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go to work and sponges off his retired parents./
[spoon] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[spoon-feed] {v.} 1. To feed with a spoon. * /Mothers spoon-feed
their babies./ 2a. To make something too easy for (a person). *
/Bill's mother spoon-fed him and never let him think for himself./ *
/Alice depended on her mother for all decisions because she had been
spoon-fed./ 2b. To make (something) too easy for someone. * /Some
students want the teacher to spoon-feed the lessons./
[sporting blood] {n.} Willingness to take risks; spirit of
adventure. * /The cowboy's sporting blood tempted him to try to ride
the wild horse./ * /The boy's sporting blood caused him to run away
with a circus./
[spot] See: HIT THE HIGH SPOTS, HIT THE SPOT, JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT,
ON THE SPOT or UPON THE SPOT also IN A SPOT, SORE SPOT.
[spot check] {n. phr.} A sample check or investigation. * /Internal
Revenue Service employees often conduct a spot check of individual
returns when the figures don't add up./
[spotlight] See: STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT.
[spread it on thick] See: LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK.
[spread like wildfire] {v. phr.} To spread uncontrollably and
rapidly. * /Bad news has a tendency to spread like wildfire./
[spread oneself too thin] {v. phr.} To try to do too many things at
one time. * /As the owner, chef, waiter, and dishwasher of his
restaurant, Pierre was spreading himself too thin./
[spring a leak] {v. phr.} 1. To develop a hole (said of boats)
through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink. * /When
our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it./
2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. * /Our firm sprang a leak
when the vice president suddenly died of a heart attack./
[spring chicken] {n.}, {slang} A young person. - Usually used with
"no". * /Mr. Brown is no spring chicken, but he can still play tennis
well./ * /The coach is no spring chicken, but he can show the players
what to do./
[spring on one] {v. phr.} To approach someone unexpectedly with an
unpleasant idea or project. * /Our firm was merely six weeks old when
they sprang the news on me that I had to go to Algiers to open a new
branch there./
[spring up] {v. phr.} To arise suddenly. * /Small purple flowers
were springing up all over our backyard./
[sprout wings] {v. phr.} 1. To enter the stage after a period of
development when wings appear (said of larvae that turn into
butterflies). * /The dragonflies suddenly sprouted wings and are
flying all about in the park./ 2. To become good and virtuous (as if
airborne). * /Joe has helped many colleagues in need; he seems to have
sprouted wings./
[spruce up] {v.}, {informal} To make clean or neat. * /Mary spruced
up the house before her company came./ * /John spruced himself up
before he went out on his date./
[spur] See: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT, WIN ONE'S SPURS.
[squad] See: FIRING SQUAD.
[square] See: FAIR AND SQUARE, SHOOT STRAIGHT or SHOOT SQUARE.
[square away] {v. phr.} 1. To arrange the sails of a ship so that
the wind blows from behind. * /The captain ordered the crew to square
away and sail before the wind./ 2. {informal} To put right for use or
action. - Often used in the passive or participle. * /The living room
was squared away for the guests./ * /Harry got into trouble, but his
scoutmaster talked with him and got him squared away./ Syn.:
STRAIGHTEN OUT. 3. {informal} To stand ready to fight; put up your
fists. * /Jack and Lee squared away./ Syn.: SQUARE OFF.
[squared away] {adj. phr.} Looked after properly; tucked away;
arranged. * /My first two daughters are happily married, but my third
one, Jennifer, isn't squared away yet./
[square deal] {n. phr.} 1. Equitable or fair treatment. * /We are
proud to say that at this firm every employee gets a square deal./
Contrast NEW DEAL, RAW DEAL.
[square meal] {n. phr.} A full, nourishing well-balanced meal. *
/The refugees looked as if they hadn't had a square meal in months./
[square off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stand ready for fighting with
the fists. * /The two boxers squared off when the bell rang./
[square oneself with] {v. phr.} To apologize; re-establish
friendship with; make amends. * /"Mr. Alien is very angry with you for
leaving the firm," Bob said. "It will take more than a few words and a
drink to square yourself with him."/
[square one's shoulders] {v. phr.} To stand strong and ready to
give battle; be brave. * /Jack squared his shoulders and entered the
game./ * /Graduates must square their shoulders and face the world./
[square peg in a round hole] {n.}, {informal} A person who does not
fit into a job or position; someone who does not belong where he is. *
/Arthur is a square peg in a round hole when he is playing ball./ *
/George likes to work with his hands. When it comes to books, he's a
square peg in a round hole./ - Sometimes used in a short form, [square
peg].
[square shooter] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT.
[square up] {v. phr.} To liquidate debts and other obligations. *
/I want to square up my medical bills before I accept my new teaching
assignment in Africa./
[squeak] See: PIP-SQUEAK.
[squeak by] {v. phr.} 1. To barely succeed. * /He was so poorly
prepared for his bar exam that he barely squeaked by./ 2. To clear
with difficulty. * /The entrance to the corridor in the old Italian
castle was so narrow that I barely managed to squeak by it./
[squeak through] {v.}, {informal} To be successful but almost fail;
win by a small score. * /Susan squeaked through the history
examination./ * /The football team squeaked through 7-6./ Compare: BY
THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH.
[squeeze out of] {v. phr.} To apply pressure to someone in order to
obtain what one desires. * /The police were interrogating the suspect
to squeeze information out of him./
[stab in the back(1)] {v. phr.}, {slang} To say or do something
unfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). * /Owen
stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him./
[stab in the back(2)] {n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurts
a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a
friend. * /John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from
his store./ * /My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher
I was playing hooky when I was home sick./
[stab in the dark] {n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at something
without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. * /"You're
asking me who could have hidden grandpa's will," Fred said. "I really
have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark - I think my sister
Hermione has it."/
[stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE'S STACK.
[stack the cards] {v. phr.} 1. To arrange cards secretly and
dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. * /The gambler had stacked
the cards against Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or against
a person; have things so that a person has an unfair advantage or
disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things will happen. -
Usually used in the passive with "in one's favor" or "against one." *
/A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor./ * /The
cards are stacked against a poor boy who wants to go to college./
[stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME, HOLD THE STAGE, ON THE
STAGE, SET THE STAGE.
[stage fright] {n. phr.} The fear one feels before appearing in
front of an audience. * /Many famous actors and actresses admit that
they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up./
[stagestruck] {adj.} Desirous of becoming an actor or actress;
enamored of the acting profession. * /Milly is so stagestruck that she
waits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to get
their signatures./
[stage whisper] {n. phr.} A loud whisper intended to reach other
ears than those of the person(s) addressed. * /Some jokes should be
told in a stage whisper./
[stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.
[stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.
[stake a claim] {v. phr.} 1. To claim ownership of land by driving
stakes to show boundaries. * /The gold hunters staked claims in the
West./ 2. {informal} To claim a person or thing as your own by some
sign. Usually used with "on". * /George staked a claim on Dianne by
giving her his class ring./
[stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.
[stamping ground] {n.}, {informal} A place where a person spends
much of his time. * /Pete's soda fountain is an afterschool stamping
ground./ * /When John returned to his hometown many years later, he
visited all of his old stamping grounds./
[stamp out] {v.} To destroy completely and make disappear. * /In
the last few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using
vaccine./ * /The police and judges are trying to stamp out crime./
Compare: WIPE OUT.
[stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL,
LEG TO STAND ON.
[stand a chance] or [stand a show] {n. phr.} To have a possibility
or opportunity; be likely to do or get something. * /Fred doesn't
stand a chance of being elected./ * /We stand a good chance of seeing
Mary at the party./
[standard time] also [slow time] {n.} Clock time that is set by law
or agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in the
United States: the clock time used between fall and spring, which is
an hour slower than the time used in the summer. - Abbreviation ST. *
/When we go to bed Saturday night, we will set our clocks back an
hour, because Sunday we will be on standard time again./ * /Next week
it will get dark an hour earlier, because we will be on standard
time./ Contrast: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
[stand by] {v.} 1. To be close beside or near. * /Mary could not
tell Jane the secret with her little brother standing by./ * /Would
you just stand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother?/ 2.
To be near, waiting to do something when needed. * /The policeman in
the patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, and then stood
by for orders./ * /Lee stood by with a fire extinguisher while the
trash was burning./ 3. To follow or keep (one's promise). * /He is a
boy who always stands by his promises./ 4. To be loyal to; support;
help. * /When three big boys attacked Bill, Ed stood by him./ * /Some
people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joe stood by him./
Compare: BACK UP, HANG TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR.
[stand by one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[stand for] {v.} 1. To be a sign of; make you think of; mean. *
/The letters "U.S.A." stand for "United States of America."/ * /The
written sign "=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals."/ * /Our
flag stands for our country./ * /The owl stands for wisdom./ 2. To
speak in favor of something, or show that you support it. * /The new
President stood for honest government./ * /John always stands for what
is right./ 3. {Chiefly British} To try to be elected for. * /Three men
from London are standing for parliament./ * /The governor did not
stand for reelection./ 4. {informal} To allow to happen or to be done;
permit. - Usually used in the negative, * /The teacher will not stand
for fooling in the classroom./ Compare: HAVE IT(4), PUT UP WITH.
[stand in awe of] {v. phr.} To look upon with wonder; feel very
respectful to. * /Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent./ *
/The soldier stood in awe to his officers./
[stand in for] {v. phr.} To substitute for someone. * /The famous
brain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand in
for him during the operation./
[stand in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.
[stand in with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be liked by or friendly
with. - Usually used with "well". * /John stands in well with the
teacher./
[stand off] {v.} 1. To stay at a distance; stay apart. * /At
parties, Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones is
shy and stands off./ 2. To keep (someone or something) from coming
near or winning. * /The soldiers defending the fort stood off a large
band of Indians./ * /The other schools wanted to beat our team and win
the championship, but our boys stood them all off./ Contrast: GIVE
GROUND.
[standoffish] {adj.} Stiff; aloof; reserved in manner. * /The
famous chess player is hard to get to know because he is so
standoffish./
[stand on ceremony] {v. phr.} To follow strict rules of politeness;
be very formal with other people. - Usually used with a helping verb
in the negative. * /Grandmother does not stand on ceremony when her
grandchildren call./
[stand one in good stead] {v. phr.} To be helpful or useful to. *
/A boy scout knife will stand you in good stead when you do not have
other tools./ * /Julia knew how to typewrite, and that stood her in
good stead when she looked for a job./
[stand one's ground] also [hold one's ground] {v. phr.} 1. To stay
and fight instead of running away. * /The enemy attacked in great
numbers but our men stood their ground./ Compare: GAIN GROUND.
Contrast: GIVE GROUND, LOSE GROUND. 2. To defend a belief or
statement; refuse to weaken when opposed; insist you are right. *
/John's friends said he was mistaken but he stood his ground./
Compare: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[stand on one's own feet] or [stand on one's own two feet] {v.
phr.} To depend on yourself; do things yourself; earn your own living;
be independent. * /After his father died, John had to stand on his own
feet and earn his own living./ * /You should learn to stand on your
own two feet./
[stand out] {v.} 1. To go farther out than a nearby surface;
protect. * /A mole stood out on her cheek./ Compare: STICK OUT(1b). 2.
To be more noticeable in some way than those around you; be higher,
bigger, or better. * /Fred was very tall and stood out in the crowd./
* /John stood out as a track star./
[stand over] {v.} 1. To watch closely; keep checking all the time.
* /Ted's mother had to stand over him to get him to do his homework./
2. To be held over for later action; be postponed; wait. * /The
committee decided to let the proposal stand over until its next
meeting./
[stand pat] {v.}, {informal} To be satisfied with things and be
against a change. * /Bill had made up his mind on the question and
when his friends tried to change his mind, he stood pat./ Compare:
STAND ONE'S GROUND(2).
[stand the gaff] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stand rough treatment; do
well in spite of great physical or mental hardship. * /An athlete must
learn to stand the gaff./ * /No person running for office gets far
unless he can stand the gaff./ Compare: HOLD OUT 2, STICK OUT 2.
[stand to reason] {v. phr.} To seem very likely from the known
facts. * /If you have a driver's license, it stands to reason you can
drive./ * /Joe is intelligent and studies hard; it stands to reason
that he will pass the examination./
[stand trial] {v. phr.} To submit to a trial by court. * /The case
has been postponed and he may not have to stand trial until next
April./
[stand up] {v.} 1. To rise to a standing position; get up on your
feet. * /A gentleman stands up when a lady enters a room./ 2. To be
strong enough to use hard or for a long time. * /A rocket must be
built strongly to stand up under the blast-off./ * /The old car has
already stood up for twenty years./ Compare: WEAR WELL. 3. {informal}
To make a date and then fail to keep it. * /June cried when Bill stood
her up on their first dale./
[stand up and be counted] {v. phr.} To be willing to say what you
think in public; let people know that you are for or against
something. * /The equal rights movement needs people who are willing
to stand up and be counted./ * /If you disagree with the group, you
should be ready to stand up and be counted./
[stand up for] or {informal} [stick up for] {v.} To defend against
attack; fight for. * /John always stands up for his rights./ * /When
Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her./ Compare: BACK UP,
GO TO BAT FOR, STAND BY, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STICK TO ONE'S GUNS, GO
TO BAT FOR.
[stand up to] {v.} To meet with courage. * /Mary stood up to the
snarling dog that leaped toward her./ * /A soldier must stand up to
danger./
[stand up with] {v.}, {informal} To be best man or maid of honor at
a wedding. * /A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him./
[star] See: FIVE-STAR, SEE STARS, HITCH ONE'S WAGON TO A STAR,
LUCKY STAR, THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.
[starch] See: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.
[stare in the face] {n. phr.} 1. To be about to meet or to happen
to (you.) * /Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in
the face./ * /Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers fought
on bravely./ 2. To be easy to see; be plain. * /Are you looking for
your pencil? It's on your desk, staring you in the face./ * /Their
friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not see it even
though it was staring him in the face./
[stars in one's eyes] {n. phr.} 1. An appearance or feeling of very
great happiness or expectation of happiness. * /Mary gets stars in her
eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend./ 2. A belief in the possibility
of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and an eagerness to
make such changes. * /Some inexperienced people get stars in their
eyes when they think of improving the world./ - [starry-eyed] {adj.}
Very happy and excited, perhaps with little reason; eager and
self-confident about improving human nature and general conditions of
life. * /Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to improve the
world; they do not know how hard it is./
[start] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, HEAD START, JACK-RABBIT START,
RUNNING START.
[start from scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH.
[start in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin to do something; start. *
/Fred started in weeding the garden./ * /The family started in eating
supper./ Compare: GO AT. 2. To begin a career. * /Bob started in as an
office boy and became president./ 3. To give a first job to. * /The
bank started him in as a clerk./
[start out] {v.} 1. To begin to go somewhere. * /Bill started out
for school on his bicycle./ * /Art started out on a voyage around the
world./ Compare: SET OUT. 2. To begin a career or life. * /Harry
started out as an errand boy in a business office./ * /We all start
out in life as helpless infants./ Syn.: START IN. 3. {informal} To
give one a first job. * /The garage man started Pete out as a grease
rack man./ Syn.: START IN(3).
[start something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; cause a
quarrel or fight. * /John is always starting something./ * /Jack likes
to play tricks on the other boys to start something./ Compare: MAKE
SOMETHING OF.
[start the ball rolling] See: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[start up] {v.} 1. To begin operating, * /The driver started up the
motor of the car./ * /The engine started up with a roar./ 2. To begin
to play (music). * /The conductor waved his baton, and the band
started up./ * /The orchestra started up a waltz./ Compare: STRIKE UP.
3. To rise or stand suddenly. * /When he heard the bell, he started up
from his chair./
[stash bag] or [stuff bag] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A small bag
containing marijuana cigarettes or the ingredients for making them. *
/The police are holding John because they found a stash bag full of
the stuff on him./ 2. Any small bag resembling a stash bag used for
small personal items such as lipstick, driver's license, etc. * /Do
you have any room for my keys in your stash bag?/
[state] See: LIE IN STATE.
[state-of-the-art] {adj. phr.} The best and - the latest any field
of research can offer; modern; the latest; the most advanced. *
/State-of-the-art personal computers may cost a little more than older
models, but may be worth the cost for those who need them./ Compare:
UP TO DATE.
[status symbol] {v. phr.} Signs of wealth and prestige. * /A new
yacht or airplane might be a status symbol to a bank manager./
[stead] See: STAND IN GOOD STEAD.
[stave off] {v.}, {literary} To keep from touching or hurting you.
Syn.: WARD OFF. * /The white knight struck with his sword. The black
knight staved it off with his own sword./ * /Bill's warm new coal
staved off the cold./ * /They staved off starvation by eating two of
the sled dogs./
[stay in] {v. phr.} To remain at home. * /The weather was so bad
that we decided to stay in all day./
[stay out] {v. phr.} To stay away from home. * /Her father was very
upset because Mary stayed out until 3 A.M. last night./
[stay put] {v. phr.} To stay in place; not leave. * /Harry's father
told him to stay put until he came back./ * /The rocks can be glued to
the bulletin board to make them stay put./ * /After Grandmother came
home from her trip to visit Aunt May, she said she wanted to stay put
for a while./
[stay up late] {v. phr.} To not go to bed until very late. * /Peter
has to stay up late these days as he is preparing for his
comprehensive exams./ See: BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.
[stay with] See: STICK WITH.
[steady] See: GO STEADY.
[steak] See: SALISBURY STEAK, T-BONE STEAK.
[steal] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.
[steal a march on] {v. phr.} To get ahead of someone by doing a
thing unnoticed; get an advantage over. * /The army stole a march on
the enemy by marching at night and attacking them in the morning./ *
/Jack got the job by getting up earlier than Bill. He stole a march on
him./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON, GET THE BETTER OF, TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[steal away] See: SLIP AWAY.
[steal one's thunder] {v. phr.} To do or say something,
intentionally or not, that another person has planned to say or do. *
/Fred intended to nominate Bill for president, but John got up first
and stole Fred's thunder./ * /Mary was going to sing "Oh! Susanna,"
but Ellen did it first and Mary said Ellen had stolen her thunder./ *
/Smith heard that Jones was going to offer a new law which people
wanted, so he himself proposed the law first, stealing Jones'
thunder./
[steal the show] {v. phr.} To act or do so well in a performance
that you get most of the attention and the other performers are
unnoticed. * /Mary was in only one scene of the play, but she stole
the show from the stars./
[steal the spotlight] {v. phr.} To attract attention away from a
person or thing that people should be watching. * /When the maid
walked on the stage and tripped over a rug, she stole the spotlight
from the leading players./ * /Just as the speaker began, a little dog
ran up the aisle, and stole the spotlight from him./
[steal up on] {v. phr.} To stealthily approach one; sneak up on
someone. * /The thief stole up on his victim, snatched her purse, and
ran away./
[steam] See: LET OFF STEAM or BLOW OFF STEAM, UNDER ONE'S OWN
STEAM.
[steamed up] {adj.}, {informal} Excited or angry about or eager to
do something. * /The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game,
and he got them all steamed up to win the game./ * /When Mary found
out that Jane had not kept their secret, she became all steamed up./ *
/Bill was all steamed up about the movie he had just seen./
[steel] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP.
