铁面无私 tiě miàn wú sī
Strictly impartial and impossible to bribe or sway, even for friends and family.
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长生不老 cháng shēng bù lǎo
To live for ever without growing old.
门当户对 mén dāng hù duì
Describes two families of similar social and economic standing, which traditionally makes a marriage between them a suitable match.
阿弥陀佛 ē mí tuó fó
The name of Amitabha, the Buddha who rules the Pure Land in the west, recited by believers as a prayer.
随机应变 suí jī yìng biàn
To adapt quickly to whatever happens instead of sticking to a fixed plan.
青天白日 qīng tiān bái rì
Broad daylight. Used for emphasis, most often about something shocking, such as a crime, that is done openly when anyone could see it.
青梅竹马 qīng méi zhú mǎ
Childhood sweethearts: a boy and a girl who grew up playing together.
鞠躬尽瘁 jū gōng jìn cuì
To devote yourself to a duty with complete loyalty, working until your strength gives out.
骑虎难下 qí hǔ nán xià
To be stuck in something risky that you can neither safely continue nor safely stop, like a rider who dares not get off a tiger.
骨肉相残 gǔ ròu xiāng cán
Members of one family turning on each other, even to the point of murder; by extension, people of one nation fighting among themselves.
魂飞魄散 hún fēi pò sàn
Terrified; so frightened that the soul seems to leave the body.
鱼目混珠 yú mù hùn zhū
To pass off something fake or inferior as the real thing by mixing it in with genuine goods.
vắng chủ nhà, gà vọc niêu tôm
When the person in charge is away, those left behind misbehave or run wild.
'bacco
tobacco
'If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
'rales
The police.
'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
Experiencing loss is better than never having the experience at all
'za
Pizza.
100
Yes.
11 Downing Street
British Chancellor of the Exchequer's official residence
110 proof
completely genuine or authentic
11th commandment
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
12-ounce curls
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
13th reason why
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
15 minutes of fame
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
23 skidoo
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
23 Skidoo Street
a place of chaos or confusion
26.2
A marathon.
420
Cannabis.
51 percent
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
800-pound gorilla
A powerful entity that dominates a situation
a 1
First-rate, the very best; "she’s a prime girl, she is; she is A 1."—Sam Slick. The highest classification of ships at Lloyd’s; common term in the United States; also at Liverpool and other English seaports. Another, even more intensitive form is "first-class, letter A, No. 1." Some people choose to say A I, for no reason, however, beyond that of being different from others.
a bad excuse is better than none
Any explanation is more acceptable than no explanation at all
a bad job
An unfortunate happening; a bad speculation.
a bad lot
A person of bad moral character, or one commercially unsound. Also a com- mercial project or stock of worthless value. Perhaps from auctioneering slang, meaning a lot which no one will bid for.
a bad settlement is better than a good lawsuit
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
a bad shot
A wrong guess, A sporting phrase; a bad shot is one which doesiiot bring down the bird shot at, one that misses the mark.
a bad workman blames his tools
Incompetent people blame external factors for their mistakes
a bad workman quarrels with his tools
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
a bag of bones
Very emaciated ; generally "A mere bag of bones.
a ball of fortune
One tossed like a ball, from pillar to post; one who has experienced many vicissitudes of fortune.
a bed of thorns
A situation of great anxiety and apprehension. In the twinkling of a bed-post or bed-staff.
a beggar can never be bankrupt
Someone with nothing to lose has nothing to fear
a bellyful is one of meat, drink, or sorrow
Enough of something, especially something unpleasant, to last a lifetime
a big bug
A person of importance — especially in his own eyes; a swell; a pompous or conceited man. There is an old adjective bug, meaning pompous, proud.
a bigwig
A magnate; in allusion to the large wigs that in the 17th and 18th centuries encumbered the head and shoulders of the aristocracy of England and France. They are still worn by the Lord Chancellor, judges, and barristers; bishops used to wear them in the House of Lords till 1880.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Something already possessed is more valuable than something potential
a bird of ill-omen
A person who is regarded as unlucky; one who is in the habit of bringing ill news. The phrase dates from the time of augury (g.v.) in Greece and Rome, and even to-day many look upon owls, crows, and ravens as unlucky birds, swallows and storks as lucky ones.
a bird of passage
A person who shifts from place to place; a temporary visitant, like a cuckoo, the swallow, starling, etc.
a bit
somewhat or to a small extent
a bit more
a small amount additional
a bit of something
a small amount or part of something
a blessing and a curse
Something that has both positive and negative effects
a blood horse
A thoroughbred; a horse of good parentage or stock.
a blow out
A "tuck in," or feast which swells out the paunch. Also applied to the sudden flattening of a pneumatic tyre when the inner tube is punctured.
a blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword
English proverb; full definition pending editorial review.
a board
A council which sits at a board or table; as "Board of Directors," "Board of Guardians," "School Board," "Board of Trade," etc.
a bob wig
A wig in which the bottom locks are turned up into bobs or short curls.
a bolt from the blue
A sudden and wholly unexpected catastrophe or event, like a "thunderbolt" from the blue sky, or flash of lightning without warning and wholly un- expected. Here "bolt" is used for lightning, though, of course, in strict language, a meteorite, not a flash of lightning, is a thunderbolt.
a bone of contention
A disputed point; a point not yet settled. The metaphor is taken from two dogs fighting for a bone.
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