Страница:
hardly aware of. * /Little did Ed think that very soon he would be the
father of twin daughters./
[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.
[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] {n. phr.}
An unimportant person in a large group or organization. * /In a large
company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little
frog in a big pond./ * /When Bill transferred to a larger high school,
he found himself a small frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A
SMALL POND.
[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear
things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect
they would notice. - A proverb. * /Be especially careful not to swear
in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears./
[little theater] {n.} A theater, usually with nonprofessional
actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure
and practice than for profit. * /Little theater groups are active in
all parts of the United States./ * /Many famous actors began in little
theaters./
[lit up like a Christmas tree] {adj. phr.}, {informal} To be drunk.
* /On New Year's Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare:
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW
STONES.
[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you
learn by experience. - A proverb. * /"Live and learn," said Mother. "I
never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ *
/Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it
shrank and was too little. Live and learn./
[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others
live as they wish without being bothered by you. * /Father scolds
Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father
because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it's her hair and
his pipe; live and let live./ Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES
BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.
[live down] {v.} To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter)
by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or
forgotten by not repeating it. * /John's business failure hurt him for
a long time, but in the end he lived it down./ * /Frank was rather a
bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up./ * /Sandra called her
principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she
thought she would never live it down./
[live from hand to mouth] {v. phr.} To live on little money and
spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future;
have just enough. * /Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family
lived from hand to mouth when he had no job./ * /These Indians live
from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots./
[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE)
HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.
[live in] or [room in] {v.}, {informal} To live in the school you
attend or the place where you work. * /Jack decided to live in during
his freshman year at college./ * /Many women advertise for mother's
helpers to room in with families and help take care of children./
[live in a fool's paradise] {v. phr.} To deceive oneself; tell
oneself unreal stories. * /His information is based on a lot of
misunderstanding - the poor guy is living in a fool's paradise./
[live in an ivory tower] {v. phr.} To be blind to real life; live
an unrealistically sheltered existence. * /Professor Nebelmacher has
no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower./
[live in the fast lane] {v. phr.}, {informal} To live a full and
very active life pursuing wealth and success. * /They have been living
in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City./
[live it up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To pursue pleasure; enjoy games
or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. * /Joe
had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it
up./ * /The western cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live
it up./
[live off someone] {v. phr.} To be supported by someone. *
/Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to
live off his elderly parents./
[live off the fat of the land] See: FAT OF THE LAND.
[live on borrowed time] {v. phr.} To live or last longer than was
expected. * /Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on
borrowed time./ * /Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a
year ago the doctors had told him he would only live six months./
[live out] {v.} 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. * /Smith
lived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to
the South again./ * /After retiring, John and his wife lived out their
lives in Florida./ 2. To last through; endure to the end of. * /We
lived out the winter on short ration./ * /He lived out the earthquake,
but his house was destroyed./
[live out of a suitcase] {v. phr.} To have no permanent residence
or a permanent place to hang one's clothes. * /When Jennifer accepted
her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a
suitcase for six months./
[live up to] {v.} To act according to; come up to; agree with;
follow. * /So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the
example he saw in Lincoln./ * /Bob was a man who lived up to his
promises./ * /The new house didn't live up to expectations./
[live wire] {n. phr.} 1. An electrically charged wire, usually
uninsulated. * /The electrician was severely burned by the live wire./
2. An alert or energetic person. * /To sell the new merchandise, our
company needs several salespeople who are live wires./
[living daylights] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF, KNOCK THE --- OUT OF.
[living end] {adj.}, {slang} Great; fantastic; the ultimate. *
/That show we saw last night was the living end./
[load] See: GET A LOAD OF.
[loaded for bear] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Ready for action; prepared
and eager. * /Frank liked the new merchandise and as he set out on his
rounds as a salesman, he felt really loaded for bear./ * /The football
team arrived Friday noon, loaded for bear./
[load the bases] or [fill the bases] {v. phr.} To get men on all
three bases in baseball. * /The Mets loaded the bases with two singles
and a base on balls./ * /Don hit a home run with the bases loaded./
[loaf] See: HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE or HALF A LOAF IS
BETTER THAN NO BREAD.
[loan shark] {n. phr.} A money lender who charges excessive
interest. * /Why go to a loan shark when you can borrow from the bank
at the legal rate?/
[local yokel] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon} City
police officer, as opposed to state police or highway patrol. *
/There's a local yokel westbound on the move./
[lock] See: SCALP LOCK.
[lock, stock, and barrel] {n. phr.} Everything; completely. * /The
robbers emptied the whole house - lock, stock, and barrel./ Compare:
HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
[lock the barn door after the horse is stolen] To be careful or try
to make something safe when it is too late. - A proverb. * /After Mary
failed the examination, she said she would study hard after that. She
wanted to lock the barn door after the horse was stolen./
[lock up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be assured of success. * /How did
your math test go? - I locked it up, I think./
[lodge a complaint] {v. phr.} To make a complaint; complain. * /If
our neighbors don't stop this constant noise, I will have to lodge a
complaint with the management./
[loggerhead] See: AT LOGGERHEADS.
[loin] See: GIRD UP ONE'S LOINS.
[lone wolf] {n.} A man who likes to work or live alone. * /The man
who paints a picture or establishes a business is often a lone wolf;
so is the criminal outlaw./ * /Jones is a good pitcher, but he is a
lone wolf./
[long] See: AT LAST or AT LONG LAST, BEFORE LONG, COME A LONG WAY,
IN THE LONG RUN, NO LONGER, SO LONG, THE LONG AND THE SHORT.
[long and short of it] {n. phr.} The essence; the whole story in a
nutshell. * /The long and short of it is that he is lazy and doesn't
really want to find a job./
[long ball] {n.} A baseball hit far enough to be a home run. * /The
White Sox need a player who can hit the long ball./
[long face] {n.} A sad look; disappointed look. * /He told the
story with a long face./ - Often used in the phrase "pull a long
face". * /Don't pull a long face when I tell you to go to bed./
[longhair(1)] 1. {n.}, {slang} A male hippie. * /Who's that
longhair? - It's Joe./ 2. An intellectual who prefers classical music
to jazz or acid rock. * /Catwallender is a regular longhair; he never
listens to modern jazz./
[longhair(2)] {adj.}, {slang} Pertaining to classical art forms,
primarily in dancing and music. * /Cut out that longhair Mozart
Symphony and put on a decent pop record!/
[long haul] or [long pull] {n.}, {informal} 1. A long distance or
trip. * /It is a long haul to drive across the country./ Contrast
SHORT HAUL. 2. A long length of time during which work continues or
something is done; a long time of trying. * /A boy crippled by polio
may learn to walk again, but it may be a long haul./ - Often used in
the phrase "over the long haul". * /Over the long haul, an expensive
pair of shoes may save you money./ Contrast: SHORT HAUL.
[long pull] See: LONG HAUL.
[long shot] {n.} 1. A bet or other risk taken though not likely to
succeed. * /The horse was a long shot, but it came in and paid well./
* /Jones was a long shot for mayor./ * /The business long shot that
succeeds often pays extremely well./ 2. See: BY A LONG SHOT.
[long-winded] {adj.} Tedious; overlong; given to too much talking.
* /Everyone was bored by the old man's long-winded stories./
[look] See: DIRTY LOOK.
[look after] also [see after] {v.} To watch over; attend to. *
/John's mother told him to look after his younger brother./ * /When he
went to Europe, Mr. Jenkins left his son to see after the business./
Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1). Compare: LOOK OUT(3).
[look a gift horse in the mouth] To complain if a gift is not
perfect. - A proverb. Usually used with a negative. * /John gave Joe a
baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him
not to look a gift horse in the mouth./
[look alive] {v.} Act lively; be quick; wake up and work; be busy;
hurry. - Often used as a command. * /"Look alive there," the boss
called./
[look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] See: BUTTER
WOULDN'T MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[look as if one has come out of a bandbox] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
look very clean and fresh; look as if you had just had a bath and put
on all-new clothing. * /In spite of the long, hot train ride, Jody
arrived looking as if she had come out of a bandbox./ * /After a day
at the rodeo we were all dusty and tired except for Hope, who looked
as if she'd come out of a bandbox./
[look at] {v.} To have a way of thinking or feeling toward; think
about something in a certain way. * /Is he a hero or a villain? That
depends on how you look at it./ * /Depending on how you looked at it,
the tea party could be called a pleasure or a bore./
[look at the world through rose-colored glasses] or [see with
rose-colored glasses] {v. phr.} To see everything as good and
pleasant; not see anything hard or bad. * /When Jean graduated from
high school, she looked at the world through rose-colored glasses./ *
/If you see everything through rose-colored glasses, you will often be
disappointed./
[look back] {v.} To review the past; think of what has happened. *
/As John looked back, his life seemed good to him./ * /Murphy looked
back on his early struggles as having made him feel especially alive./
* /When Ed applied for a job and asked the school to recommend him,
the principal looked back over his records./
[look bleak] {v.} To indicate misfortune; appear threatening or
ruinous. * /As prices dropped lower and lower, things looked bleak for
Henry's company./ * /Many witnesses gave testimony against Jerry and
his case looked bleak./ * /The future looked bleak when Father got
hurt and could not work./
[look daggers] {v. phr.} To show anger with a look; express hate or
enmity by a look or stare; look fiercely. * /The other driver looked
daggers at Morris for turning in before him./ * /Mary did not dare
talk back to her father, but she looked daggers./
[look down on] also [look down upon] {v.} To think of (a person or
thing) as less good or important; feel that (someone) is not as good
as you are, or that (something) is not worth having or doing; consider
inferior. * /Mary looked down on her classmates because she was better
dressed than they were./ * /Jack looked down on Al for his poor
manners./ * /Miss Tracy likes tennis but she looks down on football as
too rough./
[look down one's nose at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To think of as
worthless; feel scorn for. * /The banker's wife has beautiful china
cups, and she looked down her nose at the plastic cups that Mrs. Brown
used./ * /Harry has never had to work, and he looks down his nose at
people in business./ * /Jerry was the athlete who looked down his nose
at the weak student./
[look for] {v.} 1. To think likely; expect. * /We look for John to
arrive any day now./ * /The frost killed many oranges, and housewives
can look for an increase in their price./ * /Bob wouldn't go for a
ride with the boys because he was looking for a phone call from
Julie./ 2. To try to find; search for; hunt. * /Fred spent all day
looking for a job./ * /Mary and Joe looked for the Smiths at the
play./ 3. To do things that cause (your own trouble); make (trouble)
for yourself; provoke. * /Joe often gets into fights because he is
always looking for trouble./ * /If you say the opposite of everything
that others say, you are looking for a quarrel./
[look for a needle in a haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAY STACK.
