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drowning in the bathtub./
[stretch of the imagination] {n. phr.} Imaginative attempt or
effort. * /By no stretch of the imagination can I see Al as a
successful lawyer./
[stride] See: HIT ONE'S STRIDE, TAKE IN STRIDE.
[strike] See: CALLED STRIKE, HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, TWO STRIKES AGAINST
ONE.
[strike a bargain] {v. phr.} To arrive at a price satisfactory to
both the buyer and the seller. * /After a great deal of haggling, they
managed to strike a bargain./
[strike a happy medium] {v. phr.} To find an answer to a problem
that is halfway between two unsatisfactory answers. * /Mary said the
dress was blue. Jane said it was green. They finally struck a happy
medium and decided it was blue-green./ * /Two teaspoons of sugar made
the cup of coffee too sweet, and one not sweet enough. One heaping
teaspoon struck a happy medium./
[strike all of a heap] See: ALL OF A HEAP.
[strikebreaker] {n.} One who takes the place of workers on strike
or one who recruits such people. * /The striking workers threw rotten
eggs at the strikebreakers./
[strike gold] {v. phr.} 1. To find gold. * /Ted struck gold near an
abandoned mine in California./ 2. To find suddenly the answer to an
old puzzle. * /Professor Brown's assistant struck gold when he came up
with an equation that explained the irregular motions of a double
star./ See: PAY DIRT.
[strike home] See: HIT HOME.
[strike it rich] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To discover oil, or a
large vein of minerals to be mined, or a buried treasure. * /The old
prospector panned gold for years before he struck it rich./ 2. To
become rich or successful suddenly or without expecting to. *
/Everyone wanted to buy one of the new gadgets, and their inventor
struck it rich./ * /John did not know that he had a rich Uncle John in
Australia. John struck it rich when his uncle left his money to John./
Compare: PAY DIRT(2).
[strike one funny] {v. phr.} To appear or seem laughable, curious,
ironic, or entertaining. * /"It strikes me funny," he said, "that you
should refuse my invitation to visit my chateau in France. After all,
you love both red wine and old castles. "/
[strike one's colors] See: HAUL DOWN ONE'S COLORS.
[strike one's fancy] {v. phr.} To please one's predilections;
appeal to one. * /The red tie with the yellow dragon on it happened to
strike my fancy, so I bought it./
[strike] or [hit a sour note] {v. phr.} To spoil the mood at a
gathering by hearing some bad news. * /The news of Mr. Brown's sudden
illness struck a sour note during our New Year's Eve party./ Compare:
SPIT INTO THE WEDDING CAKE.
[strike out] {v.} 1. To destroy something that has been written or
drawn by drawing a line or cross through it or by erasing it. * /John
misspelled "corollary. " He struck it out and wrote it correctly./ 2.
To begin to follow a new path or a course of action that you have
never tried. * /The boy scouts struck out at daybreak over the
mountain pass./ * /John quit his job and struck out on his own as a
traveling salesman./ 3. To put (a batter) out of play by making him
miss the ball three times; also: To be put out of play by missing the
ball three times. * /The pitcher struck out three men in the game./ *
/The batter struck out twice./ 4. To push out an arm suddenly in a
hitting motion. * /The boxer saw his chance and struck out at his
opponent's jaw./
[strike out at] {v. phr.} To attack someone verbally or physically.
* /She was so angry that she struck out at him every occasion she
got./
[strike the hour] {v. phr.} To mark or toll the hour (said of
clocks or bells). * /We heard the church clock strike the hour of
two./
[strike up] {v.} 1a. To start to sing or play. * /We were sitting
around the camp fire. Someone struck up a song, and we all joined in./
* /The President took his place on the platform, and the band struck
up the national anthem./ 1b. To give a signal to start (a band)
playing. * /When the team ran on the field, the band director struck
up the band./ 2. To bring about; begin; start. * /The policeman struck
up a conversation with John while they were waiting for the bus./ *
/It did not take Mary long to strike up acquaintances in her new
school./
[strike while the iron is hot] See: MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
[string] See: FIRST STRING, LATCH STRING, ON THE STRING or ON A
STRING, PULL STRINGS, PURSE STRINGS, SHOE-STRING CATCH, TIED TO ONE'S
MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.
[string along] {v.}, {informal} 1. To deceive; fool; lead on
dishonestly. * /Mary was stringing John along for years but she didn't
mean to marry him./ * /George told the new boy that he must always
call the teacher "Sir," but the new boy soon saw that George was
stringing him along./ Compare: ON A STRING. 2. To follow someone's
leadership; join his group. * /Those of you who want to learn about
wild flowers, string along with Jake./
[string out] {v.} To make (something) extend over a great distance
or a long stretch of time. * /The telephone poles were strung out
along the road as far as we could see./ * /Mary and Ann did not have
much to say but they did not want to go home. They strung out their
gossip for a long time./
[string up] {v.}, {slang} To put a rope around the neck of a person
and choke him to death; hang. * /The posse strung up the rustler
without a trial./ Compare: NECKTIE PARTY.
[strings attached] {adv. phr.} With some special proviso or
condition that is a handicap. * /John inherited a large fortune but
with the string attached that he could not touch a penny of it before
his 28th birthday./
[strip] See: DRAG STRIP.
[stripe] See: MIDFIELD STRIPE.
[stroke] See: AT A STROKE or AT ONE'S STROKE.
[stroke of luck] See: RUN OF LUCK.
[strong language] {n. phr.} Cursing; swearing. * /When Ned learned
that he had been fired, he used some very strong language about his
boss./
[strung out] {adj.}, {slang}, {colloquial} 1. Nervous, jittery,
jumpy; generally ill because of drug use or withdrawal symptoms. *
/The only explanation I can think of for Max's behavior is that he
must be strung out./ 2. To suffer because of a lack of something
previously accustomed to, such as the love and affection of someone. *
/Sue is all strung out for Jim; they've just split up./ Compare:
SPACED OUT.
[stuck on] {slang} Very much in love with; crazy about. * /Judy
thinks she is very pretty and very smart. She is stuck on herself./ *
/Lucy is stuck on the football captain./
[stuck-up] {adj.}, {informal} Acting as if other people are not as
good as you are; conceited; snobbish. * /Mary is very stuck-up, and
will not speak to the poor children in her class./
[stuck with] {adj. phr.} Left in a predicament; left having to take
care of a problem caused by another. * /Our neighbors vanished without
a trace and we got stuck with their cat and dog./
[study] See: BROWN STUDY.
[stuff] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND(2).
[stuff and nonsense] {n.} Foolish or empty writing or talk;
nonsense. * /Fred told a long story about his adventures in Africa,
but it was all stuff and nonsense./ Often used as an interjection. *
/When Jane said she was too sick to go to school, her mother answered,
"Stuff and nonsense! I know there's a test today."/
[stuff the ballot box] {v. phr.} To give more votes to a candidate
in an election than there are people who actually voted for him. * /It
is a crime to stuff the ballot box./ - [ballot-stuffing] {adj. phr.}
[stuffed shirt] {n. phr.} A pretentious bore; a pompous, empty
person. * /I think that Howard is a terrible stuffed shirt with no
sense of humor./
[stuffed up] {adj. phr.} Impeded; blocked. * /Our kitchen sink is
all stuffed up so I have to call the plumber./
[stumble across] {v. phr.} To encounter a person or thing, mostly
by accident. * /I gave up looking for my old hat when I accidentally
stumbled across it in a dark corner of the closet./
[stump] See: TAKE THE STUMP or TAKE TO THE STUMP, UP A STUMP.
[style] See: CRAMP ONE'S STYLE, HIGH STYLE.
[subject to] {adj. phr.} 1. Under the government or control of; in
the power of. * /The English colonies in America were subject to the
English king./ * /The principal and the teachers of a school are
subject to the school board./ 2. Likely to get or have; liable. *
/John is in rather poor health and is subject to colds./ * /The
western plains are subject to tornadoes./ 3. Depending on some change,
happening, or need. * /The company and the union agreed that the
workers' wages should be subject to changes in the cost of living./ *
/Agreements made by the President with other countries are subject to
the approval of the Senate./
[substance] See: IN SUBSTANCE.
[succeed] See: HOWLING SUCCESS, NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS.
[such and such] {pron.} Something whose name is not mentioned
because it does not need to be mentioned. * /George's argument tries
to prove such and such to be true, but it does not convince me./
[such-and-such] {adj. phr.} Being one whose name has been forgotten
or whose name does not need to be mentioned. * /She told me to go to
such-and-such a street and turn right./ * /Suppose, now, that we have
such-and-such a group coming to the school, and we don't have enough
chairs. What do we do then?/
[such as] {conj.} 1. Of a kind or amount shown or named; of a kind
like. * /The explorer took only such men and things as he really
needed into the jungle with him./ * /They felt such heat in the jungle
as they had never felt before./ * /Many different pies were in the
bakery such as apple, cherry, and blueberry pies./ 2. Of the average
or ordinary kind; poor; humble. * /Such as the food was, there was
plenty of it./ * /The room is not very nice, but such as it is, you
may stay there for the night./
[such as it is] Just as it appears or is presented, not being any
better or worse than most others of its kind; being average or
mediocre. * /This pie, such as it is, is the best I can make./ * /Jane
told her grandmother her grades, such as they were./
[such that] {conj.} Of a kind or amount that; so great or so little
that; enough that. * /There was such a big line at me movie that we
had to wait before we could get in./ * /Jimmy made such noise that his
sister told him to be quiet./ * /Mother's answer was such that she
didn't say yes and she didn't say no./
[sucker list] {n.}, {slang} A list of easily-fooled people,
especially people who are easily persuaded to buy things or give
money. * /The crook got hold of a sucker list and started out to sell
his worthless stock./ * /Mr. Smith gets so many advertisements in his
mail that he says he is on every sucker list in the country./
[suck in] {v.} 1. {informal} To pull in by taking a deep breath and
tightening the muscles; flatten. * /"Suck in those stomachs," the gym
teacher said./ 2. {slang} To make a fool of; cheat. * /The uneducated
farmer was sucked in by a clever crook./
[sugar daddy] {n.}, {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {avoidable} An older,
well-to-do man, who gives money and gifts to a younger woman or girls
usually in exchange for sexual favors. * /Betty Morgan got a mink coat
from her sugar daddy./
[suit] See: BIRTHDAY SUIT, FOLLOW SUIT.
