As it were
As it were :
Arse
Vulgar slang
Go arse over tit
Fall over in a sudden or dramatic way
Kiss my arse
Go away! Go to hell! - Vulgar slang
Kiss someone's arse = Kiss someone's ass
Behave obsequiously towards someone - vulgar slang
Lick someone's arse = Lick someone's boots
Be excessively obsequious towards someone, especially to gain favour.
Not know your arse from your elbow
Be totally ignorant or incompetent
A pain in the neck
An annoying or tedious person or thing – informal
A pain in the ass
An annoying or tedious person or thing – informal - USA
A pain in the arse
An annoying or tedious person or thing – informal
Art for art's sake
The idea that a work of art has no purpose beyond itself
This phrase is the slogan of artists who hold that the chief or only aim of a work of art is the self-expression of the individual artist who creates it.
Be art and part of
Be an accessory or participant in.
Be deeply involved in.
Be art and part of was originally a Scottish legal expression : art referred to the bringing about of an action and part to participation in it.
Have something down to a fine art = Get something down to a fine
Art achieve a high level of skill, facility or accomplishment in some activity through experience.
State of the art
The most recent stage in the development of a product, incorporating the newest ideas and the most up-to-date features
An article of faith
A firmly held belief
Article is here used in the sense of a statement or item in a summary of religious belief.
1994 - Paul Ormerod - The Death of Economics - It is an article of faith in orthodox economics that free trade between nations is wholly desirable.
The finished article
Something that is complete and ready for use
The genuine article
A person or thing considered to be an authentic and excellent example of their kind
As and when
Used to refer to an uncertain future event
1996 – She - The single most important strategy you can adopt to boost your energy levels is to learn to deal with an issue as and when it rears its head.
As if
Used to express the speaker's belief that something is very doubtful or unlikely – informal
As it were
In a way (used to be less precise)
1991 - Atlantic jazz - audiences permit older musicians to go on suiting up, as it were, until they drop
As it were :
Idioms Index – Previous Page
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