[look forward to] {v.} 1. To expect. * /At breakfast, John looked
forward to a difficult day./ 2. To expect with hope or pleasure. *
/Frank was looking forward to that evening's date./
[look high and low for] {v. phr.} To look everywhere; search all
over. * /Everyone has been looking high and low for the lost key but
no one could find it./
[look-in] {n.}, {informal} A chance or hope. - Usually used with a
negative. * /It wasn't much of a look-in, but it was the only chance
they let him have./ * /Charlie didn't realize it, but he never had a
look-in with Bonnie./
[look in on] {v.} To go to see; make a short visit with; make a
call on. * /On his way downtown, Jim looked in on his aunt./ * /The
doctor looked in on Mary each day when he went by./
[look in the eye] or [look in the face] {v. phr.} To meet with a
steady look; to face bravely or without shame. * /Mary looked the
gangster in the eye, and he turned away without hurting her./ * /John
had looked death in the face many times./ * /We often believe a person
who looks us in the eye, but it does not prove he is truthful./ * /U
promised Harry to write to him while I was on vacation, and if I don't
do it, I won't be able to look him in the eye./
[look into] {v.} To find out the facts about; examine; study;
inspect. * /The mayor felt he should look into the decrease of income
from parking meters./ * /Mr. Jones said he was looking into the
possibility of buying a house./ Compare: GO INTO(4), SEE ABOUT.
[look like a million dollars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To look well
and prosperous; appear healthy and happy and lucky; look pretty and
attractive. * /John came back from Florida driving a fine new car,
tanned and glowing with health. He looked like a million dollars./ *
/Dressed in the new formal and in a new hairdo, Betty looked like a
million dollars./ Compare: FEEL LIKE A MILLION.
[look like the cat that ate the canary] or [look like the cat that
swallowed the canary] {v. phr.} To seem very self-satisfied; look as
if you had just had a great success. * /Peter bet on the poorest horse
in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the
canary./ * /When she won the prize, she went home looking like the cat
that swallowed the canary./
[look on] or [look upon] {v.} 1. To regard; consider; think of. *
/The stuff had always been looked on as a worthless factory waste./ *
/Until the day Bob made the touchdown, the other boys had looked upon
him as rather a sissy./ 2. To be an observer; watch without taking
part. * /Fred had never been able to do more than look on at athletic
sports./ * /The children played in the park while their mother looked
on./ Compare: SIT IN.
[look oneself] {v. phr.} To appear self-possessed and well; look or
seem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; to
appear all right or normal. * /Mary had had a long illness, but now
she looked quite herself again./ * /It had been a big night, and Uncle
John had been drinking freely, but he looked entirely himself after a
night's sleep./ - Often used in the negative. * /What's wrong with
Larry? He doesn't look himself./
[lookout] See: ON THE LOOKOUT.
[look out] or [watch out] {v.} 1. To take care; be careful; be on
guard. - Usually used as a command or warning. * /"Look out!" John
called, as the car came toward me./ * /"Look out for the train," the
sign at the railroad crossing warns./ 2. To be alert or watchful; keep
watching. * /A collector of antique cars asked Frank to look out for a
1906 gas head lamp./ Compare: EYE OUT, ON THE WATCH. 3. {informal} To
watch or keep (a person or thing) and do what is needed; provide
protection and care. - Used with "for". * /Lillian looked out for her
sister's children one afternoon a week./ * /Uncle Fred looked out for
his brother's orphan son until the boy was through college./ Compare:
LOOK AFTER.
[look out for] {v. phr.} To watch out for; be on the alert. *
/There were signs along the highway warning drivers to look out for
deer crossing./
[look over] {v.} To look at and try to learn something about; look
at every part or piece of or at every one of; examine; inspect; study.
* /I looked hurriedly over the apples in the basket and took one that
looked good./ * /Mrs. Jones spent the evening looking over the month's
bills and writing checks./ * /When a new boy comes to school, the
others usually look him over rather carefully./ * /We looked over
several kinds of new cars before deciding./ Compare: ONCE-OVER, SIZE
UP.
[look sharp] {v.} To be alert; be very attentive; keep a close
watch. * /It pays to look sharp in traffic./ * /The guide told us to
look sharp because there were rattlesnakes around./
[look small] See: FEEL SMALL.
[look to] {v.} 1. To attend to; get ready for; take care of. *
/Plans had been prepared that looked to every possibility./ * /The
president assigned a man to look to our needs./ 2. To go for help to;
depend on. * /The child looks to his mother to cure his hurts./ 3.
See: SEE TO.
[look to one's laurels] To make sure that your reputation is not
spoiled; protect your good name; keep your record from being beaten by
others. * /Tom won the broad jump, but he had to look to his laurels./
* /Look to your laurels, Joan. Betty says she is going to run against
you for head cheerleader./
[look up] {v.} 1. {informal} To improve in future chances; promise
more success. * /The first year was tough, but business looked up
after that./ 2. To search for; hunt for information about; find. * /It
is a good habit to look up new words in a dictionary./ 3. To seek and
find. * /While he was in Chicago, Henry looked up a friend of college
days./
[look upon] See: LOOK ON(1).
[look up to] {v.} To think of (someone) as a good example to copy;
honor; respect. * /Mr. Smith had taught for many years, and all the
students looked up to him./ * /Young children look up to older ones,
so older children should be good examples./
[loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.
[loose] See: AT LOOSE ENDS, CAST OFF or CAST LOOSE, CUT LOOSE, FAST
AND LOOSE, HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, LET LOOSE or SET LOOSE or TURN LOOSE,
ON THE LOOSE.
[loose ends] {n.} 1. Parts or things that should be finished or put
together. * /Mary's composition had many loose ends./ * /When George
came home after a long trip, he started picking up the loose ends./ 2.
See: AT LOOSE ENDS.
[lord it over] {v. phr.} To act as the superior and master of;
dominate; be bossy over; control. * /John learned early to lord it
over other children./ * /The office manager lorded it over the clerks
and typists./
[Lord knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[lose] See: HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE.
[lose face] {v.} To be embarrassed or shamed by an error or
failure; lose dignity, influence or reputation; lose self-respect or
the confidence of others. * /Many Japanese soldiers were killed in
World War II because they believed that to give up or retreat would
make them lose face./ * /John's careless work made him lose face with
his employer./ * /The banker lost face when people found out he bet on
horse races./
[lose ground] 1. To go backward; retreat. * /The soldiers began to
lose ground when their leader was killed./ Compare: GIVE GROUND. 2. To
become weaker; get worse; not improve. * /The sick man began to lose
ground when his cough grew worse./ * /When the Democrats are in power,
the Republicans lose ground./ Contrast: GAIN GROUND.
[lose heart] {v. phr.} To feel discouraged because of failure; to
lose hope of success. * /The team had won no games and it lost heart./
Contrast: TAKE HEART.
[lose one's balance] Contrast: KEEP ONE'S BALANCE.
[lose oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To go wrong; miss your way; become
unable to find the right direction. * /Fred lost himself in the
confusion of downtown Boston streets./ 2. To conceal yourself; hide. *
/The pick-pocket lost himself in the crowd and escaped the police./ 3.
To become deeply interested and forget yourself; become absorbed. *
/Sometimes Harry would lose himself in a book for an afternoon at a
time./ Compare: IN A WORLD OF ONE'S OWN.
[lose one's grip] {v. phr.} To fail in control or command; lose
your strength, force, or ability to lead. * /Mr. Jones began to lose
his grip: he no longer wanted the hard jobs, and he left decisions to
others./ * /When a locomotive engineer loses his grip, he is no longer
trusted with express runs./
[lose one's head (over)] {v. phr.} 1. To panic. * /"Let's not lose
our heads," the captain cried. "We have good lifeboats on this
vessel."/ 2. To become deeply infatuated with someone. * /Don't lose
your head over Jane; she is already married./ Contrast: KEEP ONE'S
HEAD.
[lose one's heart] {v. phr.} To fall in love; begin to love. * /She
lost her heart to the soldier with the broad shoulders and the deep
voice./ * /Bill lost his heart to the puppy the first time he saw it./
[lose one's marbles] {v. phr.} To go mad; become crazed. * /Stan
must have lost his marbles; he is hopelessly pursuing a happily
married woman./
[lose one's shirt] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all or most of your
money. * /Uncle Joe spent his life savings to buy a store, but it
failed, and he lost his shirt./ * /Mr. Matthews lost his shirt betting
on the horses./
[lose one's temper] {v. phr.} To lose control over one's anger; to
get angry. * /He lost his temper when he broke the key in the lock./
Compare: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE. Contrast: HOLD ONE'S TEMPER.
[lose one's tongue] {v. phr.}, informal To be so embarrassed or
surprised that you cannot talk. * /The man would always lose his
tongue when he was introduced to new people./ Compare: CAT GET ONE'S
TONGUE.
[lose out] {v.} To fail to win; miss first place in a contest; lose
to a rival. * /John lost out in the rivalry for Mary's hand in
marriage./ * /Fred didn't want to lose out to the other salesman./
Compare: MISS OUT. Contrast: WIN OUT.
[loser] See: FINDERS KEEPERS or FINDERS KEEPERS LOSERS WEEPERS.
[lose sight of] {v. phr.} 1. Not to be able to see any longer. * /I
lost sight of Mary in the crowd./ * /I watched the plane go higher and
higher until I lost sight of it./ Contrast: CATCH SIGHT OF. 2. To
forget; overlook. * /Johnny was so interested in the game he lost
sight of the time./ * /No matter how rich and famous he became, he
never lost sight of the fact that he had been born in the slums./
[lose touch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to keep in contact or
communication. - Usually used with "with". * /After she moved to
another town, she lost touch with her childhood friends./ Compare: OUT
OF TOUCH.
[lose track] {v. phr.} To forget about something; not stay
informed; fail to keep a count or record. * /What's the score now?
I've lost track./ - Usually used with "of". * /Mary lost track of her
friends at camp after summer was over./ * /John lost track of the
money he spent at the circus./ Compare: OUT OF TOUCH. Contrast: KEEP
TRACK.
[loss] See: AT A LOSS, THROW FOR A LOSS.
[lost] See: GET LOST, NO LOVE LOST.
[lost cause] {n. phr.} A movement that has failed and has no chance
to be revived. * /Communism in Eastern Europe has become a lost
cause./
[lost upon] adj. Wasted. * /Tim's generosity is completely lost
upon Sue; he can't expect any gratitude from her./
[lot] See: A LOT, CAST ONE'S LOT WITH, SAND LOT, THINK A GREAT DEAL
OF or THINK A LOT OF, THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH or CAST IN ONE'S LOT
WITH.
[loud] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,
OUT LOUD, THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.
[loud mouth] or [big mouth] {n.}, {slang} A noisy, boastful, or
foolish talker. * /Fritz is a loud mouth who cannot be trusted with
secrets./ * /When he has had a few drinks, Joe will make empty boasts
like any other big mouth./
[loud-mouthed] or [big-mouthed] {adj.}, {slang} Talking noisily,
boastfully, or foolishly. * /Fred was a loud-mouthed fellow, whose
talk no one listened to./ * /If I were you, I would not listen to that
loud-mouthed boy./
[lounge lizard] {n. phr.} A well-dressed male fortune hunter who
sits around in bars and other public places, and attends many social
events to try to pick up wealthy women through smart conversation. *
/Harry has the reputation of being a lounge lizard; he is looking for
a rich wife./
[louse up] {v.}, {slang} To throw into confusion; make a mess of;
spoil; ruin. * /When the man who was considering John's house heard
that the basement was wet, that was enough to louse up the sale./ *
/Fred's failure in business not only lost him his business but loused
him up with his wife./ * /The rain loused up the picnic./ See: MESS
UP(2), FUCK UP.
[love] See: FOR LOVE OR MONEY, IN LOVE, LABOR OF LOVE, MAKE LOVE,
NO LOVE LOST, PUPPY LOVE also CALF LOVE.
[love affair] {n.} A friendship between lovers; a romance or
courtship. * /The love affair of Bob and Jane went on for months./ *
/Harry had many love affairs, but he never married./
[love game] {n.} A game of tennis which is won without the opponent
scoring. * /Britain took a love game on Songster's service./
[love-in] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A festival or occasion to
celebrate life, human sensuality, the beauty of nature, human
sexuality, and universal love; affairs so conceived by some frequently
deteriorate into obscenity and drug using sessions in parody of their
stated purpose. * /The hippies gathered for a big love-in
in the Halght-Ashbury district of San
Francisco./
[lovers' lane] {n.} A hidden road or walk where lovers walk or park
in the evening. * /A parked car in a lonely lovers' lane often is a
chance for holdup men./
[low] See: LAY LOW, LIE LOW.
[lowbrow] {n.} A person of limited culture; a nonintellectual. *
/Some people claim that only lowbrows read the comics./ Contrast: HIGH
BROW.
[lowdown] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The inside facts of a matter;
the total truth. * /Nixon never gave the American people the lowdown
on Watergate./
[lower the boom] {v. phr.}, {informal} To punish strictly; check or
stop fully. * /The mayor lowered the boom on outside jobs for city
firemen./ * /Father lowered the boom on the girls for staying out
after midnight./ Syn.: CRACK DOWN. * /The police lowered the boom on
open gambling./
[low-key] {adj.} Relaxed and easygoing. * /Surprisingly, dinner
with the governor was a low-key affair./
[low season] Contrast: HIGH SEASON.
[luck] See: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK, LUCK OUT, PRESS ONE'S LUCK or PUSH
ONE'S LUCK, IN LUCK, OUT OF LUCK.
[luck out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Suddenly to get lucky
when in fact the odds are against one's succeeding. * /I was sure I
was going to miss the train as I was three minutes late, but I lucked
out, the train was five minutes late./ 2. To be extraordinarily
fortunate. * /Catwallender really lucked out at Las Vegas last month;
he came home with $10,000 in cash./ 3. (By sarcastic opposition) to be
extremely unfortunate; to be killed. * /Those poor marines sure lucked
out in Saigon, didn't they?/
[lucky] See: THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.
[lucky star] {n.} A certain star or planet which, by itself or with
others, is seriously or jokingly thought to bring a person good luck
and success in life. * /John was born under a lucky star./ * /Ted was
unhurt in the car accident, for which he thanked his lucky stars./
[lump in one's throat] {n. phr.} A feeling (as of grief or pride)
so strong that you almost sob. * /John's mother had a lump in her
throat at his college graduation./ * /All during her husband's
funeral, Aunt May had a lump in her throat./ * /The bride's mother had
a lump in her throat./
[lump sum] {n.} The complete amount; a total agreed upon and to be
paid at one time. * /The case was settled out of court with the
plaintiff receiving a lump sum of half a million dollars for damages./
[lunar module (L.M.)] or [Lem] {n.}, {Space English} That portion
of the rocket assemblage on a flight to the Moon in which the
astronauts descend to the Moon's surface. * /Building the L.M. was one
of the most expensive parts of the American space program./
[lung] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE'S VOICE or AT THE TOP OP ONE'S LUNGS.
[lurch] See: LEAVE IN THE LURCH.
[lust for] {v. phr.} To physically yearn for; hanker after; want
something very strongly. * /Ed has been lusting after Meg for a very
long time./
[luxury] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY.
[mackerel] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MACKEREL.
[mad about] {adj. phr.} 1. Angry about. * /What is Harriet so mad
about?/ 2. Enthusiastic about. * /Dan is mad about pop music./
[mad as a hatter] or [mad as a March hare] {adj. phr.} Not able to
think right; crazy. * /Anyone who thinks the moon is made of green
cheese is mad as a hatter./
[mad as a hornet] or [mad as hops] or [mad as a wet hen] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} In a fighting mood; very angry. * /When my father
sees the dent in his fender, he'll be mad as a hornet./ * /Bill was
mad as hops when the fellows went on without him./ * /Mrs. Harris was
mad as a wet hen when the rabbits ate her tulips./
[mad as a March hare] See: MAD AS A HATTER.
[mad as hops] See: MAD AS A HORNET.
[made of money] {adj. phr.} Very rich; wealthy. * /Mr. Jones buys
his children everything they want. He must be made of money./ Compare:
MONEY TO BURN.
[made-to-measure] or [tailor-made] {adj.} Made to fit a special set
of measurements or needs. * /John has a new made-to-measure suit./ *
/The club is tailor-made for Jane./ Syn.: MADE TO ORDER.
[made to order] {adj. phr.} 1. Made specially in the way the buyer
wants instead of all the same in large amounts; made especially for
the buyer. * /Mr. Black's clothes were all made to order./ Compare:
MADE-TO-MEASURE. 2. Just right. * /The weather was made to order for
the hike./
[made up out of whole cloth] See: OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
[magic carpet] {n.} 1. A rug said to be able to transport a person
through the air to any place he wishes. * /The caliph of Baghdad flew
on his magic carpet to Arabia./ 2. Any form of transportation that is
comfortable and easy enough to seem magical. * /Flying the Concord
from Dallas to London seemed like boarding the magic carpet./ * /Mr.
Smith's new car drove so smoothly it seemed like a magic carpet./
[maiden speech] {n. phr.} One's first public speech, usually before
some legislative body. * /It was the new congressman's maiden speech
and everyone was listening very keenly./
[maiden voyage] {n. phr.} The first voyage of a boat. * /The
Titanic sank on her maiden voyage to America from England./
[mail order] {n. phr.} A purchase made by mail. * /If you don't
have a chance to go to a store, you can sometimes make a purchase by
mail order./
[main] See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[main drag] {n.}, {colloquial} 1. The most important street or
thoroughfare in a town. * /Lincoln Avenue is the main drag of our
town./ 2. The street where the dope pushers and the prostitutes are. *
/Wells Street is the main drag of Chicago, actionwise./
[main squeeze] {n.}, {slang} 1. The top ranking person in an
organization or in a neighborhood; an important person, such as one's
boss. * /Mr. Bronchard is the main squeeze in this office./ 2. The top
person in charge of an illegal operation, such as drug sales, etc. *
/Before we can clean up this part of town, we must arrest the main
squeeze./ 3. One's principal romantic or sexual partner. * /The
singer's main squeeze is a member of the band./
[majority leader] {n.} The leader of the political party with the
most votes in a legislative house. * /The majority leader of the House
of Representatives tried to get the members of his party to support
the bill./ Compare: MINORITY LEADER.
[make] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, HAVE IT
MADE, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, ON THE MAKE.
[make a beeline for] {v. phr.} To go in a straight line toward. *
/The runner made a beeline for first base./ * /When the bell rang Ted
made a beeline for the door of the classroom./
[make a big deal about] {v. phr.}, {informal} To exaggerate an
insignificant event. * /Jeff said, "I'm sorry I banged into you in the
dark. Don't make a big deal out of it."/
[make a clean breast of] {v. phr.} To admit (your guilt); tell all
about (your wrong doing); confess everything. * /The police caught the
hit-and-run driver and he made a clean breast of his crime./ * /Arthur
worried because he cheated on the test, and finally he went to the
teacher and made a clean breast of it./ Compare: OFF ONE'S CHEST.
[make a clean sweep of] {v. phr.} 1. Achieve a complete victory. *
/In 7980 the Reagan Republicans made a clean sweep of the western
states./ 2. To eliminate thoroughly and completely. * /The new
attorney general is expected to make a clean sweep of all the old
administrative personnel./
[make a clown of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a day of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something all day. *
/When they go to the beach they take a picnic lunch and make a day of
it./ Compare: MAKE A NIGHT OF.
[make a dent in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make less by a very small
amount; reduce slightly. - Usually used in the negative or with such
qualifying words as "hardly" or "barely". * /John shoveled and
shoveled, but he didn't seem to make a dent in the pile of sand./ *
/Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework./
[make a difference] or [make the difference] {v. phr.} To change
the nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. *
/John's good score on the test made the difference between his passing
or failing the course./ * /It doesn't make a bit of difference if you
are late to my party. I just want you to come./
[make a face] {v. phr.}, {informal} To twist your face; make an
ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue). * /The
boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back./ * /The sick
boy swallowed the medicine and made a face./
[make a fast buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a federal case out of] See: MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, MAKE A
MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.
[make a fool of] or (informal) [make a monkey of] {v. phr.} To make
(someone) look foolish. * /The boy made a fool of himself./ * /Mary's
classmates made a fool of her by telling her the party was to be a
masquerade./
[make after] {v. phr.} To chase something; run after something. *
/The mouse escaped from the kitchen corner and the cat made after it./
[make a fuss over] {v. phr.} 1. To quarrel about something or
someone. * /I want you kids to stop fussing about who gets the
drumstick./ 2. To he excessively concerned about someone or something;
worry. * /Let's not fuss over such an insignificant problem!/ 3. To
show exaggerated care or preoccupation about a person or an animal. *
/Aunt Hermione is constantly fussing over her old lapdog./
[make a go of] {v. phr.} To turn into a success. * /He is both
energetic and highly skilled at trading; he is sure to make a go of
any business that holds his interest./
[make a hit] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be successful; be well-liked;
get along well. * /Mary's new red dress made a hit at the party./ *
/Alice was so happy that her boyfriend made a hit with her parents./
Compare: GO OVER(6).
[make a killing] {v. phr.} To earn or suddenly win a very large sum
of money. * /Herb bought a lot of soybean stock when the price was low
and sold it when the price went up. Small wonder he made a huge
killing./
[make a living] {v. phr.} To earn one's livelihood. * /If you're
good at your job, you can make a better living than if you don't know
what you're doing./ * /It is easier to make a living in the United
States than in many other countries./
[make allowance] {v. phr.} To judge results by the circumstances. -
Often used in plural. * /When a small boy is helping you, you must
make allowances for his age./
[make a long story short] {v. phr.} To summarize a lengthy
narrative. * /"So, to make a long story short," he said, "I made a
killing on the stock market."/ Compare: IN A NUTSHELL.
[make a match] {v. phr.} To bring a man and woman together for the
purpose of an engagement or marriage. * /Sheila's aunt is anxious to
make a match between her and an attractive, wealthy man./
[make a mess of] See: SCREW UP.
[make a monkey of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a motion] {v. phr.} To propose in some committee meeting or
legislative group that a certain action be taken. * /The secretary
made a motion that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted./
[make a mountain out of a molehill] To think a small problem is a
big one; try to make something unimportant seem important. * /You're
not hurt badly, Johnny. Stop trying to make a mountain out of a
molehill with crying./ * /Sarah laughed at a mistake Betty made in
class, and Betty won't speak to her; Betty is making a mountain out of
a molehill./
[make a move] {v. phr.} 1. To budge; change places. * /"If you make
a move," the masked gangster said, "I'll start shooting."/ 2. To go
home after dinner or a party. * /"I guess it's time to make a move,"
Roy said at the end of the party./
[make a name for oneself] {v. phr.} To become recognized in a field
of endeavor; become a celebrity. * /Joe has worked so hard at soybean
trading that he made quite a name for himself as a trader./ * /Bill
has made a name for himself both as a pianist and as a composer./
[make an appearance] See: PUT IN AN APPEARANCE.
[make an end of] {v. phr.} To make (something) end; put a stop to;
stop. * /To make an end of rumors that the house was haunted, a
reporter spent the night there./
[make an example of] {v. phr.} To punish (someone) publicly to show
what happens when someone does wrong. * /The teacher made an example
of the boy who copied from another student during a test./ * /The
Pilgrims made an example of a thief by putting him in the stocks./
[make an exhibition of oneself] {v. phr.} To behave foolishly or
embarrassingly in public. * /Stop drinking so much and making an
exhibition of yourself./
[make a night of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To spend the whole night
at an activity. * /The dog found the door unlatched and made a night
of it./ * /The boys and girls at the dance made a night of it./
Compare: MAKE A DAY OF IT.
[make a nuisance of oneself] {v. phr.} To constantly bother others.
* /The screaming kids made a nuisance of themselves around the
swimming pool./
[make a pass at] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Make advances
toward a member of the opposite sex (usually man to a woman) with the
goal of seducing the person. * /We've been dating for four weeks but
Joe has never even made a pass at me./
[make a pig of oneself] {v. phr.}, {informal} To overindulge; eat
too much. * /Mary said, "This dessert is so delicious that I am going
to make a pig of myself and have some more."/
[make a play for] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try to get the interest or
liking of; flirt with; attract. * /Bob made a play for the pretty new
girl./ * /John made a play for the other boys' votes for class
president./
[make a point] {v. phr.} To try hard; make a special effort. - Used
with "of" and a verbal noun. * /He made a point of remembering to get
his glasses fixed./ * /He made a point of thanking his hostess before
he left the party./
[make a practice of] {v. phr.} To make a habit of; do regularly. *
/Make a practice of being on time for work./
[make a quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a racket] {v. phr.} To cause a lot of noisy disturbance. * /I
wish the kids playing in the street wouldn't make such a racket while
I'm trying to take a nap./
[make a scene] {v. phr.} To act hysterically; attract unfavorable
attention. * /I didn't want Kate to make a scene in front of all of
those people, so I gave her the money she wanted./
[make a splash] {v. phr.} To cause a sensation. * /The brilliant
young pianist, barely 14 years old, made quite a splash on the concert
circuit./
[make a stab at] {v. phr.} To try doing something at random without
sufficient preparation. * /The singer was not familiar with the aria
but she decided to make a stab at it anyhow./ Contrast: STAB IN THE
BACK, STAB IN THE DARK.
[make a stand] {v. phr.} 1. To take a firm position on an issue. *
/He keeps talking about politics hut he never makes a stand for what
he believes in./ 2. To take up a defensive position against the enemy.
* /The retreating troops decided to make a stand by the river./
Contrast: LAST DITCH, LAST STAND.
[make a stir] See: MAKE A SCENE.
[make a touch] {v. phr.} To borrow money; try to borrow money. *
/He is known to make a touch whenever he is hard up for cash./
[make a virtue of necessity] {v. phr.} Make the best of things as
they are; do cheerfully what you do. * /After Mr. Wilson lost all his
money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting
life as a teacher./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF.
[make away with] {v.}, {informal} Take; carry away; cause to
disappear. * /The lumberjack made away with a great stack of
pancakes./ * /Two masked men held up the clerk and made away with the
payroll./ Compare: MAKE OFF.
[make-believe] {n.} False; untrue; created by illusion. * /The
creatures of Star Wars are all make-believe./
[make believe] {v.} To act as if something is true while one knows
it is not; pretend. * /Let's make believe we have a million dollars./
* /Danny made believe he didn't hear his mother calling./
[make book] {v. phr.} To serve as a bookmaker taking bets on the
horse races. * /The police were out to prosecute anybody who made book
illegally./
[make both ends meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET.
[make bricks without straw] {v. phr.} To make something without the
wherewithal; do something the hard way; do a job under hard
conditions. * /John could not go to a library, and writing the report
was a job of making bricks without straw./ * /It was making bricks
without straw to put on plays in that old barn./
[make conversation] {v. phr.} To talk with someone just so that
there will be talk. * /John made conversation with the stranger so
that he would not feel left out./ * /Mary didn't really mean what she
said about Joan. She was only making conversation./
[make do] {v. phr.} To use a poor substitute when one does not have
the right thing. * /John did not have a hammer, and he had to make do
with a heavy rock./ * /This motel isn't what we wanted, but we must
make do./ * /Many families manage to make do on very little income./
Compare: GET ALONG.
[make ends meet] {v. phr.} To have enough money to pay one's bills;
earn what it costs to live. * /Both husband and wife had to work to
father of twin daughters./
[little folk] or [little people] See: WEE FOLK.
[little frog in a big pond] or [small frog in a big pond] {n. phr.}
An unimportant person in a large group or organization. * /In a large
company, even a fairly successful man is likely to feel like a little
frog in a big pond./ * /When Bill transferred to a larger high school,
he found himself a small frog in a big pond./ Contrast: BIG FROG IN A
SMALL POND.
[little pitchers have big ears] Little children often overhear
things they are not supposed to hear, or things adults do not expect
they would notice. - A proverb. * /Be especially careful not to swear
in front of little children. Little pitchers have big ears./
[little theater] {n.} A theater, usually with nonprofessional
actors and actresses, which presents plays more for personal pleasure
and practice than for profit. * /Little theater groups are active in
all parts of the United States./ * /Many famous actors began in little
theaters./
[lit up like a Christmas tree] {adj. phr.}, {informal} To be drunk.
* /On New Year's Eve Ned was lit up like a Christmas tree./ Compare:
THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[live] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW
STONES.