[suit to a T] See: TO A T.
[suit up] {v. phr.} To don a uniform or sports outfit. * /The
veterans like to suit up for the Fourth of July parade./
[suit yourself] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do what one likes or
prefers. * /"I don't care where you want to sleep," he said. "Suit
yourself!"/
[sum total] {n.} The final amount; everything taken together;
total. * /The sum total of expenses for the trip was $450./ * /Ten
years was the sum total of John's education./
[sum up] {v.} To put something into a few words; shorten into a
brief summary; summarize. * /The teacher summed up the lesson in three
rules./ * /The mailman's job, in all kinds of weather, is summed up in
the phrase "Deliver the mail."/
[sun] See: UNDER THE SUN.
[sunbelt] {n.}, {informal} A portion of the southern United States
where the winter is very mild in comparison to other states. * /The
Simpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff's rheumatism./
[Sunday] See: MONTH OF SUNDAYS.
[Sunday best] or [Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes] See: BEST BIB AND
TUCKER.
[sunny-side up] {adj.} Fried on one side only. * /Barbara likes her
eggs sunny-side up./
[supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER or POTLUCK SUPPER.
[supply] See: IN SHORT SUPPLY.
[sure] See: FOR SURE, MAKE SURE, TO BE SURE.
[sure enough] {adv.} As expected. * /Charles was afraid he had done
badly on the test, and sure enough, his grade was failing./ * /The
children saw a familiar shape coming up the street and hoped it was
their lost dog. When it came near, sure enough, it was Spot./ Compare:
SURE THING(2).
[sure-enough] {adj.} Real; genuine. * /Rick found a sure-enough
nickel./ * /Martha's uncle gave her a sure-enough pearl on a little
gold chain./ * /Jane's uncle is a sure-enough cowboy./
[surefire] {adj.} Without fail; effective; bringing actual results.
* /During a campaign the only surefire way to get the sympathy of the
voters is to mingle with them in person./
[sure thing] 1. {n.}, {informal} Something sure to happen;
something about which there is no doubt. * /It's no fun betting on a
sure thing./ 2. {adv.} Of course; certainly * /Sure thing, I'll be
glad to do it for you./ Compare: FOR SURE(2), SURE ENOUGH.
[surface] See: SCRATCH THE SURFACE.
[surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[survival of the fittest] {n. phr.} The staying alive or in action
of the best prepared; often: idea that those living things best able
to adjust to life survive and those unable to adjust die out. * /Life
in the old West was often a case of survival of the fittest./ * /With
changes in the world's climate, dinosaurs died but many smaller
animals lived on. It was survival of the fittest./ * /On the 50-mile
hike it was survival of the fittest; only 12 out of 25 Scouts
finished./
[suspicion] See: ABOVE SUSPICION.
[swallow] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY.
[swallow hook, line, and sinker] See: HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
[swallow one's pride] {v. phr.} To bring your pride under control;
humble yourself. * /After Bill lost the race, he swallowed his pride
and shook hands with the winner./ Compare: EAT ONE'S WORDS,
[swallow one's words] 1. To speak unclearly; fail to put enough
breath into your words. * /Phyllis was hard to understand because she
swallowed her words./ 2. See: EAT ONE'S WORDS.
[swallow up] {v. phr.} To do away with; absorb; engulf. * /My
expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary./
[swan song] {n. phr.}, {literary} A farewell or last appearance. *
/The famous soprano gave her swan song in La Traviata before she
retired./
[SWAT team] {n.}, {informal} Police unit trained for especially
hazardous or sensitive law-enforcement assignments; short for Special
Weapons and Tactics. * /Joe made the SWAT team of the NYPD due to his
athletic skills./
[swathe] See: CUT A SWATHE.
[swear by] {v.} 1. To use as the support or authority that what you
are saying is truthful; take an oath upon. * /A witness swears by the
Bible that he will tell the truth./ * /In ancient Greece a doctor
swore by Apollo, the god of healing, that he would be a good doctor./
* /John swore by his honor he would return the bike./ 2. To have
complete confidence in; be sure of; trust completely. * /When John has
to go somewhere fast, he swears by his bike to get there./ * /We can
be sure that Fred will come on time, since his friend Tom swears by
him./
[swear in] or [swear into] {v.} To have a person swear or promise
to do his duty as a member or an officer of an organization,
government department, or similar group. - "Swear into" is used when
the name of the group is given. * /Mary and Ann will be sworn into the
club tonight./ * /Fred was sworn in as class president./ * /Many new
men were sworn into the army last month./ * /At the inauguration, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swore in the new President./
[swear off] {v.}, {informal} To give up something you like or you
have got in the habit of using by making a promise. * /Mary swore off
candy until she lost ten pounds./ * /John has sworn off dessert for
Lent./
[swear out] {v.} To get (a written order to do something) by
swearing that a person has broken the law. * /The policeman swore out
a warrant for the suspect's arrest./ * /The detectives swore out a
search warrant./
[sweat] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW.
[sweat blood] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be very much worried. * /The
engine of the airplane stopped, and the pilot sweated blood as he
glided to a safe landing./ 2. To work very hard. * /Jim sweated blood
to finish his composition on time./
[sweat out] {v.}, {informal} To wait anxiously; worry while
waiting. * /Karl was sweating out the results of the college exams./ *
/The search plane signaled that help was on the way. The men in the
lifeboat just had to sweat it out./
[Sweeney] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES or TELL IT TO SWEENEY.
[sweep] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.
[sweep off one's feet] {v. phr.} To make (someone) have feelings
(as love or happiness) too strong to control; overcome with strong
feeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by (someone) through the
feelings. * /The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feet
when he said so many things to her at the dance./ * /Joan was swept
off her feet when the football captain started flirting with her./ *
/Mary is swept off her feet whenever she hears a band start playing./
* /John was swept off his feet when he won the contest./ Compare: BOWL
OVER (2), CARRY AWAY.
[sweep out of] {v. phr.} To leave in an impressive, majestic
manner. * /Offended by Tim's remark, Mary swept out of the room with
her head high in the air./
[sweep the city] or [country] or [nation] or [world] {v. phr.} To
gain great attention or popularity throughout the city, country, etc.
* /Pavarotti's unmatched tenor voice swept the world in an
unprecedented manner./
[sweep under the rug] {v. phr.} To hide or dismiss casually
(something one is ashamed of or does not know what to do about). * /In
many places, drug abuse by school children is swept under the rug./
[sweet] See: SHORT AND SWEET.
[sweetie pie] {n.}, {informal} A person who is loved; darling;
sweetheart. * /Arnold blushed with pleasure when Annie called him her
sweetie pie./ * /Nancy is Bill's sweetie pie./
[sweet on] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In love with; very fond of. *
/John is sweet on Alice./
[sweet talk] 1. {n.}, {informal} Too much praise; flattery. *
/Sometimes a girl's better judgment is overcome by sweet talk./ 2.
{v.}, {informal} To get what you want by great praise; flatter. *
/Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything./
[sweet tooth] {n. phr.} A great weakness or predilection for
sweets. * /Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything
else but cake./
[swelled head] {n.}, {informal} A feeling that you are very
important or more important than you really are. * /When John won the
race, he got a swelled head./ * /Pretty girls shouldn't get a swelled
head about it./ - [swell-headed] {adj. phr.} * /After he was elected
captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed./ Compare: BIG HEAD.
[swell-headed] See: SWELLED HEAD.
[swim] See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM.
[swim against the current] or [swim against the stream] {v. phr.}
To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way
things are happening; struggle upstream. * /The boy who tries to
succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./
[swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS BEFORE
SWINE.
[swing] See: IN FULL SWING.
[swing one's weight] {v. phr.} To use your personal power to get
something done * /The President swings his weight to get laws passed./
* /Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company./
[switch] See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.
[switched on] {adj.}, {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads,
ideas, and fashions. * /I dig Sarah, she is really switched on./ 2.
Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. * /How come
you're talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?/
[swoop] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.
[sword] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD.
[sword rattling] See: SABER RATTLING.
[sworn enemies] {n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have a
long-standing dislike for each other. * /The Israelis and the Arabs
used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace
accord./
[syllable] See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
[system] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.
[T] See: TO A T.
[tab] See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON.
[table] See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE'S
CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES,
WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.
[tack] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A
TACK.
