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Phrases related to: close, but no cigar Page #5

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fish or cut baitTo choose between taking action now, or forgoing the opportunity and putting that energy into another endeavor; to decide; do something constructive, but don't just do nothingRate it:

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fixing toGoing to, preparing to, about to, planning on doing, with the implication that it will not happen or be done immediately, but some time in the near future; can be used conditionally.Rate it:

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flower not but flowers petal.Get a good small bit of big thing, matter, incidence.Rate it:

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fly byAn airplane pilot does a "fly by" when she/he flies too close to the control tower thus making it shake and unnerve the people in itRate it:

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fly too close to the sunTo become overly ambitious or greedy.Rate it:

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forewarned is forearmedAdvance awareness of a situation, especially a risky one, prepares one to deal with it.1863, Charles Reade, Hard Cash, ch. 4:[W]hatever a young gentleman of that age says to you, he says to many other ladies; but your experience is not equal to your sense; so profit by mine . . . forewarned is forearmed.1885, G. A. Henty, Saint George for England, ch. 4:Sometimes, they say, it is wiser to remain in ignorance; at other times forewarned is forearmed.circa 1903, Lucy Maud Montgomery, "Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind":"Well, Miss Maxwell, I think it only fair to tell you that you may have trouble with those boys when they do come. Forewarned is forearmed, you know."Rate it:

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friendship with benefitsA friendship where the partners engage in sexual activities, but do not consider themselves a couple.Rate it:

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frig itAn expression of frustration similar to, but not as coarse as f** it.Rate it:

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fuck someone's brains outTo sexually penetrate (or be penetrated) in a voracious but pleasurable manner.Rate it:

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fudge the factsSomeone who complains constantly but does not tell the straight story.Rate it:

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funxuWhen a person is having an absolute blast of a time no thanks to anyone else but only because of themselves.Rate it:

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get the runaroundNot given the answer to a request, but given misleading information.Rate it:

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ghost writerGhostwriters are hired to do the writing of a speech or literary work but do not get the credit.Rate it:

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give a sneck possetTo give someone a cold reception; to close the door on someone; to reject them.Rate it:

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give someone a bloody noseto defeat or frustrate someone, but not doing any permanent damage in the processRate it:

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gladio comminus (opp. eminus) rem gerereto fight with swords at close quarters.Rate it:

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glaze overSame as to gloss over something. When someone makes reference to something or alludes to it, but what was more important was hidden or was not expressly stated.Rate it:

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go beggingTo be available but wasted, unused, or not actualized.Rate it:

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go belly-upTo fail or fold; especially, to close or shut down a business; to go out of business.Rate it:

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going dutchwhen a man and woman each pay for their portion of the bill; often used when on a date, but not necessarily.Rate it:

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goldene hochzeitIt's a German phrase that literally translates to "Golden Wedding", but means that 50th anniversary of someone's wedding.Rate it:

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goodgesser, not a bad gesser.Someone says not bad pretty close, I come back with not a bad gesser or pretty good gessser.Rate it:

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grappledEngage in a close fight or struggle without weapons; wrestle. passersby grappled with the man after the knife attack synonyms: wrestle, struggle, tussle, brawl, fight, scuffle, battleRate it:

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grey marketDealing in shares using methods that are legal but officially frowned upon - for example, before issue and flotation.Rate it:

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guilty pleasureSomething that brings pleasure but is considered taboo, unadvisable or lowbrow.Rate it:

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gym bunnyA person who spends a large amount of time working out at a gym and who may be obsessed with improving his or her physique. Often said of a gay man, but also said of women and heterosexual men.Rate it:

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half murderThe committing of a grievous, but not fatal, injury.Rate it:

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hand in gloveIn very close cooperation.Rate it:

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hand-to-mouthInvolving immediate consumption with no provision for the future; having barely enough to survive, being close to povertyRate it:

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handle your shitTo take care of one's necessary business, usually, but not necessarily, said by another person.Rate it:

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hang onTo pay close attention.Rate it:

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have a tiger by the tailTo be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.Rate it:

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have in towIn one's charge or close guidance; along with one.Rate it:

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have it your wayDo something the way you want to, but be prepared for the consequences.Rate it:

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have the tiger by the tailTo be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.Rate it:

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have the wolf by the earTo be in a difficult situation - a dangerous situation from which one cannot disengage, but in which one cannot safely remain.Rate it:

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hell mend someoneExpressing exasperation at someone whose behavior is likely to result in trouble but who will not heed warnings.Rate it:

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hi pot, meet kettleUsed to draw attention to hypocrisy. But no-one uses the word.Rate it:

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hidden in plain sightSeemingly hidden, but actually not hidden and easy to find.Rate it:

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hiding to nothingA situation in which victory has little or no value, but defeat has a huge cost.Rate it:

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his knee was really hurt, but it's starting to get lined out now.He had a bad injury to his knee and it’s starting to heel now. The problem is getting “straightened up” now.Rate it:

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hits pretty close to homehaving a direct personal effect on you.Rate it:

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hoi polloithe masses, the general populace, the common people; in America it can carry a negative connotation depending on the context (as though commoners don't belong amongst the rich (high society) but it is not inherently derogatoryRate it:

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hold one's breathTo inhale and then intentionally close the epiglottis so that one's breath is not exhaled.Rate it:

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honorable mentionAn award or recognition given to something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way.Rate it:

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hot on somebody's heelsClose behind; pursuing or following closely.Rate it:

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hot on someone's heelsClose behind; pursuing or following closely.Rate it:

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hunger is a good sauce(dated) Being hungry makes one less concerned about the taste of one's food.1854, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman, Punch, Vol. XXVI, Punch Publications Ltd., page 74:His bread and cheese were somewhat dry, to be sure; his ale had become flat, and considerably warmer than was desirable; but hunger is a good sauce, and thirst is not particular.Rate it:

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hydrogen iona proton combined with one or more water molecules; usually written H3O and called the hydronium ion though is best considered as H9O4 but is often written H(aq) for simplicityRate it:

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i go batty for you!(bat-ty) batty mean crazy in this context but bat-tyRate it:

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