[live and learn] You learn more new things the longer you live; you
learn by experience. - A proverb. * /"Live and learn," said Mother. "I
never knew that the Indians once had a camp where our house is."/ *
/Janet made her new dress from cheap cloth, and when she washed it, it
shrank and was too little. Live and learn./
[live and let live] To live in the way you prefer and let others
live as they wish without being bothered by you. * /Father scolds
Mother because she wears her hair in curlers and Mother scolds Father
because he smokes a smelly pipe. Grandfather says it's her hair and
his pipe; live and let live./ Compare: GIVE AND TAKE(1), LET BYGONES
BE BYGONES, FORGIVE AND FORGET.
[live down] {v.} To remove (blame, distrust or unfriendly laughter)
by good conduct; cause (a mistake or fault) to be forgiven or
forgotten by not repeating it. * /John's business failure hurt him for
a long time, but in the end he lived it down./ * /Frank was rather a
bad boy, but he lived it down as he grew up./ * /Sandra called her
principal the wrong name at the banquet, in front of everyone, and she
thought she would never live it down./
[live from hand to mouth] {v. phr.} To live on little money and
spend it as fast as it comes in; live without saving for the future;
have just enough. * /Mr. Johnson got very little pay, and the family
lived from hand to mouth when he had no job./ * /These Indians live
from hand to mouth on berries, nuts, and roots./
[live high off the hog] or [eat high on the hog] See: EAT (LIVE)
HIGH ON THE HOG or EAT (LIVE) HIGH OFF THE HOG.
[live in] or [room in] {v.}, {informal} To live in the school you
attend or the place where you work. * /Jack decided to live in during
his freshman year at college./ * /Many women advertise for mother's
helpers to room in with families and help take care of children./
[live in a fool's paradise] {v. phr.} To deceive oneself; tell
oneself unreal stories. * /His information is based on a lot of
misunderstanding - the poor guy is living in a fool's paradise./
[live in an ivory tower] {v. phr.} To be blind to real life; live
an unrealistically sheltered existence. * /Professor Nebelmacher has
no idea of the cost of living; he lives in an ivory tower./
[live in the fast lane] {v. phr.}, {informal} To live a full and
very active life pursuing wealth and success. * /They have been living
in the fast lane ever since they arrived in New York City./
[live it up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To pursue pleasure; enjoy games
or night life very much; have fun at places of entertainment. * /Joe
had had a hard winter in lonesome places; now he was in town living it
up./ * /The western cowboys usually went to town on Saturdays to live
it up./
[live off someone] {v. phr.} To be supported by someone. *
/Although Eric is already 40 years old, he has no job and continues to
live off his elderly parents./
[live off the fat of the land] See: FAT OF THE LAND.
[live on borrowed time] {v. phr.} To live or last longer than was
expected. * /Ever since his operation, Harvey felt he was living on
borrowed time./ * /Mr. Brown was living on borrowed time because a
year ago the doctors had told him he would only live six months./
[live out] {v.} 1. To finish (a period of time); spend. * /Smith
lived out the year in the North as he had agreed, but then moved to
the South again./ * /After retiring, John and his wife lived out their
lives in Florida./ 2. To last through; endure to the end of. * /We
lived out the winter on short ration./ * /He lived out the earthquake,
but his house was destroyed./
[live out of a suitcase] {v. phr.} To have no permanent residence
or a permanent place to hang one's clothes. * /When Jennifer accepted
her new job, she had no idea that she would have to live out of a
suitcase for six months./
[live up to] {v.} To act according to; come up to; agree with;
follow. * /So far as he could, John had always tried to live up to the
example he saw in Lincoln./ * /Bob was a man who lived up to his
promises./ * /The new house didn't live up to expectations./
[live wire] {n. phr.} 1. An electrically charged wire, usually
uninsulated. * /The electrician was severely burned by the live wire./
2. An alert or energetic person. * /To sell the new merchandise, our
company needs several salespeople who are live wires./
[living daylights] See: BEAT THE --- OUT OF, KNOCK THE --- OUT OF.
[living end] {adj.}, {slang} Great; fantastic; the ultimate. *
/That show we saw last night was the living end./
[load] See: GET A LOAD OF.
[loaded for bear] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Ready for action; prepared
and eager. * /Frank liked the new merchandise and as he set out on his
rounds as a salesman, he felt really loaded for bear./ * /The football
team arrived Friday noon, loaded for bear./
[load the bases] or [fill the bases] {v. phr.} To get men on all
three bases in baseball. * /The Mets loaded the bases with two singles
and a base on balls./ * /Don hit a home run with the bases loaded./
[loaf] See: HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE or HALF A LOAF IS
BETTER THAN NO BREAD.
[loan shark] {n. phr.} A money lender who charges excessive
interest. * /Why go to a loan shark when you can borrow from the bank
at the legal rate?/
[local yokel] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon} City
police officer, as opposed to state police or highway patrol. *
/There's a local yokel westbound on the move./
[lock] See: SCALP LOCK.
[lock, stock, and barrel] {n. phr.} Everything; completely. * /The
robbers emptied the whole house - lock, stock, and barrel./ Compare:
HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
[lock the barn door after the horse is stolen] To be careful or try
to make something safe when it is too late. - A proverb. * /After Mary
failed the examination, she said she would study hard after that. She
wanted to lock the barn door after the horse was stolen./
[lock up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be assured of success. * /How did
your math test go? - I locked it up, I think./
[lodge a complaint] {v. phr.} To make a complaint; complain. * /If
our neighbors don't stop this constant noise, I will have to lodge a
complaint with the management./
[loggerhead] See: AT LOGGERHEADS.
[loin] See: GIRD UP ONE'S LOINS.
[lone wolf] {n.} A man who likes to work or live alone. * /The man
who paints a picture or establishes a business is often a lone wolf;
so is the criminal outlaw./ * /Jones is a good pitcher, but he is a
lone wolf./
[long] See: AT LAST or AT LONG LAST, BEFORE LONG, COME A LONG WAY,
IN THE LONG RUN, NO LONGER, SO LONG, THE LONG AND THE SHORT.
[long and short of it] {n. phr.} The essence; the whole story in a
nutshell. * /The long and short of it is that he is lazy and doesn't
really want to find a job./
[long ball] {n.} A baseball hit far enough to be a home run. * /The
White Sox need a player who can hit the long ball./
[long face] {n.} A sad look; disappointed look. * /He told the
story with a long face./ - Often used in the phrase "pull a long
face". * /Don't pull a long face when I tell you to go to bed./
[longhair(1)] 1. {n.}, {slang} A male hippie. * /Who's that
longhair? - It's Joe./ 2. An intellectual who prefers classical music
to jazz or acid rock. * /Catwallender is a regular longhair; he never
listens to modern jazz./
[longhair(2)] {adj.}, {slang} Pertaining to classical art forms,
primarily in dancing and music. * /Cut out that longhair Mozart
Symphony and put on a decent pop record!/
[long haul] or [long pull] {n.}, {informal} 1. A long distance or
trip. * /It is a long haul to drive across the country./ Contrast
SHORT HAUL. 2. A long length of time during which work continues or
something is done; a long time of trying. * /A boy crippled by polio
may learn to walk again, but it may be a long haul./ - Often used in
the phrase "over the long haul". * /Over the long haul, an expensive
pair of shoes may save you money./ Contrast: SHORT HAUL.
[long pull] See: LONG HAUL.
[long shot] {n.} 1. A bet or other risk taken though not likely to
succeed. * /The horse was a long shot, but it came in and paid well./
* /Jones was a long shot for mayor./ * /The business long shot that
succeeds often pays extremely well./ 2. See: BY A LONG SHOT.
[long-winded] {adj.} Tedious; overlong; given to too much talking.
* /Everyone was bored by the old man's long-winded stories./
[look] See: DIRTY LOOK.
[look after] also [see after] {v.} To watch over; attend to. *
/John's mother told him to look after his younger brother./ * /When he
went to Europe, Mr. Jenkins left his son to see after the business./
Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1). Compare: LOOK OUT(3).
[look a gift horse in the mouth] To complain if a gift is not
perfect. - A proverb. Usually used with a negative. * /John gave Joe a
baseball but Joe complained that the ball was old. His father told him
not to look a gift horse in the mouth./
[look alive] {v.} Act lively; be quick; wake up and work; be busy;
hurry. - Often used as a command. * /"Look alive there," the boss
called./
[look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] See: BUTTER
WOULDN'T MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[look as if one has come out of a bandbox] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
look very clean and fresh; look as if you had just had a bath and put
on all-new clothing. * /In spite of the long, hot train ride, Jody
arrived looking as if she had come out of a bandbox./ * /After a day
at the rodeo we were all dusty and tired except for Hope, who looked
as if she'd come out of a bandbox./
[look at] {v.} To have a way of thinking or feeling toward; think
about something in a certain way. * /Is he a hero or a villain? That
depends on how you look at it./ * /Depending on how you looked at it,
the tea party could be called a pleasure or a bore./
[look at the world through rose-colored glasses] or [see with
rose-colored glasses] {v. phr.} To see everything as good and
pleasant; not see anything hard or bad. * /When Jean graduated from
high school, she looked at the world through rose-colored glasses./ *
/If you see everything through rose-colored glasses, you will often be
disappointed./
[look back] {v.} To review the past; think of what has happened. *
/As John looked back, his life seemed good to him./ * /Murphy looked
back on his early struggles as having made him feel especially alive./
* /When Ed applied for a job and asked the school to recommend him,
the principal looked back over his records./
[look bleak] {v.} To indicate misfortune; appear threatening or
ruinous. * /As prices dropped lower and lower, things looked bleak for
Henry's company./ * /Many witnesses gave testimony against Jerry and
his case looked bleak./ * /The future looked bleak when Father got
hurt and could not work./
[look daggers] {v. phr.} To show anger with a look; express hate or
enmity by a look or stare; look fiercely. * /The other driver looked
daggers at Morris for turning in before him./ * /Mary did not dare
talk back to her father, but she looked daggers./
[look down on] also [look down upon] {v.} To think of (a person or
thing) as less good or important; feel that (someone) is not as good
as you are, or that (something) is not worth having or doing; consider
inferior. * /Mary looked down on her classmates because she was better
dressed than they were./ * /Jack looked down on Al for his poor
manners./ * /Miss Tracy likes tennis but she looks down on football as
too rough./
[look down one's nose at] {v. phr.}, {informal} To think of as
worthless; feel scorn for. * /The banker's wife has beautiful china
cups, and she looked down her nose at the plastic cups that Mrs. Brown
used./ * /Harry has never had to work, and he looks down his nose at
people in business./ * /Jerry was the athlete who looked down his nose
at the weak student./
[look for] {v.} 1. To think likely; expect. * /We look for John to
arrive any day now./ * /The frost killed many oranges, and housewives
can look for an increase in their price./ * /Bob wouldn't go for a
ride with the boys because he was looking for a phone call from
Julie./ 2. To try to find; search for; hunt. * /Fred spent all day
looking for a job./ * /Mary and Joe looked for the Smiths at the
play./ 3. To do things that cause (your own trouble); make (trouble)
for yourself; provoke. * /Joe often gets into fights because he is
always looking for trouble./ * /If you say the opposite of everything
that others say, you are looking for a quarrel./
[look for a needle in a haystack] See: NEEDLE IN A HAY STACK.
