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plans for the dance./
[give an ear to] or [lend an ear to] {v. phr.}, {literary} To
listen to. * /Children should give an ear to their parents' advice./ *
/The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people./
[give a pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make (you) disgusted; annoy. *
/Ann's laziness gives her mother a pain./ * /John's bad manners give
his teacher a pain./ Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK.
[give as good as one gets] {v. phr.} To be able to give back blow
for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. * /The
Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English./ *
/George gave as good as he got in his fight with the older boy./
Compare: EYE FOR AN EYE, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY.
[give away] {v.} 1. To give as a present. * /Mrs. Jones has several
kittens to give away./ 2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the
wedding. * /Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter./ 3. To let (a secret)
become known; tell the secret of. * /The little boy gave away his
hiding place when he coughed./ * /Mary said she didn't care anything
about John, but her blushing face gave her away./ Compare: SPILL THE
BEANS, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 4. See: GIVE ONESELF AWAY.
[giveaway] or [dead giveaway] {n.} (stress on "give") 1. An open
secret. * /By mid-afternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss
would be./ 2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for
much less than their market value. * /The Simpson's garage sale was
actually a big giveaway./ 3. A gift; something one doesn't have to pay
for. * /The tickets to the concert were a giveaway./
[give a wide berth] {v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe
distance from. * /Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ * /Jack
gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ * /After Tom got Bob
into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./
[give birth to] {v. phr.} 1. To bear live offspring. * /The mother
gave birth to twin baby girls./ 2. To bring about; create; occasion. *
/Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony./
[give chase] {v. phr.} To chase or run after someone or something.
* /The dog saw a rabbit and gave chase./ * /The policeman gave chase
to the man who robbed the bank./
[give color to] or [lend color to] {v. phr.} To make (something)
seem true or likely. * /The boy's torn clothes gave color to his story
of a fight./ * /The way the man ate lent color to his story of near
starvation./
[give credence to] {v. phr.} 1. To be willing to believe that
something is true. * /Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used
to be a convict./ * /Give no credence to the rumor that our state is
bankrupt; nothing could be farther from the truth./
[give fits] {v. phr.} {informal} To upset; bother very much. *
/Paul's higher grades give John fits./ * /The short guard gave his
tall opponent fits./ Compare: GIVE A HARD TIME.
[give forth] {v. phr.} To emit; produce. * /When the gong was
struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound./
[give free rein to] See: GIVE REIN TO.
[give gray hair] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) anxious,
confused, or worried. * /The traffic problem is enough to give a
policeman gray hairs./ Compare: GET GRAY HAIR.
[give ground] {v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back;
retreat. * /After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give
ground./ * /Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men
refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND.
Contrast: HOLD ONE'S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STAND PAT,
STAVE OFF.
[give her the gun] See: GIVE IT THE GUN.
[give in] {v.} To stop fighting or arguing and do as the other
person wants; give someone his own way; stop opposing someone. *
/Mother kept inviting Mrs. Smith to stay for lunch, and finally she
gave in./ * /After Billy proved that he could ride a bicycle safely,
his father gave in to him and bought him one./ Compare: GIVE UP, SAY
UNCLE.
[give it some thought] {v. phr.} To wait and see; consider
something after some time has elapsed. * /"Will you buy my car?" Fred
asked. "Let me give it some thought," Jim answered./ Contrast: SLEEP
ON.
[give it the gun] or [give her the gun] {v. phr.}, {slang} To gun
or speed up a motor; make a car, airplane, or something driven by a
motor go faster. * /The race driver gave it the gun./ * /The speedboat
pilot gave her the gun./ Compare: STEP ON IT.
[give it to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat.
* /The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent./
Syn.: LET HAVE IT. 2. To scold. * /Jerry's mother gave it to him for
coming home late./ Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LACE INTO.
Contrast: CATCH IT.
[give it to one straight] {v. phr.} To be direct; be frank. * /I
asked the doctor to give it to me straight how long I have to live./
[give no quarter] {v. phr.} To be ruthless and show no mercy. *
/The enemy soldiers gave no quarter and shot all the prisoners./
[give notice] {v. phr.} To inform an employer, an employee, a
landlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement of
service or tenancy. * /Max gave notice at the bank where he was
working./ * /Sally was given notice by her landlord./
[given to] {adj. phr.} Having a tendency to; addicted to. * /Phil
is given to telling fantastic tales about his chateau in France./
[give off] {v.} To send out; let out; put forth. * /Rotten eggs
give off a bad smell./ * /Burning leaves give off thick smoke./ Syn.:
GIVE OUT(2).
[give of oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To give your time and
effort to help others. * /You should give of yourself sometimes./ *
/During World War II, Governor Baldwin gave of himself by sweeping the
halls of a hospital every afternoon./
[give one a dressing down] See: DRESSING DOWN.
[give one a free hand] See: FREE HAND.
[give one a (good) going-over] See: GO OVER(1).
[give one a lift] {v. phr.} 1. To give someone a ride. * /Jack gave
me a lift in his new car./ 2. To comfort someone. * /Talking to my
doctor yesterday gave me a lift./
[give one an inch, and he will take a mile] If you give some people
a little or yield anything, they will want more and more; some people
are never satisfied. * /I gave Billy a bite of candy and he wanted
more and more. If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile./ * /The
counselor said to Jack, "No, I can't let you get a haircut until
Saturday. It's against the rules, and if I give an inch, someone will
take a mile."/
[give one a piece of one's mind] {v. phr.}, {informal} To scold
angrily; say what you really think to (someone). * /Mr. Allen gave the
other driver a piece of his mind./ * /The sergeant gave the soldier a
piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots./ Syn.: TELL OFF.
Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING.
[give one a ring] also {informal} [give a buzz] To call on the
telephone. * /Mrs. Jacobs promised to give her husband a ring in the
afternoon./ * /Alice will give her friend a buzz tonight./
[give one enough rope and he will hang himself] {informal} Give a
bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may
make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. - A proverb. *
/Johnny is always stealing and hasn't been caught. But give him enough
rope and he'll hang himself./ - Often used in a short form, "give one
enough rope". * /Mother didn't know who robbed the cookie jar, but she
thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope./
[give one pause] {v. phr.} To astonish someone; cause one to stop
and think. * /"Your remark gives me pause," Tom said, when Jane called
him an incurable gambler./
[give one short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.
[give oneself airs] {v. phr.} To act proud; act vain. * /Mary gave
herself airs when she wore her new dress./ * /John gave himself airs
when he won first prize./
[give oneself away] {v. phr.} To show guilt; show you have done
wrong. * /The thief gave himself away by spending so much money./ *
/Carl played a joke on Bob and gave himself away by laughing./
Compare: GIVE AWAY.
[give oneself up] {v.} To stop hiding or running away; surrender. *
/The thief gave himself up to the police./ * /Mr. Thompson hit another
car, and his wife told him to give himself up./ Compare: TURN IN.
[give oneself up to] {v. phr.} Not to hold yourself back from; let
yourself enjoy. * /Uncle Willie gave himself up to a life of
wandering./ * /John came inside from the cold and gave himself up to
the pleasure of being in a warm room./ Compare: ENJOY ONESELF, LET
ONESELF GO.
[give one some of his] or [her own medicine] {v. phr.} To treat
someone the way he or she treats others (used in the negative). * /The
gangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, a
policeman gave him a little of his own medicine./
[give one's due] {v. phr.} To be fair to (a person), give credit
that (a person) deserves. * /The boxer who lost gave the new champion
his due./ * /We should give a good worker his due./ Compare: GIVE THE
DEVIL HIS DUE.
[give one's right arm for] {v. phr.} To give something of great
value; sacrifice. * /During our long hike in the desert, I would have
given my right arm for an ice cold drink./
[give one's word] {v. phr.} To seriously promise. * /"You gave me
your word you would marry me," Mary bitterly complained, "but you
broke your word."/
[give one the eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To look at, especially
with interest and liking. * /A pretty girl went by and all the boys
gave her the eye./ 2. To look or stare at, especially in a cold or
unfriendly way. * /Mrs. Jones didn't like Mary and didn't speak. She
just gave her the eye when they met on the street./
[give one the works] See: THE WORKS.
[give or take] {v, phr.} To add or subtract. Used with a round
number or date to show how approximate it is. * /The house was built
in 1900, give or take five years./
[give out] {v.} 1. To make known; let it be known; publish. * /Mary
gave out that she and Bob were going to be married./ 2. To let escape;
give. * /The cowboy gave out a yell./ Syn.: GIVE OFF, LET GO. 3. to
give to people; distribute. * /The barber gives out free lollipops to
all the children./ Compare: HAND OUT, PASS OUT. 4. To fail; collapse.
* /Tom's legs gave out and he couldn't run any farther./ * /The chair
gave out under the fat man./ Compare: WEAR OUT. 5. To be finished or
gone. * /When the food at the party gave out, they bought more./ *
/The teacher's patience gave out./ Syn.: RUN OUT, RUN SHORT. Compare:
USE UP, WEAR OUT. 6. {slang} Not to hold back; act freely; let
yourself go. - Often used in the imperative. * /You're not working
hard, Charley. Give out!/ 7. {informal} To show how you feel. * /When
Jane saw the mouse, she gave out with a scream./ * /Give out with a
little smile./ Compare: LET GO.
[give pause] {v. phr.} To cause you to stop and think; make you
doubt or worry. * /The heavy monthly payments gave Mr. Smith pause in
his plans to buy a new car./ * /The bad weather gave Miss Carter pause
about driving to New York City./
[give place to] See: GIVE RISE TO.
