Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
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   Это  обновленное  и  дополненное  издание,  содержащее  более  8000
идиоматических слов и выражений, причем  каждое  из  которых  снабжено
грамматическим объяснением и практическим примером.  Словарь  содержит
лексемные  идиомы,  фразеологические  единицы  и  поговорки,   имеющие
особенное значение. В нем приведены наиболее употребительные выражения
только американского  английского  языка.  Этот  словарь  -  идеальное
пособие  для  студентов,  часто  разъезжающих  бизнесменов  и   просто
путешественников.





                           Что такое идиома?

   Если в незнакомом тексте Вы понимаете каждое слово,  но  не  можете
понять смысла. Ваши  затруднения,  вероятно,  вызваны  идиоматическими
выражениями. Предположим, Вы прочитали или услышали следующий текст:

        Sam is a real cool cat. He  never  blows  his  stack  and
     hardly ever flies off the handle. What's more, he knows  how
     to get away with things... Well, of course,  he  is  getting
     on, too. His hair is pepper and salt, but he  knows  how  to
     make up for lost time by taking it easy. He gets  up  early,
     works out, and turns in early. He takes care of the hot  dog
     stand like a breeze until he gets time  off.  Sam's  got  it
     made; this is it for him.

   Очевидно, что этот стиль нельзя назвать  строго  литературным,  но,
тем не менее, американцы в разговоре друг с другом  часто  употребляют
такие выражения. Если Вы иностранец и знаете слова  cool  (прохладно),
cat (кошка), blow (дуть), stack (кучи), fly (лететь), handle (ручка) и
т.д.,  Вы  не  поймете  данный  образец   разговорного   американского
английского языка, потому что те переводы слов,  которые  находятся  в
обычных английских словарях, не дадут Вам точного значения приведенных
выше выражений. Из этого следует, что идиома - это новое,  неожиданное
значение группы слов, каждое из  которых  обладает  своим  собственным
значением.   Ниже   Вы   найдете   перевод   этого   разговорного    и
нелитературного  текста  на  более  формальный  вариант  американского
диалекта:

        Sam is really a calm person. He never  loses  control  of
     himself and hardly ever becomes too angry.  Furthermore,  he
     knows how to manage his business financially by using a  few
     tricks... Needless to say, he, too, is  getting  older.  His
     hair is  beginning  to  turn  gray,  but  he  knows  how  to
     compensate for wasted time  by  relaxing.  He  rises  early,
     exercises, and goes to bed early. He manages his frankfurter
     stand without visible effort, until  it  is  someone  else's
     turn to work there. Sam is successful; he  has  reached  his
     life's goal.

        "Сэм очень тихий человек. Он никогда не  теряет  контроль
     над собой и редко сердится. Кроме того, он знает, как  вести
     свое дело с финансовой точки  зрения,  употребляя  некоторые
     хитрости... Безусловно, он тоже стареет. Его волосы  седеют,
     но он умеет восстанавливать  потраченные  силы  отдыхом.  Он
     рано встает, делает гимнастику  и  рано  ложится.  Со  своей
     работой в колбасном  магазине  он  справляется  без  особого
     труда, успевая все сделать до  того,  как  его  сменят.  Сэм
     вполне счастлив, - он достиг цели своей жизни".

   Идиоматические  выражения,  употребленные  в  этом  тексте,   можно
организовать в следующий небольшой словарь:

   +=================К=============================================+
   I to be a (real)  I "быть очень спокойным человеком"            I
   I cool cat        I                                             I
   Л=================+============================================= 
   I to blow one's   I "потерять контроль над собой, рассердиться" I
   I stack           I                                             I
   Л=================+============================================= 
   I to fly off the  I "прийти в ярость"                           I
   I handle          I                                             I
   Л=================+============================================= 
   I what's more     I "помимо этого, кроме того"                  I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to get away     I "смошенничать, оставшись безнаказанным"     I
   I with something  I                                             I
   I                 I                                             I
   I of course       I "конечно"                                   I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to be getting   I "постареть"                                 I
   I on              I                                             I
   I                 I                                             I
   I pepper and salt I "седеющие черные или темные волосы"         I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to make up for  I "восполнить что-то"                         I
   I something       I                                             I
   I                 I                                             I
   I lost time       I "потерянное время"                          I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to take it easy I "не обращать внимания"                      I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to get up       I "встать утром"                              I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to work out     I "делать гимнастику"                         I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to turn in      I "лечь спать"                                I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to lake care of I "отвечать за что-то"                        I
   I something       I                                             I
   I                 I                                             I
   I like a breeze   I "легко, элегантно, без усилий"              I
   I                 I                                             I
   I time off        I "время отдыха"                              I
   I                 I                                             I
   I to have got it  I "быть счастливым, довольным, удачливым"     I
   I made            I                                             I
   I                 I                                             I
   I this is it      I "вот и все, что нужно"                      I
   +=================Й=============================================+

   Некоторые идиомы из этого небольшого списка  можно  найти  в  нашем
словаре. Большая часть идиом принадлежит  обыкновенным  грамматическим
классам или частям речи. Так,  например,  некоторые  идиомы  по  своей
природе - типичные глаголы: get away with, get up, work out, turn in и
т.д. Не меньшее число идиоматических выражений - имена. Так,  hot  dog
(сосиска в хлебе), The White House (Белый Дом - официальная резиденция
американского президента) - имена существительные. Некоторые из  идиом
- имена прилагательные: так, в нашем примере pepper and salt (седеющие
черные или темные  волосы)  обозначает  цвет  волос.  Многие  из  этих
выражений, как, например, like a  breeze  (легко),  hammer  and  tongs
(violently,  насильственно)  -  наречия.   Идиоматические   выражения,
относящиеся  к  одному   из   обыкновенных   грамматических   классов,
называются лексемными идиомами (lexemic idioms).
   Вторая основная группа  идиом  состоит  из  фраз,  таких  как  наши
примеры to fly off the handle (потерять контроль над собой) и to  blow
one's stack (прийти в ярость).  В  американском  варианте  английского
языка  подобные  выражения  встречаются  очень  часто.  Некоторые   из
наиболее известных  следующие:  to  kick  the  bucket  (die,  умереть,
сыграть в ящик, отбросить копыта), to be up the creek (in danger, быть
в опасности), to seize the bull by the horns (face a problem squarely,
разрешать проблему или задачу, стоящую перед нами, взять быка за рога)
и т.д. Идиомы этой  группы  называются  оборотами  речи,  по-английски
tournures  (из  французского  языка).  Они   не   принадлежат   одному
какому-либо грамматическому классу (части речи), и переводить их нужно
не словом, а группой слов.
   Форма подобных идиоматических выражений устоялась;  многие  из  них
совсем  "застыли"  и  не  могут  функционировать   в   другой   форме.
Рассмотрим, например,  идиому  tо  kick  the  bucket  (die,  умереть).
Употребив  эту  форму  в  пассивном   залоге,   мы   отказываемся   от
идиоматического смысла, получив выражение the bucket has  been  kicked
by the cowboy (ковбой ударил ведро ногой). Впрочем, даже это выражение
может изменяться по времени, так  как  мы  можем  сказать  the  cowboy
kicked the bucket, the cowboy will kick the  bucket,  the  cowboy  has
kicked  the  bucket  и  т.д.  Проблема,  можно  ли   употреблять   это
идиоматическое выражение в герундивной форме  (герундив,  gerundive  -
слово, производное от  глагола  с  помощью  суффикса  -ing,  например,
singing от sing,  eating  от  eat  и  т.д.),  не  решена  окончательно
учеными-лингвистами и носителями языка. Правильная эта форма или  нет,
мы не рекомендуем употреблять выражения типа his  kicking  the  bucket
surprised us all.
   Следующий большой класс идиом состоит из поговорок, таких как don't
count your chickens before  they're  hatched  (do  not  celebrate  the
outcome of an undertaking prematurely - you may  fail  and  will  look
ridiculous); буквально: "не считайте кур, пока они  не  вылупились  из
яиц"; русский вариант поговорки звучит:  "цыплят  по  осени  считают".
Большое число поговорок  пришло  в  американский  вариант  английского
языка  из  литературных  источников  или  же  от   первых   английских
иммигрантов в Америку.
   Своим рождением идиомы обязаны тому, что  мы  чаще  используем  уже
существующие слова для выражения новых идей, чем создаем новые слова с
помощью фонем языка. Фактически нет  языков,  в  которых  не  было  бы
идиом.  Возьмем,  например,  слова  "ма  шанг",  китайское  выражение,
которое  значит  "быстро".   Переведенное   дословно,   оно   означает
"лошадиная спина". Связь понятий лошадиной спины и быстроты  очевидна:
раньше, до появления поезда, автомобиля и самолета, быстрее всего было
путешествовать верхом на лошади. Китайское выражение "ма шанг" было бы
аналогом русской фразы:  "Торопитесь,  нам  надо  ехать  на  лошадиной
спине". Такая форма была бы вполне понятной носителю  русского  языка,
но иностранец  должен  был  бы  понять,  что  это  идиома.  Даже  если
иностранец никогда не слышал выражения "ма шанг" (лошадиная спина), он
может догадаться, что это значит; однако, во многих  случаях  подобные
догадки ошибочны.
   Например,  возьмем  английскую  идиому  the  die  is  cast  (жребий
брошен). Вряд ли, не зная ее точного выражения,  Вы  догадаетесь,  что
это выражение значит:  "Я  решил,  и  больше  не  могу  изменить  свое
решение". Зная точное значение, Вы можете догадаться, как возникло это
идиоматическое выражение: кость, брошенная во время игры в  кости,  по
правилам может быть брошена только один раз, независимо от результата.
Многие знают, что  эту  фразу  произнес  Юлий  Цезарь,  когда  перешел
Рубикон, что явилось началом войны.
   Как  научиться  употреблять  идиоматическое  выражение   правильно?
Прежде всего, подождите, пока Вы не услышите идиому от  человека,  для
которого американский английский - родной язык. Если  Вы  неоднократно
слышали идиому и вполне поняли ее  значение,  Вы  сами  можете  начать
употреблять это выражение. Предположим, молодая  девушка  очень  хочет
выйти замуж. Она  может  выбирать  между  двумя  возможными  женихами,
назовем их Павел и Николай. Павел немолод, некрасив и небогат,  но  он
уже сделал предложение и готов жениться хоть завтра. Николай красив  и
богат, но он пока не собирается  жениться  и  неизвестно,  женится  ли
когда-нибудь. После  некоторого  размышления  девушка  решает  принять
предложение Павла, боясь остаться  старой  девой.  Если  вскоре  после
свадьбы Николай признается  ей,  что  мечтает  быть  ее  мужем,  нашей
героине останется только сказать "Oh, well, the die is cast..."  ("Что
делать, жребий брошен"). Если,  оказавшись  в  подобной  ситуации,  Вы
произносите эту фразу, беседуя с американцем, и он смотрит  на  Вас  с
сочувствием и не переспрашивает: "Что Вы имеете в виду?"  -  считайте,
что Вы достигли первого успеха, употребив новую  идиому  в  правильном
контексте. Американцы  относятся  к  иностранцам  более  лояльно,  чем
другие нации,  но  они,  конечно,  оценят,  сколь  бегло  Вы  говорите
по-английски. Использование идиом поможет Вам  установить  контакт  со
слушателем и избежать репутации  "слишком  серьезного"  человека.  Чем
больше идиом Вы употребляете в правильном контексте, тем лучше  о  Вас
будут думать Ваши собеседники.





   Словарь был составлен для  людей,  говорящих  по-английски,  но  не
родившихся   в   Америке.   Словарь   содержит    лексемные    идиомы,
фразеологические единицы  и  поговорки,  имеющие  особенное  значение.
Возможно, некоторые из идиоматических выражений Вам уже знакомы, и  Вы
понимаете, что они  означают.  Найдите  в  словаре  перевод  одной  из
следующих идиом, значение которой Вы уже знаете,  -  это  поможет  Вам
понять, как пользоваться этой  книгой:  boyfriend,  girlfriend,  piggy
bank, get even, give up, going to, keep on, keep your mouth shut, lead
somebody by the nose, look after, show off, throw away, all  over,  in
love, mixed-up, out of this world, I'll say.
   Чтобы научиться пользоваться словарем,  несколько  раз  внимательно
изучите  предписания   и   попрактикуйтесь   в   нахождении   значения
идиоматических выражений. Если  Вы  услышите  идиому,  которой  нет  в
книге, то, имея некоторый опыт работы с  нашим  словарем,  Вы  сможете
найти ее значение и выписать его для себя.  Заведите  Ваш  собственный
список идиом и храните его вместе с Вашим  обычным  словарем.  Пошлите
нам Ваши наблюдения и замечания.
   Как узнать, поможет ли Вам "Словарь идиом"  понять  трудную  фразу?
Иногда догадаться, о чем идет речь, не сложно, как в выражениях  puppy
love, fun house, dog-eat-dog, mixed-up. Если же Вы не можете перевести
выражение, выберите основное слово из самой трудной  части  и  найдите
его в словаре. Если это первое слово идиомы, Вы найдете  всю  фразу  и
перевод к ней. Таким образом, выражение bats in the belfry  напечатано
в этом словаре под буквой  В,  слово  bats.  Если  слово,  которое  Вы
выбрали, не первое слово идиомы,  Вы  найдете  список  идиом,  которые
содержат это слово. Например, слово toe  (палец  ноги)  Вы  найдете  в
статьях CURL ONE'S HAIR or CURL ONE'S TOES, ON ONE'S TOES, STEP ON THE
TOES (OF SOMEBODY). Конечно, Вы  можете  столкнуться  с  тем,  что  не
понимаете некоторые  фразы,  потому  что  Вам  незнакомы  обыкновенные
слова, а не из-за обилия идиоматических выражений. В этом  случае  Вам
поможет  обычный  словарь.  Обратите  внимание,  что  в  этом  словаре
приведены  наиболее  употребительные  выражения  только  американского
английского языка, без учета  идиоматики,  например,  британского  или
австралийского диалектов. Словарь, содержащий  идиомы  всех  диалектов
английского  языка,   был   бы   международным   словарем   английских
идиоматических выражений.  В  настоящее  время  такой  книги  нет,  но
надеемся, что в будущем она будет написана.





   Этот  словарь  содержит  четыре  типа   статей:   главные   статьи,
продолжающиеся статьи, статьи-ссылки и  указательные  статьи.  Главная
статья включает полное  объяснение  идиомы.  Продолжающаяся  статья  -
фраза,  происходящая  от   другой   идиомы,   но   которая   была   бы
самостоятельной  единицей,  если  бы  она  была  напечатана  в   своем
собственном алфавитном месте.  Эти  производные  идиомы  приводятся  в
конце главной статьи, например,  fence  sitter  "человек,  сидящий  на
заборе" в конце статьи sit on the fence  "сидеть  на  заборе".  В  тех
случаях,  когда  понять  производную  форму,  опираясь   на   основное
объяснение, затруднительно, приводятся дополнительные объяснения. Если
идиома может употребляться в форме различных частей  речи,  приводится
отдельная статья на каждый случай.
   Ссылки показывают, что  объяснение  можно  найти  в  другом  месте.
Предположим, Вы хотите посмотреть выражение cast  in  one's  lot  with
(решить стать соучастниками или партнерами). Вы можете  посмотреть  на
слово cast (бросать) или на слово lot (судьба), ссылка направит Вас  к
слову throw в фразе throw in one's lot with. Причиной  этого  является
тот  факт,  что  слово  cast  (бросать)  употребляется  в  сегодняшнем
английском языке гораздо реже чем слово  throw.  Следовательно,  более
распространенная форма этой идиомы начинается глаголом throw.
   Указательная статья ведет нас ко всем  другим  статьям,  содержащим
искомое слово. Таким образом, слово chin  (подбородок)  сопровождается
фразами, в которых Вы найдете слово chin, таких как  keep  one's  chin
up, stick one's chin (or neck) out, take out, take it on the chin,  up
to the chin.





   Лексемные  идиомы,  которые  мы  обсуждали   раньше,   сопровождены
указателем части речи. В некоторых  случаях,  таких,  как,  скажем,  в
случае предложных  фраз,  употреблен  двойной  указатель,  потому  что
данная фраза имеет два грамматических употребления. Буква {v.}  значит
verb (глагол); она напечатана в фразах, содержащих глагол  и  наречие,
или глагол и предлог, или все три, то есть глагол, предлог и  наречие.
Сокращение {v. phr.} означает "verbal phrase" как, например, look  up,
look in и т.д., то есть сочетание глагола с существительным: глагол  с
дополнением, глагол с подлежащим и глагол с предложной фразой.





   Иностранцу, для которого американский английский -  неродной  язык,
следует обратить особое внимание на то, в какой ситуации какую  идиому
можно употреблять. В этом  читателю  словаря  помогут  ограничительные
указатели. Так,  указатель  {slang}  (слэнг)  показывает,  что  идиома
употребляется только в фамильярном разговоре очень близкими  друзьями.
Указатель {informal} (неформальный) показывает,  что  выражение  может
употребляться в разговоре,  но  не  должно  встречаться  в  формальных
сочинениях.  Указатель  {formal}  (формальный)  имеет  противоположное
значение: он указывает,  что  форма  употребляется  только  в  научных
работах или при чтении лекции  в  университете.  Указатель  {literary}
(литературный)  напоминает,  что  интересующая  Вас  идиома  -  широко
известная цитата; ее не стоит  употреблять  слишком  часто.  Указатель
{vulgar}  (вульгарный,  грубый)  показывает,  что   Вам   не   следует
употреблять эту форму. Однако, иметь представление о  подобных  формах
необходимо, чтобы иметь возможность судить о людях по  языку,  который
они употребляют. Указатель {substandard} (не соответствующий  языковой
норме) показывает, что форма употребляется  малообразованными  людьми;
{non-standard} (нестандартный) значит, что фраза неуклюжая.  Указатель
{archaic} (архаический) редко употребляется в этой книге; он означает,
что форма очень редка в современном английском  языке.  Географические
указатели показывают, где идиома  образовалась  и  где  употребляется.
{Chiefly British} (главным образом британское) значит, что  американцы
редко употребляют эту форму; {southern}  (южный)  значит,  что  идиома
употребляется чаще на юге США, чем на севере. Молодые  формы,  которые
образовались не более шести или семи лет назад, находятся в приложении
к главному словарю.

                                                           Adam Makkai
                                           Maya Aleksandrovna Glinberg





   [abide by] {v.} To accept and obey; be  willing  to  follow.  *  /A
basketball player may know he did not foul, but he must abide  by  the
referee's decision./ * /The members agree to abide by the rules of the
club./

   [a bit] {n., informal} A small amount; some. * /There's no sugar in
the sugar bowl, but you may find a bit in the bag./ * /If the ball had
hit the window a bit harder, it would have broken it./  -  Often  used
like an adverb. * /This sweater scratches a bit./ - Also used like  an
adjective before "less", "more".  *  /Janet  thought  she  could  lose
weight by eating a bit less./ * /"Have some more cake?" "Thanks. A bit
more won't  hurt  me."/  -  Often  used  adverbially  after  verbs  in
negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, sometimes  in  the
form "one bit". * /"Won't your father be angry?" "No, he won't care  a
bit."/ * /Helen feels like crying, but I'll be surprised if she  shows
it one bit./ - Sometimes used with "little" for emphasis, also in  the
emphatic form "the least bit". * /"Wasn't Bob even a little bit  sorry
he forgot his date?" "No, Bob wasn't the least bit  sorry."/  Syn.:  A
LITTLE. Compare: A FEW. Contrast: A LOT.

   [about face] {n.} A sudden change of course or a decision  opposite
to what was decided earlier. * /Her  decision  to  become  an  actress
instead of a dentist was an about face from her original plans./

   [about one's ears] or [around one's ears] {adv. phr.}  To  or  into
complete collapse, defeat, or ruin; to the destruction of  a  person's
plans, hopes, or happiness. * /They planned to have factories all over
the world but the war brought their plans down about  their  ears./  *
/John hoped to go to college and become a great  scientist  some  day,
but when his father died he had to get a job, and John's  dreams  came
crashing around his ears./ Compare: ON ONE'S HEAD.

   [about time] {n. phr.} Finally, but later than it should have been;
at last. * /Mother said, "It's about time you got up, Mary."/  *  /The
basketball team won last night. About time./

   [about to] 1. Close to; ready to. - Used with an infinitive. *  /We
were about to leave when the snow began./ * /I haven't gone  yet,  but
I'm about to./ Compare: GOING TO,  ON  THE  POINT  OF.  2.  {informal}
Having a wish or plan to.  -  Used  with  an  infinitive  in  negative
sentences. * /Freddy wasn't about to give  me  any  of  his  ice-cream
cone./ * /"Will she come with us?" asked Bill. "She's not  about  to,"
answered Mary./

   [above all] {adv.  phr.}  Of  first  or  highest  importance;  most
especially. * /Children need many things,  but  above  all  they  need
love./ Syn.: FIRST AND LAST.

   [above suspicion] {adj. phr.} Too good to be suspected; not  likely
to do wrong. * /The umpire in the game  must  be  above  suspicion  of
supporting one side over the other./

   [absent without leave (AWOL)]  {adj.}  Absent  without  permission;
used mostly in the military. * /Jack left Fort Sheridan without asking
his commanding officer, and was punished for going AWOL./

   [absentia] See: IN ABSENTIA.

   [Acapulco gold] {n., slang}  Marijuana  of  an  exceptionally  high
quality. * /Jack doesn't just smoke pot, he smokes Acapulco gold./

   [accord] See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD or OF ONE'S OWN FREE WILL.

   [according as] {conj.} 1. Depending on which; whichever. * /You may
take an oral or written exam according as you prefer./ 1. Depending on
whether; if. * /We will play  golf  or  stay  home  according  as  the
weather is good or bad./

   [according to] {prep.} 1. So as to match or agree with; so as to be
alike in. * /Many words are pronounced according to the  spelling  but
some are not./ * /The boys were placed in three  groups  according  to
height./ 2. On the word or authority of. * /According  to  the  Bible,
Adam was the first man./

   [according to one's own lights]  {adv.  phr.}  In  accordance  with
one's conscience or inclinations. * /Citizens should vote according to
their own lights./

   [account] See: CALL  TO  ACCOUNT,  CHARGE  ACCOUNT,  LEAVE  OUT  OF
ACCOUNT, ON ACCOUNT, ON ACCOUNT OF, ON ONE'S  ACCOUNT,  ON  ONE'S  OWN
ACCOUNT, SAVINGS ACCOUNT, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

   [ace] See: WITHIN AN ACE OF.

   [ace in the hole] {n. phr.} 1. An ace given to a player  face  down
so that other players in a card game cannot see it. * /When the cowboy
bet all his money in the poker game he did not know that  the  gambler
had an ace in the hole and would  win  it  from  him./  2.  {informal}
Someone or something important that is kept as a  surprise  until  the
right time so as to bring victory or success. * /The football team has
a new play that they are keeping as an ace in the  hole  for  the  big
game./ * /The lawyer's ace in the hole was a secret  witness  who  saw
the accident./ Compare: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

   [Achilles' heel] {n. phr.}, {literary} A physical or  psychological
weakness named after the Greek  hero  Achilles  who  was  invulnerable
except for a spot on his heel. * /John's Achilles' heel is his lack of
talent with numbers and math./

   [acid head] {n.}, {slang}  A  regular  user  of  LSD  on  whom  the
hallucinogenic drug has left a visible effect. * /The reason John acts
so funny is that he is a regular acid head./

   [acid rock] {n.}, {slang} A characteristic kind of  rock  in  which
loudness and beat predominate over melody; especially  such  music  as
influenced by drug experiences. * /John is a regular acid rock freak./

   [acorn] See: GREAT OAKS PROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.

   [acoustic perfume] {n.}, {slang} Sound  for  covering  up  unwanted
noise, such as music over loudspeakers in a noisy construction area. *
/Let's get out of here - this acoustic perfume  is  too  much  for  my
ears./

   [acquire a taste for] {v. phr.} To become fond of something; get to
like something. * /Jack acquired a taste for ripe cheeses when he went
to France./

   [across the board] {adv. phr.} 1. So that equal  amounts  of  money
are bet on the same horse to win a race, to place second, or third.  *
/I bet $6 on the white horse across the  board./  -  Often  used  with
hyphens as an adjective. * /I made  an  across-the-board  bet  on  the
white horse./ 2. {informal} Including everyone or all, so that all are
included. * /Thе President wanted taxes lowered across the  board./  -
Often used with hyphens as an adjective. * /Thе workers at  the  store
got an across-the-board pay raise./

   [across the tracks] See: THE TRACKS.

   [act] See: READ THE RIOT ACT.

   [act high and mighty] {v. phr.} To wield power; act  overbearingly;
order others around; look down on others. * /Paul is an  inexperienced
teacher and he acts high and mighty with his students./

   [actions speak louder than words] What you do shows your  character
better and is more important than what you say. - A proverb.  *  /John
promised to help me, but he didn't. Actions speak louder than  words./
* /Joe is very quiet, but actions speak louder than words. He  is  the
best player on the team./

   [act of faith] {n. phr.} An act or a deed that shows  unquestioning
belief in someone or something. * /It was  a  real  act  of  faith  on
Mary's part to entrust her jewelry to her younger sister's care./

   [act of God] {n.} An occurrence (usually some sort of  catastrophe)
for  which  the  people  affected  are  not   responsible;   said   of
earthquakes, floods, etc. * /Hurricane Andrew destroyed many houses in
Florida, but some types of insurance did not compensate  the  victims,
claiming that the hurricane was an act of God./ See: FICKLE FINGER  OF
FATE.

   [act one's age] or [be one's age] {v. phr.} To do the  things  that
people expect someone of your age to do, not act as if you  were  much
younger than you are. * /Mr. O'Brien was playing tag with the children
at the party. Then Mrs. O'Brien said, "Henry! Act your  age!"  and  he
stopped./

   [actor] See: BAD ACTOR.

   [act out] {v.} 1. To show an idea,  story,  or  happening  by  your
looks, talk, and movements. * /He tried to act out a story that he had
read./ 2. To put into action. * /All his life he tried to act out  his
beliefs./

   [act up] {v.},  {informal}  1.  To  behave  badly;  act  rudely  or
impolitely. * /The dog acted up as the postman came to the  door./  2.
To work or run poorly (as a after all machine); skip; miss. * /Thе car
acted up because the spark plugs were dirty./

   [add fuel to the flame] {v. phr.} To make a  bad  matter  worse  by
adding to its cause; spread trouble, increase anger  or  other  strong
feelings by talk or action. * /By  criticizing  his  son's  girl,  the
father added fuel to the flame of his son's love./ *  /Bob  was  angry
with Ted and Ted added fuel to the flame by laughing at him./

   [add insult to injury] {v. phr.}  1.  To  hurt  someone's  feelings
after doing him harm. * /He added insult to injury when he called  the
man a rat after he had already beaten him up./ 2. To make bad  trouble
worse. * /We started on a picnic, and first it  rained,  then  to  add
insult to injury, the car broke down./

   [addition] See: IN ADDITION.

   [address] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.

   [add the finishing  touches]  {v.  phr.}  To  complete;  finish.  *
/Mary's first novel promised to  be  excellent;  however,  her  editor
suggested that she should add some finishing touches before  accepting
it./

   [add up] {v.} 1. To come to the  correct  amount.  *  /The  numbers
wouldn't add up./ 2. {informal} To make sense;  be  understandable.  *
/His story didn't add up./

   [add up to] {v.} 1. To make a total of;  amount  to.  *  /The  bill
added up to $12.95./ 2. {informal} To mean; result in.  *  /The  rain,
the mosquitoes, and the heat added up to a spoiled vacation./

   [ad lib] {v. phr.} To improvise; interpolate during speech. * /When
the actress forgot her lines during the second act, she had to ad  lib
in order to keep the show going./

   [advance] See: IN ADVANCE or IN ADVANCE OF.

   [advantage] See: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, TO ADVANTAGE.

   [a few] {n.} or {adj.} A small number (of people or things);  some.
* /The dry weather killed most of Mother's  flowers,  but  a  few  are
left./ * /In the store, Mary saw many pretty rings and bracelets,  and
she wanted to buy a few of them./ * /After the party, we thought  that
no one would help clean up, but a few couples did./ * /Alice wanted to
read a few pages more before  she  stopped./  -  Usually  "a  few"  is
different in meaning from "few", which  emphasizes  the  negative;  "a
few" means "some", but "few" means "not many". * /We  thought  no  one
would come to lunch, but a few came./ * /We thought many people  would
come to lunch, but few came./ But  sometimes  "a  few"  is  used  with
"only", and then it is negative. * /We thought many people would  come
to lunch, but only a few came./ - Sometimes used  like  an  adverb.  *
/Three students have no seats; we need a few more chairs./  *  /If  we
can set up chairs faster than people come and sit  in  them,  we  will
soon be a few ahead./ - Sometimes used with  "very"  for  emphasis.  *
/Uncle Ralph gave away almost all of his sea shells, but he still  had
a very few left./ Compare: A LITTLE. Contrast: A LOT, QUITE A FEW.

   [affair] See: LOVE AFFAIR.

   [afoul of] {prep.} 1. In collision with. * /The boat ran afoul of a
buoy./ 2. In or into trouble with. * /The thief ran afoul of the night
watchman./ * /Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes./

   [afraid of one's shadow] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Scared of small or
imaginary things; very easily  frightened;  jumpy;  nervous.  *  /Mrs.
Smith won't stay alone in her house at night; she is afraid of her own
shadow./ * /Johnny cries whenever he must say hello to an adult; he is
afraid of his own shadow./

   [a friend in need is a friend indeed] A genuine friend on whom  one
can always depend. - A  proverb;  often  shortened  to  "a  friend  in
need..." * /When John's house burned down, his neighbor Jim helped him
and his family with shelter, food and clothing.  John  said,  "Jim,  a
friend in need is a friend indeed - this describes you."/

   [after a fashion] {adv. phr.} Not very well or properly; poorly.  *
/He played tennis after a fashion./ * /The  roof  kept  the  rain  out
after a fashion./ Compare: IN A WAY.

   [after all] {adv. phr.} 1. As a change in  plans;  anyway.  -  Used
with emphasis on "after". * /Bob thought he couldn't go to  the  party
because he had too much homework, but he went after  all./  2.  For  a
good reason that you should remember. - Used with emphasis on "all". *
/Why shouldn't Betsy eat the cake? After all, she baked it./

   [after a while] {informal} or [in a while] {adv.  phr.}  Later,  at
some time in the future; after a time that is not short and not  long.
* /"Dad, will you help me make this  model  plane?"  "After  a  while,
Jimmy, when I finish reading the newspaper."/  *  /The  boys  gathered
some wood, and in a while, a hot fire was burning./ Syn.: BY  AND  BY.
Contrast: RIGHT AWAY.

   [after hours] {adv. or adj. phr.} Not during the regular,  correct,
or usual time; going on or open after the usual hours.  *  /The  store
was cleaned and swept out after hours./ * /The children had  a  secret
after hours party when they were supposed to be in bed./

   [after one's own heart] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Well liked  because
of agreeing with your own feelings,  interests,  and  ideas;  to  your
liking-agreeable. Used after "man" or some similar word. *  /He  likes
baseball and good food; he is a man after my own heart./ * /Thanks for
agreeing with me about the class party; you're a  girl  after  my  own
heart./ Compare: SEE EYE TO EYE.

   [after the dust clears] or [when the dust settles] {adv. phr.} When
a troubling, confusing, or disastrous event is finally over.  *  /John
invited Tim for dinner, but since  Tim's  father  had  just  died,  he
replied, "Thanks. I'd like to come after the dust settles."/

   [again] See: COME AGAIN, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY NOW AND AGAIN,
NOW AND THEN or NOW AND AGAIN, OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN or  ON  AGAIN,  OFF
AGAIN, SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN, THEN AGAIN, TIME AND AGAIN, YOU  SAID  IT
or YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.

   [against it] See: UP AGAINST IT.

   [against the clock] See: AGAINST TIME.

   [against the current] or [against the stream] See: SWIM AGAINST THE
CURRENT.

   [against the grain] {adv. phr.} 1.  Across  rather  than  with  the
direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat). *  /He  sandpapered  the
wood against the grain./ 2. So as to annoy or  trouble,  or  to  cause
anger or dislike. - Usually follows "go". * /His coarse and rude  ways
went against the grain with me./ * /It went against the grain with him
to have to listen to her gossip./ Compare: RUB THE WRONG WAY.

   [against time] or [against the clock] {adv. phr.} 1. As a  test  of
speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. *  /John
ran around the track against time, because there was no  one  else  to
race against./ 2. As fast as possible; so as to do or finish something
before a certain time. * /It was a race against the clock whether  the
doctor would get to the accident soon enough to save the injured man./
3. So as to cause delay by using up time. * /The outlaw talked against
time with the sheriff, hoping that his  gang  would  come  and  rescue
him./

   [age] See: ACT ONE'S AGE or BE ONE'S AGE, DOG'S AGE or COON'S  AGE,
LEGAL AGE or LAWFUL AGE, OF AGE, OVER AGE, UNDER AGE.

   [agent] See: FREE AGENT.

   [Agent Orange] {n.} A herbicide used  as  a  defoliant  during  the
Vietnam War, considered by some to cause  birth  defects  and  cancer,
hence,  by  extension,  an   instance   of   "technological   progress
pollution". * /If things continue as they have, we'll  all  be  eating
some Agent Orange with our meals./

   [ago] See: WHILE AGO.

   [agree with] {v.} To have a good effect on, suit. * /The meat  loaf
did not agree with him./ * /The warm, sunny climate agreed  with  him,
and he soon grew strong and healthy./

   [ahead] See: DEAD AHEAD, GET AHEAD.

   [ahead of] {prep.} 1. In a position of advantage or power  over.  *
/He studies all the time, because  he  wants  to  stay  ahead  of  his
classmates./ 2. In front of; before. * /The troop leader walked a  few
feet ahead of the boys./ 3.  Earlier  than;  previous  to,  before.  *
/Betty finished her test ahead of the others./

   [ahead of the game]  {adv.  or  adj.  phr.},  {informal}  1.  In  a
position of advantage; winning (as in a game or contest); ahead (as by
making money or profit); making it easier to win or  succeed.  *  /The
time you spend studying when you are in school will put you  ahead  of
the game in college./ * /After Tom sold his papers, he was $5 ahead of
the game./ 2. Early; too soon;  beforehand.  *  /When  Ralph  came  to
school an hour early, the janitor said, "You're ahead of the game."/ *
/John studies his lessons only one day early; if he gets too far ahead
of the game, he forgets what he read./

   [ahead of time] {adv. phr.} Before the expected time; early. * /The
bus came ahead of time, and Mary was not ready./ * /The  new  building
was finished ahead of time./ Contrast: BEHIND TIME.

   [a hell of] a [or one hell of a] {adj. or  adv.  phr.},  {informal}
Extraordinary; very. * /He made a hell of a shot during the basketball
game./ * /Max said seven months was a hell of a time to have  to  wait
for a simple visa./ * /The fall Max took left one hell of a bruise  on
his knee./

   [aim] See: TAKE AIM.

   [air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR, CLEAR THE  AIR,  GIVE  ONESELF
AIRS, GET THE AIR at GET THE BOUNCE(1),  GIVE  THE  AIR  at  GIVE  THE
BOUNCE(1), IN THE AIR, INTO THIN AIR, LEAVE HANGING or  LEAVE  HANGING
IN THE AIR, ON THE AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, UP IN THE AIR, WALK ON AIR.

   [airbus] n. A trade name, also used informally  for  a  wide-bodied
airplane used chiefly as a domestic  passenger  carrier.  *  /Airbuses
don't fly overseas, but mainly from coast to coast./

   [air one's dirty linen in public] or [wash  one's  dirty  linen  in
public] {v. phr.} To talk about your  private  quarrels  or  disgraces
where others can hear; make public something embarrassing that  should
be kept secret. * /Everyone in the school knew that the superintendent
and the principal were angry with each other because they aired  their
dirty linen in public./ * /No one knew that the  boys'  mother  was  a
drug addict, because the family  did  not  wash  its  dirty  linen  in
public./

   [airquake] {n.} An explosive noise of undetermined  origin  usually
heard in coastal communities and appearing to come  from  some  higher
point in elevation. * /What was that awful noise just now? -  I  guess
it must have been an airquake./

   [air shuttle] {n.}, {informal} Air service  for  regular  commuters
operating between major cities  at  not  too  far  a  distance,  e.g.,
between Boston  and  New  York  City;  such  flights  operate  without
reservation on a frequent schedule. * /My dad takes  the  air  shuttle
from Boston to New York once a week./

   [a la] {prep.} In the same way as; like. * /Billy played ball  like
a champion today, a la the professional ball players./ *  /Joe  wanted
to shoot an apple off my head a la William Tell./ (From French "a la",
in the manner of.)

   [albatross around one's neck]  {n.  phr.},  {literary}  Guilt,  the
haunting past, an unforgettable problem. *  /Even  though  it  was  an
accident, John's father's death has been an  albatross  around  John's
neck./ Compare: MONKEY ON ONE'S BACK.

   [alert] See: ON THE ALERT.

   [a little] {n.} or {adj.} A small amount (of); some. -  Usually  "a
little" is different in meaning from "little",  which  emphasizes  the
negative; "a little" means "some"; but "little" means "not  much".  We
say * /"We thought that the paper was  all  gone,  but  a  little  was
left."/ But we say, * /"We thought we still had a bag  of  flour,  but
little was left."/ Also, we say, * /"Bob was sick yesterday, but he is
a little better today."/ But we say, * /"Bob was sick  yesterday,  and
he is little better today."/ Sometimes "a little" is used with "only",
and then it is negative. * /We thought we had a whole  bag  of  flour,
but only a little was left./ * /We have used most of the sugar; but  a
little is left./ * /We did not eat all the cake; we saved a little  of
it for you./ * /I'm tired; I need a little time to rest./ * /Where  is
the paper? I need a little more./ -  Often  used  like  an  adverb.  *
/Usually the teacher just watched the dancing class, but sometimes she
danced a little to show them how./ * /The children wanted  to  play  a
little longer./ - Sometimes used with "very" for emphasis. * /The sick
girl could not eat anything, but she could drink a very  little  tea./
Syn.: A BIT. Compare: A FEW. Contrast: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE.

   [a  little  bird  told  me]  To  have  learned  something  from   a
mysterious, unknown, or secret source. *  /"Who  told  you  that  Dean
Smith was resigning?" Peter  asked.  "A  little  bird  told  me,"  Jim
answered./

   [a little knowledge is a dangerous thing] {literary} A  person  who
knows a little about something may think he knows it all and make  bad
mistakes. - A proverb. * /John has read a book on driving  a  car  and
now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing./

   [alive] See: COME ALIVE, KNOW --- IS ALIVE, LOOK ALIVE, SKIN ALIVE.

   [alive and kicking] {adj. phr.}  Very  active;  vigorous;  full  of
energy. * /Grandpa was taken to the hospital with  pneumonia,  but  he
was discharged yesterday and is alive and kicking./

   [alive with] {prep.}, {informal} Crowded with; filled with. *  /The
lake was alive with fish./ * /The stores were alive  with  people  the
Saturday before Christmas./

   [all] See: AFTER ALL, AND ALL, AT ALL, BEAT ALL or BEAT THE  DUTCH,
FOR ALL, FOR ALL ONE IS WORTH, FOR ALL ONE KNOWS, FOR ALL  THE  WORLD,
FOR GOOD also FOR GOOD AND ALL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE'S HEART or WITH
ALL ONE'S HEART, HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS or HAVE ALL ONE'S MARBLES,  IN
ALL, JUMP ON or JUMP ALL OVER or LAND ALL OVER,  KNOW-IT-ALL,  ON  ALL
FOURS, ONCE AND FOR ALL, PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET, STRIKE  ALL
OF A HEAP, WALK OVER or WALK ALL OVER or STEP ALL OVER.

   [all along] or ({informal}) [right along] {adv. phr.} All the time;
during the whole time. */I knew all along that we  would  win./  *  /I
knew right along that Jane would come./

   [all at once] {adv. phr.} 1. At the same  time;  together.  *  /The
teacher told the children to talk one at a time; if they all talked at
one time, she could not understand them./ * /Bill can play the  piano,
sing, and lead his orchestra all at once./ 2. or  [all  of  a  sudden]
Without warning; abruptly; suddenly; unexpectedly. * /All at  once  we
heard a shot and the soldier fell to the ground./ * /All of  a  sudden
the ship struck a rock./ Compare: AT ONCE.

   [all better] {adj. phr.} Fully recovered; all well again; no longer
painful. - Usually used to or by children. *  /"All  better  now,"  he
kept repeating to the little girl./

   [all but] {adv.  phr.}  Very  nearly;  almost.  *  /Crows  all  but
destroyed a farmer's field of corn./ * /The hikers were exhausted  and
all but frozen when they were found./

   [all ears]  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Very  eager  to  hear;  very
attentive. - Used in the predicate. * /Go ahead with  your  story;  we
are all ears./ * /When John told about the circus, the boys  were  all
ears./

   [alley] See: BLIND ALLEY, DOWN ONE'S ALLEY or UP ONE'S ALLEY.

   [alley cat] {n.}, {slang} 1. A stray cat. 2. A  person  (usually  a
female) of rather easy-going,  or  actually  loose  sexual  morals;  a
promiscuous person. * /You'll have no  problem  dating  her;  she's  a
regular alley cat./

   [all eyes] {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Wide-eyed  with  surprise  or
curiosity; watching very closely. - Used in the predicate. *  /At  the
circus the children were all eyes./

   [all gone] {adj. phr.} Used up; exhausted (said of supplies);  done
with; over with. * /We used to travel a lot, but, alas, those days are
all gone./

   [all here] See: ALL THERE.

   [all hours] {n. phr.}, {informal} Late or irregular times.  *  /The
boy's mother said he must stop coming home for meals at all hours./  *
/He stayed up till all hours of the night to finish his school work./

   [all in] {adj. phr.}, {informal}  Very  tired;  exhausted.  *  /The
players were all in after their first afternoon  of  practice./  Syn.:
PLAYED OUT, WORN OUT.

   [all in a day's work] or [all  in  the  day's  work]  {adj.  phr.},
{informal} Unpleasant or bad but  to  be  expected;  not  harder  than
usual; not unusual. * /Keeping ants away from a picnic lunch is all in
the day's work./ * /When the car had a flat tire, Father said that  it
was all in a day's work./ Compare: PAR FOR THE COURSE, PUT UP WITH.

   [all in all(1)] {n. phr.}, {literary} The person or thing that  you
love most. * /She was all in all to him./ *  /Music  was  his  all  in
all./

   [all in all(2)] or [in all] {adv. phr.} When everything is  thought
about; in summary; altogether. * /All in all, it was a pleasant  day's
cruise./ * /All in all, the  pilot  of  an  airplane  must  have  many
abilities and  years  of  experience  before  he  can  he  appointed./
Compare: ON THE WHOLE 1. * /Counting the balls on the green,  we  have
six golf balls in all./

   [all in good time] {adv. phr.} Some time soon,  when  the  time  is
ripe for an event to take place. * /"I want to get married, Dad," Mike
said. "All in good time, Son," answered his father./

   [all in one piece] {adv. phr.} Safely; without damage  or  harm.  *
/John's father was terribly concerned when his son was sent to war  as
a pilot, but he came home all in one piece./

   [all kinds of] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Plenty  of.  *  /People  say
that Mr. Fox has all kinds of money./ * /When Kathy was sick, she  had
all kinds of company./ Compare: GREAT DEAL.

   [all manner of] {adj. phr.}, {formal} Many different kinds of;  all
sorts of. * /In a five-and-ten-cent store you can buy  all  manner  of
things./

   [all of] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. At least the amount  or  number
of; fully; no less than. * /It was all  of  ten  o'clock  before  they
finally started./ * /She must have paid all of $50 for that  hat./  2.
Showing all the signs of; completely in. - Used with "a". * /The girls
were all of a twitter before the dance./ * /Mother is all of a flutter
because of the thunder and lightning./ * /The dog was all of a tremble
with cold./

   [all of a sudden] See: ALL AT ONCE 2.

   [all out] {adv. phr.}, {informal} With all your strength, power, or
determination; to the best of your ability; without  holding  back.  -
Usually used in the phrase "go all out". * /We went all out to win the
game./ * /John went all out to finish  the  job  and  was  very  tired
afterwards./ Compare: ALL THE WAY 2, FULL TILT, GO THE WHOLE  HOG,  GO
TO ANY LENGTH, LEAVE A STONE UNTURNED, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.

   [all-out effort] {n.} A great and  thorough  effort  at  solving  a
given problem. *  /The  President  is  making  an  all-out  effort  to
convince Congress to pass the pending bill on health care./

   [all-out war] {n.}  Total  war  including  civilian  casualties  as
opposed to a war that is limited only to armies. * /Hitler was  waging
an all-out war when he invaded Poland./

   [all over] {adv. phr.} 1. In every part; everywhere. *  /He  has  a
fever and aches all over./ * /I have looked all over for my  glasses./
Compare: FAR AND WIDE. 2. {informal} In every way; completely. *  /She
is her mother all over./ 3. {informal} Coming into very close physical
contact, as during a violent fight; wrestling.  *  /Before  I  noticed
what happened, he was all over me./

   [all over but the shouting] {adv. phr.,} {informal} Finally decided
or won; brought to an end; not able to be  changed.  *  /After  Bill's
touchdown, the game was all over but the shouting./ *  /John  and  Tom
both tried to win Jane, but after John's promotion it was all over but
the shouting./

   [all over someone] See: FALL ALL OVER SOMEONE.

   [allowance] See: MAKE ALLOWANCE.

   [allow for] {v.} To provide for; leave room for; give a chance  to;
permit. * /She cut the skirt four inches longer to allow  for  a  wide
hem./ * /Democracy allows for many differences of opinion./

   [all right(1)] {adv. phr.} 1. Well enough. * /The  new  machine  is
running all right./ 2. {informal} I am  willing;  yes.  *  /"Shall  we
watch television?" "All right."/ Compare:  VERY  WELL.  3.  {informal}
Beyond question, certainly. - Used for emphasis and placed  after  the
word it modifies. * /It's time to leave, all right, but the bus hasn't
come./

   [all right(2)] {adj. phr.} 1. Good  enough;  correct;  suitable.  *
/His work is always all right./ 2. In good health or spirits; well.  *
/"How are you?" "I'm all right."/ 3. {slang}  Good.  *  /He's  an  all
right guy./

   [all right for you] {interj.} I'm finished with you! That  ends  it
between you and me! - Used by children. * /All right for you! I'm  not
playing with you any more!/

   [all roads lead to Rome] {literary} The same end  or  goal  may  be
reached by many different ways. - A proverb. * /"I don't care how  you
get the answer," said the teacher, "All roads lead to Rome."/

   [all set] {adj. phr.} Ready to start. * /"Is the  plane  ready  for
take-off?" the bank president asked. "Yes, Sir," the  pilot  answered.
"We're all set."/

   [all shook up] also [shook up] {adj.}, {slang} In a state of  great
emotional upheaval; disturbed; agitated. * /What are you so  shook  up
about?/

   [all systems  go]  {Originally  from  space  English,  now  general
colloquial usage.} Everything is complete and ready for action; it  is
now all right to proceed. * /After they wrote out the invitations,  it
was all systems go for the wedding./

   [all the(1)] {adj. phr.}, {dial.} The only. * /A hut  was  all  the
home he ever had./

   [all the(2)] {adv. phr.} Than otherwise; even. - Used to  emphasize
comparative adjectives, adverbs, and nouns.  *  /Opening  the  windows
made it all the hotter./ * /Take a bus instead of walking and get home
all the sooner./ * /If you don't eat your dessert, all  the  more  for
us./

   [all the better] See: ALL THE(2).

   [all the ---er] {substandard} The ---est; as ... as. - Used with  a
comparative adjective or adverb and subordinate clause in place  of  a
superlative adjective or adverb. * /That was all the bigger he  grew./
* /Is that all the faster you can go?/

   [all there] or [all here]  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Understanding
well;  thinking  clearly;  not  crazy.  -  Usually  used  in  negative
sentences, * /Joe acted queerly and talked wildly, so  we  thought  he
was not all there./

   [all the same(1)] or [all one] {n. phr.} Something  that  makes  no
difference; a choice that you don't care about. *  /If  it's  all  the
same to you, I would like to be waited on first./ * /You can get there
by car or by bus - it's all one./

   [all the same(2)] or [just the same] {adv. phr.}, {informal} As  if
the opposite were so; nevertheless; anyway; anyhow; still. * /Everyone
opposed it, but Sally and Bob got married all the same./  *  /Mary  is
deaf, but she takes tap dancing lessons just the  same./  Compare:  AT
THAT 3, IN SPITE OF.

   [all the thing] or [all the rage], [the in  thing]  {n.  phr.}  The
fashionable or popular thing to do, the fashionable  or  most  popular
artist or form of art at a given time. * /After "The Graduate"  Dustin
Hoffman was all the rage in the movies./ * /It was all  the  thing  in
the late sixties to smoke pot  and  demonstrate  against  the  war  in
Vietnam./

   [all the time] {adv. phr.} 1. or [all the while] During  the  whole
period; through the whole time. * /Mary went to college  in  her  home
town and lived at home all the while./ * /Most of us were surprised to
hear that Mary and Tom had been engaged all year,  but  Sue  said  she
knew it all the time./  2.  Without  stopping;  continuously  *  /Most
traffic lights work all the time./ 3. Very often; many times. *  /Ruth
talks about her trip to Europe all the time, and her friends are tired
of it./

   [all the way] or [the whole way]  {adv.  phr.}  1.  From  start  to
finish during the whole distance or time. * /Jack climbed all the  way
to the top of the tree./ * /Joe  has  played  the  whole  way  in  the
football game and it's almost over./ 2. In  complete  agreement;  with
complete willingness to satisfy. - Often used in the  phrase  "go  all
the way with". * /I go all the way with what George says about  Bill./
* /Mary said she was willing to kiss Bill, but that did not  mean  she
was willing to go all the way with him./ * /The bank  was  willing  to
lend Mr. Jones money to enlarge his factory but it wasn 't willing  to
go all the way with his plans to build  another  in  the  next  town./
Compare: ALL OUT, GO THE WHOLE HOG.

   [all the worse] See: ALL THE 2.

   [all thumbs]  {adj.},  {informal}  Awkward,  especially  with  your
hands; clumsy. * /Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs./

   [all  told]  {adv.  phr.},   {informal}   Counting   or   including
everything. * /Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all
told./

   [all to the good] See: TO THE GOOD.

   [all up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Near to certain  death  or  defeat
without any more chance or hope. * /With  their  ammunition  gone  the
patrol knew that it was all up with them./

   [all very well] {adj.} All right; very good and correct; very true.
- Usually followed by a "but" clause. * /It's all very well for you to
complain but can you do any better?/ * /It's all  very  well  if  Jane
comes with us, but how will she get  back  home?/  Compare:  WELL  AND
GOOD.

   [all walks  of  life]  {n.  phr.}  All  socioeconomic  groups;  all
professions and lines of work. * /A good teacher has  to  be  able  to
communicate with students  from  all  walks  of  life./  *  /A  clever
politician doesn't alienate people from any walk of life./

   [all wet] {adj.}, {slang} Entirely confused or wrong;  mistaken.  *
/When the Wright brothers said they  could  build  a  flying  machine,
people thought they were all wet./ * /If you think  I  like  baseball,
you're all wet./ Compare: OFF ONE'S ROCKER.

   [all  wool  and  a  yard  wide]  {adj.  phr.}  Of  fine  character;
especially, very  generous  and  kind-hearted.  *  /He's  a  wonderful
brother - all wool and a yard wide./

   [all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy]  Too  much  hard  work
without time out for play or enjoyment is not good  for  anyone.  -  A
proverb. * /Bill's mother told him to stop studying and to go out  and
play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy./

   [all year round] {adv. phr.} Always; all the time;  throughout  all
seasons of the year. * /In California the sun shines all year round./

   [alone] See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET  WELL  ENOUGH  ALONE  or
LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

   [along] See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG,  GET  ALONG,  GO
ALONG, RUN ALONG, STRING ALONG.

   [along for the ride] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Being in a  group  for
the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. *  /He  wants  no
members in his political party who are just along for the ride./

   [along in years] or [on in years] {adj. phr.} Elderly; growing old.
* /As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful./  *
/Our dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years./

   [alongside of] {prep.} 1. At or along the side  of.  *  /We  walked
alongside of the river./ 2. Together with. * /I  played  alongside  of
Tom on the same team./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SIDE BY SIDE. 3.
{informal} Compared with or to; measured next to. * /His money doesn't
look like much alongside of a millionaire's./

   [a lot] {n.}, {informal} A large number or  amount;  very  many  or
very much; lots. * /I learned a lot in Mr. Smith's class./ * /A lot of
our friends are going to the beach this summer./ - Often used like  an
adverb. * /Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot./ * /Grandfather was
very sick last week, but he's a lot better now./  *  /You'll  have  to
study a lot harder if you want to pass./ - Also used as  an  adjective
with "more", "less", and "fewer". * /There was a  good  crowd  at  the
game today, but a lot more will come next week./  -  Often  used  with
"whole" for emphasis. * /John has a whole lot of marbles./ * /Jerry is
a whole lot taller than he was a year ago./ Compare: GOOD  DEAL,  GOOD
MANY, A NUMBER. Contrast: A FEW, A LITTLE.

   [aloud] See: THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.

   [alpha wave] {n.} A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second,  associated
with a  state  of  relaxation  and  meditation  and,  hence,  free  of
anxieties. * /Try to produce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel
a lot better./

   [alter] See: CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.

   [always] See: GRASS is ALWAYS GREENER ON  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OF  THE
FENCE.

   [ambulance chaser] {n.} An attorney who specializes in representing
victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior  rank
or talent. * /Don't hire Cohen; he's just another ambulance chaser./

   [American plan] {n.} A system of hotel management  in  which  meals
are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that  does
not include meals. * /American tourists  in  Europe  sometimes  expect
that their meals will be  included,  because  they  are  used  to  the
American plan./

   [amount to] {v.} Signify; add up to. * /John's total income  didn't
amount to more than a few hundred dollars./

   [a must] {n.} 1. An inevitability; a necessity. *  /Visas  in  many
foreign  countries  are  a  must./  2.  An  extremely  interesting  or
memorable event, such as a free  concert  given  by  an  international
celebrity. * /Alfred Brendel's Beethoven master classes  are  open  to
the public and are not to be missed; they're a must./

   [anchor] See: AT ANCHOR.

   [--- and ---] 1. - And is  used  between  repeated  words  to  show
continuation or emphasis. *  /When  the  children  saw  the  beautiful
Christmas tree they looked and looked./ * /Old  Mr,  Bryan  has  known
Grandfather for years and years, since they were boys./ * /Billy dived
to the bottom of the lake  again  and  again,  looking  for  the  lost
watch./ * /Everyone wished the speaker would stop, but  he  talked  on
and on./ Compare: THROUGH AND THROUGH. 2. - When "and" is used between
words with opposite meaning, it often emphasizes how much you mean.  *
/Mr. Jones worked early and late to  earn  enough  to  live./  *  /The
parents hunted high and low for the  lost  child./  Compare:  DAY  AND
NIGHT, FROM -- TO, INSIDE AND OUT.

   [and all] {informal} And whatever goes with it; and all that means.
* /We don't go out much nowadays,  with  the  new  baby  and  all./  *
/Jack's employer provided the tools and all./

   [and how!] {interj.}, {informal} Yes, that is  certainly  right!  -
Used for emphatic agreement. * /"Did you see the game?" "And how!"/  *
/"Isn't Mary pretty?" "And how she is!"/ Syn.: YOU BET, YOU  SAID  IT.
Compare:: BUT GOOD.

   [and so forth] or [and so on]  And  more  of  the  same  kind;  and
further amounts or things like the  ones  already  mentioned.  *  /The
costumes were red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, and so forth./ Compare:
WHAT HAVE YOU.

   [and the like] {n. phr.} Things of a  similar  nature.  *  /I  like
McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the like./ * /When  I
go out to the beach flake towels, a mat, suntan lotion, and the like./

   [and then some] And a lot more; and more too. * /It would cost  all
the money he had and then some./  *  /Talking  his  way  out  of  this
trouble was going to take all his wits and then some./

   [and what not] See: WHAT NOT.

   [angel   dust]   {n.},   {slang}   Phencyclidine,   an    addictive
hallucinatory narcotic drug extremely dangerous to the users'  health,
also called PCP. * /Mike has gone from grass to angel  dust;  he  will
end up in the morgue./

   [another] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.

   [answer back] See: TALK BACK.

   [answer for] {v.} 1. To take responsibility for; assume  charge  or
supervision of. * /The secret service has to answer for the safety  of
the President and his family./ 2. To say you are sure  that  (someone)
has good character or ability;  guarantee:  sponsor.  *  /When  people
thought Ray had stolen the money,  the  principal  said,  "Ray  is  no
thief. I'll answer for him."/ 3. Take the blame or punishment  for.  *
/When Mother found out who ate the cake, Tom had  to  answer  for  his
mischief./

   [answer one's calling] {v. phr.} To fulfill one's destiny in  terms
of work or profession by doing what one  has  a  talent  for.  *  /Don
answered his calling when he became a chiropractor. Susy answered  her
calling when she became a violinist./

   [answer the call of nature] or [obey the call of nature] {v. phr.},
{slang} To go to the bathroom  to  relieve  oneself  by  urinating  or
defecating. * /Ted was hiking in the mountains when suddenly he had to
answer the call of nature but since  there  was  no  bathroom  in  the
woods, he excused himself and disappeared behind the bushes./

   [answer to] {v.} To be named; go by a certain name or  designation;
be accountable. * /When you walk  my  dog,  please  remember  that  he
answers to the name "Caesar."/ * /As head of the company she does  not
have to answer to anyone./

   [ante up] {v.}, {informal} To produce the required amount of  money
in order to close a transaction; to pay what one owes. * /"I guess I'd
better ante up if I want to stay an active member of the Association",
Max said./

   [ants in one's pants] {n.  phr.},  {slang}  Nervous  over-activity;
restlessness. * /Jane can not sit still; she has ants in her pants./ *
/You have ants in your pants today. Is something wrong?/

   [a number] {n.} A rather large number; numbers. - Used  when  there
arc more than several and fewer than many. * /The parents were invited
to see the program, and a number came./ * /We knew the Smiths  rattier
well; we had visited them a number of times./ - Used like an adjective
before "less", "more". * /We have not set up enough folding chairs; we
need a number more./ Compare: QUITE A FEW.

   [any] See: HARDLY ANY or SCARCELY ANY.

   [any number] {n.}, {informal} A large number; many.  *  /There  are
any number of reasons for eating good food./ * /Don't ask George  what
his excuse is. He can invent any number./ Compare: A  LOT,  A  NUMBER,
GOOD MANY.

   [any old how]  /  [any  old  way]  {adv.  phr.},  {informal}  Doing
something in a casual, haphazard, or  careless  way.  *  /"John,"  the
teacher said, "you can't just do your homework any old way;  you  must
pay attention to my instructions!"/

   [any port in a storm] Any help is welcome  in  an  emergency.  -  A
proverb. * /The motel we stopped in was nothing to brag about, but  we
were so exhausted that it was a clear case of any port in a storm./

   [anything] See: HAVE  NOTHING  ON  or  NOT  HAVE  ANYTHING  ON,  IF
ANYTHING.

   [anything but] {adv. phr.} Quite the opposite of; far from being. *
/I don't mean he's lazy - anything but!/ * /The  boys  knew  they  had
broken the rules, and they were anything  but  happy  when  they  were
called to the office./

   [anything like]  or  [anywhere  near]  {adv.}  Nearly.  -  Used  in
negative, interrogative,  and  conditional  sentences,  often  in  the
negative forms "nothing like" or "nowhere near". * /It's not  anything
like as hot today as it was yesterday./ * /Do you think that gold ring
is worth anywhere near a hundred dollars?/ * /Today's game was nowhere
near as exciting as yesterday's game./ * /Studying that lesson  should
take nothing like two hours./

   [anywhere near] See: ANYTHING LIKE or ANYWHERE NEAR.

   [any which way] See: EVERY WHICH WAY.

   [apart] See: JOKING ASIDE or JOKING APART, POLES APART, TELL APART.

   [apart from] or [aside from] {prep. phr.}  Beside  or  besides;  in
addition to. * /The children  hardly  see  anyone,  apart  from  their
parents./ * /Aside from being fun and good  exercise,  swimming  is  a
very useful skill./ Syn.: EXCEPT FOR, OUTSIDE OF.

   [ape] See: GO APE.

   [appear] See: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS.

   [appearance] See: PUT IN AN APPEARANCE also MAKE AN APPEARANCE.

   [apple] See: POLISH THE APPLE.

   [applecart] See: UPSET THE APPLECART or UPSET ONE'S APPLECART.

   [apple of one's eye] {n. phr.} Something or someone that is adored;
a cherished person or object. * /Charles is the apple of his  mother's
eye./ * /John's first car was the apple of  his  eye.  He  was  always
polishing it./

   [apple-pie order] {n. phr.}, {informal} Exact orderly  arrangement,
neatness; tidy arrangement. * /The house was in  apple-pie  order./  *
/Like a good secretary, she kept the boss's desk in apple-pie order./

   [apple polisher]; [apple polishing] See: POLISH THE APPLE.

   [approval] See: ON APPROVAL.

   [a pretty pass] {n. phr.}  An  unfortunate  condition;  a  critical
state. * /While the boss was away, things at the company had come to a
pretty pass./

   [apron] See: TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.

   [apropos of] {prep.}, {formal} In connection with; on  the  subject
of, about; concerning. * /Apropos of higher tuition,  Mr.  Black  told
the boy about the educational loans that banks are offering./  *  /Mr.
White went to see Mr. Richards apropos of buying a car./

   [arm] See: GIVE ONE'S RIGHT ARM, KEEP AT  A  DISTANCE  Or  KEEP  AT
ARM'S LENGTH, SHOT IN THE ARM, TAKE UP ARMS, TWIST ONE'S  ARM,  UP  IN
ARMS, WITH OPEN ARMS, COST AN ARM AND A LEG.

   [arm and a leg] {n.}, {slang} An exorbitantly high price that  must
be paid for something that isn't really worth it. * /It's true that to
get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay  an  arm
and a leg./

   [armed to the teeth] {adj. phr.} Having all needed  weapons;  fully
armed. * /The paratroopers were armed to the teeth./

   [arm in arm] {adv. phr.} With your  arm  under  or  around  another
person's arm, especially in close comradeship or friendship. *  /Sally
and Joan were laughing and joking together as they walked arm  in  arm
down the street./ * /When they arrived  at  the  party,  the  partners
walked arm in arm to meet the hosts./ Compare: HAND IN HAND.

   [around one's ears] See: ABOUT ONE'S EARS.

   [around the clock] also [the clock around] {adv. phr.} For 24 hours
a day continuously all day and all  night.  *  /The  factory  operated
around the clock until the order was filled./ * /He studied around the
clock for his  history  exam./  -  [round-the-clock]  {adj.}  *  /That
filling station has round-the-clock service./

   [around the corner] {adv. phr.} Soon to come or happen;  close  by;
near at hand. *  /The  fortuneteller  told  Jane  that  there  was  an
adventure for her just around the corner./

   [arrest] See: UNDER ARREST.

   [as] See: FOR AS MUCH AS, IN AS MUCH AS.

   [as a last resort] {adv. phr.} In lieu of  better  things;  lacking
better solutions. * /"We'll sleep in  our  sleeping  bags  as  a  last
resort," John said, "since all the motels are full."/

   [as a matter of fact] {adv. phr.} Actually; really; in addition  to
what has been said; in reference to what was said. - Often used as  an
interjection. * /It's not true that I cannot  swim;  as  a  matter  of
fact, I used to work as a lifeguard in Hawaii./ * /Do you  think  this
costs too much? As a matter of fact, I think it is rather cheap./

   [as an aside] {adv. phr.} Said as a remark in a low tone of  voice;
used in theaters where the actor turns toward the audience  as  if  to
"think out loud." * /During the concert Tim said to  his  wife  as  an
aside, "The conductor has no idea how to conduct Beethoven."/

   [as a rule] {adv. phr.} Generally; customarily. * /As a  rule,  the
boss arrives at the office about 10 A.M./

   [as an old shoe] See: COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE, COMMON AS AN  OLD
SHOE.

   [as --- as ---] - Used with an adjective or adverb in a  comparison
or with the effect of a superlative. * /John is as tall as his  father
now./ * /I didn't do as badly today as I  did  yesterday./  *  /John's
father gave him a hard job and told him to do as well as possible./  *
/The sick girl was not hungry, but her mother told her to eat as  much
as she could./ - Also used in the form "so --- as" in some  sentences,
especially negative sentences. * /This hill isn't nearly  so  high  as
the last one we climbed./ - Often used in  similes  (comparisons  that
are figures of speech). * /The baby mouse looked as big as a  minute./
* /Jim's face was red as a beet after he made the foolish mistake./  -
Most similes in conventional  use  are  cliches,  avoided  by  careful
speakers and writers.

   [as best one can] {adv. phr.} As well as you can; by whatever means
are available; in the best way you can. * /The car broke down  in  the
middle of the night, and he had to get  home  as  best  he  could./  *
/George's foot hurt, but he played the game as best he could./ *  /The
girl's mother was sick, so the girl got dinner as best she could./

   [as catch can] See: CATCH AS CATCH CAN.

   [as far as] or [so far as] {adv. phr.} 1. To the degree  or  amount
that; according to what, how much, or how far. * /John did a good  job
as far as he went, but he did not finish it./ * /So far as the weather
is concerned, I do not  think  it  matters./  *  /As  far  as  he  was
concerned, things were going well./ 2. To the extent that; within  the
limit that. * /He has no brothers so far  as  I  know./  Compare:  FOR
ALL(2).

   [as far as that goes] or [as far as that is concerned] or  [so  far
as that is concerned] also [so far as that goes] {adv. phr.} While  we
are talking about it; also; actually. * /You don't have to worry about
the girls. Mary can take care of herself, and as  far  as  that  goes,
Susan is pretty independent, too./ * /I didn't enjoy the movie, and so
far as that is concerned, I never like horror movies./ Syn.: FOR  THAT
MATTER, IN FACT. Compare: COME TO THINK OF IT.

   [as follows] A list of things that come next; what is listed  next.
- Followed by a colon. *  /My  grocery  list  is  as  follows:  bread,
butter, meat, eggs, sugar./  *  /The  names  of  the  members  are  as
follows: John Smith, Mary Webb, Linda  Long,  Ralph  Harper./  *  /The
route is as follows: From City Hall go south on  Main  Street  to  Elm
Street, east on Elm to 5th Street, and south on 5th two blocks to  the
school./

   [as for] {prep.} 1. In regard to; speaking of;  concerning.  *  /We
have plenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough./ 2.
Speaking for. * /Most people like the summer but as  for  me,  I  like
winter much better./ Compare: FOR ONE'S PART.

   [as good as] {adv. phr.} Nearly the same as; almost. * /She claimed
that he as good as promised to marry her./ * /He as good as called  me
a liar./ * /We'll get to school on time, we're as good as there  now./
* /The man who had been shot was  as  good  as  dead./  -  Often  used
without the  first  "as"  before  adjectives.  *  /When  the  car  was
repaired, it looked good as new./

   [as good as a mile] See: MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE.

   [as good as one gets] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS.

   [as good as one's promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.

   [as good as one's  word]  or  [good  as  one's  word]  {adj.  phr.}
Trustworthy; sure to keep your promise. * /The  coach  said  he  would
give the players a day off if they won, and he  was  as  good  as  his
word./ * /We knew she was always good as her word, so we trusted her./

   [as  hard  as  nails]  {adj.  phr.}  Very  unfeeling;  cruel,   and
unsympathetic. * /Uncle Joe is as hard as  nails;  although  he  is  a
millionaire, he doesn't help his less fortunate relatives./

   [aside] See: JOKING ASIDE, SET ASIDE.

   [aside from] See: APART FROM.

   [aside of] {prep.}, {dialect} Beside; by the side of. * /Mary  sits
aside of her sister on the bus./

   [as if] or [as though] {conj.} 1. As (he, she, it) would if; in the
same way one would if seeing to show. * /The baby  laughed  as  if  he
understood what Mother said./ * /The book looked as though it had been
out in the rain./ * /The waves dashed on the rocks as if in anger./ 2.
That. * /It seems as if you are the first one here./

   [as if one has come out of a bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS  COME
OUT OF A BANDBOX.

   [as is] {adv.} Without changes or improvements; with  no  guarantee
or promise of good condition. - Used after the  word  it  modifies.  *
/They agree to buy the house as is./ * /He bought an old car  as  is./
Compare: AT THAT(1).

   [as it were] {adv. phr.} As it might be said to be; as if it really
were; seemingly. - Used with a statement  that  might  seem  silly  or
unreasonable, to show that it is just a way of saying it. *  /In  many
ways children live, as it were, in a different world from  adults./  *
/The sunlight on the icy branches made,  as  it  were,  delicate  lacy
cobwebs from tree to tree./ Compare: SO TO SPEAK.

   [ask] See: FOR THE ASKING.

   [ask for] {v.}, {informal} To make (something bad) likely to happen
to you; bring (something bad) upon yourself. * /Charles drives fast on
worn-out tires; he is asking for trouble./ *  /The  workman  lost  his
job, but he asked for it by  coming  to  work  drunk  several  times./
Compare: HAVE IT COMING, SERVE RIGHT, SIGN ONE'S OWN DEATH WARRANT.

   [ask for one's hand] {v. phr.} To ask permission to marry  someone.
* /"Sir," John said timidly to Mary's father, "I came to ask for  your
daughter's hand."/

   [ask for the moon]  or  [cry  for  the  moon]  {v.  phr.}  To  want
something that you cannot reach or have; try  for  the  impossible.  *
/John asked his mother for a hundred dollars today. He's always asking
for the moon./ Compare: PROMISE THE MOON.

   [asleep at the switch] {adj. phr.} 1. Asleep when it is one's  duty
to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right  track.  *  /The
new man was asleep at the switch  and  the  two  trains  crashed./  2.
{informal} Failing to act  promptly  as  expected,  not  alert  to  an
opportunity. * /When the ducks flew over, the boy was  asleep  at  the
switch and missed his shot./

   [as likely as not] {adv. phr.} Probably. * /As likely  as  not,  he
will disappear forever./

   [as long as] or [so long as] {conj.} 1. Since; because; considering
that. * /As long as you are going to town anyway, you can do something
for me./ 2. Provided that; if. * /You may use the room as you like, so
long as you clean it up afterward./

   [as luck would have it] {adv. clause} As it  happened;  by  chance;
luckily or unluckily. * /As luck would have it,  no  one  was  in  the
building when the explosion occurred./ * /As luck would have it,
there was rain on the day of the picnic./

   [as much] {n.} The same; exactly that. * /Don't thank me,  I  would
do as much for anyone./ * /Did you lose your way? I  thought  as  much
when you were late in coming./

   [as much as] {adv. phr.} 1. or [much as] Even though;  although.  *
/As much as I hate to do it, I must stay home and study  tonight./  2.
or [so much as] Just the same as; almost; practically; really.  *  /By
running away he as much as admitted that he had taken  the  money./  *
/You as much as promised you would help us./ * /The clerk as  much  as
told me that I was a fool./ Compare: AS GOOD AS. 3. See: FOR  AS  MUCH
AS.

   [as of] prep. At or until (a certain time). * /I know  that  as  of
last week he was still unmarried./ * /As of now  we  don't  know  much
about Mars./

   [as one goes] See: PAY AS ONE GOES.

   [as one man] {adv. phr.} Unanimously; together;  involving  all.  *
/The audience arose as one man to applaud the great pianist./

   [as regards] {prep.} Regarding; concerning; about. *  /You  needn't
worry as regards  the  cost  of  the  operation./  *  /He  was  always
secretive as regards his family./

   [as soon as] {conj.} Just after; when;  immediately  after.  *  /As
soon as the temperature falls to 70, the furnace is turned on./ *  /As
soon as you finish your job let me know./ * /He will see you  as  soon
as he can./

   [as the crow flies] {adv. clause} By the most direct way;  along  a
straight line between two places. * /It is seven  miles  to  the  next
town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the  road,  which  goes
around the mountain./

   [as the story goes] {adv. phr.} As the story is told;  as  one  has
heard through rumor. * /As the story goes, Jonathan  disappeared  when
he heard the police were after him./

   [as though] See: AS IF.

   [as to] {prep.} 1. In connection with; about; regarding.  *  /There
is no doubt as to his honesty./  *  /As  to  your  final  grade,  that
depends  on  your  final  examination./  Syn.:  WITH  RESPECT  TO.  2.
According to; following; going by. * /They sorted the eggs as to  size
and color./

   [as usual] {adv. phr.} In the usual way; as you usually do or as it
usually does. * /As usual, Tommy forgot to make his bed before he went
out to play./ * /Only a week after the fire in the store, it was doing
business as usual./

   [as well] {adv. phr.} 1. In addition; also, too;  besides.  *  /The
book tells about Mark Twain's writings and about his life as well./  *
/Tom is captain of the football team and is on the  baseball  team  as
well./ 2. Without loss and possibly with gain. * /After  the  dog  ran
away, Father thought he might as well sell the dog house./ * /Since he
can't win the race, he may as well quit./ * /It's  just  as  well  you
didn't come yesterday, because we were away./

   [as well as] {conj.} In addition to; and also; besides.  *  /Hiking
is good exercise as well as fun./ * /He was my friend as  well  as  my
doctor./ * /The book tells about the author's life as  well  as  about
his writings./

   [as yet] {adv. phr.} Up to the present time; so  far;  yet.  *  /We
know little as yet about the moon's surface./ * /She has not  come  as
yet./

   [as you please] 1. As you like, whatever you like or prefer; as you
choose. * /You may do as you please./ 2. {informal} Very. - Used after
an adjective or adverb often preceded by "as". *  /There  was  Tinker,
sitting there, cheerful as you please./ * /She  was  dressed  for  the
dance and she looked as pretty as you please./

   [at a blow] or [at  a  stroke]  or  [at  one  stroke]  {adv.  phr.}
Immediately; suddenly; with one  quick  or  forceful  action.  *  /The
pirates captured the ship and captured a ton of gold at a blow./ *  /A
thousand men lost their jobs at a stroke when the factory  closed./  *
/All the prisoners escaped at one stroke./ Compare: AT  ONCE,  AT  ONE
TIME.

   [at all] {adv. phr.} At any time or place, for any  reason,  or  in
any degree or manner. - Used for emphasis with certain kinds of  words
or sentences. 1. Negative * /It's not at all likely he will come./  2.
Limited * /I can hardly hear you at all./ 3. Interrogative *  /Can  it
be done at all?/ 4. Conditional * /She will walk with a limp,  if  she
walks at all./ Syn.: IN THE LEAST.

   [at all costs] {adv. phr.} At  any  expense  of  time,  effort,  or
money. Regardless of the results. * /Mr. Jackson intended to save  his
son's eyesight at all costs./ * /Carl is determined to succeed in  his
new job at all costs./

   [at all events] See: IN ANY CASE.

   [at all hazards] {adv. phr.} With no  regard  for  danger;  at  any
risk; regardless of the chances you must take. * /The racer  meant  to
win the 500-mile race at all hazards./

   [at all hours] {adv. phr.} Any time; all the time;  at  almost  any
time. * /The baby cried so much that we were up at all hours trying to
calm her down./

   [at a loss] {adj. phr.} In a  state  of  uncertainty;  without  any
idea; puzzled. * /A good salesman is never at a  loss  for  words./  *
/When Don missed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do./

   [at anchor] {adj. phr.} Held  by  an  anchor  from  floating  away;
anchored. * /The ship rode at anchor in the harbor./

   [at any rate] {adv. phr.} In any case; anyhow. * /It isn't much  of
a car, but at any rate it was not expensive./ Compare: AT LEAST(2), IN
ANY CASE.

   [at a  premium]  {adv.  phr.}  At  a  high  price  due  to  special
circumstances. * /When his father died,  Fred  flew  to  Europe  at  a
premium because he had no chance to buy a less expensive ticket./

   [at arm's length] See: KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM'S LENGTH.

   [at a set time] {prep. phr.} At a particular, pre-specified time. *
/Do we have to eat in this hotel at a set time, or may  we  come  down
whenever we want?/

   [at a snail's pace] See: SNAIL'S PACE.

   [at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

   [at a stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT A STROKE.

   [at a time] {adv. phr.} At once; at one time; in one group or unit;
together. * /He checked them off one at a time as they came in./ * /He
ran up the steps two at a time./ See: EVERY OTHER. * /They  showed  up
for class three and four at a time./

   [at bay] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In a place where you can  no  longer
run away; unable to go back farther; forced to  stand  and  fight,  or
face an enemy; cornered. * /The dog ran the rat  into  a  corner,  and
there the rat turned at bay./ * /The police  chased  the  thief  to  a
roof, where they held him at bay until more policemen came  to  help./
Compare: BRING TO BAY.

   [at  best]  or  [at  the  best]  {adv.  phr.}  1.  Under  the  best
conditions; as the best possibility. * /A coal miner's  job  is  dirty
and dangerous at best./ * /We can't get to New York before ten o'clock
at best./ Compare: AT  MOST.  Contrast:  AT  WORST.  2.  In  the  most
favorable way of looking at something; even saying the best about  the
thing. * The /treasurer had at best  been  careless  with  the  club's
money, but most people thought he had been dishonest./

   [at both ends] See: BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

   [at call] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Ready or nearby for  use,  help,
or service; on request. * /Thousands of auto insurance agents all over
the country are at the insured person's call, wherever he may travel./
2. At the word of command; at an order  or  signal.  *  /The  dog  was
trained to come at call./

   [at close range] {adv. phr.} Close by; in proximity. * /The  police
officer fired at the fleeing murder suspect at close range./

   [at cross purposes] {adv. phr.} With  opposing  meanings  or  aims;
with opposing effect or result; with aims which hinder or get in  each
other's way. * /Tom's parents acted at cross purposes in advising him;
his father wanted him to become a doctor; but his mother wanted him to
become a minister./

   [at death's door] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very near death;  dying.  *
/He seemed to be at death's door from his illness./

   [at  each  other's  throats]  {prep.  phr.}  Always   arguing   and
quarreling. * /Joan and Harry have been at  each  other's  throats  so
long that they have forgotten how much they used to love one another./

   [at ease] or [at one's ease] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1.  In  comfort;
without pain or bother. * /You can't feel at ease with  a  toothache./
2. or  [at  one's  ease]  Comfortable  in  one's  mind;  relaxed,  not
troubled. - Often used in the phrase "put at ease" or  "put  at  one's
ease." * /We put Mary at her ease during the thunderstorm  by  reading
her stories./ Compare: AT HOME(2). Contrast: ILL AT EASE, ON EDGE.  3.
Standing with your right foot in place and without talking in military
ranks. * /The sergeant gave his men the command "At  ease!"/  Compare:
PARADE REST.

   [at every turn] {adv. phr.} Every time; all the  time;  continually
without exception. * /Because of his drinking, the man was  refused  a
job at every turn./

   [at face value] {prep. phr.} What one can actually hear,  read,  or
see; literally. * /John is so honest that you can take  his  words  at
face value./ * /This store's advertisements are honest; take  them  at
face value./

   [at fault] {adj. phr.} Responsible for  an  error  or  failure;  to
blame. * /The driver who didn't stop at the red light was at fault  in
the accident./ * /When the engine would not start, the mechanic looked
at all the parts to find what was at fault./ Syn.: IN THE WRONG.

   [at first] {adv. phr.} In the  beginning;  at  the  start.  *  /The
driver didn't see the danger at first./ * /At  first  the  job  looked
good to Bob, but later it became tiresome./  *  /There  was  a  little
trouble at first, but things soon were quiet./

   [at first blush] {adv.  phr.}  When  first  seen;  without  careful
study. * /At first blush the offer looked good, but  when  we  studied
it, we found things we could not accept./

   [at first glance] or [at first sight] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} After a
first quick look. * /At first sight, his  guess  was  that  the  whole
trouble between the two men resulted from personalities that  did  not
agree./ * /Tom met Mary at a party, and it was love at first sight./

   [at great length] {prep. phr.} 1. In great detail. * /Jim  told  us
the story of his life at great length./ 2. For a  long  time.  *  /The
boring speaker rambled on at great length./

   [at half mast] {prep. phr.} Halfway up or down; referring primarily
to flagposts, but may be used jokingly. * /When  a  president  of  the
United States dies, all flags are flown at half mast./

   [at hand] also [at close hand] or [near at  hand]  {adv.  phr.}  1.
Easy to reach; nearby. * /When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary
at hand./ 2. {formal} Coming soon; almost here.  *  /Examinations  are
past and Commencement Day is at hand./

   [at heart] {adv. phr.} 1. In spite of appearances;  at  bottom;  in
reality. * /His manners are rough but he is a kind man at  heart./  2.
As a serious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal.  *  /He
has the welfare of the poor at heart./

   [at home] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the place where you  live  or
come from. * * /I went to his house,  but  he  was  not  at  home./  *
/Americans abroad are protected by the government  like  Americans  at
home./ 2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. * /Charles
and John enjoy working together because they feel at  home  with  each
other./ * /The politician was at home among  poor  farmers  and  among
rich factory owners./ * /Make the new student feel  at  home  in  your
school./ * /Would you be at home driving a truck?/ * /Jim always lived
by a lake, and he is at home in the water./ * /Tom has read many books
about missiles and is at home in  that  subject./  Syn.:  AT  EASE(2).
Compare: IN ONE'S ELEMENT, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME. Contrast: AT A LOSS.

   [at issue] {adj. phr.} 1. In dispute; to be settled by  debate,  by
vote, by battle, or by some other contest. * /His  good  name  was  at
issue in the trial./ * /The independence of  the  United  States  from
England was at issue in the Revolutionary War./ Compare: IN  QUESTION.
2. Not in agreement; in conflict; opposing. * /His work  as  a  doctor
was at issue with other doctors' practice./ Syn.: AT ODDS.

   [at it] {adj. phr.} Busily doing something; active. * /His rule for
success was to keep always at it./ * /The couple who owned the  little
cleaning shop were at it early and late./ * /Mr. Curtis heard  a  loud
crash in the next apartment - the neighbors were at it again./

   [at large] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not kept within walls,  fences,
or boundaries; free. * /The  killer  remained  at  large  for  weeks./
Compare: AT LIBERTY. * /Cattle and sheep roamed at large  on  the  big
ranch./ 2.  In  a  broad,  general  way;  at  length;  fully.  *  /The
superintendent talked at large for an hour about his hopes for  a  new
school building./ 3. As a group  rather  than  as  individuals;  as  a
whole; taken together. * /The junior class at large was not interested
in a senior yearbook./ 4. As a representative  of  a  whole  political
unit or area rather than one of its parts; from a city rather than one
of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts. *  /He  was
elected congressman at large./ * /Aldermen are voted for at large./

   [at last] also [at long  last]  {adv.  phr.}  After  a  long  time;
finally. * /The war had been long and hard, but now there was peace at
last./ * /The boy saved his money until at last he had  enough  for  a
bicycle./

   [at least] {adv. phr.} 1. or [at the least] At the smallest  guess;
no fewer than; no less than. * /You should brush your teeth  at  least
twice a day./ * /At least three students are failing in  mathematics./
* /Mr. Johnson must weigh 200 pounds at least./ Compare:  ALL  OF.  2.
Whatever else you may say; anyhow; anyway. * /It was  a  clumsy  move,
but at least it saved her from getting hit./ * /She broke her arm, but
at least it wasn't the arm she writes with./ * /The Mortons had fun at
their picnic yesterday - at least the children did - they played while
their parents cooked the food./ * /He's not coming - at  least  that's
what he said./ Compare: AT ANY RATE.

   [at leisure] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Not at work; not  busy;  with
free time; at rest. * /Come and visit us some evening when  you're  at
leisure./ 2. or [at one's leisure] When  and  how  you  wish  at  your
convenience; without hurry. *  /John  made  the  model  plane  at  his
leisure./ * /You may read the book at your leisure./

   [at length] {adv. phr.} 1. In detail; fully. * /You must study  the
subject at length to understand it./ * /The teacher explained the  new
lesson at length to the students./ 2. In the end; at last; finally.  *
/The movie became more and more exciting, until at length people  were
sitting on the edge of their chairs./

   [at liberty] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}  Free  to  go  somewhere  or  do
something; not shut in or stopped. * /The police promised to  set  the
man at liberty if he told the names of the other  robbers./  *  /I  am
sorry, but I am not at liberty to come to  your  party./  Compare:  AT
LARGE(1).

   [at loggerheads] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} In a quarrel;  in  a  fight;
opposing each other. * /The two senators had long been at  loggerheads
on foreign aid./ * /Because of their barking dog, the  Morrises  lived
at loggerheads with their neighbors./ Compare: AT ODDS.

   [at long last] See: AT LAST.

   [at loose ends] {adj.  phr.}  Without  a  regular  job  or  settled
habits; uncertain what to do next; having nothing to do for  a  while;
undecided; unsettled; restless. * /Feeling at loose ends, I went for a
long walk./ * /He had finished college but hadn't found a job yet,  so
he was at loose ends./

   [at most] or [at the most] {adv.  phr.}  By  the  largest  or  most
generous guess; at the upper limit; by the maximum account;  not  more
than; at best; at worst. * /It was a minor offense at most./ * /He had
been gone 15 minutes at the most./ * /Their new house lot is a quarter
acre at most./

   [at odds] {adj. phr.} In conflict or disagreement; opposed. *  /The
boy and girl were married  a  week  after  they  met  and  soon  found
themselves at odds about religion./ Compare: AT LOGGERHEADS.

   [at once] {adv. phr.} 1. Without delay; right now  or  right  then;
immediately. * /Put a burning match next to a piece of  paper  and  it
will begin burning at once./ * /Mother called the children  to  lunch,
and Paul came at once, but Brenda stayed in the  sand  pile  a  little
longer./ Syn.: RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF. Compare: ALL AT ONCE(2).

   [at one] {adj. phr.} 1.  In  union  or  harmony;  in  agreement  or
sympathy. Not usually used informally. * /He felt at one with all  the
poets who have sung of love./ 2. Of the same opinion, in agreement.  *
/Husband and wife were at one on everything but money./  Contrast:  AT
ODDS.

   [at one fell swoop] See: IN ONE FELL SWOOP.

   [at one's beck and call] or [at the beck and call of]  {adj.  phr.}
Ready and willing to do whatever someone asks; ready  to  serve  at  a
moment's notice. * /A good parent  isn't  necessarily  always  at  the
child's beck and call./

   [at one's best] {prep. phr.} In best form;  displaying  one's  best
qualities. * /Tim is at his best when he has had a long swim before  a
ballgame./ * /Jane rested before the  important  meeting  because  she
wanted to be at her best./

   [at one's door] or [at one's doorstep] {adv. phr.} 1.  Very  close;
very near where you live or work. *  /Johnny  is  very  lucky  because
there's a swimming pool right at his doorstep./ * /Mr. Green  can  get
to work in only a few minutes because the subway is at his  door./  2.
See: LAY AT ONE'S DOOR.

   [at one's ease] See: AT EASE(2).

   [at one's elbow] {adv. phr.}  Close  beside  you;  nearby.  *  /The
President rode in an open car with his wife at  his  elbow./  *  /Mary
practiced for several years to  become  a  champion  swimmer  and  her
mother was always at her elbow to help her./  Contrast:  BREATHE  DOWN
ONE'S NECK.

   [at one's feet] {adv. phr.} Under your influence or power.  *  /She
had a dozen men at her feet./ * /Her voice kept audiences at her  feet
for years./ Compare: THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE'S FEET.

   [at one's fingertips] {adv. phr.} 1.  Within  easy  reach;  quickly
touched; nearby. * /Seated in the cockpit, the pilot of  a  plane  has
many controls at his fingertips./ 2. Readily usable  as  knowledge  or
skill; familiar. * /He had several languages at his fingertips./ * /He
had the whole design of the machine at his fingertips./

   [at one's heels] {adv. phr.} Close behind; as a  constant  follower
or companion. * /The boy got tired of having his little brother at his
heels all day./ * /John ran by the finish line with Ned at his heels./
* /Bad luck followed at his heels all his life./

   [at one's leisure] See: AT LEISURE(2).

   [at one's service] {adv. phr.} 1.  Ready  to  serve  or  help  you;
prepared to obey your wish or command; subject to your orders.  *  /He
placed himself completely at the President's service./ * /"Now I am at
your service," the dentist told the next patient./  2.  Available  for
your use; at your disposal. * /He put  a  car  and  chauffeur  at  the
visitor's service./

   [at one stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT ONE STROKE.

   [at one's wit's end] or [at wits end] {adj. phr.} Having  no  ideas
as to how to meet a difficulty or solve  a  problem;  feeling  puzzled
after having used up all of your ideas or resources; not knowing  what
to do; puzzled. * /He had approached every friend and acquaintance for
help in vain, and now he was at his wit's end./ * /The designer was at
his wit's end: he had tried out wings of many different kinds but none
would fly./ Compare: AT A LOSS, END OF ONE'S ROPE.

   [at one's word] See: TAKE AT ONE'S WORD.

   [at one time] {adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. * /Let's
start the dance again all at one time./ * /Mr. Reed's bills  came  all
at one time and he could not pay them./ Syn.: AT THE SAME TIME(1).  2.
At a certain time in the past;  years  ago.  *  /At  one  time  people
thought that Minnesota was not a good place to live./ * /At  one  time
most school teachers were men, but today there  are  more  women  than
men./

   [at pains] {adj. phr.} Making a special effort. * /At pains to make
a good impression, she was prompt for her appointment./

   [at present] {adv. phr.} At this time; now. * /It took a long  time
to get started, but at present the  road  is  half  finished./  *  /At
present the house is empty, but next week a family will move in./

   [at random] {adv. phr.} With no  order,  plan,  or  purpose;  in  a
mixed-up, or thoughtless way. * /He opened the letters at  random./  *
/His clothes were scattered about the room at random./

   [at sea(1)] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1.  On  an  ocean  voyage;  on  a
journey by ship. * /They had first met at sea./ 2. Out on  the  ocean;
away from land. * /By the second day the ship was well out at sea./  *
/Charles had visited a ship in dock, but he had never been on  a  ship
at sea./

   [at sea(2)]  {adj.  phr.}  Not  knowing  what  to  do;  bewildered;
confused; lost. * /The job was new to him, and for a few days  he  was
at sea./ * /When his friends talked about chemistry, Don was  at  sea,
because he did not study chemistry./ Compare: AT A LOSS.

   [at sight] or [on sight] {adv. phr.} 1. The first time  the  person
or thing is seen; as soon as the person or thing  is  seen.  *  /First
graders learn to read many words on sight./  *  /Mary  had  seen  many
pictures of Grandfather, so  she  knew  him  on  sight./  Compare:  AT
ONCE(1). 2. On demand, on asking the first time. *  /The  money  order
was payable at sight./

   [at sixes and sevens] {adj. phr.} Not in order; in confusion; in  a
mess. * /He apologized because his wife was away and the house was  at
sixes and sevens./ * /Our teacher had just moved to a  new  classroom,
and she was still at sixes and sevens./ * /After the  captain  of  the
team broke his leg, the other players were at sixes and sevens./

   [at --- stage of the game] {adv. phr.} At  (some)  time  during  an
activity; at (some) point. * /At that stage of the game, our team  was
doing so poorly that we were ready to give up./ * /It's hard  to  know
what will happen at this stage of the game./ * /At what stage  of  the
game did the man leave?/

   [at stake] {adj. phr.} Depending, like a bet,  on  the  outcome  of
something uncertain; in a position to be lost or gained. *  /The  team
played hard because the championship of the state  was  at  stake./  *
/The farmers were more anxious for rain than the people  in  the  city
because they had more at stake./ Compare: HANG IN THE BALANCE.

   [at straws] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

   [at swords' points] {adj. phr.} Ready to start fighting; very  much
opposed to each; other hostile; quarreling. * /The dog's barking  kept
the Browns at swords' points with their neighbors for months./ *  /The
mayor and the reporter were always at swords' points./

   [at table] See: AT THE TABLE; WAIT AT TABLE.

   [at that] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1.  As  it  is;  at  that  point;
without more talk or waiting. * /Ted was not quite satisfied with  his
haircut but let it go at that./ 2. In addition; also. *  /Bill's  seat
mate on the plane was a girl and a pretty one at that./ 3. After  all;
in spite of all; anyway. * /The book was hard to  understand,  but  at
that Jack enjoyed it./ Syn.: ALL THE SAME.

   [at the best] See: AT BEST.

   [at the bit] See: CHAMP AT THE BIT.

   [at the drop of a hat] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Without  waiting;
immediately; promptly. * /If you need a babysitter quickly, call Mary,
because she can come at the drop of a hat./ Compare: ON  THE  SPUR  OF
THE MOMENT. 2. Whenever you have a chance; with very little  cause  or
urging. * /At the drop of a hat, he would tell the story of the  canal
he wanted to build./ * /He was quarrelsome and ready to fight  at  the
drop of a hat./

   [at the eleventh hour] {prep. phr.} At the last  possible  time.  *
/Aunt Mathilda got married at the eleventh hour; after  all,  she  was
already 49 years old./

   [at the end of one's rope] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE.

   [at the kill] See: IN AT THE KILL.

   [at the least] See: AT LEAST.

   [at the mercy of] or [at one's mercy] {adj. phr.} In the power  of;
subject to the will and wishes of; without  defense  against.  *  /The
champion had the other boxer at his mercy./ * /The picnic was  at  the
mercy of the weather./ * /The small grocer was at the mercy of  people
he owed money to./

   [at the most] See: AT MOST.

   [at the outset] {adv. phr.} At  the  start;  at  the  beginning.  *
/"You'll live in the cheaper barracks at the  outset;  later  you  can
move into the better cabins," the camp director said to the new boys./

   [at the outside] {adv. phr.} Maximally; at the utmost. * /This  old
house can cost no more than $40,000 at the outside./

   [at the point of] {prep.} Very near to; almost at or  in.  *  /When
Mary broke her favorite bracelet, she was at the point  of  tears./  *
/The boy hurt in the accident lay at the point of death  for  a  week,
then he got well./ Compare: ABOUT TO(1), ON THE POINT OF.

   [at the ready] {adj. phr.} Ready for use. * /The  sailor  stood  at
the bow, harpoon at the ready, as the boat neared the whale./

   [at the same time] {adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment;  together.  *
/The two runners reached the finish line at the same time./  Syn.:  AT
ONCE, AT ONE TIME. 2. In spite of that  fact;  even  though;  however;
but; nevertheless. * /John did pass the test; at  the  same  time,  he
didn't know the subject very well./

   [at the seams] See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.

   [at the table] or [at table] {adv. phr.} At a meal; at  the  dinner
table. * /The telephone call came while they were all at table./

   [at the tip of one's tongue] or [on the tip of one's tongue]  {adv.
phr.} {informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said.  *  /It
was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ * /John
had a rude answer on the tip of his  tongue,  but  he  remembered  his
manners just in time./ 2. Almost remembered; at the  point  where  one
can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten. *  /I  have  his
name on the tip of my tongue./

   [at the top of one's voice] or [at the top of  one's  lungs]  {adv.
phr.} As loud as you can;  with  the  greatest  possible  sound;  very
loudly. * /He was singing at the top of his voice./ * /He  shouted  at
the top of his lungs./

   [at this rate] or [at that rate] {adv. phr.} At a speed  like  this
or that; with progress like this or that. * /John's father  said  that
if John kept going at that rate he  would  never  finish  cutting  the
grass./ * /So Johnny has a whole dollar!  At  this  rate  he'll  be  a
millionaire./ * /"Three 100's in the last four  tests!  At  this  rate
you'll soon be teaching the subject," Tom said to Mary./

   [at times] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; not every day; not
every week; occasionally; sometimes. * /At times Tom's mother lets him
hold the baby./ * /You can certainly be exasperating, at times!/ * /We
have pie for dinner at times./ Syn.: FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND  THEN,
ONCE IN A WHILE.

   [at will] {adv. phr.} As you like; as you please or choose  freely.
* /Little Bobby is allowed to wander at will in the  neighborhood./  *
/With an air conditioner you can  enjoy  comfortable  temperatures  at
will./

   [at wits end] See: AT ONE'S WIT'S END.

   [at work] {adj, phr.} Busy at a job; doing work. * /The teacher was
soon hard at work correcting that day's test./ * /Jim is  at  work  on
his car./

   [at worst] or [at  the  worst]  {adv.  phr.}  1.  Under  the  worst
conditions; as the worst possibility. * /When Don was caught  cheating
in the examination he thought that at worst he would get a  scolding./
Compare: AT MOST. Contrast AT BEST. 2. In the least favorable view, to
say the worst about a thing. * /The treasurer had certainly not stolen
any of the club's money; at worst, he had forgotten to write down some
of the things he had spent money for./

   [aught] See: FOR AUGHT at FOR ALL(2), FOR ALL ONE KNOWS.

   [Aunt  Tom]  {n.},  {slang},  {originally  from  Black  English}  A
successful professional or business woman who, due to her success in a
masculine  profession,  doesn't  care  about  the  women's  liberation
movement or the passing of the Equal  Rights  Amendment  to  the  U.S.
Constitution. * /Hermione is a regular Aunt Tom, she'll never vote for
the ERA./

   [avail] See: TO NO AVAIL or OF NO AVAIL.

   [average] See: ON AN AVERAGE or ON THE AVERAGE, LAW OF AVERAGES.

   [awe] See: STAND IN AWE OF.

   [awkward age] {n.} Adolescence; awkwardness during  adolescence.  *
/Sue used to be an "ugly duckling" when she was at  the  awkward  age,
but today she is a glamorous fashion model./

   [AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.

   [ax to grind] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something to gain for yourself:
a selfish reason. * /In praising movies for classroom use he has an ax
to grind; he sells motion picture equipment./ * /When Charles told the
teacher he saw Arthur copying his homework from Jim, he had an  ax  to
grind; Arthur would not let Charles copy from him./





   [babe in the woods] {n. phr.} A  person  who  is  inexperienced  or
innocent in certain things. * /He is a good driver, but as a  mechanic
he is just a babe in the woods./  Compare:  OVER  ONE'S  HEAD,  BEYOND
ONE'S DEPTH.

   [baby] See: WAR BABY.

   [baby boom] {n.} A sudden  increase  in  the  birth  rate.  *  /The
universities were filled  to  capacity  due  to  the  baby  boom  that
followed World War II./

   [baby grand] {n.} A small grand piano no longer  than  three  feet,
maximally four feet. * /This apartment  can't  take  a  regular  grand
piano, so we'll have to buy a baby grand./

   [baby kisser] {n.}, {slang} A person campaigning for votes  in  his
quest for elected political office; such  persons  often  kiss  little
children in public. * /Nixon was a baby kisser when he  ran  for  Vice
President with Eisenhower./

   [back] See: BACK OF or IN BACK OF, BEHIND ONE'S BACK,  BRUSH  BACK,
COME BACK, CUT BACK, DOUBLE BACK, DRAW BACK, DROP BACK.  EYES  IN  THE
BACK OF ONE'S HEAD, FADE BACK, FALL BACK, FALL BACK ON, FLANKER  BACK.
FROM WAY BACK, GET BACK AT, GET ONE'S BACK  UP,  GIVE  THE  SHIRT  OFF
ONE'S BACK, GO BACK ON, HANG BACK, HARK BACK, HOLD  BACK,  LIKE  WATER
OFF A DUCK'S BACK, LOOK BACK, OFF ONE'S BACK, ON ONE'S  BACK,  PAT  ON
THE BACK, PIGGY-BACK, PIN ONE'S EARS BACK, PUT BACK THE CLOCK or  TURN
BACK THE CLOCK, PUT ONE'S BACK TO IT, SCRATCH ONE'S  BACK,  SET  BACK,
SET BACK ON ONE'S HEELS, SIT BACK, STAB IN THE BACK, TAKE A BACK SEAT,
TAKE BACK, TALK BACK also ANSWER BACK, TURN ONE'S BACK ON,  WEIGHT  OF
THE WORLD ON ONE'S SHOULDERS or WORLD ON ONE'S BACK, WHILE BACK.

   [back and forth] {adv.} Backwards and forwards.  *  /The  chair  is
rocking hack and forth./ * /The tiger is pacing hack and forth in  his
cage./ Compare: TO AND FRO.

   [back away] {v.} To act to avoid or  lessen  one's  involvement  in
something; draw or turn back; retreat. * The townspeople  backed  away
from the building plan when they found out how much it would cost.

   [back door] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio  jargon}  Rear  of
vehicle. * /I am watching your back door./

   [back down] or [back off] {v.}, {informal} To give up a claim;  not
follow up a threat. * /Bill said he could beat Ted, but when  Ted  put
up his fists Bill backed down./ * /Harry claimed  Joe  had  taken  his
book, but backed down when the teacher talked with him./ Syn.: BEAT  A
RETREAT. Compare: BACK OUT, GIVE IN, GO BACK ON(1).

   [back in circulation] {adv. phr.} 1.  Socially  active  once  again
(said about people); back on the dating circuit after a divorce  or  a
romantic breakup. * /Now that Sully is divorced from Jim she  is  hack
in circulation./ 2. Once again available to  the  public  (said  about
types of paper money, rare  coins,  or  other  commercially  available
goods). * /In the USA the two-dollar hill was back in circulation  for
a short time only in the 1950s and 1960s./

   [back number] {n.} Something out of fashion,  or  out  of  date.  *
/Among today's young people a waltz like "The Blue Danube" is  a  hack
number./

   [backfire] {v.} To misfire; to have a reverse effect from what  was
intended. * /Mimi's gossip about the Head of the Department  backfired
wizen people began to mistrust her./

   [backhanded compliment] {n. phr.}  A  remark  that  sounds  like  a
compliment but is said sarcastically. * /"Not  had  for  a  girl"  the
coach said, offering a backhanded compliment./

   [back of] or [in back of] {prep.} 1. In or at the rear of;  to  the
back of; behind. * /The garage is hack of the house./ * /Our  car  was
in hack of theirs at the traffic light./ 2. {informal} Being  a  cause
or reason for; causing. * /Hard work was back of his success./ *  /The
principal tried to find out what was back of the trouble on the  bus./
3. {informal} In support or encouragement of; helping, clones will  be
elected because many powerful men are back of him. * /Get in  back  of
your team by cheering them at the game./

   [back out] {v. phr.} 1.  To  move  backwards  out  of  a  place  or
enclosure. * /Bob slowly backed his car out  of  the  garage./  2.  To
withdraw from an activity one has promised to carry out. * /Jim  tried
to back out of the engagement with Jane, but she  insisted  that  they
get married./ Compare: BEG OFF, GO BACK ON.

   [back seat] See: TAKE A BACK SEAT.

   [backseat driver] {n.}, {informal} A bossy  person  in  a  car  who
always tells the driver what to do. *  /The  man  who  drove  the  car
became angry with the back seat driver./

   [back street] {n.} A street not near the main streets or from which
it is hard to get to a main street. * /We got lost in the back streets
going through the city and it took us a half  hour  to  find  our  way
again./ Compare: SIDE STREET.

   [back talk] {n.} A sassy, impudent reply. * /Such  back  talk  will
get you nowhere, young man!/ See: TALK BACK.

   [back the wrong horse] {v. phr.} To support a loser. *  /In  voting
for George Bush, voters in 1992 were backing the wrong horse./

   [back-to-back] {adv.}  1.  Immediately  following.  *  /The  health
clinic had back-to-back appointments for the new students  during  the
first week of school./ 2. Very close to, as if touching.  *  /Sardines
are always packed in the can back-to-back./ * /The  bus  was  so  full
that people had to stand back-to-back./

   [back to the salt mines] {informal} Back to the job; back to  work;
back to work that is as hard or as unpleasant as  working  in  a  salt
mine would be. - An overworked phrase, used humorously. *  /The  lunch
hour is over, boys. Back to the salt mines!/ *  /"Vacation  is  over,"
said Billy. "Back to the salt mines."/

   [back to the wall] or [back against the  wall]  {adv.  phr.}  In  a
trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. * /The soldiers had their
backs to the wall./ * /He was in debt and could not get any help;  his
back was against the wall./ * /The team had their backs to the wall in
the second half./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE  DEEP  BLUE  SEA,
LAST DITCH, ON THE SPOT, UP AGAINST IT.

   [back up] {v.} 1. To move backwards. * /The train was backing  up./
2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help;  agree  with  and
speak in support of. * /Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and  his  father
is backing him up./ * /The principal backs up  the  faculty./  *  /Jim
told us what had happened and Bob backed him up./ Compare: BACK OF(3),
STAND BY(4). 3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the
ball if he misses it. * /The shortstop backed up the second baseman on
the throw./

   [backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER
BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.

   [backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] {adv.  phr.}  To
the full  extent;  in  all  details;  thoroughly;  completely.  *  /He
understood automobile engines backwards  and  forwards./  *  /He  knew
basketball rules backwards and forwards./ * /I  explained  matters  to
him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was./

   [bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.

   [bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE'S BAD
GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT
HALF BAD, ON ONE'S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.

   [bad actor] {n.}, {informal} A person  or  animal  that  is  always
fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. * /The boy was a bad  actor
and nobody liked him./

   [bad blood]  {n.},  {informal}  Anger  or  misgivings  due  to  bad
relations in the past between individuals or groups. * /There's a  lot
of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they'll never  talk  to  each
other again./ Compare: BAD SHIT.

   [bad egg]  {n.},  {slang}  A  ne'er-do-well;  good-for  nothing;  a
habitual offender. * /The judge sent the bad egg to prison  at  last./
Contrast: GOOD EGG.

   [bad mouth (someone)]  {v.},  {slang}  To  say  uncomplimentary  or
libelous  things  about  someone;  deliberately  to  damage  another's
reputation. * /It's not nice to had mouth people./

   [bad news] {n.}, {slang}  An  event,  thing,  or  person  which  is
disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. * /What's  the  new  professor
like? - He's all bad news to me./

   [bad paper] {n.}, {slang} 1. A check for which there are  no  funds
in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. * /Why are you so  mad?  -  I
was paid with some bad paper./

   [bad shit] {n.},  {vulgar},  {avoidable}  An  unpleasant  event  or
situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel  or  recurring
acts of vengeance preventing two people or two  groups  from  reaching
any kind of reconciliation. * /There is so much had shit  between  the
two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year./  Compare:
BAD BLOOD.

   [bad trip] {n.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} A disturbing  or
frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under
the influence  of  drugs;  hence,  by  colloquial  extension  any  bad
experience in general. * /Why's John's face so distorted? - He  had  a
bad trip./ * /How was your math exam? - Don't mention it; it was a bad
trip./

   [bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT
OUT OF THE BAG.

   [bag and baggage] {adv.}, {informal}  With  all  your  clothes  and
other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely.
* /If they don't pay their hotel bill they will be  put  out  bag  and
baggage./

   [baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

   [bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

   [bail out(1)] {v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial  by
leaving or promising money or property for a while.  *  /When  college
students got into trouble with the police, the college president would
always bail them out./ 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or
lending money. * /He started a small business, which  prospered  after
his father had to bail him out a couple of times./

   [bail out(2)] {v.} To  jump  from  an  airplane  and  drop  with  a
parachute. * /When the second engine failed, the pilot  told  everyone
to bail out./

   [bail out(3)] {v.} To dip water from a  filling  or  leaking  boat;
throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking.  *  /Both  men  were
kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak./

   [bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

   [bake] See: HALF-BAKED.

   [baker's dozen] {n.}, {informal} Thirteen.  *  /"How  many  of  the
jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it  a  baker's
dozen."/

   [balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.

   [ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET
THE BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER
BALL, GROUND BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL,
KEEP THE BALL. ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON  THE  BALL,  PASSED  BALL,  PLAY
BALL.

   [ball game] {n.}, {slang}, also {informal}  The  entire  matter  at
hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. * /You said we can  get
a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That's a whole new ball game./

   [ball of fire] {n.}, {informal} A  person  with  great  energy  and
ability; a person who can do something very well. * /He did poorly  in
school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ * /The  new  shortstop
is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./  Compare:
HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.

   [balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

   [ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

   [ball up] {v.}, {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. *  /Don't  ball
me up./ * /Hal balled up the business with his errors./ -  Often  used
in the passive. * /He was so balled up that he did not know if he  was
coming or going./ Compare: MIXED UP.

   [baloney]  {n.},  {informal}  Nonsense,  unbelievable,  trite,   or
trivial. * /John brags that he's won the $10 million  lottery,  and  I
think it's just a lot of baloney./ * /"Will  you  marry  Joe?"  mother
asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted  look./  *  /Do  you
still  believe  all  that  baloney  about  socialism  excluding   free
enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./

   [banana  oil]  {n.},  {slang}   Flattery   that   is   an   obvious
exaggeration; statements that are  obviously  made  with  an  ulterior
motive. * /Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/

   [band] See: BEAT THE BAND.

   [bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

   [band together] {v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force.  *
/The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area  banded  together
to stop the company from building new smokestacks./

   [bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

   [bandy about] {v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. * /The
news of Jim and Mary's divorce was bandied about until everyone at the
office had heard it./

   [bang up] {adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good;  splendid;
excellent. * /The football coach has done a bang-up job this  season./
* /John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.

   [bank] See: PIGGY BANK.

   [bank on] {v.}, {informal} To depend on; put one's trust  in;  rely
on. * /He knew he could bank on public indignation to  change  things,
if he could once prove the dirty work./ * /The students  were  banking
on the team to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.

   [bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.

   [bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.

   [bargain for] or [bargain on] {v.} To be ready for; expect. * /When
John started a fight  with  the  smaller  boy  he  got  more  than  he
bargained for./ * /The final cost of building the house was much  more
than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.

   [barge in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To appear uninvited  at  someone's
house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. * /I'm  sorry  for
barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is  no  pay
phone anywhere./ * /I'm sorry for barging in while you two are  having
a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/

   [bark up the wrong tree] {v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the  wrong
person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an  aim.  *
/If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ *  /He
is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./
* /The police were looking for a tall thin man, but  were  barking  up
the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./

   [bark worse than  one's  bite]  {informal}  Sound  or  speech  more
frightening or worse  than  your  actions.  *  /The  small  dog  barks
savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ * /The boss  sometimes
talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark  is  worse  than
his bite./ * /She was always scolding her children, but they knew  her
bark was worse than her bite./

   [barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

   [barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM
OF THE BARREL.

   [barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

   [bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

   [base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD
THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD
BASE.

   [base on balls] {n.} First base given to a baseball batter  who  is
pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. * /He was a good  judge
of pitchers and often received bases on balls./

   [basket] See: PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

   [basket case] {n.}, {slang}, {also informal} 1. A  person  who  has
had both arms and both legs cut off  as  a  result  of  war  or  other
misfortune. 2. A helpless  person  who  is  unable  to  take  care  of
himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. * /Stop  drinking,
or else you'll wind up a basket case!/

   [bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT  AWAY  or  RIGHT  OFF  also
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

   [bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  show
surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. -  Used  in  negative
sentences. * /When I told him the price of the car he never batted  an
eye./ * /Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although  not
a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

   [bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

   [bats in one's belfry] or [bats in the belfry] {n.  phr.},  {slang}
Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental  confusion.  *
/When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in
his belfry./

   [bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

   [batting average] {n. phr.} Degree  of  accomplishment  (originally
used as a baseball term). * /Dr. Grace has  a  great  batting  average
with her heart transplant operations./

   [battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.

   [battle of nerves] {n. phr.} A contest of wills  during  which  the
parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. *  /It
has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at
the local state university./ See: WAR OF NERVES.

   [bawl out] {v.}, {informal} To reprove in a loud  or  rough  voice;
rebuke sharply; scold. * /The teacher bawled us out for not handing in
our homework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A  THING
OR TWO.

   [bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

   [be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.

   [beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

   [beach bunny] {n.}, {slang} An attractive girl seen  on  beaches  -
mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn't get into the water  and
swim. * /What kind of a girl is Susie? -  She's  a  beach  bunny;  she
always comes to the Queen's Surf on Waikiki but I've  never  seen  her
swim./

   [bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

   [be a fly  on  the  wall]  {v.  phr.}  To  eavesdrop  on  a  secret
conversation. * /How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear  what
my fiance's parents are saying about me!/

   [be a good hand at] {v. phr.} To be talented, gifted, or skilled in
some activity. * /Florian  is  a  good  hand  at  both  gardening  and
building./

   [beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

   [bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE'S HEAD  or  USE
ONE'S BEAN.

   [be an item] {v. phr.} To be a couple; belong to one another. * /No
one is surprised  to  see  them  together  anymore;  if  is  generally
recognized that they are an item./

   [be a poor hand at] {v. phr.} To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in
some activity. * /Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no  one  wants
to play with him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.

   [be at pains] {v. phr.} To be extremely desirous to  do  something;
to take the trouble to do something. * /The captain was  at  pains  to
see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats./

   [bear] See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.

   [bear a grudge] {v. phr.} To persist in bearing ill feeling  toward
someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. * /Come on, John, be a
good sport and don't bear a  grudge  because  I  beat  you  at  golf./
Contrast: BURY THE HATCHET.

   [bear a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

   [beard] See: LAUNCH UP ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH  IN  ONE'S  SLEEVE  or
LAUGH IN ONE'S BEARD.

   [bear down] {v.} 1. To press or push harder;  work  hard  at;  give
full strength and attention. * /She is bearing down in her studies  to
win a scholarship./ * /The baseball pitcher is bearing down./  *  /The
pitcher bore down on the star batter./ * /Teachers of  the  deaf  bear
down on English./ *  /The  sergeant  bears  down  on  lazy  soldiers./
Contrast:  LET  UP(2b).  2.  To  move  toward  in  an  impressive   or
threatening way. - Often used with "on". * /While he was crossing  the
street a big truck bore down on him./ *  /The  little  ship  tried  to
escape when the big pirate ship bore down./ * /After  the  boys  threw
the snowballs they saw a large lady bearing down upon them from across
the street./

   [bear down on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To draw constantly  nearer  with
great speed and force. * /The police cars were  bearing  down  on  the
bank robbers' get-away car./

   [bear fruit] {v. phr.} To  yield  results.  *  /We  hope  that  the
company's new investment policy will bear fruit./

   [bear in mind] See: IN MIND.

   [bear in the  air]  or  [bear  in  the  sky]  {n.  phr.},  {slang},
{citizen's band jargon} A police helicopter flying  overhead  watching
for speeders. * /Slow down, good buddy, there's a bear in the air./

   [bear off the palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM.

   [bear one's cross] See: CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

   [bear out] {v.} To show to be  right;  prove;  support.  *  /Modern
findings do not bear out the old belief that the  earth  is  flat./  *
/Seward's faith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out,  even  though
it was once called "Seward's Folly."/

   [bear trap] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}  A  police
radar unit designed to catch speeders. * /Watch the bear trap at  exit
101./

   [bear up] {v.} 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. * /The old
bridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more./ * /He was borne up
by love of country./ 2. To keep up one's courage or strength; last.  -
Often used with "under". * /This boat will  bear  up  under  hurricane
winds./ * /She bore up well at the funeral./ Syn.: STAND UP.  Compare:
CARRY ON.

   [bear watching] {v.  phr.}  1.  To  be  worth  watching  or  paying
attention to; have a promising future. * /That young ball player  will
bear watching./ 2. To be dangerous or untrustworthy.  *  /Those  tires
look badly worn; they will bear watching./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.

   [bear with] {v.}, {formal} To have patience  with;  not  get  angry
with. * /Your little sister is sick. Try to bear  with  her  when  she
cries./ * /It is hard to bear with  criticism./  Syn.:  PUT  UP  WITH.
Compare: CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

   [beat] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

   [beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush] {v. phr.},  {slang}
To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question
or the point. * /He would not answer yes or no,  but  beat  about  the
bush./ * /He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the
point./ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: COME TO THE POINT.

   [beat all] or [beat the Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be  strange
or surprising. * /John found a box full of money buried in his garage.
Doesn't that beat all!/ * /It beats the Dutch how Tom always  makes  a
basket./

   [beat all hollow] also [beat hollow] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do  much
better than; to beat very badly. * /We beat their team all hollow./  *
/As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./

   [beat a retreat] {v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by  beating  a
drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats' drums were beating a  retreat./  2.
To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they  were  too
few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he  saw  the  dog  coming./
Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.

   [beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

   [beat down] {v.} 1. To crush or break  the  spirit  of;  win  over;
conquer. * /All their defenses were beaten  down  by  the  tanks./  2.
{informal} a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. *  /Can
we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a
lower price or easier payments. * /He tried to beat us down, so we did
not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. * /At noon the sun
beat down on our heads as we walked home./

   [beaten path] {n. phr.} The usual route or way  of  operating  that
has been conventionally established, * /If we always follow the beaten
path, we'll never have the courage to try something new./

   [beaten track] {n.} See: BEATEN PATH.

   [beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.

   [beat into one's head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  teach  by  telling
again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to  be  cross  and  punish
often. * /Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to  be  beaten
into his head./ * /I cannot beat it into his head that he should  take
off his hat in the house./

   [beat it] {v.}, {slang} To go away in a hurry; get out  quickly.  *
/When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could./ - Often used
as a command. * /The big boy said, "Beat it, kid. We  don't  want  you
with us."/ Compare: CLEAR OUT(2), LIGHT OUT, HEAD FOR THE HILLS.

   [beat one to it] {v. phr.}  To  arrive  or  get  ahead  of  another
person. * /I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to  it!
Thanks for calling me./

   [beat one's brains out] or [beat one's brains] {v.  phr.},  {slang}
To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult;  tire
yourself out by thinking. * /It was too hard for him and he  beat  his
brains out trying to get the answer./ * /Some students are  lazy,  but
others beat their brains and succeed./

   [beat one's gums] {v. phr.}, {slang} To engage  in  idle  talk,  or
meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. * /"Stop beating your
gums, Jack," Joe cried. "I am falling asleep."/ Compare: CHEW THE  FAT
or CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE  BREEZE
or SHOOT THE BULL.

   [beat one's head against a wall] {v. phr.}  To  struggle  uselessly
against something that can't be beaten or helped;  not  succeed  after
trying very hard. * /Trying to  make  him  change  his  mind  is  just
beating your head against a wall./

   [beat the band] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At great speed;  with  much
noise or commotion. - Used after "to". * /The fire engines were  going
down the road to beat the band./ * /The audience cheered  and  stamped
and clapped to beat the band./

   [beat the bushes] also [beat the brush] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To
try very hard to find or get something. * /The mayor was  beating  the
bushes for funds to build the playground./ Contrast:  BEAT  ABOUT  THE
BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.

   [beat the  drum]  {v.  phr.}  To  attract  attention  in  order  to
advertise something  or  to  promote  someone,  such  as  a  political
candidate. * /Mrs. Smith has been beating the  drum  in  her  town  in
order to get her husband elected mayor./

   [beat the gun] See: JUMP THE GUN.

   [beat the --- out of] or [lick the --- out of] or  [whale  the  ---
out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To beat hard; give a bad beating  to.  -
Used  with  several  words  after  "the",  as   "daylights",   "living
daylights", "tar". * /The big kid told Charlie that he would beat  the
daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again./

   [beat the meat] {v.  phr.},  {vulgar},  {avoidable}  To  masturbate
(said primarily of men). * /"So what did you do for sex in prison  for
seven years?" Joe asked. "Well, unless you want to become gay, you can
beat the meat and that's about it," Max answered./

   [beat the pants off] {v. phr.} 1. To prevail over someone in a race
or competition. * /Jim beat the  pants  off  George  in  the  swimming
race./ 2. To give someone a severe physical beating. * /Jack beat  the
pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in  Central
Park./

   [beat the rap] {v. phr.} To escape the legal penalty one  ought  to
receive. * /In spite of the strong evidence against him, the  prisoner
beat the rap and went free./

   [beat the shit out of] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See:  KNOCK
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

   [beat time] {v. phr.} To follow the rhythm of a piece of  music  by
moving one's fingers or feet. * /Jack was beating time with  his  foot
during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor./

   [beat to] {v.}, {informal} To do something before someone else does
it. * /I was waiting to buy a ticket but only one ticket was left, and
another man beat me to it./ * /We were planning to send a rocket  into
space but the Russians beat us to it./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON.

   [beat to the punch] or [beat to the draw] {v. phr.}, {slang} To  do
something before another person has a chance to do  it.  *  /John  was
going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to  the  draw./  *  /Lois
bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch./

   [beat up] {v.}, {informal} To give a hard beating to; hit hard  and
much; thrash; whip. * /When the new boy first came, he had to beat  up
several neighborhood bullies before they would  leave  him  alone./  -
Used with "on" in substandard speech. * /The tough boy said  to  Bill,
"If you come around here again, I'll beat up on you."/

   [beauty sleep] {n.} A nap or rest taken to improve the  appearance.
* /She took her  beauty  sleep  before  the  party./  *  /Many  famous
beauties take a beauty sleep every day./

   [beaver] {n.},  {slang},  {vulgar},  {avoidable},  {citizen's  band
radio jargon} A female, especially one driving along the  highway  and
operating a CB radio. * /I didn't know there was a beaver aboard  that
eighteen wheeler./

   [because of] {prep.} On account of; by reason of; as a result of. *
/The train arrived late because of the snowstorm./

   [beck] See: AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL.

   [become of] {v. phr.} To happen to; befall. * /What will become  of
the children, now that both parents are in jail?/

   [bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, GO TO BED WITH  THE
CHICKENS, MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, PUT TO BED.

   [bed of nails] {n. phr.} A difficult or unhappy situation or set of
circumstances. * /"There are days when my job  is  a  regular  bed  of
nails," Jim groaned./ Contrast: BED OF ROSES.

   [bed of roses] or [bowl of cherries]  {n.  phr.}  A  pleasant  easy
place, job, or position; an easy life. * /A coal miner's job is not  a
bed of roses./ * /After nine months of school, summer  camp  seemed  a
bowl of cherries./ Compare: IN CLOVER, LIFE OF RILEY.

   [bed of thorns] {n. phr.} A thoroughly unhappy  time  or  difficult
situation. * /I'm sorry I changed jobs; my new one turned out to be  a
bed of thorns./ See: BED OF NAILS.

   [bee] See: BIRDS AND THE BEES.

   [beef about] {v. phr.} To complain about something. * /Stop beefing
about your job, Jack. You could have done a lot worse!/

   [beef up] {v.}, {informal}  To  make  stronger  by  adding  men  or
equipment; make more powerful; reinforce. * /The general beefed up his
army with more big guns and tanks./ * /The university  beefed  up  the
football coaching staff by adding several good men./

   [bee in one's bonnet] {n. phr.}, {informal} A fixed idea that seems
fanciful, odd, or crazy. * /Robert Fulton had  a  bee  in  his  bonnet
about a steamboat./ * /Grandmother has some bee in  her  bonnet  about
going to the dance./

   [beeline] See: MAKE A BEELINE FOR.

   [be even-Steven] {v. phr.} To be in a position of owing  no  favors
or debt to someone. * /Yesterday you paid for my  lunch,  so  today  I
paid for yours; now we're even-Steven./

   [before long] {adv. phr.} In a short time; without much delay; in a
little while, soon. * /Class will be over before  long./  *  /We  were
tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long./

   [before one can say Jack  Robinson]  {adv.  cl.},  {informal}  Very
quickly; suddenly. - An overused phrase. * /Before I  could  say  Jack
Robinson, the boy was gone./ Compare: IN A FLASH, RIGHT AWAY.

   [before swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST  ONE'S  PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE.

   [before you know it] {adv. phr.} Sooner than one  would  expect.  *
/Don't despair; we'll be finished with this work before you know it!/

   [beg] See: BEGGING.

   [be game] {v. phr.} To be cooperative, willing, sporting. * /When I
asked Charlie to climb Mount McKinley with us, he said he was game  if
we were./

   [beggars can't be choosers] People who can  not  choose  what  they
will have, must accept what they get; if you are not in  control,  you
must take what you can gel. * /We wanted to leave on the train in  the
morning but it doesn't go until afternoon, so we must go then. Beggars
can't he choosers./ * /Mary got a red dress from her sister,  although
she didn't like red. She kept it because she said beggars  should  not
be choosers./ Compare: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

   [begin with] {adv. phr.} As a preliminary statement; in  the  first
place. * /To begin with, you are far too young to get married./

   [beg off] {v.} To ask to be excused. * /Father told Tom to rake the
yard, but Tom tried to beg off./ * /Mrs. Crane accepted an  invitation
to a luncheon, but a headache made her beg off./ Compare: BACK OUT.

   [beg  the  question]  {v.  phr.},  {literary}  To  accept  as  true
something that is still being argued about, before it is proved  true;
avoid or not answer a question or problem. *  /The  girls  asked  Miss
Smith if they should wear formal dresses to the party; Miss Smith said
they were begging the question because they didn't know  yet  if  they
could get permission for a party./ * /Laura  told  Tom  that  he  must
believe her argument because she was right. Father  laughed  and  told
Laura she was begging the question./ Compare: TAKE FOR GRANTED.

   [behalf] See: IN BEHALF OF or ON BEHALF OF, IN ONE'S BEHALF  or  ON
ONE'S BEHALF.

   [behavior] See: ON ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR.

   [be hard on] {v. phr.} To be strict or critical  with  another;  be
severe. * /"Don't be so hard on Jimmy," Tom  said.  "He  is  bound  to
rebel as he gets older."/

   [behind] See: DRY BEHIND THE EARS, FALL BEHIND,  GET  BEHIND,  HANG
BACK or HANG BEHIND.

   [behind bars]  {adv.  phr.}  In  jail;  in  prison.  *  /He  was  a
pickpocket and had spent many years  behind  bars./  *  /That  boy  is
always in trouble and will end up behind bars./

   [behind one's back] {adv. phr.} When one is absent;  without  one's
knowledge or consent; in a dishonest way; secretly; sneakily.  *  /Say
it to his face, not behind his back./ * /It is not right to  criticize
a person behind his back./ Contrast: TO ONE'S FACE.

   [behind  the  eight-ball]  {adj.  phr.},  {slang}  In  a  difficult
position; in trouble. * /Mr. Thompson is an older  man,  and  when  he
lost his job, he found he was behind the eight-ball./  *  /Bill  can't
dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight-ball with the  girls./
Compare: HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE(2), IN A HOLE.

   [behind the scenes] {adv. phr.}  Out  of  sight;  unknown  to  most
people; privately. * /Much of the banquet committee s  work  was  done
behind the scenes./ * /John was president of the club, but behind  the
scenes Lee told him what to do./

   [behind the times] {adj. phr.} Using things  not  in  style;  still
following old ways; old-fashioned. * /Johnson's store  is  behind  the
times./ * /The science books of 30 years  ago  are  behind  the  times
now./ * /Mary thinks her parents are behind  the  times  because  they
still do the foxtrot and don't know any new dances./

   [behind time] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1a. Behind  the  correct  time;
slow. * /That clock is behind time./ 1b. Behind schedule; late. * /The
train is running behind time today./ 2. Not keeping  up;  not  at  the
proper time; overdue. * /Your lessons are good, but why are you behind
time?/ * /We are behind time in paying the rent./ Contrast:  AHEAD  OF
TIME, IN TIME, ON TIME.

   [be-in] {n.}, {slang},  {hippie  culture}  A  gathering  or  social
occasion with or without a discernible purpose, often held in a public
place like a park or under a large  circus  tent.  *  /The  youngsters
really enjoyed the great springtime jazz be-in at the park./

   [be in a stew] {v. phr.} To be worried, harassed, upset. * /Al  has
been in a stew ever since he got word that his  sister  was  going  to
marry his worst enemy./

   [being] See: FOR THE TIME BEING.

   [be in labor] {v.  phr.}  To  be  in  parturition;  experience  the
contractions of childbirth. * /Vane had been in labor for eight  hours
before her twin daughters were finally born./

   [be in someone else's shoes] {v. phr.}  To  be  in  someone  else's
situation. * /Fred has had so much trouble recently that we  ought  to
be grateful we're not in his shoes./

   [be into something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have  taken  something
up partly as a nobby, partly as a serious interest of sorts (basically
resulting from the new  consciousness  and  self-realization  movement
that originated in the late Sixties). * /Roger's wife is into  women's
liberation and women's consciousness./ * /Did you  know  that  Syd  is
seriously into transcendental meditation?/ * /Jack found out that  his
teenage son is into pot smoking and gave him a serious scolding./

   [be itching to] {v. phr.} To  have  a  very  strong  desire  to  do
something. * /Jack is itching to travel abroad./

   [be it so] See: SO BE IT.

   [belabor the point] {v. phr.} To overexplain something to the point
of obviousness, resulting in ridicule. * /"Lest I belabor the  point,"
the teacher said, "I must  repeat  the  importance  of  teaching  good
grammar in class."/

   [belfry] See: BATS IN ONE'S BELFRY or BATS IN THE BELFRY.

   [believe] See: MAKE BELIEVE, SEEING IS BELIEVING.

   [believe one's ears] {v. phr.} 1. To believe what one hears;  trust
one's  hearing.  -  Used  with  a  negative  or  limiter,  or  in   an
interrogative or conditional sentence. * /He thought he heard  a  horn
blowing in the distance, but he could not believe his ears./ 2. To  be
made sure of (something). * /Is he really coming? I can hardly believe
my ears./

   [believe one's eyes] {v. phr.} 1. To believe what one  sees;  trust
one's  eyesight.  -  Used  with  a  negative  or  limiter  or  in   an
interrogative or conditional sentence. *  /Is  that  a  plane?  Can  I
believe my eyes?/ 2. To be made sure of seeing something. *  /She  saw
him there but she could hardly believe her eyes./

   [bell] See: RING A BELL, WITH BELLS ON.

   [bellyache]  {v.}  To  constantly  complain.  *  /Jim   is   always
bellyaching about the amount of work he is required to do./

   [belly  up]  {adj.},  {informal}  Dead,  bankrupt,  or  financially
ruined. * /Tom and Dick  struggled  on  for  months  with  their  tiny
computer shop, but last year they went belly up./

   [belly up] {v.}, {informal} To go bankrupt, become afunctional;  to
die. * /Uncompetitive small businesses must eventually all belly up./

   [below par] {adj.} or {adv.}  Below  standard.  *  /Bob  was  fired
because his work has been below par for several months now./ Contrast:
UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.

   [below the belt] {adv. phr.} 1. In the stomach; lower than is legal
in boxing. * /He struck the other boy below the belt./  2.  {informal}
In an unfair or cowardly way; against the rules  of  sportsmanship  or
justice; unsportingly; wrongly. * /It was hitting below the  belt  for
Mr. Jones's rival  to  tell  people  about  a  crime  that  Mr.  Jones
committed when he was a young boy./ * /Pete told the students to  vote
against Harry because Harry was in a wheelchair and couldn't be a good
class president, but the students thought Pete was hitting  below  the
belt./

   [belt] See: BELOW THE BELT, SEAT BELT, TIGHTEN  ONE'S  BELT,  UNDER
ONE'S BELT.

   [belt out] {v.}, {slang} To sing with rough  rhythm  and  strength;
shout out. * /She belted out ballads and  hillbilly  songs  one  after
another all evening./ * /Young people enjoy belting out songs./

   [be my guest] {v.  phr.}  Feel  free  to  use  what  I  have;  help
yourself. * /When Suzie asked if she could borrow John's bicycle, John
said, "Be my guest."/

   [beneath one] {adj. phr.} Below one's ideals  or  dignity.  *  /Bob
felt it would have been beneath him to work for such low wages./

   [bench] See: ON THE BENCH, WARM THE BENCH.

   [bench warmer] See: WARM THE BENCH.

   [bend over backward] or [lean over backward] {v. phr.},  {informal}
To try so hard to avoid a mistake that you make the  opposite  mistake
instead; do the opposite of something that you know you should not do;
do too much to avoid doing the wrong thing; also, make a great effort;
try very hard. * /Instead of punishing the boys  for  breaking  a  new
rule, the principal bent over backward to explain  why  the  rule  was
important./ * /Mary was afraid the girls at her new  school  would  be
stuck up, but they leaned over backward to make  her  feel  at  home./
Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY.

   [benefit] See: GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

   [bent on] or [bent upon] Very decided, determined, or set.  *  /The
sailors were bent on having a good time./ * /The  policeman  saw  some
boys near the  school  after  dark  and  thought  they  were  bent  on
mischief./ * /The bus was late, and the driver was bent upon  reaching
the school on time./

   [be nuts about] {v. phr.} To be enthusiastic  or  very  keen  about
someone or something; be greatly infatuated with someone. *  /Hermione
is nuts about modern music./ * /"I am  nuts  about  you,  Helen,"  Jim
said. "Please let's get married!"/

   [be off] {v. phr.} 1. {v.} To be in  error;  miscalculate.  *  /The
estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house./ 2.  {v.}
To leave. * /Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying
goodbye./ 3. {adj.} Cancelled; terminated. * /The weather was  so  bad
that we were told that the trip was off./ 4. {adj.} Crazy. * /I'm sure
Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind  would  say  such
things./ 5. {adj.} Free from work; having vacation time.  *  /Although
we were off for the rest of the day,  we  couldn't  go  to  the  beach
because it started to rain./

   [be on] {v. phr.} 1. To be in operation; be in the process of being
presented. * /The news is on now on Channel 2; it will be off in  five
minutes./ 2. To be in the process of happening; to take place.  *  /We
cannot travel now to certain parts of Africa, as there is a civil  war
on there right now./

   [be one's age] See: ACT ONE'S AGE.

   [be oneself] {v.} To act naturally;  act  normally  without  trying
unduly to impress others. * /Just try being yourself; I promise people
will like you more./

   [be on the outs with] {v. phr.} To not be on  speaking  terms  with
someone; be in disagreement with someone. * /Jane and Tom have been on
the outs with one another since Tom started to date another woman./

   [be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS, GO ON THE ROCKS.

   [be on the verge of] {v. phr.} To be about to do something; be very
close  to.  *  /We  were  on  the  verge  of  going   bankrupt   when,
unexpectedly, my wife won the lottery and our business was saved./

   [be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON, FALL OFF THE WAGON.

   [be on to] {v. phr.} To understand the motives of someone;  not  be
deceived. * /Jack keeps telling us how wealthy his family is,  but  we
are on to him./

   [be over] {v. phr.} To be ended; be finished. * /The show was  over
by 11 P.M./ * /The war will soon be over./

   [be out] {v. phr.} 1. To not be at home or at one's place of  work.
* /I tried to call but they told  me  that  Al  was  out./  2.  To  be
unacceptable; not be considered; impossible. * /I  suggested  that  we
hire more salespeople but the  boss  replied  that  such  a  move  was
positively out./ 3. To be poorer by; suffer a loss of. * /Unless  more
people came to the church picnic, we realized we would be out $500  at
least./ 4. To be in circulation, in print,  published.  *  /Jane  said
that her new novel won't be out for at  least  another  month./  5.  A
baseball term indicating that a player has been declared either  unfit
to continue or punished by withdrawing him. * /The spectators  thought
that John was safe at third base, but the umpire said he was out./

   [be out to] {v. phr.} To intend to do; to plan to  commit.  *  /The
police felt that the gang may be out to rob another store./

   [berth] See: GIVE A WIDE BERTH.

   [be set on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To be determined about something. *
/Tow is set upon leaving his Chicago job for Tokyo, Japan, although he
speaks only English./

   [beside oneself] {adj. phr.} Very much excited; somewhat  crazy.  *
/She was beside herself with fear./ * /He was beside himself,  he  was
so angry./ * /When his  wife  heard  of  his  death,  she  was  beside
herself./

   [beside the point] or [beside the question] {adj.} or  {adv.  phr.}
Off the subject; about something different. * /What you meant to do is
beside the point; the fact is you didn't do it./ * /The judge told the
witness that his remarks were beside the point./ Compare: BEAT  AROUND
THE BUSH, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.

   [best] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, AT BEST, FOR THE BEST, GET THE  BETTER
OF or GET THE BEST OF, HAD BETTER or HAD  BEST,  HE  LAUGHS  BEST  WHO
LAUGHS LAST, MAKE THE BEST OF, PUT ONE'S  BEST  FOOT  FORWARD,  SECOND
BEST, TO THE BEST OF ONE'S KNOWLEDGE, WITH THE BEST or WITH  THE  BEST
OF THEM.

   [best bib and tucker] or [Sunday  best]  or  [Sunday  go-to-meeting
clothes] {n. phr.}, {informal} Best clothes or outfit of  clothing.  *
/The cowboy got all dressed up in his best bib and tucker to go to the
dance./ * /Mary went to the party in her Sunday best and  made  a  hit
with the boys./ Compare: GLAD RAGS.

   [best man] {n.} The groom's aid  (usually  his  best  friend  or  a
relative) at a wedding. * /When Agnes and I got  married,  my  brother
Gordon was my best man./

   [best seller] {n.} An item (primarily said of books) that  outsells
other items of a similar  sort.  *  /Catherine  Neville's  novel  "The
Eight" has been a national best seller for months./ * /Among  imported
European cars, the Volkswagen is a best seller./

   [bet] See: YOU BET or YOU BET YOUR BOOTS or YOU BET YOUR LIFE.

   [be the making of] {v. phr.} To account for the success of  someone
or something. * /The strict discipline  that  we  had  to  undergo  in
graduate school was the making of many a successful professor./ * /The
relatively low cost and high gas mileage are the making of Chevrolet's
Geo Metro cars./

   [bet one's boots] or [bet one's bottom dollar] or [bet one's shirt]
{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To bet all you have. * /This horse will  win.
I would bet my bottom dollar on it./ * /Jim  said  he  would  bet  his
boots that he would pass the examination./ 2. or [bet one's life].  To
feel very sure; have no doubt. * /Was I scared when  I  saw  the  bull
running at me? You bet your life I was!/

   [bet on the wrong horse] {v. phr,}, {informal} To base  your  plans
on a wrong guess about the result of something;  misread  the  future;
misjudge a coming event. * /To count on the small family  farm  as  an
important thing in the American future now looks like betting  on  the
wrong horse./ * /He expected Bush to be elected President in 1992  but
as it happened, he bet on the wrong horse./

   [better] See: ALL BETTER, DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART  OF  VALOR,
FOR BETTER OR WORSE, FOR THE BETTER, GET THE BETTER  OF,  GO  ---  ONE
BETTER, HAD BETTER, HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE or HALF A LOAF  IS
BETTER THAN NO BREAD, SEE BETTER DAYS, THINK BETTER OF.

   [better half] {n.}, {informal} One's marriage partner (mostly  said
by men about their wives.) * /"This is my  better  half,  Mary,"  said
Joe./

   [better late than never] It is better to come or do something  late
than never. * /The firemen didn't arrive at the  house  until  it  was
half burned, but it was better late than  never./  *  /Grandfather  is
learning to drive a car. "Better late than never," he says./  Compare:
HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE.

   [better than] {prep. phr.} More than; greater than;  at  a  greater
rate than. * /The car was doing better than eighty miles an  hour./  *
/It is better than three miles to the station./

   [between] See: BETWIXT AND  BETWEEN,  COME  BETWEEN,  PEW  AND  FAR
BETWEEN.

   [between a rock and a hard place] See: BETWEEN THE  DEVIL  AND  THE
DEEP BLUE SEA.

   [between life and death] {adv. phr.} In danger of  dying  or  being
killed; with life or death possible. * /He held on to the mountainside
between life and death while his friends went to  get  help./  *  /The
little sick girl lay all night between life and death until her  fever
was gone./

   [between the devil and the deep blue sea]  or  {literary}  [between
two fires] or [between a rock and a hard place]  {adv.  phr.}  Between
two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do.  *  /The  pirates
had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between
the devil and the deep blue sea./ * /The boy was between a rock and  a
hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night
and be picked up by the police./ * /When the man's wife and her mother
got together, he was between two fires./ Compare: COMING AND GOING(2),
IN A BIND.

   [between the eyes] See: HIT BETWEEN THE EYES.

   [between the lines] See: READ BETWEEN THE LINES.

   [between two fires] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.

   [between two shakes of a lamb's tail] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY  JACK
ROBINSON.

   [be up to no  good]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  be  plotting  and
conniving to commit some illegal act or crime. * /"Let's hurry!" Susan
said to her husband. "It's dark here and those hoodlums obviously  are
up to no good."/

   [be up to something] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To feel strong enough
or knowledgeable enough to accomplish a certain task. * /Are you up to
climbing all the way to the 37th floor?/ * /Are we up to  meeting  the
delegation from Moscow and speaking Russian to them?/ 2.  Tendency  to
do something mischievous. * /I'm afraid Jack is up to one of  his  old
tricks again./

   [beyond measure] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {formal} So  much  that  it
can not be measured or figured without any limits. * /With her parents
reunited and present at  her  graduation,  she  had  happiness  beyond
measure./ * /No one envied him for he was popular beyond measure./

   [beyond one's depth] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1.  Over  your  head  in
water; in water too deep to  touch  bottom.  *  /Jack  wasn't  a  good
swimmer and nearly drowned when he drifted out beyond his  depth./  2.
In or into something too difficult for you; beyond your  understanding
or ability. * /Bill decided that his big brother's geometry  book  was
beyond his depth./ * /Sam's father started to explain the atom bomb to
Sam but he soon got beyond his depth./ * /When  Bill  played  checkers
against the city champion, Bill was beyond his depth./  Compare:  OVER
ONE'S HEAD(1).

   [beyond one's means] {adj. phr.} Too expensive, not  affordable.  *
/Unfortunately, a new Mercedes Benz is beyond my means right now./

   [beyond one's nose] See: SEE BEYOND ONE'S NOSE.

   [beyond question(1)] {adj. phr.} Not in doubt certain; sure. - Used
in the predicate. * /People always believe anything  that  Mark  says;
his honesty is beyond question./ Contrast: IN QUESTION.

   [beyond question(2)] or  [without  question]  {adv.  phr.}  Without
doubt or argument; surely; unquestionably. * /Beyond question, it  was
the coldest day of the winter./ * /John's drawing is without  question
the best in the class./

   [beyond reasonable doubt] {adv. phr.}, {formal and legal} Virtually
certain; essentially convincing. * /The judge instructed the jurors to
come up with a verdict of guilty only if they were convinced beyond  a
reasonable doubt that Algernon was the perpetrator./

   [beyond the pale] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In disgrace; with no chance
of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the  members
of a group. * /After the outlaw killed a man he was  beyond  the  pale
and not even his old friends would talk to him./ * /Tom's swearing  is
beyond the pale; no one invites him to dinner any more./

   [beyond the shadow of a doubt]  {adv.  phr.},  {formal  and  legal}
Absolutely certain,  totally  convincing.  *  /Fred  burglarized  Mrs.
Brown's apartment, beyond the shadow of a doubt./

   [bib] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

   [bide one's time] {v. phr.} To await an opportunity; wait patiently
until your chance comes. * /Refused work as an actor,  Tom  turned  to
other work and bided his time./ * /Jack was hurt deeply, and he  bided
his time for revenge./

   [bid fair] {v.}, {literary} To seem likely;  promise.  *  /He  bids
fair to be a popular author./ * /The day bids fair to be warm./

   [big] See: IN A BIG WAY, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, LITTLE PITCHERS
HAVE BIG EARS, TALK BIG, TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BREECHES,  WHAT'S  THE  BIG
IDEA.

   [big as life] or [large as life] {adj. phr.} 1. or [life-size]  The
same size as the living person or thing. * /The  statue  of  Jefferson
was big as life./ * /The characters on the screen were life-size./  2.
or [big as life and twice as natural] {informal} In person;  real  and
living. * /I had not seen him for years, but there he was, big as life
and twice as natural./

   [big cheese] or [big gun] or [big shot] or [big wheel] or [big wig]
{n.}, {slang} An important person; a leader; a high official; a person
of high rank. * /Bill had been a big shot in  high  school./  *  /John
wanted to be the big cheese in his club./ Compare: WHOLE CHEESE.

   [big daddy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The most  important,  largest
thing, person or animal in a congregation of similar persons, animals,
or objects. * /The whale is the big daddy of everything that swims  in
the ocean./ * /The H-bomb is the big daddy of all modern  weapons./  *
/Al Capone was the big daddy of  organized  crime  in  Chicago  during
Prohibition./

   [big deal] {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} (loud stress on the  word
"deal") Trifles; an unimportant, unimpressive thing or matter.  *  /So
you became college president - big deal!/

   [big frog in a small  pond]  {n.  phr.},  {informal}  An  important
person in a small place or position;  someone  who  is  respected  and
honored in a small company, school, or  city;  a  leader  in  a  small
group. * /As company president, he had been a  big  frog  in  a  small
pond, but he was not so important as a new congressman in Washington./
Contrast: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.

   [bigger than one's stomach] See: EYES BIGGER THAN ONE'S STOMACH.

   [big hand] {n.} Loud and enthusiastic applause. *  /When  Pavarotti
finished singing the aria from Rigoletto, he got a very big hand./

   [big head] {n.}, {informal} Too high an opinion of your own ability
or importance; conceit. * /When Jack was elected captain of the  team,
it gave him a big head./ Compare: SWELLED HEAD.

   [big house] {n.} A large jail or prison. * /The rapist  will  spend
many years in the big house./

   [big   lie,   the]   {n.},   {informal}   A    major,    deliberate
misrepresentation of some important issue made on the assumption  that
a bold, gross lie is psychologically more  believable  than  a  timid,
minor one. * /We all heard the big lie during the Watergate months./ *
/The pretense of democracy by a totalitarian regime is part of the big
lie about its government./

   [big mouth] or [big-mouthed] See: LOUD MOUTH, LOUD-MOUTHED.

   [big shot] or [big wig] {n.} An important or influential person.  *
/Elmer is a big shot in the State Assembly./

   [big stink] {n.}, {slang} A major scandal; a big upheaval. *  /I'll
raise a big stink if they fire me./

   [big time] {n.}, {informal} 1. A very enjoyable time at a party  or
other pleasurable gathering. * /I certainly had a big time at the club
last night./ 2. The top group; the leading class;  the  best  or  most
important company. * /After his graduation from college, he soon  made
the big time in baseball./ * /Many young actors go to  Hollywood,  but
few of them reach the big time./

   [big-time] {adj.} Belonging to the top group; of the leading class;
important. * /Jean won a talent contest in her home town, and  only  a
year later she began dancing on big-time television./ * /Bob practices
boxing in the gym every day; he wants to become a big time  boxer./  -
Often used in the phrase "big-time operator". * /Just because Bill has
a new football uniform he thinks he is a big-time operator./  Compare:
SHOW OFF. Contrast: SMALL-TIME.

   [big top] {n.} The main tent under which a circus gives  its  show;
the circus and circus life. * /Lillian Leitzel was one  of  the  great
stars of the big top./ * /The book tells of life under the big top./

   [big wheel] {n.}, {informal} An influential or important person who
has the power to do things and  has  connections  in  high  places.  *
/Uncle Ferdinand is a big wheel in Washington; maybe he can  help  you
with your problem./

   [big yawn] {n.} A very boring person, story or event. * /I love  my
grandma very much, but the stories she tells sure are a yawn./

   [bill] See: CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, FILL THE BILL.

   [bind] See: DUTY BOUND, IN A BIND, MUSCLE BOUND, ROOT-BOUND.

   [bingo  card]  {n.},  {slang}  A  response  card,  bound   into   a
periodical, containing  numbers  keyed  to  editorial  or  advertising
matter,  giving  the  reader  the  opportunity  to  send  for  further
information by marking the numbers of the items he is  interested  in;
such a card can be mailed free of charge. * /Jack thinks he is  saving
time by filling out bingo cards instead of writing a letter./

   [bird] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM  or  EARLY  BIRD  GETS  THE
WORM, EAT LIKE A BIRD, FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS,  FOR  THE
BIRDS, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

   [bird has flown] {slang} The prisoner has escaped; the captive  has
got away. * /When the sheriff returned to the jail, he discovered that
the bird had flown./

   [bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (a)] Something we  have,
or can easily get, is more valuable than something we want that we may
not be able to get; we shouldn't risk losing something sure by  trying
to get something that is not sure. - A proverb. * /Johnny has a job as
a paperboy, but he wants a job in a gas station. His father says  that
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush./

   [bird of a different feather]  {n.  phr.}  A  person  who  is  free
thinking and independent. * /Syd won't go along with recent trends  in
grammar; he created his own. He is a bird of a different feather./

   [birds of a feather flock together]  People  who  are  alike  often
become friends or are together; if you are often with certain  people,
you may be their friends or like  them.  -  A  proverb.  *  /Don't  be
friends with bad boys. People think that  birds  of  a  feather  flock
together./

   [birds and the bees (the)]  {n.  phr.},  {informal}  The  facts  we
should know about our birth.  *  /At  various  ages,  in  response  to
questions, a child can be told about the birds and the bees./

   [bird watcher] {n.} A person whose hobby is to study birds close-up
in their outdoor home. * /A bird watcher looks for the first robin  to
appear in the spring./

   [birthday  suit]  {n.}  The  skin  with  no  clothes  on;  complete
nakedness. * /The little boys were swimming in their birthday suits./

   [bit] See: A BIT, CHAMP AT THE BIT, FOUR BITS, QUITE  A  LITTLE  or
QUITE A BIT, SIX BITS, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH, TWO BITS.

   [bitch] See: SON OF A BITCH.

   [bite] See: BARK WORSE THAN ONE'S  BITE,  PUT  THE  BITE  ON,  ONCE
BITTEN, TWICE SHY at BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

   [bite off more than one can chew] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  try  to
do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit  off
more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He
started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off
more than he could chew./

   [bite one's head off] {v. phr.} To answer someone in  great  anger;
answer furiously. * /I'm sorry to tell you that I  lost  my  job,  but
that's no reason to bite my head off!/

   [bite one's lips] {v. phr.} To force oneself to remain  silent  and
not to reveal one's feelings. * /I had to bite my lips when I heard my
boss give the wrong orders./

   [bite the dust] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be killed in battle.  *
/Captain Jones discharged his gun and another guerrilla bit the dust./
2. To fall in defeat; go down before enemies; be overthrown;  lose.  *
/Our team bit the dust today./

   [bite the hand that feeds one] {v. phr.} To turn against or hurt  a
helper or supporter; repay kindness with wrong. *  /He  bit  the  hand
that fed him when he complained against his employer./

   [bitter] See: TO THE BITTER END.

   [bitter pill] {n.} Something  hard  to  accept;  disappointment.  *
/Jack was not invited to the party and it was a bitter pill for him./

   [black] See: BLACK AND WHITE, IN THE BLACK, LOOK BLACK,  POT  CALLS
THE KETTLE BLACK.

   [black and blue] {adj.} Badly bruised. * /Poor Jim  was  black  and
blue after he fell off the apple tree./

   [black and white] {n. phr.} 1. Print or writing;  words  on  paper,
not spoken; exact written or printed form. * /He  insisted  on  having
the agreement down in black  and  white./  *  /Mrs.  Jones  would  not
believe the news, so Mr. Jones showed her the article in the newspaper
and said, "There it is in black and white."/ 2. The  different  shades
of black and white of a simple picture, rather than  other  colors.  *
/He showed us snapshots in black and white./

   [black-and-white] {adj.} Divided  into  only  two  sides  that  are
either right or wrong  or  good  or  bad,  with  nothing  in  between;
thinking or judging everything as either good or bad. * /Everything is
black-and-white to Bill; if you're not his friend, you are his enemy./
*  /The  old  man's  religion  shows  his  black-and-white   thinking;
everything is either completely good or completely bad./

   [black day] {n.} A day of great unhappiness; a disaster. * /It  was
a black day when our business venture collapsed./

   [black eye] {n.} 1. A dark area around one's eye due to a hard blow
during a fight, such as boxing. * /Mike  Tyson  sported  a  black  eye
after the big fight./ 2. Discredit. * /Bob's illegal actions will give
a black eye to the popular movement he started./

   [blackout] {n.} 1. The darkening of a city curing an  air  raid  by
pulling down all curtains and putting out all street  lights.  *  /The
city of London went through numerous blackouts during World  War  II./
2. A cessation of news by the mass media. * /There was  a  total  news
blackout about the kidnapping of the prime minister./

   [black out] {v.} 1. To darken by putting out or dimming  lights,  *
/In some plays the stage is blacked out  for  a  short  time  and  the
actors speak in darkness./ * /In wartime, cities are  blacked  out  to
protect against  bombing  from  planes./  2.  To  prevent  or  silence
information or communication; refuse to give out truthful news. *  /In
wartime, governments often black out all news or give out false news./
* /Dictators usually black out all criticism  of  the  government./  *
/Some big games are blacked out  on  television  to  people  who  live
nearby./ 3. {informal} To lose consciousness; faint. * /It had been  a
hard and tiring day, and she suddenly blacked out./

   [black sheep] {n.} A person in a family or a  community  considered
unsatisfactory or disgraceful. * /My brother  Ted  is  a  high  school
dropout who joined a circus; he is the black sheep in our family./

   [blame] See: TO BLAME.

   [blank check] {n.} 1. A bank check written to a person who can then
write in how much money he wants. * /John's father sent  him  a  blank
check to pay his school bills./ 2. {informal}  Permission  to  another
person to do anything he decides to do. * /The teacher gave the pupils
a blank check to plan the picnic./

   [blanket] See: WET BLANKET.

   [blast off] {v.} 1. To begin a rocket flight. * /The astronaut will
blast off into orbit at six o'clock./ 2. Also [blast away]  {informal}
To scold or protest violently. * /The coach blasted off  at  the  team
for poor playing./

   [blaze a trail] {v. phr.} 1. To cut marks  in  trees  in  order  to
guide other people  along  a  path  or  trail,  especially  through  a
wilderness. * /Daniel Boone blazed a trail for other hunters to follow
in Kentucky./ 2. To lead the way; make a  discovery;  start  something
new. * /Henry Ford blazed a trail  in  manufacturing  automobiles./  *
/The building  of  rockets  blazed  a  trail  to  outer  space./  See:
TRAILBLAZER.

   [bleep out] See: BLIP OUT.

   [bless one's heart] {v. phr.} To thank someone;  consider  one  the
cause of something good that has happened. *  /Aunt  Jane,  bless  her
heart, left me half a million dollars!/

   [blessing] See: MIXED BLESSING.

   [blind] See: FLY BLIND.

   [blind alley] {n.} 1. A narrow street that has  only  one  entrance
and no exit. * /The blind alley ended in a brick wall./ 2.  A  way  of
acting that leads to no good results. * /John did  not  take  the  job
because it was a blind alley./ * /Tom thought  of  a  way  to  do  the
algebra problem, but he found it was a blind alley./

   [blind as a bat/beetle/mole/owl] {adj. phr.} Anyone who is blind or
has difficulty in seeing; a person with very thick glasses. * /Without
my glasses I am blind as a bat./

   [blind date] {n.} An engagement or date  arranged  by  friends  for
people who have not previously known one another. * /A blind date  can
be a huge success, or a big disappointment./

   [blind leading the blind] One or more people who  do  not  know  or
understand something trying to explain it to others who do not know or
understand. * /Jimmy is trying to show Bill how to  skate.  The  blind
are leading the blind./

   [blind spot] {n.} 1. A place on the road that a driver  cannot  see
in the rearview mirror. *  /I  couldn't  see  that  truck  behind  me,
Officer, because it was in my blind spot./ 2.  A  matter  or  topic  a
person refuses to discuss or accept. * /My uncle Ted has a real  blind
spot about religion./

   [blink] See: ON THE BLINK.

   [blip  out]  or  [bleep  out]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To   delete
electronically a word on television or  on  radio  either  because  it
mentions the name of an established firm in a commercial or because it
is a censored word not allowed for television audiences, resulting  in
a sound resembling the word "bleep." * /What was the old product  they
compared Spic-n-Span to? - I don't know; they've bleeped it out./

   [blitz] See: SAFETY BLITZ.

   [block] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, KNOCK ONE'S BLOCK OFF, ON  THE
BLOCK.

   [blockhead] {n.}, {informal} An unusually dense, or  stupid  person
whose head is therefore exaggeratedly compared to  a  solid  block  of
wood. * /Joe is such a blockhead that he flunked  every  course  as  a
freshman./

   [blood] See: DRAW BLOOD, FLESH AND BLOOD, IN COLD BLOOD,  IN  ONE'S
BLOOD or INTO ONE'S BLOOD, MAKE ONE'S BLOOD BOIL  or  MAKE  THE  BLOOD
BOIL, NEW BLOOD, OUT OF ONE'S BLOOD, RUN IN THE BLOOD or  RUN  IN  THE
FAMILY, SPORTING BLOOD, SWEAT BLOOD, WARM ONE'S BLOOD.

   [blood and thunder] {n. phr.} The violence and bloodshed of stories
that present fast action rather than  understanding  of  character.  *
/Crime movies and westerns usually have lots of blood and thunder./  -
Often used like an adjective. * /John likes to watch blood-and-thunder
stories on television./

   [blood freezes] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.

   [blood is thicker than water] Persons of the same family are closer
to one another than to others; relatives are favored  or  chosen  over
outsiders. * /Mr. Jones hires his relatives  to  work  in  his  store.
Blood is thicker than water./

   [blood runs cold] also [blood freezes] or [blood turns to ice]  You
are chilled  or  shivering  from  great  fright  or  horror;  you  are
terrified or horrified. - Usually  used  with  a  possessive.  *  /The
horror movie made the children's blood  run  cold./  *  /Mary's  blood
froze when she had to walk through the cemetery at night./ *  /Oscar's
blood turned to ice when  he  saw  the  shadow  pass  by  outside  the
window./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END, THE CREEPS.

   [blood turns to ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.

   [bloody] See: SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.

   [blot out] {v.  phr.}  1.  To  obstruct;  cover;  obscure.  *  /The
high-rise building in front of our apartment house blots out the  view
of the ocean./ 2. To wipe out of one's memory. * /Jane can't  remember
the details when she was attacked in the streets; she blotted  it  out
of her memory./

   [blow] See: AT A BLOW, BODY BLOW, COME TO BLOWS, IT'S AN  ILL  WIND
THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, WAY THE WIND BLOWS or HOW THE WIND BLOWS.

   [blow a fuse] or [blow a gasket] or [blow one's top] or [blow one's
stack] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become extremely angry; express  rage  in
hot words. * /When Mr. McCarthy's son got married against his  wishes,
he blew a fuse./ * /When the umpire called Joe out at first, Joe  blew
his top and was sent to the showers./ Syn.: BLOW  UP(1b),  FLIP  ONE'S
LID, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER. Compare: BLOW OFF STEAM(2).

   [blow great guns] See: GREAT GUNS.

   [blow hot and cold] {v. phr.} To change your ways or  likes  often;
be fickle or changeable. * /Tom blows hot and cold  about  coming  out
for the baseball team; he cannot decide./ * /Mary blew  hot  and  cold
about going to college; every day she changed her mind./ *  /The  boys
will get tired of Ann's blowing hot and cold./

   [blow in] {v.}, {slang} To arrive unexpectedly  or  in  a  carefree
way. * /The house was already full  of  guests  when  Bill  blew  in./
Compare SHOW UP(3).

   [blow into] {v.}, {slang} To arrive at (a place) unexpectedly or in
a carefree way. * /Bill blows into college at the  last  minute  after
every vacation./ * /Why Tom, when did you blow into town?/

   [blow off steam] See: LET OFF STEAM.

   [blow one's brains out] {v. phr.} 1. To shoot yourself in the head.
* /Mr. Jones lost all his wealth, so  he  blew  his  brains  out./  2.
{slang} To work very hard; overwork yourself. * /The boys  blew  their
brains out to get the stage ready for the play./ * /Mary is not one to
blow her brains out./ Compare: BREAK ONE'S NECK.

   [blow one's cool] {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {informal}  To  lose  your
composure or self-control. * /Whatever you say to the judge in  court,
make sure that you don't blow your cool./

   [blow one's lines] or [fluff one's lines] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To
forget the words you are supposed to speak while acting in a  play.  *
/The noise backstage scared Mary and she blew her lines./

   [blow one's mind] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}; {originally  from
the drug culture} 1. To become wildly enthusiastic over  something  as
if understanding it for the first time in an  entirely  new  light.  *
/Read Lyall Watson's book "Supernature",  it  will  simply  blow  your
mind!/ 2. To lose one's ability to function, as if due to an  overdose
of drugs, * /Joe is entirely incoherent - he seems to have  blown  his
mind./ Contrast: BLOW ONE'S COOL.

   [blow one's own horn] or [toot one's own horn] {v.  phr.},  {slang}
To praise yourself; call attention to your own skill, intelligence, or
successes; boast. * /People get tired of a man who is  always  blowing
his own horn./ * /A person who does things well does not have to  toot
his own horn; his abilities will be noticed by others./

   [blow  one's  top]  {v.  phr.}  To  become  very  excited,   angry,
hysterical, or furious. * /"No need to blow your top,  Al,"  his  wife
said, "just because you lost a few dollars."/

   [blow out] {v. phr.} 1. To cease to function; fail;  explode  (said
of tires and fuses). * /The accident occurred when Jim's tire blew out
on the highway./ * /The new dishwasher blew out the fuses in the whole
house./ 2. To extinguish. * /Jane blew out her birthday  cake  candles
before offering pieces to the guests./

   [blowout] {n.} 1. An explosion of a tire or a fuse.  *  /Jim's  van
veered sharply to the right after his car had a  blowout./  2.  A  big
party. * /After graduation from college, my son and his friends staged
a huge blowout./

   [blow over] {v.} To come to an end; pass away with little or no bad
effects. * /The sky was black, as if a bad storm were coming,  but  it
blew over and the sun came out./ * /They were  bitter  enemies  for  a
while, but the quarrel blew over./ * /He was much criticized  for  the
divorce, but it all blew over after a few years./

   [blow taps] {v. phr.} To sound the final bugle call of the  evening
in a camp or military base. * /After taps is blown the boy  scouts  go
to their bunks to sleep./

   [blow the gaff] {v. phr.} To open one's mouth to reveal a secret. *
/When Al cheated on his wife, his younger brother  blew  the  gaff  on
him./

   [blow the lid off] {v. phr.}, {informal}  Suddenly  to  reveal  the
truth about a matter that has been kept as a secret either by  private
persons or by some governmental agency. * /The clever journalists blew
the lid off the Watergate cover-up./

   [blow the whistle on] {v. phr.},  {slang}  1.  To  inform  against;
betray. * /The police caught one of the bank robbers, and he blew  the
whistle on two more./ 2. To act against,  stop,  or  tell  people  the
secrets of (crime or lawlessness). * /The mayor blew  the  whistle  on
gambling./ * /The police blew the whistle on hot reading./

   [blow up] {v.} 1a. To break  or  destroy  or  to  be  destroyed  by
explosion. * /He blew up the plane by means of a  concealed  bomb./  *
/The fireworks factory  blew  up  when  something  went  wrong  in  an
electric switch./ 1b. {informal}  To  explode  with  anger  or  strong
feeling; lose control of yourself. * /When Father bent  the  nail  for
the third time, he blew up./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE. 1c. To stop playing
well in a game or contest, usually because you are in danger of losing
or are tired; {especially}: To  lose  skill  or  control  in  pitching
baseball. * /The champion blew up and lost the tennis match./  *  /Our
team was behind but the pitcher on the other team blew up and  we  got
the winning runs./ 2. {informal} To be ruined as if by  explosion;  be
ended suddenly. * /The whole scheme for a big party suddenly blew up./
3a. To pump full of air; inflate. * /He blew his tires up at a filling
station./ 3b. To make (something) seem bigger or important. * /It  was
a small thing to happen but the newspapers had blown it  up  until  it
seemed important./ 4. To bring on bad weather; also, to come on as bad
weather. * /The wind had blown up a storm./ * /A storm had blown  up./
5. To copy in bigger form; enlarge. * /He blew up the  snapshot  to  a
larger size./

   [blow up in one's face] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  fail  completely
and with unexpected force. * /The thief's plan to rob the bank blew up
in his face when a policeman stopped him./

   [blue] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, BOLT FROM  THE
BLUE, ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY.

   [blue around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.

   [blue collar worker] {n. phr.} A manual laborer who is  probably  a
labor union member. * /Because Jack's father is a blue collar  worker,
Jack was so anxious to become an intellectual./ Contrast: WHITE COLLAR
WORKER.

   [blue in the face] {adj. phr.}, {informal}  Very  angry  or  upset;
excited and very emotional. * /Tom argued with Bill until he was  blue
in the face./ * /Mary scolded Jane until she was blue in the face, but
Jane kept on using Mary's paints./

   [blue Monday] {n.} A Monday when you have to  work  after  a  happy
weekend. * /It was blue Monday  and  John  nodded  sleepily  over  his
books./ * /Housewives sometimes wish they  could  sleep  through  blue
Monday./

   [blue-pencil] {v.} To edit.  *  /The  editor  blue-penciled  John's
manuscript./

   [bluff] See: CALL ONE'S BLUFF.

   [blurt out] {v. phr.} To suddenly say something even if one was not
planning to do so, or if it was not expected of them. *  /"My  brother
Bob is in jail," Tony blurted out, before anybody could stop him./

   [blush] See: AT FIRST BLUSH.

   [board] See: ACROSS THE BOARD, COLLEGE BOARDS, GO BY THE  BOARD  or
PASS BY THE BOARD, ON BOARD, SANDWICH BOARD.

   [boat] See: BURN ONE'S BRIDGES also BURN ONE'S BOATS, IN  THE  SAME
BOAT, MISS THE BOAT, ROCK THE BOAT.

   [bobby-soxer] {n.} A  teen-aged  girl.  (1940s  idiom)  *  /My  two
daughters, age 13 and 14, are typical bobby-soxers./

   [bob up] See: POP UP(1).

   [body] See: KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.

   [body blow] {n.},  {informal}  A  great  disappointment;  a  bitter
failure. * /When he failed to get on the team it came as a  body  blow
to him./

   [body English] {n.}, {informal} The wishful attempt to make a  ball
move in the right direction after it  has  been  hit  or  let  go,  by
twisting the body in the desired direction. * /He tried  to  help  the
putt fall by using body English./

   [bog down] {v. phr.} To be immobilized in  mud,  snow,  etc.;  slow
down. * /Our research got  bogged  down  for  a  lack  of  appropriate
funding./ * /Don't get bogged down in too much detail when  you  write
an action story./

   [bog down, to get bogged down] {v. phr.}, {mostly  intransitive  or
passive} 1. To stop progressing; to slow to a halt. * /Work on the new
building bogged down, because the contractor didn't deliver the needed
concrete blocks./ 2. To become entangled with a variety  of  obstacles
making your efforts unproductive  or  unsatisfying.  *  /The  novelist
wrote tittle last summer because she got bogged down in housework./

   [boggle the mind]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  stop  the  rational
thinking process by virtue of being too fantastic or incredible. * /It
boggles the mind that John should have been inside a flying saucer!/

   [boil] See: MAKE ONE'S BLOOD BOIL or MAKE THE BLOOD BOIL.

   [boil down] {v.} 1. To boil away some of the water from; make  less
by boiling. * /She boiled down the maple sap to a thick syrup./ * /The
fruit juice boiled down until it was almost not good for jelly./ 2. To
reduce the length of; cut down; shorten. * /The  reporter  boiled  the
story down to half the original length./ 3. To reduce itself to;  come
down to; be briefly or basically. * /The whole discussion  boils  down
to the question of whether the government should fix prices./

   [boil over] {v. phr.} 1. To rise due to boiling and  overflow  down
the sides of a pan or a pot. * /"Watch out!" Jane cried. "The milk  is
boiling over on the stove!"/ 2. To become  enraged  to  the  point  of
being unable to contain oneself. * /John took a lot of abuse from  his
boss, but after 25 minutes he suddenly boiled over and told  him  what
he thought of him./

   [boiling point] {n.} 1. The temperature at which a liquid boils.  *
/The boiling point of water is 272{sup}o{/sup} Fahrenheit./ 2. The time when  you
become very angry. * /He has a low  boiling  point./  *  /After  being
teased for a long time, John reached the boiling point./ * /When  John
made the same mistake for the fourth time,  his  teacher  reached  the
boiling point./ Compare: BLOW UP(1b), MAKE ONE'S BLOOD BOIL.

   [bolt from the blue] {n. phr.} Something sudden and unexpected;  an
event that you did not see coming;  a  great  and  usually  unpleasant
surprise; shock. * /We had been sure she was in Chicago, so her sudden
appearance was a bolt from the blue./ * /His decision to resign was  a
bolt from the blue./ Compare: OUT OF THE BLUE.

   [bombshell] See: EXPLODE A BOMBSHELL.

   [bond] See: SAVINGS BOND.

   [bone] See: BRED IN THE BONE, FEEL IN ONE'S BONES or KNOW IN  ONE'S
BONES, FUNNY BONE, MAKE NO BONES, SKIN AND BONES, T-BONE  STEAK,  WORK
ONE'S FINGERS TO THE BONE.

   [bonehead] {n.}, {slang} An unusually dense  or  stupid  person.  *
/John is such a bonehead - small wonder he flunks all of his courses./

   [bone of contention] {n. phr.} Something to fight  over;  a  reason
for quarrels; the subject of a fight. * /The boundary line between the
farms was a bone of contention between the two farmers./ * /The use of
the car was a bone of contention between Joe and his wife./

   [bone to pick] or [crow to pick] {n. phr.}, {informal} A reason for
dispute; something to  complain  of  or  argue  about.  -  Often  used
jokingly. * /"I have a bone to pick with you," he said./ * /There  was
always a crow to pick  about  which  one  would  shave  first  in  the
morning./ Compare: BONE OF CONTENTION.

   [bone up] {v.}, {informal} To fill with information; try to learn a
lot about something in a short time; study quickly. * /Carl was boning
up for an examination./ * /Jim had to make a class report the next day
on juvenile delinquency, and he was in the library boning  up  on  how
the courts handle it./

   [bonnet] See: BEE IN ONE'S BONNET.

   [book] See: CLOSED BOOK, CLOSE  THE  BOOKS,  HIT  THE  BOOKS,  KEEP
BOOKS, NOSE IN A BOOK, ONE FOR  THE  BOOKS,  READ  ONE  LIKE  A  BOOK,
TALKING BOOK, THROW THE BOOK AT.

   [boom] See: LOWER THE BOOM.

   [boot] See: DIE IN ONE'S BOOTS, IN ONE'S SHOES also IN ONE'S BOOTS,
LICK ONE'S BOOTS, SHAKE IN ONE'S SHOES or SHAKE  IN  ONE'S  BOOTS,  TO
BOOT, TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BREECHES or TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BOOTS,  YOU  BET
or YOU BET YOUR BOOTS.

   [boot hill] {n.} A cemetery in the old Wild West where cowboys  and
cops and robbers used  to  be  buried  with  their  boots  on.  Hence,
jokingly, any cemetery. *  /Good  old  Joe,  the  cowboy,  is  resting
comfortably in the nearby boot hill./

   [boot out] See: KICK OUT.

   [boot strap] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.

   [border on] {v. phr.} To be adjacent to; come close to;  adjoin.  *
/Our village borders on the  Mississippi  River./  *  /John's  actions
border on irresponsibility./

   [bore to death] See: TO DEATH.

   [bore to tears] {v. phr.} To  fill  with  tired  dislike;  tire  by
dullness or the same old thing bore. * /The party was dull  and  Roger
showed plainly that he was bored to tears./ * /Mary loved cooking, but
sewing bores her to tears./

   [born] See: NATURAL-BORN, TO THE MANNER BORN.

   [born out of wedlock] {adj. phr.}  Born  to  parents  who  are  not
married to each other; without legal  parents.  *  /Sometimes  when  a
married couple can't have children, they adopt a child  who  was  born
out of wedlock./ * /Today we no longer make fun of children  born  out
of wedlock./

   [born with a silver spoon in  one's  mouth]  {adj.  phr.}  Born  to
wealth and comfort; provided from birth with everything  wanted;  born
rich. * /The stranger's conduct was that of a man who  had  been  born
with a silver spoon in his mouth./ Compare: WELL-HEELED.

   [born yesterday] {adj. phr.} Inexperienced and easily  fooled;  not
alert to trickery; easily deceived  or  cheated.  -  Usually  used  in
negative sentences. * /When  Bill  started  the  new  job,  the  other
workers teased him a little, but he soon proved to  everyone  that  he
wasn't born yesterday./ * /I won't give you the money till I  see  the
bicycle you want to sell me. Do  you  think  I  was  born  yesterday?/
Compare: NOBODY'S FOOL.

   [borrow] See: LIVE ON BORROWED TIME.

   [borrow trouble] {v. phr.} To worry for nothing about trouble  that
may not come; make trouble for yourself needlessly.  *  /Don't  borrow
trouble by worrying about next year. It's too far away./  *  /You  are
borrowing trouble if you try to tell John what to  do./  Compare:  ASK
FOR, CROSS ONE'S BRIDGES BEFORE ONE COMES TO THEM, CRY BEFORE  ONE  IS
HURT.

   [bosom friend] {n. phr.} A very close friend;  an  old  buddy  with
whom one has a confidential relationship. * /Sue and  Jane  have  been
bosom friends since their college days./

   [boss] See: STRAW BOSS.

   [boss one around] {v. phr.} To keep giving someone orders;  to  act
overbearingly toward someone. *  /"If  you  keep  bossing  me  around,
darling," Tom said to Jane, "the days of our relationship  are  surely
numbered."/

   [botch up] {v. phr.} To ruin, spoil, or mess something  up.  *  /"I
botched up my chemistry exam," Tim said, with a resigned sigh./

   [both] See: CUT BOTH WAYS, PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES.

   [both --- and] {coord. conj.} Used to emphasize that  two  or  more
things are talked about. * /Both Frank and Mary were at the party./  *
/Millie is both a good swimmer and a good cook./  *  /In  the  program
tonight Mary will both sing and dance./ * /The frog can  move  quickly
both on land and in the water./ Compare: AS WELL AS.  Contrast  EITHER
OR.

   [bothered] See: HOT AND BOTHERED.

   [bottle blond] {n.}, {slang}  A  person  who  is  obviously  not  a
natural blond but whose hair is artificially colored. * /I doubt  that
Leonora's hair color is natural; she strikes me as a bottle blond./

   [bottleneck] {n.} A heavy traffic congestion.  *  /In  Chicago  the
worst bottleneck is found where the Kennedy and the Eden's expressways
separate on the way to the airport./

   [bottle up] {v.} 1. To hide or hold back; control. * /There was  no
understanding person to talk  to,  so  Fred  bottled  up  his  unhappy
feeling./ 2. To hold in a place from which there is no escape; trap. *
/Our warships bottled up the enemy fleet in the harbor./

   [bottom] See: BET ONE'S BOOTS or BET ONE'S BOTTOM DOLLAR, FROM  THE
BOTTOM OF ONE'S HEART, FROM --- TO ---, GET  TO  THE  BOTTOM  OF,  HIT
BOTTOM or TOUCH BOTTOM, ROCK BOTTOM, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

   [bottom dollar] {n.}, {v. phr.}, {informal} One's last penny, one's
last dollar. * /He was down to his bottom dollar when he suddenly  got
the job offer./

   [bottom drop out] or [bottom fall out] {v. phr.} {informal}  1.  To
fall below an earlier lowest price. * /The bottom dropped out  of  the
price of peaches./ 2. To lose  all  cheerful  qualities;  become  very
unhappy, cheerless, or unpleasant. * /The bottom dropped  out  of  the
day for John when he saw his report card./ * /The bottom fell out  for
us when the same ended with our team on the  two  yard  line  and  six
points behind./

   [bottom line] {n.}, {informal} (stress on "line") 1. The last  word
on a controversial issue; a final decision. *  /"Give  me  the  bottom
line on the proposed merger," said John./ 2. The naked  truth  without
embellishments. * /Look, the bottom  line  is  that  poor  Max  is  an
alcoholic./ 3. The final dollar amount; for example, the lowest  price
two parties reach in bargaining about a sale. * /"Five-hundred, " said
the used car dealer, "is the bottom line. Take it or leave it."/

   [bottom line] {v.}, {informal} (stress on "bottom") To  finish;  to
bring to a conclusion. * /Okay,  you  guys,  let's  bottom  line  this
project and break for coffee./

   [bottom out] {v. phr.} To reach the lowest point (said  chiefly  of
economic cycles). * /According to the leading economic indicators  the
recession will bottom out within the next two months./

   [bounce] See: GET THE BOUNCE, GIVE THE BOUNCE.

   [bound] See: BIND, BY LEAPS  AND  BOUNDS,  OUT  OF  BOUNDS,  WITHIN
BOUNDS.

   [bound for] {adj. phr.} On the way to; going to. * /I am bound  for
the country club./ * /The ship is bound for Liverpool./

   [bound up with] {v. phr.} To be  connected;  be  involved  with.  *
/Tuition at our university is bound up with the state budget./

   [bow] See: TAKE A BOW.

   [bow and scrape] {v.} To be too polite or  obedient  from  fear  or
hope of gain; act like a slave. * /The old servant bowed  and  scraped
before them, too obedient and eager to please./

   [bowl of cherries] See: BED OF ROSES.

   [bowl over] {v.}, {informal} 1. To knock down as if with  a  bowled
ball. * /The taxi hit him a glancing blow and bowled him over./ 2.  To
astonish with success or shock with misfortune; upset; stun. * /He was
bowled over by his wife's sudden death./ * /The young  actress  bowled
over everybody in her first movie./

   [bow out] {v.}, {informal}  1.  To  give  up  taking  part;  excuse
yourself from doing any more; quit. * /Mr. Black often quarreled  with
his partners, so finally he bowed out of the company./  *  /While  the
movie was being filmed, the star got sick and had to bow out./  2.  To
stop working after a long service; retire. * /He bowed  out  as  train
engineer after forty years of railroading./

   [box] See: IN A BIND or IN A BOX, PENALTY BOX, PRESS BOX, STUFF THE
BALLOT BOX, VOICE BOX.

   [box office] {n.}, {informal} 1. The place at movies  and  theaters
where tickets may be purchased just before the performance instead  of
having ordered them through the telephone or having bought them  at  a
ticket agency. * /No need to reserve the seats; we can pick them up at
the box office./ 2. A best selling movie, musical, or drama (where the
tickets are all always sold out and people line up in front of the box
office). * /John Wayne's last movie was  a  regular  box  office./  3.
Anything successful or well liked. * /Betsie is no longer  box  office
with me./

   [boy] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY,  FAIR-HAIRED
BOY, MAMA'S BOY, OLD BOY, SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.

   [boyfriend] {n.}, {informal} 1.  A  male  friend  or  companion.  *
/"John and his boyfriends have  gone  to  the  ball  game,"  said  his
mother./ 2. A girl's steady date, a woman's  favorite  man  friend;  a
male lover or sweetheart. * /Jane's new boyfriend is a senior in  high
school./ Contrast: GIRL FRIEND.

   [boys will be boys] Boys are only children and must  sometimes  get
into mischief or trouble or behave too roughly. * /Boys will  be  boys
and make a lot of noise, so John's mother told him and his friends  to
play in the park instead of the back yard./

   [brain] See: BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT, BLOW ONE'S BRAINS OUT,  ON  THE
BRAIN, RACK ONE'S BRAIN, GET ONE'S BRAINS FRIED.

   [brain bucket] {n.}, {slang} A motorcycle helmet. * /If you want to
share a ride with me, you've got to wear a brain bucket./

   [brain  drain]  {n.},  {informal}  1.  The  loss  of  the   leading
intellectuals and researchers of a country due to excessive emigration
to other countries where conditions are better. * /Britain suffered  a
considerable brain drain to the United States after World War II./  2.
An activity requiring great mental concentration resulting in  fatigue
and exhaustion * /That math exam I took was a regular brain drain./

   [brain-storm] {v.} To have a discussion among fellow researchers or
co-workers on a project in order to find the best solution to a  given
problem. * /Dr. Watson and his research assistants are  brain-storming
in the conference room./

   [brainstorm] {n.} A sudden insight; a stroke  of  comprehension.  *
/Listen to me, I've just had a major brainstorm, and I think  I  found
the solution to our problem./

   [brain trust] {n.} A group of specially trained, highly intelligent
experts in a given field. * /Albert Einstein gathered  a  brain  trust
around himself at the Princeton Institute of Advanced Studies./

   [brake] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.

   [branch off]  {v.}  To  go  from  something  big  or  important  to
something smaller or less important; turn aside. * /At  the  bridge  a
little road branches off from the highway and follows  the  river./  *
/Martin was trying to study his lesson, but his  mind  kept  branching
off onto what girl he should ask to go with him to the dance./

   [branch out] {v.} To add new interests or activities;  begin  doing
other things also. * /First Jane collected stamps; then  she  branched
out and collected coins, too./ * /John  started  a  television  repair
shop; when he did well, he branched out and began  selling  television
sets too./

   [brand-new] also [bran-new] {adj.} As new or  fresh  as  when  just
made and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. *  /He  had
taken a brand-new car from the dealer's floor and wrecked it./  *  /In
Uncle Tom's trunk, we found  a  wedding  ring,  still  in  its  little
satin-lined box, still brand-new./

   [brass] See: DOUBLE IN BRASS, GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

   [brass hat] {n.}, {slang} 1. A high officer in the army,  navy,  or
air force. * /The brass hats In  Washington  often  discuss  important
secrets./ 2. Any person who has a high position in business, politics,
or other work. * /Mr. Woods, the rich oil man, is  a  political  brass
hat./

   [brass tacks] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

   [brave it out] {v. phr.} To endure something difficult or dangerous
through to the end; keep on through trouble or danger.  *  /It  was  a
dangerous ocean crossing in wartime, but captain and  crew  braved  it
out./

   [brazen it out] {v. phr.} To pretend  you  did  nothing  wrong;  be
suspected, accused, or scolded without admitting you did wrong; act as
if not guilty. * /The teacher found a stolen pen that the girl had  in
her desk, but the girl brazened it out; she  said  someone  else  must
have put it there./

   [bread] See: HALF A LOAF is BETTER THAN NONE, KNOW WHICH SIDE ONE'S
BREAD IS BUTTERED ON, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH.

