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try to push me around!/ * /Paul is always pushing the smaller children
around./
[push off] or [shove off] {v.} 1. To push a boat away from the
shore. * /Before Tom could reach the boat, Jake had shoved off./ 2.
{slang} To start; leave. * /We were ready to push off at ten o'clock,
but had to wait for Jill./ * /Jim was planning to stay at the beach
all day, but when the crowds arrived he shoved off./
[push on] {v. phr.} To press forward; proceed forward laboriously.
* /The exhausted mountain climbers pushed on, despite the rough
weather, as the peak was already in sight./
[push one's luck] See: PRESS ONE'S LUCK.
[pushover] {n.} 1. Something easy to accomplish or overcome. * /For
Howard steering a boat is a pushover as he was raised on a tropical
island./ 2. A person easily seduced. * /It is rumored that she is a
pushover when she has a bit to drink./
[push over] {v. phr.} To upset; overthrow. * /She is standing on
her feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won't
push her over./ * /The wind in Chicago can be so strong that sometimes
I'm afraid I'll get pushed over./
[push the panic button] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very much
frightened; nervous or excited, especially at a time of danger or
worry. * /John thought he saw a ghost and pushed the panic button./ *
/Keep cool; don't hit the panic button!/ Syn.: LOSE ONE'S HEAD.
[push-up] {n.} An exercise to build strong arms and shoulders, in
which you lie on your stomach and push your body up on your hands and
toes. * /At the age of seventy, Grandpa still does twenty push-ups
every day./ * /The football team does push-ups every day./
[push up daisies] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be dead and buried. * /I'll
be around when you're pushing up daisies./ * /Don't play with guns or
you may push up the daisies./
[put] See: HARD PUT or HARD PUT TO IT, STAY PUT.
[put about] {v. phr.} - Nautical usage. To turn in the opposite
direction; turn around. * /When we saw the storm clouds thickening in
the sky, we put about quickly and raced ashore./
[put a bee in one's bonnet] See: BEE IN ONE'S BONNET.
[put a bug in one's ear] or [put a flea in one's ear] See: BUG IN
ONE'S EAR.
[put across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly; make yourself understood;
communicate. * /He knew how to put his ideas across./ Compare: GET
ACROSS. 2. {informal} To get (something) done successfully; bring to
success; make real. * /He put across a big sales campaign./ * /The new
librarian put across a fine new library building./ Syn.: PUT OVER(2).
Compare: PULL OFF.
[put all one's eggs in one basket] {v. phr.} To place all your
efforts, interests, or hopes in a single person or thing. * /Going
steady in high school is putting all your eggs in one basket too
soon./ * /To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs in
one basket./ * /He has decided to specialize in lathe work, although
he knows it is risky to put all his eggs in one basket./
[put a new face on] {v. phr.} To alter the aspect of something;
change. * /Mr. Merry man's announcement of his candidacy for governor
puts an entirely new face on the political scene in our state./
[put an end to] or [put a stop to] {v. phr.} 1. To make (something)
end; stop; end. * /The farmer built an electric fence around his field
to put an end to trespassing./ * /The principal said that running in
the halls was dangerous, and told the teachers to put a stop to it./
2. To destroy or kill. * /The new highway took most of the traffic
from the old road and put an end to Mr. Hanson's motel business./ *
/When the horse broke his leg, the farmer put an end to him./
[put aside] {v. phr.} 1. To save; put something aside for a special
purpose. * /Peter puts $100 aside every week./ 2. To let go of; put
away. * /The teacher to the students, "Put your books aside and start
writing your tests!"/
[put away] {v.} 1. To put in the right place or out of sight. *
/She put away the towels./ 2. To lay aside; stop thinking about. * /He
put his worries away for the weekend./ 3. {informal} To eat or drink.
* /He put away a big supper and three cups of coffee./ Compare: STOW
AWAY. 4. {informal} To put in a mental hospital. * /He had to put his
wife away when she became mentally ill./ 5. To put to death for a
reason; kill. * /He had his dog put away when it became too old and
unhappy./
[put back the clock] or [turn back the clock] {v. phr.} To go back
in time; relive the past. * /If I could put back the clock I'd give
more thought to preparing for a career./ * /Richard wishes that he had
lived in frontier days, but he can't turn back the clock./
[put by] {v.} To save for the future; lay aside. * /He had put by a
good sum during a working lifetime./
[putdown] {n.} An insult, * /It was a nasty putdown when John
called his sister a fat cow./
[put down] {v. phr.} 1. To stop by force, crush. * /In 24 hours the
general had entirely put down the rebellion./ 2. To put a stop to;
check. * /She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good
life./ 3. To write a record of; write down. * /He put down the story
while it was fresh in his mind./ 4. To write a name in a list as
agreeing to do something. * /The banker put himself down for $1000./ *
/Sheila put Barbara down for the decorations./ 5. To decide the kind
or class of; characterize. * /He put the man down as a bum./ * /He put
it down as a piece of bad luck./ 6. To name as a cause; attribute. *
/He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions./ 7. To dig; drill;
sink. * /He put down a new well./
[put forth] {v. phr.} To produce; issue; send out. * /In the spring
the apple trees put forth beautiful white blossoms./ * /The chairman
of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by
mail./
[put ideas into one's head] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to do
something negative; put one up to something. * /Billy would never have
poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been
putting ideas into his head./
[put in] {v.} 1. To add to what has been said; say (something) in
addition to what others say. * /While the boys were discussing the car
accident, Ben put in that the road was icy./ * /My father put in a
word for me and I got the job./ 2. To buy and keep in a store to sell.
* /He put in a full stock of drugs./ 3. To spend (time). * /He put in
many years as a printer./ * /He put in an hour a day reading./ 4. To
plant. * /He put in a row of radishes./ 5. To stop at a port on a
journey by water. * /After the fire, the ship put in for repairs./ 6.
To apply; ask. - Used with "for". * /When a better job was open, he
put in for it./ * /The sailor put in for time to visit his family
before the ship went to sea./
[put in a word for] {v. phr.} To speak in favor of someone;
recommend someone. * /"Don't worry about your job application," Sam
said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection
committee."/
[put in an appearance] also [make an appearance] {v. phr.} To be
present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear. * /He put in an
appearance at work, but he was too ill to stay./ * /The president put
in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in./
[put in mind of] {v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To remind of; suggest to;
call up the memory of. * /She puts me in mind of my sister./ * /That
puts me in mind of a story./
[put in one's place] {v. phr.}, {informal} To criticize someone for
impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce
someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. * /The assistant was trying to
take command when the professor put him in his place by saying, "No,
I'm the boss here."/ * /She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker
in his place with just a glance./ Syn.: CUT DOWN TO SIZE.
[put in one's two cents worth] See: TWO CENTS(2).
[put in one's way] See: PUT IN THE WAY OF.
[put in the way of] or [put in one's way] {v. phr.} To set before
(someone); give to (someone); show the way to; help toward. * /After
Joe graduated, the coach put him in the way of a good job./ * /The
librarian put me in the way of a lot of new material on the subject of
my report./
[put (it) in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put (it) in writing] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put it on thick] See: LAY IT ON.
[put off] {v.} 1. {informal} To cause confusion in; embarrass;
displease. * /I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his
proposal./ * /The man's slovenliness put me off./ 2. To wait and have
(something) at a later time; postpone. * /They put off the picnic
because of the rain./ 3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside. * /When
he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off./ *
/When the bill collector called, Mrs. Smith managed to put him off./
4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract. * /Little Jeannie
began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to
put her off./ 5. To move out to sea; leave shore. * /They put off in
small boats to meet the coming ship./ Syn.: PUT OUT.
[put on] {v. phr.} 1. To dress in. * /The boy took off his clothes
and put on his pajamas./ * /Mother put a coat on the baby./ 2a. To
pretend; assume; show. * /Mary isn't really sick; she's only putting
on./ * /He put on a smile./ * /The child was putting on airs./ 2b. To
exaggerate; make too much of. * /That's rather putting it on./
Compare: LAY IT ON. 3. To begin to have more (body weight); gain
(weight). * /Mary was thin from sickness, and the doctor said she must
put on ten pounds./ * /Too many sweets and not enough exercise will
make you put on weight./ 4a. To plan and prepare; produce; arrange;
give; stage. * /The senior class put on a dance./ * /The actor put on
a fine performance./ 4b. To make (an effort). * /The runner put on an
extra burst of speed and won the race./ 5. To choose to send; employ
on a job. * /The school put on extra men to get the new building
ready./
[put-on] {n.} An act of teasing; the playing of a practical joke on
someone. * /Eric didn't realize that it was a put-on when his friends
phoned him that he won the lottery./
[put on airs] {v. phr.} To show conceit; act in a superior or
condescending manner. * /The fact that her parents own a villa in
Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs./
[put on an act] {v. phr.} 1. To perform a play. * /The seventh
grade put on a lovely act for Christmas for the parents./ 2. To
pretend. * /"If you always put on an act," her father said, "people
will never know who you really are."/
[put on ice] See: ON ICE(2).
[put one in one's place] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE.
[put one in the picture] {v. phr.} To inform someone of all the
facts about a given situation. * /Once you're back from your overseas
trip, we'll put you in the picture about recent developments at home./
[put one on a pedestal] {v. phr.} To exaggeratedly worship or
admire a person. * /Daniel puts Elaine on a pedestal and caters to her
every whim./
[put one on one's feet] See: ON ONE'S FEET(2).
[put one out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY(3).