[steer clear of] {v.} 1. To steer a safe distance from; go around
without touching. * /A ship steers clear of a rocky shore in stormy
weather./ 2. {informal} To stay away from; keep from going near. *
/Fred was angry at Bill, and Bill was steering clear of him./ * /Some
words Martha always spells wrong. She tries to steer clear of them./
[stem the tide] {v. phr.} To resist; hold back something of great
pressure or strength. * /The way to stem the tide of juvenile
delinquency is to strengthen education and to pass a stiff gun control
law./
[step] See: IN STEP, OUT OF STEP, TAKE STEPS.
[step all over] See: WALK OVER.
[step down] {v.} 1. To come down in one move from a higher position
to a lower. * /As soon as the train stopped, the conductor stepped
down to help the passengers off./ 2. To make go slower little by
little. * /The train was approaching the station, so the engineer
stepped it down./ Compare: SLOW DOWN, STEP UP. 3. To leave a job as an
official or some other important position. * /When the judge became
ill, he had to step down./
[step in] {v.} 1. To go inside for a quick visit. * /It was a cold
night, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for a
cup of coffee./ 2. To begin to take part in a continuing action or
discussion, especially without being asked. * /When the dogs began to
fight, John stepped in to stop it before they were hurt./ * /When Bill
had done as much as he was able to on his model plane, his father
stepped in to help him./
[step inside] {v.} To come or go inside. * /Mother invited the
callers to step inside./
[step into] {v.} 1. To come or go into. * /The taxi stopped, and we
stepped into it./ * /Mr. Jones called to his secretary to step into
his office./ 2. To begin to do, undertake. * /When the star became
sick, his understudy stepped into his part./ * /When Bill graduates
from college, he will step into a job in his father's bank./
[step into one's shoes] {v. phr.} To do what someone else usually
does after he has stopped doing it. * /When Bill's father died, Bill
had to step into his father's shoes to support his mother./ * /A coach
trains the junior varsity to step into the shoes of the members of the
varsity team when they graduate./ * /When the boss retires, his son
will step into his shoes./ Compare: IN ONE'S SHOES.
[step off] {v.} 1. To walk or march quickly. * /The drum major
lowered his baton and the band stepped off./ 2. or [pace off]. To
measure by taking a series of steps in a line. * /The farmer stepped
off the edge of the field to see how much fencing he would need./ *
/The referee stepped off a five-yard penalty against our team./
[step on it] or [step on the gas] {v. phr.} 1. To push down on the
gas pedal to make a car go faster. * /Be very careful when you step on
the gas. Don't go too fast./ Compare: GIVE IT THE GUN. 2. {informal}
To go faster; hurry. * /Step on it, or we'll be late for school./ *
/John is a slow starter, but he can step on the gas when it looks as
if he might lose the race./ * /Lee was wasting time at breakfast and
his father told him to step on it or they would miss the bus./
[step on one's toes] or [tread on one's toes] {v. phr.} To do
something that embarrasses or offends someone else. * /If you break in
when other people are talking, you may step on their toes./ * /Mary is
pretty, and she often treads on the toes of the girls by stealing
their boyfriend./
[step on the gas] See: STEP ON IT.
[step out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out, particularly socially, as on a
date. * /Paul said to Sylvia, "You look so dressed up tonight - you
must be stepping out, eh?"/ 2. To leave for a short period during the
work day to go to the lavatory or to get a cup of coffee. (Frequently
said by secretaries over the phone.) * /"May I speak to Mr. Kotz?" Roy
asked. "I'm sorry, sir. He just stepped out for a minute," the
secretary answered./
[step out on] {v. phr.} To be unfaithful to one's marriage partner
or steady lover. * /It is rumored that he has been stepping out on his
wife. That's why she's so upset./
[stepped up] {adj.} Carried on at a faster or more active rate;
increased. * /To fill the increase in orders, the factory had to
operate at a stepped-up rate./
[step up] {v.} 1. To go from a lower to a higher place. * /John
stepped up onto the platform and began to speak./ 2. To come towards
or near; approach. * /The sergeant called for volunteers and Private
Jones stepped up to volunteer./ * /John waited until the teacher had
finished speaking to Mary, and then he stepped up./ 3. To go or to
make (something) go faster or more actively. * /When John found he was
going to be late, he stepped up his pace./ * /After we had reached the
outskirts of town, we stepped up the engine./ * /The enemy was near,
and the army stepped up its patrols to find them before they got too
close./ 4. To rise to a higher or more important position; be
promoted. * /This year Mary is secretary of the club, but I am sure
she will step up to president next year./ Contrast: STEP DOWN(3).
[sterling character] {n. phr.} A person of irreproachable
character; one of the highest professional standards. * /The nominee
for the Supreme Court must be a sterling character in every possible
way./
[stew in one's own juice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To suffer from
something that you have caused to happen yourself. * /John lied to
Tom, but Tom found out. Now Tom is making John stew in his own juice./
* /I warned you not to steal those apples. You got caught, and you can
stew in your own juice./
[stick] See: CARROT AND STICK, MORE THAN ONE COULD SHAKE A STICK
AT.
[stick around] {v.}, {informal} To stay or wait nearby. * /John's
father told him to stick around and they would go fishing./ * /After
work Mr. Harris stuck around to ride home with his friend./
[stick by one] {v. phr.} To support; remain loyal to. * /All of
Peter's friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite of what has been
said about him in the press./
[stick in one's craw] or [stuck in one's crop] {v. phr.} To make
you angry; bother you; annoy you. * /His parents' praise of his
brother stuck in Jerry's craw./ * /Sue's failure to get a better grade
than Ann stuck in her crop./
[stick in one's throat] {v. phr.} To be something you do not want
to say; be hard to say. * /Jean wanted to ask the teacher's pardon,
but the words stuck in her throat./
[stick-in-the-mud] {n.}, {informal} An overcareful person; someone
who is old-fashioned and fights change. * /Mabel said her mother was a
real stick-in-the-mud to make a rule that she must be home by 10
o'clock on weeknights and 11:30 Saturdays./ * /Mr. Thomas is a
stick-in-the-mud who plows with mules; he won't buy a tractor./
[stick one's neck out] or [stick one's chin out] {v. phr.},
{informal} To do something dangerous or risky. * /When I was in
trouble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck out to help
me./ * /John is always sticking his chin out by saying something he
shouldn't./
[stick one's nose into] See: NOSE INTO.
[stick out] {v.} 1a. To stand out from a wall or other surface;
project; extend. * /The limb stuck out from the trunk of the tree./
1b. To be seen or noticed more easily or quickly than others; be
noticeable. * /My house is the only brick one on the street. It sticks
out and you can't miss it./ * /Mary plays basketball very well. The
others on the team are good, but she really sticks out./ 1c. Often
used in the informal phrase stick out like a sore thumb. * /John is so
shy and awkward that he sticks out like a sore thumb./ Syn.: STAND
OUT. 2. {informal} To keep on doing something until it is done no
matter how long, hard, or unpleasant. * /Bill is not a fast runner and
he doesn't have a chance of winning the marathon, but he will stick
out the race even if he finishes last./ - Often used in the phrase
"stick it out". * /Mathematics is hard, but if you stick it out you
will understand it./ Compare: HANG ON(2), STICK WITH(1).
[stick out like a sore thumb] {v. phr.} To be conspicuous; be
different from the rest. * /When the foreign student was placed in an
advanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no wonder that he
stuck out like a sore thumb./
[stick together] {v.} To remain close together in a situation. *
/Stick together in the cave so that no one gets lost./ * /The gang
stuck together after the game./ * /Bill and Bob stick together in a
game or in a fight./ Syn.: HANG TOGETHER(1).
[stick to one's guns] or [stand by one's guns] {v. phr.} To hold to
an aim or an opinion even though people try to stop you or say you are
wrong. * /People laughed at Columbus when he said the world was round.
He stuck to his guns and proved he was right./ * /At first the boss
would not give Jane the raise in pay she wanted, but she stood by her
guns and he gave it to her./ Compare: STAND ONE'S GROUND.
[stick to one's knitting] or [tend to one's knitting] {v. phr.},
{informal} To do your own job and not bother other people. * /The
trouble with Henry is that he is always telling other people what to
do; he can't stick to his knitting./
[stick to one's ribs] or [stick to the ribs] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To keep you from getting hungry again too quickly. * /Doctors say you
should eat a good breakfast that sticks to your ribs./ * /Farmers eat
food that sticks to the ribs./
[stick to the point] {v. phr.} To stay on course during a
discussion; adhere to the topic; not talk about extraneous matters. *
/Stick to the point and stop telling us your life history!/ See: COME
TO THE POINT.
[stick up] {v.}, {informal} To rob with a gun. * /When the
messenger left the bank, a man jumped out of an alley and stuck him
up./ Syn.: HOLD UP. * /In the old West, outlaws sometimes stuck up the
stagecoaches./
[stick-up] {n.}, {informal} A robbery by a man with a gun. * /Mr.
Smith was the victim of a stick-up last night./
[stick up for] See: STAND UP FOR.
[stick with] {v.}, {informal} 1. or [stay with] To continue doing;
not quit. * /Fred stayed with his homework until it was done./ *
/Practicing is tiresome, but stick with it and some day you will be a
good pianist./ Compare: STICK TO. 2. To stay with; not leave. * /Stick
with me until we get out of the crowd./ * /For two months Bill's boss
could not pay his salary, but Bill stuck with him because he thought
the company would soon succeed./ 3. To sell (someone) something poor
or worthless; cheat. * /Father said that the man in the store tried to
stick him with a bad TV set./ 4. To leave (someone) with (something
unpleasant); force to do or keep something because others cannot or
will not. - Usually used in the passive. * /When Harry and I went to
the store to buy ice cream cones, Harry ran out with his cone without
paying and I was stuck with paying for it./ * /Mary didn't wash the
dishes before she left so I'm stuck with it./ * /Mr. Jones bought a
house that is too big and expensive, but now he's stuck with it./
[stick with] {v. phr.} To unfairly thrust upon; encumber one with.
