indecisiveness 20319

indecision

surprise someone by something 20318

surprise someone by something

to astonish someone by doing or being something. You surprised me by your forthrightness. No one was surprised by the way it happened.

learn something by rote 20317

learn something by rote

Fig. to learn something by memorizing without giving any thought to what is being learned. I learned history by rote; then I couldn't pass the test that required me to think. If you learn things by rote, you'll never understand them.

from far and near and from near and far 20316

from far and near and from near and far
from all around, both close by and farther away. (In either order.) All the young people from far and near gathered at the high school for the game. The eagles gathered from near and far at the river where the salmon were spawning.

reel something in 20315

reel something in
to bring in something, such as a fish, by winding up the line on a reel. With great effort, she reeled the huge fish in. Hurry and reel in the fish!

reeling off 20314

reel off
To recite fluently and usually at length: reeled off a long list of names and dates.

he was reeling off the names of the players in the various teams

petty cash 20313

petty cash

petty cash
Hide links within definitionsShow links within definitions

DefinitionA small amount of cash kept on hand by a business for incidental expenses.


Read more: http://www.investorwords.com/3690/petty_cash.html#ixzz0zOZLXRZz

on first name terms 20312

on first name terms

familiar with someone, such that one can address that person by his or her first name.
(by extension) (humorous) in regular contact with a person or organisation.
My accountant was so bad I am now on first name terms with the tax department.

whatsoever 20311

whatsoever pron formal (no matter what) lo que sea loc nom
A esa no le creas nada, lo que sea que te diga seguro que es una mentira.
whatsoever adj (at all) en absoluto loc adj
I'm not paying you any money whatsoever.
No me interesa esa propuesta en absoluto.

unequivocal -unequivocally 20310

Admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; clear and unambiguous: an unequivocal success.

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une·quivo·cal·ly adv.

be behind the eight ball 20309

be behind the eight ball (American & Australian informal)
to be in a difficult situation and unable to make progress
Usage notes: In a game of pool (= a game in which you hit numbered balls into holes around a table), if you are behind the black, number eight ball you are in a difficult position to take your next turn.
The police are very much behind the eight ball - they've had no more leads on these burglaries

bring up 20308

i wish you hadnt brought up the subject of money

blow·-by·-blow 20307

blow·-by·-blow (blō′bī blō′)

adjective

told in great detail: a blow-by-blow account of a debate

a rite of passage 20306

a rite of passage
an activity or ceremony that shows that someone has reached an important new stage in their life, especially the start of their adult life There's an element of danger to most adolescent rites of passage, whether they be driving, sex, alcohol or drugs.

in the drink 20305

in the drink
Fig. in the water; in the ocean. (*Typically: be ~;fall ~; throw someone ~.) He fell in the drink and had to be rescued.

echolalia (noun)20304

echolalia (noun)
a speech disorder in which the person improperly and automatically repeats the last words he or she has heard

docket 20303

Law
a. A calendar of the cases awaiting action in a court.
b. A brief entry of the court proceedings in a legal case.
c. The book containing such entries.
2. A summary or other brief statement of the contents of a document; an abstract.
3. A list of things to be done; an agenda.
4. A label or ticket affixed to a package listing the contents or directions for assembling or operating.
tr.v. dock·et·ed, dock·et·ing, dock·ets
1. Law To enter in a court calendar or in a record of court proceedings.
2. To provide with a brief identifying statement.
3. To label or ticket (a parcel). lista de casos,causas

from memory 20302

the ability of the mind to store and recall past sensations, thoughts, knowledge, etc. he can do it from memory

jetty 2301

jetty
s. embarcadero, malecón, muelle, rompeolas

go to great length 2300

be careful, be cautious, bend over backwards, exercise care,
go all lengths, handle with gloves, have a care, make every effort,
not relax, not rest, spare no effort, spare no pains, take care,
take good care, take heed, take pains, take trouble, tread on eggs,
treat gently

green issues 20299

green issues Policy issues arising from concerns about the environment. Various environmental problems arise from economic activity and in particular from economic growth. These include climatic change due to excessive usage of fossil fuels, deforestation, erosion, extinction

a cog in the machine/wheel 20298

a cog in the machine/wheel
one part of a large system or organization He was just a small cog in the large wheel of organised crime. This warehouse is an important cog in our distribution machine.

eat someone out of house and home 20297

eat someone out of house and home
Fig. to eat everything that someone has in the house. That huge dog is eating us out of house and home. The entire football team came over and ate poor Sally out of house and home.

the time is ripe 20296

the time is ripe
if the time is ripe for something, it is a good time to do it or for it to happen (often + for ) British socialists were convinced that the time was ripe for fundamental social change. (often + to do sth) Many employers feel the time is ripe to give workforces a bigger share of the profits they have helped to create.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that the “time is ripe” for Middle East

be at sea 20295

be at sea (British, American & Australian) also be all at sea (British & Australian)

if someone is at sea, they are completely confused I'm all at sea with this computer manual

step up to the plate 20294

step up to the plate
to take responsibility for doing something It is time companies stepped up to the plate and made sure the meat they sell is safe to eat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hUxJ_vRLYk

head over heels 20293

term used to describe the feeling of falling in love. This is used figurativly.
Sara: Look at the look on Laura's face
Steph: Yeah she is head over heels for that guy in front of her

