ostensible product of awkwardly having one's mouth open wide.
|
catch hell »
Be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
|
catch it »
Be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
|
catch someone's eye »
To capture someone's attention.
|
catch-as-catch-can »
Intermittent; only when possible or when the opportunity presents itself.
|
catmeat »
Someone who has been badly beaten.
|
ceterum censeo »
A formulaic expression used to end a speech by reinforcing one, often unrelated, major view.
|
chalkface »
A musical concept or genre in which music is completely improvised and never played twice. Most often mixing elements of hip-hop, metal, punk and avant-garde jazz.
|
chase after »
To pursue someone with romantic intentions; to woo.
|
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.
|
check out »
Used to draw attention to something and stimulate excitement about it.
|
cherry pick »
To position oneself near the opponent's goal to attempt to receive an errant or intentional pass for an easy score, as in basketball or versions of soccer where offsides are not enforced.
|
chip on one's shoulder »
A tendency to take offence quickly.
|
clay »
A tennis court surface.
|
clean out »
To clean, especially to tidy by removing the contents.
|
clear the decks »
To remove, or fasten, all loose material, or partitions prior to a naval engagement.
|
close in on »
To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.
|
cloud nine »
A state of happiness, elation or bliss; often used in the phrase on cloud nine.
|
cock up »
Unintentionally; to screw up, mess up or f** up.
|
come to »
To devote attention to in due course; to come around to.
|
come to a head »
To suddenly reveal that which has lain latent for a time.
|
come up »
To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly; to come to attention, present itself.
|
cool one's jets »
To become less excited, intense, or active.
|
corner the market »
To monopolize a resource or commodity, as with the intent of driving up prices.
|
crank up »
To start something mechanical, an act that often used to involve cranking.
|
crash course »
A quick, intense course of learning, especially one which is informal or hurried.
|
cry for help »
Acting out as a means of displaying a subconscious desire for attention or help.
|
cry for help »
In her second year at the school Alexis stopped doing her homework and would often scribble on walls. Her teachers wondered whether this was a cry for help, or if she was simply misbehaving.
|
curry favor »
To seek to gain favor by flattery or attention.
|
dead air »
An unintended interruption in a radio broadcast during which there is no sound; a similar interruption of a television broadcast in which there is neither sound nor a video signal.
|
dead last »
The standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.
|
deathblow »
Something that prevents the completion, or ends the existence of some project etc.
|
deliver the message to Garcia »
Programmers are consistently dehumanized because so many do indeed deliver the message to Garcia only to be at best ignored.
|
developments »
A group of building complexes or apartments. Often used for low income housing.
|
dicky-bird »
Endearing term for a small bird, often used when talking with young children.
|
dictated but not read »
Dictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated the text so annotated.
|
die »
Followed by for. Often expressing wider contextual motivations, though sometimes indicating direct causes.
|
discretion is the better part of valour »
It is often wise to refrain from seemingly brave speech or action.1597
|
do one »
To depart from a place, often with a sense of urgency.
|
do something with mirrors »
To jokingly pretend that one did something using magic mirrors, that one is a magician; a joking explanation of the fantastic or the unexplained.
|
do up »
To fasten a piece of clothing.
|
do what%3F »
An intensified version of what or huh.
|
dog's life »
A miserable, unhappy existence.
|
done a bunk »
Simple past tense and past participle of do a bunk.
|
double entendre »
A phrase that has two meanings, especially where one is innocent and literal, the other risqué, bawdy, or ironic; an innuendo..
|
double entendre »
Plural form of double entendre.
|
down for the count »
Decisively beaten; rendered irrelevant for the long term.
|
doze off »
To fall asleep unintentionally.
|
drag »
To move a mouse cursor while holding down a button on the mouse, often to move something on the screen.
|
drag out »
To extend or lengthen excessively.
|
drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators »
(idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.
|
drama queen »
Who behaves and speaks in an overly dramatic manner so as to garner attention.
|
draw out »
To make something last for more time than is necessary; prolong; extend.
|
drop in »
. Often hyphenated drop-in.
|
due course »
A. 1803, Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey.
|
dumb down »
To become simpler in expression or content; to become unacceptably simplistic.
|
dummy up »
To make a mock-up or prototype version of something, without some or all off its intended functionality.
|
dyed in the wool »
Simple past tense and past participle of dye in the wool.
|
economical with the truth »
Not telling the whole truth, especially in order to present a false image of a situation; untruthful; lying. Often used with sarcasm or satire.
|
empty vessels make the most sound »
noisy, opinionated people are often stupid.
|
even money »
By extension, an event that is somewhat likely to happen, but far from inevitable.
|
every silver lining has a cloud »
Every good situation has the potential to turn bad.2007, Diab A. Shetayh, Actuality : The Reality RequiemA great partnership isn't a self-maintaining entity. Perseverance and persistence make it thrive. For every silver lining has a cloud. Ignorance of this reality is not an option.
|
faceplant »
The act of landing face first, often associated with bailing during extreme sports.
|
fall through the cracks »
To be missed; to escape the necessary notice or attention.
