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[six] See: AT SIXES AND SEVENS, DEEP-SIX.
[six bits] {n.}, {slang} Seventy-five cents. * /"Lend me six bits
till Friday, Sam," said Jim. "I've spent all my allowance."/ Compare:
TWO BITS.
[six of one and half-a-dozen of the other] {n. phr.} Two things the
same; not a real choice; no difference. * /Which coat do you like
better, the brown or the blue? It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the
other./ * /Johnny says it's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other
whether he does the job tonight or tomorrow night./
[size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE, PINT-SIZE.
[size up] {v.}, {informal} To decide what one thinks about
(something); to form an opinion about (something). * /Give Joe an hour
to size up the situation and he'll tell you what to do next./ * /Our
coach went to New York to size up the team we'll face in our
homecoming game./ Compare: TAKE STOCK(2).
[skate] See: CHEAP SKATE.
[skate on thin ice] {v. phr.} To take a chance; risk danger,
disapproval or anger. * /You'll be skating on thin ice if you ask Dad
to increase your allowance again./ * /John knew he was skating on thin
ice, but he could not resist teasing his sister about her boyfriend./
[skating rink] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
Slippery road. * /Attention all units - there's a skating rink ahead!/
[skeleton in the closet] {n. phr.} A shameful secret; someone or
something kept hidden, especially by a family. * /The skeleton in our
family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he drank
too much./
[skid lid] {n.}, {slang} A crash helmet worn by motorcyclists and
race drivers. * /How much did you pay for that handsome skid lid?/
[skid row] {n.} The poor part of a city where men live who have no
jobs and drink too much liquor. * /That man was once rich, but he
drank and gambled too much, and ended his life living on skid row./ *
/The Bowery is New York City's skid row./
[skim the surface] {v. phr.} To do something very superficially. *
/He seems knowledgeable in many different areas but his familiarity is
very superficial, since he only skims the surface of everything he
touches./
[skin] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN, JUMP
OUT OF ONE'S SKIN, KEEP ONE'S EYES PEELED or KEEP ONE'S EYES SKINNED,
SAVE ONE'S NECK or SAVE ONE'S SKIN, WITH A WHOLE SKIN or IN A WHOLE
SKIN.
[skin alive] {v. phr.} 1. {informal} To scold angrily. * /Mother
will skin you alive when she sees your torn pants./ 2. {informal} To
spank or beat. * /Dad was ready to skin us alive when he found we had
ruined his saw./ 3. {slang} To defeat. * /We all did our best, but the
visiting gymnastic team skinned us alive./
[skin and bones] {n.} A person or animal that is very thin; someone
very skinny. * /The puppy is healthy now, but when we found him he was
just skin and bones./ * /Have you been dieting? You're nothing but
skin and bones!/
[skin-deep] {adj.} Only on the surface; not having any deep or
honest meaning; not really or closely connected with what it seems to
belong to. * /Mary's friendliness with Joan is only skin-deep./ *
/Ralph crammed for the test and got a good grade, but his knowledge of
the lesson is only skin-deep./ Contrast: BRED IN THE BONE.
[skin off one's nose] {n. phr.}, {slang} Matter of interest,
concern, or trouble to you. Normally used in the negative. * /Go to
Jake's party if you wish. It's no skin off my nose./ * /Grace didn't
pay any attention to our argument. It wasn't any skin off her nose./ *
/You could at least say hello to our visitor. It's no skin off your
nose./
[skip] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT.
[skip bail] See: JUMP BAIL.
[skip it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To forget all about it. * /When
Jack tried to reward him for returning his lost dog, the man said to
skip it./ * /I asked what the fight was about, but the boys said to
skip it./
[skip out] {v.}, {informal} To leave in a hurry; especially after
cheating or taking money dishonestly; sneak away; leave without
permission. * /The man skipped out of the hotel without paying his
bill./ * /"How did you get out of the house after supper, Harry? " "I
skipped out!"/
[skirt around] {v. phr.} To avoid something. * /"Let's not skirt
around the facts," said the attorney to his client. "You must tell me
the truth."/
[sky] See: OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A CLEAR
BLUE SKY, REACH FOR THE SKY.
[sky is the limit] There is no upper limit to something. * /"Buy me
the fastest racehorse in Hong Kong," Mr. Lee instructed his broker.
"Spend whatever is necessary; the sky is the limit."/
[slack off] {v. phr.} 1. To become less active; grow lazy. * /Since
construction work has been slacking off toward the end of the summer,
many workers were dismissed./ 2. To gradually reduce; taper off. *
/The snowstorms tend to slack off over the Great Lakes by the first of
April./
[slam] See: GRAND SLAM.
[slap down] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop (someone, usually in a lower
position or job) from doing or saying something, in a rough way or
with a scolding; silence. * /When Billy talked back, the teacher
slapped him down./ 2. To put a quick stop to; refuse roughly. * /The
boss slapped down our idea of taking a nap on the job every
afternoon./
[slap in the face(1)] {n.} An insult; a disappointment. * /We felt
that it was a slap in the face when our gift was returned unopened./ *
/Doris thought it was a slap in the face when her boyfriend invited
another girl to the dance./ Compare: KICK IN THE PANTS.
[slap in the face(2)] {v. phr.} To insult; embarrass; make feel
bad. * /John slapped our club in the face by saying that everyone in
it was stupid./ * /I don't want to slap her in the face by not coming
to her party./
[slap one's wrist] {v. phr.} To receive a light punishment. * /She
could have been fired for contradicting the company president in
public, but all she got was a slap on the wrist./
[slap together] See: THROW TOGETHER(1).
[slate] See: CLEAN SLATE.
[slated for] or [slated to be] Going to be; planned or intended
for. * /People think the governor is slated to be president./ * /That
subject is slated for debate at the next meeting./
[slave driver] {n.} A cruel, merciless boss or employer who makes
the people under him work extremely hard for little compensation. *
/Mr. Catwallender is such a slave driver that nobody cares to work for
him anymore./
[sledding] See: HARD SLEDDING or ROUGH SLEDDING or TOUGH SLEDDING.
[sleep] See: BEAUTY SLEEP, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, SLEEP A WINK.
[sleep around] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be free
with one's sexual favors; to behave promiscuously. * /Sue Catwallender
is a nice girl but she sleeps around an awful lot with all sorts of
guys./
[sleep a wink] {v. phr.} To get a moment's sleep; enjoy a bit of
sleep. - Used in negative and conditional statements and in questions.
* /I didn't sleep a wink all night./
[sleep like a log] {v. phr.} To sleep very deeply and soundly. *
/Although I am usually a light sleeper, I was so exhausted from the
sixteen-hour transpacific flight that, once we got home, I slept like
a log for twelve hours./
[sleep off] {v. phr.} To sleep until the effect of too much alcohol
or drugs passes. * /George had too many beers last night and he is now
sleeping off the effects./
[sleep on] {v.} To postpone a decision about. * /We asked Judy if
she would join our club and she answered that she would sleep on it./
* /We will have to sleep on your invitation until we know whether we
will be free Monday night./
[sleep out] {v.} 1. To sleep outdoors. * /The Scouts plan to sleep
out next Saturday./ 2. To go home at night instead of sleeping at the
place where you work. * /Mrs. Jones' maid sleeps in, but her cook
sleeps out./
[sleep with] {v. phr.} To have a sexual affair with someone; have
sex; copulate. * /It has been rumored in the office that the boss
sleeps with all the girls he hires./
[sleeve] See: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE, LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH
IN ONE'S SLEEVE, ROLL UP ONE'S SLEEVES, UP ONE'S SLEEVE or IN ONE'S
SLEEVE, WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE also PIN ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S
SLEEVE.
[sling hash] {v.}, {slang} To serve food, especially in a cheap,
small diner, a drive-in, or short-order restaurant. * /Jake got a job
slinging hash at the new drive-in restaurant./ * /Jody earned money
for college by slinging hash in a restaurant during the summer./
Compare: SHORT-ORDER COOK.
[slinging match] {n. phr.} A loud, angry quarrel. * /The debate
deteriorated into a most unseemly slinging match./
[slip] See: GIVE THE SLIP, SALES CHECK or SALES SLIP.
[slip a cog] or [slip a gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make a mistake.
* /I must have been slipping a cog when I said that I would run for
mayor./ * /Jim hates to sleep outdoors. He's slipping his gears if
he's promised to take the boys camping./ Compare: SLIP UP.
[slip away] {v. phr.} To leave unnoticed. * /The party was such a
bore that we decided to quietly slip away./
[slip off] {v. phr.} 1. To slide off something. * /The children
climbed up the hill but when it was time to come down, they didn't
walk, but slipped off the smooth, old ledges./ 2. See: SLIP AWAY.
[slip of the lip] See: SLIP OF THE TONGUE.
[slip of the pen] {n. phr.} The mistake of writing something
different from what you should or what you planned. * /That was a slip
of the pen. I meant to write September, not November./ * /I wish you
would forget it. That was a slip of the pen./
[slip of the tongue] also [slip of the lip] {n. phr.} The mistake
of saying something you had not wanted or planned to say; an error of
speech. * /No one would have known our plans if Kay hadn't made a slip
of the tongue./ * /She didn't mean to tell our secret; it was a slip
of the lip./
[slip one's mind] {v. phr.} To forget something. * /I meant to mail
those letters but it entirely slipped my mind./
[slip over] See: PUT OVER(2).
[slip through one's fingers] {v. phr.} To escape without someone's
knowing how. * /Policemen surrounded the building, but the thief
managed to slip through their fingers./ * /Mike earns a good wage, but
he doesn't save a penny. Money just slips through his fingers./
[slipup] {n.} A mistake. * /"I'm sorry, sir. That was an
unfortunate slipup," the barber said when he scratched the client's
face./
[slip up] {v. phr.} To make a mistake. * /Someone at the bank
slipped up. There are only 48 pennies in this 50c roll of coins./ *
/If he hadn't slipped up on the last questions, his score on the test
would have been perfect./
[slow burn] {n.}, {informal} A slowly increasing feeling of anger.
