Meaning: abnaki

n.
a member of the Algonquian people of Maine and southern Quebecthe Algonquian language spoken by the Abnaki and Penobscot

ak Idiom, Proverb

a dog's breakfast

a mixture of many things, a hodgepodge This book is a dog's breakfast. It contains a bit of everything.

a fair shake

a fair deal, a just settlement The insurance company gave us a fair shake - paid all our damages.

a losing streak

losing several times in succession The Leafs are on a losing streak. They've lost seven games!

a lucky break

good luck, good fortune, stroke of good luck Finding that money was a lucky break. It was our good fortune.

a lucky streak

winning several times in succession Whenever I wear this ring, I have a lucky streak. I win every game!

a piece of cake

easy to do, it's a snap, no problem Solving the puzzle was easy. It was a piece o' cake.

a takeoff on

similar to, based on the same idea, a send-up The school play was a takeoff on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

absence makes the heart grow fonder

when friends are apart they like each other more When she's away I'm very lonely. Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

actions speak louder than words

people judge by actions more than words, practice what you preach Parents should remember that actions speak louder than words. Kids imitate their parents.

all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

do not work too long, take time for recreation, take time to smell... When I picked up my overtime cheque, Karen reminded me that All work and no play... .

ass over teakettle

falling over backwards, head over heels The cowboy knocked him off his feet - ass over teakettle!

at stake

something to be lost or gained There was a lot at stake during the negotiations between the nurses and the government.

be a piece of cake

be very easy.

big break

big chance, a lucky break She got her big break when a talent scout heard her sing.

blow snakes (music)

play great jazz, improvise creatively I went to hear jazz at the club, and Guido was blowing snakes.

break a habit

stop doing a daily activity: drinking coffee, smoking Laurie can't seem to break her habit of writing on her hands.

Break a leg!

Good luck!

break a leg

good luck, have a good performance """Break a leg!"" she whispered as he walked on the stage."

break a promise

not do as you promised, go back on your word Trudy never breaks a promise. She is very dependable.

break a spell

cause a spell to stop, not be under a spell I was captivated by her until she smoked. That broke the spell.

break a story

be first to tell a story, be first to tell some news The London Times broke the story of Charles's confessions.

break a sweat

begin to sweat or perspire, work up a sweat For exercise to be beneficial, the athlete must break a sweat.

break and enter

break a lock or window to enter illegally, B&E They were charged with break and enter. They stole some cash.

break away

move away, go away from, stop doing or using She tried to break away when the cult leader asked for her savings.

break curfew

stay out later than the rules allow If you break curfew, the coach will remind you of the rules.

break down

fail, not operate, out of order If that copier breaks down again I'm going to give it away.

break even

have expenses equal to profits After only three months the company was able to break even and start making profits.

break fresh ground

deal with something in a new way The researchers were able to break fresh ground in their search for a cancer cure.

break in

operate or drive slowly when it is new When I bought my first new car, Dad said to break it in carefully.

break into

break a door or window to enter, break and enter I couldn't believe that my son would break into a store.

break into song

begin to sing suddenly, sing without warning One of our teachers used to break into song when he taught poetry.

break off

tell a friend that you wish to stop seeing him She wonders if she should break off her relationship with Liam.

break one

make very sad or hopeless It broke my heart to see the woman fall down during the race after she had tried so hard.do all one possibly can, try one's hardest I broke my neck to try and get the report finished on time.

break out

happen suddenly, erupt A riot will break out if you don't talk to the strikers.

break out in a rash

have a rash appear on your skin When the temperature goes over 30

break someone's heart

make someone feel very disappointed/discouraged/sad.

break the bank

win all the money at a casino gambling table He broke the bank at the casino and walked away with a lot of money.

break the ice

relax and start a conversation in a formal situation Nobody was enjoying the party until the host finally was able to break the ice.

break the law/rules

not obey the law, commit a crime If you rob a store, you are breaking the law.

break the news

tell some information first He is planning to break the news to her about his transfer tomorrow.

break the record

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

break the silence

talk about a secret, tell people the truth When he accused us of the crime, my brother broke the silence.

break through

be successful after overcoming a difficulty Finally there was a breakthrough in the talks aimed at ending the school teacher's strike.

break up

not date anymore, not be lovers anymore Lan and Chan broke up last night. They had a bad quarrel.

break up (with someone)

stop a relationship She broke up with her boyfriend last June.

break your fall

prevent serious injury when you fall He fell from the roof, but a tree helped to break his fall.

break your heart

cause you to feel very sad and lonely Marilyn broke my heart. She left me for a younger man.

breakdown

sudden health failure, fall apart After his breakdown, he found an occupation with less stress.

can't make heads or tails of something

" can't understand something at all;"

cheesecake

naked flesh, bare skin The dancer provided lots of cheesecake - lots of bare leg.