[give rein to] or [give free rein to] {v. phr.} To remove all
restrictions or limitations from someone or something. * /When she
wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her
imagination./
[give rise to] {v. phr.} To be the reason for; cause. * /A branch
floating in the water gave rise to Columbus' hopes that land was
near./ * /John's black eye gave rise to rumors that he had been in a
fight./
[give someone his rights] or [read someone his rights] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. The act of advising arrested criminals that they have
the right to remain silent and that everything they say can be held
against them in a court of law; that they have the right to the
presence of an attorney during questioning and that if they can't
afford one and request it, an attorney will be appointed for them by
the State. * /The cops gave Smith his rights immediately after the
arrest./ 2. To sever a relationship by telling someone that he or she
can go and see a divorce lawyer or the like. * /Sue gave Mike his
rights before she slammed the door in his face./ Compare: READ THE
RIOT ACT.
[give the air] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(1).
[give the ax] {v. phr.}, {colloquial} 1. Abruptly to finish a
relationship. * /She gave me the ax last night./ 2. To fire an
employee in a curt manner. * /His boss gave John the ax last Friday./
[give the benefit of the doubt] {v. phr.} To believe (a person) is
innocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. * /The money was
stolen and John was the only boy who had known where it was, but the
teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ * /George's grade was
higher than usual and he might have cheated, but his teacher gave him
the benefit of the doubt./
[give the bounce] or [give the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [give
the air] To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from.
* /Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl./ *
/Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate./ 2. or
[give the sack] also [give the hook] To fire from a job; dismiss. *
/The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice./
Contrast: GET THE BOUNCE.
[give the creeps] See: THE CREEPS.
[give the devil his due] {v. phr.} To be fair, even to someone who
is bad; tell the truth about a person even though you don't like him,
* /I don't like Mr. Jones, but to give the devil his due, I must admit
that he is a good teacher./
[give the gate] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE.
[give the glad eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} To give (someone) a
welcoming look as if saying "come over here, I want to talk to you." *
/I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye./
[give the go-by] {v. phr.} To pay no attention to a person; avoid.
* /John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by./ * /The
boy raised his hand to answer the question, but the teacher gave him
the go-by./ Compare: THE RUNAROUND.
[give the high sign] See: HIGH SIGN.
[give the hook] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2).
[give the lie to] {v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To call (someone) a
liar. * /The police gave the lie to the man who said that he had been
at home during the robbery./ 2. To show (something) to be false; prove
untrue. * /The boy's dirty face gave the lie to his answer that he had
washed./
[give the sack] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2).
[give the shirt off one's back] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give away
something or everything that you own. * /He'd give you the shirt off
his back./
[give the show away] {v. phr.} To reveal a plan or information that
is supposed to be secret. * /You have read further in the book than I
have, but please don't tell me where the treasure was buried;
otherwise you'd be giving the show away./
[give the slip] {v.} To escape from (someone); run away from
unexpectedly; sneak away from. * /An Indian was following, but Boone
gave him the slip by running down a hill./ * /Some boys were waiting
outside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip./
[give signs of] See: SHOW SIGN(S) OF; SHOW NO SIGN OF.
[give the willies] {v. phr.} To cause someone to be uncomfortable,
fearful, or nervous. * /Sue hates to camp out in a tent; the buzzing
of the mosquitoes gives her the willies./
[give thought to] {v. phr.} To consider; think about. * /Have you
given any thought to the question of how to sell Grandpa's old house?/
Contrast: GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
[give to understand] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a person
think that something is true but not tell him; suggest; hint. * /Mr.
Johnson gave Billy to understand that he would pay him if he helped
him clean the yard./ 2. To make a person understand by telling him
very plainly or boldly. * /Frank was given to understand in a short
note from the boss that he was fired./
[give up] {v.} 1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. * /The
dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up./ * /Jimmy is
giving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school./ Compare:
GIVE ONESELF UP, HAND OVER, LET GO(1a). Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 1b. To
allow; permit. * /Ford gave up two walks in the first inning./ 2. To
stop doing or having; abandon; quit. * /The doctor told Mr. Harris to
give up smoking./ * /Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved
away./ Compare: LEAVE OFF, PART WITH. 3. To stop hoping for, waiting
for, or trying to do. * /Johnny was given up by the doctors after the
accident, but he lived just the same./ * /When Mary didn't come by
nine o'clock, we gave her up./ * /I couldn't do the puzzle so I gave
it up./ 4. To stop trying; quit; surrender. * /The war will be over
when one of the countries gives up./ * /The other team gave up after
we scored three touchdowns./ Compare: GIVE IN(2), RESIGN ONESELF,
THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[give (one) up for] {v. phr.} To abandon hope for someone or
something. * /After Larry had not returned to base camp for three
nights, his fellow mountain climbers gave him up for dead./
[give up the ghost] {v. phr.} To die; stop going. * /After a long
illness, the old woman gave up the ghost./ * /The motor turned over a
few times and gave up the ghost./
[give up the ship] {v. phr.} To stop fighting and surrender; stop
trying or hoping to do something. * /"Don't give up the ship, John,"
said his father when John failed a test./
[give voice] {v. phr.}, {formal} To tell what you feel or think;
especially when you are angry or want to object. - Used with "to". *
/The students gave voice to their pleasure over the new building./ *
/Little Willie gave voice to his pain when the dog bit him by crying
loudly./ Compare: CRY OUT, SPEAK OUT.
[give way] {v.} 1. To go back; retreat. * /The enemy army is giving
way before the cannon fire./ Compare: FALL BACK. 2. To make room, get
out of the way. * /The children gave way and let their mother through
the door./ Compare: MAKE WAY. 3. To lose control of yourself; lose
your courage or hope; yield. * /Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the
flood, but she was very frightened./ Compare: GIVE UP, LOSE ONE'S
HEAD. 4. To collapse; fail. * /The river was so high that the dam gave
way./ * /Mary's legs gave way and she fainted./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4),
LET GO(1a). 5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission. * /Billy
kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally
gave way./ Compare: GIVE IN.
[give way to] {v. phr.} 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass;
yield to. * /John gave way to the old lady and let her pass./ 1b. To
allow to decide. * /Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying the
car./ 1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back. * /Timmy
gave way to his feelings when his dog died./ 2. or [give place to]. To
be replaced by. * /Radio has given way to television in popularity./ *
/When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way lo
laughter./
[glad hand] {n.}, {informal} A friendly handshake; a warm greeting.
* /Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when
he arrived./ * /The politician went down the street on election day
giving everyone the glad hand./
[glad rags] {n.}, {slang} Clothes worn to parties or on special
occasions; best clothes. * /Mrs. Owens put on her glad rags for the
party./ Compare: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[glance] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT.
[glance off] {v. phr.} To ricochet. * /The bullet glanced off the
wall and wounded an innocent bystander./
[glass] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW
STONES, SAFETY GLASS.
[glasses] See: LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES.
[glass jaw] {n.}, {slang} The inability of a boxer to get a hard
punch on the jaw without being knocked out; a tendency to be knocked
out easily. * /He would have been champion except for his glass jaw./
[globe-trotter] {n.} One who has travelled far and wide. * /Tim and
Nancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven't
been to./
[glory] See: IN ONE'S GLORY.
[gloss over] {v.} To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or
not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. *
/Billy broke a window and Mother tried to gloss it over by saying it
wouldn't cost much to have it fixed, but Father spanked Billy anyway./
* /John glossed over his mistake by saying that everybody did the same
thing./
[glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE, HAND IN GLOVE or HAND AND GLOVE,
HANDLE WITH GLOVES.
[glutton for punishment] {n. phr.} A greedy person; someone who
wants too much of something, such as food or drink, which will make
him sick. * /Fred eats so much red meat that he is a regular glutton
for punishment./
[go] See: HERE GOES, HERE GOES NOTHING, BEST BIB AND TUCKER or
SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES, COMINGS AND GOINGS, EASY COME EASY GO,
GET GOING, GET-UP-AND-GO, HAVE A GO AT, HEART GOES OUT TO, KNOW
WHETHER ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LET GO, MAKE A GO OF, NO DEAL or NO
GO, ON THE GO, PAY AS ONE GOES, TOUCH AND GO.
[go about] {v.} 1. To be busy with; keep busy at or working on;
start working on; do. * /Bobby is going about his homework very
seriously tonight./ * /Just go about your business and don't keep
looking out of the window./ * /How will you go about building the bird
house?/ Syn.: GO AT(2). 2a. To move from one place or person to
another. * /Some people go about telling untrue stories./ 2b. To go
together. - Usually used with "with". * /Mother doesn't want me to go
about with Jane and her friends any more./ Syn.: GO AROUND(1b).
[go about one's business] {v. phr.} To mind one's own affairs. *
/Fred kept bothering me with his questions all day, so I finally told
him to go about his business and leave me alone./
[go after] {v.} To try to get. * /"First find out what job you want
and then go after it," said Jim's father./
[go against the grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN(2).
[go ahead] {v.} To begin to do something; not wait. * /The teacher
told the students not to write on the paper yet, but John went ahead
and wrote his name./ * /"May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead."/
Compare: GO ON(1).
[go astray] {v. phr.} To become lost. * /The letter has obviously
gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago./
[goal] See: FIELD GOAL.
