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little money that he began to get the name of a penny-pincher./ -
[penny-pinching] {adj.} or {n.}, {informal} * /Bob saved enough money
by penny-pinching to buy a bicycle./
[pin curl] {n.} A curl made with a hair clip or bobby pin. * /Mary
washed her hair and put it up in pin curls./ * /All the girls had
their hair in pin curls to get ready for the party./
[pin down] {v.} 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a
place or position; trap. * /Mr. Jones' leg was pinned down under the
car after the accident./ * /The soldier was pinned down in the hole
because rifle bullets were flying over his head./ 1b. To keep
(someone) from changing what (he) says or means; make (someone) admit
the truth; make (someone) agree to something. * /Mary didn't like the
book but I couldn't pin her down to say what she didn't like about
it./ * /I tried to pin Bob down to fix my bicycle tomorrow, but he
wouldn't say that he could./ 2. To tell clearly and exactly; explain
so that there is no doubt. * /The police tried to pin down the blame
for the fire in the school./
[pine away] {v. phr.} To waste away with grief. * /After George was
sent abroad, his wife pined away for him so much that she became ill./
[pink] See: IN THE PINK, TICKLE PINK.
[pink around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.
[pin money] {n. phr.} Extra money used for incidentals. * /She has
a regular full-time job but she earns extra pin money by doing a lot
of baby-sitting./
[pin one's ears back] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To beat; defeat. *
/After winning three games in a row, the Reds had their ears pinned
back by the Blues./ 2. To scold. * /Mrs. Smith pinned Mary's ears back
for not doing her homework./
[pin one's faith on] {v. phr.} To depend upon; trust. * /We pinned
our faith on our home basketball team to win the state finals, and
they did!/
[pin one's heart on one's sleeve] See: WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S
SLEEVE.
[pint-size] {adj.}, {informal} Very small. * /The new pint-size,
portable TV sets have a very clear picture./ * /It was funny to hear a
pint-size voice coming out of a great big man./
[pinup girl] {v. phr.} An attractive girl whose picture is pinned
or tacked to the wall by an admirer. * /Some Hollywood actresses are
understandably very popular pinup girls among male soldiers./
[pipe] See: PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT.
[pipe down] {v.} 1. To call (sailors) away from work with a
whistle. * /He piped the men down after boat drill./ 2. {slang} To
stop talking; shut up; be quiet. * /"Oh, pipe down," he called./ -
Often considered rude.
[pipe dream] {n.}, {informal} An unrealizable, financially unsound,
wishful way of thinking; an unrealistic plan. * /Joe went through the
motions of pretending that he wanted to buy that $250,000 house, but
his wife candidly told the real estate lady that it was just a pipe
dream./ Compare: PIE IN THE SKY.
[piper] See: PAY THE PIPER.
[pipe up] {v.}, {informal} To speak up; to be heard. * /Mary is so
shy, everyone was surprised when she piped up with a complaint at the
club meeting./ * /Everyone was afraid to talk to the police, but a
small child piped up./
[pip-squeak] {n.}, {informal} A small, unimportant person. * /If
the club is really democratic, then every little pip-squeak has the
right to say what he thinks./ * /When the smallest boy was chosen to
be the monitor, the class bully said he would not obey a little
pip-squeak./
[piss off] {v.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To bother; annoy;
irritate. * /You really piss me off when you talk like that./ -
[pissed off] {adj.} * /Why act so pissed off just because I made a
pass at you?/
[pit against] {v.} To match against; oppose to; put in opposition
to; place in competition or rivalry with. * /The game pits two of the
best pro football teams in the East against each other./ * /He pitted
his endurance against the other man's speed./ * /He was pitted against
an opponent just as smart as he was./
[pit-a-pat] {adv.} With a series of quick pats. * /When John asked
Mary to marry him, her heart went pit-a-pat./ * /The little boy ran
pit-a-pat down the hall./
[pitch] See: WILD PITCH.
[pitch a curve] or [a curve ball] {v. phr.} To catch someone
unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act. * /My
professor pitched me a curve ball when he unexpectedly confronted me
with a complicated mathematical equation that was way over my head./
[pitch dark] {adj.} Totally, completely dark. * /A starless and
moonless night in the country can be pitch dark./
[pitcher] See: LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS, RELIEF PITCHER,
STARTING PITCHER.
[pitchfork] See: RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN PITCHFORKS.
[pitch in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin something with much energy;
start work eagerly. * /Pitch in and we will finish the job as soon as
possible./ 2. To give help or money for something; contribute. *
/Everyone must pitch in and work together./ * /We all pitched in a
quarter to buy Nancy a present./ Syn.: CHIP IN. Compare: FALL TO.
[pitch into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To attack with blows or words. *
/He pitched into me with his fists./ * /He pitched into the idea of
raising taxes./ Syn.: LAY INTO(1),(2), RIP INTO. 2. To get to work at;
work hard at. * /She pitched into the work and had the house cleaned
up by noon./ * /He pitched into his homework right after dinner./
Compare: LAY INTO, SAIL INTO.
[pitch out] {v.} 1. To deliberately throw a pitch outside of the
home plate in baseball so that the batter cannot hit the ball and the
catcher can make a quick throw. * /The catcher wanted the pitcher to
pitch out and see if they could catch the runner stealing./ 2. To toss
the ball easily to a football back. * /The quarterback faked to the
fullback and pitched out to the halfback going wide./
[pitch woo] {v. phr.}, {slang} To kiss and hug; make love. * /Mary
and John pitched woo in the movies./ * /While Bob drove, Betty and Jim
sat in the back pitching woo./
[pity] See: TAKE PITY ON or TAKE PITY UPON.
[place] See: HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, HIGH PLACE, IN PLACE,
INSTEAD OF or IN PLACE OF, IN THE FIRST PLACE, JUMPING-OFF PLACE,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, OUT OF PLACE, PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE, PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE, TAKE PLACE.
[plague on both your houses] or [plague o' both your houses] Bad
luck to both of you! - Used to show disgust at those who wont stop
quarreling. * /The bus drivers went on strike because the bus company
would not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who needed
to ride the bus to work said, "A plague on both your houses."/
[plain Jane] {n. phr.} A common or simple looking young woman or
girl. * /When we were in school, Ann was a plain Jane, but she
blossomed out and even won the title of Miss Indiana./
[plain] or [smooth sailing] {n. phr.} An uncomplicated, unhampered,
or easy course. * /For a graduate of such a famous university as he
was, that assignment was plain sailing./
[plain white wrapper] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
Unmarked police car. * /There's a plain white wrapper at your rear
door!/ See: BROWN PAPER BAG.
[plan] See: LAY AWAY PLAN.
[plank] See: WALK THE PLANK.
[plan on] {v.} 1. To have the plan of; have in mind. - Used with a
verbal noun. * /I plan on going to the movies after I finish my
homework./ * /Mary was planning on seeing John at the baseball game./
Syn.: FIGURE ON. 2. To think you will do or have; be sure about;
expect. * /I'm hoping to go away for the weekend, but I'm not planning
on it./ * /We can't order the food for the party until we know how
many people to plan on./ * /We planned on Mary for the decorations,
but she is sick./
[plate] See: HOME PLATE.
[platonic love] {n. phr.} Great affection toward another person
without sex. * /They are platonic lovers; they do everything together
except make love./
[platter] See: HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER.
[play] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, DOUBLE
PLAY, FAIR PLAY, FORCE PLAY, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY, MAKE A PLAY
FOR, TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY.
[play along (with)] {v.} Cooperate; make no trouble. * /The honest
jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker's illegal plan./
[play a part in] {v. phr.} To be instrumental in; have a role in;
be concerned with. * /Some First Ladies play a greater part in
political life than others./
[play around] See: FOOL AROUND.
[play around with] See: TOY WITH.
