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68 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
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Meaning
The proverb has a literal meaning, although the 'weakest link' referred to is figurative and usually applies to a person or technical feature rather than the link of an actual chain. |
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A friend in need is a friend indeed
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It is sometimes suggested that this phrase means 'someone who needs your help becomes friendly in order to obtain it'. That isn't supported by the derivation (below). Most people understand it to mean, 'someone who helps you when you are in need is a true friend'.
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A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
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It's better to have a small actual advantage than the chance of a greater one.
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A bunch of fives
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A fist. The fives are the five fingers.
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A countenance more in sorrow than in anger
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Literal meaning - a person or thing that is viewed more with sadness than with anger.
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A Daniel come to judgement
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Someone who makes a wise judgment about something that has previously proven difficult to resolve.
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A diamond in the rough
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Someone who is basically good hearted but lacking social graces and respect for the law.
This term is often used to describe people on the edge of the criminal fraternity who, while they may not commit serious crimes themselves, probably know people who do. sid-jamesThe English comic actor, the late Sid James, typified the type on and off stage and was typecast in such roles. For example, he played Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond in the Ealing comedy Carry On Up The Khyber. That was quite appropriate for this phrase as it turns out - Sid James worked in a diamond mine in South Africa before becoming an actor. |
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A dish fit for the gods
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An offering of high quality.
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A drop in the bucket
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A very small proportion of the whole.
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A fate worse than death
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Any misfortune that would make life unlivable, especially rape or loss of virginity. The phrase was formally a euphemism for rape.
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A feather in one's cap
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A symbol of honour and achievement.
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A fish out of water
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Someone in a situation they are unsuited to.
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A fly in the ointment
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A small but irritating flaw that spoils the whole thing.
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A fool's paradise
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A state of happiness based on false hope.
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Foot in the door
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An introduction or way in to something, made in order that progress may be made later.
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A foregone conclusion
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A decision made before the evidence for it is known. An inevitable conclusion.
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A good man is hard to find
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A modern-day proverb, espousing the difficulty of finding a suitable male partner.
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A hard man is good to find
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A risqué comic play on words on a good man is hard to find.
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On a hiding to nothing
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To be faced with a situation which is pointless, as a successful outcome is impossible. This is usually expressed in terms of a sporting contest in which one of two outcomes is foreseen, either a hiding or nothing. The 'to' in the phrase indicates alternative outcomes, as in terms like '6 to 1' or 'dollars to doughnuts'.
The phrase has two applications. One scenario would be that of a team which is expected to win easily but has the betting odds so strongly in their favour that no kudos or reward, i.e. 'nothing' would be gained from victory. The other is that of a weak contestant who is expected to be beaten, i.e. get 'a hiding'. |
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A house divided against itself cannot stand
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Literal meaning (house meaning household).
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A knight in shining armour
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A person, usually a man, who comes to the aid of another, usually a woman, in a gallant and courteous manner.
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A legend in one's own lifetime
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Literal meaning, i.e. a living person of considerable fame.
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A leopard cannot change its spots
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The notion that things cannot change their innate nature.
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A little bird told me
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I was told by a private or secret source.
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A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
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A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.
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A load of cobblers
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Nonsense, rubbish.
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A load of codswallop
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Nonsense.
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A man after my own heart
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A kindred spirit - someone I can agree with.
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A ministering angel shall my sister be
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To minister is to serve, or act as a subordinate agent. So, a ministering angel is a kind-hearted person, providing help and comfort.
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A nation of shopkeepers
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The English.
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A no-brainer
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Something that requires little mental effort or intelligence to perform or understand. The term is often applied to decisions which are straightforward or sometimes to people who appear to lack intelligence.
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A picture is worth a thousand words
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A picture tells a story as well as a large amount of descriptive text.
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A pig in a poke
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An offering or deal that is foolishly accepted without being examined first.
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A place for everything and everything in its place
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The notion that everything should have a place to be stored in and that it should be tidily returned there when not in use.
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A plague on both your houses
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A frustrated curse on both sides of an argument.