[goal line] {n.} A line that marks the goal in a game (as
football.) * /The fullback went over the goal line from five yards
out./
[goal line stand] {n.} A strong defensive effort right in front of
the goal line. * /A goal line stand by the home team held the visitors
on the two-yard line./
[go all the way with] See: ALL THE WAY.
[go along] {v.} 1. To move along; continue. * /Uncle Bill made up
the story as he went along./ Compare: GO ON(1). 2. To go together or
as company; go for fun. - Often used with "with". /Mary went along
with us to Jane's house./ * /John just went along for the ride to the
ball game. He didn't want to play./ * /When one filling station cuts
gasoline prices, the others usually go along./ 3. To agree; cooperate.
- Often used with "with". * /"Jane is a nice girl." "I'll go along
with that," said Bill./ * /Just because the other boys do something
bad, you don't have to go along with it./
[go ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become highly excited or behave in a
crazy way. * /Amy went ape over the hotel and beautiful beaches./ *
/The electric door opener malfunctioned and caused the garage door to
go ape./
[go around] {v.} 1a. To go from one place or person to another. *
/Mr. Smith is going around looking for work./ * /Don't go around
telling lies like that./ * /Chicken pox is going around the
neighborhood./ * /A rumor is going around school that we will get the
afternoon off./ 1b. To go together; keep company. - Usually used with
"with". * /Bill goes around with boys older than he is because he is
big for his age./ Syn.: GO ABOUT(2b). 2. To be enough to give to
everyone; be enough for all. * /There are not enough desks to go
around in the classroom./
[go around in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[goat] See: GET ONE'S GOAT.
[go at] {v.} 1. To start to fight with; attack. * /The dog and the
cat are going at each other again./ 2. To make a beginning on;
approach; tackle. * /How are you going to go at the job of fixing the
roof?/ Compare: START IN. Syn.: GO ABOUT(1).
[go at it hammer and tongs] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To attack or
fight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. * /Bill
slapped George's face and now they're going at it hammer and tongs in
back of the house./ * /Helen and Mary have been arguing all day, and
now they are going at it hammer and tongs again./ 2. To start or do
something with much strength, energy, or enthusiasm. * /The farmer had
to chop down a tree and he went at it hammer and tongs./ * /Charles
had a lot of homework to do and he went at it hammer and tongs till
bedtime./ Compare: IN EARNEST, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[go AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.
[go back on] {v. phr.} 1. To turn against; not be faithful or loyal
to. * /Many of the man's friends went back on him when he was sent to
prison./ * /The boy's father told him not to go back on his promise./
Compare: BACK DOWN, TURN ONE'S BACK. 2. To fail to do necessary work;
not work. * /Grandfather's eyes are going back on him./ Compare: BREAK
DOWN(4), GIVE OUT.
[go back on one's word] {v. phr.} To renege; break a promise. *
/Patrick went back on his word when he refused to marry Karen in spite
of his earlier promise./
[go] or [be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS.
[go] or [be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON. Contrast: FALL OFF THE
WAGON.
[go bail for] {v. phr.} To advance the necessary money as security
in order to release an accused person until trial. * /The arrested
driver had no trouble finding someone to go bail for him./
[go begging] {v. phr.} To be not needed or wanted. * /Many old
homes in the city go begging./ * /Most of the apples on the market
went begging./
[go broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all one's money; especially
by taking a chance; owe more than you can pay. * /The inventor went
broke because nobody would buy his machine./ * /Dan had a quarter but
he went broke matching pennies with Fred./
[go-between] {n.} An intermediary. * /They expect Mr. Smith to act
as a go-between in the dispute between management and labor./
[go bust] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become bankrupt. * /Our company
lost a lot of money and went bust./ Compare: BELLY UP.
[go-by] See: GIVE THE GO-BY.
[go by] {v.} 1. To go or move past; pass. * /Bob had to go by the
post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter./ 2. To
follow; copy; obey. * /Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a
dress./ * /You will find Main Street without trouble if you go by
Father's directions./ * /If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the
rules of the road./ 3. To be known by; be called. * /Many actors do
not go by their real names./ * /Fred goes by the nickname of Chubby./
4. To pass; be over; end. * /Time goes by quickly on vacation./ * /The
horse and buggy days have gone by./ * /The flowers have all gone by.
What will I do for a bouquet?/ 5. To stop for a short visit; go to
someone's house for a short while. * /"Have you seen Bill lately?"
"Yes, I went by his house last week."/ Compare: STOP BY.
[go by the board] also [pass by the board] {v. phr.} To go away or
disappear forever, be forgotten or not used. * /Tom had several
chances to go to college, but he let them go by the board./ *
/Grandfather said he was too old to go to the beach. "Those days have
passed by the board," he said./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN.
[go by the name of] {v. phr.} To be called. * /Adolf Schicklegruber
went by the name of Adolf Hitler./
[go chase oneself] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away and stop being a
nuisance. * /John's father was busy and told him to go chase himself./
* /The owner of the store told the boys in front to go chase
themselves./ Compare: BEAT IT, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[God] See: IN THE LAP OP THE GODS also ON THE KNEES OP THE GODS, MY
GOD or MY GOODNESS, WOULD THAT or WOULD GOD.
[God forbid] {interj.} May God prevent (something from happening);
I hope that will not happen or is not true. * /Someone told the
worried mother that her son might have drowned. She said, "God
forbid!"/ * /God forbid that the dam break and flood the valley!/
Compare: PERISH THE THOUGHT.
[Godfrey] See: GREAT GODFREY.
[God knows] or [goodness knows] or [heaven knows] {informal} 1.
Maybe God knows but I don't know and no one else knows. - Often used
with "only". * /Do you know where Susan is? God only knows!/ 2.
Surely; certainly. * /Goodness knows, the poor man needs the money./ *
/Heaven only knows, I have tried hard enough./
[Godmother] See: FAIRY GODMOTHER.
[go down] {v. phr.} 1. To deteriorate in quality. * /This hotel,
which used to be one of the best, has gone down during the past few
years./ 2. To become lower in price. * /It is said that the price of
milk is expected to go down soon./ 3. To sink. * /The Titanic went
down with a lot of people aboard./
[go down in history] or [go down in the records] {v. phr.} To be
remembered or recorded for always. * /The lives of great men go down
in history./ * /Babe Ruth went down in history as a home run hitter./
* /The boy's straight A's for four years of college went down in the
records./ * /The President said that the day the war ended would go
down in history./
[go down the drain] {v. phr.} To be lost or wasted forever. * /If
he doesn't pass the bar examination tomorrow, his best efforts to
become a lawyer will go down the drain./
[God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb] {literary} A person who is
already helpless will not have more trouble; you will not have more
trouble than you can bear. * /After Mr. Smith lost his job, the
Smith's house caught fire, but the fire was put out before much harm
was done. Mr. Smith said, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."/
Contrast: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
[go Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out for fun together but
have each person pay for himself. * /High school students often go
Dutch to basketball games./ * /Sometimes boys and girls go Dutch on
dates./ * /The girl knew her boyfriend had little money, so she
offered to go Dutch./ Compare: DUTCH TREAT.
[go easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(1).
[go fly a kite] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go away; leave. Usually used
as a command, to show that you do not accept someone's ideas. * /Harry
was tired of John's advice and told him to go fly a kite./ * /After
Mary stood around telling Sue what was wrong with her dress. Sue told
her to go fly a kite./ Compare: DROP DEAD, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[go for] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To try to get; aim for; try for.
* /Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight./ * /The
dog went for Bob's leg./ 2. To favor; support; like. * /Little Susie
really goes for ice cream./ * /Bob goes for Jane in a big way./ 3. To
attack; begin to fight or argue with. * /The Indian jumped out of the
*hush and went for Daniel./ * /Molly went for James about being late
as soon as he got home./
[go for a spin] {v. phr.} To go for a ride in a car. * /Billy has
invited us to go for a spin in his new car./
[go for broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To risk everything on one big
effort; use all your energy and skill; try as hard as possible. * /The
racing car driver decided to go for broke in the biggest race of the
year./ Compare: ALL-OUT.
[go for nothing] also {formal} [go for naught] {v. phr.} To count
for nothing; be useless; be wasted. * /What the teacher said went for
nothing because the pupils did not pay attention./ * /I hope that all
your good work doesn't go for naught./ Compare: IN VAIN.
[go from bad to worse] {adv. phr.} To change from a bad position or
condition to a worse one; become worse. * /Dick's typing went from bad
to worse when he was tired./ * /Jack's conduct in school has gone from
bad to worse./ Compare: OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[go from strength to strength] {v. phr.} To move forward,
increasing one's fame, power, or fortune in a series of successful
achievements. * /Our basketball team has gone from strength to
strength./
[go-getter] {n.} A person who works hard to become successful; an
active, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. * /The
governor of the state has always been a go-getter./ * /The best
salesmen are the go-getters./
[go-go] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Vigorous youthful, unusually
active. * /Joe is a go-go kind of guy./ 2. Of a discotheque or the
music or dances performed there. 3a. Unrestrained. 3b. Very
up-to-date, hip. * /Mary wore handsome go-go boots to the discotheque
last night./
[go great guns] See: GREAT GUNS.
