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644 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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run something by someone
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to have someone examine something and give their opinion
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to fall from grace
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to have a relapse, to fall back to bad habits
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falling out
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a rupture caused by a disagreement or an embarrassing situation
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slap one's wrist
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to reprimand someone in a gentle way
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when the chips are down
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when the results are in
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put one's best foot forward
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try to make a good impression
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miss by a mile
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completely miss something
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get on one's bad side
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antagonize someone
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sit in for someone
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to act as a substitute for someone
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to break camp
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to pack the tents and gather the stuff in order to relocate
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regain one's feet
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to become self-confident again
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take out on
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to vent one's anger on someone
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keep one's head up
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act proudly and confidently
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carry weight
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to exert considerable influence
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talk back
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to be snappy and sassy
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talk up
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talk in favor of
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link whore
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someone who tries to get people to see their blog all the time
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read between the lines
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understand the hidden meaning of something
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back to square one
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start from scratch
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sonic boom
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loud noise made in the air when a jet flies by
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square off
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stand ready to fight with fists
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set store by
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consider something valuable
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give someone the cold shoulder
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turn your back on someone
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ferret out
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search something and fish it out
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make much of
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give too much credit to
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water under the bridge
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something that belongs to the past and can't be altered
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watered-down
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diluted
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wipe the slate clean
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start anew
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fiddle with
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to aimlessly play with
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spirit away
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to smuggle something
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close-knit
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closely bound together
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backhanded compliment
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a compliment that's really meant as an insult
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go back to the drawing board
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go back to square one
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dear John letter
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letter sent to a guy to break up a relationship
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call it quits
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give up
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take a dive
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boxer intentionally falling and not getting up
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bide one's time
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wait for the right moment
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paint a gloomy picture
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be cynical of something
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knock on heaven's door
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being on the brink of dying
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within an inch of one's life
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to the point of near death
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fight tooth and nail
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fight with all you have
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mind you
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i want you to know this
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put their heads together
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collaborate
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all over the board
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everywhere and random
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take a fancy to
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take a liking to
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the end of my tether
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end of one's patience
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blind as a beetle
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completely blind
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have the hots for someone
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like someone
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rain cats and dogs
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rain heavily
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chicken switch
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a switch on a jet that catapults you if the plain is going to crash
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give or take
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more or less
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hide one's light under a bushel
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hide one's talents
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carry one's weight
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assume one's responsibilities
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weasel out of something
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to chicken out
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pan out
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play out
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knock on wood
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prevent something from being jinxed
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cold feet
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lack courage
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shoot from the hip
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shoot a gun without holding it in front of you to aim
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dig up dirt
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obtain information about someone that could damage their reputation
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close ranks
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tighten a formation in a battle
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give one's right arm for
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make a big sacrifice
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hold one's peace
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be silent and not speak out against something
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look daggers
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gape at someone
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turn up one's nose at
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show contempt
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think little of
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have very little respect for
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now and again
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not very frequently
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get one's foot in the door
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start one's career
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sit on a bombshell
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possess a story that if divulged could start a media frenzy
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take kindly to
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be pleased by
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straight from the horse's mouth
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directly from the originator
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have a field day
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have a lot of fun
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double-edged sword
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something that could hurt as much as it could benefit you
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hit the nail on the head
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bull's eye
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he has a short fuse
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he is easily angered
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make a practice of
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make a habit of
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rope off
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cordon off
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get a fix on (like on a radar)
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locate something
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make the best of
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turn into something positive
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hardball
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use every possible means to achieve a goal
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act one's age
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act responsibly
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hang out to dry
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left on one's own
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gut talk
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sincere talk
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lay at one's door
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blame something on someone
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around the corner
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could happen any time
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make for
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head towards something
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dish the dirt
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spread gossips and rumors about
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blind as a bat
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blind as a beetle
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out of one's hair
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get rid of someone or something
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make an exhibition of one's self
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make a fool of
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bite the hand that feeds one
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kill something that benefited you
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throw in the sponge/towel
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give up
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from my cold dead hands
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take away something from someone when their dead
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break the ice
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ease the tension, start a conversation
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can of worms
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a complex problem
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keep pace
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keep up with
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brick by brick
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little by little
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birds of a feather flock together
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like people come together
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dirt cheap
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worthless
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hands-down
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easy
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weather the storm
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survive a hardship
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turn up
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show up unexpectedly
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put something to the test
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test something's limits
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show someone's true colors
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show what someone is really like
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cream of the crop
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best of the best
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extend one's sympathy to
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show sympathy
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write off
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count as a loss
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cross one's fingers
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knock on wood
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draw a line in the sand
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give an ultimatum
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act like a bull in a china shop
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act clumsily and awkwardly
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bury the hatchet
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settle a quarrel
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low blow
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an unfair blow below the waist
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sleep on
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postpone
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pip-squeak
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an unimportant person
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thumb through
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examine superficially
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rub salt on one's wounds
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make someone worse
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bottleneck
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heavy traffic congestion
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keep tabs on
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keep a record of
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bleep out
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sensor from television
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drown out
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make so much noise it's impossible to hear
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take the stand
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witness to something
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underway
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in progress.