* /The boys kept teasing John, and watched him do a slow burn./ *
/Barbara's slow burn ended only when Mary explained the
misunderstanding./
[slowdown] {n.} A period of lesser activity, usually in the
economic sphere. * /We all hope the current slowdown in the economy
will soon be over./
[slow down] {v. phr.} To go more slowly than usual. * /The road was
slippery, so Mr. Jones slowed down the car./ * /Pat once could run a
mile in five minutes, but now that he's older he's slowing down./
Compare: LET UP(2). STEP DOWN. Contrast: SPEED UP.
[slow on the draw] {adj. phr.} Not very smart; having difficulty
figuring things out. * /Poor Eric doesn't get very good grades in
physics; when it comes to problem-solving, he is rather slow on the
draw./
[slow on the uptake] See: SLOW ON THE DRAW.
[slow tune] See: STANDARD TIME.
[slow up] {v.} 1. To go more slowly. * /The truck slowed up as it
approached the toll gate./ * /Construction on the road slows up
traffic./ 2. To become less busy. * /Business slows up at the stores
after Christmas./
[slug it out] {v. phr.} To have a strong verbal or physical battle
with someone; to contest something most vigorously. * /The two
contenders for the lightweight boxing championship were slugging it
out in the ring./ * /The two candidates for Congress were slugging it
out on radio and on television./
[sly] See: ON THE SLY.
[smack-dab] also {Southern} [smack-to-dab] {adv.}, {informal}
Exactly; squarely. * /The ball landed smack-dab at our feet./ * /The
plane landed smack-to-dab in the middle of the
hay field./
[smack one's lips] {v. phr.} To reveal an appetite for; show
enjoyment of. * /Eleanor smacked her lips over the dessert of
strawberries and whipped cream./
[small] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.
[small frog in a big pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[small fry] {n.} 1. Young children. * /In the park, a sandbox is
provided for the small fry./ 2. Something or someone of little
importance. * /Large dairies ignore the competition from the small fry
who make only a few hundred pounds of cheese a year./
[small] or [wee hours] {n. phr.} The very early hours of the
morning between 1 and 4 A.M. * /My brother was in trouble for coming
home in the small hours./ See: WEE HOURS.
[small talk] {n. phr.} General idle conversation. * /At the party
there was the usual kind of small talk about the cost of living
increase and the war in Africa./
[small-time] {adj.}, {informal} Unimportant; minor; with little
power or importance. * /He has a job as a drummer with a small-time
band./ * /It is a small-time business, but it may grow./ Contrast:
BIG-TIME.
[small wonder] See: NO WONDER.
[smash hit] {n.}, {informal} A very successful play, movie or
opera. * /The school play was a smash hit./
[smell a rat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be suspicious; feel that
something is wrong. * /Every time Tom visits me, one of my ashtrays
disappears. I'm beginning to smell a rat./ * /When the policeman saw a
light go on in the store at midnight, he smelled a rat./
[smell out] See: FERRET OUT.
[smell up] {v.}, {informal} To make a bad smell. * /A skunk smelled
up our yard last night./ * /Mr. Brodsky's cigar smelled up the living
room./
[smile] See: CRACK A SMILE.
[smoke] See: CHAIN-SMOKE, GO UP IN FLAMES or GO UP IN SMOKE, PUT
THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT, WATCH ONE'S DUST or WATCH ONE'S SMOKE.
[smoke like a chimney] {v. phr.}, {informal} To smoke very heavily
and continuously. * /"If you continue smoking like a chimney" the
doctor told my uncle, "you'll wind up in the hospital with lung
cancer."/
[smoke out] {v. phr.} 1. To force out with smoke. * /The boys
smoked a squirrel out of a hollow tree./ * /The farmer tried to smoke
some gophers out of their burrows./ 2. {informal} To find out the
facts about. * /It took the reporter three weeks to smoke out the
whole story./
[smoke-out] {n.} A successful conclusion of an act of investigative
journalism revealing some long-kept secrets. * /Journalist Bob
Woodward was the hero of the Watergate smoke-out./
[smoke screen] {n. phr.} A camouflage; a veil; something used to
cover or hide something. * /June hides her commercial interests behind
a smoke screen of religious piety./
[Smokey Bear] or [Smokey-the-Bear] or [the Smokies] {n.}, {slang},
{citizen's band radio jargon} A policeman; a patrol car; frequently
abbreviated as Smokey. * /Slow down, Smokey's ahead!/ * /A Smokey is
on the move, heading east./
[smooth away] {v.} To remove; (unpleasant feelings) take away. *
/Mr. Jones' new job smoothed away his worry about money./
[smooth down] {v.} To make calm; calm down. * /Mrs. Smith's
feelings were hurt and we couldn't smooth her down./
[smooth over] {v.} To make something seem better or more pleasant;
try to excuse. * /Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary by
making her laugh./ Syn.: GLOSS OVER. Compare: PATCH UP.
[smooth sailing] See: PLAIN SAILING.
[snail's pace] {n.} A very slow movement forward. * /Time moved at
a snail's pace before the holidays./ * /The donkey on which he was
riding moved at a snail's pace./
[snake in the grass] {n. phr.}, {informal} A person who cannot be
trusted; an unfaithful traitor; rascal. * /Did Harry tell you that?
He's a snake in the grass!/ * /Some snake in the grass told the
teacher our plans./
[snap] See: COLD SNAP.
[snap it off] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.
[snap one's fingers at] {v. phr.} To show contempt for; show no
respect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard. * /John snapped
his fingers at the sign that said "Do not enter," and he went in the
door./ * /The highway sign said "Speed limit, 35 miles per hour," but
when a driver snapped his fingers at it by going 55 miles an hour, a
motorcycle policeman arrested him./
[snap out of] {v.}, {informal} To change quickly from a bad habit,
mood, or feeling to a better one. - Often used with "it". * /Mary was
unhappy when her fiance abandoned her, but she snapped out of it when
she met a new young man./ * /The coach told the lazy player to snap
out of it./
[snappy] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.
[snapshot] {n.} A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait.
* /We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving around the
island./
[snap up] {v.}, {informal} To take or accept eagerly. * /Eggs were
on sale cheap, and the shoppers snapped up the bargain./ * /Mr. Hayes
told Bob that he would take him skiing, and Bob snapped up the offer./
[sneak] See: QUARTERBACK SNEAK.
[sneak away] See: SLIP AWAY.
[sneak up on] See: CREEP UP ON.
[sneeze at] {v.}, {informal} To think of as not important; not take
seriously. - Used with negative or limiting words and in questions. *
/Mr. Jones was chosen by his party to run for President. He was not
elected, but to be chosen to run is not to be sneezed at./ * /If you
think Mrs. Green's tests are things to be sneezed at, you have a
surprise coming./ * / Is a thousand dollars anything to sneeze at?/ *
/John finished third in a race with twenty other runners. That is
nothing to sneeze at./
[sniff out] See: FERRET OUT.
[snow in] {v.} To block up or trap by much snow; keep inside, *
/After the storm the farmer and his family were snowed in for three
days./ * /The train went off the track and the passengers were snowed
in for several days./
[snow job] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Insincere or exaggerated
talk designed to gain the favors of someone. * /Joe gave Sue a snow
job and she believed every word of it./ 2. The skillful display of
technical vocabulary and prestige terminology in order to pass oneself
off as an expert in a specialized field without really being a
knowledgeable worker in that area. * /That talk by Nielsen on
pharmaceuticals sounded very impressive, but I will not hire him
because it was essentially a snow job./
[snow under] {v.} 1. To cover over with snow. * /The doghouse was
snowed under during the blizzard./ 2. {informal} To give so much of
something that it cannot be taken care of; to weigh down by so much of
something that' you cannot do anything about it. - Usually used in the
passive. * /The factory received so many orders that it was snowed
under with work./ * /The disabled girl was snowed under with Christmas
letters./
[snuff] See: UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.
[snug as a bug in a rug] {adj. phr.} Comfortable; cozy. * /"Are you
warm enough?" the boy's mother asked. "Yeah," he replied, "I'm snug as
a bug in a rug."/
[so] See: AND SO FORTH or AND SO ON, EVEN SO, EVERY NOW AND THEN or
EVERY SO OFTEN, HOW SO, IN SO MANY WORDS, IS THAT SO, OR SO, THUS AND
SO.
[soak in] See: SINK IN.
[soak up] {v.} 1. To take up water or other liquid as a sponge
does. * /The rag soaked up the water that I spilled./ 2. To use a
sponge or something like a sponge to take up liquid. * /John soaked up
the water with the rag./ 3. {informal} To take up into yourself in the
way a sponge takes up water. * /Mary was lying on the beach soaking up
the sun./ * /Charles soaks up facts as fast as the teacher gives
them./
[so-and-so(1)] {pronoun}, {informal} Someone whose name is not
given. * /Don't tell me what so-and-so thinks. Tell me what you
think./
[so-and-so(2)] {n.}, {informal} A person of a special kind and
usually of a very bad kind. - This word is used in place of a more
unacceptable word or swear word. * /I wish that old so-and-so who
thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now./ * /He called
me a dirty so-and-so and I hit him in the mouth./ - Sometimes used in
a joking way. * /Peter met his friend John and said, "Hello there, you
old so-and-so."/
[so --- as to] - Used with an adjective or adverb before an
infinitive to show a result. * /Who could be so mean as to do a thing
like that?/ * /Ruth wouldn't be so careless as to forget her pen./
Compare: SO --- THAT.
[soap opera] {n. phr.} Radio or television serialized stories of a
sentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and social intrigue.
These shows often advertise soap products, hence their name. * /The
two longest running soap operas in the United States were "Dallas" and
"Knot's Landing."/
[so as to] See: IN ORDER TO.
[sob all the way to the bank] See: CRY ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
Contrast: LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
[so bad] See: NOT BAD.
[so be it] also [be it so] {adv. phr.}, {formal} 1. Let it be that
way; may it be so. So be it. * /We shall smoke the pipe of peace./ 2.
Very well; all right. * /Will the company lose money by doing this? So
be it, then./
[sob story] {n.} A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a tale
that makes you tearful. * /The beggar told us a long sob story before
he asked for money./ * /The movie is based on a sob story, but people
love it./
[social climber] {n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or
well-known people and be accepted by them as friends and equals. *
/People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social
climber./ * /Social climbers are usually soon known and they are not
accepted by those they run after./
[sock] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A SOCK AT.