[put one through one's paces] {v. phr.} To train and discipline
someone; test one's abilities. * /The new recruits were certainly put
through their paces by the drill sergeant./
[put one wise] {v. phr.} To bring one up-to-date; inform someone;
explain. * /Our old friend David put us wise as to where the best used
cars could be found in Chicago./
[put one's back to it] {v. phr.} To make a real effort; to try. *
/You can finish the job by noon if you put your back to it./ * /I'm
sure you can make the football team if you put your back to it./
[put one's best foot forward] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to make
a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best. *
/During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward./ *
/When Ted applied for the job he put his best foot forward./
[put one's cards on the table] See: LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE.
[put oneself in another's place] or [put oneself in another's
shoes] {v. phr.} To understand another person's feeling imaginatively;
try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into
his trouble. * /It seemed like a dreadful thing for Bob to do, but I
tried to put myself in his place./ * /If you will put yourself in the
customer's shoes you may realize why the thing isn't selling./
[put one's finger on] also [lay one's finger on] {v. phr.} To find
exactly. * /The engineers couldn't put their fingers on the reason for
the rocket's failure to orbit./ * /We called in an electrician hoping
he could put a finger on the cause of the short circuit./
[put one's foot down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take a decided
stand; be stubborn in decision. * /John didn't want to practice his
piano lesson, but his teacher put his foot down./ * /When it came to
smoking pot at parties, our parents put their foot down./
[put one's foot in it] or [put one's foot in one's mouth] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To speak carelessly and rudely; hurt another's
feelings without intending to; make a rude mistake. * /He put his foot
in it with his remark about self-made men because Jones was one of
them./ * /She put her foot in her mouth with her joke about that
church, not knowing that one of the guests belonged to it./
[put one's hand on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON(3).
[put one's hand to] or [set one's hand to] or [turn one's hand to]
{v. phr.} To start working at; try to do. * /Hal does a good job at
everything mat he turns his hand to./ * /After Mr. Sullivan found
farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned his hand to
carpentry./
[put one's hand to the plow] or [set one's hand to the plow] {v.
phr.} To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big
job. * /We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't
like it when he quit./
[put one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[put one's heart on one's sleeve] See: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE.
[put one's money on a scratched horse] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bet
on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning. * /You
bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money
on a scratched horse?/ Compare: STACK THE CARDS.
[put one's nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make you
jealous; leave you out of favor. * /When Jane accepted Tom's
invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint./ 2. To ruin your plans;
cause you disappointment. * /Joe's mother put his nose out of joint by
not letting him go to the movie./
[put one's house in order] or [set one's house in order] {v. phr.}
To arrange your affairs in good order. * /Grandfather knew he would
not live long and set his house in order./ * /When Mr. Black died, his
lawyer helped the widow put her house in order./
[put one's shoulder to the wheel] {v. phr.} To make a great effort
yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. * /The effort to get a
new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the
wheel./ * /The company was failing in business until a new manager put
his shoulder to the wheel./
[put on one's thinking cap] {v. phr.} To think hard and long about
some problem or question. * /Miss Stone told her pupils to put on
their thinking caps before answering the question./
[put on paper] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put on the back burner] See: ON ICE.
[put on the dog] {v. phr.} To behave ostentatiously in terms of
dress and manner. * /"Stop putting on the dog with me," Sue cried at
Roy. "I knew the real you from way hack!"/
[put on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE.
[put on the map] {v. phr.} To make (a place) well known. * /The
first successful climb of Mount Matterhorn put Zermatt, Switzerland,
on the map./ * /Shakespeare put his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon on
the map./
[put out] {v.} 1. To make a flame or light stop burning;
extinguish; turn off. * /Please put the light out when you leave the
room./ * /The firemen put out the blaze./ 2. To prepare for the
public; produce; make. * /For years he had put out a weekly
newspaper./ * /It is a small restaurant, which puts out an excellent
dinner./ 3. To invest or loan money. * /He put out all his spare money
at 4 percent or better./ 4. To make angry; irritate; annoy. * /It puts
the teacher out to be lied to./ * /Father was put out when Jane
spilled grape juice on his new suit./ 5. {informal} To cause
inconvenience to; bother. * /He put himself out to make things
pleasant for us./ * /Will it put you out if I borrow your pen?/
Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY. 6. To retire from play in baseball. *
/The runner was put out at first base./ 7. To go from shore; leave. *
/A Coast Guard boat put out through the waves./ 8. {vulgar},
{avoidable} Said of women easy and ready to engage in sexual
intercourse. * /It is rumored that Hermione gets her promotions as
fast as she does because she puts out./
[put out of action] See: OUT OF ACTION.
[put out of the way] {v. phr.} To kill. * /When people spoke
against the dictator, he had them put out of the way./ * /The old dog
was very sick, and Father had the animal doctor put him out of the
way./
[put over] {v.} 1. To wait to a later time; postpone. * /They put
over the meeting to the following Tuesday./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 2.
{informal} To make a success of; complete. * /He put over a complex
and difficult business deal./ Syn.: BRING OFF, PUT ACROSS, SLIP OVER.
3. {informal} To practice deception; trick; fool. - Used with "on". *
/George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he
said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick and
needed him./ * /Tom really slipped one over on us when he came to the
Halloween party dressed as a witch./
[put someone on] {v.} To play a joke on someone by saying or doing
things that are only pretense; kid. * /When the voice on the phone
told Mrs. Jones she had won a $10,000 prize, she thought someone was
putting her on./
[put that in your pipe and smoke it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
understand something told you; accept something as fact or reality;
not try to change it. - Usually used as a command, normally only in
speech, and often considered rude. * /People don't vote against Santa
Claus, and you might as well put that in your pipe and smoke it./ * /I
am not going to do that and you can put that in your pipe and smoke
it./
[put the bite on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask (for money, favors,
etc.) * /John put the bite on his friend for several tickets to the
dance./ * /Willie Mays put the bite on the Giants for a large raise./
[put the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
[put their heads together] or [lay their heads together] {v. phr.},
{informal} To plan or consider things together; discuss something as a
group; talk it over. * /They put their heads together and decided on a
gift./ * /We laid our heads together and decided to have a picnic./
[put through] {v. phr.} 1. To carry out; arrange. * /If Jim can put
through one more financial transaction like this one, we will be
rich./ 2. To connect (said of telephone calls). * /The telephone
operator had to put me through to Zambia as there is no direct dialing
there yet./
[put through one's paces] {v. phr.}, {informal} To test the
different abilities and skills of a person or a thing; call for a show
of what one can do. * /He put his new car through its paces./ * /Many
different problems put the new mayor through his paces in the first
months of his term./
[put to bed] {v. phr.} 1. To put to rest for the night. * /Father
put the three children to bed./ * /The boy seemed ill, so the nurse
put him to bed./ 2. {informal} To complete preparations and print. *
/The newspaper was put to bed at 1:15 A.M./ * /The pressroom was late
in putting the sports section to bed./
[put to it] {adj. phr.} Hard pressed; having trouble; in
difficulty; puzzled. * /When he lost his job, he was rather put to it
for a while to provide for his family./ * /The boy was put to it to
answer the teacher's question./
[put to rights] or [set to rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} To put in
good order; clean up. * /It took the company a long time to put the
office to rights after the fire./ * /It took Mrs. Smith an hour to set
the room to rights after the party./
[put to sea] {v. phr.} To start a voyage. * /The captain said the
ship would put to sea at six in the morning./ * /In the days of
sailing ships, putting to sea depended on the tides./
[put to shame] {v. phr.} 1. To disgrace. * /The cleanliness of
European cities puts our cities to shame./ * /That filthy dump puts
our town to shame./ 2. To do much better than surpass. * /Einstein put
other physicists to shame when he proved his theory of relativity
correct./
[put to sleep] {v. phr.} 1. To cause to fall asleep. * /Mother used
to put us to sleep by telling us a good-night story and giving us a
kiss./ 2. To kill with an injection (said of animals). * /Dr. Murphy,
the veterinarian, put our sick, old dog to sleep./
[put to the sword] {v. phr.}, {literary} To kill (people) in war,
especially with a sword. * /The Romans put their enemies to the
sword./ * /In some wars captives have been put to the sword./
[put to use] {v. phr.} To use. * /During the early part of the
Korean war the cooks and office workers of the U.S. Army were put to
use in battle./ * /Henry decided to put his dictionary to use./ * /I
wish you'd put the lawn mower to use!/
[put two and two together] {v. phr.} To make decisions based on
available proofs; reason from the known facts; conclude; decide. * /He
had put two and two together and decided where they had probably
gone./ * /It was just a mater of putting two and two together: the
facts seemed to permit only one decision./
[put up] {v.} 1a. To make and pack (especially a lunch or
medicine); get ready; prepare. * /Every morning Mother puts up lunches
for the three children./ * /The druggist put up the medicine that the
doctor had prescribed./ Compare: MAKE UP(1). 1b. To put food into jars
or cans to save; can. * /Mother is putting up peaches in jars./ 1c. To
store away for later use. * /The farmer put up three tons of hay for
the winter./ 2. To put in place; put (something) where it belongs. *
/After he unpacked the car, John put it up./ * /After the hard ride,
the doctor gave the horse to the stable boy to put up./ * /After the
battle, the knight put up his sword./ Syn.: PUT AWAY. 3. To suggest
that (someone) be chosen a member, officer, or official. * /The club
decided to take in another member, and Bill put up Charles./ - Often
used with "for". * /The Republicans put Mr. Williams up for mayor./ 4.
To put (hair) a special way; arrange. * /Aunt May puts up her hair in
curlers every night./ Compare: DO UP(3a). 5. To place on sale; offer
for sale. * /She put the house up for sale./ 6a. To provide lodging
for; furnish a room to. * /The visitor was put up in the home of Mr.
