viernes, 29 de abril de 2011

use something before something

use something before something
1. to consume or use something before using something else. Use this jar before that one. This one is older. I used the old one before the one you just bought.
2. to consume or use something before a specified date. I will use this bottle of catsup before May. You should use this one before the date stamped on the bottom

affix one's signature to something

affix one's signature to something
to sign one's name on something. I affixed my signature to each of the documents.

hold good


hold good
if a statement holds good for something or someone, it is true of that thing or person (often + for ) The saying 'good things come in small packages' holds good for this excellent miniature TV set. It looks as though my predictions for snow at Christmas are holding good

by the hour


by the hour
at each hour; once each hour. It kept growing darker by the hour. I have to take this medicine by the hour.

be out of action

be out of action
1. if a machine or vehicle is out of action, it is not working or cannot be used I'm afraid the TV's out of action.
2. if someone who plays sport is out of action, they are injured and cannot play Towers is out of action with a broken wrist.

the dreaded lurgy (British & Australian humorous)


the dreaded lurgy (British & Australian humorous)
an illness that is not serious but passes easily from person to person My throat is sore and my head hurts. I think I've caught the dreaded lurgy.
See also: dread

stand on two feet

stand on two feet 0.03 sec.
stand on one's (own) two feet
to act in an independent and forthright manner. I can stand on my own two feet without any help from you! Dave will be better off when he gets a job and can stand on his own feet

. Jet off


2. Jet off leave a place or situation without the consent of a superior or partner, mainly for the sole purpose of self fulfillment and enjoyment; Usually referring to work or unfavorable events.
Why stay in school today when we can jet off after attendance is taken

Physician, heal thyself.


Physician, heal thyself.
Prov. Do not rebuke someone for a fault or problem you have yourself. (Biblical.) Ellen: You're such a spendthrift. You should go on a strict budget. Fred: But you manage money even worse than I do! Physician, heal thyself. Jane: You look like you're gaining weight. You should probably get more exercise. Alan: Physician, heal thyself. You're getting a little pudgy, too.

Physician, heal thyself.


Physician, heal thyself.
Prov. Do not rebuke someone for a fault or problem you have yourself. (Biblical.) Ellen: You're such a spendthrift. You should go on a strict budget. Fred: But you manage money even worse than I do! Physician, heal thyself. Jane: You look like you're gaining weight. You should probably get more exercise. Alan: Physician, heal thyself. You're getting a little pudgy, too.

There's no time to lose.


There's no time to lose.
something that you say when it is important to do something immediately Her plane gets in at 3 o'clock so there's no time to lose

touch down

touch down
To make contact with the ground; land: The spacecraft touched down on schedule.

lie doggo

lie doggo
Fig. to remain unrecognized (for a long time). This problem has lain doggo since 1967. If you don't find the typos now, they will lie doggo until the next edition.

You're the doctor.


You're the doctor.
Inf. Fig. You are in a position to tell me what to do.; I yield to you and your knowledge of this matter. (Usually jocular; the person being addressed is most likely not a physician.) Bill: Eat your dinner, then you'll feel more like playing ball. Get some energy! Tom: Okay, you're the doctor. Teacher

one of these days


one of these days
someday; in some situation like this one. One of these days, someone is going to steal your purse if you don't take better care of it. You're going to get in trouble one of these days

smuggle someone or something past

smuggle someone or something past
(someone or something) to move something past a guard or monitor illegally and in secret. We failed in our attempt to smuggle Mary past the border. It is easy to smuggle wine past the border guards

of your own making


of your own making
caused by your own mistakes He blames everybody else instead of admitting that this is a problem of his own making.

be up and about/around


be up and about/around
if someone is up and about after an illness, they are well enough to get out of bed and move around Trevor's up and about again, but he won't be able to drive for a few weeks

secret weapon - definition


someone or something that gives you a special advantage over your opponents, especially in business or politics
The show could be the BBC’s secret weapon in the ratings war this autumn.

lead a boring-exciting life

hot destination


a good destination

sun-kissed


sun-kissed
adjective /ˈsʌn.kɪst/ adj [before noun] mainly humorous Definition
describes a place that receives a lot of sun, or a person whose appearance is attractive because they have recently been in the

GAIT

GAIT
1: a manner of walking or moving on foot
2: a sequence of foot movements (as a walk, trot, pace, or canter) by which a horse or a dog moves forward
3: a manner or rate of movement or progress

jueves, 28 de abril de 2011

Good men are scarce. and A good man is hard to find.

