broken dreams 20633

broken dreams
wishes or desires that cannot be fulfilled. We all have our share of broken dreams, but they were never all meant to come true anyway.

It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better... while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more2

have a glass jaw 20631

have a glass jaw

Fig. to be susceptible to a knockout when struck on the head. (Said only of boxers who are frequently knocked down by a blow to the head.) When the prizefighter was knocked out cold by a right to the chin in the first round, the newspapers said he had a glass jaw. Once a fighter has a glass jaw, he's finished as a boxer.

in the eyes of the law 20630

legally Our legal system is based on the idea that all people are equal in the eyes of the law. In the eyes of the law, you are responsible for what happened

Get off with 20629

Get off with

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

Meaning: Have casual sex with

Example: He GOT OFF WITH her at the party

have one's name inscribed in the book of life 20628

have one's name inscribed in the book of life
Euph. to die. He was a beloved father, brother, and friend, and he has his name inscribed in the book of life. By the time she was twenty, her parents, brothers, and sister had all had their names inscribed in the book of life.

two sides of the same coin 20627

two sides of the same coin

different but closely related features of one idea Rewards and punishments are two sides of the same coin – both are used to control people, and neither works very well

relentless 20626

relentless,cruel

engaged to 20625

engaged to somebody

One cannot be in two places at once 20624

One cannot be in two places at once.
Prov. You cannot be in more than one place or do more than one thing at the same time. Child: Mom! Mom! Come help me wash my hair! Mother: Just a minute! I'm putting clean sheets on your bed right now, and I can't be in two places at once.

tied to one's mother's apron strings 20623

tied to one's mother's apron strings
Fig. dominated by one's mother; dependent on one's mother. Tom is still tied to his mother's apron strings. Isn't he a little old to be tied to his mother's apron strings?

screwed, blued, and tattooed 20622

screwed, blued, and tattooed
1. Sl. taken advantage of I got a bad deal. I got screwed, blued, and tattooed. When John bought his wreck of a car, he got screwed, blued, and tattooed.
2. Sl. intoxicated. Who wants to go out and get screwed, blued, and tattooed? All four of them went out and got screwed, blued, and tattooed.

fake off 20621

fake off

Sl. to waste time; to goof off. Hey, you guys, quit faking off! All you clowns do is fake off. Now, get busy!

I am not my brother's keeper. and Am I my brother's20620 keeper?

I am not my brother's keeper. and Am I my brother's keeper?

Prov. You are not responsible for another person's doings or whereabouts. (Biblical.) Fred: Where's Robert? Jane: Am I my brother's keeper? Jill: How could you let Jane run off like that? Alan: I'm not my brother's keeper.

in the background 20619

in the backgroundsomeone who keeps or stays in the background tries not to be noticed: The President's advisors are content to remain in the background

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned 20618

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Prov. There is nothing as unpleasant as a woman who has been offended or whose love has not been returned. When Mary Ann discovered that George was not in love with her, George discovered that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Bill: I'm getting tired of going out with Mary; I think I'll tell her we're through. Fred: Be careful. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, you know

loath 20617

loath   /loʊθ, loʊð/ Show Spelled
[lohth, lohth] Show IPA

–adjective
unwilling; reluctant; disinclined; averse: to be loath to admit a mistake.

a feeding frenzy 20616

a feeding frenzy
a situation where people try to get as much information as possible about an event, or to make as much profit as they can from it, especially in an unpleasant way
Usage notes: If hungry animals have a feeding frenzy, they become very excited by the smell of food and fight each other to get a share of it.
Her sudden tragic death sparked off a feeding frenzy in the media

fall on deaf ears 20615

fall on deaf ears
Fig. [for talk or ideas] to be ignored by the persons they were intended for. Her pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears; the judge gave her the maximum sentence. All of Sally's good advice fell on deaf ears. Walter had made up his own mind.

