eat one's Wheaties
To prepare or fortify oneself for an activity requiring exertion.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You should eat your Wheaties before that long hike.”
“The team needs to eat their Wheaties because the next game will be very difficult.”
“Before facing the grueling final examination, the student felt he needed to eat his Wheaties to summon the necessary mental fortitude.”
An allusion to the breakfast cereal Wheaties, long advertised as the "Breakfast of Champions", and its long-standing association with sports celebrities.
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
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ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
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afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
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air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
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air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
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albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026