tab Idiome

call tabs

drink you under the table

keep tabs on

lay one's cards on the table

on the table

pick up the tab

put one's cards on the table

run a tab

set the table

stab in the back

stab someone in the back

turn the tables

turn the tables on

wait on tables

ain't coming on that tab

attaboy

stab out

at table

kep a good table

lay down one's cards on the table

lay down/put one's cards on the table

lay put one's cards on the table

stab sbin the back

upon the table

wait at/on table

wait at table

wait on table

under the table

SECRECY

in secret, as with the giving of a bribe. (Informal.)
• The mayor had been paying money to the construction company under the table.
• Tom transferred the deed to the property to his wife under the table.

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stab sb in the back

Idiom(s): stab sb in the back

Theme: DECEPTION

to betray someone. (Informal.)
• I thought we were friends! Why did you stab me in the back?
• You don't expect a person whom you trust to stab you in the back.

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keep tabs

Idiom(s): keep tabs (on someone or something) AND keep track (of someone or something)

Theme: MONITORING

to monitor someone or something; to follow the activities of someone or something. (Tabs can be replaced by tab.)
• I'm supposed to keep track of my books.
• Try to keep tabs on everyone who works for you.
• It's hard to keep tabs when you have a lot of other work to do.
• I can't keep track of the money I earn. Maybe someone else is spending it.

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comfortable as an old shoe

Idiom(s): (as) comfortable as an old shoe

Theme: COMFORT

Very comfortable; very comforting and familiar.
• This old house is fine. It's as comfortable as an old shoe.
• That's a great tradition—comfortable as an old shoe.

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clear the table

Idiom(s): clear the table

Theme: REMOVAL

to remove the dishes and other eating utensils from the table after a meal.
• Will you please help clear the table?
• After you clear the table, we'll play cards.

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take a stab at

Idiom(s): take a try at something AND take a shot at sth; take a stab at sth; take a whack at sth

Theme: TRYING

to give something a try. (The expression with shot is informal.)
• I don't know if I can eat a whole pizza, but I'll be happy to take a shot at it.
• I can't seem to get this computer to work right. Would you like to take a try at it?
• Sure. Take a stab at it.
• I don't know if I can do it or not, but I'll take a whack at it.

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Bring to the table

If you bring something to the table, you make a contribution or an offer in a discussion or negotiation..

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Close the stable door after the horse has bolted

If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred, they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. 'Close the barn door after the horse has bolted' is alternative, often used in American English.

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Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted

If someone takes action too late, they do this; there is no reason to lock an empty stable.

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Put your cards on the table

If you put your cards on the table, you make your thoughts or ideas perfectly clear.

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Tables are turned

When the tables are turned, the situation has changed giving the advantage to the party who had previously been at a disadvantage.

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keep tabs on someone

to watch someone carefully to check what they are doing: "He's keeping tabs on the sales team at the moment."

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It is too late to lock the stable when the horse h

It is useless taking precautions after something has happened.

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at the table|at table|table

adv. phr. At a meal; at the dinner table. The telephone call came while they were all at table.

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coffee table|coffee|table

n. A low table used in a living room. There were several magazines on the coffee table.

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comfortable as an old shoe|comfortable|old shoe|sh

adj. phr., informal Pleasant and relaxed; not stiff, strict or too polite; easy to talk and work with. The stranger was as comfortable as an old shoe, and we soon were talking like old friends.

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keep tab on|keep|keep tabs on|tab|tabs

v. phr., informal 1. To keep a record of. The government tries to keep tabs on all the animals in the park. 2. To keep a watch on; check. The house mother kept tabs on the girls to be sure they were clean and neat.
Compare: KEEP TRACK OF.

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make a stab at|make|make a stab|stab

v. phr. To try doing something at random without sufficient preparation. The singer was not familiar with the aria but she decided to make a stab at it anyhow.
Antonym: STAB IN THE BACK, STAB IN THE DARK.

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pick up the tab|pick|pick up|tab

v. phr. To pay the bill in a restaurant; be the one who underwrites financially what others are doing. "I am always the one who picks up the tab," Charlie complained bitterly. "Others get away with being freeloaders."
Compare: FOOT THE BILL.

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put one's cards on the table|cards|lay down|lay do

v. phr., informal To let someone know your position and interest openly; deal honestly; act without trickery or secrets. In talking about buying the property, Peterson laid his cards on the table about his plans for it. Some of the graduates of the school were unfriendly toward the new superintendent, but he put his cards on the table and won their support.

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stab in the back|back|in the back|stab

stab in the back¹ v. phr., slang To say or do something unfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). Owen stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him.
stab in the back² n. phr., slang An act or a lie that hurts a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a friend. John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from his store. My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher I was playing hooky when I was home sick.

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stab in the dark|dark|stab

n. phr. A random attempt or guess at something without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. "You're asking me who could have hidden grandpa's will," Fred said. "I really have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark I think my sister Hermione has it."

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turn the tables|table|tables|turn

v. phr. To make something happen just the opposite of how it is supposed to happen. The boys turned the tables on John when they took his squirt gun away and squirted him.