Wilson./ * /They put Frank up at a good hotel./ 6b. To rent or get
shelter; take lodging; stay in a place to sleep. * /The traveler put
up at a motel./ * /We put up with friends on our trip to Canada./ 7.
To make; engage in. * /He put up a good fight against his sickness./
Compare: CARRY ON. 8. To furnish (money) or something needed; pay for.
* /He put up the money to build a hotel./
[put-up] {adj.} Artificially arranged; plotted; phony; illegal. *
/The FBI was sure that the bank robbers worked together with an
insider and that the whole affair was a put-up job./
[put up a (brave, good, etc.) flght] {v. phr.} To resist. * /He put
up a good fight but he was bound to lose in the end to the older, more
experienced chess player./
[put up a (brave] or [good) front] {v. phr.} To act courageously,
even though one is actually afraid. * /When Joe was taken in for his
open heart surgery, he put up a brave front, although his hands were
shaking./
[put up or shut up] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To bet your money on
what you say or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often
considered rude. * /The man from out of town kept saying their team
would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up."/ 2. To
prove something or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often
considered rude. * /George told Al that he could run faster than the
school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up./
[put upon] {v.} To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. -
Used in the passive or in the past participle. * /Martha was put upon
by the bigger girls./ * /Arthur was a much put-upon person./
[put up to] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk to and make do; persuade
to; get to do. * /Older boys put us up to painting the statue red./
Compare: EGG ON.
[put up with] {v.} To accept patiently; bear. * /We had to put up
with Jim's poor table manners because he refused to change./ * /The
mother told her children, "I refuse to put up with your tracking in
mud!"/ Compare: STAND FOR.
[put wise] {v.}, {slang} To tell (someone) facts that will give him
an advantage over others or make him alert to opportunity or danger. *
/The new boy did not know that Jim was playing a trick on him, so I
put him wise./ - Often used with "to". * /Someone put the police wise
to the plan of the bank robbers, and when the robbers went into the
bank, the police were waiting to catch them./ Compare: TIP OFF.
[put words into one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say without proof that
another person has certain feelings or opinions; claim a stand or an
idea is another's without asking; speak for another without right. *
/When he said "John here is in favor of the idea." I told him not to
put words in my mouth./
[q] See: MIND ONE'S P'S AND Q'S.
[Q.T.] See: ON THE Q.T.
[qualms] See: HAVE (NO) QUALMS ABOUT.
[quantity] See: UNKNOWN QUANTITY.
[quarterback sneak] {n.} A football play in which the quarterback
takes the ball from the center and dives straight ahead in an attempt
to gain a very short distance. * /Johnson took the ball over on a
quarterback sneak for a touchdown./
[queen] See: HOMECOMING QUEEN.
[queer fish] {n.} A strange or unusual person who does odd things.
* /Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and
short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a
queer fish./
[queer oneself] {v. phr.} To act in such a manner as to offend
others and thus one's own chances or position. * /Phil has queered
himself with many girls by his erratic behavior./
[quest] See: IN SEARCH OF also IN QUEST OF.
[question] See: BEG THE QUESTION, BESIDE THE POINT or BESIDE THE
QUESTION, BEYOND QUESTION also WITHOUT QUESTION, CALL IN QUESTION, IN
QUESTION, INTO QUESTION, OUT OF THE QUESTION, POP THE QUESTION.
[quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[quick on the draw] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[quick on the trigger] or [trigger happy] {adj. phr.} Ready to
shoot without warning; fast with a gun. * /He's a dangerous criminal
quick on the trigger./ 2. {informal} Fast at answering questions or
solving problems. * /In class discussions John is always quick on the
trigger./
[quick on the uptake] {adj. phr.} Smart; intelligent. * /Eleanor is
very witty and quick on the uptake./
[quick study] {n. phr.} One who acquires new skills and habits in
record time. * /Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in
her because she is a quick study./
[quit] See: CALL IT QUITS.
[quite a bit] See: QUITE A LITTLE.
[quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal} [not a few] {n.} or
{adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. * /Quite a few
went to the game./ * /The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./
- The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before
"less", "more". * /Few people saw the play on the first night but
quite a number more came on the second night./ - Sometimes used like
an adverb. * /We still have quite a few more miles to go before we
reach New York./ Syn.: GOOD MANY, NOT A FEW. Compare: A FEW, A NUMBER.
[quite a little] or {informal} [quite a bit] also {formal} [not a
little] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large amount; rather much; more
than a little. * /We are not finished; quite a little is left to do./
* /Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work./ - The phrase
"quite a bit" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". *
/Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming
tonight./ - Sometimes used like an adverb. * /Harry was sick quite a
little last winter./ Compare: A LITTLE, A LOT, QUITE A PEW.
[quite a number] See: QUITE A FEW.
[quite the thing] {n. phr.} The socially proper thing to do. * /In
polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note
to one's host or hostess after a dinner party./
[rabbit] See: JACK-RABBIT START.
[race] See: DRAG RACE, RAT RACE.
[race against time] {v. phr.} To be in a great hurry to finish a
given project by a specified deadline. * /The workers were racing
against time to finish the campus modernization project./
[race to stand still] {v. phr.} To be so far behind in one's work
that one must exert an effort similar to that needed to win a race in
order simply not to fall even further behind. * /"Could you review
this book for us, Professor Brown?" the editor asked. "Unfortunately,
no," the professor answered. "I'm so behind in my work that I am
racing to stand still."/
[rack and ruin] {n. phr.} Complete decay; condition of decline. *
/The entire house had been so neglected that it had gone to rack and
ruin./
[rack one's brain] {v. phr.} To try your best to think; make a
great mental effort; especially: to try to remember something you have
known. * /Bob racked his brain trying to remember where he left the
book./ * /Susan racked her brain trying to guess whom the valentine
came from./ * /John racked his brain during the test trying to solve
the problem./
[radio ham] {n. phr.} Someone whose hobby is the operating of
shortwave radio. * /The code letters C.Q. are used by radio hams to
invite other radio hams to join in the conversation./
[rag] See: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, GLAD RAGS.
[rag doll] {n.} A doll made of cloth and filled with soft stuffing.
* /My baby brother won't go to bed without his rag doll./
[ragged] See: RUN RAGGED.
[rag trade] {n. phr.} The clothing industry. * /My brother is
working in the rag trade, manufacturing dresses./
[railroad] {v.} To force through; push through by force. * /The
bill was railroaded through the state legislature due to the influence
of some very wealthy sponsors./
[rain] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT
OF THE RAIN.
[rain cats and dogs] or [rain buckets] or [rain pitchforks] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To rain very hard; come down in torrents. * /In the
middle of the picnic it started to rain cats and dogs, and everybody
got soaked./ * /Terry looked out of the window and said, "It's raining
pitchforks, so we can't go out to play right now."/
[rain check] {n.} 1. A special free ticket to another game or show
which will be given in place of one canceled because of rain. * /When
the drizzle turned into a heavy rain the manager announced that the
baseball game would be replayed the next day. He told the crowd that
they would be given rain checks for tomorrow's game as they went out
through the gates./ 2. {informal} A promise to repeat an invitation at
a later time. * /Bob said, "I'm sorry you can't come to dinner this
evening, Dave. I'll give you a rain check."/
[rained out] {adj.} Stopped by rain. * /The ball game was rained
out in the seventh inning./ * /The Friday night rally in the stadium
was rained out./
[rain on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To bring misfortune to (someone); to
complain to (someone) about one's bad luck. * /Don't rain on me./
[rain or shine] {adv. phr.} 1. If the weather is stormy or if it is
fair. * /The parade will start promptly, rain or shine./ 2. No
matter;
if your luck is good or bad.
* /Sam knows he can depend on his
family, rain or shine./
[rainproof] {adj.} Resistant to rain; something that will not soak
in water; referring to a material that repels water. * /"I don't need
an umbrella," she said, "as my coat is rainproof."/
[rainy day] {n.} A time of need; especially: a time when you really
need money. * /Squirrels gather acorns for a rainy day./ * /Each week
Mrs. Carlson saved a little money for a rainy day./
[raise a hand] See: LIFT A FINGER.
[raise a row] {v. phr.} To cause a disturbance, a fuss, or a scene.
* /He raised quite a row when he noticed that someone had scratched
his brand new car./
[raise a stink] {v. phr.} To cause a disturbance; complain; protest
strongly. * /Quite a stink was raised in the office when the boss
discovered that several employees had left early./
[raise Cain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be noisy; cause trouble. * /When
John couldn't go on the basketball trip with the team he raised Cain./
* /The children raised Cain in the living room./ Compare: KICK UP A
FUSS, RAISE THE DEVIL.
[raise eyebrows] {v. phr.} To shock people; cause surprise or
disapproval. * /The news that the princess was engaged to a commoner
raised eyebrows all over the kingdom./
[raise funds] or [money] {v. phr.} To solicit donations for a
charity or a specific project. * /Our church is trying to raise the
funds for a new organ./
[raise hackles] or [raise one's hackles] {v. phr.} To make
(someone) upset or annoyed; arouse hostility. * /Attempts to add new
ingredients to the beer raised hackles among all the old brew
masters./
[raise havoc] See: PLAY HAVOC WITH.
[raise heck] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.
[raise hob] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.