   [bread and butter(1)] {n. phr.} The  usual  needs  of  life;  food,
shelter, and clothing.  *  /Ed  earned  his  bread  and  butter  as  a
bookkeeper, but added a little jam by working with  a  dance  band  on
weekends./

   [bread and butter(2)] {adj.} Thanking someone for entertainment  or
a nice visit; thank-you. * /After spending the weekend as a  guest  in
the Jones' home, Alice wrote the Joneses  the  usual  bread-and-butter
letter./ See: BREAD AND BUTTER LETTER.

   [bread and butter(3)] {interj.}, {informal} Spoken to  prevent  bad
luck that you think might result from some action. * /We'd say  "Bread
and butter!" when we had passed on opposite sides of a tree./

   [bread-and-butter  letter]  {n.}  A   written   acknowledgment   of
hospitality received. * /Jane  wrote  the  Browns  a  bread-and-butter
letter when she returned home from her visit to them./

   [breadbasket] {n}, {slang} The stomach. *  /John  is  stuffing  his
breadbasket again./

   [break] See: COFFEE BREAK.

   [break away] or [break loose] {v. phr.} To  liberate  oneself  from
someone or something. * /Jane tried to break loose from her  attacker,
but he was too strong./

   [break camp] {v. phr.} To take down  and  pack  tents  and  camping
things; take your things from a camping place.  *  /The  scouts  broke
camp at dawn./

   [break down] {v.} (stress on "down") 1. To smash or hit (something)
so that it falls; cause to fall by force. * /The  firemen  broke  down
the door./ 2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of;  weaken;
win over. * /By helpful kindness the teacher broke down the new  boy's
shyness./ * /Advertising breaks down a  lot  of  stubbornness  against
change./ 3. To separate into elements or parts;  decay.  *  /Water  is
readily broken down into hydrogen and oxygen./ *  /After  many  years,
rocks break down into dirt./ 4. To become unusable because of breakage
or other failure; lose power to work or go.  *  /The  car  broke  down
after half an hour's driving./ * /His health broke down./ * /When  the
coach was sick in bed, the training rules of  the  team  broke  down./
Compare: GO BACK ON(2).

   [breakdown] See: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

   [breaker] See: JAW-BREAKER.

   [break even] {v. phr.}, {informal} (stress  on  "even")  To  end  a
series of gains and losses having the same amount  you  started  with;
have expenses equal to profits; have  equal  gain  and  loss.  *  /The
storekeeper made many sales, but his expenses were  so  high  that  he
just broke even./ * /If you gamble you are lucky when you break even./

   [break-even] {n.} The point of equilibrium in  a  business  venture
when one has made as much money as one had invested, but  not  more  -
that would be "profit." * /"We've reached the break-even point at long
last!" - Max exclaimed with joy./

   [break ground] {v. phr.} To begin a construction project by digging
for the foundation; especially, to turn the formal first  spadeful  of
dirt. * /City officials and  industrial  leaders  were  there  as  the
company broke ground for its new building./ See: BREAK NEW GROUND.

   [break in] {v.} (stress on "in") 1a. To break from outside. *  /The
firemen broke in the door of the burning house./ 1b. To enter by force
or unlawfully. * /Thieves broke in while the family was away./  2.  To
enter suddenly or interrupt. * /A stranger broke  in  on  the  meeting
without knocking./ * /The secretary broke in to say  that  a  telegram
had arrived./ Compare: CUT IN(2). 3. To make a start in a line of work
or with a company or association; begin a new job. * /He broke in as a
baseball player with a minor league./ 4. To teach the skills of a  new
job or activity to. * /An assistant foreman broke in the new man as  a
machine operator./ 5. To lessen the stiffness or newness of by use.  *
/He broke in a new pair of shoes./ * /Breaking in a new  car  requires
careful driving at moderate speeds./

   [break-in] {n.} (stress on "break") A robbery; a  burglary.  *  /We
lost our jewelry during a break-in./

   [break into] {v.} 1. To force an entrance into;  make  a  rough  or
unlawful entrance into. * /Thieves broke into the store at night./  2.
{informal} To succeed in beginning (a career, business,  or  a  social
life) * /He broke into television as an actor./ 3. To interrupt. * /He
broke into the discussion with  a  shout  of  warning./  4.  To  begin
suddenly. * /He broke into a sweat./ * /She broke into tears./ *  /The
dog heard his master's whistle and broke into a run./

   [break new ground] {v. phr.} 1. To start a new activity  previously
neglected by others; do pioneering work. * /Albert Einstein broke  new
ground with his theory of relativity./ 2.  To  begin  something  never
done before. * /The school broke new ground with reading lessons  that
taught students to guess the meaning of new words./

   [break  off]  {v.}  1.  To  stop  suddenly.  *  /The  speaker   was
interrupted so often that he broke off and sat down./ * /When Bob came
in, Jean broke off  her  talk  with  Linda  and  talked  to  Bob./  2.
{informal} To end a friendship or love. * /I hear that Tom  and  Alice
have broken off./ * /She broke off with her best friend./

   [break one's balls] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To do
something with maximum effort;  to  do  something  very  difficult  or
taxing * /I've been breaking my balls to buy you this new color TV set
and you aren't the least bit appreciative!/ Compare: BREAK ONE'S NECK.

   [break one's heart] {v. phr.} To discourage greatly; make very  sad
or hopeless. * /His son's disgrace broke his heart./ * /When Mr. White
lost everything he had worked so hard for, it broke his heart./

   [break one's neck] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do all you  possibly  can;
try your hardest. - Usually used with a limiting adverb or negative. *
/John nearly broke his neck trying  not  to  be  late  to  school./  *
/Mother asked Mary to go to the store when she was free,  but  not  to
break her neck over it./

   [break one's word] {v. phr.} To renege on a promise. *  /When  Jake
broke his word that he would marry Sarah, she became very depressed./

   [break out] {v.} 1. To begin showing a rash or other skin disorder.
- Often used with "with". * /He broke out with scarlet fever./  2.  To
speak or act suddenly and violently. * /He broke out laughing./ * /She
broke out, "That is not so!"/ 3. To begin  and  become  noticeable.  *
/Fire broke out after the earthquake./ *  /War  broke  out  in  1812./
Compare: FLARE UP. 4. {informal} To bring out; open and show. *  /When
word of the victory came, people began breaking out  their  flags./  *
/When Mr. Carson's first son was born, he broke out the cigars he  had
been saving./

   [break the ice] {v. phr.},  {informal}  1.  To  conquer  the  first
difficulties in starting a conversation, getting  a  party  going,  or
making an acquaintance. * /To break the ice Ted spoke of his  interest
in mountain climbing, and they soon had a conversation going./ * /Some
people use an unusual thing, such as an unusual piece of  jewelry,  to
break the ice./ 2. To be the first person or team to score in a  game.
* /The Wolves broke the ice with a touchdown./

   [break the record] {v. phr.} To set or to establish a new  mark  or
record. * /Algernon broke the record in both the  pentathlon  and  the
decathlon and took home two gold medals from the Olympics./

   [break through] {v.} To be successful after overcoming a difficulty
or bar to success. * /Dr. Salk failed many times but he finally  broke
through to find a successful polio vaccine./ * /Jim studied very  hard
this semester in college, and he finally broke through onto the Dean's
List for the first time./

   [breakthrough] {n.} A point of sudden success after a long  process
of experimentation,  trial  and  error.  *  /The  U.S.  Space  Program
experienced a major breakthrough when Armstrong and Aldrin  landed  on
the moon in June of 1969./

   [break up] {v. phr.} To end a romantic relationship, a marriage, or
a business partnership. * /Tom and Jane broke up because Tom played so
much golf that he had no time for her./

   [break up] {v.} 1. To break into pieces. * /The  workmen  broke  up
the pavement to dig up the pipes under it./ * /River ice breaks up  in
the spring./ 2. {informal} To lose or destroy spirit or  self-control.
- Usually used in the passive. * /Mrs.  Lawrence  was  all  broken  up
after her daughter's death, and did not go out of the  house  for  two
months./ Compare: CRACK UP, GO TO PIECES. 3. To come or to put  to  an
end, especially by separation; separate. * /Some men kept interrupting
the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting./ * /The party broke up
at midnight./ - Often used in the informal phrase  "break  it  up".  *
/The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break
it up./ Compare: CUT OUT(1). 4. {informal} To stop  being  friends.  *
/Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then
they had a quarrel and broke up/ Compare: BREAK OFF.

   [break-up] {n.} The end of a relationship, personal or  commercial.
* /The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided  to  sue
each other for embezzlement./

   [break with] {v.} To separate yourself  from;  end  membership  in;
stop friendly association with. * /He broke with the Democratic  party
on the question of civil rights./ * /He had broken with  some  friends
who had changed in their ideas./

   [breast] See: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF.

   [breath] See: CATCH ONE'S BREATH, DRAW A LONG BREATH or TAKE A LONG
BREATH, HOLD ONE'S BREATH, IN THE SAME BREATH,  OUT  OF  BREATH,  SAVE
ONE'S BREATH, SECOND WIND also SECOND BREATH, TAKE ONE'S BREATH  AWAY,
UNDER ONE'S BREATH, WASTE ONE'S BREATH.

   [breathe down one's neck] {v. phr.}, {informal} To follow  closely;
threaten from behind; watch every action. * /Too many  creditors  were
breathing down his neck./ * /The carpenter didn't like to work for Mr.
Jones, who was always breathing down his neck./

   [breathe easily] or [breathe  freely]  {v.}  To  have  relief  from
difficulty or worry; relax; feel that trouble is gone; stop  worrying.
* /Now that the big bills were paid, he breathed more easily./ *  /His
mother didn't breathe easily until he got home that night./

   [breathe one's last] {v. phr.} To die. * /The wounded soldier  fell
back on the ground and breathed his last./

   [bred in  the  bone]  {adj.  phr.}  Belonging  to  your  nature  or
character, especially from early teaching or long habit; natural  from
belief or habit; believing deeply. * /The Willett children's cleanness
is bred in the none./ Often used, with hyphens before the noun. * /Joe
is a bred-in-the-bone horseman; he has been riding since he was  six./
Contrast: SKIN-DEEP.

   [breeches] See: TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BREECHES.

   [breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE,
WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

   [breeze in] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To  walk  into  a  place
casually (like a soft blowing wind). * /Betsie breezed in and sat down
at the bar./

   [brew] See: HOME BREW.

   [brick] See: MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW.

   [brick wall] See: STONE WALL.

   [bridge] See: BURN ONE'S BRIDGES, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE  ONE  COMES
TO IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

   [brief] See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD.

   [bright and early] {adj. phr.} Prompt and alert; on time and ready;
cheerful and on time or before time. * /He came down bright and  early
to breakfast./ * /She arrived bright and early for the appointment./

   [bring about] {v.} To cause; produce;  lead  to.  *  /The  war  had
brought about great changes in living./ *  /Drink  brought  about  his
downfall./

   [bring around] or [bring round] {v.} 1. {informal}  To  restore  to
health or consciousness cure. * /He was quite ill,  but  good  nursing
brought him around./ Compare: BRING TO(1). 2. To  cause  a  change  in
thinking; persuade; convince; make willing. * /After a  good  deal  of
discussion he brought her round to his way of thinking./

   [bringdown] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. (from "bring  down",  past
"brought down"). A critical or cutting remark  said  sarcastically  in
order to deflate a braggard's ego. * /John  always  utters  the  right
bringdown when he encounters a braggard./ 2. A  person  who  depresses
and saddens others by being a chronic complainer. * /John is a regular
bringdown./

   [bring  down]  {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {informal}  1.   To   deflate
(someone's ego). * /John brought  Ted  down  very  cleverly  with  his
remarks./ 2. To depress (someone). *  /The  funeral  brought  me  down
completely./

   [bring down about one's ears] or [bring  down  around  one's  ears]
See: ABOUT ONE'S EARS.

   [bring down the house] {v. phr.}, {informal} To start  an  audience
laughing or clapping enthusiastically. * /The  principal's  story  was
funny in itself and also touched their loyalties, so it  brought  down
the house./ * /The President made a fine speech which brought down the
house./

   [bring home]  {v.}  To  show  clearly;  emphasize;  make  (someone)
realize; demonstrate. * /The accident caused a death  in  his  family,
and it brought home to him the evil of drinking while driving./  *  /A
parent or teacher should bring home to children the value and pleasure
of reading./

   [bring home the bacon] {v. phr.}, {informal}  1.  To  support  your
family; earn the family living. * /He was a steady fellow, who  always
brought home the bacon./ 2. To win a game or prize.  *  /The  football
team brought home the bacon./

   [bring in] {v.} In baseball: To enable men on base to score, score.
* /Dick's hit brought in both base runners./ * /A walk  and  a  triple
brought in a run in the third inning./

   [bring into line] {v. phr.} To make someone conform to the accepted
standard. * /Sam had to be brought into line when he refused  to  take
his muddy shoes off the cocktail table./

   [bring off] {v.} To do (something difficult); perform  successfully
(an act of skill); accomplish (something requiring unusual ability). *
/By skillful discussion, Mr. White had brought off an  agreement  that
had seemed impossible to get./ * /He tried several times to break  the
high jump record,  and  finally  he  brought  it  off./  Compare:  PUT
OVER(2).

   [bring on] {v.} To result in; cause;  produce.  *  /The  murder  of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 brought  on  the  First
World War./ * /Spinal meningitis brought on John's  deafness  when  he
was six years old./ *  /Reading  in  a  poor  light  may  bring  on  a
headache./

   [bring out] {v.} 1. To cause to appear; make clear. *  /His  report
brought out the foolishness of the plan./ * /Brushing will  bring  out
the beauty of your hair./ 2. To help (an ability  or  skill)  grow  or
develop. * /The teacher's coaching brought  out  a  wonderful  singing
voice of great power and  warmth./  3.  To  offer  to  the  public  by
producing, publishing, or selling. * /He brought out a  new  play./  *
/The company brought out a line of light personal airplanes./

   [bring round] See: BRING AROUND.

   [bring suit against] {v. phr.} To sue someone in a court of law.  *
/Fred brought suit against Tom for fraud and embezzlement./

   [bring to] {v.} (stress on "to") 1. To  restore  to  consciousness;
wake from sleep, anesthesia, hypnosis, or fainting. * /Smelling  salts
will often bring a fainting person to./ Compare: BRING  AROUND(1).  2.
To bring a ship or boat to a stop. * /Reaching the  pier,  he  brought
the boat smartly to./

   [bring to a close] {v. phr.} To terminate; cause  to  end.  *  /The
meeting was brought to an abrupt close when the speaker collapsed with
a heart attack./

   [bring to a head] {v. phr.} To cause some  activity  to  reach  the
point of culmination. * /Time is running out,  gentlemen,  so  let  us
bring this discussion to a head./

   [bring to bay] {v. phr.} To chase  or  force  into  a  place  where
escape is impossible without a fight;  trap;  corner.  *  /The  police
brought the robber to bay on the roof and he gave up./ * /The fox  was
brought to bay in a hollow tree and the dogs stood around it barking./
Compare: AT BAY.

   [bring to heel] See: TO HEEL.

   [bring to light] {v. phr.} To discover (something hidden); find out
about; expose. * /Many things left by the ancient Egyptians  in  tombs
have been brought to  light  by  scientists  and  explorers./  *  /His
enemies brought to light some foolish things he had done while  young,
but he was elected anyway because people trusted him./  Compare:  COME
TO LIGHT.

   [bring to one's knees] {v. phr.} To seriously weaken the  power  or
impair the function of. * /The fuel shortage  brought  the  automobile
industry to its knees./

   [bring to pass] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make  (something)  happen;
succeed in causing. *  /By  much  planning,  the  mother  brought  the
marriage to pass./ * /The change in the law was slow in coming, and it
took a disaster to bring it to pass./ Compare: BRING  ABOUT,  COME  TO
PASS.

   [bring to terms] {v. phr.} To make  (someone)  agree  or  do;  make
surrender. * /The two brothers were brought to terms by  their  father
for riding the bicycle./ * /The war won't end until we bring the enemy
to terms./ Contrast: COME TO TERMS.

   [bring up] {v.} 1.  To  take  care  of  (a  child);  raise,  train,
educate. * /He gave much attention and  thought  to  bringing  up  his
children./ * /Joe was born in Texas but brought up  in  Oklahoma./  2.
{informal} To stop; halt. - Usually used with "short". *  /He  brought
the car up short when the light changed to red./ *  /Bill  started  to
complain, I brought him up short./ 3. To begin a discussion of;  speak
of; mention. * /At the class meeting Bob brought  up  the  idea  of  a
picnic./

   [bring up the rear] {v. phr.} 1. To come last in a  march,  parade,
or procession; end a line. * /The fire truck with Santa on it  brought
up the rear of the Christmas parade./ * /The governor  and  his  staff
brought up the rear of the parade./ 2. {informal} To do least well; do
the most poorly of a group; be last. * /In the race, John  brought  up
the rear./ * /In the basketball tournament, our team  brought  up  the
rear./

   [bring] or [wheel in] or [out] or [up the big guns]  {v.  phr.}  To
make use of a concealed plan in order to  defeat  an  opponent  in  an
argument or in a game, debate, or competition.  *  /The  new  computer
software company decided to bring out the big guns to get ahead of the
competition./

   [broke] See: GO BROKE, GO FOR BROKE, STONE-BROKE OT DEAD  BROKE  or
FLAT BROKE, STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK.

   [Bronx cheer] {n. phr.}, {slang} A loud sound made with tongue  and
lips to show opposition or scorn. * /When he began to show  anti-union
feelings, he was greeted with Bronx cheers all around./

   [broom] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.

   [broth] See: SCOTCH BROTH.

   [brow] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW.

   [brown] See: DO UP BROWN.

   [brown-bagger] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who does  not  go
to the cafeteria or to a restaurant for lunch at work, but who  brings
his homemade lunch to work in order to save money. *  /John  became  a
brown-bagger not because he can't afford the restaurant,  but  because
he is too busy to go there./

   [brown-nose]  {v.},  {slang},  {avoidable},  {though   gaining   in
acceptance} To curry favor in  a  subservient  way,  as  by  obviously
exaggerated flattery. * /Max brown-noses his teachers, that's  why  he
gets all A's in his courses./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

   [brown paper bag] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio  jargon}  An
unmarked police car. * /The beaver got a Christmas  card  because  she
didn't notice the brown paper bag at her back door./ See: PLAIN  WHITE
WRAPPER.

   [brown study] {n. phr.} A time of deep thought about  something;  a
deep thoughtful mood. * /When his wife found him, he had  pushed  away
his books and was in a brown study./

   [brush] See: BEAT THE BUSHES or BEAT THE BRUSH.

   [brush aside] {v. phr.} To ignore; give no reply. * /Brushing aside
the editor's comments, the young novelist proceeded  with  his  story,
which was subsequently rejected by the publisher./

   [brush back] {v.} To throw  a  baseball  pitch  close  to.  *  /The
pitcher threw a high inside pitch to brush  the  batter  back./  Syn.:
DUST OFF.

   [brushoff] See: GET THE BRUSHOFF, BRUSH OFF or GIVE THE BRUSHOFF.

   [brush off] or [give the brush off] {v. phr.} 1. To refuse to  hear
or believe; quickly and  impatiently;  not  take  seriously  or  think
important. * /John brushed off Bill's warning that he might fall  from
the tree./ * /I said that it might rain and to take the bus,  but  Joe
gave my idea the brushoff./ * /Father cut his finger but he brushed it
off as not important and kept working./ 2. {informal} To be unfriendly
to; not talk or pay attention  to  (someone);  get  rid  of.  *  /Mary
brushed off Bill at the dance./ * /I said hello to Mr. Smith,  but  he
gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET
THE BRUSH OFF.

   [brush up] or [brush up on] {v.} To  refresh  one's  memory  of  or
skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect.  *  /She  spent
the summer brushing up on her American History as  she  was  to  teach
that in the fall./ * /He brushed up his target shooting./

   [bubble gum music] {n.},  {slang}  The  kind  of  rock'n'roll  that
appeals to young teenagers. *  /When  will  you  learn  to  appreciate
Mozart instead of that bubble gum music?/

   [bubble trouble] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}  Tire
trouble, flat tire. * /The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to  have
bubble trouble./

   [buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.

   [bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.

   [bucket of bolts] {n.}, {slang} A  very  old  and  shaky  car  that
barely goes. * /When are you going to get rid of that  old  bucket  of
bolts?/

   [buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.

   [buckle down] or [knuckle down] {v.} To give complete attention (to
an effort or job); attend. * /They chatted idly for a few moments then
each buckled down to work./ * /Jim was fooling instead of studying; so
his father told him to buckle down./

   [buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.

   [buck up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make or  become  more  cheerful;
make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. * /After
the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them  in
a song./ * /Tom was disappointed that he didn't make the team; but  he
soon bucked up./

   [bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

   [bug-eyed] {adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with  surprise.  *  /He  stood
there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./

   [buggy-whip] {n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on
a car that bends back like a whip when the car  moves  fast.  *  /He's
very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./

   [bughouse(1)] {n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. * /They took  Joe  to
the bughouse./

   [bughouse(2)]  {adj.},  {slang}  Crazy,  insane.  *   /Joe's   gone
bughouse./

   [bug in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information
given to someone to make him act; idea. * /I saw Mary at the jeweler's
admiring the diamond pin; I'll put a bug in Henry's ear./

   [build] See: JERRY-BUILT.

   [build a fire under]  {v.  phr.}  To  urge  or  force  (a  slow  or
unwilling person) to action; get  (someone)  moving;  arouse.  *  /The
health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got  him
to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./

   [build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] {v. phr.} To
make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes  that
are unlikely. * /He liked to build  castles  in  the  air,  but  never
succeeded in anything./ * /To build castles in Spain  is  natural  for
young people and they may work  hard  enough  to  get  part  of  their
wishes./

   [build on sand] {v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient  foundation
for a building, a business, or a relationship. *  /"I  don't  want  to
build my business on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give  me  that
loan I requested."/

   [build up] {v.} 1. To  make  out  of  separate  pieces  or  layers;
construct from parts. * /Johnny built up a fort out of large balls  of
snow./ * /Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover  over  or
fill up with buildings. * /The fields where Tom's father played  as  a
boy are all built up now./ * /A driver should slow down when he  comes
to an area that is built up./ 3a.  To  increase  slowly  or  by  small
amounts; grow. * /John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ *
/The noise built up until Mary couldn't stand it any longer./  3b.  To
make stronger or better or more effective. * /Fred exercised to  build
up his muscles./ * /Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./  3c.
{informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous.  *
/The press agent built up the young actress./  *  /The  movie  company
spent much money building up its new picture./

   [build up to] {v.  phr.}  To  be  in  the  process  of  reaching  a
culmination point. * /The clouds were building up to a violent storm./
* /Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./

   [bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE  BULL,
TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

   [bullet lane] {n.}, {slang},  {citizen's  band  radio  jargon}  The
passing lane. * /Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler
is moving too slow./

   [bull in a china shop] {n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who  says
or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. *
/We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class
party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk
made the teacher say no./

   [bull session] {n.}, {slang} A long informal talk  about  something
by a group of persons. * /After the game the boys in the dormitory had
a bull session until the lights went out./

   [bullshit] {n.},  {vulgar,  but  gaining  in  acceptance  by  some}
Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. *  /"Joe,  this
is a lot of bullshit!"/

   [bullshit]  {v.},  {vulgar  to  informal},   {gaining   in   social
acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort  to
make yourself seem impressive. * /"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I  can't
believe a word of what you're saying."/

   [bullshit artist] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar,  but  gaining  in  social
acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated  or  insincerely
flattering speeches designed to impress others. * /Joe  is  a  regular
bullshit artist, small wonder  he  keeps  gettine  promoted  ahead  of
everyone else./

   [bum around] {v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no  definite
direction, like a vagabond. * /Jim had  been  bumming  around  in  the
desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he
got there in the first place./

   [bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS.

   [bump into] {v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting  to;  happen
to meet; come upon by accident. * /Mary was walking down  the  street,
when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ * /Ed was surprised to bump  into
John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO.

   [bump off] {v.}, {slang} To  kill  in  a  violent  way;  murder  in
gangster fashion. * /Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped  him  off  with
Tommy guns./

   [bum's rush] {n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing  or  pushing  someone  out
from where he is not wanted. * /When John tried to  go  to  the  party
where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the  bum's  rush./  *
/Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum's rush./ 2. To hurry or rush
(someone). * /The salesman tried to give me the bum's rush./

   [bum steer] {n.} Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on
purpose. * /Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me  to  go
north on the highway; you should have sent me south!/

   [bundle of laughs] {n. phr.}  A  very  amusing  person,  thing,  or
event. * /Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that  he  is  a  bundle  of
laughs./

   [bundle up] See: WRAP UP(1).

   [burn] See: EARS BURN, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MONEY TO BURN.

   [burn a hole in one's pocket] {v. phr.} To make  you  want  to  buy
something; be likely to be quickly spent. * /Money  burns  a  hole  in
Linda's pocket./ * /The silver dollar that Don got  for  his  birthday
was burning a hole in his pocket, and Don hurried to a dime store./

   [burn down] {v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally  gutted  by
fire. * /The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could
get to it./

   [burn in effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY.

   [burn one's bridges] also [burn one's boats] {v. phr.}  To  make  a
decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all  the  ways  you
can get back out of a place  you  have  got  into  on  purpose;  leave
yourself no way to escape a position. * /Bob was a good wrestler but a
poor boxer. He burned his boats by  letting  Mickey  choose  how  they
would fight./ * /When Dorothy became a nun,  she  burned  her  bridges
behind her./

   [burn one's fingers] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble  doing
something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant
experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and
didn't want to try again./ * /Some people can't be told; they have  to
burn their fingers to learn./

   [burn out] {v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire  or  by  overheating.  *
/Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car./ 2. To destroy  someone's
house or business by fire so that they have  to  move  out.  *  /Three
racists burned out the Black family's home./ 3a. To go out  of  order;
cease to function because of long use or  overheating.  *  /The  light
bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one./ *  /The
electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out  a  fuse./  3b.  To
break, tire, or wear out  by  using  up  all  the  power,  energy,  or
strength of. * /Bill burned himself out in the first part of the  race
and could not finish./ * /The farmer burned out his field by  planting
the same crop every year for many years./

   [burn-out] {n.} A point of  physical  or  emotional  exhaustion.  *
/There are so  many  refugees  all  over  the  world  that  charitable
organizations  as  well  as  individuals  are  suffering  from   donor
burn-out./

   [burn rubber] {v. phr.},  {slang}  1.  To  start  up  a  car  or  a
motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark  on  the
road. * /The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber - look at
the marks on the road!/ 2. To leave in a hurry. * /I guess I am  going
to have to burn rubber./

   [burnt child dreads the fire] or [once bitten, twice shy] A  person
who has suffered from doing something has learned to  avoid  doing  it
again. - A proverb. * /Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her
downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary  stays  close
to her mother when they are downtown./

   [burn the candle at both ends] {v. phr.} To work or play  too  hard
without enough rest; get too tired. * /He worked hard every day  as  a
lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning  the
candle at both ends./

   [burn the midnight oil] {v. phr.} To study late at night.  *  /Exam
time was near, and more and more  pupils  were  burning  the  midnight
oil./

   [bum to a crisp] {v. phr.} To burn black; burn past saving or using
especially as food. * /While getting breakfast, Mother was  called  to
the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned  to  a
crisp./

   [burn up] {v.} 1. To burn completely; destroy or  be  destroyed  by
fire. * /Mr. Scott was burning up old letters./ * /The house burned up
before the firemen got  there./  2.  {informal}  To  irritate,  anger,
annoy. * /The boy's laziness and rudeness burned up  his  teacher./  *
/The breakdown of his new car burned Mr. Jones up./

   [burn up the road] {v. phr.}, {informal} To drive a car very  fast.
* /In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up  the  road  on
his way to see her./ * /Speed demons burning up the road  often  cause
accidents./

   [burst at the seams] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be too  full  or  too
crowded. * /John ate so much he was bursting at the seams./ *  /Mary's
album was so full of pictures it was bursting at the seams./

   [burst into] {v. phr.} 1. To enter suddenly. * /Stuart  burst  into
the room, screaming angrily./ 2. To break out. * /The crowd burst  out
cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue./

   [burst into flames] {v. phr.} To begin to  burn  suddenly.  *  /The
children threw away some burning  matches  and  the  barn  burst  into
flames./

   [burst into tears] {v. phr.} To  suddenly  start  crying.  *  /Mary
burst into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in  a  car
accident./

   [burst with joy] or [pride] {v. phr.} To be so full of the  feeling
of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing  one's  exuberant
feelings. * /Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when  they  stepped
out on the moon in July, 1969./

   [bury one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.

   [bury the hatchet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a quarrel or end
a war; make peace. * /The two men had been enemies a  long  time,  but
after the flood they buried the hatchet./ Compare: MAKE UP(5).

   [bus] See: MISS THE BOAT or MISS THE BUS.

   [bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH  TWO  IN
THE BUSH.

   [bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.

   [bushes] See: BEAT THE BUSHES.

   [business] See: DO THE  BUSINESS,  HAVE  NO  BUSINESS,  LAND-OFFICE
BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS.

   [bust  up]  {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To  terminate  a  partnership,  a
relationship, a friendship, or a marriage. * /If Jack  keeps  drinking
the way he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue./

   [busy work] {n.} Work that is done not to  do  or  finish  anything
important, but just to keep busy. * /When the teacher finished all she
had to say it was still a half hour before school  was  over.  So  she
gave the class a test for busy work./

   [but for] See: EXCEPT FOR.

   [but  good]  {adv.  phr.},  {informal}  Very  much  so;  thoroughly
completely; forcefully. - Used for emphasis. * /Jack called Charles  a
bad name, and Charles hit him, but good./ * /Tom fell  and  broke  his
leg. That taught him but good not  to  fool  around  in  high  trees./
Compare: AND HOW.

   [but not least] See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

   [butter] See: BREAD AND BUTTER.

   [butterflies in one's stomach] {n. phr.} A  queer  feeling  in  the
stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling  of  fear  or
anxiety in the stomach. * /When Bob walked into the factory office  to
ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach./

   [butter up] {v.}, {informal} To try to get the favor or  friendship
of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. * /He began  to  butter  up
the boss in hope of being given a better  job./  Compare:  POLISH  THE
APPLE.

   [butter wouldn't melt in  one's  mouth]  {informal}  You  act  very
polite and friendly but do not really  care,  you  are  very  nice  to
people but are not sincere. * /The new secretary was rude to the other
workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn't melt in  her
mouth./

   [butt in] {v.}, {slang} To join in with what other people are doing
without asking or being asked; interfere in other  people's  business;
meddle. * /Mary was explaining to Jane how  to  knit  a  sweater  when
Barbara butted in./ Often used with "on". * /John butted  in  on  Bill
and Tom's fight, and got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN.

   [button] See: HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC
BUTTON.

   [button down] {v.}, {slang} (stress on "down") To state  precisely,
to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. * /First let's get  the  facts
buttoned down, then we can plan ahead./

   [button-down]  {attrib.  adj.},  {slang}   (stress   on   "button")
Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. * /Joe is a regular  button-down
type./

   [buttonhole] {v.} To approach a person in order to speak  with  him
or her in private. * /After waiting for several hours, Sam managed  to
buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building./

   [button one's lip] also [zip one's lip] {v. phr.}, {slang} To  stop
talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be  quiet.  *  /The  man  was
getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip./  *
/John wanted to talk, but Dan told him  to  keep  his  lip  buttoned./
Syn.: KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, SHUT UP.

   [buy for a song] {v. phr.} To buy something very cheaply. *  /Since
the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it
for a song./

   [buy off] {v.} To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. * /When  the
police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them
off./ * /The Indians were going to burn the cabins, but the men bought
them off with gifts./ Compare: PAY OFF.

   [buy out] {v.} 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase  the
stock of. * /He bought out several small stockholders. 2. To  buy  all
the goods of; purchase the merchandise of./ * /Mr. Harper bought out a
nearby hardware store./ Contrast: SELL OUT.

   [buy up] {v. phr.} To purchase the entire  stock  of  something.  *
/The company is trying to buy up all the available shares./

   [buzz] See: GIVE A RING also GIVE A BUZZ.

   [buzz word] {n.} A word that sounds big and important in a sentence
but,  on  closer  inspection,  means  little  except   the   speaker's
indication to belong to a certain group. *  /The  politician's  speech
was nothing but a lot of  misleading  statements  and  phony  promises
hidden in a bunch of buzz words./

   [by] See: TOO --- BY HALF.

   [by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR

   [by] or [in my book] {adv. phr.} In my opinion;  as  far  as  I  am
concerned; in my judgment. * /By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very
good department head./

   [by all means] also [by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly,
without fail. * /He felt that he should  by  all  means  warn  Jones./
Contrast: BY NO MEANS.

   [by all odds] {adv. phr.} Without question; certainly. * /He was by
all odds the strongest candidate./ * /By all odds we  should  win  the
game, because the other team is so weak./ Compare: FAR AND AWAY.

   [by a long shot] {adv. phr.}, {informal} By a  big  difference;  by
far. - Used to add emphasis. * /Bert was the best swimmer in the race,
by a long shot./ Often used with a negative. * /Tom isn't the kind who
would be fresh to a teacher, by a long shot./ * /Our team didn't win -
not by a long shot./ Compare: MISS BY A MILE.

   [by a mile] See: MISS BY A MILE.

   [by and by] {adv.} After a while;  at  some  time  in  the  future;
later. * /Roger said he would do his  homework  by  and  by./  *  /The
mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do  a  man's  work./
Syn.: AFTER A WHILE.

   [by and large] {adv. phr.} As it most  often  happens;  more  often
than not; usually; mostly. * /There  were  bad  days,  but  it  was  a
pleasant summer, by and large./ * /By and large, women can  bear  pain
better than men./ Syn.: FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE WHOLE(2).

   [by any means] See: BY NO MEANS.

   [by a thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.

   [by chance] {adv. phr.} Without any cause or reason;  by  accident;
accidentally. * /Tom met Bill by chance./ * /The apple fell by  chance
on Bobby's head./

   [by choice] {adv. phr.} As a result of choosing because of  wanting
to; freely. * /John helped his father by choice./ * /Mary ate a  plum,
but not by choice. Her mother told her she must eat it./

   [by dint of] {prep.} By the exertion of; by the use of; through.  *
/By dint of sheer toughness and real courage,  he  lived  through  the
jungle difficulties and  dangers./  *  /His  success  in  college  was
largely by dint of hard study./

   [bye] See: BY THE WAY also BY THE BYE.

   [by ear] {adv. phr.} 1. By sound, without ever reading the  printed
music of the piece being played. * /The church choir sang the hymns by
ear./ 2. Waiting to see what will happen. * /I don't want to plan now;
let's just play it by ear./

   [by far] {adv. phr.} By a large difference; much. * /His  work  was
better by far than that of any other printer in the city./ * /The  old
road is prettier, but it is by far the longer way./ Compare:  FAR  AND
AWAY.

   [by fits and starts] or [jerks] {adv. phr.}  With  many  stops  and
starts, a little now and a  little  more  later;  not  all  the  time;
irregularly. * /He had worked on the invention by fits and starts  for
several years./ * /You will never get anywhere if you  study  just  by
fits and starts./ Compare: FROM TIME TO TIME, OFF AND ON.

   [bygone] See: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES.

   [by heart] {adv. phr.}  By  exact  memorizing;  so  well  that  you
remember it; by memory. * /The pupils learned many poems by heart./  *
/He knew the records of the major league teams by heart./

   [by hook or by crook] {adv. phr.} By honest ways  or  dishonest  in
any way necessary. * /The wolf tried to get the little pigs by hook or
by crook./ * /The team was determined to win that last game by hook or
by crook, and three players were put out of the game for fouling./

   [by inches] {adv. phr.} By small or slow degrees; little by little;
gradually. * /The river was rising by inches./ *  /They  got  a  heavy
wooden beam under the barn for a lever, and  managed  to  move  it  by
inches./ * /He was dying by inches./

   [by leaps and bounds] {adv. phr.} With long steps; very rapidly.  *
/Production in the factory was increasing by leaps and bounds./ * /The
school enrollment was going up by leaps and bounds./

   [by means of] {prep.} By the use of;  with  the  help  of.  *  /The
fisherman saved himself by means of a floating log./ *  /By  means  of
monthly payments, people can buy more than in the past./

   [by mistake] {adv. phr.} As the result of a mistake; through error.
* /He picked up the wrong hat by mistake./

   [by no means] or [not by any means] also [by no manner of means] or
[not by any manner of means] {adv. phr.} Not even a little;  certainly
not. * /He is by no means bright./ * /"May I stay home  from  school?"
"By no means."/ * /Dick worked on his project Saturday, but he is  not
finished yet, by any means./ Contrast: BY ALL MEANS.

   [B.Y.O.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own. Said of  a  kind
of party where the host or hostess does not provide the drinks or food
but people ring their own.

   [B.Y.O.B.]  (Abbreviation)  {informal}  Bring  Your   Own   Bottle.
Frequently written on invitations for the kind of party  where  people
bring their own liquor.

   [by oneself] {adv. phr.} 1. Without  any  others  around;  separate
from others; alone. * /The house stood by itself on a  hill./  *  /Tom
liked to go walking by himself./ * /Betty felt very sad and lonely  by
herself./ 2. Without the help of anyone else; by your own work only. *
/John built a flying model airplane by himself./ * /Lois  cleaned  the
house all by herself./

   [by one's own bootstraps] See: PULL ONE SELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.

   [by storm] See: TAKE BY STORM.

   [by surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE.

   [by the board] See: GO BY THE BOARD also PASS BY THE BOARD.

   [by the bootstraps] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.

   [by the bye] See: BY THE WAY.

   [by the dozen] or [by the hundred] or [by the thousand] {adv. phr.}
Very many at one time; in great numbers. * /Tommy ate cookies  by  the
down./ Often used in the plural, meaning even larger numbers.  *  /The
ants arrived at the picnic by the hundreds./ * /The enemy attacked the
fort by the thousands./

   [by the horns] See: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

   [by the hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN.

   [by the nose] See: LEAD BY THE NOSE.

   [by the piece] {adv. phr.} Counted one piece at a time,  separately
for each single piece. * /John bought boxes full  of  bags  of  potato
chips and sold them by the piece./ * /Mary  made  potholders  and  got
paid by the piece./

   [by the seat of one's pants] See: FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS.

   [by the skin of one's teeth] {adv. phr.} By a narrow  margin;  with
no room to spare; barely. * /The drowning man struggled, and I got him
to land by the skin of my teeth./ * /She passed English by the skin of
her teeth./ Compare: SQUEAK THROUGH, WITHIN AN ACE  OF  or  WITHIN  AN
INCH OF.

   [by the sweat of one's brow] {adv. phr.} By hard  work;  by  tiring
effort; laboriously. * /Even with modern labor-saving  machinery,  the
farmer makes his living by the sweat of his brow./

   [by the thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN.

   [by the way] also [by the bye] {adv. phr.} Just as some added  fact
or news; as something else that  I  think  of.  -  Used  to  introduce
something related to the general subject, or brought to mind by it.  *
/We shall expect you; by the way, dinner will be at eight./ *  /I  was
reading when the earthquake occurred, and, by the way, it was The Last
Days of Pompeii that I was reading./

   [by the wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

   [by turns] {adv. phr.} First one and then another in a regular way;
one substituting for or following  another  according  to  a  repeated
plan. * /On the drive to Chicago, the three  men  took  the  wheel  by
turns./ * /The teachers were on duty by turns./ *  /When  John  had  a
fever, he felt cold and hot by turns./ Syn.: IN  TURN.  Compare:  TAKE
TURNS.

   [by virtue of] also [in virtue of]  {prep.}  On  the  strength  of;
because of; by reason of. * /By virtue of his high rank and  position,
the President takes social leadership over almost  everyone  else./  *
/Plastic bags are useful for holding many kinds of food, by virtue  of
their clearness, toughness, and low cost./ Compare: BY DINT OF.

   [by way of] {prep.} 1. For the sake or purpose of; as. * /By way of
example, he described his own experience./  2.  Through;  by  a  route
including; via. * /He went from New York to San Francisco  by  way  of
Chicago./

   [by word of mouth] {adv. phr.} From person to person by the  spoken
word; orally. * /The news got around by word of mouth./ * /The message
reached him quietly by word of mouth./





   [cahoots] See: IN LEAGUE WITH or IN CAHOOTS WITH.

   [Cain] See: RAISE CAIN.

   [cake] See: EAT-ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO,  PAT-A-CAKE,  TAKE  THE
CAKE.

   [calculated risk] {n.} An action that may fail but is  judged  more
likely to succeed. * /The sending of troops to the  rebellious  island
was a calculated risk./

   [calf love] See: PUPPY LOVE.

   [call] See: AT CALL, AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL, CLOSE CALL,  ON  CALL,
PORT OF CALL, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK, WITHIN CALL.

   [call a halt] {v. phr.} To give a command to stop.  *  /The  scouts
were tired during the hike, and the  scoutmaster  called  a  halt./  *
/When the children's play, got too noisy, their mother called a halt./

   [call a spade a spade] {v. phr.} To call a person or thing  a  name
that is true but not polite; speak bluntly; use the plainest language.
* /A boy took some money from Dick's desk and said he borrowed it, but
I told him he stole it; I believe in calling a spade a spade./

   [call down] also [dress down] {v.}, {informal} To scold. * /Jim was
called down by his teacher for being late to class./ * /Mother  called
Bob down for walking into the kitchen with muddy boots./ Compare: CALL
ON THE CARPET, CHEW OUT, BAWL OUT, READ THE RIOT ACT.

   [call for] {v.} 1. To come or go to get (someone or  something).  *
/John called for Mary to take her to the dance./ Syn.: PICK UP. 2.  To
need; require. * /The cake recipe calls for  two  cups  of  flour./  *
/Success in school calls for much hard study./

   [call  girl]  {n.},  {slang}  A  prostitute  catering  to   wealthy
clientele, especially  one  who  is  contacted  by  telephone  for  an
appointment. * /Rush Street is full of call girls./

   [calling  down]  also  [dressing  down]  {n.  phr.},  {informal}  A
scolding; reprimand. * /The judge gave the  boy  a  calling  down  for
speeding./

   [call in question] or [call into question] or [call in  doubt]  {v.
phr.} To say (something)  may  be  a  mistake;  express  doubt  about;
question. * /Bill called in question Ed's remark  that  basketball  is
safer than football./

   [call it a day] {v. phr.} To declare that a given  day's  work  has
been accomplished and go home; to quit for the day. * /"Let's call  it
a day," the boss said, "and go out for a drink."/  *  /It  was  nearly
midnight, so Mrs. Byron decided to call it a day, and left the  party,
and went home./ * /The four golfers played nine holes and then  called
it a day./ Compare: CLOSE UP SHOP.

   [call it a night] {v. phr.} To declare that  an  evening  party  or
other activity conducted late in the day is finished. * /I am so tired
that I am going to call it a night and go to bed./

   [call it quits] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To decide to stop what you
are doing; quit. * /When Tom had painted half the garage, he called it
quits./ 2. To agree that each side  in  a  fight  is  satisfied;  stop
fighting because a wrong has been paid back; say things  are  even.  *
/Pete called Tom a bad name, and they fought  till  Tom  gave  Pete  a
bloody nose; then they called it quits./ 3. To cultivate  a  habit  no
longer. * /"Yes, I called it quits with cigarettes three years ago."/

   [call names] {v. phr.} To use ugly or unkind words when speaking to
someone or when talking  about  someone.  -  Usually  used  by  or  to
children. * /Bill got so mad he started calling Frank names./

   [call off] {v.} To stop (something planned); quit; cancel. *  /When
the ice became soft and sloppy, we had to  call  off  the  ice-skating
party./ * /The baseball game was called off because of rain./

   [call on] or [call upon] {v.} 1. To make a call upon; visit. * /Mr.
Brown called on an old friend while he was in the city./ 2. To ask for
help. * /He called on a friend to give him money for  the  busfare  to
his home./

   [call one's bluff] {v. phr.}, {informal} To ask  someone  to  prove
what he says he can or will do. (Originally  from  the  card  game  of
poker.) * /Tom said he could jump twenty feet and so Dick  called  his
bluff and said "Let's see you do it!"/

   [call one's shot] {v. phr.} 1. To tell before firing where a bullet
will hit. * /An expert rifleman can call his shot regularly./  *  /The
wind was strong and John couldn't call his shots./  2.  or  [call  the
turn] To tell in advance the result of something before you do  it.  *
/Mary won three games in a row, just as she said she would. She called
her turns well./ * /Nothing ever happens as Tom says it  will.  He  is
very poor at calling his turns./

   [call on the carpet] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  call  (a  person)
before an  authority  (as  a  boss  or  teacher)  for  a  scolding  or
reprimand. * /The worker was called on the  carpet  by  the  boss  for
sleeping on the job./ * /The principal called Tom on  the  carpet  and
warned him to stop coming to school late./

   [call the roll] {v. phr.} To read out the names on a certain  list,
usually in alphabetical order. * /The sergeant called the roll of  the
newly enlisted volunteers in the army./

   [call the shots] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  give  orders;  be  in
charge; direct; control. * /Bob is a first-rate leader who  knows  how
to call the shots./ * /The quarterback called the shots well, and  the
team gained twenty yards in five plays./ Syn.: CALL THE TUNE.

   [call the tune] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be in control; give orders
or directions; command. * /Bill was president of the club but Jim  was
secretary and called the tune./ * /The people supported the mayor,  so
he could call the tune in city matters./ Syn.: CALL THE SHOTS.

   [call the turn] See: CALL ONE'S SHOT(2).

   [call to account] {v. phr.} 1. To ask (someone) to explain  why  he
did something wrong (as breaking a rule). * /The principal called  Jim
to account after Jim left school  early  without  permission./  2.  To
scold (as for wrong conduct); reprimand. * /The father called his  son
to account for disobeying him./

   [call to arms] {v. phr.} To summon into the army. *  /During  World
War II millions of Americans were called to arms to  fight  for  their
country./

   [call to mind] {v. phr.} To remember; cause to  remember.  *  /Your
story calls to mind a similar event that happened to us  a  few  years
back./

   [call to order] {v. phr.} 1. To open (a meeting) formally.  *  /The
chairman called the committee to order./ * /The president pounded with
his gavel to call the convention to order./ 2. To warn  not  to  break
the rules of a meeting. * /The judge called the people  in  the  court
room to order when they talked too loud./

   [call out] {v. phr.} 1. To shout; speak  loudly.  *  /My  name  was
called out several times, but I was unable to hear it./ 2.  To  summon
someone. * /If the rioting continues, the governor will have  to  call
out the National Guard./

   [call up] {v.} 1. To make someone think of; bring to mind;  remind.
* /The picture of the Capitol called up memories of our  class  trip./
2. To tell to come (as before  a  court).  *  /The  district  attorney
called up three witnesses./ 3. To bring together for a purpose;  bring
into action. * /Jim called  up  all  his  strength,  pushed  past  the
players blocking him, and ran for a touchdown./ * /The army called  up
its reserves when war seemed near./ 4. To call  on  the  telephone.  *
/She called up a friend just for a chat./

   [call upon] See: CALL ON.

   [calm down] {v. phr.} To become quiet; relax. *  /"Calm  down,  Mr.
Smith," the doctor said with a reassuring smile.  "You  are  going  to
live a long time."/

   [camel] See: STRAW THAT
BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK at LAST STRAW.

   [camp] See: BREAK CAMP.

   [campaign] See: WHISPERING CAMPAIGN.

   [camp follower] {n.} 1. A man or woman who goes with an  army,  not
to fight but to sell something. * /Nowadays  camp  followers  are  not
allowed as they were long ago./ 2. A person who goes with a famous  or
powerful person or group in hope of profit. *  /A  man  who  runs  for
president has many camp followers./

   [camp out] {v.} To live, cook, and sleep out  of  doors  (as  in  a
tent). * /We camped out near the river for a week./

   [can] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, CATCH AS CATCH CAN.

   [canary] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY  or  LOOK  LIKE
THE CAT THAT SWALLOWED THE CANARY.

   [cancel out] {v.}  To  destroy  the  effect  of;  balance  or  make
useless. * /The boy got an "A" in history to cancel out the "C" he got
in arithmetic./ * /Our track team won the mile relay to cancel out the
other team's advantage in winning the half-mile relay./ *  /Tom's  hot
temper cancels out his skill as a player./

   [cancer stick] {n.}, {slang} A cigarette. * /Throw away that cancer
stick! Smoking is bad for you!/

   [candle] BURN THE CANDLE AT  BOTH  ENDS,  GAME  IS  NOT  WORTH  THE
CANDLE, HOLD A CANDLE.

   [canned heat] {n.} Chemicals in  a  can  which  burn  with  a  hot,
smokeless flame. * /Some people use canned heat to keep food warm./  *
/The mountain climbers used canned heat for cooking./

   [canned laughter] {n.}, {informal} The sounds of laughter heard  on
certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in  front
of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from
a stereo track to underscore the funny points. * /"How can there be an
audience in this show when it is taking place in the  jungle?  -  Why,
it's canned laughter you're hearing."/

   [canned music] {n.} Recorded music,  as  opposed  to  music  played
live. * /"Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am  tired
of all this canned music we've been listening to."/

   [canoe] See: PADDLE ONE'S OWN CANOE.

   [can of worms] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A complex  problem,  or
complicated situation. * /Let's not  get  into  big  city  politics  -
that's a different can of worms./ 2. A very restless, jittery  person.
* /Joe can't sit still for a minute - he is a can of worms./

   [can't help but] {informal} also {formal} [cannot but] {v. phr.} To
be forced to; can only; must. * /When the streets are full of  melting
snow, you can't help but get your shoes wet./ * /When  a  friend  gave
Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn't help but go./ *  /When  a  close
friend dies, you cannot but feel sad./ Compare: CAN HELP, HAVE TO.

   [can't make an omelette without breaking (some) eggs] To achieve  a
certain goal one must sometimes incur damage, experience difficulties,
or make sacrifices. - A proverb. * /When we drove across the  country,
we put a lot of mileage on our car and had a flat tire, but it  was  a
pleasant trip. "Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking some
eggs," my wife said with a smile./

   [can't see the wood for the trees] or [can't see the woods for  the
trees] or [can't see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be  unable
to judge or understand the whole because of attention  to  the  parts;
criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the  future
achievement. * /Teachers sometimes notice language errors and  do  not
see the good ideas in a composition; they cannot see the woods for the
trees./ * /The voters defeated a bond issue for the new school because
they couldn't see the forest for the  trees;  they  thought  of  their
taxes rather than of their children's education./ * /We  should  think
of children's growth in character and understanding more than of their
little faults and misdeeds; some of us can't  see  the  wood  for  the
trees./

   [cap] See: FEATHER IN ONE'S CAP, SET ONE'S CAP FOR,  PUT  ON  ONE'S
THINKING CAP.

   [cap the climax] {v. phr.} To exceed what is already a  high  point
of  achievement.  *  /Sam's  piano  recital  was  great,  but   Bill's
performance capped the climax./

   [card] See: CREDIT CARD, FLASH CARD, HOUSE OF CARDS, IN  THE  CARDS
or ON THE CARDS, LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, PLAY ONE'S CARDS RIGHT,
PUT ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, STACK THE CARDS, TRUMP CARD.

   [cards stacked against one] See: STACK THE CARDS.

   [card up one's sleeve] {n. phr.}, {informal} Another help, plan, or
argument  kept  back  and  produced  if  needed;  another  way  to  do
something. * /John knew his mother would lend him money if  necessary,
but he kept that card up his sleeve./ * /Bill always has a card up his
sleeve, so when his first plan failed he tried another./ Compare:  ACE
IN THE HOLE(2).

   [care] See: COULDN'T CARE LESS, HAVE A CARE, GIVE A HANG or CARE  A
HANG, TAKE CARE.

   [carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET, MAGIC CARPET, ROLL  OUT  THE  RED
CARPET.

   [car pool] {n.} A group of people  who  own  cars  and  take  turns
driving each other to work or on some other regular trip.  *  /It  was
John's father's week to drive his own car in the car pool./

   [carriage trade] {n.}, {literary} Rich or  upper  class  people.  *
/The hotel is so expensive that only the carriage trade stays  there./
* /The carriage trade buys its clothes at the best stores./

   [carrot and stick] {n. phr.} The promise of reward  and  threat  of
punishment, both at the same time. * /John's father  used  the  carrot
and stick when he talked about his low grades./

   [carry] See: CASH-AND-CARRY.

   [carry a torch] or [carry the torch] {v. phr.} 1. To show great and
unchanging loyalty to a cause or a person. * /Although the others gave
up fighting for their rights, John continued to carry the  torch./  2.
{informal} To be in love, usually without success or return. * /He  is
carrying a torch for Anna, even though she is  in  love  with  someone
else./

   [carry a tune] {v. phr.} To sing the right notes  without  catching
any false ones. * /Al is a wonderful fellow, but he sure can't carry a
tune and his singing is a pain to listen to./

   [carry away] {v.} To cause very strong feeling; excite  or  delight
to the loss of cool judgment. * /The music carried her  away./  *  /He
let his anger carry him away./ - Often used in the passive, * /She was
carried away by the man's charm./ * /He was carried away by the  sight
of the flag./

   [carry coals to Newcastle] {v. phr.} To do  something  unnecessary;
bring or furnish something of which there is plenty. *  /The  man  who
waters his grass after a good rain is carrying coals to Newcastle./  *
/Joe was carrying coals to Newcastle when he told the  doctor  how  to
cure a cold./ (Newcastle is an English city near many coal mines,  and
coal is sent out from there to other places.)

   [carrying charge]  {n.}  An  extra  cost  added  to  the  price  of
something bought on weekly or monthly payments. * /The  price  of  the
bicycle was $50. Jim bought it for $5.00 a month for ten months plus a
carrying charge of $1 a month./

   [carry on] {v.} 1. To cause death of; kill. * /Years  ago  smallpox
carried off hundreds of Indians of the  Sioux  tribe./  Compare:  WIPE
OUT. 2. To succeed in winning. * /Bob carried off honors in  science./
* /Jim carried off two gold medals in the track meet./ 3.  To  succeed
somewhat unexpectedly in. * /The spy  planned  to  deceive  the  enemy
soldiers and carried it off very well./ * /In the  class  play,  Lloyd
carried off his part surprisingly well./

   [carry --- off one's feet] See: KNOCK OFF  ONE'S  FEET,  SWEEP  OFF
ONE'S FEET.

   [carry off the palm] or [bear off the palm] {v.  phr.},  {literary}
To gain the victory; win. * /John carried off the palm in  the  tennis
championship match./ * /Our army bore off the  palm  in  the  battle./
(From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in  a
game as a sign of victory.)

   [carry on] {v.} 1. To work at; be busy with; manage.  *  /Bill  and
his father carried on a hardware business./ * /Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith
carried on a long correspondence with each other./ 2. To keep doing as
before; continue. * /After his father died, Bill carried on  with  the
business./ * /The colonel told the soldiers to carry on while  he  was
gone./ * /Though tired and hungry, the Scouts carried  on  until  they
reached camp./ Compare: BEAR UP(2), GO ON. 3a. {informal} To behave in
a noisy, foolish, and troublesome manner. * /The boys  carried  on  in
the  swimming  pool  until  the  lifeguard  ordered  them  out./   3b.
{informal} To make too great a show of feeling, such as anger,  grief,
and pain. * /John carried on for ten minutes after he  hit  his  thumb
with the hammer./ Compare: TAKE ON(4). 4.  {informal}  To  act  in  an
immoral or scandalous way; act disgracefully. * /The townspeople  said
that he was carrying on with a neighbor girl./

   [carry one's cross] or {literary} [bear one's cross] {v.  phr.}  To
live with pain or trouble; keep on even  though  you  suffer  or  have
trouble. * /Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the  other  boys
play basketball./ * /We didn't know the cheerful woman was bearing her
cross, a son in prison./

   [carry out] {v.} To  put  into  action;  follow;  execute.  *  /The
generals were determined to  carry  out  their  plans  to  defeat  the
enemy./ * /John listened  carefully  and  carried  out  the  teacher's
instructions./

   [carry over] {v.} 1. To save for another time.  *  /The  store  had
some bathing suits it had carried over from last year./  *  /What  you
learn in school should carry over into adult life./ 2. To transfer (as
a figure) from one column, page, or book to another. * /When he  added
up the figures, he carried over the total into the next year's account
book./ 3. To continue in another place. * /The story was carried  over
to the next page./

   [carry the ball] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take the  most  important
or difficult part in an action or business. * /None of the other  boys
would tell the principal about their breaking the window, and John had
to carry the ball./ * /When the going is rough,  Fred  can  always  be
depended on to carry the ball./

   [carry the banner] {v. phr.} To support a cause or  an  ideal  with
obvious advocacy. * /Our college is carrying the banner for saving the
humpback whale, which is on the list of endangered species./

   [carry the day] {v. phr.}, {informal} To win completely; to succeed
in getting one's aim accomplished. * /The defense  attorney's  summary
before the jury helped him carry the day./

   [carry the torch] See: CARRY A TORCH.

   [carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders] See:  WEIGHT  OF
THE WORLD ON ONE'S SHOULDERS.

   [carry through] {v.} 1a. To put into action. * /Mr. Green  was  not
able to carry through his plans for a hike because he broke his  leg./
1b. To do something you have planned; put a plan into action. *  /Jean
makes good plans but she cannot  carry  through  with  any  of  them./
Compare: GO THROUGH WITH, CARRY OUT. 2. To keep (someone) from failing
or stopping; bring through; help. * /When the tire blew out, the rules
Jim had learned in driving class carried him through safely./

   [carry weight] {n.} To be  influential;  have  significance  and/or
clout; impress. * /A letter of recommendation from  a  full  professor
carries more weight than a letter from an assistant professor./

   [cart before the horse (to put)] {n. phr.},  {informal}  Things  in
wrong  order;  something  backwards  or  mixed  up.  -   An   overused
expression. Usually used  with  "put"  but  sometimes  with  "get"  or
"have". *  /When  the  salesman  wanted  money  for  goods  he  hadn't
delivered, I told him he was putting the cart before the horse./ * /To
get married first and then get a job is getting the  cart  before  the
horse./

   [cart off] or [cart away] {v.}, {informal} To take away, often with
force or with rough handling or behavior. *  /The  police  carted  the
rioters off to jail./ * /When  Bobby  wouldn't  eat  his  supper,  his
mother carted him away to bed./

   [carved] or [chiseled] or [inscribed  in  granite]  /  [written  in
stone] {adj. phr.} Holy; unchangeable; noble and of ancient origin.  *
/You should wear shoes when you come to class, although  this  is  not
carved in granite./ * /The Constitution of the  United  States  is  so
hard to change that one thinks of it as written in stone./

   [case] See: BASKET CASE, CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES, COUCH CASE, GET
DOWN TO BRASS TACKS also GET DOWN TO CASES, IN ANY CASE, IN CASE or IN
THE EVENT, IN CASE OF also IN THE EVENT OF, VANITY CASE.

   [case in point] {n. phr.} An example that proves something or helps
to make something clearer. * /An American can rise from  the  humblest
beginnings to become President. Abraham Lincoln is a case in point./

   [case the joint] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To study  the  layout  of  a
place one wishes to burglarize.  *  /The  hooded  criminals  carefully
cased  the  joint  before  robbing  the  neighborhood  bank./  2.   To
familiarize oneself with a potential workplace or vacation spot  as  a
matter of preliminary planning. * /"Hello Fred,"  he  said.  "Are  you
working here now?" "No, not yet," Fred answered. "I am  merely  casing
the joint."/

   [cash] See: COLD CASH.

   [cash-and-carry(1)] {adj.} Selling things for cash money  only  and
letting the customer carry them home, not  having  the  store  deliver
them; also sold in this way. * /This is a cash-and-carry store  only./
* /You can save money at a cash-and-carry sale./

   [cash-and-carry(2)] {adv}. With no credit, no time payments, and no
deliveries. * /Some stores sell cash-and-carry only./ * /It is cheaper
to buy cash-and-carry./

   [cash crop] {n.} A crop grown to be sold. * /Cotton is a cash  crop
in the South./ * /They raise potatoes to eat,  but  tobacco  is  their
cash crop./

   [cash in] {v.} 1. To exchange (as poker chips  or  bonds)  for  the
value in money. * /He paid the bill by cashing in some bonds./ * /When
the card game ended, the players cashed in their chips and went home./
2. or [cash in one's chips] {slang} To die. * /When the outlaw  cashed
in his chips, he was buried with his boots on./ * /He was shot through
the body and knew he was going to cash in./

   [cash in on] {v.}, {informal} To see (a chance) and profit  by  it;
take advantage of (an opportunity or happening). * /Mr.  Brown  cashed
in on people's great  interest  in  camping  and  sold  three  hundred
tents./

   [cash on the barrelhead] {n. phr.}, {informal} Money paid at  once;
money paid when something is  bought.  *  /Father  paid  cash  on  the
barrelhead  for  a  new  car./  *  /Some  lawyers  want  cash  on  the
barrelhead./ Compare: COLD CASH.

