25-letter words containing s, e, n

the ball is in sb's court — If you say that the ball is in someone's court, you mean that it is his or her responsibility to take the next action or decision in a situation.
the ball is in your court — you are obliged to make the next move
the department of defense — the United States federal department concerned with national security
the empire state building — a very high skyscraper in New York City
the first epistle of john — an epistle attributed to the apostle John which counters claims that Jesus Christ came only in spirit and not in the flesh
the industrial revolution — the transformation in the 18th and 19th centuries of first Britain and then other W European countries and the US into industrial nations
the knives are out for sb — If a lot of people want something unpleasant to happen to someone, for example if they want them to lose their job, you can say that the knives are out for that person.
the leaning tower of pisa — the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral
the mother of parliaments — the British Parliament: the model and creator of many other Parliaments
the protestant work ethic — a belief in the moral value of work, associated with Protestant Christianity
the sands are running out — there is not much time left before death or the end
the scholastic profession — the profession of teaching
the third epistle of john — an epistle attributed to the apostle John and addressed to a man called Gaius, who is praised in the letter
there are no flies on him — he is no fool
thermoluminescence dating — a method of dating archaeological specimens, chiefly pottery, by measuring the radiation given off by ceramic materials as they are heated.
through the looking-glass — a story for children (1871) by Lewis Carroll: the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
throw dust in the eyes of — to confuse or mislead
throw one's weight around — the amount or quantity of heaviness or mass; amount a thing weighs.
throw one's weight behind — If you throw your weight behind a person, plan, or campaign, you use all your influence and do everything you can to support them.
throw someone to the dogs — to abandon someone to criticism or attack
to be in the catbird seat — to be in a very good situation
to be in the driving seat — If you say that someone is in the driving seat, you mean that they are in control in a situation.
to be on first-name terms — (of two people) knowing each other well enough to call each other by their first names, rather than having to use a more formal title.
to be on the naughty step — to experience public disfavour, usually because of perceived wayward behaviour
to call something to mind — If something brings another thing to mind or calls another thing to mind, it makes you think of that other thing, usually because it is similar in some way.
to catch sight of someone — If you catch sight of someone, you suddenly see them, often briefly.
to drink someone's health — When you drink to someone's health or drink their health, you have a drink as a sign of wishing them health and happiness.
to get on your high horse — to adopt a superior or pretentious attitude
to give someone a bunk-up — to give someone a competitive advantage in order to help them get on better than they would otherwise have done
to give someone free rein — If you give free rein to someone, you give them a lot of freedom to do what they want.
to go on a shooting spree — (of a fanatic)to shoot a number of people
to go on a shopping spree — to shop excessively; to buy a lot of things in an extravagant way
to go to seed/run to seed — If you say that someone or something has gone to seed or has run to seed, you mean that they have become much less attractive, healthy, or efficient.
to have irons in the fire — If someone has a lot of irons in the fire, they are involved in several different activities or have several different plans.
to hold someone to ransom — If a kidnapper is holding someone to ransom or holding them ransom in British English, or is holding a person for ransom in American English, they keep that person prisoner until they are given what they want.
to jump out of one's skin — If something makes you jump out of your skin, it surprises or shocks you very much.
to keep your options open — If you keep your options open or leave your options open, you delay making a decision about something.
to kiss something goodbye — If you say that you kiss something goodbye or kiss goodbye to something, you accept the fact that you are going to lose it, although you do not want to.
to lay claim to something — If you lay claim to something you do not have, you say that it belongs to you.
to lay siege to something — If police, soldiers, or journalists lay siege to a place, they surround it in order to force the people there to come out or give up control of the place.
to live beyond your means — If someone is living beyond their means, they are spending more money than they can afford. If someone is living within their means, they are not spending more money than they can afford.
to mind your own business — If you say to someone 'mind your own business' or 'it's none of your business', you are rudely telling them not to ask about something that does not concern them.
to monitor sb's movements — to monitor a person's location and activities during a specific time
to open/reopen old wounds — Something that opens old wounds or reopens old wounds reminds someone about an upsetting experience in the past which they would prefer to forget.
to read between the lines — If you read between the lines, you understand what someone really means, or what is really happening in a situation, even though it is not said openly.
to sail close to the wind — If you sail close to the wind, you take a risk by doing or saying something that may get you into trouble.
to set your teeth on edge — If you say that something sets your teeth on edge, you mean that you find it extremely unpleasant or irritating.
to sing someone's praises — If you sing someone's praises, you praise them in an enthusiastic way.
to someone's satisfaction — If you do something to someone's satisfaction, they are happy with the way that you have done it.
to sound the death knelll — If you say that something sounds the death knell for a particular person or thing, you mean it will cause that person or thing to fail, end, or cease to exist.

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