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Phrases related to: not as black as one is painted Page #32

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blood is thicker than waterFamily relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.1866, Anthony Trollope, The Belton Estate, ch. 30,Blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?circa 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, The Scotch Twins, ch. 5,The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!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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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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bucket of boltsA piece of machinery that is not worth more than its scrap value, often of old cars.Rate it:

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buckle upTo fasten one's seat belt or safety belt.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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by hook or by crookBy any means possible; one way or another.Rate it:

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by hook or crookWe will get it done.. The task at hand will be done regardless of the cost .. or the possibility of needing to steal other peoples things to do so.. Or the fact a need to associate with criminals/crimes may not be 'your' norm.. it will be doneRate 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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cast pearls before swineTo give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate it.Rate it:

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catch fliesAn ostensible product of awkwardly having one's mouth open wide.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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Clean As a WhistlePerfectly neat and not having any traces of dirtRate 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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come in from the coldTo gain widespread acceptance in a group or society, especially where there was not any before.Rate it:

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crowbaitWeak, or not in good health.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 facto(adverb) in fact, whether by right or not. (adjective) existing or holding a specified position in fact but not necessarily by legal right.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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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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domino effectAn accumulation of events where one event is triggered by the previous eventRate it:

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don't be a fool, wrap your toolThere are consequences to not wearing a condom on your penisRate it:

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don't buy green bananasdon't make long-term plans as you may not live/survive long enough to accomplish them.Rate it:

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don't look at meA response indicating that one is not willing or able to perform a task.Rate it:

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don't shit where you eatOne should not cause trouble in a place, group, or situation in which one regularly finds oneself.Rate it:

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double or nothingStatement of bravado. Usually involving a risky or gambling choice to keep going or move forward. Can also be used as a version of: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. -If you don’t take a risk, you’ll not get any reward, if you don’t try something, you won’t get any gainRate it:

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down to the wireAt the very end of a process or project, especially one with a fast-approaching deadline.Rate it:

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dressed/done up like a dog’s dinnerThe root of this idiom, chiefly used in the UK and Australia, is the phrase ‘a dog’s dinner’ which means- very disorganized, untidy, or messy. When it becomes the full idiom, to be ‘dressed up’ or ‘done up like a dog’s dinner’ it takes on the meaning of being inappropriately overdressed - garish or tastelessly. To attract attention by wearing formal or decorative clothing when it is not called for. This phrase is quite similar to ‘a dog’s breakfast’ in that the implication is of something messy and averse, as something socially distasteful or out of place, --an unappealing muddle.Rate it:

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eat crowTo recognize that one has been shown to be mistaken or outdone, especially by admitting that one has made a humiliating error.Rate it:

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

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Eyes in the Back of Your HeadTo be able to imagine and feel what is happening behind or outside of one's field of visionRate it:

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Face the MusicTo confront the consequences of ones decisions and actions, or to accept the responsibility of one’s actionsRate it:

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faith will move mountainsBelief in oneself (read sometimes as belief in God) can help one overcome any hurdle in life's path.Rate it:

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fender-benderA minor accident involving at least one motor vehicle.Rate it:

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fine words butter no parsnipsTalking about doing something does not get it done.Rate it:

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fish glassViewing device with glass at one end for surface-viewing of fish underwater.Rate it:

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fly the flagTo support one's country enthusiasticallyRate it:

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fly the freak flagTo behave in a unconventional or unrestrained manner; to exhibit the uninhibited side of one's personality.Rate it:

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food babyA protruding belly resulting from the consumption of a large quantity of food; the contents of one's digestive system causing the protrusion.Rate it:

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fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on meThis phrase is said in response when someone tries to convince someone to do something again that they have done before that did not work out to their advantage.Rate it:

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fool's bargainA bad bargain; one that leaves the person accepting it worse off.Rate it:

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foot votingExpressing one's preferences through one's actions, by voluntarily participating in or withdrawing from an activity, group, or process; especially, physical migration to leave a situation one does not like, or to move to a situation one regards as more beneficial.Rate it:

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for xyz reasonsFor reasons unknown and not worth speculating on.Rate it:

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foreign ministerPolitical or official representative person of one country in another country.Rate it:

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