   [cast] or [shed] or  [throw  light  upon]  {v.  phr.}  To  explain;
illuminate; clarify. * /The letters that were found  suddenly  cast  a
new light on the circumstances of Tom's disappearance./ *  /Einstein's
General Theory of Relativity  threw  light  upon  the  enigma  of  our
universe./

   [cast about]  also  [cast  around]  {v.},  {literary}  1.  To  look
everywhere;  search.  *  /The  committee  was  casting  about  for  an
experienced teacher to take the retiring  principal's  place./  2.  To
search  your  mind;  try  to  remember  something;  try  to  think  of
something. * /The teacher cast about for an easy way  to  explain  the
lesson./ * /Jane cast around for a good subject for her report./

   [cast down] {adj.} Discouraged; sad; unhappy.  -  Used  less  often
than the reverse form, "downcast". * /Mary was cast down at  the  news
of her uncle's death./ * /Charles felt cast  down  when  he  lost  the
race./

   [cast in one's lot with] {formal} See: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

   [castle in the air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR.

   [castles in Spain] See: CASTLES IN THE AIR.

   [cast off] {v.} 1a. or [cast loose] To unfasten; untie;  let  loose
(as a rope holding a boat). * /The captain of the boat  cast  off  the
line and we were soon out in open water./ 1b. To untie a rope  holding
a boat or something suggesting a boat. * /We cast off and set sail  at
6 A.M./ 2. To knit the last row of stitches. * /When she  had  knitted
the twentieth row of stitches she cast off./ 3. To say that you do not
know (someone) any more; not accept as a relative or  friend.  *  /Mr.
Jones cast off his daughter when she married against his wishes./

   [cast one's lot with] See: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

   [cast out] {v.}, {formal} To force (someone) to  go  out  or  away;
banish; expel. * /After the scandal, he  was  cast  out  of  the  best
society./ Compare: CAST OFF(3).

   [cast pearls before swine] or [cast one's pearls before swine]  {n.
phr.}, {literary} To waste good acts or valuable things on someone who
won't  understand  or  be  thankful  for  them,  just  as  pigs  won't
appreciate pearls. - Often used in  negative  sentences.  *  /I  won't
waste good advice on John any more because he never listens to  it.  I
won't cast pearls before swine./

   [cast the first stone] {v. phr.}, {literary} To  be  the  first  to
blame someone, lead accusers against a wrongdoer. * /Jesus said that a
person who was without sin could cast the first  stone./  *  /Although
Ben saw the girl cheating, he did not want to cast the first stone./

   [cast up] {v.}, {literary} 1. To turn or direct  upward;  raise.  *
/The dying missionary cast up his  eyes  to  heaven  and  prayed./  2.
{archaic} To do sums; do a problem in addition; add. *  /Cast  up  15,
43, 27, and 18./ * /When John had all the figures, he cast them up./

   [cat] See: COPY  CAT,  CURIOSITY  KILLED  THE  CAT,  FRAIDY-CAT  or
FRAID-CAT or SCAREDY CAT OY SCARED-CAT, HOLY CATS, LET THE CAT OUT  OF
THE BAG, LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY,  PLAY  CAT  AND  MOUSE
WITH, RAIN CATS AND DOGS.

   [catch] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM,  FAIR  CATCH,  SHOESTRING
CATCH.

   [catch-as-catch-can(1)] {adv. phr.} In a free manner;  in  any  way
possible; in the best way you can. *  /On  moving  day  everything  is
packed and we eat meals catch-as-catch-can./

   [catch-as-catch-can(2)] {adj. phr.}  Using  any  means  or  method;
unplanned;  free.  *  /Rip  van   Winkle   seems   to   have   led   a
catch-as-catch-can life./ * /Politics is rather  a  catch-as-catch-can
business./ Compare: HIT-OR-MISS.

   [catch at] {v.} 1. To try to catch suddenly; grab for. *  /The  boy
on the merry-go-round caught at the brass ring, but did not  get  it./
2. To seize quickly; accept mentally or physically. * /The hungry  man
caught at the sandwich and began to eat./  *  /Joe  caught  at  Bill's
offer to help./

   [catch at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

   [catch  cold]  {v.  phr.}  1.  or  [take  cold]  To  get  a  common
cold-weather sickness  that  causes  a  running  nose,  sneezing,  and
sometimes sore throat and fever or other symptoms. * /Don't  get  your
feet wet or you'll catch cold./ 2. {informal} To catch  unprepared  or
not ready for a question or unexpected happening. * /I had not studied
my lesson carefully, and the teacher's question  caught  me  cold./  *
/The opposing team was big and sure of winning, and they  were  caught
cold by the fast, hard playing of our smaller players./

   [catch (someone)  dead]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  see  or  hear
(someone) in an embarrassing act or place at any  time.  Used  in  the
negative usually in the passive. * /You won't catch Bill  dead  taking
his sister to the movies./ * /John wouldn't  be  caught  dead  in  the
necktie he got for Christmas./

   [catch fire] {v. phr.} 1. To begin to burn. * /When  he  dropped  a
match in the leaves, they caught fire./ 2. To become excited.  *  /The
audience caught fire at the speaker's words and  began  to  cheer./  *
/His imagination caught fire as he read./

   [catch flat-footed] See: FLAT-FOOTED(2).

   [catch forty winks] See: FORTY WINKS.

   [catch hold of] {v. phr.} To grasp a person or a  thing.  *  /"I've
been trying to catch hold of you all week," John said, "but  you  were
out of town."/ * /The mountain climber successfully caught hold of his
friend's hand and thereby saved his life./

   [catch it] or [get it] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  be  scolded  or
punished. - Usually used of children. * /John knew he would  catch  it
when he came home late for supper./ * /Wow, Johnny! When  your  mother
sees those torn pants, you're going to get it./  Compare:  GET  WHAT'S
COMING TO ONE. Contrast: GIVE IT TO(2).

   [catch it in the neck] or [get it in the neck] {v.  phr.},  {slang}
To be blamed or punished. * /Tom got it in the neck because he  forgot
to close the windows when it rained./ * /Students get it in  the  neck
when they lose library books./ Compare: CATCH IT, GET WHAT'S COMING TO
ONE.

   [catch off balance] {v. phr.} To  confront  someone  with  physical
force or with a statement or question he or she  is  not  prepared  to
answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of  another.  *  /The
smaller wrestler caught his opponent off balance and managed to  throw
him on the float in spite of his greater weight and strength./ * /Your
question has caught me off balance; please give me some time to  think
about your problem./

   [catch off guard] {v. phr.} To challenge or confront a person at  a
time of lack of preparedness or sufficient care. *  /The  suspect  was
caught off guard by the detective and confessed where  he  had  hidden
the stolen car./

   [catch on] {v.}, {informal} 1. To understand; learn about. -  Often
used with "to". * /You'll catch on to the job after you've  been  here
awhile./ * /Don't play any tricks on Joe. When he catches on, he  will
beat you./ 2. To become popular; be done or used  by  many  people.  *
/The song caught on and was sung and  played  everywhere./  3.  To  be
hired; get a job. * /The ball player caught on with a big league  team
last year./

   [catch one's breath] {v. phr.} 1. To breathe in suddenly with  fear
or surprise. * /The beauty of the scene made him  catch  his  breath./
Compare: TAKE ONE'S BREATH AWAY. 2a. To rest and get back your  normal
breathing, as after running. * /After running to the bus stop, we  sat
down to catch our breath./ 2b. To relax for a moment after any work. *
/After the day's work we sat down over coffee to catch our breath./

   [catch one's  death  of]  or  [take  one's  death  of]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To become very ill with (a cold, pneumonia, flu). * /Johnny
fell in the icy water and almost took his death  of  cold./  Sometimes
used in the short form "catch your death." * /"Johnny! Come  right  in
here and put your coat and hat on. You'll catch your death!"/

   [catch one's eye] {v. phr.} To attract your attention. * /I  caught
his eye as he moved through the crowd, and waved at him to come over./
* /The dress in the window caught her eye when she passed the store./

   [catch red-handed] {v. phr.} /To apprehend a person during the  act
of committing an illicit or criminal act./ * /Al was caught red-handed
at the local store when he was trying to walk out with a new camera he
had not paid for./

   [catch sight of] {v. phr.}  To  see  suddenly  or  unexpectedly.  *
/Allan caught sight of a kingbird in a  maple  tree./  Contrast:  LOSE
SIGHT OF.

   [catch some rays] {v. phr.},  {slang},  {informal}  To  get  tanned
while sunbathing. * /Tomorrow I'll go to the beach and  try  to  catch
some rays./

   [catch some Z's] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To take a  nap,  to
go to sleep. (Because of the "z" sound resembling snoring.) * /I  want
to hit the sack and catch some Z's./

   [catch-22] {n.}, {informal} From Joseph Heller's novel  "Catch-22",
set  in  World  War  II.  1.  A  regulation  or  situation   that   is
self-contradictory or  that  conflicts  with  another  regulation.  In
Heller's book it referred to the regulation  that  flight  crews  must
report for duty unless excused for reasons of insanity, but  that  any
one  claiming  such  an  excuse  must,  by  definition,  be  sane.   *
/Government rules require workers to expose any  wrongdoing  in  their
office, but the Catch-22 prevents them from their  doing  so,  because
they are not allowed to disclose any information about their work./ 2.
A paradoxical situation. * /The Catch-22 of job-hunting was  that  the
factory  wanted  to  hire  only  workers  who  had  experience  making
computers but the only way to get the experience was by working at the
computer factory./

   [catch up] {v.} 1. To take or pick up suddenly; grab (something). *
/She caught up the book from the table and ran out of the room./ 2. To
capture or trap (someone) in a situation;  concern  or  interest  very
much. - Usually used in the passive with "in". * /The Smith family was
caught up in the war in Europe and we did not see them again  till  it
was over./ * /We were so caught up in the movie we forgot what time it
was./ Compare: MIX UP. 3. To go fast enough or do enough so as not  to
be behind; overtake; come even. - Often used with "to"  or  "with".  *
/Johnny ran hard and tried to catch up to his friends./ * /Mary missed
two weeks of school; she must work hard to catch up with  her  class./
Compare: UP TO. 4. To find out about or get proof to punish or arrest.
- Usually used with "with". * /A man told the police where the robbers
were hiding, so the police finally caught up with them./ 5. To  result
in something bad; bring punishment. - Usually used with "with". * /The
boy's fighting caught up with him and he was expelled from school./  *
/Smoking will catch up with  you./  Compare:  CHICKENS  COME  HOME  TO
ROOST. 6. To finish; not lose or be behind. - Used with "on" and often
in the phrase "get caught up on". *  /Frank  stayed  up  late  to  get
caught up on his homework./ * /I have to catch up on my sleep./ *  /We
caught up on all the latest news when we got back to  school  and  saw
our friends again./ Syn.: KEEP UP.

   [catch with one's  pants  down]  {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To  surprise
someone in an embarrassing position or guilty  act.  *  /They  thought
they could succeed in the robbery, but  they  got  caught  with  their
pants down./ * /When the weather  turned  hot  in  May,  the  drive-in
restaurant was caught with its pants down, and ran out  of  ice  cream
before noon./

   [cat got one's tongue] You are not able or willing to talk  because
of shyness. Usually used about children or as a question to  children.
* /Tommy's father asked Tommy if the cat had got his tongue./  *  /The
little girl had a poem  to  recite,  but  the  cat  got  her  tongue./
Compare: LOSE ONE'S TONGUE.

   [cat has nine lives] A cat can move so fast and jump so  well  that
he seems to escape being killed many times.  *  /We  thought  our  cat
would be killed when he fell from the roof of the house. He  was  not,
but he used up one of his nine lives./

   [cathouse] {n.},  {slang}  A  house  of  ill  repute,  a  house  of
prostitution.  *  /Massage  parlors  are   frequently   cathouses   in
disguise./

   [cat's meow]  or  [cat's  pajamas]  {n.},  {slang}  Something  very
wonderful, special, or good. * /John's new hike is  really  the  cat's
meow./ * /Mary's party is going to be the cat's pajamas./

   [caught  short]  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Not  having  enough  of
something when you need it. * /Mrs. Ford was  caught  short  when  the
newspaper boy came for his money a day early./ * /The man  was  caught
short of clothes when he had to go on a trip./

   [cause eyebrows to raise] {v. phr.} To  do  something  that  causes
consternation; to shock others. *  /When  Algernon  entered  Orchestra
Hall barefoot and wearing a woman's wig, he caused eyebrows to raise./

   [cause tongues to wag] See: TONGUES TO WAG.

   [caution] See: THROW CAUTION TO THE WINDS.

   [cave in] {v.} 1. To fall or collapse inward. * /The mine caved  in
and crushed three miners./ * /Don't climb on that old roof.  It  might
cave in./ 2. {informal} To weaken and be forced to  give  up.  *  /The
children begged their father to take them to the circus until he caved
in./ * /After the atomic bomb, Japan caved in and the war ceased./

   [cease fire] {v.} To give a military command ordering  soldiers  to
stop shooting. * /"Cease fire!" the captain cried,  and  the  shooting
stopped./

   [cease-fire] {n.} A period of negotiated  nonaggression,  when  the
warring parties involved promise not to attack. * /Unfortunately,  the
cease-fire in Bosnia was broken many times by all parties concerned./

   [ceiling] See: HIT THE CEILING or HIT THE ROOF.

   [cent] See: TWO CENTS, WORTH A CENT.

   [center] See: FRONT AND CENTER, OFF-CENTER, SHOPPING CENTER.

   [century] See: TURN OF THE CENTURY.

   [C.E.O.] {n.} Abbreviation of "Chief Executive Officer."  The  head
of a company, factory, firm, etc. * /We are very  proud  of  the  fact
that our C.E.O. is a young woman./

   [ceremony] See: STAND ON CEREMONY.

   [certain] See: FOR SURE or FOR CERTAIN.

   [chain gang] {n.} A group of convicts or slaves in  the  old  South
who were chained together. * /Chain gangs are no longer an  acceptable
way of punishment, according to modern criminologists./

   [chain letter] {n.} A letter which  each  person  receiving  it  is
asked to copy and send to several others. * /Most  chain  letters  die
out quickly./

   [chain-smoke] {v.} To smoke cigarettes or cigars one after  another
without stopping. *  /Mr.  Jones  is  very  nervous.  He  chain-smokes
cigars./ [chain  smoker]  {n.}  *  /Mr.  Jones  is  a  chain  smoker./
[chain-smoking] {adj.} or {n.} * /Chain smoking is very  dangerous  to
health./

   [chain stores] {n.} A series  of  stores  in  different  locations,
joined together under one ownership and  general  management.  *  /The
goods in chain stores tend to be  more  uniform  than  in  independent
ones./

   [chained to the oars] {adj. phr.} The condition of being forced  to
do strenuous and unwelcome labor against one's wishes for an  extended
period of  time.  *  /Teachers  in  large  public  schools  frequently
complain that they feel as if they had been chained to the oars./

   [chair] See: MUSICAL CHAIRS.

   [chalk] See: WALK THE CHALK.

   [chalk up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To write down as part  of  a  score;
record. * /The scorekeeper chalked up one  more  point  for  the  home
team./ 2. To make (a score or part of a score);  score.  *  /The  team
chalked up another victory./ * /Bob chalked up a home run and two base
hits in the game./ * /Mary chalked up good grades this term./

   [champ at the bit] {v. phr.} To be eager  to  begin;  be  tired  of
being held back; want to start. * /The horses  were  champing  at  the
bit, anxious to start racing./ * /As punishment John  was  kept  after
school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out./

   [chance] See: BY CHANCE, FAT CHANCE, STAND A CHANCE, TAKE A CHANCE.

   [chance it] {v. phr.} To be willing to risk an action whose outcome
is uncertain. * /"Should we take the boat out in such stormy weather?"
Jim  asked.  "We  can  chance  it,"  Tony  replied.  "We  have  enough
experience."/

   [chance on] also [chance upon] {v.} To happen to find or meet; find
or meet by accident. * /On our vacation we chanced upon an interesting
antique store./ * /Mary dropped her  ring  in  the  yard,  and  Mother
chanced on it as she was raking./ Syn.: HAPPEN ON. Compare: RUN INTO.

   [change] See: RING THE CHANGES.

   [change color] {v. phr.} 1. To become pale. *  /The  sight  was  so
horrible that Mary changed color from fear./  *  /Bill  lost  so  much
blood from the cut that he changed color./ 2. To become pink or red in
the face; become flushed;  blush.  *  /Mary  changed  color  when  the
teacher praised her drawing./ * /Tom  got  angry  at  the  remark  and
changed color./

   [change hands] {v. phr.} To change or transfer ownership.  *  /Ever
since our apartment building changed hands, things are working  a  lot
better./

   [change horses in the middle of a  stream]  or  [change  horses  in
midstream] {v. phr.} To make new plans or choose a new leader  in  the
middle of an important activity. * /When a  new  President  is  to  be
elected during a war, the people may decide not to  change  horses  in
the middle of a stream./

   [change off]  {v.},  {informal}  To  take  turns  doing  something;
alternate. * /John and Bill changed off at riding the bicycle./ * /Bob
painted one patch of wall and then he changed off with Tom./

   [change of heart] {n. phr.} A change in the way one feels or thinks
about a given task, idea or problem to be solved. * /Joan had a change
of heart and suddenly broke off her engagement to Tim./  *  /Fred  got
admitted to medical school, but he had a change of heart  and  decided
to go into the Foreign Service instead./

   [change of life] {n. phr.} The menopause (primarily  in  women).  *
/Women usually undergo a change of life in their forties or fifties./

   [change of pace] {n. phr.} A quick change in what you are doing.  *
/John studied for three hours and then read a comic book for a  change
of pace./ * /The doctor told the man he needed a change of pace./

   [change one's mind] {v. phr.} To alter one's opinion or judgment on
a given issue. * /I used to hate Chicago, but as the  years  passed  I
gradually changed my mind and now I actually love living here./

   [change one's tune] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a change in  your
story, statement, or claim; change your way of acting. * /The man said
he was innocent, but when they found the stolen money in his pocket he
changed his tune./ * /Bob was rude to his teacher, but she  threatened
to tell the principal and he changed his tune./ Syn.: SING A DIFFERENT
TUNE.

   [change up] See: LET UP(4).

   [character] See: IN CHARACTER.

   [charge] See: CARRYING CHARGE, CHARGE OFF(2), IN CHARGE, IN  CHARGE
OF, TAKE CHARGE.

   [charge account] {n.} An agreement with a store through  which  you
can buy things and pay for them later. * /Mother bought a new dress on
her charge account./ * /Mr. Jones has a charge account at  the  garage
on the corner./

   [charge off] {v.} 1. To consider or record as a loss, especially in
an account book. * /The store  owner  charged  off  all  of  the  last
season's stock of suits./  Syn.:  WRITE  OFF(1).  2.  or  [charge  up]
{informal} To accept or remember (something)  as  a  mistake  and  not
worry about it any more. - Often used  with  "to  experience".  *  /He
charged off his mistakes to  experience./  Syn.:  CHALK  UP.  Compare:
CHARGE TO.

   [charge something to something] {v.} 1. To place the blame on; make
responsible for. * /John failed to win a prize, but he charged  it  to
his lack of experience./ * /The coach charged the loss of the game  to
the team's disobeying his orders./ 2. To buy something on  the  credit
of. * /Mrs. Smith bought a  new  pocketbook  and  charged  it  to  her
husband./ * /Mr. White ordered a box of cigars and had it  charged  to
his account./

   [charge up] {v. phr.} 1. To submit to  a  flow  of  electricity  in
order to make functional. * /I mustn't forget to charge  up  my  razor
before we go on our trip./ 2. To use up all the available  credit  one
has on one's credit card(s). * /"Let's charge  dinner  on  the  Master
Card," Jane said. "Unfortunately I can't," Jim  replied.  "All  of  my
credit cards are completely charged up."/

   [charge with] {v. phr.} To accuse someone in a court of law. * /The
criminal was charged with aggravated kidnapping across a state line./

   [charmed life] {n.} A life often saved from danger; a life full  of
lucky escapes. * /He was in two  airplane  accidents,  but  he  had  a
charmed life./ * /During the war a bullet knocked the gun out  of  his
hand, but he had a charmed life./

   [chase] See: GIVE CHASE, GO CHASE ONESELF, LEAD A MERRY CHASE.

   [chase after] See: RUN AFTER.

   [chase around] See: RUN AROUND.

   [cheapskate] {n.}, {informal} A selfish or stingy person; a  person
who will not spend much. - An insulting term. *  /None  of  the  girls
like to go out on a date with him because he is a cheapskate./

   [cheat on someone] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be unfaithful (to one's
wife or husband, or to one's sweetheart or fiancee). * /It is  rumored
that Joe cheats on his wife./

   [check] See: BLANK CHECK, CLAIM CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK, IN CHECK, RAIN
CHECK, RUBBER CHECK, SALES CHECK.

   [check  in]  {v.}  1a.  To  sign  your  name  (as  at  a  hotel  or
convention). * /The last guests to reach the hotel checked  in  at  12
o'clock./ Contrast: CHECK  OUT.  1b.  {informal}  To  arrive.  *  /The
friends we had invited did not check in until Saturday./ 2. To receive
(something) back and make a record of it. * /The coach checked in  the
football uniforms at the end of the school year./ * /The students  put
their books on the library desk, and the librarian checked them in./

   [check off] {v.} To put a mark beside (the  name  of  a  person  or
thing on a list) to show that it has  been  counted.  *  /The  teacher
checked off each pupil as he got on the bus./ * /Bill wrote  down  the
names of all the states he could remember, and then  he  checked  them
off against the list in his book./ Compare: TICK OFF.

   [check on someone/thing] or [check up on someone/thing] {v}. To try
to find out the truth or rightness of; make sure of; examine; inspect;
investigate. * /We checked on Dan's age by getting his birth  record./
* /Mrs. Brown said she heard someone downstairs  and  Mr.  Brown  went
down to check up on it./ * /You can check on your answers at the  back
of the book./ * /The police are checking up on the man to  see  if  he
has a police record./ * /Grandfather went to have the doctor check  on
his health./ Compare: LOOK INTO, LOOK OVER.

   [check out] {v.} 1a. To pay your hotel bill and leave. * /The  last
guests checked out of their rooms in the morning./ Contrast: CHECK IN.
1b. {informal} To go away; leave. * /I hoped our guest would stay  but
he had to check out before Monday./ Compare: CHECK IN. 2a. To  make  a
list or record of. * /They checked out all the goods  in  the  store./
2b. To give or lend (something) and make a record of it. *  /The  boss
checked out the tools to the workmen as they came to work./ 2c. To get
(something) after a record has been made of it. *  /I  checked  out  a
book from the library./ 3. {informal} To test (something, like a  part
of a motor). * /The mechanic checked out  the  car  battery./  *  /"He
checked out from the motel at nine,"  said  the  detective,  "then  he
checked out the air in the car tires and his list of local  clients."/
4. {slang} To die. * /He seemed too young to check out./

   [check up] {v.} To find out  or  try  to  find  out  the  truth  or
correctness of something; make sure of something; investigate. * /Mrs.
Brown thought she had heard a burglar  in  the  house,  so  Mr.  Brown
checked up, but found nobody./ * /Bill thought  he  had  a  date  with
Janie, but phoned her to check up./

   [check-up] {n.} A periodic examination by a physician  or  of  some
equipment by a mechanic. *  /I  am  overdue  for  my  annual  physical
check-up./ * /I need to take my car in for a check-up./

   [check with] {v. phr.} 1. To consult. * /I want to  check  with  my
lawyer before I sign the  papers./  2.  To  agree  with.  *  /Does  my
reconciliation of our account check with the bank statement?/

   [cheek] See: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.

   [cheer] See: BRONX CHEER.

   [cheer on] {v. phr.} To vociferously encourage a person or  a  team
during a sports event. * /The spectators at  the  stadium  cheered  on
their home team./

   [cheer up] {v.} 1. To feel happy; stop being  sad  or  discouraged;
become hopeful, joyous, or glad.  *  /Jones  was  sad  at  losing  the
business, but he cheered up at the sight of his  daughter./  *  /Cheer
up! The worst is over./ 2. To make cheerful or happy. *  /The  support
of the students cheered up the losing team and they played harder  and
won./ * /We went to the  hospital  to  cheer  up  a  sick  friend./  *
/Flowers cheer up a room./

   [cheese] See: BIG CHEESE, WHOLE CHEESE.

   [cheesebox] {n.}, {slang} A small, suburban house built by  a  land
developer available at low cost and resembling the other houses around
it. * /They moved to a suburb, but their house is just a cheesebox./

   [cheesecake] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A showing of the legs of  an
attractive woman or a display of her breasts as in  certain  magazines
known as cheesecake magazines. * /Photographer to model: "Give us some
cheesecake in that pose!"/

   [cherry farm] {n.}, {slang} A correctional institution  of  minimal
security where the inmates, mostly first offenders, work as farmhands.
* /Joe got a light sentence and was sent to  a  cherry  farm  for  six
months./

   [chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST, ON ONE'S CHEST.

   [chew] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW.

   [chew out] {v.}, {slang} To scold  roughly.  *  /The  boy's  father
chewed him out for staying up late./  *  /The  coach  chews  out  lazy
players./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, CALL ON THE CARPET, HAUL OVER THE COALS.

   [chew the fat] or  [chew  the  rag]  {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To  talk
together in an idle, friendly fashion; chat. * /We used to meet  after
work, and chew the fat over coffee and  doughnuts./  *  /The  old  man
would chew the rag for hours with anyone who would join him./

   [chew the scenery] {v. phr.}, {slang} To act overemotionally  in  a
situation where it is inappropriate; to engage in  histrionics.  *  /I
don't know if Joe was sincere about our house, but he sure  chewed  up
the scenery!/

   [chicken] See: COUNT ONE'S CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED, GO  TO
BED WITH THE CHICKENS, SPRING CHICKEN.

   [chicken-brained] {adj.} Stupid; narrow-minded; unimaginative. * /I
can't understand how a  bright  woman  like  Helen  can  date  such  a
chicken-brained guy as Oliver./

   [chicken feed] {n.}, {slang} A very small sum of money. * /John and
Bill worked very hard, but they were only paid chicken feed./  *  /Mr.
Jones is so rich be thinks a thousand dollars is chicken feed./

   [chicken-hearted] {adj.} Cowardly; excessively timid. * /"Come  on,
let's  get  on  that  roller  coaster,"  she  cried.  "Don't   be   so
chicken-hearted."/ See: CHICKEN-LIVERED.

   [chicken-livered]  {adj.},  {slang},  {colloquial}  Easily  scared;
cowardly. * /Joe sure is a chicken-livered guy./ See: CHICKEN-HEARTED.

   [chicken out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop doing something because
of fear;  to  decide  not  to  do  something  after  all  even  though
previously having decided to try it. * /I used to ride a motorcycle on
the highway, but I've chickened out./ *  /I  decided  to  take  flying
lessons but just before they started I chickened out./

   [chickens come home to roost] {informal} Words or acts come back to
cause trouble for a person; something bad you  said  or  did  receives
punishment; you  get  the  punishment  that  you  deserve.  *  /Fred's
chickens finally came home to roost today. He was late so  often  that
the teacher made him go to the principal./ - Often  used  in  a  short
form. * /Mary's selfishness will come home to roost some day./

   [chicken switch] {n.}, {slang}, {Space English}  1.  The  emergency
eject button used by test pilots in fast and high flying  aircraft  by
means of which they can parachute to safety if the engine fails; later
adopted by astronauts in space capsules. *  /Don't  pull  the  chicken
switch, unless absolutely necessary./ 2. The panic button;  a  panicky
reaction  to  an  unforeseen  situation,  such  as   unreasonable   or
hysterical telephone calls to friends for  help.  *  /Joe  pulled  the
chicken switch on his neighbor when the grease started burning in  the
kitchen./

   [child] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE, WITH CHILD.

   [children and fools speak the truth] Children and fools say  things
without thinking; they say what they  think  or  know  when  grown-ups
might not think it was polite or wise to do so. - A proverb. * /"Uncle
Willie is too fat," said little Agnes. "Children and fools  speak  the
truth," said her father./

   [children should be seen and not heard] A command issued by  adults
to children ordering them to be  quiet  and  not  to  interrupt.  -  A
proverb. * /Your children should not  argue  so  loudly.  Haven't  you
taught them that children should be seen and not heard?/

   [child's play] {adj.} Easy; requiring no effort. * /Mary's work  as
a volunteer social worker is so agreeable to her that she thinks of it
as child's play./

   [chill] See: SPINE-CHILLING.

   [chime in] {v.} 1. {informal} To join in. * /The whole group chimed
in on the chorus./ * /When the argument got hot, John chimed  in./  2.
To agree; go well together. - Usually used with "with".  *  /Dick  was
happy, and the holiday music chimed in with  his  feelings./  *  /When
Father suggested going to the shore for the vacation, the whole family
chimed in with the plan./

   [chin] See: KEEP ONE'S CHIN UP, STICK ONE'S NECK OUT or STICK ONE'S
CHIN OUT, TAKE IT ON THE CHIN, UP TO THE CHIN IN.

   [china shop] See: BULL IN A CHINA SHOP.

   [China syndrome] {n.}, {informal} From the title of the movie  with
Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon. The possibility that an industrial nuclear
reactor might explode, literally  affecting  the  other  side  of  the
planet (as if by eating a hole  through  the  earth  all  the  way  to
China.) * /Antinuclear demonstrators are  greatly  worried  about  the
China syndrome./

   [chip] See: CASH IN ONE'S CHIPS at CASH-IN, IN THE CHIPS.  LET  THE
CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY, FISH-AND-CHIPS, WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.

   [chip in] or [kick in]  {v.},  {informal}  To  give  together  with
others, contribute. * /The pupils chipped in a  dime  apiece  for  the
teacher's Christmas present./ * /All the neighbors kicked in  to  help
after the fire./ * /Lee chipped in ten points in the basketball game./
* /Joe didn't say much but chipped in a few words./

   [chip off the old block] {n. phr.} A person whose character  traits
closely resemble those of his parents. * /I hear that  Tom  plays  the
violin in the orchestra his father conducts; he sure is a chip off the
old block./

   [chip on  one's  shoulder]  {n.  phr.},  {informal}  A  quarrelsome
nature; readiness to be angered. * /He went through life with  a  chip
on his shoulder./ * /Jim often gets into fights because he goes around
with a chip on his shoulder./

   [chips] See: WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.

   [chisel]  or  [muscle  in  on]  {v.  phr.}  To  illegitimately  and
forcefully intrude into someone's traditional  sales  or  professional
arena of operation. * /Tim has a  good  sales  territory,  but  he  is
always afraid that someone might chisel in on it./ * /Las Vegas casino
owners  are  concerned  that  the  Mafia  might  muscle  in  on  their
territory./

   [choice] See: BY CHOICE, FIELDER'S CHOICE.

   [choke off]  {v.}  To  put  a  sudden  end  to;  stop  abruptly  or
forcefully. * /It was almost time for the  meeting  to  end,  and  the
presiding officer had to move to choke off debate./ * /The war  choked
off diamond shipments from overseas./

   [choke up] {v.} 1a. To come near losing  calmness  or  self-control
from strong feeling; be upset by your feelings. *  /When  one  speaker
after another praised John, he choked up and couldn't thank  them./  *
/When Father tried to tell me how glad he was to see me safe after the
accident, he choked up and was unable to speak./ 1b. {informal} To  be
unable to do well because of excitement or nervousness. * /Bill was  a
good batter, but in  the  championship  game  he  choked  up  and  did
poorly./ 2. To fill up; become clogged or blocked; become hard to pass
through. * /The channel had choked up with sand so that boats couldn't
use it./

   [choose] See: PICK AND CHOOSE.

   [chooser] See: BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS.

   [choose up sides] {v. phr.} To form two  teams  with  two  captains
taking turns choosing players. * /The boys chose up sides for  a  game
of softball./ * /Tom and Joe were the captains. They chose up sides./

   [chop] See: LICK ONE'S CHOPS.

   [chow line] {n.}, {slang} A line of people waiting for food. * /The
chow line was already long when John got to the dining hall./  *  /The
soldiers picked up trays and got into the chow line./

   [Christmas] See: FATHER CHRISTMAS.

   [Christmas card] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's  band  radio  jargon}  A
speeding ticket. * /Smokey just gave a Christmas card to the  eighteen
wheeler we passed./

   [Christmas club] {n.} A plan for putting money in the  bank  to  be
saved for Christmas shopping. * /John deposits $10 each  week  in  the
Christmas club./ * /The woman will get her  Christmas  club  money  on
December 10./

   [chum around with] {v. phr.} 1. To be close friends with someone. *
/They have been chumming around with one another for quite some time./
2. To travel around with someone. * /Jack is planning to  chum  around
with Tim in Europe this summer./

   [cigar-store Indian] {n. phr.} A wooden statue of an  Indian  which
in the past was placed in front of a cigar store.  *  /A  cigar  store
Indian used to mean a cigar store in the same way a barber pole  still
means a barber shop./

   [circle] See: COME FULL CIRCLE, IN A  CIRCLE  or  IN  CIRCLES,  RUN
CIRCLES AROUND also RUN RINGS AROUND.

   [circulation] See: IN CIRCULATION, OUT OF CIRCULATION.

   [circumstance]  See:  UNDER   THE   CIRCUMSTANCES   also   IN   THE
CIRCUMSTANCES.

   [circumstances alter cases] {formal} The way things are, or happen,
may change the way you are expected to act. * /John's father told  him
never to touch his gun, but one day when Father was away, John used it
to shoot a poisonous snake that  came  into  the  yard.  Circumstances
alter cases./

   [circus] See: THREE-RING CIRCUS.

   [citizen] See: SENIOR CITIZEN.

   [civil] See: KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD.

   [claim] See: STAKE A CLAIM.

   [claim check] {n.} A ticket needed to get back  something.  *  /The
man at the parking lot gave Mrs. Collins a claim check./  *  /The  boy
put the dry cleaning claim check in his billfold./  *  /The  man  told
Mary the pictures would be ready Friday and gave her a claim check./

   [clamp down] {v.}, {informal} To put on  strict  controls;  enforce
rules or laws. * /After the explosion, police clamped down and let  no
more visitors inside the monument./ *  /The  school  clamped  down  on
smoking./ * /When the crowds became  bigger  and  wilder,  the  police
clamped down on them and made everyone go home./

   [clam up] {v.}, {slang}  To  refuse  to  say  anything  more;  stop
talking. * /The suspect clammed up, and the police could get  no  more
information out of him./

   [class] See: HIGH-CLASS, SECOND CLASS.

   [clay] See: FEET OF CLAY.

   [clay pigeon] {n.}, {slang}, {informal}  1.  A  popular  target  at
practice shooting made of clay and roughly  resembling  a  pigeon;  an
easy target that doesn't move. * /All he can shoot is a clay  pigeon./
2. A person who, like a clay pigeon in target practice, is immobilized
or is in a sensitive position and is therefore  easily  criticized  or
otherwise victimized. * /Poor Joe is a clay pigeon./ 3. A task  easily
accomplished like shooting an immobile clay pigeon. * /The  math  exam
was a clay pigeon./

   [clean] See: COME CLEAN, KEEP ONE'S NOSE CLEAN, MAKE A CLEAN BREAST
OF, NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN, TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS,  also  SHOW  A  CLEAN
PAIR OF HEELS.

   [clean bill of health] {n. phr.} 1. A certificate that a person  or
animal has no infectious disease. * /The government doctor gave  Jones
a clean bill of health when he entered the country./ 2.  {informal}  A
report that a person is free of guilt or fault. *  /The  stranger  was
suspected in the bank robbery, but the police gave him a clean bill of
health./

   [clean break] {n. phr.} A complete separation. * /Tom made a  clean
break with his former girlfriends before marrying Pamela./

   [cleaners] See: TO TAKE TO THE CLEANERS.

   [clean hands] {n. phr.}, {slang} Freedom from guilt or  dishonesty;
innocence. * /John grew up in a bad neighborhood, but he grew up  with
clean hands./ * /There was much proof against Bill, but  he  swore  he
had clean hands./

   [clean out] {v.} 1. {slang} To take everything from; empty;  strip.
* /George's friends cleaned him out when they were playing cards  last
night./ * /The sudden demand for paper plates  soon  cleaned  out  the
stores./ 2. {informal} To get rid of;  remove;  dismiss.  *  /The  new
mayor promised to clean the crooks out of the city government./

   [clean slate] {n. phr.} A  record  of  nothing  but  good  conduct,
without any errors or bad deeds; past acts that are all  good  without
any bad ones. * /Johnny was sent to the principal for  whispering.  He
had a clean slate so the principal did not punish him./ * /Mary stayed
after school for a week, and after that the teacher let her off with a
clean slate./ Compare: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

   [clean sweep] {n. phr.} A complete victory. *  /Our  candidate  for
the United States Senate made a clean sweep over his opponent./

   [clean up] {v. phr.} 1. To wash and  make  oneself  presentable.  *
/After quitting for the day in the garage, Tim decided to clean up and
put on a clean shirt./ 2.  To  finish;  terminate.  *  /The  secretary
promised her boss to clean up all the unfinished work  before  leaving
on her Florida vacation./ 3. {informal} To make a large profit. * /The
clever investors cleaned up on the stock market last week./

   [clean-up] {n.} 1. An act of removing all the dirt from a given set
of objects. * /What this filthy room needs is an honest clean-up./  2.
The elimination of pockets of resistance during warfare  or  a  police
raid. * /The FBI conducted a clean-up against the drug pushers in  our
district./

   [clear] See: COAST IS CLEAR, IN THE CLEAR, OUT OF THE BLUE  or  OUT
OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY, SEE ONE'S WAY CLEAR,  STEER
CLEAR OF.

   [clear-cut] {adj.} Definite; well defined. * /The  president's  new
policy of aggressive action is a  clear-cut  departure  from  his  old
methods of unilateral appeasement./

   [clear-eyed] {adj.} Understanding problems or events clearly; being
able to tell very well the results of a way of acting. * /Tom is  very
clear-eyed. He knows he doesn't have much chance of winning the  race,
but he will try his best./ *  /He  is  a  clear-eyed  and  independent
commentator on the news./

   [clear one's name] {v. phr.} To prove  someone  is  innocent  of  a
crime or misdeed of which he has been accused. * /The falsely  accused
rapist has been trying in vain to clear his name./

   [clear out] {v.} 1. To take everything out of; empty. * /When  Bill
was moved to another class he cleared out his desk./ 2. {informal}  To
leave suddenly; go away; depart. * /The cop told  the  boys  to  clear
out./ * /Bob cleared out without paying his room rent./ *  /Clear  out
of here! You're bothering me./ Compare: BEAT IT.

   [clear   the   air]   {v.   phr.}   To   remove   angry   feelings,
misunderstanding, or confusion. * /The President's statement  that  he
would run for office again cleared the air of rumors and guessing./  *
/When Bill was angry at Bob, Bob made a joke, and it cleared  the  air
between them./

   [clear the decks] {v. phr.} To put everything in  readiness  for  a
major activity; to eliminate unessentials. * /The governor  urged  the
State Assembly to clear the decks of all but the most pressing  issues
to vote on./

   [clear up] {v.} 1. To make plain or clear; explain; solve.  *  /The
teacher cleared up the harder parts of the story./  *  /Maybe  we  can
clear up your problem./ 2. To become clear. * /The weather cleared  up
after the storm./ 3. To cure. * /The  pills  cleared  up  his  stomach
trouble./ 4. To put back into a normal, proper, or  healthy  state.  *
/The doctor can give you something to clear up your  skin./  *  /Susan
cleared up the room./ 5. To become cured. * /This  skin  trouble  will
clear up in a day or two./

   [clerk] See: ROOM CLERK or DESK CLERK.

   [cliffdweller] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A city person who lives on
a very high floor in an apartment building.  *  /Joe  and  Nancy  have
become cliffdwellers - they moved up to the 30th floor./

   [clifihanger] {n.}, {informal} A sports event or a movie  in  which
the outcome is uncertain to the very end  keeping  the  spectators  in
great suspense and excitement. * /Did you see "The Fugitive"?  It's  a
regular cliffhanger./

   [climb] See: SOCIAL CLIMBER.

   [climb on the bandwagon] See: ON THE BANDWAGON.

   [climb the wall] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To  react  to  a
challenging  situation  with  too   great   an   emotional   response,
frustration, tension, and anxiety. * /By the time  I  got  the  letter
that I was hired, I was  ready  to  climb  the  wall./  2.  To  be  so
disinterested or bored as to be most anxious to get away at any  cost.
* /If the chairman doesn't stop talking, I'll climb the wall./

   [clinging vine] {n.} A very dependent woman; a woman who needs much
love and encouragement from a man. * /Mary is  a  clinging  vine;  she
cannot do anything without her husband./

   [cling to one's mother's apron strings] See: TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S
APRON STRINGS.

   [clip joint] {n.}, {slang} A low-class night club or other business
where people are cheated. * /The man got drunk and lost all his  money
in a clip joint./ * /The angry woman said the store was a clip joint./

   [clip one's wings] {v. phr.} To limit or hold you back,  bring  you
under control; prevent your success. * /When the new  president  tried
to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings./ *  /Jim  was
spending too much time on dates when he needed to study so his  father
stopped his allowance; that clipped his wings./

   [cloak-and-dagger] {adj.} Of or about spies and  secret  agents.  *
/It was a cloak-and-dagger story about some spies who tried  to  steal
atomic secrets./ * /The book was written by a retired colonel who used
to take part in cloak-and-dagger plots./ (From the wearing  of  cloaks
and daggers by people in old adventure stories.)  Compare:  BLOOD  AND
THUNDER.

   [clock] See: AGAINST TIME or AGAINST THE CLOCK, AROUND THE CLOCK or
THE CLOCK AROUND, PUT BACK THE CLOCK or TURN BACK THE CLOCK,  GO  LIKE
CLOCKWORK or GO OFF LIKE CLOCKWORK, TURN THE CLOCK BACK.

   [clock watcher] {n. phr.}, {informal} A worker who always quits  at
once when it is time; a man who is in a hurry  to  leave  his  job.  *
/When Ted got his first job, his father told him to work hard and  not
be a clock watcher./

   [close at hand] {adj. phr.} Handy; close by; within one's range.  *
/My calendar isn't close at hand, so I can't tell you whether  we  can
come next week or not./ * /I always keep my pencils and erasers  close
at hand when I work on a draft proposal./

   [close call] or [shave] {n. phr.} A narrow escape. * /That sure was
a close call when that truck came near us from the right!/ * /When Tim
fell off his bicycle in front of a bus, it was a very close shave./

   [closed book] {n.} A secret; something not known or  understood.  *
/The man's early life is a closed book./ * /For  Mary,  science  is  a
closed book./ * /The history of the town is a closed book./

   [closed-door] {adj.} Away from the public; in private or in secret;
limited to a few. * /The officers  of  the  club  held  a  closed-door
meeting./ * /The committee decided  on  a  closed-door  rule  for  the
investigation./ Compare: IN PRIVATE.

   [close down] or [shut down] {v.} To  stop  all  working,  as  in  a
factory; stop work entirely; also:  to  stop  operations  in.  *  /The
factory closed down for Christmas./  *  /The  company  shut  down  the
condom plant for Easter./

   [closed shop] {n. phr.} 1. A plant or  factory  that  employs  only
union workers. * /Our firm has been fighting the  closed  shop  policy
for many years now./ 2. A profession or  line  of  work  dominated  by
followers of a certain mode of thinking and  behaving  that  does  not
tolerate differing views or ideas. * /Certain groups of psychologists,
historians, and linguists often behave with a closed-shop  mentality./
Contrast: OPEN SHOP.

   [close in] {v.} To come in nearer from all sides. * /We wanted  the
boat to reach shore before the fog closed in./ - Often used with "on".
* /The troops were closing in on the enemy.

   [close its doors] {v. phr.} 1. To keep someone  or  something  from
entering or joining; become closed. * /The club has closed  its  doors
to new members./ 2. To fail as a business; go bankrupt.  *  /The  fire
was so damaging that the store had to close its  doors./  *  /Business
was so poor that we had to close our doors after six months./ Compare:
CLOSE THE DOOR. Contrast: OPEN ITS DOORS.

   [close-knit] {adj.}  Closely  joined  together  by  ties  of  love,
friendship, or common interest; close. * /The Joneses are a close-knit
family./ * /The three boys are  always  together.  They  form  a  very
close-knit group./

   [close one's eyes] or [shut one's eyes] {v. phr.} To refuse to  see
or think about. * /The park is beautiful if you shut your eyes to  the
litter./ * /The ice was very thin, but the boys shut their eyes to the
danger and went skating./ Compare: OPEN ONE'S EYES.

   [dose out] {v.} To sell the whole of; end (a business or a business
operation) by selling all the goods; also, to sell your stock and stop
doing business. * /The store closed out its stock of garden supplies./
* /Mr. Jones closed out his grocery./ * /Mr. Randall was losing  money
in his shoe store, so he decided to close out./

   [close quarters] {n. phr.} Limited, cramped space.  *  /With  seven
boy scouts in a tent, they were living in very close quarters./

   [close ranks] {v. phr.}  1.  To  come  close  together  in  a  line
especially for fighting. * /The soldiers closed  ranks  and  kept  the
enemy away from the bridge./ 2. To stop quarreling and work  together;
unite and fight together. *  /The  Democrats  and  Republicans  closed
ranks to win the war./ * /The leader asked the people to  close  ranks
and plan a new school./

   [close shave] See: CLOSE CALL.

   [closet] See: SKELETON IN THE CLOSET.

   [close  the  books]  {v.  phr.}  To  stop  taking  orders;  end   a
bookkeeping period. * /The tickets were all sold, so the manager  said
to close the books./ * /The department store closes its books  on  the
25th of each month./

   [close the door] or [bar the door] or [shut the door] {v. phr.}  To
prevent any more action or talk about a subject.  *  /The  President's
veto closed the door to any new attempt to pass the bill./ * /Joan was
much hurt by what Mary said, and she closed the door on Mary's attempt
to apologize./ * /After John makes up his mind, he closes the door  to
any more arguments./ Contrast: OPEN THE DOOR.

   [close  to  home]  {adv.  phr.}  Too  near  to  someone's  personal
feelings, wishes, or interests. * /When John made fun of Bob's way  of
walking, he struck close to home./ * /When the  preacher  spoke  about
prejudice, some people felt he had come too close to home./

   [close-up] {n.} A photograph, motion picture, or video camera  shot
taken at very close range. *  /Directors  of  movies  frequently  show
close-ups of the main characters./

   [close up shop] {v. phr.} 1. To shut a store at the end of a  day's
business, also, to end a business. * /The grocer closes up shop  at  5
o'clock./ * /After 15 years in business at the same spot,  the  garage
closed up shop./ 2. {informal} To stop some activity; finish what  you
are doing. * /After camping out for two weeks, the  scouts  took  down
their tents and  closed  up  shop./  *  /The  committee  finished  its
business and closed up shop./ Compare: CALL IT A DAY.

   [clothes] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.

   [clothing] See: WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

   [cloud] See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING,  IN  THE  CLOUDS,  ON
CLOUD NINE, UNDER A CLOUD.

   [clover] See: FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, IN CLOVER or IN THE CLOVER.

   [club] See: CHRISTMAS CLUB.

   [cluck and grunt] {n.}, {slang},  {avoid  it  in  restaurants}  The
familiar restaurant dish of ham and eggs; since ham is  made  of  pork
(and pigs grunt) and eggs come from hens (which cluck.) * /"I am sorry
I can't fix you an elaborate meal, but I can give you  a  quick  cluck
and grunt."/

   [clutch] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.

   [coal] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE, HAUL OVER THE COALS  or  RAKE
OVER THE COALS, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD.

   [coast is clear] No enemy or danger is in sight; there is no one to
see you. * /When the teacher had disappeared around the  corner,  John
said, "Come on, the coast is clear."/ * /The men knew when  the  night
watchman would pass. When he had gone, and the coast was  clear,  they
robbed the safe./ * /When Father stopped the car  at  the  stop  sign,
Mother said, "The coast is clear on this side."/

   [coat tail] See: ON ONE'S COAT TAILS.

   [cock] See: GO OFF HALF-COCKED also GO OFF AT HALF COCK.

   [cock-and-bull story] {n.  phr.}  An  exaggerated  or  unbelievable
story. * /"Stop feeding me such cock-and-bull stories," the  detective
said to the suspect./

   [cockeyed] {adj.} Drunk; intoxicated. * /Frank  has  been  drinking
all day and, when we met,  he  was  so  cockeyed  he  forgot  his  own
address./

   [cocksure] {adj.} Overconfident; very sure. *  /Paul  was  cocksure
that it wasn 't going to snow, but it snowed so much that  we  had  to
dig our way out of the house./

   [C.O.D.] {n. phr.} Abbreviation of "cash on delivery."  *  /If  you
want to receive a piece of  merchandise  by  mail  and  pay  when  you
receive it, you place a C.O.D. order./

   [coffee break] {n.} A short recess or time out from work  in  which
to rest and drink coffee. * /The girls in the  office  take  a  coffee
break in the middle of the morning and the afternoon./

   [coffee hour] {n.} A time for coffee or other refreshments after  a
meeting; a time to meet people and have  refreshments.  *  /After  the
business meeting we had a coffee hour./ * /The Joneses  had  a  coffee
hour so their visitor could meet their neighbors./

   [coffee table] {n.} A low table used in a  living  room.  *  /There
were several magazines on the coffee table./

   [coffin nail] {n.}, {slang} A cigarette. *  /"I  stopped  smoking,"
Algernon said. "In fact, I haven't had a coffin nail in  well  over  a
year."/

   [cog] See: SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR.

   [coin money] or [mint money] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a lot of
money quickly; profit heavily; gain big profit. * /Fred  coined  money
with many cigarette vending machines and juke boxes./

   [cold] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD, BLOW HOT AND COLD, CATCH COLD or  TAKE
COLD, IN  COLD  BLOOD,  OUT  COLD,  OUT  IN  THE  COLD,  PASS  OUT(2),
STONE-COLD, STOP COLD, THROW COLD WATER ON.

   [cold cash] or [hard cash] {n.} Money that is paid at the  time  of
purchase; real money; silver and bills. * /Mr. Jones bought a new  car
and paid cold cash for it./ * * /Some stores sell things only for cold
cash./ Compare: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

   [cold comfort] {n.} Something that makes a person in  trouble  feel
very little better or even worse. * /When Tim lost the  race,  it  was
cold comfort to him to hear that he could try again in two  weeks./  *
/Mary spent her vacation sick in bed and Jane's letter about her  trip
was cold comfort./

   [cold feet] {n. phr.}, {informal} A loss of  courage  or  nerve;  a
failure or loss of confidence in yourself. * /Ralph was going  to  ask
Mary to dance with him but he got cold feet and didn't./

   [cold fish] {n.}, {informal}  A  queer  person;  a  person  who  is
unfriendly or does not mix with  others.  *  /No  one  knows  the  new
doctor, he is a cold fish./ * /Nobody invites Eric to parties  because
he is a cold fish./

   [cold-shoulder] {v.}, {informal} To  act  towards  a  person;  with
dislike or scorn; be unfriendly to. * /Fred  cold-shouldered  his  old
friend when they passed on the street./ * /It is impolite  and  unkind
to cold-shoulder people./ Compare: BRUSH OFF(2), HIGH-HAT,  LOOK  DOWN
ONE'S NOSE AT.

   [cold shoulder] {n.}, {informal} Unfriendly treatment of a  person,
a showing of dislike for a person or of looking down on  a  person.  -
Used in the cliches "give the cold shoulder" or "turn a cold  shoulder
to" or "get the cold shoulder". * /When Bob asked Mary for a date  she
gave him the cold shoulder./ * /The membership committee turned a cold
shoulder to Jim's request to join the club./

   [cold snap] {n.} A short time of quick change from warm weather  to
cold. * /The cold snap killed everything in the garden./

   [cold turkey] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Abruptly  and  without
medical aid to withdraw from the use of an addictive drug  or  from  a
serious drinking problem. * /Joe is a very brave guy;  he  kicked  the
habit cold turkey./ 2. {n.} An  instance  of  withdrawal  from  drugs,
alcohol, or cigarette smoking. * /Joe did a cold turkey./

   [cold war] {n.} A struggle that is carried on by  other  means  and
not by actual fighting; a war without shooting or  bombing.  *  /After
World War II, a cold war began between Russia and the United States./

   [collar] See: HOT UNDER THE COLLAR, ROMAN COLLAR, SAILOR COLLAR.

   [collective  farm]  {n.}  A  large  government-run  farm  made   by
combining many small farms. * /The Russian farmers  used  to  live  on
collective farms./

   [collector's item]  {n.}  Something  rare  or  valuable  enough  to
collect or save. * /Jimmy's mother found an old  wooden  doll  in  the
attic that turned out to be a collector's item./

   [College Boards] {n.}  A  set  of  examinations  given  to  test  a
student's readiness and ability for college. * /John got a high  score
on his College Boards./ * /College Boards test both what a student has
learned and his ability to learn./

   [color] See: CHANGE COLOR, GIVE COLOR TO or  LEND  COLOR  TO,  HAUL
DOWN ONE'S COLORS, HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR, NAIL  ONE'S  COLORS  TO
THE MAST, OFF-COLOR or OFF-COLORED, SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS,  SEE  THE
COLOR OF ONE'S MONEY, SHOW ONE'S COLORS, WITH FLYING COLORS.

   [color guard] {n.} A military guard of honor  for  the  flag  of  a
country; also: a guard of honor to carry and protect a flag or  banner
(as of a club). * /There were four Marines in the color guard  in  the
parade./ * /Bob was picked to be a color guard and to carry the banner
of the drum corps at the football game./

   [color scheme] {n.} A plan for colors used together as  decoration.
* /The color scheme for the  dance  was  blue  and  silver./  *  /Mary
decided on a pink and white color scheme for her room./

   [comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB.

   [come] See: CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE  ONE
COMES TO IT, EASY COME - EASY GO,  FIRST  COME  -  FIRST  SERVED,  GET
WHAT'S COMING TO ONE, HAVE IT COMING, HOW COME  also  HOW'S  COME,  IF
WORST COMES TO WORST, JOHNNY-COME-LATELY, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME  IN  OUT
OF THE RAIN, KNOW IF ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LOOK AS IF ONE  HAS  COME
OUT OF A BANDBOX, SHIP COME IN.

   [come about] {v.} To take place; happen, occur. * /Sometimes it  is
hard to tell how a quarrel comes about./ * /When John woke up  he  was
in the hospital, but he didn't know how that had come about./

   [come a cropper] 1.  To  fall  off  your  horse.  *  /John's  horse
stumbled, and John came a cropper./ 2. To fail. * /Mr. Brown  did  not
have enough money to  put  into  his  business  and  it  soon  came  a
cropper./ Compare: RIDING FOR A FALL.

   [come across] {v.} 1. or [run across] To find or meet by chance.  *
/He came across a dollar bill in  the  suit  he  was  sending  to  the
cleaner./ * /The other day I ran across a book that you might like./ *
/I came across George at a party last week; it was the  first  time  I
had seen him in months./ Compare: COME ON(3), RUN INTO(3b). 2. To give
or do what is asked. * /The robber told the woman to come across  with
her purse./ * /For hours the police questioned the  man  suspected  of
kidnapping the child, and finally he came across with the story./

   [come again] {v.}, {informal} Please repeat; please say that again.
- Usually used as a command. * /"Harry has just come into a  fortune,"
my wife said. "Come again? " I asked her, not believing it./ *  /"Come
again," said the hard-of-hearing man./

   [come alive] or [come to life] {v.} 1. {informal} To  become  alert
or attentive; wake up and look  alive;  become  active.  *  /When  Mr.
Simmons mentioned money, the boys  came  alive./  *  /Bob  pushed  the
starter button, and the engine came alive with a  roar./  2.  To  look
real; take on a bright, natural look. * /Under skillful lighting,  the
scene came alive./ * /The President came alive in the picture  as  the
artist worked./

   [come along] {v.} To make progress; improve;  succeed.  *  /He  was
coming along well after the operation./ * /Rose is coming right  along
on the piano./

   [come a long way] {v. phr.} To show much  improvement;  make  great
progress. * /The school has come a long way since its  beginnings./  *
/Little Jane has come a long way since she broke her leg./

   [come apart at the seams] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To  become
upset to the point where one loses self-control and  composure  as  if
having suffered a sudden nervous breakdown. * /After his  divorce  Joe
seemed to be coming apart at the seams./

   [come around] See: COME ROUND.

   [come at] {v.} 1. To approach; come to or against; advance  toward.
* /The young boxer came at the champion cautiously./ 2. To  understand
(a word or idea) or master (a skill); succeed with. * /The sense of an
unfamiliar word is hard to come at./

   [come back] {v.}, {informal} 1. To reply;  answer.  *  /The  lawyer
came back sharply in defense of his client./  *  /No  matter  how  the
audience heckled him, the comedian always had an answer to  come  back
with./ 2. To get a former place or position back, reach again a  place
which you have lost. * /After a year off to have her baby, the  singer
came back to even greater fame./ * /It is hard  for  a  retired  prize
fighter to come hack and beat a younger man./

   [comeback] {n.}, {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio  jargon}
A return call. * /Thanks for your comeback./

   [come back to earth] or [come down to earth] {v. phr.} To return to
the real world; stop imagining or dreaming; think and behave as usual.
* /After Jane met the movie star it was hard for her to come  back  to
earth./ * /Bill was sitting and daydreaming so his mother told him  to
come down to earth and to do his homework./  Compare:  COME  TO  ONE'S
SENSES, DOWN-TO-EARTH. Contrast: IN THE CLOUDS.

   [come  between]  {v.}  To  part;  divide;   separate.   *   /John's
mother-in-law came to live in his home, and as time  passed  she  came
between him and his wife./ * /Bill's hot rod came between him and  his
studies, and his grades went down./

   [come by] {v.} To get; obtain; acquire. * /A good job like that  is
hard to come by./ * /Money easily come by is often  easily  spent./  *
/How did she come by that money?/

   [come  by  honestly]  {v.   phr.},   {informal}   To   inherit   (a
characteristic) from your parents. * /Joe  comes  by  his  hot  temper
honestly; his father is the same way./

   [come clean] {v. phr.}, {slang} To tell all; tell the whole  story;
confess. * /The boy suspected of stealing the watch came  clean  after
long questioning./

   [comedown] {n.} Disappointment; embarrassment; failure. *  /It  was
quite a comedown for Al when the girl he took for granted refused  his
marriage proposal./

   [come down] {v.} 1. To reduce itself; amount to  no  more  than.  -
Followed by "to". * /The quarrel finally came down to  a  question  of
which boy would do the dishes./ Syn.: BOIL DOWN(3). 2.  To  be  handed
down or passed along, descend from parent to child;  pass  from  older
generation to younger ones. * /Mary's necklace had come  down  to  her
from her grandmother./

   [come down  hard  on]  {v.},  {informal}  1.  To  scold  or  punish
strongly. * /The principal came down hard on the boys for breaking the
window./ 2. To oppose strongly. * /The minister  in  his  sermon  came
down hard on drinking./

   [come down in the world] {v. phr.} To lose a place  of  respect  or
honor, become lower (as in rank or fortune). * /The  stranger  plainly
had come down a long way in the world./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK.

   [come down off one's high horse] {v. phr.} To become less arrogant;
to assume a more modest disposition. *  /The  boastful  candidate  for
Congress quickly came down off his high  horse  when  he  was  soundly
beaten by his opponent./

   [come down on like a ton of bricks] {v. phr.},  {slang}  To  direct
one's full anger at somebody. * /When the janitor was late  for  work,
the manager came down on him like a ton of bricks./

   [come down to earth] See: COME BACK TO EARTH.

   [come down with] {v.}, {informal} To become sick with; catch. * /We
all came down with the mumps./ * /After being out in the rain,  George
came down with a cold./

   [come from far and wide] {v. phr.} To originate or hail  from  many
different places. * /The students at this university come from far and
wide and speak many languages./

   [come full circle] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  1.  To  become  totally
opposed to one's own earlier conviction on a given subject. * /Today's
conservative businessperson has come full circle from  former  radical
student days./ 2. To change and develop, only  to  end  up  where  one
started. * /From modern permissiveness, ideas about child raising have
come full circle to the views of our grandparents./

   [come hell or high water] {adv. phr.}, {informal}  No  matter  what
happens; whatever may come. * /Grandfather said he  would  go  to  the
fair, come hell or high water./ Compare: COME WHAT  MAY,  THROUGH  THE
MILL.