Assertiveness 20292

Assertiveness is a behavioral skill taught by many personal development experts and behavior therapists as well as cognitive behavior therapists. It is linked to self-esteem and considered an important communication skill[according to whom?]. It was originally explored by Joseph Wolpe in his book on treating neurosis. It is commonly employed as an intervention in behavior therapy.[1] The belief was that a person could not be both assertive and anxious at the same time and thus being assertive would inhibit anxiety.[citation needed]

As a communication style and strategy, assertiveness is distinguished from aggression and passivity[citation needed]. How people deal with personal boundaries, their own and those of other people, helps to distinguish between these three concepts. Passive communicators do not defend their own personal boundaries and thus allow aggressive people to abuse or manipulate them through fear. Passive communicators are also typically not likely to risk trying to influence anyone else. Aggressive people do not respect the personal boundaries of others and thus are liable to harm others while trying to influence them. A person communicates assertively by overcoming fear to speak his or her mind or trying to influence others, but doing so in a way that respects the personal boundaries of others. Assertive people are also willing to defend themselves against aggressive people.

stick out like a sore thumb 20291

stick out like a sore thumb
Fig. to be very obvious. That pimple really sticks out like a sore thumb. Do you think I would stick out like a sore thumb at the party if I wear this coat

A close shave.” 20290

A close shave.”

have a close shave and have a close call
Fig. to have a narrow escape from something dangerous. What a close shave I had! I nearly fell off the roof when I was working there. I almost got struck by a speeding car. It was a close shave

In the past, student barbers learned to shave on customers. If they shaved too close, their clients might be cut or even barely escape serious injury. Today, we use this idiom if a person narrowly escapes disaster.

Face your demons 20289

Face your demons
If you face your demons, you confront your fears or something that you have been trying hard to avoid

beat the clock 20288

beat the clock

Fig. to do something before a deadline; to finish before the time is up. (Alludes to accomplishing something before a clock reaches a specific time.) Sam beat the clock, arriving a few minutes before the doors were locked. They were afraid they would be late and hurried in order to beat the clock.

fan the flames (of something)20287

fan the flames (of something)
Fig. to make something more intense; to make a situation worse. The riot fanned the flames of racial hatred even more. The hostility in the school is bad enough without anyone fanning the flames

father figure 20286

An older man, often one in a position of power or influence, who elicits the emotions usually reserved for a father.

A woman's work is never done 20285

A woman's work is never done.
Prov. Housework and raising children are jobs that have no end. (*Typically said by a woman to indicate how busy she is.) "As soon as I finish washing the breakfast dishes, it's time to start fixing lunch," Elizabeth observed. "A woman's work is never done." After a difficult day at the office, Greta came home and began cooking dinner. "A woman's work is never done," she sighed.

never a dull moment 20284

never a dull moment

[it's] always exciting around here. (Describes an exciting or hectic situation.) Every time I visit Jean, she has dozens of things planned for us to do: parties and theaters to attend, restaurants to try, scenic places to see. Never a dull moment. Alan: How was work today? Jane: First of all, my boss called me in to yell at me. Then I had to fire one of my subordinates. And then my desk chair broke when I sat down on it. Never a dull moment

put pen to paper also set pen to paper 20283

put pen to paper also set pen to paper
to write on paper You can e-mail us, or, of course, you can always put pen to paper and send us a letter.

face (that) only a mother could love and face that could Stop a clock 20282

face (that) only a mother could love and face that could Stop a clock
Fig. a very ugly face. (Usually jocular. See also homely enough to stop a clock.) The poor baby has a face only a mother could love. Look at that guy. That's a face that could stop a clock

Tempt providence 20281

Tempt providence
If you tempt providence, you take a risk that may well have unpleasant consequences. ('Tempt fate' is also used

hatchet man 20280

hatchet man
a man who does the cruel or difficult things for someone else; someone who does someone else's dirty work. He served as the president's hatchet man and ended up doing all the dirty work

duty bound 20279

duty bound

(to do something) forced by a sense of duty and honor to do something. Good evening, madam. I'm duty bound to inform you that we have arrested your husband. No one made me say that. I was duty bound.

pitch on/upon Informal 20278

pitch on/upon Informal
To succeed in choosing or achieving, usually quickly: pitched on the ideal solution.

cupboard love 20277

cupboard love = love for someone because they give you food: "I think my cat loves me, but it's only cupboard love!"

teetotal·er 20276

tee·to·tal·er or tee·to·tal·ler (tttl-r) also tee·to·tal·ist (-st)
n.
One who abstains completely from alcoholic beverages.