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A priori
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From the previous.
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A riddle wrapped up in an enigma
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A puzzle - difficult to solve.
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A rose by any other name would smell as sweet
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What matters is what something is, not what it is called.
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A rose is a rose is a rose
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The meaning most often attributed to this is the notion that when all is said and done, a thing is what it is. This is in similar vein to Shakespeare's 'a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'. That's not the interpretation given by the author of the phrase - see below.
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A safe pair of hands
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A reliable, if somewhat dull, person who can be entrusted not to make a mistake with a task.
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A sea change
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A radical, and apparently mystical, change.
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A skeleton in the closet
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A secret source of shame, potentially ruinous if exposed, which a person or family makes efforts to conceal.
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A sledgehammer to crack a nut
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'Using a sledge-hammer to crack a nut' is using disproportionate force or expense to overcome a minor problem.
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A shot in the arm
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A stimulus.
stimulus [ˈstɪmjʊləs] noun (pl. stimuli -lʌɪ, -li:) a thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue 刺激（器官、组织的）事物，刺激 areas of the brain which respond to auditory stimuli. 会对听觉刺激作出反应的大脑区域。 ■a thing that rouses activity or energy in someone or something; a spur or incentive. 刺激物，激励物 if the tax were abolished, it would act as a stimulus to exports. 如果那项税收取消，就会刺激出口。 ■an interesting and exciting quality. 刺激性；趣味性 she loved the stimulus of the job. 她喜爱这份工作的刺激性。 |
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A sight for sore eyes
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A welcome visitor - someone you are glad to see.
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A sorry sight
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A regrettable and unwelcome aspect or feature. Now also used to mean something or someone of untidy appearance.
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A stitch in time saves nine
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A timely effort will prevent more work later.
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A thing of beauty is a joy forever
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Literal meaning.
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A tinker's damn
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Something that is insignificant or worthless.
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A wolf in sheep's clothing
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Someone who hides malicious intent under the guise of kindliness.
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A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle
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A feminist slogan, suggesting that men are superfluous to women's needs.
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A word in your shell-like
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I would like to talk to you.
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A1 at Lloyd's
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The highest quality.
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Abandon hope all ye who enter here
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The supposed inscription at the entrance to Hell.
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Abide with me
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The name of the well-known Christian hymn, written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847. A plea for God to be present in one's life.
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About face
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Change direction
From the military command of the US Army - where it is still used. The earliest printed citation is from an item entitled Recollections of a Revolutionary Soldier, from the Maryland newspaper The Hagerstown Mail, January 1829: "I turned to the right - about face, glided through the door and in less than a minute, was marching at a quick-step down the bypath, on my return to my quarters." . |
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About turn
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Change direction.
"The instructor will then give the command About - Turn. By the Right. Quick - March." |
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Above board
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Openly - without any trickery.
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Absence makes the heart grow fonder
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The lack of something increases the desire for it.
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Absent without leave
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Absent without permission.
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Absolute power corrupts absolutely
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Literal meaning.
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Accidentally on purpose
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Deliberately, but feigning accident.
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According to Hoyle
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In accord with the highest authority; in accord with a strict set of rules.
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Ace in the hole
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Something that can supply a sure victory when revealed.
This originates from the game of poker, where a card dealt face down and kept hidden is called a hole card. The most propitious card being the ace. |
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Acid test
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A sure test, giving an incontestable result.
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Acronyms
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Words which are formed from the initial letters of other words.
This definition requires clarification. By 'initial letters', the definition doesn't limit itself just to the single first letter of a word, but to the letters that begin the word. So, 'quango', which is formed from ' quasi non-governmental organization', is an acronym. Conversely, words like 'laser', which is formed from 'light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation', isn't strictly an acronym as the 'b', 't' and 'o' of 'by', 'the' and 'of' are ignored. In general usage, although not in the piece below, these restrictions are frequently ignored. |
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Across the board
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Embracing all classes or categories without exception.
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Act of God
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An act which is accepted legally as being outside human control.
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