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feel the pinch
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feel the hardship
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shake in one's shoes
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be very scared
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all bark and no bite
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full of pretensions and lacking substance
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give rise to
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be reason for
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fall on deaf ears
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fall into disregard
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take a leak
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urinate
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under the hammer
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up for sale at an auction
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listen in
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to listen without participation
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all over one's self
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full of one's self
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pure and simple
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simply stated
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bark worse than one's bite
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all bark and no bite
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best of both worlds
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combination of two contradictory benefits
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make a go of it
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give something a try
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give someone the eye
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come onto someone, flirt with the eye
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head-scratcher
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a particularly puzzling event
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kill the goose that laid the golden egg
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kill something that you were benefiting from
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missing link
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something needed to complete a group
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take someone's word for it
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to believe what someone says
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rule with an iron fist
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rule with absolute authority
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run the risk
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take the risk
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once in a blue moon
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very rarely
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hard-nosed
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tough, rugged, and strict
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blow the lid off
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reveal something that was kept hidden for a long time, especially by a government agency
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cross swords
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have an argument with
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goon squad
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a group that serves as enforcers or guards, especially one hired to act as thugs
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get off lightly
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end up with a mild punishment
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get a jump on
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have an early start, start something before it officially begins
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snail's pace
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very slow
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in a nutshell
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in a few words
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pull strings
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to exert one's influence to get something
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chow down
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eat vigorously
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silver bullet
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a straightforward solution to a problem that is perceived as a very effective fix
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turf war
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a war over territory or resources by opposing factions
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needle in a haystack
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something hard to find
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cross the aisle
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cooperate with members of another party
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get the better of
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to win over or defeat
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hold up one's end
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do one's share of work
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jump at the chance
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immediately accept an offer
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buzz off
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sod off
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bite one's lips
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force one's self to remain silent
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twist of fate
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an unfortunate turn of events
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lay the groundwork
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create a foundation
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in the hole
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having a below-zero score in a game
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a drop in a bucket
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having very little effect as a whole
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the whole nine yards
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all the way
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put one through one's paces
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to thoroughly train and discipline someone
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on one's high horse
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act as if you are superior to others
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drag one's feet
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to act slowly or reluctantly
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crocodile tears
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to pretend to cry
