sledgehammer expression - Wordsmith.org

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#19697 - 02/19/01 11:15 PM sledgehammer expression
Anonymous Unregistered	this is driving me nuts, and i can't find the answer on google... for some reason i've forgotten the expression that goes something like 'using a sledgehammer when a [something] would do'. i know its application; i just can't think of the bloody words. and on that note, does anyone know of a good searchable database for common expressions such as that one? TIA ~TNISB
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#19698 - 02/20/01 12:08 AM Re: sledgehammer expression
Bingley Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/09/00 Posts: 3065 Loc: Jakarta	Are you thinking of: using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Bingley _________________________ Bingley
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#19699 - 02/20/01 03:15 AM Re: sledgehammer expression
NicholasW enthusiast Registered: 12/18/00 Posts: 393 Loc: London	You're right, I think, there is such an expression, and it's definitely not something like "... when a nutcracker would do". But I can't think of it either, drat. [mutters] mackerel and sprat... mountain and molehill... mote and beam... I'll keep thinking about that one now. I'll come back if I come up with it.
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#19700 - 02/20/01 10:12 AM Re: sledgehammer expression
wwh Carpal Tunnel Registered: 01/18/01 Posts: 13858	Using a sledgehammer when a tack hammer would do.
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#19701 - 02/20/01 10:14 AM Re: sledgehammer expression
jmh Pooh-Bah Registered: 03/22/00 Posts: 1981	>Using a sledgehammer when a tack hammer would do. There is also an expression that is something like "he never used one word when a whole sentence(?) would do" (used ironically).
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#19702 - 02/21/01 03:34 PM Re: sledgehammer expression
Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Registered: 09/06/00 Posts: 2788 Loc: Seattle, Washington, USA	I've also heard it said that one "ought not swat a fly with sledgehammer."
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