|
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.
|
fine print »
The details, restrictions, terms, or conditions, especially of a contract, often printed in very small type.
|
firm up »
To make tentative plans more definite.
|
fish to fry »
A matter to attend to.
|
fits and starts »
Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.
|
five will get you ten »
I strongly believe.
|
flag down »
Use a flag or some kind of signal to get the attention of someone.
|
flower »
Typically including sepals, petals, stamens, and ovaries; often conspicuously colourful.
|
flunk out »
Often requiring a retaking of the course or academic year.
|
fold one's tent »
To withdraw, especially in a discreet manner; to disengage; to quit.
|
for all intensive purposes »
For all highly demanding purposes.[1].
|
for all intensive purposes »
Misconstruction of “for all intents and purposes”.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].
|
for all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
|
for all one is worth »
Intensely, vigorously, with as much effort as one can supply.
|
for keeps »
With an agreement or intention to retain what one gains or receives.
|
force someone's hand »
Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.
|
fox in the henhouse »
A relationships wherein a predator is granted free reign within the prey's home confinement, often used in the political sense.
|
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.
|
free range »
not intensively farmed
|
friend with benefits »
A friendship with no reserves when it comes to the release of shared sexual tension thus leading to sexual fraternization.
|
front and center »
A command to come to the center of attention of an assemblage, as of military personnel or students.
|
frying pan »
cooking utensil
|
full as a goog »
Having eaten too much, or being drunk.
|
full tilt boogie »
Intensely, fast paced.
|
funny stuff »
Irregular, often illegal, activities.
|
get a load of »
To experience someone or something, especially by looking or listening.
|
get at »
intend
|
get at »
mean, intend
|
get someone's back up »
To annoy a person either deliberately or inadvertently.
|
get the better of »
To overwhelm or overcome; to influence heavily; to tend to control or persuade.
|
give a man a fish »
Shortened form of give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime
|
give a shit »
To care, often used in the negative.
|
give a sneck posset »
To fasten the door latch.
|
give ear »
To listen: to devote one's attention to an auditory event.
|
give heed »
Pay attention to.
|
give notice »
To announce one's intent to leave a job; to inform an employer that one is leaving.
|
give the time of day »
To acknowledge somebody; to give somebody any respect or attention.
|
glutton for punishment »
One persistent in an effort in spite of harmful or unpleasant results.
|
go in one ear and out the other »
Failed to pay attention.
|
go off the boil »
To become of diminished intensity or urgency.
|
go out the window »
To vanish or cease, especially due to lack of care, attention, etc.; to be discarded, disregarded, or ignored.
|
go out with »
Often in hopes that the relationship will become more longterm as in definition 1.
|
golf widow »
A woman who is deprived of her husband's time and attention due to his regular absence in order to play golf.
|
Gone to the bad »
soured, spoiled, turned rotten
|
grab bag »
A gift, purchase, etc. whose contents are concealed until after a selection is made.
|
grease monkey »
A mechanic, often with the specific connotation of an automobile mechanic.
|
guilt trip »
Remarks intended to produce such a feeling.
|
guinea pig »
A tailless rodent of the Cavia genus, with short ears and larger than a hamster; the species Cavia porcellus is often kept as a pet.
|
halcyon days »
A period of calm, often nostalgic: “halcyon days of yore”, “halcyon days of youth”..
|
hammer and tongs »
With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.
|
handwriting on the wall »
Alternative form of writing on the wall. A divine prediction or sentence to fate.
|
hang on »
To pay close attention.
|
happy camper »
One who is thoroughly content or satisfied.
|
hate somebody's guts »
To despise; to hate intensely or passionately.
|
have in mind »
To consider, to contemplate, to intend.
|
have it large »
To engage intensely in pleasure-seeking activities.
|
have the wind up »
To be frightened or disturbed.
|
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.
|
head over heels »
Hopelessly smitten.
|
heads up »
Used as an informal warning, caution, or call for attention; pay attention!.
|
heads will roll »
Some people will be fired for incompetence.
|
heads-up »
A warning or call to pay attention; an advisory notice.
|
hear out »
To listen to someone until that person has finished.
|
hear the grass grow »
To be very aware or discerning; to pay attention to every small detail.
|
hedge one's bets »
To place bets with a third party in order to offset potential losses.
|
here you are »
Said when you hand something over to someone or do a favour to them, usually to draw the recipient's attention to the exchange; Equivalent to “thank you” when receiving something..
|
hightail it »
To hurry or run; often, to flee.
|
hit one's stride »
To reach a full level of efficiency, competence, comfort, etc.; to get going.
|
hit the books »
To study, especially with particular intensity.
|
hog heaven »
A state of contented bliss.
|
hoist by one's own petard »
To be hurt, or destroyed by one's own plot or device, of one's own doing which one intended for another; to be "blown up by one's own bomb".
|
hold forth »
To extend or offer, propose.
|
hold one's breath »
To inhale and then intentionally close the epiglottis so that one's breath is not exhaled.
|
hold out »
To hold something out; to extend forward.
