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telling what he knew, but he held his fire./ * /Mary held fire until
she had enough information to convince the other club members./
[hold one's head up] {v. phr.} To show self-respect; not be
ashamed; be proud. * /When Mr. Murray had paid off his debts, he felt
that he could hold his head up again./
[hold one's horses] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop; wait; be
patient. - Usually used as a command. May be considered rude. * /"Hold
your horses!" Mr. Jones said to David when David wanted to call the
police./
[hold one's nose to the grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE
GRINDSTONE.
[hold one's own] {v. phr.} To keep your position; avoid losing
ground; keep your advantage, wealth, or condition without loss. * /Mr.
Smith could not build up his business, but he held his own./ * /The
team held its own after the first quarter./ * /Mary had a hard time
after the operation, but soon she was holding her own./
[hold one's peace] {v. phr.}, {formal} To be silent and not speak
against something; be still; keep quiet. * /I did not agree with the
teacher, but held my peace as he was rather angry./ Compare: HOLD
ONE'S TONGUE
[hold one's temper] or [keep one's temper] {v. phr.} To make
yourself be quiet and peaceful; not become angry. * /The meeting will
go smoothly if the president keeps his temper./ * /Dave can't keep his
temper when he drives in heavy traffic./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S TEMPER,
BLOW ONE'S STACK.
[hold one's tongue] {v. phr.} To be silent; keep still; not talk. -
May be considered rude. * /The teacher told Fred to hold his tongue./
* /If people would hold their tongues from unkind speech, fewer people
would be hurt/
[hold on to] {v. phr.} 1a. or [hold to] To continue to hold or
keep; hold tightly. * /When Jane played horse with her father, she
held on to him tightly./ * /The teacher said that if we believed
something was true and good we should hold on to it./ * /The old man
held on to his job stubbornly and would not retire./ 1b. To stay in
control of. * /Ann was so frightened that she had to hold on to
herself not to scream./ Contrast: LET GO. 2. To continue to sing or
sound. * /The singer held on to the last note of the song for a long
time./
[hold on to your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.
[holdout] {n.} A rebel who refuses to go with the majority. * /Sam
was a lone holdout in town; he refused to sell his old lakefront
cottage to make place for a skyscraper./
[hold out] {v. phr.} 1. To put forward; reach out; extend; offer. *
/Mr. Ryan held out his hand in welcome./ * /The clerk held out a dress
for Martha to try on./ * /The Company held out many fine promises to
Jack in order to get him to work for them./ 2. To keep resisting; not
yield; refuse to give up. * /The city held out for six months under
siege./ Compare: HANG ON, HOLD ON. 3. To refuse to agree or settle
until one's wishes have been agreed to. * /The strikers held out for a
raise of five cents an hour./ 4. {slang} To keep something from;
refuse information or belongings to which someone has a right. * /Mr.
Porters partner held out on him when the big payment came in./ *
/Mother gave Bobby cookies for all the children in the yard, but he
held out on them and ate the cookies himself./ * /John knew that the
family would go to the beach Saturday, but he held out on his
brother./
[hold out an olive branch] See: BURY THE HATCHET.
[holdover] {n.} 1. A successful movie or theater production that
plays longer than originally planned. * /Because of its great
popularity. Star Wars was a holdover in most movie theaters./ 2. A
reservation not used at the lime intended, but used later. * /They
kept my seat at the opera as a holdover because I am a patron./
[hold over] {v.} 1. To remain or keep in office past the end of the
term. * /The city treasurer held over for six months when the new
treasurer died suddenly./ * /The new President held the members of the
Cabinet over for some time before appointing new members./ 2. To
extend the engagement of; keep longer. * /The theater held over the
feature film for another two weeks./ 3. To delay action on; to
postpone: to defer. * /The directors held over their decision until
they could get more information./
[hold still] {v. phr.} To remain motionless. * /"Hold still," the
dentist said. "This won't hurt you at all."/
[hold the bag] {v. phr.} To be made liable for or victimized. * /We
went out to dinner together but when it was time to pay I was left
holding the bag./
[hold the fort] {v. phr.} 1. To defend a fort successfully; fight
off attackers. * /The little group held the fort for days until help
came./ 2. {informal} To keep a position against opposing forces. *
/Friends of civil liberties held the fort during a long debate./ 3.
{informal} to keep service or operations going * /It was Christmas
Eve, and a few workers held the fort in the office./ * /Mother and
Father went out and told the children to hold the fort./
[hold the line] {v. phr.} To keep a situation or trouble from
getting worse; hold steady; prevent a setback or loss. * /The mayor
held the line on taxes./ * /The company held the line on employment./
[hold the stage] [v. phr.] 1. To continue to be produced and to
attract audiences. * /"Peter Pan" holds the stage year after year at
its annual Christmas showing in London./ 2. To be active in a group;
attract attention. * /We had only an hour to discuss the question and
Mr. Jones held the stage for most of it./ * /Jane likes to hold the
stage at any party or meeting, so she does and says anything./
[hold to] See: HOLD ON TO.
[hold true] or [hold good] {v. phr.} To remain true. * /It has
always held true that man cannot live without laws./ * /Bob is a good
boy and that holds true of Jim./
[holdup] {n.} 1. Robbery. * /John fell victim to a highway holdup./
2. A delay, as on a crowded highway. * /Boy we're late! What's causing
this holdup?/
[hold up] {v.} 1. To raise; lift. * /John held up his hand./ 2. To
support; hear; carry. * /The chair was too weak to hold up Mrs.
Smith./ 3. To show; call attention to; exhibit. * /The teacher held up
excellent models of composition for her class to imitate./ 4. To
check; stop; delay. * /The wreck held up traffic on the railroad's
main line tracks./ 5. {informal} To rob at gunpoint. * /Masked men
held up the bank./ 6. To keep one's courage or spirits up; remain
calm; keep control of oneself. * /The grieving mother held up for her
children's sake./ 7. To remain good; not get worse. * /Sales held up
well./ * /Our team's luck held up and they won the game./ * /The
weather held up and the game was played./ 8. To prove true. * /The
police were doubtful at first, but Tony's story held up./ 9. To delay
action; defer; postpone. Often used with "on". * /The college held up
on plans for the building until more money came in./ * /The President
held up on the news until he was sure of it./
[hold up one's end] See: HOLD ONE'S END UP.
[hold water] {v. phr.} 1. To keep water without leaking. * /That
pail still holds water./ 2. {informal} To prove true; stand testing;
bear examination. - Usually used in negative, interrogative, or
conditional sentences. * /Ernest told the police a story that wouldn't
hold water./
[hold your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.
[hole] See: ACE IN THE HOLE, BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, IN A HOLE
or IN A SPOT, IN THE HOLE, OUT OF THE HOLE, SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND
HOLE.
[hole in] See: HOLE UP.
[hole in one] {n. phr.} A shot in golf that is hit from the tee and
goes right into the cup. * /Many golfers play for years before they
get a hole in one./
[hole-in-the-wall] {n. phr.} A small place to live, stay in, or
work in; a small, hidden, or inferior place. * /The jewelry store
occupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall./ * /When Mr. and Mrs. Green were
first married, they lived in a little hole-in-fhe-wall in a cheap
apartment building./ 2. {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}. A
tunnel. * /Let's get through this hole in the wall, then we'll change
seats./
[hole out] {v.} To finish play in golf by hitting the ball into the
cup. * /The other players waited for Palmer to hole out before they
putted./
[hole up] also [hole in] {v.}, {slang} To take refuge or shelter;
put up; lodge. * /After a day's motoring, Harry found a room for rent
and holed up for the night./ * /The thief holed up at an abandoned
farm./ * /"Let's hole in," said Father as we came to a motel that
looked good./
[holiday] See: HALF-HOLIDAY.
[holier-than-thou] {adj.} Acting as if you are better than others
in goodness, character, or reverence for God; acting as if morally
better than other people. * /Most people find holier-than-thou actions
in others hard to accept./ * /After Mr. Howard stopped smoking, he had
a holier-than-thou manner toward his friends who still smoked./
[holistic health] {n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} The
maintenance of health and the avoidance of disease through such
psychogenic practices and procedures as biofeedback, meditation,
alternative methods of childbirth, and avoidance of drugs. * /The
Murgatroyds are regular holistic health freaks - why, they won't even
take aspirin when they have a headache./
[holler before one is hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT.
[hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW also BEAT HOLLOW.
[hollow out] {v.} To cut or dig out or to cut or dig a hole in;
make a cut or cave in; excavate. * /The soldier hollowed out a foxhole
in the ground to lie in./ * /The Indians used to hollow out a log to
make a canoe./ * /Joe's father hollowed out a pumpkin to make a
jack-o-lantern./
[holy cats] or [holy cow] or [holy mackerel] or [holy Moses]
{interj.}, {informal} - Used to express strong feeling (as
astonishment, pleasure, or anger); used in speech or when writing
conversation. * /"Holy cats! That's good pie!" said Dick./ * /"Holy
cow! They can't do that!" Mary said when she saw the boys hurting a
much smaller boy./
[holy terror] {n.}, {informal} A very disobedient or unruly child;
brat. * /All the children are afraid of Johnny because he's a holy
terror./
[home] See: AT HOME, BRING HOME, BRING HOME THE BACON, CHICKENS
COME HOME TO ROOST, CLOSE TO HOME, CONVALESCENT HOME or NURSING HOME
or REST HOME, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME,
NOBODY HOME, WRITE HOME ABOUT.
[home brew] {n. phr.} A beer or other malt liquor made at home, not
in a brewery. * /Home brew reached its greatest popularity in America
during national prohibition./
[home on] or [home in on] {v.} To move toward a certain place by
following a signal or marker. * /The airplane homed in on the radio
beacon./ * /The ship homed on the lights of New York harbor./
[home plate] {n.} The base in baseball where the batter stands and
that a runner must touch to score. * /The runner slid across home
plate ahead of the tag to score a run./
[home run] {n.} A hit in baseball that allows the batter to run
around all the bases and score a run. * /Frank hit a home run over the
left field wall in the second inning./
[honest broker] {n. phr.} A person hired or appointed to act as an
agent in a legal, business, or political situation where impartial
advice is needed in order to settle a dispute. * /Michael has been
asked to act as an honest broker to settle the argument between the
employees and the management./
[honestly] See: COME BY HONESTLY.
