| A |
The symbol for ampere, a unit of electrical current in the International System of Units. |
| a- |
forming verbs with the sense away, from, out, e.g. arise, await |
| A & E |
Accident and Emergency |
| A & R |
Artists and Repertoire. |
| A 1 |
Excellent, first class |
| a bad workman always blames his tools |
It is not the tools we use which make us good, but rather how we employ them |
| a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush |
It is preferable to have a small but certain advantage than a mere potential of a greater one. |
| a bit hot |
rather unreasonable |
| a bit of crumpet |
Slang for a very sexually desirable woman. |
| a broken clock is right twice a day |
Even a normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information; information should not be discounted merely because the source is often wrong. |
| a capella |
without instrumental accompaniment |
| a cappella |
Performed by a choir with no instrumental accompaniment; literally "in the style of the (Sistine) Chapel (in Rome)"; such as a musical Mass done a capella. |
| a chain is only as strong as its weakest link |
An organization (especially a process or a buisiness) is only as strong or powerful as its weakest person. |
| a chicken in every pot |
suggestive of general welfare or prosperity |
| a cold day in Hell |
, An event that will never happen. |
| A cup |
A standard, relatively small, bra cup size, consisting of a measurement around the bust that is one inch longer than a measurement around the band, plus five inches. |
| a cut above |
superior to; of a higher quality than |
| a cut below |
inferior to; of a lower quality than |
| a day late and a dollar short |
day late, dollar short |
| a different ballpark |
Something totally unrelated or of a vastly different scale or scope. |
| a dime a dozen |
(US) So common as to be practically worthless. |
| a drop in the bucket |
An effort or action having very little overall influence, especially as compared to a huge problem. |
| a few |
A small number of |
| a fool and his money are soon parted |
It is easy to get money from foolish people, especially rich ones. |
| a fortiori |
With stronger or greater reason; |
| a friend in need is a friend indeed |
Someone who helps you when you are in need, is a real friend. |
| a frog in one's throat |
or the need to cough. |
| a good voice to beg bacon |
said in ridicule of a bad voice. |
| a horse of a different color |
colloquial (USA), something that is unrelated or irrelevant |
| a hundred and ten percent |
Slang in American sports meaning putting forth the extra effort needed, giving it all you've got and then some. |
| a into g |
''See: ass into gear |
| a la |
In the style or manner of. |
| a la mode |
Served with ice cream. |
| A level |
A non-compulsory examination taken in the final two years in British high schools. |
| a lie has no legs |
You can't get away with a lie, the truth will always come out. |
| a little |
A bit, to a small degree. |
| a little bird told me |
information which was gathered from a source not to be overtly exposed |
| a lot |
alot |
| A major |
The major key with A as its tonic. |
| a matter of fact |
a fact |
| a miss is as good as a mile |
It doesn't matter how close or far to succeeding you were, it was still a failure, and that is all that counts |
| a notch above |
superior to; of a higher quality than |
| a per se |
(Obsolete) One preëminent, a nonesuch |
| a picture paints a thousand words |
A visualisation is a better description than a verbal description. |
| a piece of cake |
Easy, also called duck soup. |
| a piece of crumpet |
Slang for a very sexually desirable woman. |
| a posteriori |
Involving deduction of theories from facts. |
| a priori |
Known ahead of time. |
| a question of |
the important question is; the necessary question is |
| a rising tide lifts all boats |
A statement made to imply that benefits provided to a few may lead to conditions that are beneficial to all. |
