have what it takes and have got what it takes 2043

have what it takes and have got what it takes
to have the skills, power, intelligence, etc., to do something. I know I've got what it takes. I guess I don't have what it takes to be a composer.

spatter someone or something up 2042

spatter someone or something up
to get drops of a liquid or bits of something moist onto someone or something. The painter spattered his partner up when he dropped the paint bucket accidentally. The falling paint bucket spattered up the wall

I've seen better heads on nickel beers 2041

I've seen better heads on nickel beers.
Rur. This person is stupid. Jim's good-looking, but I've seen better heads on nickel beers. My students this term aren't what you'd call bright. I've seen better heads on nickel beers

pork barrel (American informal)2040

pork barrel (American informal)
the action by a government of spending money in an area in order to make themselves more popular with the people there He was critical of these new, expensive job programs as just a form of pork barrel. (American informal

Perfidious Albion 2039

Perfidious Albion
Idiom Definitions for 'Perfidious Albion'
England is known to some as perfidious Albion, implying that it is not trustworthy in its dealings with

feed one's face 2038

feed one's face
Inf. to put food in one's mouth; to eat (something). You're always feeding your face. You're going to get fat. Stop feeding your face and listen to me

a queer fish (British old-fashioned)2037

a queer fish (British old-fashioned)
a strange person I knew his father and he was a queer fish too.

on a silver platter 2036

on a silver platter
without work or effort The Internet provides huge quantities of information on a silver platter, but you don't know if it's accurate or true.

the whole ball of wax (American informal)2035

the whole ball of wax (American informal)
the whole of something, including everything that is connected with it She started working on the project in '96 and within six months was running the whole ball of wax.

set a precedent 2034

set a precedent
to establish a pattern; to set a policy that must be followed in future cases. I'll do what you ask this time, but it doesn't set a precedent. We've already set a precedent in matters such as these.

Tell the truth and shame the devil 2033

Tell the truth and shame the devil.
Prov. to tell the truth even though you have strong reasons for concealing it. Jill: Have you been using my computer without asking permission? Jane: Uh... no.... Jill: Come on, Jane, tell the truth and shame the devil

lose touch with reality 2032

lose touch with reality
to began to think unrealistically; to become unrealistic. I am so overworked that I am losing touch with reality. The psychotic criminal had lost touch with reality

make a fast buck and make a quick buck 2031

make a fast buck and make a quick buck
to make money with little effort or in a short time. Tom is always ready to make a fast buck. I made a quick buck selling used cars.

die of throat trouble 2030

die of throat trouble
Sl. to be hanged. (Old.) He died of throat trouble after the posse caught up with him. The cattle rustler died of throat trouble.

It takes all kinds (to make a world) 2029

It takes all kinds (to make a world).
Fig. There are many different kinds of people, and you should not condemn them for being different. Jill: Eleanor's trying another fad diet. This week she's sprinkling dried algae on all her food. Jane: It takes all kinds. Child: Mommy, I saw a weird man today. He was walking down the street singing real loud. I wish they'd put weird people like that away. Mother: Now, now, honey, it takes all kinds to make a world.

try something for size (British & Australian) also try something on for size (American & Australian)2028

try something for size (British & Australian) also try something on for size (American & Australian)
to test something or to think about an idea in order to decide whether it works or whether you can use it Try that for size. It's the new software program I've been working on. The government is still trying some ideas on for size before committing itself to action.

drown your sorrows 2027

drown your sorrows
to drink a lot of alcohol because you want to stop feeling sad I've got a bottle of whiskey here - shall we stay in and drown our sorrows

hanker after someone or something and hanker for someone or something 2026

hanker after someone or something and hanker for someone or something
Rur. to want someone or something; to long for someone or something. I hanker after a nice

on the sauce 2025

on the sauce
drinking regularly; intoxicated. Poor old Ron is on the sauce again. He is on the sauce most of the time.