[go halfway] or [go halfway to meet one] or [meet one halfway] {v.
phr.} To give up part of what you want or to do your share in reaching
an agreement with someone. * /Our neighbors are willing to go halfway
to meet us and pay their share for a fence between our houses./ * /Bob
wants to make up after your fight and you should meet him halfway./ *
/If you're willing to go halfway with us, we'll be friends again./ *
/Bill met Mary halfway after their argument./
[go halves] {v. phr.}, {informal} To share half or equally become
partners. * /The boys went halves in raising pigs./ * /The men are
going halves in a new business./ * /The girl bought a box of candy and
went halves with her roommate./
[go hang] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To stop being of interest or
importance; be forgotten. - Usually used with "let". * /Mr. Johnson
let his business go hang after his wife died./ 2. To leave you alone;
not bother. * /When the neighbor told Father how to manage his
children, Father told him to go hang./ Compare: TELL WHERE TO GET OFF.
[go hard with] {v. phr.} To be painful, troublesome, or hard for;
happen or result badly for. - Used after "it". * /It will go hard with
you if I catch you smoking./
[go haywire] {v. phr.}, {informal} Mixed-up, out of order, not in
regular working condition. * /My electric typewriter has gone all
haywire; I have to call the repair man./
[go hog wild] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become extremely agitated and
go out of control. * /After the soccer game was won, the fans went hog
wild./
[go in a circle] or [go in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[go in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do; take part in; take
pleasure in. * /Most girls do not go in for rough games./ * /Mrs.
Henry goes in for simple meals./ Compare: GO INTO(3), TAKE UP(5b).
[going and coming] See: COMING AND GOING.
[going for one] {adj. phr.} Working to help; in one's favor. * /The
young woman surely will get the job; she has everything going for
her./
[going on] {adv. phr.} Almost; nearly. * /Joe is going on six years
old./ * /It is going on six o'clock./
[going through changes] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be in
trouble, to have difficulties, to be trapped in unfavorable
circumstances. * /"What's the matter with Joe?" - "He's going through
changes."/
[going to] Can be expected to; planning to. - Used after "is" (or
"was", etc.), with an infinitive, in the same way "will" is used, to
show future. * /Some day that big tree is going to rot and fall./ *
/Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain./ * /The boys are going
to practice football this afternoon./ * /For a minute Ben thought the
car was going to hit him./ * /I was going to attend the meeting, but
after supper I forgot about it./ - Sometimes used without the
infinitive. * /That worn rope hasn't broken yet, but it's going to./ *
/"Put some more wood on the fire." - "I'm going to."/ Compare: ABOUT
TO(1).
[go in one ear and out the other] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be not
really listened to or understood; be paid no attention. * /The
teacher's directions to the boy went in one ear and out the other./ *
/Mother scolded Martha, but it went in one ear and out the other./
[go into] {v.} 1a. To go or fit inside of; able to be put in. *
/The table is too big to go into the closet./ 1b. To be able to be
divided into; be divisible into. * /Two goes into four two times./ 2.
To enter a state or condition of; pass into. * /John went into a fit
of temper when he didn't get his own way./ * /The sick man went into a
coma./ * /The country went into mourning when the king died./ 3. To be
busy in or take part in; enter as a job or profession. * /The mayor
went into politics as a very young man./ * /Mr, Johnson is going into
business for himself./ * /Bill wants to go into law when he gets out
of school./ Compare: GO IN FOR, TAKE UP(5b). 4. To start to talk
about; bring up the subject of; examine. * /We'll talk about the dead
mouse after dinner, Billy. Let's not go into it now./ * /The teacher
went into the subject of newspapers today./ Compare: LOOK INTO.
[go into a huddle] {v. phr.} 1. To gather close together as a team
in a football game, usually to find out your team's next play. * /The
football team which has the ball goes into a huddle before every play
to get orders on what play they will use./ 2. {informal} To talk
together privately about something; discuss something where others
cannot hear. * /The man went into a huddle with his lawyers before
answering the question./ * /The doctors went into a huddle and decided
to operate./
[go into a nose dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN.
[go into a tailspin] or [go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went
into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly
beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or mentally
sick; give up hope. * /The man went into a tailspin after his wife
died and he never got over it./
[go into orbit] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become very happy or
successful. * /Our team has gone into orbit./ Compare: FLY HIGH. 2. To
lose one's temper or control completely; become very angry. * /John
was afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about the
car accident./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING.
[go it] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go fast; run hard; not to spare
yourself. - Often used as a command. * /The coach yelled to the runner
to go it./ * /At the party the girls cheered for their partners to go
it./ * /The boys called, "Go it!" to the dog chasing the cat./ 2. To
live; continue to do or work. * /John wants to leave home and go it
alone./ Compare: ON ONE'S OWN.
[go jump in the lake] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go away and quit
being a bother. * /George was tired of Tom's advice and told him to go
jump in the lake./ Compare: GO CHASE YOURSELF, GO FLY A KITE.
[gold] See: HEART OF GOLD.
[golden] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
[goldfish bowl] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A situation in which
it is not possible to keep things secret for any length of time. *
/Washington Society is a goldfish bowl./ 2. An apartment or place that
provides no privacy for its occupant, e.g., an office that has too
many windows. * /Joe's office is a goldfish bowl, that's why I didn't
let him kiss me there./
[golf widow] {n.}, {informal} A woman whose husband is often away
from home playing golf. * /Mrs. Thompson didn't like being a golf
widow./
[go legit] {v. phr.} To start practicing a legitimate business
after having been operating outside of the law. * /"The old days are
over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of
right now."/
[go like clockwork] or [go off like clockwork] {v. phr.},
{informal} To run smoothly and regularly like the workings of a clock;
go smoothly and without difficulty; go on time or as planned. * /The
car's motor went like clockwork after Bob fixed it./ * /The birthday
party went off like clockwork and everyone had a good time./
[go native] {v. phr.} To behave like a native (said of European
Americans in tropical countries). * /Mainlanders often go native in
Hawaii./
[gone goose] also [gone gosling] {n.}, {slang} A person for whom
there is no hope. * /Herbert's grades have been so low that he is a
gone goose for the year./ * /The man was a gone gosling when a
policeman caught him breaking the store window./
[gone with the wind] {adj. phr.} Gone forever; past; vanished. *
/All the Indians who used to live here are gone with the wind./ * /Joe
knew that his chance to get an "A" was gone with the wind when he saw
how hard the test was./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN.
[good] See: AS GOOD AS, AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, BUT GOOD, DO ONE GOOD,
FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD MEASURE, GET THE GOODS ON, HOLD GOOD, IN GOOD, IN
GOOD FAITH, IN GOOD TIME, IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES, IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT
BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, MAKE GOOD, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, NO GOOD, ON
ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR, ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE, SO FAR, SO GOOD, STAND IN
GOOD STEAD, TO THE GOOD, WELL AND GOOD, WITH GOOD GRACE.
[good and ---] {adv.}, {informal} Very; completely. * /John's
father was good and mad when John came home late./ * /Jack knew good
and well that Tom had thrown the snowball at him./ * /I pushed Bill
good and hard./ * /Susan wouldn't come out till she was good and
ready./ * /I beat Joe good and proper in the game of marbles./
[good as] See: AS GOOD AS.
[good as one's promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.
[good as one's word] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.
[good buddy] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon}
Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios.
* /What's the Smokey situation, good buddy?/
[good command] See: HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF.
[good day] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting
or salute when you meet or leave someone during the day. * /Miss
Rogers said, "Good day!" when she met her friend on the street./ *
/Mr. Lee said "Good day!" and left the office./
[good deal] or [great deal] {n.}, {informal} A large amount; much.
- Used with "a". * /Mrs. Walker's long illness cost her a good deal./
* /George spends a great deal of his time watching television./ -
Often used like an adverb. * /Cleaning up after the party took a great
deal more work than the girls expected./ * /Usually it takes Father
half an hour to drive to work, but in bad weather it takes a good deal
longer./ * /Mother likes the gloves Mary gave her, and she uses them a
good deal./ * /George is a good deal like his father; they both love
to eat./ Syn.: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE. Compare: ALL KINDS OF, GOOD
MANY. Contrast: A LITTLE.
[good egg] {slang} or {informal} [good scout] {n. phr.} A friendly,
kind or good-natured person, a nice fellow. * /Tommy is such a good
egg that everybody wants to be his friend./ Syn.: REGULAR GUY.
Contrast: BAD EGG.
[good evening] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal
greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone in the evening. *
/When the TV program began, an announcer appeared and said, "Good
evening, everyone."/ * /Finally Aunt May stood up and said, "I will
not sell the house. Good evening, Mr. Flynn. "/
[good faith] {n.} 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. *
/Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good
faith./ - Often used in the phrase "in good faith". * /The teacher
accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith./ 2. Honesty of
purpose; trustworthiness. * /John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20,
and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith./
[good for] or [hurrah for] {adj. phr.} Used with a name or pronoun
to praise someone. * /Good for George! He won the 100-yard dash./ *
/You got 100 on the test? Hurrah for you./
[good-for-nothing] {adj. phr.} Worthless. * /While Janice works
hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars./
[good grief!] {interj.}, {informal} Wow! Indication of surprise,
good or bad. * /"Good grief," Joe cried out loud. "Is this all you
will pay me for my hard work?"/ * /What a figure Melanie has, good
grief! I wonder if she would be willing to go out with me./ Compare:
GOODNESS GRACIOUS!, HEAVENLY DAYS!, HOLY CATS or HOLY COW or HOLY
MACKEREL or HOLY MOSES. See: GOODNIGHT(2).
[good head on one's shoulders] {n. phr.} Good sense; good judgment.
