Sayings and Expressions that start with the letter "A" from A-1 to Ax To Grind

It is a painful thing to look at your own trouble and know that you yourself and no one else has made it.
Sophocles 450 B.C.

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A MARGO---A she devil.---"Don't mess with Margo she thinks she is tough, a real she devil."---R. Clark (2000) Sayings "Don't mess with Margo, she is rough and tough and she don't take no stuff."

A-1--- The very best---"His work is A-l"---Lloyds of London originally used this term in their shipping registry - ships were graded by letter, their cargo was graded by number. "A" meant the ship was perfect, "1" meant the cargo was also perfect.

A BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE---A complete surprise.---"I didn't expect it, it just came out of the blue."---Sometimes "Out of the blue." Thomas Carlyle (1837) The French Revolution "Arrestment, sudden really as a bolt out of the blue, has hit strange victims."

A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG AS IT'S WEAKEST LINK---No matter how strong the components of a group or system, the weakest part is as strong as the whole thing can be.---C. Kingsley (Letter dated Dec. 1, 1856)

A COWARD DIES A HUNDRED DEATHS---A person who lacks courage is disgraced each time he faces adversity.---Mortimeriados (1596.) Shakespeare (1599) Julius Caesar "Cowards die many times before their deaths." (1927). Sphere "It is true that cowards die many times before their death." Fuller (1732) "Better hazard once than be always in fear."

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE---Not good looking.---"He had a face a mother could only love on payday."

A FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED---A fool will not keep his money long.---Tusser (1580) "A foole and his monie be soone at debate."

A FOOLS PARADISE---Uninformed; everything is ok attitude.---"She is living in a fools paradise."---Paston (1462) "But I would not be in a folis paradyce."

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED---On who stands by you in time of need is a true friend.---Richard Whytford (1530) Werke for Householders "A true frende loueth at all tymes and neuer feyleth at nede."

A FRIEND TO ALL IS A FRIEND TO NONE---They make acquaintance with all but never get close to any.---Wodroephe (1623) Spared Houres "All men's friend, no man's friend."

A GOOD BEGINNING MAKES FOR A GOOD ENDING---Good planning makes for a good result.---(1320) Antique "Good beginning maketh good endyng."

A JOB WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL---If a job is not worth doing well, it's not worth doing at all.---Cheales (1875) Proverb Folk Lore "Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well."

A LEOPARD CAN'T CHANGE HIS SPOTS---A person is not apt to change.---Bible Jeremiah 13:23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."

A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME---I got my information from an anonymous source.---"A little bird told me that you are going to ask her to marry you."---Bible: Ecclesiastes 10:20 "Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed chamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."

new! A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING---Incomplete knowledge about a subject is sometimes worse than no knowledge at all.---Usually said of someone who is trying to impress someone by talking about a subject they have very little knowledge of.---Publilius Syrus (1st century B.C.) "Better be ignorant of a matter than half know it."---Alexander Pope (1711) "A little learning is a dang'rous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring, The shallow draughts intoxicate the brain; And drinking largely sobers us again."

A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART---Someone who sees things the way you do.---"Sonny is a man after my own heart."---Bible: I Samuel 13:14 "But now thy kingdom shall not continue; the Lord hath sough him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people...."

A MAN AMONG MEN---An outstanding man; one with special qualities.---"He is certainly a man among men."---Shakespeare (1609) Antony and Cleopatra "By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, if thou with Caesar paragon again my man of men."

A MAN IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY HE KEEPS---Choose your friends wisely: your reputation can be either harmed or enhanced by association.---Cervantes (1605 - 15) Don Quizote "That is certainly the case if there's any truth in the old saying, "Tell me what company you keep and I'll tell you who you are."

A MAN OF FEW WORDS---Directness; gets to the point.---"This will not be a long lecture, I am a man of few words."---Bible: Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for god is in heaven and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few........"

A MAN WHO IS HIS OWN LAWYER HAS A FOOL FOR A CLIENT---One cannot be objective about one's own concerns.---Leigh Hunt (1784 - 1859) Autobiography

A MAN WITH A WATCH KNOWS WHAT TIME IT IS, A MAN WITH TWO ISN'T SURE

A MAN'S GOT TO DO WHAT A MAN'S GOT TO DO---One must follow the dictates of conscience, whatever the consequences.---John Wayne (1907 -79) Stagecoach

A MAN'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE---(1630). Dicke of Devonshire "I think long till I be at home in our castle of comfort." Cotgrave (1611) "Every man is a king in his own house."