Good men are scarce. and A good man is hard to find.
Prov. Men who make good husbands or workers are rare. Larry is the best employee I've ever had, and I'll go to a good deal of effort to keep him, because good men are scarce. "I think you should marry John," Sue advised her daughter. "He's a good man, and a good man is hard to find."

quote, unquote


quote, unquote
a parenthetical expression said before a word or short phrase indicating that the word or phrase would be in quotation marks if used in writing. So I said to her, quote, unquote, it's time we had a little talk.

thank you for sharing.

thank you for sharing.
Inf. a sarcastic remark made when someone tells something that is unpleasant, overly personal, disgusting, or otherwise annoying. Thank you for sharing. I really need to hear about your operation. Thank you for sharing, Bob. I hope your parents' divorce goes well.

send (one) about one's business

send (one) about one's business
to send someone away, usually in an unfriendly way. Is that annoying man on the telephone again? Please send him about his business. Ann, I can't clean up the house with you hanging around. I'm going to have to send you about your business.

pet peeve


pet peeve
Fig. a frequent annoyance; one's "favorite" or most often encountered annoyance. My pet peeve is someone who always comes into the theater after the show has started. Drivers who don't signal are John's pet peeve

footy


footy (fo̵̅o̅t′ē, fo̵ot′ē)

adjective

Dialectal of little or no importance; paltry; mean

top·notch (tŏp'nŏch')


top·notch (tŏp'nŏch')
adj. Informal
First-rate; excellent

chum 1 (chm)


chum 1 (chm)
n.
An intimate friend or companion.
intr.v. chummed, chum·ming, chums
1.
a. To be an intimate friend.
b. To display good-natured friendliness: chummed around with the other teammates.
2. To share the same room, as in a dormitory

bring up the rear

bring up the rear
to move along behind everyone else; to be at the end of the line. (Originally referred to marching soldiers. Fixed order.) Here comes John, bringing up the rear. Hurry up, Tom! Why are you always bringing up the rear?

over the counter


over the counter
Fig. [of medication bought or sold] without a prescription. (Hyphenated when prenominal. See also under the counter.) This is a good product. You can buy it over the counter. I don't put much trust in over-the-counter medications.

hoarse as a crow


hoarse as a crow
very hoarse. (*Also: as ~.) After shouting at the team all afternoon, the coach was as hoarse as a crow. Jill: Has Bob got a cold? Jane: No, he's always hoarse as a crow

give somebody the evil eye


give somebody the evil eye
to look at someone in an angry or unpleasant way I arrived late for the meeting and Steve Thomson gave me the evil eye.

culturally deprived and culturally disadvantaged


culturally deprived and culturally disadvantaged
Euph. poor; lower-class. Joe is working at a summer camp for culturally deprived children. Jane grew up in a culturally disadvantaged neighborhood.

be beyond somebody's ken


be beyond somebody's ken
if a particular subject is beyond your ken, you do not understand it or know much about it Don't talk to me about finance - it's beyond my ken. Most of Derrida's work is beyond the ken of the average student.

champ at the bit and chomp at the bit

champ at the bit and chomp at the bit
1. Lit. [for a horse] to bite at its bit, eager to move along. Dobbin was champing at the bit, eager to go.
2. Fig. to be ready and anxious to do something. The kids were champing at the bit to get into the swimming pool. The dogs were champing at the bit to begin the hunt

Slipping Through My Fingers

Slipping Through My Fingers lyrics

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that Im losing her forever
And without really entering her world
Im glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think Im close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when shes gone theres that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I cant deny
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/abba-lyrics/slipping-through-my-fingers-lyrics.html ]
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didnt
And why I just dont know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think Im close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers...