* /In the restaurant my friends stuck me with the bill although it was
supposed to be Dutch treat./
[sticky fingers] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. The habit of stealing things
you see and want. * /Don't leave money in your locker; some of the
boys have sticky fingers./ * /Don't leave that girl alone in the room
with so many valuable objects around, because she has sticky fingers./
2. Ability to catch a ball, especially football forward passes. *
/Jack is very tall and has sticky fingers. He is an end on the
football team./
[stiff] See: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS or
SCARE STIFF.
[still] See: HEART STAND STILL.
[still life] {n. phr.} A term used by artists to describe a
motionless picture of a bowl of fruit, flowers, etc. * /One of van
Gogh's most famous still lifes is a vase of yellow flowers./
[still waters run deep] Quiet people probably are profound
thinkers. - A proverb. * /He doesn't say much, but he sure looks
smart. Well, still waters run deep, isn't that true?/
[stir up] {v.} 1. To bring (something) into being, often by great
exertion or activity; cause. * /It was a quiet afternoon, and John
tried to stir up some excitement./ * /Bob stirred up a fight between
Tom and Bill./ Compare: WHIP UP(2). 2. To cause (someone) to act;
incite to action or movement; rouse. * /The coach's pep talk stirred
up the team to win./ * /When Mary heard what Betty said about her, she
became stirred up./
[stir up a hornet's nest] {v. phr.} To make many people angry; do
something that many people don't like. * /The principal stirred up a
hornet's nest by changing the rules at school./
[stitch] See: IN STITCHES.
[stock] See: IN STOCK, OUT OF STOCK, TAKE STOCK, TAKE STOCK IN.
[stock-in-trade] {n. phr.} The materials which one customarily
deals, sells, or offers. * /Imported silk blouses from the Orient are
the stock-in-trade of their small shop./ * /Anecdotes are often an
after-dinner speaker's stock-in-trade./
[stomach] See: EYES BIGGER THAN ONE'S STOMACH, BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR
STOMACH, TURN ONE'S STOMACH.
[stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE, HAVE A HEART OF STONE, KILL TWO
BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.
[stone-blind] {adj. phr.} 1. Completely blind. * /Poor Al is
stone-blind and needs help to get across the street carefully./ 2.
Highly intoxicated. * /George drank too much and got stone-blind at
the office party./ See: GET STONED, THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[stone-broke] or [dead broke] or [flat broke] {adj.}, {informal}
Having no money; penniless. * /Jill wanted to go to the movies but she
was stone-broke./ * /The man gambled and was soon flat broke./
[stone-cold] {adj.} Having no warmth; completely cold. - Used to
describe things that are better when warm. * /The boys who got up late
found their breakfast stone-cold./ * /The furnace went off and the
radiators were stone-cold./
[stone-dead] {adj.}, {informal} Showing no signs of life;
completely dead. * /Barry tried to revive the frozen robin but it was
stone-dead./
[stone-deaf] {adj. phr.} Completely deaf. * /Sam is stone-deaf so
let him read your lips if you know no sign language./
[stone wall] or [brick wall] {adj.} Something hard to overcome; an
idea or belief that is hard to change. * /The students ran into a
brick wall when they asked the principal to put off the examination./
* /Dick tried to change Father's mind about letting him use the car
Saturday night, but he was up against a stone wall./
[stone's throw] or [within a stone's throw] {adv. phr.} Within a
very short distance. * /They live across the street from us, just
within a stone's throw./ See: HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP.
[stool pigeon] {n.} A criminal who informs on his associates. *
/The detective was able to solve the crime mainly through information
obtained from a stool pigeon./
[stop] See: PUT AN END TO(1), or PUT A STOP TO.
[stop at nothing] {v. phr.} To be unscrupulous. * /Al will stop at
nothing to get Nancy to go out with him./
[stop by] See: DROP BY.
[stop cold] or [stop dead] or [stop in one's tracks] {v. phr.},
{informal} To stop very quickly or with great force. * /The hunter
pulled the trigger and stopped the deer cold./ * /When I saw Mary on
the street, I was so surprised I stopped dead./ * /The deer heard a
noise and he stopped in his tracks./
[stop off] {v.} To stop at a place for a short time while going
somewhere. * /We stopped off after school at the soda fountain before
going home./ * /On our trip to California we stopped off in Las Vegas
for two days./
[stop over] {v.} To stay at a place overnight or for some other
short time while on a trip elsewhere. * /When we came back from
California, we stopped over one night near the Grand Canyon./
[stop short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /Jake stopped short when
he heard somebody yell out his name loud but there was no one in
sight./
[stop street] {n.} A street where cars must come to a full stop
before crossing another street. * /Johnny was late because he traveled
on a stop street./ Contrast: THROUGH STREET.
[stop the show] {v. phr.} To elicit such a strong applause from the
audience that the show is interrupted. * /Pavarotti's rendition of "O
sole mio" always stops the show./
[stop up] {v. phr.} To block; close. * /If you want to get rid of
the leak, you must stop up the two holes you have in the ceiling./
[store] See: DIME STORE, IN STORE, SET STORE BY, VARIETY STORE.
[storm] See: TAKE BY STORM.
[story] See: OLD STORY, SOB STORY, UPPER STORY.
[stow away] {v.} 1. {informal} To pack or store away. * /After New
Year's Day the Christmas decorations were stowed away until another
season./ 2. To hide on a ship or another kind of transportation to get
a free ride. * /John ran away from home and stowed away on a freighter
going to Jamaica./
[straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, SHOOT STRAIGHT.
[straighten out] {v.} To correct a mistake; make you realize you
are wrong. * /The teacher saw Jim's awkward sentence on the board and
asked for volunteers to straighten it out./ * /Sometimes only a good
spanking will straighten out a naughty child./ Syn.: SQUARE AWAY(2).
[straighten up] {v.} To put in order; make neat. * /Vic had to
straighten up his room before he could go swimming./ * /Mrs. Johnson
straightened up the house before company came./ Compare: PICK UP(6b),
SQUARE AWAY.
[straight face] {n.} A face that is not laughing or smiling. *
/Mary told all the funny stories she knew to try to make Joan laugh,
but Joan kept a straight face./ * /It is hard to tell when Jim is
teasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face./ * /When Bob fell
into the water, he looked funny and I could hardly keep a straight
face./
[straight from the horse's mouth] {slang} Directly from the person
or place where it began; from a reliable source or a person that
cannot be doubted. * /They are going to be married. I got the news
straight from the horse's mouth - their minister./ * /John found out
about the painting straight from the horse's mouth, from the painter
himself./
[straight from the shoulder] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In an open and
honest way of speaking; without holding back anything because of fear
or politeness or respect for someone's feelings; frankly. * /John
asked what he had done wrong. Bob told him straight from the
shoulder./ * /The candidate for Congress spoke out against his
opponent's dishonesty straight from the shoulder./ Contrast: PULL
ONE'S PUNCHES.
[straightlaced] {adj.} Of very strict morals and manners. * /She is
so straightlaced that she won't even go out with a man unless she
senses that he is serious about her./
[straight off] {adv. phr.} At once; immediately. * /After school is
over, you come home straight off, and don't waste time./ * /He asked
his father for the car, but his father said straight off that he
couldn't have it./
[straight out] See: RIGHT OUT.
[straight shooters] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT.
[straight ticket] {n.} A vote for all the candidates of a single
party. * /Uncle Fred was a loyal member of his party. He always voted
the straight ticket./ Contrast: SPLIT TICKET.
[strain a point] See: STRETCH A POINT.
[strange to say] {adv. phr.} Not what you might think;
surprisingly. - Used for emphasis. * /Strange to say, Jerry doesn't
like candy./ * /Strange to say, the Indians didn't kill Daniel Boone./
[strapped for] {adj.} Broke; out of funds. * /My brother is so
extravagant that he is always strapped for cash./
[straw] See: GIVE A HANG, GRASP AT A STRAW, GRASP AT STRAWS, LAST
STRAW or STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL'S BACK, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT
STRAW.
[straw boss] {n.} 1. The boss of a few workers who is himself under
another boss or foreman. * /The straw boss told Jim he would have to
see the foreman about a job./ 2, A man who works himself and also
bosses a few other workers. * /Smith worked better than the other men,
so the foreman made him straw boss, too./
[straw in the wind] {n. phr.} A small sign of what may happen. *
/The doctor's worried face was a straw in the wind./ * /The
quickly-called meeting of the President and his cabinet was a straw in
the wind./
[straw poll] {n. phr.} An informal survey taken in order to get an
opinion. * /The results of our straw poll show that most faculty
members prefer to teach between 9 and 11 A.M./
[straw that breaks the camel's back] See: LAST STRAW.
[straw vote] See: STRAW POLL.
[streak] See: WINNING STREAK.
[streak of luck] See: RUN OF LUCK.
[stream] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM, SWIM
AGAINST THE CURRENT or SWIM AGAINST THE STREAM.
[street] See: BACK STREET, CROSS STREET, MAN IN THE STREET, ON EASY
STREET, SIDE STREET, STOP STREET, THROUGH STREET.
[strength] See: ON THE STRENGTH OF.
[stretch a point] or [strain a point] {v. phr.} To permit something
different or more than usual; not tell the exact truth or make an
exception. * /Mother stretched a point because it was Christmas time
and let the children stay up later than usual./ * /It's straining a
point to call Joe a hero just because he saved the kitten from
[spoon] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH.