* /Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast./ *
/Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps
good company./ * /George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by
[give an ear to] or [lend an ear to] {v. phr.}, {literary} To
listen to. * /Children should give an ear to their parents' advice./ *
/The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people./
[give a pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make (you) disgusted; annoy. *
/Ann's laziness gives her mother a pain./ * /John's bad manners give
his teacher a pain./ Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK.
[give as good as one gets] {v. phr.} To be able to give back blow
for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. * /The
Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English./ *
/George gave as good as he got in his fight with the older boy./
Compare: EYE FOR AN EYE, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY.
[give away] {v.} 1. To give as a present. * /Mrs. Jones has several
kittens to give away./ 2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the
wedding. * /Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter./ 3. To let (a secret)
become known; tell the secret of. * /The little boy gave away his
hiding place when he coughed./ * /Mary said she didn't care anything
about John, but her blushing face gave her away./ Compare: SPILL THE
BEANS, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 4. See: GIVE ONESELF AWAY.
[giveaway] or [dead giveaway] {n.} (stress on "give") 1. An open
secret. * /By mid-afternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss
would be./ 2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for
much less than their market value. * /The Simpson's garage sale was
actually a big giveaway./ 3. A gift; something one doesn't have to pay
for. * /The tickets to the concert were a giveaway./
[give a wide berth] {v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe
distance from. * /Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ * /Jack
gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ * /After Tom got Bob
into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./
[give birth to] {v. phr.} 1. To bear live offspring. * /The mother
gave birth to twin baby girls./ 2. To bring about; create; occasion. *
/Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony./
[give chase] {v. phr.} To chase or run after someone or something.
* /The dog saw a rabbit and gave chase./ * /The policeman gave chase
to the man who robbed the bank./
[give color to] or [lend color to] {v. phr.} To make (something)
seem true or likely. * /The boy's torn clothes gave color to his story
of a fight./ * /The way the man ate lent color to his story of near
starvation./
[give credence to] {v. phr.} 1. To be willing to believe that
something is true. * /Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used
to be a convict./ * /Give no credence to the rumor that our state is
bankrupt; nothing could be farther from the truth./
[give fits] {v. phr.} {informal} To upset; bother very much. *
/Paul's higher grades give John fits./ * /The short guard gave his
tall opponent fits./ Compare: GIVE A HARD TIME.
[give forth] {v. phr.} To emit; produce. * /When the gong was
struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound./
[give free rein to] See: GIVE REIN TO.
[give gray hair] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) anxious,
confused, or worried. * /The traffic problem is enough to give a
policeman gray hairs./ Compare: GET GRAY HAIR.
[give ground] {v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back;
retreat. * /After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give
ground./ * /Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men
refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND.
Contrast: HOLD ONE'S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STAND PAT,
STAVE OFF.
[give her the gun] See: GIVE IT THE GUN.
[give in] {v.} To stop fighting or arguing and do as the other
person wants; give someone his own way; stop opposing someone. *
/Mother kept inviting Mrs. Smith to stay for lunch, and finally she
gave in./ * /After Billy proved that he could ride a bicycle safely,
his father gave in to him and bought him one./ Compare: GIVE UP, SAY
UNCLE.
[give it some thought] {v. phr.} To wait and see; consider
something after some time has elapsed. * /"Will you buy my car?" Fred
asked. "Let me give it some thought," Jim answered./ Contrast: SLEEP
ON.
[give it the gun] or [give her the gun] {v. phr.}, {slang} To gun
or speed up a motor; make a car, airplane, or something driven by a
motor go faster. * /The race driver gave it the gun./ * /The speedboat
pilot gave her the gun./ Compare: STEP ON IT.
[give it to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat.
* /The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent./
Syn.: LET HAVE IT. 2. To scold. * /Jerry's mother gave it to him for
coming home late./ Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LACE INTO.
Contrast: CATCH IT.
[give it to one straight] {v. phr.} To be direct; be frank. * /I
asked the doctor to give it to me straight how long I have to live./
[give no quarter] {v. phr.} To be ruthless and show no mercy. *
/The enemy soldiers gave no quarter and shot all the prisoners./
[give notice] {v. phr.} To inform an employer, an employee, a
landlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement of
service or tenancy. * /Max gave notice at the bank where he was
working./ * /Sally was given notice by her landlord./
[given to] {adj. phr.} Having a tendency to; addicted to. * /Phil
is given to telling fantastic tales about his chateau in France./
[give off] {v.} To send out; let out; put forth. * /Rotten eggs
give off a bad smell./ * /Burning leaves give off thick smoke./ Syn.:
GIVE OUT(2).
[give of oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To give your time and
effort to help others. * /You should give of yourself sometimes./ *
/During World War II, Governor Baldwin gave of himself by sweeping the
halls of a hospital every afternoon./
[give one a dressing down] See: DRESSING DOWN.
[give one a free hand] See: FREE HAND.
[give one a (good) going-over] See: GO OVER(1).
[give one a lift] {v. phr.} 1. To give someone a ride. * /Jack gave
me a lift in his new car./ 2. To comfort someone. * /Talking to my
doctor yesterday gave me a lift./
[give one an inch, and he will take a mile] If you give some people
a little or yield anything, they will want more and more; some people
are never satisfied. * /I gave Billy a bite of candy and he wanted
more and more. If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile./ * /The
counselor said to Jack, "No, I can't let you get a haircut until
Saturday. It's against the rules, and if I give an inch, someone will
take a mile."/
[give one a piece of one's mind] {v. phr.}, {informal} To scold
angrily; say what you really think to (someone). * /Mr. Allen gave the
other driver a piece of his mind./ * /The sergeant gave the soldier a
piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots./ Syn.: TELL OFF.
Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING.
[give one a ring] also {informal} [give a buzz] To call on the
telephone. * /Mrs. Jacobs promised to give her husband a ring in the
afternoon./ * /Alice will give her friend a buzz tonight./
[give one enough rope and he will hang himself] {informal} Give a
bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may
make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. - A proverb. *
/Johnny is always stealing and hasn't been caught. But give him enough
rope and he'll hang himself./ - Often used in a short form, "give one
enough rope". * /Mother didn't know who robbed the cookie jar, but she
thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope./
[give one pause] {v. phr.} To astonish someone; cause one to stop
and think. * /"Your remark gives me pause," Tom said, when Jane called
him an incurable gambler./
[give one short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.
[give oneself airs] {v. phr.} To act proud; act vain. * /Mary gave
herself airs when she wore her new dress./ * /John gave himself airs
when he won first prize./
[give oneself away] {v. phr.} To show guilt; show you have done
wrong. * /The thief gave himself away by spending so much money./ *
/Carl played a joke on Bob and gave himself away by laughing./
Compare: GIVE AWAY.
[give oneself up] {v.} To stop hiding or running away; surrender. *
/The thief gave himself up to the police./ * /Mr. Thompson hit another
car, and his wife told him to give himself up./ Compare: TURN IN.
[give oneself up to] {v. phr.} Not to hold yourself back from; let
yourself enjoy. * /Uncle Willie gave himself up to a life of
wandering./ * /John came inside from the cold and gave himself up to
the pleasure of being in a warm room./ Compare: ENJOY ONESELF, LET
ONESELF GO.
[give one some of his] or [her own medicine] {v. phr.} To treat
someone the way he or she treats others (used in the negative). * /The
gangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, a
policeman gave him a little of his own medicine./
[give one's due] {v. phr.} To be fair to (a person), give credit
that (a person) deserves. * /The boxer who lost gave the new champion
his due./ * /We should give a good worker his due./ Compare: GIVE THE
DEVIL HIS DUE.
[give one's right arm for] {v. phr.} To give something of great
value; sacrifice. * /During our long hike in the desert, I would have
given my right arm for an ice cold drink./
[give one's word] {v. phr.} To seriously promise. * /"You gave me
your word you would marry me," Mary bitterly complained, "but you
broke your word."/
[give one the eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To look at, especially
with interest and liking. * /A pretty girl went by and all the boys
gave her the eye./ 2. To look or stare at, especially in a cold or
unfriendly way. * /Mrs. Jones didn't like Mary and didn't speak. She
just gave her the eye when they met on the street./
[give one the works] See: THE WORKS.
[give or take] {v, phr.} To add or subtract. Used with a round
number or date to show how approximate it is. * /The house was built
in 1900, give or take five years./
[give out] {v.} 1. To make known; let it be known; publish. * /Mary
gave out that she and Bob were going to be married./ 2. To let escape;
give. * /The cowboy gave out a yell./ Syn.: GIVE OFF, LET GO. 3. to
give to people; distribute. * /The barber gives out free lollipops to
all the children./ Compare: HAND OUT, PASS OUT. 4. To fail; collapse.
* /Tom's legs gave out and he couldn't run any farther./ * /The chair
gave out under the fat man./ Compare: WEAR OUT. 5. To be finished or
gone. * /When the food at the party gave out, they bought more./ *
/The teacher's patience gave out./ Syn.: RUN OUT, RUN SHORT. Compare:
USE UP, WEAR OUT. 6. {slang} Not to hold back; act freely; let
yourself go. - Often used in the imperative. * /You're not working
hard, Charley. Give out!/ 7. {informal} To show how you feel. * /When
Jane saw the mouse, she gave out with a scream./ * /Give out with a
little smile./ Compare: LET GO.
[give pause] {v. phr.} To cause you to stop and think; make you
doubt or worry. * /The heavy monthly payments gave Mr. Smith pause in
his plans to buy a new car./ * /The bad weather gave Miss Carter pause
about driving to New York City./
[give place to] See: GIVE RISE TO.
