Make a scrap of difference
Make a bit of difference
Example
Too late, won’t make a scrap of difference. Bit like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.
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Plough money into
Plough money into
Invest a large sum of money into
Example
I wonder how much money the government is ploughing into it.
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Tosh
Tosh
Rubbish, nonsense
Example
Complete tosh.
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Find out the hard way
Find out the hard way
Learn from unpleasant experiences
Examples
Sooner or later, it runs out of your money. They have found out the hard way.
It stings badly; I find out the hard way.
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Talk sense
Talk sense
To say things that are reasonable or sensible;
Give advice that is practical and sensible
Examples
He always talks sense when it comes to financial matters.
The more people talk sense, the better.
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As common as muck; common as muck
As common as muck; common as muck
Of low social status; lower-class; very common
Examples
The couple described themselves as “common as muck”.
They are as common as muck these days.
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The cream of the crop
The cream of the crop
The best of a group of similar things or people; the best among others
Example
Now this is what you call the cream of the crop
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Give something out like sweets
Give something out like sweets
Give it to a lot of people so that it isn’t worth anything
Example
They are given out like sweets these days, mean nothing now.
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Cry in one’s pillow; cry into one’s pillow
Cry in one’s pillow; cry into one’s pillow
To weep in private or to cry secretly
Example
He must be crying in his pillow after he listened to the news.
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An asset
An asset
A person who is very valuable or useful
Example
One neighbour claims she is not an “asset” to the wealthy community.
English Journalistic Gems 