[spoon-feed] {v.} 1. To feed with a spoon. * /Mothers spoon-feed
their babies./ 2a. To make something too easy for (a person). *
/Bill's mother spoon-fed him and never let him think for himself./ *
/Alice depended on her mother for all decisions because she had been
spoon-fed./ 2b. To make (something) too easy for someone. * /Some
students want the teacher to spoon-feed the lessons./
[sporting blood] {n.} Willingness to take risks; spirit of
adventure. * /The cowboy's sporting blood tempted him to try to ride
the wild horse./ * /The boy's sporting blood caused him to run away
with a circus./
[spot] See: HIT THE HIGH SPOTS, HIT THE SPOT, JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT,
ON THE SPOT or UPON THE SPOT also IN A SPOT, SORE SPOT.
[spot check] {n. phr.} A sample check or investigation. * /Internal
Revenue Service employees often conduct a spot check of individual
returns when the figures don't add up./
[spotlight] See: STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT.
[spread it on thick] See: LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK.
[spread like wildfire] {v. phr.} To spread uncontrollably and
rapidly. * /Bad news has a tendency to spread like wildfire./
[spread oneself too thin] {v. phr.} To try to do too many things at
one time. * /As the owner, chef, waiter, and dishwasher of his
restaurant, Pierre was spreading himself too thin./
[spring a leak] {v. phr.} 1. To develop a hole (said of boats)
through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink. * /When
our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it./
2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. * /Our firm sprang a leak
when the vice president suddenly died of a heart attack./
[spring chicken] {n.}, {slang} A young person. - Usually used with
"no". * /Mr. Brown is no spring chicken, but he can still play tennis
well./ * /The coach is no spring chicken, but he can show the players
what to do./
[spring on one] {v. phr.} To approach someone unexpectedly with an
unpleasant idea or project. * /Our firm was merely six weeks old when
they sprang the news on me that I had to go to Algiers to open a new
branch there./
[spring up] {v. phr.} To arise suddenly. * /Small purple flowers
were springing up all over our backyard./
[sprout wings] {v. phr.} 1. To enter the stage after a period of
development when wings appear (said of larvae that turn into
butterflies). * /The dragonflies suddenly sprouted wings and are
flying all about in the park./ 2. To become good and virtuous (as if
airborne). * /Joe has helped many colleagues in need; he seems to have
sprouted wings./
[spruce up] {v.}, {informal} To make clean or neat. * /Mary spruced
up the house before her company came./ * /John spruced himself up
before he went out on his date./
[spur] See: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT, WIN ONE'S SPURS.
[squad] See: FIRING SQUAD.
[square] See: FAIR AND SQUARE, SHOOT STRAIGHT or SHOOT SQUARE.
[square away] {v. phr.} 1. To arrange the sails of a ship so that
the wind blows from behind. * /The captain ordered the crew to square
away and sail before the wind./ 2. {informal} To put right for use or
action. - Often used in the passive or participle. * /The living room
was squared away for the guests./ * /Harry got into trouble, but his
scoutmaster talked with him and got him squared away./ Syn.:
STRAIGHTEN OUT. 3. {informal} To stand ready to fight; put up your
fists. * /Jack and Lee squared away./ Syn.: SQUARE OFF.
[squared away] {adj. phr.} Looked after properly; tucked away;
arranged. * /My first two daughters are happily married, but my third
one, Jennifer, isn't squared away yet./
[square deal] {n. phr.} 1. Equitable or fair treatment. * /We are
proud to say that at this firm every employee gets a square deal./
Contrast NEW DEAL, RAW DEAL.
[square meal] {n. phr.} A full, nourishing well-balanced meal. *
/The refugees looked as if they hadn't had a square meal in months./
[square off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stand ready for fighting with
the fists. * /The two boxers squared off when the bell rang./
[square oneself with] {v. phr.} To apologize; re-establish
friendship with; make amends. * /"Mr. Alien is very angry with you for
leaving the firm," Bob said. "It will take more than a few words and a
drink to square yourself with him."/
[square one's shoulders] {v. phr.} To stand strong and ready to
give battle; be brave. * /Jack squared his shoulders and entered the
game./ * /Graduates must square their shoulders and face the world./
[square peg in a round hole] {n.}, {informal} A person who does not
fit into a job or position; someone who does not belong where he is. *
/Arthur is a square peg in a round hole when he is playing ball./ *
/George likes to work with his hands. When it comes to books, he's a
square peg in a round hole./ - Sometimes used in a short form, [square
peg].
[square shooter] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT.
[square up] {v. phr.} To liquidate debts and other obligations. *
/I want to square up my medical bills before I accept my new teaching
assignment in Africa./
[squeak] See: PIP-SQUEAK.
[squeak by] {v. phr.} 1. To barely succeed. * /He was so poorly
prepared for his bar exam that he barely squeaked by./ 2. To clear
with difficulty. * /The entrance to the corridor in the old Italian
castle was so narrow that I barely managed to squeak by it./
[squeak through] {v.}, {informal} To be successful but almost fail;
win by a small score. * /Susan squeaked through the history
examination./ * /The football team squeaked through 7-6./ Compare: BY
THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH.
[squeeze out of] {v. phr.} To apply pressure to someone in order to
obtain what one desires. * /The police were interrogating the suspect
to squeeze information out of him./
[stab in the back(1)] {v. phr.}, {slang} To say or do something
unfair that harms (a friend or someone who trusts you). * /Owen
stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him./
[stab in the back(2)] {n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurts
a friend or trusting person; a promise not kept, especially to a
friend. * /John stabbed his own friend in the back by stealing from
his store./ * /My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher
I was playing hooky when I was home sick./
[stab in the dark] {n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at something
without previous experience or knowledge of the subject. * /"You're
asking me who could have hidden grandpa's will," Fred said. "I really
have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark - I think my sister
Hermione has it."/
[stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE'S STACK.
[stack the cards] {v. phr.} 1. To arrange cards secretly and
dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. * /The gambler had stacked
the cards against Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or against
a person; have things so that a person has an unfair advantage or
disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things will happen. -
Usually used in the passive with "in one's favor" or "against one." *
/A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor./ * /The
cards are stacked against a poor boy who wants to go to college./
[stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME, HOLD THE STAGE, ON THE
STAGE, SET THE STAGE.
[stage fright] {n. phr.} The fear one feels before appearing in
front of an audience. * /Many famous actors and actresses admit that
they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up./
[stagestruck] {adj.} Desirous of becoming an actor or actress;
enamored of the acting profession. * /Milly is so stagestruck that she
waits for actresses at the stage door after each performance to get
their signatures./
[stage whisper] {n. phr.} A loud whisper intended to reach other
ears than those of the person(s) addressed. * /Some jokes should be
told in a stage whisper./
[stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.
[stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.
[stake a claim] {v. phr.} 1. To claim ownership of land by driving
stakes to show boundaries. * /The gold hunters staked claims in the
West./ 2. {informal} To claim a person or thing as your own by some
sign. Usually used with "on". * /George staked a claim on Dianne by
giving her his class ring./
[stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.
[stamping ground] {n.}, {informal} A place where a person spends
much of his time. * /Pete's soda fountain is an afterschool stamping
ground./ * /When John returned to his hometown many years later, he
visited all of his old stamping grounds./
[stamp out] {v.} To destroy completely and make disappear. * /In
the last few years, we have nearly stamped out polio by using
vaccine./ * /The police and judges are trying to stamp out crime./
Compare: WIPE OUT.
[stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL,
LEG TO STAND ON.
[stand a chance] or [stand a show] {n. phr.} To have a possibility
or opportunity; be likely to do or get something. * /Fred doesn't
stand a chance of being elected./ * /We stand a good chance of seeing
Mary at the party./
[standard time] also [slow time] {n.} Clock time that is set by law
or agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in the
United States: the clock time used between fall and spring, which is
an hour slower than the time used in the summer. - Abbreviation ST. *
/When we go to bed Saturday night, we will set our clocks back an
hour, because Sunday we will be on standard time again./ * /Next week
it will get dark an hour earlier, because we will be on standard
time./ Contrast: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.
[stand by] {v.} 1. To be close beside or near. * /Mary could not
tell Jane the secret with her little brother standing by./ * /Would
you just stand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother?/ 2.
To be near, waiting to do something when needed. * /The policeman in
the patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, and then stood
by for orders./ * /Lee stood by with a fire extinguisher while the
trash was burning./ 3. To follow or keep (one's promise). * /He is a
boy who always stands by his promises./ 4. To be loyal to; support;
help. * /When three big boys attacked Bill, Ed stood by him./ * /Some
people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joe stood by him./
Compare: BACK UP, HANG TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR.
[stand by one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[stand for] {v.} 1. To be a sign of; make you think of; mean. *
/The letters "U.S.A." stand for "United States of America."/ * /The
written sign "=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals."/ * /Our
flag stands for our country./ * /The owl stands for wisdom./ 2. To
speak in favor of something, or show that you support it. * /The new
President stood for honest government./ * /John always stands for what
is right./ 3. {Chiefly British} To try to be elected for. * /Three men
from London are standing for parliament./ * /The governor did not
stand for reelection./ 4. {informal} To allow to happen or to be done;
permit. - Usually used in the negative, * /The teacher will not stand
for fooling in the classroom./ Compare: HAVE IT(4), PUT UP WITH.
[stand in awe of] {v. phr.} To look upon with wonder; feel very
respectful to. * /Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent./ *
/The soldier stood in awe to his officers./
[stand in for] {v. phr.} To substitute for someone. * /The famous
brain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand in
for him during the operation./
[stand in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.
[stand in with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be liked by or friendly
with. - Usually used with "well". * /John stands in well with the
teacher./
[stand off] {v.} 1. To stay at a distance; stay apart. * /At
parties, Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones is
shy and stands off./ 2. To keep (someone or something) from coming
near or winning. * /The soldiers defending the fort stood off a large
band of Indians./ * /The other schools wanted to beat our team and win
the championship, but our boys stood them all off./ Contrast: GIVE
GROUND.