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile...

blow the joint

blow the joint
Sl. to get out of a place, usually in a hurry or without delay. Come on, let's blow the joint before there's trouble. They blew the joint about an hour ago.

miércoles, 27 de abril de 2011

into overdrive


into overdrive
into a condition of hard work and effectiveness The staff went into overdrive, trying to get the software ready for release on Monday. There are times when you think this show is going to shift into overdrive, but it never does.
Usage notes: sometimes used in the form in overdrive: Law enforcement agencies are in overdrive preparing for the summit meeting.

building customer loyalty:


building customer loyalty:
It is an important aspect for the growth of an organization. The key to a successful business is a steady customer base. After all, successful businesses typically see 80 percent of their business come from 20 percent of their customers. Different ways to build customer loyalty are communicate, customer service, employee loyalty, employee training, customer incentives, product awareness, reliability, and to be flexible.

meek as a lamb

meek as a lamb
[of someone] shy, quiet, and docile. (*Also: as ~.) Only an hour after their argument, Joe went to Elizabeth and, meek as a lamb, asked her to forgive him. Betsy terrorizes the other children, but she's as meek as a lamb around her elders

monopoly money


monopoly money
money that seems to have little or no value
Usage notes: Monopoly is the trademark for a game in which you buy property with pretend money
Win or lose this contract, it's all monopoly money to him

far-from-reliable

far-from-reliable Adjetivo
1.poco confiable; Sinónimos: flaky, nondependable, undependable, unreliable

The wolf is at the door.


The wolf is at the door.
Fig. The threat of poverty is upon us. I lost my job, my savings are gone, and now the wolf is at the door.

bridge the gap


bridge the gap
1. Lit. to make a bridge that reaches across a space. The engineers decided to bridge the gap with a wooden structure.
2. Fig. to do or create something that will serve temporarily. We can bridge the gap with a few temporary employees

mea·sly (mzl)


mea·sly (mzl)
adj. mea·sli·er, mea·sli·est
1. Slang Contemptibly small; meager: gave the parking attendant a measly tip.
2. Infected with measles.

martes, 26 de abril de 2011

low on the totem pole


low on the totem pole
least important He's the low man on the totem pole here. AIDS deaths are low on the totem pole compared with cancer and heart disease.

power of love

THE WHISPERS IN THE MORNING
OF LOVERS SLEEPING TIGHT
ARE ROLLING LIKE THUNDER NOW
AS I LOOK IN YOUR EYES

I HOLD ON TO YOUR BODY
AND FEEL EACH MOVE YOU MAKE
YOUR VOICE IS WARM AND TENDER
A LOVE THAT I COULD NOT FORSAKE

(FIRST CHORUS)
CAUSE I AM YOUR LADY
AND YOU ARE MY MAN
WHENEVER YOU REACH FOR ME
ILL DO ALL THAT I CAN

LOST IS HOW IM FEELING LYING IN YOUR ARMS
WHEN THE WORLD OUTSIDES TOO
MUCH TO TAKE
Letras4U.com » letras traducidas al español
THAT ALL ENDS WHEN IM WITH YOU

EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE TIMES
IT SEEMS IM FAR AWAY
NEVER WONDER WHERE I AM
CAUSE I AM ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE

(REPEAT FIRST CHORUS)

(SECOND CHORUS)
WERE HEADING FOR SOMETHING
SOMEWHERE IVE NEVER BEEN
SOMETIMES I AM FRIGHTENED
BUT IM READY TO LEARN
OF THE POWER OF LOVE

THE SOUND OF YOUR HEART BEATING
MADE IT CLEAR
SUDDENLY THE FEELING THAT I CANT GO ON
IS LIGHT YEARS AWAY LOS SUSURROS EN LA MAÑANA
DE AMANTES DURMIENDO ABRAZADOS
ESTÁN SONANDO COMO TRUENOS AHORA,
CUANDO MIRO A TUS OJOS.