[play a waiting game] {v. phr.} To withhold action until one's
chances for success improve. * /Ray would like to be vice president of
the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the
president will soon recognize his abilities./
[play ball] {v. phr.} 1. To begin play in a ball game. * /When the
umpire calls "Play ball," the game begins./ 2. {informal} To join in
an effort with others; cooperate. * /To get along during Prohibition,
many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters./ * /A is
often good business to play ball with a political machine./
[play by ear] {v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by
remembering the tune, not by reading music. * /Mary does not know how
to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ * /Joe doesn't need any
music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and
can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go
along; to fit the situation. - Used with "it". * /John decided to play
it by ear when he went for his interview./ * /It was her first job and
she didn't know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./
[play cat and mouse with] {v. phr.} To tease or fool (someone) by
pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. * /Joe's
uncle had fun playing cat and mouse with him./ * /The policeman
decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in
the store./
[play down] {v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem
less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. * /The
newspaper stories played down the actor's unattractive past./ * /A
salesman's job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he
must play down any faults it has./
[played out] {adj. phr.} Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted.
* /It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ * /For a
while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played
out./ Compare: ALL IN.
[play fair] {v. phr.} To do what is right to others; act in a fair
and truthful way. * /The boys like the principal because he always
plays fair./ * /Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her
favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing
fair./
[play fast and loose] {v. phr.} To do as you please without caring
what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that
people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. * /He played fast and
loose with the girl's affections./ * /He played fast and loose with
the company's good name./
[play footsie] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feet of
a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation.
* /Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any
sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political
situation. * /The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the
Syndicate./
[play for keeps] {v. phr.} To take an action of finality and
irreversibility. * /"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he
replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/
[play hard to get] {v. phr.} To act as if one weren't interested;
be fickle; be coy. * /"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get,"
our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach
here."/
[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.} To cause
destruction; ruin; injure badly. * /The storm played havoc with the
apple orchard./ * /When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it
played havoc with his plans for going to college./ * /When Mr. White
poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the
neighborhood./
[play hooky] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stay out of school to play. *
/Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times
during the year./
[play into one's hands] {v. phr.} To be or do something that
another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself.
* /In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents'
hands./ * /Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but
Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it./
[play off] {v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests
so that they balance each other. * /The girl played off her admirers
against each other./ * /Britain tried to play off European nations
against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To
finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) * /The visitors came
back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To
settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each
player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing
off the tie./
[play on] or [play upon] {v.} 1. To cause an effect on; influence.
* /A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings./ 2. To
work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning
plans; manage. * /The makeup salesman played on the woman's wish to
look beautiful./ * /In some places, leaders play upon people's
superstitious fears./ * /He played on the man's ambition and love of
honor./
[play one false] {v. phr.}, {literary} To act disloyally toward (a
person); betray; cheat; deceive. * /Good faith was not in him: he
played anyone false who trusted him./ * /His hopes had played him
false./
[play one for] {v.}, {informal} To treat (someone) as; act toward
(someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. * /He played the man for
a sucker./
[play one's cards right] or [play one's cards well] {v. phr.},
{informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful;
act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That
millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his
cards right./ * /People liked Harold, and he played his cards well -
and soon he began to get ahead rapidly./
[play ostrich] {v. phr.} To refuse to face painful facts or
unpleasant truths. * /She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband's
drinking problem./
[play politics] {v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own
gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to
get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the
bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office
politics./
[play possum] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To pretend to be asleep. *
/Johnny seemed to be fully asleep, but his mother knew that he was
playing possum./ 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escape
attention by inactivity. * /The rabbit played possum under the bushes,
hoping the hunter would not see him./ * /Bob played possum when the
teacher looked around./
[play safe] or [play it safe] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be very
careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for
the sake of safety. * /He got tired as the game went on, and began to
play safe./ * /Tom didn't know what the other driver would do, so he
played it safe and stopped his own car./
[play second fiddle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act a smaller part;
follow another's lead; be less noticed. * /His wife had the stronger
mind and he played second fiddle to her./ * /During the tournament,
lessons played second fiddle to basketball./
[play the devil with] or [play hob with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
cause confusion in; upset. * /Uncle Bob's unexpected visit played the
devil with our own plans to travel./ * /Mother's illness played hob
with our party./
[play the field] {v. phr.}, {informal} To date many different
people; not always have dates with the same person. * /Al had a steady
girlfriend, but John was playing the field./ * /Jim was crazy about
Mary, but she was still playing the field./ Contrast: GO STEADY.
[play the game] {v. phr.}, {informal} To obey the rules; do right;
act fairly. * /"That's not playing the game," we told him when he
wanted to desert his wife./ * /"Oh, let's play the game," he said,
when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their
debts./ * /Your parents want you to play the game in life./
[play the market] {v. phr.} To try to make money on the stock
market by buying and selling stocks, * /John lost all his savings
playing the market./ * /Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when
he plays the market, and sometimes he loses./
[play to the gallery] {v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the
audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to
the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in
playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF.
[play tricks on] {v. phr.} To make another the victim of some trick
or joke. * /Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by
hiding his clothes while he was swimming./
[play up] {v.} To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. *
/The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our
weaknesses./ * /The director played up the woman's glamor to conceal
her lack of acting ability./
[play upon] See: PLAY ON.
[play up to] {v. phr.}. {slang} 1. To try to gain the favor of,
especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to
please. * /He played up to the boss./ 2. To use (something) to gain an
end; to attend to (a weakness). * /He played up to the old lady's
vanity to get her support./
[play with fire] {v. phr.} To put oneself in danger; to take risks.
* /Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire./
* /The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn't
want to play with fire./ Compare: SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[plough] or [plow through] {v. phr.} Pass through laboriously. *
/Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to
get ready for his test./
[plow] See: PUT ONE'S HAND TO THE PLOW.
[plow into] {v.} 1. To attack vigorously. * /He plowed into his
work and finished it in a few hours./ 2. To crash into with force. *
/A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender./
[pluck up] {v.} 1. To have (courage) by your own effort; make
yourself have (courage). * /In spite of failure, he plucked up heart
to continue./ * /He plucked up courage when he saw a glimmer of hope./
2. To become happier; feel better; cheer up. * /He plucked up when his
wife recovered./
[pluck up one's courage] See: SCREW UP ONE'S COURAGE.
[plug away] See: PEG AWAY.
[plug in] {v. phr.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power
wire by putting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /The integrated
circuit has multiplied the number of small radios that need not be
plugged in./
[plug into] {v.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power
wire by inserting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /He thought he
had left the lamp plugged into the wall, and so was puzzled when it
wouldn't light that night./
[plume oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be proud of yourself;
boast. * /He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as his
date./ * /He plumed himself on his successful planning in the
election./ * /She plumed herself on the grace with which she sat on a
horse./ Compare: PRIDE ONESELF.
[plunk down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To drop down; fall. * /After
walking a mile we plunked down on a bench to rest./ 2. To drop
something noisily or firmly. * /He plunked the heavy suitcase down at
the station./ 3. To pay out, primarily an excessive amount * /I had to
plunk down $55 for a concert ticket./
[please] See: AS YOU PLEASE.
[pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, LINE ONE'S POCKETS.
[pocket money] See: SPENDING MONEY.
[pocket one's pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[point] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, AT THE POINT OF, BESIDE THE POINT,
BOILING POINT, CASE IN POINT, COME TO THE POINT, EXTRA POINT, MAKE A
POINT, ON THE POINT OF, SORE SPOT or SORE POINT, STRETCH A POINT or
STRAIN A POINT, TALKING POINT.
[point-blank] {adv.} Straightforwardly; bluntly; directly. * /Sue
refused point-blank to discuss marriage with Sam./
[point of view] {n.} Attitude; opinion. * /From the American point
of view, Fidel Castro is a bad neighbor to have./
[point out] {v.} 1. To show by pointing with the finger; point to;
make clear the location of. * /The guide pointed out the principal
sights of the city./ 2. To bring to notice; call to attention;
explain. * /The policeman pointed out that the law forbids public sale
of firecrackers./ * /The school secretary pointed out that the closing
date for making applications had passed./
[point up] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize. * /The increase in
crime points up the need for greater police protection./ * /Johnny's
report card points up his talent for math./
[poison-pen] {adj.} Containing threats or false accusations;
written in spite or to get revenge, and usually unsigned. * /Mrs.
Smith received a poison-pen letter telling her that her husband was
untrue./ * /To get revenge on Mary, Alice wrote a poison-pen letter to
the teacher and signed Mary's name to it./
[poke] See: PIG IN A POKE, TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A POKE AT.
