beat the stuffing out of (someone)
To strike or assault someone violently and severely. Likened to the cotton stuffing of a stuffed animal being knocked out of it by severe blows. Hey, watch it, pal, or I'll beat the stuffing out of you! Two guys mugged me and then beat the stuffing out of me last night. If you ever scare me like that again, I'll beat the stuffing out of you, I swear!
die a natural death
To fail and become defunct. Primarily heard in US, Australia. I expect that political movement to die a natural death before it gains any real traction. A product that stupid is definitely gonna die a natural death on the open market. I expect that candidate's campaign to die a natural death now that news of his involvement in the scandal has gotten out.
dying is as natural as living
proverb Death is just a normal and unavoidable part of the human life cycle. Lots of people are terrified to die but, if you ask me, dying is as natural as living. It's OK, sweetie. I know you're sad, but don't worry about me—dying is as natural as living. I never saw much reason to fear death, considering dying is as natural as living.
natural-born
Possessing an ability innately. The term is always used as a modifier before a noun. My daughter is a natural-born chef. She's only 10 and already she knows how to pair flavors together.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*big as life (and twice as ugly)
and *large as life (and twice as ugly); bigger than life (and twice as ugly)Cliché a colorful way of saying that a person or a thing appeared, often surprisingly or dramatically, in a particular place. (*Also: as ~.) The little child just stood there as big as life and laughed very hard. I opened the door, and there was Tom as large as life. I came home and found this cat in my chair, as big as life and twice as ugly.
die a natural death
1. Lit. [for someone] to die by disease or old age rather than by violence or foul play. I hope to live to 100 and die a natural death. The police say she didn't die a natural death, and they are investigating.
2. Fig. [for something] to fade away or die down. I expect that all this excitement about the scandal will die a natural death. Most fads die a natural death.
*second nature to someone
easy and natural for someone. (*Typically: be ~; become ~.) Swimming is second nature to Jane. Flying a helicopter is no problem for Bob. It's become second nature to him.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
big as life
Also, large as life. In person, as in And there was Mary, big as life, standing right in front of me. This phrase transfers the same size as in real life (life-size) to an actual appearance. Sometimes this term is embellished with and quite as natural, presumably alluding to a likeness of a person or thing that closely resembles the real thing. A similar addition is and twice as natural, which doesn't make sense. [Late 1800s]
2. Also, larger than life; big as all outdoors. On a grand scale, as in The soap opera could well be called a larger-than-life drama, or That friend of his was as big as all outdoors. This phrase can be used either literally, for larger than life-size (second example) or figuratively. The phrase all outdoors has been used to compare something or someone to an immensity since the early 1800s.
natural
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
natural
n. someone with obvious natural talent. Can she ever dance! What a natural!
natural-born
mod. born with talent or skill. She is really a natural-born dancer.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.