brain drain
Loss of skilled workers to another country or region
Browse all entries 83360
Every expression in the dictionary, A to Z — pick a language, then a letter.
All languages English Tiếng Việt Chinese 中文
brain surgeon
a person of extremely high intelligence
brain surgery
a very difficult or complex task
brain-pan
The skull, and BRAIN-CANISTER, the head. Both pugilistic and exchangeable terms.
brains
If you had as much brains as guts, what a clever fellow you would be! a saying to a stupid fat fellow. To have some guts in his brains; to know something.
bramble-gelder
A derisive appellation for an agriculturist.—Suffolk.
bran-faced
Freckled. He was christened by a baker, he carries the bran in his face.
bran-new
Quite new. Properly Brent, BRAND or Fire new, i.e., fresh from the anvil, or fresh with the manufacturer’s brand upon it.
branch off
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
branch out
To try new things or explore new areas of interest
brandon
Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime; or, The Facts, Examinations, &c., upon which the Report was founded, presented to the House of Lords by W. A. Miles, Esq., to which is added a Dictionary of the Flash or Cant Language, known to every Thief and Beggar, edited by H. Brandon, Esq., 8vo. 1839.
brandy
Brandy is Latin for a goose; a memento to prevent the animal from rising in the stomach by a glass of the good creature.
Brandy Nan
Queen Anne who was very fond of brandy. On her statue in St. Paul's Churchyard a wit once wrote : — Brandy Nan, Brandy Nan, left in the lurch, Her face to the gin-shop, her back to the church.
brandy pawnee
Brandy and water.—Anglo-Indian.
brandy pawnee
Brandy and water. Pax (paks) (Lat, peace). The "kiss of peace," which is given at High Mass. It is omitted on Maundy Thursday.
brandy smash
One of the 365 American drinks, made of brandy and crushed ice.
brandy-faced
Red-faced, as if from drinking brandy.
brass
Money. "Tin" is also used, and so are most forms of metal.
brass ceiling
an invisible barrier to advancement, especially for women
brass farthing
something completely worthless
Brass Hat
A soldier's name for a staff officer, or an officer of high rank. It dates from the South African War (1899-1902), and refers to the gold oak leaves with which such officers* hats were ornamented on the brim.
brass monkey
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
brass monkeys
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
brass up
To pay a debt or hand over money.
brass-knocker
Broken victuals. Used by tramps and cadgers.
brassed off
Extremely annoyed or frustrated
brasser
Prostitute.
brat
A child of either sex. Generally used in an offensive sense.
brave out
to endure a difficult situation with courage
bray
A vicar of Bray; one who frequently changes his principles, always siding with the strongest party: an allusion to a vicar of Bray, in Berkshire, commemorated in a well-known ballad for the pliability of his conscience.
Brazen Age
The age of war and violence. It followed the silver age.
brazen bead
The legend of the wonderful head of brass that could speak and was omniscient is common property to early romances, and is of Eastern origin. In Valentine and Orson, for instance, we hear of a gigantic head kept in the castle of the giant Ferragus (q. v.). of Portugal .
Brazen Bull
Perillos of Athens made a brazen bull for Phalaris, Tyrant of Agrigentum, intended for the execution of criminals, who were shut up m the bull, fires being lighted below the belly. Phalaris admired the in- vention, and tested it on Perillos himself, who was the first person baked to death in the horrible monster.
brazen out
To boldly and confidently deal with a difficult situation
brazen-faced
Bold-faced, shameless, impudent.
brazen-faced
Impudent, shameless. From BRASS. Such a person is sometimes said "to have rubbed his face with a brass candlestick."
brazil
A hard red wood; "HARD AS BRAZIL," a common expression. Quarles in his Emblems says—
Breach of Promise
A contract to marry is as binding in English law as any other contract, and if it is broken the party breaking it is liable to pay damages. The woman who breaks an engagement is just as liable in law as a man. In actions for breach of promise of marriage the plaintiff is entitled to the recovery of any pecuniary loss, such as the cost of a trousseau, and such sentimental or punitive damages as the jury may consider appropriate. See BETROTHAL.
bread
Employment. Out of bread; out of employment. In bad bread; in a disagreeable scrape, or situation.
bread and butter
One's main source of income or livelihood
bread and butter fashion
One slice upon the other. John and his maid were caught lying bread and butter fashion.--To quarrel with one's bread and butter; to act contrary to one's interest. To know on which side one's bread is buttered; to know one's interest, or what is best for one. It is no bread and butter of mine; I have no business with it; or rather, I won't intermeddle, because I shall get nothing by it.
bread and cheese
Food generally, but of a frugal nature. "Come and take your bread and cheese with me this evening" — that is, come and have a light supper, anything that's going.
bread and honey
Money.
bread and roses
basic needs and desires for a better life
bread and water
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
bread basket
The stomach; a term used by boxers. I took him a punch in his bread basket; i.e. I gave him a blow in the stomach.
bread of life
Something that gives spiritual nourishment
bread-bags
A nickname given in the army and navy to any one connected with the victualling department, as a purser or purveyor in the Commissariat.
break a promise
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break a sweat
to exert oneself physically or mentally
break and take
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
break down
To stop functioning or fall apart
break even
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break gates
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break in
Interrupt or intrude into a conversation or activity
break into
start doing something suddenly
break into a run
start running suddenly
break it to
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
break one's back
to work extremely hard
break one's chops
to tease or annoy someone
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.