[poke around] or [poke about] {v.} 1. To search about; look into
and under things. * /The detective poked around in the missing man's
office./ 2. To move slowly or aimlessly; do little things. * /He
didn't feel well, and poked around the house./
[poke fun at] See: MAKE FUN OF.
[poles apart] {adj.} Completely different. * /The two brothers were
poles apart in personality./ * / It was hard for the members to make
any decisions because their ideas were poles apart./
[polish off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To defeat easily. * /The Dodgers
polished off the Yankees in four straight games in the 1963 World
Series./ 2. To finish completely; finish doing quickly, often in order
to do something else. * /The boys were hungry and polished off a big
steak./ * /Mary polished off her homework early so that she could
watch TV./
[polish the apple] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try to make someone like
you; to try to win favor by flattery. * /Mary polished the apple at
work because she wanted a day off./ * /Susan is the teacher's pet
because she always polishes the apple./ - [apple polisher] {n.},
{slang} A person who is nice to the one in charge in order to be liked
or treated better; a person who does favors for a superior. * /Jane is
an apple polisher. She is always helping the teacher and talking to
him./ * /Joe is an apple-polisher. He will do anything for the boss./
Compare: EAGER BEAVER, YES-MAN. - [apple polishing] {n.}, {slang}
Trying to win someone's good-will by small acts currying favor; the
behavior of an apple polisher. * /When John I brought his teacher
flowers, everyone thought he was apple polishing./
[politics] See: PLAY POLITICS.
[pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[pool] See: CAR POOL.
[pooped out] {adj.}, {slang} Worn out; exhausted. * /Everyone was
pooped out after the hike./ * /The heat made them feel pooped out./
[poor as a church mouse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Penniless; broke;
extremely poor. * /The newly arrived boat people were poor as church
mice./
[poor-mouth] {v.} To be constantly complaining about one's poverty;
keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. * /Uncle
Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor-mouthing, but we know that he
has half a million dollars stashed away in a secret savings account./
[pop] See: EYES POP OUT.
[pop fly] {n.} A baseball batted high into the air but not very far
from the plate. * /The batter hit a pop fly to the shortstop./
[pop in] {v. phr.} To suddenly appear without announcement. *
/"Just pop into my office any time you're on campus," Professor Brown
said./
[pop one's cork] See: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE, LOSE ONE'S
MARBLES, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[pop the question] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask someone to marry you.
* /After the dance he popped the question./ * /A man is often too
bashful to pop the question./
[popup] {v.} 1. or [bob up] To appear suddenly or unexpectedly;
show up; come out. * /Just when the coach thought he had everything
under control, a new problem bobbed up./ * /After no one had heard
from him for years, John popped up in town again./ 2. To hit a pop fly
in baseball. * /Jim popped the pitch up./
[pork] See: SALT PORK.
[port of call] {n. phr.} 1. Any of the ports that a ship visits
after the start of a voyage and before the end; a port where
passengers or cargo may be taken on or put off; an in-between port. *
/Savannah is a port of call for many Atlantic coasting vessels./ 2. A
place you visit regularly or often; a stop included on your usual way
of going. * /It was an obscure little restaurant which I had made
something of a port of call./ * /His home had become one of my regular
ports of call in Boston./
[port of entry] {n. phr.} 1. A port where things brought into the
country to sell may pass through customs. * /Other ports of entry have
been taking business from New York./ 2. A port where a citizen of
another country may legally enter a country; a port having passport
and immigration facilities. * /Airports have joined seaports as ports
of entry for the visiting foreigner./
[position] See: SCORING POSITION.
[possessed of] {adj. phr.}, {formal} In possession of; having;
owning. * /He was possessed of great wealth./ * /He was possessed of
great self-confidence./
[possum] See: PLAY POSSUM.
[post] See: PROM PILLAR TO POST.
[pot] See: GO TO POT.
[potato] See: HOT POTATO.
[potboiler] {n.} A book, play, or film written for the primary
purpose of earning money for the author. * /"Reading a cheap potboiler
helps me go to sleep," the professor wryly remarked./
[pot call the kettle black] {informal} The person who is
criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses; the
charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he makes it
against. * /When the commissioner accused the road builder of bribery,
the contractor said the pot was calling the kettle black./ * /Bill
said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was
calling the kettle black./
[potluck] See: TAKE POTLUCK.
[potluck supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER.
[potshot] {n.} A direct shot at an easy, stationary target from
behind a protected position or camouflage; criticism. * /Modern
journalists like to take potshots at the president of the United
States./
[pound] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.
[pound away at] {v. phr.} 1. To attack; criticize. * /In his
campaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at the
administration's foreign policy./ 2. To work industriously. * /Mike
was pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels and
pickaxes./
[pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum payment
authorized by law. * /He had hoped that Peter would be lenient
regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his full
pound of flesh./
[pound out] {v. phr.} 1. To play a piece of music very loudly on a
percussion instrument. * /The boy was pounding out the tune "Mary had
a little lamb" on the marimba./ 2. To flatten something with a hammer.
* /The bodyshop uses special hammers to pound out the indentations in
the bodies of cars./ 3. To produce a piece of writing on a typewriter
in haste and without much care. * /She hurriedly pounded out a letter
of recommendation for the foreign graduate student./
[pound the pavement] {v. phr.}, {informal} To walk up and down the
streets; tramp about. * /John pounded the pavement looking for a job./
* /Mary and Bill pounded the pavement to find an apartment./
[pour] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
[pour cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON.
[pour it on thick] See: LAY IT ON THICK.
[pour money down the drain] {v. phr.} To spend one's money
unwisely; to waste one's funds. * /"Stop supporting Harry's drug
habit," Ralph said. "You're just pouring money down the drain."./
[pour oil on troubled waters] {v. phr.} To quiet a quarrel; say
something to lessen anger and bring peace. * /The troops were nearing
a bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters./
[pour out] {v.} 1. To tell everything about; talk all about. *
/Mary poured out her troubles to her pal./ 2. To come out in great
quantity; stream out. * /The people poured out of the building when
they heard the fire alarm./
[powder] See: TAKE A POWDER.
[powder room] {n.} The ladies' rest room. * /When they got to the
restaurant, Mary went to the powder room to wash up./
[power behind the throne] {n. phr.} The person with the real power
backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of
public figures). * /It is rumored that the First Lady it the power
behind the throne in the White House./
[practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF,
OUT OF PRACTICE.
[presence of mind] {n. phr.} Effective and quick decision-making
ability in times of crisis. * /When Jimmy fell into the river, his
father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from
drowning./
[present] See: AT PRESENT.
[press box] {n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that is
for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. * /In baseball
the official scorer sits in the press box./
[press conference] {n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. * /The
reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press
conference./ * /The press conference with the senator was broadcast on
television./
[press one's luck] or [push one's luck] {v. phr.} To depend too
much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. * /When John won his
first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased
his bets./ * /If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck./
[press the flesh] {v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers
by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to
raise one's popularity during political elections. * /Incumbent
Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different
hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER.
[pressure group] {n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to
create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. *
/Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their
selfish aims./
[pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY.
[pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[pretty penny] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /Their new
house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a
pretty penny./
[prevail upon] or [prevail on] {v.} To bring to an act or belief;
cause a change in; persuade. * /He prevailed upon the musician to
entertain instead of the absent speaker./ * /He prevailed upon me to
believe in his innocence./
[prey on] or [prey upon] {v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch
for food. * /Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of
war or robbery. * /Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just
after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. * /Gangsters preyed on
businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4.
To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. * /Ill health had
preyed on him for years./ * /Business worries preyed on his mind./
[prey on one's mind] {v. phr.} To afflict; worry. * /He couldn't
sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./
[price on one's head] {n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who
catches a thief or a murderer. * /The hotel manager learned that the
quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a
price on his head./
[prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.
[prick up one's ears] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested
attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. * /The woman pricked
up her ears when she heard them talking about her./
[pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and
hardships one encounters while being made pretty. - A proverb. *
/"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young
lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know
that pride must take a pinch?"/
[pride oneself on] {v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in;
be much pleased by. * /She prided herself on her beauty./ * /He prided
himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF.
[print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT.
[private] See: IN PRIVATE.