[raise one's sights] {v. phr.} To aim high; be ambitious. *
/Teenage boys sometimes think too much of themselves and have a
tendency to raise their sights too high./
[raise one's voice] {v. phr.} To speak loudly, as if in anger or in
protest. * /"I'm sorry, Mom," Peter said. "I didn't mean to raise my
voice."/
[raise the devil] or [raise heck] or [raise hob] or [raise ned] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; start a fight or an argument. *
/Mr. Black raised heck when he saw the dented fender. He blamed the
other driver./ * /Some teenage boys raised the devil in town on
Halloween night and damaged a lot of property./ Compare: KICK UP A
FUSS.
[raise the roof] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a lot of noise;
be happy and noisy. * /The gang raised the roof with their singing./
2. To scold loudly. * /Mother raised the roof when she saw the dog's
muddy footprints on her new bedspread./ Compare: KICK UP A FUSS, RAISE
CAIN.
[rake in] {v. phr.} To realize great profits; take in money. *
/Because of the heavy snowfall, ski lodge operators in the Rocky
Mountains have been raking in the dough this winter season./
[rake off] {v. phr.} To illegally expropriate part of a sum paid. *
/The secretary-treasurer of the association has been caught raking off
some of the membership dues./
[rake-off] See: KICKBACK.
[rake over the coals] See: HAUL OVER THE COALS.
[rake up] {v. phr.} To expose; gather; bring to light. * /Let's
forget about the past; there's no need to rake up all those old
memories./
[ramble on about] {v. phr.} To chatter on idly and without a
purpose. * /When Ted has too much to drink, he always rambles on about
the good old days./
[ram down one's throat] See: SHOVE DOWN ONE'S THROAT.
[random] See: AT RANDOM.
[rank] See: CLOSE RANKS, PULL RANK.
[rank and file] {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership
of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general
usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ *
/The secretary of the association sends letters annually to the rank
and file./
[rap] See: TAKE THE RAP.
[rap one's knuckles] {v. phr.} To scold or punish. * /The principal
rapped our knuckles for cheating on the test./ * /If you talk back to
Dad, you'll get your knuckles rapped./ * /The club got its knuckles
rapped by the principal for hazing new members./ * /Why rap my
knuckles? It wasn't my fault./ Compare: DRESSING DOWN, GIVE IT TO(2).
[rat] See: SMELL A RAT.
[rate] See: AT ANY RATE, FIRST RATE.
[rather] See: HAD RATHER.
[rat on] See: BLOW THE WHISTLE, RAT OUT.
[rat out] or [rat out on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To desert; to leave at
a critical time. * /Joe ratted out on Sue when she was seven months
pregnant./
[rat race] {n.}, {slang} A very confusing, crowded, or disorderly
rush; a confusing scramble, struggle, or way of living that does not
seem to have a purpose. * /The dance last night was a rat race. It was
too noisy and crowded./ * /School can be a rat race if you don't keep
up with your studies./ * /This job is a rat race. The faster you work,
the faster the boss wants you to work./
[rate with someone] {v. phr.} To be esteemed highly by another. *
/The professor really rates with both the graduate students and the
undergraduates./
[rattle] See: SABRE RAITLING.
[rattle off] or [reel off] {v.} To say quickly without having to
stop to think; recite easily and rapidly. * /When Roger was seven he
could rattle off the names of all the states in alphabetical order./ *
/Joan memorized the "Gettysburg Address" so well that she could reel
it off./ * /We asked the waitress what flavors of ice cream she had,
and she rattled them off./
[rattle one's saber] {v. phr.} To threaten another government or
country without subsequent acts of war. * /It is considered an act of
demagoguery on the part of politicians to rattle their sabers./
Compare: YELLOW JOURNALISM.
[rave about] {v. phr.} To talk very enthusiastically about someone
or something. * /Hank praised the new TV show very highly but we
didn't think it was anything to rave about./
[raw] See: IN THE RAW.
[raw deal] {n. phr.} Unfair treatment; inequity. * /Barry got a raw
deal when he was sent to teach the class on advanced nuclear physics;
he's an inexperienced graduate student./
[razzle-dazzle] {n.}, {slang} Fancy display; showing off. * /He is
such a good player that he doesn't have to add razzle-dazzle to his
game./ * /Do we need all this razzle-dazzle to advertise our fair?/
[reach] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH.
[reach first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE.
[reach for the sky] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To put your hands high
above your head or be shot. - Usually used as a command. * /A holdup
man walked into a gas station last night and told the attendant "Reach
for the sky!"/ Syn.: HANDS UP. 2. To set one's aims high. * /"Why
medical technician?" asked her father. "Reach for the sky! Become a
physician!"/
[read between the lines] {v. phr.} To understand all of a writer's
meaning by guessing at what he has left unsaid. * /Some kinds of
poetry make you read between the lines./ * /A clever foreign
correspondent can often avoid censorship by careful wording, leaving
his audience to read between the lines./
[read into] {v. phr.} To attribute extra meaning to; deduce from;
consider to be implicit in. * /Just because Fred's letters sounded so
friendly Mary was wrong to read anything serious into them./
[read off] {v. phr.} To read in a speaking voice from a list. *
/The secretary read off the names of those present in alphabetical
order./
[read one like a book] {v. phr.}, {informal} To understand someone
completely; know what he will think or do at any time. * /John's
girlfriend could read him like a book./ Compare: READ ONE'S MIND.
[read one one's rights] {v. phr.} To give to an arrested person the
legally required statement regarding the rights of such a person. *
/"Read him his rights," Sergeant," the captain said, "and book him for
breaking and entering."/
[read one's mind] {v. phr.} To know what someone else is thinking.
* /I have known John so long that I can read his mind./ - [mind
reader] {n.} * /That's exactly what I was going to say. You must be a
mind reader!/ Compare: READ LIKE A BOOK.
[read the riot act] {v. phr.} To give someone a strong warning or
scolding. * /Three boys were late to class and the teacher read the
riot act to them./
[read over] {v. phr.} To read hurriedly in a rather superficial
manner. * /The professor said he had no time to read my essay
thoroughly but that he had read it over and would comment later in
detail./
[read up on] {v. phr.} To study carefully in preparation for an
examination or other special purpose. * /Since Mr. and Mrs. Lee are
going to take their American citizenship exams soon, they must read up
on the Constitution and the three branches of government./
[ready] See: AT THE READY, ROUGH-AND-READY.
[ready-made] {adj.} Mass-produced; machine made. * /I buy all my
dresses ready-made because I can't afford to have them made to order./
[ready money] {n. phr.} Cash on hand. * /Frank refuses to buy
things on credit, but, if he had the ready money, he would buy that
lovely old house./
[real] See: FOR REAL, IT'S BEEN REAL.
[rear] See: BRING UP THE REAR.
[rear end] {n.} 1. The back part (usually of a vehicle) * /The rear
end of our car was smashed when we stopped suddenly and the car behind
us hit us./ - Often used like an adjective, with a hyphen. * /A
head-on crash is more likely to kill the passengers than a rear-end
crash./ Contrast: HEAD-ON. 2. Rump; backside. * /Bobby's mother was so
annoyed with his teasing that she swatted his rear end./
[rear its head] {v. phr.} To appear; emerge. * /After decades of
certainty that tuberculosis had been eradicated globally, it suddenly
reared its ugly head right here in the United States./
[reason] See: IN REASON, LISTEN TO REASON, RHYME OR REASON, STAND
TO REASON, WITHIN REASON.
[receive with open arms] See: WITH OPEN ARMS.
[reckon with] {v.} To consider as one of the things which may
change a situation; consider (something) that will make a difference
in the results. * /The coach said the opposing pitcher had a fast ball
to be reckoned with./ Syn.: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
[reckon without] {v.} To fail to consider as one of the things
which might change a situation; not think about. * /The committee for
the class picnic party made careful plans for a beach party but they
reckoned without a sudden change in the weather./
[record] See: MATTER OF RECORD, OFF THE RECORD, ON RECORD.
[red] See: IN THE RED, PAINT THE TOWN RED, SEE RED.
[redcap] {n.} A porter at an airport or at a railroad station. *
/Mr. Smith works as a redcap at Chicago's O'Hare Airport./
[red carpet] See: ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET.
[red cent] {n. phr.} The one-cent coin; a copper coin; very little
money. * /Poor Oscar is so broke he doesn't have a red cent to his
name./
[red eye] {adj. phr.} Bloodshot eyes that are strained from too
much reading. * /Poor Tim has a red eye; he must have been studying
too late again./
[red eye] {n. phr.}, {informal} A night flight. * /The company
refused to pay for him to take a more expensive daytime flight, so he
had to come in on the red eye./
[red-handed] {adj.} In the very act; while committing a crime or
evil action. * /The criminal was caught red-handed while holding up
the neighborhood bank at gunpoint./
[red herring] {n. phr.} A false scent laid down in order to
deceive; a phony or misleading story designed to cause confusion. *
/That story about the president having an affair was a red herring
created by the opposition in order to discredit him./
[red-letter day] {n. phr.} A holiday; memorable day (usually
printed in red on calendars). * /The Fourth of July is a red-letter
day./ * /It was a red-letter day for Felix, when he won the lottery./
[red-light district] {n. phr.} A district of brothels or where
prostitutes hang out. * /Most unwisely, the young sailor decided to
spend his leave on shore by haunting the red-light districts of the
port of call./
[red tape] {n. phr.} Unnecessary bureaucratic routine; needless but
official delays. * /If you want to get anything accomplished in a
hurry, you have to find someone in power who can cut through all that
red tape./
[reel off] See: RATTLE OFF.
[reference] See: IN REFERENCE TO or WITH REFERENCE TO.
[refine on] or [refine upon] {v.} 1. To make better; improve. *
/Mary was asked to refine on her first outline to make it clearer and
more exact./ 2. To be better than; surpass. * /Modern medical
around./
[push off] or [shove off] {v.} 1. To push a boat away from the
shore. * /Before Tom could reach the boat, Jake had shoved off./ 2.
