bar star »
A female who frequents bars or lounges, usually late at night.
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barking dogs seldom bite »
People who make big threats never usually carry them out.
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barrel »
A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.
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bat away »
To knock an object, usually a ball.
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be at one's beck and call »
To be in the position of serving someone in any way they desire, usually unwillingly.
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beat up »
To feel badly guilty and accuse oneself over something. Usually followed by over.
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bed down »
To lie down to sleep for the night, usually of livestock or machinery.
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black sheep »
A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person.
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blow off »
To vent, usually, to reduce pressure in a container.
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blue moon »
The third full moon in a quarter that contains four rather than the usual three full moons.
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bog standard »
Especially plain, ordinary, or unremarkable; having no special, excess or unusual features; plain vanilla.
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born in a barn »
Engaging in the annoying behavior of inappropriately, and usually neglectfully, leaving open a door or window.
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box on the ear »
Administered on the victim's ear, usually by an educator, to enforce attention.
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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.
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bring down »
To make something flying fall to the ground. Usually by firing a weapon of some kind.
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business as usual »
The normal course of an activity, particularly in circumstances that are out of the ordinary.
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busman's holiday »
A holiday or vacation during which you do the same thing that you do for your usual work.
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calling card »
A prepaid card or credit card, usually electronically readable, used to pay the charges when making a telephone call.
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cat's pyjamas »
A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects.
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charley horse »
A muscle cramp, usually in the thigh or leg.
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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.
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chip on one's shoulder »
A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harboured grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove.
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chrome horn »
The front bumper of a car when used to bump another vehicle, usually to inform the driver of the other vehicle, that the first car would like to pass.
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clothes don't make the man »
An aphorism meaning that you cannot judge a person solely by his appearance. Usually pertains to men.
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clout list »
A usually secret list containing the names of people who are to be given special access, benefits, or influence in a political or social situation, especially as a result of having personal, professional, or financial relationships with those in authority.
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come across »
To find, usually by accident.
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cough up »
To lose a competition by one's own mistakes, usually near the end of the contest.
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cry out against »
To complain strongly, usually as a group.
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deadweight »
A useless, usually encumbering factor.
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den of iniquity »
A place of immoral behavior, usually of a sexual type.
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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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dig up dirt »
To examine in order to find negative information for public opinion, usually with the purpose of embarrassing or discrediting a person.
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dirty old man »
An adult male - usually middle-aged or elderly - who acts in a lecherous or lewd manner.
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drip »
To have a superabundance of valuable things. Usually followed by "with".
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drop a dime »
To make a phone call, usually means calling the police to report another's activities.
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easy come, easy go »
Easily won and easily lost; usually said when resigned to a loss.
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fade out »
A type of transition used in movies usually at the end of a scene, in which the transition fades to black from the cut.
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fashion plate »
A picture, usually an advertisement, showing the latest fashion in clothing.
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flutter in the dovecote »
A disturbance, usually one caused within a prescribed group of people.
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for the most part »
Mostly; in general; usually.
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fortune favors the bold »
Luck is usually on the side of those who take chances and risks.
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four-leaf clover »
An uncommon variation of the clover, having four leaves instead of the usual three.
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get busy »
Start working, usually in opposition to idleness.
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get on someone's wick »
To annoy or upset someone, usually by repeated disagreeable actions.
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give over »
Usually as an imperative. To tell someone to stop molesting, fooling around, or saying silly things. Or sometimes to stop saying flattering things.
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go against the grain »
To defy convention; to do something in a manner that is unusual or out of the ordinary.
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going rate »
The current standard or usual price, rate, or salary for something.
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grease payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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have to do with the price of tea in China »
To have any relation or bearing whatsoever on the topic at hand, usually used to emphasize the lack of relationship of a non sequitur.
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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..
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historical figure »
A person who lived long ago, usually of some historical note or importance.
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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.
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hustle and bustle »
A large amount of activity and work, usually in a noisy surrounding.
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ice over »
To become covered in ice, usually of a body of water.
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ice up »
To become clogged with ice, usually of a mechanical device.
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in a bind »
In a difficult situation, usually of one's own making; having a dilemma; faced with a problem or a set of problems for which there is no easy solution.
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in effigy »
Symbolizing, usually as an effigy.
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it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good »
There is usually something of benefit to someone, no matter how bad the situation.
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jump about »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
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jump about »
To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.
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jump around »
To move erratically by jumping. Usually as a result of being excited.
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jump around »
To move from side to side, or fidget annoyingly. Usually as a result of being nervous.
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jump at »
To accept something enthusiastically. Usually an opportunity, or chance, or job etc.
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jump in »
To enter something quickly. Usually a mode of transport.
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kick off the team »
In sports, to dismiss an athlete from a team, usually for misconduct, poor academic performance or other offenses.
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knock about »
An informal game, usually football.
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lay down »
To give up, surrender, or yield , usually by placing it on the ground.
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licence to print money »
The authority to print money, usually given to a central bank exclusively as the issuer of currency.
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lubrication payment »
A bribe or extorted money, usually relatively small in amount, provided to a low-level government official or business person, in order to expedite a business decision, shipment, or other transaction, especially in a country where such payments are not unusual.
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many happy returns »
A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!.
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mess up »
To make unwanted mistakes in a given task, usually through distraction or obnoxious behavior.
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mike up »
To fit a microphone and transmitter to a person. Usually for television performers, or for police informers.
