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Phrases related to: go back to square one Page #33

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zip itBe quiet; the same as zip one's lip.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
spare the rod and spoil the childIf one does not discipline a child, he or she will never learn obedience and good manners.Rate it:

(4.75 / 4 votes)
take a jokeTo accept a joke at one's expense.Rate it:

(4.75 / 4 votes)
boil downAs an allusion to the cooking technique of reducing liquids by heat, one boils down a problem, argument, etc. to its most central elements.Rate it:

(4.71 / 7 votes)
ain't no mountain high enoughno barrier or obstacle will stand in one's way in reaching his/her objectiveRate it:

(4.67 / 3 votes)
chicken outBack-out of an activity because of fear or other mindless reason. Refuse to keep your word.Rate it:

(4.67 / 3 votes)
come down to earthTo be brought back to reality; to lose one's dreams.Rate it:

(4.67 / 3 votes)
land a windfallTo win a valuable prize, become an heir to a cash legacy, experience a valuable one of a kind item dropped in your lap.Rate it:

(4.67 / 3 votes)
road movieA film in which much of the action takes place during a journey, especially one involving overland travel.Rate it:

(4.67 / 3 votes)
give him enough rope and he'll hang himselfIf one gives someone enough freedom of action, they may destroy themselves by foolish actions.Rate it:

(4.62 / 8 votes)
account forTo explain by relating circumstances; to show that some one, thing or members of a group are present or have been processed.Rate it:

(4.57 / 7 votes)
a watched pot never boilsA process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
come to lifeto bring back to life; revitalize, revive, resurrectRate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
home sweet homeOne's home, especially a nice, comfortable home.Rate it:

(4.50 / 4 votes)
John HancockOne's signature.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
keep upTo ensure that one remains well-informed about something.Rate it:

(4.50 / 4 votes)
Keep Your Head above WaterTo have just enough to avoid any financial collapse, hardly keeping up with one’s responsibilityRate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
look offTo mislead by directing one's apparent attention away from one's true object of intent.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
not that there's anything wrong with thatA signal phrase that one does not wish to offend when discussing a potentially contentious issue involving personal beliefs.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
peg outTo move one's peg to the last position on the pegboard, and thus win. [from 19th c.]Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
rim jobAnilingus; act where one person licks the other's anus.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
run away withTo be misled by imagining that one's desires can come true.Rate it:

(4.50 / 4 votes)
speak outTo assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known.Rate it:

(4.50 / 4 votes)
too much bed makes a dull headToo much inactivity makes one less mentally acute.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
wonder of wondersA happening, an event, a pleasing circumstance, results beyond one's wildest dream or expectation:Rate it:

(4.50 / 4 votes)
year dotA very long time ago, from the beginning or as far back as one can remember.Rate it:

(4.50 / 2 votes)
a miss is as good as a mileA failure remains a failure, regardless of how close to success one has actually come.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
ball upTo hunch over and pull in one's arms and legs.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
come aroundTo change one's mind, especially to begin to agree or appreciate what one was reluctant to accept at first.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
good fences make good neighborsIt is better to mind one's own business than get involved with other people's affairs.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
run toTo reach the limit of one's abilities or tastes.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
take awayTo leave a memory or impression in one's mind that you think about later.Rate it:

(4.33 / 3 votes)
way out of a paper bagA minimal level of competence or effectiveness, as used in phrases where one is unable to perform such.Rate it:

(4.33 / 6 votes)
a rolling stone gathers no mossA person who never settles in one place will never be successful.A person who does not keep active will grow mouldy.Rate it:

(4.25 / 4 votes)
ghost at the feastA presence that mars one's enjoyment by causing guilt or reviving unwelcome memories.Rate it:

(4.25 / 4 votes)
go from zero to heroTo change from negative outcome to positive outcome. To improve one's fortunes significantly.Rate it:

(4.25 / 4 votes)
hail fromto be a native of, to come from, to originate from; to have as one's birth place or residenceRate it:

(4.25 / 4 votes)
run around withTo spend a lot of time with a person or group of people. Often used to talk about a person's group of friends that one does not like much.Rate it:

(4.25 / 4 votes)
a bean counterAn accountant; Someone who keeps track of minute details. One whom counts trivialities and overlooks the major items of the moment.Rate it:

(4.20 / 5 votes)
act outTo express one's feelings through disruptive actions.Rate it:

(4.20 / 5 votes)
a smoke screenEarly sea battles demonstrated the value of gun smoke and smoke from burning ships to hide one battleship from one belonging to the enemy. Later, smoke was generated prior to commencing battle so as to make it more difficult for gun crews to spot the targeted vessel. This tactic became known as a smoke screen.Rate it:

(4.17 / 6 votes)
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bushIt is preferable to have a small but certain advantage than a mere potential of a greater one.Rate it:

(4.00 / 8 votes)
a hit dog will hollaif one is guilty, then that guilt will ultimately be revealed.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go downAn otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.Rate it:

(4.00 / 5 votes)
agere cum aliquo de paceto treat with some one about peace.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
all roads lead to romedifferent paths can take one to the same goalRate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
apple does not fall far from the treeA child grows up to be very similar to its parents, both in behavior and in physical characteristics.1842, E. A. Freidlaender (translator), Frederika Bremer (author), The Neighbours, ch. 10:It is impossible to look at Madam Rhen, without at once making the conclusion that she is pleasantness, hospitality, and loquacity itself; nor can one look upon her daughter Renetta without thinking, "the apple does not fall far from the tree!"1978, Dr. Isador Rosenfeld, "Doctor Asks Patient Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
apple of somebody's eyeA favourite, a particular preference, or a loved one; the object of somebody's affections.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
ask inTo invite someone to enter one's house.Rate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
balance outTo counteract one another so as to be balanced.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)

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