lunes, 8 de febrero de 2010
'Need no introduction' 614
'Need no introduction'
Someone who is very famous and known to everyone needs no introduction.
Keep your nose clean 612
Keep your nose clean
Idiom Definitions for 'Keep your nose clean'
If someone is trying to keep their Nose Clean, they are trying to stay out of trouble by not getting involved in any sort of wrong-doing
Idiom Definitions for 'Keep your nose clean'
If someone is trying to keep their Nose Clean, they are trying to stay out of trouble by not getting involved in any sort of wrong-doing
ball and chain 611
ball and chain
n
1. (formerly) a heavy iron ball attached to a chain and fastened to a prisoner
2. a heavy restraint
3. Slang one's wife
n
1. (formerly) a heavy iron ball attached to a chain and fastened to a prisoner
2. a heavy restraint
3. Slang one's wife
burning the candle at both ends 610
You are burning the candle at both ends when you are working long hours without resting. Example: "Would you like to go to a party tonight?" Reply: "I can't. I'm way too tired. I've been burning the candle at both ends all week."Your energy is burning down, and you are growing more and more tired, when you are burning the candle at both ends. Example: "Are you still working day and night?" Reply "Not anymore. Now I work nine hours a day, and I get a good sleep almost every night. No more burning the candle at both ends."Burning the candle at both ends is not a healthy life because you are working from early to late and not getting enough rest. Example: "Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at both ends. I can't take much more of it."
at the drop of a hat 609
If you would do something quickly and easily, without thinking about it, you would do it at the drop of a hat. Example: "Would you travel around the world if you had the money?" Reply: "At the drop of a hat."When a hat drops off your head, it falls quickly and suddenly, and that is how fast you would do it at the drop of a hat. Example: "I would take a job like that at the drop of a hat."You know you would do it, because you have already decided, when you would do it at the drop of a hat. Example: "If you get an extra ticket, let me know. I would go at the drop of a hat
feel like a new person 608
feel like a new person
- to feel refreshed and renewedI felt like a new person after I had a shower
- to feel refreshed and renewedI felt like a new person after I had a shower
crash course 607
crash course - a rapid and intense course of training or research (usually undertaken in an emergency); "he took a crash course in Italian on his way to Italy"; "his first job was a crash course in survival and in learning how to get along with people"; "a crash programme is needed to create new jobs
honeymoon period 606
honeymoon period
a short period at the beginning of a new job or a new government, when no one criticizes you Labour's brief honeymoon period only lasted until the first budget
a short period at the beginning of a new job or a new government, when no one criticizes you Labour's brief honeymoon period only lasted until the first budget
straddle the fence 605
straddle the fence
Fig. to support both sides of an issue. (As if one were partly on either side of a fence.) The mayor is straddling the fence on this issue, hoping the public will forget it. The legislator wanted to straddle the fence until the last minute, and that alone cost her a lot of votes
Fig. to support both sides of an issue. (As if one were partly on either side of a fence.) The mayor is straddling the fence on this issue, hoping the public will forget it. The legislator wanted to straddle the fence until the last minute, and that alone cost her a lot of votes
pinch pennies 604
pinch pennies
- to be careful with money, to be thrifty He has been pinching pennies for many months in order to save money for his vacation
- to be careful with money, to be thrifty He has been pinching pennies for many months in order to save money for his vacation
domingo, 7 de febrero de 2010
sábado, 6 de febrero de 2010
make a living 594
make a living
- earn enough money to liveHe cannot make a living by only doing a part-time job
- earn enough money to liveHe cannot make a living by only doing a part-time job
buy a pig in a poke 593
buy a pig in a poke
- to buy something without seeing it or knowing if it will be satisfactoryYou can buy the used computer but it will be like buying a pig in a poke if you do not look at it first.
cast pearls before swine
- to buy something without seeing it or knowing if it will be satisfactoryYou can buy the used computer but it will be like buying a pig in a poke if you do not look at it first.
cast pearls before swine
like lambs to the slaughter 592
like lambs to the slaughter
- quietly and without complaining about the dangers that may lie aheadOur football team went like lambs to the slaughter to meet the best football team in the country.
