consumer society 20195

society that consumes mass-produced goods: a society in which the consumption of mass-produced goods is encouraged through mass communication

launch pad 20194

launch pad
n.
1. The base or platform from which a rocket or space vehicle is launched.
2. A foundation or starting point

status symbol 20193

n.
Something, such as a possession or an activity, by which one's social or economic prestige is measured.

plastic money 20192

plastic money Hide links within definitionsShow links within definitions DefinitionGeneric term for all types of bank cards, credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, etc.

Buy on impulse 20191

impulse-buy - buy on impulse without proper reflection
commerce, commercialism, mercantilism - transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
buy, purchase - obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; "She buys for the big department store"

alarmist 20190

a·larm·ist   /əˈlɑrmɪst/ Show Spelled[uh-lahr-mist] Show IPA
–noun
1. a person who tends to raise alarms, esp. without sufficient reason, as by exaggerating dangers or prophesying calamities.
–adjective
2. of or like an alarmist.

tremendista

Pharisee 20189

Pharisee A member of an ancient Jewish sect that emphasized strict interpretation and observance of the Mosaic law in both its oral and written form.
A hypocritically self-righteous person.
[Middle English pharise, from Old English fariseus

Lacrimal gland 20188

Lacrimal gland: A small almond-shaped structure that produces tears. The lacrimal gland is located just above the outer corner of the eye. The lacrimal gland is part of the lacrimal apparatus, the system that forms tears, conveys them through the lacrimal (tear) duct to the eye, and drains the tears.

The word "lacrimal" comes from the Indo-European "dakru" meaning "a tear, as from a weeping eye." "Lacrimal" is sometimes spelled "lachrymal."

seek permission/approval 20186

seek permission/approval: You must first seek permission before publishing their names.

reliance on someone or something 20185

reliance on someone or something
trust and dependence on someone or something. John's reliance on his family is holding him back. Reliance on sleeping pills is dangerous

'Nature abhors a vacuum' 20184

'Nature abhors a vacuum'

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This idiom is used to express the idea that empty or unfilled spaces are unnatural as they go against the laws of nature and physics

'A textbook case' 20183

'A textbook case'

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A textbook case, it is a classic or common example of something.

under one's own steam 20182

under one's own steam
Fig. by one's own power or effort. I missed my ride to class, so I had to get there under my own steam. John will need some help with this project. He can't do it under his own steam

a smart bomb 20181

I don't mean maybe! 20180

I don't mean maybe!
Inf. I am very serious about my demand or order. Bob: Do I have to do this? Sue: Do it now, and I don't mean maybe! Father: Get this place cleaned up! And I don't mean maybe! John: All right! I'll do it!

planted feet on the ground 20179

To set firmly in position; fix: planted both feet on the ground

FAD 20178

A fashion that is taken up with great enthusiasm for a brief period of time; a craze

APPLY YOURSELF TO YOUR WORK 20177

she applied herself to her work se puso a trabajar con diligencia
verbo intransitivo

NURSERY RHYME 20176

A short, rhymed poem or tale for children

It will never fly 20175

It will never fly To say that something will never fly means that it will not be successful.
"He's got incredible ideas, but none that will ever fly!"

offbeat [ˈɒfˌbiːt]20174

offbeat [ˈɒfˌbiːt]
n
(Music / Classical Music) Music any of the normally unaccented beats in a bar, such as the second and fourth beats in a bar of four-four time. They are stressed in most rock and some jazz and dance music, such as the bossa nova
adj
a. unusual, unconventional, or eccentric
b. (as noun) he liked the offbeat in fashion

run a tight ship 20173

run a tight ship and run a taut ship
to run a ship or an organization in an orderly and disciplined manner. (Taut and tight mean the same thing. Taut is correct nautical use.) The new office manager really runs a tight ship. Captain Jones is known for running a taut ship.