[standoffish] {adj.} Stiff; aloof; reserved in manner. * /The
famous chess player is hard to get to know because he is so
standoffish./
[stand on ceremony] {v. phr.} To follow strict rules of politeness;
be very formal with other people. - Usually used with a helping verb
in the negative. * /Grandmother does not stand on ceremony when her
grandchildren call./
[stand one in good stead] {v. phr.} To be helpful or useful to. *
/A boy scout knife will stand you in good stead when you do not have
other tools./ * /Julia knew how to typewrite, and that stood her in
good stead when she looked for a job./
[stand one's ground] also [hold one's ground] {v. phr.} 1. To stay
and fight instead of running away. * /The enemy attacked in great
numbers but our men stood their ground./ Compare: GAIN GROUND.
Contrast: GIVE GROUND, LOSE GROUND. 2. To defend a belief or
statement; refuse to weaken when opposed; insist you are right. *
/John's friends said he was mistaken but he stood his ground./
Compare: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.
[stand on one's own feet] or [stand on one's own two feet] {v.
phr.} To depend on yourself; do things yourself; earn your own living;
be independent. * /After his father died, John had to stand on his own
feet and earn his own living./ * /You should learn to stand on your
own two feet./
[stand out] {v.} 1. To go farther out than a nearby surface;
protect. * /A mole stood out on her cheek./ Compare: STICK OUT(1b). 2.
To be more noticeable in some way than those around you; be higher,
bigger, or better. * /Fred was very tall and stood out in the crowd./
* /John stood out as a track star./
[stand over] {v.} 1. To watch closely; keep checking all the time.
* /Ted's mother had to stand over him to get him to do his homework./
2. To be held over for later action; be postponed; wait. * /The
committee decided to let the proposal stand over until its next
meeting./
[stand pat] {v.}, {informal} To be satisfied with things and be
against a change. * /Bill had made up his mind on the question and
when his friends tried to change his mind, he stood pat./ Compare:
STAND ONE'S GROUND(2).
[stand the gaff] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stand rough treatment; do
well in spite of great physical or mental hardship. * /An athlete must
learn to stand the gaff./ * /No person running for office gets far
unless he can stand the gaff./ Compare: HOLD OUT 2, STICK OUT 2.
[stand to reason] {v. phr.} To seem very likely from the known
facts. * /If you have a driver's license, it stands to reason you can
drive./ * /Joe is intelligent and studies hard; it stands to reason
that he will pass the examination./
[stand trial] {v. phr.} To submit to a trial by court. * /The case
has been postponed and he may not have to stand trial until next
April./
[stand up] {v.} 1. To rise to a standing position; get up on your
feet. * /A gentleman stands up when a lady enters a room./ 2. To be
strong enough to use hard or for a long time. * /A rocket must be
built strongly to stand up under the blast-off./ * /The old car has
already stood up for twenty years./ Compare: WEAR WELL. 3. {informal}
To make a date and then fail to keep it. * /June cried when Bill stood
her up on their first dale./
[stand up and be counted] {v. phr.} To be willing to say what you
think in public; let people know that you are for or against
something. * /The equal rights movement needs people who are willing
to stand up and be counted./ * /If you disagree with the group, you
should be ready to stand up and be counted./
[stand up for] or {informal} [stick up for] {v.} To defend against
attack; fight for. * /John always stands up for his rights./ * /When
Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her./ Compare: BACK UP,
GO TO BAT FOR, STAND BY, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STICK TO ONE'S GUNS, GO
TO BAT FOR.
[stand up to] {v.} To meet with courage. * /Mary stood up to the
snarling dog that leaped toward her./ * /A soldier must stand up to
danger./
[stand up with] {v.}, {informal} To be best man or maid of honor at
a wedding. * /A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him./
[star] See: FIVE-STAR, SEE STARS, HITCH ONE'S WAGON TO A STAR,
LUCKY STAR, THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.
[starch] See: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.
[stare in the face] {n. phr.} 1. To be about to meet or to happen
to (you.) * /Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in
the face./ * /Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers fought
on bravely./ 2. To be easy to see; be plain. * /Are you looking for
your pencil? It's on your desk, staring you in the face./ * /Their
friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not see it even
though it was staring him in the face./
[stars in one's eyes] {n. phr.} 1. An appearance or feeling of very
great happiness or expectation of happiness. * /Mary gets stars in her
eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend./ 2. A belief in the possibility
of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and an eagerness to
make such changes. * /Some inexperienced people get stars in their
eyes when they think of improving the world./ - [starry-eyed] {adj.}
Very happy and excited, perhaps with little reason; eager and
self-confident about improving human nature and general conditions of
life. * /Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to improve the
world; they do not know how hard it is./
[start] See: BY FITS AND STARTS, HEAD START, JACK-RABBIT START,
RUNNING START.
[start from scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH.
[start in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin to do something; start. *
/Fred started in weeding the garden./ * /The family started in eating
supper./ Compare: GO AT. 2. To begin a career. * /Bob started in as an
office boy and became president./ 3. To give a first job to. * /The
bank started him in as a clerk./
[start out] {v.} 1. To begin to go somewhere. * /Bill started out
for school on his bicycle./ * /Art started out on a voyage around the
world./ Compare: SET OUT. 2. To begin a career or life. * /Harry
started out as an errand boy in a business office./ * /We all start
out in life as helpless infants./ Syn.: START IN. 3. {informal} To
give one a first job. * /The garage man started Pete out as a grease
rack man./ Syn.: START IN(3).
[start something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; cause a
quarrel or fight. * /John is always starting something./ * /Jack likes
to play tricks on the other boys to start something./ Compare: MAKE
SOMETHING OF.
[start the ball rolling] See: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[start up] {v.} 1. To begin operating, * /The driver started up the
motor of the car./ * /The engine started up with a roar./ 2. To begin
to play (music). * /The conductor waved his baton, and the band
started up./ * /The orchestra started up a waltz./ Compare: STRIKE UP.
3. To rise or stand suddenly. * /When he heard the bell, he started up
from his chair./
[stash bag] or [stuff bag] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A small bag
containing marijuana cigarettes or the ingredients for making them. *
/The police are holding John because they found a stash bag full of
the stuff on him./ 2. Any small bag resembling a stash bag used for
small personal items such as lipstick, driver's license, etc. * /Do
you have any room for my keys in your stash bag?/
[state] See: LIE IN STATE.
[state-of-the-art] {adj. phr.} The best and - the latest any field
of research can offer; modern; the latest; the most advanced. *
/State-of-the-art personal computers may cost a little more than older
models, but may be worth the cost for those who need them./ Compare:
UP TO DATE.
[status symbol] {v. phr.} Signs of wealth and prestige. * /A new
yacht or airplane might be a status symbol to a bank manager./
[stead] See: STAND IN GOOD STEAD.
[stave off] {v.}, {literary} To keep from touching or hurting you.
Syn.: WARD OFF. * /The white knight struck with his sword. The black
knight staved it off with his own sword./ * /Bill's warm new coal
staved off the cold./ * /They staved off starvation by eating two of
the sled dogs./
[stay in] {v. phr.} To remain at home. * /The weather was so bad
that we decided to stay in all day./
[stay out] {v. phr.} To stay away from home. * /Her father was very
upset because Mary stayed out until 3 A.M. last night./
[stay put] {v. phr.} To stay in place; not leave. * /Harry's father
told him to stay put until he came back./ * /The rocks can be glued to
the bulletin board to make them stay put./ * /After Grandmother came
home from her trip to visit Aunt May, she said she wanted to stay put
for a while./
[stay up late] {v. phr.} To not go to bed until very late. * /Peter
has to stay up late these days as he is preparing for his
comprehensive exams./ See: BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.
[stay with] See: STICK WITH.
[steady] See: GO STEADY.
[steak] See: SALISBURY STEAK, T-BONE STEAK.
[steal] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.
[steal a march on] {v. phr.} To get ahead of someone by doing a
thing unnoticed; get an advantage over. * /The army stole a march on
the enemy by marching at night and attacking them in the morning./ *
/Jack got the job by getting up earlier than Bill. He stole a march on
him./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON, GET THE BETTER OF, TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[steal away] See: SLIP AWAY.
[steal one's thunder] {v. phr.} To do or say something,
intentionally or not, that another person has planned to say or do. *
/Fred intended to nominate Bill for president, but John got up first
and stole Fred's thunder./ * /Mary was going to sing "Oh! Susanna,"
but Ellen did it first and Mary said Ellen had stolen her thunder./ *
/Smith heard that Jones was going to offer a new law which people
wanted, so he himself proposed the law first, stealing Jones'
thunder./
[steal the show] {v. phr.} To act or do so well in a performance
that you get most of the attention and the other performers are
unnoticed. * /Mary was in only one scene of the play, but she stole
the show from the stars./
[steal the spotlight] {v. phr.} To attract attention away from a
person or thing that people should be watching. * /When the maid
walked on the stage and tripped over a rug, she stole the spotlight
from the leading players./ * /Just as the speaker began, a little dog
ran up the aisle, and stole the spotlight from him./
[steal up on] {v. phr.} To stealthily approach one; sneak up on
someone. * /The thief stole up on his victim, snatched her purse, and
ran away./
[steam] See: LET OFF STEAM or BLOW OFF STEAM, UNDER ONE'S OWN
STEAM.
[steamed up] {adj.}, {informal} Excited or angry about or eager to
do something. * /The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game,
and he got them all steamed up to win the game./ * /When Mary found
out that Jane had not kept their secret, she became all steamed up./ *
/Bill was all steamed up about the movie he had just seen./
[steel] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP.