Let your heart rule your head 20275

Let your heart rule your head = allow your emotions to control your rational side

like a shag on a rock (Australian very informal)20274

like a shag on a rock (Australian very informal)

completely alone
Usage notes: A shag is a large sea bird.

think someone hung the moon (and stars) and think someone is God's own cousin20273

think someone hung the moon (and stars) and think someone is God's own cousin

Rur. to think someone is perfect. Joe won't listen to any complaints about Mary. He thinks she hung the moon and stars. Jim is awful stuck-up. He thinks he's God's own cousin

bow down 20272

1. bow down - get into a prostrate position, as in submission
prostrate
lie down, lie - assume a reclining position; "lie down on the bed until you feel better"
2. bow down - bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame

lag behind 20271

lag behind (someone or something)
to linger behind someone or something; to fall behind someone or something. Come on up here. Don't lag behind us or you'll get lost. Please don't lag behind the donkeys. Come up here with the rest of the hikers.

un·der·go 20270

un·der·go (ndr-g)
tr.v. un·der·went (-wnt), un·der·gone (-gôn, -gn), un·der·go·ing, un·der·goes (-gz)
1. To pass through; experience: a house that is undergoing renovations.
2. To endure; suffer: undergo great hardship.

necessarily 20269

nec·es·sar·i·ly adv \ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē\
Definition of NECESSARILY
1: of necessity : unavoidably
2: as a logical result or consequence

a poison-pen letter 20268

a poison-pen letter
a letter that has no signature and says unpleasant things about the person it is sent to After he was convicted, his family received a number of poison-pen letters.

work like magic 20267

work like magic
if something works like magic, it is very effective and successful That new stain remover worked like magic.

Made in the shade 20266

Made in the shade
One has an easy time in life or in a given situation. Finding things working to one's benefit.

steal somebody's thunder 20265

steal somebody's thunder

to do something that takes attention away from what someone else has done
Usage notes: In the 17th century the writer John Dennis built a machine which made sounds like thunder for one of his plays, but the idea was copied by someone else and used in another play.
I kept quiet about my pregnancy because Cathy was getting married, and I didn't want to steal her thunder.

mad enough to chew nails (and spit rivets) and angry enough to chew nails; mad enough to spit nails 20264

mad enough to chew nails (and spit rivets) and angry enough to chew nails; mad enough to spit nails

Inf. Fig. very angry, as if to be able to bite through metal nails. I am mad enough to chew nails! Who took my checkbook? Her sudden tirade made him angry enough to chew nails. He stomped in, mad enough to chew nails and spit rivets.

A Toss-Up: 20263

A Toss-Up:
A result that is still unclear and can go either way

fall out of favor (with someone)20262

fall out of favor (with someone) and lose favor (with someone)
to lose someone's approval or acceptance. This style of house has fallen out of favor with most people lately. Saving money has lost favor with most people.
See also: fall, favor, out

push someone too far 20261

push someone too far
Fig. to antagonize someone too much; to be too confrontational with someone. I guess I pushed him too far, because he began shouting at me and threatening to hit me

'Pink pound' 20260

'Pink pound'

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In the UK, the pink pound is an idiom for the economic power of gay people

on again, off again and off again, on again 20259

on again, off again and off again, on again
uncertain; indecisive. I don't know about the picnic. It's on again, off again. It depends on the weather. Jane doesn't know if she's going to look for a new job. She's off again, on again about

sweep something under the carpet 2258

sweep something under the carpet
1. Lit. to hide dirt by brushing it away under the edge of a carpet. He was in such a hurry with the cleaning that he just swept the dirt under the carpet. She swept the dirt under the carpet, hoping no one would find it.
2. Fig. to hide or ignore something. You made a mistake that you can't sweep under the carpet. Don't try to sweep it under the carpet. You are wrong!

Make a better fist 20257

Make a better fist
If someone makes a better fist of doing something, they do a better job.

out cold and out like a light 20256

out cold and out like a light
1. Fig. unconscious. I fell and hit my head. I was out cold for about a minute. Tom fainted! He's out like a light!
2. Fig. intoxicated. Four beers and he was out cold. He sat in his chair at the table, out cold.
3. Fig. sound asleep. After a few minutes of tossing and turning, she was out like a light

all righty 20255

all righty
Inf. All right.; OK. Tom: Let's go to the state fair. Bill: All righty, let's do that. Everybody ready? All righty, then, let's get started.

scratch your head 20254

scratch your head
to have difficulty understanding something A lot of people must be scratching their heads and trying to figure out what happened.

third degree 20253

third degree
Fig. a long and detailed period of questioning. (*Typically: get ~; give someone ~.) Why is it I get the third degree from you every time I come home late? Poor Sally spent all night at the police station getting the third degree.

prime something with something 20252

prime something with something
to enable something to start working or functioning with something. Larry primed the pump with a little water, and it began to do its work. We will prime the market for our new product with a free coupon offer.

month after month 20251

month after month
repeatedly for many months You have to pay for Internet access month after month.
Related vocabulary: day after day