God rest her/his soul. (old-fashioned)20614

God rest her/his soul. (old-fashioned)
something that you say when you are talking about someone who is dead, to show that you respect them My old father - God rest his soul - now he could drink a pint or two

Let's shake on it 20613

Let's shake on it.
Let us mark this agreement by shaking hands on it. Bob: Do you agree? Mary: I agree. Let's shake on it. Bob: Okay. Bill: Good idea. Sounds fine. Bob (extending his hand): Okay, let's shake on it. Bill (shaking hands with Bob): Great!

a strong stomach 20612

a strong stomach
the ability not to be upset by unpleasant things You have to have a strong stomach to invest in the stock market these days

A walking encyclopedia 20611

A walking encyclopedia

An encyclopedia is a book or a series of books containing a wide range of information about many subjects. A person who is a walking encyclopedia is someone who has a wide rage of information about many subjects. "By the time I finish college, I suspect I will be a walking encyclopedia, "Melissa said as she returned to her studies.

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives. 20610

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."
- Euripides, Greek playwrite

run a red light 20609

run a red light
to pass through an intersection having a red traffic light without stopping. Sam got a ticket for running a red light.

Punctuality is the soul of business 20608

Punctuality is the soul of business.

Prov. You should be on time for all your business appointments. The office manager insisted on everyone's coming to work on time, not a minute late. "Punctuality is the soul of business," she said

storm is brewing 20607

storm is brewing

1. There is going to be a storm. Look at the clouds. A storm is brewing. A storm is brewing in the west.
2. There is going to be trouble or emotional upset. He looks angry. A storm is brewing

I'm) glad you could drop by. and (We're) glad you could drop by.; (I'm) glad you could stop by.; (We're) glad you could stop by.20606

I'm) glad you could drop by. and (We're) glad you could drop by.; (I'm) glad you could stop by.; (We're) glad you could stop by.

a phrase said by the host or hostess (or both) to a guest who has appeared suddenly or has come for only a short visit. Tom: Good—bye. Had a nice time. Mary: Thank you for coming, Tom. Glad you could drop by. Tom: Thank you so much for having me. Sally: We're glad you could drop

I'm) glad you could drop by. and (We're) glad you could drop by.; (I'm) glad you could stop by.; (We're) glad you could stop by.20605

I'm) glad you could drop by. and (We're) glad you could drop by.; (I'm) glad you could stop by.; (We're) glad you could stop by.

a phrase said by the host or hostess (or both) to a guest who has appeared suddenly or has come for only a short visit. Tom: Good—bye. Had a nice time. Mary: Thank you for coming, Tom. Glad you could drop by. Tom: Thank you so much for having me. Sally: We're glad you could drop

keep on trucking 20604

keep on trucking
Inf. to continue to do well; to continue to try. Just keep on trucking, man. All I can do is keep on trucking

to stand trial 20603

to stand trial
to stand trial, to sustain the trial or examination of a cause; not to give up without trial...
see stand

tight race 20602

tight race

a close race. It was a tight race right up to the final turn when my horse pulled ahead and won easily.

rule the roost 20601

rule the roost

Fig. to be the boss or manager, especially at home. Who rules the roost at your house? Our new office manager really rules the roost

keep out from under someone's feet 20600

keep out from under someone's feet
Fig. to stay out of someone's way. Please keep out from under my feet. I'm very busy. Try to keep out from under Tom's feet while he is working.

be minting it (British & Australian informal) also be minting money (American & Australian)20599

be minting it (British & Australian informal) also be minting money (American & Australian)

to be earning a lot of money quickly Ice cream sellers are minting it as the unseasonal heatwave

cool one's heels 20598

cool one's heels

Fig. to wait (for someone); to wait for something to happen. I spent an hour cooling my heels in the waiting room while the doctor saw other patients. All right, if you can't behave properly, just sit down here and cool your heels until I call you

contented mind is a perpetual feast 20597

contented mind is a perpetual feast
Prov. If you are mentally at peace, you will always feel that you have enough of everything, and will not have to strive to get more. Jill: Lillian doesn't make very much money, but she seems to be happy all the time. I wonder how she manages that? Jane: A contented mind is a perpetual feast.

heart and soul 20596

heart and soul
Fig. the central core [of someone or something]. Now we are getting to the heart and soul of the matter. This feature is the heart and soul of my invention.

