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a back-seat driver
a passenger in the moving vehicle who constantly gives the driver unwanted advice on how to drive
someone who lectures and criticizes the person who is actually in control of something
bend over backwards to do something
make every effort, especially to be fair or helpful - informal
know something backwards
be entirely familiar with something
1991 - William Trevor - Reading Turgenev - People who lived in the town knew it backwards
save someone's bacon
rescue someone from danger or difficulty.
bring home the bacon
supply material provision or support
achieve success – informal
This phrase probably derives from the much earlier
save your bacon recorded from the mid 17th century. In early use bacon also referred to fresh pork, the meat most readily available to rural people.
saved by the bell
preserved from danger narrowly or by an unexpected intervention.
In boxing matches a contestant who has been knocked to the floor can be saved from being counted out by the ringing of the bell to mark the end of a round.
have something to say for yourself =
have nothing to say for yourself
Contribute (or fail to contribute) to a conversation or discussion.
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Give permission or instructions to do something.
go without saying
Be too well known or obvious to need to be mentioned.
there is no saying
It is impossible to know.
throw away the scabbard
Abandon all thought of making peace.
This expression derives from the proverb
he who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard. It implies that the person in question has no choice but to fight.
like a scalded cat
at a very fast speed
at a greater rate of growth
1997 - T3 - If you're in a desperate hurry you can bury the accelerator and take off like a scalded cat.
the scales fall from someone's eyes
Someone is no longer deceived.
In the Bible, this expression described how St Paul, blinded by his vision on the road to Damascus, received his sight back at the hand of God (Acts 9 : 18).
throw something on the scale =
throw something into the scale
Emphasize the relevance of something to one side of an argument or debate.
tip the scales at =
turn the scales at
Have a weight of a specified amount.
turn the scales =
turn the balance
Alter the probability of the outcome.
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