Meaning: ab initio

adv.
at the beginning

iti Idiom, Proverb

handwriting on the wall

a sign that something bad will happen The handwriting is on the wall. Business conditions are bad so probably nobody will get a pay raise this year.

in mint condition

in new condition, as new The Nash was in mint condition. It looked like a new car.

in writing

written and signed, in black and white The company guarantees this pen for life. I have it in writing.

mint condition

new condition, original condition, super mint In an old garage we found a Peugeot 403 in mint condition.

open to criticism

in a position that can be criticized, vulnerable If you become a politician you will be open to criticism.

political football

a program or issue used by politicians to get votes, play political games A day-care program is a political football. Politicians use it to get the votes of parents with babies.

politically correct

appropriate, not racist or sexist Advertise for a salesperson. Use the politically correct term.

positive

certain, very sure, dead certain Are you positive it was Ming? Do you know for sure it was him?

the handwriting is on the wall

the message is clear, the conclusion is obvious I tell my students the handwriting is on the wall: learn how to learn.

best of British

(interj) good luck!

bootilitious

corny; lame; stupid; weak:"That joke was bootilitious"

in addition to

besides除…之外
In addition to English， he has to study a second foreign language．除英语外，他还得学门第2外语。
In addition to a large collection of scientific works in Chinese，our library contains many scientific books in foreign languages．我们图书馆除了藏有大批中文科技书籍之外，还有许多外文科技书籍。

in condition

in good health；physically fit健康状况良好；身体条件适合
People who take part in sports must keep in condition.参加体育锻炼的人健康状况一定是好的。
You must train regularly to be in condition.你应该经常锻炼以保持良好的体魄。

in large quantities

in a large amount大量地
He buys cotton in large quantities．他买进大量棉花。

in opposition to

opposite to反对；同…相反（的）
What he has done is in opposition to his wishes．他事与愿违。

on condition that

if；provided that假如；在…条件下
I will lend you the money on condition that you pay it back in one month．假如你在一个月内能还我钱，我就借给你。
You can go there on condition that you don't come back late for dinner．你可以去那儿，条件是回来吃饭不能太晚。

out of condition

not healthy不健康；身体不好
She is out of condition．她身体不好。1．not looking the same；changed不成形；走样
The box was crushed out of shape．箱子已被压得歪歪斜斜了。
The front wheel of the bicycle was out of shape；and several spokes were broken．自行车前轮变形了，还断了好几根钢条。
2．not able to perform well竞技状态不好
He is out of shape，that's why he can't play as well as he used to．他竞技状态不佳，所以打得不如从前那么好了。
3．not in good condition身体不佳；生病
I get tired easily；I must be out of shape．我动不动就感到疲倦，一定是病了。
She went to school as usual though she had been out of shape for several days．尽管身体不舒服已好几天了，她还是照常上学。

out of shape/condition

1．not looking the same；changed不成形；走样
The box was crushed out of shape．箱子已被压得歪歪斜斜了。
The front wheel of the bicycle was out of shape；and several spokes were broken．自行车前轮变形了，还断了好几根钢条。
2．not able to perform well竞技状态不好
He is out of shape，that's why he can't play as well as he used to．他竞技状态不佳，所以打得不如从前那么好了。
3．not in good condition身体不佳；生病
I get tired easily；I must be out of shape．我动不动就感到疲倦，一定是病了。
She went to school as usual though she had been out of shape for several days．尽管身体不舒服已好几天了，她还是照常上学。

play politics

play tricks for one's own gain玩弄权术；操纵
The attorney for the union accused the Mayor of playing politics in the strike．工会律师谴责市长在这次罢工中玩弄权术。
In order to get elected，he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses．为了要当选，他得同时与工会和老板们达成协议。

substitiute for

take the place of 取代
Can you substitute for the singer who is ill？你能替代那个生病的歌唱演员吗？
Do you think sugar will substitute for honey？你认为砂糖可以替代蜂蜜吗？

waiting in the wings

Idiom(s): waiting in the wings

Theme: PREPARATION - READY

ready or prepared to do something, especially to take over someone else's job or position. (From waiting at the side of the stage to go on.)
• Mr. Smith retires as manager next year, and Mr. Jones is just waiting in the wings.
• Jane was waiting in the wings, hoping that a member of the hockey team would drop out and she would get a place on the team.

see the handwriting on the wall

Idiom(s): see the (hand)writing on the wall

Theme: PERCEPTION

to know that something is certain to happen.
• If you don't improve your performance, they'll fire you. Can't you see the writing on the wall?
• I know I'll get fired. I can see the handwriting on the wall.

read the handwriting on the wall

Idiom(s): read the handwriting on the wall

Theme: PREDICTION

to anticipate what is going to happen by observing small hints and clues.
• I know I am going to be fired. I can read the handwriting on the wall.
• Can't you read the handwriting on the wall? Can't you see what they are planning?