[tackle] See: FLYING TACKLE
[tack on] {v. phr.} To append; add. * /We were about to sign the
contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil
that was not acceptable to us./
[tag end] or [tail end] {n.}, {informal} The end, farthest to the
rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. * /John
was at the tail end of his class./ * /Mary's part in the play came at
the tag end, and she got bored waiting./ * /Bill waited at the
crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by./
[tail] See: COW'S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR
TAIL OF, TURN TAIL.
[tail between one's legs] {n. phr.} State of feeling beaten,
ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. * /The
army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs./ * /The
boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they
went home with their tails between their legs./ (So called because a
beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks
away.)
[tail end] See: TAG END.
[taillight] {n.} The rear red light of a car. * /My father was
fined $15 for driving without a taillight./
[tailor-made] See: MADE-TO-MEASURE.
[tailspin] See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN.
[tail wags the dog] Said of situations in which a minor part is in
control of the whole. * /He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet
he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog./
[take] See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH
AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
[take aback] See: TAKEN BACK.
[take a back seat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To accept a poorer or
lower position; be second to something or someone else. * /During the
war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs./ *
/She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive./ Compare:
PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.
[take a bath] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to financial ruin. *
/Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc./
[take a bow] {v. phr.} To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped
for or praised for success. * /The audience shouted for the author of
the play to take a bow./ * /The basketball team should take a bow for
fine work this season./
[take a break] {v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during the
course of one's work. * /"You've worked hard. It's time to take a
break," the boss said./
[take a chance] {v. phr.} To accept the risk of failure or loss. *
/We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors./
[take a crack at] {v. phr.} To try doing something. * /It was a
difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the
resident architect decided to take a crack at it./
[take a dig at] {v. phr.} To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. *
/If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be
a short one./
[take a dim view of] {v. phr.} 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure
or anxious about. * /Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the
exam./ * /Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of
the weather./ 2. To be against; disapprove. * /John's father took a
dim view of his wanting to borrow the car./ * /The teacher took a dim
view of the class's behavior./
[take a dislike to] Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a drop] {v. phr.} 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. * /Aunt
Liz doesn't really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then./
2. To lose value; decrease in price. * /Stocks took a big drop
yesterday due to the international crisis./
[take advantage of] {v. phr.} 1. To make good use of. * /The cat
took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird./ * /Jean
took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework./ 2. To treat
(someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. *
/He took advantage of his friend's kindness./ * /The little children
did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage
of them./ Syn.: IMPOSE ON.
[take after] {v.} To be like because of family relationship; to
have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). * /He takes
after his father in mathematical ability./ * /She takes after her
father's side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON;
RUN IN THE FAMILY.
[take a fancy to] {v. phr.} To become fond of; cultivate a
predilection for. * /Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique
furniture./
[take a flop] {v. phr.} To fall heavily. * /I took a nasty flop on
the ice-covered sidewalk./
[take aim] {v. phr.} To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by
sighting carefully. * /When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your
gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ *
/Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./
[take a hand in] {v. phr.} To assist in the direction of;
participate. * /The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in
helping the recent refugees./
[take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.
[take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE.
[take a hint] {v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion
and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said.
"Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/
[take a joke] {v. phr.} Accept in good spirit some derision
directed at oneself. * /My brother has a good sense of humor when
teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./
[take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a load off one's feet] {v. phr.} To alleviate one's fatigue
by sitting down during some taxing work. * /"You've been standing
there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your
feet?"/
[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.
[take amiss] or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due to
a misunderstanding. * /"I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said
to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/
[take a new turn] {v. phr.} To start a new course; decide upon a
new direction. * /The company took a new turn under Jack's
directorship./
[take a nose dive] {v. phr.} To plummet; fall sharply. * /The stock
market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart
attack./
[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD.
[take apart] {v. phr.} To dismantle; disassemble. * /Boys like
taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them
back together again./
[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.
[take a powder] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave hurriedly; run out or
away; desert, flee. * /All the gang except one had taken a powder when
the police arrived./
[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] {v. phr.}
To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with
the fists. * /Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at
Fred./ * /Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ * /I
felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./
[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.
[take a shine to] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have or show a quick liking
for. * /He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./
Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a shot at] {v. phr.} To try casually; attempt to do. * /"Can
you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it
before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/
[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a spill] {v. phr.} To fall down; tip over. * /During the
harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take
a spill./
[take at one's word] {v. phr.} To believe everything (someone)
says; to act on what is said. * /If you say you don't want this coat,
I'll take you at your word and throw it away./ * /When the king said
he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and
murdered the councillor./
[take a stand] {v. phr.} To assert one's point. of view; declare
one's position. * /It is time for American society to take a stand
against crime./
[take a turn] {v. phr.} To become different; change. * /Mary's
fever suddenly took a bad turn./ * /The story took an odd turn./ Often
used with "for the better" or "for the worse". * /In the afternoon the
weather took a turn for the better./ * /Suddenly the battle took a
turn for the worse./
[take a turn for the better] {v. phr.} To start improving; start to
get better. * /Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last
week she suddenly took a turn for the better./
[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A
TURN FOR THE BETTER.
[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.
[take back] {v.} To change or deny something offered, promised, or
stated; admit to making a wrong statement. * /I take back my offer to
buy the house now that I've had a good look at it./ * /I want you to
take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./
[take by storm] {v. phr.} 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold
attack. * /The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2.
To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or
believe you. * /The comic took the audience by storm./ * /John gave
Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she
would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.
[take by surprise] {v. phr.} 1. To appear in front of someone
suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come
before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. *
/The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./
* /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took
her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. *
/Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ *
/When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the
government, it took us all by surprise./
[take by the scruff] {v. phr.} 1. To assert authority over a
person. * /Tim's mother took him by the scruff and told him to get
cleaned up./ 2. To punish a person. * /The boss took us by the scruff
when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine./ 3. To assume
firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some
difficulty. * /Someone had better take the post office by the scruff;
there are too many customer complaints pouring in./
[take care] {v. phr.} To be careful; use wisdom or caution. * /Take
care that you don't spill that coffee!/ * /We must take care to let
nobody hear about this./
[take care of] {v. phr.} 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. *
/She stayed home to take care of the baby./ Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON(2),
LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE(2). 2. {informal} To deal with; do what
is needed with. * /I will take care of that letter./ * /The coach told
Jim to take care of the opposing player./ Compare: SEE TO.
[take charge] {v. phr.} To begin to lead or control; take control
or responsibility; undertake the care or management (of persons or
things). * /When Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital, her sister took
charge of the Jackson children until Mrs. Jackson could care for
them./ * /The child care class gave a party for the nursery children,
and Mary took charge of the games./ * /John was elected the new
president of the club and took charge at the next meeting./ * /Bob is
a natural leader, and can take charge in an emergency./ Compare: IN
CHARGE(2).
[take cold] See: CATCH COLD.
[take cover] {v. phr.} To seek shelter or protection. * /The rain
began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway./
[take down] {v.} 1. To write or record (what is said). * /I will
tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down./ 2. To
pull to pieces; take apart. * /It will be a big job to take that tree
down./ * /In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next
morning they took it down./ 3. {informal} To reduce the pride or
spirit of; humble. * /Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry
took him down./ Syn.: TAKE DOWN A NOTCH.
[take down a notch] or [take down a peg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
make (someone) less proud or sure of himself. * /The team was feeling
proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a
bad defeat./
[take effect] {v. phr.} 1. To have an unexpected or intended
result; cause a change. * /It was nearly an hour before the sleeping
pill took effect./ 2. To become lawfully right, or operative. * /The
new tax law will not take effect until January./
[take exception to] {v. phr.} To speak against; find fault with; be
displeased or angered by; criticize. * /There was nothing in the
speech that you could take exception to./ * /Did she take exception to
my remarks about her cooking./
[take five] {v. phr.} To take a five-minute break during some work
or theatrical rehearsal. * /"All right, everyone," the director cried.
"Let's take five."/
[take for] {v.} To suppose to be; mistake for. * /Do you take me
for a fool?/ * /At first sight you would take him for a football
player, not a poet./
[take for a ride] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take out in a car
intending to murder. * /The gang leader decided that the informer must
be taken for a ride./ 2. To play a trick on; fool. * /The girls told
Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not
believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride./ Compare:
STRING ALONG. 3. To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain.
* /His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating
her./
[take for granted] {v. phr.} 1. To suppose or understand to be
true. * /Mr. Harper took for granted that the invitation included his
wife./ * /A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do
their homework./ Compare: BEG THE QUESTION. 2. To accept or become
used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything. *
/George took for granted all that his parents did for him./ * /No girl
likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should
always try to make her like him better./
[take French leave] {v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. * /The
party was so boring that we decided to take French leave./ * /While
the Smith family was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all the
silver and took French leave./ See: SLIP AWAY.
[take heart] {v. phr.} To be encouraged; feel braver and want to
try. * /The men took heart from their leader's words and went on to
win the battle./ * /When we are in trouble we can take heart from the
fact that things often seem worse than they are./ Contrast: LOSE
HEART.
[take heed] {v. phr.}, {literary} To pay attention; watch or listen
carefully; notice. * /Take heed not to spill coffee on the rug./
[take hold of] {v. phr.} To grasp. * /The old man tried to keep
himself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take
hold of./
[take ill] or [take sick] {v.} To become sick. * /Father took sick
just before his birthday./ - Used in the passive with the same
meaning. * /The man was taken ill on the train./
[take in] {v.} 1. To include. * /The country's boundaries were
changed to fake in a piece of land beyond the river./ * /The class of
mammals takes in nearly all warm-blooded animals except the birds./ 2.
