pot (redirected from potting on)

can talk the legs off an iron pot

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. 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!

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.

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: 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

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: can, piss

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 also: black, calling, kettle

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: can, shit

take a pot shot

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

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

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

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

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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.

go to the dogs

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