[private eye] {n.}, {colloquial} A private investigator; a
detective. * /Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/
[progress] See: IN PROGRESS.
[promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE.
[promise the moon] {v. phr.} To promise something impossible. * /A
politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters'
respect./ * /I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I
can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON.
[proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual
experience can the value of something be tested. - A proverb. * /He
was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars.
"Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in
the eating."/
[prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES.
[psyched up] {adj.}, {informal} Mentally alert; ready to do
something. * /The students were all psyched up for their final exams./
[psych out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To find out the real
motives of (someone). * /Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go
berserk; to lose one's nerve. * /Joe says he doesn't ride his
motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out./ * /Jim
psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and
wants!/
[Public] See: JOHN Q. PUBLIC.
[public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY
LINEN IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
[public-address system] {n.} A set of devices for making a
speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. * /The
public-address system broke down during the senator's speech./ * /The
news was announced over the public-address system./
[public enemy] {n. phr.} A famous criminal. * /Al Capone of Chicago
used to be Public Enemy Number One during prohibition./
[public speaker] {n.} A person who speaks to the public. * /A
public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people./
[puffed up] {adj.} Elated; proud; conceited. * /Just because Bob
inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so
puffed up./
[pull] See: LONG HAUL or LONG PULL.
[pull a fast one] {v. phr.} To gain the advantage over one's
opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. * /When Smith was told by his boss
that he might be fired, he called the company president, his
father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted./
[pull a long face] See: LONG FACE.
[pull date] {n.}, {informal} The date stamped on baked goods, dairy
products, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on which
they may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in a
retail store. * /This pie is way past the pull date - small wonder
it's rotten./
[pull down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To catch (a ball) after a hard run.
* /The outfielder pulled down a long drive to center field./ 2. To
earn. * /Mr. Blake pulls down $500 a week./ * /John pulled down an A
in algebra by studying hard./ Compare: HAUL DOWN.
[pull down about one's ears] or [pull down around one's ears] See:
ABOUT ONE'S EARS.
[pull in] See: HAUL IN.
[pull in one's horns] or [draw in one's horns] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back
down on a promise. * /He said he could beat any man there
single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward./ 2.
To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or
activities; save. * /After the business failed, Father had to pull in
his horns./ * /As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in
one's horns more and more as to physical activity./
[pull off] {v.}, {informal} To succeed in (something thought
difficult or impossible); do. * /Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible
by winning three golf tournaments in one year./ * /The bandits pulled
off a daring bank robbery./ Compare: PUT ACROSS(2).
[pull one's chestnuts out of the fire] To do someone else a great
favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the
process. * /Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of
the fire for their more powerful neighbors./
[pull oneself together] {v. phr.} To become calm after being
excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. * /It
had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself
together./
[pull oneself up by the bootstraps] or [pull oneself up by one's
own bootstraps] {adv. phr.} To succeed without help; succeed by your
own efforts. * /He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps./
[pull one's leg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept a
ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of
something; trick. * /For a moment, I actually believed that his wife
had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg./ * /Western
cowboys loved to pull a stranger's leg./ Compare: STRING ALONG. -
[leg-pulling] {n.} * /Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys'
leg-pulling./
[pull one's punches] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not to hit as hard as
you can. * /Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing
match./ 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. - Usually
used in the negative. * /The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any
punches./ Contrast: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.
[pull one's teeth] {v. phr.} To take power away from; make
powerless. * /The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by
blocking its ammunition supply line./ * /The student government
council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth./
[pull one's weight] {v. phr.} To do your full share of work; do
your part. * /In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his
weight./ * /When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each
child must pull his own weight./ Compare: WORTH ONE'S SALT.
[pullout] {n.} An evacuation. * /The pullout of the American
military proceeded on schedule./
[pull out] {v. phr.} 1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. * /The
defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories./ 2. To
leave (said about trains). * /The train pulled out of Grand Central
Station just as the foreign students got there./ 3. To remove by
order; evacuate. * /Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia./
[pull out of a hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get as if by magic;
invent; imagine. * /When the introduction to a dictionary tells you
how many hours went into its making, these figures were not pulled out
of a hat./ * /Let's see you pull an excuse out of your hat./
[pull over] {v.} To drive to the side of the road and stop. * /The
policeman told the speeder to pull over./ * /Everyone pulled over to
let the ambulance pass./
[pull rank] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To assert one's superior
position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a
privilege or a favor. * /How come you always get the night duty? -
Phineas Leman pulled rank on me./
[pull something on one] {v. phr.} To perpetrate something
prejudicial; deceive. * /Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when,
after going with her for three years, he suddenly married another
girl./
[pull strings] or [pull wires] {v. phr.}, {informal} To secretly
use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in
important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain
your wishes. * /If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull
strings for you./ * /Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the
crowded hotel./ - [wire-puller] {n.} * /Bill got a ticket for
speeding, but his father is a wire-puller and got it fixed./ -
[wire-pulling] {n.} * /It took some wire-pulling to get the mayor to
come to the party./
[pull the plug on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To expose (someone's) secret
activities. * /The citizens' committee pulled the plug on the mayor,
and he lost his election./
[pull the rug out from under] {v. phr.}, {informal} To withdraw
support unexpectedly from; to spoil the plans of. * /Bill thought he
would be elected, but his friends pulled the rug out from under him
and voted for Vin./ * /We were planning a vacation, but the baby's
illness pulled the rug out from under us./
[pull the wool over one's eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fool
someone into thinking well of you; deceive. * /The businessman had
pulled the wool over his partner's eyes about their financial
position./ * /Bob tried to pull the wool over his teacher's eyes, but
she was too smart for him./
[pull through] {v.} 1. To help through; bring safely through a
difficulty or sudden trouble; save. * /A generous loan showed the
bank's faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble./
2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster;
escape death or failure. * /By a near-miracle, he pulled through after
the smashup./
[pull together] {v.} To join your efforts with those of others;
work on a task together; cooperate. * /Many men must pull together if
a large business is to succeed./ * /Tim was a good football captain
because he always got his teammates to pull together./
[pull up] {v.} 1. To check the forward motion of; halt; stop. * /He
pulled up his horse at the gate./ 2. To tell (someone) to stop doing
something; say (someone) is doing wrong and must stop; scold. * /Jim
talked rudely to Mother, and Father pulled him up./ * /Ann said in her
report that America was discovered in 1634, and the teacher pulled her
up./ 3. To stop moving forward; halt. * /The car slowed down and
pulled up at the curb./ 4. To come even with; move up beside. * /The
other boat pulled up alongside us./
[pull up one's socks] {v. phr.} To try to do better, either in
terms of one's behavior or at a task one is performing. * /I'll have
to pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today./
[pull up short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /He pulled up short
in his red car at the corner when he saw a pregnant lady crossing./ *
/When Mark saw that he was hurting Jill's feelings, he pulled up short
and started to talk about something entirely different./
[pull up stakes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To leave the place where you
have been living. * /We are going to pull up stakes and move to
California./ * /The Jones family pulled up stakes three times in two
years./
[pull wires] See: PULL STRINGS.
[punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH, PACK A PUNCH, PULL ONE'S PUNCHES,
TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[punch-drunk] {adj.} 1. Dazed or become dulled in the mind from
being hit in the head. * /He was a punch-drunk boxer who made his
living shining shoes./ 2. In a foggy state of mind; groggy. * /Mary
was so thrilled at winning the contest she acted punch-drunk./ * /Mark
was punch-drunk for a few minutes after he fell off his bicycle./
[puppy love] also [calf love] {n.}, {informal} The first love of
very young people. * /When John and Mary began going around together
in junior high school, their parents said it was just puppy love./
[pure and simple] {adj.} Simply stated; basic. - Follows the noun
it modifies and is used for emphasis. * /The problem, pure and simple,
is finding a baby-sitter./ * /The question, pure and simple, is
whether you will support me./ Compare: BOIL DOWN(3).
[purpose] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, ON PURPOSE, TO ALL INTENTS AND
PURPOSES.
[purse] See: LINE ONE'S POCKETS also LINE ONE'S PURSE.
