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Phrases related to: win the battle, but lose the war Page #5

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de statu suo or mentis deici (Att. 16. 15)to lose one's composure; to be disconcerted.Rate it:

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Dead as a DoornailTo lose hope, to become hopeless about successRate it:

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deadbeatOwes money but is unlikely to pay it backRate it:

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dein Wort in Gottes Ohrfrom your lips to God's ears; I wish; expresses that the speaker wants a preceding statement to be true, but considers it unlikely or at least doubtfulRate it:

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denuntiare bellum, caedem (Sest. 20. 46)to threaten war, carnage.Rate it:

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devenir chèvreto get worked up, to lose patienceRate it:

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devil beating his wifeWhen it is raining but the sun is outRate it:

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Diamond in the RoughSomeone or something that has lost charm now, but has immense value and the prospective to be stunningRate it:

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dicksize warA pointless competition, dispute or conflict, often over some trivial matter.Rate it:

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dictated but not readDictated, as to a secretary or stenographer, but not proofread by the person who dictated the text so annotated.Rate it:

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different as chalk and cheeseTwo things which are superficially alike but very different in substance.Rate it:

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dirty laundryUnflattering facts or questionable activities that one wants to remain secret, but which some other may use to blackmail with.Rate it:

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discretion is the better part of valour.Be brave but be discreet.Rate it:

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documento, indicio est (without demonstr. pron. but cui rei documento, indicio est)this shows, proves...Rate it:

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don't ask, don't tellApplied to various other policies that prohibit a behavior but also discourage investigation of it.Rate it:

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don't be penny wise and pound foolishDon't be careful when it comes to spending small amounts of money, but careless when spending much larger amounts.Don't focus on minutiae and lose sight of the big picture; don't obsess over tiny inconsequential efficiencies while glaring inefficiencies are going on elsewhere.Rate it:

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don't zig when you should zag, once you find true love.Make the right steps and not the wrong ones when you have someone who loves you and/or you are in a relationship, in order to keep love and not lose it.Rate it:

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double-edged swordA benefit that is also a liability, or that carries some significant but non-obvious cost or risk.Rate it:

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double-edged swordA benefit that is also a liability, or that carries some significant but not-so-obvious cost or risk.Rate it:

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down but not outTemporarily incapacitated but not permanently defeated.Rate it:

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dragon's denA place to do battle, but the enemy is formidable. Only enter if prepared.Rate it:

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drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators(idiomatic) When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent.Rate it:

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drift apartTo lose contact, to lose one's friendship or closeness.Rate it:

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drugstore cowboyDresses like a cowboy to show off at the drugstore; looks like a cowboy, but ain't.Rate it:

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dry upTo become dry; to lose water.Rate it:

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each to his ownEveryone is entitled to their own opinion or tastes.My housemate is a strict vegan. I personally could never not eat meat, but each to his own.Rate it:

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easier said than doneEasy to propose, but difficult to accomplish.Rate it:

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edge outTo win in a contest or a game by a narrow margin of victory.Rate it:

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elephant in the roomA problem or difficult issue that is very obvious, but is ignored for the convenience or comfort of those involved.Rate it:

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elle a une petite mine chiffonnéeShe has irregular features, but her expression is pleasing.Rate it:

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elle n'a pour tout bien que sa beautéShe has nothing but her beauty in her favour; Her face is her fortune.Rate it:

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elle n'est pas jolie, tant s'en fautShe is not pretty, far from it; She is anything but good-looking.Rate it:

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enemy combatantAny person in an armed conflict who may be properly detained under the laws and customs of war.Rate it:

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enough to make the angels weepSomething so distressing that it causes one to lose hope and faith.Rate it:

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erudire aliquem artibus, litteris (but erudire aliquem in iure civili, in re militari)to teach some one letters.Rate it:

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es war einmalonce upon a timeRate it:

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even moneyBy extension, an event that is somewhat likely to happen, but far from inevitable.Rate it:

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every cloud has a silver liningIn every bad situation there is an element of good1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation...1887, Shakers, Religion, page 36:that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow,1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining,Rate it:

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everything and the kitchen sinkAlternative form of everything but the kitchen sink.Rate it:

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everything but the kitchen sinkAlmost everything, whether needed or not.Rate it:

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everything happens for a reasonAll events are purposeful.Everything happens for a reason, so there is no such thing as failure. Mary-Kate OlsenPeople like to say "everything happens for a reason." If you repeat that in your head long enough that starts to sound like "anything can happen with a razor." Laura KightlingerI believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason - that's how we learn. Drew BarrymoreRate it:

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execution styleResembling an execution; with the victim aware, but unable to defend himself or resist.Rate it:

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expeditus (opp. impeditus) milesa soldier lightly armed, ready for battle.Rate it:

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fade awayTo lose strength, become weaker; to waneRate it:

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Fair-Weather FriendSomeone who is your friend only when you are successful and prosperous but leave you in the time of needRate it:

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fall from graceTo fall from one's current social position to something lower, to lose one's prestige, status or power.Rate it:

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fall from graceTo lose God's favour through sins or wrongdoings.Rate it:

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fall offA hip hop term; to completely lose the plot in terms of artistic direction.Rate it:

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false alarmA thing or occurrence which initially causes fear, distress, etc. but which is subsequently recognized as being no cause for concern.Rate it:

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feed a cold, starve a feverEating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.1887, J. H. Whelan, "The Treatment of Colds.", The Practitioner, vol. 38, pg. 180:"Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, publ. Atheneum, New York, pg. 60:I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.2009, Shelly Reuben, Tabula Rasa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN 015101079X, pg. 60:They say feed a cold, starve a fever, but they don't tell you what to do when you got both, so I figured scrambled eggs, tea, and toast.Rate it:

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