full of piss and vinegar
Having an abundance or excessive amount of boisterous, youthful energy, enthusiasm, or rowdiness. Although we came out into the match full of piss and vinegar, our team just didn't have the skill necessary to beat our cross-town rivals. It took having kids of my own to remember how full of piss and vinegar a child can be at 6 AM.
piss and vinegar
An abundance or excessive amount of boisterous, youthful energy, enthusiasm, or rowdiness. For all their piss and vinegar, the home team just didn't have the skill necessary to beat their cross-town rivals. It took having kids of my own to remember how full of piss and vinegar a child can be at 6 AM.
honey catches more flies than vinegar
Being kind and gentle produces more positive results than being rude or unpleasant. I don't understand why the boss is always yelling at us like that—doesn't he realize that honey catches more flies than vinegar?
you attract more flies with honey than vinegar
You are more apt to get the results you want when you use kindness, rather than anger or aggression. I think the kids would visit you more if you were nicer to them. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar, you know. A: "The board rejected my proposal!" B: "Well, maybe if you didn't scream at them every time something went wrong, they would be more eager to work with you. After all, you attract more flies with honey than vinegar."
*sour as vinegar
1. [of something] very sour. (*Also: as ~.) This milk is as sour as vinegar. The juice they gave us is sour as vinegar.
2. [of someone] ill-natured and disagreeable. (Fig. on {2}. *Also: as ~.) The old man greeted us ill-naturedly, his face as sour as vinegar. Jill: Is Mary in a bad mood today? Jane: Yes, sour as vinegar.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Prov. It is easier to get what you want by flattering people and being polite to them than by making demands. Jill: This meal is terrible. Let's get the restaurant manager over here and make a scene unless he gives us our money back. Jane: We might have more luck if we ask politely. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.