miércoles, 23 de febrero de 2011

vim and vigor 30324


vim and vigor If you have vim and vigor, you have lots of energy and enthusiasm for life.

Don't cry before you are hurt 30323

Don't cry before you are hurt.
Prov. Do not be upset about a bad thing that might happen; only be upset when something bad really does happen. Fred: What am I going to do? There's a possibility that my job will be eliminated! Jane: Don't cry before you are hurt. They haven't eliminated you yet

to get a roasting 30322

to get a roasting = to be told off for something wrong. The player got a roasting from angry fans.

run scared (mainly American)3321


run scared (mainly American)
to be worried that you are going to be defeated (usually in continuous tenses) There are rumours that the Democrats are running scared after recent opinion polls showed their rivals to be way out in front.

expostulate about someone or something and expostulate on someone or something30320

expostulate about someone or something and expostulate on someone or something
to comment or argue intensely about someone or something. He always seems to be expostulating on something. Why can't he simply say "Yes" or "No"? Sam is expostulating on Bill's many shortcomings again.

put one's head on the block (for someone or something)3319

put one's head on the block (for someone or something)
Fig. to take great risks for someone or something; to go to a lot of trouble or difficulty for someone or something; to attempt to gain favor for someone or something. I don't know why I should put my head on the block for Joan. What has she ever done for me? Sally tried to get me to put in a good word about her with the boss. But the last time I put my head on the block for anyone, it all backfired, and when the person goofed up, I looked like an idiot

fly/show/wave the flag 30318


y/show/wave the flag
to support or to represent your country (often + for ) In the absence of any other Italian film directors, Mr Infascelli bravely flew the flag for his country

quite a ways 30317


quite a ways (spoken)
a long distance We're quite a ways from the Mexican border here

breathe easy 30316


breathe easy
to relax Baseball fans can breathe easy now that the players' strike is over

martes, 22 de febrero de 2011

1. faffing 221 up, 27 down 30315

1. faffing 221 up, 27 down
buy faffing mugs, tshirts and magnetsTime wasting/feckin' around
Stop faffing around and do the dishes!

see the error of your ways 30314

see the error of your ways
to understand that you have been behaving badly and to decide to improve your behaviour It's the story of a corrupt policeman who finally sees the error of his ways

be bone dry also be as dry as a bone 30313


be bone dry also be as dry as a bone
to be completely dry The ground was bone dry after 3 weeks without rain.
See also: bone, dry

quicken the pulse also quicken somebody's pulse 30312

quicken the pulse also quicken somebody's pulse
to cause excitement or interest There's nothing in this book to quicken the pulse.

price something up 30311


price something up
to raise the price of something. They have priced oranges up so high that I can't afford any. Why do they price up these common foods so high?

procrastinate 30310


To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
To postpone or delay needlessly.

lunes, 21 de febrero de 2011

out to lunch 30309


out to lunch
1. Lit. eating lunch away from one's place of work or activity. I'm sorry, but Sally Jones is out to lunch. May I take a message? She's been out to lunch for nearly two hours. When will she be back?

swear up and down 30308

swear up and down
to say as strongly as possible He swore up and down that he didn't know the guy at all.

grunt something out 30307

grunt something out
to say something with a snort or grunt. Jane grunted a command out to someone. She grunted out a curt command and the gate opened.

Ballpark figure 30306


Ballpark figure
A ballpark figure is a rough or approximate number (guesstimate) to give a general idea of something, like a rough estimate for a cost, etc.

dirty crack 30305


dirty crack
a rude remark. Who made that dirty crack? Another dirty crack like that and I'll leave

dirty crack 30304

dirty crack
a rude remark. Who made that dirty crack? Another dirty crack like that and I'll leave

Pet peeve 30303


Pet peeve
A pet peeve is something that irritates an individual greatly.

sábado, 19 de febrero de 2011

You Are Looking For Trouble 30302


You Are Looking For Trouble ( doing something that will cause problems ... )
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"you are looking for trouble"

back in(to) circulation 3301


back in(to) circulation
1. Fig. back enjoying one's social contacts; back continuing to make new friends and develop a social life. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) After her illness, Kristine looked forward to getting back into circulation. I want to get back in circulation and have some fun.
2. Fig. becoming available for dating again. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) Now that Fred and Amy are through, Amy is getting back into circulation. Now that you're divorced, are you going to get back into circulation

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts 3300


Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Prov. Do not trust an opponent who offers to do something nice for you. (A line from the story of the Trojan horse, as told in Vergil's Aeneid.) Jill: I can't believe Melanie brought me cookies today, when we've been fighting for weeks. Jane: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. She probably has ulterior motives. When the rival company invited all his employees to a Christmas party, Tom's first impulse was to beware of Greeks bearing gifts, but then he upbraided himself for being paranoid

jueves, 17 de febrero de 2011

Third times a charm 3299


Third times a charm:
After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one

'Tall enough to hunt geese with a rake 3298

'Tall enough to hunt geese with a rake'

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A person who's much taller than a person of average height

not for publication 3297


not for publication
not to be talked about openly; secret. Please tell no one about this. It's not for publication. This report is not for publication, so keep it to yourself.

flip the bird 3296


hacer un corte de manga

without fail 3295


without fail
for certain; absolutely. I'll be there at noon without fail. The plane leaves on time every day without fail.

martes, 15 de febrero de 2011

Get Your Walking Papers 3294


Get Your Walking Papers:
Get fired from a job.