[steer clear of] {v.} 1. To steer a safe distance from; go around
without touching. * /A ship steers clear of a rocky shore in stormy
weather./ 2. {informal} To stay away from; keep from going near. *
/Fred was angry at Bill, and Bill was steering clear of him./ * /Some
words Martha always spells wrong. She tries to steer clear of them./
[stem the tide] {v. phr.} To resist; hold back something of great
pressure or strength. * /The way to stem the tide of juvenile
delinquency is to strengthen education and to pass a stiff gun control
law./
[step] See: IN STEP, OUT OF STEP, TAKE STEPS.
[step all over] See: WALK OVER.
[step down] {v.} 1. To come down in one move from a higher position
to a lower. * /As soon as the train stopped, the conductor stepped
down to help the passengers off./ 2. To make go slower little by
little. * /The train was approaching the station, so the engineer
stepped it down./ Compare: SLOW DOWN, STEP UP. 3. To leave a job as an
official or some other important position. * /When the judge became
ill, he had to step down./
[step in] {v.} 1. To go inside for a quick visit. * /It was a cold
night, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for a
cup of coffee./ 2. To begin to take part in a continuing action or
discussion, especially without being asked. * /When the dogs began to
fight, John stepped in to stop it before they were hurt./ * /When Bill
had done as much as he was able to on his model plane, his father
stepped in to help him./
[step inside] {v.} To come or go inside. * /Mother invited the
callers to step inside./
[step into] {v.} 1. To come or go into. * /The taxi stopped, and we
stepped into it./ * /Mr. Jones called to his secretary to step into
his office./ 2. To begin to do, undertake. * /When the star became
sick, his understudy stepped into his part./ * /When Bill graduates
from college, he will step into a job in his father's bank./
[step into one's shoes] {v. phr.} To do what someone else usually
does after he has stopped doing it. * /When Bill's father died, Bill
had to step into his father's shoes to support his mother./ * /A coach
trains the junior varsity to step into the shoes of the members of the
varsity team when they graduate./ * /When the boss retires, his son
will step into his shoes./ Compare: IN ONE'S SHOES.
[step off] {v.} 1. To walk or march quickly. * /The drum major
lowered his baton and the band stepped off./ 2. or [pace off]. To
measure by taking a series of steps in a line. * /The farmer stepped
off the edge of the field to see how much fencing he would need./ *
/The referee stepped off a five-yard penalty against our team./
[step on it] or [step on the gas] {v. phr.} 1. To push down on the
gas pedal to make a car go faster. * /Be very careful when you step on
the gas. Don't go too fast./ Compare: GIVE IT THE GUN. 2. {informal}
To go faster; hurry. * /Step on it, or we'll be late for school./ *
/John is a slow starter, but he can step on the gas when it looks as
if he might lose the race./ * /Lee was wasting time at breakfast and
his father told him to step on it or they would miss the bus./
[step on one's toes] or [tread on one's toes] {v. phr.} To do
something that embarrasses or offends someone else. * /If you break in
when other people are talking, you may step on their toes./ * /Mary is
pretty, and she often treads on the toes of the girls by stealing
their boyfriend./
[step on the gas] See: STEP ON IT.
[step out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out, particularly socially, as on a
date. * /Paul said to Sylvia, "You look so dressed up tonight - you
must be stepping out, eh?"/ 2. To leave for a short period during the
work day to go to the lavatory or to get a cup of coffee. (Frequently
said by secretaries over the phone.) * /"May I speak to Mr. Kotz?" Roy
asked. "I'm sorry, sir. He just stepped out for a minute," the
secretary answered./
[step out on] {v. phr.} To be unfaithful to one's marriage partner
or steady lover. * /It is rumored that he has been stepping out on his
wife. That's why she's so upset./
[stepped up] {adj.} Carried on at a faster or more active rate;
increased. * /To fill the increase in orders, the factory had to
operate at a stepped-up rate./
[step up] {v.} 1. To go from a lower to a higher place. * /John
stepped up onto the platform and began to speak./ 2. To come towards
or near; approach. * /The sergeant called for volunteers and Private
Jones stepped up to volunteer./ * /John waited until the teacher had
finished speaking to Mary, and then he stepped up./ 3. To go or to
make (something) go faster or more actively. * /When John found he was
going to be late, he stepped up his pace./ * /After we had reached the
outskirts of town, we stepped up the engine./ * /The enemy was near,
and the army stepped up its patrols to find them before they got too
close./ 4. To rise to a higher or more important position; be
promoted. * /This year Mary is secretary of the club, but I am sure
she will step up to president next year./ Contrast: STEP DOWN(3).
[sterling character] {n. phr.} A person of irreproachable
character; one of the highest professional standards. * /The nominee
for the Supreme Court must be a sterling character in every possible
way./
[stew in one's own juice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To suffer from
something that you have caused to happen yourself. * /John lied to
Tom, but Tom found out. Now Tom is making John stew in his own juice./
* /I warned you not to steal those apples. You got caught, and you can
stew in your own juice./
[stick] See: CARROT AND STICK, MORE THAN ONE COULD SHAKE A STICK
AT.
[stick around] {v.}, {informal} To stay or wait nearby. * /John's
father told him to stick around and they would go fishing./ * /After
work Mr. Harris stuck around to ride home with his friend./
[stick by one] {v. phr.} To support; remain loyal to. * /All of
Peter's friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite of what has been
said about him in the press./
[stick in one's craw] or [stuck in one's crop] {v. phr.} To make
you angry; bother you; annoy you. * /His parents' praise of his
brother stuck in Jerry's craw./ * /Sue's failure to get a better grade
than Ann stuck in her crop./
[stick in one's throat] {v. phr.} To be something you do not want
to say; be hard to say. * /Jean wanted to ask the teacher's pardon,
but the words stuck in her throat./
[stick-in-the-mud] {n.}, {informal} An overcareful person; someone
who is old-fashioned and fights change. * /Mabel said her mother was a
real stick-in-the-mud to make a rule that she must be home by 10
o'clock on weeknights and 11:30 Saturdays./ * /Mr. Thomas is a
stick-in-the-mud who plows with mules; he won't buy a tractor./
[stick one's neck out] or [stick one's chin out] {v. phr.},
{informal} To do something dangerous or risky. * /When I was in
trouble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck out to help
me./ * /John is always sticking his chin out by saying something he
shouldn't./
[stick one's nose into] See: NOSE INTO.
[stick out] {v.} 1a. To stand out from a wall or other surface;
project; extend. * /The limb stuck out from the trunk of the tree./
1b. To be seen or noticed more easily or quickly than others; be
noticeable. * /My house is the only brick one on the street. It sticks
out and you can't miss it./ * /Mary plays basketball very well. The
others on the team are good, but she really sticks out./ 1c. Often
used in the informal phrase stick out like a sore thumb. * /John is so
shy and awkward that he sticks out like a sore thumb./ Syn.: STAND
OUT. 2. {informal} To keep on doing something until it is done no
matter how long, hard, or unpleasant. * /Bill is not a fast runner and
he doesn't have a chance of winning the marathon, but he will stick
out the race even if he finishes last./ - Often used in the phrase
"stick it out". * /Mathematics is hard, but if you stick it out you
will understand it./ Compare: HANG ON(2), STICK WITH(1).
[stick out like a sore thumb] {v. phr.} To be conspicuous; be
different from the rest. * /When the foreign student was placed in an
advanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no wonder that he
stuck out like a sore thumb./
[stick together] {v.} To remain close together in a situation. *
/Stick together in the cave so that no one gets lost./ * /The gang
stuck together after the game./ * /Bill and Bob stick together in a
game or in a fight./ Syn.: HANG TOGETHER(1).
[stick to one's guns] or [stand by one's guns] {v. phr.} To hold to
an aim or an opinion even though people try to stop you or say you are
wrong. * /People laughed at Columbus when he said the world was round.
He stuck to his guns and proved he was right./ * /At first the boss
would not give Jane the raise in pay she wanted, but she stood by her
guns and he gave it to her./ Compare: STAND ONE'S GROUND.
[stick to one's knitting] or [tend to one's knitting] {v. phr.},
{informal} To do your own job and not bother other people. * /The
trouble with Henry is that he is always telling other people what to
do; he can't stick to his knitting./
[stick to one's ribs] or [stick to the ribs] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To keep you from getting hungry again too quickly. * /Doctors say you
should eat a good breakfast that sticks to your ribs./ * /Farmers eat
food that sticks to the ribs./
[stick to the point] {v. phr.} To stay on course during a
discussion; adhere to the topic; not talk about extraneous matters. *
/Stick to the point and stop telling us your life history!/ See: COME
TO THE POINT.
[stick up] {v.}, {informal} To rob with a gun. * /When the
messenger left the bank, a man jumped out of an alley and stuck him
up./ Syn.: HOLD UP. * /In the old West, outlaws sometimes stuck up the
stagecoaches./
[stick-up] {n.}, {informal} A robbery by a man with a gun. * /Mr.
Smith was the victim of a stick-up last night./
[stick up for] See: STAND UP FOR.
[stick with] {v.}, {informal} 1. or [stay with] To continue doing;
not quit. * /Fred stayed with his homework until it was done./ *
/Practicing is tiresome, but stick with it and some day you will be a
good pianist./ Compare: STICK TO. 2. To stay with; not leave. * /Stick
with me until we get out of the crowd./ * /For two months Bill's boss
could not pay his salary, but Bill stuck with him because he thought
the company would soon succeed./ 3. To sell (someone) something poor
or worthless; cheat. * /Father said that the man in the store tried to
stick him with a bad TV set./ 4. To leave (someone) with (something
unpleasant); force to do or keep something because others cannot or
will not. - Usually used in the passive. * /When Harry and I went to
the store to buy ice cream cones, Harry ran out with his cone without
paying and I was stuck with paying for it./ * /Mary didn't wash the
dishes before she left so I'm stuck with it./ * /Mr. Jones bought a
house that is too big and expensive, but now he's stuck with it./
[stick with] {v. phr.} To unfairly thrust upon; encumber one with.