[give rein to] or [give free rein to] {v. phr.} To remove all
restrictions or limitations from someone or something. * /When she
wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her
imagination./
[give rise to] {v. phr.} To be the reason for; cause. * /A branch
floating in the water gave rise to Columbus' hopes that land was
near./ * /John's black eye gave rise to rumors that he had been in a
fight./
[give someone his rights] or [read someone his rights] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. The act of advising arrested criminals that they have
the right to remain silent and that everything they say can be held
against them in a court of law; that they have the right to the
presence of an attorney during questioning and that if they can't
afford one and request it, an attorney will be appointed for them by
the State. * /The cops gave Smith his rights immediately after the
arrest./ 2. To sever a relationship by telling someone that he or she
can go and see a divorce lawyer or the like. * /Sue gave Mike his
rights before she slammed the door in his face./ Compare: READ THE
RIOT ACT.
[give the air] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(1).
[give the ax] {v. phr.}, {colloquial} 1. Abruptly to finish a
relationship. * /She gave me the ax last night./ 2. To fire an
employee in a curt manner. * /His boss gave John the ax last Friday./
[give the benefit of the doubt] {v. phr.} To believe (a person) is
innocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. * /The money was
stolen and John was the only boy who had known where it was, but the
teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ * /George's grade was
higher than usual and he might have cheated, but his teacher gave him
the benefit of the doubt./
[give the bounce] or [give the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [give
the air] To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from.
* /Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl./ *
/Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate./ 2. or
[give the sack] also [give the hook] To fire from a job; dismiss. *
/The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice./
Contrast: GET THE BOUNCE.
[give the creeps] See: THE CREEPS.
[give the devil his due] {v. phr.} To be fair, even to someone who
is bad; tell the truth about a person even though you don't like him,
* /I don't like Mr. Jones, but to give the devil his due, I must admit
that he is a good teacher./
[give the gate] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE.
[give the glad eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} To give (someone) a
welcoming look as if saying "come over here, I want to talk to you." *
/I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye./
[give the go-by] {v. phr.} To pay no attention to a person; avoid.
* /John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by./ * /The
boy raised his hand to answer the question, but the teacher gave him
the go-by./ Compare: THE RUNAROUND.
[give the high sign] See: HIGH SIGN.
[give the hook] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2).
[give the lie to] {v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To call (someone) a
liar. * /The police gave the lie to the man who said that he had been
at home during the robbery./ 2. To show (something) to be false; prove
untrue. * /The boy's dirty face gave the lie to his answer that he had
washed./
[give the sack] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2).
[give the shirt off one's back] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give away
something or everything that you own. * /He'd give you the shirt off
his back./
[give the show away] {v. phr.} To reveal a plan or information that
is supposed to be secret. * /You have read further in the book than I
have, but please don't tell me where the treasure was buried;
otherwise you'd be giving the show away./
[give the slip] {v.} To escape from (someone); run away from
unexpectedly; sneak away from. * /An Indian was following, but Boone
gave him the slip by running down a hill./ * /Some boys were waiting
outside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip./
[give signs of] See: SHOW SIGN(S) OF; SHOW NO SIGN OF.
[give the willies] {v. phr.} To cause someone to be uncomfortable,
fearful, or nervous. * /Sue hates to camp out in a tent; the buzzing
of the mosquitoes gives her the willies./
[give thought to] {v. phr.} To consider; think about. * /Have you
given any thought to the question of how to sell Grandpa's old house?/
Contrast: GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
[give to understand] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a person
think that something is true but not tell him; suggest; hint. * /Mr.
Johnson gave Billy to understand that he would pay him if he helped
him clean the yard./ 2. To make a person understand by telling him
very plainly or boldly. * /Frank was given to understand in a short
note from the boss that he was fired./
[give up] {v.} 1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. * /The
dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up./ * /Jimmy is
giving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school./ Compare:
GIVE ONESELF UP, HAND OVER, LET GO(1a). Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 1b. To
allow; permit. * /Ford gave up two walks in the first inning./ 2. To
stop doing or having; abandon; quit. * /The doctor told Mr. Harris to
give up smoking./ * /Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved
away./ Compare: LEAVE OFF, PART WITH. 3. To stop hoping for, waiting
for, or trying to do. * /Johnny was given up by the doctors after the
accident, but he lived just the same./ * /When Mary didn't come by
nine o'clock, we gave her up./ * /I couldn't do the puzzle so I gave
it up./ 4. To stop trying; quit; surrender. * /The war will be over
when one of the countries gives up./ * /The other team gave up after
we scored three touchdowns./ Compare: GIVE IN(2), RESIGN ONESELF,
THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[give (one) up for] {v. phr.} To abandon hope for someone or
something. * /After Larry had not returned to base camp for three
nights, his fellow mountain climbers gave him up for dead./
[give up the ghost] {v. phr.} To die; stop going. * /After a long
illness, the old woman gave up the ghost./ * /The motor turned over a
few times and gave up the ghost./
[give up the ship] {v. phr.} To stop fighting and surrender; stop
trying or hoping to do something. * /"Don't give up the ship, John,"
said his father when John failed a test./
[give voice] {v. phr.}, {formal} To tell what you feel or think;
especially when you are angry or want to object. - Used with "to". *
/The students gave voice to their pleasure over the new building./ *
/Little Willie gave voice to his pain when the dog bit him by crying
loudly./ Compare: CRY OUT, SPEAK OUT.
[give way] {v.} 1. To go back; retreat. * /The enemy army is giving
way before the cannon fire./ Compare: FALL BACK. 2. To make room, get
out of the way. * /The children gave way and let their mother through
the door./ Compare: MAKE WAY. 3. To lose control of yourself; lose
your courage or hope; yield. * /Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the
flood, but she was very frightened./ Compare: GIVE UP, LOSE ONE'S
HEAD. 4. To collapse; fail. * /The river was so high that the dam gave
way./ * /Mary's legs gave way and she fainted./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4),
LET GO(1a). 5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission. * /Billy
kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally
gave way./ Compare: GIVE IN.
[give way to] {v. phr.} 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass;
yield to. * /John gave way to the old lady and let her pass./ 1b. To
allow to decide. * /Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying the
car./ 1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back. * /Timmy
gave way to his feelings when his dog died./ 2. or [give place to]. To
be replaced by. * /Radio has given way to television in popularity./ *
/When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way lo
laughter./
[glad hand] {n.}, {informal} A friendly handshake; a warm greeting.
* /Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when
he arrived./ * /The politician went down the street on election day
giving everyone the glad hand./
[glad rags] {n.}, {slang} Clothes worn to parties or on special
occasions; best clothes. * /Mrs. Owens put on her glad rags for the
party./ Compare: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[glance] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT.
[glance off] {v. phr.} To ricochet. * /The bullet glanced off the
wall and wounded an innocent bystander./
[glass] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW
STONES, SAFETY GLASS.
[glasses] See: LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES.
[glass jaw] {n.}, {slang} The inability of a boxer to get a hard
punch on the jaw without being knocked out; a tendency to be knocked
out easily. * /He would have been champion except for his glass jaw./
[globe-trotter] {n.} One who has travelled far and wide. * /Tim and
Nancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven't
been to./
[glory] See: IN ONE'S GLORY.
[gloss over] {v.} To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or
not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. *
/Billy broke a window and Mother tried to gloss it over by saying it
wouldn't cost much to have it fixed, but Father spanked Billy anyway./
* /John glossed over his mistake by saying that everybody did the same
thing./
[glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE, HAND IN GLOVE or HAND AND GLOVE,
HANDLE WITH GLOVES.
[glutton for punishment] {n. phr.} A greedy person; someone who
wants too much of something, such as food or drink, which will make
him sick. * /Fred eats so much red meat that he is a regular glutton
for punishment./
[go] See: HERE GOES, HERE GOES NOTHING, BEST BIB AND TUCKER or
SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES, COMINGS AND GOINGS, EASY COME EASY GO,
GET GOING, GET-UP-AND-GO, HAVE A GO AT, HEART GOES OUT TO, KNOW
WHETHER ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LET GO, MAKE A GO OF, NO DEAL or NO
GO, ON THE GO, PAY AS ONE GOES, TOUCH AND GO.
[go about] {v.} 1. To be busy with; keep busy at or working on;
start working on; do. * /Bobby is going about his homework very
seriously tonight./ * /Just go about your business and don't keep
looking out of the window./ * /How will you go about building the bird
house?/ Syn.: GO AT(2). 2a. To move from one place or person to
another. * /Some people go about telling untrue stories./ 2b. To go
together. - Usually used with "with". * /Mother doesn't want me to go
about with Jane and her friends any more./ Syn.: GO AROUND(1b).
[go about one's business] {v. phr.} To mind one's own affairs. *
/Fred kept bothering me with his questions all day, so I finally told
him to go about his business and leave me alone./
[go after] {v.} To try to get. * /"First find out what job you want
and then go after it," said Jim's father./
[go against the grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN(2).
[go ahead] {v.} To begin to do something; not wait. * /The teacher
told the students not to write on the paper yet, but John went ahead
and wrote his name./ * /"May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead."/
Compare: GO ON(1).
[go astray] {v. phr.} To become lost. * /The letter has obviously
gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago./
[goal] See: FIELD GOAL.