Dog Days of Summer 3293


Dog Days of Summer:
The hottest days of the summer season

caught a nasty bug 3292

Saved by the bell 3291


Saved by the bell.
something that you say when a difficult situation is ended suddenly before you have to do or say something that you do not want to
Usage notes: In a boxing match, a bell rings when it is time for the fighting to stop.
Luckily, my bus arrived before I had time to reply. Saved by the bell.

rusty 3290


My French is very rusty

wee buns 3289


Something that is easy, such as a task. Originated as slang in Northern Ireland.
"How was your driving test?"
-"Meh, wee buns!"

lunes, 14 de febrero de 2011

Joshing Me 3288

Joshing Me:
Tricking me.

as red as a poppy 3287

as red as a poppy

- bright red

The mark on my arm was as red as a poppy.

where somebody is coming from 3286

where somebody is coming from
If you know where someone is coming from, you understand their opinions and feelings, especially because you understand things about their past life. At the time, I didn't really understand where she was coming from, and her poems just seemed odd

cross the Rubicon 3285


cross the Rubicon (formal)
to do something which will have very important results, which cannot be changed later
Usage notes: Julius Caesar started a war by crossing the river Rubicon in Italy.
International pressure may be able to prevent the country crossing the Rubicon to authoritarian rule

social climber 3284


social climber
someone who tries to join a higher social class, especially by becoming friends with people from that class He was a dedicated social climber and was at all the best parties.

sound/toll the death knell 3283


sound/toll the death knell
to cause an organization, system, or activity to fail or end
Usage notes: A knell is the sound of a bell being rung slowly to tell people that someone has died.
(often + for ) The new superstore will sound the death knell for hundreds of small independent shops. (sometimes + of ) The closure of the local car factory tolled the death knell of the town

press the flesh 3282


press the flesh
to meet and talk with people He believes he should get out and press the flesh if his campaign is going to succeed

There are two sides to every question 3281


There are two sides to every question
There are always two ways of looking at something

A man is as old as he feels 3280


A man is as old as he feels

A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old

Time devours all things. 3279


Time devours all things.

miércoles, 9 de febrero de 2011

you look sleepy". 3278


you look sleepy". The dictionary here here gives.
"Tienes de cara sueño

soft·-soap 3277


soft·-soap (-sōp′)

transitive verb

Informal to flatter

latchkey child 3276


latchkey child n niño cuya madre trabaja

on an even keel 3275


on an even keel
calm and not likely to change suddenly My main priority is to keep my life on an even keel for the sake of my two boys.

gap year 30274


gap year (plural gap years)


noun

Definition:

U.K. student's year between studies: a period of time taken off by a student after the completion of secondary education and before starting higher or further education

martes, 8 de febrero de 2011

Blindingly Obvious 30273


1. Blindingly Obvious 14 up, 4 down
buy blindingly obvious mugs, tshirts and magnetsAn adjective describing something that is so plain to see that it is easily overlooked.

Note: Not to be confused with someone who's obviously blind
Foolish guy: "How the hell did you miss that? It was so obvious!"

Cool, wise guy: "Yes, blindingly obvious"

minimun wage 30272


salario minimo

crowd pull·er 30271


crowd pull·er (plural crowd pull·ers)


noun

Definition:

U.K. public attraction: a person, object, or event that is popular enough to draw a large audience or body of spectators

turn on 30270


turn on
verb - transitive
•to excite someone sexually.

she knows what turns me on
ç
excitar,dar morbo

suss out 30269


suss out
Usage: Brit

1.Examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
"suss out the brakes";

Sussing out all the conflicts that we don't recognize in other situations

examina exhaustivamente

'Take one for the team' 30268


'Take one for the team'

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To sacrifice oneself in some way for the good of the group

suck face 30267


suck face 0.01 sec.
v. i. 1. To engage in french kissing (soul-kissing).

geezer bird 30266


geezer bird 25 up, 14 down
buy geezer bird mugs, tshirts and magnetsA girl who dresses or looks like a man.
Also see Mushmalt
Shes a right geezer bird

cadge 30265


cadge (kj)
intr. & tr.v. cadged, cadg·ing, cadg·es
To beg or get by begging.

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[Perhaps back-formation from obsolete cadger, peddler, from Middle English cadgear.]

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cadger n.
Synonyms: cadge, beg, bum1, mooch, panhandle1
These verbs mean to ask for or obtain by charity: cadged a meal; begging for change; bum a ride; mooching food; homeless people forced to panhandle.

1. camp 30264

1. camp 1225 up, 247 down
buy camp mugs, tshirts and magnetsEffeminate way of being Gay. One can be camp without being gay. Floppy wrists. Think Elton John and Jack from Will & Grace.
'He's camper than a row of tents'

'Red mist' 32063


'Red mist'

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If someone sees red or the red mist, they lose their temper and self-control completely

Say uncle 3262


Say uncle'

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If you say uncle, you admit defeat. ('Cry uncle' is an alternative form.)

wear the britches (in the family) and wear the pants (in the family)3261


wear the britches (in the family) and wear the pants (in the family)
Rur. to be in charge in the family. Jane bosses her husband around something scandalous. It's clear that she wears the britches in the family. I don't intend to let my wife wear the pants in the family. Mary's a strong-minded woman, but her husband still wears the britches.

Reds under the bed 3260


Reds under the bed
An ironic allusion to the obsession some people have that there are reds (communists) everywhere plotting violent revolution.