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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread sledgehammer expression #19697 02/20/2001 4:15 AM Anonymous Unregistered 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 Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: sledgehammer expression #19698 02/20/2001 5:08 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Are you thinking of: using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: sledgehammer expression #19699 02/20/2001 8:15 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 393 London NicholasW enthusiast NicholasW enthusiast Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 393 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. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: sledgehammer expression #19700 02/20/2001 3:12 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Using a sledgehammer when a tack hammer would do. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: sledgehammer expression #19701 02/20/2001 3:14 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 >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). Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: sledgehammer expression #19702 02/21/2001 8:34 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA I've also heard it said that one "ought not swat a fly with sledgehammer." Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,915 Posts230,267 Members9,208 Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025 Newest Members JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard 9,208 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 26 A C Bowden 7 John Flex 1 handymanhome 1 JerryC 1 Wood Delivery 1 Trusted Roofing 1 John Fox 1 Tony Hood 1 Forix Richard 1 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,127 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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