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move heaven and earth »
To do whatever is necessary, including extreme or unusual actions; to go to extremes.
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night person »
A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the night and the early morning hours, and who usually sleeps during part of the daytime.
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nightcap »
A beverage drunk before bed that is usually alcoholic.
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no brainer »
Something that supposedly doesn’t take much intellectual thought. Whoever says that something is a no brainer is usually the one with no brains.
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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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object lesson »
A lesson taught using a familiar or unusual object as a focus.
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off one's game »
Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell.
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off one's game »
Playing or competing below one's usual level of performance.
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on average »
Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
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on the blink »
Functioning erratically, malfunctioning; not working or not working well. Usually refers to a mechanical or electronic device.
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on track »
On a well-defined promotion path in an organisation, usually tenure.
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out of character »
Inconsistent with one's personality, disposition, or usual expected behaviour.
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out of the way »
Unusual or out of the ordinary.
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over one's head »
Performing at a level greatly superior to one's usual level of performance.
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paper »
A sheet material used for writing on or printing on , usually made by draining cellulose fibres from a suspension in water.
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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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par for the course »
To be expected; normal; common; usual.
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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.
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pass out »
To graduate, usually marked by the ceremony at the end of their training.
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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.
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payback's a bitch »
Usually a complete sentence: I will get revenge when you least expect it.
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pickle »
A cucumber preserved in a solution, usually a brine or a vinegar syrup.
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play dumb »
To pretend to be slow-witted or lacking in specific knowledge, usually in order to avoid responsibility or to gain some advantage.
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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.
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pour out »
To talk volubly and deeply. Usually implies telling the truth.
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pretzel »
A toasted bread or cracker usually in the shape of a loose knot.
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pronunciamiento »
A military uprising or coup in Spain or the Spanish American republics, particularly in the 19th century. They received this designation because coups were usually accompanied by a statement declaring the existing government null and void.
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pull somebody's leg »
To tease someone; to lead someone on; to goad someone into overreacting. It usually implies teasing or goading by jokingly lying.
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pull teeth »
To remove teeth, usually because they are diseased or damaged.
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push the boat out »
To do something, especially spend money, more extravagantly than usual, particularly for a celebration.
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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.
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rag-chewing »
A phrase used by morse code operators for a longer than usual conversation, generally a conversation extending about 30 minutes.
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raise the flag and see who salutes »
It generates, usually as a preliminary step.
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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 letter day »
Usually very positive, sometimes very negative.
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ring around »
To call a number of people by phone, usually a circle of friends, to organise something.
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ring in »
To make a phone call to one's usual place of work.
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ring round »
To call a number of people by phone, usually a circle of friends, to organise something.
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run a mile »
To escape, flee or leave a situation or relationship, usually as a result of a shocking or sudden announcement or revelation.
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run away »
To leave home, or other place of residence, usually unannounced, or to make good on a threat, with such action usually performed by a child or juvenile.
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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.
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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.
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run through »
To use completely, in a short space of time. Usually money.
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run through »
To impale a person with a blade, usually a sword.
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run up »
To make something, usually an item of clothing, very quickly.
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sack out »
To fall asleep, usually from implied exhaustion.
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sacked out »
Sound asleep, usually from a healthy exhaustion.
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same old story »
What usually happens, a happening which is not surprising.
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shoot the moon »
To achieve the lowest score possible, such that the player is usually rewarded with bonus points.
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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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sign on »
The time of day when a radio or television station begins broadcasting, usually after being off the air for several hours.
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silver bullet »
A bullet made of silver, usually with reference to the folkloric belief that such bullets are the only weapons which can kill a werewolf.
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standard fare »
The usual price for travel by air, rail, or another means of transport.
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strange bedfellows »
An unusual combination or political alliance.
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strike through »
Partly obliterate text by drawing a continuous line through the centre thereof, usually to indicate the deletion of an error or obsolete information.
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strike up »
To start something with somebody else. Usually a conversation or relationship.
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strike up »
To start something, usually playing live music.
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sweat »
Fluid that exits the body through pores in the skin usually due to physical stress and/or high temperature for the purpose of regulating body temperature and removing certain compounds from the circulation.
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take away »
To make someone leave a place and go somewhere else. Usually not with the person's consent.
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take down »
To write a note. Usually to record something that is said.
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take the Michael »
Alternative form of take the mickey, usually considered more polite.
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there is an exception to every rule »
Usually said in a situation when the rule is incorrect and unusable.
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think tank »
A group of which performs research and develops reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporations, interest groups, or government.
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thumb one's nose »
To place a thumb upon the tip of the nose, usually while simultaneous wiggling one's fingers, in a gesture of disrespect.
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toss-upness »
The quality of being a toss-up, usually used in reference to a toss-up state in American presidential elections.
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track record »
An organization's, product's, or person's past performance reviewed in its entirety, usually for the purpose of making a judgment.
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turn up for the book »
A very unexpected, usually pleasant, surprise.
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twiddle one's thumbs »
To circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored.
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wade in »
To interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.
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weekend warrior »
A person who indulges in a sport or pastime on an infrequent basis, usually on weekends when work commitments are not present.
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work one's fingers to the bone »
Work especially hard, usually for an extended period.
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work spouse »
A man or woman in the workplace with whom one shares a special relationship having bonds similar to those of a marriage: special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and unusual degree of honesty or openness.
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wring out »
To force someone to give something, usually truth, or money.
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