[look forward to] {v.} 1. To expect. * /At breakfast, John looked
forward to a difficult day./ 2. To expect with hope or pleasure. *
/Frank was looking forward to that evening's date./
[look high and low for] {v. phr.} To look everywhere; search all
over. * /Everyone has been looking high and low for the lost key but
no one could find it./
[look-in] {n.}, {informal} A chance or hope. - Usually used with a
negative. * /It wasn't much of a look-in, but it was the only chance
they let him have./ * /Charlie didn't realize it, but he never had a
look-in with Bonnie./
[look in on] {v.} To go to see; make a short visit with; make a
call on. * /On his way downtown, Jim looked in on his aunt./ * /The
doctor looked in on Mary each day when he went by./
[look in the eye] or [look in the face] {v. phr.} To meet with a
steady look; to face bravely or without shame. * /Mary looked the
gangster in the eye, and he turned away without hurting her./ * /John
had looked death in the face many times./ * /We often believe a person
who looks us in the eye, but it does not prove he is truthful./ * /U
promised Harry to write to him while I was on vacation, and if I don't
do it, I won't be able to look him in the eye./
[look into] {v.} To find out the facts about; examine; study;
inspect. * /The mayor felt he should look into the decrease of income
from parking meters./ * /Mr. Jones said he was looking into the
possibility of buying a house./ Compare: GO INTO(4), SEE ABOUT.
[look like a million dollars] {v. phr.}, {informal} To look well
and prosperous; appear healthy and happy and lucky; look pretty and
attractive. * /John came back from Florida driving a fine new car,
tanned and glowing with health. He looked like a million dollars./ *
/Dressed in the new formal and in a new hairdo, Betty looked like a
million dollars./ Compare: FEEL LIKE A MILLION.
[look like the cat that ate the canary] or [look like the cat that
swallowed the canary] {v. phr.} To seem very self-satisfied; look as
if you had just had a great success. * /Peter bet on the poorest horse
in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the
canary./ * /When she won the prize, she went home looking like the cat
that swallowed the canary./
[look on] or [look upon] {v.} 1. To regard; consider; think of. *
/The stuff had always been looked on as a worthless factory waste./ *
/Until the day Bob made the touchdown, the other boys had looked upon
him as rather a sissy./ 2. To be an observer; watch without taking
part. * /Fred had never been able to do more than look on at athletic
sports./ * /The children played in the park while their mother looked
on./ Compare: SIT IN.
[look oneself] {v. phr.} To appear self-possessed and well; look or
seem in full possession of your abilities and in good health; to
appear all right or normal. * /Mary had had a long illness, but now
she looked quite herself again./ * /It had been a big night, and Uncle
John had been drinking freely, but he looked entirely himself after a
night's sleep./ - Often used in the negative. * /What's wrong with
Larry? He doesn't look himself./
[lookout] See: ON THE LOOKOUT.
[look out] or [watch out] {v.} 1. To take care; be careful; be on
guard. - Usually used as a command or warning. * /"Look out!" John
called, as the car came toward me./ * /"Look out for the train," the
sign at the railroad crossing warns./ 2. To be alert or watchful; keep
watching. * /A collector of antique cars asked Frank to look out for a
1906 gas head lamp./ Compare: EYE OUT, ON THE WATCH. 3. {informal} To
watch or keep (a person or thing) and do what is needed; provide
protection and care. - Used with "for". * /Lillian looked out for her
sister's children one afternoon a week./ * /Uncle Fred looked out for
his brother's orphan son until the boy was through college./ Compare:
LOOK AFTER.
[look out for] {v. phr.} To watch out for; be on the alert. *
/There were signs along the highway warning drivers to look out for
deer crossing./
[look over] {v.} To look at and try to learn something about; look
at every part or piece of or at every one of; examine; inspect; study.
* /I looked hurriedly over the apples in the basket and took one that
looked good./ * /Mrs. Jones spent the evening looking over the month's
bills and writing checks./ * /When a new boy comes to school, the
others usually look him over rather carefully./ * /We looked over
several kinds of new cars before deciding./ Compare: ONCE-OVER, SIZE
UP.
[look sharp] {v.} To be alert; be very attentive; keep a close
watch. * /It pays to look sharp in traffic./ * /The guide told us to
look sharp because there were rattlesnakes around./
[look small] See: FEEL SMALL.
[look to] {v.} 1. To attend to; get ready for; take care of. *
/Plans had been prepared that looked to every possibility./ * /The
president assigned a man to look to our needs./ 2. To go for help to;
depend on. * /The child looks to his mother to cure his hurts./ 3.
See: SEE TO.
[look to one's laurels] To make sure that your reputation is not
spoiled; protect your good name; keep your record from being beaten by
others. * /Tom won the broad jump, but he had to look to his laurels./
* /Look to your laurels, Joan. Betty says she is going to run against
you for head cheerleader./
[look up] {v.} 1. {informal} To improve in future chances; promise
more success. * /The first year was tough, but business looked up
after that./ 2. To search for; hunt for information about; find. * /It
is a good habit to look up new words in a dictionary./ 3. To seek and
find. * /While he was in Chicago, Henry looked up a friend of college
days./
[look upon] See: LOOK ON(1).
[look up to] {v.} To think of (someone) as a good example to copy;
honor; respect. * /Mr. Smith had taught for many years, and all the
students looked up to him./ * /Young children look up to older ones,
so older children should be good examples./
[loop] See: KNOCK FOR A LOOP or THROW FOR A LOOP.
[loose] See: AT LOOSE ENDS, CAST OFF or CAST LOOSE, CUT LOOSE, FAST
AND LOOSE, HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, LET LOOSE or SET LOOSE or TURN LOOSE,
ON THE LOOSE.
[loose ends] {n.} 1. Parts or things that should be finished or put
together. * /Mary's composition had many loose ends./ * /When George
came home after a long trip, he started picking up the loose ends./ 2.
See: AT LOOSE ENDS.
[lord it over] {v. phr.} To act as the superior and master of;
dominate; be bossy over; control. * /John learned early to lord it
over other children./ * /The office manager lorded it over the clerks
and typists./
[Lord knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[lose] See: HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE.
[lose face] {v.} To be embarrassed or shamed by an error or
failure; lose dignity, influence or reputation; lose self-respect or
the confidence of others. * /Many Japanese soldiers were killed in
World War II because they believed that to give up or retreat would
make them lose face./ * /John's careless work made him lose face with
his employer./ * /The banker lost face when people found out he bet on
horse races./
[lose ground] 1. To go backward; retreat. * /The soldiers began to
lose ground when their leader was killed./ Compare: GIVE GROUND. 2. To
become weaker; get worse; not improve. * /The sick man began to lose
ground when his cough grew worse./ * /When the Democrats are in power,
the Republicans lose ground./ Contrast: GAIN GROUND.
[lose heart] {v. phr.} To feel discouraged because of failure; to
lose hope of success. * /The team had won no games and it lost heart./
Contrast: TAKE HEART.
[lose one's balance] Contrast: KEEP ONE'S BALANCE.
[lose oneself] {v. phr.} 1. To go wrong; miss your way; become
unable to find the right direction. * /Fred lost himself in the
confusion of downtown Boston streets./ 2. To conceal yourself; hide. *
/The pick-pocket lost himself in the crowd and escaped the police./ 3.
To become deeply interested and forget yourself; become absorbed. *
/Sometimes Harry would lose himself in a book for an afternoon at a
time./ Compare: IN A WORLD OF ONE'S OWN.
[lose one's grip] {v. phr.} To fail in control or command; lose
your strength, force, or ability to lead. * /Mr. Jones began to lose
his grip: he no longer wanted the hard jobs, and he left decisions to
others./ * /When a locomotive engineer loses his grip, he is no longer
trusted with express runs./
[lose one's head (over)] {v. phr.} 1. To panic. * /"Let's not lose
our heads," the captain cried. "We have good lifeboats on this
vessel."/ 2. To become deeply infatuated with someone. * /Don't lose
your head over Jane; she is already married./ Contrast: KEEP ONE'S
HEAD.
[lose one's heart] {v. phr.} To fall in love; begin to love. * /She
lost her heart to the soldier with the broad shoulders and the deep
voice./ * /Bill lost his heart to the puppy the first time he saw it./
[lose one's marbles] {v. phr.} To go mad; become crazed. * /Stan
must have lost his marbles; he is hopelessly pursuing a happily
married woman./
[lose one's shirt] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all or most of your
money. * /Uncle Joe spent his life savings to buy a store, but it
failed, and he lost his shirt./ * /Mr. Matthews lost his shirt betting
on the horses./
[lose one's temper] {v. phr.} To lose control over one's anger; to
get angry. * /He lost his temper when he broke the key in the lock./
Compare: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE. Contrast: HOLD ONE'S TEMPER.
