a few sandwiches short of a picnic »
Exhibiting disquiet or unsoundness of mind; not sane; mad.
|
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step »
even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point
|
a leopard cannot change its spots »
One cannot change one's own nature.1597, William Shakespeare, Richard II Act i, Scene 1 (First Folio):King. Lyons make Leopards tame.Mowbray. Yea but not change his ?pots.1611, King James Version of the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23:Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?1820, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe Chapter 32:End now all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be.1918, Johnston McCulley, Thubway Tham's Inthane Moment:The leopard cannot change his spots, old boy.
|
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!
|
accident waiting to happen »
A thing or situation which is almost certain to eventually lead to an accident.
|
account for »
To explain by relating circumstances; to show that some one, thing or members of a group are present or have been processed.
|
ad fontes »
Go to the sources: An expression emphasizing the importance of conducting fundamental research and of consulting primary sources.
|
against the grain »
To sand or plane a piece of wood parallel or nearly parallel to the fibers such that splinters forming ahead of the tool originate below the cutting surface.
|
ahead of the game »
Having completed a task before it is due; ready, prepared, or anticipating.
|
all ears »
Awaiting an explanation.
|
all one's eggs in one basket »
Devoting all of one’s resources to one thing.
|
all one's eggs in one basket »
Investing heavily in just one area.
|
all over but the shouting »
The substance of the contest is complete, leaving only the cheering.
|
all right, my lover »
An informal affectionate greeting.
|
all talk and no action »
Speaking, promising, or boasting much, but doing little
|
| New: We also know Zip Codes FYI! |