[sock it] {v. phr.}, also {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} To give
one's utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable
of. * /Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em!/ * /I was watching the debate on
television and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them./
[soda jerk] or [soda jerker] {n.}, {informal} A person who serves
soda and ice cream to customers, usually in a drug store or ice cream
parlor. * /Bob worked as a soda jerk at the drug store all summer./ *
/He is just a soda jerker with no future./
[so far] also [thus far] {adv.} Until this time or to this place. *
/The weather has been hot so far this summer./ * /This is a lonely
road. We have not met another car so far./
[so far as] See: AS FAR AS.
[so far, so good] {informal} Until now things have gone well. * /So
far, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck./
[soft drink] {n. phr.} A nonalcoholic beverage such as 7-Up,
Coca-Cola, etc. * /She drinks no alcohol; she always orders a soft
drink./
[softhearted] {adj.} Generous; sympathetic. * /Street beggars tend
to exploit the softhearted nature of passersby./
[soft touch] {n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom
it is easy to get help, primarily money. * /My Uncle Herb is a soft
touch; whenever I'm in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./
[so help me] {interj.}, {informal} I promise; I swear; may I be
punished if I lie. * /I've told you the truth, so help me./ * /So help
me, there was nothing else I could do./
[soil one's hands] See: DIRTY ONE'S HANDS.
[so it goes] Akin to the French "c'est la vie!" This exclamation
means "that's life." * /Too bad Jim has lost his job but there are
lots of people who are better qualified; well, so it goes!/
[sold on] {adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced of
the value of. * /When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andy
was hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them./
[so long] {interj.}, {informal} Good-bye. - Used when you are
leaving someone or he is leaving you. * /So long, I will be back
tomorrow./
[so long as] See: AS LONG AS.
[so many(1)] {adj.} 1. A limited number of; some * /Our school
auditorium will hold only so many people./ 2. A group of. - Often used
for emphasis. * /The children were all sitting very quietly in their
chairs, like so many dolls./ Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} * /Bob is always
bragging; his stories are just so many lies./
[so many(2)] {pron}. A limited number; some. * /Many people want to
come to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many./ * /Don't
give the boys all the cookies they want; give so many to Tom, so many
to Dick, and so many to Bob./ Compare: SO MUCH.
[some] See: AND THEN SOME.
[somebody up there loves/hates me] {slang} An expression intimating
that an unseen power in heaven, such as God, has been favorable or
unfavorable to the one making the exclamation. * /Look at all the
money I won! I say somebody up there sure loves me!/ * /Look at all
the money I've lost! I say somebody up there sure hates me!/
[some of these days] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS.
[something] See: HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR ONE, HAVE SOMETHING ON,
MAKE SOMETHING OF, START SOMETHING.
[something else] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} So good as to be
beyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. *
/Janet Hopper is really something else./
[something else again] {n. phr.} A different kind of thing;
something different. * /I don't care if you borrow my dictionary
sometimes, but taking it without asking and keeping it is something
else again./ * /"But I don't want a new car," Charles said to the car
dealer, "I want a used car." "Oh," said the car dealer, "that's
something else again."/
[so much(1)] {adj.} 1. A limited amount of; some. * /Sometimes
students wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do
their lessons./ * /If you can't give everyone a full glass of milk,
just put so much milk in each glass./ 2. Equally or amounting to; only
amounting to. - Often used for emphasis. * /Charley spends money as if
it were so much paper./ * /What Mary said was so much nonsense; there
wasn't a word of truth in it./ Compare: SO MANY(1).
[so much(2)] {pron.} A limited amount; some; a price or amount that
is agreed or will be agreed on. * /You can do only so much in a day./
* /Milk costs so much a quart but cream costs so much a pint./
Compare: SO MANY(2).
[so much(3)] {adv.} By that much; by the amount shown; even. - Used
with the comparative and usually followed by "the". * /I can't go
tomorrow. So much the better; we'll go today./ * /John isn't coming to
the picnic. So much the more for us to eat!/ * /So much the worse for
you if you break the rules./ Syn.: ALL THE(2).
[so much as] {adv. phr.} 1. Even. - Usually used in negative
sentences and questions. * /He didn't so much as thank me for
returning his money that I found./ * /Would you so much as get me a
glass of water? No, you wouldn't./ 2. See: AS MUCH AS(2).
[so much for] Enough has been said or done about. - Used to point
out that you have finished with one thing or are going to take up
something else. * /So much for the geography of Ireland, we will now
talk about the people who live there./ * /"I have nothing more to say
to you, Tommy, and so much for that," Mary said angrily./
[son] See: FAVORITE SON, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.
[song] See: FOR A SONG.
[song and dance] {n.}, {informal} 1. Foolish or uninteresting talk;
dull nonsense. Usually used with "give". * /I met Nancy today and she
gave me a long song and dance about her family./ 2. A long lie or
excuse, often meant to get pity. Usually used with "give". * /Billy
gave the teacher a song and dance about his mother being sick as an
excuse for being late./ * /The tramp asked us for money and tried to
give us a big song and dance about having to buy a bus ticket to
Chicago./
[sonic boom] {n.} A loud noise and vibration in the air, made when
a jet plane passes the speed of sound (1087 feet per second). * /Fast
jet planes sometimes cause a sonic boom, which can break windows and
crack the plaster in houses below them./ * /We thought there was an
explosion or earthquake, but it was only a sonic boom that shook the
house./
[son of a bitch] or [sunuvabitch] also S.O.B. {n. phr.}, {vulgar},
{avoidable} (but becoming more and more acceptable, especially if said
with a positive or loving intonation). Fellow, character, guy,
individual. Negatively: * /Get out of here you filthy, miserable
sunuvabitch!/ Positively: * /So you won ten million dollars at the
lottery, you lucky son of a bitch (or sunuvabitch)!/ Compare: SON OF A
GUN.
[son of a gun] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. A bad person; a person not
liked. * /I don't like Charley; keep that son of a gun out of here./
Syn.: BAD ACTOR. 2. A mischievous rascal; a lively guy. - Often used
in a joking way. * /The farmer said he would catch the son of a gun
who let the cows out of the barn./ * /Hello Bill, you old son of a
gun!/ Compare: SO AND SO. 3. Something troublesome; a hard job. * /The
test today was a son of a gun./ Used as an exclamation, usually to
show surprise or disappointment. * /Son of a gun! I lost my car keys./
Compare: SON OF A BITCH.
[soon] See: AS SOON, FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED.
[sooner] See: HAD RATHER or HAD SOONER, NO SOONER --- THAN.
[sooner or later] {adv. phr.} At some unknown time in the future;
sometime. * /John will come back sooner or later./ * /Grandpa is very
slow about fixing things around the house, but he always does it
sooner or later./ Compare: OR OTHER.
[sore] See: SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.
[sore spot] or [sore point] {n.} A weak or sensitive part; a
subject or thing about which someone becomes angry or upset easily. *
/Don't ask Uncle John why his business failed; it's a sore spot with
him./ Compare: WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.
[sorrow] See: DROWN ONE'S SORROWS.
[sort] See: OF SORTS, IN A WAY also IN A SORT OF WAY.
[sort of] See: KIND OF.
[sort out] {v. phr.} 1. To alphabetize; arrange in numerical order.
* /The secretary helped Professor Brown sort out his numerous index
cards./ 2. To clarify. * /"Help me sort out these bills," she begged
her husband./
[so-so] {adj.} Fair; neither good nor bad. * /The children's grades
were just so-so on the test./ * /How is the fishing today? So-so./
[so that] {conj.} 1. or in order that; for the purpose that; so. -
"So that" is usually followed by "can" or "could"; "in order that" is
usually followed by "may" or "might". * /Let's get ready now so that
we can leave when Father comes./ * /Betty saved her money in order
that she might buy a doll./ Compare: IN ORDER TO. 2. With the result
that; so. * /My pencil fell under my desk, so that I couldn't see it./
* /George often told stories that weren't true, so that no one
believed him when he told about a deer in the school yard./
[so --- that] - Used with an adjective or adverb before a clause of
result. * /The bus was so full that I could hardly turn around./ *
/Billy pitched so well that everyone cheered him at the end of the
game./
[so to speak] {adv. phr.} To say it in this way. * /John was, so to
speak, the leader of the club, but he was officially only the club's
secretary./ * /The horse, so to speak, danced on his hind legs./
Compare: AS IT WERE.
[sought after] {adj.} Wanted by many buyers; searched for. *
/Antiques are much sought after nowadays./ Syn.: IN DEMAND.
[soul] See: HEART AND SOUL, KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.
[soul-searching] See: SEARCH ONE'S HEART or SEARCH ONE S SOUL.
[sound] See: HIGH-SOUNDING, SAFE AND SOUND.
[sound effects] {n.} The noises made to imitate real sounds in a
play, movie, or program. * /Greg agreed to plan the sound effects for
the class play./ * /The movie was good but the sound effects were not
very true to life./
[sound off] {v.} 1. To say your name or count "One! Two! Three!
Four!" as you march. - Used as orders in U.S. military service. *
/"Sound off!" said the sergeant, and the soldiers shouted, "One! Two!
Three! Four!" with each step as they marched./ 2. {informal} To tell
what you know or think in a loud clear voice, especially to brag or
complain. * /If you don't like the way we're doing the job, sound
off!/ * /George sounded off about how the game should have been
played./ * /The teacher is always sounding off about the students not
doing their homework./ Compare: SPEAK ONE'S PIECE, SPEAK OUT.
[sound out] {v.} To try to find out how a person feels about
something usually by careful questions. * /Alfred sounded out his boss
about a day off from his job./ * /When you see the coach, sound him
out about my chances of getting on the basketball team./ Syn.: FEEL
OUT.
[sound sheet] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A thin low-quality
phonograph recording frequently bound into books and magazines for use
as promotional or advertising material; it may have either a spoken or
a musical message. * /Don't throw that away; Sue is collecting sound
sheets for her market research course./
[sound truck] {n. phr.} A truck equipped with loudspeakers. *
/During the senatorial campaign, the streets of the big city were full
of sound trucks blaring out messages./
[soup] See: IN THE SOUP.