* /In the restaurant my friends stuck me with the bill although it was
supposed to be Dutch treat./
[sticky fingers] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. The habit of stealing things
you see and want. * /Don't leave money in your locker; some of the
boys have sticky fingers./ * /Don't leave that girl alone in the room
with so many valuable objects around, because she has sticky fingers./
2. Ability to catch a ball, especially football forward passes. *
/Jack is very tall and has sticky fingers. He is an end on the
football team./
[stiff] See: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS or
SCARE STIFF.
[still] See: HEART STAND STILL.
[still life] {n. phr.} A term used by artists to describe a
motionless picture of a bowl of fruit, flowers, etc. * /One of van
Gogh's most famous still lifes is a vase of yellow flowers./
[still waters run deep] Quiet people probably are profound
thinkers. - A proverb. * /He doesn't say much, but he sure looks
smart. Well, still waters run deep, isn't that true?/
[stir up] {v.} 1. To bring (something) into being, often by great
exertion or activity; cause. * /It was a quiet afternoon, and John
tried to stir up some excitement./ * /Bob stirred up a fight between
Tom and Bill./ Compare: WHIP UP(2). 2. To cause (someone) to act;
incite to action or movement; rouse. * /The coach's pep talk stirred
up the team to win./ * /When Mary heard what Betty said about her, she
became stirred up./
[stir up a hornet's nest] {v. phr.} To make many people angry; do
something that many people don't like. * /The principal stirred up a
hornet's nest by changing the rules at school./
[stitch] See: IN STITCHES.
[stock] See: IN STOCK, OUT OF STOCK, TAKE STOCK, TAKE STOCK IN.
[stock-in-trade] {n. phr.} The materials which one customarily
deals, sells, or offers. * /Imported silk blouses from the Orient are
the stock-in-trade of their small shop./ * /Anecdotes are often an
after-dinner speaker's stock-in-trade./
[stomach] See: EYES BIGGER THAN ONE'S STOMACH, BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR
STOMACH, TURN ONE'S STOMACH.
[stone] See: CAST THE FIRST STONE, HAVE A HEART OF STONE, KILL TWO
BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN
GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.
[stone-blind] {adj. phr.} 1. Completely blind. * /Poor Al is
stone-blind and needs help to get across the street carefully./ 2.
Highly intoxicated. * /George drank too much and got stone-blind at
the office party./ See: GET STONED, THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[stone-broke] or [dead broke] or [flat broke] {adj.}, {informal}
Having no money; penniless. * /Jill wanted to go to the movies but she
was stone-broke./ * /The man gambled and was soon flat broke./
[stone-cold] {adj.} Having no warmth; completely cold. - Used to
describe things that are better when warm. * /The boys who got up late
found their breakfast stone-cold./ * /The furnace went off and the
radiators were stone-cold./
[stone-dead] {adj.}, {informal} Showing no signs of life;
completely dead. * /Barry tried to revive the frozen robin but it was
stone-dead./
[stone-deaf] {adj. phr.} Completely deaf. * /Sam is stone-deaf so
let him read your lips if you know no sign language./
[stone wall] or [brick wall] {adj.} Something hard to overcome; an
idea or belief that is hard to change. * /The students ran into a
brick wall when they asked the principal to put off the examination./
* /Dick tried to change Father's mind about letting him use the car
Saturday night, but he was up against a stone wall./
[stone's throw] or [within a stone's throw] {adv. phr.} Within a
very short distance. * /They live across the street from us, just
within a stone's throw./ See: HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP.
[stool pigeon] {n.} A criminal who informs on his associates. *
/The detective was able to solve the crime mainly through information
obtained from a stool pigeon./
[stop] See: PUT AN END TO(1), or PUT A STOP TO.
[stop at nothing] {v. phr.} To be unscrupulous. * /Al will stop at
nothing to get Nancy to go out with him./
[stop by] See: DROP BY.
[stop cold] or [stop dead] or [stop in one's tracks] {v. phr.},
{informal} To stop very quickly or with great force. * /The hunter
pulled the trigger and stopped the deer cold./ * /When I saw Mary on
the street, I was so surprised I stopped dead./ * /The deer heard a
noise and he stopped in his tracks./
[stop off] {v.} To stop at a place for a short time while going
somewhere. * /We stopped off after school at the soda fountain before
going home./ * /On our trip to California we stopped off in Las Vegas
for two days./
[stop over] {v.} To stay at a place overnight or for some other
short time while on a trip elsewhere. * /When we came back from
California, we stopped over one night near the Grand Canyon./
[stop short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /Jake stopped short when
he heard somebody yell out his name loud but there was no one in
sight./
[stop street] {n.} A street where cars must come to a full stop
before crossing another street. * /Johnny was late because he traveled
on a stop street./ Contrast: THROUGH STREET.
[stop the show] {v. phr.} To elicit such a strong applause from the
audience that the show is interrupted. * /Pavarotti's rendition of "O
sole mio" always stops the show./
[stop up] {v. phr.} To block; close. * /If you want to get rid of
the leak, you must stop up the two holes you have in the ceiling./
[store] See: DIME STORE, IN STORE, SET STORE BY, VARIETY STORE.
[storm] See: TAKE BY STORM.
[story] See: OLD STORY, SOB STORY, UPPER STORY.
[stow away] {v.} 1. {informal} To pack or store away. * /After New
Year's Day the Christmas decorations were stowed away until another
season./ 2. To hide on a ship or another kind of transportation to get
a free ride. * /John ran away from home and stowed away on a freighter
going to Jamaica./
[straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, SHOOT STRAIGHT.
[straighten out] {v.} To correct a mistake; make you realize you
are wrong. * /The teacher saw Jim's awkward sentence on the board and
asked for volunteers to straighten it out./ * /Sometimes only a good
spanking will straighten out a naughty child./ Syn.: SQUARE AWAY(2).
[straighten up] {v.} To put in order; make neat. * /Vic had to
straighten up his room before he could go swimming./ * /Mrs. Johnson
straightened up the house before company came./ Compare: PICK UP(6b),
SQUARE AWAY.
[straight face] {n.} A face that is not laughing or smiling. *
/Mary told all the funny stories she knew to try to make Joan laugh,
but Joan kept a straight face./ * /It is hard to tell when Jim is
teasing you. He can tell a fib with a straight face./ * /When Bob fell
into the water, he looked funny and I could hardly keep a straight
face./
[straight from the horse's mouth] {slang} Directly from the person
or place where it began; from a reliable source or a person that
cannot be doubted. * /They are going to be married. I got the news
straight from the horse's mouth - their minister./ * /John found out
about the painting straight from the horse's mouth, from the painter
himself./
[straight from the shoulder] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In an open and
honest way of speaking; without holding back anything because of fear
or politeness or respect for someone's feelings; frankly. * /John
asked what he had done wrong. Bob told him straight from the
shoulder./ * /The candidate for Congress spoke out against his
opponent's dishonesty straight from the shoulder./ Contrast: PULL
ONE'S PUNCHES.
[straightlaced] {adj.} Of very strict morals and manners. * /She is
so straightlaced that she won't even go out with a man unless she
senses that he is serious about her./
[straight off] {adv. phr.} At once; immediately. * /After school is
over, you come home straight off, and don't waste time./ * /He asked
his father for the car, but his father said straight off that he
couldn't have it./
[straight out] See: RIGHT OUT.
[straight shooters] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT.
[straight ticket] {n.} A vote for all the candidates of a single
party. * /Uncle Fred was a loyal member of his party. He always voted
the straight ticket./ Contrast: SPLIT TICKET.
[strain a point] See: STRETCH A POINT.
[strange to say] {adv. phr.} Not what you might think;
surprisingly. - Used for emphasis. * /Strange to say, Jerry doesn't
like candy./ * /Strange to say, the Indians didn't kill Daniel Boone./
[strapped for] {adj.} Broke; out of funds. * /My brother is so
extravagant that he is always strapped for cash./
[straw] See: GIVE A HANG, GRASP AT A STRAW, GRASP AT STRAWS, LAST
STRAW or STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL'S BACK, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT
STRAW.
[straw boss] {n.} 1. The boss of a few workers who is himself under
another boss or foreman. * /The straw boss told Jim he would have to
see the foreman about a job./ 2, A man who works himself and also
bosses a few other workers. * /Smith worked better than the other men,
so the foreman made him straw boss, too./
[straw in the wind] {n. phr.} A small sign of what may happen. *
/The doctor's worried face was a straw in the wind./ * /The
quickly-called meeting of the President and his cabinet was a straw in
the wind./
[straw poll] {n. phr.} An informal survey taken in order to get an
opinion. * /The results of our straw poll show that most faculty
members prefer to teach between 9 and 11 A.M./
[straw that breaks the camel's back] See: LAST STRAW.
[straw vote] See: STRAW POLL.
[streak] See: WINNING STREAK.
[streak of luck] See: RUN OF LUCK.
[stream] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM, SWIM
AGAINST THE CURRENT or SWIM AGAINST THE STREAM.
[street] See: BACK STREET, CROSS STREET, MAN IN THE STREET, ON EASY
STREET, SIDE STREET, STOP STREET, THROUGH STREET.
[strength] See: ON THE STRENGTH OF.
[stretch a point] or [strain a point] {v. phr.} To permit something
different or more than usual; not tell the exact truth or make an
exception. * /Mother stretched a point because it was Christmas time
and let the children stay up later than usual./ * /It's straining a
point to call Joe a hero just because he saved the kitten from