[kick off] {v. phr.} 1. To make the kick that begins a football game. * /John kicked off and the football game started./ 2. {informal} To begin; launch; start. * […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

chip on one's shoulder

[chip on one's shoulder] {n. phr.}, {informal} A quarrelsome nature; readiness to be angered. * /He went through life with a chip on his shoulder./ * /Jim often gets into […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

pitch in

[pitch in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin something with much energy; start work eagerly. * /Pitch in and we will finish the job as soon as possible./ 2. To give […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

chip off the old block

[chip off the old block] {n. phr.} A person whose character traits closely resemble those of his parents. * /I hear that Tom plays the violin in the orchestra his […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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come to

[come to] {v.} (stress on "to") 1. To wake up after losing consciousness; get the use of your senses back again after […]

while ago

[while ago] {adv.} At a time several minutes in the past; a few minutes ago; a short time ago. - Used with "a". * /I laid my […]

Martin Sheen

(1940--) U.S. actor I am one of those cliff-hanging Catholics. I don't believe in God, but I do believe that Mary was his […]

Paki

[Paki] {n.} (Derogatory, offensive) A Pakistani or sometimes used to loosely describe anyone or anything from the Indian […]

Kingsley Amis

(1922-1995) English author It is no wonder that people are so horrible when they start life as children.

hell and high water

[hell and high water] {n. phr.} Troubles or difficulties of any kind. * /After John's father died he went through hell and […]

put someone on

[put someone on] {v.} To play a joke on someone by saying or doing things that are only pretense; kid. * /When the voice on […]