|
hold that thought »
Used to acknowledge that one's attention needs to be diverted from what an speaker was saying.
|
hospital pass »
An unwinnable case, often passed to a newly-qualified member of the firm.
|
hot mess »
A warm meal, usually cooked in a large pot, often similar to a stew or porridge; or, service of such a heated meal to soldiers.
|
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.
|
hot off the presses »
Freshly printed, minted, written, or created.
|
hotfoot it »
To hasten; to move rapidly.
|
idiot mittens »
Mittens connected by yarn or string running through one sleeve, along the back and out the other sleeve of a coat, to prevent the mittens becoming lost. Generally worn by small children.
|
if looks could kill »
A phrase said upon catching sight of someone's giving you a particularly nasty look of discontent or disapproval.
|
if pigs had wings »
Shortened form of if pigs had wings they would fly.
|
in a league of one's own »
Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.
|
in clover »
Happy and contented.
|
in Dutch »
Written or spoken in the dutch language.
|
in heaven's name »
An intensifier used with questions.
|
in the hot seat »
Under pressure to perform; under scrutiny; at the center of attention.
|
in the limelight »
In the focus of attention, especially from the media.
|
in the running »
Of a candidate, potential or likely; worthy of consideration.
|
itchy trigger finger »
A tendency to act in haste or without consideration.
|
ivory tower »
A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.
|
jack in »
To stop doing a regular activity. Often a job or studies.
|
jack of all trades »
One competent in many endeavors, especially one who excels in none of them.
|
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.
|
jack up »
To raise, increase, or accelerate; often said of prices, fees, or rates. See also jack up the price.
|
jive turkey »
Someone who is jiving, as in dancing. Often applied to people being funny or showy.
|
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.
|
keep a close watch on »
To pay careful attention to a situation or a thing, so that you can deal with any changes or problems.
|
keep a weather eye open »
To maintain a background awareness of something; to remain alert to changes without it occupying your full attention.
|
keep an eye on »
To watch and pay attention to.
|
keep an eye peeled »
To look out attentively.
|
keep one on one's toes »
To keep one attentive, active, busy or alert.
|
keep one's eye on the ball »
My ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.
|
keep up appearances »
To pretend to be all right or that everything is going well.
|
kick up a fuss »
To show annoyance, or to complain loudly about something, often when it is of little importance in reality.
|
kill the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
|
kiss up »
To pay false flattery to another, particularly a superior at work, in order to get special attention.
|
knock back »
To drink an alcoholic beverage swiftly or often.
|
knock down »
To hit or knock (something), intentionally or accidentally, so that it falls.
|
knock up »
To gently hit the ball back and forth before a tennis match, as practice or warm-up, and to gauge the state of the playing surface, lighting, etc. See knock-up.
|
knock-on effect »
A secondary, often unintended effect.
|
knocked for a six »
to be defeated; outwitted; outfoxed; beaten
|
knowledge is power »
With knowledge and/or education, one's potential or ability to succeed in the pursuit of his objectives will certainly increase.
|
laced-up »
Fastened with a lace.
|
land on one's feet »
To be lucky, or successful, often in difficult situations.
|
lay off »
From employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume, often with a severance package.
|
lay open »
In Japan and South Korea, to publish a patent for initial public review, prior to the formal application for registration.
|
less is more »
That which is less complicated is often better understood and more appreciated than what is more complicated; simplicity is preferable to complexity; brevity in communication is more effective than verbosity.1855, Robert Browning, "Men and Women":Well, less is more, Lucrezia: I am judged.1954, "'Less Is More'," Time, 14 Jun.:The essence of Mies's architectural philosophy is in his famous and sometimes derided phrase, "Less is more." This means, he says, having "the greatest effect with the least means."2007, Gia Kourlas, "Dance Review: An Ordered World Defined With Soothing Spareness," New York Times, 3 Mar. (retrieved 22 Oct. 2008):The program, which features two premieres
|
let the cat out of the bag »
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
|
level up »
To progress to the next level of player character stats and abilities. Often used in role-playing games when the character has aquired enough experience points.
|
life and limb »
Existence together with bodily faculties.
|
life of Riley »
An ideal life of carefree prosperity and contentment.
|
lift up »
To lighten the mood of someone.
|
light up »
To become light, to brighten.
|
light up »
To bring light to something, to brighten.
|
lighten up »
To become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax.
|
lion's den »
Any dangerous or frightening place.
|
lip service »
Empty talk; words absent of action or intention.
|
listen in »
To eavesdrop; to listen secretly.
|
listen in »
To listen without participating.
|
listen up »
To listen closely; to pay attention. Often used in the imperative.
|
little pitchers have big ears »
Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.1844, Charlotte M. Yonge, Abbeychurch, ch. 2:Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."1939, "Bedtime Bedlam," Time, 17 Apr.:A caution to U. S. parents, but a joy to radio merchandising, is the dread truth that little pitchers have big ears.2002, Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ISBN 9780743455961, p. 185:I suppose he might say pushed or went woowoo, but took a shit is, I fear, very much in the ballpark (little pitchers have big ears, after all).
