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| In classical mythology, the king who led the Greeks against Troy in the Trojan War. To obtain favorable winds for the Greek fleet sailing to Troy, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Artemis, and so came under a curse. |
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| The Greek and Roman god of poetry, prophecy, medicine, and light. Apollo represents all aspects of civilization and order. Zeus was his father, and Artemis was his sister. The sun is sometimes described as Apollo's Chariot, riding across the sky. |
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| The Greek name for Diana. the virgin goddess of the hunt and the moon; the daughter of Zeus and the sister of Apollo. |
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| A character in Norse Mythology, also by the name Brynhild. Brunnhilde, a Valkyrie, or woman servant of Odin, loved the hero Siegfried. After she found out that he had deceived her, she had him killed and committed suicide. |
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| In classical Mythology, a prophetess in Troy during the Trojan War whose predictions, although were true, were never believed by those around her. A "Cassandra" is someone who constantly predicts bad news. |
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| A monster in mythology who had the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon or serpent. Figuratively a "chimera" is a creation of the imagination, especially a wild creation. Something "chimerical" is fictional or illusory. |
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| Vicious winged beings in mythology. Often depicted as birds with women's faces. Figuratively, a "harpy" is a shrewish woman. |
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| Female spirits of classical mythology who lived in the forests, bodies of water, and the other places outdoors. By extension, a "nymph" is a beautiful or seductive woman. |
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| In classical mythology, a winged horse, tamed by the hero Bellerophon with the help of a bridle given to him by Athena, the Greek and Roman goddess of wisdom. |
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| Roman name FAUNS. Creatures in classical mythology who were part man and part goat. Satyrs were famous for being and for chasing nymphs. They were companions of Dionysus, god of wine and revelry. By extension, a "satyr" is a lecherous male. |
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| With strict adherence to a set of rules; fairly and honorably. Hoyle was the author of a book on whist in the eighteenth century; his name has been used in the titles of many books for rules for card games. |
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| A hidden advantage or resource kept in reserve until needed; This term comes from the game of stud poker, in which one or more of the cards are turned face down, or "in the hole" as bets are placed. The ace is the card with the highest value. |
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| albatross around one's neck |
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| an annoying burden; literally, an albatross is a large sea bird. the phrase alludes to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, "the rime of the ancient mariner", in which a sailor who shoots a friendly albatross is forced to wear its carcass around his neck as punishment. |
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| the favorite object of a person's love or affection. |
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| to avoid getting to the point of an issue. |
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| a term, referring to the game of pool, meaning in an unfavorable or uncomfortable position. |
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| means having a grievance that needs to be talked out. |
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| can't see the forest for the trees |
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| an expression used to describe someone who is too involved in the details of the problem to look at the situation as a whole. |
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| april showers bring may flowers |
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| some unpleasant occurrences bring about better things. |
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| people are quick to discuss the misfortunes of others. |
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| the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry |
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| no matter how carefully a project is planned, something still may go wrong with it. The saying is adapted from a line in "to a mouse", by Robert Burns. |
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| the bigger they come the harder they fall |
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| the more powerful and successful people are, the more they suffer when they experience defeat and disaster. |
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| you can't squeeze blood from a turnip |
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| one can get from people only what they are willing to give. |
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| blood is thicker than water |
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| our loyalty to our family - or blood relations - is strong no matter how we may feel about them. |
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| brevity is the soul of wit |
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| intelligent speech and writing should aim at using few words. this proverb comes from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. |
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| don't cry over spilt milk |
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| it doesn't do any good to be unhappy about something that has already happened or that can't be helped. |
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| discretion is the better part of valor |
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| caution is preferable to rash bravery. Said by Falstaff in King Henry the Fourth, Part One, by William Shakespeare. |
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| even the lowest of us enjoys a moment of glory, |
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| don't surrender; a favorable motto of the United States Navy. These were the dying words of Commander James Lawrence during a battle of the War of 1812. |
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| The greek god of war, brutal and blood thirsty. He was the son of Zeus and Hera, and the father of the Amazons. Roman name mars |
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| In classical mythology, a nation of warrior women. The Amazons burned or cut of their right breasts so that they could use a bow and arrow more efficiently. Figuratively, an "Amazon" is a large,strong, aggressive women. The Amazon River of South America was so named because tribes of women warriors were believed to live along its banks. |
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| a creature in Classical mythology who had a hundred eyes. Hera set hime to watch over Io a girl who had been seduced by Zeus and then turned into a cow; with Argus on guard, Zeus could not come to rescue IO, for only some of Argus' eyes would be close at one time. Hermes, working for Zeu' behalf, played music that put all of the eyes to sleep, and then killed argus. Hera put his eyes on tail of a peacock. Argus swas once a common name for newspapers,suggesting that the paper was constantly on the alert |
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| in classical mythology, a Titanfamous for his strength. After the defeat of the Titans by zues, Atlas was to support the Earth and the sky on his shoulders for eternity. The word atlas is used for a book of maps |
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| AN object that figures in a legend about an actual Greek noblemen, Damocles. According to the story, Damocles frequently expressedhis awe at the power and apparent happiness of his king. The king, tired of such flattery,held a banquet, seated damocles under a sword that was suspendedfrom the ceiling by a single hair- thus demonstrating that kingship brought with it fears and worries as well as pleasure . figuratively, a "sword of Damocles" is an impending danger that causes anxiety |
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| A complexknot tied by agreek king. according to the legend , whoever loosed it would rule alllAsia. Alexander the Great according to some accounts,undid the knot but cutting through it with his sword. by extension, to cut the Gordian knot is to solve quickly any very complex problems problems or to get to the heart of the problems |
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| The roman god of doors and gateways, and hence of beginnings.Janus was pictured with two faces looking in opposite directions,one young and one old. The months of January is named after janus |
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| nine goddesses of classical mythology who presided over learning and the arts.They were associated with poetry. Ancient Greek Roman writers would often begin their peoms by asking for the aid of the muses in their compositions. Writers and artists to this day speak of their"muse",meaning their source of inspiraion |