[purse strings] {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the
purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of
the club's purse strings./
[push around] {v.}, {informal} To be bossy with; bully. * /Don't
[penny-pinching] {adj.} or {n.}, {informal} * /Bob saved enough money
by penny-pinching to buy a bicycle./
[pin curl] {n.} A curl made with a hair clip or bobby pin. * /Mary
washed her hair and put it up in pin curls./ * /All the girls had
their hair in pin curls to get ready for the party./
[pin down] {v.} 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a
place or position; trap. * /Mr. Jones' leg was pinned down under the
car after the accident./ * /The soldier was pinned down in the hole
because rifle bullets were flying over his head./ 1b. To keep
(someone) from changing what (he) says or means; make (someone) admit
the truth; make (someone) agree to something. * /Mary didn't like the
book but I couldn't pin her down to say what she didn't like about
it./ * /I tried to pin Bob down to fix my bicycle tomorrow, but he
wouldn't say that he could./ 2. To tell clearly and exactly; explain
so that there is no doubt. * /The police tried to pin down the blame
for the fire in the school./
[pine away] {v. phr.} To waste away with grief. * /After George was
sent abroad, his wife pined away for him so much that she became ill./
[pink] See: IN THE PINK, TICKLE PINK.
[pink around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.
[pin money] {n. phr.} Extra money used for incidentals. * /She has
a regular full-time job but she earns extra pin money by doing a lot
of baby-sitting./
[pin one's ears back] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To beat; defeat. *
/After winning three games in a row, the Reds had their ears pinned
back by the Blues./ 2. To scold. * /Mrs. Smith pinned Mary's ears back
for not doing her homework./
[pin one's faith on] {v. phr.} To depend upon; trust. * /We pinned
our faith on our home basketball team to win the state finals, and
they did!/
[pin one's heart on one's sleeve] See: WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S
SLEEVE.
[pint-size] {adj.}, {informal} Very small. * /The new pint-size,
portable TV sets have a very clear picture./ * /It was funny to hear a
pint-size voice coming out of a great big man./
[pinup girl] {v. phr.} An attractive girl whose picture is pinned
or tacked to the wall by an admirer. * /Some Hollywood actresses are
understandably very popular pinup girls among male soldiers./
[pipe] See: PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT.
[pipe down] {v.} 1. To call (sailors) away from work with a
whistle. * /He piped the men down after boat drill./ 2. {slang} To
stop talking; shut up; be quiet. * /"Oh, pipe down," he called./ -
Often considered rude.
[pipe dream] {n.}, {informal} An unrealizable, financially unsound,
wishful way of thinking; an unrealistic plan. * /Joe went through the
motions of pretending that he wanted to buy that $250,000 house, but
his wife candidly told the real estate lady that it was just a pipe
dream./ Compare: PIE IN THE SKY.
[piper] See: PAY THE PIPER.
[pipe up] {v.}, {informal} To speak up; to be heard. * /Mary is so
shy, everyone was surprised when she piped up with a complaint at the
club meeting./ * /Everyone was afraid to talk to the police, but a
small child piped up./
[pip-squeak] {n.}, {informal} A small, unimportant person. * /If
the club is really democratic, then every little pip-squeak has the
right to say what he thinks./ * /When the smallest boy was chosen to
be the monitor, the class bully said he would not obey a little
pip-squeak./
[piss off] {v.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To bother; annoy;
irritate. * /You really piss me off when you talk like that./ -
[pissed off] {adj.} * /Why act so pissed off just because I made a
pass at you?/
[pit against] {v.} To match against; oppose to; put in opposition
to; place in competition or rivalry with. * /The game pits two of the
best pro football teams in the East against each other./ * /He pitted
his endurance against the other man's speed./ * /He was pitted against
an opponent just as smart as he was./
[pit-a-pat] {adv.} With a series of quick pats. * /When John asked
Mary to marry him, her heart went pit-a-pat./ * /The little boy ran
pit-a-pat down the hall./
[pitch] See: WILD PITCH.
[pitch a curve] or [a curve ball] {v. phr.} To catch someone
unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act. * /My
professor pitched me a curve ball when he unexpectedly confronted me
with a complicated mathematical equation that was way over my head./
[pitch dark] {adj.} Totally, completely dark. * /A starless and
moonless night in the country can be pitch dark./
[pitcher] See: LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS, RELIEF PITCHER,
STARTING PITCHER.
[pitchfork] See: RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN PITCHFORKS.
[pitch in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin something with much energy;
start work eagerly. * /Pitch in and we will finish the job as soon as
possible./ 2. To give help or money for something; contribute. *
/Everyone must pitch in and work together./ * /We all pitched in a
quarter to buy Nancy a present./ Syn.: CHIP IN. Compare: FALL TO.
[pitch into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To attack with blows or words. *
/He pitched into me with his fists./ * /He pitched into the idea of
raising taxes./ Syn.: LAY INTO(1),(2), RIP INTO. 2. To get to work at;
work hard at. * /She pitched into the work and had the house cleaned
up by noon./ * /He pitched into his homework right after dinner./
Compare: LAY INTO, SAIL INTO.
[pitch out] {v.} 1. To deliberately throw a pitch outside of the
home plate in baseball so that the batter cannot hit the ball and the
catcher can make a quick throw. * /The catcher wanted the pitcher to
pitch out and see if they could catch the runner stealing./ 2. To toss
the ball easily to a football back. * /The quarterback faked to the
fullback and pitched out to the halfback going wide./
[pitch woo] {v. phr.}, {slang} To kiss and hug; make love. * /Mary
and John pitched woo in the movies./ * /While Bob drove, Betty and Jim
sat in the back pitching woo./
[pity] See: TAKE PITY ON or TAKE PITY UPON.
[place] See: HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, HIGH PLACE, IN PLACE,
INSTEAD OF or IN PLACE OF, IN THE FIRST PLACE, JUMPING-OFF PLACE,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, OUT OF PLACE, PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE, PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE, TAKE PLACE.
[plague on both your houses] or [plague o' both your houses] Bad
luck to both of you! - Used to show disgust at those who wont stop
quarreling. * /The bus drivers went on strike because the bus company
would not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who needed
to ride the bus to work said, "A plague on both your houses."/
[plain Jane] {n. phr.} A common or simple looking young woman or
girl. * /When we were in school, Ann was a plain Jane, but she
blossomed out and even won the title of Miss Indiana./
[plain] or [smooth sailing] {n. phr.} An uncomplicated, unhampered,
or easy course. * /For a graduate of such a famous university as he
was, that assignment was plain sailing./
[plain white wrapper] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
Unmarked police car. * /There's a plain white wrapper at your rear
door!/ See: BROWN PAPER BAG.
[plan] See: LAY AWAY PLAN.
[plank] See: WALK THE PLANK.
[plan on] {v.} 1. To have the plan of; have in mind. - Used with a
verbal noun. * /I plan on going to the movies after I finish my
homework./ * /Mary was planning on seeing John at the baseball game./
Syn.: FIGURE ON. 2. To think you will do or have; be sure about;
expect. * /I'm hoping to go away for the weekend, but I'm not planning
on it./ * /We can't order the food for the party until we know how
many people to plan on./ * /We planned on Mary for the decorations,
but she is sick./
[plate] See: HOME PLATE.
[platonic love] {n. phr.} Great affection toward another person
without sex. * /They are platonic lovers; they do everything together
except make love./
[platter] See: HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER.
[play] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, DOUBLE
PLAY, FAIR PLAY, FORCE PLAY, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY, MAKE A PLAY
FOR, TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY.
[play along (with)] {v.} Cooperate; make no trouble. * /The honest
jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker's illegal plan./
[play a part in] {v. phr.} To be instrumental in; have a role in;
be concerned with. * /Some First Ladies play a greater part in
political life than others./
[play around] See: FOOL AROUND.
[play around with] See: TOY WITH.
