bust someone's balls
To give someone a hard time, whether by playfully teasing or sincerely harassing them.
English · UK & Ireland 1634
All languages English Tiếng Việt
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.
bust the dust
to clean or dust a place thoroughly
busted flush
A situation or plan that has failed or is unlikely to succeed
busy as a bee
Very actively and industriously engaged
busy as a nailer
very busy or actively working
busy work
Tasks that keep someone occupied but are not important or productive.
but good
acceptable or satisfactory despite some flaws
but seriously folks
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
but then
introduces a contrasting idea
butcher's bill
A heavy cost or consequence of an action
butcher's thumb
a thumb placed in the way of weighing scales to cheat
butt and pass
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
butt heads
to disagree or argue strongly
butt in
to interrupt or interfere in someone's conversation
butt out
to stop interfering or meddling in someone's business
butt up
to meet or encounter something unexpectedly
butter face
A person with an attractive body but unattractive face
butter one's bread on both sides
to benefit or profit from multiple sources
butter the cony
to flatter or deceive someone
butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
Someone appears very innocent or sweet
butterfly upon a wheel
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
button nose
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
button one's lip
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
button pusher
A person who operates or activates something, often in a menial or routine capacity
buy a dog and bark oneself
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
buy a ticket to
to participate or get involved in something
buy and hold
Invest for the long term, without frequent buying or selling.
buy and sell
completely believe or trust someone
buy cheap, buy twice
Inexpensive items may need to be replaced, making them more costly overall
buy into
to believe or accept an idea or plan
buy it
to believe something
buy once, cry once
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
buy out
to purchase the entire stock or ownership of a company
buy straw hats in winter
To buy something when it is cheapest, often because it is out of season
buy the farm
to die or be killed, often in a dramatic or unexpected manner
buy the rights
Purchase the legal rights to something
buy the rumor
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
buy time
Delay or postpone something to gain an advantage
buy to let
Purchase a property to rent out for profit
buy up
To purchase something in large quantities
buzz off
go away and leave someone alone
by a hair's breadth
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by a landslide
to win by a large margin
by a long chalk
By far.
by a long shot
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by a long way
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by all accounts
According to all available information or reports
by an eyelash
by a very small margin
by any means
using every possible method to achieve something
by any stretch of the imagination
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by far
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by guess and by golly
by luck and intuition
by guess or by gosh
by chance or intuition
by halves
To do something incompletely or inadequately
by hand
done manually, not by machine
by mistake
Unintentionally or accidentally
by no means
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by no stretch
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by no stretch of imagination
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
by no stretch of the imagination
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
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