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Phrases related to: past and present Page #5

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whips and jinglesa state of torturous delirium, particularly delirium tremensRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don'tAlternative form of damned if you do, damned if you don'tRate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
shave and a haircutA 7-note riff played at the end of a song for comic effect.Rate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
a gentleman and a scholarAn admirable person.Rate it:

(3.67 / 6 votes)
on pins and needlesFeeling sharp anticipation or anxiety; in a state of suspense.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
a blessing and a curseSomething that is both a benefit and a burden, or that may seem initially beneficial but also brings unforeseen negative consequencesRate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
all and someone and allRate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
all hat and no cattleFull of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
and shitUsed after a noun or list of nouns in place of "etc".Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
arm and a legA relatively high price for an item or service; an exorbitant price.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
bow and scrapeTo behave in a servile, obsequious, or excessively polite manner.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
bread-and-butterRelating to basic sustenance or the requirements for everyday living for the masses.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
hop, skip, and a jumpa short distanceRate it:

(3.50 / 4 votes)
nuts and boltsThe basic, inner workings of something; the fundamentals or basics; that which makes something operate, on a basic level.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
out of house and homeHelping Your Dog Adjust to a New Home, The Progressive Animal Welfare Society.Rate it:

(3.50 / 4 votes)
stop an eight-day clock and throw it into reverseBefore batteries and household electricity were used to power clocks, most clocks had to be wound by hand to keep operating. Eight-day clocks were designed so they only had to be wound every eighth day and the movement only turned in a clockwise direction. Therefore, someone with an appearance objectionable enough to stop the clock and send the movement spinning in the wrong and opposite direction would be ugly indeed.Rate it:

(3.50 / 4 votes)
sweetness and lightThat which is good, pure, pleasant, etc.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
to and froTo go back and forth; to alternate.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
up hill and down daleHere and there; everywhere.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
wake up and smell the coffeeTo face reality and stop deluding oneself.Rate it:

(3.40 / 5 votes)
a short drop and a sudden stopA fall to one's death by hanging.Rate it:

(3.33 / 3 votes)
bells and whistlesExtra features added for show rather than function; fancy additions or features.Rate it:

(3.33 / 3 votes)
caught between the devil and the deep blue seaHaving a choice between two alternatives, both undesirable.Rate it:

(3.33 / 3 votes)
heart and soulThe core of a thing; the most essential or important part.Rate it:

(3.33 / 3 votes)
rained cats and dogspouredRate it:

(3.33 / 3 votes)
all and sundryAll, everyone.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
and be done with itUsed to terminate discussion or delay with a call to actionRate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
be-all and end-allSomething considered to be of the utmost importance; something essential or ultimate.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
between scylla and charybdisSimilar in meaning to between a rock and a hard place.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
bread-and-butterUsed other than as an idiom: see bread, and, butter.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
brick and mortarUsed other than as an idiom: see brick, and, mortar.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
cat and dog lifeUnhappy married life.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
cat and mouse gameTwo individuals and/or groups repeatedly keeping check on each other in a suspicious or self-protective way, often with the goal of one or both parties trying to gain a malicious advantage over the other.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
cut and driedSimple, straightforward, clear, or certain.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
dog and pony showAny presentation or display that is overly contrived or intricate.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
have someone by the short and curliesto exercise total control over someone.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
hem and hawTo discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
hustle and bustleA large amount of activity and work, usually in a noisy surrounding.Rate it:

(3.00 / 4 votes)
in black and whiteHaving it displayed using shades of gray/gray rather than colour/color .Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
out of house and homeGlobal Checkup: How Healthy is Earth?, Science NOW.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
peaches-and-creamOf facial complexion, smooth, with attractive yellow-pink coloring.Rate it:

(3.00 / 3 votes)
said and doneAgreed to and accomplished or finished.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
shave and a haircutUsed other than as an idiom: see shave, haircut.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
six and two threesTwo equivalent choices or situations.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
speak of the devil and he shall appearAlternative form of speak of the devil.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
there's many a slip twixt cup and lipIn any situation, however well planned, something can always go wrong.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
throw dirt enough, and some will stickIf enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at on 14 Oct 06.I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,Archbishop Whately used to say Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
tried and trueWell-established and tested; known to work or succeed based on extensive experience.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)
under lock and keyImprisoned with little or no chance of escape.Rate it:

(3.00 / 1 vote)
wouldn't give two hoots n a holler / ... two hoots and a hollerdefinition: it isn't worth much, or I wouldn't put much stock in it - it is not believable, or wouldn't pay attention to it.Rate it:

(3.00 / 2 votes)

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