[lose one's tongue] {v. phr.}, informal To be so embarrassed or
surprised that you cannot talk. * /The man would always lose his
tongue when he was introduced to new people./ Compare: CAT GET ONE'S
TONGUE.
[lose out] {v.} To fail to win; miss first place in a contest; lose
to a rival. * /John lost out in the rivalry for Mary's hand in
marriage./ * /Fred didn't want to lose out to the other salesman./
Compare: MISS OUT. Contrast: WIN OUT.
[loser] See: FINDERS KEEPERS or FINDERS KEEPERS LOSERS WEEPERS.
[lose sight of] {v. phr.} 1. Not to be able to see any longer. * /I
lost sight of Mary in the crowd./ * /I watched the plane go higher and
higher until I lost sight of it./ Contrast: CATCH SIGHT OF. 2. To
forget; overlook. * /Johnny was so interested in the game he lost
sight of the time./ * /No matter how rich and famous he became, he
never lost sight of the fact that he had been born in the slums./
[lose touch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to keep in contact or
communication. - Usually used with "with". * /After she moved to
another town, she lost touch with her childhood friends./ Compare: OUT
OF TOUCH.
[lose track] {v. phr.} To forget about something; not stay
informed; fail to keep a count or record. * /What's the score now?
I've lost track./ - Usually used with "of". * /Mary lost track of her
friends at camp after summer was over./ * /John lost track of the
money he spent at the circus./ Compare: OUT OF TOUCH. Contrast: KEEP
TRACK.
[loss] See: AT A LOSS, THROW FOR A LOSS.
[lost] See: GET LOST, NO LOVE LOST.
[lost cause] {n. phr.} A movement that has failed and has no chance
to be revived. * /Communism in Eastern Europe has become a lost
cause./
[lost upon] adj. Wasted. * /Tim's generosity is completely lost
upon Sue; he can't expect any gratitude from her./
[lot] See: A LOT, CAST ONE'S LOT WITH, SAND LOT, THINK A GREAT DEAL
OF or THINK A LOT OF, THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH or CAST IN ONE'S LOT
WITH.
[loud] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,
OUT LOUD, THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.
[loud mouth] or [big mouth] {n.}, {slang} A noisy, boastful, or
foolish talker. * /Fritz is a loud mouth who cannot be trusted with
secrets./ * /When he has had a few drinks, Joe will make empty boasts
like any other big mouth./
[loud-mouthed] or [big-mouthed] {adj.}, {slang} Talking noisily,
boastfully, or foolishly. * /Fred was a loud-mouthed fellow, whose
talk no one listened to./ * /If I were you, I would not listen to that
loud-mouthed boy./
[lounge lizard] {n. phr.} A well-dressed male fortune hunter who
sits around in bars and other public places, and attends many social
events to try to pick up wealthy women through smart conversation. *
/Harry has the reputation of being a lounge lizard; he is looking for
a rich wife./
[louse up] {v.}, {slang} To throw into confusion; make a mess of;
spoil; ruin. * /When the man who was considering John's house heard
that the basement was wet, that was enough to louse up the sale./ *
/Fred's failure in business not only lost him his business but loused
him up with his wife./ * /The rain loused up the picnic./ See: MESS
UP(2), FUCK UP.
[love] See: FOR LOVE OR MONEY, IN LOVE, LABOR OF LOVE, MAKE LOVE,
NO LOVE LOST, PUPPY LOVE also CALF LOVE.
[love affair] {n.} A friendship between lovers; a romance or
courtship. * /The love affair of Bob and Jane went on for months./ *
/Harry had many love affairs, but he never married./
[love game] {n.} A game of tennis which is won without the opponent
scoring. * /Britain took a love game on Songster's service./
[love-in] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A festival or occasion to
celebrate life, human sensuality, the beauty of nature, human
sexuality, and universal love; affairs so conceived by some frequently
deteriorate into obscenity and drug using sessions in parody of their
stated purpose. * /The hippies gathered for a big love-in
in the Halght-Ashbury district of San
Francisco./
[lovers' lane] {n.} A hidden road or walk where lovers walk or park
in the evening. * /A parked car in a lonely lovers' lane often is a
chance for holdup men./
[low] See: LAY LOW, LIE LOW.
[lowbrow] {n.} A person of limited culture; a nonintellectual. *
/Some people claim that only lowbrows read the comics./ Contrast: HIGH
BROW.
[lowdown] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The inside facts of a matter;
the total truth. * /Nixon never gave the American people the lowdown
on Watergate./
[lower the boom] {v. phr.}, {informal} To punish strictly; check or
stop fully. * /The mayor lowered the boom on outside jobs for city
firemen./ * /Father lowered the boom on the girls for staying out
after midnight./ Syn.: CRACK DOWN. * /The police lowered the boom on
open gambling./
[low-key] {adj.} Relaxed and easygoing. * /Surprisingly, dinner
with the governor was a low-key affair./
[low season] Contrast: HIGH SEASON.
[luck] See: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK, LUCK OUT, PRESS ONE'S LUCK or PUSH
ONE'S LUCK, IN LUCK, OUT OF LUCK.
[luck out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Suddenly to get lucky
when in fact the odds are against one's succeeding. * /I was sure I
was going to miss the train as I was three minutes late, but I lucked
out, the train was five minutes late./ 2. To be extraordinarily
fortunate. * /Catwallender really lucked out at Las Vegas last month;
he came home with $10,000 in cash./ 3. (By sarcastic opposition) to be
extremely unfortunate; to be killed. * /Those poor marines sure lucked
out in Saigon, didn't they?/
[lucky] See: THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.
[lucky star] {n.} A certain star or planet which, by itself or with
others, is seriously or jokingly thought to bring a person good luck
and success in life. * /John was born under a lucky star./ * /Ted was
unhurt in the car accident, for which he thanked his lucky stars./
[lump in one's throat] {n. phr.} A feeling (as of grief or pride)
so strong that you almost sob. * /John's mother had a lump in her
throat at his college graduation./ * /All during her husband's
funeral, Aunt May had a lump in her throat./ * /The bride's mother had
a lump in her throat./
[lump sum] {n.} The complete amount; a total agreed upon and to be
paid at one time. * /The case was settled out of court with the
plaintiff receiving a lump sum of half a million dollars for damages./
[lunar module (L.M.)] or [Lem] {n.}, {Space English} That portion
of the rocket assemblage on a flight to the Moon in which the
astronauts descend to the Moon's surface. * /Building the L.M. was one
of the most expensive parts of the American space program./
[lung] See: AT THE TOP OF ONE'S VOICE or AT THE TOP OP ONE'S LUNGS.
[lurch] See: LEAVE IN THE LURCH.
[lust for] {v. phr.} To physically yearn for; hanker after; want
something very strongly. * /Ed has been lusting after Meg for a very
long time./
[luxury] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY.
[mackerel] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MACKEREL.
[mad about] {adj. phr.} 1. Angry about. * /What is Harriet so mad
about?/ 2. Enthusiastic about. * /Dan is mad about pop music./
[mad as a hatter] or [mad as a March hare] {adj. phr.} Not able to
think right; crazy. * /Anyone who thinks the moon is made of green
cheese is mad as a hatter./
[mad as a hornet] or [mad as hops] or [mad as a wet hen] {adj.
phr.}, {informal} In a fighting mood; very angry. * /When my father
sees the dent in his fender, he'll be mad as a hornet./ * /Bill was
mad as hops when the fellows went on without him./ * /Mrs. Harris was
mad as a wet hen when the rabbits ate her tulips./
[mad as a March hare] See: MAD AS A HATTER.
[mad as hops] See: MAD AS A HORNET.
[made of money] {adj. phr.} Very rich; wealthy. * /Mr. Jones buys
his children everything they want. He must be made of money./ Compare:
MONEY TO BURN.
[made-to-measure] or [tailor-made] {adj.} Made to fit a special set
of measurements or needs. * /John has a new made-to-measure suit./ *
/The club is tailor-made for Jane./ Syn.: MADE TO ORDER.
[made to order] {adj. phr.} 1. Made specially in the way the buyer
wants instead of all the same in large amounts; made especially for
the buyer. * /Mr. Black's clothes were all made to order./ Compare:
MADE-TO-MEASURE. 2. Just right. * /The weather was made to order for
the hike./
[made up out of whole cloth] See: OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH.
[magic carpet] {n.} 1. A rug said to be able to transport a person
through the air to any place he wishes. * /The caliph of Baghdad flew
on his magic carpet to Arabia./ 2. Any form of transportation that is
comfortable and easy enough to seem magical. * /Flying the Concord
from Dallas to London seemed like boarding the magic carpet./ * /Mr.
Smith's new car drove so smoothly it seemed like a magic carpet./
[maiden speech] {n. phr.} One's first public speech, usually before
some legislative body. * /It was the new congressman's maiden speech
and everyone was listening very keenly./
[maiden voyage] {n. phr.} The first voyage of a boat. * /The
Titanic sank on her maiden voyage to America from England./
[mail order] {n. phr.} A purchase made by mail. * /If you don't
have a chance to go to a store, you can sometimes make a purchase by
mail order./
[main] See: IN THE MAIN, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[main drag] {n.}, {colloquial} 1. The most important street or
thoroughfare in a town. * /Lincoln Avenue is the main drag of our
town./ 2. The street where the dope pushers and the prostitutes are. *
/Wells Street is the main drag of Chicago, actionwise./
[main squeeze] {n.}, {slang} 1. The top ranking person in an
organization or in a neighborhood; an important person, such as one's
boss. * /Mr. Bronchard is the main squeeze in this office./ 2. The top
person in charge of an illegal operation, such as drug sales, etc. *
/Before we can clean up this part of town, we must arrest the main
squeeze./ 3. One's principal romantic or sexual partner. * /The
singer's main squeeze is a member of the band./
[majority leader] {n.} The leader of the political party with the
most votes in a legislative house. * /The majority leader of the House
of Representatives tried to get the members of his party to support
the bill./ Compare: MINORITY LEADER.
