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a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go downAn otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.Rate it:

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a stich in time saves nineWhat ever work you have you should perform the and there, thereby your work being helped others work.Rate it:

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a stitch in time saves nineA little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later; A little preparation can eliminate the need for repairs later; consistency (achieving a set rhythm) is better than trying to rush ahead.Rate it:

(4.43 / 7 votes)
a stopped clock is right twice a dayA normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.Rate it:

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à tout à l'heuresee you laterRate it:

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à votre air on ne vous donnerait pas vingt-cinq ansFrom your looks I should take you for less than five-and-twenty.Rate it:

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à vous le déIt is your turn to play (at dice). [See Avoir.]Rate it:

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a week is a long time in politicsIn politics, a lot of change can happen in a short space of time.Rate it:

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a-t-on jamais vu rien de semblable?Did you ever see such a thing?Rate it:

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about homeA shortened version of "about to be home" , meaning you are very close to your homeRate it:

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about usUsually describes who you or your company are.Rate it:

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above the foldThe term "above the fold" refers to the part of a webpage that users can see without scrolling down.Rate it:

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absence makes the heart grow fonderWhen someone or something is faraway, you realise how much you love (or miss) them or it.Rate it:

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absent le chat, les souris dansentwhen the cat's away the mice will playRate it:

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accordez mieux vos flûtes, si vous voulez réussirYou must agree better among yourselves if you wish to succeed.Rate it:

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accordez-vous si votre affaire est bonne, si votre cause est mauvaise, plaidez. [j. b. rousseau , épigrammes, ii. 19]If you’ve a good case, try and compromise; If you’ve a bad one, take it into court.Rate it:

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act as tourch bearerWhen someone play significant role in others lifeRate it:

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act outTo go through the process of a scene from a play, a charade or a pointless exercise.Rate it:

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acting funnyActing 'funny' means that a person is behaving differently towards you or a group of people.Rate it:

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actions speak louder than wordsPeople will believe what you do more than they will hear what you say. They will not believe you if you say one thing and do something different than what you say..Rate it:

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add-onsomething that has been or can be added to an existing object or arrangement.Rate it:

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adhuc tua messis in herba est (proverb.)your crop is still green, i.e. you are still far from your ambition.Rate it:

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adieu paniers, vendanges sont faitesYou come too late, it is all over.Rate it:

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AFAICMOInitialism of as far as I can make out.Rate it:

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AFAICSInitialism of as far as I can see.Rate it:

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AFAICTInitialism of as far as I can tell.Rate it:

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after youA gesture, usually polite, urging another person to take a turn at something ahead of the speaker.Rate it:

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after you, AlphonseAn exchange indicating excessive formality or effort at politeness, particularly where two people each refuse to go forward because each insists on allowing the other to go forward first.Rate it:

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against the run of playContrary to the flow of the game.Rate it:

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ah! vous m'en direz tant!1. Well, that alters the case! 2. Ah! now I understand, why did you not say so at first? 3. There’s no going against such a reason as that.Rate it:

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aí estáthere you have itRate it:

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ain tu?do you think so? are you in earnest?Rate it:

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Air Your Dirty Laundry in PublicTo discuss your personal matters and conflicts publicly specifically when you argue with someone .Rate it:

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airmailTo throw the ball well over a fielder's head where that fielder is unable to make a play on the ball.Rate it:

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AITYDInitialism of and I think you do.Rate it:

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Albatross Around Your NeckA person or a thing you feel like a burden and you always want to avoid and get rid of, something bad you did and want to avoid discussing or someone else recall it againRate it:

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aliquem ad suam sententiam perducere or in suam sententiam adducereto win a man over to one's own way of thinking.Rate it:

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aliquid (τι) dicis (opp. nihil dicis)there is something in what you say; you are more or less right.Rate it:

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all goodAnother way of saying it's all good; don't worry; everything is okayRate it:

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all roads lead to romedifferent paths can take one to the same goalRate it:

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all the world's a stagePeople have roles to play in life just as actors do in the theatre.Rate it:

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all work and no play makes jack a dull boyToo much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.Rate it:

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all y'allPlural form of you.Rate it:

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all-conqueringthis is used when you are describing someone or something as better than anyone else. They are at the top level they can beRate it:

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allons donc!You are joking.Rate it:

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always be yourselfdon´t change the way you are. be you, be special. don´t be like othersRate it:

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American DreamA philosophy that with hard work, courage and determination, anyone can prosper and achieve success.Rate it:

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amo-teI love youRate it:

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an apple a day keeps the doctor awayApples are healthy and stave off illness.Eat healthy and you won't get sick.Rate it:

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an army marches on its stomachYou must eat properly if you want to perform tasks well.Rate it:

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It's time he ate a portion of some ________ pie.
A cold
B shy
C soggy
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