28-letter words containing e, s, h, r
- the line of least resistance — If you take the line of least resistance in a situation, you do what is easiest, even though you think that it may not be the right thing to do. In American English, you usually talk about the path of least resistance.
- the long and the short of it — the essential points or facts
- the medical research council — a government body that uses public funds to finance research in medicine
- the world owes them a living — If you say that someone thinks that the world owes them a living, you are criticizing them because they think it is their right to have a comfortable life without having to make any effort at all.
- the wrong side of the tracks — the unfashionable or poor district or stratum of a community
- through rose-colored glasses — with optimism, esp. undue optimism
- throw dust in someone's eyes — earth or other matter in fine, dry particles.
- to be in the interests of sb — to be to the advantage of somebody
- to come to a screeching halt — (of a motor vehicle) to stop suddenly, causing the brakes or tyres to produce a high-pitched sound
- to give somebody a thick ear — to hit sb on the ear or head
- to know something for a fact — If you say that you know something for a fact, you are emphasizing that you are completely certain that it is true.
- to ruffle someone's feathers — To ruffle someone's feathers means to cause them to become very angry, nervous, or upset.
- to set your face against sth — You can say that someone has set their face against something to indicate that they are opposed to it, especially when you want to suggest that they are wrong.
- to slip through your fingers — If someone or something slips through your fingers, you just fail to catch them, get them, or keep them.
- to throw the book at someone — If someone in authority throws the book at someone who has committed an offence, they give the offender the greatest punishment that they are allowed to.
- to throw the rule book at sb — to inflict the most severe punishment on someone
- turn (or put) one's hand to — to undertake; work at
- turn the screw(s) on someone — If you turn or tighten the screw on someone, you increase the pressure which is already on them, for example by using threats, in order to force them to do a particular thing.
- walden, or life in the woods — a book of philosophical observations (1854) by Thoreau.
- where someone is coming from — You can use expressions like I know where you're coming from or you can see where she's coming from to say that you understand someone's attitude or point of view.
- with/have sth to your credit — If you already have one or more achievements to your credit, you have achieved them.
- zeroth law of thermodynamics — the principle that any two systems in thermal equilibrium with a third system are in thermal equilibrium with each other. Compare law of thermodynamics (def 2).