alpha
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Related to alpha: Alpha male
alpha and omega
The beginning and the end; the entirety of something. (Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.) In order to do well on the exam, you need to know the alpha and omega of the textbook. Do practicing lawyers really know the alpha and omega of law? Or are they just very well-versed in their particular subset of law? I'm sorry, are we supposed to write an essay on the alpha and omega of heroines in English literature in just two hours?
Alpha Charlie
A euphemistic way to refer to an "ass-chewing," a harsh or angry scolding. (When spelling something out with the NATO phonetic alphabet, the words "alpha" and "Charlie" are commonly used for the letters A and C.) The boss is totally going to give us an Alpha Charlie if he hears that we lost that big client. You dented my brand-new car while you were out joyriding with your friends? Oh, you're getting an Alpha Charlie when you get home, mister! I hear the professor gave you two an Alpha Charlie for talking during class.
alpha male
1. The dominant male in the social hierarchy of an animal group. Emerging research on animal groups suggests that alpha males may have more complex roles than previously thought. It won't take long for you to spot which member of colony is the alpha male. Can you have more than one alpha male in a pack?
2. By extension, a man who asserts dominance socially and professionally, typically by assuming leadership roles and easily acquiring sexual partners. He walks into the room with such confidence that you immediately know he's an alpha male. Mike's the alpha male around here. If you can become his friend, then you're in. I really like that David is so chill. He's no alpha male, and I'm into it.
Alpha mom
slang A mother who tends to overcommit herself and act with a perfectionistic intensity. Often perceived as trying or being able to "do it all." I don't know how those Alpha moms do it. At some point, you just have to surrender to the chaos that is parenthood, or else you'll go mad. If you're an Alpha mom like me, you're probably secretly exhausted from taking part in every activity that could possibly involve our children. Honey, I can see that you're trying to be the perfect mom, which, quite frankly, doesn't exist. Your kids don't need an Alpha mom, they just need a loving, present mom—which you are!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
alpha and omega
both the beginning and the end; the essentials, from the beginning to the end; everything, from the beginning to the end. He was forced to learn the alpha and omega of corporate law in order to even talk to the lawyers. He loved her deeply. She was his alpha and omega.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
alpha and omega
The beginning and the end, the first and the last, as in She had to master the alpha and omega of the new computer program before she could even begin . This idiom and its meaning, based on the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, appears in the New Testament (Revelation 1:8): "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord," where it is repeated three more times.
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.
alpha and omega
1 the beginning and the end. 2 the essence or most important features.Alpha and omega are respectively the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Christians use the phrase as a title for Jesus Christ, taking it from Revelation 1:8: ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord’.
2 1994 BBC Holidays At Cambridge…you'll find the alpha and omega of American academic life: historic Harvard and space-age MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
Alpha Charlie
n. a bawling out; a severe scolding. (Based on AC = ass-chewing. NATO Phonetic Alphabet.) The cop stopped me and gave me a real Alpha Charlie for speeding.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
alpha and omega, the
The sum of something, the beginning and the end, symbolized by the first (alpha) and last (omega) letters of the Greek alphabet. The Book of Revelation (1:8) states: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord.” The modern equivalent is a to z. See also from soup to nuts.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer