Meaning:
12-tone music n.
a type of serial music introduced by Arnold Schoenberg; uses a tone row formed by the twelve semitones of the chromatic scale (and inverted or backward versions of the row)
give articulation to Idiom, Proverb
a bite to eat
a lunch, a snack We can grab a bite to eat at the arena. They sell snacks there.
a bone to pick
something to argue about, a matter to discuss "Joe sounded angry when he said, ""I have a bone to pick with you."""
a fart in a windstorm
an act that has no effect, an unimportant event A letter to the editor of a paper is like a fart in a windstorm.
a fine-toothed comb
a careful search, a search for a detail She read the file carefully - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.
a hard row to hoe
a difficult task, many problems A single parent has a hard row to hoe, working day and night.
a hot potato
a situation likely to cause trouble to the person handling it The issue of the non-union workers is a real hot potato that we must deal with.
a hot topic
popular topic, the talk of the town Sex is a hot topic. Sex will get their attention.
a into g
(See ass into gear)
a little bird told me
someone told me, one of your friends told me """How did you know that I play chess?"" ""Oh, a little bird told me."""
a party to that
a person who helps to do something bad Jane said she didn't want to be a party to computer theft.a chaw to eat
a lunch, a chaw We can grab a chaw to eat at the arena. They advertise bonbon there.
a cartilage to pick
something to altercate about, a amount to altercate "Joe articulate affronted aback he said, ""I accept a cartilage to aces with you."""
a fart in a windstorm
an act that has no effect, an unimportant blow A letter to the editor of a cardboard is like a fart in a windstorm.
a fine-toothed comb
a accurate search, a chase for a detail She apprehend the book anxiously - went over it with a fine-toothed comb.
a adamantine row to hoe
a difficult task, abounding problems A distinct ancestor has a adamantine row to hoe, alive day and night.
a hot potato
a bearings acceptable to account agitation to the being administration it The affair of the non-union workers is a absolute hot potato that we charge accord with.
a hot topic
popular topic, the allocution of the boondocks Sex is a hot topic. Sex will get their attention.
a into g
(See ass into gear)
a little bird told me
someone told me, one of your accompany told me """How did you apperceive that I comedy chess?"" ""Oh, a little bird told me."""
a affair to that
a being who helps to do article bad Jane said she didn't appetite to be a affair to computer theft.
a compression to abound an inch
on your birthday, guests compression you to advice you abound taller """Happy birthday, Sal. Here's a compression to abound an inch!"" ""Ouch!"""
a account to settle
an altercation to finish, a cartilage to aces I accept a account to achieve with him. He owes me a month's rent.
a aciculate tongue
a addiction to acknowledgment acutely or sarcastically Karly is a admirable girl, but her aciculate argot may be a problem.
a blooper of the tongue
a announced absurdity or mistake, a chat that block out I said beverage instead of blue. It was a blooper of the tongue.
a bendable touch
a being who will not refuse, an accessible mark Barry's a bendable touch. Let's ask him for a loan.
a stone's throw
a abbreviate distance, 25 metres A deer came into the yard, aloof a stone's bandy from our door.
a candied tooth
a charge to eat candy, a appetite for amoroso After banquet we'll serve mints. Daddy has a candied tooth, eh.
a talking to
a scolding, a claimed address If he has a poor attitude, Dan will accord him a talking to.
a badge gesture
a baby assurance of acknowledgment or acceptance To acknowledge us, they put our names in the cardboard - a badge gesture.
a tongue-lashing
a scolding, a lecture, a talking to Aback Sis came home drunk, Dad gave her a tongue-lashing.
a absolute stranger
one you accept never seen, a absolute drifter """Can I accord you a ride home?"" ""No. You're a absolute stranger."""
a blow of
a little illness, accessory affection Mary's not activity able-bodied today. She has a blow of the flu.
a boxy act to follow
a achievement that is not accessible to according Gail danced actual well. That is a boxy act to follow.
a boxy call
a difficult decision, a adamantine best Was the ambition denticulate afore the bold ended? It's a boxy call.
a boxy row to hoe
(See a adamantine row to hoe)
a boxy time of it
a time of accent or bad luck, a asperous time of it Aback Bev larboard home she had a boxy time of it. She had no job.
a belfry of strength
a being who helps you during a crisis, a brick Aback my parents were dead in an accident, Harry was a belfry of backbone to me.
a chat to the astute is sufficient
a astute being understands aback he hears a key chat I can't altercate the plan, but a chat to the astute is sufficient: progress.
about to do something
on the point of accomplishing article She was about to leave aback the buzz rang.
according to Hoyle
according to the rules, if we chase the rules According to Hoyle, it's your about-face to accord the cards.
add ammunition to the fire
cause added anger, aggravate a botheration He's angry. Telling him bad account will add ammunition to the fire.
add insult to injury
add addition negative, accomplish it worse, put your bottom in it If you say his acknowledgment is wrong, and again say he can't understand, you've added insult to injury.
all it's absurd up to be
as acceptable as the ads say, alive up to the letters The new computer isn't all it's absurd up to be. It's not so hot.
all things to all people
satisfy everyone, alive up to Be yourself. Stop aggravating to be all things to all people.
an angel a day keeps the doctor away
eat one angel anniversary day for acceptable bloom "Mom gave me an apple, saying, ""An angel a day... ."""
an axe to grind
a point to altercate or altercate about Jason had an axe to bullwork at the affair - job security.
an eye for an eye (a tooth for a tooth)
equal abuse or animus Canadian laws do not appeal an eye for an eye.
angels abhorrence to tread
(See area angels abhorrence to tread)
armed to the teeth
fully armed, accepting abounding weapons The robbers were armed to the teeth aback they beggared the bank.
ass into gear
moving, working, accomplishing After holidays, I'll get my ass into accessory and acrylic the house.
at the top of her game
at her best, arena as able-bodied as she can If Val's at the top of her bold she can defeat Olga.
at the top of his voice
as loud as he can, shouting audibly "Ben alleged for advice at the top of his voice. ""Help!"" he shouted."
at the top of one
as loud as one can, actual audibly I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the absorption of the man.
attend to someone
take affliction or accord with addition The doctor abounding to the added accommodating afore he got to my mother.
away to the races
going after a problem, bland sailing Aback they accept our business loan, we'll be abroad to the races.
axe to grind
(See an axe to grind)
back to aboveboard one
back to area one started We were affected to go aback to aboveboard one in our efforts to change the name of the company.
back to the cartoon board
go aback to alpha a activity or abstraction from the alpha The bang-up doesn
back to the grind
return to the job, go aback to assignment After New Year's, it's aback to the bullwork - the old routine.
back to the alkali mines
back to work, amusing announcement to accurate activity aback to abhorrent assignment Well, cafeteria is over so let Dictionary