Brass neck
A UK informal disapproving term for a type of behaviour where someone is extremely confident but does not understand that their behaviour is unacceptable to others…
Examples
You almost want to applaud the brass neck.
…showing his brass neck again…
Whoosy , whoosis
A colloquial term used to refer to an item, person, or thing whose name one cannot remember, does not know, or is not important to specify
Examples
don’t print Senator Whoosis’ blowoff yesterday
— F. L. Mott
What a weak whoosy archbishop!
It will get a lot worse than whoosy with him.
Rogue cells
Such cells which retain a chromosomal aberration, for several cell cycles (mitotic divisions) and even may pass them to next generations (by meiosis) are termed as “rogue” cells.
Understanding cancer means understanding how ordinary cells, governed by natural laws and built-in safeguards, can slowly transform into rogue agents. These cells evolve inside us, adapt to the body’s defenses, and sometimes—if unchecked—reshape the architecture of life itself.
Examples
It burns the rogue cells but also burns healthy ones.
The Sun
They are a type of white blood cell, which are all involved in protecting the body from invaders and from rogue cells.
Christianity Today
And he is the rogue cell spreading it
One bad apple
A term we often use to talk about a troublesome or problematic person in a group whose actions or behavior could negatively affect the entire group. The idea stems from the literal fact that a rotten apple can cause other apples in the same batch to spoil
Examples
“We’ve built a strong team, but one bad apple with a negative attitude can really bring down everyone’s motivation and morale.”
Wondered how long it would take to hear “one bad apple!”
Marmite
The term marmite character is slang that refers to a person who is either strongly liked or strongly disliked, with no middle ground in between
Example
I know he is marmite but you can certainly kiss goodbye to the country you know without him…
Teething troubles
Short-term problems that occur in the early stages of a new project
Examples
“the inevitable teething troubles of a new system”
I have watched all the teething troubles from the beginnings…
Hat-trick
Three successes of the same kind, especially consecutive ones within a limited period
Example
…is celebrating a ratings hat-trick after beating the other two big news channels for the third month in a row.
Backfire
(Of a plan or action) rebound adversely on the originator; have the opposite effect to what was intended
Examples
“overzealous publicity backfired on her”
Well said. It will backfire on them, like everything else does!
Rub one’s hand with glee
To be very enthusiastic or happy about something, typically another’s misfortune
Example
He must be rubbing his hands with glee, this silly bloke keeps giving…
Buffoonery
Foolish or playful behavior or practice
Example
Completely buffoonery
English Journalistic Gems 