A MAN'S WORD IS AS GOOD AS HIS BOND---His word is as good as his covenant; promise; binding.---Ray (1670) "An honest man's word is as good as his bond."

A NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN---A new boss often makes radical changes immediately after taking control of an organization.---John Heywood (1546) Book of Proverbs

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS---Tell me what you are thinking.---Heywood (1546) Proverbs

A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED---You have truly earned it if you still have it.---(1550) Gentleness and Nobility "A penny saved is a penny got."

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS---Ideas are better conveyed with pictures.---Ivan Turgenev (1862) Fathers and Sons "A picture shows me at a glance what it takes dozens of pages of a book to expound."

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN IT'S PLACE---Be neat and orderly.---Samuel Smiles (19th Century). Thrift

A PLAY ON WORDS---A pun; a double meaning; a stretch of a meaning.---"A little pun, a play on words."---David Hume (1739) Treatise on Human Nature "To confess that human reason is nothing but a play of words."

A POOR EXCUSE IS BETTER THAN NONE AT ALL---Udall (1550) Roister Doister "A bad shift (excuse) is better than none."

A ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS---A person who keeps on the move is unlikely to accumulate much.---Thomas Tusser (1573) Fiue Hundredth Pointes of Good Husbandrie "The stone that is rolling can gather no moss, for master and servant oft changing is loss."

A STITCH IN TIME SAVES NINE---The sooner you deal with a problem the easier it is to solve.---Planch'e (1845) Extravag "We take a stitch in time that may save nine."

A TREE IS KNOWN BY IT'S FRUIT---It is not what you say or how you look, it's what you do.---Ray (1670) "A tree is known by the fruit, and not by the leaves."

A WATCHED POT NEVER BOILS---When you are impatiently waiting on something to happen it seems as though it takes forever.---Gaskell (1848) M. Barton "What's the use of watching? A watched pot never boils."

A WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT---A wise person will listen to council.---Haughton (1616) Englishmen for my Money "They say, a word to the wise is enough."

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER---When you are away and missing someone your emotions are heightened.---Fuller (1732). "Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it." --- A tag from the song The Isle of Beauty T. Haynes Bayly (1797 - 1839)

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY---Man due to his nature, when given absolute power will become corrupt.---Howell (1659) Proverbs "Power weakeneth the wicked."

ACCORDING TO HOYLE---Following the rules.---"We are going to do this according to Hoyle."---Edmon Hoyle first published the rules for the card game "Whist" in 1742 A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist Since that time he published the rules of other card games, and eventually he was recognized as the leading authority on such games.

ACE IN THE HOLE---Something held in reserve for use at a strategic time.---"This isn't over yet, I am sure he has an ace in the hole."---Originally referred to playing cards but has expanded to cover many situations.

ACE UP HIS SLEEVE---Basically the same meaning as ACE IN THE HOLE.

ACHILLES HEEL---One weak spot in an otherwise strong character or position---"Public speaking is his Achilles heel"--- Greek mythology - Thetis, leader of the sea nymphs wanted to make sure her infant would be impervious to battle as an adult, so she dipped him in the river Styx, whose water was believed to confer invulnerability. One heel remained dry because she held him by that heel to dip him. Achilles died as a result of an arrow wound in the heel which remained unprotected.

ACID TEST---A test to prove something genuine---"Give it the acid test"---When gold was widely circulated, the question often arose as to whether the piece was genuine. Nitric acid was applied, gold remained intact while false gold decomposed.

ACROSS THE BOARD---Encompassing everything or everyone.---"We are going to get an across the board pay raise."---The term originally arose from the notice board displaying odds in a horse race. A bet across the board means that the bettor stands to collect if his horse should win, place or show.

ACT IN HASTE, REPENT IN LEISURE---Do something in a hurry so you can save time, which you can then use to repent of the fact that you hurried and messed up in the first place.---Chaucer (1386) Melibeus The commune proverbe seith thus: "He that sone demeth, sone shall repente." (1658). Wit Restor'd "That may be done in an hour, which may repent all our life after." Painter (1567) Pal. of Pleasure "Leaste in making hastie choice, leasure for repentaunce should follow."