[play a waiting game] {v. phr.} To withhold action until one's
chances for success improve. * /Ray would like to be vice president of
the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the
president will soon recognize his abilities./
[play ball] {v. phr.} 1. To begin play in a ball game. * /When the
umpire calls "Play ball," the game begins./ 2. {informal} To join in
an effort with others; cooperate. * /To get along during Prohibition,
many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters./ * /A is
often good business to play ball with a political machine./
[play by ear] {v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by
remembering the tune, not by reading music. * /Mary does not know how
to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ * /Joe doesn't need any
music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and
can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go
along; to fit the situation. - Used with "it". * /John decided to play
it by ear when he went for his interview./ * /It was her first job and
she didn't know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./
[play cat and mouse with] {v. phr.} To tease or fool (someone) by
pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. * /Joe's
uncle had fun playing cat and mouse with him./ * /The policeman
decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in
the store./
[play down] {v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem
less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. * /The
newspaper stories played down the actor's unattractive past./ * /A
salesman's job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he
must play down any faults it has./
[played out] {adj. phr.} Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted.
* /It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ * /For a
while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played
out./ Compare: ALL IN.
[play fair] {v. phr.} To do what is right to others; act in a fair
and truthful way. * /The boys like the principal because he always
plays fair./ * /Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her
favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing
fair./
[play fast and loose] {v. phr.} To do as you please without caring
what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that
people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. * /He played fast and
loose with the girl's affections./ * /He played fast and loose with
the company's good name./
[play footsie] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feet of
a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation.
* /Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any
sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political
situation. * /The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the
Syndicate./
[play for keeps] {v. phr.} To take an action of finality and
irreversibility. * /"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he
replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/
[play hard to get] {v. phr.} To act as if one weren't interested;
be fickle; be coy. * /"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get,"
our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach
here."/
[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.} To cause
destruction; ruin; injure badly. * /The storm played havoc with the
apple orchard./ * /When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it
played havoc with his plans for going to college./ * /When Mr. White
poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the
neighborhood./
[play hooky] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stay out of school to play. *
/Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times
during the year./
[play into one's hands] {v. phr.} To be or do something that
another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself.
* /In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents'
hands./ * /Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but
Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it./
[play off] {v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests
so that they balance each other. * /The girl played off her admirers
against each other./ * /Britain tried to play off European nations
against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To
finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) * /The visitors came
back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To
settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each
player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing
off the tie./
[play on] or [play upon] {v.} 1. To cause an effect on; influence.
* /A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings./ 2. To
work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning
plans; manage. * /The makeup salesman played on the woman's wish to
look beautiful./ * /In some places, leaders play upon people's
superstitious fears./ * /He played on the man's ambition and love of
honor./
[play one false] {v. phr.}, {literary} To act disloyally toward (a
person); betray; cheat; deceive. * /Good faith was not in him: he
played anyone false who trusted him./ * /His hopes had played him
false./
[play one for] {v.}, {informal} To treat (someone) as; act toward
(someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. * /He played the man for
a sucker./
[play one's cards right] or [play one's cards well] {v. phr.},
{informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful;
act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That
millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his
cards right./ * /People liked Harold, and he played his cards well -
and soon he began to get ahead rapidly./
[play ostrich] {v. phr.} To refuse to face painful facts or
unpleasant truths. * /She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband's
drinking problem./
[play politics] {v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own
gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to
get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the
bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office
politics./
[play possum] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To pretend to be asleep. *
/Johnny seemed to be fully asleep, but his mother knew that he was
playing possum./ 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escape
attention by inactivity. * /The rabbit played possum under the bushes,
hoping the hunter would not see him./ * /Bob played possum when the
teacher looked around./
[play safe] or [play it safe] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be very
careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for
the sake of safety. * /He got tired as the game went on, and began to
play safe./ * /Tom didn't know what the other driver would do, so he
played it safe and stopped his own car./
[play second fiddle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act a smaller part;
follow another's lead; be less noticed. * /His wife had the stronger
mind and he played second fiddle to her./ * /During the tournament,
lessons played second fiddle to basketball./
[play the devil with] or [play hob with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
cause confusion in; upset. * /Uncle Bob's unexpected visit played the
devil with our own plans to travel./ * /Mother's illness played hob
with our party./
[play the field] {v. phr.}, {informal} To date many different
people; not always have dates with the same person. * /Al had a steady
girlfriend, but John was playing the field./ * /Jim was crazy about
Mary, but she was still playing the field./ Contrast: GO STEADY.
[play the game] {v. phr.}, {informal} To obey the rules; do right;
act fairly. * /"That's not playing the game," we told him when he
wanted to desert his wife./ * /"Oh, let's play the game," he said,
when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their
debts./ * /Your parents want you to play the game in life./
[play the market] {v. phr.} To try to make money on the stock
market by buying and selling stocks, * /John lost all his savings
playing the market./ * /Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when
he plays the market, and sometimes he loses./
[play to the gallery] {v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the
audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to
the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in
playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF.
[play tricks on] {v. phr.} To make another the victim of some trick
or joke. * /Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by
hiding his clothes while he was swimming./
[play up] {v.} To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. *
/The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our
weaknesses./ * /The director played up the woman's glamor to conceal
her lack of acting ability./
[play upon] See: PLAY ON.
[play up to] {v. phr.}. {slang} 1. To try to gain the favor of,
especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to
please. * /He played up to the boss./ 2. To use (something) to gain an
end; to attend to (a weakness). * /He played up to the old lady's
vanity to get her support./
[play with fire] {v. phr.} To put oneself in danger; to take risks.
* /Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire./
* /The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn't
want to play with fire./ Compare: SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[plough] or [plow through] {v. phr.} Pass through laboriously. *
/Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to
get ready for his test./
[plow] See: PUT ONE'S HAND TO THE PLOW.
[plow into] {v.} 1. To attack vigorously. * /He plowed into his
work and finished it in a few hours./ 2. To crash into with force. *
/A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender./
[pluck up] {v.} 1. To have (courage) by your own effort; make
yourself have (courage). * /In spite of failure, he plucked up heart
to continue./ * /He plucked up courage when he saw a glimmer of hope./
2. To become happier; feel better; cheer up. * /He plucked up when his
wife recovered./
[pluck up one's courage] See: SCREW UP ONE'S COURAGE.
[plug away] See: PEG AWAY.
[plug in] {v. phr.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power
wire by putting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /The integrated
circuit has multiplied the number of small radios that need not be
plugged in./
[plug into] {v.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power
wire by inserting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /He thought he
had left the lamp plugged into the wall, and so was puzzled when it
wouldn't light that night./
[plume oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be proud of yourself;
boast. * /He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as his
date./ * /He plumed himself on his successful planning in the
election./ * /She plumed herself on the grace with which she sat on a
horse./ Compare: PRIDE ONESELF.
[plunk down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To drop down; fall. * /After
walking a mile we plunked down on a bench to rest./ 2. To drop
something noisily or firmly. * /He plunked the heavy suitcase down at
the station./ 3. To pay out, primarily an excessive amount * /I had to
plunk down $55 for a concert ticket./
[please] See: AS YOU PLEASE.
[pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, LINE ONE'S POCKETS.
[pocket money] See: SPENDING MONEY.
[pocket one's pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[point] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, AT THE POINT OF, BESIDE THE POINT,
BOILING POINT, CASE IN POINT, COME TO THE POINT, EXTRA POINT, MAKE A
POINT, ON THE POINT OF, SORE SPOT or SORE POINT, STRETCH A POINT or
STRAIN A POINT, TALKING POINT.
[point-blank] {adv.} Straightforwardly; bluntly; directly. * /Sue
refused point-blank to discuss marriage with Sam./
[point of view] {n.} Attitude; opinion. * /From the American point
of view, Fidel Castro is a bad neighbor to have./
[point out] {v.} 1. To show by pointing with the finger; point to;
make clear the location of. * /The guide pointed out the principal
sights of the city./ 2. To bring to notice; call to attention;
explain. * /The policeman pointed out that the law forbids public sale
of firecrackers./ * /The school secretary pointed out that the closing
date for making applications had passed./
[point up] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize. * /The increase in
crime points up the need for greater police protection./ * /Johnny's
report card points up his talent for math./
[poison-pen] {adj.} Containing threats or false accusations;
written in spite or to get revenge, and usually unsigned. * /Mrs.
Smith received a poison-pen letter telling her that her husband was
untrue./ * /To get revenge on Mary, Alice wrote a poison-pen letter to
the teacher and signed Mary's name to it./
[poke] See: PIG IN A POKE, TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A POKE AT.
