a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down »
An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.
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banyan day »
In British naval tradition, this originally referred to a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.
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banyan day »
In modern usage it refers to a picnic or cookout for the ship's crew.
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barrel of laughs »
That which is enjoyable or entertaining.
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blessed event »
An occurrence or occasion which is particularly noteworthy and enjoyable.
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blood is thicker than water »
Family relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.1866, Anthony Trollope, The Belton Estate, ch. 30,Blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?circa 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, The Scotch Twins, ch. 5,The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!
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born with a silver spoon in one's mouth »
Note. The original nautical expression is just born with a silver spoon and describes those young gentlemen who were able to enter the Royal Navy without examination and whose promotion was assured. the converse was born with a wooden ladle.
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bowl of cherries »
An enjoyable experience.
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bum rap »
An undeservedly unfavorable portrayal or reputation.
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bump and grind »
A combination of movements resembling such a dance, as in road racing, whitewater kayaking, or exercising; any activity involving prolonged jarring or shaking.
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by the Grace of God »
Used as part of the titles of royalty.
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chew the scenery »
To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
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do the hard yards »
To perform a difficult task or tasks.
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first port of call »
The first port that a vessel calls in at after the start of a voyage.
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for crying out loud »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
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for goodness' sake »
This interjection expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
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for heaven's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, or annoyance.
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for Pete's sake »
Expresses frustration, exasperation, annoyance.
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from here to ya-ya »
A very long distance.
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get a rise out of »
To obtain a reaction from someone, especially one of annoyance.
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idiot mittens »
Mittens connected by yarn or string running through one sleeve, along the back and out the other sleeve of a coat, to prevent the mittens becoming lost. Generally worn by small children.
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jacktar »
Nickname for a sailor in the Royal Navy.
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kick up a fuss »
To show annoyance, or to complain loudly about something, often when it is of little importance in reality.
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king »
A male monarch; member of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation.
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knacker's yard »
A place to send a person or object that is spent beyond all reasonable use.
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knacker's yard »
That area of a slaughterhouse where carcasses unfit for human consumption are rendered down to produce useful materials such as glue.
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now you mention it »
The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling.
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one in the eye for »
An event or achievement which is unpleasant for someone, especially for those who considered it impossible or unwelcome; an annoyance.
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open a can of whoop ass »
I'm gonna open up a can of whoop-ass on ya.
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pain in the butt »
A nuisance; a source of trouble or annoyance.
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park the car in Harvard Yard »
A sentence used to illustrate that the Boston accent is non-rhotic; typically pronounced "pahk the cah in Hahvad Yahd".
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peaches and cream »
A very enjoyable experience.
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problem child »
Someone or something persistently difficult or vexing; a frequent source of trouble or annoyance.
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royal flush »
poker hand
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sabre-rattling »
A flamboyant display of military power as an implied threat that it might be used.
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second sight »
clairvoyance
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slam dunk »
Tacking on top of the wind of the following yacht in close quarters.
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spin a yarn »
To tell or create a story, especially one which is lengthy or far-fetched.
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stab in the back »
An act of betrayal or treachery.
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stand by »
To remain loyal or faithful.
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step in front of a moving train »
To sacrifice one's own life for a noble and loyal cause.
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stick in someone's craw »
To cause lasting annoyance, irritation, or hard feelings.
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that does it »
Expression of annoyance or frustration; indicates that one has reached the limit of one's patience or temper.
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the whole nine yards »
All the way; with everything done completely or thoroughly.
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the whole nine yards »
And everything. Often used, like etc., to finish out a list.
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there ya go »
Expressing exasperation.
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there ya go »
You have done it precisely correctly.
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thorn in someone's side »
A persistent annoyance.
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touch a nerve »
To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment.
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true blue »
Indubitably loyal or faithful.
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up the ying yang »
Far more than one needs.
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whistle past the graveyard »
To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation; To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome.
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whistle past the graveyard »
To enter a situation with little or no understanding of the possible consequences.
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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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wouldn't you know it »
Expresses dismay or annoyance, especially at bad luck or misfortune.
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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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yank off »
To remove something, like a piece of cloth or bread, by tearing it with one quick strong pull.
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yank off »
To masturbate.
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yank out »
To remove something like a nail, or a tooth with one quick strong pull.
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