often
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(as) often as not
In most instances; usually; at least, if not more than, half the time. As often as not, Jamie's and David's debates end up turning into petty arguments. I find these introductory college courses to be, often as not, a rather boring waste of one's time.
(Do) (you) come here often?
cliché Used to initiate a conversation with someone with whom one wishes to have a sexual or romantic encounter. A: "Hey, pretty lady. Do you come here often?" B: "Get lost, creep." A: "I couldn't help but notice you from across the bar. You come here often?" B: "No, this is my first time." If you want to get my number, you're going to have to do a whole lot better than just asking, "Come here often?"
(have done) more (something) than (one) has had hot dinners
Has more experience at something than the person one is referring to. Oh please, I've completed more of these reports than he's had hot dinners, so no, I'm not going to listen to any of his suggestions.
as often as not
Frequently; more than half the time. The phrase is not always preceded by the adverb "as." As often as not, I end up disliking coming back to my hometown for a visit. I'll have a drink with dinner often as not.
bad workers always blame their tools
proverb If someone performs a job or task poorly or unsuccessfully, they will usually lay the blame on the quality of their equipment, or other such external factors, rather than take responsibility for their own failure. The football player blamed the overinflated ball for costing his team the game, but as they say, bad workers always blame their tools.
every so often
Sometimes; occasionally. Josh does stop by the store every so often, but I haven't seen him lately. I don't eat a lot of sweets, but every so often I just need a piece of chocolate cake.
half the truth is often a whole lie
proverb Not being completely honest can be as deceitful as lying; intentionally omitting information is equivalent to lying. I know you want to protect his feelings, but you really need to be honest with him. Half the truth is often a whole lie, you know.
little and often fills the purse
Earning or save small amounts of money as frequently as possible will provide the income or savings that one needs. I never had a proper career, instead making my living by doing various jobs for people all around the city. I might not have had a fat paycheck at the end of each month, but little and often fills the purse. Try to get into the habit of dropping 10, 20, 30 dollars into a savings account whenever you can spare it—little and often fills the purse.
more often than not
Much of the time. Tom is late more often than not—he just never gets caught.
once too often
One time too many; the latest in a series of actions, the one that finally results in notice, reprisal, punishment, or some other consequence. It seems he tried to hide his earnings from the IRS once too often, and is now facing a tax bill that could possibly bankrupt him. He'd insulted her once too often, so she packed up her things and left the house.
the pitcher will go to the well once too often
proverb A period of good luck will eventually end. I know that being on a winning streak is very exciting, but just remember that the pitcher will go to the well once too often. I'm sure he will continue to break the law until he gets caught. The pitcher will go to the well once too often.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Half the truth is often a whole lie.
Prov. If you do not tell the whole truth, you can mislead people just as if you tell them an outright lie. Jill: You lied to me. Jane: I did not. Everything I said was true. Jill: But you didn't tell me the whole story. And half the truth is often a whole lie.
Little and often fills the purse.
Prov. If you get a little bit of money frequently, you will always have enough. Jill: I don't think I'll ever be able to save very much; I can only afford to save such a little bit of money from every paycheck. Jane: Ah, but little and often fills the purse.
more often than not
Fig. usually. These flowers will live through the winter more often than not. This kind of dog will grow up to be a good watchdog more often than not.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
every now and then
Also, every now and again; every once in a while; every so often. Occasionally, from time to time; also, periodically. For example, Every now and then I long for a piece of chocolate, or We take long walks every now and again, or Every once in a while he'll call, or Every so often she washes the car. The first term dates from the first half of the 1700s, the last from the mid-1900s. Also see from time to time; once in a while.
more often than not
Also, often as not. Fairly frequently, more than or at least half the time, as in More often than not we'll have dinner in the den, or Dean and Chris agree on travel plans, often as not. [First half of 1900s]
often as not
see under more often than not.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
more .../more often than somebody has had hot ˈdinners
(informal, often humorous) used for emphasizing how much/many or how often somebody has done something: He’s won more medals than you’ve had hot dinners. ♢ She’s been to France more often than you’ve had hot dinners.ˌevery so ˈoften
occasionally: I usually drink tea, but every so often I have coffee after dinner.(as) ˌoften as ˈnot
,more ˌoften than ˈnot
frequently; usually: As often as not I watch TV after dinner.ˌonce too ˈoften
used to say that somebody has done something wrong or stupid again, and this time they will suffer because of it: You’ve tried that trick once too often.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
every so often
At intervals; occasionally.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
go to the well too often
Keep calling on the same resource after it has been exhausted. This expression is a modern version of an ancient proverb, appearing in various ways and numerous languages from the fourteenth century on. Thomas Fuller (Gnomologia, 1732) put it, “The pitcher that often goes to the well comes home broken at last.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer