if it looks like a duck
Ellipsis of if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
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if pigs had wings, they would fly
Expresses skepticism toward a hypothetical argument by another.
if the mountain won't come to Mohammed
Synonym of if the mountain won't come to Muhammad.
if the mountain won't come to Muhammad
If something one wishes to be done cannot be commanded to be done, one must find another way to achieve one's goal.
if there's grass on the field, play ball
Alternative form of if there's grass on the pitch, play ball.
if there's grass on the pitch, play ball
Once someone has grown pubic hair or started puberty, they are old enough for sexual intercourse.
if there's grass on the wicket, let's play cricket
Synonym of if there's grass on the pitch, play ball.
if we had ham we could have ham and eggs, if we had eggs
Draws attention to the futility of a plan or strategy in the absence of the resources necessary for it to work.
if wishes were horses, beggars might ride
Alternative form of if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
if you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time
If you have no ambition, you will have no success
if you believe everything you read, better not to read
One should not always believe or rely on the factual accuracy of printed matter.
if you build it, they will come
Creating the right circumstances for a goal will result in that goal realizing itself.
if you can't beat them, eat them
If one cannot control or eradicate invasive species or unwanted populations, one should consume them as a method of elimination, such as green crabs or blue catfish.
if you can't do the time, don't do the crime
One should not carry out an action if one is unwilling to handle the consequences.
if you can't lick them, join them
Alternative form of if you can't beat them, join them.
if you don't ask, you don't get
Synonym of a dumb priest never got a parish
if you fly with the crows, you get shot with the crows
Somebody who spends time with undesirable people will be regarded as one of them.
if you go far enough left, you get your guns back
Liberals or center-leftists widely support firearm restrictions, while those on the far left, such as Marxists, do not.
if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas
Spending time with undesirable individuals will cause one to acquire their undesirable traits.
if you lie with dogs you will get fleas
Alternative form of if you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
if you mess with the bull, you get the horns
Synonym of when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.
if you pay bananas, you get monkeys
Synonym of if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.
if you want peace, prepare for war
Visibly preparing for a fight can deter one's enemies from opening hostilities, by not giving the appearance of an easy target.
iffy
Of dubious authenticity, legitimacy or legality.
IG
Abbreviation of in-game.
ignant
dumb; stupid
ignorant
Ill-mannered, crude.
ignoranus
A person who is both stupid and rude; an ignorant asshole.
ignorati
The wilfully ignorant; those who choose to ignore inconvenient facts or make public claims based on falsehoods.
ignore all rules
It is acceptable to break rules in situations where it is beneficial not to follow them.
IidaDeku
The ship of characters Tenya Iida and Izuku "Deku" Midoriya from the My Hero Academia series.
IJBOL
An acronym for "I just burst out laughing".
ill
To behave aggressively.
ill doers are ill deemers
Bad people expect others to behave badly.
ill news spreads apace
Bad news circulates quickly because people tend to gossip.
ill-gotten gains never prosper
Money or other property acquired dishonestly does not bring long-term and lasting joy.
ilu
Abbreviation of I love you.
imagine
A short fanfic or prompt placing a reader insert in a novel scenario with a character or celebrity.
imba
Clipping of imbalanced.
imbo
An idiot, a fool.
imma
Contraction of I'm + gonna.
imouto
A little sister.
imp
Synonym of god (“person who owns and runs a multi-user dungeon”).
impossible story
Any story featuring elements of science fiction or fantasy (as opposed to typical stories which are set in the real world).
impost
The weight that must be carried by a horse in a race; the handicap.
impot
Synonym of imposition (“task imposed on a student as punishment”)
impresstaurant
An upscale restaurant where one might take somebody to impress them.
imprint on
To come to accept, inaccurately, that a creature or object is one's parent and consequently to act as if it is.
improve on
To fix, make better or increase the quality of (something) in comparison to previous attempts; to contribute to an ongoing effort to improve (something).
imzadi
A person with whom one shares a profound spiritual bond; a soulmate.
in a fog
In a state of perplexity.
in a pig's whisper
In a very short time; in a jiffy.
in a trench coat
Pretending to be something greater, especially unconvincingly.
in a while, crocodile
Au revoir, see you soon.
in bits
In a state of extreme emotion, such as hilarity or rage.
in deep shit
In trouble; in a difficult situation.
in glass
Belonging to a management level, as in a contemporary office hierarchy.
in good bread
In a fortunate or favorable position.
in high dudgeon
In a state of deep resentment.
in hot water
In trouble; facing punishment or serious criticism.