   [come home to roost] See: CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST.

   [come  in]  {v.}  1.  To  finish  in  a  sports  contest  or  other
competition. * /He came in second in the  hundred-yard  dash./  2.  To
become the fashion; begin to be used. * /Swimming trunks for men  came
in after World War I; before that men used full swim suits./

   [come in for] {v.} To receive. * /He came in for  a  small  fortune
when his uncle died./ * /His conduct came in for much criticism./

   [come in handy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To prove useful. *  /Robinson
Crusoe found tools in the ship which came in handy  when  he  built  a
house./ * /The French he learned in high school came in handy when  he
was in the army in France./

   [come into] {v.} To receive, especially after another's death;  get
possession of. * /He came into a lot of money when his father died./ *
/He came into possession of the farm after his uncle died./

   [come into one's own] {v. phr.} To receive the  wealth  or  respect
that you should have. *  /John's  grandfather  died  and  left  him  a
million dollars; when John is 21, he will come into his own./ *  /With
the success of the Model T Ford, the automobile industry came into its
own./

   [came natural] See: COME EASY.

   [come of] {v.} 1. To result from. * /After all the energy we  spent
on that advertising campaign, absolutely nothing came of  it./  2.  To
become of; happen to. * /"Whatever became of your son, Peter?"/

   [come of age] See: OF AGE.

   [come off] {v.} 1. To take place; happen. * /The picnic came off at
last, after being twice postponed./ 2. {informal} To do well; succeed.
* /The attempt to bring the quarreling couple together again came off,
to people's astonishment./

   [come off it] also [get off it] {v. phr.}, {slang} Stop pretending;
bragging, or kidding; stop being silly. - Used as a command. * /"So  I
said to the duchess..." Jimmy began. "Oh, come off it," the other boys
sneered./ * /Fritz said he had a car of his own. "Oh,  come  off  it,"
said John. "You can't even drive."/

   [come off] or [through with flying colors] {v.  phr.}  To  succeed;
triumph. * /John came off with flying colors in  his  final  exams  at
college./

   [come off second best] {v. phr.} To not win first but only  second,
third, etc. place. * /Our home team came off second best  against  the
visitors./ * /Sue complains that she always comes off second best when
she has a disagreement with her husband./

   [come on] {v.}  1.  To  begin;  appear.  *  /Rain  came  on  toward
morning./ * /He felt a cold coming on./ 2. To grow or do well; thrive.
* /The wheat was coming on./ * /His business came on  splendidly./  3.
or [come upon]. To meet accidentally; encounter; find. * /He  came  on
an old friend that day when he visited his club./ * /He came  upon  an
interesting idea in reading about the French Revolution./  Syn.:  COME
ACROSS, HAPPEN ON. 4. {informal} Let's get started; let's  get  going;
don't delay; don't wait. - Used as a command. * /"Come on, or we'll he
late," said Joe, but Lou still waited./ 5. {informal} Please do it!  -
Used in begging someone to do something. * /Sing  us  just  one  song,
Jane, come on!/ * /Come on, Laura, you  can  tell  me.  I  won't  tell
anybody./

   [come-on] {n.}, {slang} An attractive offer made to a naive  person
under false pretenses in order to gain monetary or other advantage.  *
/Joe uses a highly successful come-on when he  sells  vacant  lots  on
Grand Bahama Island./

   [come one's way] {v. phr.} To be experienced by someone; happen  to
you. * /Tom said that if the chance to become a sailor ever  came  his
way, he would take it./ * /I hope bad luck isn't coming  our  way./  *
/Luck came Bill's way today and he hit a home run./ Compare: GO  ONE'S
WAY, IN ONE'S FAVOR.

   [come on strong] {v. phr.}, {slang} To overwhelm  a  weaker  person
with excessively  strong  language,  personality,  or  mannerisms;  to
insist extremely strongly and claim something with  unusual  vigor.  *
/Joe came on very strong last night about the War in  Indochina;  most
of us felt embarrassed./

   [come out] {v.} 1. {Of a girl:} To be formally introduced to polite
society at about age eighteen, usually at a party; begin to go to  big
parties, * /In society, girls come out when  they  reach  the  age  of
about eighteen, and usually it is at a big party in their honor; after
that they are looked on as adults./ 2. To be published.  *  /The  book
came out two weeks ago./ 3. To become publicly  known.  *  /The  truth
finally came out at his trial./ 4, To end; result; finish. * /How  did
the story come out?/ * /The game came out as we  had  hoped./  *  /The
snapshots came out  well./  5.  To  announce  support  or  opposition;
declare yourself (for or against a person  or  thing).  *  /The  party
leaders came out for an acceptable  candidate./  *  /Many  Congressmen
came out against the bill./ 6. See: GO OUT FOR.

   [coming-out] {adj.} Introducing a girl to polite society. * /Mary's
parents gave her a coming-out party when she was 17./

   [come out for] {v. phr.} To support; declare oneself  in  favor  of
another, especially during a political election. * /Candidates for the
presidency of the United States are anxious for the  major  newspapers
to come out for them./

   [come out in the open] {v. phr.} 1. To reveal one's  true  identity
or intentions. * /Fred finally came out in the open and admitted  that
he was gay./ 2. To declare one's position openly. * /The  conservative
Democratic candidate came out in the open and declared that  he  would
join the Republican party./

   [come out with] {v. phr.} 1. To make a public announcement of; make
known. * /He came out with a clear declaration of his principles./  2.
To say. * /He comes out with the funniest remarks you can imagine./

   [come over] {v.} To take control of; cause  sudden  strong  feeling
in; happen to. * /A sudden fit of anger came over  him./  *  /A  great
tenderness came over her./ * /What has come over him?/

   [come round] or [come around] {v.} 1. To happen or appear again and
again in regular order. * /And so Saturday night came around again./ *
/I will tell him when he comes round again./ 2. {informal} To get back
health or knowledge of things; get well from sickness or a  faint./  *
/Someone brought out smelling salts and Mary soon came round./ *  /Jim
has come around  after  having  had  stomach  ulcers./  3.  To  change
direction, * /The wind has come round to the south./ 4. {informal}  To
change your opinion or purpose to agree with another's.  *  /Tom  came
round when Dick told him the whole story./

   [come through] {v.}, {informal} To  be  equal  to  a  demand;  meet
trouble or a sudden need with success; satisfy a  need.  *  /When  the
baseball team needed a hit, Willie came  through  with  a  double./  *
/John needed money for college and his father came through./

   [come to] {v.}  (stress  on  "to")  1.  To  wake  up  after  losing
consciousness; get the use of your senses back again after fainting or
being knocked out. * /She fainted in the store and  found  herself  in
the first aid room when she came to./ * /The boxer who was knocked out
did not come to for five minutes./ * /The doctor gave her a  pill  and
after she took it she didn't come to for two days./ Compare: BRING TO.
2. (stress on "come") To get enough familiarity or  understanding  to;
learn to; grow to. - Used with an infinitive. * /John was  selfish  at
first, but he came to realize  that  other  people  counted,  too./  *
/During her years at the school, Mary came to know that road well./ 3.
To result in or change to; reach the point of; arrive at. * /Mr. Smith
lived to see his invention come to success./  *  /Grandfather  doesn't
like the way young people act today; he says, "I don't know  what  the
world is coming to."/ 4. To have something to do with; be in the field
of; be about. - Usually used in the phrase "when it comes to". *  /Joe
is not good in sports, but when it comes to arithmetic he's  the  best
in the class./ * /The school has very good teachers, but when it comes
to buildings, the school is poor./

   [come to a dead end] {v. phr.} To reach  a  point  from  which  one
cannot proceed further, either  because  of  a  physical  obstacle  or
because of some forbidding circumstance. * /Our car  came  to  a  dead
end; the only way to get out was to drive back  in  reverse./  *  /The
factory expansion project came to a dead end  because  of  a  lack  of
funds./

   [come to blows] {v. phr.} To begin to fight. * /The two  quarreling
boys came to blows after school./ * /The two countries came  to  blows
because one wanted to be independent from the other./

   [come to grief] {v. phr.} To have a bad accident or disappointment;
meet trouble or ruin; end badly; wreck; fail. * /Bill  came  to  grief
learning to drive a car./ * /Nick's hopes for  a  new  house  came  to
grief when the house he was building burned down./ * /The fishing boat
came to grief off Cape Cod./

   [come to grips with] {v. phr.} 1. To get hold of (another wrestler)
in close fighting. * /After circling around  for  a  minute,  the  two
wrestlers came to grips with each other./  2.  To  struggle  seriously
with (an idea or problem). * /Mr. Blake's leaching helps students come
to grips with the important ideas in the  history  lesson./  *  /Harry
cannot be a leader, because he never  quite  comes  to  grips  with  a
problem./ Compare: COME TO TERMS(2).

   [come to hand] {v. phr.} To be received or  obtained.  *  /Father's
letter was mailed from Florida last week and came to  hand  today./  *
/The new books came to hand today./ * /New information about the boy's
disappearance came to hand yesterday./

   [come to heel] See: TO HEEL.

   [come to life] See: COME ALIVE.

   [come to light] {v. phr.} To be discovered; become known; appear. *
/John's thefts from the bank where he worked came to  light  when  the
bank examiners made an inspection./ * /When the old woman died it came
to light that she was actually rich./ * /New facts about ancient Egypt
have recently come to light./ Compare: BRING TO LIGHT.

   [come to mind] {v. phr.} To occur to someone. * /A new idea for the
advertising campaign came to mind as I was reading your book./

   [come to nothing] also {formal} [come to naught] {v. phr.}  To  end
in failure; fail; be in vain. * /The dog's attempts to climb the  tree
after the cat came to nothing./

   [come to one's senses] {v. phr.} 1. Become  conscious  again;  wake
up. * /The boxer was knocked out and did not come to  his  senses  for
several minutes./ * /The doctors gave Tom  an  anesthetic  before  his
operation; then the doctor took out Tom's appendix before he  came  to
his senses./ Compare: COME TO(1). 2. To think clearly; behave as usual
or as you should; act sensibly. * /A boy threw a snowball  at  me  and
before I could come to my  senses  he  ran  away./  *  /Don't  act  so
foolishly. Come to your senses!/ Contrast: OUT OF ONE'S HEAD.

   [come to pass] {v. phr.}, {literary} To happen; occur.  *  /Strange
things come to pass in troubled times./ * /It came to  pass  that  the
jailer visited him by night./ * /His hopes of success did not come  to
pass./ Compare: BRING TO PASS, COME ABOUT.

   [come to terms] {v. phr.} To reach an agreement. * /Management  and
the labor union came to terms about a new arrangement and a strike was
prevented./

   [come to the point] or [get to the point] {v. phr.} To  talk  about
the important thing; reach the important facts of  the  matter;  reach
the central question or fact. * /Henry was giving a lot of history and
explanation, but his father asked him to come to the point./ * /A good
newspaper story must come right to the point and save the details  for
later./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

   [come to think of it] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  As  I  think  again;
indeed; really. * /Come to think of it, he has already been given what
he needs./ * /Come to think of it, I should write my daughter today./

   [come true] {v.} To really happen; change from a dream  or  a  plan
into a fact. * /It took  years  of  planning  and  saving,  but  their
seagoing vacation came true at last./ * /It was a dream come true when
he met the President./ * /His hope of  living  to  100  did  not  come
true./

   [come up] {v.} 1. To become a subject for discussion or decision to
talk about or decide about. * /"He was  a  good  salesman,  and  price
never came up until the very last," Mary said./  *  /The  question  of
wage increases came up at the board meeting./ * /Mayor Jones comes  up
for reelection this fall./ 2. To be equal; match in value. - Used with
"to". * /The new model car comes up to last year's./ 3.  To  approach;
come close. * /We saw a big black  bear  coming  up  on  us  from  the
woods./ *  /Christmas  is  coming  up  soon./  *  /The  team  was  out
practicing for the  big  game  coming  up./  4.  To  provide;  supply;
furnish. - Used with "with". * /For years Jones kept  coming  up  with
new and good ideas./ * /The teacher asked a  difficult  question,  but
finally Ted came up with a good answer./

   [come up in the world] or [rise in the world]  {v.  phr.}  To  gain
success, wealth, or importance in life; rise to a position of  greater
wealth or importance. * /He had come up in the world since he  peddled
his wife's baked goods from a pushcart./ Compare: GET AHEAD. Contrast:
COME DOWN IN THE WORLD.

   [come up smelling like a rose] {v. phr.} To escape from a difficult
situation  or  misdeed  unscathed  or  without  punishment.  *  /A  is
predicted  that  Congressman  Brown,   in   spite   of   the   current
investigation into his financial affairs, will come up smelling like a
rose at the end./

   [come up to] {v. phr.} To  equal.  *  /The  meals  cooked  in  most
restaurants do not come up to those prepared at home./

   [come up with] {v. phr.} 1. To offer. * /We can  always  depend  on
John Smith to come up with a good solution for any  problem  we  might
have./ 2. To produce on demand. * /I won't be able to  buy  this  car,
because I cannot come up with the down payment  you  require./  3.  To
find. * /How on earth did you come up with such a brilliant idea?/

   [come upon] See: COME ON(3).

   [come what may] {adv. phr.} Even if troubles come; no  matter  what
happens; in spite of opposition or mischance. * /Charles  has  decided
to get a college education, come what may./ * /The editor says we will
publish the school paper this week, come what may./

   [comfort] See: COLD COMFORT.

   [comfortable as an old shoe] {adj. phr.}, {informal}  Pleasant  and
relaxed; not stiff, strict or too polite; easy to talk and work  with.
* /The stranger was as comfortable as an old shoe, and  we  soon  were
talking like old friends./

   [coming and going] or [going and coming] {adv. phr.} 1. Both  ways;
in both directions. * /The truck driver stops at the same cafe  coming
and going./ * /John was late. He got punished both going  and  coming;
his teacher punished him and his parents punished him./ 2.  Caught  or
helpless; in your power; left with no way out of a difficulty. -  Used
after "have". * /If Beth stayed in the house, Mother  would  make  her
help with the cleaning; if she went outside,  Father  would  make  her
help wash the car - they had her coming and going./ * /Uncle Mike is a
good checker player, and he  soon  had  me  beat  coming  and  going./
Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.

   [coming out] See: COME OUT(1).

   [coming out party] {n. phr.} A debutante party  in  which  a  young
girl is formally introduced to society. * /Coming out parties used  to
be  more  popular  in  the  early  twentieth  century  than  nowadays,
primarily because they cost a lot of money./

   [comings and goings] {n. pl.}, {informal} 1. Times of arriving  and
going away; movements. * /I can't keep up with the children's  comings
and goings./ 2. Activities; doings; business. * /Mary  knows  all  the
comings and goings in the neighborhood./

   [command module] {n.}, {Space English} 1. One  of  the  three  main
sections of the basic Apollo spacecraft. It weighs  six  tons  and  is
cone shaped. It contains crew compartments and from it the  astronauts
can operate the lunar  module  (LM),  the  docking  systems,  etc.  2.
{Informal transferred sense.} The cockpit, the  chief  place  where  a
person does his most important work. * /My desk is my command module./

   [commission]  See:  IN  COMMISSION  or  INTO  COMMISSION,  OUT   OF
COMMISSION.

   [common] See: IN COMMON.

   [common as an old shoe] {adj. phr.}, {informal}  Not  showing  off;
not vain; modest; friendly to all. * /Although Mr. Jones ran  a  large
business, he was common as an old shoe./ * /The most famous people are
sometimes as common as an old shoe./

   [common  ground]  {n.}  Shared  beliefs,  interests,  or  ways   of
understanding; ways in which people are alike. * /Bob and Frank  don't
like each other because they have  no  common  ground./  *  /The  only
common ground between us is that we went to the same school./ Compare:
IN COMMON.

   [common touch] {n.} The ability to  be  a  friend  of  the  people;
friendly manner with everyone. * /Voters like a candidate who has  the
common touch./

   [company] See: KEEP COMPANY, PART COMPANY.

   [company man] {n.}, {informal} A  worker  who  always  agrees  with
management rather than labor. - Usually used  to  express  dislike  or
disapproval. * /Joe was a company man and refused to take  a  part  in
the strike./ Compare: YES-MAN.

   [compare notes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To exchange thoughts or ideas
about something; discuss together. * /Mother and Mrs. Barker  like  to
compare notes about cooking./

   [compliment] See: RETURN THE COMPLIMENT.

   [conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.

   [condition] See: IN SHAPE or IN CONDITION, IN THE PINK  or  IN  THE
PINK OF  CONDITION,  ON  CONDITION  THAT,  OUT  OF  SHAPE  or  OUT  OF
CONDITION.

   [conference] See: PRESS CONFERENCE.

   [congregate housing] {n.}, {informal} A form of housing for elderly
persons in which dining facilities and services are shared in multiple
dwelling units. * /Jerry put  Grandma  in  a  place  where  they  have
congregate housing./

   [conk out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To fall  asleep  suddenly
with great fatigue or after having drunk too much. *  /We  conked  out
right after the guests had left./

   [consent] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.

   [consequence] See: IN CONSEQUENCE, IN CONSEQUENCE OF.

   [consideration] See: IN CONSIDERATION OF.

   [consumer goods] or [consumer items]  {n.}  Food  and  manufactured
things that people buy for their own use.  *  /In  time  of  war,  the
supply of consumer goods is greatly reduced./

   [content] See: TO ONE'S HEART'S CONTENT.

   [contention] See: BONE OF CONTENTION.

   [contrary] See: ON THE CONTRARY, TO THE CONTRARY.

   [control room] {n.} A room containing the panels and switches  used
to control something (like a TV  broadcast).  *  /While  a  television
program is on the air, engineers are at their places  in  the  control
room./

   [control tower] {n.} A tower with large windows and a good view  of
an  airport  so  that  the  traffic  of  airplanes  can  be  seen  and
controlled, usually by radio. *  /We  could  see  the  lights  at  the
control tower as our plane landed during the night./

   [conversation] See: MAKE CONVERSATION.

   [conversation piece] {n.} Something that interests people and makes
them talk about it; something that looks unusual, comical, or strange.
* /Uncle Fred has a glass monkey on top of his piano that he keeps for
a conversation piece./

   [conviction] See: HAVE THE COURAGE OF ONE'S CONVICTIONS.

   [cook] See: SHORT-ORDER COOK, WHAT'S UP or WHAT'S COOKING.

   [cook one's goose] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ruin  someone  hopelessly;
destroy one's future expectations or good name. * /The bank  treasurer
cooked his own goose when he stole the bank's funds./  *  /She  cooked
John's goose by reporting  what  she  knew  to  the  police./  *  /The
dishonest official knew his  goose  was  cooked  when  the  newspapers
printed the story about him./

   [cook up] {v.}, {informal} To  plan  and  put  together;  make  up;
invent. * /The boys cooked up an excuse to explain their absence  from
school./

   [cool] See: PLOW ONE'S COOL.

   [cool as a cucumber] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very calm  and  brave;
not nervous, worried, or anxious; not excited; composed. * /Bill is  a
good football quarterback, always cool as a cucumber./

   [cool customer] {n.} Someone who is calm and in  total  control  of
himself; someone showing little emotion. * /Jim never gets too excited
about anything; he is a cool customer./

   [cool down] or [cool off] {v.} To lose or cause to lose the heat of
any deep feeling (as love, enthusiasm, or anger); make or become calm,
cooled or indifferent; lose interest. *  /A  heated  argument  can  be
settled better if both sides cool down first./ * /John was  deeply  in
love with Sally before he left for college, but he cooled  off  before
he got back./ *  /Their  friendship  cooled  off  when  Jack  gave  up
football./ * /The neighbor's complaint  about  the  noise  cooled  the
argument down./

   [cool one's heels]  {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To  be  kept  waiting  by
another's pride or rudeness; be forced to wait by someone in power  or
authority; wait. * /He cooled his heels for an hour  in  another  room
before the great man would see him./ * /I was left to  cool  my  heels
outside while the others went into the office./

   [coon's age] See: DOG'S AGE.

   [coop] See: FLY THE COOP.

   [coop up] {v. phr.} To hedge in; confine; enclose in a small place.
* /How can poor Jane work in that small  office,  cooped  up  all  day
long?/

   [cop a feel] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To attempt to  arouse
sexually by manual contact, usually by surprise. * /John talks big for
a 16 year old, but all he's ever done is cop a feel in  a  dark  movie
theater./ Compare: FEEL UP. Contrast: COP A PLEA.

   [cop a plea] {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {colloquial}  To  plead  guilty
during a trial in the hope of getting a lighter sentence as a  result.
* /The murderer of Dr. Martin Luther  King,  Jr.,  copped  a  plea  of
guilty, and got away  with  a  life  sentence  instead  of  the  death
penalty./

   [cop out]  {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {informal}  To  avoid  committing
oneself in a situation where doing so would result in difficulties.  *
/Nixon copped out on the American people with Watergate./

   [cop-out] {n. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}  An  irresponsible  excuse
made to avoid something one has to do, a flimsy pretext. *  /Cowe  on,
Jim, that's a cheap cop-out, and I don't believe a word of it!/

   [copy cat] n. Someone who copies another person's work or manner. -
Usually used by children or when speaking to children. * /He called me
a copy cat just because my new shoes look like his./

   [corn  ball]  {n.},  {slang},   {informal}   1.   A   superficially
sentimental movie or musical in which the word "love" is mentioned too
often; a theatrical performance that is trivially sentimental. * /That
movie last night was a corn hall./  2.  A  person  who  behaves  in  a
superficially sentimental manner or likes performances portraying such
behavior. * /Suzie can't stand Joe; she thinks he's a corn ball./

   [corn belt] {n.} 1. The Midwest; the agricultural  section  of  the
United States where much corn is grown. * /Kansas is one of the slates
that lies within the corn belt./

   [corner] See: AROUND THE CORNER, CUT CORNERS, FOUR CORNERS, OUT  OF
THE CORNER OF ONE'S EYE.

   [cost a bomb] or [an arm and a  leg]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  extremely
expensive. * /My new house has cost us an arm  and  a  leg  and  we're
almost broke./

   [cotton] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD also SITTING ON HIGH COTTON.

   [cotton picking], [cotton-pickin']  {adj.},  {slang},  {colloquial}
Worthless, crude, common, messy. * /Keep your cotton picking hands off
my flowers!/ * /You've got to clean up  your  room,  son,  this  is  a
cotton-pickin' mess!/

   [couch case] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person judged  emotionally
so disturbed that people think he ought to see  a  psychiatrist  (who,
habitually, make their patients lie down on a couch). * /Joe's divorce
messed him up so badly that he became a couch case./

   [couch doctor] {n.}, {slang}, {colloquial} A psychoanalyst who puts
his patients on a couch following the practice established by  Sigmund
Freud. * /I didn't know your husband was a couch doctor, I thought  he
was a gynecologist!/

   [couch potato] {n.} A person who is addicted to watching television
all day. * /Poor Ted has become such a  couch  potato  that  we  can't
persuade him to do anything./

   [cough up] {v.}, {slang} 1. To give (money) unwillingly;  pay  with
an effort. * /Her husband coughed up the money for the  party  with  a
good deal of grumbling./ 2. To tell what was secret; make known. * /He
coughed up the whole story for the police./

   [couldn't care less] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be  indifferent;  not
care at all. * /The students couldn't care less about the  band;  they
talk all through the concert./ Also heard increasingly as "could  care
less" (nonstandard in this form.)

   [counsel] See: KEEP ONE'S OWN COUNSEL.

   [count] See: STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.

   [countdown] {n.}. {Space English},  {informal}  1.  A  step-by-step
process which leads to the launching of a rocket. * /Countdown  starts
at 23:00 hours tomorrow night and continues for 24 hours./ 2.  Process
of counting inversely during the acts leading  to  a  launch;  liftoff
occurs at  zero.  3.  The  time  immediately  preceding  an  important
undertaking, borrowed from Space English. * /We're leaving for  Hawaii
tomorrow afternoon; this is countdown time for us./

   [counter] See: UNDER THE COUNTER.

   [count heads] or [count noses] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  count  the
number of people in a group. * /On the class picnic, we counted  heads
before we left and when we arrived to be sure that no one got lost./ *
/The usher was told to look out into the audience and count noses./

   [count off] {v.} 1. To count aloud from one end of a line of men to
the other, each man counting in turn. * /The soldiers counted off from
right to left./ 2. To  place  into  a  separate  group  or  groups  by
counting. * /The  coach  counted  off  three  boys  to  carry  in  the
equipment./ * /Tom counted off enough newspapers for his route./

   [count on] {v.} 1. To depend on; rely on; trust. *  /The  team  was
counting on Joe to win the race./ * /I'll do  it;  you  know  you  can
count on me./ * /The company was counting on Brown's making the  right
decision./ Syn.: BANK ON. 2. See: FIGURE ON(2).

   [count one's chickens before they're hatched] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To depend on getting a profit or gain before you have it;  make  plans
that suppose something will happen; be too sure  that  something  will
happen. Usually used in negative sentences. * /When Jim said  that  he
would be made captain of the team, John told  him  not  to  count  his
chickens before they were hatched./ * /Maybe some  of  your  customers
won't pay, and then where will  you  be?  Don't  count  your  chickens
before they're hatched./

   [count out] {v.} 1. To leave (someone) out of a  plan;  not  expect
(someone) to share in an activity; exclude. * /"Will this  party  cost
anything? If it does, count me out, because I'm broke."/ *  /When  the
coach was planning who would play in the big game he counted Paul out,
because Paul had a hurt leg./ 2. To count out loud to ten to show that
(a boxer who has been knocked down in a fight) is  beaten  or  knocked
out if he does not get up before ten is counted. * /The  champion  was
counted. out in the third round./ 3a. To add up;  count  again  to  be
sure of the amount. * /Mary counted out  the  number  of  pennies  she
had./ 3b. To count out loud, (especially the beats  in  a  measure  of
music).   *   /The   music   teacher    counted    out    the    beats
"one-two-three-four," so the class would sing in time./

   [count to ten] {v. phr.}, {informal} To count from one  to  ten  so
you will have time to calm down or get control of  yourself;  put  off
action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. * /Father
always told us to count to ten  before  doing  anything  when  we  got
angry./ Compare: KEEP ONE'S HEAD. Contrast: BLOW A FUSE, FLY  OFF  THE
HANDLE.

   [county  mounty]  {n.},  {slang},  {citizen's  hand  radio  jargon}
Sheriff's deputy. * /The county mounties are parked under the bridge./

   [courage] See: HAVE THE COURAGE  OF  ONE'S  CONVICTIONS,  SCREW  UP
ONE'S COURAGE.

   [course] See: IN DUE COURSE, MATTER OF COURSE, OF COURSE,  PAR  FOR
THE COURSE.

   [court] See: DAY IN COURT, FRONT COURT, HOLD COURT, KANGAROO COURT.

   [cousin] See: FIRST COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN.

   [cover] See: FROM COVER TO COVER at FROM --- TO(3), UNDER COVER.

   [cover a lot of ground] {v.  phr.}  To  process  a  great  deal  of
information and various facts. * /Professor Brown's  thorough  lecture
on asteroids covered a lot of ground today./

   [covered-dish supper] or [potluck supper]  A  meal  to  which  each
guest brings a share of the food. * /Dolly made  a  chicken  casserole
for the covered-dish supper./

   [cover girl] {n.} A pretty girl or woman whose picture  is  put  on
the cover of a magazine. * /Ann is not a cover girl, but she is pretty
enough to be./

   [cover ground] or [cover the ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go a distance;
travel. * /Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes,  because  they  cover
ground so quickly./ 2. {informal} To move over an area at a speed that
is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. * /The  new  infielder
really covers the ground at second base./ * /Herby's  new  car  really
covers ground!/ 3. To give or receive the important facts and  details
about a subject. * /If you're thinking about a  trip  to  Europe,  the
airline has a booklet that covers the  ground  pretty  well./  *  /The
class spent two days studying  the  Revolutionary  War,  because  they
couldn't cover that much ground in one day./

   [cover one's tracks] or [cover up one's tracks]  {v.  phr.}  1.  To
hide and not leave anything, especially foot marks, to show where  you
have been, so that no one can follow you.  *  /The  deer  covered  his
tracks by running in a stream./ 2. {informal} To hide or not say where
you have been or what you have done; not tell why you do something  or
what you plan to do. * /The boys covered their tracks when  they  went
swimming by saying that they were going for a  walk./  Compare:  COVER
UP(1).

   [cover the waterfront]  {v.  phr.}  To  talk  or  write  all  about
something; talk about something all possible ways.  *  /The  principal
pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior./

   [cover up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To hide something wrong or bad  from
attention. * /The spy covered up his picture-taking by  pretending  to
be just a tourist./ * /A crooked banker tried to cover up his stealing
some of the bank's money by starting a fire to destroy  the  records./
Compare: COVER ONE'S TRACKS(2). 2. In boxing: To guard your  head  and
body with your gloves, arms, and shoulders. * /Jimmy's father told him
to cover up and protect his chin when he boxed./ 3. To protect someone
else from blame or punishment; protect someone with a lie or alibi.  -
Often used with "for". * /The teacher wanted to  know  who  broke  the
window and told the boys not to try to cover up for  anyone./  *  /The
burglar's friend covered up for him by saying that he was at his  home
when the robbery occurred./

   [cover-up] {n.}, {slang} A  plan  or  excuse  to  escape  blame  or
punishment; lie, alibi.  *  /When  the  men  robbed  the  bank,  their
cover-up was to dress like policemen./ * /Joe's cover-up to his mother
after he had been fighting was that he fell down./

   [cow] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY COW, SACRED COW.

   [cowboy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A  person  who  drives  his  car
carelessly and at too great a speed in order to show off his  courage.
* /Joe's going to be arrested some  day  -  he  is  a  cowboy  on  the
highway./

   [cow college] {n.}, {slang} 1. An agricultural  college;  a  school
where farming is studied. * /A new, bigger  kind  of  apple  is  being
grown at the cow college./ 2. A new or rural college not thought to be
as good as older or city colleges. * /John  wanted  to  go  to  a  big
college in New York City, not to a cow college./

   [cows tail] {n.}, {dialect} A person who is behind others. *  /John
was the cow's tail at the exam./ * /Fred was always the old cow's tail
for football practice./

   [cozy up] {v.}, {slang} To try to be close or friendly; try  to  be
liked. - Usually used with "to". * /John is cozying up to Henry so  he
can join the club./

   [crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK or TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

   [crack a book] {v. phr.}, {slang} To open a book in order to study.
- Usually used with a negative. * /John did not crack a book until the
night before the exam./ * /Many students think they can  pass  without
cracking a book./

   [crack a bottle] {v. phr.}  To  open  a  new  bottle  of  alcoholic
beverage. * /On birthdays it is customary to crack a bottle and  offer
one's best wishes./

   [crack a joke] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a joke; tell a joke. *
/The men sat around the stove, smoking and cracking jokes./

   [crack a smile] {v. phr.}, {informal} To let a smile show on  one's
face; permit a smile to appear. * /Bob  told  the  whole  silly  story
without even cracking a smile./ * /Scrooge was a gloomy man, who never
cracked a smile./ * /When we gave the shy  little  boy  an  ice  cream
cone, he finally cracked a smile./

   [crack down]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  enforce  laws  or  rules
strictly; require full obedience to a rule. * /After a speeding driver
hit a child, the police cracked down./  -  Often  used  with  "on".  *
/Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors./  *
/The coach cracked down on the players when he found they had not been
obeying the training rules./

   [crack of dawn] {n. phr.} The time in the morning  when  the  sun's
rays first appear. * /The rooster crows at the crack of dawn and wakes
up everybody on the farm./

   [cracked  up]  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}  Favorably  described   or
presented; praised. - Usually used in the expression  "not  what  it's
cracked up to be". *  /The  independent  writer's  life  isn't  always
everything it's cracked up to be./ * /In bad weather, a sailing cruise
isn't what it's cracked up to be./

   [cracking] See: GET CRACKING - at GET GOING(2).

   [crackpot] {n.}, {attrib. adj.}, {informal} 1.  {n.}  An  eccentric
person with ideas that don't make sense to most other people. * /Don't
believe what Uncle Noam tells you - he is  a  crackpot./  2.  {attrib.
adj.} * /That's a crackpot idea./

   [crack  the  whip]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  get  obedience  or
cooperation by threats of punishment. * /If the children won't  behave
when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./

   [crack up] {v.} 1. To  wreck  or  be  wrecked;  smash  up.  *  /The
airplane cracked up in  landing./  *  /He  cracked  up  his  car./  2.
{informal} To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or
worry. * /He had kept too busy for years, and when failures  came,  he
cracked up./ * /It seemed to be family problems that  made  him  crack
up./ 3. Burst into laughter or cause to burst into laughter.  *  /That
comedian cracks me up./

   [cradle] See: ROB THE CRADLE.

   [cradle robber], [cradle robbing] See: ROB THE CRADLE.

   [cramp] See: WRITER'S CRAMP.

   [cramp one's style] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  limit  your  natural
freedom; prevent your usual behavior; limit your actions  or  talk.  *
/He cramped his style a good deal when he lost  his  money./  *  /Army
rules cramped George's style./

   [crash dive] {n.} A sudden dive made by a submarine  to  escape  an
enemy; a dive made to get deep under water as quickly as  possible.  *
/The captain of the submarine told his crew to  prepare  for  a  crash
dive when he saw the enemy battleship approaching./

   [crash-dive] {v.} 1. To dive deep  underwater  in  a  submarine  as
quickly as possible. * /We shall crash-dive if  we  see  enemy  planes
coming./ 2. To dive into (something)  in  an  airplane.  *  /When  the
plane's motor was hit by the guns of the enemy battleship,  the  pilot
aimed the plane at the ship and crash-dived into it./

   [crash the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} To enter without  a  ticket  or
without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. * /Bob got
into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate./  *  /Three  boys
tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in./

   [craw] See: STICK IN ONE'S CRAW.

   [crawl up] See: RIDE UP.

   [crazy]  or  [mad]  or  [nuts  about]   {adj.   phr.},   {informal}
Excessively fond of; infatuated with. * /Jack is  totally  nuts  about
Liz, but she is not too crazy about him./

   [cream] See: VANISHING CREAM.

   [cream of the crop] {n. phr.} The best of a group; the top  choice.
* /May Queen candidates were lovely, but  Betsy  and  Nancy  were  the
cream of the crop./ * /The students had drawn many good  pictures  and
the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up  when  the  parents
came to visit./

   [creature of habit] {n. phr.} A person who does things out of habit
rather than by thought. * /Our boss is a creature of habit, so let  us
not confuse him with too many new ideas./

   [credibility gap] {n.}, {hackneyed phrase}, {politics} An  apparent
discrepancy between what the government says and what one can  observe
for oneself. * /There was a tremendous  credibility  gap  in  the  USA
during the Watergate years./

   [credit] See: DO CREDIT.

   [creek] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.

   [creep] See: THE CREEPS.

   [creep up on] {v.} 1. To crawl towards; move along near the ground;
steal cautiously towards so as not to be seen or noticed. * /The mouse
did not see the snake creeping up on it over the  rocks./  *  /Indians
were creeping up on the house through the bushes./ 2. or [sneak up on]
To come little by little; arrive slowly and unnoticed. * /The  woman's
hair was turning gray as age crept up on her./ * /Winter  is  creeping
up on us little by little./ * /The boys  didn't  notice  the  darkness
creeping up on them while they were playing./ Compare: COME OVER.

   [crew] See: SECTION GANG or SECTION CREW.

   [crew cut] or [crew haircut] {n.} A boy's or man's hair style,  cut
so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. * /Many boys  like
to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler./

   [crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.

   [crocodile tears] {n.} Pretended grief; a show of  sorrow  that  is
not really felt. * /When his rich uncle died, leaving him  his  money,
John shed crocodile tears./ (From the old legend that crocodiles  make
weeping sounds to attract victims and then  shed  tears  while  eating
them.)

   [crook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK.

   [crop] See: CASH CROP, CREAM OF THE CROP, STICK IN  ONE'S  CRAW  or
STICK IN ONE'S CROP.

   [crop out] {v.} To appear at the  surface;  come  through  or  show
through from hiding or concealment. * /Rocks often  crop  out  in  New
England pasture land./ * /A hidden hate cropped out in his words./

   [cropper] See: COME A CROPPER.

   [crop  up]  {v.}  To  come  without  warning;  appear   or   happen
unexpectedly. * /Problems cropped up almost every day  when  Mr.  Reed
was building his TV station./ * /Serious trouble cropped up just  when
Martin thought the problem  of  his  college  education  was  solved./
Compare: TURN UP.

   [cross] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, CARRY ONE'S  CROSS,  DOUBLE  CROSS,
KEEP ONE'S FINGERS CROSSED at CROSS ONE'S FINGERS(1b).

   [cross a bridge before one comes to it] {v. phr.}  To  worry  about
future events or  trouble  before  they  happen.  -  Usually  used  in
negative sentences, often as a proverb. * /"Can I be a soldier when  I
grow up, Mother?" asked Johnny. "Don't cross  that  bridge  until  you
come to it," said his mother./ Compare: BORROW TROUBLE.

   [cross-check(1)]  {v.}  To  test  the  truth  of  by  examining  in
different ways or by seeing different reports about.  *  /If  you  see
something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it  in
other books./

   [cross-check(2)] {n.} The testing of the truth of by  checking  one
report against another or others. * /A cross-check  with  other  books
will show us if this story is true./

   [cross fire] {n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two  or  more
places at once so that the lines of fire cross. * /The soldiers on the
bridge were caught in the crossfire coming  from  both  sides  of  the
bridge./ 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two  or  more
people; also, a dispute; a quarrel. *  /There  was  a  cross  fire  of
excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who
had been lost in the  woods./  *  /The  principal  and  the  graduates
quarreled about the football team, and the coach  was  caught  in  the
cross fire and lost his job./

   [cross one's fingers] {v. phr.} 1a. To cross  two  fingers  of  one
hand for good luck. * /Mary crossed her fingers  during  the  race  so
that Tom would win./ 11b. or [keep one's fingers  crossed]  {informal}
To wish for good luck. * /Keep your fingers crossed while I  take  the
test./ 2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an  untruth  that
you are telling. * /Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother
the lie./

   [cross one's heart] or [cross one's heart  and  hope  to  die]  {v.
phr.}, {informal} To say that what  you  have  said  is  surely  true;
promise seriously that it is true. - Often used  by  children  in  the
longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the  heart  as
they say it, for emphasis. * /"Cross my  heart,  I  didn't  hide  your
bicycle," Harry told Tom./ * /"I didn't  tell  the  teacher  what  you
said. Cross my heart and hope to die," Mary said to Lucy./

   [cross one's mind] or [pass through one's mind] {v. phr.} To  be  a
sudden or passing thought; be thought of  by  someone;  come  to  your
mind; occur to you. * /At first Bob was puzzled by Virginia's  waving,
but then it  crossed  his  mind  that  she  was  trying  to  tell  him
something./ * /When Jane did not come home by midnight, many  terrible
fears passed through Mother's mind./

   [cross one's path] {v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to  come
upon someone more by accident than by plan. * /Surprisingly, I crossed
John's path in Central Park one afternoon./

   [cross street] {n.} A street that crosses a main street and runs on
both sides of it. * /Elm Street is a cross street on Main  Street  and
there is a traffic light there./ Compare: THROUGH STREET.

   [cross swords] {v. phr.}, {literary}  To  have  an  argument  with;
fight. - Often used with "with". *  /Don't  argue  with  the  teacher;
you're not old enough to cross swords with her./

   [cross the wire] {v. phr.} To finish a race. * /The Russian crossed
the wire just behind the American./

   [cross up] {v.}, {informal}  1.  To  block  or  upset;  throw  into
confusion or disorder. * /We were going to catch him at the gate,  but
he crossed us up by going in the back way./ * /Father crossed  up  the
surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time./ 2.
To deceive or be false to. * /George crossed up his partner by selling
a lot of things secretly./

   [crow] See: EAT CROW.

   [crow before one is out of the woods] {v. phr.} To be glad or  brag
before you are safe from danger or trouble. - Usually used in negative
sentences, often as a proverb, "Don't crow before you are out  of  the
woods." * /John thought his team would win because the game was almost
over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of  the  woods./
Often used in a short form, "out of the woods". *  /Mary  nearly  died
during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet./

   [crown jewels] {n. pl.} The crown, staff, and jewels used  for  the
crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels  representing  royal
power and authority. * /The crown jewels are handed down from one king
to the next when the new king is crowned./

   [crow to pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.

   [crust] See: UPPER CRUST.

   [crux of the matter] {n. phr.} The basic issue at  hand;  the  core
essence that one must face. * /The crux of the matter is  that  he  is
incompetent and we will have to fire him./

   [cry] See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.

   [cry] or [scream bloody murder] {v. phr.} To  bitterly  and  loudly
complain against an indignity. * /Pete cried  bloody  murder  when  he
found out that he didn't get the promotion he was hoping for./

   [cry before one is hurt] or [holler before one is hurt] {v.  phr.},
{informal} To complain when there is no reason for  it;  become  upset
because you are worried or afraid. - Used  in  negative  sentences.  *
/When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber  cut
his hair and his father told him not to cry before  he  was  hurt./  -
Often used as a proverb. * /John was worried  because  he  would  soon
have a new boss. His mother said, "Don't  cry  before  you're  hurt!"/
Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.

   [cry buckets] {v. phr.} To shed an excessive  amount  of  tears.  *
/Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./

   [cry for] or [cry out for]  {v.},  {informal}  To  need  badly;  be
lacking in. * /It has not rained for  two  weeks  and  the  garden  is
crying for it./ * /The school is crying out for good teachers./

   [cry out] {v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. *  /The  woman
in the water  cried  out  "Help!"/  2.  To  complain  loudly;  protest
strongly. - Used with "against". * /Many people are crying out against
the new rule./

   [cry out for] See: CRY FOR.

   [cry over spilled  milk]  or  [cry  over  spilt  milk]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To  cry  or  complain  about  something  that  has  already
happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped.  *  /After
the baby tore up Sue's picture book, Sue's mother told her  there  was
no use crying over spilled milk./ * /You have lost the game but  don't
cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE'S BED AND  LIE  IN  IT,  WATER
OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

   [crystal ball] {n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal  (glass)
that is used by fortune-tellers. * /The  fortune-teller  at  the  fair
looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip
next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. * /My crystal  ball
tells me you'll be making the honor roll./

   [crystal gazing] {n.} The attempt to predict future events. *  /The
magician's specialty was crystal gazing./

   [cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.

   [cry wolf] {v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a  danger  that
you know is not there. * /The general said that the candidate was just
crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight  for  the
country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely  claimed
a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)

   [cub scout] {n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior  branch  of
the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. * /Jimmie  is  only  seven,
too young to be a Cub Scout./

   [cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.

   [cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.

   [cudgel one's brains] See: BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT.

   [cue in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which
is already known. * /Let's not forget to cue in Joe on what  has  been
happening./

   [cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.

   [culture vulture] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who is an avid
cultural  sightseer,  one  who  seeks   out   cultural   opportunities
ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a
town visited, and brags about  it.  *  /Aunt  Mathilda  is  a  regular
culture vulture; she spends  every  summer  in  a  different  European
capital going to museums and operas./

   [cup] See: IN ONE'S CUPS.

   [cup of tea] also [dish of tea] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1.  Something
you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or  favorite  occupation.
Used with a possessive. * /You could always get him to go for a  walk:
hiking was just his  cup  of  tea./  Compare:  DOWN  ONE'S  ALLEY.  2.
Something to think about; thing; matter.  *  /That's  another  cup  of
tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.

   [curb service] {n.} Waiting on customers while they  sit  in  their
cars. * /Families with small children often look for hamburger  stands
that offer curb service./

   [curiosity killed the cat] {informal} Getting too nosy may  lead  a
person into trouble. - A  proverb.  *  /"Curiosity  killed  the  cat,"
Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets  just
before Christmas./

   [curl] See: PIN CURL.

   [curl one's hair] {v. phr.}, {slang} To shock;  frighten;  horrify;
amaze. * /Wait till you read what it says about  you  -  this'll  curl
your hair./ * /The movie about monsters from another planet curled his
hair./

   [curl up] {v.} 1a. To become curly or wavy. * /Bacon curls up  when
it is cooked./ 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. * /Tim  curled  up  in
bed and was asleep in five minutes./ 2. See: FOLD UP.

   [current] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.

   [curry favor] {v.} To flatter or serve someone to get his  help  or
friendship. * /Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by  doing
little services that she didn't really want./ * /Jim  tried  to  curry
favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest  girl  in
the class./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

   [curve] See: THROW A CURVE.

   [cut] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

   [cut a class] {v. phr.} To be truant; to deliberately miss a  class
and do something else instead. * /"If you keep cutting classes the way
you do, you will almost surely flunk this  course,"  John's  professor
said to him./

   [cut a figure] {v. phr.} To make a favorable impression; carry  off
an activity with dignity and grace. *  /With  his  handsome  face  and
sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies./

   [cut across] {v.} 1. To  cross  or  go  through  instead  of  going
around; go a short way. * /John didn't want to walk to the corner  and
turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street./ 2. To  go  beyond
to include; stretch over to act on; affect. * /The  love  for  reading
cuts across all classes of people, rich and poor./

   [cut-and-dried]  {adj.  phr.}  Decided  or   expected   beforehand;
following the same old line; doing the usual thing. * /The decision of
the judge was cut-and-dried./ * /The ways of  the  king's  court  were
cut-and-dried./ * /People at the convention heard  many  cut-and-dried
speeches./

   [cut and run] {v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation.
* /When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors  wanted  to
cut and run./

   [cut a swathe] {v. phr.} 1a. To mow a path through a field. *  /The
farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his  scythe./  1b.  To
cut down as if by mowing. * /The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines
of  enemy  soldiers./  2.  {informal}  To  attract  notice;  make   an
impression; seem important. * /The movie star cut a wide  swathe  when
he walked down the street./ * /John tries to show off and  cut  a  big
swathe with the girls./ Compare: GO OVER(6), MAKE A HIT.

   [cut back] {v.} 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full
speed. * /The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and
ran for a touchdown./ 2. To use fewer or use less. *  /After  the  big
job was finished, the builder cut back the number of men  working  for
him./ * /The school employed  forty  teachers  until  a  lower  budget
forced it to cut back./

   [cut back]  {v.  phr.}  To  diminish;  lessen;  decrease  (said  of
budgets). * /The state had to cut back on the university budget./

   [cutback] {n.} An  act  of  decreasing  monetary  sources.  *  /The
cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed./

   [cut both ways] or [cut two ways] {v. phr.} To  have  two  effects;
cause injury to both sides. * /People who gossip  find  it  cuts  both
ways./

   [cut corners] {v. phr.} 1. To take a short  way;  not  go  to  each
corner. * /He cut corners going home in a hurry./ 2. To save  cost  or
effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. * /John's father asked him
to cut corners all he could in college./ 3. To do  less  than  a  very
good job; do only what you must do on a job. * /He had cut corners  in
building his house, and it didn't stand up well./

   [cut down] {v.} To lessen; reduce; limit. * /Tom had  to  cut  down
expenses./ * /The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking./

   [cut down to size] {v. phr.}, {informal} To prove that  someone  is
not as good as he thinks. * /The big boy told John he could beat  him,
but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size./ Syn.: PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE.

   [cut ice] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  make  a  difference;  make  an
impression; be accepted as important.  -  Usually  used  in  negative,
interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /When  Frank  had  found  a
movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with  him./  *  /Jones  is
democratic; a man's money or importance never cuts any ice with  him./
* /Does comfort cut any ice with you?/ * /I don't know if beauty in  a
woman cuts any ice with him./

   [cut in] {v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a
line of cars, people, etc.; push in. * /After  passing  several  cars,
Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident./ - Often used with
"on". * /A car passed Jean and cut in on her too  close;  she  had  to
brake quickly or she would have hit it./ *  /The  teacher  beside  the
lunch line saw Pete cut in, and she sent him back to wait  his  turn./
2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. * /While Mary  and
Jim were talking on the porch, Mary's little brother cut  in  on  them
and began to tell about his fishing trip./ * /While we  were  watching
the late show, an announcer cut in to  tell  who  won  the  election./
Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on the  shoulder  and
claim the partner. * /Mary was a good dancer and a  boy  could  seldom
finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./  -  Often  used  with
"on". * /At the leap year dance, Jane cut  in  on  Sally  because  she
wanted to dance with Sally's handsome  date./  4.  To  connect  to  an
electrical circuit or to a machine. * /Harry threw the switch and  cut
in the motor./ * /The airplane pilot cut in  a  spare  gas  tank./  5.
{informal} To take in; include. *  /When  John's  friends  got  a  big
contract, they cut John in./

   [cut into] {v.} 1. To make less; reduce.  *  /The  union  made  the
company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits./  *  /The  other
houses got old and shabby, and that cut into the value of his  house./
* /At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in  and  cut  into
his lead./ 2. To get into by cutting in. * /She heard the other  women
gossiping and cut into the talk./ * /While Bill  was  passing  another
car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and  Bill  cut  back
into line quickly./

   [cut loose] {v.} 1. To free  from  ties  or  connections,  cut  the
fastenings of. * /The thief  hastily  cut  the  boat  loose  from  its
anchor./ Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2.  {informal}  To  break  away  from
control; get away and be free. * /The boy left home and cut loose from
his parents' control./ 3. {informal} To behave  freely  or  wildly.  *
/The men had come to the convention to have  a  good  time,  and  they
really cut loose./ * /When he got the news of his job promotion,  Jack
cut loose with a loud "Yippee!"/ Compare: LET GO(6).

   [cut no ice] {v. phr.} To have no effect;  achieve  no  result;  be
insignificant. * /The fact that the accused is a millionaire will  cut
no ice with this particular judge./

   [cut off] {v.} 1. To separate  or  block.  *  /The  flood  cut  the
townspeople off from the rest of the world./ * /The woods cut off  the
view./ * /His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. To
interrupt or stop. * /The television show was cut  off  by  a  special
news report./ * /We were told to pay the bill or the  water  would  be
cut off./ 3. To end the life of; cause the death of.  *  /Disease  cut
Smith off in the best part of life./ 4. To give nothing to  at  death;
leave out of a will. * /Jane married a man her father hated,  and  her
father cut her off./ * /Frank's uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5.
To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. * /The ship cut off its
engines as it neared the dock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.

   [cut off one's nose to spite one's face] {v. phr.} To  suffer  from
an action intended originally to harm another person.  *  /In  walking
out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John  really  cut  off  his
nose to  spite  his  face,  since  no  business  wanted  to  hire  him
afterwards./

   [cut offs] {n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts and
usually left unhemmed so as to look old  and  worn,  e.g.,  considered
cool and elegant. * /Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./

   [cut one's eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

   [cut one's losses] {v. phr.}  To  stop  spending  time,  money,  or
energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes  well.  *
/"Just cut your losses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get  on  with
the rest of your life."/

   [cut one's teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

   [cut one's throat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  spoil  one's  chances;
ruin a person. * /He cut his own throat by his carelessness./  *  /The
younger men in the company were cutting each other's throats in  their
eagerness to win success./ * /John cut Freddie's throat with  Mary  by
telling her lies./

   [cut out(1)] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop; quit. * /All  right,  now  -
let's cut out the talking./ * /He was teasing the dog and Joe told him
to cut it out./ Compare: BREAK UP(3). 2. To displace in favor. * /Tony
cut Ed out with Mary./ * /John cut out  two  or  three  other  men  in
trying for a better job./

   [cut out(2)] {adj.} 1. Made ready;  given  for  action;  facing.  *
/Mary agreed to stay with her teacher's children all day; she did  not
know what was cut out for her./ - Often used in the phrase "have one's
work cut out for one." * /If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he
has his work cut out fur him./ 2. Suited to;  fitted  for.  *  /Warren
seemed to be cut out for the law. It was clear very  early  that  Fred
was cut out to he a doctor./

   [cut rate(1)] {n.} A lower price; a price less than usual. *  /Toys
are on sale at the store for cut rates./

   [cut-rate(2)] {adj.} Sold for a price  lower  than  usual;  selling
cheap things. * /If you buy cut-rate things, be  sure  they  are  good
quality first./ * /John's brother bought a  cut-rate  bicycle  at  the
second-hand store./ * /There is a cut-rate drug-store on the corner./

   [cut short] {v.} To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too
soon. * /Rain cut short the ball game./ * /An auto accident cut  short
the man's life./ * /When Dick began to tell about his summer  vacation
the teacher cut him short, saying "Tell us about that another time."/

   [cut teeth] {v. phr.} 1. To have teeth grow out through the gums. *
/The baby was cross because he was cutting  teeth./  2.  or  [cut  eye
teeth]  {informal}  To  learn  something  very  early  in  life;  gain
experience; start by learning or doing.  -  Used  with  a  possessive,
usually used with "on". * /The professional ball player cut his  teeth
on a baseball bat in the sandlots./ * /Mr. Jones's company is building
the new Post Office in town but Mr. Jones  cut  his  eye  teeth  as  a
carpenter./

   [cut the ground from under] {v. phr.} {informal} To make  (someone)
fail; upset the plans  of;  spoil  the  argument  for  (a  person)  in
advance. * /Paul wanted to he captain but we cut the ground from under
him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team./ *  /Several
workers applied for the retiring foreman's job, but the owner cut  the
ground from under them by hiring a foreman from another company./

   [cut the mustard] {v. phr.}, {slang} To  do  well  enough  in  what
needs to be done; to succeed. * /His older brothers and sisters helped
Max through high school, but he couldn't cut the mustard in college./

   [cut-throat] {adj.}  Severe;  intense;  unrelenting.  *  /There  is
cut-throat competition among the various software companies today./

   [cut to pieces] {v. phr.}  1.  To  divide  into  small  parts  with
something sharp;  cut  badly  or  completely.  *  /Baby  has  cut  the
newspaper  to  pieces  with  scissors./  2.  To  destroy   or   defeat
completely. * /The soldiers were cut to  pieces  by  the  Indians./  *
/When Dick showed his book report to his big  sister  for  correction,
she cut it to pieces./

   [cut to the bone] {v.  phr.}  To  make  (something)  the  least  or
smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything  extra
or unnecessary from. * /Father cut Jane's allowance to  the  bone  for
disobeying him./ * /When father lost his job, our living expenses  had
to be cut to the bone./

   [cut to the quick] {v. phr.} To hurt someone's feelings  deeply.  *
/The children 's teasing cut Mary to the quick./

   [cut two ways] See: CUT BOTH WAYS.

   [cut up] {v.} 1. {informal} To  hurt  the  feelings  of;  wound.  -
Usually used in the passive. * /John was badly cut up when Susie  gave
him back his ring./ 2. {slang} To act funny or rough;  clown,  *  /Joe
would always cut up if there were any girls watching./ * /At the party
Jim and Ron were cutting up and broke a chair./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.





   [dab] See: SMACK-DAB or SMACK-TO DAB.

   [dagger] See: CLOAK-AND-DAGGER, LOOK DAGGERS.

   [daily dozen] {n.},  {informal}  Gymnastic  exercises;  especially,
several different exercises done daily. * /The boys  did  their  daily
dozen early each morning./

   [daisy] See: PUSH UP DAISIES.

   [dam] See: WATER OVER THE DAM.

   [damn] See: GIVE A HANG, NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.

   [damned if one does, damned if one doesn't] {adj. phr.}  No  matter
what one does, someone is likely to criticize one. * /No  matter  what
decisions I make, there are always some people who will  approve  them
and those who won't. It is a classical case of "damned if I do, damned
if I don't."/

   [dance] See: SONG AND DANCE.

   [dance to another tune] {v.  phr.}  To  talk  or  act  differently,
usually better because things have changed; be more polite or obedient
because you are forced to do it. * /Johnny refused to do his  homework
but punishment made him dance to another tune./ Compare: CHANGE  ONE'S
TUNE, SING A DIFFERENT TUNE.

   [dander] See: GET ONE'S BACK UP, GET ONE'S DANDER UP or  GET  ONE'S
IRISH UP.

   [dandy] See: JIM-DANDY.

   [dangerous] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING.

   [dare say] {v. phr.} To think probable; suppose; believe. - Used in
first person. * /Mary is unhappy now  but  I  dare  say  she  will  be
laughing about this tomorrow./ * /There is no more ice  cream  on  the
table, but I dare say we can find some in the kitchen./

   [dare one to do something] {v. phr.} To  challenge  someone  to  do
something. * /"I dare you to jump off that rock into  the  sea,"  Fred
said to Jack./

   [dark] See: IN THE DARK, SHOT IN THE DARK, WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

   [darken one's door] or  [darken  the  door]  To  appear,  as  in  a
doorway; enter someone's home or establishment.  -  Used  in  negative
imperative sentences especially with "never" and "again".  *  /If  you
leave this house now, never darken my door  again./  *  /After  a  son
shamed his father by having to go to prison, the father told him never
to darken his door again./

   [dark horse] {n.}, {informal} A political candidate little known to
the general voting public; a candidate who was not expected to run.  *
/Every once in a while a dark horse candidate gets elected President./

   [dark of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} A time when  the  moon  is
not shining or cannot be seen. * /A was the dark of the moon when  the
scouts reached camp and they had to  use  flashlights  to  find  their
tents./ Contrast: FULL OF THE MOON.

   [dash cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON.

   [dash light] {n.} A light on the front inside of a car or  vehicle.
* /Henry stopped the car and turned on the dash  lights  to  read  the
road map./

   [dash off] {v.} To make, do,  or  finish  quickly;  especially,  to
draw, paint, or write hurriedly. * /Ann took out her drawing  pad  and
pencil and dashed off a sketch of the Indians./ * /John can  dash  off
several letters while Mary writes only one./ * /Charles had  forgotten
to write his English report and dashed it off just before class./

   [date] See: DOUBLE-DATE, TO DATE.

   [date back] {v. phr.} To go back to a given period in the  past.  *
/My ancestors date back to the sixteenth century./

   [dawn on] {v.} To become clear to. * /It dawned  on  Fred  that  he
would fail the course if he did not study harder./

   [day] See: ALL IN A DAY'S WORK, CALL IT A DAY, CARRY THE DAY, EVERY
DOG HAS HIS DAY, FATHER'S DAY, FOREVER AND A DAY, GOOD DAY, MAKE A DAY
OF IT, NAME DAY, NIGHT AND DAY, ONE OF THESE DAYS, or  SOME  OF  THESE
DAYS, PASS THE TIME OF DAY, RAINY DAY, SAVE THE DAY, SEE BETTER  DAYS,
THAT'LL BE THE DAY.

   [day and night] or [night and  day]  {adv.}  1.  For  days  without
stopping;  continually.  Syn.:  AROUND  THE  CLOCK.  *  /Some  filling
stations on great highways are open day and night 365 days a year./  *
/The three men took turns driving the truck, and they drove night  and
day for three days./ 2. Every day  and  every  evening.  *  /The  girl
knitted day and night  to  finish  the  sweater  before  her  mother's
birthday./

   [day by day] {adv.} Gradually. * /The patient  got  better  day  by
day./

   [day in and day out] or [day in, day out]  {adv.  phr.}  Regularly;
consistently; all the time; always. * /He plays good tennis day in and
day out./ - Also used with several other time words in place  of  day:
week, month, year. * /Every summer, year in, year out, the  ice  cream
man comes back to the park./

   [day in court] {n.  phr.}  A  chance  to  be  heard;  an  impartial
hearing; a chance to explain what one has done. *  /The  letters  from
the faculty members to the  dean  gave  Professor  Smith  his  day  in
court./

   [daylight] See: SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS or SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS  OUT
OF, SEE DAYLIGHT.

   [daylight saving time] also [daylight saving] or [daylight time] or
[fast time] {n.} A way of keeping time in summer that is  one  or  two
hours ahead of standard time. - Abbreviation DST. *  /Many  places  in
the United States keep their clocks on daylight  saving  time  in  the
summer; in this way people get up earlier and have more free  time  in
the afternoon and evening while it is still daylight./ * /Father  said
that next week it will get  dark  later  because  we  will  change  to
daylight saving lime./ * /We go off  daylight  saving  in  the  fall./
Compare: CENTRAL TIME. Contrast: STANDARD TIME.

   [daylight robbery] See: HIGHWAY ROBBERY.

