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Phrases related to: they're only after one thing Page #27

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a carpet-baggerA candidate for election who has no roots or interest in the constituency he wishes to represent. The original meaning was a Unionist financier or adventurer who exploited the cheap labour in the American South after the Civil War. The carpet bags carried by these adventurers were made of carpet material.Rate it:

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a closed mouth gathers no feetOne who does not speak can be certain he won't say anything embarrassing.Rate it:

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a magician never reveals his secretsA refusal to explain how one accomplished something impressive.Rate it:

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à parti pris pas de conseilAdvice is useless to one who has made up his mind.Rate it:

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a pyrrhic victoryAn apparent victory, but one which is no victory at all, due to the great cost incurred. The phrase comes from the victory won by King Pyrrhus at Asculum in 279BC which cost him many of his best men. After the battle Pyrrhus remarked: "One more such victory and we are finished."Rate it:

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acknowledge the cornTo cop a plea; to admit to a small error but not a larger one.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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aegre, graviter, moleste, indigne ferre aliquidto be discontented, vexed at a thing; to chafe.Rate it:

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airs and gracesTo act in a pretentious or pompous manner; to put on airs and graces, derogatory term for one acting above their social status.Rate it:

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aliquem (tertium) ad (in) amicitiam ascribereto admit another into the circle of one's intimates.Rate it:

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aliquid in usum suum conferreto employ in the furtherance of one's interests.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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at heartIn spirit; according to one's beliefs, views or feelings; deep down, really, fundamentally.Rate it:

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at willAt one's preference; as one sees fit.Rate it:

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bad pennyA person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.Rate it:

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bald as a coottotally bald; without any hair on one's head.Rate it:

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banana republicA small country, especially one in Central America, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government.Rate it:

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bear oneselfTo behave and conduct oneself in such a manner that others will give one respect.Rate it:

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bet dollars to donutsTo suggest that something is very likely to be true or that one has a strong hunch about something.Rate it:

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blood in the waterIn a competitive situation, the exhibition of apparent weakness or vulnerability by one party, especially when this leads to a feeling of vulnerability or greater pressure to perform on the part of the weak party, and/or enhanced expectation of victory by the other(s).Rate it:

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bonnet blanc, blanc bonnettomayto, tomahto; same difference; six of one, half a dozen of the otherRate it:

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brass ringOne and one half inch diameter iron rings were offered riders on a Carousel by a dispensing device alongside: A Brass Ring was inserted into the dispenser at random. The Carousel Rider who succeeded in snatching the Brass Ring was rewarded A Free Ride upon return to the Operator of the Brass Ring:Rate it:

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break a leg!This is a common English phrase that is used to wish someone good luck before they perform in a play or other event.Rate it:

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breast upTo cut the face of on one side so as to lay bare the principal upright stems of the plants.Rate it:

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brebis comptées le loup les mangeCounting one’s chickens will not keep the fox off; If you count your chickens, harm will happen to them.Rate it:

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bring owls to athensTo undertake a pointless venture, one that is redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical.Rate it:

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bucket listA list of things to accomplish before one's death. [Circa 2007]Rate it:

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buckle upTo fasten one's seat belt or safety belt.Rate it:

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bustle withTo teem with; abound with; to exhibit an energetic and active abundance of a thing; to be full of a certain activity or active beings.Rate it:

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butt inTo join a conversation or situation in which one is not welcome or invited; to interjectRate it:

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buy the rumor, sell the factA phrase often cited by stock traders that explains price declines that occur after an anticipated positive event has happened.Rate it:

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by hook or by crookBy any means possible; one way or another.Rate it:

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c'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnetIt is six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.Rate it:

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c'est le jour et la nuitThey are as different as chalk and cheese.Rate it:

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can't see the forest for the treesTo miss the major things while only seeing the minor details; to overlook the entire situation due to focusing on small aspectsRate it:

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catch fliesAn ostensible product of awkwardly having one's mouth open wide.Rate it:

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catch-as-catch-canIntermittent; only when possible or when the opportunity presents itself.Rate it:

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ce n'est pas à un vieux singe qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces (fam.)One does not teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs. Rate it:

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ce n'est pas la mer à boireIt is not an impossibility; It is not so very difficult after all.Rate it:

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chain reactionA series of events, each one causing the next.Rate it:

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chip off the old blockSomeone who takes after their parent.Rate it:

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circle backTo revisit a topic, concept or idea after having put it on the back burner; to return to a place or locationRate it:

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cognitive dissonanceThe state of behaving in a way that runs contrary to one's core values, worldview, ideals, and/or moral compass. One who does not practice as they preach could be said to have cognitive dissonanceRate it:

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crazy as all outdoorsA joking way of describing someone who is always getting into trouble from decisions they make.Rate it:

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curb crawlerA prostitute's client, especially one who travels in a car to search for a prostitute.Rate it:

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de tanto aprontar, hoje conheço as artimanhas de quem pensa em me enganar.For those who want to fool me, I've learned how to behave after make a lot of bad things.Rate it:

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dead lastThe standings, often by a considerable margin to the next-to-last-place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.Rate it:

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death spiralA manoeuvre in which a male skater spins in place while holding one hand of his female skating partner as she circles around him with one skate on the ice and one leg extended outward parallel to the ice surface, all the while slowly lowering herself until her back almost touches the ice surface.Rate it:

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dinosaurs eating cheetosA discreet way to tell your significant other they have a booger to take care ofRate it:

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do unto others as you would have them do unto youOne should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself; an expression of the golden rule.Rate it:

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