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a foregone conclusion
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a done deal
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to make good on a promise
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to hold one's word
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to throw in his lot with them
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to join their cause
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cast a spotlight on something
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bring something to everyone's attention
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to be strapped for cash
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be poor
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to go to the trouble to do something
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to do something despite its difficulty
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right up one's alley
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in accordance to one's preferences
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nonstarter
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an idea or plan that fails before starting
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fall by the wayside
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fail to be completed
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to come down hard on
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to punish severely
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from cover to cover
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from start to end
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to think on one's feet
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to think quickly
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let someone in on something
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tell someone a secret
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blow smoke
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to speak without credibility or sense
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grab off
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grab quickly before anyone else gets a chance
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fly in the face of
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to counteract or contradict
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pull the plug on
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to put an end to
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zig when one should zag
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to err
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mark down
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to lower the price of
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wind back the clock
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to figuratively go back in time
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get into someone's pants
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to have sex with
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lose one's marbles
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go nuts
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get the feel of
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get to know something
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smell the barn
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renewed energy obtained as one approaches his destination
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keep step with
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keep up with
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on thin ice
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in a dangerous and delicate situation
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have lots going for one
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have abilities that make one prosperous and successful
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on the up-and-up
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legitimate, honest
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to be on the safe side
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take extra precautions
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out on a limb
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with your opinions stated in an open way and one that cannot be changed
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break even
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neither win nor lose money
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verge on
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to be very close to
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take aim
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to aim at
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wise up to
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to finally understand what's going on after a period of ignorance
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as luck would have it
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as it happened, as it turned out
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play down
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to give less emphasis to
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turn tail
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to run away from danger
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change hands
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change or transfer ownership
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come out of the woodwork
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to appear from thin air
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separate the wheat from the chaff
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take the good and ditch the bad
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deep water
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serious difficulty
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go to the trouble of
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to go the extra mile to do something
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go from bad to worse
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get worse
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in broad daylight
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in view of everyone
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out of the red
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not face bankruptcy anymore
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hard put
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in a difficult position
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sellout
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a betrayal or treason
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give the time of day
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to acknowledge somebody
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on the plus side
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from a favorable perspective
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hoist with one's own petard
