(as) sweet as sugar
Exceptionally sweet, friendly, or kindly. My grandmother, God rest her soul, was as sweet as sugar, but boy could she tell some raunchy jokes! He may seem sweet as sugar right now, but he'll turn on you in an instant if you get in his way. Katie is just sweet as sugar and goes out of her way to befriend the new kids in school.
a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
Something good makes something bad more tolerable. I'm going to put on some fun background music while I work on this boring project. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down! A: "If you need someone to help you move these boxes, keep in mind that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." B: "Meaning?" A: "You can always find help for the right price." OK, so she only let them give her the shot because I bribed her with a new toy, so what? A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!
a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down
Something good makes something bad more tolerable. I'm going to put on some fun background music while I work on this boring project. A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down! A: "You know, a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down." B: "Meaning?" A: "For the right price, I could find time to help you move these boxes." OK, so she only let them give her the shot because I bribed her with a new toy, so what? A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!
give me some sugar
Give me a kiss. "Me" can be replaced with one's title in relation to the person (e.g. mother, grandmother). Come here, give your mama some sugar! Oh, it's been too long, darling—give me some sugar! A: "Why do you have coral lipstick on your face?" B: "Probably because Aunt Judy grabbed me and said, 'Give me some sugar!' the moment she got here."
Pretty please with sugar on top?
An emphatic or exaggerated way of asking "please." Sometimes used sarcastically or ironically. Please can I have some ice cream, Mommy? Pretty please with sugar on top? Timmy, I've asked you a dozen times to clean that room. So for the last time, pretty please with sugar on top—clean your room! What a moronic piece of legislation! The governor seems to think that people won't commit crimes if the government just says pretty please with sugar on top.
sugar and spice (and everything nice)
Of a female, very pleasant and amiable. Perhaps derived from the 19th-century nursey rhyme, "What Are Little Boys Made of?", which says that girls are made of "sugar and spice and everything nice." My son is a holy terror, but my daughter is sugar and spice and everything nice, thank goodness. Maria is usually all sugar and spice, but if you make her mad she'll bite your head off!
sugar daddy
A man who gives his much younger romantic or sexual partner a lot of money and gifts. Often implies that the financial aspect is in lieu of genuine romantic interest from one or both people in the relationship. I know I shouldn't judge just from appearances, but it certainly seems like Tammy's new boyfriend is a bit of a sugar daddy. Todd is not my sugar daddy! Sure, he treats me to dinner and takes me on vacations now and then, but I pay my own way in life!
sugar mama
A woman who gives her much younger romantic or sexual partner a lot of money and gifts. Often implies that the financial aspect is in lieu of genuine romantic interest from one or both people in the relationship. I know I shouldn't judge just from appearances, but it certainly seems like Tommy's new girlfriend is a bit of a sugar mama. Why else would he be with a woman nearly twice her age? Sarah is not my sugar mama! Sure, she treats me to dinner and takes me on vacations now and then, but I pay my own way in life!
sugar off
To create maple sugar or especially syrup by boiling the sap extracted from maple trees. Primarily heard in US, Canada. Sugaring off has actually become the focal point of annual festivals all across this part of the country. The kids and grandkids still come over every season and help me tap the trees and sugar off.
sugar pill
A pill that does not contain medicine (and may not even contain sugar, as the term "sugar pill" is used broadly); a placebo. Some patients in the clinical trial will receive the medication, while others will receive sugar pills.
sugar the pill
To make something bad, unpleasant, or dissatisfactory easier to cope with, endure, or accept. The bosses are giving everyone an extra bonus this year, but I suspect it's a way of sugaring the pill with the massive layoffs that are scheduled. I have to tell my mom about wrecking her car, but I need to find a way to sugar the pill first.
sugarcoat (something)
To say, explain, or present something in a manner that is easier to accept, understand, cope with, or endure. Don't sugarcoat it for me, Doc—is my wife going to make it? My grandmother was never one to sugarcoat her criticisms. If she thought you had messed up, she would tell you in no uncertain terms.
sugarcoat a/the bitter pill
To make something bad, unpleasant, or dissatisfactory easier to cope with, endure, or accept. The bosses are giving everyone an extra 10% bonus this Christmas, but I suspect it's a way of sugar-coating the bitter pill that there will be massive pay cuts in January. I have to tell my mom about wrecking her car, but I need you to help me figure out what to say—you're great at sugar-coating a bitter pill.
sugarcoat the pill
To make something bad, unpleasant, or dissatisfactory easier to cope with, endure, or accept. The bosses are giving everyone an extra 10% bonus this Christmas, but I suspect it's a way of sugar-coating the pill that there will be massive pay cuts in January. I have to tell my mom about wrecking her car, but I need to find a way to sugar-coat the pill first.
sugar-stick
vulgar slang The penis. As if a hot girl like that would want anything to do with your sugar-stick. Keep dreaming, pal.
Uncle Sam
A personification of the United States or its government, typically portrayed as a man with a white beard. It seems like Uncle Sam is always taking more and more taxes out of our paychecks.
Uncle Sugar
The United States of America or its government. A play on the initials U.S., used especially in (often sarcastic or sardonic) reference to foreign financial aid provided by the United States Of course, the country would have suffered a complete economic collapse had old Uncle Sugar not been there to prop it up. There is a growing contingent of people who have begun resisting the government's plans, complaining that they have been kowtowing to American influence and ideology in order to stay in Uncle Sugar's pockets.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.