albatross »
A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.
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an offer one can't refuse »
An offer from one side in any transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
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ark ruffian »
Rogues who, in conjunction with watermen, robbed, and sometimes murdered, on the water, by picking a quarrel with the passengers in a boat, boarding it, plundering, stripping, and throwing them overboard, etc. A species of badger.
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at odds »
on bad terms
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avant la lettre »
An example of a term before the term was coined. Describing a term used anachronistically.
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bear down on »
To approach someone in a very determined way.
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behind the bit »
An equestrian term, meaning that the horse is evading the bit.
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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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bent on »
Completely determined; obstinate.
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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.
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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.
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blind »
An 1800s baseball term meaning no score.
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boot camp »
A short, intensive, quasi-military program generally aimed at young offenders as an alternative to a jail term.
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catch-as-catch-can »
Intermittent; only when possible or when the opportunity presents itself.
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charge up »
To motivate, to instill someone with determination.
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charity mugger »
A person employed by a charity, or by an intermediary fundraising agency employed by the charity, who stands in the street and invites passersby to set up standing orders or direct debits to make regular donations to the charity.
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come to terms »
To accept or resign oneself to something emotionally painful.
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come to terms »
To reach an agreement or settle a dispute.
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devil's advocate »
One who debates from a view which they may not actually hold, usually to determine its validity, or simply for the sake of argument.
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dicky-bird »
Endearing term for a small bird, often used when talking with young children.
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do-or-die »
Requiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.
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down for the count »
Decisively beaten; rendered irrelevant for the long term.
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dumb down »
To convey some subject matter in simple terms, avoiding technical or academic language, especially in a way that is considered condescending.
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end of the line »
The termination point of a railway or similar transportation system.
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fall off »
A hip hop term; to completely lose the plot in terms of artistic direction.
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fight fires »
To deal with urgent matters and minor emergencies rather than longer-term work.
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fine print »
The details, restrictions, terms, or conditions, especially of a contract, often printed in very small type.
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first among equals »
In the British and other parliamentary systems, a term used to describe the relationship of the prime minister to the other members of the cabinet.
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fits and starts »
Activity which is intermittent, variable in intensity, and prolonged by interruptions.
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flash in the pan »
A transient occurrence with no long-term effect.
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forbidden fruit is the sweetest »
Forbidden things have more worthwhile short-term consequences.
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get the axe »
To be fired, axed, terminated.
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give the elbow »
To terminate the employment of.
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go between »
an intermediary
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go out with »
Often in hopes that the relationship will become more longterm as in definition 1.
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great unwashed »
A contemptuous term for the populace, particularly the working class.
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grey area »
An area intermediate between two mutually exclusive states or categories where the border between the two is fuzzy.
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hang up »
To terminate a phone call.
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hardwired »
In humans and animals, genetically determined, instinctive behavior, as opposed to learned behavior.
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haul somebody over the coals »
To express anger with someone in no uncertain terms when they do something wrong.
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home run »
baseball term
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in layman's terms »
Explaining something in simple words.
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in laymen's terms »
In layman's terms.
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in no uncertain terms »
With great clarity, emphasis, or exactness; without any ambiguity.
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it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog »
(rare or obsolete, proverb) If a person is determined to punish someone, they will find a way to do so.1596
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kill the goose that lays the golden eggs »
To seek short term gain at the sacrifice of long term profit.
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lion »
A large cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly to much of Europe. The term may apply to the species as a whole, to individuals, or to male individuals. It also applies to related species like mountain lions.
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lock up »
To invest in something long term.
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long shot »
Something unlikely; something that has little chance of happening or working. The term arose from the accuracy of early ship guns, which were effective only at close range and unlikely to hit the mark at any great distance.
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lower the boom on »
To terminate or abolish something.
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make head or tail of »
To determine to be good or bad.
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might makes right »
The stronger and more powerful rule others, control the situation or determine right and wrong.
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moment of truth »
A deciding instant; the time when a test determines or makes it apparent whether something will succeed.
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move the goal posts »
To unilaterally change the rules, or terms of an agreement, especially in an unfair or underhand way.
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noarch »
Short for "no architecture". It is a term used mainly in package management systems to mark packages which are architecture independent. Such packages usually contain graphics, documentation or similar data that can be used on any architecture.
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nose test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
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off and on »
Intermittently.
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on good terms with »
Friendly towards; having good relations with.
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on the face of it »
Apparently; as far as can be seen or determined.
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on the outs »
On unfriendly terms; estranged.
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one can't hold two watermelons in one hand »
do not attempt to take on more than you can handle
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one's days are numbered »
Some period of time, such as a term of employment or a lifetime, is coming to an end.
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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.
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out of proportion »
Not in a proper or pleasing relation to other things, especially in terms of size.
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pack away »
To store away, place out of the way, or stash, especially for the longer term.
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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.
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pickle »
An affectionate term for a loved one.
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pink slip »
Notice of the termination of employment.
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pissing contest »
A boys' prankish competition to determine who can urinate the furthest up a wall.
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put a stop to »
To terminate or abolish something.
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put an end to »
To terminate or abolish something.
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put down »
To replace the telephone receiver and terminate a call. To hang up.
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rebound relationship »
A relationship proceeding a longterm relationship, usually short in duration and used to help mend the "broken heart".
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red tape »
A derisive term for regulations or bureaucratic procedures that are considered excessive or excessively time- and effort-consuming.
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run after »
To make a determined effort to win someone's affections.
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scissorbill »
And railroad term for someone who refused to join the union or who openly colluded with management to thwart the union.
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set in one's ways »
Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or established preferences.
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sex up »
To enhance in terms of fashionable appeal.
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shut down »
To close, terminate, or end.
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sign off »
Term used to describe the closing of a radio or television station's studios and cessation of a broadcasting signal, usually during the overnight hours.
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slob »
A term used to insult a lazy, obese person.
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smell test »
An informal method for determining whether something is authentic, credible, or ethical, by using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
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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.
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socialized medicine »
A politically charged term used to contrast such systems with free market alternatives and emphasize the perceived link to socialism.
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socialized medicine »
An umbrella term for any system of government-run health care.
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sweetheart deal »
A transaction, contract, or other agreement in which one party provides particularly favorable terms to the other, especially in suspicious circumstances.
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the die is cast »
The future is determined; there are no more options; events will proceed in an irreversible manner.
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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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train wreck »
The aftermath of a train crash.
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urban fabric »
The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types, thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes; while excluding without prejudice to this useful term, environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects.
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walk the line »
To maintain an intermediate position between contrasting choices, opinions, etc..
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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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yak shaving »
Any apparently useless activity which, by allowing you to overcome intermediate difficulties, allows you to solve a larger problem.
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