[honest to goodness] or [honest to God] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Really; truly; honestly. - Used to emphasize something said. * /When
we were in Washington, we saw the President, honest to goodness./ *
/"Honest to goodness, Jane, I think you are the messiest girl in the
world," said Mother./
[bonest-to-goodness] or [honest-to-God] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Real; genuine. - Used for emphasis. * /She served him
honest-to-goodness deep dish apple pie./ * /It was the first
honest-to-goodness baseball game he'd seen since going abroad./
[honeymoon is over] The first happy period of friendship and
cooperation between two persons or groups is over. * /A few months
after a new President is elected, the honeymoon is over and Congress
and the President begin to criticize each other./ * /The honeymoon was
soon over for the new foreman and the men under him./
[honky-tonk] {n.} A cheap nightclub or dance hall. * /There were a
number of honky-tonks near the army camp./
[honor] See: DO THE HONORS, IN HONOR OF, ON ONE'S HONOR.
[hook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK, GET THE HOOK at GET THE BOUNCE(2),
GIVE THE HOOK at GIVE THE BOUNCE(2), OFF THE HOOK.
[hooked on] {adj.} 1. Addicted to a substance such as cigarettes,
coffee, tea, drugs, or alcohol. * /Fred is hooked on grass, but Tim is
only hooked on tea./ 2. Enthusiastic or very supportive of something.
* /I am hooked on the local symphony./
[hookey] See: PLAY HOOKEY.
[hook, line and sinker] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Without question or
doubt; completely. * /Johnny was so easily fooled that he fell for
Joe's story, hook, line and sinker./ * /Mary was such a romantic girl
that she swallowed the story Alice told her about her date, hook, line
and sinker./ * /Bobby trusted Jim so he was taken in by his hard-luck
story hook, line and sinker./
[hookup] {n.} A connection, electrical or otherwise, between two
instruments or two individuals. * /Edwin and Hermione are a perfect
couple; they have got the right hookup./
[hook up] {v. phr.} To connect or fit together. * /The company sent
a man to hook up the telephone./ * /They could not use the gas stove
because it had not been hooked up./
[hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.
[hop] See: MAD AS A HORNET Or MAD AS HOPS.
[hop, skip and a jump] See: STONE'S THROW.
[hope] See: CROSS ONE'S HEART or CROSS ONE'S HEART AND HOPE TO DIE,
IN HOPES.
[hope against hope] {v. phr.} To try to hope when things look
black; hold to hope in bad trouble. * /The mother continued to hope
against hope although the plane was hours late./ * /Jane hoped against
hope that Joe would call her./
[hop to it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get started; start a job; get
going. * /"There's a lot to do today, so let's hop to it," the boss
said./
[hopped up] {adj.}, {slang} 1. Doped with a narcotic drug. *
/Police found Jones hiding in an opium den, among other men all hopped
up with the drug./ 2. Full of eagerness; excited. * /Fred was all
hopped up about going over the ocean./
[horn] See: BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN or TOOT ONE'S OWN HORN, PULL IN
ONE'S HORNS or DRAW IN ONE'S HORNS, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[hornet] See: MAD AS A HORNET or MAD AS HOPS or MAD AS A WET HEN,
STIR UP A HORNET'S NEST.
[horn in] {v.}, {slang} To come in without invitation or welcome;
interfere. Often used with "on". * /Jack would often horn in on
conversations discussing things he knew nothing about./ * /Lee horned
in on Ray and Annie and wanted to dance with Annie./ Compare: BUTT IN.
[horns of a dilemma] {n. phr.} Two choices possible in a situation
in which neither is wanted. Usually used after "on". * /Joe found
himself on the horns of a dilemma; if he went to work, he'd miss
seeing Mary; if he stayed out, he'd he too broke to take her
anywhere./
[horror] See: THROW UP ONE'S HANDS IN HORROR.
[horse] See: BET ON THE WRONG HORSE, CART BEFORE THE HORSE, CHANGE
HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM or CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM, EAT
LIKE A HORSE, HOLD ONE'S HORSES. IRON HORSE, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER
THE HORSE IS STOLEN, LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, OFF ONE'S HIGH
HORSE, ON ONE'S HIGH HORSE, PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE,
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH.
[horsefeathers!] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. Not true; I don't believe
what you're saying. * /"Horsefeathers!" Brad cried. "I can't believe a
word of what you said about Jessica."/ 2. Exclamation of disgust. *
/"Horsefeathers!" Fred cried. "We've just missed the bus."/ Compare:
FIDDLESTICKS, BULLSHIT.
[horselaugh] {n. phr.} A loud, sarcastic, and derisive laugh. *
/When the speaker praised politics as one of the oldest and noblest
professions, his audience of college students gave him a horselaugh./
[horse around] {v.}, {slang} To join in rough teasing; play around.
* /They were a hunch of sailors on shore leave, horsing around where
there were girls and drinks./ * /John horsed around with the dog for a
while when he came in from school./
[horse of a different color] or [horse of another color] {n. phr.},
{informal} Something altogether separate and different. * /Anyone can
be broke, but to steal is a horse of a different color./ * /Do you
mean that the boy with that pretty girl is her brother? I thought he
was her boyfriend. Well, that's a horse of another color./
[horse opera] {n. phr.} A Western movie in which cowboys and horses
play a major part. * /John Wayne played in many horse operas./
[horseplay] {n.} Rough, practical joking. * /The newlyweds couldn't
get a wink of sleep all night because there was a lot of yelling and
screaming outside of their window - the usual horseplay./
[horse sense] {n.}, {informal} A good understanding about what to
do in life; good judgment; wisdom in making decisions. * /Bill had
never been to college, but he had plenty of horse sense./ * /Some
people are well educated and read many books, but still do not have
much horse sense./
[horse trade] {n.} 1. The sale of a horse or the exchange of two
horses. * /It was a horse trade in which the owner of the worse animal
gave a rifle to make the trade equal./ 2. {informal} A business
agreement or bargain arrived at after hard and skillful discussion. *
/Party leaders went around for months making horse trades to get
support for their candidate./ * /The horse trade finally called for a
new car for the radio station in exchange for several weeks of
advertising for the car dealer./
[hot] See: BLOW HOT AND COLD, MAKE IT HOT.
[hot air] {n.}, {informal} Nonsense, exaggerated talk, wasted words
characterized by emotion rather than intellectual content. * /That was
just a lot of hot air what Joe said./
[hot and bothered] {adj.}, {informal} Excited and worried,
displeased, or puzzled. - A hackneyed phrase. * /Fritz got all hot and
bothered when he failed in the test./ * /Leona was all hot and
bothered when her escort was late in coming for her./ * /Jerry was hot
and bothered about his invention when he couldn't get it to work./ *
/It is a small matter; don't get so hot and bothered./
[hot and heavy] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Strongly; vigorously;
emphatically. * /Fred got it hot and heavy when his wife found out how
much he had lost at cards./ * /The partners had a hot and heavy
argument before deciding to enlarge their store./
[hot dog] {n. phr.}, {informal} A frankfurter or wiener in a roll.
* /The boys stopped on the way home for hot dogs and coffee./
[hot dog] {interj.}, {informal} Hurrah! - A cry used to show
pleasure or enthusiasm. * /"Hot dog!" Frank exclaimed when he
unwrapped a birthday gift of a small record player./
[hot dog roast] See: WIENER ROAST.
[hot number] {n.}, {slang} A person or thing noticed as newer,
better, or more popular than others. * /The boys and girls thought
that song was a hot number./ * /The new car that Bob is driving is a
real hot number./ * /John invented a new can opener that was a hot
number in the stores./
[hot off the press] {adj. phr.} Just appeared in print. * /This is
the latest edition of the Chicago Tribune; it's hot off the press./
[hot one] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} Something out of the ordinary;
something exceptional, such as a joke, a person whether in terms of
looks or intelligence. * /Joe's joke sure was a hot one./ * /Sue is a
hot one, isn't she?/
[hot potato] {n.}, {informal} A question that causes strong
argument and is difficult to settle. * /Many school boards found
segregation a hot potato in the 1960s./
[hot rod] {n.}, {informal} An older automobile changed so that it
can gain speed quickly and go very fast. * /Hot rods are used by young
people especially in drag racing./
[hot seat] {n.}, {slang} 1. The electric chair used to cause death
by electrocution in legal executions. * /Many a man has controlled a
murderous rage when he thought of the hot seat./ 2. {informal} A
position in which you can easily get into trouble. * /A judge in a
beauty contest is on the hot seat. If he chooses one girl, the other
girls will be angry with him./
[hot stuff] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Coffee. *
/Let's stop and get some hot stuff./
[hot under the collar] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Angry. * /Mary gets
hot under the collar if you joke about women drivers./ * /Tom got hot
under the collar when his teacher punished him./
[hot water] {n.} {informal} Trouble. - Used with "in", "into",
"out", "of". * /John's thoughtless remark about religion got John into
a lot of hot water./ * /It was the kind of trouble where it takes a
friend to get you out of hot water./
[hound] See: ROCK HOUND, RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WFTH THE
HOUNDS.
[hour] See: AFTER HOURS, ALL HOURS, COFFEE HOUR, ON THE HOUR, ZERO
HOUR.
[house] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH, BRING DOWN THE HOUSE, PUN HOUSE,
HASH HOUSE, KEEP HOUSE, ON THE HOUSE, PARISH HOUSE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES or
PLAGUE O' BOTH YOUR HOUSES, PUT ONE'S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE'S
HOUSE TN ORDER.
[housebroken] {adj.} Trained to go outside to relieve themselves
(said of domestic pets, primarily dogs). * /All young puppies must
eventually be housebroken./
[house detective] {n.} A detective employed by a hotel, store, or
other business to watch for any trouble. * /The one-armed man sweeping
the bank floor was really the house detective./
[house of cards] {n. phr.} Something badly put together and easily
knocked down; a poorly founded plan, hope, or action. * /John's
business fell apart like a house of cards./
[house of ill fame] or [of ill repute] {n. phr.} A bordello; a
brothel. * /At the edge of town there is a house of ill repute run by
a Madame who used to be a singer in a bar./
[housetop] See: SHOUT FROM THE HOUSETOPS or SHOUT FROM THE
ROOFTOPS.
[hover over] {v. phr.} 1. To remain close or above. * /The rescue
helicopter was carefully hovering above the stranded rock climbers./
2. To watch over; supervise. * /"Mother!" Phillip cried, "if you don't
stop hovering over me, I'll go bananas!"/
[how] See: AND HOW!
[how about] or [what about] {interrog.} - Used to ask for a
decision, action, opinion, or explanation. 1. Will you have or agree
on? * /How about another piece of pie?/ * /What about a game of
tennis?/ * /How about going to the dance with me Saturday?/ 2. Will
you lend or give me? * /How about five dollars until Friday?/ * /What
about a little help with these dishes?/ 3. What is to be done about? *
/What about the windows? Shall we close them before we go?/ 4. How do
you feel about? What do you think about? What is to be thought or
said? * /What about women in politics?/ * /How about this button on
the front of the typewriter?/
[how about that] or [what about that] {informal} An expression of
surprise, congratulation, or praise. * /When Jack heard of his
brother's promotion, he exclaimed, "How about that!"/ * /Bill won the
scholarship! What about that!/
[how come] {informal} also {nonstandard} [how's come] {interrog.}
How does it happen that? Why? * /How come you are late?/ * /You're
wearing your best clothes today. How come?/ Compare: WHAT FOR.
[how do you do] {formal} How are you? - Usually as a reply to an
introduction; it is in the form of a question but no answer is
expected. * /"Mary, I want you to meet my friend Fred. Fred, this is
my wife, Mary." "How do you do, Mary?" "How do you do, Fred?"/
[how goes it?] {v. phr.}, {interrog.} How are you and your affairs
in general progressing? * /Jim asked Bill, "how goes it with the new
wife and the new apartment?"/
[howling success] {n.}, {informal} A great success; something that
is much praised; something that causes wide enthusiasm. * /The party
was a howling success./ * /The book was a howling success./
[how's come] See: HOW COME.
[how so] {interrog.} How is that so? Why is it so? How? Why? * /I
said the party was a failure and she asked. "How so?"/ * /He said his
brother was not a good dancer and I asked him, "How so? "/
[how's that] {informal} What did you say? Will you please repeat
that? * /"I've just been up in a balloon for a day and a half." "How's
that?"/ * /"The courthouse is on fire." "How's that again?"/
[how the land lies] See: LAY OF THE LAND.
[how the wind blows] See: WAY THE WIND BLOWS.
[huddle] See: GO INTO A HUDDLE.
[hue and cry] {n.} 1. An alarm and chase after a supposed
wrongdoer; a pursuit usually by shouting men. * /"Stop, thief," cried
John as he ran. Others joined him, and soon there was a hue and cry./
2. An excited mass protest, alarm, or outcry of any kind. * /The
explosion was so terrible that people at a distance raised a great hue
and cry about an earthquake./
[hug the road] {v. phr.} To stay firmly on the road; ride smoothly
without swinging. * /A heavy car with a low center of gravity will hug
the road./ * /At high speeds a car will not hug the road well./
[huh-uh] or [hum-um] or [uh-uh] {adv.}, {informal} No. - Used only
in speech or to record dialogue. * /Did Mary come? Huh-uh./ * /Is it
raining out? Uh-uh./ Contrast: UH-UH.
[humble] See: EAT HUMBLE PIE.
[hump] See: OVER THE HUMP.
[hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE HUNDRED or BY THE THOUSAND.
[hunky-dory] {adj.} OK; satisfactory; fine. * /The landlord asked
about our new apartment and we told him that so far everything was
hunky-dory./
[hunt] See: RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS.
[hunt and peck] {n. phr.}, {informal} Picking out typewriter keys
by sight, usually with one or two fingers; not memorizing the keys. *
/Many newspaper reporters do their typing by hunt and peck./ - Often
used, with hyphens, as an adjective. * /Mr. Barr taught himself to
type, and he uses the hunt-and-peck system./
[hunt down] {v.} 1. To pursue and capture; look hard for an animal
or person until found and caught. * /The police hunted down the
escaped prisoner./ Compare: TRACK DOWN. 2. To search for (something)
until one finds it. * /Professor Jones hunted down the written
manuscript in the Library of Congress./ Syn.: TRACK DOWN.
[hunting] See: HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.
[hunt up] {v.} To find or locate by search. * /When John was in
Chicago, he hunted up some old friends./ * /The first thing Fred had
to do was to hunt up a hotel room./
[hurry on with] or [make haste with] {v. phr.} To make rapid
progress in an undertaking. * /Sue promised to hurry on with the
report and send it out today./
[hurry up] {v. phr.} To rush (an emphatic form of hurry). * /Hurry
up or we'll miss our plane./
[hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT or HOLLER BEFORE ONE IS HURT.
[hush-hush] {adj.}, {informal} Kept secret or hidden; kept from
public knowledge; hushed up; concealed. * /The company had a new
automobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hush-hush
project until they knew it was successful./
[hush up] {v.} 1. To keep news of (something) from getting out;
prevent people from knowing about. * /It isn't always easy to hush up
a scandal./ 2. {informal} To be or make quiet; stop talking, crying,
or making some other noise. - Often used as a command. * /"Hush up,"
Mother said, when we began to repeat ugly gossip./
[ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD TURNS TO ICE, BREAK THE ICE,
CUT ICE, ON ICE, SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[iceberg] See: COOL AS AN ICEBERG.
[idea] See: THE IDEA, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA or WHAT'S THE IDEA.
[I declare] {interj.}, {dialect} Well; oh my; truly. - Used for
emphasis. * /I declare, it has been a very warm day!/ * /Mother said,
"I declare, John, you have grown a foot."/
[idiot box] {n.} A television set. * /Phil has been staring at the
idiot box all afternoon./
[if] See: WHAT IF.
[if anything] {adv. phr.} More likely; instead; rather. * /The
weather forecast is not for cooler weather; if anything, it is
expected to be warmer./ * /Joe isn't a bad boy. If anything he's a
pretty good one./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.
[if it's not one thing it's another] If a certain thing doesn't go
wrong, another most probably will. * /When John lost his keys and his
wallet, and his car wouldn't start, he exclaimed in despair, "If it's
not one thing it's another."/ Compare: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER
(ODTAA).
[if need be] {adv. phr.} If the need arises. * /If need be, I can
come early tomorrow and work overtime./
[if only] I wish. * /If only it would stop raining!/ * /If only
Mother could be here./ Syn.: WOULD THAT.
[if the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the
hill] If one person will not go to the other, then the other must go
to him. - A proverb. * /Grandfather won't come to visit us, so we must
go and visit him. If the hill won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad
will go to the hill./
[if the shoe fits, wear it] If what is said describes you, you are
meant. - A proverb. * /I won't say who, but some children are always
late. If the shoe fits, Wear it./
[if worst comes to worst] If the worst thing happens that be
imagined; if the worst possible thing happens; if troubles grow worse.
* /If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will send
his family to his mother's farm./ * /If worst comes to worst, we shall
close the school for a few days./
[if you can't lick them, join them] If you cannot defeat an
opponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doing
things, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. *
/"The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers,"
the president of an American car factory said. "If we want to stay in
business, we must do as they do. In other words, if you can't lick
them, join them."/
[I'll bet you my bottom dollar] {interj.}, {informal} An
exaggerated assertion of assurance. * /I'll bet you my bottom dollar
that the Cubs will win this year./
[I'll say] or [I tell you] {interj.}, {informal} I agree with this
completely. - Used for emphasis. * /Did the children all enjoy Aunt
Sally's pecan pie? I'll say!/ * /I'll say this is a good movie!/
[I'll tell you what] or [tell you what] {informal} Here is an idea.
* /The hamburger stand is closed, but I'll tell you what, let's go to
my house and cook some hot dogs./
[ill] See: IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, TAKE ILL.
[ill at ease] {adj. phr.} Not feeling at ease or comfortable;
anxious; worried; unhappy. * /Donald had never been to a big party
before and he was ill at ease./ * /When Joe first went to dancing
school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act./ Contrast: AT
EASE(2).
[ill-favored] {adj.} Ugly; unprepossessing. * /Oddly enough, the
father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than
her prettier sister./
[ill-gotten gains] {n. phr.} Goods or money obtained in an illegal
or immoral fashion. * /The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think
about his ill-gotten gains./
[image] See: SPITTING IMAGE or SPIT AND IMAGE.
[impose on] {v.} To try to get more from (a person who is helping
you) than he or she intended to give. * /Don't you think you are
imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an
hour?/ * /You may swim in the Allens' pool so long as you do not
impose on them by bringing all your friends./ Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE.
[improve on] or [improve upon] {v.} To make or get one that is
better than (another). * /Dick made good marks the first year, but he
thought he could improve on them./ * /Charles built a new model racer
for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old
one./
[I'm telling you] {informal} It is important to listen to what I am
saying. * /Marian is a smart girl but I'm telling you, she doesn't
always do what she promises./
[in a bad frame of mind] {adv. phr.} In an unhappy mood. * /Make
sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a
raise./ Contrast: IN A GOOD FRAME OF MIND.
[in a bad way] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In trouble or likely to have
trouble. * /If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a
bad way./ * /Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paper
that is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way./ * /Mrs. Jones
has cancer and is in a bad way./ * /A new supermarket opened across
the street, and the Peters' grocery business was soon in a bad way./
[in a big way] {adv. phr.}, {informal} As fully as possible; with
much ceremony. * /Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way./ *
/John likes to entertain his dates in a big way./
[in a bind] or [in a box] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Likely to have
trouble whether you do one thing or another. * /Sam is in a bind
because if he carries home his aunt's groceries, his teacher will be
angry because he is late, and if he doesn't, his aunt will complain./
Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HORNS OF A DILEMMA.
[in a breeze] See: WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.
[in absentia] {adv. phr.}, {formal} When the person is absent. -
Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent
student or during a court case. * /On Commencement Day, Joe was sick
in bed and the college gave him his bachelor's degree in absentia./
(Latin, meaning "in absence.")