[souped-up] {adj.}, {informal} More powerful or faster because of
changes and additions. * /Many teen-aged boys like to drive souped-up
cars./ * /The basketball team won the last five games with souped-up
plays./
[so what] {informal} Used as an impolite reply showing that you
don't care about what another has said. * /Roy boasted that he was in
the sixth grade, but Ted said, "So what? I am in Junior High."/ Syn.:
WHAT OF IT.
[sow one's wild oats] {v. phr.} To do bad or foolish things,
especially while you are young. * /Mr. Jones sowed his wild oats while
he was in college, but now he is a wiser and better man./
[space] See: OUTER SPACE.
[spaced out] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Having gaps in one's train
of thought, confused, incoherent; resembling the behavior of someone
who is under the influence of drugs. * /Joe's been acting funny lately
- spaced out, you might say./
[space probe] {n.}, {Space English} An unmanned spacecraft other
than an Earth satellite fitted with instruments which gather and
transmit information about other planets in the solar system (e.g.,
Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) on what are called fly-by missions, i.e.,
without the craft landing on any of these bodies. * /Both the U.S.A.
and Russia have sent up many a space probe in the past decade./
[spade] See: CALL A SPADE A SPADE.
[Spain] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR or BUILD CASTLES IN SPAIN.
[spar with] See: FENCE WITH.
[speak] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, CHILDREN AND FOOLS
SPEAK THE TRUTH, NOT TO MENTION or NOT TO SPEAK OF, SHORT-SPOKEN, SO
TO SPEAK, TO SPEAK OF.
[speakeasy] {n.} A bar during Prohibition where illegal alcoholic
beverages were sold. * /Al Capone's associates met in a Chicago
speakeasy to drink and discuss business./
[speaker] See: PUBLIC SPEAKER.
[speak for] {v.} 1. To speak in favor of or in support of. * /At
the meeting John spoke for the change in the rules./ * /The other
girls made jokes about Jane, but Mary spoke for her./ 2. To make a
request for; to ask for. * /The teacher was giving away some books.
Fred and Charlie spoke for the same one./ 3. To give an impression of;
be evidence that (something) is or will be said. - Used with the words
"well" or "ill". * /It seems that it will rain today. That speaks ill
for the picnic this afternoon./ * /Who robbed the cookie jar? The
crumbs on your shirt speak ill for you, Billy./ * /John wore a clean
shirt and a tie when he went to ask for a job, and that spoke well for
him./ * /It speaks well for Mary that she always does her homework./
[speak of the devil and he appears] A person comes just when you
are talking about him. - A proverb. * /We were just talking about Bill
when he came in the door. Speak of the devil and he appears./
[speak one's mind] {v. phr.} To say openly what you think; give
advice that may not be liked. * /John thought it was wrong to keep
George out of the club and he spoke his mind about it./ Compare: SOUND
OFF.
[speak one's piece] See: SAY ONE'S PIECE.
[speak out of turn] {v. phr.} To say something tactless; commit an
indiscretion. * /You spoke out of turn in criticizing Aunt Hermione's
old furniture; she considers herself quite a connoisseur on the
subject./
[speak out] or [speak up] {v.} 1. To speak in a loud or clear
voice. * /The trucker told the shy boy to speak up./ 2. To speak in
support of or against someone or something. * /Willie spoke up for Dan
as club president./ * /Ed spoke up against letting girls join the
club./
[speak the same language] {v. phr.} To have similar feelings,
thoughts, and tastes; have a mutual understanding with another person.
* /We both love listening to Mozart. Obviously, we speak the same
language./
[speak volumes] {v. phr.} To tell or show much in a way other than
speaking; be full of meaning. * /The nice present she gave you spoke
volumes for what she thinks of you./ * /A child's choice of hobbies
speaks volumes./ Compare: READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
[speak well of] {v. phr.} To approve of; praise. * /Everyone always
speaks well of my sister because she's so kind./
[speak with a forked tongue] {v. phr.}, {literary} To lie; to say
one thing while thinking of the opposite. * /I have learned not to
trust Peter's promises because he speaks with a forked tongue./
[speed trap] {n.} A place where police hide and wait to catch
drivers who are going even a little faster than the speed limit. *
/Mr. Jones was caught in a speed trap./
[speed up] {v.} To go faster than before; also, to make go faster.
* /The car speeded up when it reached the country./ * /Push in the
throttle to speed up the engine./ Compare: PICK UP(12). Contrast: SLOW
DOWN.
[spell out] {v.} 1. To say or read aloud the letters ot a word, one
by one; spell. * /John could not understand the word the teacher was
saying, so she spelled it out on the blackboard./ 2. To read slowly,
have trouble in understanding. * /The little boy spelled out the
printed words./ 3. {informal} To explain something in very simple
words; explain very clearly. * /The class could not understand the
problem, so the teacher spelled it out for them./ * /Before the game
the coach spelled out to the players what he wanted them to do./
Compare: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
[spell trouble] {v. phr.} To signify major difficulties ahead. *
/The note we just received from the Chancellor seems to spell
trouble./
[spending money] or [pocket money] {n.} Money that is given to a
person to spend. * /When the seniors went to New York City on a trip,
each was given $10 in spending money./ * /Father gave John a nickel in
pocket money when he went to the store with Mother./
[spend the night] {v. phr.} To sleep somewhere. * /It was so late
after the party that we decided to spend the night at our friends'
house./
[spick-and-span] {adj.} Sparkling clean; having a brand new look. *
/She is such a good housekeeper that her kitchen is always
spick-and-span./
[spill] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.
[spill the beans] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell a secret to someone
who is not supposed to know about it. * /John's friends were going to
have a surprise party for him, but Tom spilled the beans./ Compare:
GIVE AWAY(3), LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.
[spin a yarn] {v. phr.} To tell a story of adventure with some
exaggeration mixed in; embellish and protract such a tale. * /Uncle
Fred, who used be a sailor, knows how to spin a fascinating yarn, but
don't always believe everything he says./
[spine-chilling] {adj.} Terrifying; causing great fear. * /Many
children find the movie, "Frankenstein," spine-chilling./ * /A was
spine-chilling to learn that a murderer was in our neighborhood./
Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[spine-tingling] {adj.} Very exciting; thrilling. * /Our ride up
the mountain in a chair lift was spine-tingling./ * /The children's
plane ride was a spine-tingling adventure to them./
[spinoff] {n.} A byproduct of something else. * /The television
soap opera "Knot's Landing" was considered a spinoff of "Dallas," with
many of the same characters featured in both./
[spin off] {v. phr.} To bring something into existence as a
byproduct of something that already exists. * /When Dr. Catwallender
opened his medical practice, he also spun off a small dispensary
beside it where patients could get their prescriptions filled./
[spin one's wheels] {v. phr.} 1. Said of cars stuck in snow or mud
whose wheels are turning without the car moving forward. * /There was
so much snow on the driveway that my car's wheels were spinning in it
and we couldn't get going./ 2. To exert effort in a job without making
any progress. * /I've been working for the firm for two decades, but I
feel I am merely spinning my wheels./
[spin out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out of control. * /The bus spun out
on the icy road and fell into the ditch./ 2. To make something go out
of control. * /Tom stepped on the brakes so fast that he spun his car
out of control and went off the road./
[spirit away] {v. phr.} To hide or smuggle something out; abduct. *
/The famous actress was spirited away by her bodyguards as soon as she
emerged from the door./
[spite] See: CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE.
[spit] or [piss into the wedding cake] {v. phr.}, {vulgar},
{avoidable} To spoil someone's pleasure or celebration by doing or
saying something harsh or unseemly in an otherwise happy gathering;
bring up depressing or unhappy subjects at a supposedly happy time. *
/Stuart really spit into the wedding cake when he told Burt in a
bragging fashion that Lucy, Burl's bride, used to be his girlfriend./
[spitting image] {n.} or [spit and image] {informal} An exact
likeness; a duplicate. * /John is the spitting image of his
grandfather./ * /That vase is the spitting image of one I wanted to
buy in Boston./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.
[spit up] {v.} To vomit a little. * /The baby always spits up when
he is burped./ * /Put a bib on the baby. I don't want him to spit up
on his clean clothes./
[split end] {n.} An end in football who plays five to ten yards out
from the tackle in the line. * /The split end is one of the
quarterback's most important targets for passes./ Contrast: TIGHT END.
[split hairs] {v. phr.} To find and argue about small and
unimportant differences as if the differences are important. * /John
is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something
small and unimportant./ * /Don't split hairs about whose turn it is to
wash the dishes and make the beds; let's work together and finish
sooner./
[split second] {n.} A very short time; less than a second. * /The
lightning flash lasted a split second, and then disappeared./
[split the difference] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a money
disagreement by dividing the difference, each person giving up half. *
/Bob offered $25 for Bill's bicycle and Bill wanted $35; they split
the difference./
[split ticket] {n.} A vote for candidates from more than one party.
* /Mr. Jones voted a split ticket./ * /An independent voter likes a
split ticket./ Contrast: STRAIGHT TICKET.
[split up] {v. phr.} 1. To separate; get a divorce. * /After three
years of marriage, the unhappy couple finally split up./ 2. To
separate something; divide into portions. * /The brothers split up
their father's fortune among themselves after his death./
[split-up] {n.} A separation or division into two or many smaller
parts. * /The split-up of our company was due to the founder's
untimely death./
[spoil for] {v. phr.} To want something very badly; be belligerent
or pugnacious about something. * /After a few drinks it became
embarrassingly evident that Hal was spoiling for a fight./ Compare:
HANKER AFTER, LUST FOR.
[spoken for] {adj.} Occupied; reserved; taken; already engaged or
married. * /"Sorry, my boy," Mr. Jones said condescendingly, "but my
daughter is already spoken for. She will marry Fred Wilcox next
month."/
[sponge] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[sponge bath] {n.} A bath with a cloth or sponge and a little
water. * /During the drought the family had only sponge baths./ * /The
family took sponge baths because they had no bathtub./
[sponge on] or [off] {v. phr.} To exploit parasitically; depend
upon for support. * /He is already forty years old, but he refuses to
[six bits] {n.}, {slang} Seventy-five cents. * /"Lend me six bits
till Friday, Sam," said Jim. "I've spent all my allowance."/ Compare:
TWO BITS.
