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Phrases related to: can't do right for doing wrong Page #8

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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:

(4.00 / 5 votes)
all roads lead to romedifferent paths can take one to the same goalRate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
all talk and no actionSpeaking, promising, or boasting much, but doing littleRate 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)
ass-backwardsHopelessly misguided; having taken the utterly wrong choice.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
back to the wall(Can we clean up this sense?) A very difficult situation with no beneficial options available for action.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
bang aboutTo make a lot of percussive noise while doing an activity.Rate it:

(4.00 / 3 votes)
Between a Rock and a Hard PlaceTo face a difficult situation and remain in a tight spot one after another, Or face some difficulty in making the right decision that would deliver no harmRate 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)
cack upTo mess up; to get seriously wrong.Rate it:

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cooking with gasNow doing something in an effective way.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Cry WolfTo send out a wrong signal of any threat or impending danger, a false alarmRate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
faites vos jeuxIn roulette, the call made by the croupier when gamblers can place their bets.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
hide one's light under a bushelFor a person to keep some talent or skill hidden from other people. The tone is that a person having a talent which they can be proud of ought not hide it.Rate it:

(4.00 / 5 votes)
i am what i amI can't help the way I am. The underlying meaning is that I am not going to change either.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
jack inTo stop doing a regular activity. Often a job or studies.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
let's not and say we didIndicates that the speaker does not agree with a proposed action and does not wish to participate; often said as a joke--sometimes as an expression that the speaker doesn't want to do the proposed action or to indicate that they are happy doing what they are doing and don't want to change that by doing the proposed actionRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
lickety-splitA mad rush; right now!; in this instant:Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
like buzzards on a gut wagonTo get right on something. To do something promptly.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
low-hanging fruitEasily obtained gains; what can be obtained by readily available means.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
moral compassAn inner sense which distinguishes what is right from what is wrong, functioning as a guide (like the needle of a compass) for morally appropriate behavior.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
never fight a land war in AsiaDon't bite off more than you can chew; don't start a fight that is too big to win.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
never say neverAnything can happen; a certain option should not be totally dismissed.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
potter aroundTo potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
reach a critical massWhen one works, reworks, tries every trick in the book, one can attain the verge of an explosion.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
run aroundTo be very busy doing many different things.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
run off withTo leave with someone with the intention of living with them or marrying them. Usually in secret because other people think it is wrong.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
Sight for Sore EyesA pleasant and good surprise, an unexpected thing that can relieve you of your troubleRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
the road to hell is paved with good intentionswell-intended acts can lead to disasterRate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
three rsThe basic education any child can expect to receive, but not necessarily limited to reading, writing and arithmetic.Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Throw Cold Water on SomethingDoing or saying something that may not be very encouraging; dampening the eagerness of someoneRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
Tied to Someone's Apron StringsDepending on someone for something; can’t be able to do something due to dependenceRate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
wade inTo interrupt someone, or a situation, by doing or saying something abruptly, or forcefully, and usually without thinking about the consequences.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
when two sundays come together"When two Sundays come together/ meet" is used to talk about a situation that never occurs as two Sundays can never meet.Rate it:

(4.00 / 2 votes)
yas queenTo continue what you're doing rightRate it:

(4.00 / 4 votes)
your eyes are bigger than your stomachTo take more food on one's plate than one can eat; Also and more often said "your eyes are bigger than your, belly"Rate it:

(4.00 / 1 vote)
turn to stoneTo become completely still, not moving. The phrase "turn to stone" typically means to become motionless, rigid, or unresponsive. It can also refer to becoming emotionally numb or unfeeling. The phrase has its origins in Greek mythology, where the Gorgon Medusa was said to have the power to turn anyone who looked at her into stone. In this context, "turning to stone" meant to become petrified, frozen, and unable to move. In a more metaphorical sense, "turning to stone" can refer to becoming emotionally or mentally rigid, closed off, or unresponsive. For example, a person might be said to have "turned to stone" if they have experienced trauma or emotional distress that has left them numb or unfeeling. The phrase can also be used to describe a situation where a person or group of people becomes unresponsive or unwilling to change their views or actions. For example, a team that is stuck in their ways and resistant to change might be said to have "turned to stone" in terms of their ability to adapt and evolve. Overall, the phrase "turn to stone" implies a sense of rigidity, immobility, and unresponsiveness. It can refer to becoming physically or emotionally petrified, and it can also describe a situation where a person or group is unwilling or unable to change or adapt.Rate it:

(3.86 / 7 votes)
boiSomeone looking down on the person, Critically saying that a thing is wrong here.Rate it:

(3.83 / 6 votes)
run around afterTo spend a lot of time doing things for another person or group of people. Often used when that person could reasonably do the things for themselves.Rate it:

(3.75 / 4 votes)
ma vaillante filleMy brave girl "Ma vaillante fille" is a French phrase that translates to "my brave daughter" in English. It is a term of endearment often used to describe a daughter who is courageous, strong, and determined. The phrase "ma vaillante fille" can be used to express pride and admiration for a daughter who has faced challenges or overcome obstacles with bravery and resilience. It can also be used to encourage a daughter to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity or to express confidence in her ability to handle difficult situations. The phrase is often used in a familial or intimate context, such as between a parent and child or between spouses. It can convey a sense of closeness and affection, suggesting a strong emotional bond between the two individuals. Overall, "ma vaillante fille" is a term of endearment that celebrates a daughter's bravery and resilience. It is a sentimental expression that conveys pride, admiration, and love, and it is often used in intimate or familial contexts.Rate it:

(3.70 / 16 votes)
by the grace of godBy divine right.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
rainy dayA difficult period of need, when things do not go right.Rate it:

(3.67 / 3 votes)
familiarity breeds contemptThe more acquainted one becomes with a person, the more one knows about his or her shortcomings and, hence, the easier it is to dislike that person.1894, H. Rider Haggard, The People Of The Mist, ch. 25:This was the beginning of evil, for if no man is a hero to his valet de chambre, much less can he remain a god for long in the eyes of a curious woman. Here, as in other matters, familiarity breeds contempt.Rate it:

(3.50 / 4 votes)
put the cart before the horseTo put things in the wrong order or with the wrong priorities.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 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)
sushi tuna saku blockIt is a tuna cut that is sold and it is used to make sushi or poke. This tuna can be yellowfin (Ahi in Hawaiian language) or bluefin.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
the pen is mightier than the swordMore influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
white magicMagic derived from good or benign forces, as distinct from evil or malevolent forces; or magic performed with the intention of doing good or giving aid.Rate it:

(3.50 / 2 votes)
a brand new meOne can forge a complete new outlook, launch a personal renaissance by enrolling in self improvement courses or agendas.Rate it:

(3.33 / 6 votes)
big yearan informal competition among birdwatchers to see who can see or hear the largest number of species of birds within a single calendar year and within a specific geographical area.Rate it:

(3.33 / 3 votes)

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