[in accordance with] {adv. phr.} In consonance with something;
conforming to something. * /Employees at this firm are expected to
always behave in accordance with the rules./
[in a circle] or [in circles] {adv. phr.} Without any progress;
without getting anywhere; uselessly. * /The committee debated for two
hours, just talking in circles./ * /If you don't have a clear aim, you
can work a long time and still be going in circles./ * /He seemed to
be working hard, but was just running around in circles./
[in addition] {adv. phr.} As something extra; besides. * /We saw a
Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie./ * /Aunt Mary
gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition./ *
/He has two cars and in addition a motorboat./
[in advance] or [in advance of] {adv. phr.} 1. In front; ahead (of
the others); first. * /In the parade, the band will march in advance
of the football team./ * /The soldiers rode out of the fort with the
scouts in advance./ 2. Before doing or getting something. * /The motel
man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance./ * /The
paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have
time to cool./ * /It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we
cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating./
[in a family way] or [in the family way] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Going to have a baby. * /Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is
in the family way./ * /The Ferguson children are promising kittens to
everyone because their cat is in a family way./ Compare: WITH CHILD.
[in a fix] {adv. phr.} In trouble. * /Last night Jack wrecked his
car and now he is in a fix./ Compare: IN A JAM, IN A PICKLE.
[in a flash] also [in a trice] {adv. phr.} Very suddenly. * /We
were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone
in a flash./ * /Bob was looking over his notes for English class and
in a flash he knew what he would write his paper about./
[in a flutter] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a state of nervous
excitement. * /Whenever Norm and Cathy are near one another, both are
in a flutter; they must be in love./
[in a fog] or [in a haze] {adv. phr.} Mentally confused; not sure
what is happening. * /I didn't vote for Alice because she always seems
to be in a fog./ * /I was so upset that for two days I went around in
a haze, not even answering when people spoke to me./ Contrast: ALL
THERE, HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS.
[in a good frame of mind] {adv. phr.} In a happy mood. * /After a
relaxing holiday in the Bahamas, the boss was in a very good frame of
mind./ Contrast: IN A BAD FRAME OF MIND.
[in a hole] or [in a spot] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In an
embarrassing or difficult position; in some trouble. * /When the
restaurant cook left at the beginning of the busy season, it put the
restaurant owner in a hole./ Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, IN THE
HOLE.
[in a huff] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Angrily. * /Ellen went off in a
huff because she didn't get elected class president./
[in a jam] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a predicament; in a situation
fraught with difficulty. * /If you continue to disregard the
university instructions on how to take a test, you'll wind up in a jam
with the head of the department./ Compare: IN A PICKLE, IN DEEP SHIT.
[in a jiffy] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Immediately; right away; in a
moment. * /Wait for me; I'll be back in a jiffy./
[in a kind of way] See: IN A WAY(1).
[in a lather] {adj.}, {slang} In great excitement; all worked up;
extremely agitated. * /I couldn't get across to Joe, he was all in a
lather./
[in all] {adv. phr.} 1. All being counted; altogether. * /You have
four apples and I have three bananas, making seven pieces of fruit in
all./ * /In all we did very well./ 2. See: ALL IN ALL(2).
[in and out] {adv. phr.} 1. Coming in and going out often. * /He
was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day./ 2. See: INSIDE
OUT(2).
[in another's place] See: PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE.
[in a nutshell] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a few words; briefly,
without telling all about it. * /We are in a hurry, so I'll give you
the story in a nutshell./ * /In a nutshell, the car is no bargain./
Compare: IN SHORT.
[in any case] also [in any event] or [at all events] {adv. phr.} 1.
No matter what happens: surely; without fail; certainly; anyhow;
anyway. * /It may rain tomorrow, but we are going home in any case./ *
/I may not go to Europe, but in any event, I will visit you during the
summer./ 2. Regardless of anything else; whatever else may be true;
anyhow; anyway. * /Tom was not handsome and he was not brilliant, but
at all events he worked hard and was loyal to his boss./ * /I don't
know if it is a white house or a brown house. At all events, it is a
big house on Main Street./ Compare: AT ANY RATE, AT LEAST(2).
[in any event] See: IN ANY CASE.
[in a pickle] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a quandary; in a difficult
situation. * /I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew
out./
[in a pig's eye] {adv.}, {slang}, [informal] Hardly; unlikely; not
so. * /Would I marry him? In a pig's eye./
[in a pinch] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In an emergency. * /Dave is a
good friend who will always help out in a pinch./
[in arms] {adv. phr.} Having guns and being ready to fight; armed.
* /When our country is at war, we have many men in arms./ Syn.: UP IN
ARMS!
[in a row] See: GET ONE'S DUCKS IN A ROW.
[in arrears] {adv. phr.} Late or behind in payment of money or in
finishing something. - Usually used of a legal debt or formal
obligation. * /Poor Mr. Brown! He is in arrears on his rent./ * /He is
in arrears on the story he promised to write for the magazine./
[in a sense] {adv. phr.} In some ways but not in all; somewhat. *
/Mr. Smith said our school is the best in the state, and in a sense
that is true./ * /In a sense, arithmetic is a language./
[inasmuch as] {conj.} 1. See: INSOFAR AS. 2. also [for as much as]
{formal} Because; for the reason that; since. * /Inasmuch as this is
your team, you have the right to choose your own captain./ * /Inasmuch
as the waves are high, I shall not go out in the boat./
[in a sort of way] See: IN A WAY(1).
[in a spot] See: ON THE SPOT(2).
[in a trice] See: IN A FLASH.
[in at the kill] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Watching or taking part,
usually with pleasure, at the end of a struggle; present at the
finish. * /Frank and John have been quarreling for a long time and
tonight they are having a fight. Bill says he wants to be in at the
kill, because he is Frank's friend./
[in a walk] See: WIN IN A WALK.
[in a way] {adv. phr.} 1. also {informal} [in a kind of way] or
{informal} [in a sort of way] To a certain extent; a little; somewhat.
* /I like Jane in a way, but she is very proud./ Compare: AFTER A
FASHION, MORE OR LESS. 2. In one thing. * /In a way, this book is
easier: it is much shorter./
[in awe of] See: STAND IN AWE OF.
[in a while] See: AFTER A WHILE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE
IN A WHILE.
[in a whole skin] See: WITH A WHOLE SKIN.
[in a word] See: IN BRIEF.
[in a world of one's own] or [in a world by oneself] 1. In the
place where you belong; in your own personal surroundings; apart from
other people. * /They are in a little world of their own in their
house on the mountain./ 2a. In deep thought or concentration. * /Mary
is in a world of her own when she is playing the piano./ Compare: LOSE
ONESELF. 2b. {slang} Not caring about or connected with other people
in thoughts or actions. - Usually used sarcastically. * /That boy is
in a world all by himself. He never knows what is happening around
him./
[in a zone] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} In a daze; in a daydream;
in a state of being unable to concentrate. * /Professor Smith puts
everyone in a zone./
[in back of] See: BACK OF.
[in bad] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Out of favor; unpopular; in
difficulty; in trouble. * /No, I can't go swimming today. Father told
me to stay home, and I don't want to get in bad./ - Usually used with
"with". * /Mary is in bad with the teacher for cheating on the test./
* /The boy is in bad with the police for breaking windows./ Contrast:
IN GOOD, IN ONE'S FAVOR.
[in bad form] {adv. phr.} Violating social custom or accepted
behavior. * /When Bob went to the opera in blue jeans and without a
tie, his father-in-law told him that it was in bad form./ Contrast: IN
GOOD FORM.
[in behalf of] or [on behalf of] {prep.}, {formal} 1. In place of;
as a representative of; for. * /John accepted the championship award
on behalf of the team./ 2. As a help to; for the good of. * /The
minister worked hard all his life in behalf of the poor./ Compare: IN
ONE'S BEHALF IN ONE'S FAVOR.
[in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[in brief] or [in short] or [in a word] {adv. phr.} Briefly; to
give the meaning of what has been said or written in a word or in a
few words; in summary. * /The children could play as long as they
liked, they had no work to do, and nobody scolded them; in short, they
were happy./ * /The speaker didn't know his subject, nor did he speak
well; in brief, he was disappointing./ * /John is smart, polite, and
well-behaved. In a word, he is admirable./
[in cahoots with] See: IN LEAGUE WITH.
[in case] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In order to be prepared; as a
precaution; if there is need. - Usually used in the phrase "just in
case". * /The bus is usually on time, but start early, just in case./
* /The big dog was tied up, but John carried a stick, just in case./
2. [in case] or [in the event] {conj.} If it happens that; if it
should happen that; if; lest. * /Tom took his skates in case they
found a place to skate./ * /Let me know in case you're not coming./ *
/The night watchman is in the store in case there is ever afire./ *
/Keep the window closed in case it rains./ * /I stayed home in case
you called./ * /In the event that our team wins, there will be a big
celebration./ * /What shall we do in case it snows?/
[in case of] also [in the event of] {prep.} In order to meet the
possibility of; lest there is; if there is; if there should be. *
/Take your umbrellas in case of rain./ * /The wall was built along the
river in case of floods./
[inch] See: BY INCHES, EVERY INCH, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL
TAKE A MILE, WITHIN AN ACE OF or WITHIN AN INCH OF, WITHIN AN INCH OF
ONE'S LIFE.
[inch (one's way) along] {v. phr.} To. proceed slowly and with
difficulty. * /When the electricity failed, it took John half an hour
to inch his way along the corridors of the office building./
[in character] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In agreement with a
person's character or personality; in the way that a person usually
behaves or is supposed to behave; as usual; characteristic; typical;
she had enough information to convince the other club members./
[hold one's head up] {v. phr.} To show self-respect; not be
ashamed; be proud. * /When Mr. Murray had paid off his debts, he felt
that he could hold his head up again./
[hold one's horses] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop; wait; be
patient. - Usually used as a command. May be considered rude. * /"Hold
your horses!" Mr. Jones said to David when David wanted to call the
police./
[hold one's nose to the grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE
GRINDSTONE.
[hold one's own] {v. phr.} To keep your position; avoid losing
ground; keep your advantage, wealth, or condition without loss. * /Mr.
