Meaning: 1st viscount montgomery of alamein

n.
English general during World War II; won victories over Rommel in North Africa and led British ground forces in the invasion of Normandy (1887-1976)

Co Idiom, Proverb

a common thread

an idea or theme that is similar to others There's a common thread in most of Berton's stories.

a contract out on

a contract that pays to have someone killed There's a contract out on Mike. The boss doesn't like him.

a coon's age

many years, a dog's age We haven't been out to the coast in a coon's age. It's been years.

a crash course

a short course that has the main facts and skills He took a crash course in cooking and bought a cafe.

a fine-toothed comb

a careful search, a search for a detail She read the file carefully - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.

a foregone conclusion

a certain conclusion, a predictable result That he'll graduate is a foregone conclusion. He is a good student.

a horse of a different color

a different matter, a separate issue If he wants to buy the land, that's a horse of a different color.

a pinch of coon shit

very little or no value, worthless That Rambler ain't worth a pinch o' coon shit. It's a lousy car.

a score to settle

an argument to finish, a bone to pick I have a score to settle with him. He owes me a month's rent.

according to Hoyle

according to the rules, if we follow the rules According to Hoyle, it's your turn to deal the cards.

an offer I couldn't refuse

an offer that contains a threat or force, a request that is a command The border guards invited me to stay for further questioning - it was an offer I couldn't refuse.

another nail in your coffin

"another cigarette; harmful substance" Every cigarette he smoked was another nail in his coffin.

at all costs

at any expense of time, effort or money He plans to go to school at all costs.

back yourself into a corner

put yourself in a bad position, have no escape If you buy what you can't afford you back yourself into a corner.

bail a company out

help or rescue a company with financial problems The government decided to bail out the failing bank in order to maintain stability in the economy.

ball is in someone's court

be someone else's move or turn The ball was in the union's court after the company made their final offer.

ball's in your court

(See the ball's in your court)

bean-counter

accountant We asked the bean-counters to look over the figures in the new budget.

become of

happen to, end up What became of Ko after he moved? How's he doing?

becomes you

looks good on you, is right for you, suits you That perfume becomes you. It smells good on you.

blood runs cold

one is terrified or horrified My blood ran cold when I saw the man fall off the ladder.

blow my cover

reveal my true identity, reveal my hiding place With a false passport, I can enter Bali, if nobody blows my cover.

blow to kingdom come

explode and destroy, blow up There's enough gas in the well to blow us kingdom come!

blue-collar worker

someone who works at a trade, e.g., a plumber The blue-collar workers will vote for Ed. He's a tradesman.

bone of contention

point of disagreement, controversial point Job security is the bone of contention in our discussions.

break the record

do better than the previous record The coach believes Bev can break the record in long jump.

bring home the bacon

bring home a paycheque, support a family Stan is disabled, so Louise brings home the bacon.

broken record

(See like a broken record)

by a country mile

by a long distance, by a wide margin Black Beauty won the race by a country mile. She was far ahead.

carry the conversation

continue the conversation, continue talking to you Visiting with Sally is easy. She carries the conversation!

cash cow

a source of much money, a profitable resource Alberta's cash cow - oil - is helping to balance the budget.

catch a cold

get a cold I caught a bad cold last week and had to miss three weeks of work.

catch a cold (catch cold)

be sick with a cold, come down with a cold I caught a cold while we were in Vancouver.

catch one's death of cold

become very ill (with a cold, flu etc) The little boy was told to be careful in the rain or he would catch his death of cold.

chain of command

order of those in power, line of authority If you are a lieutenant, the chain of command goes up and down.

chickens come home to roost

we cannot escape the consequences of our actions We soon discover that lies return to their owner, just as chickens come home to roost.

chief cook and bottle washer

manager, supervisor Hal is the chief cook and bottle washer for our school supper.

cock and bull

nonsense, bull, BS Don't believe that cock-and-bull story about Bigfoot.

cocky

proud, smartass """Why is Len acting so cocky?"" ""He won the frisbee contest."""

cocoon

stay inside your home to feel comfortable and safe We don't want to go out tonight. We feel like cocooning.

COD

Cash On Delivery - used when a delivery person receives cash when they deliver something I decided to send away for some video cassettes and the company said that they would send them to me COD.

coffee break

a break from work to rest and drink coffee We usually take a 15-minute coffee break every morning about 10 o

coffee talk

conversation while having coffee, water-cooler... I don't believe Sally's pregnant. It's just coffee talk, just gossip.

coin

money, loot, dough, serious coin Wait till I get some coin. Then we can travel.

coin a phrase

(See to coin a phrase)

cold call

a visit to an employer or customer without an appointment Sam got a job by making cold calls - by knocking on doors and asking for work.

cold comfort

small comfort, very little relief Having Jim's money is cold comfort for his wife if he dies.

cold feet

a loss of courage or nerve I planned to go to Europe with my cousin but he got cold feet and decided not to go.

cold fish

person who is unfriendly or doesn

cold hard cash

cash, coins and bills I paid for the stereo in cold hard cash.