- quietly and without complaining about the dangers that may lie aheadOur football team went like lambs to the slaughter to meet the best football team in the country.
drop the ball 591
drop the ball
- make an error or mistake, handle things badlyThe government dropped the ball on their decision to expand the airport runway without consulting the local residents
- make an error or mistake, handle things badlyThe government dropped the ball on their decision to expand the airport runway without consulting the local residents
chicken and egg situation 590
chicken and egg situation
- two things happen together and it is difficult to see which one of them caused the otherIt was a chicken and egg situation and it was difficult to know who caused the problems with the computer.
chicken feed
- two things happen together and it is difficult to see which one of them caused the otherIt was a chicken and egg situation and it was difficult to know who caused the problems with the computer.
chicken feed
lunes, 1 de febrero de 2010
shotgun wedding 581
shotgun wedding
n
Informal a wedding into which one or both partners are coerced, usually because the woman is pregnant
n
Informal a wedding into which one or both partners are coerced, usually because the woman is pregnant
Jesus freak 580
Jesus freak
n. Slang
A member of a movement among young Christians adapting traditional evangelicalism to pop culture
n. Slang
A member of a movement among young Christians adapting traditional evangelicalism to pop culture
tight-fisted 579
very frugal; unwilling to spend money unnecessarily.
A: Do you think Charlie will donate any money to the activities fund?B: No way! He's too tight-fisted
A: Do you think Charlie will donate any money to the activities fund?B: No way! He's too tight-fisted
Once bitten, twice shy 577
If somebody is said to be once bitten twice shy, it means that someone who has been hurt or who has had something go wrong will be far more careful the next time
bring somebody up to date 574
MISERY LOVES COMPANY 573
Unhappy people like other people to be unhappy too. Jill: Why is Linda criticizing everybody today? Jane: Her boss criticized her this morning, and misery loves company. I should probably feel bad because my sister is so depressed, but I'm pretty depressed myself. Misery loves company.
something that you say which means that people who are feeling sad usually want the people they are with to also feel sad On a bad day, she isn't satisfied till the entire family is in tears. Misery loves company.
PARECIDO MAL DE MUCHO,CONSUELO DE TONTOS
something that you say which means that people who are feeling sad usually want the people they are with to also feel sad On a bad day, she isn't satisfied till the entire family is in tears. Misery loves company.
PARECIDO MAL DE MUCHO,CONSUELO DE TONTOS
play gooseberry 572
play gooseberry (British humorous)
to be with two people who are having a romantic relationship and who would prefer to be alone Yes, thank you, I'd love to go to the cinema, if you two are sure you don't mind me playing gooseberry.
SUJETAVELAS
to be with two people who are having a romantic relationship and who would prefer to be alone Yes, thank you, I'd love to go to the cinema, if you two are sure you don't mind me playing gooseberry.
SUJETAVELAS
play second fiddle 571
play second fiddle
if you play second fiddle to someone, they are in a stronger position or are more important than you (usually + to ) You'll have to choose between your wife and me. I won't play second fiddle to anyone.
if you play second fiddle to someone, they are in a stronger position or are more important than you (usually + to ) You'll have to choose between your wife and me. I won't play second fiddle to anyone.
AFTER A FASHION 570
after a fashion
1. if you do something after a fashion, you manage to do it although not very well I can paint after a fashion, but I'm certainly not as good as you.
2. almost, but not completely 'A vegetarian diet is much healthier.' 'That's true after a fashion, although I don't believe all meat is bad for you.'
See also: after, fashion
1. if you do something after a fashion, you manage to do it although not very well I can paint after a fashion, but I'm certainly not as good as you.
2. almost, but not completely 'A vegetarian diet is much healthier.' 'That's true after a fashion, although I don't believe all meat is bad for you.'
See also: after, fashion
tit for tat definition 569
: phrase used when someone pays back one wrong or injury with another
Etymology: var. of earlier tip for tap tit for tat definition
tit for tat
this for that: phrase used when someone pays back one wrong or injury with another
Etymology: var. of earlier tip for tap tit for tat definition
tit for tat
this for that: phrase used when someone pays back one wrong or injury with another
there is more than meets the eye 567
If there is more than meets the eye to something, it is more complex or difficult than it appears
HAY ALGO MAS DE LO QUE SALTA A PRIMERA VISTA
HAY ALGO MAS DE LO QUE SALTA A PRIMERA VISTA
To come to the notice of (the senses): There is more here than meets the eye 566
To come to the notice of (the senses): There is more here than meets the eye
It never rains but it pours 565
It never rains but it pours.
