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.
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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.
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ace in the hole »
A hidden or secret strength, or unrevealed advantage.
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ace up one's sleeve »
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
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ahead of one's time »
Showing characteristics of changes yet to be; present in one's work before later advances in the field; coming earlier than could be generally accepted.
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an axe to grind »
A grievance, with implications of confrontation.
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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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bang straw »
A nick name for a thresher, but applied to all the servants of a farmer.
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bear on »
To be relevant to.
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behind its time »
Showing characteristics of the past; present in one's work after later advances in the field; coming later than could be generally accepted.
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behind the eight ball »
At a disadvantage.
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beside the point »
Irrelevant, moot.
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bog standard »
Especially plain, ordinary, or unremarkable; having no special, excess or unusual features; plain vanilla.
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break even »
To stay the same; to neither advance nor regress.
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break ground »
To initiate a new venture, or to advance beyond previous achievements.
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