sábado, 30 de octubre de 2010
a backroom boy 20715
a backroom boy (informal)
someone who does a lot of work in the type of job where they are not often seen by the public (often plural) Editors are very much the backroom boys of the film world.
cut and dried 20713
Put someone away 20711
Put someone away
Definition: put in prison
They put him away for twenty years.
Jason was put away for life in prison
Definition: put in prison
They put him away for twenty years.
Jason was put away for life in prison
worth its weight in gold 20710
viernes, 29 de octubre de 2010
your wedding tackle 20709
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you; cry, and you wet your face."20708
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you; cry, and you wet your face."
'Heart of glass 20707
A lot on my plate 20706
run a fever 20704
Take in 20703
disposable goods 20702
disposable goods
pl n
(Business / Marketing) consumer goods that are used up a short time after purchase, including perishables, newspapers, clothes, etc. Compare durable goods Also called disposables
pl n
(Business / Marketing) consumer goods that are used up a short time after purchase, including perishables, newspapers, clothes, etc. Compare durable goods Also called disposables
drifting into 2701
If someone or something drifts into a situation, they get into that situation in a way that is not planned or controlled.
involve [ɪnˈvɒlv]20699
involve [ɪnˈvɒlv]
vb (tr)
1. to include or contain as a necessary part the task involves hard work
this job involves essential hard work
vb (tr)
1. to include or contain as a necessary part the task involves hard work
this job involves essential hard work
jueves, 28 de octubre de 2010
throw an amount of light on someone or something 20698
throw an amount of light on someone or something
to present some revealing information about someone or something. What you have just told me throws a lot of light on George and his motivation. Will you please throw some light on the problem?
to present some revealing information about someone or something. What you have just told me throws a lot of light on George and his motivation. Will you please throw some light on the problem?
history in the making 20697
miércoles, 27 de octubre de 2010
still tongue makes a wise head 20696
still tongue makes a wise head
Prov. If you are wise, you do not talk very much.; You should only speak when you have judged that it is appropriate to do so. Don't chatter about whatever comes to your mind. A still tongue makes a wise head. Kathy really offended Mr. Parker by talking so much about his ex-wife. She needs to learn that a still tongue makes a wise head.
perform/work miracles 20695
wealth 20693
Blurt out 20690
line up 20689
martes, 26 de octubre de 2010
the great and the good (humorous)20688
born out of wedlock 20687
low life 20686
inexhaustible 20685
prop up 20684
Verb 1. prop up - support by placing against something solid or rigid; "shore and buttress an old building"
prop, shore up, shore
hold up, support, sustain, hold - be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?"
bolster - prop up with a pillow or bolster
prop, shore up, shore
hold up, support, sustain, hold - be the physical support of; carry the weight of; "The beam holds up the roof"; "He supported me with one hand while I balanced on the beam"; "What's holding that mirror?"
bolster - prop up with a pillow or bolster
come into play 20683
be in the driving seat (British) also be in the driver's 20681 20681seat (American & Australian)
Bad money drives out good 20680
Bad money drives out good.
Prov. If there is counterfeit or inflated currency in circulation, people will hoard their genuine currency; worthless things will drive valuable things out of circulation. (This principle is also known as Gresham's Law.) When the government reduced the amount of copper in the pennies it produced, we saw that bad money drives out good; everyone saved copper pennies and only spent the less pure ones. Ever since cheap, flimsy furniture began to be manufactured in large quantities, it has been very difficult to find solid, well-made furniture. Bad craftsmanship, like bad money, drives out good
lunes, 25 de octubre de 2010
Love will find a way 20679
Love will find a way.
Prov. People who are in love will overcome any obstacles in order to be together. (Sometimes used ironically, to suggest that someone is in love with whatever he or she is struggling to be near, as in the second example.) Jill: I feel so sorry for Lily and Craig. They just got engaged, and now his job is transferring him across the country. Jane: Love will find a way, I'm sure. Alan: Fred's feeling discouraged because he didn't get the loan he needed to buy the sports car he wants. Bill: I'm sure he'll get that car eventually. Love will find a way
get your feet under the table (British)20678
Pull up a chair 20677
Pull up a chair.
