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Phrases related to: hammer and tongs Page #23

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try to top that one!When one excels often and in a high degree, there is naturally a strong feeling of achievement. The proud winner may chide and challenge his associates and peers.Rate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
vicar of brayA person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray. The religious upheavals in England from 1533 to 1559 and from 1633 to 1715 made it almost impossible for any individual to comply with the successive religious requirements of the state.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
wade inTo interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
winter ratAn old, unattractive automobile, purchased for little money, to be driven during brutal Great Lakes winters while the owner's "good" car remains garaged and protected from corrosive road salt for the season.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
with bells onWith eager anticipation and enthusiasm.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
wolf downQuickly and without regard for table manners.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
yellow journalistA journalist who writes material which is sensationalistic and of questionable accuracy and taste.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pigYou can try to change something or one's outward appearance, but it will not change the inward appearance. Even if you put lipstick on a pig, it will always roll in mud and grunt.Rate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
you get what you pay forIn commercial transactions, the quality of goods and services increases as the prices increase, i.e., the more one pays, the better the merchandise.2003, Michael Blumenthal, "For Whom the School Bell Tolls," Time, 7 Dec.:Though it may sound unapologetically capitalistic to say soRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
your eyes are bigger than your stomachTo take more food on one's plate than one can eat; Also and more often said "your eyes are bigger than your, belly"Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
turn to stoneTo become completely still, not moving. The phrase "turn to stone" typically means to become motionless, rigid, or unresponsive. It can also refer to becoming emotionally numb or unfeeling. The phrase has its origins in Greek mythology, where the Gorgon Medusa was said to have the power to turn anyone who looked at her into stone. In this context, "turning to stone" meant to become petrified, frozen, and unable to move. In a more metaphorical sense, "turning to stone" can refer to becoming emotionally or mentally rigid, closed off, or unresponsive. For example, a person might be said to have "turned to stone" if they have experienced trauma or emotional distress that has left them numb or unfeeling. The phrase can also be used to describe a situation where a person or group of people becomes unresponsive or unwilling to change their views or actions. For example, a team that is stuck in their ways and resistant to change might be said to have "turned to stone" in terms of their ability to adapt and evolve. Overall, the phrase "turn to stone" implies a sense of rigidity, immobility, and unresponsiveness. It can refer to becoming physically or emotionally petrified, and it can also describe a situation where a person or group is unwilling or unable to change or adapt.Rate it:

(3.86 / 7 votes)
barge inTo intrude; to enter or interrupt suddenly and without invitation.Rate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
e pluribus unumA national motto of the United States of America, meaning "From many, one", or "out of many, one", referring to the integration of 13 independent colonies into one country, and that has taken an additional meaning, giving the pluralistic nature of American society from immigration.Rate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
happy as LarryExtremely happy and carefreeRate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
meek as a lambto be exceptionally patient, humble, and mild in mannerRate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
stiff upper lipThe quality of being resolute and showing self-restraint, associated with stereotypical British people.Rate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
take a leap of faithjump into the fray, gather all one's wits and plunge, take courage and step into the unknown:Rate it:

(3.71 / 7 votes)
ma vaillante filleMy brave girl "Ma vaillante fille" is a French phrase that translates to "my brave daughter" in English. It is a term of endearment often used to describe a daughter who is courageous, strong, and determined. The phrase "ma vaillante fille" can be used to express pride and admiration for a daughter who has faced challenges or overcome obstacles with bravery and resilience. It can also be used to encourage a daughter to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity or to express confidence in her ability to handle difficult situations. The phrase is often used in a familial or intimate context, such as between a parent and child or between spouses. It can convey a sense of closeness and affection, suggesting a strong emotional bond between the two individuals. Overall, "ma vaillante fille" is a term of endearment that celebrates a daughter's bravery and resilience. It is a sentimental expression that conveys pride, admiration, and love, and it is often used in intimate or familial contexts.Rate it:

