Meaning:
abstain 
v.
refrain from voting
choose not to consume
ain Idiom, Proverb
a grain of salt
(See take it with a grain of salt)
a grain of truth
a bit of truth, take it with a grain... There's not a grain of truth in what Brian says. It's all untrue.
a pain in the ass
a bother, a lot of trouble Fixing that car every day is a pain in the ass.
a pain in the butt
a person who causes problems, a pain in the ass Hal keeps interrupting me. He's a pain in the butt!
a royal pain
a feeling of irritation, a pain in the ass When he brags about his wealthy family, he gives me a royal pain.
against all odds
not likely to happen, a slim chance Against all odds - poor weather, student pilot - we landed safely.
against the grain
against the natural way, rub the wrong way Some words go against the grain. Their spellings aren't natural.
ain't
"isn't, is not; aren't, are not" """It ain't easy being green,"" said the frog."
as right as rain
(See right as rain)
at it again
doing it again, back at it That dog is at it again - barking in the middle of the night.
beat one's brains out
try very hard to understand or do something.
beat your head against a stone wall
try an impossible task, work on a futile project Preventing war is like beating your head against a stone wall.
birdbrain
a person with a tiny brain, dumbo Hey, birdbrain. Why are you throwing money in the river?
brain
(See what a brain)
brain drain
emigration of intelligent people If Canada's best professors move away, it's called a brain drain.
brain is fried
brain is very tired or ruined by drug abuse After writing six exams, my brain was fried - too much studying!
brain storm
think of ideas together, think tank Our family decided to brain storm the problem of wasting food.
brain traffic
thoughts and information moving through the brain I wish I could turn off my mind when brain traffic is too heavy.
captain of industry
a top corporation officer The president of our company was a captain of industry and after he retired he was appointed to many government boards.
catch a plane/bus/train
go to the airport and get on the plane After the meeting, you can catch the plane to Toronto.
chain letter
a letter that is copied and sent to other people This letter says I will have bad luck if I break the chain.
chain of command
order of those in power, line of authority If you are a lieutenant, the chain of command goes up and down.
chain reaction
one event causing a sequence of events Abe sold his shares, causing a chain reaction in the market.
chain smoker
a person who smokes one cigarette after another, smokes like a furnace """Do all chain smokers die of emphysema?"" ""No, but most of them do."""
chasing rainbows
trying to achieve an impossible goal Many young actors are chasing rainbows - hoping for fame.
come again
what did you say? beg your pardon? "When I asked Grandpa if he liked the soup, he said, ""Come again?"""
crack under the strain
become irrational or hysterical due to strain, around the bend Mother was a strong person. She never cracked under the strain of raising ten children.
curtains
the end, the death, the last of If we clearcut Canada's forests, it's curtains for the lumber industry.
dead certain
very certain, very sure, positive He's dead certain that Ming is the man who talked to him.
dead set against
strongly opposed to, down with She's dead set against abortion as a means of birth control.
dead set against something
determined not to do something They are dead set against their son going to Europe for a year.
don't make a mountain out of a molehill
do not cause a big fuss about a small problem So I scratched the car. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
down the drain
wasted or lost He is just throwing money down the drain when he goes to the horse races.
drain the swamp
remove what prevents a clear view of the problem If I were manager, my first step would be to drain the swamp.
drive a hard bargain
pay a low price, negotiate firmly When buying land, Cal drives a hard bargain. He pays low prices.
everything old is new again
fashions and trends are repeated or revived Hey, if miniskirts are back, everything old is new again!
faint of heart
timid, not courageous, chicken, lily-livered Sky diving is not for people who are faint of heart.
feeling no pain
half drunk, half corked After three drinks of rum, Alex was feeling no pain.
for certain
without doubt, certainly, surely It is for certain that he will not be playing in the game tonight.
gain ground
go forward, make progress Our company has been gaining ground in our attempt to be the best in the industry.
go against the grain
oppose the natural way, do it the hard way Moe has always been perverse - always going against the grain.
grain belt
a region or area that produces cereal crops The grain belt got very little rain this year. The land is dry.
grain of salt
(See take it with a grain of salt)
gravy train
a job or work that pays more than it is worth For many years his job was a real gravy train but now the company has become very strict and will not pay overtime.
hairbrain
not sensible, irrational, crazy, kooky Eric is talking about a hairbrain plan to train ants as employees.
have two strikes against one
have things working against one, be in a difficult situation He already has two strikes against him and it will be very difficult for him to get the job.
hope against hope
continue to hope when things look very bad The rescue team were hoping against hope that the lost hikers would be found alive.
how's that again
what did you say? come again "When Grandpa doesn't hear me, he says, ""How's that again?"""
if you're not with us you're against us
"if you do not support us you are against us; can't have it both ways" War divides us into allies and enemies. If you're not with us, you're against us.
in no uncertain terms
definitely, clearly, call a spade a spade They told us about sex and drugs in no uncertain terms.