{slang} To start; leave. * /We were ready to push off at ten o'clock,
but had to wait for Jill./ * /Jim was planning to stay at the beach
all day, but when the crowds arrived he shoved off./
[push on] {v. phr.} To press forward; proceed forward laboriously.
* /The exhausted mountain climbers pushed on, despite the rough
weather, as the peak was already in sight./
[push one's luck] See: PRESS ONE'S LUCK.
[pushover] {n.} 1. Something easy to accomplish or overcome. * /For
Howard steering a boat is a pushover as he was raised on a tropical
island./ 2. A person easily seduced. * /It is rumored that she is a
pushover when she has a bit to drink./
[push over] {v. phr.} To upset; overthrow. * /She is standing on
her feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won't
push her over./ * /The wind in Chicago can be so strong that sometimes
I'm afraid I'll get pushed over./
[push the panic button] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very much
frightened; nervous or excited, especially at a time of danger or
worry. * /John thought he saw a ghost and pushed the panic button./ *
/Keep cool; don't hit the panic button!/ Syn.: LOSE ONE'S HEAD.
[push-up] {n.} An exercise to build strong arms and shoulders, in
which you lie on your stomach and push your body up on your hands and
toes. * /At the age of seventy, Grandpa still does twenty push-ups
every day./ * /The football team does push-ups every day./
[push up daisies] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be dead and buried. * /I'll
be around when you're pushing up daisies./ * /Don't play with guns or
you may push up the daisies./
[put] See: HARD PUT or HARD PUT TO IT, STAY PUT.
[put about] {v. phr.} - Nautical usage. To turn in the opposite
direction; turn around. * /When we saw the storm clouds thickening in
the sky, we put about quickly and raced ashore./
[put a bee in one's bonnet] See: BEE IN ONE'S BONNET.
[put a bug in one's ear] or [put a flea in one's ear] See: BUG IN
ONE'S EAR.
[put across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly; make yourself understood;
communicate. * /He knew how to put his ideas across./ Compare: GET
ACROSS. 2. {informal} To get (something) done successfully; bring to
success; make real. * /He put across a big sales campaign./ * /The new
librarian put across a fine new library building./ Syn.: PUT OVER(2).
Compare: PULL OFF.
[put all one's eggs in one basket] {v. phr.} To place all your
efforts, interests, or hopes in a single person or thing. * /Going
steady in high school is putting all your eggs in one basket too
soon./ * /To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs in
one basket./ * /He has decided to specialize in lathe work, although
he knows it is risky to put all his eggs in one basket./
[put a new face on] {v. phr.} To alter the aspect of something;
change. * /Mr. Merry man's announcement of his candidacy for governor
puts an entirely new face on the political scene in our state./
[put an end to] or [put a stop to] {v. phr.} 1. To make (something)
end; stop; end. * /The farmer built an electric fence around his field
to put an end to trespassing./ * /The principal said that running in
the halls was dangerous, and told the teachers to put a stop to it./
2. To destroy or kill. * /The new highway took most of the traffic
from the old road and put an end to Mr. Hanson's motel business./ *
/When the horse broke his leg, the farmer put an end to him./
[put aside] {v. phr.} 1. To save; put something aside for a special
purpose. * /Peter puts $100 aside every week./ 2. To let go of; put
away. * /The teacher to the students, "Put your books aside and start
writing your tests!"/
[put away] {v.} 1. To put in the right place or out of sight. *
/She put away the towels./ 2. To lay aside; stop thinking about. * /He
put his worries away for the weekend./ 3. {informal} To eat or drink.
* /He put away a big supper and three cups of coffee./ Compare: STOW
AWAY. 4. {informal} To put in a mental hospital. * /He had to put his
wife away when she became mentally ill./ 5. To put to death for a
reason; kill. * /He had his dog put away when it became too old and
unhappy./
[put back the clock] or [turn back the clock] {v. phr.} To go back
in time; relive the past. * /If I could put back the clock I'd give
more thought to preparing for a career./ * /Richard wishes that he had
lived in frontier days, but he can't turn back the clock./
[put by] {v.} To save for the future; lay aside. * /He had put by a
good sum during a working lifetime./
[putdown] {n.} An insult, * /It was a nasty putdown when John
called his sister a fat cow./
[put down] {v. phr.} 1. To stop by force, crush. * /In 24 hours the
general had entirely put down the rebellion./ 2. To put a stop to;
check. * /She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good
life./ 3. To write a record of; write down. * /He put down the story
while it was fresh in his mind./ 4. To write a name in a list as
agreeing to do something. * /The banker put himself down for $1000./ *
/Sheila put Barbara down for the decorations./ 5. To decide the kind
or class of; characterize. * /He put the man down as a bum./ * /He put
it down as a piece of bad luck./ 6. To name as a cause; attribute. *
/He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions./ 7. To dig; drill;
sink. * /He put down a new well./
[put forth] {v. phr.} To produce; issue; send out. * /In the spring
the apple trees put forth beautiful white blossoms./ * /The chairman
of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by
mail./
[put ideas into one's head] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to do
something negative; put one up to something. * /Billy would never have
poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been
putting ideas into his head./
[put in] {v.} 1. To add to what has been said; say (something) in
addition to what others say. * /While the boys were discussing the car
accident, Ben put in that the road was icy./ * /My father put in a
word for me and I got the job./ 2. To buy and keep in a store to sell.
* /He put in a full stock of drugs./ 3. To spend (time). * /He put in
many years as a printer./ * /He put in an hour a day reading./ 4. To
plant. * /He put in a row of radishes./ 5. To stop at a port on a
journey by water. * /After the fire, the ship put in for repairs./ 6.
To apply; ask. - Used with "for". * /When a better job was open, he
put in for it./ * /The sailor put in for time to visit his family
before the ship went to sea./
[put in a word for] {v. phr.} To speak in favor of someone;
recommend someone. * /"Don't worry about your job application," Sam
said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection
committee."/
[put in an appearance] also [make an appearance] {v. phr.} To be
present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear. * /He put in an
appearance at work, but he was too ill to stay./ * /The president put
in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in./
[put in mind of] {v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To remind of; suggest to;
call up the memory of. * /She puts me in mind of my sister./ * /That
puts me in mind of a story./
[put in one's place] {v. phr.}, {informal} To criticize someone for
impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce
someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. * /The assistant was trying to
take command when the professor put him in his place by saying, "No,
I'm the boss here."/ * /She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker
in his place with just a glance./ Syn.: CUT DOWN TO SIZE.
[put in one's two cents worth] See: TWO CENTS(2).
[put in one's way] See: PUT IN THE WAY OF.
[put in the way of] or [put in one's way] {v. phr.} To set before
(someone); give to (someone); show the way to; help toward. * /After
Joe graduated, the coach put him in the way of a good job./ * /The
librarian put me in the way of a lot of new material on the subject of
my report./
[put (it) in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put (it) in writing] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put it on thick] See: LAY IT ON.
[put off] {v.} 1. {informal} To cause confusion in; embarrass;
displease. * /I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his
proposal./ * /The man's slovenliness put me off./ 2. To wait and have
(something) at a later time; postpone. * /They put off the picnic
because of the rain./ 3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside. * /When
he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off./ *
/When the bill collector called, Mrs. Smith managed to put him off./
4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract. * /Little Jeannie
began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to
put her off./ 5. To move out to sea; leave shore. * /They put off in
small boats to meet the coming ship./ Syn.: PUT OUT.
[put on] {v. phr.} 1. To dress in. * /The boy took off his clothes
and put on his pajamas./ * /Mother put a coat on the baby./ 2a. To
pretend; assume; show. * /Mary isn't really sick; she's only putting
on./ * /He put on a smile./ * /The child was putting on airs./ 2b. To
exaggerate; make too much of. * /That's rather putting it on./
Compare: LAY IT ON. 3. To begin to have more (body weight); gain
(weight). * /Mary was thin from sickness, and the doctor said she must
put on ten pounds./ * /Too many sweets and not enough exercise will
make you put on weight./ 4a. To plan and prepare; produce; arrange;
give; stage. * /The senior class put on a dance./ * /The actor put on
a fine performance./ 4b. To make (an effort). * /The runner put on an
extra burst of speed and won the race./ 5. To choose to send; employ
on a job. * /The school put on extra men to get the new building
ready./
[put-on] {n.} An act of teasing; the playing of a practical joke on
someone. * /Eric didn't realize that it was a put-on when his friends
phoned him that he won the lottery./
[put on airs] {v. phr.} To show conceit; act in a superior or
condescending manner. * /The fact that her parents own a villa in
Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs./
[put on an act] {v. phr.} 1. To perform a play. * /The seventh
grade put on a lovely act for Christmas for the parents./ 2. To
pretend. * /"If you always put on an act," her father said, "people
will never know who you really are."/
[put on ice] See: ON ICE(2).
[put one in one's place] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE.
[put one in the picture] {v. phr.} To inform someone of all the
facts about a given situation. * /Once you're back from your overseas
trip, we'll put you in the picture about recent developments at home./
[put one on a pedestal] {v. phr.} To exaggeratedly worship or
admire a person. * /Daniel puts Elaine on a pedestal and caters to her
every whim./
[put one on one's feet] See: ON ONE'S FEET(2).
[put one out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY(3).
