Found 1,033 phrases starting with A:

a number ofSeveral of.Rate it:
a page turnerA story, a book, an article of great interest can become a page turner.Rate it:
a party animalAn individual whom lives, thinks, reflects, promotes, enjoys, raucous, wild, off the deep end, exotic; parties, gatherings, happenings and blasts.Rate it:
a penny saved is a penny earnedA maxim for thrift that says that money not spent may be spent later, or may earn interest in the meantimeRate it:
a penny saved is a penny gaineda penny saved is a penny earnedRate it:
a pick-upA female whom frequents venues where males spend their spare time in billiards, drinking, lounging and where she seeks temporary companionship for ulterior motives.Rate it:
a picture is worth a thousand wordsAlternative form of a picture paints a thousand words.Rate it:
a picture paints a thousand wordsA visualisation is a better description than a verbal description.Rate it:
a plain janeeasy-going, unobtrusive, soft spoken, communicative.Rate it:
a pull of the hair for being unfairThe general response to "A kick and a flick for being so quick", which is in turn a response in itself to "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month".Rate it:
a purple patchBritish (Informal) a run of success or good fortune. "people expect him to score in every game now he's hit a purple patch."Rate it:
a pyrrhic victoryAn apparent victory, but one which is no victory at all, due to the great cost incurred. The phrase comes from the victory won by King Pyrrhus at Asculum in 279BC which cost him many of his best men. After the battle Pyrrhus remarked: "One more such victory and we are finished."Rate it:
a question ofThe important question is; the necessary question is.Rate it:
a quick drop and a sudden stopA fall to one's death, especially by hanging.Rate it:
a real hotdoggerA Reference to an energetic, active or talented person.Rate it:
a real knock out!A very attractive woman. So deemed because her attractiveness is so stunning that it can (figuratively) knock you out.Rate it:
a riddle wrapped up in an enigmaSomething very mysterious and hidden.Rate it:
a rising tide lifts all boatsBenefits provided to a few may lead to conditions that are beneficial to all.Rate it:
a risk takerAny new venture replete with myriad unknown consequences can become costly in many areas.Rate it:
a Roland for an OliverEqual measure; measure for measure; adequate response.Rate it:
a rolling stone gathers no mossA person who never settles in one place will never be successful.A person who does not keep active will grow mouldy.Rate it:
a scholar and a gentlemanAn admirable person.Rate it:
a seat of learningA retreat for scholars where learning is an end in itself, like the universities.Rate it:
a sense of belongingMany organizations promote a sense of kinship with loyal, dedicated employees.Rate it:
a short drop and a sudden stopA fall to one's death by hanging.Rate it:
a side glance!Offering/Receiving, observing a straight forward focus of attention, without any variation of head or eye movement.Rate it:
a sideways approachThis agenda is to avoid a head to head confrontation, rather slide in with a 'sideways' move which may provide a smoother, elusive manner in approaching the challenge.Rate it:
a silver lining is not made of silverWhat appears on the surface is not necessarily true.Rate it:
a smoke screenEarly sea battles demonstrated the value of gun smoke and smoke from burning ships to hide one battleship from one belonging to the enemy. Later, smoke was generated prior to commencing battle so as to make it more difficult for gun crews to spot the targeted vessel. This tactic became known as a smoke screen.Rate it:
a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go downAn otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, ISBN 0253335833, page 372,One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, ISBN 0316736368, page 319,It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, ISBN 1564147045, page 11,If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.Rate it:
a stich in time saves nineWhat ever work you have you should perform the and there, thereby your work being helped others work.Rate it:
a stitch in time saves nineA little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later; A little preparation can eliminate the need for repairs later; consistency (achieving a set rhythm) is better than trying to rush ahead.Rate it:
a stopped clock is right twice a dayA normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.Rate it:
a stormy petrelA person who is restless or turbulent, and who is likely to stir up trouble.Rate it:
a Tinkers DamnDemeaning Words in Deprecating Ejaculation, to wit; "He'll Never Amount To A 'Tinker's Damn!"Rate it:
a watched kettle never boilsAlternative form of a watched pot never boils.Rate it:
a watched pot never boilsA process appears to go more slowly if one waits for it rather than engaging in other activities.Rate it:
a week from next TuesdaySome unspecified time in the future.Rate it:
a week from next TuesdayForever.Rate it:
a week is a long time in politicsIn politics, a lot of change can happen in a short space of time.Rate it:
a whopperReference a statement, action, prevarication, story, hooked fish, enlarged or magnified presentation.Rate it:
a whopper-dooperPrize Winning, Top Banana, First Rate, First Class, Winner, Great, Glorious, Grand, Super Duper. Superlative.Rate it:
a wild goose never laid a tame eggmost things are inherited and predeterminedRate it:
a.o.b.Initialism of any other business or any other competent business, the last item on the agenda for a meeting, when any matter not already dealt with may be raised.Rate it:
aabyAbbreviation of as amended by.Rate it:
Aaron's beardA common name for several plants, which have tufts of stamens.[First attested in the late 19 century.]Cymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy)Hypericum calycinum (great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star)Saxifraga stolonifera (creeping saxifrage, strawberry geranium)Opuntia leucotricha (arborescent prickly pear, Aaron's beard cactus)Rate it:
Aaron's beardCymbalaria muralis (ivy-leaved toadflax, Kenilworth ivy)Rate it:
Aaron's beardHypericum calycinum (great St. John's-wort, Jerusalem star)Rate it:
Aaron's beardSaxifraga stolonifera (creeping saxifrage, strawberry geranium)Rate it:
Aaron's beardOpuntia leucotricha (arborescent prickly pear, Aaron's beard cactus)Rate it:

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