Smith could not build up his business, but he held his own./ * /The
team held its own after the first quarter./ * /Mary had a hard time
after the operation, but soon she was holding her own./
[hold one's peace] {v. phr.}, {formal} To be silent and not speak
against something; be still; keep quiet. * /I did not agree with the
teacher, but held my peace as he was rather angry./ Compare: HOLD
ONE'S TONGUE
[hold one's temper] or [keep one's temper] {v. phr.} To make
yourself be quiet and peaceful; not become angry. * /The meeting will
go smoothly if the president keeps his temper./ * /Dave can't keep his
temper when he drives in heavy traffic./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S TEMPER,
BLOW ONE'S STACK.
[hold one's tongue] {v. phr.} To be silent; keep still; not talk. -
May be considered rude. * /The teacher told Fred to hold his tongue./
* /If people would hold their tongues from unkind speech, fewer people
would be hurt/
[hold on to] {v. phr.} 1a. or [hold to] To continue to hold or
keep; hold tightly. * /When Jane played horse with her father, she
held on to him tightly./ * /The teacher said that if we believed
something was true and good we should hold on to it./ * /The old man
held on to his job stubbornly and would not retire./ 1b. To stay in
control of. * /Ann was so frightened that she had to hold on to
herself not to scream./ Contrast: LET GO. 2. To continue to sing or
sound. * /The singer held on to the last note of the song for a long
time./
[hold on to your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.
[holdout] {n.} A rebel who refuses to go with the majority. * /Sam
was a lone holdout in town; he refused to sell his old lakefront
cottage to make place for a skyscraper./
[hold out] {v. phr.} 1. To put forward; reach out; extend; offer. *
/Mr. Ryan held out his hand in welcome./ * /The clerk held out a dress
for Martha to try on./ * /The Company held out many fine promises to
Jack in order to get him to work for them./ 2. To keep resisting; not
yield; refuse to give up. * /The city held out for six months under
siege./ Compare: HANG ON, HOLD ON. 3. To refuse to agree or settle
until one's wishes have been agreed to. * /The strikers held out for a
raise of five cents an hour./ 4. {slang} To keep something from;
refuse information or belongings to which someone has a right. * /Mr.
Porters partner held out on him when the big payment came in./ *
/Mother gave Bobby cookies for all the children in the yard, but he
held out on them and ate the cookies himself./ * /John knew that the
family would go to the beach Saturday, but he held out on his
brother./
[hold out an olive branch] See: BURY THE HATCHET.
[holdover] {n.} 1. A successful movie or theater production that
plays longer than originally planned. * /Because of its great
popularity. Star Wars was a holdover in most movie theaters./ 2. A
reservation not used at the lime intended, but used later. * /They
kept my seat at the opera as a holdover because I am a patron./
[hold over] {v.} 1. To remain or keep in office past the end of the
term. * /The city treasurer held over for six months when the new
treasurer died suddenly./ * /The new President held the members of the
Cabinet over for some time before appointing new members./ 2. To
extend the engagement of; keep longer. * /The theater held over the
feature film for another two weeks./ 3. To delay action on; to
postpone: to defer. * /The directors held over their decision until
they could get more information./
[hold still] {v. phr.} To remain motionless. * /"Hold still," the
dentist said. "This won't hurt you at all."/
[hold the bag] {v. phr.} To be made liable for or victimized. * /We
went out to dinner together but when it was time to pay I was left
holding the bag./
[hold the fort] {v. phr.} 1. To defend a fort successfully; fight
off attackers. * /The little group held the fort for days until help
came./ 2. {informal} To keep a position against opposing forces. *
/Friends of civil liberties held the fort during a long debate./ 3.
{informal} to keep service or operations going * /It was Christmas
Eve, and a few workers held the fort in the office./ * /Mother and
Father went out and told the children to hold the fort./
[hold the line] {v. phr.} To keep a situation or trouble from
getting worse; hold steady; prevent a setback or loss. * /The mayor
held the line on taxes./ * /The company held the line on employment./
[hold the stage] [v. phr.] 1. To continue to be produced and to
attract audiences. * /"Peter Pan" holds the stage year after year at
its annual Christmas showing in London./ 2. To be active in a group;
attract attention. * /We had only an hour to discuss the question and
Mr. Jones held the stage for most of it./ * /Jane likes to hold the
stage at any party or meeting, so she does and says anything./
[hold to] See: HOLD ON TO.
[hold true] or [hold good] {v. phr.} To remain true. * /It has
always held true that man cannot live without laws./ * /Bob is a good
boy and that holds true of Jim./
[holdup] {n.} 1. Robbery. * /John fell victim to a highway holdup./
2. A delay, as on a crowded highway. * /Boy we're late! What's causing
this holdup?/
[hold up] {v.} 1. To raise; lift. * /John held up his hand./ 2. To
support; hear; carry. * /The chair was too weak to hold up Mrs.
Smith./ 3. To show; call attention to; exhibit. * /The teacher held up
excellent models of composition for her class to imitate./ 4. To
check; stop; delay. * /The wreck held up traffic on the railroad's
main line tracks./ 5. {informal} To rob at gunpoint. * /Masked men
held up the bank./ 6. To keep one's courage or spirits up; remain
calm; keep control of oneself. * /The grieving mother held up for her
children's sake./ 7. To remain good; not get worse. * /Sales held up
well./ * /Our team's luck held up and they won the game./ * /The
weather held up and the game was played./ 8. To prove true. * /The
police were doubtful at first, but Tony's story held up./ 9. To delay
action; defer; postpone. Often used with "on". * /The college held up
on plans for the building until more money came in./ * /The President
held up on the news until he was sure of it./
[hold up one's end] See: HOLD ONE'S END UP.
[hold water] {v. phr.} 1. To keep water without leaking. * /That
pail still holds water./ 2. {informal} To prove true; stand testing;
bear examination. - Usually used in negative, interrogative, or
conditional sentences. * /Ernest told the police a story that wouldn't
hold water./
[hold your hat] See: HANG ON TO YOUR HAT.
[hole] See: ACE IN THE HOLE, BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, IN A HOLE
or IN A SPOT, IN THE HOLE, OUT OF THE HOLE, SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND
HOLE.
[hole in] See: HOLE UP.
[hole in one] {n. phr.} A shot in golf that is hit from the tee and
goes right into the cup. * /Many golfers play for years before they
get a hole in one./
[hole-in-the-wall] {n. phr.} A small place to live, stay in, or
work in; a small, hidden, or inferior place. * /The jewelry store
occupied a tiny hole-in-the-wall./ * /When Mr. and Mrs. Green were
first married, they lived in a little hole-in-fhe-wall in a cheap
apartment building./ 2. {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}. A
tunnel. * /Let's get through this hole in the wall, then we'll change
seats./
[hole out] {v.} To finish play in golf by hitting the ball into the
cup. * /The other players waited for Palmer to hole out before they
putted./
[hole up] also [hole in] {v.}, {slang} To take refuge or shelter;
put up; lodge. * /After a day's motoring, Harry found a room for rent
and holed up for the night./ * /The thief holed up at an abandoned
farm./ * /"Let's hole in," said Father as we came to a motel that
looked good./
[holiday] See: HALF-HOLIDAY.
[holier-than-thou] {adj.} Acting as if you are better than others
in goodness, character, or reverence for God; acting as if morally
better than other people. * /Most people find holier-than-thou actions
in others hard to accept./ * /After Mr. Howard stopped smoking, he had
a holier-than-thou manner toward his friends who still smoked./
[holistic health] {n.}, {informal}, {semi-technical} The
maintenance of health and the avoidance of disease through such
psychogenic practices and procedures as biofeedback, meditation,
alternative methods of childbirth, and avoidance of drugs. * /The
Murgatroyds are regular holistic health freaks - why, they won't even
take aspirin when they have a headache./
[holler before one is hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT.
[hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW also BEAT HOLLOW.
[hollow out] {v.} To cut or dig out or to cut or dig a hole in;
make a cut or cave in; excavate. * /The soldier hollowed out a foxhole
in the ground to lie in./ * /The Indians used to hollow out a log to
make a canoe./ * /Joe's father hollowed out a pumpkin to make a
jack-o-lantern./
[holy cats] or [holy cow] or [holy mackerel] or [holy Moses]
{interj.}, {informal} - Used to express strong feeling (as
astonishment, pleasure, or anger); used in speech or when writing
conversation. * /"Holy cats! That's good pie!" said Dick./ * /"Holy
cow! They can't do that!" Mary said when she saw the boys hurting a
much smaller boy./
[holy terror] {n.}, {informal} A very disobedient or unruly child;
brat. * /All the children are afraid of Johnny because he's a holy
terror./
[home] See: AT HOME, BRING HOME, BRING HOME THE BACON, CHICKENS
COME HOME TO ROOST, CLOSE TO HOME, CONVALESCENT HOME or NURSING HOME
or REST HOME, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME,
NOBODY HOME, WRITE HOME ABOUT.
[home brew] {n. phr.} A beer or other malt liquor made at home, not
in a brewery. * /Home brew reached its greatest popularity in America
during national prohibition./
[home on] or [home in on] {v.} To move toward a certain place by
following a signal or marker. * /The airplane homed in on the radio
beacon./ * /The ship homed on the lights of New York harbor./
[home plate] {n.} The base in baseball where the batter stands and
that a runner must touch to score. * /The runner slid across home
plate ahead of the tag to score a run./
[home run] {n.} A hit in baseball that allows the batter to run
around all the bases and score a run. * /Frank hit a home run over the
left field wall in the second inning./
[honest broker] {n. phr.} A person hired or appointed to act as an
agent in a legal, business, or political situation where impartial
advice is needed in order to settle a dispute. * /Michael has been
asked to act as an honest broker to settle the argument between the
employees and the management./
[honestly] See: COME BY HONESTLY.