[six of one and half-a-dozen of the other] {n. phr.} Two things the
same; not a real choice; no difference. * /Which coat do you like
better, the brown or the blue? It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the
other./ * /Johnny says it's six of one and half-a-dozen of the other
whether he does the job tonight or tomorrow night./
[size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE, PINT-SIZE.
[size up] {v.}, {informal} To decide what one thinks about
(something); to form an opinion about (something). * /Give Joe an hour
to size up the situation and he'll tell you what to do next./ * /Our
coach went to New York to size up the team we'll face in our
homecoming game./ Compare: TAKE STOCK(2).
[skate] See: CHEAP SKATE.
[skate on thin ice] {v. phr.} To take a chance; risk danger,
disapproval or anger. * /You'll be skating on thin ice if you ask Dad
to increase your allowance again./ * /John knew he was skating on thin
ice, but he could not resist teasing his sister about her boyfriend./
[skating rink] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
Slippery road. * /Attention all units - there's a skating rink ahead!/
[skeleton in the closet] {n. phr.} A shameful secret; someone or
something kept hidden, especially by a family. * /The skeleton in our
family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he drank
too much./
[skid lid] {n.}, {slang} A crash helmet worn by motorcyclists and
race drivers. * /How much did you pay for that handsome skid lid?/
[skid row] {n.} The poor part of a city where men live who have no
jobs and drink too much liquor. * /That man was once rich, but he
drank and gambled too much, and ended his life living on skid row./ *
/The Bowery is New York City's skid row./
[skim the surface] {v. phr.} To do something very superficially. *
/He seems knowledgeable in many different areas but his familiarity is
very superficial, since he only skims the surface of everything he
touches./
[skin] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN, JUMP
OUT OF ONE'S SKIN, KEEP ONE'S EYES PEELED or KEEP ONE'S EYES SKINNED,
SAVE ONE'S NECK or SAVE ONE'S SKIN, WITH A WHOLE SKIN or IN A WHOLE
SKIN.
[skin alive] {v. phr.} 1. {informal} To scold angrily. * /Mother
will skin you alive when she sees your torn pants./ 2. {informal} To
spank or beat. * /Dad was ready to skin us alive when he found we had
ruined his saw./ 3. {slang} To defeat. * /We all did our best, but the
visiting gymnastic team skinned us alive./
[skin and bones] {n.} A person or animal that is very thin; someone
very skinny. * /The puppy is healthy now, but when we found him he was
just skin and bones./ * /Have you been dieting? You're nothing but
skin and bones!/
[skin-deep] {adj.} Only on the surface; not having any deep or
honest meaning; not really or closely connected with what it seems to
belong to. * /Mary's friendliness with Joan is only skin-deep./ *
/Ralph crammed for the test and got a good grade, but his knowledge of
the lesson is only skin-deep./ Contrast: BRED IN THE BONE.
[skin off one's nose] {n. phr.}, {slang} Matter of interest,
concern, or trouble to you. Normally used in the negative. * /Go to
Jake's party if you wish. It's no skin off my nose./ * /Grace didn't
pay any attention to our argument. It wasn't any skin off her nose./ *
/You could at least say hello to our visitor. It's no skin off your
nose./
[skip] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT.
[skip bail] See: JUMP BAIL.
[skip it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To forget all about it. * /When
Jack tried to reward him for returning his lost dog, the man said to
skip it./ * /I asked what the fight was about, but the boys said to
skip it./
[skip out] {v.}, {informal} To leave in a hurry; especially after
cheating or taking money dishonestly; sneak away; leave without
permission. * /The man skipped out of the hotel without paying his
bill./ * /"How did you get out of the house after supper, Harry? " "I
skipped out!"/
[skirt around] {v. phr.} To avoid something. * /"Let's not skirt
around the facts," said the attorney to his client. "You must tell me
the truth."/
[sky] See: OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A CLEAR
BLUE SKY, REACH FOR THE SKY.
[sky is the limit] There is no upper limit to something. * /"Buy me
the fastest racehorse in Hong Kong," Mr. Lee instructed his broker.
"Spend whatever is necessary; the sky is the limit."/
[slack off] {v. phr.} 1. To become less active; grow lazy. * /Since
construction work has been slacking off toward the end of the summer,
many workers were dismissed./ 2. To gradually reduce; taper off. *
/The snowstorms tend to slack off over the Great Lakes by the first of
April./
[slam] See: GRAND SLAM.
[slap down] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop (someone, usually in a lower
position or job) from doing or saying something, in a rough way or
with a scolding; silence. * /When Billy talked back, the teacher
slapped him down./ 2. To put a quick stop to; refuse roughly. * /The
boss slapped down our idea of taking a nap on the job every
afternoon./
[slap in the face(1)] {n.} An insult; a disappointment. * /We felt
that it was a slap in the face when our gift was returned unopened./ *
/Doris thought it was a slap in the face when her boyfriend invited
another girl to the dance./ Compare: KICK IN THE PANTS.
[slap in the face(2)] {v. phr.} To insult; embarrass; make feel
bad. * /John slapped our club in the face by saying that everyone in
it was stupid./ * /I don't want to slap her in the face by not coming
to her party./
[slap one's wrist] {v. phr.} To receive a light punishment. * /She
could have been fired for contradicting the company president in
public, but all she got was a slap on the wrist./
[slap together] See: THROW TOGETHER(1).
[slate] See: CLEAN SLATE.
[slated for] or [slated to be] Going to be; planned or intended
for. * /People think the governor is slated to be president./ * /That
subject is slated for debate at the next meeting./
[slave driver] {n.} A cruel, merciless boss or employer who makes
the people under him work extremely hard for little compensation. *
/Mr. Catwallender is such a slave driver that nobody cares to work for
him anymore./
[sledding] See: HARD SLEDDING or ROUGH SLEDDING or TOUGH SLEDDING.
[sleep] See: BEAUTY SLEEP, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, SLEEP A WINK.
[sleep around] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be free
with one's sexual favors; to behave promiscuously. * /Sue Catwallender
is a nice girl but she sleeps around an awful lot with all sorts of
guys./
[sleep a wink] {v. phr.} To get a moment's sleep; enjoy a bit of
sleep. - Used in negative and conditional statements and in questions.
* /I didn't sleep a wink all night./
[sleep like a log] {v. phr.} To sleep very deeply and soundly. *
/Although I am usually a light sleeper, I was so exhausted from the
sixteen-hour transpacific flight that, once we got home, I slept like
a log for twelve hours./
[sleep off] {v. phr.} To sleep until the effect of too much alcohol
or drugs passes. * /George had too many beers last night and he is now
sleeping off the effects./
[sleep on] {v.} To postpone a decision about. * /We asked Judy if
she would join our club and she answered that she would sleep on it./
* /We will have to sleep on your invitation until we know whether we
will be free Monday night./
[sleep out] {v.} 1. To sleep outdoors. * /The Scouts plan to sleep
out next Saturday./ 2. To go home at night instead of sleeping at the
place where you work. * /Mrs. Jones' maid sleeps in, but her cook
sleeps out./
[sleep with] {v. phr.} To have a sexual affair with someone; have
sex; copulate. * /It has been rumored in the office that the boss
sleeps with all the girls he hires./
[sleeve] See: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE, LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH
IN ONE'S SLEEVE, ROLL UP ONE'S SLEEVES, UP ONE'S SLEEVE or IN ONE'S
SLEEVE, WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE also PIN ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S
SLEEVE.
[sling hash] {v.}, {slang} To serve food, especially in a cheap,
small diner, a drive-in, or short-order restaurant. * /Jake got a job
slinging hash at the new drive-in restaurant./ * /Jody earned money
for college by slinging hash in a restaurant during the summer./
Compare: SHORT-ORDER COOK.
[slinging match] {n. phr.} A loud, angry quarrel. * /The debate
deteriorated into a most unseemly slinging match./
[slip] See: GIVE THE SLIP, SALES CHECK or SALES SLIP.
[slip a cog] or [slip a gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make a mistake.
* /I must have been slipping a cog when I said that I would run for
mayor./ * /Jim hates to sleep outdoors. He's slipping his gears if
he's promised to take the boys camping./ Compare: SLIP UP.
[slip away] {v. phr.} To leave unnoticed. * /The party was such a
bore that we decided to quietly slip away./
[slip off] {v. phr.} 1. To slide off something. * /The children
climbed up the hill but when it was time to come down, they didn't
walk, but slipped off the smooth, old ledges./ 2. See: SLIP AWAY.
[slip of the lip] See: SLIP OF THE TONGUE.
[slip of the pen] {n. phr.} The mistake of writing something
different from what you should or what you planned. * /That was a slip
of the pen. I meant to write September, not November./ * /I wish you
would forget it. That was a slip of the pen./
[slip of the tongue] also [slip of the lip] {n. phr.} The mistake
of saying something you had not wanted or planned to say; an error of
speech. * /No one would have known our plans if Kay hadn't made a slip
of the tongue./ * /She didn't mean to tell our secret; it was a slip
of the lip./
[slip one's mind] {v. phr.} To forget something. * /I meant to mail
those letters but it entirely slipped my mind./
[slip over] See: PUT OVER(2).
[slip through one's fingers] {v. phr.} To escape without someone's
knowing how. * /Policemen surrounded the building, but the thief
managed to slip through their fingers./ * /Mike earns a good wage, but
he doesn't save a penny. Money just slips through his fingers./
[slipup] {n.} A mistake. * /"I'm sorry, sir. That was an
unfortunate slipup," the barber said when he scratched the client's
face./
[slip up] {v. phr.} To make a mistake. * /Someone at the bank
slipped up. There are only 48 pennies in this 50c roll of coins./ *
/If he hadn't slipped up on the last questions, his score on the test
would have been perfect./
[slow burn] {n.}, {informal} A slowly increasing feeling of anger.