[put one through one's paces] {v. phr.} To train and discipline
someone; test one's abilities. * /The new recruits were certainly put
through their paces by the drill sergeant./
[put one wise] {v. phr.} To bring one up-to-date; inform someone;
explain. * /Our old friend David put us wise as to where the best used
cars could be found in Chicago./
[put one's back to it] {v. phr.} To make a real effort; to try. *
/You can finish the job by noon if you put your back to it./ * /I'm
sure you can make the football team if you put your back to it./
[put one's best foot forward] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to make
a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best. *
/During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward./ *
/When Ted applied for the job he put his best foot forward./
[put one's cards on the table] See: LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE.
[put oneself in another's place] or [put oneself in another's
shoes] {v. phr.} To understand another person's feeling imaginatively;
try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into
his trouble. * /It seemed like a dreadful thing for Bob to do, but I
tried to put myself in his place./ * /If you will put yourself in the
customer's shoes you may realize why the thing isn't selling./
[put one's finger on] also [lay one's finger on] {v. phr.} To find
exactly. * /The engineers couldn't put their fingers on the reason for
the rocket's failure to orbit./ * /We called in an electrician hoping
he could put a finger on the cause of the short circuit./
[put one's foot down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take a decided
stand; be stubborn in decision. * /John didn't want to practice his
piano lesson, but his teacher put his foot down./ * /When it came to
smoking pot at parties, our parents put their foot down./
[put one's foot in it] or [put one's foot in one's mouth] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To speak carelessly and rudely; hurt another's
feelings without intending to; make a rude mistake. * /He put his foot
in it with his remark about self-made men because Jones was one of
them./ * /She put her foot in her mouth with her joke about that
church, not knowing that one of the guests belonged to it./
[put one's hand on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON(3).
[put one's hand to] or [set one's hand to] or [turn one's hand to]
{v. phr.} To start working at; try to do. * /Hal does a good job at
everything mat he turns his hand to./ * /After Mr. Sullivan found
farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned his hand to
carpentry./
[put one's hand to the plow] or [set one's hand to the plow] {v.
phr.} To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big
job. * /We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't
like it when he quit./
[put one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[put one's heart on one's sleeve] See: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE.
[put one's money on a scratched horse] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bet
on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning. * /You
bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money
on a scratched horse?/ Compare: STACK THE CARDS.
[put one's nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make you
jealous; leave you out of favor. * /When Jane accepted Tom's
invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint./ 2. To ruin your plans;
cause you disappointment. * /Joe's mother put his nose out of joint by
not letting him go to the movie./
[put one's house in order] or [set one's house in order] {v. phr.}
To arrange your affairs in good order. * /Grandfather knew he would
not live long and set his house in order./ * /When Mr. Black died, his
lawyer helped the widow put her house in order./
[put one's shoulder to the wheel] {v. phr.} To make a great effort
yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. * /The effort to get a
new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the
wheel./ * /The company was failing in business until a new manager put
his shoulder to the wheel./
[put on one's thinking cap] {v. phr.} To think hard and long about
some problem or question. * /Miss Stone told her pupils to put on
their thinking caps before answering the question./
[put on paper] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put on the back burner] See: ON ICE.
[put on the dog] {v. phr.} To behave ostentatiously in terms of
dress and manner. * /"Stop putting on the dog with me," Sue cried at
Roy. "I knew the real you from way hack!"/
[put on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE.
[put on the map] {v. phr.} To make (a place) well known. * /The
first successful climb of Mount Matterhorn put Zermatt, Switzerland,
on the map./ * /Shakespeare put his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon on
the map./
[put out] {v.} 1. To make a flame or light stop burning;
extinguish; turn off. * /Please put the light out when you leave the
room./ * /The firemen put out the blaze./ 2. To prepare for the
public; produce; make. * /For years he had put out a weekly
newspaper./ * /It is a small restaurant, which puts out an excellent
dinner./ 3. To invest or loan money. * /He put out all his spare money
at 4 percent or better./ 4. To make angry; irritate; annoy. * /It puts
the teacher out to be lied to./ * /Father was put out when Jane
spilled grape juice on his new suit./ 5. {informal} To cause
inconvenience to; bother. * /He put himself out to make things
pleasant for us./ * /Will it put you out if I borrow your pen?/
Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY. 6. To retire from play in baseball. *
/The runner was put out at first base./ 7. To go from shore; leave. *
/A Coast Guard boat put out through the waves./ 8. {vulgar},
{avoidable} Said of women easy and ready to engage in sexual
intercourse. * /It is rumored that Hermione gets her promotions as
fast as she does because she puts out./
[put out of action] See: OUT OF ACTION.
[put out of the way] {v. phr.} To kill. * /When people spoke
against the dictator, he had them put out of the way./ * /The old dog
was very sick, and Father had the animal doctor put him out of the
way./
[put over] {v.} 1. To wait to a later time; postpone. * /They put
over the meeting to the following Tuesday./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 2.
{informal} To make a success of; complete. * /He put over a complex
and difficult business deal./ Syn.: BRING OFF, PUT ACROSS, SLIP OVER.
3. {informal} To practice deception; trick; fool. - Used with "on". *
/George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he
said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick and
needed him./ * /Tom really slipped one over on us when he came to the
Halloween party dressed as a witch./
[put someone on] {v.} To play a joke on someone by saying or doing
things that are only pretense; kid. * /When the voice on the phone
told Mrs. Jones she had won a $10,000 prize, she thought someone was
putting her on./
[put that in your pipe and smoke it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
understand something told you; accept something as fact or reality;
not try to change it. - Usually used as a command, normally only in
speech, and often considered rude. * /People don't vote against Santa
Claus, and you might as well put that in your pipe and smoke it./ * /I
am not going to do that and you can put that in your pipe and smoke
it./
[put the bite on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask (for money, favors,
etc.) * /John put the bite on his friend for several tickets to the
dance./ * /Willie Mays put the bite on the Giants for a large raise./
[put the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
[put their heads together] or [lay their heads together] {v. phr.},
{informal} To plan or consider things together; discuss something as a
group; talk it over. * /They put their heads together and decided on a
gift./ * /We laid our heads together and decided to have a picnic./
[put through] {v. phr.} 1. To carry out; arrange. * /If Jim can put
through one more financial transaction like this one, we will be
rich./ 2. To connect (said of telephone calls). * /The telephone
operator had to put me through to Zambia as there is no direct dialing
there yet./
[put through one's paces] {v. phr.}, {informal} To test the
different abilities and skills of a person or a thing; call for a show
of what one can do. * /He put his new car through its paces./ * /Many
different problems put the new mayor through his paces in the first
months of his term./
[put to bed] {v. phr.} 1. To put to rest for the night. * /Father
put the three children to bed./ * /The boy seemed ill, so the nurse
put him to bed./ 2. {informal} To complete preparations and print. *
/The newspaper was put to bed at 1:15 A.M./ * /The pressroom was late
in putting the sports section to bed./
[put to it] {adj. phr.} Hard pressed; having trouble; in
difficulty; puzzled. * /When he lost his job, he was rather put to it
for a while to provide for his family./ * /The boy was put to it to
answer the teacher's question./
[put to rights] or [set to rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} To put in
good order; clean up. * /It took the company a long time to put the
office to rights after the fire./ * /It took Mrs. Smith an hour to set
the room to rights after the party./
[put to sea] {v. phr.} To start a voyage. * /The captain said the
ship would put to sea at six in the morning./ * /In the days of
sailing ships, putting to sea depended on the tides./
[put to shame] {v. phr.} 1. To disgrace. * /The cleanliness of
European cities puts our cities to shame./ * /That filthy dump puts
our town to shame./ 2. To do much better than surpass. * /Einstein put
other physicists to shame when he proved his theory of relativity
correct./
[put to sleep] {v. phr.} 1. To cause to fall asleep. * /Mother used
to put us to sleep by telling us a good-night story and giving us a
kiss./ 2. To kill with an injection (said of animals). * /Dr. Murphy,
the veterinarian, put our sick, old dog to sleep./
[put to the sword] {v. phr.}, {literary} To kill (people) in war,
especially with a sword. * /The Romans put their enemies to the
sword./ * /In some wars captives have been put to the sword./
[put to use] {v. phr.} To use. * /During the early part of the
Korean war the cooks and office workers of the U.S. Army were put to
use in battle./ * /Henry decided to put his dictionary to use./ * /I
wish you'd put the lawn mower to use!/
[put two and two together] {v. phr.} To make decisions based on
available proofs; reason from the known facts; conclude; decide. * /He
had put two and two together and decided where they had probably
gone./ * /It was just a mater of putting two and two together: the
facts seemed to permit only one decision./
[put up] {v.} 1a. To make and pack (especially a lunch or
medicine); get ready; prepare. * /Every morning Mother puts up lunches
for the three children./ * /The druggist put up the medicine that the
doctor had prescribed./ Compare: MAKE UP(1). 1b. To put food into jars
or cans to save; can. * /Mother is putting up peaches in jars./ 1c. To
store away for later use. * /The farmer put up three tons of hay for
the winter./ 2. To put in place; put (something) where it belongs. *
/After he unpacked the car, John put it up./ * /After the hard ride,
the doctor gave the horse to the stable boy to put up./ * /After the
battle, the knight put up his sword./ Syn.: PUT AWAY. 3. To suggest
that (someone) be chosen a member, officer, or official. * /The club
decided to take in another member, and Bill put up Charles./ - Often
used with "for". * /The Republicans put Mr. Williams up for mayor./ 4.
To put (hair) a special way; arrange. * /Aunt May puts up her hair in
curlers every night./ Compare: DO UP(3a). 5. To place on sale; offer
for sale. * /She put the house up for sale./ 6a. To provide lodging
for; furnish a room to. * /The visitor was put up in the home of Mr.
