Idioms Proverbs Sayings

Front 1

A rising tide lifts all boats

Back 1

the idea that an improved economy will benefit all participants, and that economic policy, particularly government economic policy, should therefore focus on broad economic efforts

Front 2

shoot from the hip

Back 2

To speak in a very direct and honest way.

To react quickly, without thinking carefully about something:

Hint 2

- Jeff is a straight talker who always shoots from the hip.

- We're not going to shoot from the hip - we're going to think things through.

Front 3

Swares like sailor

Back 3

Swares a lot

Front 4

As happy as clam

Back 4

Happy person

Front 5

up to snuff

Back 5

- meeting the required standard.

- not easily deceived; knowing

Hint 5

- "they need a million dollars to get their facilities up to snuff"

- "an up-to-snuff old vagabond"

Front 6

At loggerheads

Back 6

The idiom at loggerheads, which usually functions as a predicate adjective, means in a dispute. It's origins are mysterious. Loggerhead originally referred to a stupid person, and in 17th century it took a nee definition- thick headed iron tool.

Front 7

have an axe to grind

Back 7

have a private reason for doing or being involved in something.

Hint 7

"he has no political axe to grind"

Front 8

carry (someone's) water

Back 8

To be subservient to and uncritical of someone; to do someone's bidding.

Hint 8

The dictator made sure to surround himself with those who would eagerly carry his water.I hate my job. I have to carry my boss's water or risk getting fired!

Front 9

gin up

Back 9

Gin something up. The idiom gin something up means to increase something, to get something going, to stir something up, to agitate or perhaps make a little trouble, sometimes through less than honest means.

Front 10

fruit of the poisonous tree

Back 10

It is a legal metaphor in the United States used to describe evidence that is obtained illegally. The logic of the terminology is that if the source (the "tree") of the evidence or evidence itself is tainted, then anything gained (the "fruit") from it is tainted as well.

Front 11

preconceived notion

Back 11

an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidenceSynonyms: parti pris, preconceived idea, preconceived opinion, preconception, prepossession Type of: opinion, persuasion, sentiment, thought, view. a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty.

Front 12

dog eat dog world

Back 12

Dog-eat-dog is an idiomatic adjective meaning ruthless or competitive. Doggy dog, when used in the phrase doggy-dog world, is an eggcorn resulting from a mishearing of dog-eat-dog

Front 13

give someone grief

Back 13

criticize or make trouble for someone.

Hint 13

he gave me grief about typos"

Front 14

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe - Abraham Lincoln

Back 14

Spend more time for planning before actually working on a task

Front 15

If all you have is hammer, everything looks like nail - Abraham Maslow (American psychologist)

Back 15

If a person is familiar with a certain, single subject, or has with them a certain, single instrument, they may have a confirmation bias to believe that it is the answer to/involved in everything.

Front 16

Discretion is better part of valour

Back 16

Caution is preferable to rash bravery. Said by Falstaff in King Henry the Fourth, Part One, by William Shakespeare.

Front 17

It takes two to tango

Back 17

The tango is a dance which requires two partners moving in relation to each other, sometimes in tandem, sometimes in opposition

Hint 17

is a common idiomatic expression which suggests something in which more than one person or other entity are paired in an inextricably-related and active manner, occasionally with negative connotations

Front 18

talking through his hat

Back 18

to talk about something without understanding what you are talking about

Hint 18

Nothing of what he said made sense - he was talking through his hat

Front 19

Scotland Yard

Back 19

the main office of the London police force, or the officers who work there, especially those involved in solving serious crimes:

Hint 19

Scotland Yard have/has been called in to investigate the murder.

Front 20

fight nail and tooth

Back 20

fight fiercely.

Hint 20

We fought tooth and nail to get the route of the new road changed.

Front 21

"It is a harsh truth, that peace comes, when you are ready for war” :- John F Kennedy

Back 21

"It is a harsh truth that peace comes when you are ready for war” :- John F Kennedy

Front 22

water under the bridge

Back 22

used to refer to events, or situations that are in the past, and consequently no longer to be regarded as important, or as a source of concern.

Front 23

Living under a rock

Back 23

being oblivious, or ignorant to what happens in the outside world.

Hint 23

Have you been living under a rock? How cannot you know, that Peter and Jane got married?

Front 24

To Hear Something Straight From The Horses Mouth

Back 24

To hear something straight from the horses mouth, means that you heard the information, from someone who has personal knowledge on the spoken matter.

Hint 24

“I do not believe it that she did it. I am going to go to ask her and hear it straight, from the horses mouth.”

Front 25

penny dropped

Back 25

someone suddenly understood or realized something

Hint 25

"I was about to ask Jack who it was, when the penny suddenly dropped"

Front 26

the shoe is on the other foot

Back 26

a situation has been reversed completely, so that the person who was in the better position before is now in the worse one.