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caught in one's own trap
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butter fingers
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clumsy person who always drops things
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run it's course
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to fulfill a normal development
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hash out
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to discuss thoroughly
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every so often
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every now and then
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eagle eye
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sharp vision like that of an eagle
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set in
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to start
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every which way
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in every direction, all over
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find one's bearings
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to find where one is and is headed
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hold one's own
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hold your position and avoid losing ground
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have all one's buttons/marbles
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have one's understanding and senses about something
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bone to pick
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reason to argue
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to date
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until now
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through the mill
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experienced
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speak well of someone
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to praise someone
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all the rage
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very fashionable and trendy
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a broken clock is right twice a day
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an unreliable person can be helpful on occasion
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hair-splitting
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the act of finding exceedingly small differences that most people wouldn't notice
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on a pedestal
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lovingly honored and cared for
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lie through one's teeth
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lie unabashedly
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backflip
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a total reversal in policies
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fish for compliments
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to try to induce someone to make a compliment
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zero in on
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to narrow down a search
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put somebody in his place
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to humble someone
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at the tip of one's tongue
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you know..
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have eyes only for
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to see or want nothing but
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have a handle on
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be in control of
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never cast a clout til May be out
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never put away your winter clothes until the end of May
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chance on/chance upon
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find or meet by accident
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stone's throw
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a short walking distance
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put a foot wrong
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make a mistake
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show out
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to usher
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new blood
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something that gives new life to an undertaking
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level with
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to tell someone the truth
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come down off one's high horse
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to become less arrogant
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hang by a thread
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to be in a precarious situation
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at every turn
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every time
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save one's breath
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to keep quiet because talking isn't helping one
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make headway
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make progress
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sea change
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profound transformation
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put in mind of
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remind someone of something
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thin-skinned
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quick to take offense
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hard-nosed
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tough, rugged, and disciplined
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in your face
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exclamation of derision or contempt
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by hook or by crook
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in an honest way if possible, dishonestly if necessary
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a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link
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you know..
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compare notes
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exchange ideas and thoroughly go over something
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blow one's brains out
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shoot oneself in the head
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put forward
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propose for consideration
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all hat and no cattle
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talk but not back it up with something