in preference to 20595

as a choice, as a substitute, as an alternative, conversely, either, in other words, in preference to , in turn, on the other hand, or but, or else, or only, preferentially

out like a light 20594

out like a light
in a deep sleep or unconscious Stu was out like a light, so I threw a blanket on him and turned out the light.
dormirse inmediatamente

jack of all trades is a master of none 20593

jack of all trades is a master of none

Prov. If you are able to do a lot of things fairly well, you will not have time to learn to do one thing extremely well. Jill: I envy Bob; he can do so many things. He writes novels, paints pictures, makes sculptures, and even plays the dulcimer. Jane: It's true he does a lot of things, but he probably doesn't do them all terribly well. A jack of all trades is a master of none, you know.

deep-six someone or something 20592

deep-six someone or something
Sl. to get rid of someone or something; to dispose of someone or something. (Refers originally to burying someone or something six feet deep, the standard depth of a grave.) Take this horrible food out and deep-six it. That guy is a pain. Deep-six him so the cops will never find him.

somebody's eyes are out on stalks (informal) also somebody's eyes are popping out of their head (informal)20591

somebody's eyes are out on stalks (informal) also somebody's eyes are popping out of their head (informal)
if someone's eyes are out on stalks, they are looking at someone or something in a way that shows that they think that person or thing is extremely surprising or attractive
Usage notes: In funny drawings, people and animals are often drawn with their eyes coming out of their head to show that they are very surprised.
You should have seen Pete when Bec turned up in her short skirt. His eyes were out on stalks.

luck of the Irish 20590

luck of the Irish
luck associated with the Irish people. (Also said as a catch phrase for any kind of luck.) Bill: How did you manage to do it, Jeff. Jeff: It's the luck of the Irish, I guess.

rake over the coals 20589

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Also, haul over the coals. Reprimand severely, as in When Dad finds out about the damage to the car, he's sure to rake Peter over the coals, or The coach hauled him over the coals for missing practice. These terms allude to the medieval torture of pulling a heretic over red-hot coals. [Early 1800s]

It is the woman who chooses the man who will choose her.20588

It is the woman who chooses the man who will choose her.
Geraldy, Paul

on the road to recovery 20587

on the road to recovery
Cliché recovering; getting better; improving. It's been two weeks since her surgery, and she is on the road to recovery.

square accounts (with someone)20586

square accounts (with someone)

1. Lit. to settle one's financial accounts with someone. I have to square accounts with the bank this week, or it'll take back my car. I called the bank and said I needed to come in and square accounts.
2. Fig. to get even with someone; to straighten out a misunderstanding with someone. I'm going to square accounts with Tom. He insulted me in public, and he owes mean apology. Tom, you and I are going to have to square accounts.
See also: account

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans20585

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans

Whom the gods love die young 20584

Whom the gods love die young.
Prov. Virtuous or gifted people die at an early age, because the gods want those people to be with them in the afterlife. So many brilliant authors and artists died before the age of fifty that it's easy to believe that whom the gods love die young.

Let them eat cake 20583

Let them eat cake.
Prov. A joking disclaimer of responsibility for some group of people. (Supposed to have been said by Marie Antoinette when she heard that the common people had no bread.) Fred: The budget will allow each one of our managers to get a substantial

sleeping giant 20582

sleeping giant
a great power that is still and waiting. The huge country to the south is a sleeping giant, waiting for its chance to become sufficiently industrialized to have real prosperity. The U.S. was a sleeping giant at the outbreak of both world wars.

bad hair day 20581

bad hair day
n Informal
1. a day on which one's hair is untidy and unmanageable
2. a day of mishaps and general irritation

put all one's eggs in one basket 20580

put all one's eggs in one basket

Fig. to make everything dependent on only one thing; to place all one's resources in one place, account, etc. (If the basket is dropped, all is lost.) Don't invest all your money in one company. Never put all your eggs in one basket. I advise you to diversify and not to put all your eggs in one basket.