[honest to goodness] or [honest to God] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Really; truly; honestly. - Used to emphasize something said. * /When
we were in Washington, we saw the President, honest to goodness./ *
/"Honest to goodness, Jane, I think you are the messiest girl in the
world," said Mother./
[bonest-to-goodness] or [honest-to-God] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Real; genuine. - Used for emphasis. * /She served him
honest-to-goodness deep dish apple pie./ * /It was the first
honest-to-goodness baseball game he'd seen since going abroad./
[honeymoon is over] The first happy period of friendship and
cooperation between two persons or groups is over. * /A few months
after a new President is elected, the honeymoon is over and Congress
and the President begin to criticize each other./ * /The honeymoon was
soon over for the new foreman and the men under him./
[honky-tonk] {n.} A cheap nightclub or dance hall. * /There were a
number of honky-tonks near the army camp./
[honor] See: DO THE HONORS, IN HONOR OF, ON ONE'S HONOR.
[hook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK, GET THE HOOK at GET THE BOUNCE(2),
GIVE THE HOOK at GIVE THE BOUNCE(2), OFF THE HOOK.
[hooked on] {adj.} 1. Addicted to a substance such as cigarettes,
coffee, tea, drugs, or alcohol. * /Fred is hooked on grass, but Tim is
only hooked on tea./ 2. Enthusiastic or very supportive of something.
* /I am hooked on the local symphony./
[hookey] See: PLAY HOOKEY.
[hook, line and sinker] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Without question or
doubt; completely. * /Johnny was so easily fooled that he fell for
Joe's story, hook, line and sinker./ * /Mary was such a romantic girl
that she swallowed the story Alice told her about her date, hook, line
and sinker./ * /Bobby trusted Jim so he was taken in by his hard-luck
story hook, line and sinker./
[hookup] {n.} A connection, electrical or otherwise, between two
instruments or two individuals. * /Edwin and Hermione are a perfect
couple; they have got the right hookup./
[hook up] {v. phr.} To connect or fit together. * /The company sent
a man to hook up the telephone./ * /They could not use the gas stove
because it had not been hooked up./
[hoop] See: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.
[hop] See: MAD AS A HORNET Or MAD AS HOPS.
[hop, skip and a jump] See: STONE'S THROW.
[hope] See: CROSS ONE'S HEART or CROSS ONE'S HEART AND HOPE TO DIE,
IN HOPES.
[hope against hope] {v. phr.} To try to hope when things look
black; hold to hope in bad trouble. * /The mother continued to hope
against hope although the plane was hours late./ * /Jane hoped against
hope that Joe would call her./
[hop to it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get started; start a job; get
going. * /"There's a lot to do today, so let's hop to it," the boss
said./
[hopped up] {adj.}, {slang} 1. Doped with a narcotic drug. *
/Police found Jones hiding in an opium den, among other men all hopped
up with the drug./ 2. Full of eagerness; excited. * /Fred was all
hopped up about going over the ocean./
[horn] See: BLOW ONE'S OWN HORN or TOOT ONE'S OWN HORN, PULL IN
ONE'S HORNS or DRAW IN ONE'S HORNS, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[hornet] See: MAD AS A HORNET or MAD AS HOPS or MAD AS A WET HEN,
STIR UP A HORNET'S NEST.
[horn in] {v.}, {slang} To come in without invitation or welcome;
interfere. Often used with "on". * /Jack would often horn in on
conversations discussing things he knew nothing about./ * /Lee horned
in on Ray and Annie and wanted to dance with Annie./ Compare: BUTT IN.
[horns of a dilemma] {n. phr.} Two choices possible in a situation
in which neither is wanted. Usually used after "on". * /Joe found
himself on the horns of a dilemma; if he went to work, he'd miss
seeing Mary; if he stayed out, he'd he too broke to take her
anywhere./
[horror] See: THROW UP ONE'S HANDS IN HORROR.
[horse] See: BET ON THE WRONG HORSE, CART BEFORE THE HORSE, CHANGE
HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM or CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM, EAT
LIKE A HORSE, HOLD ONE'S HORSES. IRON HORSE, LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER
THE HORSE IS STOLEN, LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, OFF ONE'S HIGH
HORSE, ON ONE'S HIGH HORSE, PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE,
STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH.
[horsefeathers!] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. Not true; I don't believe
what you're saying. * /"Horsefeathers!" Brad cried. "I can't believe a
word of what you said about Jessica."/ 2. Exclamation of disgust. *
/"Horsefeathers!" Fred cried. "We've just missed the bus."/ Compare:
FIDDLESTICKS, BULLSHIT.
[horselaugh] {n. phr.} A loud, sarcastic, and derisive laugh. *
/When the speaker praised politics as one of the oldest and noblest
professions, his audience of college students gave him a horselaugh./
[horse around] {v.}, {slang} To join in rough teasing; play around.
* /They were a hunch of sailors on shore leave, horsing around where
there were girls and drinks./ * /John horsed around with the dog for a
while when he came in from school./
[horse of a different color] or [horse of another color] {n. phr.},
{informal} Something altogether separate and different. * /Anyone can
be broke, but to steal is a horse of a different color./ * /Do you
mean that the boy with that pretty girl is her brother? I thought he
was her boyfriend. Well, that's a horse of another color./
[horse opera] {n. phr.} A Western movie in which cowboys and horses
play a major part. * /John Wayne played in many horse operas./
[horseplay] {n.} Rough, practical joking. * /The newlyweds couldn't
get a wink of sleep all night because there was a lot of yelling and
screaming outside of their window - the usual horseplay./
[horse sense] {n.}, {informal} A good understanding about what to
do in life; good judgment; wisdom in making decisions. * /Bill had
never been to college, but he had plenty of horse sense./ * /Some
people are well educated and read many books, but still do not have
much horse sense./
[horse trade] {n.} 1. The sale of a horse or the exchange of two
horses. * /It was a horse trade in which the owner of the worse animal
gave a rifle to make the trade equal./ 2. {informal} A business
agreement or bargain arrived at after hard and skillful discussion. *
/Party leaders went around for months making horse trades to get
support for their candidate./ * /The horse trade finally called for a
new car for the radio station in exchange for several weeks of
advertising for the car dealer./
[hot] See: BLOW HOT AND COLD, MAKE IT HOT.
[hot air] {n.}, {informal} Nonsense, exaggerated talk, wasted words
characterized by emotion rather than intellectual content. * /That was
just a lot of hot air what Joe said./
[hot and bothered] {adj.}, {informal} Excited and worried,
displeased, or puzzled. - A hackneyed phrase. * /Fritz got all hot and
bothered when he failed in the test./ * /Leona was all hot and
bothered when her escort was late in coming for her./ * /Jerry was hot
and bothered about his invention when he couldn't get it to work./ *
/It is a small matter; don't get so hot and bothered./
[hot and heavy] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Strongly; vigorously;
emphatically. * /Fred got it hot and heavy when his wife found out how
much he had lost at cards./ * /The partners had a hot and heavy
argument before deciding to enlarge their store./
[hot dog] {n. phr.}, {informal} A frankfurter or wiener in a roll.
* /The boys stopped on the way home for hot dogs and coffee./
[hot dog] {interj.}, {informal} Hurrah! - A cry used to show
pleasure or enthusiasm. * /"Hot dog!" Frank exclaimed when he
unwrapped a birthday gift of a small record player./
[hot dog roast] See: WIENER ROAST.
[hot number] {n.}, {slang} A person or thing noticed as newer,
better, or more popular than others. * /The boys and girls thought
that song was a hot number./ * /The new car that Bob is driving is a
real hot number./ * /John invented a new can opener that was a hot
number in the stores./
[hot off the press] {adj. phr.} Just appeared in print. * /This is
the latest edition of the Chicago Tribune; it's hot off the press./
[hot one] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} Something out of the ordinary;
something exceptional, such as a joke, a person whether in terms of
looks or intelligence. * /Joe's joke sure was a hot one./ * /Sue is a
hot one, isn't she?/
[hot potato] {n.}, {informal} A question that causes strong
argument and is difficult to settle. * /Many school boards found
segregation a hot potato in the 1960s./
[hot rod] {n.}, {informal} An older automobile changed so that it
can gain speed quickly and go very fast. * /Hot rods are used by young
people especially in drag racing./
[hot seat] {n.}, {slang} 1. The electric chair used to cause death
by electrocution in legal executions. * /Many a man has controlled a
murderous rage when he thought of the hot seat./ 2. {informal} A
position in which you can easily get into trouble. * /A judge in a
beauty contest is on the hot seat. If he chooses one girl, the other
girls will be angry with him./
[hot stuff] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Coffee. *
/Let's stop and get some hot stuff./
[hot under the collar] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Angry. * /Mary gets
hot under the collar if you joke about women drivers./ * /Tom got hot
under the collar when his teacher punished him./
[hot water] {n.} {informal} Trouble. - Used with "in", "into",
"out", "of". * /John's thoughtless remark about religion got John into
a lot of hot water./ * /It was the kind of trouble where it takes a
friend to get you out of hot water./
[hound] See: ROCK HOUND, RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WFTH THE
HOUNDS.
[hour] See: AFTER HOURS, ALL HOURS, COFFEE HOUR, ON THE HOUR, ZERO
HOUR.
[house] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH, BRING DOWN THE HOUSE, PUN HOUSE,
HASH HOUSE, KEEP HOUSE, ON THE HOUSE, PARISH HOUSE, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES or
PLAGUE O' BOTH YOUR HOUSES, PUT ONE'S HOUSE IN ORDER or SET ONE'S
HOUSE TN ORDER.
[housebroken] {adj.} Trained to go outside to relieve themselves
(said of domestic pets, primarily dogs). * /All young puppies must
eventually be housebroken./
[house detective] {n.} A detective employed by a hotel, store, or
other business to watch for any trouble. * /The one-armed man sweeping
the bank floor was really the house detective./
[house of cards] {n. phr.} Something badly put together and easily
knocked down; a poorly founded plan, hope, or action. * /John's
business fell apart like a house of cards./
[house of ill fame] or [of ill repute] {n. phr.} A bordello; a
brothel. * /At the edge of town there is a house of ill repute run by
a Madame who used to be a singer in a bar./
[housetop] See: SHOUT FROM THE HOUSETOPS or SHOUT FROM THE
ROOFTOPS.
[hover over] {v. phr.} 1. To remain close or above. * /The rescue
helicopter was carefully hovering above the stranded rock climbers./
2. To watch over; supervise. * /"Mother!" Phillip cried, "if you don't
stop hovering over me, I'll go bananas!"/
[how] See: AND HOW!
