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Phrases related to: likely

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not likelyAbsolutely not; under no circumstances.Rate it:

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'tis the seasonIndicating that it is the time of year around Christmas, and that things associated with that time period are happening or likely to happen.Rate it:

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bet dollars to donutsTo suggest that something is very likely to be true or that one has a strong hunch about something.Rate it:

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bite one's lipTo forcibly prevent oneself from speaking, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute.Rate it:

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front runnerThe most likely winners in a contest, election, etc.Rate it:

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hunt where the ducks areTo seek opportunities or results in situations or places where they are most likely to be found.Rate it:

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on the cardsCertain, likely to happen. Foretold and expected but not yet brought to pass.Rate it:

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play downTo make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.Rate it:

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play upTo make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely or obvious; to showcase or highlight.Rate it:

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candle in the windA fragile or vulnerable thing, likely to be put in jeopardy.Rate it:

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cold readingThe technique, or an instance, of using likely guesses and assumptions, then narrowing in on any positive responses, in order to give the impression of having information about a person or event.Rate it:

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there's always a bigger fishNo matter how large or intimidating a person or thing is, there is likely to be an even larger or more intimidating person or thing somewhere.Rate it:

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pick your battlesonly involve yourself in disputes where you are likely to win.Rate it:

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even moneyBy extension, an event that is somewhat likely to happen, but far from inevitable.Rate it:

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hell mend someoneExpressing exasperation at someone whose behavior is likely to result in trouble but who will not heed warnings.Rate it:

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snatch defeat from the jaws of victoryTo suddenly lose a contest one seemed very likely to win, especially through mistakes or bad judgment.Rate it:

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a stormy petrelA person who is restless or turbulent, and who is likely to stir up trouble.Rate it:

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bystander effectThat someone is less likely to help another if other potential helpers are present than otherwise.Rate it:

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chances areIt is likely that, it is probable that.Rate it:

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cooler heads will prevailPeople who are calm and focused are the most likely to succeed or to have the greatest influence on events.Rate it:

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cruising for a bruisingFollowing a course of action likely to result in injury or other trouble for oneself.Rate it:

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cui bonoThe principle that the ultimate initiator of an action is likely the person who stands to gain from the action.Rate it:

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dark horseA candidate who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice.Rate it:

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date with destinyAn inevitable future event or encounter, especially one which is likely to be momentous.Rate it:

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dig one's own graveTo behave in a way that is likely to have future negative effects on oneself.Rate it:

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don't feed the trollSaid to urge another not to respond to disruptive attention-seeking behavior, particularly in online contexts, by pointing out any such response is likely to be counterproductive.Rate it:

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false lightA cause of action arising under the common law where a person is portrayed in a way which, while not technically false, is misleading and likely to cause embarrassment to that person.Rate it:

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grease the wheelsTo create conditions likely to produce or hasten favorable future developments.Rate it:

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greatest thing since sliced breadA relatively recent invention likely to significantly improve people's lives.Rate it:

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hard pressedHaving or likely to have difficulty or to find a task almost impossible.Rate it:

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he who smelt it dealt it(colloquial, originally) A person who calls attention to or complains about a fart is likely trying to pretend it wasn't his or her own.(colloquial, by extension) Used to suggest that a person calling attention to or complaining about a given problem may in fact be the source of the problem.Rate it:

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idle hands are the devil's workshopOne who is idle will likely come to do evil.Rate it:

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in the bagCertain or extremely likely to occur; virtually assured of victory or success.Rate it:

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in the runningOf a candidate, potential or likely; worthy of consideration.Rate it:

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in the way ofIn or into a position of being likely to obtain, to attain, or to achieve.Rate it:

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keep one's headTo remain calm, reasonable, level-headed, especially in a situation likely to cause distress.Rate it:

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life-or-deathHaving death as a possible or even likely outcome; perilous.Rate it:

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lost errandA mission likely to fail.Rate it:

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match made in heavenA marriage that is likely to be happy and successful because the two people are very compatible with each other.Rate it:

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match made in hellA marriage that is likely to be unhappy or abusive and unsuccessful because the two people are very incompatible with each other.Rate it:

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off chanceA condition of not being likely or probable.Rate it:

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on the cardsLikely to occur, probable.Rate it:

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on the radarLikely to happen, or be important in the near future or tending to attract attention.Rate it:

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one should be so luckyIt is highly doubtful: indicating that something is not likely to happen to the person specified.Rate it:

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out of the woodsOut of peril; likely to recover or prevail over trouble; finished with the worst or most threatening part of a problem or illness.Rate it:

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pipe dreamA plan, desire, or idea that will not likely work; a near impossibility.Rate it:

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religion is like a nail, the deeper you hammer it, the deeper it goes.Addresses the folly of religous intolerance. Criticizing a person's beliefs is more likely to deepen their convictions rather than convince them to change.Rate it:

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rocking horse shitA metaphor for something exceedingly rare or, more likely, nonexistent.Rate it:

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shark baitOne who has been or is likely to be attacked by a shark.Rate it:

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significance levelA measure of how likely it is to draw a false conclusion in a statistical test, when the results are really just random variations.Rate it:

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