* /The boys kept teasing John, and watched him do a slow burn./ *
/Barbara's slow burn ended only when Mary explained the
misunderstanding./
[slowdown] {n.} A period of lesser activity, usually in the
economic sphere. * /We all hope the current slowdown in the economy
will soon be over./
[slow down] {v. phr.} To go more slowly than usual. * /The road was
slippery, so Mr. Jones slowed down the car./ * /Pat once could run a
mile in five minutes, but now that he's older he's slowing down./
Compare: LET UP(2). STEP DOWN. Contrast: SPEED UP.
[slow on the draw] {adj. phr.} Not very smart; having difficulty
figuring things out. * /Poor Eric doesn't get very good grades in
physics; when it comes to problem-solving, he is rather slow on the
draw./
[slow on the uptake] See: SLOW ON THE DRAW.
[slow tune] See: STANDARD TIME.
[slow up] {v.} 1. To go more slowly. * /The truck slowed up as it
approached the toll gate./ * /Construction on the road slows up
traffic./ 2. To become less busy. * /Business slows up at the stores
after Christmas./
[slug it out] {v. phr.} To have a strong verbal or physical battle
with someone; to contest something most vigorously. * /The two
contenders for the lightweight boxing championship were slugging it
out in the ring./ * /The two candidates for Congress were slugging it
out on radio and on television./
[sly] See: ON THE SLY.
[smack-dab] also {Southern} [smack-to-dab] {adv.}, {informal}
Exactly; squarely. * /The ball landed smack-dab at our feet./ * /The
plane landed smack-to-dab in the middle of the
hay field./
[smack one's lips] {v. phr.} To reveal an appetite for; show
enjoyment of. * /Eleanor smacked her lips over the dessert of
strawberries and whipped cream./
[small] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.
[small frog in a big pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[small fry] {n.} 1. Young children. * /In the park, a sandbox is
provided for the small fry./ 2. Something or someone of little
importance. * /Large dairies ignore the competition from the small fry
who make only a few hundred pounds of cheese a year./
[small] or [wee hours] {n. phr.} The very early hours of the
morning between 1 and 4 A.M. * /My brother was in trouble for coming
home in the small hours./ See: WEE HOURS.
[small talk] {n. phr.} General idle conversation. * /At the party
there was the usual kind of small talk about the cost of living
increase and the war in Africa./
[small-time] {adj.}, {informal} Unimportant; minor; with little
power or importance. * /He has a job as a drummer with a small-time
band./ * /It is a small-time business, but it may grow./ Contrast:
BIG-TIME.
[small wonder] See: NO WONDER.
[smash hit] {n.}, {informal} A very successful play, movie or
opera. * /The school play was a smash hit./
[smell a rat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be suspicious; feel that
something is wrong. * /Every time Tom visits me, one of my ashtrays
disappears. I'm beginning to smell a rat./ * /When the policeman saw a
light go on in the store at midnight, he smelled a rat./
[smell out] See: FERRET OUT.
[smell up] {v.}, {informal} To make a bad smell. * /A skunk smelled
up our yard last night./ * /Mr. Brodsky's cigar smelled up the living
room./
[smile] See: CRACK A SMILE.
[smoke] See: CHAIN-SMOKE, GO UP IN FLAMES or GO UP IN SMOKE, PUT
THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT, WATCH ONE'S DUST or WATCH ONE'S SMOKE.
[smoke like a chimney] {v. phr.}, {informal} To smoke very heavily
and continuously. * /"If you continue smoking like a chimney" the
doctor told my uncle, "you'll wind up in the hospital with lung
cancer."/
[smoke out] {v. phr.} 1. To force out with smoke. * /The boys
smoked a squirrel out of a hollow tree./ * /The farmer tried to smoke
some gophers out of their burrows./ 2. {informal} To find out the
facts about. * /It took the reporter three weeks to smoke out the
whole story./
[smoke-out] {n.} A successful conclusion of an act of investigative
journalism revealing some long-kept secrets. * /Journalist Bob
Woodward was the hero of the Watergate smoke-out./
[smoke screen] {n. phr.} A camouflage; a veil; something used to
cover or hide something. * /June hides her commercial interests behind
a smoke screen of religious piety./
[Smokey Bear] or [Smokey-the-Bear] or [the Smokies] {n.}, {slang},
{citizen's band radio jargon} A policeman; a patrol car; frequently
abbreviated as Smokey. * /Slow down, Smokey's ahead!/ * /A Smokey is
on the move, heading east./
[smooth away] {v.} To remove; (unpleasant feelings) take away. *
/Mr. Jones' new job smoothed away his worry about money./
[smooth down] {v.} To make calm; calm down. * /Mrs. Smith's
feelings were hurt and we couldn't smooth her down./
[smooth over] {v.} To make something seem better or more pleasant;
try to excuse. * /Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary by
making her laugh./ Syn.: GLOSS OVER. Compare: PATCH UP.
[smooth sailing] See: PLAIN SAILING.
[snail's pace] {n.} A very slow movement forward. * /Time moved at
a snail's pace before the holidays./ * /The donkey on which he was
riding moved at a snail's pace./
[snake in the grass] {n. phr.}, {informal} A person who cannot be
trusted; an unfaithful traitor; rascal. * /Did Harry tell you that?
He's a snake in the grass!/ * /Some snake in the grass told the
teacher our plans./
[snap] See: COLD SNAP.
[snap it off] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.
[snap one's fingers at] {v. phr.} To show contempt for; show no
respect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard. * /John snapped
his fingers at the sign that said "Do not enter," and he went in the
door./ * /The highway sign said "Speed limit, 35 miles per hour," but
when a driver snapped his fingers at it by going 55 miles an hour, a
motorcycle policeman arrested him./
[snap out of] {v.}, {informal} To change quickly from a bad habit,
mood, or feeling to a better one. - Often used with "it". * /Mary was
unhappy when her fiance abandoned her, but she snapped out of it when
she met a new young man./ * /The coach told the lazy player to snap
out of it./
[snappy] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.
[snapshot] {n.} A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait.
* /We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving around the
island./
[snap up] {v.}, {informal} To take or accept eagerly. * /Eggs were
on sale cheap, and the shoppers snapped up the bargain./ * /Mr. Hayes
told Bob that he would take him skiing, and Bob snapped up the offer./
[sneak] See: QUARTERBACK SNEAK.
[sneak away] See: SLIP AWAY.
[sneak up on] See: CREEP UP ON.
[sneeze at] {v.}, {informal} To think of as not important; not take
seriously. - Used with negative or limiting words and in questions. *
/Mr. Jones was chosen by his party to run for President. He was not
elected, but to be chosen to run is not to be sneezed at./ * /If you
think Mrs. Green's tests are things to be sneezed at, you have a
surprise coming./ * / Is a thousand dollars anything to sneeze at?/ *
/John finished third in a race with twenty other runners. That is
nothing to sneeze at./
[sniff out] See: FERRET OUT.
[snow in] {v.} To block up or trap by much snow; keep inside, *
/After the storm the farmer and his family were snowed in for three
days./ * /The train went off the track and the passengers were snowed
in for several days./
[snow job] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Insincere or exaggerated
talk designed to gain the favors of someone. * /Joe gave Sue a snow
job and she believed every word of it./ 2. The skillful display of
technical vocabulary and prestige terminology in order to pass oneself
off as an expert in a specialized field without really being a
knowledgeable worker in that area. * /That talk by Nielsen on
pharmaceuticals sounded very impressive, but I will not hire him
because it was essentially a snow job./
[snow under] {v.} 1. To cover over with snow. * /The doghouse was
snowed under during the blizzard./ 2. {informal} To give so much of
something that it cannot be taken care of; to weigh down by so much of
something that' you cannot do anything about it. - Usually used in the
passive. * /The factory received so many orders that it was snowed
under with work./ * /The disabled girl was snowed under with Christmas
letters./
[snuff] See: UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.
[snug as a bug in a rug] {adj. phr.} Comfortable; cozy. * /"Are you
warm enough?" the boy's mother asked. "Yeah," he replied, "I'm snug as
a bug in a rug."/
[so] See: AND SO FORTH or AND SO ON, EVEN SO, EVERY NOW AND THEN or
EVERY SO OFTEN, HOW SO, IN SO MANY WORDS, IS THAT SO, OR SO, THUS AND
SO.
[soak in] See: SINK IN.
[soak up] {v.} 1. To take up water or other liquid as a sponge
does. * /The rag soaked up the water that I spilled./ 2. To use a
sponge or something like a sponge to take up liquid. * /John soaked up
the water with the rag./ 3. {informal} To take up into yourself in the
way a sponge takes up water. * /Mary was lying on the beach soaking up
the sun./ * /Charles soaks up facts as fast as the teacher gives
them./
[so-and-so(1)] {pronoun}, {informal} Someone whose name is not
given. * /Don't tell me what so-and-so thinks. Tell me what you
think./
[so-and-so(2)] {n.}, {informal} A person of a special kind and
usually of a very bad kind. - This word is used in place of a more
unacceptable word or swear word. * /I wish that old so-and-so who
thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now./ * /He called
me a dirty so-and-so and I hit him in the mouth./ - Sometimes used in
a joking way. * /Peter met his friend John and said, "Hello there, you
old so-and-so."/
[so --- as to] - Used with an adjective or adverb before an
infinitive to show a result. * /Who could be so mean as to do a thing
like that?/ * /Ruth wouldn't be so careless as to forget her pen./
Compare: SO --- THAT.
[soap opera] {n. phr.} Radio or television serialized stories of a
sentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and social intrigue.
These shows often advertise soap products, hence their name. * /The
two longest running soap operas in the United States were "Dallas" and
"Knot's Landing."/
[so as to] See: IN ORDER TO.
[sob all the way to the bank] See: CRY ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
Contrast: LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
[so bad] See: NOT BAD.
[so be it] also [be it so] {adv. phr.}, {formal} 1. Let it be that
way; may it be so. So be it. * /We shall smoke the pipe of peace./ 2.
Very well; all right. * /Will the company lose money by doing this? So
be it, then./
[sob story] {n.} A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a tale
that makes you tearful. * /The beggar told us a long sob story before
he asked for money./ * /The movie is based on a sob story, but people
love it./
[social climber] {n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or
well-known people and be accepted by them as friends and equals. *
/People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social
climber./ * /Social climbers are usually soon known and they are not
accepted by those they run after./
[sock] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A SOCK AT.