[how about] or [what about] {interrog.} - Used to ask for a
decision, action, opinion, or explanation. 1. Will you have or agree
on? * /How about another piece of pie?/ * /What about a game of
tennis?/ * /How about going to the dance with me Saturday?/ 2. Will
you lend or give me? * /How about five dollars until Friday?/ * /What
about a little help with these dishes?/ 3. What is to be done about? *
/What about the windows? Shall we close them before we go?/ 4. How do
you feel about? What do you think about? What is to be thought or
said? * /What about women in politics?/ * /How about this button on
the front of the typewriter?/
[how about that] or [what about that] {informal} An expression of
surprise, congratulation, or praise. * /When Jack heard of his
brother's promotion, he exclaimed, "How about that!"/ * /Bill won the
scholarship! What about that!/
[how come] {informal} also {nonstandard} [how's come] {interrog.}
How does it happen that? Why? * /How come you are late?/ * /You're
wearing your best clothes today. How come?/ Compare: WHAT FOR.
[how do you do] {formal} How are you? - Usually as a reply to an
introduction; it is in the form of a question but no answer is
expected. * /"Mary, I want you to meet my friend Fred. Fred, this is
my wife, Mary." "How do you do, Mary?" "How do you do, Fred?"/
[how goes it?] {v. phr.}, {interrog.} How are you and your affairs
in general progressing? * /Jim asked Bill, "how goes it with the new
wife and the new apartment?"/
[howling success] {n.}, {informal} A great success; something that
is much praised; something that causes wide enthusiasm. * /The party
was a howling success./ * /The book was a howling success./
[how's come] See: HOW COME.
[how so] {interrog.} How is that so? Why is it so? How? Why? * /I
said the party was a failure and she asked. "How so?"/ * /He said his
brother was not a good dancer and I asked him, "How so? "/
[how's that] {informal} What did you say? Will you please repeat
that? * /"I've just been up in a balloon for a day and a half." "How's
that?"/ * /"The courthouse is on fire." "How's that again?"/
[how the land lies] See: LAY OF THE LAND.
[how the wind blows] See: WAY THE WIND BLOWS.
[huddle] See: GO INTO A HUDDLE.
[hue and cry] {n.} 1. An alarm and chase after a supposed
wrongdoer; a pursuit usually by shouting men. * /"Stop, thief," cried
John as he ran. Others joined him, and soon there was a hue and cry./
2. An excited mass protest, alarm, or outcry of any kind. * /The
explosion was so terrible that people at a distance raised a great hue
and cry about an earthquake./
[hug the road] {v. phr.} To stay firmly on the road; ride smoothly
without swinging. * /A heavy car with a low center of gravity will hug
the road./ * /At high speeds a car will not hug the road well./
[huh-uh] or [hum-um] or [uh-uh] {adv.}, {informal} No. - Used only
in speech or to record dialogue. * /Did Mary come? Huh-uh./ * /Is it
raining out? Uh-uh./ Contrast: UH-UH.
[humble] See: EAT HUMBLE PIE.
[hump] See: OVER THE HUMP.
[hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN or BY THE HUNDRED or BY THE THOUSAND.
[hunky-dory] {adj.} OK; satisfactory; fine. * /The landlord asked
about our new apartment and we told him that so far everything was
hunky-dory./
[hunt] See: RUN WITH THE HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS.
[hunt and peck] {n. phr.}, {informal} Picking out typewriter keys
by sight, usually with one or two fingers; not memorizing the keys. *
/Many newspaper reporters do their typing by hunt and peck./ - Often
used, with hyphens, as an adjective. * /Mr. Barr taught himself to
type, and he uses the hunt-and-peck system./
[hunt down] {v.} 1. To pursue and capture; look hard for an animal
or person until found and caught. * /The police hunted down the
escaped prisoner./ Compare: TRACK DOWN. 2. To search for (something)
until one finds it. * /Professor Jones hunted down the written
manuscript in the Library of Congress./ Syn.: TRACK DOWN.
[hunting] See: HAPPY HUNTING GROUND.
[hunt up] {v.} To find or locate by search. * /When John was in
Chicago, he hunted up some old friends./ * /The first thing Fred had
to do was to hunt up a hotel room./
[hurry on with] or [make haste with] {v. phr.} To make rapid
progress in an undertaking. * /Sue promised to hurry on with the
report and send it out today./
[hurry up] {v. phr.} To rush (an emphatic form of hurry). * /Hurry
up or we'll miss our plane./
[hurt] See: CRY BEFORE ONE IS HURT or HOLLER BEFORE ONE IS HURT.
[hush-hush] {adj.}, {informal} Kept secret or hidden; kept from
public knowledge; hushed up; concealed. * /The company had a new
automobile engine that it was developing, but kept it a hush-hush
project until they knew it was successful./
[hush up] {v.} 1. To keep news of (something) from getting out;
prevent people from knowing about. * /It isn't always easy to hush up
a scandal./ 2. {informal} To be or make quiet; stop talking, crying,
or making some other noise. - Often used as a command. * /"Hush up,"
Mother said, when we began to repeat ugly gossip./
[ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD TURNS TO ICE, BREAK THE ICE,
CUT ICE, ON ICE, SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[iceberg] See: COOL AS AN ICEBERG.
[idea] See: THE IDEA, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA or WHAT'S THE IDEA.
[I declare] {interj.}, {dialect} Well; oh my; truly. - Used for
emphasis. * /I declare, it has been a very warm day!/ * /Mother said,
"I declare, John, you have grown a foot."/
[idiot box] {n.} A television set. * /Phil has been staring at the
idiot box all afternoon./
[if] See: WHAT IF.
[if anything] {adv. phr.} More likely; instead; rather. * /The
weather forecast is not for cooler weather; if anything, it is
expected to be warmer./ * /Joe isn't a bad boy. If anything he's a
pretty good one./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT.
[if it's not one thing it's another] If a certain thing doesn't go
wrong, another most probably will. * /When John lost his keys and his
wallet, and his car wouldn't start, he exclaimed in despair, "If it's
not one thing it's another."/ Compare: ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER
(ODTAA).
[if need be] {adv. phr.} If the need arises. * /If need be, I can
come early tomorrow and work overtime./
[if only] I wish. * /If only it would stop raining!/ * /If only
Mother could be here./ Syn.: WOULD THAT.
[if the hill will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the
hill] If one person will not go to the other, then the other must go
to him. - A proverb. * /Grandfather won't come to visit us, so we must
go and visit him. If the hill won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad
will go to the hill./
[if the shoe fits, wear it] If what is said describes you, you are
meant. - A proverb. * /I won't say who, but some children are always
late. If the shoe fits, Wear it./
[if worst comes to worst] If the worst thing happens that be
imagined; if the worst possible thing happens; if troubles grow worse.
* /If worst comes to worst and Mr. Jones loses the house, he will send
his family to his mother's farm./ * /If worst comes to worst, we shall
close the school for a few days./
[if you can't lick them, join them] If you cannot defeat an
opponent or get him to change his attitude, plans, or ways of doing
things, the best thing to do is to change your ideas, plans, etc. *
/"The small car manufacturers are winning over the big car makers,"
the president of an American car factory said. "If we want to stay in
business, we must do as they do. In other words, if you can't lick
them, join them."/
[I'll bet you my bottom dollar] {interj.}, {informal} An
exaggerated assertion of assurance. * /I'll bet you my bottom dollar
that the Cubs will win this year./
[I'll say] or [I tell you] {interj.}, {informal} I agree with this
completely. - Used for emphasis. * /Did the children all enjoy Aunt
Sally's pecan pie? I'll say!/ * /I'll say this is a good movie!/
[I'll tell you what] or [tell you what] {informal} Here is an idea.
* /The hamburger stand is closed, but I'll tell you what, let's go to
my house and cook some hot dogs./
[ill] See: IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, TAKE ILL.
[ill at ease] {adj. phr.} Not feeling at ease or comfortable;
anxious; worried; unhappy. * /Donald had never been to a big party
before and he was ill at ease./ * /When Joe first went to dancing
school, he was ill at ease, not knowing how to act./ Contrast: AT
EASE(2).
[ill-favored] {adj.} Ugly; unprepossessing. * /Oddly enough, the
father had less trouble in marrying off his ill-favored daughter than
her prettier sister./
[ill-gotten gains] {n. phr.} Goods or money obtained in an illegal
or immoral fashion. * /The jailed criminal had plenty of time to think
about his ill-gotten gains./
[image] See: SPITTING IMAGE or SPIT AND IMAGE.
[impose on] {v.} To try to get more from (a person who is helping
you) than he or she intended to give. * /Don't you think you are
imposing on your neighbor when you use his telephone for half an
hour?/ * /You may swim in the Allens' pool so long as you do not
impose on them by bringing all your friends./ Compare: TAKE ADVANTAGE.
[improve on] or [improve upon] {v.} To make or get one that is
better than (another). * /Dick made good marks the first year, but he
thought he could improve on them./ * /Charles built a new model racer
for the derby race, because he knew he could improve upon his old
one./
[I'm telling you] {informal} It is important to listen to what I am
saying. * /Marian is a smart girl but I'm telling you, she doesn't
always do what she promises./
[in a bad frame of mind] {adv. phr.} In an unhappy mood. * /Make
sure the boss is not in a bad frame of mind when you ask him for a
raise./ Contrast: IN A GOOD FRAME OF MIND.
[in a bad way] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In trouble or likely to have
trouble. * /If you have only those two girls to help you, you are in a
bad way./ * /Jerry has written only one sentence of his term paper
that is due tomorrow, and he knows he is in a bad way./ * /Mrs. Jones
has cancer and is in a bad way./ * /A new supermarket opened across
the street, and the Peters' grocery business was soon in a bad way./
[in a big way] {adv. phr.}, {informal} As fully as possible; with
much ceremony. * /Our family celebrates birthdays in a big way./ *
/John likes to entertain his dates in a big way./
[in a bind] or [in a box] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Likely to have
trouble whether you do one thing or another. * /Sam is in a bind
because if he carries home his aunt's groceries, his teacher will be
angry because he is late, and if he doesn't, his aunt will complain./
Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HORNS OF A DILEMMA.