To go and see; visit. * /The students decided to take in a movie while
they were in town./ * /We planned to take in Niagara Palls and
Yellowstone Park on our trip./ 3. To make smaller. * /This waistband
is too big; it must be taken in about an inch./ * /They had to take in
some sail to keep the ship from turning over in the storm./ 4. To
grasp with the mind; understand. * /He didn't take in what he read
because his mind was on something else./ * /He took in the situation
at a glance./ 5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. * /The teacher was taken in
by the boy's innocent manner./ Compare: PUT OVER, ROPE IN. 5b. To
accept without question; believe. * /The magician did many tricks, and
the children took it all in./ 6a. To receive; get. * /The senior class
held a dance to make money and took in over a hundred dollars./ 6b.
Let come in; admit. * /The farmer took in the lost travelers for the
night./ * /When her husband died, Mrs. Smith took in boarders./ 7. To
see or hear with interest; pay close attention to, * /When Bill told
about his adventures, the other boys took it all in./
[take in stride] {v. phr.} To meet happenings without too much
surprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. * /He learned to take
disappointments in stride./
[take in tow] {v. phr.} To take charge of; lead; conduct. * /Brian
and Kate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the
circus./
[take into account] {v. phr.} To remember and understand while
judging someone or something; consider. * /How much time will we need
to get to the lake? You have to take the bad road into account./ *
/His acting in the play was remarkable, taking into account his youth
and inexperience./ Syn.: RECKON WITH. Contrast: LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT.
[take issue with] {v. phr.} To be openly against; speak against;
disagree with. * /He thought his boss was wrong but was afraid to take
issue with him on the matter./
[take it] {v. phr.} 1. To get an idea or impression; understand
from what is said or done. - Usually used with "I". * /I take it from
your silence that you don't want to go./ 2. {informal} To bear
trouble, hard work, criticism; not give up or weaken. * /Henry could
criticize and tease other boys, but he couldn't take it himself./ *
/Bob lost his job and his girl in the same week, and we all admired
the way he took it./
[take it all in] {v. phr.} To absorb completely; listen
attentively. * /Bill's piano music filled the room and we took it all
in with admiration./
[take it away] {v. phr.}, {informal}, {Theatrical expression}
You're on; it's your turn; you're next. * /And here comes that
wonderful comedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, "Take it away.
Bob."/
[take it easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. or [go easy] or [take
things easy] To go or act slowly, carefully, and gently. - Often used
with "on". * /Take it easy. The roads are icy./ * /"Go easy," said
Billy to the other boys carrying the table down the stairs./ * /"Take
it easy on John and don't scold him too much," said Mrs. Jones to Mr.
Jones./ * /Go easy on the cake. There isn't much left./ 2. or [take
things easy] To avoid hard work or worry; have an easy time; live in
comfort. * /The doctor said that Bob would have to take things easy
for awhile after he had his tonsils out./ * /Barbara likes to take it
easy./ * /Grandfather will retire from his job next year and take
things easy./ * /Mr. Wilson has just made a lot of money and can take
things easy now./
[take it from the top] {v. phr.}, {informal} {Musical and
theatrical expression} To start again from the beginning. * /The
conductor said, "We must try it once again. Take it from the top and
watch my baton."/
[take it into one's head] or {informal} [take a notion] {v. phr.}
To get a sudden idea; decide without thinking. * /The boy suddenly
took it into his head to leave school and get a job./ * /Grandmother
keeps a bag packed so that she can go visiting whenever she takes a
notion./
[take it on the chin] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be badly beaten
or hurt. * /Our football team really took it on the chin today. They
are all bumps and bruises./ * /Mother and I took it on the chin in the
card game./ 2. To accept without complaint something bad that happens
to you; accept trouble or defeat calmly. * /A good football player can
take it on the chin when his team loses./
[take it or leave it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To accept something
without change or refuse it; decide yes or no. - Often used like a
command. * /He said the price of the house was $10,000, take it or
leave it./
[take it out on] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be unpleasant or unkind
to (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings
by being mean to. - Often used with the name of the feeling instead of
"it." * /The teacher was angry and took it out on the class./ * /Bob
was angry because Father would not let him use the car, and he took it
out on his little brother./
[take its toll] {v. phr.} To cause loss or damage. * /The bombs had
taken their toll on the little town./ * /The budget cut took its toll
of teachers./
[take kindly to] {v.} To be pleased by; like. - Usually used in
negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. * /He doesn't take
kindly to any suggestions about running his business./ * /Will your
father take kindly to the idea of your leaving college?/
[take leave of] {v. phr.} I. To abandon, go away from, or become
separated from. - Usually used in the phrase "take leave of one's
senses". * /Come down from the roof, Billy! Have you taken leave of
your senses?/ 2. See: TAKE ONE'S LEAVE.
[take leave of one's senses] {v. phr.} To go mad; become crazy. *
/"Have you taken leave of your senses? "Jake cried, when he saw Andy
swallow a live goldfish./
[take liberties] {v. phr.} To act toward in too close or friendly a
manner; use as you would use a close friend or something of your own.
* /Mary would not let any boy take liberties with her./ * /Bill took
liberties with Tom's bicycle./ Compare: MAKE FREE WITH.
[take lying down] {v. phr.} To accept something without defense or
protest. * /If you take such insults lying down, you will only
encourage more of the same./
[taken aback] also [taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised;
suddenly puzzled or shocked. * /When he came to pay for his dinner he
was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home./
[taken by] or [with] {v. phr.} To be impressed by; intrigued by. *
/Ned was much taken by the elegance of Sophie's manners./
[take no stock in] See: TAKE STOCK IN.
[take note of] or [take notice of] {v. phr.} 1. To look carefully
at; pay close attention to; observe well. * /A detective is trained to
take note of people and things./ 2. To notice and act in response; pay
attention. * /Two boys were talking together in the back of the room
but the teacher took no notice of them./ * /The principal thanked
everyone who helped in the program, and took note of the decorations
made by the art class./
[take oath] {v. phr.} To promise to tell the truth or to do some
task honestly, calling on God or some person or thing as a witness. *
/Mary took her oath that she did not steal the watch./ * /John took
oath that he would fill the office of president faithfully./
[takeoff] {n.} 1. Departure of an airplane; the act of becoming
airborne. * /The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a
wonderfully smooth takeoff./ 2. Imitation; a parody. * /Vaughn Meader
used to do a wonderful takeoff on President Kennedy's speech./
[take off] {v. phr.} 1a. To leave fast; depart suddenly; run away.
* /The dog took off after a rabbit./ Compare: LIGHT OUT. 1b.
{informal} To go away; leave. * /The six boys got into the car and
took off for the drug store./ 2. To leave on a flight, begin going up.
* /A helicopter is able to take off and land straight up or down./ 3.
{informal} To imitate amusingly; copy another person's habitual
actions or speech. * /He made a career of taking off famous people for
[stretch of the imagination] {n. phr.} Imaginative attempt or
effort. * /By no stretch of the imagination can I see Al as a
successful lawyer./
[stride] See: HIT ONE'S STRIDE, TAKE IN STRIDE.
[strike] See: CALLED STRIKE, HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, TWO STRIKES AGAINST
ONE.
[strike a bargain] {v. phr.} To arrive at a price satisfactory to
both the buyer and the seller. * /After a great deal of haggling, they
managed to strike a bargain./
[strike a happy medium] {v. phr.} To find an answer to a problem
that is halfway between two unsatisfactory answers. * /Mary said the
dress was blue. Jane said it was green. They finally struck a happy
medium and decided it was blue-green./ * /Two teaspoons of sugar made
the cup of coffee too sweet, and one not sweet enough. One heaping
teaspoon struck a happy medium./
[strike all of a heap] See: ALL OF A HEAP.
[strikebreaker] {n.} One who takes the place of workers on strike
or one who recruits such people. * /The striking workers threw rotten
eggs at the strikebreakers./
[strike gold] {v. phr.} 1. To find gold. * /Ted struck gold near an
abandoned mine in California./ 2. To find suddenly the answer to an
old puzzle. * /Professor Brown's assistant struck gold when he came up
with an equation that explained the irregular motions of a double
star./ See: PAY DIRT.
[strike home] See: HIT HOME.
[strike it rich] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To discover oil, or a
large vein of minerals to be mined, or a buried treasure. * /The old
prospector panned gold for years before he struck it rich./ 2. To
become rich or successful suddenly or without expecting to. *
/Everyone wanted to buy one of the new gadgets, and their inventor
struck it rich./ * /John did not know that he had a rich Uncle John in
Australia. John struck it rich when his uncle left his money to John./
Compare: PAY DIRT(2).
[strike one funny] {v. phr.} To appear or seem laughable, curious,
ironic, or entertaining. * /"It strikes me funny," he said, "that you
should refuse my invitation to visit my chateau in France. After all,
you love both red wine and old castles. "/
[strike one's colors] See: HAUL DOWN ONE'S COLORS.
[strike one's fancy] {v. phr.} To please one's predilections;
appeal to one. * /The red tie with the yellow dragon on it happened to
strike my fancy, so I bought it./
[strike] or [hit a sour note] {v. phr.} To spoil the mood at a
gathering by hearing some bad news. * /The news of Mr. Brown's sudden
illness struck a sour note during our New Year's Eve party./ Compare:
SPIT INTO THE WEDDING CAKE.