Wilson./ * /They put Frank up at a good hotel./ 6b. To rent or get
shelter; take lodging; stay in a place to sleep. * /The traveler put
up at a motel./ * /We put up with friends on our trip to Canada./ 7.
To make; engage in. * /He put up a good fight against his sickness./
Compare: CARRY ON. 8. To furnish (money) or something needed; pay for.
* /He put up the money to build a hotel./
[put-up] {adj.} Artificially arranged; plotted; phony; illegal. *
/The FBI was sure that the bank robbers worked together with an
insider and that the whole affair was a put-up job./
[put up a (brave, good, etc.) flght] {v. phr.} To resist. * /He put
up a good fight but he was bound to lose in the end to the older, more
experienced chess player./
[put up a (brave] or [good) front] {v. phr.} To act courageously,
even though one is actually afraid. * /When Joe was taken in for his
open heart surgery, he put up a brave front, although his hands were
shaking./
[put up or shut up] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To bet your money on
what you say or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often
considered rude. * /The man from out of town kept saying their team
would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up."/ 2. To
prove something or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often
considered rude. * /George told Al that he could run faster than the
school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up./
[put upon] {v.} To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. -
Used in the passive or in the past participle. * /Martha was put upon
by the bigger girls./ * /Arthur was a much put-upon person./
[put up to] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk to and make do; persuade
to; get to do. * /Older boys put us up to painting the statue red./
Compare: EGG ON.
[put up with] {v.} To accept patiently; bear. * /We had to put up
with Jim's poor table manners because he refused to change./ * /The
mother told her children, "I refuse to put up with your tracking in
mud!"/ Compare: STAND FOR.
[put wise] {v.}, {slang} To tell (someone) facts that will give him
an advantage over others or make him alert to opportunity or danger. *
/The new boy did not know that Jim was playing a trick on him, so I
put him wise./ - Often used with "to". * /Someone put the police wise
to the plan of the bank robbers, and when the robbers went into the
bank, the police were waiting to catch them./ Compare: TIP OFF.
[put words into one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say without proof that
another person has certain feelings or opinions; claim a stand or an
idea is another's without asking; speak for another without right. *
/When he said "John here is in favor of the idea." I told him not to
put words in my mouth./
[q] See: MIND ONE'S P'S AND Q'S.
[Q.T.] See: ON THE Q.T.
[qualms] See: HAVE (NO) QUALMS ABOUT.
[quantity] See: UNKNOWN QUANTITY.
[quarterback sneak] {n.} A football play in which the quarterback
takes the ball from the center and dives straight ahead in an attempt
to gain a very short distance. * /Johnson took the ball over on a
quarterback sneak for a touchdown./
[queen] See: HOMECOMING QUEEN.
[queer fish] {n.} A strange or unusual person who does odd things.
* /Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and
short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a
queer fish./
[queer oneself] {v. phr.} To act in such a manner as to offend
others and thus one's own chances or position. * /Phil has queered
himself with many girls by his erratic behavior./
[quest] See: IN SEARCH OF also IN QUEST OF.
[question] See: BEG THE QUESTION, BESIDE THE POINT or BESIDE THE
QUESTION, BEYOND QUESTION also WITHOUT QUESTION, CALL IN QUESTION, IN
QUESTION, INTO QUESTION, OUT OF THE QUESTION, POP THE QUESTION.
[quick buck] See: FAST BUCK.
[quick on the draw] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[quick on the trigger] or [trigger happy] {adj. phr.} Ready to
shoot without warning; fast with a gun. * /He's a dangerous criminal
quick on the trigger./ 2. {informal} Fast at answering questions or
solving problems. * /In class discussions John is always quick on the
trigger./
[quick on the uptake] {adj. phr.} Smart; intelligent. * /Eleanor is
very witty and quick on the uptake./
[quick study] {n. phr.} One who acquires new skills and habits in
record time. * /Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in
her because she is a quick study./
[quit] See: CALL IT QUITS.
[quite a bit] See: QUITE A LITTLE.
[quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal} [not a few] {n.} or
{adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. * /Quite a few
went to the game./ * /The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./
- The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before
"less", "more". * /Few people saw the play on the first night but
quite a number more came on the second night./ - Sometimes used like
an adverb. * /We still have quite a few more miles to go before we
reach New York./ Syn.: GOOD MANY, NOT A FEW. Compare: A FEW, A NUMBER.
[quite a little] or {informal} [quite a bit] also {formal} [not a
little] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large amount; rather much; more
than a little. * /We are not finished; quite a little is left to do./
* /Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work./ - The phrase
"quite a bit" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". *
/Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming
tonight./ - Sometimes used like an adverb. * /Harry was sick quite a
little last winter./ Compare: A LITTLE, A LOT, QUITE A PEW.
[quite a number] See: QUITE A FEW.
[quite the thing] {n. phr.} The socially proper thing to do. * /In
polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note
to one's host or hostess after a dinner party./
[rabbit] See: JACK-RABBIT START.
[race] See: DRAG RACE, RAT RACE.
[race against time] {v. phr.} To be in a great hurry to finish a
given project by a specified deadline. * /The workers were racing
against time to finish the campus modernization project./
[race to stand still] {v. phr.} To be so far behind in one's work
that one must exert an effort similar to that needed to win a race in
order simply not to fall even further behind. * /"Could you review
this book for us, Professor Brown?" the editor asked. "Unfortunately,
no," the professor answered. "I'm so behind in my work that I am
racing to stand still."/
[rack and ruin] {n. phr.} Complete decay; condition of decline. *
/The entire house had been so neglected that it had gone to rack and
ruin./
[rack one's brain] {v. phr.} To try your best to think; make a
great mental effort; especially: to try to remember something you have
known. * /Bob racked his brain trying to remember where he left the
book./ * /Susan racked her brain trying to guess whom the valentine
came from./ * /John racked his brain during the test trying to solve
the problem./
[radio ham] {n. phr.} Someone whose hobby is the operating of
shortwave radio. * /The code letters C.Q. are used by radio hams to
invite other radio hams to join in the conversation./
[rag] See: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, GLAD RAGS.
[rag doll] {n.} A doll made of cloth and filled with soft stuffing.
* /My baby brother won't go to bed without his rag doll./
[ragged] See: RUN RAGGED.
[rag trade] {n. phr.} The clothing industry. * /My brother is
working in the rag trade, manufacturing dresses./
[railroad] {v.} To force through; push through by force. * /The
bill was railroaded through the state legislature due to the influence
of some very wealthy sponsors./
[rain] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT
OF THE RAIN.
[rain cats and dogs] or [rain buckets] or [rain pitchforks] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To rain very hard; come down in torrents. * /In the
middle of the picnic it started to rain cats and dogs, and everybody
got soaked./ * /Terry looked out of the window and said, "It's raining
pitchforks, so we can't go out to play right now."/
[rain check] {n.} 1. A special free ticket to another game or show
which will be given in place of one canceled because of rain. * /When
the drizzle turned into a heavy rain the manager announced that the
baseball game would be replayed the next day. He told the crowd that
they would be given rain checks for tomorrow's game as they went out
through the gates./ 2. {informal} A promise to repeat an invitation at
a later time. * /Bob said, "I'm sorry you can't come to dinner this
evening, Dave. I'll give you a rain check."/
[rained out] {adj.} Stopped by rain. * /The ball game was rained
out in the seventh inning./ * /The Friday night rally in the stadium
was rained out./
[rain on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To bring misfortune to (someone); to
complain to (someone) about one's bad luck. * /Don't rain on me./
[rain or shine] {adv. phr.} 1. If the weather is stormy or if it is
fair. * /The parade will start promptly, rain or shine./ 2. No
matter;
if your luck is good or bad.
* /Sam knows he can depend on his
family, rain or shine./
[rainproof] {adj.} Resistant to rain; something that will not soak
in water; referring to a material that repels water. * /"I don't need
an umbrella," she said, "as my coat is rainproof."/
[rainy day] {n.} A time of need; especially: a time when you really
need money. * /Squirrels gather acorns for a rainy day./ * /Each week
Mrs. Carlson saved a little money for a rainy day./
[raise a hand] See: LIFT A FINGER.
[raise a row] {v. phr.} To cause a disturbance, a fuss, or a scene.
* /He raised quite a row when he noticed that someone had scratched
his brand new car./
[raise a stink] {v. phr.} To cause a disturbance; complain; protest
strongly. * /Quite a stink was raised in the office when the boss
discovered that several employees had left early./
[raise Cain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be noisy; cause trouble. * /When
John couldn't go on the basketball trip with the team he raised Cain./
* /The children raised Cain in the living room./ Compare: KICK UP A
FUSS, RAISE THE DEVIL.
[raise eyebrows] {v. phr.} To shock people; cause surprise or
disapproval. * /The news that the princess was engaged to a commoner
raised eyebrows all over the kingdom./
[raise funds] or [money] {v. phr.} To solicit donations for a
charity or a specific project. * /Our church is trying to raise the
funds for a new organ./
[raise hackles] or [raise one's hackles] {v. phr.} To make
(someone) upset or annoyed; arouse hostility. * /Attempts to add new
ingredients to the beer raised hackles among all the old brew
masters./
[raise havoc] See: PLAY HAVOC WITH.
[raise heck] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.
[raise hob] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.