clean (up) one's plate 2024

clean (up) one's plate
to eat all the food on one's plate. You have to clean up your plate before you can leave the table. Mom said we can't watch TV tonight unless we clean our plates

that's) fine with me and (that's) fine by me; (that's) okay by me; (that's) okay with me 2023

that's) fine with me and (that's) fine by me; (that's) okay by me; (that's) okay with me
That is agreeable as far as I am concerned. (The expressions with by are colloquial.) Sue: I'm giving away your old coat. Bob: That's fine with me. Sally: Can I take twenty dollars out of your wallet? Fred: That's okay by me—if you can find it, of course

difficult is done at once; the impossible takes a little longer 2022

difficult is done at once; the impossible takes a little longer
Prov. Tasks that are only difficult are done immediately, harder tasks take longer. (Describes a very competent group or person.) The secretary in our office is extremely capable. She has a little sign on her desk that says, "The difficult is done at once; the impossible takes a little longer." In her case, it's not a joke.

come Monday 2021

come Monday
Rur. when Monday comes. (Can be used with other expressions for time, as in come next week, come December, come five o'clock. See the second example.) Joe plays so hard on the weekend that come Monday, he's all worn out. You may think that putting up storm windows is a bother, but come December, you'll be glad you did it.
See also: come, Monday

Pride goes before a fall 2020

Pride goes before a fall. and Pride goeth before a fall.
Prov. If you are too proud and overconfident, you will make mistakes leading to your defeat. (Biblical.) Sue: I'm the best student in my history class. I'm sure I can pass the exam without studying very hard. Sam: Be careful. Pride goes before a fall, you know.

set something to music 2 019

set something to music
to write a piece of music to accompany a set of words. The musician set my lyrics to music. The rock band set the poem to music.

a poacher turned gamekeeper (British) 2018

a poacher turned gamekeeper (British)
someone whose job seems to involve working against the person who is now doing the job which they did before
Usage notes: A poacher illegally kills and steals animals on someone else's land, and a gamekeeper's job is to stop this from happening.He used to be the the union rep but now he's in management - a case of poacher turned gamekeeper.

stop the music and stop the presses 2017

stop the music and stop the presses
Inf. Stop everything!; Hold it! (Presses refers to the printing presses used to print newspapers. This means that there is recent news of such magnitude that the presses must be stopped so a new edition can be printed immediately.) John (entering the room): Stop the music! There's a fire in the kitchen! Mary: Good grief! Let's get out of here! "Stop the presses!" shouted Jane. "I have an announcement

HAPPY CAMPER 2016

happy camper
n
Informal a happy, satisifed person (esp in the phrase not a happy camper)

Shelf life 2015

Shelf life
If something, such as food, drink or medicine, has a particular shelf life, it must be used or sold before the end of that period of time. "Dairy products have quite a short shelf life."

Groan inwardly 2014

Groan inwardly
If you groan inwardly, you feel like expressing despair, disapproval or distress, but you remain silent. "On his return, when Pete saw the pile of files on his desk, he groaned inwardly

earn while you learn 2013

earn while you learnThis expression refers to the possibility of earning a salary while in training."Become an apprentice and get paid while in training. Earn while you learn!"

Put out to pasture To say that someone has been put out to pasture means 2012

Put out to pasture
To say that someone has been put out to pasture means that they have been forced to retire or give up their responsibilities. "He's in good health and feels it's too early to be put out to pasture. "

Your secret is safe with me 2011

Your secret is safe with me.
I will not tell your secret to anyone. Don't worry. I won't tell. Your secret's safe with me. Your secret is safe with me. I will carry it to my grave.

gospel truth 2010

gospel truth
Fig. the undeniable truth. The witness swore he was telling the gospel truth. I told my parents the gospel truth about how the vase broke.

throw the book at someone 2009

throw the book at someone
Fig. to charge or convict someone with as many crimes as is possible. I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the station and threw the book at me. The judge threatened to throw the book at me if I didn't stop insulting the police officer

far and away the best 2008

far and away the best
unquestionably the best. This soap is far and away the best I've ever used. Sally is good, but Ann is far and away the best artist in our school

have the floor 2007

have the floor
- to have permission to speak in a meetingThe president had the floor for almost an hour during the meeting

matter of life and death 2006

matter of life and death
Cliché an issue of great urgency; an issue that will decide between living and dying. We must find a doctor. It's a matter of life and death. A matter of life and death demands that I return home at once

