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Phrases related to: play the ball and not the man Page #35

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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)
look overTo scan-read and check for errors.Rate it:

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"never mind your mother sonny.... eat your bleedin' orange"I worked with a man from Foulridge, Lancashire for over 35 years who often used this phrase whenever there was a problem and he wasn't sure of the answer!.. Said the phrase came from a "chap I used to work with in Colne... but he didn't know what it meant either"Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
a cauliflower earAn ear that has been permanently swollen and disfigured as a result of being repeatedly struck. Often a feature of a veteran boxer or rugby player.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
a dime a dozensomething very plentiful, common, and therefore, inexpensive.Rate it:

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a little bird told meOf information which was gathered from a source not to be overtly exposed.Rate it:

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a load of shit(Not synonymous with “a shit load”.) Explanation: an untruth; an exaggeration; Syn: bullshit; horse shit.Rate it:

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a pull of the hair for being unfairThe general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".Rate it:

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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:

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a stich in time saves nineWhat ever work you have you should perform the and there, thereby your work being helped others work.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
act as tourch bearerWhen someone play significant role in others lifeRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
another day, another dollaran expression recognizing a balance in life, normalcy, and routinenessRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
are your ears burningSaid of somebody who was not present but was the topic of discussion.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
around the hornA difficult or precarious route that is less advisable than a simpler alternative; also, in baseball, throwing the ball from third base to second to firstRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Bark is Worse than Your BiteA person or situation that is frightening but actually the actions are not any worseRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
batten downTo close or make watertight, referring to hatches and cargo.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
be careful what you wish forThe desired outcome may not be as desirable once it has been attained.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
bean queenA (usually white) man who is primarily attracted to Hispanic and Latino men.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
beyond wordsIn recalling an incident, in observing an accident, any or all of which can be disastrous and shocking. A destructive fire and explosion may leave one awestruck and beyond words to describe.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
bitter endThat part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains onboard when a ship is riding at anchor.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
boss aboutTo act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.Rate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
boss aroundTo act in a bossy manner with another person, ordering them to do things, whether or not one is actually their superior.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
bowl outAnd thus end their innings.Rate it:

(4.00 / 5 votes)
bright as a buttonVery cheery, energetic and upbeat.Rate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
carry a torch forTo harbor feelings of love despite not being in a relationship; generally unrequited or after a relationship has ended, and sometimes implying secret feelings. There is the implication of keeping hope alive.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
cast offTo finish the last row of knitted stitches and remove them securely from the needle.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
check outTo have one's purchases recorded and bagged at a supermarket, and pay for it.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
check outTo pay the bill, and record one's departure, as from a hotel.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
cherry pickTo position oneself near the opponent's goal to attempt to receive an errant or intentional pass for an easy score, as in basketball or versions of soccer where offsides are not enforced.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
collateral damageA damage to things that are incidental to the intended target. It is frequently used as a military term where non-combatants are accidentally or unintentionally killed or wounded and/or non-combatant property damaged as result of the attack on legitimate enemy targets.Rate it:

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cook offTo pull the pin from a grenade and wait two or three seconds before throwing.Rate it:

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cry me a riverAn admonishment, reminder, chiding, demand or ejaculation addressed to an individual whom evinces sadness. seemingly suffers disappointment, disillusionment, distress, and renders a general resentment toward the people in this world with a constant flow of tears.Rate it:

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cue upThe act of taking aim on the cue ball with the cue in a game of snooker, or billiards, etc.Rate it:

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curate's eggA thing which has good and bad parts.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
curveballA forespin pitch thrown by rotating the index and middle fingers down and resulting in motion down "curve".Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
dog days of summerhot summer day when you just want to sit under a tree and do nothingRate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
dope sheetA set of detailed instructions which the designer of an animated film provides to the photographers and editors.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
drive inTo hit the ball or reach base in such a way that a run scores.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Drive You CrazyTo force someone into a state of anger and mental instability; to make someone very frustratedRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
drop backOf a quarterback or other player in the backfield, to take a number of steps back from the line of scrimmage immediately after the snap or hike of the ball, to avoid defenders.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
esprit de corpsA shared spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group, for example of a military unit.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Feliz Navidad y próspero Año NuevoMerry Christmas and a Happy New YearRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
fend for oneselfLook after and provide for oneself, without any help from othersRate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
first among equalsIn the British and other parliamentary systems, a term used to describe the relationship of the prime minister to the other members of the cabinet.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
fish out of waterA person in unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable, surroundings.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
friendship with benefitsA friendship where the partners engage in sexual activities, but do not consider themselves a couple.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
get one's juices flowingto inspire creativity and thought.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Get to the Bottom of SomethingTo discover the root cause of something, to find out and investigate the actual cause of matterRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
gift of the gabThe ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
grain of saltA bit of common sense and skepticism. Generally used in some form of to take with a grain of salt.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)

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