   [daydream] {v.} To spend time in reverie;  be  absentminded  during
the day. * /John spends so much time daydreaming that  he  never  gets
anything done./

   [day of grace] {n. phr.} An extension period after the due date  of
some contract or bond. * /The premium is due  on  the  first  of  each
month, but they allow ten days of grace./

   [day of reckoning] {n. phr.} 1. A time when one  will  be  made  to
account for misdeeds. * /When the criminal was caught and  brought  to
trial his victims said, "finally, the day of reckoning has come."/  2.
A time when one's will and  Judgment  are  severely  tested.  *  /"You
always wanted to run the  department,"  the  dean  said  to  Professor
Smith. "Now here is your chance; this is your day of reckoning."/

   [day off] {n.} A day  on  which  one  doesn't  have  to  work,  not
necessarily the weekend. * /Monday is his day off in  the  restaurant,
because he prefers to work on Saturdays and Sundays./

   [day-to-day] {adj.} Daily; common; everyday. * /For  best  results,
students' homework should be checked on a day-to-day basis./

   [days are numbered] (Someone or something) does not  have  long  to
live or stay. * /The days of the old school building are numbered./  *
/When a man becomes ninety years old, his days are numbered./

   [dazzle] See: RAZZLE-DAZZLE.

   [dead] See: CATCH DEAD, DROP DEAD, STONEDEAD.

   [dead ahead] {adv.}, {informal} Exactly in front;  before.  *  /The
school is dead ahead about two miles from here./ * /Father was driving
in a fog, and suddenly he saw another car dead ahead of him./

   [deadbeat] {n.}, {slang} A person who never pays his debts and  who
has a way of getting things free  that  others  have  to  pay  for.  *
/You'll never collect from Joe - he's a deadbeat./

   [dead and buried] {adj. phr.} Gone forever. * /Slavery is dead  and
buried in twentieth-century America./

   [dead as a  doornail]  {adj.  phr.}  Completely  dead  without  the
slightest hope  of  resuscitation.  *  /This  battery  is  dead  as  a
doornail; no wonder your car won't start./

   [dead broke] See: STONE-BROKE.

   [dead center] {n.} The exact middle. * /The treasure was buried  in
the dead center of the island./ Often used  like  an  adverb.  *  /The
arrow hit the circle dead center./

   [dead duck] {n.}, {slang} A person or thing in a hopeless situation
or condition; one to whom something bad is sure to happen. * /When the
pianist broke her arm, she was a dead duck./

   [deadhead] {n.}, {slang} An excessively dull or  boring  person.  *
/You'll never get John to tell a joke - he's a deadhead./

   [dead letter] {n. phr.} An undeliverable letter that ends up  in  a
special office holding such letters. * /There is a dead letter  office
in most major cities./

   [deadline] {n.} A final date by which a project,  such  as  a  term
paper, is due. * /The  deadline  for  the  papers  on  Shakespeare  is
November 10./

   [dead loss] {n. phr.} A  total  waste;  a  complete  loss.  *  /Our
investment in Jack's company turned out to be a dead loss./

   [dead on one's feet] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Very tired  but  still
standing or walking; too tired to do more; exhausted. *  /Jimmy  never
leaves a job unfinished. He continues to work even when he's  dead  on
his feet./ * /After the soldiers march all night,  they  are  dead  on
their feet./ Compare: DEAD TIRED, WEAR OUT(2).

   [deadpan]  {adj.},  {adv.},  {slang}  With  an  expressionless   or
emotionless face; without  betraying  any  hint  of  emotion.  *  /She
received the news of her husband's death deadpan./

   [dead pedal] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio  jargon}  A  slow
moving vehicle. * /Better pass that eighteen  wheeler,  Jack;  it's  a
dead pedal./

   [dead ringer] {n. phr.} A person  who  strongly  resembles  someone
else. * /Charlie is a dead ringer for his uncle./

   [dead set against]  {adj.  phr.}  Totally  opposed  to  someone  or
something. * /Jack is dead set against the  idea  of  marriage,  which
upsets Mary./

   [dead tired] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very  tired;  exhausted;  worn
out. * /She was dead tired at the end of  the  day's  work./  Compare:
DEAD ON ONE'S FEET.

   [dead to rights]  {adv.  phr.},  {informal}  Without  a  chance  of
escaping blame; proven wrong.  *  /Mother  had  Bob  dead  to  rights,
because she caught him with his hand in the cookie jar./ * /The police
caught the man dead to rights./

   [dead to the world] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Fast asleep. *  /Tim
went to bed very late and was still dead to the world  at  10  o'clock
this morning./ 2. As if dead; unconscious. * /Tom was hit on the  head
by a baseball and was dead to the world for two hours./

   [dead-end] {n.} A street closed at one end; a situation that  leads
nowhere. * /Jim drove into a dead-end street and had to back  out./  *
/Mary was in a dead-end job./

   [dead-end] {v.} To not continue normally but end in a closure (said
of streets). * /Our street dead-ends on the lake./

   [deaf] See: TURN A DEAF EAR TO.

   [deal] See: GOOD DEAL or GREAT DEAL, NEW DEAL,  NO  DEAL,  THINK  A
GREAT DEAL OF, WHEEL AND DEAL.

   [deal in] {v. phr.} To sell; do business in a certain commodity.  *
/Herb's firm deals in sporting goods./

   [deal with] {v.  phr.}  1.  To  conduct  negotiations  or  business
dealings with. * /John refuses to deal with  the  firm  of  Brown  and
Miller./ 2. To handle a problem. * /Ted is a very  strong  person  and
dealt with the fact that his wife had left him much better than anyone
else I know./

   [dealer] See: WHEELER-DEALER at WHEEL AND DEAL.

   [dear] See: FOR DEAR LIFE.

   [Dear John letter] {n. phr.} A note or a letter informing one  that
a romantic relationship or a marriage is over. * /Jane  left  a  "Dear
John letter" on the table and went home to live with her parents./

   [dear me] {interj.} Used to show  surprise,  fear,  or  some  other
strong feeling. * /Dear me! My purse is lost, what shall I do now?/

   [death] See: AT DEATH'S DOOR, BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH,  CATCH  ONE'S
DEATH OF or TAKE ONE'S DEATH OF, SIGN  ONE'S  OWN  DEATH  WARRANT,  TO
DEATH.

   [death knell] {n.}, {formal} 1. The ringing of a bell at a death or
funeral. * /The people mourned at the death knell of their friend./ 2.
{literary} Something which shows a  future  failure.  *  /Bill's  poor
grade on his final examination sounded the death knell of his hope  to
be a doctor./ * /His sudden deafness was the death knell of  his  hope
to become President./

   [death on] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very successful in meeting or
dealing with. * /Joe is death on fast balls. He  usually  knocks  them
out of the park./ 2. Disliking or strongly against; very strict about.
* /The new teacher is death on students who come  late  to  class./  *
/The twins' grandmother is death on smoking./

   [deck] See: HIT THE DECK, ON DECK.

   [decked out] {adj. phr.},  {informal}  Dressed  in  fancy  clothes;
specially decorated for some festive occasion. * /The school band  was
decked out in bright red uniforms with brass buttons./ * /Main  Street
was decked with flags for the Fourth of July./

   [declare] See: I DECLARE.

   [deep] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE  SEA,  GO  OFF  THE
DEEP END, IN DEEP, KNEE-DEEP.

   [deep-six] {v.}, {slang} To throw  away;  dispose  of.  *  /As  the
police boat came near, the drug smugglers deep-sixed their cargo./ (An
expression originally used by sailors, suggesting  throwing  something
into water six fathoms deep.)

   [deep water] {n.} Serious trouble or difficulty. * /When Dad  tried
to take Mom's place for a day, he found himself in deep water./

   [defense] See: ZONE DEFENSE.

   [defiance] See: IN DEFIANCE OF.

   [degree] See: TO A DEGREE, TO THE NTH DEGREE.

   [deliver the goods] {v. phr.} 1. To carry things and give  them  to
the person who wants them. * /Lee delivered the  goods  to  the  right
house./ 2. {slang} To succeed in doing well what is expected.  *  /The
new pitcher delivered the goods by striking out 20 men  in  his  first
game./ * /This personal computer surely delivers the goods./  Compare:
BRING HOME THE BACON.

   [delta wave] {n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} A  brain  wave  1-3
cycles per second, associated with very deep  sleep.  *  /Good  night,
honey, I'm off to produce some delta waves./ Compare: CATCH SOME  Z'S,
HIT THE HAY or HIT THE SACK.

   [demand] See: IN DEMAND.

   [Dennis the  Menace]  {n.  phr.}  After  the  notorious  television
character played by a young boy who always  creates  trouble  for  the
grownups. Any hyperactive little boy who needs calming down. *  /"Your
son, Joey, is becoming a regular 'Dennis the Menace',"  Jane  said  to
Elvira./

   [dent] See: MAKE A DENT IN.

   [deposit] See: ON DEPOSIT.

   [depth] See: BEYOND ONE'S DEPTH.

   [desk clerk] See: ROOM CLERK.

   [detective] See: HOUSE DETECTIVE.

   [devil] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, FULL  OF  THE
OLD NICK or FULL OF THE DEVIL, GIVE THE  DEVIL  HIS  DUE,  GO  TO  THE
DEVIL, PLAY THE DEVIL WITH, RAISE THE DEVIL, SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE
APPEARS.

   [devil-may-care] {adj.}  Not  caring  what  happens;  unworried.  *
/Johnny has a devil-may-care feeling about his school work./ * /Alfred
was a devil-may-care youth but became more serious as he grew older./

   [devil-may-care attitude] {n. phr.} An attitude of no  concern  for
financial or other loss. * /"Easy come,  easy  go,"  John  said  in  a
devil-may-care attitude when he lost all of his money during  a  poker
game./

   [devil of it] or [heck of it]  {n.  phr.}  1.  The  worst  or  most
unlucky thing about a trouble or  accident;  the  part  that  is  most
regrettable. * /Andy lost his notebook, and the devil of it  was  that
the notebook contained all his homework for the coming week./ *  /When
I had a flat tire, the devil of it was that my  spare  tire  was  flat
too./ 2. Fun from doing mischief. - Used  after  "for".  *  /The  boys
carried away Miss White's front gate just for the devil of it./

   [devil to pay] {n. phr.} Great  trouble.  -  Used  after  "the".  *
/There'll be the devil to pay when the teacher finds out who broke the
window./ * /When Jim wrecked his father's car, there was the devil  to
pay./

   [dewey-eyed] See: MISTY-EYED.

   [diamond in the rough] {n. phr.} A  very  smart  person  without  a
formal education who may have untutored manners. * /Jack never went to
school but he is extremely talented; he is a veritable diamond in  the
rough./

   [dibs] See: TO HAVE DIBS ON or TO PUT DIBS ON.

   [dice] See: NO DEAL or NO DICE.

   [Dick] See: TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

   [die] See: CROSS ONE'S HEART or CROSS ONE'S HEART AND HOPE TO  DIE,
DO-OR-DIE, NEVER SAY DIE.

   [die away] or [die down] {v.} To come slowly to an end; grow slowly
less or weaker. * /The wind died down./ * /The music died away./ * /He
waited until the excitement had died down./ * /His mother's anger died
away./

   [die in one's boots] or  [die  with  one's  boots  on]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To be killed or hanged rather  than  die  in  bed.  *  /The
badmen of the Old West usually died in their  boots./  *  /The  robber
said he wanted to die with his boots on./

   [die  is  cast]  {v.  phr.},  {literary}  To  make  an  irrevocable
decision. (From Julius Caesar's famous words  in  Latin,  "alea  iacta
est",  when  he  crossed  the  river  Rubicon,  which  meant  war.)  *
/Everything was ready for the invasion of Europe,  the  die  had  been
cast, and there was no turning back now./

   [die off] {v.} To die one at a time. * /The flowers are  dying  off
because there has been no rain./

   [die on the vine] or [wither on the vine]  {v.  phr.}  To  fail  or
collapse in the planning stages. * /The  program  for  rebuilding  the
city died on the vine./

   [die out] {v.} To die or disappear slowly until all gone.  *  /This
kind of bird is dying out./ * /If you pour salt  water  on  grass,  it
dies out./ * /The American colonists started colleges so that learning
would not die out./

   [difference] See: MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE.

   [different] See: SING A DIFFERENT TUNE or WHISTLE A DIFFERENT TUNE.

   [dig down] {v.}, {slang} To spend your own money. * /The school let
the club use the bus and driver free for their trip, but they  had  to
dig down to pay for gas and meals./ *  /"So  you  broke  Mrs.  Brown's
window?" Tom's father said, "You'll have to dig down and pay for it,"/

   [dig in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To dig ditches for protection  against
an enemy attack. * /The soldiers dug in and waited for  the  enemy  to
come./ 2a. To go seriously to work; work hard.  *  /John  dug  in  and
finished his homework very quickly./ 2b. To begin  eating.  *  /Mother
set the food on the table and told the children to dig in./

   [dig out] {v.} 1. To find by searching; bring out (something)  that
was put away. * /Jack  dug  his  sled  out  of  the  cellar./  *  /The
newspaper printed an old story dug out of their records./ Compare: DIG
UP. 2. {informal} To escape. - Usually used with "of". Often  used  in
the phrase "dig oneself out of a hole." * /The pitcher dug himself out
of a hole by striking the batter out./

   [dig up] {v.}, {informal} To find  or  get  (something)  with  some
effort.  *  /Sue  dug  up  some  useful  material  for   her   English
composition./ * /Jim asked each boy to dig up twenty-five cents to pay
for the hot dogs and soda./ Compare: DIG OUT.

   [dilemma] See: HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

   [dim] See: TAKE A DIM VIEW OF.

   [dime a dozen] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Easy to get and so of little
value; being an everyday thing because there are many of them; common.
* /Mr. Jones gives A's to only one or two students, but in Mr. Smith's
class, A's are a dime a dozen./

   [dime store] or [five-and-dime] or [five-and-ten] {n. phr.} A store
that sells things that cost little. * /Charles bought a pencil at  the
five-and-dime./

   [dine out] {v. phr.} To not eat at home but to go to a  restaurant.
* /"Let's dine out tonight, honey," she said to  her  husband.  "I  am
tired of cooking dinner every night."/ See: EAT OUT.

   [dint] See: BY DINT OF.

   [dip into] {v. phr.} 1. To scan or sample lightly and briefly (said
of printed materials). * /I didn't get a chance to read all of War and
Peace, but I dipped into it here and there./ 2. To take money out of a
savings account or a piggy bank. * /I am sorry to have to say  that  I
had to dip into the piggy bank; I took out $6.75./

   [dirt] See: EAT DIRT, HIT THE DIRT, PAY DIRT.

   [dirt cheap] {adj.} Extremely inexpensive. * /The apartment we  are
renting is dirt cheap compared to other apartments of similar size  in
this neighborhood./

   [dirty] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or  WASH  ONE'S  DIRTY
LINEN IN PUBLIC.

   [dirty look] {n.}, {informal} A look that shows  dislike.  *  /Miss
Parker sent Joe to the principal's  office  for  giving  her  a  dirty
look./

   [dirty old man] {n. phr.} An  older  man  who  shows  an  unhealthy
interest in young girls. * /"Stay away from  Uncle  Algernon,  Sally,"
her mother warned. "He is a dirty old man."/

   [dirty one's hands] or [soil one's hands] {v.  phr.}  To  lower  or
hurt one's character or good name; do a bad or shameful thing. *  /The
teacher warned the children not to dirty their hands  by  cheating  in
the examination./ * /I would not soil  my  hands  by  going  with  bad
people and doing bad things./

   [dirty story] {n. phr.} An improper or obscene story. * /Uncle Bill
is much too fond of telling dirty stories in order  to  embarrass  his
friends./

   [dirty trick] {n. phr.} A treacherous  action;  an  unfair  act.  *
/That was a dirty trick John played on Mary when he ran away with  her
younger sister./

   [disappear] or [evaporate] or [vanish into thin air] {v.  phr.}  To
disappear  quickly,  without  leaving  a  trace.  *  /Money  seems  to
disappear into thin air these days./ * /Jack just vanished  into  thin
air before the meeting had started./

   [discretion] See: THROW CAUTION TO THE WINDS also THROW  DISCRETION
TO THE WINDS.

   [discretion is the better part of valor] {literary} When you are in
danger or trouble, good sense helps more than  foolish  risks;  it  is
better to be careful than to be foolishly brave. - A proverb. *  /When
you are facing a man with a knife, discretion is the  better  part  of
valor./

   [dish] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER.

   [dish of tea] See: CUP OF TEA.

   [dish out] {v.} 1. To serve (food) from a large bowl  or  plate.  *
/Ann's mother asked her to dish out the beans./ 2. {informal} To  give
in large quantities. * /That teacher dished out so much homework  that
her pupils complained to their parents./ 3. {slang} To scold; treat or
criticize roughly. * /Jim likes to dish it out, but he hates  to  take
it./ Compare: HAND OUT.

   [dish the dirt] {v. phr.}, {slang}  To  gossip,  to  spread  rumors
about others. * /Stop dishing  the  dirt.  Sally,  it's  really  quite
unbecoming!/

   [disk jockey] {n.} An employee at a radio station  or  in  a  dance
club who puts on the records  that  will  be  broadcast.  *  /Jack  is
working as a disk jockey at the local FM station./

   [dispose of] {v.} 1. To throw away; give away, or sell; get rid of.
* /John's father wants to dispose of their old house  and  buy  a  new
one./ * /The burglars  had  difficulty  in  disposing  of  the  stolen
jewelry./ 2. To finish. with;  settle;  complete.  *  /The  boys  were
hungry, and quickly disposed of their dinner./ * /The  committee  soon
disposed of all its  business./  3.  To  destroy  or  defeat.  *  /The
champion disposed of the other fighter by  knocking  him  out  in  the
second round./ * /Our planes disposed of two enemy planes./

   [dispute] See: IN DISPUTE.

   [distance] See: KEEP AT A DISTANCE, KEEP ONE'S DISTANCE.

   [ditch] See: LAST DITCH,

   [dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO A NOSE DIVE.

   [do] See: HAVE DONE, HAVE DONE WITH, HAVE TO DO WITH, LET GEORGE DO
IT, LET ONE'S RIGHT HAND KNOW WHAT ONE'S LEFT  HAND  IS  DOING,  LET'S
DON'T, MAKE DO, WELL-TO-DO, WHAT'S UP or WHAT'S DOING.

   [do a double take] {v. phr.}, {informal} To look again in surprise;
suddenly understand what is seen or said. * /John did  a  double  take
when he saw Bill in girls'  clothes./  *  /When  Evvie  said  she  was
quitting school, I did a double take./

   [do a job on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To damage badly; do harm to;  make
ugly or useless. * /The baby did a job on Mary's book./  *  /Jane  cut
her hair and really did a job on herself./

   [Doakes] See: JOE DOAKES.

   [do a stretch] {v. phr.}  To  spend  time  in  jail  serving  one's
sentence. * /Jake has disappeared from view for a while; he is doing a
stretch for dope smuggling./

   [do away with] {v.} 1. To put an end to; stop. * /The teachers want
to do away with cheating in their school./ * /The city has decided  to
do away with overhead wires./ Compare: RID OF. 2. To kill;  murder.  *
/The robbers did away with their victims./

   [do by someone or something] {v.} To deal with; treat. - Used  with
a qualifying adverb between "do" and "by". * /Andy's  employer  always
does very well by him./

   [do credit] or [do credit to] also ({informal}) [do proud]  To  add
to or improve the reputation, good name, honor,  or  esteem  of;  show
(you) deserve praise. * /Your neat  appearance  does  you  credit./  *
/Mary's painting would do credit to a real artist./

   [doctor] See: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED.

   [doctor up] {v. phr.} To meddle with; adulterate. * /You don't have
to doctor up this basic salad with a lot of extras as I am  trying  to
lose weight./

   [do duty for] {v. phr.} To substitute for; act in place of. *  /The
bench often does duty for a table./

   [Doe] See: JOHN DOE.

   [doesn't add up to a can of beans] {v. phr.} To be of little or  no
value. (Said of plans, ideas, etc.) * /"That's  a  fairly  interesting
concept you got there, Mike, but the competition is bound to say  that
it doesn't add up to a can of beans."/

   [do for] {v.}, {informal} To cause the death or ruin of;  cause  to
fail. - Used usually in the passive  form  "done  for".  *  /The  poor
fellow is done for and will die before morning./  *  /Andy's  employer
always does very well by him./ * /If Jim fails that test, he  is  done
for./

   [dog] See: EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY, GO TO THE DOGS, HOT DOG,  LEAD  A
DOG'S LIFE, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, RAIN CATS AND DOGS.

   [dog days] {n. phr.} The hottest days of the year in  the  Northern
Hemisphere (July and August). (The ancient Romans associated this time
with the "Dog Star" - Sirius - which becomes visible in the heavens at
this time of year.) * /"The dog days are upon us,"  John  said.  "It's
time to go swimming in the lake."/

   [dog-eat-dog(1)] {n.} A way of living in which every  person  tries
to get what he wants for himself no matter how  badly  or  cruelly  he
must treat others to get it; readiness to do anything to get what  you
want. * /In some early frontier towns it was dog-eat-dog./

   [dog-eat-dog(2)] {adj.} Ready or willing to fight and  hurt  others
to get what you want. * /During the California gold rush,  men  had  a
dog-eat-dog life./

   [doghouse] See: IN THE DOGHOUSE.

   [dog in the manger] {n. phr.} A person  who  is  unwilling  to  let
another use what he himself has no use for. * /Although Valerie  lives
alone in that big house, she is like a dog in the manger when it comes
to letting someone sharing it with her./

   [dog one's steps] {v. phr.} To follow someone closely. *  /All  the
time he was in Havana, Castro's police were dogging his steps./

   [dog's age] or [coon's age] {n.},  {informal}  A  very  long  time.
Usually used after "for" or "in" with a negative. * /Charlie Brown!  I
haven't seen you for a coon's age./ * /Father hasn't had a  night  out
with the boys in a dog's age./ * /I waited for him for  a  dog's  age,
but he didn't come./ Syn.: MONTH OF SUNDAYS.

   [dog's life] {n. phr.} A life of misery, poverty, and  unhappiness.
* /Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, lived a dog's life inside an empty
barrel./

   [do in] {v.}, {slang} 1. To ruin; destroy. * /Mr. Smith's  business
was done in by a fire that  burned  down  his  store./  2a.  To  kill;
murder. * /The poor man was done in by  two  gangsters  who  ran  away
after the crime./ 2b. To make tired; exhaust. * /The boys were done in
after their long hike./ Syn.: WEAR OUT(2). 3.  To  cheat;  swindle.  *
/Mr. Jones was done in by two men who claimed to be  collecting  money
for orphans and widows./

   [doing] See: NOTHING DOING.

   [do justice to] {v. phr.} 1. To  do  (something)  as  well  as  you
should; do properly. * /Barbara had so many  things  to  do  that  she
could not do justice to her lessons./ * /The newspaper man did not  do
justice to  the  story./  2.  To  eat  or  drink  with  enthusiasm  or
enjoyment. * /The boy did justice to the meal./

   [dole out] {v. phr.} To measure out sparingly. * /Since  the  water
ration was running low in the desert, the camp  commandant  doled  out
small cups of water to each soldier./

   [dollar] See: BET ONE'S BOTTOM DOLLAR at BET ONE'S BOOTS, FEEL LIKE
A MILLION or FEEL LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS, LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

   [doll up] {v.}, {slang} 1. To dress in fine  or  fancy  clothes.  *
/The girls dolled up for the big school dance of  the  year./  *  /The
girls were all dolled up for the Christmas party./  2.  To  make  more
pretty or attractive. *  /The  classrooms  were  all  dolled  up  with
Christmas decorations./ Compare: DECKED OUT.

   [done for] {adj. phr.} Finished; dead. * /When the police burst  in
on the crooks, they knew they were done for./

   [done to a turn] See: TO A T or TO A TURN.

   [done with] {adj. phr.} Finished; completed. * /As soon  as  you're
done with your work, give us a call./

   [don't cross your bridges until you come  to  them]  See:  CROSS  A
BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT.

   [don't cry before you're hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT.

   [don't let's] See: LET'S DON'T.

   [don't look a gift horse in the mouth] See: LOOK A  GIFT  HORSE  IN
THE MOUTH.

   [do one a good turn] {v. phr.}  To  perform  an  act  of  kindness,
friendship,  or  help  to   another   person,   unselfishly,   without
expectation of reward. * /"I'll be happy to help you any time you need
it," John said. "After all you have done me so many good turns."/

   [do one good] {v. phr.} To benefit. * /The fresh air  will  do  you
good after having been inside the house all day./

   [do  one  good]  or  [do  one's  heart  good]  {v.  phr.}  To  give
satisfaction; please; gratify. * /It does my heart good to  see  those
children play./

   [do one's best] {v. phr.} To perform  at  one's  optimum  capacity;
spare no effort in fulfilling one's duties. * /"I've  really  done  my
best teaching you people," the tired professor said on the last day of
classes. "I hope you got something out of this course."/

   [do one's bit] or [part] {v.  phr.}  To  shoulder  one's  share  of
responsibility in a communal undertaking; shirk  one's  obligation.  *
/"Let me go home and rest, fellows, " John said. "I think I've done my
bit for this project. "/

   [do one's thing] or [do one's own thing] {v. phr.},  {informal}  1.
To do what one does well and actually enjoys doing.  *  /Two  thousand
fans paid $15 each to hear the rock  group  do  their  thing./  2.  To
follow one's bent; for example, to be engaged in  left-wing  politics,
some sort  of  meditation,  or  use  of  drugs  (particularly  in  the
sixties). * /The hippies were doing their own thing when the cops came
and busted them./ 3. To be engaged in an unusual activity that strikes
others as odd. * /Leave Jim alone, he's just doing his own thing  when
he's standing on his head./

   [do one's worst] {v. phr.} To do one's utmost by resorting to every
foul means possible. * /Hitler did his worst to drive out  the  Allied
invasion from Europe, but he failed./

   [door] See: AT DEATH'S DOOR, AT ONE'S DOOR, CLOSED-DOOR, CLOSE  ITS
DOORS, CLOSE THE DOOR or BAR THE DOOR or SHUT THE DOOR, DARKEN  ONE  S
DOOR, or DARKEN THE DOOR, FOOT IN THE DOOR, KEEP  THE  WOLF  FROM  THE
DOOR, LAY AT ONE'S DOOR, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN,
NEXT DOOR, OPEN ITS DOORS, OPEN THE DOOR, SHOW THE DOOR, SLAM THE DOOR
IN ONE'S FACE at IN ONE'S FACE.

   [do-or-die] {adj.} Strongly decided, very eager and  determined.  *
/With a real do-or-die spirit the team scored two  touchdowns  in  the
last five minutes of the game./ * /The other army was larger  but  our
men showed a do-or-die determination and won the battle./

   [doorstep] See: AT ONE'S DOOR or AT ONE'S DOOR-STEP.

   [do over] {v. phr.} 1. To renovate; redecorate. * /The  new  owners
are going to do over the entire building in the fall./ 2. To repeat. *
/Please do that math problem over until you get it right./

   [dope out] {v.}, {slang} To think of  something  that  explains.  *
/The detectives tried to dope out why the  man  was  murdered./  Syn.:
FIGURE OUT.

   [do proud] See: DO CREDIT.

   [do someone out of something] {v.}, {informal} To cause to lose  by
trickery or cheating. * /The clerk in the store did me out of $2.00 by
overcharging me./

   [dose of one's own medicine] or [taste of one's own  medicine]  {n.
phr.} Being treated in the same way you treat  others;  something  bad
done to you as you have done bad to other people. *  /Jim  was  always
playing tricks on other boys. Finally they decided to give him a  dose
of his own medicine./

   [dot] See: ON THE DOT also ON THE BUTTON.

   [do tell] {interj.}, {informal} An  inelegant  expression  used  to
show that you are a little surprised by what you  hear.  *  /"You  say
George is going to get married after all these years? Do  tell!"  said
Mrs. Green./ Syn.: YOU DON'T SAY.

   [do the business] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do  what  is  needed  or
wanted; get the job done; take proper action. * /The boys had  trouble
in rolling the stone, but four of them did the business./ * /When  the
little boy cut his finger a bandage did the business./

   [do the honors] {v.  phr.}  To  act  as  host  or  hostess  (as  in
introducing guests, carving, or paying other attentions to guests.)  *
/The president of the club will do the honors at the banquet./

   [do the trick] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  bring  success  in  doing
something; have a desired result. * /Jim was not passing  in  English,
but he studied harder and that did  the  trick./  *  /The  car  wheels
slipped on the ice, so Tom put sand under them, which did the  trick./
Compare: TURN THE TRICK.

   [do things by halves] {v. phr.} To do  things  in  a  careless  and
incomplete way. * /When he reads a book he always does it  by  halves;
he seldom finishes it./

   [do time] or [doing time] See: DO A STRETCH.

   [do to death] {v. phr.} To overdo; do something so  often  that  it
becomes extremely boring or tiresome. * /The typical car  chase  scene
in motion pictures has been done to death./

   [dot the i's and cross the t's] {v. phr.} To be careful,  thorough,
and pay close attention to detail. * /"The best way to get an A on the
final exam," the teacher said, "is for every one to dot  the  i's  and
cross the t's."/ Compare: MIND ONE'S P'S AND Q'S.

   [double back] {v.} 1. To turn back on one's way or course.  *  /The
escaped prisoner doubled back on his tracks./ 2. To fold over; usually
in the middle. * /The teacher told Johnny to double back the sheet  of
paper and tear it in half./

   [double check]  {n.}  A  careful  second  check  to  be  sure  that
something is right; a careful look for errors. * /The policeman made a
double check on the doors in the shopping area./

   [double-check] {v.} 1. To do a double check on; look at again  very
carefully. * /When the last typing  of  his  book  was  finished,  the
author double-checked it./ 2. To make a double check;  look  carefully
at something. * /The proofreader double-checks against errors./

   [double-cross] {v.} To promise one thing and  deliver  another;  to
deceive. * /The lawyer double-crossed the  inventor  by  manufacturing
the gadget instead of fulfilling his promise to arrange a  patent  for
his client./ Compare: SELL DOWN THE RIVER, TWO-TIME.

   [double date] {n.}, {informal} A  date  on  which  two  couples  go
together. * /John and Nancy went with Mary and Bill on a double date./

   [double-date] {v.}, {informal} To go on a double  date;  date  with
another couple. * /John and Nancy and Mary and Bill double-date./

   [double duty] {n.} Two uses or jobs;  two  purposes  or  duties.  *
/Matthew does double  duty.  He's  the  janitor  in  the  morning  and
gardener in the afternoon./ * /Our new washer  does  double  duty;  it
washes the clothes and also dries them./

   [double-header] {n.} Two games or contests played one  right  after
the other, between the same two teams or two different pairs of teams.
*  /The  Yankees  and  the  Dodgers  played  a  double-header   Sunday
afternoon./ * /We went to a basketball double-header at Madison Square
Garden and saw Seton Hall play St. John's and N.Y.U. play Notre Dame./

   [double nickel] {adv.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}  The
nationally enforced speed limit on some highways -  55  MPH.  *  /We'd
better go double nickel on this stretch, partner; there's  a  bear  in
the air./

   [double-park] {v.} To park a car beside another car which is at the
curb. * /Jimmy's father double-parked his car and the police gave  him
a ticket./ * /If you double-park, you block other cars from passing./

   [double-talk] {n.} 1. Something said  that  is  worded,  either  on
purpose or by accident, so that it may be understood in  two  or  more
different  ways.  *  /The  politician  avoided   the   question   with
double-talk./ 2. Something said that does not  make  sense;  mixed  up
talk or writing; nonsense. * /The man's explanation  of  the  new  tax
bill was just a lot of double-talk./

   [double up] {v.} 1. To bend far over forward. * /Jim was hit by the
baseball and doubled up with pain./ 2. To share a room, bed,  or  home
with another. * /When relatives came for a visit, Ann had to double up
with her sister./

   [doubt] See: GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, NO DOUBT.

   [do up] {v.} 1a. To clean and prepare for use or wear;  launder.  *
/Ann asked her mother to do up  her  dress./  1b.  To  put  in  order;
straighten up; clean. * /At camp the girls have to  do  up  their  own
cabins./ 2. To tie up or wrap. * /Joan asked the clerk to  do  up  her
purchases./ 3a. To set and fasten (hair) in place. * /Grace helped her
sister to do up her hair./ Compare: PUT UP. 3b. {informal} To dress or
clothe. * /Suzie was done up in her fine new skirt and blouse./

   [do up brown] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do in a  thorough  or  complete
way. * /When Jim does a job, he does it up brown./

   [do well by] {v. phr.} To benefit; help; treat exceptionally  well.
* /In his will Grandpa did well by all of his grandchildren  and  left
each of them one million dollars./

   [do with] {v.} 1. To find enough for one's needs; manage. - Usually
follows "can". * /Some children  can  do  with  very  little  spending
money./ Compare: GET ALONG, MAKE DO. 2. To make use of; find useful or
helpful. - Follows "can" or "could". * /After a hard day's work, a man
can do with a good, hot meal./ * /After cleaning out the basement, the
boy could do with a bath./

   [do without] or [go without]  {v.}  1.  To  live  or  work  without
(something you want); manage without.  *  /Ann  said  that  she  likes
candy, but can do without it./ *  /We  had  to  go  without  hot  food
because the stove was broken./ 2. To live or  work  without  something
you want; manage. * /If George cannot earn money  for  a  bicycle,  he
will have to do without./ Compare: GET ALONG, GET BY.

   [down and out] {adj. phr.} Without money; without a  job  or  home;
broke. * /Poor Sam lost his job after his wife had  left  him;  he  is
really down and out./

   [down-and-outer] {n. phr.} A person who has lost everything and  is
penniless. * /Joe goes from shelter to shelter asking for food  and  a
place to sleep; he's become a regular down-and-outer./

   [down-at-heel] or [down-at-the-heel] or [down-at-the-heels]  {adj.}
Poorly kept up or dressed shabby; not neat; sloppy. * /John is  always
down-at-the-heels, but his sister is always very neat./ * /Old  houses
sometimes look down-at-the-heel./

   [down east] or [Down East] {n.} The northeast coastal part  of  the
United States and part of Canada; especially:  the  coastal  parts  of
Maine. * /Many people in Boston like to go down east for their  summer
vacation./ Compare: I WOULDN'T DO IT FOR A FARM DOWN EAST.

   [down in the dumps] or [down in the mouth] {adj. phr.},  {informal}
Sad or discouraged; gloomy; dejected. * /The boys were certainly  down
in the dumps when they heard that their team had lost./

   [down on] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Having a  grudge  against;  angry
at. * /John is down on his teacher because she gave him a low grade./

   [down one's alley] or [up one's alley] {adj. phr.}, {slang}  Suited
to your tastes and abilities; what you like or like to do. * /Baseball
is right down Jim's alley./ Compare: CUP OF TEA.

   [down one's neck] See: BREATHE DOWN ONE'S NECK.

   [down one's nose] See: LOOK DOWN ONE'S NOSE.

   [down one's throat] See: JUMP DOWN ONE'S THROAT, SHOVE  DOWN  ONE'S
THROAT or RAM DOWN ONE'S THROAT.

   [down on one's luck] {adj.}, {informal}  Having  bad  luck;  having
much trouble; not successful in life. * /Harry asked me  to  lend  him
ten dollars, because he was down on his luck./ * /The teacher is  easy
on Jane because Jane has been down on her luck lately./ Compare:  HARD
ROW TO HOE, HARD SLEDDING, ON ONE'S UPPERS.

   [down payment] {n.} A retainer paid to a prospective seller. * /How
much of a down payment do you require for this new car?/

   [down the drain] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {informal} Wasted; lost.  *
/It is money down the drain if you spend it  all  on  candy./  *  /Our
plans to go swimming went down the drain when it rained./ Compare:  GO
BY THE BOARD.

   [down the hatch!] {v. phr.}, {informal} Let us drink!  *  /When  we
celebrated Mom's birthday, we all raised  our  glasses  and  cried  in
unison, "Down the hatch!"/

   [down the line] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Down the road or street;
straight ahead. * /The church is down the line a few blocks./  2.  All
the way; completely; thoroughly. * /Bob always follows  the  teacher's
directions right down the line./

   [down-to-earth]  {adj.}  Showing  good  sense;  practical.  *  /The
committee's first plan for the party was too fancy, but the second was
more down-to-earth./ * /Mr.  Jenkins  never  seems  to  know  what  is
happening around him, but his wife  is  friendly  and  down-to-earth./
Compare: COME BACK TO EARTH.

   [down to the wire] {adj.}, {slang} 1. Running out of time,  nearing
a deadline. * /Bob is down to the  wire  on  his  project./  2.  Being
financially almost broke, being very low on cash or other funds. * /We
can't afford going to a restaurant tonight - we're really down to  the
wire!/

   [down with a disease] {adj. phr.} Ill or sick. * /Aunt Liz is  down
with the flu this week; she has to stay in bed./

   [dozen] See: BY THE DOZEN, DAILY DOZEN, DIME A DOZEN,  SIX  OF  ONE
AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER.

   [drag in] {v.} To insist  on  bringing  (another  subject)  into  a
discussion; begin talking about (something different.)  *  /No  matter
what we talk  about,  Jim  drags  in  politics./  *  /Whenever  anyone
mentions travel, Grace has to drag in the trip to Mexico she took  ten
years ago./

   [drag on] or [drag out] {v.} 1. To pass very slowly.  *  /The  cold
winter months dragged on until we thought spring would never come./ 2.
To prolong; make longer. * /The meeting would have been  over  quickly
if the members had not dragged out the argument about dues./

   [drag on the market] {n. phr.} An article for which the demand  has
fallen off thus causing an oversupply. * /Your type of word  processor
went out of style and is now a drag on the market./

   [drag oneself up by one's boot straps] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY  THE
BOOT STRAPS.

   [drag one's feet] or [drag one's heels] {v. phr.} To act slowly  or
reluctantly. * /The children wanted to watch television,  and  dragged
their feet when their mother told them to go  to  bed./  *  /The  city
employees said the mayor had promised to raise their pay, but was  now
dragging his feet./

   [drag out] See: DRAG ON.

   [drag race] {n.}, {slang} An automobile race in which  the  drivers
try to cover a certain distance (usually  one  quarter  mile)  in  the
shortest possible time. *  /Drag  races  are  often  held  on  airport
landing strips./ * /Holding drag races is a good way to  stop  teenage
hot rod racing on public highways./ Compare: DRAG STRIP.

   [drag strip] {n.}, {slang} A place where drag  races  are  held.  *
/Before the race Paul loaded his racer onto the trailer to take it out
of town to the drag strip for the race./ Compare: DRAG RACE.

   [drain] See: DOWN THE DRAIN.

   [draw] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH or BEAT TO THE DRAW.

   [draw a bead on] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To aim at; sight  (with  a
gun). * /The deer bounded into the forest  before  the  hunters  could
draw a bead on them./ * /John drew a bead on the elk, but didn't  have
the heart to pull the trigger./ 2. To take (something) as  an  aim  or
goal. * /"I'm drawing a  bead  on  the  Literary  Society  president's
office," said Tom./ 3. To use as a  target  of  attack;  criticize.  *
/Whenever a politician makes a mistake, his  opponents  are  ready  to
draw a bead on him./

   [draw a blank] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To obtain nothing in return
for an effort made or to get a negative result. * /I looked up all the
Joneses in the telephone book but I drew a blank every  time  I  asked
for Archibald Jones./ 2. To fail to remember something. * /I am trying
to think  of  the  name  but  I  keep  drawing  a  blank./  3.  To  be
consistently unsuccessful at doing something. * /I keep trying to pass
that math exam but each time I try it I draw a blank./

   [draw a conclusion] {v. phr.} To make an  inference.  *  /After  he
failed to keep an appointment with me for the third time, I  drew  the
conclusion that he was an unreliable person./

   [draw a line] or [draw the line]  {v.  phr.}  1.  To  think  of  as
different. * /The law in this country draws a line between murder  and
manslaughter./ * /Can you draw the line between a lie and a  fib?/  2.
To set a limit to what will be done; say something cannot be  done.  *
/We would like to invite everybody to our party, but we have to draw a
line somewhere./ - Often used with "at". * /Mrs. Jones draws the  line
at permitting the children to play in their father's den./  *  /People
fighting for their freedom often do not draw the line at murder./

   [draw a long breath] or [take a long breath] {v. phr.}  To  breathe
deeply when getting ready to speak or act. * /Father asked  who  broke
the window. Jim drew a long breath and admitted that he had done  it./
* /The salesman took a long breath and started his talk./

   [draw a parallel] {v. phr.} To make a comparison. * /It is easy  to
draw a parallel between the characters of Saint Francis of Assisi  and
Great Saint Theresa of Aquila, but this doesn't mean that  all  saints
are alike./

   [draw and quarter] {v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To execute  someone  in
the barbaric medieval fashion of having him torn into four  pieces  by
four horses tearing his body in  four  different  directions.  *  /The
captured foreign marauders were  drawn  and  quartered  by  the  angry
citizens of ancient Frankfurt./ 2. To punish someone very severely.  *
/"If you miss another homework assignment, John,"  the  teacher  said,
"I'll have you drawn and quartered."/

   [draw aside] {v. phr.} To separate; take to one side.  *  /He  drew
her aside and whispered into her ear, "Johanna, please marry me!"/

   [draw back] {v.} To move back; back away; step backward;  withdraw;
move away from. * /When the man spotted the rattlesnake, he drew  back
and aimed his shotgun./ * /The children drew back from the dog when it
barked at them./ * /When the pitcher drew back his arm  to  pitch  the
ball, Tom ran as fast as he could to steal second base./ * /Some juice
from the grapefruit that Father was eating squirted in his eye and  he
drew back in surprise./ Compare: DROP BACK.

   [drawback] {n.} Disadvantage; obstacle; hindrance. *  /The  biggest
drawback of Bill's plan is the cost involved./

   [draw blood] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make  someone  feel  hurt  or
angry. *  /If  you  want  to  draw  blood,  ask  Jim  about  his  last
money-making scheme./ * /Her sarcastic comments drew blood./

   [drawer] See: TOP-DRAWER.

   [draw fire] {v. phr.} 1. To  attract  or  provoke  shooting;  be  a
target. * /The general's white horse drew the  enemy's  fire./  2.  To
bring criticism or argument; make people say bad things about  you.  *
/Having the newest car in your group is sure to draw fire./

   [drawing card] {n.} The most important  figure  in  a  multi-person
event; the top entertainer  during  a  show;  the  best  professor  or
researcher at a university, etc. * /During the concert  series  Barbra
Streisand was the biggest drawing card./ * /The biggest  drawing  card
at many a university is the resident Nobel Laureate./

   [draw in one's horns] See: PULL IN ONE'S HORNS.

   [draw interest] {v. phr.} To earn interest on invested  capital.  *
/My savings account draws 4.5% interest./

   [draw lots] {v. phr.} To select at random from a series in order to
determine precedents or apportionment. * /The refugees to be evacuated
drew lots on who would get a place on the first airplane  out  of  the
besieged city./

   [draw near] {v. phr.} To  approach;  come  near.  *  /The  time  is
drawing near when this century will end and the next will begin./

   [draw off] {v. phr.} To drain away; deflect. *  /A  light  flanking
attack was made in order to draw off the enemy's fire./

   [draw on] {v. phr.} 1. To arrive; approach. * /As midnight drew on,
the New Year's Eve party grew louder and louder./ 2. To  secure  funds
from a bank or person. * /Jack kept drawing on  his  bank  account  so
much that several of his checks bounced./

   [draw out] {v. phr.} 1. To take  out;  remove.  *  /Johnny  drew  a
dollar out of the bank to buy his mother a  present./  *  /The  hunter
drew out his gun and shot the snake./ 2. To make (a  person)  talk  or
tell something. * /Jimmy was bashful but Mrs. Wilson drew him  out  by
asking him about baseball./ 3. To make come out;  bring  out.  *  /The
bell of the ice-cream truck drew the children out of  the  houses./  *
/Mary was drawn out of her silence  by  Billy's  jokes./  4.  To  make
longer or too long; stretch. * /The Smiths drew out their vacation  at
the beach an extra week./ * /It was a long drawn out  meeting  because
everybody tried to talk at once./ * /Mary  and  her  mother  drew  out
their goodbyes so long at the bus station that Mary almost missed  the
bus./

   [draw the fire of] See: DRAW OFF.

   [draw the line] See: DRAW A LINE.

   [draw to a close] {v. phr.} To finish; terminate; come to an end. *
/The meeting drew to a close around midnight./

   [draw up] {v.} 1. To write (something) in its correct form; put  in
writing. * /The rich man had his lawyers draw up his will so that each
of his children would receive part of his money when he died./  2.  To
plan or prepare; begin to write out. * /The two countries  drew  up  a
peace treaty after the war ended./ * /Plans are being drawn up  for  a
new school next year./ Compare: WRITE UP. 3. To hold yourself straight
or stiffly, especially because you are proud or angry. * /When we said
that Mary was getting fat, she drew herself up angrily and walked  out
of the room./ 4. To stop or come to a stop. * /The cowboy drew up  his
horse at the top of the hill./ * /A big black car drew up in front  of
the house./ Syn.: PULL UP.

   [dread] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

   [dream of] {v.} To think about seriously; think about with the idea
of really doing; consider seriously. - Usually used with a negative. *
/I wouldn't dream of wearing shorts to church./

   [dressing down] {n.}, {informal} A scolding. * /The  sergeant  gave
the soldier a good dressing down because his shoes were not shined./

   [dress a window] See: WINDOW DRESSING.

   [dress like a million dollars] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

   [dress up] {v.} 1a. To put on best or  special  clothes.  *  /Billy
hated being dressed up and took off his best suit as soon  as  he  got
home from church./ 1b. To put on a costume for fun or  clothes  for  a
part in a play. * /Mary was dressed  up  to  play  Cinderella  in  her
school play./ 2. To make (something) look different; make  (something)
seem better or more important. * /A fresh coat of paint will dress  up
the old bicycle very much./ * /Tommy dressed up the story of  what  he
did on vacation and made it seem twice as interesting as it was./

   [dressed fit to kill] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

   [dressed like a peacock] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.

   [dribs and drabs] {n. phr.} Portions;  small  bits.  *  /John  paid
Oliver back what he owed him in dribs and drabs./

   [drift off] {v. phr.} 1. To fall asleep, *  /He  kept  nodding  and
drifting off to sleep while the lecturer was speaking./ 2. To  depart;
leave gradually. * /One by one, the sailboats  drifted  off  over  the
horizon./

   [drink down] {v. phr.} To drink in one gulp;  swallow  entirely.  *
/Steve was so thirsty that he drank down six glasses of  orange  juice
in rapid succession./

   [drink in] {v. phr.} To absorb with great interest. * /The tourists
stood on the beach drinking in the wonderful Hawaiian sunset./

   [drink like a fish] {v. phr.} To  drink  (alcoholic  beverages)  in
great quantities; to be addicted to alcohol. * /John  is  a  nice  guy
but, unfortunately, he drinks like a fish./

   [drink up] {v. phr.} To  finish  drinking;  empty  one's  glass.  *
/"Drink up that cough syrup," the nurse  said,  "and  never  mind  the
taste,"/

   [drive] See: LINE DRIVE.

   [drive a bargain] {v. phr.} 1. To buy or  sell  at  a  good  price;
succeed in a trade or deal. * /Tom's collie is a champion;  it  should
be easy for Tom to drive a bargain  when  he  sells  her  puppies./  *
/Father drove a hard bargain with the real estate agent when we bought
our new house./ 2. To make an agreement that is better  for  you  than
for the other person; make an agreement  to  your  advantage.  *  /The
French drove a hard bargain in demanding that Germany  pay  fully  for
World War I damages./

   [drive a hard bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN.

   [drive at] {v.} To try or want to say; mean. - Used in the  present
participle. * /John did not understand what the coach was driving at./
* /He had been talking for half an hour before anyone realized what he
was driving at./

   [drive home] {v. phr.} To argue convincingly; make a strong  point.
* /The doctor's convincing arguments  and  explanation  of  his  X-ray
pictures drove home the point to Max that he needed surgery./

   [drive-in]  {adj.}/{n.}  A  kind  of  movie  theater,   fast   food
restaurant, or church, where the customers, spectators, or worshippers
do not leave their automobiles but are served the  food  inside  their
cars, can watch a motion  picture  from  inside  their  cars,  or  can
participate in a religious service in their cars. * /Let's  not  waste
time on the road; let's just eat at the next drive-in  restaurant./  *
/There is a drive-in theater not far from where we live./ *  /Max  and
Hilde go to a drive-in church every Sunday./

   [drive like  Jehu]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  drive  very  fast,
carelessly or recklessly. * /When Joe is late for work, he drives like
Jehu./

   [drive one ape], [bananas], [crazy], [mad]  or  [nuts]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To irritate, frustrate, or tickle someone's fancy so  badly
that they think they are going insane. *  /"Stop  teasing  me,  Mary,"
John said. "You are driving me nuts."/ * /"You are driving me  bananas
with all your crazy riddles," Steve said./

   [drive one round the bend] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  upset  someone
so much that they think they are going crazy. * /"Slow down,  please,"
Miss Jones cried. "You are driving me  around  the  bend!"/  Contrast:
DRIVE ONE APE, BANANAS, ETC.

   [driver] See: BACKSEAT DRIVER.

   [drive to the wall] {v. phr.} To defeat someone completely; to ruin
someone. * /Poor Uncle Jack was driven to the wall
by his angry creditors when his business
failed./ Compare: GO TO THE WALL.

   [drive someone bananas] or [drive someone nuts] or  [drive  someone
ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} {informal} To excite someone to the point that
he or she goes out of his or her  mind;  to  drive  someone  crazy.  *
/You're driving me bananas/nuts with that kind of talk!]

   [drop] See: AT THE DROP OF A HAT, BOTTOM DROP OUT, JAW DROP or  JAW
DROP A MILE.

   [drop a line] {v. phr.} To write someone a short letter or note.  *
/Please drop me a line when you get to Paris; I'd like  to  know  that
you've arrived safely./

   [drop back] {v.}  To  move  or  step  backwards;  retreat.  *  /The
soldiers dropped back before the enemy's attack./ *  /The  quarterback
dropped back to pass the football./ Compare:  DRAW  BACK,  FADE  BACK,
FALL BACK.

   [drop by] or [stop by] {v.} 1. or [drop around] To make a short  or
unplanned visit; go on a call or errand; stop  at  someone's  home.  *
/Drop by any time you're in town./ * /Mv sister  dropped  around  last
night./ * /Don't forget to stop by at the gas station./ Syn.: DROP IN.
2. or [drop into] To stop (somewhere) for a short  visit  or  a  short
time. * /We dropped by the club to see  if  Bill  was  there,  but  he
wasn't./ * /I dropped into the drugstore for  some  toothpaste  and  a
magazine./

   [drop by the wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

   [drop dead] {v.}, {slang} To go away or be  quiet;  stop  bothering
someone. - Usually used as a command, * /"Drop dead!"  Bill  told  his
little sister when she kept  begging  to  help  him  build  his  model
airplane./ * /When Sally bumped into Kate's desk and spilled  ink  for
the fifth time, Kate told her to drop dead./  Compare:  BEAT  IT,  GET
LOST.

   [drop in] {v.} To make a short or unplanned visit; pay  a  call.  -
Often used with "on". * /We were just  sitting  down  to  dinner  when
Uncle Willie dropped in./ * /The Smiths dropped in on some old friends
on their vacation trip to New York./ Syn.: DROP BY, RUN IN(2).

   [drop in the bucket] {n. phr.} A relatively small amount;  a  small
part of the whole. * /Our university needs several million dollars for
its building renovation  project;  $50,000  is  a  mere  drop  in  the
bucket./

   [drop name] {v. phr.} To impress people by mentioning famous names.
* /He likes to pretend he's important by dropping a lot of names./

   [drop off] {v.} 1. To take (someone or something) part of  the  way
you are going. * /Joe asked Mrs. Jones to drop him off at the  library
on her way downtown./ 2. To go to sleep. * /Jimmy was thinking of  his
birthday party as he dropped off to sleep./ 3. To die. * /The  patient
dropped off in his  sleep./  4.  or  [fall  off]  To  become  less.  *
/Business picked up in the stores during  December,  but  dropped  off
again after Christmas./ Contrast PICK UP(14).

   [dropout] {n.} Someone who did not finish school, high  school  and
college primarily. * /Tim is having a hard time getting a  better  job
as he was a high-school dropout./ * /Jack never got  his  B.A.  as  he
became a college dropout./

   [drop out] {v.} To stop attending; quit; stop;  leave.  *  /In  the
middle of the race, Joe got a blister on his  foot  and  had  to  drop
out./ * /Teenagers who drop out of high school  have  trouble  finding
jobs./

   [drown  one's  sorrows]  or  [drown  one's  troubles]  {v.   phr.},
{informal} To drink liquor to try to forget something unhappy. * /When
his wife was killed in an auto accident, Mr. Green tried to drown  his
sorrows in whiskey./ * /When Fred lost his job and had to give up  his
new car, he tried to drown his troubles at the nearest tavern./

   [drown one's troubles] See: DROWN ONE'S SORROWS.

   [drown out] {v.} To make so much noise that  it  is  impossible  to
hear (some other sound). * /The  children's  shouts  drowned  out  the
music./ * /The actor's words were drowned out by applause./

   [drum up] {v.} 1. To get by  trying  or  asking  again  and  again;
attract or encourage by continued effort. * /The car dealer  tried  to
drum up business by advertising low prices./ 2. To invent. *  /I  will
drum up an excuse for coming to see you next week./ Syn.: MAKE  UP(2),
THINK UP.

   [dry] See: CUT AND DRIED, HIGH AND DRY.

   [dry behind the ears] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Experienced;  knowing
how to do something. Usually used in the negative. *  /John  had  just
started working for the company, and was not dry behind the ears yet./
Compare: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND. Contrast: WET BEHIND THE EARS.

   [dry out] {v. phr.} To cure an alcoholic. * /A longtime  alcoholic.
Uncle Steve is now in the hospital getting dried out./

   [dry up] {v.} 1. To become dry. * /The reservoir  dried  up  during
the  four-month  drought./  2.  To  disappear  or  vanish  as  if   by
evaporating. * /The Senator's influence dried up when he was voted out
of office./ 3. {slang} To stop talking. - Often used as a  command.  *
/"Dry up!" Tony said angrily when his friend told him  for  the  third
time that he had made a mistake in his theme./ Syn.: SHUT UP(1).

   [dual highway] See: DIVIDED HIGHWAY.

   [duck] See: DEAD DUCK, KNEE HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER or KNEE HIGH TO A
DUCK, LAME DUCK, LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK.

   [duckling] See: UGLY DUCKLING.

   [duck out] {v. phr.} To avoid; escape from  something  by  skillful
maneuvering. * /Somehow or other Jack always manages to  duck  out  of
any hard work./

   [duck soup] {n.}, {slang} 1. A task easily accomplished or one that
does not require much effort. * /That history test was duck soup./  2.
A person who offers no  resistance;  a  pushover.  *  /How's  the  new
history teacher? - He's duck soup./

   [duddy] See: FUDDY-DUDDY.

   [due] See: GIVE ONE'S DUE, GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE, IN DUE COURSE at
IN GOOD TIME.

   [due to] {prep.} Because of; owing to; by reason of. * /His  injury
was due to his careless use of the shotgun./ * /Joe's  application  to
the University was not accepted due to his failing English./

   [dull] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.

   [dumb bunny] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} Any person who  is  gullible
and stupid. * /Jack is a regular dumb bunny./

   [dumbwaiter] {n.} A small elevator for carrying food, dishes, etc.,
from one floor to another in hotels, restaurants, or  large  homes.  *
/The banquet was delayed because the dumbwaiter  broke  down  and  the
food had to be carried upstairs by hand./

   [dumps] See: DOWN IN THE DUMPS or DOWN IN THE MOUTH.

   [dust] See: BITE THE DUST, KICK UP A FUSS or KICK UP A DUST,  WATCH
ONE'S DUST, AFTER THE DUST CLEARS/WHEN THE DUST SETTLES.

   [dust off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To get ready to use again.  *  /Four
years after he graduated from school, Tom  decided  to  dust  off  his
algebra book./ 2. To throw a baseball pitch close to. *  /The  pitcher
dusted off the other team's best hitter./ Syn.: BRUSH BACK.

   [Dutch] See: BEAT ALL or BEAT THE DUTCH, GO DUTCH, IN DUTCH.

   [dutch treat] {n.}, {informal} A meal in a restaurant or an  outing
at the movies, concert, or theater where each party pays  his  or  her
own way. * /"I am willing to accept your invitation," Mary said,  "but
it will have to be Dutch treat."/

   [duty] See: DO DUTY FOR, DOUBLE DUTY,  HEAVY  DUTY,  OFF  DUTY,  ON
DUTY.

   [duty bound] {adj. phr.} Forced to  act  by  what  you  believe  is
right. * /Abraham Lincoln walked miles once to return  a  few  pennies
that he had overcharged a woman because he felt duty bound to do  it./
* /John felt duty bound to report that he had broken the window./

   [duty calls] {n. phr.} One must  attend  to  one's  obligations.  *
/"I'd love to stay and play more poker," Henry said, "but  duty  calls
and I must get back to the office."/

   [dwell on] or [dwell upon] {v.} To stay on  a  subject;  not  leave
something or want to leave; not stop talking or writing about. *  /Joe
dwelt on his mistake long after  the  test  was  over./  *  /Our  eyes
dwelled on the beautiful sunset./ * /The principal dwelled on  traffic
safety in his talk./ Compare: HARP ON. Contrast: TOUCH ON.

   [dyed-in-the-wool] {adj. phr.}  Thoroughly  committed;  inveterate;
unchanging. * /He is a died-in-the-wool Conservative Republican./

   [dying to] {adj. phr.} Having a great desire  to;  being  extremely
eager to. * /Seymour is dying to date Mathilda, but she keeps refusing
him./





   [each and every] {adj. phr.} Every. - Used  for  emphasis.  *  /The
captain wants each and every man to be here at eight o'clock./ *  /The
teacher must learn the name of each  and  every  pupil./  Syn.:  EVERY
SINGLE.

   [each other] or [one another] {pron.} Each one the other;  one  the
other. * /That man and his wife love each other./  *  /Bill  and  Mary
gave one another Christmas presents last year./ * /All the children at
the party were looking at one another trying to recognize one  another
in their masks and costumes./ * /The birds fought each other over  the
bread./

   [eager beaver] {n. phr.}, {slang} A person who is always  eager  to
work or do anything extra, perhaps to win the favor of his  leader  or
boss. * /Jack likes his teacher  and  works  hard  for  her,  but  his
classmates call him an eager beaver./ * /The man who was  promoted  to
be manager was an eager beaver who got to work early and left late and
was always offering to do extra work./

   [eagle eye] {n.} Sharp vision like that of an eagle; the ability to
notice even the tiniest details. * /The new boss keeps an eagle eye on
all aspects of our operation./

   [ear] See: ABOUT ONE'S EARS or AROUND  ONE'S  EARS,  BELIEVE  ONE'S
EARS, DRY BEHIND THE EARS, FLEA IN ONE'S EAR, GIVE AN EAR TO  or  LEND
AN EAR TO, GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER, JUG-EARED, LITTLE PITCHERS
HAVE BIG EARS, MUSIC TO ONE'S EARS, PIN ONE'S EARS BACK, PLAY BY  EAR,
PRICK UP ONE'S EARS, ROASTING EAR, TURN A DEAF EAR, UP TO THE CHIN  IN
or UP TO THE EARS IN, WET BEHIND THE EARS.

   [early] See: BRIGHT AND EARLY.

   [early bird] {n} An early riser from bed. * /Jane and Tom are  real
early birds; they get up at 6 A.M. every morning./

   [early bird catches the worm] or  [early  bird  gets  the  worm]  A
person who gets up early  in  the  morning  has  the  best  chance  of
succeeding; if you arrive early or  are  quicker,  you  get  ahead  of
others. - A proverb. * /When Billy's father woke him up for school  he
said, "The early bird catches the worm."/ * /Charles began looking for
a summer job in January; he knows that the early bird gets the  worm./
Compare: FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.

   [earn one's keep] {v. phr.}  To  merit  one's  salary  or  keep  by
performing the labor or chores that  are  expected  of  one.  *  /John
earned his keep at the music  conservatory  by  dusting  off  all  the
musical instruments every day./

   [earnest] See: IN EARNEST.

   [ears burn] {informal} To feel embarrassment or  shame  at  hearing
others talk about you. * /Joan overheard the girls criticizing her and
it made her ears burn./  *  /Joe's  ears  burned  when  he  heard  his
classmates praising him to each other./

   [earth]  See:  COME  BACK  TO  EARTH  or  COME   DOWN   TO   EARTH,
DOWN-TO-EARTH, IN THE WORLD or ON EARTH, MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH.

   [ear to the ground] {n. phr.}, {informal} Attention directed to the
way things are going, or seem likely to go, or to the way people  feel
and think. * /The city manager kept an ear to the ground for  a  while
before deciding to raise the city employees' pay./ *  /Reporters  keep
an ear to the ground so as to know  as  soon  as  possible  what  will
happen./

   [ease] See: AT EASE or AT ONE'S EASE, ILL AT EASE.