[goal line] {n.} A line that marks the goal in a game (as
football.) * /The fullback went over the goal line from five yards
out./
[goal line stand] {n.} A strong defensive effort right in front of
the goal line. * /A goal line stand by the home team held the visitors
on the two-yard line./
[go all the way with] See: ALL THE WAY.
[go along] {v.} 1. To move along; continue. * /Uncle Bill made up
the story as he went along./ Compare: GO ON(1). 2. To go together or
as company; go for fun. - Often used with "with". /Mary went along
with us to Jane's house./ * /John just went along for the ride to the
ball game. He didn't want to play./ * /When one filling station cuts
gasoline prices, the others usually go along./ 3. To agree; cooperate.
- Often used with "with". * /"Jane is a nice girl." "I'll go along
with that," said Bill./ * /Just because the other boys do something
bad, you don't have to go along with it./
[go ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become highly excited or behave in a
crazy way. * /Amy went ape over the hotel and beautiful beaches./ *
/The electric door opener malfunctioned and caused the garage door to
go ape./
[go around] {v.} 1a. To go from one place or person to another. *
/Mr. Smith is going around looking for work./ * /Don't go around
telling lies like that./ * /Chicken pox is going around the
neighborhood./ * /A rumor is going around school that we will get the
afternoon off./ 1b. To go together; keep company. - Usually used with
"with". * /Bill goes around with boys older than he is because he is
big for his age./ Syn.: GO ABOUT(2b). 2. To be enough to give to
everyone; be enough for all. * /There are not enough desks to go
around in the classroom./
[go around in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[goat] See: GET ONE'S GOAT.
[go at] {v.} 1. To start to fight with; attack. * /The dog and the
cat are going at each other again./ 2. To make a beginning on;
approach; tackle. * /How are you going to go at the job of fixing the
roof?/ Compare: START IN. Syn.: GO ABOUT(1).
[go at it hammer and tongs] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To attack or
fight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. * /Bill
slapped George's face and now they're going at it hammer and tongs in
back of the house./ * /Helen and Mary have been arguing all day, and
now they are going at it hammer and tongs again./ 2. To start or do
something with much strength, energy, or enthusiasm. * /The farmer had
to chop down a tree and he went at it hammer and tongs./ * /Charles
had a lot of homework to do and he went at it hammer and tongs till
bedtime./ Compare: IN EARNEST, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[go AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.
[go back on] {v. phr.} 1. To turn against; not be faithful or loyal
to. * /Many of the man's friends went back on him when he was sent to
prison./ * /The boy's father told him not to go back on his promise./
Compare: BACK DOWN, TURN ONE'S BACK. 2. To fail to do necessary work;
not work. * /Grandfather's eyes are going back on him./ Compare: BREAK
DOWN(4), GIVE OUT.
[go back on one's word] {v. phr.} To renege; break a promise. *
/Patrick went back on his word when he refused to marry Karen in spite
of his earlier promise./
[go] or [be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS.
[go] or [be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON. Contrast: FALL OFF THE
WAGON.
[go bail for] {v. phr.} To advance the necessary money as security
in order to release an accused person until trial. * /The arrested
driver had no trouble finding someone to go bail for him./
[go begging] {v. phr.} To be not needed or wanted. * /Many old
homes in the city go begging./ * /Most of the apples on the market
went begging./
[go broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all one's money; especially
by taking a chance; owe more than you can pay. * /The inventor went
broke because nobody would buy his machine./ * /Dan had a quarter but
he went broke matching pennies with Fred./
[go-between] {n.} An intermediary. * /They expect Mr. Smith to act
as a go-between in the dispute between management and labor./
[go bust] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become bankrupt. * /Our company
lost a lot of money and went bust./ Compare: BELLY UP.
[go-by] See: GIVE THE GO-BY.
[go by] {v.} 1. To go or move past; pass. * /Bob had to go by the
post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter./ 2. To
follow; copy; obey. * /Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a
dress./ * /You will find Main Street without trouble if you go by
Father's directions./ * /If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the
rules of the road./ 3. To be known by; be called. * /Many actors do
not go by their real names./ * /Fred goes by the nickname of Chubby./
4. To pass; be over; end. * /Time goes by quickly on vacation./ * /The
horse and buggy days have gone by./ * /The flowers have all gone by.
What will I do for a bouquet?/ 5. To stop for a short visit; go to
someone's house for a short while. * /"Have you seen Bill lately?"
"Yes, I went by his house last week."/ Compare: STOP BY.
[go by the board] also [pass by the board] {v. phr.} To go away or
disappear forever, be forgotten or not used. * /Tom had several
chances to go to college, but he let them go by the board./ *
/Grandfather said he was too old to go to the beach. "Those days have
passed by the board," he said./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN.
[go by the name of] {v. phr.} To be called. * /Adolf Schicklegruber
went by the name of Adolf Hitler./
[go chase oneself] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away and stop being a
nuisance. * /John's father was busy and told him to go chase himself./
* /The owner of the store told the boys in front to go chase
themselves./ Compare: BEAT IT, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[God] See: IN THE LAP OP THE GODS also ON THE KNEES OP THE GODS, MY
GOD or MY GOODNESS, WOULD THAT or WOULD GOD.
[God forbid] {interj.} May God prevent (something from happening);
I hope that will not happen or is not true. * /Someone told the
worried mother that her son might have drowned. She said, "God
forbid!"/ * /God forbid that the dam break and flood the valley!/
Compare: PERISH THE THOUGHT.
[Godfrey] See: GREAT GODFREY.
[God knows] or [goodness knows] or [heaven knows] {informal} 1.
Maybe God knows but I don't know and no one else knows. - Often used
with "only". * /Do you know where Susan is? God only knows!/ 2.
Surely; certainly. * /Goodness knows, the poor man needs the money./ *
/Heaven only knows, I have tried hard enough./
[Godmother] See: FAIRY GODMOTHER.
[go down] {v. phr.} 1. To deteriorate in quality. * /This hotel,
which used to be one of the best, has gone down during the past few
years./ 2. To become lower in price. * /It is said that the price of
milk is expected to go down soon./ 3. To sink. * /The Titanic went
down with a lot of people aboard./
[go down in history] or [go down in the records] {v. phr.} To be
remembered or recorded for always. * /The lives of great men go down
in history./ * /Babe Ruth went down in history as a home run hitter./
* /The boy's straight A's for four years of college went down in the
records./ * /The President said that the day the war ended would go
down in history./
[go down the drain] {v. phr.} To be lost or wasted forever. * /If
he doesn't pass the bar examination tomorrow, his best efforts to
become a lawyer will go down the drain./
[God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb] {literary} A person who is
already helpless will not have more trouble; you will not have more
trouble than you can bear. * /After Mr. Smith lost his job, the
Smith's house caught fire, but the fire was put out before much harm
was done. Mr. Smith said, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."/
Contrast: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
[go Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out for fun together but
have each person pay for himself. * /High school students often go
Dutch to basketball games./ * /Sometimes boys and girls go Dutch on
dates./ * /The girl knew her boyfriend had little money, so she
offered to go Dutch./ Compare: DUTCH TREAT.
[go easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(1).
[go fly a kite] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go away; leave. Usually used
as a command, to show that you do not accept someone's ideas. * /Harry
was tired of John's advice and told him to go fly a kite./ * /After
Mary stood around telling Sue what was wrong with her dress. Sue told
her to go fly a kite./ Compare: DROP DEAD, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[go for] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To try to get; aim for; try for.
* /Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight./ * /The
dog went for Bob's leg./ 2. To favor; support; like. * /Little Susie
really goes for ice cream./ * /Bob goes for Jane in a big way./ 3. To
attack; begin to fight or argue with. * /The Indian jumped out of the
*hush and went for Daniel./ * /Molly went for James about being late
as soon as he got home./
[go for a spin] {v. phr.} To go for a ride in a car. * /Billy has
invited us to go for a spin in his new car./
[go for broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To risk everything on one big
effort; use all your energy and skill; try as hard as possible. * /The
racing car driver decided to go for broke in the biggest race of the
year./ Compare: ALL-OUT.
[go for nothing] also {formal} [go for naught] {v. phr.} To count
for nothing; be useless; be wasted. * /What the teacher said went for
nothing because the pupils did not pay attention./ * /I hope that all
your good work doesn't go for naught./ Compare: IN VAIN.
[go from bad to worse] {adv. phr.} To change from a bad position or
condition to a worse one; become worse. * /Dick's typing went from bad
to worse when he was tired./ * /Jack's conduct in school has gone from
bad to worse./ Compare: OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[go from strength to strength] {v. phr.} To move forward,
increasing one's fame, power, or fortune in a series of successful
achievements. * /Our basketball team has gone from strength to
strength./
[go-getter] {n.} A person who works hard to become successful; an
active, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. * /The
governor of the state has always been a go-getter./ * /The best
salesmen are the go-getters./
[go-go] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Vigorous youthful, unusually
active. * /Joe is a go-go kind of guy./ 2. Of a discotheque or the
music or dances performed there. 3a. Unrestrained. 3b. Very
up-to-date, hip. * /Mary wore handsome go-go boots to the discotheque
last night./
[go great guns] See: GREAT GUNS.