[sock it] {v. phr.}, also {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} To give
one's utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable
of. * /Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em!/ * /I was watching the debate on
television and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them./
[soda jerk] or [soda jerker] {n.}, {informal} A person who serves
soda and ice cream to customers, usually in a drug store or ice cream
parlor. * /Bob worked as a soda jerk at the drug store all summer./ *
/He is just a soda jerker with no future./
[so far] also [thus far] {adv.} Until this time or to this place. *
/The weather has been hot so far this summer./ * /This is a lonely
road. We have not met another car so far./
[so far as] See: AS FAR AS.
[so far, so good] {informal} Until now things have gone well. * /So
far, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck./
[soft drink] {n. phr.} A nonalcoholic beverage such as 7-Up,
Coca-Cola, etc. * /She drinks no alcohol; she always orders a soft
drink./
[softhearted] {adj.} Generous; sympathetic. * /Street beggars tend
to exploit the softhearted nature of passersby./
[soft touch] {n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom
it is easy to get help, primarily money. * /My Uncle Herb is a soft
touch; whenever I'm in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./
[so help me] {interj.}, {informal} I promise; I swear; may I be
punished if I lie. * /I've told you the truth, so help me./ * /So help
me, there was nothing else I could do./
[soil one's hands] See: DIRTY ONE'S HANDS.
[so it goes] Akin to the French "c'est la vie!" This exclamation
means "that's life." * /Too bad Jim has lost his job but there are
lots of people who are better qualified; well, so it goes!/
[sold on] {adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced of
the value of. * /When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andy
was hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them./
[so long] {interj.}, {informal} Good-bye. - Used when you are
leaving someone or he is leaving you. * /So long, I will be back
tomorrow./
[so long as] See: AS LONG AS.
[so many(1)] {adj.} 1. A limited number of; some * /Our school
auditorium will hold only so many people./ 2. A group of. - Often used
for emphasis. * /The children were all sitting very quietly in their
chairs, like so many dolls./ Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} * /Bob is always
bragging; his stories are just so many lies./
[so many(2)] {pron}. A limited number; some. * /Many people want to
come to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many./ * /Don't
give the boys all the cookies they want; give so many to Tom, so many
to Dick, and so many to Bob./ Compare: SO MUCH.
[some] See: AND THEN SOME.
[somebody up there loves/hates me] {slang} An expression intimating
that an unseen power in heaven, such as God, has been favorable or
unfavorable to the one making the exclamation. * /Look at all the
money I won! I say somebody up there sure loves me!/ * /Look at all
the money I've lost! I say somebody up there sure hates me!/
[some of these days] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS.
[something] See: HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR ONE, HAVE SOMETHING ON,
MAKE SOMETHING OF, START SOMETHING.
[something else] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} So good as to be
beyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. *
/Janet Hopper is really something else./
[something else again] {n. phr.} A different kind of thing;
something different. * /I don't care if you borrow my dictionary
sometimes, but taking it without asking and keeping it is something
else again./ * /"But I don't want a new car," Charles said to the car
dealer, "I want a used car." "Oh," said the car dealer, "that's
something else again."/
[so much(1)] {adj.} 1. A limited amount of; some. * /Sometimes
students wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do
their lessons./ * /If you can't give everyone a full glass of milk,
just put so much milk in each glass./ 2. Equally or amounting to; only
amounting to. - Often used for emphasis. * /Charley spends money as if
it were so much paper./ * /What Mary said was so much nonsense; there
wasn't a word of truth in it./ Compare: SO MANY(1).
[so much(2)] {pron.} A limited amount; some; a price or amount that
is agreed or will be agreed on. * /You can do only so much in a day./
* /Milk costs so much a quart but cream costs so much a pint./
Compare: SO MANY(2).
[so much(3)] {adv.} By that much; by the amount shown; even. - Used
with the comparative and usually followed by "the". * /I can't go
tomorrow. So much the better; we'll go today./ * /John isn't coming to
the picnic. So much the more for us to eat!/ * /So much the worse for
you if you break the rules./ Syn.: ALL THE(2).
[so much as] {adv. phr.} 1. Even. - Usually used in negative
sentences and questions. * /He didn't so much as thank me for
returning his money that I found./ * /Would you so much as get me a
glass of water? No, you wouldn't./ 2. See: AS MUCH AS(2).
[so much for] Enough has been said or done about. - Used to point
out that you have finished with one thing or are going to take up
something else. * /So much for the geography of Ireland, we will now
talk about the people who live there./ * /"I have nothing more to say
to you, Tommy, and so much for that," Mary said angrily./
[son] See: FAVORITE SON, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.
[song] See: FOR A SONG.
[song and dance] {n.}, {informal} 1. Foolish or uninteresting talk;
dull nonsense. Usually used with "give". * /I met Nancy today and she
gave me a long song and dance about her family./ 2. A long lie or
excuse, often meant to get pity. Usually used with "give". * /Billy
gave the teacher a song and dance about his mother being sick as an
excuse for being late./ * /The tramp asked us for money and tried to
give us a big song and dance about having to buy a bus ticket to
Chicago./
[sonic boom] {n.} A loud noise and vibration in the air, made when
a jet plane passes the speed of sound (1087 feet per second). * /Fast
jet planes sometimes cause a sonic boom, which can break windows and
crack the plaster in houses below them./ * /We thought there was an
explosion or earthquake, but it was only a sonic boom that shook the
house./
[son of a bitch] or [sunuvabitch] also S.O.B. {n. phr.}, {vulgar},
{avoidable} (but becoming more and more acceptable, especially if said
with a positive or loving intonation). Fellow, character, guy,
individual. Negatively: * /Get out of here you filthy, miserable
sunuvabitch!/ Positively: * /So you won ten million dollars at the
lottery, you lucky son of a bitch (or sunuvabitch)!/ Compare: SON OF A
GUN.
[son of a gun] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. A bad person; a person not
liked. * /I don't like Charley; keep that son of a gun out of here./
Syn.: BAD ACTOR. 2. A mischievous rascal; a lively guy. - Often used
in a joking way. * /The farmer said he would catch the son of a gun
who let the cows out of the barn./ * /Hello Bill, you old son of a
gun!/ Compare: SO AND SO. 3. Something troublesome; a hard job. * /The
test today was a son of a gun./ Used as an exclamation, usually to
show surprise or disappointment. * /Son of a gun! I lost my car keys./
Compare: SON OF A BITCH.
[soon] See: AS SOON, FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED.
[sooner] See: HAD RATHER or HAD SOONER, NO SOONER --- THAN.
[sooner or later] {adv. phr.} At some unknown time in the future;
sometime. * /John will come back sooner or later./ * /Grandpa is very
slow about fixing things around the house, but he always does it
sooner or later./ Compare: OR OTHER.
[sore] See: SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.
[sore spot] or [sore point] {n.} A weak or sensitive part; a
subject or thing about which someone becomes angry or upset easily. *
/Don't ask Uncle John why his business failed; it's a sore spot with
him./ Compare: WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.
[sorrow] See: DROWN ONE'S SORROWS.
[sort] See: OF SORTS, IN A WAY also IN A SORT OF WAY.
[sort of] See: KIND OF.
[sort out] {v. phr.} 1. To alphabetize; arrange in numerical order.
* /The secretary helped Professor Brown sort out his numerous index
cards./ 2. To clarify. * /"Help me sort out these bills," she begged
her husband./
[so-so] {adj.} Fair; neither good nor bad. * /The children's grades
were just so-so on the test./ * /How is the fishing today? So-so./
[so that] {conj.} 1. or in order that; for the purpose that; so. -
"So that" is usually followed by "can" or "could"; "in order that" is
usually followed by "may" or "might". * /Let's get ready now so that
we can leave when Father comes./ * /Betty saved her money in order
that she might buy a doll./ Compare: IN ORDER TO. 2. With the result
that; so. * /My pencil fell under my desk, so that I couldn't see it./
* /George often told stories that weren't true, so that no one
believed him when he told about a deer in the school yard./
[so --- that] - Used with an adjective or adverb before a clause of
result. * /The bus was so full that I could hardly turn around./ *
/Billy pitched so well that everyone cheered him at the end of the
game./
[so to speak] {adv. phr.} To say it in this way. * /John was, so to
speak, the leader of the club, but he was officially only the club's
secretary./ * /The horse, so to speak, danced on his hind legs./
Compare: AS IT WERE.
[sought after] {adj.} Wanted by many buyers; searched for. *
/Antiques are much sought after nowadays./ Syn.: IN DEMAND.
[soul] See: HEART AND SOUL, KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.
[soul-searching] See: SEARCH ONE'S HEART or SEARCH ONE S SOUL.
[sound] See: HIGH-SOUNDING, SAFE AND SOUND.
[sound effects] {n.} The noises made to imitate real sounds in a
play, movie, or program. * /Greg agreed to plan the sound effects for
the class play./ * /The movie was good but the sound effects were not
very true to life./
[sound off] {v.} 1. To say your name or count "One! Two! Three!
Four!" as you march. - Used as orders in U.S. military service. *
/"Sound off!" said the sergeant, and the soldiers shouted, "One! Two!
Three! Four!" with each step as they marched./ 2. {informal} To tell
what you know or think in a loud clear voice, especially to brag or
complain. * /If you don't like the way we're doing the job, sound
off!/ * /George sounded off about how the game should have been
played./ * /The teacher is always sounding off about the students not
doing their homework./ Compare: SPEAK ONE'S PIECE, SPEAK OUT.
[sound out] {v.} To try to find out how a person feels about
something usually by careful questions. * /Alfred sounded out his boss
about a day off from his job./ * /When you see the coach, sound him
out about my chances of getting on the basketball team./ Syn.: FEEL
OUT.
[sound sheet] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A thin low-quality
phonograph recording frequently bound into books and magazines for use
as promotional or advertising material; it may have either a spoken or
a musical message. * /Don't throw that away; Sue is collecting sound
sheets for her market research course./
[sound truck] {n. phr.} A truck equipped with loudspeakers. *
/During the senatorial campaign, the streets of the big city were full
of sound trucks blaring out messages./
[soup] See: IN THE SOUP.