[make] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, HAVE IT
MADE, MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK, ON THE MAKE.
[make a beeline for] {v. phr.} To go in a straight line toward. *
/The runner made a beeline for first base./ * /When the bell rang Ted
made a beeline for the door of the classroom./
[make a big deal about] {v. phr.}, {informal} To exaggerate an
insignificant event. * /Jeff said, "I'm sorry I banged into you in the
dark. Don't make a big deal out of it."/
[make a clean breast of] {v. phr.} To admit (your guilt); tell all
about (your wrong doing); confess everything. * /The police caught the
hit-and-run driver and he made a clean breast of his crime./ * /Arthur
worried because he cheated on the test, and finally he went to the
teacher and made a clean breast of it./ Compare: OFF ONE'S CHEST.
[make a clean sweep of] {v. phr.} 1. Achieve a complete victory. *
/In 7980 the Reagan Republicans made a clean sweep of the western
states./ 2. To eliminate thoroughly and completely. * /The new
attorney general is expected to make a clean sweep of all the old
administrative personnel./
[make a clown of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a day of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something all day. *
/When they go to the beach they take a picnic lunch and make a day of
it./ Compare: MAKE A NIGHT OF.
[make a dent in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make less by a very small
amount; reduce slightly. - Usually used in the negative or with such
qualifying words as "hardly" or "barely". * /John shoveled and
shoveled, but he didn't seem to make a dent in the pile of sand./ *
/Mary studied all afternoon and only made a dent in her homework./
[make a difference] or [make the difference] {v. phr.} To change
the nature of something or a situation; be important; matter. *
/John's good score on the test made the difference between his passing
or failing the course./ * /It doesn't make a bit of difference if you
are late to my party. I just want you to come./
[make a face] {v. phr.}, {informal} To twist your face; make an
ugly expression on your face (as by sticking out your tongue). * /The
boy made a face at his teacher when she turned her back./ * /The sick
boy swallowed the medicine and made a face./
[make a fast buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a federal case out of] See: MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT, MAKE A
MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.
[make a fool of] or (informal) [make a monkey of] {v. phr.} To make
(someone) look foolish. * /The boy made a fool of himself./ * /Mary's
classmates made a fool of her by telling her the party was to be a
masquerade./
[make after] {v. phr.} To chase something; run after something. *
/The mouse escaped from the kitchen corner and the cat made after it./
[make a fuss over] {v. phr.} 1. To quarrel about something or
someone. * /I want you kids to stop fussing about who gets the
drumstick./ 2. To he excessively concerned about someone or something;
worry. * /Let's not fuss over such an insignificant problem!/ 3. To
show exaggerated care or preoccupation about a person or an animal. *
/Aunt Hermione is constantly fussing over her old lapdog./
[make a go of] {v. phr.} To turn into a success. * /He is both
energetic and highly skilled at trading; he is sure to make a go of
any business that holds his interest./
[make a hit] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be successful; be well-liked;
get along well. * /Mary's new red dress made a hit at the party./ *
/Alice was so happy that her boyfriend made a hit with her parents./
Compare: GO OVER(6).
[make a killing] {v. phr.} To earn or suddenly win a very large sum
of money. * /Herb bought a lot of soybean stock when the price was low
and sold it when the price went up. Small wonder he made a huge
killing./
[make a living] {v. phr.} To earn one's livelihood. * /If you're
good at your job, you can make a better living than if you don't know
what you're doing./ * /It is easier to make a living in the United
States than in many other countries./
[make allowance] {v. phr.} To judge results by the circumstances. -
Often used in plural. * /When a small boy is helping you, you must
make allowances for his age./
[make a long story short] {v. phr.} To summarize a lengthy
narrative. * /"So, to make a long story short," he said, "I made a
killing on the stock market."/ Compare: IN A NUTSHELL.
[make a match] {v. phr.} To bring a man and woman together for the
purpose of an engagement or marriage. * /Sheila's aunt is anxious to
make a match between her and an attractive, wealthy man./
[make a mess of] See: SCREW UP.
[make a monkey of] See: MAKE A FOOL OF.
[make a motion] {v. phr.} To propose in some committee meeting or
legislative group that a certain action be taken. * /The secretary
made a motion that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted./
[make a mountain out of a molehill] To think a small problem is a
big one; try to make something unimportant seem important. * /You're
not hurt badly, Johnny. Stop trying to make a mountain out of a
molehill with crying./ * /Sarah laughed at a mistake Betty made in
class, and Betty won't speak to her; Betty is making a mountain out of
a molehill./
[make a move] {v. phr.} 1. To budge; change places. * /"If you make
a move," the masked gangster said, "I'll start shooting."/ 2. To go
home after dinner or a party. * /"I guess it's time to make a move,"
Roy said at the end of the party./
[make a name for oneself] {v. phr.} To become recognized in a field
of endeavor; become a celebrity. * /Joe has worked so hard at soybean
trading that he made quite a name for himself as a trader./ * /Bill
has made a name for himself both as a pianist and as a composer./
[make an appearance] See: PUT IN AN APPEARANCE.
[make an end of] {v. phr.} To make (something) end; put a stop to;
stop. * /To make an end of rumors that the house was haunted, a
reporter spent the night there./
[make an example of] {v. phr.} To punish (someone) publicly to show
what happens when someone does wrong. * /The teacher made an example
of the boy who copied from another student during a test./ * /The
Pilgrims made an example of a thief by putting him in the stocks./
[make an exhibition of oneself] {v. phr.} To behave foolishly or
embarrassingly in public. * /Stop drinking so much and making an
exhibition of yourself./
[make a night of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To spend the whole night
at an activity. * /The dog found the door unlatched and made a night
of it./ * /The boys and girls at the dance made a night of it./
Compare: MAKE A DAY OF IT.
[make a nuisance of oneself] {v. phr.} To constantly bother others.
* /The screaming kids made a nuisance of themselves around the
swimming pool./
[make a pass at] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} Make advances
toward a member of the opposite sex (usually man to a woman) with the
goal of seducing the person. * /We've been dating for four weeks but
Joe has never even made a pass at me./
[make a pig of oneself] {v. phr.}, {informal} To overindulge; eat
too much. * /Mary said, "This dessert is so delicious that I am going
to make a pig of myself and have some more."/
[make a play for] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try to get the interest or
liking of; flirt with; attract. * /Bob made a play for the pretty new
girl./ * /John made a play for the other boys' votes for class
president./
[make a point] {v. phr.} To try hard; make a special effort. - Used
with "of" and a verbal noun. * /He made a point of remembering to get
his glasses fixed./ * /He made a point of thanking his hostess before
he left the party./
[make a practice of] {v. phr.} To make a habit of; do regularly. *
/Make a practice of being on time for work./
[make a quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[make a racket] {v. phr.} To cause a lot of noisy disturbance. * /I
wish the kids playing in the street wouldn't make such a racket while
I'm trying to take a nap./
[make a scene] {v. phr.} To act hysterically; attract unfavorable
attention. * /I didn't want Kate to make a scene in front of all of
those people, so I gave her the money she wanted./
[make a splash] {v. phr.} To cause a sensation. * /The brilliant
young pianist, barely 14 years old, made quite a splash on the concert
circuit./
[make a stab at] {v. phr.} To try doing something at random without
sufficient preparation. * /The singer was not familiar with the aria
but she decided to make a stab at it anyhow./ Contrast: STAB IN THE
BACK, STAB IN THE DARK.
[make a stand] {v. phr.} 1. To take a firm position on an issue. *
/He keeps talking about politics hut he never makes a stand for what
he believes in./ 2. To take up a defensive position against the enemy.
* /The retreating troops decided to make a stand by the river./
Contrast: LAST DITCH, LAST STAND.
[make a stir] See: MAKE A SCENE.
[make a touch] {v. phr.} To borrow money; try to borrow money. *
/He is known to make a touch whenever he is hard up for cash./
[make a virtue of necessity] {v. phr.} Make the best of things as
they are; do cheerfully what you do. * /After Mr. Wilson lost all his
money, he made a virtue of necessity and found a new and interesting
life as a teacher./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF.
[make away with] {v.}, {informal} Take; carry away; cause to
disappear. * /The lumberjack made away with a great stack of
pancakes./ * /Two masked men held up the clerk and made away with the
payroll./ Compare: MAKE OFF.
[make-believe] {n.} False; untrue; created by illusion. * /The
creatures of Star Wars are all make-believe./
[make believe] {v.} To act as if something is true while one knows
it is not; pretend. * /Let's make believe we have a million dollars./
* /Danny made believe he didn't hear his mother calling./
[make book] {v. phr.} To serve as a bookmaker taking bets on the
horse races. * /The police were out to prosecute anybody who made book
illegally./
[make both ends meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET.
[make bricks without straw] {v. phr.} To make something without the
wherewithal; do something the hard way; do a job under hard
conditions. * /John could not go to a library, and writing the report
was a job of making bricks without straw./ * /It was making bricks
without straw to put on plays in that old barn./
[make conversation] {v. phr.} To talk with someone just so that
there will be talk. * /John made conversation with the stranger so
that he would not feel left out./ * /Mary didn't really mean what she
said about Joan. She was only making conversation./
[make do] {v. phr.} To use a poor substitute when one does not have
the right thing. * /John did not have a hammer, and he had to make do
with a heavy rock./ * /This motel isn't what we wanted, but we must
make do./ * /Many families manage to make do on very little income./
Compare: GET ALONG.
[make ends meet] {v. phr.} To have enough money to pay one's bills;
earn what it costs to live. * /Both husband and wife had to work to