ME AGARRO DE TU CUERPO
Y SIENTO CADA MOVIMIENTO QUE HACES.
TU VOZ ES CÁLIDA Y TIERNA,
UN AMOR QUE NO PODRÍA ABANDONAR.

PORQUE YO SOY TU DAMA
Y TÚ ERES MI HOMBRE.
SIEMPRE QUE ME TOMES DE LA MANO
HARÉ TODO LO QUE PUEDA.

PERDIDA ES COMO ME SIENTO, TENDIDA EN TUS BRAZOS.
CUANDO EL MUNDO EXTERIOR ES
DEMASIADO PARA ABARCAR,
QUE TODO TERMINA CUANDO ESTOY CONTIGO.

AUNQUE HAYA ALGUNAS VECES
CUANDO PARECE QUE ESTOY MUY LEJOS,
NUNCA TE PREGUNTES DÓNDE ESTOY
PORQUE SIEMPRE ESTOY A TU LADO.

Letras4U.com » letras traducidas al español
PORQUE YO SOY TU DAMA
Y TÚ ERES MI HOMBRE.
SIEMPRE QUE ME TOMES DE LA MANO
HARÉ TODO LO QUE PUEDA.

VAMOS HACIA ALGO,
A ALGÚN LUGAR EN EL QUE NUNCA HE ESTADO.
A VECES TENGO MIEDO
PERO ESTOY LISTA PARA APRENDER
DEL PODER DEL AMOR.

EL SONIDO DE TU CORAZÓN LATIENDO
LO DEJÓ EN CLARO.
DE PRONTO EL SENTIMIENTO DE QUE NO PUEDO SEGUIR
ESTÁ A AÑOS LUZ.

PORQUE YO SOY TU DAMA
Y TÚ ERES MI HOMBRE.
SIEMPRE QUE ME TOMES DE LA MANO
HARÉ TODO LO QUE PUEDA.

VAMOS HACIA ALGO,
A ALGÚN LUGAR EN EL QUE NUNCA HE ESTADO.
A VECES TENGO MIEDO
PERO ESTOY LISTA PARA APRENDER
DEL PODER DEL AMOR

Foreigner I Want To Know What Love Is

Foreigner I Want To Know What Love Is Lyrics
Send "I Want To Know What Love Is" Ringtone to your Cell Translation in progress. Please wait...

I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older
Aaaah woah-ah-aah

Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
And through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Aaaah woah-oh-ooh

I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me, oooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh oooh
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me

Let's talk about love
(I wanna know what love is) the love that you feel inside
(I want you to show me) I'm feeling so much love
(I wanna feel what love is) no, you just cannot hide
(I know you can show me) yeah, woah-oh-ooh
I wanna know what love is, let's talk about love
(I want you to show me) I wanna feel it too
(I wanna feel what love is) I wanna feel it too
And I know, and I know, I know you can show me
Show me what is real, woah (woah), yeah I know
(I wanna know what love is) hey I wanna know what love
(I want you to show me), I wanna know, I wanna know, want know
(I wanna feel what love is), hey I wanna feel, love
I know you can show me, yeah

powder keg


powder keg
n.
1. A small cask for holding gunpowder or other explosives.
2. A potentially explosive situation or thing.

every now and then - occasionally; "every so often she visits her father


every now and then - occasionally; "every so often she visits her father

everybody hurts


Everybody Hurts"

When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong. Now it's time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on.

Everybody hurts. Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on.

Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes. So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat & fade)
(Everybody hurts. You are not alone.)