[strike out] {v.} 1. To destroy something that has been written or
drawn by drawing a line or cross through it or by erasing it. * /John
misspelled "corollary. " He struck it out and wrote it correctly./ 2.
To begin to follow a new path or a course of action that you have
never tried. * /The boy scouts struck out at daybreak over the
mountain pass./ * /John quit his job and struck out on his own as a
traveling salesman./ 3. To put (a batter) out of play by making him
miss the ball three times; also: To be put out of play by missing the
ball three times. * /The pitcher struck out three men in the game./ *
/The batter struck out twice./ 4. To push out an arm suddenly in a
hitting motion. * /The boxer saw his chance and struck out at his
opponent's jaw./
[strike out at] {v. phr.} To attack someone verbally or physically.
* /She was so angry that she struck out at him every occasion she
got./
[strike the hour] {v. phr.} To mark or toll the hour (said of
clocks or bells). * /We heard the church clock strike the hour of
two./
[strike up] {v.} 1a. To start to sing or play. * /We were sitting
around the camp fire. Someone struck up a song, and we all joined in./
* /The President took his place on the platform, and the band struck
up the national anthem./ 1b. To give a signal to start (a band)
playing. * /When the team ran on the field, the band director struck
up the band./ 2. To bring about; begin; start. * /The policeman struck
up a conversation with John while they were waiting for the bus./ *
/It did not take Mary long to strike up acquaintances in her new
school./
[strike while the iron is hot] See: MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
[string] See: FIRST STRING, LATCH STRING, ON THE STRING or ON A
STRING, PULL STRINGS, PURSE STRINGS, SHOE-STRING CATCH, TIED TO ONE'S
MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.
[string along] {v.}, {informal} 1. To deceive; fool; lead on
dishonestly. * /Mary was stringing John along for years but she didn't
mean to marry him./ * /George told the new boy that he must always
call the teacher "Sir," but the new boy soon saw that George was
stringing him along./ Compare: ON A STRING. 2. To follow someone's
leadership; join his group. * /Those of you who want to learn about
wild flowers, string along with Jake./
[string out] {v.} To make (something) extend over a great distance
or a long stretch of time. * /The telephone poles were strung out
along the road as far as we could see./ * /Mary and Ann did not have
much to say but they did not want to go home. They strung out their
gossip for a long time./
[string up] {v.}, {slang} To put a rope around the neck of a person
and choke him to death; hang. * /The posse strung up the rustler
without a trial./ Compare: NECKTIE PARTY.
[strings attached] {adv. phr.} With some special proviso or
condition that is a handicap. * /John inherited a large fortune but
with the string attached that he could not touch a penny of it before
his 28th birthday./
[strip] See: DRAG STRIP.
[stripe] See: MIDFIELD STRIPE.
[stroke] See: AT A STROKE or AT ONE'S STROKE.
[stroke of luck] See: RUN OF LUCK.
[strong language] {n. phr.} Cursing; swearing. * /When Ned learned
that he had been fired, he used some very strong language about his
boss./
[strung out] {adj.}, {slang}, {colloquial} 1. Nervous, jittery,
jumpy; generally ill because of drug use or withdrawal symptoms. *
/The only explanation I can think of for Max's behavior is that he
must be strung out./ 2. To suffer because of a lack of something
previously accustomed to, such as the love and affection of someone. *
/Sue is all strung out for Jim; they've just split up./ Compare:
SPACED OUT.
[stuck on] {slang} Very much in love with; crazy about. * /Judy
thinks she is very pretty and very smart. She is stuck on herself./ *
/Lucy is stuck on the football captain./
[stuck-up] {adj.}, {informal} Acting as if other people are not as
good as you are; conceited; snobbish. * /Mary is very stuck-up, and
will not speak to the poor children in her class./
[stuck with] {adj. phr.} Left in a predicament; left having to take
care of a problem caused by another. * /Our neighbors vanished without
a trace and we got stuck with their cat and dog./
[study] See: BROWN STUDY.
[stuff] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND(2).
[stuff and nonsense] {n.} Foolish or empty writing or talk;
nonsense. * /Fred told a long story about his adventures in Africa,
but it was all stuff and nonsense./ Often used as an interjection. *
/When Jane said she was too sick to go to school, her mother answered,
"Stuff and nonsense! I know there's a test today."/
[stuff the ballot box] {v. phr.} To give more votes to a candidate
in an election than there are people who actually voted for him. * /It
is a crime to stuff the ballot box./ - [ballot-stuffing] {adj. phr.}
[stuffed shirt] {n. phr.} A pretentious bore; a pompous, empty
person. * /I think that Howard is a terrible stuffed shirt with no
sense of humor./
[stuffed up] {adj. phr.} Impeded; blocked. * /Our kitchen sink is
all stuffed up so I have to call the plumber./
[stumble across] {v. phr.} To encounter a person or thing, mostly
by accident. * /I gave up looking for my old hat when I accidentally
stumbled across it in a dark corner of the closet./
[stump] See: TAKE THE STUMP or TAKE TO THE STUMP, UP A STUMP.
[style] See: CRAMP ONE'S STYLE, HIGH STYLE.
[subject to] {adj. phr.} 1. Under the government or control of; in
the power of. * /The English colonies in America were subject to the
English king./ * /The principal and the teachers of a school are
subject to the school board./ 2. Likely to get or have; liable. *
/John is in rather poor health and is subject to colds./ * /The
western plains are subject to tornadoes./ 3. Depending on some change,
happening, or need. * /The company and the union agreed that the
workers' wages should be subject to changes in the cost of living./ *
/Agreements made by the President with other countries are subject to
the approval of the Senate./
[substance] See: IN SUBSTANCE.
[succeed] See: HOWLING SUCCESS, NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS.
[such and such] {pron.} Something whose name is not mentioned
because it does not need to be mentioned. * /George's argument tries
to prove such and such to be true, but it does not convince me./
[such-and-such] {adj. phr.} Being one whose name has been forgotten
or whose name does not need to be mentioned. * /She told me to go to
such-and-such a street and turn right./ * /Suppose, now, that we have
such-and-such a group coming to the school, and we don't have enough
chairs. What do we do then?/
[such as] {conj.} 1. Of a kind or amount shown or named; of a kind
like. * /The explorer took only such men and things as he really
needed into the jungle with him./ * /They felt such heat in the jungle
as they had never felt before./ * /Many different pies were in the
bakery such as apple, cherry, and blueberry pies./ 2. Of the average
or ordinary kind; poor; humble. * /Such as the food was, there was
plenty of it./ * /The room is not very nice, but such as it is, you
may stay there for the night./
[such as it is] Just as it appears or is presented, not being any
better or worse than most others of its kind; being average or
mediocre. * /This pie, such as it is, is the best I can make./ * /Jane
told her grandmother her grades, such as they were./
[such that] {conj.} Of a kind or amount that; so great or so little
that; enough that. * /There was such a big line at me movie that we
had to wait before we could get in./ * /Jimmy made such noise that his
sister told him to be quiet./ * /Mother's answer was such that she
didn't say yes and she didn't say no./
[sucker list] {n.}, {slang} A list of easily-fooled people,
especially people who are easily persuaded to buy things or give
money. * /The crook got hold of a sucker list and started out to sell
his worthless stock./ * /Mr. Smith gets so many advertisements in his
mail that he says he is on every sucker list in the country./
[suck in] {v.} 1. {informal} To pull in by taking a deep breath and
tightening the muscles; flatten. * /"Suck in those stomachs," the gym
teacher said./ 2. {slang} To make a fool of; cheat. * /The uneducated
farmer was sucked in by a clever crook./
[sugar daddy] {n.}, {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {avoidable} An older,
well-to-do man, who gives money and gifts to a younger woman or girls
usually in exchange for sexual favors. * /Betty Morgan got a mink coat
from her sugar daddy./
[suit] See: BIRTHDAY SUIT, FOLLOW SUIT.
[suit to a T] See: TO A T.
[suit up] {v. phr.} To don a uniform or sports outfit. * /The
veterans like to suit up for the Fourth of July parade./
[suit yourself] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do what one likes or
prefers. * /"I don't care where you want to sleep," he said. "Suit
yourself!"/
[sum total] {n.} The final amount; everything taken together;
total. * /The sum total of expenses for the trip was $450./ * /Ten
years was the sum total of John's education./
[sum up] {v.} To put something into a few words; shorten into a
brief summary; summarize. * /The teacher summed up the lesson in three
rules./ * /The mailman's job, in all kinds of weather, is summed up in
the phrase "Deliver the mail."/
[sun] See: UNDER THE SUN.
[sunbelt] {n.}, {informal} A portion of the southern United States
where the winter is very mild in comparison to other states. * /The
Simpsons left Chicago for the sunbelt because of Jeff's rheumatism./
[Sunday] See: MONTH OF SUNDAYS.
[Sunday best] or [Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes] See: BEST BIB AND
TUCKER.
[sunny-side up] {adj.} Fried on one side only. * /Barbara likes her
eggs sunny-side up./
[supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER or POTLUCK SUPPER.
[supply] See: IN SHORT SUPPLY.
[sure] See: FOR SURE, MAKE SURE, TO BE SURE.