|
Living high on the hog »
Living richly, often above one's means
|
long absent, soon forgotten »
Love fades away when people are distant and don't keep close physical contact.
|
long run »
An extended period of time.
|
look off »
To mislead by directing one's apparent attention away from one's true object of intent.
|
loose end »
The end of a rope that has not been fastened.
|
loose ends »
Leftover items that have not been addressed or attended to.
|
mad money »
A sum of money, often relatively small in amount, kept in reserve to use for impulsive, frivolous purposes.
|
make a point »
To take care in doing something of something; to pay attention or ensure that something is done.
|
make a splash »
To do something that attracts attention.
|
make a stink »
To complain; to demand attention or remedy for a problem.
|
make believe »
To pretend or imagine.
|
make for »
To tend to produce or result in.
|
make it do or do without »
If you don't have a lot of money, extend the life of what you have.
|
make out »
To characterize as; often with to be.
|
make someone's skin crawl »
To disturb or bother; to frighten or disgust.
|
make the welkin ring »
By extension of.
|
make the welkin ring »
By extension of , to celebrate or revel.
|
mark my words »
Listen to me; used before a statement one wishes to emphasize.
|
measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
|
mind you »
Used to draw attention to adjacent words.
|
miss the mark »
To fail to reach the result that was intended.
|
mixed bag »
By extension, a group of entities with few characteristics in common; an assortment.
|
mixed bag »
Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
|
mixed message »
Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent.
|
monkey on one's back »
A state of persistent distress or worry or the cause of such a state.
|
more equal »
Ostensibly equal, but in reality more privileged.
|
more haste, less speed »
When we are in a hurry, we often end up completing our task slower.
|
mug up »
To study intensely.
|
mutual admiration society »
A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one another, sometimes to the point of exaggeration or pretense.
|
ne'er cast a clout til May be out »
Advice not to change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.
|
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.
|
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.
|
no good deed ever goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no good deed goes unpunished »
Used to express the idea that beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility.
|
no smoke without fire »
Indicative of the fact that gossip or accusations are often substantiated by fact.
|
no time like the present »
A shortened form of there's no time like the present
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce , The Fiend's Delight In conclusion, his respect for letter-writing ladies is so great that he would not touch one of them with a ten-foot pole.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Ambrose Bierce, The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce, Vol. 8.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
Francis Lynde, The Quickening.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To approach something or someone.
|
not touch something with a ten foot pole »
To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
|
now you're cooking »
A phrase, often given in response, meaning that the subject has switched to a more suitable or more efficient approach.
|
nudge nudge wink wink »
A phrase added at the end of the sentence to hint that the speaker is referring to something else, euphemistically.
|
object lesson »
A punishment intended as a deterrent to others.
|
off and on »
Intermittently.
|
off the beaten path »
In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known.
|
off the beaten track »
In a place or places not commonly visited.
|
off the radar »
Unlikely to happen, or be important in the near future or tending to escape detection or attention.
|
off the rails »
Off the intended path.
|
old time used to be »
Ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend. Often used in songs.
|
on accident »
Accidentally; not intentionally; because of error, misfortune, or lack of caution.
|
on all fours »
Similar in nature or effect to something else; consistent.
|
on average »
Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
|
on edge »
Tense, nervous or irritable.
|
on one's toes »
Attentive, active, busy or alert.
|
on purpose »
Purposefully; with intention; deliberately.
|
on tenterhooks »
In a state of suspense or apprehension.
|
on the back burner »
Not immediate; inactive; receiving less than full or regular attention.
|
on the ball »
Alert, active, or attentive; on top of things.
|
on the go »
Actively traveling; busy; moving often.
|
on the wagon »
By extension, maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from some other undesirable habit.
|
on track »
On a well-defined promotion path in an organisation, usually tenure.
|
on track »
Proceeding as planned, as expected, or in a manner consistent with an established pattern.
|
once bitten, twice shy »
One is cautious in the future if one has been hurt in the past.
|
one's bark is worse than one's bite »
The individual acts threatening but is relatively harmless.
|
one-night stand »
A single sexual encounter between two individuals, where at least one of the parties has no immediate intention or expectation of establishing a longer-term sexual or romantic relationship. As the phrase implies, the relationship lasts for only one night.
|
or what »
Or something else; allows for the existence of an unexpressed alternative to what was said.
|
out of character »
Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.
|
out of sight, out of mind »
When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about.
|
out of the woods »
Out of peril; likely to recover or prevail over trouble; finished with the worst or most threatening part of a problem or illness.
|
out of thin air »
From non-existent resources.
|
out to lunch »
Clueless, inattentive or careless.
|
outshout »
To merit the most attention or praise.
|
own up »
To acknowledge, confess, or admit guilt. Often used with to.
|
paint with a broad brush »
To describe a class of objects or a kind of phenomenon in general terms, without specific details and without attention to individual variations.
|
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 .
|
paper »
A written document, generally shorter than a book , in particular one written for the Government.
|
paper trail »
A written record, history, or collection of evidence.