(3.70 / 16 votes)
concrete jungleAn urban or other populated area containing a high density of buildings constructed of concrete or similar materials, especially one which lacks greenery and which seems unattractive, harsh, or unsafe.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
deer in the headlightsA mental state of high arousal caused by anxiety fear, panic, surpriseand/or confusion, or substance abuse. The behavioral signs are like a deer subjected to a car's headlights, such as widely opened eyes and a lack of motor reactions.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
flight of fancyAn idea, narrative, suggestion, etc. which is extremely imaginative and which appears to be entirely unrealistic, untrue, or impractical; thinking which is very speculative.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle(colloquial, vulgar, humorous) It is fruitless to speculate about counterfactual situations."We would have won the match if we'd had a decent goalkeeper.""And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle!"Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
Let Sleeping Dogs LieNot to invite trouble, to be calm and avoid stirring any possible troubleRate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
made a killingThe former owner really cracked the whip on US, and we busted our bun fer him, workin' late and no overtime;Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
off like a bride's nightieMaking a rapid departure; away. [From 1960.](Australia, horse racing) Moving quickly and resolutely.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
old schoolCharacteristic of a style, outlook, or method employed in a former era, remembered either as inferior to the current style, or alternately, remembered nostalgically as superior or preferable to the new style, the older denoting something that would be considered out of date or out of fashion to some, but as such, is considered by others as cool and hip.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
ride shotgunTo assist and protect.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
under the rugSuch as to be hidden from plain view (and thus easily ignored or overlooked).Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
zero inTo focus one's aim; to zoom in and center on something.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
be there forTo be available to provide comfort and support for someone, especially in a period of difficulty.Rate it:

(3.60 / 5 votes)
baby bluesPeriod and feeling of depressiveness after giving birth; a less severe form of postnatal depression.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
bad to the boneCompletely bad and evil; pure evil.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
cock pilotSomeone that is very preoccupied with penises and being sexually penetrated, particularly a gay male bottomRate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
down the hatchInto the mouth and down the throat, especially with regard to the consumption of a beverage.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
familiarity breeds contemptThe more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.Rate it:

(3.50 / 4 votes)
fire at willFire when ready. A command that allows troops to use weapons at their discretion and choose their own targets, allowing the individual soldier a greater freedom of timing the shot with target movement and similar.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
happy as a pig in slop/happy as a pig in shitExtremely happy; obviously satisfied and carefree.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
i'm livin' the dreamI am living, experiencing in my reality my dream of excellence, beauty, success, and all uplifting emotional, actual pleasantries one might only expect in a dream stage: The opposite; I'm living the 'nightmare'!Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
ice queenA beautiful but cold and heartless woman.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
look at the winter trees, cold-hearted; cruel; apathetically ignorant.The 'winter trees' are my family, and they are exactly as I have described.Rate it:

(3.50 / 4 votes)
old saltA seasoned sailor, especially one who is hardy and forthright in manner.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
poison penA usually intentionally rude, spiteful, and/or condescending piece of writing directed at a person, group, lifestyle, way of thought, or other target.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
pour outTo talk volubly and deeply. Usually implies telling the truth.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
proverbs run in pairsEvery proverb seems to be contradicted by another proverb with an opposed message, such as "too many cooks spoil the broth" and "many hands make light work."1863, Sir Richard Burton, Abeokuta and the Camaroons Mountains, vol. 1, Tinsley (London), p. 309:Moreover, all the world over, proverbs run in pairs, and pull both ways: for the most part one neutralizes, by contradiction, the other.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
speak now or forever hold your peaceSay something now, if you want to object, or don't ever say anything about it; most commonly said at weddings before the person performing the ceremony pronounces the couple man and wife.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
step in front of a moving trainTo sacrifice one's own life for a noble and loyal cause.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
sushi tuna saku blockIt is a tuna cut that is sold and it is used to make sushi or poke. This tuna can be yellowfin (Ahi in Hawaiian language) or bluefin.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
the pen is mightier than the swordMore influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
tin earInsensitivity to and inability to appreciate the elements of performed music or the rhythm, elegance, or nuances of language.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
walk like an EgyptianTo walk with one arm horizontally at the side, with arm bent at the elbow facing up, and the other arm horizontally at the side with arm bent at the elbow facing down.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)

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