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS---It's what you do that defines you, not what you say.---Draxe (1670) "Deeds are fruits, words are but the leaves."

ADAM'S APPLE---The projection formed in the front of the throat by the thyroid cartilage, seen mostly in men.---So called from the supposition that a piece of the forbidden fruit stuck in Adam's throat.

ADD INSULT TO INJURY---To do something insulting when a person is already down and out.---Peacock (1831) Crotchet Castle "To offer me a sandwich, when I am looking for a supper, is to add insult to injury."

AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE, USUALLY MORE IS SAID THAN DONE---People talk a big game but when it comes to action they often come up short.

AFTER THE FEAST COMES THE RECKONING---You have to pay for excessive pleasures.

AGAINST THE GRAIN---Roughens; makes angry---"That really goes against my grain."---If a carpenter tries to use a plane against the grain of the wood it roughens and splinters the wood. If he uses it with the grain it will smooth it.

ALBATROSS AROUND THE NECK---A burden---"He has become an albatross around my neck."---In the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a young sailer shoots an albatross, that had led the ship out of the Antarctic, with his crossbow. Trouble befell the ship and the crew, blaming him for the misfortune, they hung the dead bird around his neck as a curse.

ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT---Have patience and good things will come.---Violet Fane (19th Century Poem). Taut Vent 'A Qui Sait "Ald, all things come to those who wait, I say these words to make me glad, but something answers soft and sad, they come, but often too late."

ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE---The situation is out of control; everything went haywire.---"You should have been here ten minutes ago, all hell broke loose."---Jonson (1596) Man in Humour "They should say, and swear, hell were broken loose, ere they went hence."

ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR---Anything goes in this situation.---(17th Century Play) Love at a Venture by Susannah Centlivre. Beaumont & Flethcer (1630). Lovers Progress "All stratagems in love and war that the sharpest war, are lawful."

ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL---Audelay (1426) Poems "For al ys good that hath good ende."

ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING---Outcome not in doubt; predetermined.---"Our team has won, it's all over but the shouting."---Ballots were once hand counted, so the results were not announced until long after the polls had closed. Especially in a tight election, announcement of the count was likely to trigger a roar from the supporters of the winner. In a one sided contest, everybody knew the winner long before the last ballot was counted. This meant that when the polls closed, the outcome was unofficial but decided, it was all over but the shouting.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME---center of activity.---Chaucer (1380). Astrolabe "Right as diverse pathes leden diverse folk the righte wey to Rome."

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD---People or things that look good on the outside are not always as perceived.---Chaucer (1384). H. Frame "Hit is not al gold, that glareth."

ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL---Provided that nothing outweighs the matter you are considering or has a changing effect.---"All things being equal, I think we have a fair chance to win today."---Translation of Latin term: Ceteris Paribus (1889) Saturday Review "Other things being equal, the chances of any man being hit in heavy action vary.....with the rate of fire to which he is exposed."

ALL THUMBS---Clumsy; awkward.---"Larry is all thumbs when it comes to repairing anything."---Sir Thomas More (1534). A treatise on the Passion "Euery fynger shalbe a thombe, and we shall fumble it up in haste."

ALL WET---Wrong; don't know what they are talking about.---"She is all wet on this one."---Unknown origin, shows up in Dictionary of American Slang (1930) Old English expression: "To cover oneself with a wet sack". Meaning to make vane excuses.

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY---Dickens (1853) Letters "All work and no play may make Peter a dull boy as well as Jack."

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE---Be optimistic.---(18th Century)

AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER ?---Am I responsible for my brother's deeds or welfare?---Bible Genesis 4:9 And the lord said unto Cain "Where is Abel thy brother?" And he said "I know not: am I my brother's keeper?"

AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY---E. M. Wright (1913) Rustic Speech "Ait a happle avore gwain to bed, an' you"ll make the doctor beg his bread."

AN EMPTY CAN MAKES THE MOST NOISE---Usually those who talk the most know the least.---"He don't know what he is talking about, he is like an empty can, he makes a lot of noise."---Lyly (1579) Euphues "The emptie vessell giueth a greater sound then the full barrell."

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE---Preventing a problem is easier than correcting it.---T. Adams (1630) Works Prevention is so much better than heeling."