|
park the car in Harvard Yard »
A sentence used to illustrate that the Boston accent is non-rhotic; typically pronounced "pahk the cah in Hahvad Yahd".
|
party animal »
A person known for frequent, enthusiastic attendance at parties, especially one whose partying behavior is exuberant or excessive.
|
party crasher »
Someone who attempts and often gains entry to a party or club to which they were not invited, often using social engineering techniques. The party crasher usually tries to blend into the party so as not to be kicked out.
|
patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels »
The appeal to patriotism is often used to distract the public from real issues.
|
pay attention »
To be attentive; to focus one's attention.
|
payback's a bitch »
Usually a complete sentence as an interjection: I am amused that someone got their revenge on you...but you certainly had it coming.
|
payback's a bitch »
Usually a complete sentence: I will get revenge when you least expect it.
|
peachy keen »
Extremely good, exactly right; all right. Often used in the negative or with an ironic or sarcastic connotation to mean the opposite.
|
peed off »
Simple past tense and past participle of pee off.
|
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.
|
physical break »
A short break in a meeting or in a classroom setting, intended to improve attention.
|
pick up »
To notice, detect or discern, often used with "on".
|
pitch a tent »
To have an erection that shows through the trousers.
|
pitched battle »
An intense, rancorous argument or confrontation.
|
play dumb »
To pretend to be mute.
|
play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
|
play games »
To deceive, to lie about one's intentions.
|
play it by ear »
To play a song according to how it sounds, rather than from a written score.
|
play on words »
A pun, or similar humorous use of language such as a double entendre.
|
play possum »
To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lay low.
|
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.
|
poison tree bears poison fruit »
Unethical actions in the service of good intentions will have immoral or unethical consequences.
|
pore over »
To examine something carefully and attentively.
|
possession is nine-tenths of the law »
One who has possession of a thing has some right to it; a popular statement of the doctrine of adverse possession.
|
pour oil on troubled waters »
To calm something or someone who is tenacious or misbehaving.
|
power chord »
A chord or combination of notes used in rock music and typically selected to sound good at high volume and high levels of distortion. Power chords make extensive use of intervals such as open fourths and fifths.
|
press stud »
snap fastener
|
prick up one's ears »
To listen attentively.
|
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.
|
problem child »
Someone or something persistently difficult or vexing; a frequent source of trouble or annoyance.
|
proverbs often come in pairs »
Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.
|
put aside »
To ignore or intentionally forget something, temporarily or permanently, so that more important things can have one's attention.
|
put by »
To perform an action without attracting attention.
|
put by »
To run a ship aground intentionally to avoid a collision.
|
put down »
To halt, eliminate, stop, or squelch, often by force.
|
put off »
To offend, repulse, or frighten.
|
put on the dog »
To dress up; to put on airs; to make a show of wealth and/or importance; to be pretentious.
|
put the pedal to the metal »
To press the gas pedal to the maximum extent.
|
put the wind up »
To frighten or disturb.
|
put words in somebody's mouth »
To attribute to somebody something he or she did not say; to claim inaccurately that somebody said or intended something.
|
quake in one's boots »
To be frightened, scared, or nervous.
|
question mark »
The punctuation mark “?”, used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question..
|
quiet down »
To reduce intensity of an activity.
|
quieten down »
To become quieter.
|
quieten down »
To reduce intensity of an activity.
|
quieten down »
To make someone or something become quieter.
|
rabble rouser »
Someone or something that tends to inspire mobs; something controversial or provocative.
|
rag bagger »
A sailboat, usually a cruising sailboats which tend to carry and store lots of supplies along the deck, or any sailboat that looks like a neglected vessel, or messy vessel.
|
rag bagger »
A sailor who tends to sail on messy cruising vessels.
|
rag the puck »
To retain possession of the puck by skillful skating and stickhandling without attempting to score, as a deliberate tactic intended to use up time.
|
rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
|
raise a stink »
To complain; to demand attention or remedy for a problem.
|
rattle someone's cage »
To demand attention; to nag, nudge, or remind.
|
reach an early grave »
To be sentenced to death before the age of 18.
|
real job »
A job which requires the employee to, work regular hours for a consistent wage that often exceeds the provisions of applicable minimum wage legislation. A job that produces a living wage.
|
reality check »
A check or review to make sure something is consistent, reasonable, etc.
|
red herring »
A clue that is misleading or that has been falsified, intended to divert attention.
|
red state »
A state of the United States voting Republican in a given election, or tending to vote Republican in general.
|
rock the boat »
To disturb the status quo or go against rules or conventions, as in an effort to get attention.
|
rocking horse shit »
A metaphor for something exceedingly rare or, more likely, nonexistent.
|
roll out the red carpet »
To extend the utmost hospitality; to treat someone as an honored guest; to welcome or host, especially in a showy or extravagant manner.
|
rolling pin »
kitchen utensil
|
rose-colored glasses »
An optimistic perception of something; a positive opinion; seeing something in a positive way, often thinking of it as better than it actually is.
|
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.
