- all-in-one
Meaning – combined, all the necessary features of something in one unit
Example: Many DVD players have a recording and playing function all-in-one.
- all in one breath
Meaning – spoken rapidly while one is very excited
Example: I told my friend about the accident all in one breath.
- all in one piece
Meaning – safely, without damage
Example: The piano arrived at its destination all in one piece.
- all rolled up in one
Meaning – combined in one person or thing
Example: The man is president and vice-president all rolled up in one.
- as busy as a one-armed paperhanger
Meaning – very busy
Example: I was as busy as a one-armed paperhanger during the last two weeks.
- as one
Meaning – as if a group were one person
Example: The crowd stood as one and began to cheer during the game.
- as phony as a three-dollar bill
Meaning – phony, not genuine
Example: The woman's excuses are as phony as a three-dollar bill and I do not believe any of them.
- at first
Meaning – initially, at the beginning
Example: At first we had no plans for the weekend but later we decided to go to a movie.
- at one time
Meaning – at a time in the past
Example: At one time the man had no money but now he is very rich.
- at one with (someone)
Meaning – to share the same view as others, to be in agreement with others
Example: The members of the committee are at one with me over my decision to cancel the meeting.
- at sixes and sevens
Meaning – in a state of confusion
Example: The workers were at sixes and sevens after the company announced that it was going out of business.
- at the eleventh hour
Meaning – at the last possible moment
Example: At the eleventh hour the city and the garbage collectors settled their contract dispute.
- back to square one
Meaning – back to where one started
Example: We were forced to go back to square one in our efforts to change the name of the company.
- bat a thousand
Meaning – to be extremely successful at something
Example: Recently, I have been batting a thousand in my attempts to sell the new product.
- by the dozen
Meaning – twelve at a time, in a group of twelve
Example: The children were eating the donuts by the dozen.
- by the dozens
Meaning – many, by a large number
Example: The fans came by the dozens to see the famous athlete.
- cast the first stone
Meaning – to be the first to criticize or attack someone
Example: I told my friend that he should be careful not to cast the first stone in an argument.
- catch-22
Meaning – a situation in which whatever decision is made the outcome will have negative consequences, a basically no-win situation
Example: It is a catch-22 situation. If I go to work there will be problems but if I do not go to work there will also be problems.
- catch forty winks
Meaning – to take a nap, to get some sleep
Example: I drove all night until I was very tired so I stopped to catch forty winks.
- cut both ways
Meaning – to be capable of having two opposite effects, to produce advantages and disadvantages
Example: The decision by the company cut both ways. Some people were happy and some people were not happy.
- cut two ways
Meaning – to be capable of having two opposite effects, to produce advantages and disadvantages
Example: My decision to complain to our boss could cut two ways. He could be happy or angry with me.
- deep-six (someone or something)
Meaning – to get rid of or dispose of someone or something
Example: I decided to deep-six some of the old comics that I had collected.
- a dime a dozen
Meaning – cheap and common, lots of something
Example: Used paperback books are a dime a dozen at the used bookstore.
- divide (something) fifty-fifty
Meaning – to divide something into two equal parts
Example: We decided to divide the money that we earned fifty-fifty.
- do a number on (someone or something)
Meaning – to damage or harm someone or something
Example: The young man did a number on the car that he borrowed from his uncle.
- do (someone) one better
Meaning – to do something superior to what someone else has done
Example: I decided to do my friend one better and volunteer for three weeks rather than two weeks.
- dressed to the nines
Meaning – to be dressed in one's best clothes
Example: The woman at the concert was dressed to the nines.
- eleventh-hour decision
Meaning – a decision that is made at the last possible minute
Example: The sport's federation made an eleventh-hour decision to suspend the star player.
- every once in a while
Meaning – occasionally, infrequently
Example: Every once in a while I play tennis with my friend.
- feel like a million bucks
Meaning – to feel great, to feel well and healthy
Example: My friend looked like a million bucks when I saw him.