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Common used expressions and sayings
Die-hard
Fierce or resilient
Wet behind the ears
Immature, naive
Fair and square
Legal and honest
Fair game
Something or someone who may be
attacked or ridiculed with good reason
Feather in one's cap
Achievement one can take pride in
Feather one's nest
Enrich oneself
Donkey's years
A very long time
Dog-days
Hot period of summer weather
Weasel words
Evasive or intentionally misleading
words, especially spoken ones
Don't look a horse in the mouth
Do not find fault with a gift or
chance benefit
Give one a break
Give one an opportunity; let someone
off
Go bald-headed
Act impetuously, without restraint
Wheels within wheels
Unseen or little-known workings
within the controlling forces of an organisation, system, etc.; complication of
influences; intricately connected events
Field-day
Period of excitement, success and
freedom from restraint
With a straight bat
Very correctly, not loosely or wildly
A cricketing term: keeping the bat in a vertical position when playing certain
strokes is held to be correct style.
Win hands down
Win with little or no effort
In horse-racing a jockey who is winning comfortably rides with hands held
loosely down, there being no need to use them to bring pressure on the horse.
Whole new ball-game
Completely different situation
A term used by radio commentators on American football and baseball matches,
known as ball-games in that country, when a score or succession of scores
transformed the fortunes of one of the teams.
Dead in the water
A sailing ship that is dead in the water is stationary, with no wind in its
sails to make it come alive. Transferring this to everyday life, to mean 'not
going anywhere, brought to a halt' was only a small step, although it can be
rather confusing if not used carefully.
Dead duck
Person or thing that is useless or
unsuccessful
From the American proverb 'Never waste your powder on a dead duck'.
Devils' advocate
Person who presents, usually for the
sake of argument, an opposing view which he does not himself hold
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