a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step »
even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point
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a pull of the hair for being unfair »
The general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".
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about turn »
A complete change of opinion, direction, etc.
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about turn »
An about face; a military command to a formation of soldiers to reverse the direction in which they are facing.
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all's well that ends well »
Problems do not matter if things turn out well in the end.
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are your ears burning »
Said of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.
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as a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly »
Foolish people repeatedly do foolish things.
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as luck would have it »
As it happened; how it turned out; by good fortune; fortunately or luckily.
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back at you »
Used to return a greeting.
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back burner »
A section of a stove used to keep some pots warm while one focuses on others.
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back burner »
A state of low urgency; a state of low current importance.
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back-burner »
Having low urgency; not currently important.
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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.
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barn burner »
Any successful or impressive event.
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barnburner »
Liberal faction of the New York state United States Democratic Party in the mid 19th century.
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bring in »
To return a verdict in a court of law.
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bring up »
To turn on power or start, as of a machine.
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burn a hole in one's pocket »
To cause someone to be tempted to spend money.
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burn down »
To burn to nothing.
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burn down »
To completely burn, so that nothing remains.
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burn one's bridges »
To destroy one's path, connections, reputation, opportunities, etc.
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burn one's candle at both ends »
To work extremely or excessively hard; to work too hard for good health or peace of mind.
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burn one's fingers »
To harm oneself; to suffer consequences of one's actions.
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burn out »
To extinguish due to lack of fuel.
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burn out »
To tire due to overwork.
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burn rubber »
To accelerate so rapidly from standstill that it leaves a mark of burnt rubber on the road from the tire.
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burn the midnight oil »
To work studiously, especially late into the night.
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burn up »
To catch fire and burn until destroyed.
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burn up »
To destroy by burning.
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burn up »
To anger; to annoy.
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burnt to a crisp »
Inedible.
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come back »
To return to a place.
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come full circle »
To complete a cycle of transition, returning to the point of origin.
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come to »
To stop a sailing vessel, especially by turning into the wind. See also come about.
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come to a head »
To rapidly come to a turning point.
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crash and burn »
To fail utterly.
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cross paths »
To be, by chance, in the same physical place at the same time, as a result of two completely separate journeys.
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curveball »
An unexpected turn of events initiated by an opponent or chance.
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dawn of a new day »
A new beginning; a fresh start; an important, promising turning point.
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day out »
An excursion, returning home on the same day.
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do a slow burn »
To experience a gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
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earn one's keep »
To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially.
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ears are burning »
Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.
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end up »
To conclude, turn out, sometimes unexpectedly.
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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.
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fall off the turnip truck »
To be naive, uninformed, or unsophisticated, in the manner of a rustic person.
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fend away »
To turn something away; to ward off.
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fend off »
Away; to turn away; to defend against; to repel with force or effort.
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fly-by-night »
A creatures which flies at night; a nocturnal flier or traveler.
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fork over »
To turn over soil with a gardening fork.
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fourth estate »
Journalism or journalists considered as a group; the Press.
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get »
A difficult return or block of a shot.
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go back »
To return to a place.
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go out »
To be turned off or extinguished.
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go red »
To become sunburnt.
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go south »
To become unfavorable; to decrease; to take a turn for the worse.
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go up in smoke »
To catch fire and burn.
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Gone to the bad »
soured, spoiled, turned rotten
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good turn »
A good deed; a thoughtful or selfless act.
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hang a Louie »
Make a left turn while driving a vehicle.
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hang a Ralph »
Make a right turn while driving a vehicle.
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have other fish to fry »
C. 1710, Jonathan Swift, The Journal to Stella, ch. 2, Letter 15.
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head south »
Alternative form of go south; to decrease or become unfavorable; to take a turn for the worse.
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home run »
The portion of a journey that ends at home.
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hunger is a good sauce »
(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.
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in line »
On a queue; waiting one's turn for something.
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it's a long road that has no turning »
encouragement when things are not going well. Just as a long road eventually has a turning, problems also eventually have a solution, even though one might have to wait.
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it's all grist to the mill »
Everything referred to in the present context has some sort of use.1999, Simon Blackburn, Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (Oxford University Press paperback, ISBN 0199690871), ch. 7 section 6: "Kant
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kick off »
To shut down or turn_off suddenly.
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kill the fatted calf »
To begin a festive celebration and rejoicing for someone's long-awaited return.
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knock-on effect »
The continued running of an engine after the ignition has been turned off; dieseling.
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lay rubber »
To accelerate so rapidly from standstill that it leaves a mark of burnt rubber on the road from the tire.
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leave no stone unturned »
To do a task very carefully and thoroughly, not missing any step.
