cure
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Related to cures: Natural Cures
past cure
Incurable or hopeless, especially of an illness that has a grim prognosis. We need to go see your grandmother tonight—the doctors believe that her condition is past cure.
cure (someone or something) of (something)
1. To heal someone of something. That antibiotic cured Sam of his illness in just a few days. I really hope this new therapist can cure me of my compulsive behaviors.
2. To fix or repair a malfunctioning machine. Unfortunately, a few good smacks on the lid did not cure the washer of that dreadful noise.
prevention is better than cure
Work to stop something from happening is easier and better than having to try to resolve it later. Unless you want to be violently ill for days, get the flu shot now—prevention is better than cure, you know.
kill or cure
Said of something that can only have one of two outcomes: very negative ("kill") or very positive ("cure"). We're all anxiously awaiting the dean's decision on grant money, as it will kill or cure our research.
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Working to stop something from happening is easier and better than having to try to resolve it later. Unless you want to be violently ill for days, get the flu shot now—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, you know. Councilor, I am of the firm belief that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and investing in social and educational programs has been proven more effective at reducing crime than simply strengthening police force to combat it!
sure cure
Something that is guaranteed to be an effective remedy for some ailment. Typically implies a treatment that is either figurative, alternative, or homemade. Here, drink this—it's a sure cure for a hangover. Arts and crafts projects are a sure cure for bored kids.
cure someone of something
to rid someone of a disease, ailment, bad habit, or obsession. I hope that the doctor prescribes something to cure him of that chronic cough. Will you please try to cure yourself of your constant interrupting?
cure something of something
to eliminate the cause of a malfunction in a machine or a device. (See also cure someone of something.) I think I have cured the stapler of jamming all the time. I can't seem to cure the committee of procrastination.
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Prov. If you put in a little effort to prevent a problem, you will not have to put in a lot of effort to solve the problem. Brush your teeth every day; that way you won't have to go to the dentist to have cavities filled. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you get in the habit of being careful with your new stereo, chances are you won't break it and have to have it fixed later. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Prevention is better than cure.
Prov. It is better to try to keep a bad thing from happening than it is to fix the bad thing once it has happened. (See also An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.) If we spend more money on education, so that children learn to be responsible citizens, we won't have to spend so much money on prisons. Prevention is better than cure.
take the cure
to enter into any treatment program or treatment center. (Especially those dealing with drugs and alcohol.) I wanted to take the cure, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It's hard to get those addicted to realize that they are the ones who have to decide to take the cure.
What can't be cured must be endured.
Prov. If you cannot do anything about a problem, you will have to live with it. Alan: No matter what I do, I can't make the dog stop barking in the middle of the night. Jane: What can't be cured must be endured, then, I guess.
kill or cure
Either remedy a disease or kill the patient, as in The copy chief did not like her headline for the drug, "Kill or Cure." This expression dates from the mid-1700s, when it was already being used half-jokingly.
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, an
It is easier to forestall a disaster than to deal with it. For example, The new law makes all children under twelve wear bicycle helmets-an ounce of prevention. This ancient proverb is first recorded in Latin in Henry de Bracton's De Legibus (c. 1240) and has been repeated ever since, often in shortened form.
sure cure
A remedy that won't fail, as in Hard work is a sure cure for brooding. Originating in the late 1800s as an advertising slogan ( Dr. Keck's Sure Cure for Catarrh; first recorded in 1881), this rhyming phrase was soon extended to other matters.
kill or cure
(of a remedy for a problem) likely to either work well or fail catastrophically, with no possibility of partial success. British 1998 Richard Gordon Ailments through the Ages Mackenzie complained that the Germans' policy was ‘kill or cure’: if they tried an elaborate laryngectomy, it would turn them from surgeons into assassins.
ˌkill or ˈcure
(British English) extreme action which will either be a complete success or a complete failure: This new chemical will either clean the painting perfectly or it will damage it badly. It’s kill or cure.preˌvention is better than ˈcure
(British English) (American English an ounce of preˌvention is better than a pound of ˈcure) (saying) it is better to stop something bad from happening rather than try to deal with the problems after it has happened: Remember that prevention is better than cure, so brush your teeth at least twice a day and visit your dentist for regular check-ups.the Dutch act
and the Dutch cure n. suicide. Well, Ken took the Dutch cure last week. So sad. It was the Dutch act. He ate his gun.
the Dutch cure
verbSee the Dutch act
take the cure
tv. to enter into any treatment program or treatment center. (Especially those dealing with drugs and alcohol.) I wanted to take the cure, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.