Turn around, every now and the I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round

Turn around, every now and the I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round

Turn around, every now and the I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears

Turn around, every now and the I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by

Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes

Turn around, bright eyes

Every now and then I fall apart

Turn around, bright eyes

Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight

And I need you more than ever

And if you only hold me tight

We'll be holding on forever

And we'll only be making it right

Cause we'll never be wrong

Together we can take it to the end of the line

Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time

I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark

We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

I really need you tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love

But now I'm only falling apart

There's nothing I can do

A total eclipse of the heart

Once upon a time there was light in my life

But now there's only love in the dark

Nothing I can say

A total eclipse of the heart

Turn around, bright eyes

Every now and then I fall apart

Turn around, bright eyes

Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight

And I need you more than ever

And if you only hold me tight

We'll be holding on forever

And we'll only be making it right

Cause we'll never be wrong

Together we can take it to the end of the line

Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time

I don't know what to do, I'm always in the dark

We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

I really need you tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love

But now I'm only falling apart

Nothing I can say

A total eclipse of the heart

A total eclipse of the heart

fall apart (at the seams) and come apart at the seams

fall apart (at the seams) and come apart at the seams
1. . Lit. [for something] to break apart where its parts are joined. The dress fell apart at the seams. I wouldn't have thought that a coat that cost that much money would just come apart at the seams.
2. Fig. to break down mentally. Tom works too much and finally fell apart. Poor Ralph simply fell apart at the seams

fall apart-derrumbado emocionalmente

make a stand


make a stand
to make a determined effort to defend something or to stop something from happening I felt the situation had existed for far too long and it was time to make a stand

in the navy


Where can you find pleasure
Search the world for treasure
Learn science technology
Where can you begin to make your dreams all come true
On the land or on the sea
Where can you learn to fly
Play in sports and skin dive
Study oceanography
Sign up for the big band
Or sit in the grandstand
When your team and others meet

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the mother land
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

If you like adventure
Don't you wait to enter
The recruiting office fast
Don't you hesitate
There is no need to wait
They're signing up new seamen fast
Maybe you are too young
To join up today
Bout don't you worry 'bout a thing
For I'm sure there will be
Always a good navy
Protecting the land and sea

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on be bold and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on be bold and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

Who me?

They want you, they want you
They want you as a new recruit

But, but, but, I'm afraid of water.
Hey, hey look
Man, I get seasick even watchin' it on TV!

They want you, they want you in the navy

Oh my goodness.
What am I gonna do in a submarine?

They want you, they want you in the navy

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on be bold and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on be bold and make a stand

short·list also short-list (shôrtlst)

short·list also short-list (shôrtlst)
n.
A list of preferable items or candidates that have been selected for final consideration, as in making an award or filling a position.

be on the cards (British, American & Australian) also be in the cards (American & Australian)

be on the cards (British, American & Australian) also be in the cards (American & Australian)
to be likely to happen
Usage notes: Tarot cards are a special set of cards with pictures on them, which some people believe can be used to find out what is going to happen in the future.
'Do you think there'll be an election next year?' 'I think it's on the cards'. (often + for ) There are some big changes in the cards for next year.

splitting headache


splitting headache
Fig. a severe headache, as if one's head were splitting open. I'm sorry, I can't. I have a splitting headache. Maybe Fred will play bridge with you. This splitting headache has been going on for hours

be in eclipse (literary)

be in eclipse (literary)
if something is in eclipse, it is less successful than it was before His career was in eclipse until he made a comeback in this surprise hit film.

run down some lines

run down some lines
1. Sl. to converse (with someone). I was running down some lines with Fred when the bell rang. Hey, man, let's run down some lines.
2. Sl. to try to seduce someone; to go through a talk leading to seduction. Go run down some lines with someone else. I was just standing there running down some lines with Mary when those guys broke in

Poison pill


Poison pill
A poison pill is a strategy designed to prevent a company from being take over

be staring somebody in the face

be staring somebody in the face
1. if a solution to a problem is staring you in the face, it is very obvious We spent ages wondering how we could make more space in the shop and the answer was staring us in the face all the time.
2. if an unpleasant experience is staring you in the face, it is very likely to happen to you With only one day's supply of water left, death was staring him in the face.