[sure enough] {adv.} As expected. * /Charles was afraid he had done
badly on the test, and sure enough, his grade was failing./ * /The
children saw a familiar shape coming up the street and hoped it was
their lost dog. When it came near, sure enough, it was Spot./ Compare:
SURE THING(2).
[sure-enough] {adj.} Real; genuine. * /Rick found a sure-enough
nickel./ * /Martha's uncle gave her a sure-enough pearl on a little
gold chain./ * /Jane's uncle is a sure-enough cowboy./
[surefire] {adj.} Without fail; effective; bringing actual results.
* /During a campaign the only surefire way to get the sympathy of the
voters is to mingle with them in person./
[sure thing] 1. {n.}, {informal} Something sure to happen;
something about which there is no doubt. * /It's no fun betting on a
sure thing./ 2. {adv.} Of course; certainly * /Sure thing, I'll be
glad to do it for you./ Compare: FOR SURE(2), SURE ENOUGH.
[surface] See: SCRATCH THE SURFACE.
[surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[survival of the fittest] {n. phr.} The staying alive or in action
of the best prepared; often: idea that those living things best able
to adjust to life survive and those unable to adjust die out. * /Life
in the old West was often a case of survival of the fittest./ * /With
changes in the world's climate, dinosaurs died but many smaller
animals lived on. It was survival of the fittest./ * /On the 50-mile
hike it was survival of the fittest; only 12 out of 25 Scouts
finished./
[suspicion] See: ABOVE SUSPICION.
[swallow] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY.
[swallow hook, line, and sinker] See: HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.
[swallow one's pride] {v. phr.} To bring your pride under control;
humble yourself. * /After Bill lost the race, he swallowed his pride
and shook hands with the winner./ Compare: EAT ONE'S WORDS,
[swallow one's words] 1. To speak unclearly; fail to put enough
breath into your words. * /Phyllis was hard to understand because she
swallowed her words./ 2. See: EAT ONE'S WORDS.
[swallow up] {v. phr.} To do away with; absorb; engulf. * /My
expenses are so great that they swallow up my modest salary./
[swan song] {n. phr.}, {literary} A farewell or last appearance. *
/The famous soprano gave her swan song in La Traviata before she
retired./
[SWAT team] {n.}, {informal} Police unit trained for especially
hazardous or sensitive law-enforcement assignments; short for Special
Weapons and Tactics. * /Joe made the SWAT team of the NYPD due to his
athletic skills./
[swathe] See: CUT A SWATHE.
[swear by] {v.} 1. To use as the support or authority that what you
are saying is truthful; take an oath upon. * /A witness swears by the
Bible that he will tell the truth./ * /In ancient Greece a doctor
swore by Apollo, the god of healing, that he would be a good doctor./
* /John swore by his honor he would return the bike./ 2. To have
complete confidence in; be sure of; trust completely. * /When John has
to go somewhere fast, he swears by his bike to get there./ * /We can
be sure that Fred will come on time, since his friend Tom swears by
him./
[swear in] or [swear into] {v.} To have a person swear or promise
to do his duty as a member or an officer of an organization,
government department, or similar group. - "Swear into" is used when
the name of the group is given. * /Mary and Ann will be sworn into the
club tonight./ * /Fred was sworn in as class president./ * /Many new
men were sworn into the army last month./ * /At the inauguration, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swore in the new President./
[swear off] {v.}, {informal} To give up something you like or you
have got in the habit of using by making a promise. * /Mary swore off
candy until she lost ten pounds./ * /John has sworn off dessert for
Lent./
[swear out] {v.} To get (a written order to do something) by
swearing that a person has broken the law. * /The policeman swore out
a warrant for the suspect's arrest./ * /The detectives swore out a
search warrant./
[sweat] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW.
[sweat blood] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be very much worried. * /The
engine of the airplane stopped, and the pilot sweated blood as he
glided to a safe landing./ 2. To work very hard. * /Jim sweated blood
to finish his composition on time./
[sweat out] {v.}, {informal} To wait anxiously; worry while
waiting. * /Karl was sweating out the results of the college exams./ *
/The search plane signaled that help was on the way. The men in the
lifeboat just had to sweat it out./
[Sweeney] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES or TELL IT TO SWEENEY.
[sweep] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.
[sweep off one's feet] {v. phr.} To make (someone) have feelings
(as love or happiness) too strong to control; overcome with strong
feeling; win sudden and complete acceptance by (someone) through the
feelings. * /The handsome football captain swept Joan off her feet
when he said so many things to her at the dance./ * /Joan was swept
off her feet when the football captain started flirting with her./ *
/Mary is swept off her feet whenever she hears a band start playing./
* /John was swept off his feet when he won the contest./ Compare: BOWL
OVER (2), CARRY AWAY.
[sweep out of] {v. phr.} To leave in an impressive, majestic
manner. * /Offended by Tim's remark, Mary swept out of the room with
her head high in the air./
[sweep the city] or [country] or [nation] or [world] {v. phr.} To
gain great attention or popularity throughout the city, country, etc.
* /Pavarotti's unmatched tenor voice swept the world in an
unprecedented manner./
[sweep under the rug] {v. phr.} To hide or dismiss casually
(something one is ashamed of or does not know what to do about). * /In
many places, drug abuse by school children is swept under the rug./
[sweet] See: SHORT AND SWEET.
[sweetie pie] {n.}, {informal} A person who is loved; darling;
sweetheart. * /Arnold blushed with pleasure when Annie called him her
sweetie pie./ * /Nancy is Bill's sweetie pie./
[sweet on] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In love with; very fond of. *
/John is sweet on Alice./
[sweet talk] 1. {n.}, {informal} Too much praise; flattery. *
/Sometimes a girl's better judgment is overcome by sweet talk./ 2.
{v.}, {informal} To get what you want by great praise; flatter. *
/Polly could sweet talk her husband into anything./
[sweet tooth] {n. phr.} A great weakness or predilection for
sweets. * /Sue has such a sweet tooth that she hardly eats anything
else but cake./
[swelled head] {n.}, {informal} A feeling that you are very
important or more important than you really are. * /When John won the
race, he got a swelled head./ * /Pretty girls shouldn't get a swelled
head about it./ - [swell-headed] {adj. phr.} * /After he was elected
captain of the team, Bob became swell-headed./ Compare: BIG HEAD.
[swell-headed] See: SWELLED HEAD.
[swim] See: IN THE SWIM, SINK OR SWIM.
[swim against the current] or [swim against the stream] {v. phr.}
To do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way
things are happening; struggle upstream. * /The boy who tries to
succeed today without an education is swimming against the stream./
[swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS BEFORE
SWINE.
[swing] See: IN FULL SWING.
[swing one's weight] {v. phr.} To use your personal power to get
something done * /The President swings his weight to get laws passed./
* /Mr. Thomas swung his weight to get his son a job with the company./
[switch] See: ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH.
[switched on] {adj.}, {slang} 1. In tune with the latest fads,
ideas, and fashions. * /I dig Sarah, she is really switched on./ 2.
Stimulated; as if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. * /How come
you're talking so fast? Are you switched on or something?/
[swoop] See: AT ONE FELL SWOOP.
[sword] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, PUT TO THE SWORD.
[sword rattling] See: SABER RATTLING.
[sworn enemies] {n. phr.} People or groups or nations that have a
long-standing dislike for each other. * /The Israelis and the Arabs
used to be sworn enemies but hopefully they will sign a lasting peace
accord./
[syllable] See: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
[system] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.
[T] See: TO A T.
[tab] See: KEEP TAB ON or KEEP TABS ON.
[table] See: AT THE TABLE or AT TABLE, COFFEE TABLE, PUT ONE'S
CARDS ON THE TABLE or LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, TURN THE TABLES,
WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.
[tack] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, GO SIT ON A TACK, SHARP AS A
TACK.
[tackle] See: FLYING TACKLE
[tack on] {v. phr.} To append; add. * /We were about to sign the
contract when we discovered that the lawyer had tacked on a codicil
that was not acceptable to us./
[tag end] or [tail end] {n.}, {informal} The end, farthest to the
rear, last in line, nearest the bottom, or least important. * /John
was at the tail end of his class./ * /Mary's part in the play came at
the tag end, and she got bored waiting./ * /Bill waited at the
crossing for the tag end of a freight to go by./
[tail] See: COW'S TAIL, HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE, MAKE HEAD OR
TAIL OF, TURN TAIL.
[tail between one's legs] {n. phr.} State of feeling beaten,
ashamed, or very obedient, as after a scolding or a whipping. * /The
army sent the enemy home with their tails between their legs./ * /The
boys on the team had boasted they would win the tournament, but they
went home with their tails between their legs./ (So called because a
beaten dog usually puts his tail down between his legs and slinks
away.)
[tail end] See: TAG END.
[taillight] {n.} The rear red light of a car. * /My father was
fined $15 for driving without a taillight./
[tailor-made] See: MADE-TO-MEASURE.
[tailspin] See: GO INTO A TAILSPIN.
[tail wags the dog] Said of situations in which a minor part is in
control of the whole. * /He is just a minor employee at the firm, yet
he gives everyone orders, a case of the tail wagging the dog./
[take] See: CAN TAKE IT WITH ONE, GIVE AND TAKE, GIVE ONE AN INCH
AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, GIVE OR TAKE, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE.
[take aback] See: TAKEN BACK.
