Questions tagged [idiom-requests]
This tag is for questions seeking an idiom that fits a certain meaning. If you are asking more generally about a suitable phrase to use in a particular context, see the "phrase-request" tag. If you are seeking only a single word, see the "single-word-requests" tag.
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What phrase means the opposite of what “no offence” means?
If “no offence” signals that you don’t intend to insult someone, what phrase would be used when you do intend to offend?
The phrase “no offence” is often used before or after a statement to soften its ...
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Idiom for task that gets more complicated if left until later [duplicate]
Is there an idiom for a task that is easy to complete now but will only become more complicated if put off until later. Ideally it should express that the complicating factors come from things other ...
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Non-military/oppositional version of "No plan survives first contact with the enemy"?
I've always loved the idiom "No plan survives first contact with the enemy," which emphasizes the importance of staying flexible as conditions change.
However, I'd love to find a version of ...
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idiom for making many small requests rather than presenting the big picture?
I'm having a conversation on Bluesky with someone who described a frustrating phenomenon at work of
Carrot and sticking (do this, now do that, and finally do all that but vary parameters in these ...
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Is there an English equivalent to the Aramaic expression "a dog will bark in front of its owner"?
This is an idiom or proverb in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic that is used in a derogatory manner towards someone. The proverb simply means that a person can become emboldened and assertive when he or she is ...
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Another way to say “this is where the story falls apart”?
The sentence in question:
And, dear readers, as accurate as this chronicle has been so far, it is here the story begins to fall apart.
The speaker is a journalist writing a memoir/exposé of someone’...
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Idiom/phrase to say "designed to solve"
I am having some difficulty remembering a phrase to say "the problem it seeks to address" or "the problem it is designed to solve".
An example of what I'm trying to say is
The ...
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Disappear suddenly with no trace [duplicate]
When detective Gordon turns around to find that the Batman had disappeared with no trace?
Is there an expression or an idiom that would describe such an action?
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Idiomatic culture-neutral alternative to "It's Greek to me"
When I want to say that some topic is totally incomprehensible to me, I say "It's Greek to me", or (in Hebrew) "It's Chinese to me".
But if I speak in front of an audience from ...
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English idiom for the Italian "ti voglio bene", used to express affection towards very close family members and friends
"Ti voglio bene" is an Italian idiom to show sincere affection towards very close family members and friends.
It seems to be only translatable with "I love you" while with a more ...
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What is a colloquial expression meaning *to prostrate before person of power and make a request?*
I’m struggling to recall the expression that captures the subject line sentiment.
An idea that isn’t quite right is one that incorporates “come before Solomon” however I’m searching for a ...
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How to describe treating an instrumental goal (a means) as a terminal goal?
Full question: How to succinctly describe the mistake of treating an instrumental goal as if it were a terminal goal (or value), or assigning an undue importance to an instrumental goal?
An ...
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What English expression or idiom is similar to the Aramaic "my heart revealed it"?
When we sense something bad is happening to someone or something, then it is revealed that something bad did actually happen, we would literally say, in Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, "aha, my heart ...
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Is there an English equivalent of Arabic "gowatra" - performing a task with none of the necessary training?
In Iraqi Arabic, there's a term "gowatra". In a sentence, the expression will be used like, "it is not guatra [to do this or that, to have this, to get this]". That word or idiom ...
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Word or longer string meaning "to do something without really doing anything"
I'm looking for a term that encapsulates when someone does something without really doing anything. Take, for instance, when you are speaking to an unhelpful customer service representative, so to ...
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