hang by a thread


hang by a thread
if something hangs by a thread, it is likely to fail in the near future Peace and democracy hang by a thread in this troubled country.

dead-end job - definition


dead-end job - definition
View thesaurus entry for dead-end job
What are red words?
Using the thesaurus
CloseWhat are red words?90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing.These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are morefrequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

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noun [countable]
Closesingular dead-end job
plural dead-end jobs

a job that provides you with no chance of getting a better job

kick your heels (British)


kick your heels (British)
to be forced to wait for a period of time (usually in continuous tenses) I'm fed up kicking my heels at home while all my friends are out enjoying themselves

Turn-up for the books

Turn-up for the books
Idiom Definitions for 'Turn-up for the books'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A turn-up for the books is an unexpected or surprising event

brown someone off

brown someone off
Sl. to make someone angry. (See also browned (off).) You really brown me off!

'Rooted to the spot'

'Rooted to the spot'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If someone is rooted to the spot, they canot move, either physically or they cannot think their way out of a problem

shuttle diplomacy


shuttle diplomacy
an attempt to make peace between two groups of people who refuse to meet and talk to each other by meeting both groups separately and travelling between them The shuttle diplomacy continues this week as ambassadors fly to Paris for more talks with the French

according to one's own lights

according to one's own lights
according to the way one believes; according to the way one's conscience or inclinations lead one. John may have been wrong, but he did what he did according to his own lights

less than pleased

less than pleased
displeased. We were less than pleased to learn of your comments. Bill was less than pleased at the outcome of the election.

doctor someone up

doctor someone up
to give someone medical treatment, especially first aid. Give me a minute to doctor Fred up, and then we can continue our walk. I'll doctor up Fred with a bandage; you can go on ahead.

be over the hump (American informal)


be over the hump (American informal)
to be past the most difficult or dangerous part of an activity or period of time We're over the hump now. I'm back at work and we've repaid our debts.

work your socks off (informal)

work your socks off (informal)
to work very hard The lawyers that I know earn a lot of money but they work their socks off.
See go like clockwork, wear fingers to the bone, drive into the ground, slog guts out, build up a head of steam, perform miracles

vote of thanks

vote of thanks
Fig. a speech expressing appreciation and thanks to a speaker, lecturer, organizer, etc., and inviting the audience to applaud. John gave a vote of thanks to Professor Jones for his talk. Mary was given a vote of thanks for organizing the dance

be up with the lark (British, American & Australian) also be up with the crows (Australian)

be up with the lark (British, American & Australian) also be up with the crows (Australian)
to be awake and out of your bed early in the morning
Usage notes: Larks and crows are birds that start singing very early in the morning.
You were up with the lark this morning!

skinflint [ˈskɪnˌflɪnt]


skinflint [ˈskɪnˌflɪnt]
n
an ungenerous or niggardly person; miser
[referring to a person so avaricious that he would skin (swindle) a flint]
skinflinty adj

bedridden [ˈbɛdˌrɪdən]


bedridden [ˈbɛdˌrɪdən]
adj
confined to bed because of illness, esp for a long or indefinite period
[Old English bedreda, from bedd bed + -rida rider, from rīdan to ride

lunes, 25 de abril de 2011

inside joke


inside joke
a joke that only certain people understand; a joke understood only by people who know certain facts and context. What you said must be an inside joke. It makes no sense to me

Rough edges


Rough edges
If something has rough edges, it is still not a finished product and not all of a uniform standard

stick shift


stick shift
1. having to do with a nonautomatic transmission or a car that has one. I prefer a stick shift car—I don't know why. The stick shift models are cheaper—that's why.
2. a nonautomatic transmission. I can't drive a stick shift! My husband took the other car and stuck me with the stick shift

a heavy date (American & Australian humorous)


a heavy date (American & Australian humorous)
a planned meeting between two people who are very interested in having a romantic or sexual relationship I think Carol has a heavy date - she's been in the bathroom for over an hour.