make one's position clear

Idiom(s): make one's position clear

Theme: CLARITY

to clarify where someone stands on an issue.
• I don't think you understand what I said. Let me make my position clear.
• I can't tell whether you are in favor of or against the proposal. Please make your position clear.

make an exhibition of oneself

Idiom(s): make an exhibition of oneself

Theme: OSTENTATION

to embarrass oneself by showing off or doing something daring in public. (Sometimes under the influence of alcohol.)
• You can be certain that Joan will have too much to drink and make an exhibition of herself.
• Sit down and be quiet. Stop making an exhibition of yourself.

jockey for position

Idiom(s): jockey for position

Theme: ADVANTAGE - TAKE

to try to push or maneuver one's way into an advantageous position at the expense of others.
• All the workers in the company are jockeying for position. They all want the manager's job.
• It is unpleasant working for a company where people are always jockeying for position.

in the pink of condition

Idiom(s): in the pink (of condition)

Theme: HEALTH - GOOD

in very good health; in very good condition, physically and emotionally. (Informal. In can be replaced with into.)
• The garden is lovely. All the flowers are in the pink of condition.
• Jane has to exercise hard to get into the pink of condition.
• I'd like to be in the pink, but I don't have the time.

go on a fishing expedition

Idiom(s): go on a fishing expedition

Theme: SEARCHING

to attempt to discover information.
• We are going to have to go on a fishing expedition to try to find the facts.
• One lawyer went on a fishing expedition in court, and the other lawyer objected.

in good condition

Idiom(s): in good shape AND in good condition

Theme: FUNCTIONING

physically and functionally sound and sturdy.
• This car isn't in good shape. I'd like to have one that's in better condition.
• Mary is in good condition. She works hard to keep healthy.
• You have to make an effort to get into good shape.

Accident waiting to happen

If something is an accident waiting to happen, there's definitely going to be an accident or it's bound to go wrong. ('Disaster waiting to happen' is also used.)

Armchair critic

An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.

Body politic

A group of people organised under a single government or authority (national or regional) is a body politic.

Dog-whistle politics

(AU) When political parties have policies that will appeal to racists while not being overtly racist, they are indulging in dog-whistle politics.

Handwriting like chicken scratch

If your handwriting is very hard to read, it is like chicken scratch.

On a fishing expedition

If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to get information, often using incorrect or improper ways to find things out.

Wedge politics

(USA) In wedge politics, one party uses an issue that they hope will divide members of a different party to create conflict and weaken it.

Writing on the wall

If the writing's on the wall for something, it is doomed to fail.

face up to responsibilities

accept responsibilities: "You need to face up to your responsibilities - it's time you got a job and started to save money."

green politics

environmental politics: "He's in green politics and often campaigns to fight pollution."

handwriting on the wall|handwriting|wall

n. phr. A sign that something bad will happen. When Bill's team lost four games in a row, he saw the handwriting on the wall. John's employer had less and less work for him; John could read the handwriting on the wall and looked for another job.

in addition|addition

adv. phr. As something extra; besides. We saw a Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie. Aunt Mary gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition. He has two cars and in addition a motorboat.

in mint condition|condition|mint

adj. phr. Excellent; as good as new. Grandma seldom uses her car; it is already ten years old, but it is still in mint condition.

in shape|condition|in condition|shape

adj. phr. In good condition; able to perform well. The football team will he in shape for the first game of the season. Mary was putting her French in shape for the lest.
Compare: IN PRACTICE.
Antonym: OUT OF SHAPE.

in the pink|condition|in the pink of condition|pin

adj. phr., informal In excellent health; strong and well; in fine shape. Mr. Merrick had aged well; he was one of those old men who always seem in the pink of condition. After a practice and a rubdown, Joe felt in the pink.

make an exhibition of oneself|exhibition|make|make

v. phr. To behave foolishly or embarrassingly in public. Stop drinking so much and making an exhibition of yourself.

on condition that|condition|on|on condition

conj. Providing that; if. I will lend you the money on condition that you pay it back in one month. She agreed to act in the play on condition that she could keep her costumes.

out of shape|condition|out|out of condition|shape

adj. phr. 1. Not in good condition; not able to perform well. Father was out of shape when he took a long hike with the boys, and he was stiff and sore the next day. Jack's pitching arm got out of condition during the winter, when he wasn't using it.
Compare: OUT OF PRACTICE. 2. Not look the same; changed. Someone sat on father's new hat and mashed it. It is now out of shape.
Antonym: IN SHAPE.

play a waiting game|game|play|waiting|waiting game

v. phr. To withhold action until one's chances for success improve. Ray would like to be vice president of the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the president will soon recognize his abilities.

play politics|play|politics

v. phr. To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses. Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics.

senior citizen|citizen|senior

n. An older person, often one who has retired from active work or employment. Mrs. North, the history teacher, is a senior citizen.