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leave no stone unturned »
To search thoroughly for something, looking in every conceivable place.
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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).
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make hay »
To cut grass to turn into hay for animal feed.
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make out »
To succeed; to turn out or end up.
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many happy returns »
A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!.
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measure twice and cut once »
(literally, carpentry) One should double-check one's measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, wasting time and material.1872, "Dressmaking," Hall's Journal of Health, vol. 19, no. 12, p. 280:Look at Carpenters! . . . In old times it was a proverb "Measure twice, and cut once."(figuratively, by extension) Plan and prepare in a careful, thorough manner before taking action.2008, Hilary Johnson, "Mergers rattle bank relations," Financial Week, 9 Nov. (retrieved 9 Nov. 2008):Mr. Paz noted that since the onset of the credit crisis, eBay, like other companies, hasn
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oil burner »
A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.
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oil burner »
A heating device which burns fuel oil; an oil furnace.
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oil burner »
A machine that uses oil as its fuel.
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on the back burner »
Not immediate; inactive; receiving less than full or regular attention.
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once you go black, you never go back »
An expression assuming that once a person of another race gets in a sexual relationship with a black person they won't return to their own race.
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one good turn deserves another »
One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.
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ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny »
(biology, social sciences, art, philosophy) The physical, cultural, moral, or intellectual development of each individual passes through stages similar to the developmental stages of that individual's species, society, or civilization.1905, J. A. Harris, "The Importance of Investigations of Seedling Stages," Science, New Series, vol. 22, no. 554, p. 186:With reference to seedling stages the statement that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny must be made with great reserve.1961, M. E. Wolfgang, "Pioneers in Criminology: Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909)," The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science, vol. 52, no. 4, p. 367:Haeckel maintained that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, and this idea was incorporated by Lombroso into his parallelism between the criminal and the child.2002, B. S. Jackson, "Models in Legal History: The Case of Biblical Law," Journal of Law and Religion, vol. 18, no. 1, p. 11:For even if we accept that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," those responsible for the drafting of ancient legal documents were not children, and are hardly to be endowed with some form of infantile mentality.
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paper »
A written document that reports scientific or academic research and is usually subjected to peer review before publication in a scientific journal or in the proceedings of a scientific or academic meeting .
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pick up »
To clean up; to return to an organized state.
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poacher turned gamekeeper »
A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
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point of no return »
The point in an aircraft's flight when there is insufficient fuel to reverse direction and return to the place of origin.
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point of no return »
The point in any journey, process, or sequence of events when it is no longer possible to reverse course or stop the process.
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pop off »
To leave, and return in a short time.
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pop out »
To leave a room or building with the expectation of returning soon.
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power up »
To turn the electrical power on to a device as a precondition to make it operational.
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put back »
To return something to it's original place.
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rain check »
In social interactions, a polite way to turn down an invitation, with the implication one is simply postponing it and that another time would be acceptable.
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rebrousser chemin »
To retrace one's steps, to turn back.
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right back »
Used in several informal constructions to indicate return -- especially imminent return to a point of origin.
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ring back »
To return a phone call.
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road movie »
A film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.
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robber baron »
In Europe, an aristocrat who charged exorbitant fees or otherwise exacted money from people who journeyed across land or waterways which he controlled.
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rock up »
To turn up to a place or function unexpectedly, or without notice or prior warning.
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set aside »
To disagree with something and reject or overturn it.
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set off »
To leave; to begin a journey or trip.
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shut down »
To turn off or stop.
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slow burn »
A gradually increasing feeling of anger or frustration.
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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.
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start over »
To begin again; to return to the beginning.
|
switch off »
To turn a switch to the "off" position in order to stop or disable a device.
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switch on »
To turn a switch to the "on" position in order to start or enable a device.
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switch on »
To change one's expression or appearance as if by turning a switch.
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take back »
To return something.
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talk out of turn »
To make a remark or provide information when it is inappropriate or indiscreet to do so, or when one does not have permission or the authority to do so.
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the ball is in your court »
It is your turn to do something; often making a decision.
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there and back »
One or for a round trip journey, literal or figurative.
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there may be snow on the rooftop but there is fire in the furnace »
Even if a person is in his or her senior years, with gray hair, he or she can still have ambition and energy, especially sexual energy.
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tight lipped »
taciturn
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tip the scales »
To turn to one side a balanced situation.
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tit for tat »
Equivalent retribution, an eye for an eye, returning exactly what you get.
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tourner autour du pot »
To beat around the bush.