She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon.20579

She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon.
Groucho Marx

fly/leave the nest 20578

fly/leave the nest
to leave your parents' home for the first time in order to live somewhere else Once the kids have all flown the nest we might sell this house and move somewhere smaller

Feed a cold and starve a fever.20577

Feed a cold and starve a fever.
Prov. You should feed someone who has a cold, and withhold food from someone who has a fever.; (or, interpreted differently) If you feed someone who has a cold, that will ward off a fever. Jill: I don't feel like going out to lunch with you. I have a cold. Jane

elevator music (American) 20576

elevator music (American)

pleasant but boring recorded music that is played in public places You can't get away from elevator music in some shopping malls.

wolf something down 20575

wolf something down
Fig. to eat something very rapidly and in very large pieces. (As a wolf might eat.) Don't wolf your food down! Liz would never wolf down her food.

your glad rags (old-fashioned)20574

your glad rags (old-fashioned)
the clothes that you wear when you are going somewhere special Put your glad rags on, we're going to a

dead wood 20573

dead wood

people in a group or organization who are not useful any more and who need to be removed There's a lot of dead wood in the team which needs to be cleared out.

smart drugs (British & Australian)20572

smart drugs (British & Australian)
drugs which make you more intelligent or make you think more clearly I have my exams in two weeks - I could use some smart drugs

take it to the street 20571

take it to the street

Sl to tell everyone about your problems. If there's something bothering her, she's gonna take it to the street, first thing. Come on, don't take it to the street

so near and yet so far 20570

so near and yet so far
something that you say which means that you have almost achieved something but that what you still have to do in order to achieve it is very difficult or impossible I've only got the last chapter to write but it's taking forever. So near, yet so agonisingly far.

Experience is the teacher of fools 20569

Experience is the teacher of fools.
Prov. Only fools do not learn after seeing other people's mistakes and insist on repeating them. Father: You should spend more time studying and less time having fun with your friends. If I had been a better student when I was your age, I'd have a better job now. Son: Oh, come on, Dad. School's worthless. Father: Don't make the same mistake I did! Experience is the teacher of fools.

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.20568

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.

Come on in, the water's fine! 20567

Come on in, the water's fine!
1. Lit. Get into the water and swim! (Usually a polite command.) As Todd swam along, he said to Rachel, "Come on in. The water's fine."
2. Fig. to begin to do anything. You will like skiing. Come on in, the water's fine. I think you would like working here, and I'm happy to offer you the job. Come on in, the water's fine

root of the problem 20566

root of the problem
an understanding of the causes or basis of a problem. (*Typically: determine ~; figure out ~; find ~; get to ~; get at ~.) It will take a little more study to get to the root of the problem. Let's stop avoiding the issue and get at the root of the problem

an ugly duckling 20565

an ugly duckling
someone or something that is ugly and not successful when they are young or new, but which develops into something beautiful and successful The most successful company was last year's ugly duckling.

turn/twist the knife 20564

turn/twist the knife

to do or say something unpleasant which makes someone who is already upset feel worse Having made the poor girl cry, he twisted the knife by saying she was weak and unable to cope

First in, best dressed. (Australian)20563

First in, best dressed. (Australian)
something that you say which means that the first people to do something will get something first or will have an advantage I've got ten free tickets to the movies to hand out, so it's first in, best dressed.

on/under pain of death (formal)20562

on/under pain of death (formal)

if you are told to do something on pain of death, you will be killed if you do not do it They had been told to leave their homes by noon on pain of death.

in great demand20561

in great demand
wanted by many people. Liz is in great demand as a singer. Mary's paintings are in great demand.

hot enough for you? 20560

hot enough for you?
Inf. a greeting inquiry made during very hot weather. Bob: Hi, Bill! Is it hot enough for you? Bill: Yup. John: Nice to see you here! Is it hot enough for you? Bill: Good grief, yes! This is awful

throw a game 20559

throw a game
Fig. to lose a game on purpose. I know Wilbur. He could never throw a game. There's a couple of those guys who would throw a game if they got enough money to do it.

The bird has flown 20558

The bird has flown.

something that you say which means that someone has escaped or disappeared It's no use searching any more. The bird has flown.

a fish out of water 20557

a fish out of water
someone who is uncomfortable in a particular situation After living in Hong Kong for most of his life, Lee was a fish out of water in Los Angeles.

take someone for an idiot and take someone for a fool20556

take someone for an idiot and take someone for a fool
to assume that someone is stupid. I wouldn't do anything like that! Do you take me for an idiot? I don't take you for a fool. I think you're very clever.