[take a back seat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To accept a poorer or
lower position; be second to something or someone else. * /During the
war all manufacturing had to take a back seat to military needs./ *
/She does not have to take a back seat to any singer alive./ Compare:
PLAY SECOND FIDDLE.
[take a bath] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to financial ruin. *
/Boy, did we ever take a bath on that merger with Brown & Brown, Inc./
[take a bow] {v. phr.} To stand up or come on a stage to be clapped
for or praised for success. * /The audience shouted for the author of
the play to take a bow./ * /The basketball team should take a bow for
fine work this season./
[take a break] {v. phr.} To have a brief rest period during the
course of one's work. * /"You've worked hard. It's time to take a
break," the boss said./
[take a chance] {v. phr.} To accept the risk of failure or loss. *
/We will take a chance on the weather and have the party outdoors./
[take a crack at] {v. phr.} To try doing something. * /It was a
difficult challenge to reorganize our antiquated campus, but the
resident architect decided to take a crack at it./
[take a dig at] {v. phr.} To attack verbally; offend; denigrate. *
/If you keep taking digs at me all the time, our relationship will be
a short one./
[take a dim view of] {v. phr.} 1. To have doubts about; feel unsure
or anxious about. * /Tom took a dim view of his chances of passing the
exam./ * /Betty hoped to go on a picnic, but she took a dim view of
the weather./ 2. To be against; disapprove. * /John's father took a
dim view of his wanting to borrow the car./ * /The teacher took a dim
view of the class's behavior./
[take a dislike to] Contrast: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a drop] {v. phr.} 1. To indulge in alcoholic drinks. * /Aunt
Liz doesn't really drink; she just takes a drop every now and then./
2. To lose value; decrease in price. * /Stocks took a big drop
yesterday due to the international crisis./
[take advantage of] {v. phr.} 1. To make good use of. * /The cat
took advantage of the high grass to creep up on the bird./ * /Jean
took advantage of the lunch hour to finish her homework./ 2. To treat
(someone) unfairly for your own gain or help; make unfair use of. *
/He took advantage of his friend's kindness./ * /The little children
did not know how much to pay for the candy, and Ralph took advantage
of them./ Syn.: IMPOSE ON.
[take after] {v.} To be like because of family relationship; to
have the same looks or ways as (a parent or ancestor). * /He takes
after his father in mathematical ability./ * /She takes after her
father's side of the family in looks./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON;
RUN IN THE FAMILY.
[take a fancy to] {v. phr.} To become fond of; cultivate a
predilection for. * /Aunt Hermione has taken a fancy to antique
furniture./
[take a flop] {v. phr.} To fall heavily. * /I took a nasty flop on
the ice-covered sidewalk./
[take aim] {v. phr.} To get ready to hit, throw at, or shoot at by
sighting carefully. * /When the captain orders "Take aim," raise your
gun to your shoulder and sight along the barrel at the target./ *
/Before the hunter could take aim, the deer jumped out of sight./
[take a hand in] {v. phr.} To assist in the direction of;
participate. * /The University Faculty Club decided to take a hand in
helping the recent refugees./
[take a hard line with] See: HARD LINE, HARD-LINER.
[take a hike] See: GO FLY A KITE.
[take a hint] {v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion
and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said.
"Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/
[take a joke] {v. phr.} Accept in good spirit some derision
directed at oneself. * /My brother has a good sense of humor when
teasing others, but he cannot take a joke on himself./
[take a liking to] See: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a load off one's feet] {v. phr.} To alleviate one's fatigue
by sitting down during some taxing work. * /"You've been standing
there for hours, Jake," John said. "Why don't you take a load off your
feet?"/
[take a long breath] See: DRAW A LONG BREATH.
[take amiss] or [the wrong way] {v. phr.} To become offended due to
a misunderstanding. * /"I hope you won't take it amiss," the boss said
to Jane, "that I find you irresistibly attractive."/
[take a new turn] {v. phr.} To start a new course; decide upon a
new direction. * /The company took a new turn under Jack's
directorship./
[take a nose dive] {v. phr.} To plummet; fall sharply. * /The stock
market took a nose dive after the news of the President's heart
attack./
[take a notion] See: TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD.
[take apart] {v. phr.} To dismantle; disassemble. * /Boys like
taking radios and watches apart, but they seldom know how to put them
back together again./
[take a poke at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a pot shot at] See: POTSHOT.
[take a powder] {v. phr.}, {slang} To leave hurriedly; run out or
away; desert, flee. * /All the gang except one had taken a powder when
the police arrived./
[take a punch at] or [take a poke at] or [take a sock at] {v. phr.}
To try to hit (someone) with the fist; swing or strike at; attack with
the fists. * /Bob was very angry and suddenly he took a punch at
Fred./ * /Johnny knocked my hat off, so I took a poke at him./ * /I
felt like taking a sock at Joe, but I kept my temper./
[take a risk] See: RUN A RISK.
[take a shine to] {v. phr.}, {slang} To have or show a quick liking
for. * /He took a shine to his new teacher the very first day./
Compare: TAKE A FANCY TO.
[take a shot at] {v. phr.} To try casually; attempt to do. * /"Can
you handle all these new book orders?" Tom asked. "I haven't done it
before," Sally replied, "but I can sure take a shot at it."/
[take a sock at] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[take a spill] {v. phr.} To fall down; tip over. * /During the
harsh winter, when the sidewalk is covered with ice, many people take
a spill./
[take at one's word] {v. phr.} To believe everything (someone)
says; to act on what is said. * /If you say you don't want this coat,
I'll take you at your word and throw it away./ * /When the king said
he wished to be rid of his advisor, a friend took him at his word and
murdered the councillor./
[take a stand] {v. phr.} To assert one's point. of view; declare
one's position. * /It is time for American society to take a stand
against crime./
[take a turn] {v. phr.} To become different; change. * /Mary's
fever suddenly took a bad turn./ * /The story took an odd turn./ Often
used with "for the better" or "for the worse". * /In the afternoon the
weather took a turn for the better./ * /Suddenly the battle took a
turn for the worse./
[take a turn for the better] {v. phr.} To start improving; start to
get better. * /Aunt Hermione was very ill for a long time, but last
week she suddenly took a turn for the better./
[take a turn for the worse] See: FOR THE WORSE. Contrast: TAKE A
TURN FOR THE BETTER.
[take a whack at] See: TAKE A SHOT AT.
[take back] {v.} To change or deny something offered, promised, or
stated; admit to making a wrong statement. * /I take back my offer to
buy the house now that I've had a good look at it./ * /I want you to
take back the unkind things you said about Kenneth./
[take by storm] {v. phr.} 1. To capture by a sudden or very bold
attack. * /The army did not hesitate. They took the town by storm./ 2.
To win the favor or liking of; make (a group of people) like or
believe you. * /The comic took the audience by storm./ * /John gave
Jane so much attention that he took her by storm, and she said she
would marry him./ Compare: MAKE A HIT.
[take by surprise] {v. phr.} 1. To appear in front of someone
suddenly or to suddenly discover him before he discovers you; come
before (someone) is ready; appear before (someone) unexpectedly. *
/The policeman took the burglar by surprise as he opened the window./
* /When Mrs. Green's dinner guests came half an hour early, they took
her by surprise./ 2. To fill with surprise or amazement; astonish. *
/Ellen was taken by surprise when the birthday cake was brought in./ *
/When our teacher quit in the middle of the year to work for the
government, it took us all by surprise./
[take by the scruff] {v. phr.} 1. To assert authority over a
person. * /Tim's mother took him by the scruff and told him to get
cleaned up./ 2. To punish a person. * /The boss took us by the scruff
when he found us chatting idly by the coffee machine./ 3. To assume
firm control over a job or a situation that has been causing some
difficulty. * /Someone had better take the post office by the scruff;
there are too many customer complaints pouring in./
[take care] {v. phr.} To be careful; use wisdom or caution. * /Take
care that you don't spill that coffee!/ * /We must take care to let
nobody hear about this./
[take care of] {v. phr.} 1. To attend to; supply the needs of. *
/She stayed home to take care of the baby./ Syn.: KEEP AN EYE ON(2),
LOOK AFTER. Compare: IN CHARGE(2). 2. {informal} To deal with; do what
is needed with. * /I will take care of that letter./ * /The coach told
Jim to take care of the opposing player./ Compare: SEE TO.
[take charge] {v. phr.} To begin to lead or control; take control
or responsibility; undertake the care or management (of persons or
things). * /When Mrs. Jackson was in the hospital, her sister took
charge of the Jackson children until Mrs. Jackson could care for
them./ * /The child care class gave a party for the nursery children,
and Mary took charge of the games./ * /John was elected the new
president of the club and took charge at the next meeting./ * /Bob is
a natural leader, and can take charge in an emergency./ Compare: IN
CHARGE(2).
[take cold] See: CATCH COLD.
[take cover] {v. phr.} To seek shelter or protection. * /The rain
began so suddenly that we had to take cover in a doorway./
[take down] {v.} 1. To write or record (what is said). * /I will
tell you how to get to the place; you had better take it down./ 2. To
pull to pieces; take apart. * /It will be a big job to take that tree
down./ * /In the evening the campers put up a tent, and the next
morning they took it down./ 3. {informal} To reduce the pride or
spirit of; humble. * /Bob thought he was a good wrestler, but Henry
took him down./ Syn.: TAKE DOWN A NOTCH.