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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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turn a blind eye »
To ignore or deliberately overlook, especially with respect to something unpleasant or improper.
|
turn a hair »
To become afraid or visibly upset.
|
turn a phrase »
To create a particular linguistic expression which is strikingly clear, appropriate, and memorable.
|
turn a trick »
To perform a sexual service for a customer.
|
turn against »
To rebel or oppose something formerly supported.
|
turn against »
To rotate against or in opposition to something.
|
turn around »
An upset; a suprising comeback.
|
turn away »
To rotate the body or head so as not to face someone or something.
|
turn away »
To bend or turn from a fixed course.
|
turn away »
To refuse to admit someone.
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turn away »
To avert or deflect something.
|
turn back »
To reverse one's direction and retrace one's steps.
|
turn back »
To backtrack.
|
turn back »
To fold something back; to fold down.
|
turn back »
No turn a dial anticlockwise or adjust a clock or other meter to an earlier time or reading.
|
turn back »
To refuse to allow someone to pass a border or enter a place.
|
turn down »
To refuse, decline, or deny.
|
turn down »
To reduce the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.
|
turn down »
To reposition by turning, flipping, etc. in a downward direction.
|
turn heads »
To garner a considerable amount of attention.
|
turn in »
To submit something; to give.
|
turn in »
To go to sleep; retire to bed.
|
turn in one's grave »
To be appalled, offended or disgusted by something, despite being deceased.
|
turn into »
To transform into; become.
|
turn into a pumpkin »
Used to indicate a curfew, or the time by which one must depart.
|
turn loose »
To roam freely or to act freely.
|
turn of phrase »
An artful phrasing of words.
|
turn off »
To power down; to stop a device by switching it off.
|
turn off »
To repulse, disgust, or discourage.
|
turn off »
To leave a road; exit.
|
turn on »
To power up; to start a device by switching it on.
|
turn on »
To rebel; to go against something formerly supported.
|
turn on »
To enter a road.
|
turn on »
To attract, give pleasure, or encourage.
|
turn on its head »
To completely change.
|
turn one on »
To increase interest.
|
turn one's back »
To forsake, to abandon; to ignore.
|
turn out »
To result; end up.
|
turn out »
To attend; show up.
|
turn out »
To extinguish a light or other device.
|
turn out »
It turns out.
|
turn out »
To produce; make.
|
turn out »
To leave a road.
|
turn out »
To turn or rotate outwards or out of something.
|
turn out »
To refuse service or shelter; to eject or evict.
|
turn over »
To flip over; to rotate top to bottom.
|
turn over »
To produce, complete, or cycle through.
|
turn over »
To relinquish; give back.
|
turn over a new leaf »
To engage in self-improvement; to begin a good habit or shed a bad habit.
|
turn tail »
To flee; to run away; to leave.
|
turn the air blue »
To speak a stream of bad language; to curse and swear.
|
turn the corner »
To pass a critical point.
|
turn the other cheek »
To accept a punishment or an injury and not act out revenge or retaliate.
|
turn the page »
To move on to new involvements or activities; to make a fresh start.
|
turn the page »
To proceed to the next page in a book.
|
turn the tables »
To reverse a situation, such that the advantage has shifted to the party which was previously disadvantaged.
|
turn to stone »
To become completely still, not moving.
|
turn to stone »
To cause something to become stone.
|
turn to stone »
To metamorphosise into stone.
|
turn tricks »
To work as a prostitute, providing sexual services for money.
|
turn up »
To show up; to appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
|
turn up »
To increase the amount of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.
|
turn up »
To reposition by rotating, flipping, etc. upwards.
|
turn up »
To belay or make fast a line on a cleat or pin.
|
turn up for the book »
A very unexpected, usually pleasant, surprise.
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turn up one's nose »
To refuse, especially as due to pride or status.
|
turn up one's nose »
To sneer.
|
turn upside down »
To flip over; to rotate top to bottom.
|
turn upside down »
To thoroughly examine.
|
turn-on »
Something that attracts, gives pleasure, or encourages, especially sexually.
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turnabout is fair play »
It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against him.
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twist of fate »
An unfortunate turn of events.
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wait up »
To stay awake waiting for somebody to return.
|
ward off »
To parry, or turn aside.
|
wash out »
To lose traction while going around a turn, especially in cycling, motorsports and skiing/snowboarding.
|
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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wind back the clock »
Figuratively to return in time to an earlier period of history.
|
wits' end »
A. 1911, John Muir, in John Muir and Michael P. Branch, John Muir's Last Journey: South to the Amazon and East to Africa, 2002, page 138.
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yellow journalism »
Material published in a broadcast or periodical, such as a tabloid newspaper or magazine, which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.
|
yellow press »
Newspapers which publish sensationalist articles rather than well researched and sober journalism.
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