[in a breeze] See: WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.
[in absentia] {adv. phr.}, {formal} When the person is absent. -
Used in graduation exercises when presenting diplomas to an absent
student or during a court case. * /On Commencement Day, Joe was sick
in bed and the college gave him his bachelor's degree in absentia./
(Latin, meaning "in absence.")
[in accordance with] {adv. phr.} In consonance with something;
conforming to something. * /Employees at this firm are expected to
always behave in accordance with the rules./
[in a circle] or [in circles] {adv. phr.} Without any progress;
without getting anywhere; uselessly. * /The committee debated for two
hours, just talking in circles./ * /If you don't have a clear aim, you
can work a long time and still be going in circles./ * /He seemed to
be working hard, but was just running around in circles./
[in addition] {adv. phr.} As something extra; besides. * /We saw a
Mickey Mouse cartoon in addition to the cowboy movie./ * /Aunt Mary
gave us sandwiches for our picnic and a bag of cookies in addition./ *
/He has two cars and in addition a motorboat./
[in advance] or [in advance of] {adv. phr.} 1. In front; ahead (of
the others); first. * /In the parade, the band will march in advance
of the football team./ * /The soldiers rode out of the fort with the
scouts in advance./ 2. Before doing or getting something. * /The motel
man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance./ * /The
paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have
time to cool./ * /It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we
cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating./
[in a family way] or [in the family way] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Going to have a baby. * /Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is
in the family way./ * /The Ferguson children are promising kittens to
everyone because their cat is in a family way./ Compare: WITH CHILD.
[in a fix] {adv. phr.} In trouble. * /Last night Jack wrecked his
car and now he is in a fix./ Compare: IN A JAM, IN A PICKLE.
[in a flash] also [in a trice] {adv. phr.} Very suddenly. * /We
were watching the bird eat the crumbs; then I sneezed, and he was gone
in a flash./ * /Bob was looking over his notes for English class and
in a flash he knew what he would write his paper about./
[in a flutter] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a state of nervous
excitement. * /Whenever Norm and Cathy are near one another, both are
in a flutter; they must be in love./
[in a fog] or [in a haze] {adv. phr.} Mentally confused; not sure
what is happening. * /I didn't vote for Alice because she always seems
to be in a fog./ * /I was so upset that for two days I went around in
a haze, not even answering when people spoke to me./ Contrast: ALL
THERE, HIT ON ALL CYLINDERS.
[in a good frame of mind] {adv. phr.} In a happy mood. * /After a
relaxing holiday in the Bahamas, the boss was in a very good frame of
mind./ Contrast: IN A BAD FRAME OF MIND.
[in a hole] or [in a spot] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In an
embarrassing or difficult position; in some trouble. * /When the
restaurant cook left at the beginning of the busy season, it put the
restaurant owner in a hole./ Compare: BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, IN THE
HOLE.
[in a huff] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Angrily. * /Ellen went off in a
huff because she didn't get elected class president./
[in a jam] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a predicament; in a situation
fraught with difficulty. * /If you continue to disregard the
university instructions on how to take a test, you'll wind up in a jam
with the head of the department./ Compare: IN A PICKLE, IN DEEP SHIT.
[in a jiffy] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Immediately; right away; in a
moment. * /Wait for me; I'll be back in a jiffy./
[in a kind of way] See: IN A WAY(1).
[in a lather] {adj.}, {slang} In great excitement; all worked up;
extremely agitated. * /I couldn't get across to Joe, he was all in a
lather./
[in all] {adv. phr.} 1. All being counted; altogether. * /You have
four apples and I have three bananas, making seven pieces of fruit in
all./ * /In all we did very well./ 2. See: ALL IN ALL(2).
[in and out] {adv. phr.} 1. Coming in and going out often. * /He
was very busy Saturday and was in and out all day./ 2. See: INSIDE
OUT(2).
[in another's place] See: PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE.
[in a nutshell] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a few words; briefly,
without telling all about it. * /We are in a hurry, so I'll give you
the story in a nutshell./ * /In a nutshell, the car is no bargain./
Compare: IN SHORT.
[in any case] also [in any event] or [at all events] {adv. phr.} 1.
No matter what happens: surely; without fail; certainly; anyhow;
anyway. * /It may rain tomorrow, but we are going home in any case./ *
/I may not go to Europe, but in any event, I will visit you during the
summer./ 2. Regardless of anything else; whatever else may be true;
anyhow; anyway. * /Tom was not handsome and he was not brilliant, but
at all events he worked hard and was loyal to his boss./ * /I don't
know if it is a white house or a brown house. At all events, it is a
big house on Main Street./ Compare: AT ANY RATE, AT LEAST(2).
[in any event] See: IN ANY CASE.
[in a pickle] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a quandary; in a difficult
situation. * /I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew
out./
[in a pig's eye] {adv.}, {slang}, [informal] Hardly; unlikely; not
so. * /Would I marry him? In a pig's eye./
[in a pinch] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In an emergency. * /Dave is a
good friend who will always help out in a pinch./
[in arms] {adv. phr.} Having guns and being ready to fight; armed.
* /When our country is at war, we have many men in arms./ Syn.: UP IN
ARMS!
[in a row] See: GET ONE'S DUCKS IN A ROW.
[in arrears] {adv. phr.} Late or behind in payment of money or in
finishing something. - Usually used of a legal debt or formal
obligation. * /Poor Mr. Brown! He is in arrears on his rent./ * /He is
in arrears on the story he promised to write for the magazine./
[in a sense] {adv. phr.} In some ways but not in all; somewhat. *
/Mr. Smith said our school is the best in the state, and in a sense
that is true./ * /In a sense, arithmetic is a language./
[inasmuch as] {conj.} 1. See: INSOFAR AS. 2. also [for as much as]
{formal} Because; for the reason that; since. * /Inasmuch as this is
your team, you have the right to choose your own captain./ * /Inasmuch
as the waves are high, I shall not go out in the boat./
[in a sort of way] See: IN A WAY(1).
[in a spot] See: ON THE SPOT(2).
[in a trice] See: IN A FLASH.
[in at the kill] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Watching or taking part,
usually with pleasure, at the end of a struggle; present at the
finish. * /Frank and John have been quarreling for a long time and
tonight they are having a fight. Bill says he wants to be in at the
kill, because he is Frank's friend./
[in a walk] See: WIN IN A WALK.
[in a way] {adv. phr.} 1. also {informal} [in a kind of way] or
{informal} [in a sort of way] To a certain extent; a little; somewhat.
* /I like Jane in a way, but she is very proud./ Compare: AFTER A
FASHION, MORE OR LESS. 2. In one thing. * /In a way, this book is
easier: it is much shorter./
[in awe of] See: STAND IN AWE OF.
[in a while] See: AFTER A WHILE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE
IN A WHILE.
[in a whole skin] See: WITH A WHOLE SKIN.
[in a word] See: IN BRIEF.
[in a world of one's own] or [in a world by oneself] 1. In the
place where you belong; in your own personal surroundings; apart from
other people. * /They are in a little world of their own in their
house on the mountain./ 2a. In deep thought or concentration. * /Mary
is in a world of her own when she is playing the piano./ Compare: LOSE
ONESELF. 2b. {slang} Not caring about or connected with other people
in thoughts or actions. - Usually used sarcastically. * /That boy is
in a world all by himself. He never knows what is happening around
him./
[in a zone] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} In a daze; in a daydream;
in a state of being unable to concentrate. * /Professor Smith puts
everyone in a zone./
[in back of] See: BACK OF.
[in bad] {adv. phr.}, {substandard} Out of favor; unpopular; in
difficulty; in trouble. * /No, I can't go swimming today. Father told
me to stay home, and I don't want to get in bad./ - Usually used with
"with". * /Mary is in bad with the teacher for cheating on the test./
* /The boy is in bad with the police for breaking windows./ Contrast:
IN GOOD, IN ONE'S FAVOR.
[in bad form] {adv. phr.} Violating social custom or accepted
behavior. * /When Bob went to the opera in blue jeans and without a
tie, his father-in-law told him that it was in bad form./ Contrast: IN
GOOD FORM.
[in behalf of] or [on behalf of] {prep.}, {formal} 1. In place of;
as a representative of; for. * /John accepted the championship award
on behalf of the team./ 2. As a help to; for the good of. * /The
minister worked hard all his life in behalf of the poor./ Compare: IN
ONE'S BEHALF IN ONE'S FAVOR.
[in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[in brief] or [in short] or [in a word] {adv. phr.} Briefly; to
give the meaning of what has been said or written in a word or in a
few words; in summary. * /The children could play as long as they
liked, they had no work to do, and nobody scolded them; in short, they
were happy./ * /The speaker didn't know his subject, nor did he speak
well; in brief, he was disappointing./ * /John is smart, polite, and
well-behaved. In a word, he is admirable./
[in cahoots with] See: IN LEAGUE WITH.
[in case] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In order to be prepared; as a
precaution; if there is need. - Usually used in the phrase "just in
case". * /The bus is usually on time, but start early, just in case./
* /The big dog was tied up, but John carried a stick, just in case./
2. [in case] or [in the event] {conj.} If it happens that; if it
should happen that; if; lest. * /Tom took his skates in case they
found a place to skate./ * /Let me know in case you're not coming./ *
/The night watchman is in the store in case there is ever afire./ *
/Keep the window closed in case it rains./ * /I stayed home in case
you called./ * /In the event that our team wins, there will be a big
celebration./ * /What shall we do in case it snows?/
[in case of] also [in the event of] {prep.} In order to meet the
possibility of; lest there is; if there is; if there should be. *
/Take your umbrellas in case of rain./ * /The wall was built along the
river in case of floods./
[inch] See: BY INCHES, EVERY INCH, GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL
TAKE A MILE, WITHIN AN ACE OF or WITHIN AN INCH OF, WITHIN AN INCH OF
ONE'S LIFE.
[inch (one's way) along] {v. phr.} To. proceed slowly and with
difficulty. * /When the electricity failed, it took John half an hour
to inch his way along the corridors of the office building./
[in character] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In agreement with a
person's character or personality; in the way that a person usually
behaves or is supposed to behave; as usual; characteristic; typical;