[go halfway] or [go halfway to meet one] or [meet one halfway] {v.
phr.} To give up part of what you want or to do your share in reaching
an agreement with someone. * /Our neighbors are willing to go halfway
to meet us and pay their share for a fence between our houses./ * /Bob
wants to make up after your fight and you should meet him halfway./ *
/If you're willing to go halfway with us, we'll be friends again./ *
/Bill met Mary halfway after their argument./
[go halves] {v. phr.}, {informal} To share half or equally become
partners. * /The boys went halves in raising pigs./ * /The men are
going halves in a new business./ * /The girl bought a box of candy and
went halves with her roommate./
[go hang] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To stop being of interest or
importance; be forgotten. - Usually used with "let". * /Mr. Johnson
let his business go hang after his wife died./ 2. To leave you alone;
not bother. * /When the neighbor told Father how to manage his
children, Father told him to go hang./ Compare: TELL WHERE TO GET OFF.
[go hard with] {v. phr.} To be painful, troublesome, or hard for;
happen or result badly for. - Used after "it". * /It will go hard with
you if I catch you smoking./
[go haywire] {v. phr.}, {informal} Mixed-up, out of order, not in
regular working condition. * /My electric typewriter has gone all
haywire; I have to call the repair man./
[go hog wild] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become extremely agitated and
go out of control. * /After the soccer game was won, the fans went hog
wild./
[go in a circle] or [go in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[go in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do; take part in; take
pleasure in. * /Most girls do not go in for rough games./ * /Mrs.
Henry goes in for simple meals./ Compare: GO INTO(3), TAKE UP(5b).
[going and coming] See: COMING AND GOING.
[going for one] {adj. phr.} Working to help; in one's favor. * /The
young woman surely will get the job; she has everything going for
her./
[going on] {adv. phr.} Almost; nearly. * /Joe is going on six years
old./ * /It is going on six o'clock./
[going through changes] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be in
trouble, to have difficulties, to be trapped in unfavorable
circumstances. * /"What's the matter with Joe?" - "He's going through
changes."/
[going to] Can be expected to; planning to. - Used after "is" (or
"was", etc.), with an infinitive, in the same way "will" is used, to
show future. * /Some day that big tree is going to rot and fall./ *
/Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain./ * /The boys are going
to practice football this afternoon./ * /For a minute Ben thought the
car was going to hit him./ * /I was going to attend the meeting, but
after supper I forgot about it./ - Sometimes used without the
infinitive. * /That worn rope hasn't broken yet, but it's going to./ *
/"Put some more wood on the fire." - "I'm going to."/ Compare: ABOUT
TO(1).
[go in one ear and out the other] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be not
really listened to or understood; be paid no attention. * /The
teacher's directions to the boy went in one ear and out the other./ *
/Mother scolded Martha, but it went in one ear and out the other./
[go into] {v.} 1a. To go or fit inside of; able to be put in. *
/The table is too big to go into the closet./ 1b. To be able to be
divided into; be divisible into. * /Two goes into four two times./ 2.
To enter a state or condition of; pass into. * /John went into a fit
of temper when he didn't get his own way./ * /The sick man went into a
coma./ * /The country went into mourning when the king died./ 3. To be
busy in or take part in; enter as a job or profession. * /The mayor
went into politics as a very young man./ * /Mr, Johnson is going into
business for himself./ * /Bill wants to go into law when he gets out
of school./ Compare: GO IN FOR, TAKE UP(5b). 4. To start to talk
about; bring up the subject of; examine. * /We'll talk about the dead
mouse after dinner, Billy. Let's not go into it now./ * /The teacher
went into the subject of newspapers today./ Compare: LOOK INTO.
[go into a huddle] {v. phr.} 1. To gather close together as a team
in a football game, usually to find out your team's next play. * /The
football team which has the ball goes into a huddle before every play
to get orders on what play they will use./ 2. {informal} To talk
together privately about something; discuss something where others
cannot hear. * /The man went into a huddle with his lawyers before
answering the question./ * /The doctors went into a huddle and decided
to operate./
[go into a nose dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN.
[go into a tailspin] or [go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went
into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly
beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or mentally
sick; give up hope. * /The man went into a tailspin after his wife
died and he never got over it./
[go into orbit] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become very happy or
successful. * /Our team has gone into orbit./ Compare: FLY HIGH. 2. To
lose one's temper or control completely; become very angry. * /John
was afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about the
car accident./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING.
[go it] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go fast; run hard; not to spare
yourself. - Often used as a command. * /The coach yelled to the runner
to go it./ * /At the party the girls cheered for their partners to go
it./ * /The boys called, "Go it!" to the dog chasing the cat./ 2. To
live; continue to do or work. * /John wants to leave home and go it
alone./ Compare: ON ONE'S OWN.
[go jump in the lake] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go away and quit
being a bother. * /George was tired of Tom's advice and told him to go
jump in the lake./ Compare: GO CHASE YOURSELF, GO FLY A KITE.
[gold] See: HEART OF GOLD.
[golden] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
[goldfish bowl] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A situation in which
it is not possible to keep things secret for any length of time. *
/Washington Society is a goldfish bowl./ 2. An apartment or place that
provides no privacy for its occupant, e.g., an office that has too
many windows. * /Joe's office is a goldfish bowl, that's why I didn't
let him kiss me there./
[golf widow] {n.}, {informal} A woman whose husband is often away
from home playing golf. * /Mrs. Thompson didn't like being a golf
widow./
[go legit] {v. phr.} To start practicing a legitimate business
after having been operating outside of the law. * /"The old days are
over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of
right now."/
[go like clockwork] or [go off like clockwork] {v. phr.},
{informal} To run smoothly and regularly like the workings of a clock;
go smoothly and without difficulty; go on time or as planned. * /The
car's motor went like clockwork after Bob fixed it./ * /The birthday
party went off like clockwork and everyone had a good time./
[go native] {v. phr.} To behave like a native (said of European
Americans in tropical countries). * /Mainlanders often go native in
Hawaii./
[gone goose] also [gone gosling] {n.}, {slang} A person for whom
there is no hope. * /Herbert's grades have been so low that he is a
gone goose for the year./ * /The man was a gone gosling when a
policeman caught him breaking the store window./
[gone with the wind] {adj. phr.} Gone forever; past; vanished. *
/All the Indians who used to live here are gone with the wind./ * /Joe
knew that his chance to get an "A" was gone with the wind when he saw
how hard the test was./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN.
[good] See: AS GOOD AS, AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, BUT GOOD, DO ONE GOOD,
FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD MEASURE, GET THE GOODS ON, HOLD GOOD, IN GOOD, IN
GOOD FAITH, IN GOOD TIME, IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES, IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT
BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, MAKE GOOD, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, NO GOOD, ON
ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR, ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE, SO FAR, SO GOOD, STAND IN
GOOD STEAD, TO THE GOOD, WELL AND GOOD, WITH GOOD GRACE.
[good and ---] {adv.}, {informal} Very; completely. * /John's
father was good and mad when John came home late./ * /Jack knew good
and well that Tom had thrown the snowball at him./ * /I pushed Bill
good and hard./ * /Susan wouldn't come out till she was good and
ready./ * /I beat Joe good and proper in the game of marbles./
[good as] See: AS GOOD AS.
[good as one's promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.
[good as one's word] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.
[good buddy] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon}
Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios.
* /What's the Smokey situation, good buddy?/
[good command] See: HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF.
[good day] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting
or salute when you meet or leave someone during the day. * /Miss
Rogers said, "Good day!" when she met her friend on the street./ *
/Mr. Lee said "Good day!" and left the office./
[good deal] or [great deal] {n.}, {informal} A large amount; much.
- Used with "a". * /Mrs. Walker's long illness cost her a good deal./
* /George spends a great deal of his time watching television./ -
Often used like an adverb. * /Cleaning up after the party took a great
deal more work than the girls expected./ * /Usually it takes Father
half an hour to drive to work, but in bad weather it takes a good deal
longer./ * /Mother likes the gloves Mary gave her, and she uses them a
good deal./ * /George is a good deal like his father; they both love
to eat./ Syn.: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE. Compare: ALL KINDS OF, GOOD
MANY. Contrast: A LITTLE.
[good egg] {slang} or {informal} [good scout] {n. phr.} A friendly,
kind or good-natured person, a nice fellow. * /Tommy is such a good
egg that everybody wants to be his friend./ Syn.: REGULAR GUY.
Contrast: BAD EGG.
[good evening] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal
greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone in the evening. *
/When the TV program began, an announcer appeared and said, "Good
evening, everyone."/ * /Finally Aunt May stood up and said, "I will
not sell the house. Good evening, Mr. Flynn. "/
[good faith] {n.} 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. *
/Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good
faith./ - Often used in the phrase "in good faith". * /The teacher
accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith./ 2. Honesty of
purpose; trustworthiness. * /John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20,
and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith./
[good for] or [hurrah for] {adj. phr.} Used with a name or pronoun
to praise someone. * /Good for George! He won the 100-yard dash./ *
/You got 100 on the test? Hurrah for you./
[good-for-nothing] {adj. phr.} Worthless. * /While Janice works
hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars./
[good grief!] {interj.}, {informal} Wow! Indication of surprise,
good or bad. * /"Good grief," Joe cried out loud. "Is this all you
will pay me for my hard work?"/ * /What a figure Melanie has, good
grief! I wonder if she would be willing to go out with me./ Compare:
GOODNESS GRACIOUS!, HEAVENLY DAYS!, HOLY CATS or HOLY COW or HOLY
MACKEREL or HOLY MOSES. See: GOODNIGHT(2).
[good head on one's shoulders] {n. phr.} Good sense; good judgment.
* /Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast./ *
/Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps
good company./ * /George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by