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have one's back to the wall
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have no other options
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make one's mouth water
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look and smell yummy
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jerry-built
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built hurriedly and carelessly
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drag race
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an automobile race in which the drivers try to cover a certain distance in the shortest time
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leveling the playing field
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making it fair by having competition
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take it from me
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believe me
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on about
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speaking about
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shoulder to shoulder
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right ext to each other
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beats me
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i have no idea
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lend a hand
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offer help
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be left out of the loop
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be left out
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a tall order
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a far-fetched idea
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be out of whack
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be out of touch
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close, but no cigar
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close, but not enough
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step up to the plate
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assume responsibility
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**** hit the fan
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endemic turn epidemic
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take a turn for the worse
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become worse
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go out on a limb
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put oneself in an unpopular position by supporting an issue
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i'll say
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i completely agree
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put through its paces
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to test completely
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holding pattern
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a path taken by an airplane waiting for permission to land, anything considered a waste of time
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take the heat
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take the blame and be the focus of anger
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up one's ally
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matching one's interest or abilities
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work the crowd
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work the room
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pick up the tab
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cough up the money; foot the bill
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take hold
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to take shape
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get in over one's head
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bite more than one can chew; not able to pay back a debt
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pass the buck
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transfer responsibility from oneself to another
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think on one's feet
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think quickly
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bird's-eye view
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view from above
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run its course
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go its way
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jack of all trades, master of none
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someone with many miscellaneous skills but no outstanding gift in any of them
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be in one's element
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be in a familiar situation
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come about
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happen
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take a life of its own
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grow out of one's nest
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make hay
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to turn to one's advantaGe: the candidate made hay of the scandal
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nail in the coffin of
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an action that will end something: the report was another nail in the coffin of the tobacco industry
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gird up one's loins
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to prepare for something demanding, to gear up
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born on the fourth of July
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very patriotic
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tag along
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to accompany, to join
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feel up to something
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feel adequately knowledgeable to handle a task
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steal the show
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perform so well that you get most of the credit at the expense of everyone else
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right on the money
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exactly
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come at
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approach, advance toward
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loose cannon
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an uncontrolled or unpredictable person who causes damage to his own faction
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left and right
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all over the place, indiscriminately
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kick the habit
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end a bad habit or an addiction
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|
|
eye candy
|
a sexually attractive person (bad connotation)
|
|
|
purple prose
|
flowery or extravagant writing