[poke around] or [poke about] {v.} 1. To search about; look into
and under things. * /The detective poked around in the missing man's
office./ 2. To move slowly or aimlessly; do little things. * /He
didn't feel well, and poked around the house./
[poke fun at] See: MAKE FUN OF.
[poles apart] {adj.} Completely different. * /The two brothers were
poles apart in personality./ * / It was hard for the members to make
any decisions because their ideas were poles apart./
[polish off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To defeat easily. * /The Dodgers
polished off the Yankees in four straight games in the 1963 World
Series./ 2. To finish completely; finish doing quickly, often in order
to do something else. * /The boys were hungry and polished off a big
steak./ * /Mary polished off her homework early so that she could
watch TV./
[polish the apple] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try to make someone like
you; to try to win favor by flattery. * /Mary polished the apple at
work because she wanted a day off./ * /Susan is the teacher's pet
because she always polishes the apple./ - [apple polisher] {n.},
{slang} A person who is nice to the one in charge in order to be liked
or treated better; a person who does favors for a superior. * /Jane is
an apple polisher. She is always helping the teacher and talking to
him./ * /Joe is an apple-polisher. He will do anything for the boss./
Compare: EAGER BEAVER, YES-MAN. - [apple polishing] {n.}, {slang}
Trying to win someone's good-will by small acts currying favor; the
behavior of an apple polisher. * /When John I brought his teacher
flowers, everyone thought he was apple polishing./
[politics] See: PLAY POLITICS.
[pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[pool] See: CAR POOL.
[pooped out] {adj.}, {slang} Worn out; exhausted. * /Everyone was
pooped out after the hike./ * /The heat made them feel pooped out./
[poor as a church mouse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Penniless; broke;
extremely poor. * /The newly arrived boat people were poor as church
mice./
[poor-mouth] {v.} To be constantly complaining about one's poverty;
keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. * /Uncle
Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor-mouthing, but we know that he
has half a million dollars stashed away in a secret savings account./
[pop] See: EYES POP OUT.
[pop fly] {n.} A baseball batted high into the air but not very far
from the plate. * /The batter hit a pop fly to the shortstop./
[pop in] {v. phr.} To suddenly appear without announcement. *
/"Just pop into my office any time you're on campus," Professor Brown
said./
[pop one's cork] See: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE, LOSE ONE'S
MARBLES, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[pop the question] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask someone to marry you.
* /After the dance he popped the question./ * /A man is often too
bashful to pop the question./
[popup] {v.} 1. or [bob up] To appear suddenly or unexpectedly;
show up; come out. * /Just when the coach thought he had everything
under control, a new problem bobbed up./ * /After no one had heard
from him for years, John popped up in town again./ 2. To hit a pop fly
in baseball. * /Jim popped the pitch up./
[pork] See: SALT PORK.
[port of call] {n. phr.} 1. Any of the ports that a ship visits
after the start of a voyage and before the end; a port where
passengers or cargo may be taken on or put off; an in-between port. *
/Savannah is a port of call for many Atlantic coasting vessels./ 2. A
place you visit regularly or often; a stop included on your usual way
of going. * /It was an obscure little restaurant which I had made
something of a port of call./ * /His home had become one of my regular
ports of call in Boston./
[port of entry] {n. phr.} 1. A port where things brought into the
country to sell may pass through customs. * /Other ports of entry have
been taking business from New York./ 2. A port where a citizen of
another country may legally enter a country; a port having passport
and immigration facilities. * /Airports have joined seaports as ports
of entry for the visiting foreigner./
[position] See: SCORING POSITION.
[possessed of] {adj. phr.}, {formal} In possession of; having;
owning. * /He was possessed of great wealth./ * /He was possessed of
great self-confidence./
[possum] See: PLAY POSSUM.
[post] See: PROM PILLAR TO POST.
[pot] See: GO TO POT.
[potato] See: HOT POTATO.
[potboiler] {n.} A book, play, or film written for the primary
purpose of earning money for the author. * /"Reading a cheap potboiler
helps me go to sleep," the professor wryly remarked./
[pot call the kettle black] {informal} The person who is
criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses; the
charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he makes it
against. * /When the commissioner accused the road builder of bribery,
the contractor said the pot was calling the kettle black./ * /Bill
said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was
calling the kettle black./
[potluck] See: TAKE POTLUCK.
[potluck supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER.
[potshot] {n.} A direct shot at an easy, stationary target from
behind a protected position or camouflage; criticism. * /Modern
journalists like to take potshots at the president of the United
States./
[pound] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.
[pound away at] {v. phr.} 1. To attack; criticize. * /In his
campaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at the
administration's foreign policy./ 2. To work industriously. * /Mike
was pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels and
pickaxes./
[pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum payment
authorized by law. * /He had hoped that Peter would be lenient
regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his full
pound of flesh./
[pound out] {v. phr.} 1. To play a piece of music very loudly on a
percussion instrument. * /The boy was pounding out the tune "Mary had
a little lamb" on the marimba./ 2. To flatten something with a hammer.
* /The bodyshop uses special hammers to pound out the indentations in
the bodies of cars./ 3. To produce a piece of writing on a typewriter
in haste and without much care. * /She hurriedly pounded out a letter
of recommendation for the foreign graduate student./
[pound the pavement] {v. phr.}, {informal} To walk up and down the
streets; tramp about. * /John pounded the pavement looking for a job./
* /Mary and Bill pounded the pavement to find an apartment./
[pour] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
[pour cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON.
[pour it on thick] See: LAY IT ON THICK.
[pour money down the drain] {v. phr.} To spend one's money
unwisely; to waste one's funds. * /"Stop supporting Harry's drug
habit," Ralph said. "You're just pouring money down the drain."./
[pour oil on troubled waters] {v. phr.} To quiet a quarrel; say
something to lessen anger and bring peace. * /The troops were nearing
a bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters./
[pour out] {v.} 1. To tell everything about; talk all about. *
/Mary poured out her troubles to her pal./ 2. To come out in great
quantity; stream out. * /The people poured out of the building when
they heard the fire alarm./
[powder] See: TAKE A POWDER.
[powder room] {n.} The ladies' rest room. * /When they got to the
restaurant, Mary went to the powder room to wash up./
[power behind the throne] {n. phr.} The person with the real power
backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of
public figures). * /It is rumored that the First Lady it the power
behind the throne in the White House./
[practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF,
OUT OF PRACTICE.
[presence of mind] {n. phr.} Effective and quick decision-making
ability in times of crisis. * /When Jimmy fell into the river, his
father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from
drowning./
[present] See: AT PRESENT.
[press box] {n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that is
for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. * /In baseball
the official scorer sits in the press box./
[press conference] {n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. * /The
reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press
conference./ * /The press conference with the senator was broadcast on
television./
[press one's luck] or [push one's luck] {v. phr.} To depend too
much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. * /When John won his
first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased
his bets./ * /If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck./
[press the flesh] {v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers
by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to
raise one's popularity during political elections. * /Incumbent
Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different
hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER.
[pressure group] {n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to
create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. *
/Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their
selfish aims./
[pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY.
[pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[pretty penny] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /Their new
house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a
pretty penny./
[prevail upon] or [prevail on] {v.} To bring to an act or belief;
cause a change in; persuade. * /He prevailed upon the musician to
entertain instead of the absent speaker./ * /He prevailed upon me to
believe in his innocence./
[prey on] or [prey upon] {v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch
for food. * /Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of
war or robbery. * /Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just
after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. * /Gangsters preyed on
businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4.
To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. * /Ill health had
preyed on him for years./ * /Business worries preyed on his mind./
[prey on one's mind] {v. phr.} To afflict; worry. * /He couldn't
sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./
[price on one's head] {n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who
catches a thief or a murderer. * /The hotel manager learned that the
quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a
price on his head./
[prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.
[prick up one's ears] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested
attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. * /The woman pricked
up her ears when she heard them talking about her./
[pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and
hardships one encounters while being made pretty. - A proverb. *
/"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young
lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know
that pride must take a pinch?"/
[pride oneself on] {v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in;
be much pleased by. * /She prided herself on her beauty./ * /He prided
himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF.
[print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT.
[private] See: IN PRIVATE.