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR---A hard day of work is over, and I have some money to show for it.---(Early 20th Century)

ANTS IN HIS PANTS---Restless; eager.---"Settle down, have you got ants in your pants?"---Saying made popular by Army General Hugh S. Johnson head of the NRA (1933)

ANY PORT IN A STORM---Whatever refuge one can find in time of trouble.---Old sailors term, appeared in a play by Elizabeth Inchbald (1780). R. L. Stevenson (1894) St. Ives "Any port in a storm was the principal on which I was prepared to act."

APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING---Things aren't always as they appear. Smollett (1750) Gil Blas "Appearances are very deceitful."

APPLE OF HIS EYE---A cherished person.---"She is the apple of my eye."---In old english the pupil of the eye was called "the apple," The pupil was thought to be spherical and solid and was the main part, or crucial part, of the eye. "Who touchith you, shall touch the apple of his own eye," Coverdale Bible (1535)

APPLE PIE ORDER---Neat and orderly.---"It looks good, everything seems to be in apple pie order."---Apparently comes from the French "nappes pliees" meaning folded linen.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS---Tusser (1580) Husbandrie "Sweet April showers doo spring May flowers."

AS A TWIG IS BENT SO SHALL THE TREE GROW---How a child is brought up will determine what kind of adult he or she will be.---A twig when young and tender can be bent to most any shape, as it grows it becomes increasingly difficult to bend.---T. Ingelend (1560) Disobedient Child "For as longe as the twygge is gentell and plyent...With small force and strength it may be bent."

AS HONEST AS THE DAY IS LONG---Very honest.---"He can be trusted, he is as honest as the day is long"

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT---As fate would have it. Used to describe a good or bad outcome.---(1928) American Speech "As luck would have it, we took another road."

AS PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW---Without fault; without sin.---"That girl is as pure as the driven snow."---Shakespeare Hamlet

AS RIGHT AS RAIN---Definitely correct; just the way it should be.---"He was as right as rain"---Max Beerbohm (1909) Yet Again "He looked 'fit as a fiddle', or 'right as rain'."

AS THE CROW FLIES---In a straight line; shortest distance between two points.---"It's about two miles as the crow flies."---Old expression was "take the crows road".---Robert Southey (1800) Letter "About fifteen miles, the crow's road."

AS TOUGH AS NAILS---Very tough; stern.---"They say he is as tough as nails."---Dickens (1838) Twist "Hard" replied the Dodger, "As nails" added Charley.

ASK ME NO QUESTIONS AND I'LL TELL YOU NO LIES---Don't question things and you won't be misled.---Oliver Goldsmith (1773)

ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH---Lack of attention to duty; dereliction of duty.---"I don't know how this mess occured, someone must have been asleep at the switch."---In the past the railroads used men at switching stations to do the manual switching of trains to different tracks. If the switchman would fall asleep, two trains heading at each other on the same track, bad things happened.

AT FIRST BLUSH---On first impression; at first sight.---"At first blush I thought it was my wife."---Richard Hakluyt (1598) The Principal Navigations Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation "At the first blush we thought they had been shippes come from France."

AT SEA---Bewildered; confused.---"He is at sea on this one."---Alluded to mariners who had lost their bearings trying to navigate at sea.

AT YOUR BECK AND CALL---Immediately available.---"She thinks I must always be at her beck and call."---Earl of Worcester (1470) Julius Caesars Commentaryes "It should be ready at a beck." (A beck was a silent signal, like the nod of the head).

AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE---Shun rigorously.---"I am going to avoid her like the plague."---It has been over three centuries since the Plague in Europe, it made such an impact that the saying exists to this day.

AX TO GRIND---A hidden agenda or motive; a need to settle ---"He has his own ax to grind"---"I have got an ax to grind with him."---(He has an ax to grind) Originated from a story in Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac in which he was a central character in the story. Franklin was approached by a fellow who stopped to admire the family grindstone. Asking to be shown how it worked, the stranger offered young Ben his ax with which to demonstrate. Once the ax was sharp, the fellow walked off, laughing. He used his admiration of the grindstone to mask his real agenda of getting his ax sharpened. (I have an ax to grind) The saying has taken on, in many instances a slightly different connotation, to get someone told off or settle a score with someone, to get even.

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Edited by Linda Clark