   [ease off] or [ease up] {v.} To make or become less nervous; relax;
work easier. * /When the boss realized that John had been overworking,
he eased off his load./ * /With success and prosperity, Mr. Smith  was
able to ease off./ Compare: LET UP(3).

   [easily] See: BREATHE EASILY or BREATHE FREELY.

   [east] See: DOWN EAST.

   [easy] See: FREE AND EASY, GET OFF EASY, ON EASY  STREET,  TAKE  IT
EASY or GO EASY or TAKE THINGS EASY.

   [easygoing] {adj.} Amiable  in  manner;  relaxed;  not  excited.  *
/Because Al has an easygoing personality, everybody loves him./

   [easy as pie] See: PIECE OF CAKE.

   [easy come, easy go] {truncated sent.},  {informal}  Something  you
get quickly and easily  may  be  lost  or  spent  just  as  easily.  *
/Grandfather thought Billy should have to work for  the  money  Father
gave him, saying "Easy come, easy go."/

   [easy does it] {informal} Let's do  it  carefully,  without  sudden
movements and without forcing too hard or too fast; let's try to  just
hard enough but not too hard. * /"Easy does it," said the boss as they
moved the piano through the narrow doorway./ Compare: TAKE IT EASY.

   [easy mark] {n.} A foolishly generous person; one from whom  it  is
easy to get money. * /Bill is known to all the neighborhood beggars as
an easy mark./ See: SOFT TOUCH.

   [easy money] {n.}, {informal} Money gained without hard work; money
that requires little or no effort. * /The movie rights to a successful
play mean easy money to the writer of the play./ * /Young  people  who
look for easy money are usually disappointed./

   [eat] See: DOG-EAT-DOG, LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG or EAT  HIGH  ON  THE
HOG, LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY.

   [eat away] {v.} 1. To rot, rust, or destroy.  *  /Rust  was  eating
away the pipe./ * /Cancer  ate  away  the  healthy  flesh./  See:  EAT
OUT(2). 2. To gradually consume. * /The  ocean  waves  were  gradually
eating the volcanic rocks until they turned into black sand./

   [eat away at] {v.  phr.}  To  psychologically  gnaw  at;  to  worry
someone. * /Fear of the comprehensive examination was eating  away  at
Sam./

   [eat crow] {v. phr.} To admit you are mistaken  or  defeated;  take
back a mistaken statement. * /John had boasted that he would  play  on
the first team; but when the coach did not choose him, he had  to  eat
crow./ * /Fred said he could beat the new man in boxing, but  he  lost
and had to eat crow./ Compare: BACK DOWN, EAT HUMBLE  PIE,  EAT  ONE'S
WORDS.

   [eat dirt] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act  humble;  accept  another's
insult or bad treatment. * /Mr. Johnson was so much afraid  of  losing
his job that he would eat dirt whenever the boss got mean./

   [eat (live) high on the hog] or [eat (live) high off the  hog]  {v.
phr.} To eat or live well or elegantly. *  /For  the  first  few  days
after the check arrived, they ate high on the hog./ Compare: IN CLOVER
or IN THE CLOVER, ON EASY STREET.

   [eat humble pie] {v. phr.} To  be  humbled;  to  accept  insult  or
shame; admit your error and apologize. * /Tow told a lie about George,
and when he was found out, he had to eat humble pie./ * /In  some  old
stories a boy with a stepfather has to eat humble pie./

   [eating one] {v. phr.} To cause someone to be angry or ill-humored.
* /We can't figure out what's eating Burt, but he  hasn't  spoken  one
pleasant word all day./

   [eat like a bird]  {v.  phr.}  To  eat  very  little;  have  little
appetite. * /Mrs. Benson is on a diet and she eats  like  a  bird./  *
/Alice's mother is worried about her; she eats like a bird and is very
thin./ Contrast: EAT LIKE A HORSE.

   [eat like a horse] {v. phr.} To eat a lot;  eat  hungrily.  *  /The
harvesters worked into the evening, and then  came  in  and  ate  like
horses./ Contrast: EAT LIKE A BIRD.

   [eat one out of house and home] {v. phr.} 1. To eat so much  as  to
cause economic hardship. * /Our teenaged sons are so  hungry  all  the
time that they may soon eat us out of house and home./ 2. To  overstay
one's welcome. * /We love Bob and Jane very much, but after two  weeks
we started to feel that they were eating us out of house and home./

   [eat one's cake and  have  it  too]  {v.  phr.}  To  use  or  spend
something and still keep it; have both when you must choose one of two
things. Often used in negative sentences. * /Roger can't make  up  his
mind whether to go to college or get a job. You can't  eat  your  cake
and have it too./ * /Mary wants to buy a beautiful dress  she  saw  at
the store, but she also wants to save her birthday money for camp. She
wants to eat her cake and have it too./

   [eat one's heart out] {v. phr.} To grieve long and  hopelessly;  to
become thin and weak from sorrow. * /For months  after  her  husband's
death, Joanne simply ate her heart out./ * /We sometimes hear of a dog
eating its heart out for a dead owner./

   [eat one's words] also [swallow one's words] {v. phr.} To take back
something you have said; admit something is  not  true.  *  /John  had
called Harry a coward, but the boys made him eat his words after Harry
bravely fought a big bully./ Compare: EAT CROW.

   [eat out] {v.} 1. To eat in a restaurant; eat  away  from  home.  *
/Fred ate out often even when he wasn't out of town./ 2. To rust, rot,
or be destroyed in time. * /Rust had eaten out the gun  barrel./  See:
EAT AWAY.

   [eat out of one's hand] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  trust  someone
fully; believe or obey someone without question. * /The  governor  has
the reporters eating out of his hand./  *  /Helen  is  so  pretty  and
popular that all the boys eat out of her hand./

   [eat up] {v.} 1. To eat all of. * /After hiking all afternoon, they
quickly ate up all of the dinner./ 2. To use all of. * /Idle talk  had
eaten up the hour before they knew it./ 3. {slang} To accept  eagerly;
welcome. * /The girls told John he was a  hero  because  he  made  the
winning touchdown, and he ate up their praise./  *  /Jim  told  Martha
that she was as smart as she was beautiful and Martha ate it up./

   [edge] See: HAVE AN EDGE ON, ON EDGE, SET ONE'S TEETH ON EDGE, TAKE
THE EDGE OFF, THE EDGE.

   [edge  away]  {v.  phr.}  To  withdraw  or  retreat  gradually.   *
/Frightened by the growling  tiger  guarding  its  catch,  the  hunter
carefully edged away./

   [edge in] {v.} To move slowly; get in quietly, especially with some
difficulty, by force or without a big enough opening.  *  /People  had
crowded around the senator, but Don succeeded in edging in./ *  /Harry
edged the book in on the shelf./

   [edge in (on)] {v. phr.} 1. To gradually approach an individual  or
a group with the intent of taking over or wielding power. * /Jack  was
edging in on the firm of  Smith  and  Brown  and  after  half  a  year
actually became its vice president./ 2. To approach for capture  (said
of a group). * /The hunters were edging in on the wounded leopard./

   [edge on] {adv. phr.} Edgewise; with the  narrow  side  forward.  *
/The board struck him edge on./

   [edge out] {v.} To defeat in competition or rivalry; take the place
of; force  out.  *  /Harry  edged  out  Tom  for  a  place  in  Mary's
affections./ * /Signal lights on cars have gradually  edged  out  hand
signals./

   [edgeways] See: GET A WORD IN or GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE, also GET A
WORD IN EDGEWAYS.

   [edgewise] See: GET A WORD IN or GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS.

   [education] See: HIGHER EDUCATION.

   [effect] See: IN EFFECT, INTO EFFECT, SOUND EFFECTS,  TAKE  EFFECT,
TO THAT EFFECT, TO THE EFFECT THAT,

   [effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY or BURN IN EFFIGY.

   [egg] See: BAD EGG, GOOD EGG, KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID  THE  GOLDEN
EGG, LAY AN EGG, PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET, ROTTEN EGG.

   [egg on] {v.} To urge on; excite; lead to  action.  *  /Joe's  wife
egged him on to spend money to show off./ * /The big boys egged on the
two little boys to fight./ Compare: PUT UP(6).

   [either a feast or a famine] See: FEAST OR A FAMINE.

   [either hide or hair] See: HIDE OR HAIR.

   [eke out] {v.} 1. To fill out  or  add  a  little  to;  increase  a
little. * /Mr. Jones eked out a  country  teacher's  small  salary  by
hunting and trapping in the winter./ * /The modest meal was  eked  out
with bread and milk./ 2. To get (little) by hard work;  to  earn  with
difficulty. * /Fred eked out a bare  living  by  farming  on  a  rocky
hillside./

   [elbow] See: AT ONE'S ELBOW, ELBOW ROOM, RUB ELBOWS, UP TO THE CHIN
IN or UP TO THE ELBOWS IN.

   [elbow grease] {n.} Exertion; effort; energy. *  /"You'll  have  to
use a little more elbow grease to get  these  windows  clean,"  Mother
said to Ed./

   [elbow one's way into] or [out of] {v. phr.} To force entry into  a
place by using one's elbows. * /The bus was so crowded that, in  order
to get off in time, we had to elbow our way to the exit door./

   [elbow room] {n.} Adequate space to move around or to  work  in.  *
/He doesn't require a huge office, but we must at least give him elbow
room./

   [element] See: IN ONE'S ELEMENT, OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT.

   [eleventh hour] {adj. phr.} Pertaining to  the  last  minutes;  the
last opportunity to accomplish a task. *  /The  editors  made  several
eleventh hour changes in the headlines of the morning paper./

   [else] See: SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN.

   [emcee] See: MASTER OF CEREMONIES.

   [end] See: AT LOOSE ENDS, AT ONE'S WITS' END, BURN  THE  CANDLE  AT
BOTH ENDS, GO OFF THE DEEP END, HAIR STAND ON END, HOLD ONE'S  END  UP
or HOLD UP ONE'S END or KEEP ONE'S END UP or KEEP UP ONE'S END, LIVING
END, LOOSE ENDS, MAKE AN END OF, MAKE ENDS MEET, NO END, NO END TO  or
NO END OF, ON END, PUT AN END OF, REAR END, SHORT END, SPLIT END,  TAG
END or TAIL END, TIGHT END, TO THE BITTER END, WORLD WITHOUT END.

   [end for end] {adv. phr.} In a reversed or  opposite  position  (as
upside down or backwards); the other way  around;  over.  *  /The  box
turned end for end as it fell, and everything  spilled  out./  *  /The
wind caught the canoe and turned it end for end./

   [end in itself] {n. phr.} Something wanted  for  its  own  sake;  a
purpose, aim, or goal we want for itself alone and not  as  a  way  to
something else. * /The miser never spent his gold because for  him  it
was an end in itself./

   [end of one's rope] or [end of one's tether] {n. phr.},  {informal}
The end of your trying or imagining; the  last  of  your  ability,  or
ideas of how to do more. * /Frank was out of work and  broke,  and  he
was at the end of his rope./ * /The doctor saw that Mother had reached
the end of her tether, and told us to send her away  for  a  holiday./
Compare: AT ONE'S WIT'S END, FED UP, UP AGAINST IT, UP A TREE.

   [end of the road] or [end of the line] {n. phr.} The  final  result
or end (as of a way of action or behavior); the condition  that  comes
when you can do no more. *  /He  had  left  a  trail  of  forgery  and
dishonesty across seven states; he had got out of each trouble with  a
new trick. Now the police had caught up with him, and it was  the  end
of the road./ * /"When I get to the end of the line,"  Jones  thought,
"I'd like my children to like and respect me still."/

   [end run] {n.} A football play in which a back tries to run  around
one end of the opponent's line. * /Smith's end run scored the  winning
touchdown./

   [end up] {v.} 1. To come to an end; be ended or finished;  stop.  *
/How does the story end up?/ 2. To finally reach or arrive; land. * /I
hope you don't end up in jail./ 3. {informal} To  die,  be  killed.  *
/The gangster ended up in the electric chair./ 4. or [finish  up].  To
put an end to; finish; stop. * /The politician finally  ended  up  his
speech./ Syn.: WIND UP.

   [end zone] {n.} Either of the marked areas behind the goal line.  *
/He caught a pass in the end zone for a touchdown./

   [engage in small talk] {v. phr.} To converse  with  a  stranger  or
casual acquaintance about matters of no great importance in  order  to
make the time go faster. * /The patients in the doctor's waiting  room
engaged in small talk complaining about the hot weather./

   [English] See: BODY ENGLISH.

   [enjoy oneself] {v. phr.} To have  a  good  time;  be  happy;  feel
pleasure. * /Mary enjoyed herself at the party./ * /"Enjoy yourselves,
children," Mother urged the guests at our party./

   [enlarge on] or [enlarge upon] or [expand on] or [expand upon] {v.}
To talk or write more about; say or  explain  more  completely  or  at
greater length. * /The teacher enlarged on the uses of atomic power./

   [en masse] {adv. phr.} As a group; in one big mass or group. - Used
after the word it modifies. * /The school turned out en masse to cheer
the returning astronaut./

   [enough] See: GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE, AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF,  KNOW
ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE, SURE ENOUGH.

   [enough is enough] That's enough, let's not  have  any  more;  that
will do, let's cut it short; that's the limit, let's stop there. * /"I
don't mind good clean fun, but enough is enough," the principal said./

   [enterprise] See: FREE ENTERPRISE.

   [entry] See: PORT OF ENTRY.

   [envy] See: GREEN WITH ENVY.

   [equal to] {adj. phr.} Able to meet, do, or  control;  able  to  do
something about. * /The situation took quick thinking,  but  John  was
equal to it./ * /When a guest upset the coffee pot, Mrs. Smith's  tact
and quickness of mind were equal to the occasion./

   [equal to  the  occasion]  {adj.  phr.}  Capable  of  handling  the
situation. * /Although he had never before assisted in childbirth, the
taxi driver proved equal to the occasion and helped deliver  the  baby
in his cab./

   [error] See: TRIAL AND ERROR.

   [evaporate into thin air] See: DISAPPEAR INTO THIN AIR.

   [eve] See: ON THE EVE OF.

   [even] See: BREAK EVEN, GET EVEN, ON AN EVEN KEEL.

   [evening] See: GOOD EVENING.

   [even so] {adv.} Although that is true; nevertheless; still. * /The
fire was out, but even so, the smell of smoke was strong./

   [event] See: IN ANY CASE or AT ALL EVENTS, IN ANY CASE also IN  ANY
EVENT or AT ALL EVENTS, IN CASE or IN THE EVENT, IN CASE  OF  also  IN
THE EVENT OF.

   [ever] See: FOREVER AND EVER, HARDLY EVER or SCARCELY EVER.

   [ever so much] {adv.} Very much; truly. * /I am  ever  so  much  in
your debt for your kind assistance when I needed it most./

   [every] See: AT EVERY TURN, EACH AND EVERY.

   [every cloud has a  silver  lining]  Every  trouble  has  something
hopeful that you can see in it, like the bright  edge  around  a  dark
cloud. - A proverb. * /The doctor told Tommy to cheer up when  he  had
measles. "Every cloud has a silver lining," he said./ Compare: IT'S AN
ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD.

   [every dog has his day] Everyone will  have  his  chance  or  turn;
everyone is lucky or popular at some time. - A proverb. *  /Mary  will
be able to go to dances like her sister when she grows up.  Every  dog
has his day./

   [every  inch]  {adv.  phr.}  To  the  last  part,  in  every   way;
completely. * /He was every inch a man./ * /Henry looked every inch  a
soldier./

   [every last] See: EVERY SINGLE.

   [every last man] also [every man jack] {n. phr.} Every single  man;
each man without exception. * /I want every last man  to  be  here  on
time tomorrow morning./ * /Every man jack of you must do his duty./

   [every man jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN.

   [every now and then] or [every now and again] or [every  so  often]
or [every once in a while] {adv. phr.} At  fairly  regular  intervals;
fairly often; repeatedly. * /John comes to  visit  me  every  now  and
then./ * /It was hot work, but every so often  Susan  would  bring  us
something cold to drink./ Compare: NOW AND THEN.

   [every other] {adj. phr.} Every second;  every  alternate.  *  /The
milkman comes every other day./ * /On St. Patrick's Day, it  seems  as
if every other man you meet is wearing a shamrock./

   [every single] or [every  last]  {adj.  phr.}  Every.  -  Used  for
emphasis. * /She dropped the box, and when she opened it, every single
glass was broken./ * /When she got home she found every last tomato in
the box was rotten./ Syn.: EACH AND EVERY.

   [every so often] See: EVERY NOW AND THEN.

   [everything] See: HOLD IT or HOLD EVERYTHING.

   [every time one turns around] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Very often. *
/Mr. Winston must be rich. He buys a new  suit  every  time  he  turns
around./ * /No, Charles - I can't drive you to the park every  time  I
turn around./

   [every which way] also [any which way] In all directions. * /Bricks
and boards were scattered in confusion on the ground every which  way,
just as they had fallen after the tornado./ Compare HELTER-SKELTER.

   [evidence] See: IN EVIDENCE.

   [example] See: FOR EXAMPLE, MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF.

   [except for] or {formal} [but for] {prep.} 1.  With  the  exception
of; if (a certain person or thing) were left out; omitting. *  /Except
for John, the whole class passed the test./ 2. Without.  *  /I'd  have
been lost but for you./

   [exception] See: TAKE EXCEPTION TO.

   [exception proves the rule] Something unusual that does not  follow
a rule tests that rule to see if it is true; if  there  are  too  many
exceptions, the rule is no good. - A proverb. * /Frank is  very  short
but is a good basketball player. He is the exception that  proves  the
rule./

   [excuse oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To think of reasons for not being  to
blame; think yourself not at fault. * /John excused  himself  for  his
low grades on the ground that the teacher didn't like him./ 2. To  ask
to be excused after doing something impolite. * /John excused  himself
for his tardiness, saying his watch was wrong./ 3. To  ask  permission
to leave a group or place. * /The committee  meeting  lasted  so  long
that Mr. Wilkins excused himself to keep an appointment./ * /John  had
to go to the dentist's, so he excused himself and left the classroom./

   [exert oneself] {v. phr.} To make an effort; try hard; work hard. *
/Susan exerted herself all year to earn good marks./ * /Jerry  exerted
himself to please the new girl./

   [expand on] or [expand upon] See: ENLARGE ON or ENLARGE UPON.

   [explain away] {v.} To explain (something) so that it does not seem
true or important. * /John explained away his unfinished  homework  by
showing the teacher his broken arm in  a  cast./  *  /It  is  hard  to
explain away Abraham Lincoln's dream about being dead, which he had  a
few days before he was shot./ * /The man could not  explain  away  the
gun and the marked money from the bank robbery that the  police  found
in his car./

   [explain oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To make your meaning  plainer;  make
your first statement clear. * /When we  didn't  understand  Fritz,  he
went on to explain himself./ 2. To give a good  reason  for  something
you did or failed to do which seems wrong. * /When Jack  brought  Mary
home at three o'clock in the morning, her father asked him to  explain
himself./

   [explode a  bombshell]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  say  something
startling; suggest or show something astonishing or shocking,  *  /The
police exploded a bombshell when they arrested the kindly  old  banker
for stealing money  from  the  bank./  *  /The  principal  exploded  a
bombshell by cancelling the dance as a penalty./ * /Political  leaders
exploded a bombshell when they picked the  young  lawyer  to  run  for
mayor./

   [express oneself] {v. phr.} To say what you think or feel; put your
thoughts or feelings into words by speaking or  writing.  *  /The  boy
expressed himself well in debate./ * /The mayor expressed  himself  as
opposed to any borrowing./

   [extend one's sympathy to] {v. phr.} To offer one's condolences  on
the occasion of a death or similarly tragic event.  *  /All  of  Tom's
colleagues extended their sympathy to him when his wife  and  daughter
were killed in a car accident./

   [eye] See: APPLE OF ONE'S EYE,  BAT  AN  EYE  or  BAT  AN  EYELASH,
BELIEVE ONE'S EYES, CATCH ONE'S EYE, CLEAR-EYED, CLOSE ONE'S  EYES  or
SHUT ONE'S EYES, EYES OPEN, EYE OUT, EYE  TO,  FEAST  ONE'S  EYES  ON,
FOUR-EYES, GET THE EYE, GIVE THE EYE, GREEN-EYED MONSTER, HALF AN EYE,
HAVE AN EYE ON, HAVE EYES ONLY FOR, HIT BETWEEN  THE  EYES,  IN  ONE'S
MIND'S EYE, IN THE PUBLIC EYE, KEEP AN EYE ON or KEEP  ONE'S  EYE  ON,
KEEP ONE'S EYES PEELED or KEEP ONE'S EYES SKINNED, LAY EYES ON or  SET
EYES ON, LOOK IN THE EYE, MAKE EYES AT, MEET ONE'S EYE, MISTY-EYED  or
DEWEY-EYED, ONE EYE ON, OPEN ONE'S EYES or OPEN UP ONE'S EYES, OUT  OF
THE CORNER OF ONE'S EYE, PULL THE WOOL OVER ONE'S  EYES,  SEE  EYE  TO
EYE, SHUT-EYE, SIGHT FOR SORE EYES, STARS IN ONE'S EYES, ROUND-EYED or
WIDE-EYED also LARGE-EYED, PRIVATE EYE, TO THE EYE, UP TO THE CHIN  IN
or UP TO THE EYES IN, WEATHER EYE.

   [eyebrow] See: RAISE EYEBROWS.

   [eye-catcher] {n.} Something that strongly attracts the  eye.  See:
CATCH ONE'S EYE. * /That new girl in our class is a real eye-catcher./

   [eye-catching] See: CATCH ONE'S EYE.

   [eye-filling] {adj.}, {literary} Attractive to the eye;  beautiful;
especially grand; splendid; majestic. * /The mountains in
the distance were an eye-filling sight./

   [eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth] A blow or injury should be
given back as hard as each one that is received; every crime or injury
should be punished or paid back. * /In ancient times if  a  man's  eye
was put out by his enemy, he might get revenge by putting his  enemy's
eye out. This was the rule of "an eye for an eye and  a  tooth  for  a
tooth."/ Sometimes used in a short form. * /Churches today teach  that
we should forgive people who hurt us, not follow the rule of  "an  eye
for an eye."/ (From the old command in the Bible meaning when you  pay
back a person, you should  not  hurt  him  more  than  he  hurt  you.)
Compare: DOG EAT DOG, GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, TIT FOR TAT.

   [eye-opener] See: OPEN ONE'S EYES.

   [eye out] Careful watch or attention; guard. - Used  after  "keep",
"have" or "with". * /Keep an eye out. We're close to Joe's  house./  -
Usually used with "for". * /Mary has her  eye  out  for  bargains./  *
/They went through the  woods  very  quietly,  with  an  eye  out  for
Indians./ Compare: LOOK OUT(2), ON GUARD, ON THE ALERT, ON THE WATCH.

   [eyes are bigger than one's stomach] {informal} You want more  food
than you can eat. * /Annie took a second big helping of  pudding,  but
her eyes were bigger than her stomach./ * /"Your eyes are bigger  than
your stomach," mother told little Tommy when he piled up food  on  his
plate./

   [eye shadow] {n. phr.} A cream used to darken the eyelids in  order
to make the eyes more noticeable. * /Jane's mother told her that girls
in the ninth grade shouldn't be using eye shadow./

   [eyes in the back of one's head] {n. phr.}, {informal}  Ability  to
know what happens when your back is turned. * /Mother must  have  eyes
in the back of her head, because she always knows when I do  something
wrong./

   [eyes open] 1. Careful watch or  attention;  readiness  to  see.  -
Usually used with "for". * /Keep your eyes open for a boy in a red cap
and sweater./ * /The hunter had his eyes open for  rabbits./  *  /They
drove on with their eyes open for a gas station./ Syn.: EYE OUT,  KEEP
ONE'S EYES PEELED. 2.  Full  knowledge;  especially  of  consequences;
understanding of what will or might result.  -  Used  with  "have"  or
"with". * /Automobile racing is dangerous. Bob went into it  with  his
eyes open./ *  /Betty  had  her  eyes  open  when  she  got  married./
Contrast: CLOSE ONE'S EYES.

   [eyes pop out] {informal} (You) are very  much  surprised.  -  Used
with a possessive noun or pronoun. * /Mary's eyes popped out when  her
mother entered her classroom./ * /When Joan found a clock radio  under
the Christmas tree, her eyes popped out./

   [eye teeth] See: CUT ONE'S EYE TEETH ON at CUT TEETH(2).

   [eye to] 1. Attention to. - Usually used with "have" or  "with".  *
/Have an eye to spelling in these test papers./ 2. Plan  for,  purpose
of. - Usually used with "have" or "with". * /Save your money now  with
an eye to the future./ * /John is going to  college  with  an  eye  to
becoming a lawyer./





   [face] See: BLUE IN THE FACE, CUT OFF ONE'S  NOSE  TO  SPITE  ONE'S
FACE, FLY IN THE FACE OF, HATCHET FACE,  HIDE  ONE'S  FACE,  IN  ONE'S
FACE, IN THE FACE OF, LONG FACE, LOOK IN THE EYE or LOOK IN THE  FACE,
MAKE A FACE, ON THE FACE OF IT, SAVE FACE,  SET  ONE'S  FACE  AGAINST,
SHOOT OFF ONE'S MOUTH or SHOOT OFF ONE'S FACE, SHOW ONE'S  FACE,  SLAP
IN THE FACE, STARE IN THE FACE, STRAIGHT FACE, THROW IN ONE'S FACE, TO
ONE'S FACE.

   [face down] {v. phr.}  To  get  the  upper  hand  over  someone  by
behaving forcefully; disconcert someone by  the  displaying  of  great
self-assurance. * /The night guard faced down the burglar  by  staring
him squarely in the face./ Contrast: FACE UP.

   [face lift] {n. phr.} 1. A  surgical  procedure  designed  to  make
one's face look younger. * /Aunt Jane, who is in her seventies, had an
expensive face lift and now she  looks  as  if  she  were  40./  2.  A
renovation, a refurbishing. * /Our house needs a major  face  lift  to
make it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood./

   [face-saver], [face-saving] See: SAVE FACE.

   [face the music] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  go  through  trouble  or
danger,  especially  because  of  something  you  did;   accept   your
punishment. * /The boy was caught cheating in an examination  and  had
to face the music./ * /The official who had  been  taking  bribes  was
exposed by a newspaper, and had to face the music./ * /George knew his
mother would cry when he told her, but he decided to go home and  face
the music./ Compare: MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, PAY THE PIPER, TAKE
ONE'S MEDICINE.

   [face-to-face] {adv. phr.} 1. With your  face  looking  toward  the
face of another person; each facing the other. * /Turning a corner, he
found himself face-to-face with a policeman./ * /The two teams for the
spelling bee stood face-to-face on opposite sides of the classroom./ *
/The church and the school stand face-to-face across the  street./  2.
In the presence of another or others. * /She was thrilled to meet  the
President face-to-face./ * /I have heard about him, but  I  never  met
him face-to-face./ Compare: IN PERSON. 3. To the point where you  must
do something. - Used with "with". * /The solution of the first problem
brought him face-to-face with a second problem./ Compare: UP AGAINST.

   [face-to-face] {adj.} Being in the  presence  of  a  person;  being
right with someone. * /The British prime minister came  to  Washington
for a face-to-face meeting with the President./

   [face up to] {v. phr.}  1.  To  bravely  confront  a  person  or  a
challenge; admit. * /Jack doesn't want to face up  to  the  fact  that
Helen doesn't love him  anymore./  *  /Jane  cannot  face  up  to  her
mother-in-law who always wins every argument they have./ 2. To confess
something to someone; confess to having done something. * /Jim had  to
face up to  having  stolen  a  sweater  from  the  department  store./
Contrast: FACE DOWN.

   [face value] {n.} 1. The worth or price printed on a  stamp,  bond,
note, piece of paper money, etc. * /The savings bond had a face  value
of $25./ 2. The seeming worth or truth of something. * /She  took  his
stories at face value and did not know he was joking./

   [faced with] {adj. phr.} Confronted with. * /We were all faced with
the many  wars  that  broke  out  in  the  wake  of  the  collapse  of
communism./

   [fact] See: IN FACT, MATTER-OF-FACT.

   [facts of life] {n. phr.} 1. The truth which we should  know  about
sex, marriage, and births. * /His father told him the  facts  of  life
when he was old enough./ 2. The truths one  learns  about  people  and
their good and bad habits of life, work or play. * /As a cub  reporter
he would learn the facts of life in the newspaper world./

   [fade back] {v.} To back away  from  the  line  before  passing  in
football. * /The quarterback is fading back to  pass./  Compare:  DROP
BACK.

   [fail] See: WITHOUT FAIL.

   [fail to do] {v. phr.} To neglect to do something that is  expected
of one. * /Tom waited for Jane for nearly an hour, but she  failed  to
show up./

   [fair] See: BID FAIR, PLAY FAIR.

   [fair  and  square]  {adv.  phr.},  {informal}  Without   cheating;
honestly. * /He won the game fair and square./

   [fair catch] {n.} A catch of a kicked football by a player after he
holds up his hand to show that he will not run with the  ball.  *  /He
saw that he would not be able to run with the ball,  so  he  signalled
for a fair catch./

   [fair-haired boy] {n.},  {informal}  A  person  that  gets  special
favors; favorite; pet. * /If he wins the election by a large majority,
he will become his party's fair-haired boy./ * /The local boy  playing
first base could do no wrong; he was the fair-haired boy of the fans./
* /Charles was a good student and behaved very  well;  he  became  the
teacher's fair-haired boy./

   [fair play] {n.}  Equal  and  right  action  (to  another  person);
justice. * /The visiting team did not get fair play in  the  game./  *
/The judges decided against Bob, but he said that he had  gotten  fair
play./ * /Sally's sense of fair play made  her  a  favorite  with  her
classmates./

   [fair sex] {n. }, {informal} Women in general; the  female  sex.  *
/"Better not use four-letter words in front of a member  of  the  fair
sex," Joe said./

   [fair shake] {n.}, {informal} Honest treatment. * /Joe  has  always
given me a fair shake./

   [fair-weather friend] {n.} A person who is a friend only  when  you
are successful. * /Everyone knows  that  John's  only  a  fair-weather
friend./

   [fairy godmother] {n.} 1. A fairy believed to help and take care of
a baby as it grows up. 2.  A  person  who  helps  and  does  much  for
another. * /The rich man played fairy godmother to the boys and had  a
baseball field made for them./ * /Jane was a fairy  godmother  to  her
poorer friends./

   [fairy tale] or [story] {n.} An inaccurate, even false  account  of
something; a result of wishful thinking. * /Jeff said he was going  to
be promoted soon, but we all suspect  that  it  is  only  one  of  his
customary fairy tales./

   [faith] See: GOOD FAITH, ON FAITH.

   [fall] See: BOTTOM DROP OUT or BOTTOM FALL OUT, RIDING FOR A FALL.

   [fall all over] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  show  too  much  love  or
thanks toward (someone). * /She must love  him.  Every  time  you  see
them, she's falling all over him./ * /When Bob found the  lady's  ring
and returned it, she fell all over him./

   [fall asleep at the  switch]  {v.  phr.}  To  fail  to  perform  an
expected task; be remiss in one's duty. * /The two airplanes  wouldn't
have collided, if the control tower operator hadn't fallen  asleep  at
the switch./ * /The dean promised  our  department  $250,000  but  the
foundation never sent the money because someone in the  dean's  office
fell asleep at the switch./

   [fall away] {v. phr.} To decline; diminish. * /I was shocked to see
how haggard Alan looked; he seems to be falling away to a shadow./

   [fall back] {v.} To move back; go back. - Usually used with a group
as subject. * /The army fell back before their  stubborn  enemies./  *
/The crowd around the hurt boy fell back when  someone  shouted  "Give
him air!"/ Compare: DROP BACK, GIVE WAY.

   [fall back on] or [fall back upon] v. 1.  To  retreat  to.  *  /The
enemy made a strong attack, and the soldiers fell back on  the  fort./
2. To go for help to; turn to in time of need. * /When the  big  bills
for Mother's hospital care came, Joe was glad he had money in the bank
to fall back on./ * /If Mr. Jones can't find a job as  a  teacher,  he
can fall back on his skill as a printer./

   [fall behind] {v.} To go slower than others and be far behind them.
* /When the campers took a hike in the woods, two boys fell behind and
got lost./ * /Frank's lessons were too hard for him, and he soon  fell
behind the rest of the class./ * /Mary was not  promoted  because  she
dreamed too much and fell behind in her lessons./

   [fall by the wayside] also [drop by the wayside] {v. phr.} To  give
up or fail before the finish. * /The boys  tried  to  make  a  50-mile
hike, but most of them fell by the wayside./  *  /George,  Harry,  and
John entered college to become teachers, but Harry and  John  fell  by
the wayside, and only George graduated./

   [fall down on the job] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to work  well.
* /The boss was disappointed when his workers fell down on the job./

   [fall due] or [come] or [become due] {v. phr.} To  reach  the  time
when a bill or invoice is to be paid. * /Our car payment falls due  on
the first of every month./

   [fall flat] {v.}, {informal} To be a failure; fail.  *  /The  party
fell flat because of the rain./ * /His joke fell flat because  no  one
understood it./

   [fall for] {v.}, {slang} 1. To begin to like  very  much.  *  /Dick
fell for baseball when he was a little boy./ 2. To begin  to  love  (a
boy or a girl.) * /Helen was a very pretty girl and  people  were  not
surprised that Bill fell for her./ 3. To believe  (something  told  to
fool you.) * /Nell did not fall for Joe's  story  about  being  a  jet
pilot./

   [fall from grace] {v. phr.} To go back to a bad way of behaving; do
something bad again. * /The boys behaved well during dinner until they
fell from grace by eating their dessert with their fingers instead  of
their forks./ * /The boy fell from grace when he lied./

   [fall guy] {n.}, {slang} The "patsy" in an illegal  transaction;  a
sucker; a dupe; the person who takes the punishment others deserve.  *
/When the Savings and Loan Bank failed, due to embezzlement, the  vice
president had to be the fall guy, saving the necks of the owners./

   [fall in] {v.} 1. To go and stand properly in a row like  soldiers.
* /The captain told his men to fall in./ Contrast: FALL OUT(3). 2.  to
collapse. * /The explosion caused the walls of the house to fall in./

   [fall in for] {v.} To receive; get. * /The boy  fell  in  for  some
sympathy when he broke his leg./ * /The team manager fell in for  most
of the blame when his team lost the playoffs./

   [falling-out] {n.} Argument; disagreement;  quarrel.  *  /Mary  and
Jane had a falling-out about who owned the book./ * /The  boys  had  a
falling-out when each said that the other had broken the rules./

   [fall in line] or [fall into line] See: IN LINE, INTO LINE.

   [fall in love] See: IN LOVE.

   [fall in] or [into place] {v. phr.} To suddenly  make  sense;  find
the natural or proper place for the missing  pieces  of  a  puzzle.  *
/When the detectives realized that a second man was seen at the  place
of the murder, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place./

   [fall in with] {v.}, {informal} 1. To meet  by  accident.  *  /Mary
fell in with some of her friends downtown./ 2. To agree to help  with;
support. * /I fell in with Jack's plan to play a trick on his father./
3. To become associated with a group detrimental to  the  newcomer.  *
/John fell in with a wild bunch; small wonder he flunked  all  of  his
courses./ Compare: PLAY ALONG.

   [fall into the habit of] {v. phr.} To develop the custom  of  doing
something. * /Jack has fallen into the bad habit of playing poker  for
large sums of money every night./

   [fall off] See: DROP OFF(4).

   [fall off the wagon]  {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {alcoholism  and  drug
culture} To return to the consumption of an addictive, such as alcohol
or drugs, after a period of abstinence. * /Poor Joe has fallen off the
wagon again - he is completely incoherent today./

   [fall on] or [fall upon] {v.} 1. To go and fight  with;  attack.  *
/The robbers fell on him from  behind  trees./  2.  {formal}  To  meet
(troubles). * /The famous poet fell upon unhappy days./

   [fallout] {n.} 1. Result of nuclear explosion; harmful  radioactive
particles. * /Some experts consider fallout as dangerous as  the  bomb
itself./ 2. Undesirable aftereffects in general. * /As  a  fallout  of
Watergate, many people lost their faith in the government./

   [fall out] {v.} 1. To happen. * /As it fell out, the  Harpers  were
able to sell their old car./ Compare:  TURN  OUT(6).  2.  To  quarrel;
fight; fuss; disagree. * /The thieves fell out over  the  division  of
the loot./ 3. To leave a military formation. * /You men are dismissed.
Fall out!/ Contrast: FALL IN. 4. To leave a building to  go  and  line
up. * /The soldiers fell out of the barracks for inspection./

   [fall over backwards] or  [fall  over  oneself]  {v.  phr.}  To  do
everything you can  to  please  someone;  try  very  hard  to  satisfy
someone. * /The hotel manager fell over backwards to  give  the  movie
star everything she wanted./ * /The boys fell over  themselves  trying
to get the new girl's attention./

   [fall over yourself] See: FALL OVER BACKWARDS.

   [fall short] {v.} To fail to reach (some aim); not succeed. *  /His
jump fell three inches short of the world record./ * /The  movie  fell
short of expectations./ Contrast: MEASURE UP.

   [fall through] {v.}, {informal} To fail; be ruined; not  happen  or
be done. * /Jim's plans to go to college  fell  through  at  the  last
moment./ * /Mr. Jones' deal to sell his house fell through./ Contrast:
COME OFF.

   [fall to] {v.} 1. To begin to work. * /The boys fell to and quickly
cut the grass./ Syn.: TURN TO. 2. To begin to fight. * /They took  out
their swords and fell to./ 3. To begin to eat. * /The hungry boys fell
to before everyone sat down./ 4. Begin; start. * /The old friends  met
and fell to talking about their school days./

   [fall to pieces] {v. phr.} To disintegrate; collapse. * /After  the
death of Alexander the Great, his empire started to fall to pieces./

   [fall wide of the mark] See: WIDE OF THE MARK.

   [false] See: PLAY ONE FALSE, SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.

   [family] See: RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE FAMILY,  IN  A  FAMILY
WAY.

   [family tree] {n.} Ancestry. * /My family tree can be  traced  back
to the sixteenth century./

   [famine] See: FEAST OR A FAMINE.

   [fancy doing something] -  An  expression  of  surprise.  *  /Fancy
meeting you here in such an unexpected place!/

   [fancy pants] {n.}, {slang} A man or boy who wears clothes that are
too nice or acts like a woman or girl; sissy. * /The first  time  they
saw him in his new band uniform, they yelled "Hey, fancy  pants,  what
are you doing in your sister's slacks?"/

   [fan] See: HIT THE FAN.

   [fan out] {v. phr.} To spread in several directions.  *  /The  main
road fans out at the edge of the forest in four different directions./

   [fan the breeze] {v. phr.} 1. See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.  2.  To  swing
and miss the ball in baseball. * /The batter tried to hit a  home  run
but he fanned the breeze./

   [far] See: AS FAR AS or SO FAR AS, SO FAR also THUS  PAR,  BY  FAR,
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, SO PAR, SO GOOD.

   [far afield] {adj. phr.} Remote; far  from  the  original  starting
point. * /When we started to  discuss  theology.  Jack  was  obviously
getting far afield from the subject at hand./

   [far and away] {adv. phr.} Very much. * /The fish was far and  away
the biggest ever caught on  the  lake./  Compare:  BY  FAR,  HEAD  AND
SHOULDERS(2).

   [far and near] {n. phr.} Far places and near places; everywhere.  *
/People came from far and near to hear him speak./

   [far and wide] {adv. phr.} Everywhere, in all  directions.  *  /The
wind blew the papers far and wide./  *  /My  old  school  friends  are
scattered far and wide now./ * /The movie company looked far and  wide
for a boy to act the hero in the new movie./ Compare: ALL OVER.

   [farfetched] {adj.} Exaggerated; fantastic. * /Sally told  us  some
farfetched story about having been kidnapped by little green men in  a
flying saucer./

   [far cry] {n.} Something very different. * /His last statement  was
a far cry from his first story./ * /The first  automobile  could  run,
but it was a far cry from a modern car./

   [far from it] {adv. phr.} Not even  approximately;  not  really  at
all. * /"Do you think she spent $100 on that dress?" Jane asked.  "Far
from it," Sue replied. "It must have cost at least $300."/

   [far gone] {adj. phr.} In a critical or extreme state. * /He was so
far gone by the time the doctor arrived, that nothing could be done to
save his life./

   [farm] See: COLLECTIVE FARM.

   [farm out] {v.} 1. To have another person do (something)  for  you;
send away to be done. * /Our teacher had too many test papers to read,
so she farmed out half of them to a friend./ 2. To  send  away  to  be
taken care of. * /While Mother was sick, the children were farmed  out
to relatives./ 3. To send a player to a league where  the  quality  of
play is lower. * /The player was  farmed  out  to  Rochester  to  gain
experience./

   [far-out] {adj.} 1. Very  far  away;  distant.  *  /Scientists  are
planning rocket trips to the moon and far-out planets./ 2.  {informal}
Very different from others; queer; odd, unusual. * /He  enjoyed  being
with beatniks and other far-out people./ * /Susan did not like some of
the paintings at the art show because they were too far-out for her./

   [fashion] See: AFTER A FASHION, HIGH FASHION or HIGH STYLE.

   [fast] See: HARD-AND-FAST, PLAY FAST AND LOOSE.

   [fast and furious] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very fast; with much speed
and energy. * /He was mowing the grass at a fast and furious rate./  *
/When I last saw her  she  was  driving  fast  and  furious  down  the
street./ Compare: GREAT GUNS.

   [fast buck] or  [quick  buck]  {slang}  Money  earned  quickly  and
easily, and sometimes dishonestly. * /You can make a fast buck at  the
golf course by fishing balls out of  the  water  trap./  *  /He  isn't
interested in a career; he's just looking for a quick buck./

   [fast talker] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A con artist or a swindler,
one who is particularly apt to get away with illegitimate transactions
because of the clever way he talks. * /I wouldn't trust Uncle Joe if I
were you, - he is a fast talker./

   [fast time] See: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

   [fasten on] {v. phr.} To attach; tie something to make it secure. *
/"Fasten on your life jackets when you get into the life  boats,"  the
captain said./

   [fat] See: CHEW THE FAT.

   [fat chance] {n. phr.}, {slang} Little or no possibility; almost no
chance. * /A high school team would have a fat  chance  of  beating  a
strong college team./ * /Jane is pretty and popular; you will  have  a
fat chance of getting a date with her./ Compare: GHOST OF A.

   [fat city] {n.}, {slang} A state of contentment due to  wealth  and
position. * /Bully for the Smiths; they have arrived in Fat City./

   [fate] See: TEMPT FATE or TEMPT THE FATES.

   [father] See: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

   [Father Christmas] {n.}, {British} The joyful spirit of  Christmas;
Santa Claus. * /English children look forward to the visit  of  Father
Christmas./

   [Father's Day] {n.} The third Sunday in June set  aside  especially
to honor fathers whether living or dead. *  /The  children  gave  nice
presents to their father on Father's Day./

   [fat is in the fire] Something has happened that will cause trouble
or make a bad situation worse. * /He found out you took it? Well,  the
fat's in the fire now./

   [fat of the land] {n. phr.} The best  and  richest  food,  clothes,
everything. * /When I'm rich I'll retire and live off the fat  of  the
land./

   [fault] See: AT FAULT, FIND FAULT, TO A FAULT.

   [faultfinding] {n.} Recrimination; nagging; criticism.  *  /All  of
this constant faultfinding will only to lead to  trouble  between  you
and your wife./

   [favor] See: CURRY FAVOR, IN FAVOR OF.

   [favorite  son]  {n.}  A  man  supported  by  his  home  state  for
President. * /At a national convention, states often  vote  for  their
favorite sons first; then they change and vote for another man./

   [fear] See: FOR FEAR.

   [fear and trembling] or [fear  and  trepidation]  {n.  phr.}  Great
fear. * /He came in fear and trembling to tell his father he had a bad
report card./

   [feast one's eyes on] {v. phr.} To look at and enjoy very  much.  *
/He feasted his eyes on the beautiful painting./

   [feast or a famine] {n. phr.} Plenty or very little; big success or
bad failure. * /In this business it's either a feast or a  famine./  *
/He is very careless with his money, it is always a feast or a  famine
with him./

   [feather] See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER, TAR AND  FEATHER,
FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS,  FUSS  AND  FEATHERS,  MAKE  THE
FEATHERS FLY, RUFFLE FEATHERS.

   [feather in one's cap] {n. phr.}  Something  to  be  proud  of;  an
honor. * /It was a feather in his cap to win first prize./  (From  the
medieval practice of placing a feather in the helmet of  one  who  won
honors in battle.)

   [feather one's nest] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To use  for  yourself
money and power, especially from a public office or job in  which  you
are trusted to help other people. * /The rich man told his  lawyer  to
use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor  people,  but
the lawyer feathered his own nest with the money instead./ * /The  man
feathered his nest in politics by getting money from  contractors  who
built roads./ Syn.: LINE ONE'S POCKETS. 2. To make your home  pleasant
and comfortable; furnish and decorate your house. * /Furniture  stores
welcome young couples who want to feather their nests./

   [fed up] ({informal}) also ({slang}) [fed to the gills] or [fed  to
the teeth] {adj. phr.} Having had too much of something; at the end of
your patience; disgusted; bored; tired. *  /People  get  fed  up  with
anyone who brags all the time./ * /I've had enough of his  complaints.
I'm fed up./ * /He was fed to the teeth with television and  sold  his
set to a cousin./ * /John quit football because  he  was  fed  to  the
gills with practice./ Compare: SICK AND TIRED.

   [feed] See: BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS ONE, CHICKEN FEED, OFF FEED or
OFF ONE'S FEED, SPOON FEED.

   [feel] See: GET THE FEEL OF and HARD FEELING.

   [feel a draft] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have the sensation that one is
not welcome in a place; that one has gotten a cold reception. * /Let's
go, Suzie, I feel a draft./

   [feel for someone] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be able  to  sympathize
with someone's problems. * /I can  really  feel  for  you,  John,  for
losing your job./

   [feel free to do] {v. phr.} To take the liberty  to  engage  in  an
activity. * /Please feel free to take off your  jackets;  this  is  an
informal party./

   [feel in one's bones] or [know in one's bones] {v. phr.} To have an
idea or feeling but not know why. * /I feel in my hones that  tomorrow
will be a sunny day./ * /I know in my bones that God will protect us./

   [feel like] {v.}, {informal} To want to do or have. * /I don't feel
like running today./ * /I just don't feel like pancakes this morning./

   [feel like a million] or [feel like a million dollars]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To be in the best of health and spirits. * /I feel  like  a
million this morning./ * /He had a headache yesterday but feels like a
million dollars today./ Compare: LOOK LIKE A MILLION.

   [feel like a new man] {v. phr.} To feel healthy, vigorous, and well
again after a major physical illness or  emotional  upheaval.  *  /Ted
felt like a new man after his successful heart bypass operation./

   [feel like two cents] See: TWO CENTS.

   [feel low] {v. phr.} To be depressed; be in low spirits. * /I don't
know what's the matter with Mary, but she says she  has  been  feeling
very low all afternoon./

   [feel no pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To  be  drunk.  *  /After  a  few
drinks, the man felt no pain and began to act foolishly./

   [feel one's oats] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To feel frisky or  playful;
be eager and excited. * /The horses were feeling their oats./ *  /When
they first got to camp, the boys were feeling their oats./ 2.  To  act
in a proud or important way. * /The new gardener was feeling his  oats
and started to boss the other men./

   [feel one's way] {v. phr.}  To  proceed  cautiously  by  trial  and
error; probe. * /I won't ask her to marry me directly; I will feel  my
way first./

   [feel] or [look small] {v. phr.} To have the impression that one is
insignificant, foolish, or  humiliated.  *  /"I  feel  small  next  to
Hemingway," the young student of creative writing said./

   [feel out] {v.} To talk or act carefully with someone and find what
he thinks or can do. * /The pupils felt  out  the  principal  about  a
party after the game./ * /John felt out his father about  letting  him
have the car that evening./ * /At first the  boxers  felt  each  other
out./ Compare: SOUND OUT.

   [feel out of place] {v. phr.} To experience the  sensation  of  not
belonging in a certain place or company. * /Dave  felt  out  of  place
among all those chess players as he knows nothing about chess./

   [feel the pinch]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  short  of  money;  experience
monetary difficulties. *  /If  we  are  going  to  have  a  recession,
everybody will feel the pinch./

   [feel up] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To  arouse  sexually  by
manual contact. * /You mean to tell me that you've been going out  for
six months and he hasn't ever tried to feel you up?/ Contrast:  COP  A
FEEL.

   [feel up to something] {v. phr.},  {informal}  To  feel  adequately
knowledgeable, strong, or equipped to handle a given task. *  /Do  you
feel up to jogging  a  mile  a  day  with  me?/  Contrast:  BE  UP  TO
SOMETHING.

   [feet] See: FOOT.

   [feet of clay] {n. phr.} A hidden fault or  weakness  in  a  person
which is discovered or shown. * /The famous general showed he had feet
of clay when he began to drink liquor./ * /The  banker  seemed  to  be
honest, but he had feet of clay and was arrested for stealing./

   [feet on the ground] {n. phr.} An  understanding  of  what  can  be
done; sensible ideas. Used with a possessive. * /John has his feet  on
the ground; he knows he cannot  learn  everything  at  once./  *  /Ted
dreams of sudden riches, but Henry keeps his feet on  the  ground  and
expects to work for his money./ * /Mrs. Smith was a dreamer,  but  her
husband was a man with his feet  on  the  ground./  Contrast:  IN  THE
CLOUDS.

   [fell] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.

   [fellow] See: HAIL-FELLOW-WELL-MET, REGULAR GUY or REGULAR FELLOW.

   [fellow traveller] {n.} A sympathizer with a political movement who
does not officially belong to the political party in question. * /Many
Germans after World War II were innocently  accused  of  being  fellow
travellers of Nazism./ * /During the McCarthy era, many Americans were
accused of being Communist fellow travellers./

   [fence] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER  ON  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OF  THE
FENCE, MEND ONE'S FENCES, ON THE FENCE.

   [fence in] or [hedge in] or [hem in] {v.} To  keep  (someone)  from
doing what he or she would like to do. Usually used in the passive.  *
/Mary felt fenced in because her father would not let her drive a  car
or have dates with boys./ * /John didn't like his job because  he  had
to do the same kind of work all the time. He felt that he  was  hemmed
in./

   [fence-sitter] {n.} A person unable to pick between  two  sides;  a
person who does not want to choose. * /Daddy says he is a fence-sitter
because he doesn't know which man he wants for President./

   [fence-sitting] {n.} or {adj.} Choosing neither side. *  /You  have
been fence-sitting for too long. It is time you made  up  your  mind./
Contrast: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND, TAKE SIDES.

   [fence with] or [spar with] {v.} To talk with (someone) as  if  you
were fighting like a swordsman or boxer; to give skillful  answers  or
arguments against (someone). * /The governor was an expert at  fencing
with reporters at press conferences./

   [ferret out] {literary} or [smell out] or [sniff out] {v.} To  hunt
or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find.
* /John ferreted out the answer to the question  in  the  library./  *
/Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods./

   [few] See: MAN OF FEW WORDS, NOT A FEW, QUITE A FEW.

   [few and far between] {adj. phr.} Not many; few and scattered;  not
often met or found; rare. - Used in the predicate. * /People who  will
work as hard as Thomas A. Edison are few and far between./  *  /Places
where you can get water are few and far  between  in  the  desert./  *
/Really exciting games are few and far between./

   [fickle finger of fate] See: ACT OF GOD.

   [fiddle] See: PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.

   [fiddle around] See: FOOL AROUND(3).

   [fiddler] See: PAY THE PIPER or PAY THE FIDDLER.

   [fiddle with] {v. phr.} To carelessly play with  something.  *  /If
Jimmy continues to fiddle with our computer, he is liable to ruin it./

   [field] See: CENTER FIELD, LEFT FIELD, OUT IN LEFT FIELD, PLAY  THE
FIELD, RIGHT FIELD.

   [field goal] {n.} 1. A score in football made by kicking  the  ball
over the bar between the goal posts. * /The Giants were  not  able  to
make a touchdown but they kicked  two  field  goals./  Compare:  EXTRA
POINT. 2. A score in basketball made by a successful shot through  the
basket not made on a free throw. * /A field goal counts  two  points./
Compare: FOUL SHOT, FREE THROW.

   [fifth] See: TAKE THE FIFTH.

   [fifth column] {n. phr.} A group or organization within  a  country
that works to bring about the country's downfall, usually through acts
of espionage and sabotage. * /The Communist party in the United States
was considered by Senator McCarthy to  be  the  Soviet  Union's  fifth
column./

   [flfty-flfty(1)] {adv.}, {informal} Equally;  evenly.  *  /The  two
boys divided the marbles they won fifty-fifty./ * /When Dick  and  Sam
bought an old car, they divided the cost fifty-fifty./

   [fifty-fifty(2)] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Divided or shared equally. *
/It will be a fifty-fifty arrangement; half the money for me and  half
for you./ 2. Half for and half against; half  good  and  half  bad.  *
/There is only a fifty-fifty  chance  that  we  will  win  the  game./
Compare: HALF AND HALF.

   [fight against time] See: RACING TO STAND STILL.

   [fight fire with fire] {v. phr.}, {slightly formal},  {of  Biblical
origin} To fight back in the same way one was attacked; make a defense
similar to the attack. * /The candidate was determined to  fight  fire
with fire in the debate./

   [fight it out] See: SLUG IT OUT.

   [fighting chance] {n. phr.} A chance that necessitates struggle and
courage; a slim chance. * /The doctor told the family that Jack had  a
fighting chance to recover./ * /Our business lost a lot of  money,  but
we have a fighting chance to stage a comeback./

   [fight off] {v. phr.} 1. To struggle against someone so as to  free
oneself; push an attacker back. * /Suzy fought off her  two  attackers
in Central Park with a couple  of  karate  chops./  2.  To  strive  to
overcome something negative. * /After twelve  hours  at  the  computer
terminal, Jane had to fight off  her  overwhelming  desire  to  go  to
sleep./

   [fight shy of] {v. phr.} To avoid;  escape  from.  *  /Jack  always
fights shy of anything that even remotely resembles serious work./

   [fight tooth and nail] See: TOOTH AND NAIL.

   [figure in] {v.} 1. {informal} To add to a total; remember  to  put
down in figures. * /We figured in the travel expenses but  forgot  the
cost of meals./ 2. To have a part in; be  partly  responsible  for.  *
/Joe figured in all our touchdowns./ * /Mary's good grades figured  in
her choice as class president./

   [figure on] {v.} 1. To expect and think about while making plans. *
/We did not figure on having so many people  at  the  picnic./  *  /He
figured on going to town the next day./ Syn.: PLAN ON.  2.  To  depend
on; be; sure about. * /You can figure on him to  be  on  time./  Syn.:
COUNT ON.

   [figure out] {v.} 1. To find an  answer  by  thinking  about  (some
problem or difficulty); solve. * /Tom couldn't  figure  out  the  last
problem on the arithmetic test./ * /Sam couldn't  figure  out  how  to
print a program until the teacher showed him how./  *  /Mary  couldn't
figure out why her cake tasted so funny until she found salt mixed  in
the sugar bag./ Compare: FIND OUT(1). 2.  To  learn  how  to  explain;
understand. * /Laurence is an  odd  boy;  I  can't  figure  him  out./
Compare: MAKE OUT(2).

   [figure up] {v. phr.} To calculate; add up. * /If you can figure up
how many phone calls I've made from your home, I will  pay  you  right
away./

   [fill in] {v.} 1. To write words needed in blanks; put in; fill.  *
/You should fill in all the blanks on an application for  a  job./  2.
{informal} To tell what you should know. * /The new  boy  didn't  know
the rules so Bob filled him in./ * /The teacher filled in  Mary  about
class work done while she was  sick./  3.  To  take  another's  place;
substitute. * /The teacher was sick and Miss Jones filled in for her./

   [fill (in) the  gap]  {v.  phr.}  To  supply  a  missing  piece  of
information; provide a clue during the course of solving a mystery.  *
/Sherlock Holmes said, "These fingerprints are bound to fill  the  gap
in our investigation."/

   [fill one's shoes] {v. phr.} To take the place of another and do as
well; to substitute satisfactorily for. * /When  Jack  got  hurt,  the
coach had nobody to fill his shoes./ * /Joe hopes to fill his father's
shoes./ See: IN ONE'S SHOES.

   [fill out] {v.} 1. To put in what  is  missing;  complete;  finish;
{especially}, to complete (a printed application blank or other  form)
by writing the missing facts in the blank spaces; to write down  facts
which are asked for in (a report or application.) * /After Tom  passed
his driving test  he  filled  out  an  application  for  his  driver's
license./ * /The policeman filled out a report of the accident./ 2. To
become heavier and fatter; gain weight. * /When Bill was  nineteen  he
began to fill out./ * /The girl was pale and thin after her  sickness,
but in a few months she filled out./

   [fill the bases] See: LOAD THE BASES.

   [fill the bill] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be just what is needed; be
good enough for something; be just right.  *  /The  boss  was  worried
about hiring a deaf boy, but after he tried Tom out for a  few  weeks,
he said that Tom filled the bill./ * /I thought I would need a special
tool, but this wrench fills the bill./

   [fill up] or [fill it up] or  [fill  her  up]  {v.  phr.}  To  fill
entirely. (Said by the driver of a car to a gas station attendant).  *
/When the attendant asked Andrew how much gas he wanted in  the  tank,
Andrew replied, "Fill her up."/

   [filthy lucre] {n.}, {informal} Money, especially when  thought  of
as bad or shameful. * /When the rich gambler tried to make Sarah marry
him, she said, "Keep your filthy lucre -  I  shall  marry  the  man  I
love."/ - Sometimes used in a joking way. * /"Come and let's  get  rid
of some filthy lucre."/

   [filthy rich] {adj.  phr.}  Extremely  rich  but  without  cultural
refinement; nouveau riche. * /"The Murgatroyds are filthy  rich,"  Ted
complained. "They are rolling in money but they never learned  how  to
behave properly at a dinner table."/

   [finders keepers] or [finders keepers, losers  weepers]  {informal}
Those who find lost things can keep them. - Used usually  by  children
to claim the right to keep something they have found. * /I don't  have
to give it back; it's finders keepers./  *  /Finders  keepers,  losers
weepers! It's my knife now!/

   [find  fault]  {v.  phr.}  To  find  something   wrong;   complain;
criticize. * /She tries to please him, but he always finds  fault./  *
/They found fault with every box  I  made./  Compare:  JUMP  ON,  PICK
AT(3).

   [find it in one's heart] {v. phr.} To be able or willing because of
your nature. * /He could not find it in his heart to  tell  her  about
her mother's death./ * /Can you find it in your heart to forgive  me?/
* /He could never find it in his heart to be mean to a dog./

   [find one's ---] {v. phr.} To become able to use (some power of the
body or mind.) * /In the program for the parents, John was nervous and
could not speak at first; then he found his tongue./ * /The young bird
had just found its wings./ * /The baby was just beginning to find  his
feet./ * /The question surprised him, and it was a  minute  before  he
found his tongue./

   [find oneself] {v. phr.} To find out what one  is  fitted  for  and
succeed in that. * /Mary tried several lines  of  work,  but  at  last
found herself as a teacher./ * /Sometimes young people move  around  a
long time from job to job before they find themselves./

   [find] or [get one's bearings] {v. phr.} To know where  one  is  or
where one is headed. * /"Without a compass," the sergeant  warned  the
enlisted men, "you will never find your bearings in the desert."/

   [find out] {v.} 1. To learn or discover (something you did not know
before.) * /One morning the baby found out for the first time that she
could walk./ * /I don't know how this car works, but  I'll  soon  find
out./ * /He watched the birds to find out where they go./ * /Mary  was
angry when Jane found out her secret./ 2. To get facts; to  get  facts
about. * /He wrote to find out about a job in Alaska./  *  /She  found
out how much the house would cost./ 3.  To  discover  (someone)  doing
wrong; catch. * /Some children are bad when no one is  watching  them,
but they are usually found out./ * /The boy knew that if he cheated on
the test the teacher would find him out./

   [find out the hard way] See: HARD WAY.

   [fine feathers do not make fine  birds]  {literary}  A  person  who
wears fine clothes may not be as good as he  looks.  -  A  proverb.  *
/Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she  is  very  mean.
Fine feathers do  not  make  fine  birds./  Compare:  HANDSOME  IS  AS
HANDSOME DOES.

   [fine kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.

   [fine-tooth comb] {n. ph