[raise one's sights] {v. phr.} To aim high; be ambitious. *
/Teenage boys sometimes think too much of themselves and have a
tendency to raise their sights too high./
[raise one's voice] {v. phr.} To speak loudly, as if in anger or in
protest. * /"I'm sorry, Mom," Peter said. "I didn't mean to raise my
voice."/
[raise the devil] or [raise heck] or [raise hob] or [raise ned] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; start a fight or an argument. *
/Mr. Black raised heck when he saw the dented fender. He blamed the
other driver./ * /Some teenage boys raised the devil in town on
Halloween night and damaged a lot of property./ Compare: KICK UP A
FUSS.
[raise the roof] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a lot of noise;
be happy and noisy. * /The gang raised the roof with their singing./
2. To scold loudly. * /Mother raised the roof when she saw the dog's
muddy footprints on her new bedspread./ Compare: KICK UP A FUSS, RAISE
CAIN.
[rake in] {v. phr.} To realize great profits; take in money. *
/Because of the heavy snowfall, ski lodge operators in the Rocky
Mountains have been raking in the dough this winter season./
[rake off] {v. phr.} To illegally expropriate part of a sum paid. *
/The secretary-treasurer of the association has been caught raking off
some of the membership dues./
[rake-off] See: KICKBACK.
[rake over the coals] See: HAUL OVER THE COALS.
[rake up] {v. phr.} To expose; gather; bring to light. * /Let's
forget about the past; there's no need to rake up all those old
memories./
[ramble on about] {v. phr.} To chatter on idly and without a
purpose. * /When Ted has too much to drink, he always rambles on about
the good old days./
[ram down one's throat] See: SHOVE DOWN ONE'S THROAT.
[random] See: AT RANDOM.
[rank] See: CLOSE RANKS, PULL RANK.
[rank and file] {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership
of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general
usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ *
/The secretary of the association sends letters annually to the rank
and file./
[rap] See: TAKE THE RAP.
[rap one's knuckles] {v. phr.} To scold or punish. * /The principal
rapped our knuckles for cheating on the test./ * /If you talk back to
Dad, you'll get your knuckles rapped./ * /The club got its knuckles
rapped by the principal for hazing new members./ * /Why rap my
knuckles? It wasn't my fault./ Compare: DRESSING DOWN, GIVE IT TO(2).
[rat] See: SMELL A RAT.
[rate] See: AT ANY RATE, FIRST RATE.
[rather] See: HAD RATHER.
[rat on] See: BLOW THE WHISTLE, RAT OUT.
[rat out] or [rat out on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To desert; to leave at
a critical time. * /Joe ratted out on Sue when she was seven months
pregnant./
[rat race] {n.}, {slang} A very confusing, crowded, or disorderly
rush; a confusing scramble, struggle, or way of living that does not
seem to have a purpose. * /The dance last night was a rat race. It was
too noisy and crowded./ * /School can be a rat race if you don't keep
up with your studies./ * /This job is a rat race. The faster you work,
the faster the boss wants you to work./
[rate with someone] {v. phr.} To be esteemed highly by another. *
/The professor really rates with both the graduate students and the
undergraduates./
[rattle] See: SABRE RAITLING.
[rattle off] or [reel off] {v.} To say quickly without having to
stop to think; recite easily and rapidly. * /When Roger was seven he
could rattle off the names of all the states in alphabetical order./ *
/Joan memorized the "Gettysburg Address" so well that she could reel
it off./ * /We asked the waitress what flavors of ice cream she had,
and she rattled them off./
[rattle one's saber] {v. phr.} To threaten another government or
country without subsequent acts of war. * /It is considered an act of
demagoguery on the part of politicians to rattle their sabers./
Compare: YELLOW JOURNALISM.
[rave about] {v. phr.} To talk very enthusiastically about someone
or something. * /Hank praised the new TV show very highly but we
didn't think it was anything to rave about./
[raw] See: IN THE RAW.
[raw deal] {n. phr.} Unfair treatment; inequity. * /Barry got a raw
deal when he was sent to teach the class on advanced nuclear physics;
he's an inexperienced graduate student./
[razzle-dazzle] {n.}, {slang} Fancy display; showing off. * /He is
such a good player that he doesn't have to add razzle-dazzle to his
game./ * /Do we need all this razzle-dazzle to advertise our fair?/
[reach] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH.
[reach first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE.
[reach for the sky] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To put your hands high
above your head or be shot. - Usually used as a command. * /A holdup
man walked into a gas station last night and told the attendant "Reach
for the sky!"/ Syn.: HANDS UP. 2. To set one's aims high. * /"Why
medical technician?" asked her father. "Reach for the sky! Become a
physician!"/
[read between the lines] {v. phr.} To understand all of a writer's
meaning by guessing at what he has left unsaid. * /Some kinds of
poetry make you read between the lines./ * /A clever foreign
correspondent can often avoid censorship by careful wording, leaving
his audience to read between the lines./
[read into] {v. phr.} To attribute extra meaning to; deduce from;
consider to be implicit in. * /Just because Fred's letters sounded so
friendly Mary was wrong to read anything serious into them./
[read off] {v. phr.} To read in a speaking voice from a list. *
/The secretary read off the names of those present in alphabetical
order./
[read one like a book] {v. phr.}, {informal} To understand someone
completely; know what he will think or do at any time. * /John's
girlfriend could read him like a book./ Compare: READ ONE'S MIND.
[read one one's rights] {v. phr.} To give to an arrested person the
legally required statement regarding the rights of such a person. *
/"Read him his rights," Sergeant," the captain said, "and book him for
breaking and entering."/
[read one's mind] {v. phr.} To know what someone else is thinking.
* /I have known John so long that I can read his mind./ - [mind
reader] {n.} * /That's exactly what I was going to say. You must be a
mind reader!/ Compare: READ LIKE A BOOK.
[read the riot act] {v. phr.} To give someone a strong warning or
scolding. * /Three boys were late to class and the teacher read the
riot act to them./
[read over] {v. phr.} To read hurriedly in a rather superficial
manner. * /The professor said he had no time to read my essay
thoroughly but that he had read it over and would comment later in
detail./
[read up on] {v. phr.} To study carefully in preparation for an
examination or other special purpose. * /Since Mr. and Mrs. Lee are
going to take their American citizenship exams soon, they must read up
on the Constitution and the three branches of government./
[ready] See: AT THE READY, ROUGH-AND-READY.
[ready-made] {adj.} Mass-produced; machine made. * /I buy all my
dresses ready-made because I can't afford to have them made to order./
[ready money] {n. phr.} Cash on hand. * /Frank refuses to buy
things on credit, but, if he had the ready money, he would buy that
lovely old house./
[real] See: FOR REAL, IT'S BEEN REAL.
[rear] See: BRING UP THE REAR.
[rear end] {n.} 1. The back part (usually of a vehicle) * /The rear
end of our car was smashed when we stopped suddenly and the car behind
us hit us./ - Often used like an adjective, with a hyphen. * /A
head-on crash is more likely to kill the passengers than a rear-end
crash./ Contrast: HEAD-ON. 2. Rump; backside. * /Bobby's mother was so
annoyed with his teasing that she swatted his rear end./
[rear its head] {v. phr.} To appear; emerge. * /After decades of
certainty that tuberculosis had been eradicated globally, it suddenly
reared its ugly head right here in the United States./
[reason] See: IN REASON, LISTEN TO REASON, RHYME OR REASON, STAND
TO REASON, WITHIN REASON.
[receive with open arms] See: WITH OPEN ARMS.
[reckon with] {v.} To consider as one of the things which may
change a situation; consider (something) that will make a difference
in the results. * /The coach said the opposing pitcher had a fast ball
to be reckoned with./ Syn.: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
[reckon without] {v.} To fail to consider as one of the things
which might change a situation; not think about. * /The committee for
the class picnic party made careful plans for a beach party but they
reckoned without a sudden change in the weather./
[record] See: MATTER OF RECORD, OFF THE RECORD, ON RECORD.
[red] See: IN THE RED, PAINT THE TOWN RED, SEE RED.
[redcap] {n.} A porter at an airport or at a railroad station. *
/Mr. Smith works as a redcap at Chicago's O'Hare Airport./
[red carpet] See: ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET.
[red cent] {n. phr.} The one-cent coin; a copper coin; very little
money. * /Poor Oscar is so broke he doesn't have a red cent to his
name./
[red eye] {adj. phr.} Bloodshot eyes that are strained from too
much reading. * /Poor Tim has a red eye; he must have been studying
too late again./
[red eye] {n. phr.}, {informal} A night flight. * /The company
refused to pay for him to take a more expensive daytime flight, so he
had to come in on the red eye./
[red-handed] {adj.} In the very act; while committing a crime or
evil action. * /The criminal was caught red-handed while holding up
the neighborhood bank at gunpoint./
[red herring] {n. phr.} A false scent laid down in order to
deceive; a phony or misleading story designed to cause confusion. *
/That story about the president having an affair was a red herring
created by the opposition in order to discredit him./
[red-letter day] {n. phr.} A holiday; memorable day (usually
printed in red on calendars). * /The Fourth of July is a red-letter
day./ * /It was a red-letter day for Felix, when he won the lottery./
[red-light district] {n. phr.} A district of brothels or where
prostitutes hang out. * /Most unwisely, the young sailor decided to
spend his leave on shore by haunting the red-light districts of the
port of call./
[red tape] {n. phr.} Unnecessary bureaucratic routine; needless but
official delays. * /If you want to get anything accomplished in a
hurry, you have to find someone in power who can cut through all that
red tape./
[reel off] See: RATTLE OFF.
[reference] See: IN REFERENCE TO or WITH REFERENCE TO.
[refine on] or [refine upon] {v.} 1. To make better; improve. *
/Mary was asked to refine on her first outline to make it clearer and
more exact./ 2. To be better than; surpass. * /Modern medical