[souped-up] {adj.}, {informal} More powerful or faster because of
changes and additions. * /Many teen-aged boys like to drive souped-up
cars./ * /The basketball team won the last five games with souped-up
plays./
[so what] {informal} Used as an impolite reply showing that you
don't care about what another has said. * /Roy boasted that he was in
the sixth grade, but Ted said, "So what? I am in Junior High."/ Syn.:
WHAT OF IT.
[sow one's wild oats] {v. phr.} To do bad or foolish things,
especially while you are young. * /Mr. Jones sowed his wild oats while
he was in college, but now he is a wiser and better man./
[space] See: OUTER SPACE.
[spaced out] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Having gaps in one's train
of thought, confused, incoherent; resembling the behavior of someone
who is under the influence of drugs. * /Joe's been acting funny lately
- spaced out, you might say./
[space probe] {n.}, {Space English} An unmanned spacecraft other
than an Earth satellite fitted with instruments which gather and
transmit information about other planets in the solar system (e.g.,
Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) on what are called fly-by missions, i.e.,
without the craft landing on any of these bodies. * /Both the U.S.A.
and Russia have sent up many a space probe in the past decade./
[spade] See: CALL A SPADE A SPADE.
[Spain] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR or BUILD CASTLES IN SPAIN.
[spar with] See: FENCE WITH.
[speak] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, CHILDREN AND FOOLS
SPEAK THE TRUTH, NOT TO MENTION or NOT TO SPEAK OF, SHORT-SPOKEN, SO
TO SPEAK, TO SPEAK OF.
[speakeasy] {n.} A bar during Prohibition where illegal alcoholic
beverages were sold. * /Al Capone's associates met in a Chicago
speakeasy to drink and discuss business./
[speaker] See: PUBLIC SPEAKER.
[speak for] {v.} 1. To speak in favor of or in support of. * /At
the meeting John spoke for the change in the rules./ * /The other
girls made jokes about Jane, but Mary spoke for her./ 2. To make a
request for; to ask for. * /The teacher was giving away some books.
Fred and Charlie spoke for the same one./ 3. To give an impression of;
be evidence that (something) is or will be said. - Used with the words
"well" or "ill". * /It seems that it will rain today. That speaks ill
for the picnic this afternoon./ * /Who robbed the cookie jar? The
crumbs on your shirt speak ill for you, Billy./ * /John wore a clean
shirt and a tie when he went to ask for a job, and that spoke well for
him./ * /It speaks well for Mary that she always does her homework./
[speak of the devil and he appears] A person comes just when you
are talking about him. - A proverb. * /We were just talking about Bill
when he came in the door. Speak of the devil and he appears./
[speak one's mind] {v. phr.} To say openly what you think; give
advice that may not be liked. * /John thought it was wrong to keep
George out of the club and he spoke his mind about it./ Compare: SOUND
OFF.
[speak one's piece] See: SAY ONE'S PIECE.
[speak out of turn] {v. phr.} To say something tactless; commit an
indiscretion. * /You spoke out of turn in criticizing Aunt Hermione's
old furniture; she considers herself quite a connoisseur on the
subject./
[speak out] or [speak up] {v.} 1. To speak in a loud or clear
voice. * /The trucker told the shy boy to speak up./ 2. To speak in
support of or against someone or something. * /Willie spoke up for Dan
as club president./ * /Ed spoke up against letting girls join the
club./
[speak the same language] {v. phr.} To have similar feelings,
thoughts, and tastes; have a mutual understanding with another person.
* /We both love listening to Mozart. Obviously, we speak the same
language./
[speak volumes] {v. phr.} To tell or show much in a way other than
speaking; be full of meaning. * /The nice present she gave you spoke
volumes for what she thinks of you./ * /A child's choice of hobbies
speaks volumes./ Compare: READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
[speak well of] {v. phr.} To approve of; praise. * /Everyone always
speaks well of my sister because she's so kind./
[speak with a forked tongue] {v. phr.}, {literary} To lie; to say
one thing while thinking of the opposite. * /I have learned not to
trust Peter's promises because he speaks with a forked tongue./
[speed trap] {n.} A place where police hide and wait to catch
drivers who are going even a little faster than the speed limit. *
/Mr. Jones was caught in a speed trap./
[speed up] {v.} To go faster than before; also, to make go faster.
* /The car speeded up when it reached the country./ * /Push in the
throttle to speed up the engine./ Compare: PICK UP(12). Contrast: SLOW
DOWN.
[spell out] {v.} 1. To say or read aloud the letters ot a word, one
by one; spell. * /John could not understand the word the teacher was
saying, so she spelled it out on the blackboard./ 2. To read slowly,
have trouble in understanding. * /The little boy spelled out the
printed words./ 3. {informal} To explain something in very simple
words; explain very clearly. * /The class could not understand the
problem, so the teacher spelled it out for them./ * /Before the game
the coach spelled out to the players what he wanted them to do./
Compare: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
[spell trouble] {v. phr.} To signify major difficulties ahead. *
/The note we just received from the Chancellor seems to spell
trouble./
[spending money] or [pocket money] {n.} Money that is given to a
person to spend. * /When the seniors went to New York City on a trip,
each was given $10 in spending money./ * /Father gave John a nickel in
pocket money when he went to the store with Mother./
[spend the night] {v. phr.} To sleep somewhere. * /It was so late
after the party that we decided to spend the night at our friends'
house./
[spick-and-span] {adj.} Sparkling clean; having a brand new look. *
/She is such a good housekeeper that her kitchen is always
spick-and-span./
[spill] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.
[spill the beans] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell a secret to someone
who is not supposed to know about it. * /John's friends were going to
have a surprise party for him, but Tom spilled the beans./ Compare:
GIVE AWAY(3), LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.
[spin a yarn] {v. phr.} To tell a story of adventure with some
exaggeration mixed in; embellish and protract such a tale. * /Uncle
Fred, who used be a sailor, knows how to spin a fascinating yarn, but
don't always believe everything he says./
[spine-chilling] {adj.} Terrifying; causing great fear. * /Many
children find the movie, "Frankenstein," spine-chilling./ * /A was
spine-chilling to learn that a murderer was in our neighborhood./
Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.
[spine-tingling] {adj.} Very exciting; thrilling. * /Our ride up
the mountain in a chair lift was spine-tingling./ * /The children's
plane ride was a spine-tingling adventure to them./
[spinoff] {n.} A byproduct of something else. * /The television
soap opera "Knot's Landing" was considered a spinoff of "Dallas," with
many of the same characters featured in both./
[spin off] {v. phr.} To bring something into existence as a
byproduct of something that already exists. * /When Dr. Catwallender
opened his medical practice, he also spun off a small dispensary
beside it where patients could get their prescriptions filled./
[spin one's wheels] {v. phr.} 1. Said of cars stuck in snow or mud
whose wheels are turning without the car moving forward. * /There was
so much snow on the driveway that my car's wheels were spinning in it
and we couldn't get going./ 2. To exert effort in a job without making
any progress. * /I've been working for the firm for two decades, but I
feel I am merely spinning my wheels./
[spin out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out of control. * /The bus spun out
on the icy road and fell into the ditch./ 2. To make something go out
of control. * /Tom stepped on the brakes so fast that he spun his car
out of control and went off the road./
[spirit away] {v. phr.} To hide or smuggle something out; abduct. *
/The famous actress was spirited away by her bodyguards as soon as she
emerged from the door./
[spite] See: CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE.
[spit] or [piss into the wedding cake] {v. phr.}, {vulgar},
{avoidable} To spoil someone's pleasure or celebration by doing or
saying something harsh or unseemly in an otherwise happy gathering;
bring up depressing or unhappy subjects at a supposedly happy time. *
/Stuart really spit into the wedding cake when he told Burt in a
bragging fashion that Lucy, Burl's bride, used to be his girlfriend./
[spitting image] {n.} or [spit and image] {informal} An exact
likeness; a duplicate. * /John is the spitting image of his
grandfather./ * /That vase is the spitting image of one I wanted to
buy in Boston./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.
[spit up] {v.} To vomit a little. * /The baby always spits up when
he is burped./ * /Put a bib on the baby. I don't want him to spit up
on his clean clothes./
[split end] {n.} An end in football who plays five to ten yards out
from the tackle in the line. * /The split end is one of the
quarterback's most important targets for passes./ Contrast: TIGHT END.
[split hairs] {v. phr.} To find and argue about small and
unimportant differences as if the differences are important. * /John
is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something
small and unimportant./ * /Don't split hairs about whose turn it is to
wash the dishes and make the beds; let's work together and finish
sooner./
[split second] {n.} A very short time; less than a second. * /The
lightning flash lasted a split second, and then disappeared./
[split the difference] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a money
disagreement by dividing the difference, each person giving up half. *
/Bob offered $25 for Bill's bicycle and Bill wanted $35; they split
the difference./
[split ticket] {n.} A vote for candidates from more than one party.
* /Mr. Jones voted a split ticket./ * /An independent voter likes a
split ticket./ Contrast: STRAIGHT TICKET.
[split up] {v. phr.} 1. To separate; get a divorce. * /After three
years of marriage, the unhappy couple finally split up./ 2. To
separate something; divide into portions. * /The brothers split up
their father's fortune among themselves after his death./
[split-up] {n.} A separation or division into two or many smaller
parts. * /The split-up of our company was due to the founder's
untimely death./
[spoil for] {v. phr.} To want something very badly; be belligerent
or pugnacious about something. * /After a few drinks it became
embarrassingly evident that Hal was spoiling for a fight./ Compare:
HANKER AFTER, LUST FOR.
[spoken for] {adj.} Occupied; reserved; taken; already engaged or
married. * /"Sorry, my boy," Mr. Jones said condescendingly, "but my
daughter is already spoken for. She will marry Fred Wilcox next
month."/
[sponge] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[sponge bath] {n.} A bath with a cloth or sponge and a little
water. * /During the drought the family had only sponge baths./ * /The
family took sponge baths because they had no bathtub./
[sponge on] or [off] {v. phr.} To exploit parasitically; depend
upon for support. * /He is already forty years old, but he refuses to