Meaning:
1 samuel 
n.
the first of two books in the Old Testament that tell of Saul and David
u Idiom, Proverb
a bad taste in my mouth
a feeling that something is false or unfair, a feeling of ill will I left the meeting with a bad taste in my mouth. There was a lot of dishonesty in the room.
a ball-park figure
"a number that is near the total; approximate figure" Fifty is a ball-park figure. It's close to our class size.
a barnburner
an exciting game, a cliff-hanger When the Flames play the Oilers it's a barnburner - a great game.
a barrel of laughs
a lot of fun, a person who makes you laugh Let's invite Chang to our party. He's a barrel of laughs.
a bawling out
a scolding, a lecture, an earful, catch it When I forgot to do my chores Dad gave me a bawling out.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
having one is better than seeing many When searching for a better job, remember A bird in the hand... .
a blackout (TV)
refusal to broadcast an event during that event A blackout is intended to encourage fans to attend an event.
a blackout (war)
a policy that requires lights to be turned off Blackouts prevented bombers from seeing their targets at night.
a blessing in disguise
a problem that becomes a benefit or advantage The rainstorm was a blessing in disguise. It stopped the fire.
a blowout
to win by a large score, no contest """Did the Flames win?"" ""Ya, 11-2. It was a blowout."""
a budding genius
a child who appears to be very intelligent "The newspaper described Pam as ""a budding genius"" on the violin."
a bull in a China shop
"a big, reckless person in a room full of fragile things; cramp your style" Imagine a 300-pound football player at a tea party, and you have a bull in a China shop.
a bum rap
unfair blame, unjust sentence, take the rap It was a bum rap. Eddie didn't steal those paintings.
a bummer
an unfortunate event, bad luck, too bad """Somebody broke a window in his car and stole his stereo."" ""That's a bummer."""
a bun in the oven
pregnant, expecting a baby Mabel has a bun in the oven. The baby's due in April.
a bunch of malarkey
an untrue story, a lot of bunk, bull """Do you believe what the psychic said about your future?"" ""No. It's a bunch of malarkey."""
a bundle of nerves
"a very nervous person; uptight person" May has so many problems - she's just a bundle of nerves.
a caution
a bold or shocking person, no shrinking violet She is a caution! She told the judge he was all wrong.
a cheap drunk
a person who gets drunk on one or two drinks Jo admits she's a cheap drunk. Her limit is two drinks.
a checkup
a doctor's examination, a medical examination If you aren't feeling well, go to the doctor for a checkup.
a chunk of change
a large amount of money, a few grand, big bucks I bet that condo cost him a chunk o' change - 300 grand at least.
a clutch hitter (baseball)
a batter who hits when runners are on base Joe's a clutch hitter. He's batting .431 with runners on base.
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 crash course
a short course that has the main facts and skills He took a crash course in cooking and bought a cafe.
a crush on
sudden feeling of love or romance Judy has a crush on Tim. See the way she looks at him.
a cut above
superior, better A scholar's work is a cut above. It's superior to the others.
a cut-up
a joker, a person who tells jokes and has fun When Marsha goes to a party she's a real cut-up - a lot of fun.
a double-edged sword
a device that can help you and hurt you Truth is a double-edged sword. It can imprison me or set me free.
a downer (drug)
a drug that relaxes you, a sedative Before bedtime he took a downer to help him relax and sleep.
a drop in the bucket
a small part, a tiny piece, the tip of the iceberg This donation is only a drop in the bucket, but it is appreciated.
a dust-up
"a fight, a skirmish; set-to" The boys argued and had a little dust-up, but no one got hurt.
a falling out
a disagreement, a break in friendship Guy and Jean had a falling out. They argued about religion.
a feather in your cap
an honor, a credit to you, chalk one up for you Because you are Karen's teacher, her award is a feather in your cap.
a few bricks short of a full load
not sensible or logical, not all there When Moe began eating bugs, we knew he was a few bricks short.
a fill-up
a full tank of gasoline, fill her up We got a fill-up before we left Winnipeg. The truck needed gas.
a foregone conclusion
a certain conclusion, a predictable result That he'll graduate is a foregone conclusion. He is a good student.
a full house (cards)
a pair plus three of a kind, e.g., 2 kings and 3 aces In our last game of poker, you dealt me a full house.
a full plate
a busy schedule, a lot to do Nancy has a full plate these days. She has two jobs and three kids.
a golden opportunity
a good chance to succeed, a good investment The Royal Hotel is for sale. What a golden opportunity!
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 grandfather clause
a written statement that protects a senior worker They can't demote him because he has a grandfather clause.
a handful
a child who is difficult to manage Jason is not easy to manage. He is a real handful for his mother.
a handout
free food or money, freeload I'm not asking for a handout. I'll pay you back when I find work.
a hot number
a couple (or topic) that everyone is talking about Paul and Rita are a hot number now. They're in love.
a household name
"a name everyone knows; name of a famous person" Mario Lemieux, the hockey star, soon became a household name.
a humdinger
a beautiful car etc. a well-designed product Dad, you should see this coupe. It's a humdinger!
a leg up
a start, a beginning, the first leg If I take a night class, I'll have a leg up on my diploma.
a lost cause
a goal or project that is not worth working for That video store is a lost cause. It has never made a profit.
a lot of bunk
a lot of lies, a lot of bull, a pack of lies The President's speech was a lot of bunk. It contained no facts.
a lucky break
good luck, good fortune, stroke of good luck Finding that money was a lucky break. It was our good fortune.