Please get a chair and sit down and join us. (Assumes that there is seating available. The speaker does not necessarily mean that the person spoken to actually has to move a chair.) Tom: Well, hello, Bob! Bob: Hi, Tom. Pull up a chair. The three men were sitting at a table for four. Bob came up and said hello. Bill said, "Pull up a chair." Bob sat in the fourth chair at the table.
race through something 20676
Take the bitter with the sweet 20674
big drink of water and a tall drink of water 20673
big drink of water and a tall drink of water
1. Fig. a very tall person. Tim is sure a big drink of water. Kelly grew into a tall drink of water.
2. Fig. a boring person or thing. (A pun on "hard to take.") She is a big drink of water, but she could be worse. The lecture was a big drink of water.
1. Fig. a very tall person. Tim is sure a big drink of water. Kelly grew into a tall drink of water.
2. Fig. a boring person or thing. (A pun on "hard to take.") She is a big drink of water, but she could be worse. The lecture was a big drink of water.
domingo, 24 de octubre de 2010
cross someone's palm with silver 20672
cross someone's palm with silver
Fig. to pay money to someone in payment for a service. (A fortune-teller might ask for a potential customer to cross her palm with silver. Used in that sense or jocularly for something like tipping a porter.) I crossed his palm with silver, but he still stood there. You will find that things happen much faster in hotels if you cross the staff's palms with silver fairly often.
Fig. to pay money to someone in payment for a service. (A fortune-teller might ask for a potential customer to cross her palm with silver. Used in that sense or jocularly for something like tipping a porter.) I crossed his palm with silver, but he still stood there. You will find that things happen much faster in hotels if you cross the staff's palms with silver fairly often.
vanity bag, case, box 20671
behind the eight ball 20669
behind the eight ball
1. Fig. in trouble; in a weak or losing position. (Alludes to the eight ball in pool, which in certain games cannot be touched without penalty. *Typically: be ~; get ~; have someone ~; put someone ~.) I'm behind the eight ball again and can't see how to relieve my dilemma. John is behind the eight ball because he started writing his term paper far too late.
2. Fig. broke. Sorry, I'm really behind the eight ball this month. I can't make a contribution. (*Typically: be ~; get ~; have someone ~; put someone ~.) I was behind the eight ball again and couldn't make my car payment
a greasy spoon (informal)20667
Don't get mad, get even 20666
be in Queer Street (British old-fashioned, humorous)20665
sábado, 23 de octubre de 2010
on cloud nine 20663
If anything can go wrong, it will 20662
If anything can go wrong, it will.
Prov. Every possible disaster will occur, whether you have prepared for it or not. (This saying is also referred to as "Murphy's Law.") Fred: Your car should be fine now, as long as the battery doesn't die. Alan: Then we'd better put a new battery in. If anything can go wrong, it will; so let's make sure it can't go wrong.
get your brain in gear (informal)20661
cool, calm, and collected 20660
customer is always right 20659
customer is always right
Prov. In order to keep customers happy, the people who serve them should always obey their wishes. (Often cited as a principle of good business dealings; customers sometimes say it to the people serving them in order to try to get good service.) When I began working at the gift shop, my boss told me, "Remember, the customer is always right, no matter how stupid or rude you may think he is being
mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken 20658
mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken
Prov. It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives. Don't put all your money in a single bank account. The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.
Prov. It is dangerous to always depend on just one thing, because if it fails you, you will not have any alternatives. Don't put all your money in a single bank account. The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.
dead center 20657
leave somebody to somebody's tender mercies (humorous)20656
leave somebody to somebody's tender mercies (humorous)
to let someone be dealt with by another person who is not likely to show them any kindness or sympathy Should I have a word with her myself or leave her to Mick's tender mercies
to let someone be dealt with by another person who is not likely to show them any kindness or sympathy Should I have a word with her myself or leave her to Mick's tender mercies
leave a bad taste in someone's mouth 20655
root and branch 20654
a toy boy (British, American & Australian informal) also a boy toy 20653
fly the coop 20652
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