|
rub up against »
Of pets. To touch a person's body in a friendly manner, seeking attention.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
run down »
To criticize someone or an organisation, often unfairly.
|
run down »
To reduce the size or stock levels of a business, often with a view to closure.
|
run off with »
To leave with someone with the intention of living with them or marrying them. Usually in secret because other people think it is wrong.
|
run on fumes »
By extension, to operate with few resources or little money.
|
run something by »
To bring an idea or proposal to the attention of someone in order to obtain their opinion.
|
run something past »
To bring an idea or proposal to the attention of someone in order to obtain their opinion.
|
sabre-rattling »
Any threat, such as one company threatening another with a lawsuit.
|
safety pin »
fastener
|
sainted »
Simple past tense and past participle of saint.
|
save face »
To take an action or make a gesture intended to preserve one's reputation or honour.
|
scare out of one's wits »
To frighten someone to such an extent that they behave irrationally.
|
scared to death »
Extremely frightened.
|
scream »
Used as an intensifier.
|
sell »
To pretend that an opponent's blows or maneuvers are causing legitimate injury; to act.
|
sell a bargain »
A species of wit, much in vogue about the latter end of the reign of Queen Anne, and frequently alluded to by Dean Swift, who says the maids of honour often amused themselves with it. It consisted in the seller naming his or her hinder parts, in answer to the question, What? which the buyer was artfully led to ask. As a specimen, take the following instance: A lady would come into a room full of company, apparently frightened, crying out "It is white, and follows me!" As soon as someone responded "What?" she sold him the bargain, by saying "Mine arse".
|
sexual tension »
Physically induced libidinal unrest arising between two individuals when aware of each other's presence.
|
shacked up »
Simple past tense and past participle of shack up.
|
shit one's pants »
To be extremely frightened.
|
Shittin in high cotton »
Living well, often above one's means
|
shoot first and ask questions later »
To take action with serious consequences without delay, preserving the benefit of surprise by not providing indication of one's intent.
|
shoot the messenger »
To blame a problem on whoever reported it; to hold somebody accountable a problem because he/she brought attention to it.
|
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.
|
show up »
To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically.
|
show up »
To outperform or one-up, often in an arrogant manner.
|
shuffle »
To get lost in the shuffle: to lack attention when you deserve it.
|
shut the hell up »
Shut up intensified by "the hell".
|
sick joke »
A joke which is in poor taste, especially one which depicts as amusing a situation which the listener considers to be tragic or disgusting.
|
silence is golden »
Peace and quiet have immense value.Often the best choice is to say nothing.
|
silver screen »
By extension, the movies or that related to movies or cinema.
|
silver-tongue »
The trait of being clever at speaking, often in a deceitful way.
|
simmer down »
To decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement.
|
sit in »
To attend something for one time, as a visitor.
|
skate on thin ice »
In a risky, potentially dangerous or delicate situation.
|
skip out »
To shirk; to avoid attending or to leave early, especially without permission.
|
skirt chaser »
A man with amorous intentions who habitually seeks out female companionship.
|
sleeves from one's vest »
Something non-existent; something of no value or cost.
|
slip someone's mind »
To be forgotten; to escape one's memory.
|
slip through the cracks »
To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
|
small arms »
Firearms designed to be carried and fired by a single person; often held in the hand.
|
smallpox blanket »
An apparently benevolent offering whose real intent is to disrupt, destabilize or weaken.
|
smart arse »
One who is particularly flippant or insolent or tends to make snide remarks or jokes.
|
smell the barn »
To experience heightened anticipation or to act with renewed speed or energy as one approaches a destination, goal, or other desired outcome, like a livestock animal at day's end returning to its barn.
|
smoke signal »
A method of long-distance communication sometimes used in ancient and undeveloped societies, consisting of messages conveyed by means of columns or intermittent puffs of smoke.
|
snake oil »
A type of 19th century patent medicine sold in the United States that claimed to contain snake fat, supposedly a Native American remedy for various ailments.
|
sneck posset »
A fastened latch.
|
snipe hunt »
A prank in which a gullible victim is sent off on a fruitless search for a nonexistent item.
|
so quiet one can hear a pin drop »
Said during a lull in a normally bustling place or scene, or as the result of a sudden dramatic or tense moment.
|
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.
|
social death »
The alienation of certain people from society to the point of being forgotten, excluded, or ignored in society.
|
something awful »
Intensely or extremely; badly; in the worst way.
|
sort out »
To separate from the remainder of a group; often construed with from.
|
sow one's wild oats »
To indulge in a period of irresponsible behavior, particularly sexually; Often used in reference to young adults or to the recently divorced.
|
space out »
To stupefy, intoxicate, disorient, or lose attention or focus, especially by the use of drugs.
|
spit-and-polish »
Paying much attention to outward appearance.
|
spring to mind »
To appear suddenly in one's thoughts, often as an example of something.
|
squeaky wheel gets the grease »
The person who complains or speaks up most loudly receives the redress or attention which he or she seeks.
|
staircase wit »
Thinking of an idea or course of action too late to use it effectively, or the tendency to do so.