true to form 20172

true to form

exactly as expected; following the usual pattern. (Often with running, as in the example.) As usual, John is late. At least he's running true to form. And true to form, Mary left before the meeting was adjourned

under false pretences 20171

under false pretences

if you do something under false pretences, you do it when you have lied about who you are or what you are doing The police charged him with obtaining money under false pretences

fork some money out (for something)20170

fork some money out (for something)

Fig. to pay (perhaps unwillingly) for something. (Often mention is made of the amount of money. See the examples.) Do you think I'm going to fork twenty dollars out for that book? Forking out lots of money for taxes is part of life.

weed someone or something out 20169

weed someone or something out
Fig. to remove someone or something unwanted or undesirable from a group or collection. (Fig. on removing weeds from the soil.) We had to weed the less productive workers out one by one. The auditions were held to weed out the actors with the least ability. I'm going through my books to weed out those that I don't need anymore.

polish the apple 20168

polish the apple

Try to win favor through flattery, as in It may help your standing with the boss if you polish the apple . This expression gave rise to the phrase apple polishing . The idiom alludes to the practice of schoolchildren bringing their teacher the gift of a bright, shiny apple. [c. 1920]

a dog's breakfast/dinner 20167 (British & Australian informal)

a dog's breakfast/dinner (British & Australian informal)
something that has been done very badly She tried to cut her hair and made a real dog's breakfast of it. You should have seen the ceiling after he'd finished painting it. It was a complete dog's breakfast

One swallow does not make a summer, and One swallow does not a summer make.20166

One swallow does not make a summer, and One swallow does not a summer make.
Prov. You should not assume that something is true just because you have seen one piece of evidence for it. Amanda: I got a good grade on this quiz! My troubles in school are over. Nancy: One swallow does not a summer make.

sitting on a gold mine 20165

sitting on a gold mine

Fig. in control of something very valuable; in control of something potentially very valuable. When I found out how much the old book was worth, I realized that I was sitting on a gold mine. Mary's land is valuable. She is sitting on a gold mine

He that is down need fear no fall 20164

He that is down need fear no fall.

Prov. If you have nothing, you cannot lose anything by taking a risk. Jim spent his last ten dollars on lottery tickets, figuring that he who is down need fear no fall.
See also: fall, need

upset someone's plans 20163

upset someone's plans

Fig. to ruin someone's plans. I hope it doesn't upset your plans if I'm late for the meeting. No, it won't upset my plans at all.

glad hand 20162

glad hand
Fig. an overly friendly welcome; a symbol of insincere attention. (*Typically: get ~; give someone ∼.) Whenever I go into that store, I get the glad hand. I hate to go to a party and get the glad hand

One cannot love and be wise 20161

One cannot love and be wise.
Prov. People often fall in love with someone with whom they are not compatible or behave foolishly when they are in love. My son and his girlfriend have decided to get married in the spring. I don't think that's wise, since they won't have enough money saved by then to set up house. But then, one cannot love and be wise.

be in a (pretty/right) pickle (old-fashioned, informal)20160

be in a (pretty/right) pickle (old-fashioned, informal)
to be in a difficult situation If you run out of money in the middle of your stay you'll be in a right pickle

not have a bean (British & Australian)20159

not have a bean (British & Australian)

to have no money Most people in the area are unemployed and don't have a bean to spend.

cheesy grin 20158

1. cheesy grin 10 up, 3 down
buy cheesy grin mugs, tshirts and magnetsExcited smile, often child-like from saying and holding the word 'cheese'. A cheesy grin is any teeth showing smile meant to project person's most pleasing facial expression in what is typically a happy time. The word cheesy-grin describes the teeth showing smile most often associated with a young excited child being told to hold a 'cheese' sound to hold a smile while getting their first portrait taken.
I am excited or told to smile, so I flash a 'cheesy grin'. The Cheesy Grin smiley emoticon (emotional icon or symbol) is a distinct teeth showing smile. Also known as 'cheesy smile'
sonrisa de las fotos

know which side one's bread is buttered on 20157

know which side one's bread is buttered on
Prov. to be aware of where your money comes from; to be loyal to the person or thing that will benefit you the most. Wife: Please be sure not to upset Grandma. You know we can't do without the money she sends us every month. Husband: Don't worry. I know which side my bread is buttered on.

