a (real) winner
1. Acceptable or ideal, as of a plan or idea. Sometimes used sarcastically to imply the opposite. The board of directors agrees with me that your proposal sounds like a real winner, so we are prepared to move forward with it right away. A: "Did you hear about Sarah's boneheaded plan?" B: "Yeah, it's a real winner, huh? What on earth is she thinking?" OK, the editor just got back to me. She said your layout is a winner and we should go ahead and use it for the June issue.
2. Of a person, very well suited (to someone) in a romantic capacity. Sometimes used sarcastically to imply the opposite. A: "She just got a job with a big financial firm, she writes poetry in her spare time, and she loves anime." B: "Wow, dude, she sounds like a winner! You must be elated!" A: "Jenny's new boyfriend is an ex-con and apparently has a pretty bad drinking problem." B: "Huh. Sounds like a real winner, then." A: "No, I don't trust you to set me up on blind dates anymore." B: "But this guy is a winner, I swear!"
be onto a winner
To be progressing in a way that is likely to succeed. I think we're onto a winner with this new environmental initiative—the whole company has really embraced it. After all of those failed experiments, our team is finally onto a winner now. Though we sustained heavy losses earlier in the year, we're onto a winner now, thank goodness.
breadwinner
Someone whose earnings solely or primarily support themselves or those living in their household, typically their family. Once my wife's career started taking off, it made more sense for her to be the breadwinner while I stayed home with the kids. My husband's willingness to be the breadwinner for a few years allowed me to go back to graduate school. Though my grandfather was the breadwinner, my grandmother was truly the one in charge in their house.
come out a winner
To be the victor in a contest, competition, comparison, etc. Hardly anyone had heard of the golfer before, so it was a major shock when he came out a winner in the national tournament. The two competing laptops are the hottest models on the market right now, but who will come out a winner in our head-to-head comparison? The final score was 17–1? Yeah, I'd say we came out a winner there!
Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!
cliché A humorous exclamation said when someone answers or guesses something correctly or is considered the best in some competition. Often used sarcastically. A: "OK, first person to tell me what X equals in this equation gets five points of extra credit." B: "Oh, I know, it's 41!" A: "Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!" A: "We're trying to think of the worst baby names." B: "My cousin George named his baby 'Seven.'" A: "Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! Gosh, what on earth were they thinking?" A: "OK, class, next question—who discovered penicillin?" B: "Alexander Fleming!" A: "Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!"
pick a winner
To choose someone or something that is very likely to prove beneficial, suitable, or successful. The reason why third party candidates don't usually get a lot of traction is because people want to pick a winner—not just make some kind of statement. Samantha is so warm and intelligent, and it's clear that she cares about you a lot. You really picked a winner, Joe. The design is clean and practical, but still elegant and appealing—I think we picked a winner!
Quitters never win, and winners never quit.
Successful people persist in their efforts; they are not easy dissuaded. A: "I should just give up now—I'll never be good enough to make the varsity team." B: "Well, sure, you'll never get anywhere with that attitude! Quitters never win. winners never quit, remember?"
sound like a (real) winner
1. Of a plan or idea, to seem acceptable or ideal. Sometimes used sarcastically to imply the opposite. The board of directors agrees with me that your proposal sounds like a real winner, so we are prepared to move forward with it right away. A: "Did you hear about Sarah's boneheaded plan?" B: "Yeah, it sounds like a real winner, huh? What on earth is she thinking?"
2. Of a person, to seem very well suited (to someone) in a romantic capacity. Sometimes used sarcastically to imply the opposite. A: "She just got a job with a big financial firm, she writes poetry in her spare time, and she loves anime." B: "Wow, dude, she sounds like a winner! You must be elated!" A: "Jenny's new boyfriend is an ex-con and apparently has a pretty bad drinking problem." B: "Huh. Sounds like a real winner, then."
winner take all
A competition in which the victor is granted all possible benefits, accolades, prizes, etc. Hyphenated if used before a noun as a modifier. How about one last round of darts, winner take all? My sister and I used to bet our Halloween candy on our report card grades, winner take all. The tournament concludes with a winner-take-all round between the four finalists.
winner takes all
A competition in which the victor is granted all possible prizes. I know we've been playing darts all night, but this will be the last round, winner takes all! My sister and I used to bet our Halloween candy on our report card grades, winner takes all.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
slang An exclamation of joy, excitement, and pride upon achieving victory, especially in the context of video games or gambling. Boom! And with that final headshot, I am officially the winner of the match. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! C'mon, c'mon, I need to roll an eight… Yes! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.