A-Z Database

A-Z Database

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An American expression from the late 19th/early 20th century used to imply that the speaker has no knowledge of some fact or no idea what course to ta...

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Second bite at/of the cherry/apple

see Another bite at/of the cherry/apple


Second fiddle

see Play second fiddle


Second nature

A habit or characteristic not exactly innate but so long practised or acquired that it seems so, dates from the 14th century and is an abbreviation of...

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Second string to one’s bow

see Another string to one’s bow


Second thoughts

To have second thoughts is to reconsider or revise an opinion that may have been hurried, hence also the negative 'don't give it a second thought', wh...

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See a man about a dog

If someone says, "I have to see a man about a dog" it means that he or she has to do something or other without being specific, but confidentiality is...

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See Corner

Fanzine is a portmanteau word (from fan and magazine) which describes an unofficial publication produced by supporters or followers of a particular cu...

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See eye to eye

Agree or to be in harmony, the source is the Bible, Isaiah, 52:8, “For they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.”


See how the other half lives

see How the other half lives


See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

A Buddhist/Shinto proverb that some sources maintain is Japanese, while others maintain it is Chinese and attribute it to Confucius, because a similar...

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See one’s arse/backside

To see one’s arse or backside is British slang for experiencing failure, usually in business, and dates from the late 20th century.


See red

To see red is to become angry and is an American expression from the late 19th/early 20th century. Red is the colour most associated with anger becaus...

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See the big/bigger picture

Broaden one’s vision to view the entire perspective of a situation or issue is originally American from the early 20th century. Some sources maintain...

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See the wood for the trees

see Can’t see the forest/wood for the trees


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