|
|
|
knock cold
|
to render unconscious
|
|
|
edge away
|
to retreat gradually, to peter out
|
|
|
leave someone in the lurch
|
to abandon somebody
|
|
|
head and shoulders
|
to a considerable degree
|
|
|
six of one and half-a-dozen of the other
|
two of the same
|
|
|
to hold one's chin up
|
to be brave
|
|
|
mean business
|
to really mean things, be serious
|
|
|
nose in a book
|
busy interest in reading
|
|
|
out of the corner of one's eye
|
without looking directly
|
|
|
come to grips with something
|
to accept something emotionally painful
|
|
|
get a leg up
|
to get a boost
|
|
|
make head or tail of
|
try to understand
|
|
|
honest-to-goodness
|
real, genuine
|
|
|
have eyes only for
|
to see or want nothing more
|
|
|
turn on one's heel
|
turn around suddenly
|
|
|
fly off the handle
|
to become very angry, to go apeshit
|
|
|
know which side one's bread is buttered on
|
know what's best for one
|
|
|
cat in the sack
|
something to be suspicious of
|
|
|
quick-and-dirty
|
constructed on the fly and hence not to be followed in the long run
|
|
|
get the ball rolling
|
to start something
|
|
|
stand one's ground
|
to maintain or stick to a position
|
|
|
to the fore
|
into leadership, out into notice
|
|
|
latch onto
|
to acquire and hold onto something
|
|
|
have a bone to pick
|
have a grievance with someone
|
|
|
hang on the words of
|
to listen with rapt attention
|
|
|
pot call the kettle back
|
a person criticizing someone is as guilty as the person they are criticizing
|
|
|
no matter how thin you slice it, it's still baloney
|
no matter how much you elaborate, the point you're making is ****
|
|
|
step on one's toe
|
to embarrass someone
|
|
|
run for office
|
seek a political position
|
|
|
by way of
|
for the purpose of
|
|
|
bore to tears
|
bore a lot
|
|
|
shake off
|
to get away from when followed
|
|
|
yell silently
|
to think strong thoughts that one wishes to yell
|
|
|
a rising tide lifts all boats
|
a fortunate events can benefit everyone
|
|
|
tough it out
|
endure something despite the adversity
|
|
|
so help me
|
i swear
|
|
|
tight ship
|
a well-organized and highly disciplined organization
|
|
|
kick the can down the road
|
push a solution to a later date
|
|
|
bread basket
|
source of food
|
|
|
get off to a good start
|
start well
|
|
|
cross swords with
|
to squabble
|
|
|
far cry from
|
very different from what was previously
|
|
|
pull oneself up by the bootstraps
|
succeed without any help
|
|
|
man-about-town
|
a sophisticate, an idler, a member of the cafe society
|
|
|
lock, stock, and barrel
|
everything, completely
|
|
|
raise the roof
|
make a lot of noise
|
|
|
game the system
|
circumvent rules to get what you want
|
|
|
step on it
|
to drive fast
|
|
|
tighten the screws
|
apply pressure
|
|
|
nuts and bolts
|
the basic inner workings of, the fundamentals
|
|
|
pare down
|
to economize, reduce
|
|
|
bread and butter
|
the usual needs of life
|
|
|
to beta-test something
|
to put into operation and examine closely
|
|
|
ramp up something
|
to speed up and put more pressure
|
|
|
overkill
|
any effort that goes farther than necessary
|
|
|
scot-free
|
the perpetrators are getting off scot-free
|
|
|
cookie-cutter
|
pertaining to identical-looking things
|
|
|
hard nut to crack
|
something that's hard to understand
|
|
|
hard-wired
|
designed to perform a specific task, hard to change
|
|
|
stack the cards
|
to arrange the cards dishonestly for the purpose of cheating
|
|
|
head above water
|
get out of difficulty
|
|
|
stop and face the music
|
to take a reality check, to get serious about stuff
|
|
|
do well by
|
benefit from
|
|
|
drop the ball
|
to fail in one's responsibility or duties
|
|
|
get up on the wrong side of the bed
|
to be moody and grumpy
|
|
|
go into a huddle
|
to gather together as a team, especially to plan for the teams next move
|
|
|
olive branch
|
an overture
|
|
|
tighten one's belt
|
live with less money
|
|
|
fall by the wayside
|
to give up before you finish
|
|
|
cross the bridge when one gets to it
|
deal with problems as they arise
|
|
|
talk out of turn
|
to make a remark when one should have held their tongue
|
|
|
on wheels
|
excessive, on steroids
|
|
|
middle of the road
|
having a centrist attitude or philosophy
|
|
|
children and fools speak the truth
|
adults are not honest
|
|
|
hustle and bustle
|
large amount of activity
|
|
|
get what's coming to one
|
get what you deserve
|
|
|
melting pot
|
country where people of different nationalities mingle and assimilate
|
|
|
count heads
|
count the number of people in a group
|
|
|
have the courage of one's convictions
|
act on one's beliefs
|
|
|
take the wheels
|
take control of a situation
|
|
|
sit on top of the world
|
be extremely happy
|
|
|
in the hot seat
|
under pressure or scrutiny
|
|
|
beg the question
|
accept as true something that is still being argued and hasn't been proved yet
|
|
|
trick of the trade
|
piece of expert knowledge
|
|
|
face up to
|
bravely confront
|
|
|
cotton on
|
to realize or understand
|
|
|
around the clock
|
all the time
|
|
|
put down for
|
to record that someone has agreed to contribute to something
|
|
|
leg to stand on
|
a firm foundation
|
|
|
live off someone
|
to be supported by someone
|
|
|
bite the dust
|
to die
|
|
|
out in left field
|
far from the right answer
|
|
|
jump ship [from something to something]
|
switch to something else
|
|
|
go figure
|
expressing confusion
|
|
|
dark horse
|
a political candidate little known to the general public and who was not expected to run
|
|
|
from rags to riches
|
suddenly making a fortune
|
|
|
laugh one's head off
|
to laugh like crazy
|
|
|
off again, on again
|
not settled yet
|
|
|
turn up one's nose
|
to sneer
|
|
|
speak one's mind
|
to speak openly
|
|
|
settle a score
|
to avenge in response for a wrong-doing
|
|
|
shake on it
|
to agree
|
|
|
spell trouble
|
signify major difficulty ahead
|
|
|
for good measure
|
as an added feature
|
|
|
you don't say
|
used to show surprise at what is said
|
|
|
hit it big
|
to have great success
|
|
|
hand it to somebody
|
give somebody credit for something
|
|
|
wet behind the ears
|
not experienced
|
|
|
make ends meet
|
to make enough money to pay the bills
|
|
|
hanging offense
|
a crime so serious it is punishable by death by hanging
|
|
|
flesh out
|
to create details from a basic outline
|
|
|
to fly in the face of
|
to act in a manner highly contrary to
|
|
|
count one's chickens before they're hatched
|
to count profits before they arrive
|
|
|
smoke like a chimney
|
to smoke heavily
|
|
|
nosedive
|
plummet
|
|
|
come by
|
cheap credit is easy to come by
|
|
|
easier said than done
|
easy to say
|
|
|
measure twice, cut once
|
take precautions before taking actions
|
|
|
give up the ghost
|
die
|
|
|
big-ticket item
|
an idem that costs a lot or has higher than average value
|
|
|
walls were closing in on him
|
he was being forced into a no-exit situation
|
|
|
get the most bang for their buck
|
get the most from your effort or money
|
|
|
served on a silver platter
|
receiving special privileges
|
|
|
part ways
|
to go their own separate ways
|
|
|
hit a nerve
|
say or do something sensitive or touchy
|
|
|
through and through
|
completely
|
|
|
fly under the radar
|
go unnoticed
|
|
|
poking holes in something
|
analyzing the logic of something
|
|
|
take an inventory
|
make a list of things
|
|
|
to be on the lookout for something
|
be watchful of something
|
|
|
hanging by a thread
|
hanging by little
|
|
|