Global climate deal ‘matter of life and death’ for millions in Africa

stop short of a place 2005

stop short of a place
not to go as far as something. The bus stopped short of the end of the road. The speeding car stopped short of the sidewalk where children were playing.
See also: place, short, stop

go so far as to say something 2004

go so far as to say something
to put something into words; to risk saying something. I think that Bob is dishonest, but I wouldn't go so far as to say he's a thief. Red meat may be harmful, but I can't go so far as to say it causes cancer.

wish list 2003

wish list
a list of things one wishes to have. I put a new car at the top of my wish list. I have a DVD player on my wish list

up to par 2002

up to par
Fig. as good as the standard or average; up to standard. I'm just not feeling up to par today. I must be coming down with something. The manager said that the report was not up to par and gave it back to Mary to do over again

a false dawn 2001

a false dawn
something which seems to show that a successful period is beginning or that a situation is improving when it is not
Usage notes: False dawn is the light which appears in the sky just before the sun rises in the morning.His victory in the French Open proved to be a false dawn after he failed to win another title for the next five years

to be smitten by someone 2000

to be smitten by someone = to be in love with someone: "I first met him at a party and from that evening on, I was smitten."

harbinger of things to come and portent of things to come; sign of things to come 1999

harbinger of things to come and portent of things to come; sign of things to come
a sample of the events that are to occur in the future. The first cuts in our budget are a harbinger of things to come. Today's visit from the auditors is a portent of things to come.

bell, book, and candle 1998

bell, book, and candle things that are miraculous or that signal that something
unusual or bizarre may soon happen. (Alluding originally to the items used when performing the rite of excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.) Look, I can't work miracles! Do you expect me to show up at your house with bell, book, and candle, and make everything right? You have to take charge of your own destiny! On the top shelf of the tiny used-book store, Jim saw a bell, book, and candle sitting in a row, and he knew he was going to find some very interesting reading material.

do something up brown 1997

do something up brown
to do something just right or with great effect.(Fixed order.) Whenever they put on a party, they do it up brown. He was determined to cause a scandal, and he really did it up brown

set in train 1996

set in train
if you set in train an activity or an event, you make it begin His book set in train the events which eventually led to revolution.

lose the plot (British & Australian humorous)1995

lose the plot (British & Australian humorous)
to become crazy I was waking up in the middle of the night, not knowing who I was or where I was. I really thought I was losing the plot

lean and mean 1994

lean and mean
Fig. fit and ready for hard, efficient work. Dave got himself lean and mean and is ready to play in Saturday's game. The management is lean and mean and looks to turn a profit next year

a four-letter word 1993

a four-letter word
a short word that is extremely rude The player was suspended after using a variety of four-letter words in front of the umpire.

in cold storage 1992

in cold storage
dead; in a state of death. (Alludes to the actual storage of certain things, such as fur coats, in cold storerooms.) Tom gets paid for putting his subjects in cold storage. Poor old Jed is in cold storage

Katie bar the door 1991

Katie bar the door
Prepare immediately for an advancing threat. Katie bar the door, the grandchildren are here and they all look hungry.

not be all fun and games 1990

not be all fun and games
if an activity is not all fun and games, parts of it are difficult or unpleasant Being a tour representative isn't all fun and games, I can tell you

the sun belt 1989

the sun belt
Fig. the southern U.S. states, where it is generally warm and sunny. I want to retire to the sun belt. The population of the sun belt is exploding.

show good faith 1988

show good faith
to demonstrate good intentions or good will. I'm certain that you showed good faith when you signed the contract. Do you doubt that she is showing good faith

put/stick your head above the parapet 1987

put/stick your head above the parapet
to be brave enough to state an opinion that might upset people Kearton was one of the very few to put his head above the corporate parapet and speak his mind in public