[private eye] {n.}, {colloquial} A private investigator; a
detective. * /Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/
[progress] See: IN PROGRESS.
[promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE.
[promise the moon] {v. phr.} To promise something impossible. * /A
politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters'
respect./ * /I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I
can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON.
[proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual
experience can the value of something be tested. - A proverb. * /He
was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars.
"Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in
the eating."/
[prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES.
[psyched up] {adj.}, {informal} Mentally alert; ready to do
something. * /The students were all psyched up for their final exams./
[psych out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To find out the real
motives of (someone). * /Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go
berserk; to lose one's nerve. * /Joe says he doesn't ride his
motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out./ * /Jim
psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and
wants!/
[Public] See: JOHN Q. PUBLIC.
[public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY
LINEN IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
[public-address system] {n.} A set of devices for making a
speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. * /The
public-address system broke down during the senator's speech./ * /The
news was announced over the public-address system./
[public enemy] {n. phr.} A famous criminal. * /Al Capone of Chicago
used to be Public Enemy Number One during prohibition./
[public speaker] {n.} A person who speaks to the public. * /A
public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people./
[puffed up] {adj.} Elated; proud; conceited. * /Just because Bob
inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so
puffed up./
[pull] See: LONG HAUL or LONG PULL.
[pull a fast one] {v. phr.} To gain the advantage over one's
opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. * /When Smith was told by his boss
that he might be fired, he called the company president, his
father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted./
[pull a long face] See: LONG FACE.
[pull date] {n.}, {informal} The date stamped on baked goods, dairy
products, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on which
they may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in a
retail store. * /This pie is way past the pull date - small wonder
it's rotten./
[pull down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To catch (a ball) after a hard run.
* /The outfielder pulled down a long drive to center field./ 2. To
earn. * /Mr. Blake pulls down $500 a week./ * /John pulled down an A
in algebra by studying hard./ Compare: HAUL DOWN.
[pull down about one's ears] or [pull down around one's ears] See:
ABOUT ONE'S EARS.
[pull in] See: HAUL IN.
[pull in one's horns] or [draw in one's horns] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back
down on a promise. * /He said he could beat any man there
single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward./ 2.
To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or
activities; save. * /After the business failed, Father had to pull in
his horns./ * /As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in
one's horns more and more as to physical activity./
[pull off] {v.}, {informal} To succeed in (something thought
difficult or impossible); do. * /Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible
by winning three golf tournaments in one year./ * /The bandits pulled
off a daring bank robbery./ Compare: PUT ACROSS(2).
[pull one's chestnuts out of the fire] To do someone else a great
favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the
process. * /Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of
the fire for their more powerful neighbors./
[pull oneself together] {v. phr.} To become calm after being
excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. * /It
had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself
together./
[pull oneself up by the bootstraps] or [pull oneself up by one's
own bootstraps] {adv. phr.} To succeed without help; succeed by your
own efforts. * /He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps./
[pull one's leg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept a
ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of
something; trick. * /For a moment, I actually believed that his wife
had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg./ * /Western
cowboys loved to pull a stranger's leg./ Compare: STRING ALONG. -
[leg-pulling] {n.} * /Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys'
leg-pulling./
[pull one's punches] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not to hit as hard as
you can. * /Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing
match./ 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. - Usually
used in the negative. * /The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any
punches./ Contrast: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.
[pull one's teeth] {v. phr.} To take power away from; make
powerless. * /The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by
blocking its ammunition supply line./ * /The student government
council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth./
[pull one's weight] {v. phr.} To do your full share of work; do
your part. * /In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his
weight./ * /When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each
child must pull his own weight./ Compare: WORTH ONE'S SALT.
[pullout] {n.} An evacuation. * /The pullout of the American
military proceeded on schedule./
[pull out] {v. phr.} 1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. * /The
defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories./ 2. To
leave (said about trains). * /The train pulled out of Grand Central
Station just as the foreign students got there./ 3. To remove by
order; evacuate. * /Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia./
[pull out of a hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get as if by magic;
invent; imagine. * /When the introduction to a dictionary tells you
how many hours went into its making, these figures were not pulled out
of a hat./ * /Let's see you pull an excuse out of your hat./
[pull over] {v.} To drive to the side of the road and stop. * /The
policeman told the speeder to pull over./ * /Everyone pulled over to
let the ambulance pass./
[pull rank] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To assert one's superior
position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a
privilege or a favor. * /How come you always get the night duty? -
Phineas Leman pulled rank on me./
[pull something on one] {v. phr.} To perpetrate something
prejudicial; deceive. * /Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when,
after going with her for three years, he suddenly married another
girl./
[pull strings] or [pull wires] {v. phr.}, {informal} To secretly
use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in
important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain
your wishes. * /If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull
strings for you./ * /Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the
crowded hotel./ - [wire-puller] {n.} * /Bill got a ticket for
speeding, but his father is a wire-puller and got it fixed./ -
[wire-pulling] {n.} * /It took some wire-pulling to get the mayor to
come to the party./
[pull the plug on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To expose (someone's) secret
activities. * /The citizens' committee pulled the plug on the mayor,
and he lost his election./
[pull the rug out from under] {v. phr.}, {informal} To withdraw
support unexpectedly from; to spoil the plans of. * /Bill thought he
would be elected, but his friends pulled the rug out from under him
and voted for Vin./ * /We were planning a vacation, but the baby's
illness pulled the rug out from under us./
[pull the wool over one's eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fool
someone into thinking well of you; deceive. * /The businessman had
pulled the wool over his partner's eyes about their financial
position./ * /Bob tried to pull the wool over his teacher's eyes, but
she was too smart for him./
[pull through] {v.} 1. To help through; bring safely through a
difficulty or sudden trouble; save. * /A generous loan showed the
bank's faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble./
2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster;
escape death or failure. * /By a near-miracle, he pulled through after
the smashup./
[pull together] {v.} To join your efforts with those of others;
work on a task together; cooperate. * /Many men must pull together if
a large business is to succeed./ * /Tim was a good football captain
because he always got his teammates to pull together./
[pull up] {v.} 1. To check the forward motion of; halt; stop. * /He
pulled up his horse at the gate./ 2. To tell (someone) to stop doing
something; say (someone) is doing wrong and must stop; scold. * /Jim
talked rudely to Mother, and Father pulled him up./ * /Ann said in her
report that America was discovered in 1634, and the teacher pulled her
up./ 3. To stop moving forward; halt. * /The car slowed down and
pulled up at the curb./ 4. To come even with; move up beside. * /The
other boat pulled up alongside us./
[pull up one's socks] {v. phr.} To try to do better, either in
terms of one's behavior or at a task one is performing. * /I'll have
to pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today./
[pull up short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /He pulled up short
in his red car at the corner when he saw a pregnant lady crossing./ *
/When Mark saw that he was hurting Jill's feelings, he pulled up short
and started to talk about something entirely different./
[pull up stakes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To leave the place where you
have been living. * /We are going to pull up stakes and move to
California./ * /The Jones family pulled up stakes three times in two
years./
[pull wires] See: PULL STRINGS.
[punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH, PACK A PUNCH, PULL ONE'S PUNCHES,
TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[punch-drunk] {adj.} 1. Dazed or become dulled in the mind from
being hit in the head. * /He was a punch-drunk boxer who made his
living shining shoes./ 2. In a foggy state of mind; groggy. * /Mary
was so thrilled at winning the contest she acted punch-drunk./ * /Mark
was punch-drunk for a few minutes after he fell off his bicycle./
[puppy love] also [calf love] {n.}, {informal} The first love of
very young people. * /When John and Mary began going around together
in junior high school, their parents said it was just puppy love./
[pure and simple] {adj.} Simply stated; basic. - Follows the noun
it modifies and is used for emphasis. * /The problem, pure and simple,
is finding a baby-sitter./ * /The question, pure and simple, is
whether you will support me./ Compare: BOIL DOWN(3).
[purpose] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, ON PURPOSE, TO ALL INTENTS AND
PURPOSES.
[purse] See: LINE ONE'S POCKETS also LINE ONE'S PURSE.
[purse strings] {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the
purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of
the club's purse strings./
[push around] {v.}, {informal} To be bossy with; bully. * /Don't