|
step out »
To exit a place on foot, often for a short time.
|
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.
|
stick it to the man »
To take some action intended to defy a source of oppression such as globalization, commercialization, big business or government.
|
stick out »
To protrude; to extend beyond.
|
stickhandle »
To deal capably and swiftly with a situation, especially in a manner which deflects potential problems.
|
stir-crazy »
By extension, restless, uncomfortable, or impatient due to inactivity.
|
straighten out »
To make straight.
|
straighten out »
To correct or rectify.
|
straighten out »
To eliminate confusion from or concerning.
|
straighten out »
To correct; to stop doing something wrong.
|
stretch out »
To lie fully extended.
|
stretch out »
To fully extend a part of the body.
|
stretch the truth »
To exaggerate, often to the point where the truth is obscured or lost.
|
strut one's stuff »
To behave, or to perform in a showy or ostentatious manner, especially in a way to impress others; to show off.
|
stump up »
To pay for something. Often indicating reluctance to pay.
|
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.
|
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.
|
suffer fools gladly »
To be tolerant of stupidity or incompetence in other people.
|
sugarcoated »
Made superficially more attractive. This often implies the reality has faults that are being hidden.
|
summer and winter »
To spend extended periods of time with; to test.
|
sweeten the pot »
To increase a wager.
|
sweeten the pot »
To make something more desirable.
|
swing the lead »
To pretend to be unwell so that you do not have to work.
|
take a bow »
To accept applause at the end of a performance in a theatre. Often this includes actually bowing to the audience.
|
take a bullet »
To purposely receive a gunshot that was intended for another.
|
take a dive »
To feign a knockout in order to lose intentionally.
|
take a dive »
To lose or fail intentionally.
|
take a powder »
To leave in a hurry; run away; scram; depart without taking leave or notifying anyone, often with a connotation of avoiding something unpleasant or shirking responsibility.
|
take for granted »
To give little attention to or to underestimate the value of, to fail to appreciate.
|
take in »
To shorten or make it smaller.
|
take into account »
Or pay attention to; to notice.
|
take off »
To imitate, often in a satirical manner.
|
take out of context »
To interpret something in a manner in which it was not intended to be understood, often deliberately.
|
take up »
That which takes up or tightens; specifically, a device in a sewing machine for drawing up the slack thread as the needle rises, in completing a stitch.
|
take up with »
To be contented to receive; to receive without opposition; to put up with.
|
talk down »
To speak condescendingly or as though the listener is inferior.
|
tear away »
To remove oneself reluctantly; often expressed in the negative.
|
ten a penny »
So common as to be practically worthless.
|
ten foot pole »
See not touch something with a ten foot pole.
|
tenon saw »
hand tool
|
that's just me »
Indicates the expression of a personal opinion, but often used ironically as an understatement.
|
the ball is in your court »
It is your turn to do something; often making a decision.
|
the finger »
An obscene gesture, typically consisting of extending the middle finger at somebody.
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the grass is always greener on the other side »
Other circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality are often not
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the hell out of »
Used as an intensifier.
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the plot thickens »
Used, often ironically, to describe an increasingly complex or mysterious situation.
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the proof of the pudding is in the eating »
The only real test of something is as what it is intended to be used for.
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the road to hell is paved with good intentions »
well-intended acts can lead to disaster
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the shoemaker's children go barefoot »
One often neglects those closest to oneself.
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the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak »
(proverbs) For much as one wishes to achieve something, the frailties of the human body often make it impossible.
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the whole nine yards »
And everything. Often used, like etc., to finish out a list.
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the world is one's lobster »
(UK, humorous) intentional misrendering of the proverb "the world is one's oyster"
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there are plenty more fish in the sea »
There are many more potential opportunities available.
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there are plenty of fish in the sea »
There are many more potential opportunities available.
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there is nothing new under the sun »
There is nothing truly novel in existence. Every new idea has some sort of precedent or echo from the past.
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third degree »
Intensive rough interrogation in order to extract information or a confession.
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thorn in someone's side »
A persistent annoyance.
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thorn in the flesh »
A persistent difficulty or something very annoying that will not go away.
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throw down »
To cause something one is holding to drop, often forcefully.
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throw down »
To fight, incite to fight, or approach with the intent to fight; to make a stand.
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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 out »
To dismiss or expel someone from any longer performing duty or attending somewhere.
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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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throw smoke »
To consistently pitch fastballs that are difficult to hit.
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throw the baby out with the bathwater »
To discard something valuable, often inadvertently, in the process of removing waste.
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tickled pink »
Simple past tense and past participle of tickle pink.
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tiger team »
An engineering or other group assembled to tackle especially difficult or critical problems, often outside the normal chain of command.
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tilt at windmills »
To go on a wild goose chase; to persistently engage in a futile activity.
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time and tide »
Shortened form of time and tide wait for no man
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tip of the hat »
A gesture of acknowledgement; often, an expression of gratitude.
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tip one's hand »
To inadvertently reveal any secret, particularly a secret that puts one at an advantage or disadvantage.