drive home an important point
|
make a point
|
|
|
feeling under the weather
|
feeling bad
|
|
|
pick up steam
|
to pick up pace
|
|
|
shell out more [for heating oil]
|
spend more
|
|
|
in full swing
|
in full measure
|
|
|
putting the cart ahead of the horse
|
missing cause and effect
|
|
|
the devil is in the details
|
fine prints are what's important
|
|
|
come from very different walks of life
|
come from different backgrounds
|
|
|
expound at length on some topic
|
to give a long-winded explanation of
|
|
|
sending shock waves through
|
surprising everyone
|
|
|
in the same breath
|
along the same line
|
|
|
come from very different walks of life
|
come from different backgrounds
|
|
|
expound at length on some topic
|
to give a long-winded explanation of
|
|
|
sending shock waves through
|
surprising everyone
|
|
|
in the same breath
|
along the same line
|
|
|
lion's share of
|
biggest share
|
|
|
shoe-in
|
one that has a sure chance of being chosen, as for a job or other position, or to win something
|
|
|
break out of the pack
|
surpass everyone in the group
|
|
|
plummer's crack
|
coin slot
|
|
|
low hanging fruit
|
an opportunity
|
|
|
twist (or tighten) the screw on someone
|
strong-arm someone
|
|
|
take to task
|
admonish
|
|
|
touch with a 10-foot poll
|
not even get near something
|
|
|
read too much into something
|
expect too mUch.expect too much
|
|
|
reinvent the wheel
|
do something redundant
|
|
|
he's been on my case
|
he's been pushing me to do it
|
|
|
put the cart before the horse
|
get ahead of oneself
|
|
|
brick and mortar
|
a business that deals with its customers face to face
|
|
|
have no bearing on it
|
not affect it
|
|
|
get a read on something
|
try to measure or detect something
|
|
|
put the brakes on something
|
slow something down
|
|
|
smokes and mirrors
|
deceptive, or fraudulent description
|
|
|
shift into higher gear
|
become more intense
|
|
|
full disclosure
|
coming clean
|
|
|
leave something to be desired
|
not meeting expectations
|
|
|
firing on all four cylinders
|
working at full capacity, being energetic
|
|
|
chock full of
|
completely full of.completely full of
|
|
|
have a beef with
|
have an argument with
|
|
|
in fits and starts
|
in repeated bursts of activity
|
|
|
jury is out on it
|
there's still no consensus
|
|
|
in leaps and bounds
|
in great measures
|
|
|
the crux of the problem
|
the core of the problem, the nub of the problem
|
|
|
the deck was stacked against him
|
the odds were against him
|
|
|
with bated breath
|
without even breathing
|
|
|
with flying colors
|
exceptionally well
|
|
|
made its splash
|
astonished everyone
|
|
|
there's more than one way to skin a cat
|
there's more than one way to approach a problem
|
|
|
fit the bill
|
be a good match
|
|
|
bull in a china shop
|
fish out of water
|
|
|
the world over
|
all over the world
|
|
|
result in a smoking gun
|
get a definitive answer
|
|
|
have a dog in the fight
|
have an incentive to participate
|
|
|
all its bells and whistles
|
all the added features
|
|
|
upset the apple cart
|
reverse the situation
|
|
|
higher in the pecking order
|
higher in the food chain; of higher status
|
|
|
on the prowl
|
on the loose
|
|
|
sinking his teeth into it
|
seeking to uncover it
|
|
|
diamonds in the rough
|
an undiscovered talent
|
|
|
leave no stone unturned
|
leave no questions unanswered
|
|
|
act as a springboard
|
give the impetus for something
|
|
|
telltale sign
|
something that discloses something unintentionally
|
|
|
at the drop of a hat
|
with the slightest change
|
|
|
tip the scale to one's favor
|
do something advantageous
|
|
|
slight of hand
|
magic hand trick
|
|
|
in full swing
|
all out
|
|
|
jewel in the crown
|
the most precious part
|
|
|
willy-nilly
|
whether you like it or not
|
|
|
hurly-burly
|
busy activity
|
|
|
dot every I and cross every T
|
do everything required
|
|
|
keep someone on a tight leash
|
keep an eye on someone
|
|
|
blow the lid off
|
reveal
|
|
|
his world came crashing down
|
he list everything
|
|
|
smack of something
|
to indicate the presence of something
|
|
|
to perk up one's ******** detector
|
to know when someone is pulling your leg
|
|
|
stuck in a rut
|
stuck in a routine
|
|
|
take someone under one's wings
|
become a tutor and caretaker to someone
|
|
|
whittle something down to
|
narrow down to
|
|
|
a shot in the dark
|
giving something a try despite the odds being against it
|
|
|
to be on a roll
|
to win consecutively
|
|
|
call someone up on something
|
to demand explanations
|
|
|
face the music
|
face the truth
|
|
|
give someone something to sink its teeth into
|
give someone an opportunity
|
|
|
come around to doing something
|
change your mind and do something
|
|
|
thinning the herd
|
lower the population
|
|
|
nip in the bud
|
curtail the growth of something before it has a chance to fully develop
|
|
|
being brought up on charges
|
going to court to face trial
|
|
|
a major thorn in the side of someone
|
a major embarrassment or point of contention
|
|
|
hit the nail on the head
|
bull's eye
|
|
|
up the ante on something
|
raise the bets, make something more interesting
|
|
|
to not mince words
|
to speak honestly
|
|
|
to get/give short shrift to someone
|
to quickly dismiss what someone is saying as nonsense
|
|
|
to get/give short shrift to someone
|
to quickly dismiss what someone is saying as nonsense
|
|
|
talking over someone's head
|
talking in a way that someone won't understand
|
|
|
consonant with something
|
in agreement with
|
|
|
running full tilt at something
|
running fast towards something
|
|
|
beyond the pale
|
beyond someone's limits
|
|
|
in a trice
|
in a moment; very quickly
|
|
|
fall flat
|
to fail to make it's point
|
|
|
go flat
|
lose its carbonation, e.g. coke
|
|
|
one size fits all
|
opposite of individualize
|
|
|
rear its head again
|
to make a comeback
|
|
|
the beaten path
|
the orthodoxy, the established way
|
|
|
wax and wane
|
ebb and flow, ride on a roller coaster
|
|
|
flags flying at half mast
|
what you do for a funeral of someone famous
|
|
|
out of kilter
|
on the fritz
|
|
|
relay something on the radio
|
communicate something with walkie-talkies
|
|
|
beaten to the punch
|
losing to someone who arrived there first
|
|
|
by the skin of our teeth
|
by a very narrow margin
|
|
|
have an axe to grind with someone
|
have a dispute to take up with someone
|
|
|
go round the bend
|
go crazy
|
|
|
warts and all
|
the whole thing; not concealing the less attractive parTs. originates fRom oliVer cromwell instructing a painter who was painting his portrait
|
|
|
announce something to a flourish of trumpets
|
announce something with flamboyance
|
|
|
take something in (one's) stride
|
to accept advances or setbacks as the normal course of events
|
|
|
to play whac-a-mole
|
a game where animals pop up randomly from holes and your objective is to hit them
|
|
|
to be obliged to someone
|
to be indebted to someone because of a favor granted
|
|
|
coup de grace
|
deathblow delivered to end the misery of a mortally wounded victim
|
|
|
bond someone out of jail
|
bail someone out
|
|
|
ace in hole
|
something that can supply a sure victory when revealed
|
|
|
to waffle between two things
|
to hesitate as to which to pick
|
|
|
not give a whit about something
|
not give a damn
|
|
|
the genie was out of the bottle
|
it was too late to go back. was too late to go back
|
|
|
few and far between
|
not easy to come by, as in "jobs are few and far between"
|
|
|
