pot (redirected from pots on)

don't have a pot to piss in (or a window to throw it out of)

Fig. doesn't have anything of value; very poor. (Use with caution.) When Ed was a young man, he didn't have a pot to piss in. Jane's folks don't have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.

See also: have, piss

go to pot and go to the dogs

Fig. to go to ruin; to deteriorate. My whole life seems to be going to pot. My lawn is going to pot. I had better weed it.

If ifs and ands were pots and pans (there'd be no work for tinkers' hands).

Prov. Wishing for things is useless. (Often said in reply to someone who says something beginning with "If only....") Daughter: If only we didn't have to move out of town, I'd be the happiest girl in the world. Grandmother: If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands.

See also: and, if, pan

pot something up

to put plants into pots. If you would like one of these tomato plants, I'll pot one up for you. Jan potted up a plant for me.

See also: up

pot is calling the kettle black and that's the pot calling the kettle black

Prov. You should not criticize someone for a fault that you have too. (Not polite to say about the person you are addressing.) Bill told Barbara she was sloppy, but Bill never cleans up after himself, either. That's the pot calling the kettle black. My sister says I dress funny, but if you've seen some of the clothes she wears, you know it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

See also: black, calling, kettle

pot of gold 

1. Lit. a container filled with gold, as in myth guarded by a leprechaun. I was hoping to find a pot of gold in the cellar, but there were only cobwebs.

2. Fig. an imaginary reward. Whoever gets to the porch first wins a pot of gold.

See also: gold

sweeten the pot

Fig. to increase the amount of money bet in a card game with hopes of encouraging other players to bet more enthusiastically. John sweetened the pot hoping others would follow.

See also: sweeten

watched pot never boils

Prov. Something you are waiting for will not happen while you are concentrating on it. Don't just sit there staring at the phone while you wait for Lucy to call. A watched pot never boils. I'd better do something besides look out the window waiting for Emily to drive up. A watched pot never boils.

See also: boil, never, watch

You cannot get a quart into a pint pot.

Prov. You cannot fit too much of something into a space that is too small. That dog is simply too big to get into this kennel. You can't get a quart into a pint pot. Our refrigerator isn't big enough to fit that watermelon in. You can't get a quart into a pint pot.

See also: cannot, get, pint, quart

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not have a pot to piss in  (very informal!)

to be very poor Any help we can offer them will be appreciated. They don't have a pot to piss in.

See also: have, piss

a melting pot

a place where people of many different races and from many different countries live together Rules of mutual tolerance must be agreed in an area which is a melting pot of such diverse cultures.

See also: melt

A watched pot never boils.

something that you say which means if you wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a very long time There's no point sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring. A watched pot never boils.

See also: boil, never, watch

can talk the legs off an iron pot

(Australian) if someone can talk the legs off an iron pot, they talk a lot I dread getting into a conversation with Gillian - she can talk the legs off an iron pot.

See also: can, iron, leg, talk

get/put a quart into a pint pot  (British)

to try to put too much of something into a small space

Usage notes: A quart is a unit for measuring liquids. It is equal to two pints.

I'm trying to get this huge pile of clothes crammed into these two drawers. Talk about trying to get a quart into a pint pot!

See also: get, pint, quart

go to pot

to be damaged or spoilt because of a lack of care or effort My diet has gone to pot since the holidays.

Piss or get off the can/pot!  (American taboo!)

something that you say to someone when you want them to make a decision and take action without any more delay Make your mind up. It's time to piss or get off the pot!

See also: get, piss

pots of money

a lot of money They've got pots of money but they never spend any of it.

See also: money

Shit or get off the can/pot!  (mainly American taboo)

something that you say when you want someone to make a decision and take action without any more delay It's time for management to shit or get off the pot. If they aren't going to meet the striker's demands they should say so.

See also: get, shit

take a pot shot

to criticize someone suddenly (often + at ) As the director was finishing his speech he took a pot shot at their rival's lack of principles.

See also: shot, take

take pot luck

to accept or choose from whatever is available, without knowing whether it will be good or not I took pot luck at the airport and just got on the first available flight.

See also: luck, take

the pot calling the kettle black

something that you say which means someone should not criticize another person for a fault that they have themselves Elliot accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

See Piss or get off the can!, throw into the pot, A watched pot never boils

See also: black, calling, kettle

throw something into the pot

if you throw an idea or a subject into the pot, you suggest it for discussion Right, I think we've had enough talk of education. Does anyone have anything else they want to throw into the pot?

See also: throw

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go to pot

to become worse or be spoiled because of a lack of care or effort My diet has gone to pot since the holidays.

Related vocabulary: go to hell in a handbasket

into the pot

among various things being considered or discussed Does anyone have ideas or suggestions they want to throw into the pot?

the pot calling the kettle black

a situation in which one person criticizes another for a fault they have themselves Ernie accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

See also: black, calling, kettle