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to a fare-thee-well »
To the greatest extent or to completion; to a state of refinement or perfection.
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to a T »
Precisely; exactly; perfectly; with great attention to detail.
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to all intents and purposes »
For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.
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to go »
Served in a package or takeout container so as to be taken away from a restaurant rather than eaten on the premises.
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to one's heart's content »
Until satisfied; as much as is wished.
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to that end »
For that reason, with that goal, intending to produce that result.
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to the letter »
Literally, exactly, to follow the rules as they're written.
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to the max »
To a great degree or extent; very.
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to the max »
To the maximum possible degree or extent.
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to the moon »
Used as an intensifier.
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to the tune of »
Roughly; about; as much as; to the sum of, to the extent of.
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tongue-in-cheek »
Not intended seriously; jocular or humorous.
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top shelf »
Books, magazines, or movies that have adult content, or soft-core porn.
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top up »
To extend the credit of something.
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touch%C3%A9 »
An acknowledgement of the success, appropriateness or superiority of an argument, sometimes used sarcastically to mock one's opponent's absurd logic.
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touch%C3%A9 »
Used in a conversation or debate to concede a point as true, often in response to a successful counter of one's own logic.
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tried and true »
Well-established and tested; known to work or succeed based on extensive experience.
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trigger-happy »
Having a tendency or desire to shoot a firearm irresponsibly before adequately identifying the target.
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tuckered out »
Simple past tense and past participle of tucker out.
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tuits »
Virtual tokens for an amount of time or attention that a particular issue would need to resolve.
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tune in »
To pay attention.
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tune in, turn on, drop out »
Pay attention to the new way of living; take drugs; abandon the established ways.
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tune out »
To fail to pay attention to; to ignore.
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turn heads »
To garner a considerable amount of attention.
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turn out »
To attend; show up.
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under erasure »
Of a bit of text, written and strickenthrough; hence, figuratively in some sense both present and absent.
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under the impression »
Thinking or making assumptions, often incorrectly.
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up front »
Open, honest; tending to disclose information; truthful.
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up-and-coming »
Emerging; aspiring; improving; beginning to attract attention or critical acclaim.
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valley of death »
Lord Alfred Tennyson, The Charge of the Light Brigade.
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virgin territory »
By extension, ideas or concepts or activities that have not yet been tried, explored or developed.
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walk the walk »
Act competently, like an expert.
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walls have ears »
There is a risk of being heard, so pay attention to what you say.
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warm the cockles of someone's heart »
To provide happiness, to bring a deeply-felt contentment.
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wash up »
To clean the utensils, dishes etc. used in preparing and eating a meal.
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wash up »
To wash one's hands and/or face, often around mealtimes.
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washed out »
Of clothes. When they lose some of their original colour from being washed so often.
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watch out »
To be aware or conscious; to look closely or carefully; to use caution. Often used in the imperative.
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water under the bridge »
Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
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wax lyrical »
To become, or tend to become lyrical.
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way out of a paper bag »
A minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform such.
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well ain't that the catfish in the trap »
A sentence commonly spoken in the Southern United States. It can often be used in place of "well, I'll be damned". Used to express surprise.
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whack-a-mole »
The practice of trying to stop something that persistently occurs in an apparently random manner at the point where the occurrence is noticed, such as terminating spammers' e-mail accounts or closing pop-up advertisement windows.
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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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where's the beef »
Where is the content? So what?.
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white coat hypertension »
Elevated blood pressure measured by a medical practitioner and deemed to result from the patient's emotional response to the medical environment.
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white lie »
A deliberate, untrue statement which does no harm or is intended to produce a favorable result.
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wild-goose chase »
A futile search, a fruitless errand; a useless and often lengthy pursuit.
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will on »
To wish intensely that someone succeeds in what they are doing. Often implies a silent, or almost inaudible wish.
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window-shopping »
The browsing of shop windows without any intention of buying.
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wipe out »
To physically erase something written.
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with a vengeance »
Intensely motivated; resolute; forceful.
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work one's fingers to the bone »
Work especially hard, usually for an extended period.
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work the room »
To interact enthusiastically with the attendees at an event, by moving among them, greeting them, and engaging them in conversation.
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work the room »
To interact with one's audience, taking queues from its reactions and adapting one's performance or words to elicit the audience's attention and enthusiasm.
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world »
Human collective existence; existence in general.
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worth one's salt »
Competent or adept.
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worth the risk »
The benefit of the success is more valuable than the problems caused by the potential loss.
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written all over someone's face »
Very obvious, from someone's facial expression.
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yell at »
To scold, to rebuke - often by yelling.
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yes to death »
To agree with someone, often sarcastically.
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you know what »
A phrase used to get someone's attention before announcing something.
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you snooze you lose »
If you are not alert and attentive, you will not be successful.
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you what%3F »
An intensified version of what or huh.
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zero in on »
To concentrate or focus one's attention on at task.
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zip up »
To close with a zip fastener.
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zip up »
To close as if with a zip fastener.
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zone out »
To stop paying attention and think about something else, or to think about nothing.
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