know which side one's bread is buttered on 20156

know which side one's bread is buttered on
Prov. to be aware of where your money comes from; to be loyal to the person or thing that will benefit you the most. Wife: Please be sure not to upset Grandma. You know we can't do without the money she sends us every month. Husband: Don't worry. I know which side my bread is buttered on.

milk something dry 20155

When you milk something dry you squeeze every last resource from it, like you would when milking a cow. In this context the media will continue to sensationalize the story until every bit of sensation has been exploited.

like the cat that got the cream (British & Australian) also like the cat that ate the canary (American)20154

like the cat that got the cream (British & Australian) also like the cat that ate the canary (American)
if someone looks like the cat that got the cream, they annoy other people by looking very pleased with themselves because of something good that they have done Of course Mark got a glowing report so he was sitting there grinning like the cat that got the cream

Mick McCarthy is delighted with summer. Mick McCarthy spent the entire summer looking like the cat who got the cream

a curate's egg (British)20153

a curate's egg (British)

something which has both good and bad parts
Usage notes: A curate is a priest. There is a joke about a curate who was given a bad egg and said that parts of the egg were good because he did not want to offend the person who gave it to him.

Kill the goose that lays the golden egg(s) 20152

Kill the goose that lays the golden egg(s).

Prov. To destroy something that is profitable to you. Fred's wife knew he wasn't happy in his job, even though it paid well; still, she felt that advising him to leave it would be killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.
The danger is that this panhandling ordinance will inadvertently kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

have egg on one's face 20151

have egg on one's face
Fig. to be embarrassed by something one has done. (As if one went out in public with a dirty face.) I was completely wrong, and now I have egg on my face. She's really got egg on her face!

'Teach your grandmother to suck eggs' 20150

'Teach your grandmother to suck eggs'

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When people say 'don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs', they mean that people shouldn't try to teach someone who has experience or is an expert in that area.

over-egg the pudding (British)20149

over-egg the pudding (British)
to spoil something by trying too hard to improve it As a director, I think he has a tendency to over-egg the pudding, with a few too many gorgeous shots of the countryside

upset the applecart 20148

upset the applecart
to cause trouble, especially by spoiling someone's plans I don't want to upset the applecart now by asking you to change the date for the meeting.

fruits of one's labor(s)20147

fruits of one's labor(s)
Fig. the results of one's work. We displayed the fruits of our labor at the county fair. What have you accomplished? Where is the fruit of your labors

a bite of the cherry (British & Australian)20146

a bite of the cherry (British & Australian)
a part of something good, especially when there is not enough for everyone who wants it Job-sharing would give twice as many people a bite of the cherry

'Sour grapes' 20145

'Sour grapes'

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When someone says something critical or negative because they are jealous, it is a case of sour grapes

People person 20144

People person
Someone who enjoys interacting with people as part of their job

Haste makes waste 20143

Haste makes waste. If something is done too quickly, it may be done carelessly and need to be redone

Going places 20142

Going places To say that someone is going places means that they show
talent and ability that will no doubt lead to a successful future.
"Even at college it was obvious that Paul was going places

Full of hot air 20141

Full of hot air A person who full of hot air is full of nonsense and talks a lot
without saying anything worthwhile.
"Don't listen to Tony. He's full of hot air!"

All sizzle and no steak 20140

All sizzle and no steak Someone or something that turns out to be disappointing, after a
promotional campaign or marketing operation which led us to expect
something better, is called all sizzle and no steak.
"Because of all the electoral promises he made, which so far he has failed
to keep, many people call the new president "all sizzle and no steak".

Toing and froing 20139

Toing and froing Someone who is toing and froing is either repeatedly going from
one place to another and coming back, or is constantly changing
their mind about something.
"After months of toing and froing, a compromise was reached
between the two parties."

shopping therapy 20138

shopping therapy This term refers to the idea that buying things can make you
feel better.
"A little shopping therapy can usually cheer up bored
teenagers."