autem quaver tub
A Quakers' meeting-house. CANT.
English · UK & Ireland 608
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
avast
A sailor’s phrase for stop, shut up, go away,—apparently connected with the old Cant, BYNGE A WASTE; or from the Italian, BASTA, hold! enough.
avoir du pois lay
Stealing brass weights off the counters of shops. CANT.
awake
Acquainted with, knowing the business. Stow the books, the culls are awake; hide the cards, the fellows know what we intended to do.
awake
Or FLY, knowing, thoroughly understanding. "I’m awake," i.e., I know all. The phrase WIDE-AWAKE carries a similar meaning in ordinary conversation, but has a more general reference.
awful
A senseless expletive, used to intensify a description of anything good or bad; "what an AWFUL fine woman!" "awfully jolly," "awfully sorry," &c. The phrase is not confined to any section of society.
ax
To ask. Sometimes pronounced arks.
a blessing in disguise
Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial.
a day late and a dollar short
Too little too late.
a dime a dozen
(US) Anything that is common, inexpensive, and easy to get or available anywhere.
a little bird told me
A teasing way of saying that you do not intend to divulge how you knew something.
a piece of cake
Something very easy to do.
ace in the hole
A hidden or secret strength; an unrevealed advantage.
achilles' heel
A small but fatal weakness in spite of overall strength.
across the board
Applying to all.
add fuel to the fire
Euphemism for to make a situation worse.
add insult to injury
Make a bad situation worse.
against the clock
Rush in order to finish on time.
ahead of the game
Lead in a particular field.
airs and graces
Exaggerated superiority.
all bets are off
The outcome of a particular situation is unpredictable.
all ears
Listening intently; fully focused or awaiting an explanation.
all fingers and thumbs
Be clumsy or awkward in your actions.
all over the place
In a state of confusion.
all thumbs
Clumsy, awkward.
an arm and a leg
Very expensive or costly; a large amount of money.
apple of discord
Anything causing trouble, discord, or jealousy.
apples and oranges
Fundamentally different.
around the clock
When something is done all day and all night without stopping.
around the corner
Happening soon.
at a low ebb
In an especially poor state.
at daggers drawn
In a state of bitter enmity.
at the drop of a hat
Without any hesitation; instantly.
at the end of the day
When everything is taken into consideration.
a bad excuse is better than none
Any explanation is more acceptable than no explanation at all
a bad workman blames his tools
Incompetent people blame external factors for their mistakes
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Something already possessed is more valuable than something potential
a blessing and a curse
Something that has both positive and negative effects
a boon and a bane
Something that is both beneficial and harmful
a bridge too far
An objective that is impractical or unrealistic to achieve
a cat may look at a king
Even those of low status have rights
a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
A system is only as strong as its weakest part
a cigar is just a cigar
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
a cold day in July
something that is very unlikely to happen
a dog is a man's best friend
A dog is extremely loyal and beneficial to its owner
a drowning man will clutch at a straw
A desperate person will try anything to survive
a far remove
very far away in distance or character
a few sandwiches short of a picnic
Lacking intelligence.
a fool and his money are soon parted
Someone who is foolish with their finances will quickly lose their money
a friend in need is a friend indeed
If a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.
a friend to everyone is a friend to no one
Someone who tries to be friends with everyone may not have any genuine friendships
a good deal
A significant amount or extent
a great deal
A large amount or extent of something
a hard pill to swallow
A situation or information that is unpleasant but must be accepted.
a hot potato
A controversial issue or situation that is awkward or unpleasant to deal with.
a hundred and ten percent
completely and totally
a hungry man thinks of bread
A person in need thinks of their basic necessities
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
Even the longest and most difficult tasks begin with one small action
a language is a dialect with an army and navy
A language's status depends on the power of its speakers
a leopard cannot change its spots
A person's nature cannot be changed