smack in the middle of something
|
right in the middle of it
|
|
|
no dice
|
no, it didn't happen
|
|
|
stick to your guns
|
stay the course
|
|
|
throw someone a lifeline
|
offer help
|
|
|
stroke of inspiration
|
moment of inspiration
|
|
|
to teeter on the brink of bankruptcy
|
to be very near to going broke
|
|
|
give someone the boot
|
reject someone
|
|
|
without batting an eyelid
|
without hesitating
|
|
|
take the wind out of someone's sails
|
take the momentum or the joy out of something
|
|
|
tend to the causes of something
|
get to the root causes and fix something
|
|
|
over the top
|
excessive
|
|
|
which side of the argument one comes down on
|
which side one takes
|
|
|
sign off on something
|
to approve something
|
|
|
to fork something over
|
to hand it over
|
|
|
go back on one's word
|
fail to fulfill a promise
|
|
|
the writing is on the wall
|
it is clear what needs to be done
|
|
|
digging in one's heels
|
putting one's foot down
|
|
|
to milk someone dry
|
to rip him off
|
|
|
letting your fears get the best of you
|
getting yourself be afraid
|
|
|
few and far between
|
rare
|
|
|
change tack
|
take a different course
|
|
|
put things over the top
|
make everything that was already bad worse
|
|
|
house of cards
|
a precarious or unstable system
|
|
|
to be a stickler about something
|
to be very fussy about something
|
|
|
play it by ear
|
improvise
|
|
|
dog and pony show
|
the full-scale version of something, as in i can give you a quick intro or i can bring our experts and give you the whole dog and pony show
|
|
|
flying by the seed of one's pants
|
decide a course of action as you go along, using your own initiative and perceptions rather than a pre-determined plan or mechanical aids
|
|
|
cut your losses and leave
|
call it a day and keep what you still have
|
|
|
rear its ugly head
|
to come back to haunt you again
|
|
|
like a bull in a china shop
|
very aggressive
|
|
|
upfront cost
|
what you pay before a service begins
|
|
|
stack the decks
|
to make it so something turns out the way you want it to turn out
|
|
|
chasing after wind
|
chasing vanity
|
|
|
pack a punch
|
to hit very hard when they are fighting, as In "i may be an old timer, But i still pack a punch."
|
|
|
chicken and egg problem
|
a situation where cause and effect may get confused
|
|
|
run the gamut
|
go through every phase or option available
|
|
|
sound like a broken record
|
sound repetitive
|
|
|
take a cheap shot at someone
|
make an unfair or uncalled-for assessment of someone's argument or action
|
|
|
to be in the line of fire
|
to be the under suspicion or stress
|
|
|
hit the deck
|
get on the floor, as for doing pushups
|
|
|
on favorable terms
|
low interest, as in lend to someone on very favorable terms
|
|
|
turn the tide
|
complete reversal
|
|
|
have a skin in the game
|
have a dog in the fight
|
|
|
take to something
|
to start liking something
|
|
|
rain on one's parade
|
to spoil one's party
|
|
|
bounce off the handle
|
flip out, overreact
|
|
|
copout
|
a failure to face some difficulty squarely, as in being "average" is a lazy person's copout
|
|
|
far and wide
|
to many places, as in to travel far and wide
|
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20-20 hindsight
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perfect understanding of an event after it has happened implying that the critic is unfairly judging the wisdom of the decision in light of information that was not available when the decision was made
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you don't need to outrun the bear, you only need to outrun the other person
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you don't have to tackle the problem head on, but make it someone else's responsibility
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come again
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say it again as in pardon me
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take something out for a spin
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try it out
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the skinny on something
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the insider information on something, or the scoop on something
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throwing good money after bad
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wasting money
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see something through
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see that it gets done
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everything will go south
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bad things will happen
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chasing the high
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chasing after the feeling you get the first time you get high
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hand-waving
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just going over broad concepts without filling in details
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go off the rails
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take an unexpected turn
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turn the tables
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turn the tide
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open up shop
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open a store
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sell the sizzle along with the stake
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keep the bath water along with the baby
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walking a tightrope
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walking a fine line
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curse like a sailor
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curse a lot
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bite the bullet
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endure a painful or otherwise unpleasant situation that is seen as unavoidable
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rite of passage
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an accomplishment that makes one a real man
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wear out one's welcome
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stay longer than expected by the host
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a method to the madness
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a logic behind what seems like a mad move
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entertain a notion
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consider something
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put the screws to someone
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screw someone over
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there's more than one way to skin a cat
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there's more than one way of doing something
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the stock held its own
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the stock price remained high
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to make a beeline for something
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to head straight for something
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