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| The roman Name of Hades, the greek and roman god of the underworld and rules of the dead. The planet Plutos the most forbidding and usually the most distant planet in the solar system |
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| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush |
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| The things we already have are more valuable than the things we only hope to get |
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| Dont put the cart before the horse |
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| Begin at the proper place; d things in their proper order |
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| The chicken have come home to roost |
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| the consequences of earlier actions are making themselves felt. |
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| Great oaks from little acorn grow |
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| great things or people often have humble origins. |
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| Dont hide your light under a bushel |
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| Do not conceal talents or abilities. This proverb si taken from the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus is telling believers not to hide their faith |
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| A little learning is a dangerous thing |
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| People who know only a little do not understand how little they know and therefore are prone to error. First said by alexander pope |
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| Too many cooks spoil the broth |
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| When too many people work together on a project, the result is inferior |
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| A person who is considered a disgrace to a particular group usually a family |
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| A vacation during which a person engages in activity that is the same as or similar to his or her employment |
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| to speak directly a bluntly; to avoid euphemism |
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| To do something that is obviously superfluous; Newcastle is a city in England where coal is mine. |
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| To make an irrevocable decision; it comes from the name of the river Julius Caesar crossed with his army, thereby starting a civil war in Rome. |
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| A hanger on; a person who serves no function |
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| Someone or something that promises great success but soon fails |
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| people should mind their own business. This expression apparently first appeared in print in an O. Henry story in the early 1900s. |
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| pride goeth before a fall |
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| people who are overconfident or too arrogant are likely to fail. This saying is adapted from the biblical book of "proverbs". |
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| To "have cold feet" is to be too fearful to undertake or complete an action. |
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| burn your bridges behind you |
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| to eliminate any possibility of a retreat to a former position. |
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| to criticize someone or something indirectly by giving a slight compliment. |
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| to do something "once in a blue moon" is to do it very rarely. The phrase refers to the appearance of a second full moon within a calendar month, which actually happens about every thirty-two months. |
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| pay attention to details. When learning to write, children often reverse these letters, so he teacher would admonish the students to be extra careful when writing them. |
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| keeping up with the Jones's |
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| striving to achieve or own as much as the people around you. |
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| people who are unhappy may get some consolations from knowing that others are unhappy too. |
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| hitch your wagon to a star |
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| aim high; hope for great things. |
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| if wishes were horses beggars would ride |
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| if wishing could make things happen, then even the most destitute people would have everything they wanted. |
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| the leopard cannot change its spots |
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| we cannot change our basic nature. |
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| a saying that shows the insensitivity to or incomprehension of the realities of life for the unfortunate. This statement is often, and incorrectly, attributed to Marie Antoinette. |
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| certain qualities or personalities are incompatible. |
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| the road to hell is paved with good intentions |
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| merely intending to do good, without actually doing it, is of no value. |
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| a rolling stone gathers no moss |
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| this proverb has two meanings; people pay a price for always being on the move; they have no roots in a specific place (the original meaning); or people who keeping moving avoid picking up responsibilities and cares. |
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| Rome wasn't built in a day |
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| valuable projects take time. |
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| you can't fit a round peg in a square hole |
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| people can't be forced into roles for which they are not suited. |
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| a person's calm exterior often conceals great depths of character, just as the deepest streams can have the smoothest surfaces. |
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| you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink |
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| you can show people the way to do things, but you can't force them to act. |
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| a decision by the united states supreme court concerning the rights of persons in police custody. In the case of Miranda versus Arizona, in 1966, the Court ruled that, before questioning by the police, suspects must be informed that they have the right to remain silent and the right to consult an attorney, and that anything they say may be used against them in court. The Miranda ruling protects a suspect's fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. The Miranda warning, a written statement of these rights, is normally recited by a police officer before interrogating the suspect in police custody. |
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| an amendment to the united states constitution guaranteeing the rights of free expression and action that are fundamental to democratic government. These rights include freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. |
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| popularly, "hawks" are those who advocate an aggressive foreign policy based on strong military power. "doves" try to resolve international conflicts without the threat of force. |
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| a court that ignores principles of justice; a court characterized by incompetence and dishonesty. |
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| an oval shaped room in the white house that serves as the official office of the president of the united states. since the presidency of Richard Nixon, the term has been used to refer to the president himself. |
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| a symbol of the democratic party, introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. |
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| a symbol of the republican party, introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. |
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| a participant in the women's movement to win voting rights in the united states. the fight for women's suffrage was organized in the middle of the nineteenth century. Wyoming, while not yet a state, granted women's suffrage in 1869, though the strugglw for universal suffrage was to last another fifty years. in 1920, the state could deny the right to vote on the basis of sex. |
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