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The A drawer
58 phrases beginning with A.
- A baker's dozen Thirteen items rather than the usual twelve; a group or quantity of thirteen. It is used when something comes in an unexpectedly generous count, and…
- A bee in your bonnet To have a bee in your bonnet is to be obsessively preoccupied with one particular idea, usually one you keep bringing up in conversation. It implies a…
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush Having something certain now beats chasing uncertain gains later.
- A cat on a hot tin roof Restless or edgy, all nerves.
- A chip off the old block A person much like their parent, sharing traits.
- A cock and bull story An absurd, far-fetched, or obviously false account offered as an explanation or excuse; an implausible tale. It implies the listener is not expected…
- A dark horse An unexpected contender or winner, a surprise.
- A dime a dozen Very common and cheap, plentiful as dirt.
- A drop in the bucket A tiny part of a big whole, barely a dent.
- A feather in your cap An achievement, honour, or distinction that someone can be proud of and that enhances their reputation.
- A fish out of water A person who is conspicuously uncomfortable or out of place, because the situation does not fit their skills, habits, or temperament. Nearly always…
- A flash in the pan A conspicuous early success or display that quickly fails to produce lasting results. Usually dismissive. The pan is part of a firearm's ignition…
- A fly in the ointment A small flaw that spoils the whole, a tiny snag.
- A fool and his money are soon parted An imprudent person quickly loses money through bad judgement or exploitation. Usually judgemental and sometimes victim-blaming. Modern singular they…
- A foregone conclusion An outcome treated as inevitable or effectively decided before full consideration. Often used with not or far from to reject overconfidence. It can…
- A friend in need is a friend indeed A true friend proves loyal by helping when you are in difficulty. Indeed is standard. The punning spelling in deed can emphasize help shown through…
- A labour of love Work undertaken chiefly from affection, commitment or enjoyment rather than for reward. Labour is British spelling and labor American. The work can be…
- A laughing stock A person, group or thing made an object of widespread ridicule. Modern dictionaries usually close the compound as laughingstock, while British…
- A law unto themselves People who follow their own standards rather than ordinary rules or outside authority. Pronouns change with the subject. Modern use is often…
- A leopard can't change its spots A person's core nature or habits are unalterable, no matter how they try to appear otherwise, suggesting deep-seated traits persist like a leopard's…
- A month of Sundays An extremely long or seemingly endless period, usually in negative statements about likelihood. Informal hyperbole. In a negative construction it can…
- A needle in a haystack A person or thing that is extremely difficult, or practically impossible, to find because it is hidden within a much larger search area or mass of…
- A pretty kettle of fish A muddle, mess or awkward state of affairs; an embarrassing predicament. Almost always ironic, with pretty, fine or nice doing the opposite of its…
- A rolling stone gathers no moss Someone always on the move stays free of ties, unrooted.
- A sair fecht A hard struggle, or a wry acknowledgement that life is difficult. Regional and often wry. The phrase can express real hardship without inviting a…
- A sea change A profound transformation in character, condition, policy or outlook. Means a major transformation, not merely any alteration. Hyphenation is optional…
- A soft answer turns away wrath A calm, gentle reply can defuse another person's anger and prevent a quarrel from escalating. Traditional and slightly formal. It describes…
- A stitch in time saves nine Taking prompt action to fix a small problem prevents it from growing into a much larger one, much like a timely stitch in torn fabric stops a tear…
- A stone's throw Very close, just a short distance.
- A storm in a teacup A great commotion over a trivial matter; an uproar wildly out of proportion to its real importance. The standard British form; the usual American…
- A stumbling block An obstacle that prevents progress or makes success difficult. Neutral and common in formal as well as everyday writing. Regional use: Biblical…
- A thorn in your side A person or problem that causes persistent trouble or irritation. Side and flesh versions coexist, but they have distinct biblical textual histories…
- A tower of strength A reliably strong and supportive person or institution during difficulty. Normally complimentary and applied to sustained support, not merely physical…
- A voice crying in the wilderness A person whose warning, appeal, or unconventional view receives little attention. The modern idiom emphasizes being disregarded, a nuance not explicit…
- A watched pot never boils Waiting anxiously for something slows its seeming progress.
- A wild-goose chase A confused, fruitless or hopeless pursuit of something difficult to find or attain. The pursuit need not be literally chaotic, but it must be…
- A wolf in sheep's clothing Someone hiding bad intent behind a gentle facade, deceptive.
- Above board Honest and open in dealings, with nothing hidden or shady.
- According to Cocker Correctly or exactly, especially in arithmetic or in accordance with accepted rules. Dated and often humorous. Modern readers may not recognize Cocker…
- Acid test A decisive test that gives a conclusive answer about the worth, genuineness or quality of a person or thing. Widely used in journalism, business and…
- Acting the maggot Behaving mischievously, foolishly or disruptively instead of taking matters seriously. Informal. The force ranges from affectionate criticism of…
- Aid and abet To help, encourage or facilitate another person's wrongdoing, especially the commission of a crime. Strongly associated with criminal law, although it…
- All and sundry Every person without distinction or exception; everyone in a particular group or place. Now mildly formal or old-fashioned. It normally refers to…
- All fur coat and no knickers Showily impressive on the surface but lacking substance, taste or the expected basics underneath. Informal, vivid and potentially insulting. Earlier…
- All hat and no cattle Showy, boastful, or impressive in appearance but lacking the experience, substance, wealth, or ability being advertised. Informal and insulting. It…
- All Lombard Street to a China orange Overwhelming odds in favour of one outcome; a near certainty. A colourful but obscure betting metaphor. It may be used for odds either stated…
- All mouth and no trousers Full of boasts or promises but unwilling or unable to act on them. Informal and mildly insulting. It may carry a suggestion of empty masculine…
- All my eye and Betty Martin Complete nonsense, especially a boast, excuse or claim that deserves no belief. Dated and playful. It is likely to puzzle readers unless the context…
- All that glitters is not gold Appearances can deceive, and shiny things may lack true worth.
- All's well that ends well A successful outcome can make earlier difficulties seem acceptable or unimportant. Often expresses relief, but it can minimise real harm; speakers…
- An elegant sufficiency A deliberately formal and often humorous way of saying that one has had enough to eat or drink and is politely declining another helping. Usually said…
- Apple of your eye A person or thing that is especially loved, prized, and protected above others. Warm and usually personal. It can refer to a prized object or project…
- Astroturfing The deceptive practice of manufacturing the appearance of grassroots support for a product, policy or cause, masking the real sponsor so that paid or…
- At daggers drawn In a state of open, bitter hostility or severe mutual distrust. Stronger than disagree. It describes entrenched hostility and usually takes with…
- At His Majesty's pleasure For an indefinite period subject to lawful Crown or government authority, especially in the formal language of detention and release. Formal legal…
- At sixes and sevens In a state of confusion, disorder, or disagreement. It can describe things being muddled or plans being chaotic, as well as people who are quarrelling…
- At your wits' end So worried, confused, or frustrated that you cannot think what to do next. The possessive changes with the subject: my wits' end, his wits' end, and…
- Away with the fairies Distracted from reality, lost in a dream world or behaving as though unaware of what is happening. Usually teasing when it means absent-minded. In…