Prov. Good (or bad) things do not just happen a few at a time, but in large numbers all at once.
LAS DESGRACIAS NUNCA VIENEN SOLAS
Prov. Good (or bad) things do not just happen a few at a time, but in large numbers all at once.
LAS DESGRACIAS NUNCA VIENEN SOLAS
quiet as a CHURCH MOUSE 564
quiet as a (church) mouse and *quiet as the grave
very quiet. (*Also: as ~.) You'd better be as quiet as a mouse while Grandma takes her nap so you won't wake her up. This town is quiet as the grave now that the factories have closed.
very quiet. (*Also: as ~.) You'd better be as quiet as a mouse while Grandma takes her nap so you won't wake her up. This town is quiet as the grave now that the factories have closed.
cut somebody down to size 562
cut somebody down to size
to criticize someone who you think is too confident in order to make them feel less confident or less proud When he started he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size.
to criticize someone who you think is too confident in order to make them feel less confident or less proud When he started he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size.
to make someone or something less important or detailed When he started the job he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size. Sometimes we have to cut our grand dreams down to size.
BAJARLE LOS HUMOS A ALGUIEN
beg, borrow, or steal 561
beg, borrow, or steal
Obtain by any possible means, as in You couldn't beg, borrow, or steal tickets to the Olympics. This term is often used in the negative, to describe something that cannot be obtained; Chaucer used it in The Tale of the Man of Law
beg, borrow, or stealto do whatever you must in order to get what you want - often used humorously:
She'd beg, borrow, or steal the money for those shoes
Obtain by any possible means, as in You couldn't beg, borrow, or steal tickets to the Olympics. This term is often used in the negative, to describe something that cannot be obtained; Chaucer used it in The Tale of the Man of Law
beg, borrow, or stealto do whatever you must in order to get what you want - often used humorously:
She'd beg, borrow, or steal the money for those shoes
Safe pair of hands 558
Safe pair of hands
A person who can be trusted to do something without causing any trouble is a safe pair of hands.
A person who can be trusted to do something without causing any trouble is a safe pair of hands.
not all it's cracked up to be 557
It is disappointing, it does not live up to its reputation, as in The restaurant wasn't all it's cracked up to be. This term uses crack up in the sense of “to praise,” which survives only in this expression. [Colloquial; early 1800s]es not live up to its reputation, as in The restaurant wasn't all it's cracked up to be. This term uses crack up in the sense of “to praise,” which survives only in this expression. [Colloquial; early 1800s]
jump the gun 556
jump the gun
to do something too soon, especially without thinking carefully about it
Usage notes: If someone running in a race jumps the gun, they start running before the gun has been fired to start the race.He shouted at me before I had time to explain, but later he apologised for jumping the gun.
See also: gun, jump
to do something too soon, especially without thinking carefully about it
Usage notes: If someone running in a race jumps the gun, they start running before the gun has been fired to start the race.He shouted at me before I had time to explain, but later he apologised for jumping the gun.
See also: gun, jump
Silence gives consent. 555
Silence gives consent.
Prov. If you do not object to what someone says or does, you can be assumed to agree with or condone it. Jill: What did Fred say when you told him we were thinking about leaving the office early? Jane: He didn't say anything. Jill: Then he must not mind if we go. Silence gives consent
Prov. If you do not object to what someone says or does, you can be assumed to agree with or condone it. Jill: What did Fred say when you told him we were thinking about leaving the office early? Jane: He didn't say anything. Jill: Then he must not mind if we go. Silence gives consent
at the latest 553
at the latest
not beyond the time mentioned. Please pay this bill in ten days at the latest. I'll be home by midnight at the latest.
See also: latest
not beyond the time mentioned. Please pay this bill in ten days at the latest. I'll be home by midnight at the latest.
See also: latest
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