[take down a notch] or [take down a peg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
make (someone) less proud or sure of himself. * /The team was feeling
proud of its record, but last week the boys were taken down a peg by a
bad defeat./
[take effect] {v. phr.} 1. To have an unexpected or intended
result; cause a change. * /It was nearly an hour before the sleeping
pill took effect./ 2. To become lawfully right, or operative. * /The
new tax law will not take effect until January./
[take exception to] {v. phr.} To speak against; find fault with; be
displeased or angered by; criticize. * /There was nothing in the
speech that you could take exception to./ * /Did she take exception to
my remarks about her cooking./
[take five] {v. phr.} To take a five-minute break during some work
or theatrical rehearsal. * /"All right, everyone," the director cried.
"Let's take five."/
[take for] {v.} To suppose to be; mistake for. * /Do you take me
for a fool?/ * /At first sight you would take him for a football
player, not a poet./
[take for a ride] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take out in a car
intending to murder. * /The gang leader decided that the informer must
be taken for a ride./ 2. To play a trick on; fool. * /The girls told
Linda that a movie star was visiting the school, but she did not
believe them; she thought they were taking her for a ride./ Compare:
STRING ALONG. 3. To take unfair advantage of; fool for your own gain.
* /His girlfriend really took him for a ride before he stopped dating
her./
[take for granted] {v. phr.} 1. To suppose or understand to be
true. * /Mr. Harper took for granted that the invitation included his
wife./ * /A teacher cannot take it for granted that students always do
their homework./ Compare: BEG THE QUESTION. 2. To accept or become
used to (something) without noticing especially or saying anything. *
/George took for granted all that his parents did for him./ * /No girl
likes to have her boyfriend take her for granted; instead, he should
always try to make her like him better./
[take French leave] {v. phr.} To leave secretly; abscond. * /The
party was so boring that we decided to take French leave./ * /While
the Smith family was in Europe, the house-sitter packed up all the
silver and took French leave./ See: SLIP AWAY.
[take heart] {v. phr.} To be encouraged; feel braver and want to
try. * /The men took heart from their leader's words and went on to
win the battle./ * /When we are in trouble we can take heart from the
fact that things often seem worse than they are./ Contrast: LOSE
HEART.
[take heed] {v. phr.}, {literary} To pay attention; watch or listen
carefully; notice. * /Take heed not to spill coffee on the rug./
[take hold of] {v. phr.} To grasp. * /The old man tried to keep
himself from falling down the stairs, but there was no railing to take
hold of./
[take ill] or [take sick] {v.} To become sick. * /Father took sick
just before his birthday./ - Used in the passive with the same
meaning. * /The man was taken ill on the train./
[take in] {v.} 1. To include. * /The country's boundaries were
changed to fake in a piece of land beyond the river./ * /The class of
mammals takes in nearly all warm-blooded animals except the birds./ 2.
To go and see; visit. * /The students decided to take in a movie while
they were in town./ * /We planned to take in Niagara Palls and
Yellowstone Park on our trip./ 3. To make smaller. * /This waistband
is too big; it must be taken in about an inch./ * /They had to take in
some sail to keep the ship from turning over in the storm./ 4. To
grasp with the mind; understand. * /He didn't take in what he read
because his mind was on something else./ * /He took in the situation
at a glance./ 5a. To deceive; cheat; fool. * /The teacher was taken in
by the boy's innocent manner./ Compare: PUT OVER, ROPE IN. 5b. To
accept without question; believe. * /The magician did many tricks, and
the children took it all in./ 6a. To receive; get. * /The senior class
held a dance to make money and took in over a hundred dollars./ 6b.
Let come in; admit. * /The farmer took in the lost travelers for the
night./ * /When her husband died, Mrs. Smith took in boarders./ 7. To
see or hear with interest; pay close attention to, * /When Bill told
about his adventures, the other boys took it all in./
[take in stride] {v. phr.} To meet happenings without too much
surprise; accept good or bad luck and go on. * /He learned to take
disappointments in stride./
[take in tow] {v. phr.} To take charge of; lead; conduct. * /Brian
and Kate took a group of children in tow when they went to see the
circus./
[take into account] {v. phr.} To remember and understand while
judging someone or something; consider. * /How much time will we need
to get to the lake? You have to take the bad road into account./ *
/His acting in the play was remarkable, taking into account his youth
and inexperience./ Syn.: RECKON WITH. Contrast: LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT.
[take issue with] {v. phr.} To be openly against; speak against;
disagree with. * /He thought his boss was wrong but was afraid to take
issue with him on the matter./
[take it] {v. phr.} 1. To get an idea or impression; understand
from what is said or done. - Usually used with "I". * /I take it from
your silence that you don't want to go./ 2. {informal} To bear
trouble, hard work, criticism; not give up or weaken. * /Henry could
criticize and tease other boys, but he couldn't take it himself./ *
/Bob lost his job and his girl in the same week, and we all admired
the way he took it./
[take it all in] {v. phr.} To absorb completely; listen
attentively. * /Bill's piano music filled the room and we took it all
in with admiration./
[take it away] {v. phr.}, {informal}, {Theatrical expression}
You're on; it's your turn; you're next. * /And here comes that
wonderful comedian, Bob Hope. The announcer said, "Take it away.
Bob."/
[take it easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. or [go easy] or [take
things easy] To go or act slowly, carefully, and gently. - Often used
with "on". * /Take it easy. The roads are icy./ * /"Go easy," said
Billy to the other boys carrying the table down the stairs./ * /"Take
it easy on John and don't scold him too much," said Mrs. Jones to Mr.
Jones./ * /Go easy on the cake. There isn't much left./ 2. or [take
things easy] To avoid hard work or worry; have an easy time; live in
comfort. * /The doctor said that Bob would have to take things easy
for awhile after he had his tonsils out./ * /Barbara likes to take it
easy./ * /Grandfather will retire from his job next year and take
things easy./ * /Mr. Wilson has just made a lot of money and can take
things easy now./
[take it from the top] {v. phr.}, {informal} {Musical and
theatrical expression} To start again from the beginning. * /The
conductor said, "We must try it once again. Take it from the top and
watch my baton."/
[take it into one's head] or {informal} [take a notion] {v. phr.}
To get a sudden idea; decide without thinking. * /The boy suddenly
took it into his head to leave school and get a job./ * /Grandmother
keeps a bag packed so that she can go visiting whenever she takes a
notion./
[take it on the chin] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be badly beaten
or hurt. * /Our football team really took it on the chin today. They
are all bumps and bruises./ * /Mother and I took it on the chin in the
card game./ 2. To accept without complaint something bad that happens
to you; accept trouble or defeat calmly. * /A good football player can
take it on the chin when his team loses./
[take it or leave it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To accept something
without change or refuse it; decide yes or no. - Often used like a
command. * /He said the price of the house was $10,000, take it or
leave it./
[take it out on] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be unpleasant or unkind
to (someone) because you are angry or upset; get rid of upset feelings
by being mean to. - Often used with the name of the feeling instead of
"it." * /The teacher was angry and took it out on the class./ * /Bob
was angry because Father would not let him use the car, and he took it
out on his little brother./
[take its toll] {v. phr.} To cause loss or damage. * /The bombs had
taken their toll on the little town./ * /The budget cut took its toll
of teachers./
[take kindly to] {v.} To be pleased by; like. - Usually used in
negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences. * /He doesn't take
kindly to any suggestions about running his business./ * /Will your
father take kindly to the idea of your leaving college?/
[take leave of] {v. phr.} I. To abandon, go away from, or become
separated from. - Usually used in the phrase "take leave of one's
senses". * /Come down from the roof, Billy! Have you taken leave of
your senses?/ 2. See: TAKE ONE'S LEAVE.
[take leave of one's senses] {v. phr.} To go mad; become crazy. *
/"Have you taken leave of your senses? "Jake cried, when he saw Andy
swallow a live goldfish./
[take liberties] {v. phr.} To act toward in too close or friendly a
manner; use as you would use a close friend or something of your own.
* /Mary would not let any boy take liberties with her./ * /Bill took
liberties with Tom's bicycle./ Compare: MAKE FREE WITH.
[take lying down] {v. phr.} To accept something without defense or
protest. * /If you take such insults lying down, you will only
encourage more of the same./
[taken aback] also [taken back] {adj.} Unpleasantly surprised;
suddenly puzzled or shocked. * /When he came to pay for his dinner he
was taken aback to find that he had left his wallet at home./
[taken by] or [with] {v. phr.} To be impressed by; intrigued by. *
/Ned was much taken by the elegance of Sophie's manners./
[take no stock in] See: TAKE STOCK IN.
[take note of] or [take notice of] {v. phr.} 1. To look carefully
at; pay close attention to; observe well. * /A detective is trained to
take note of people and things./ 2. To notice and act in response; pay
attention. * /Two boys were talking together in the back of the room
but the teacher took no notice of them./ * /The principal thanked
everyone who helped in the program, and took note of the decorations
made by the art class./
[take oath] {v. phr.} To promise to tell the truth or to do some
task honestly, calling on God or some person or thing as a witness. *
/Mary took her oath that she did not steal the watch./ * /John took
oath that he would fill the office of president faithfully./
[takeoff] {n.} 1. Departure of an airplane; the act of becoming
airborne. * /The nervous passenger was relieved that we had such a
wonderfully smooth takeoff./ 2. Imitation; a parody. * /Vaughn Meader
used to do a wonderful takeoff on President Kennedy's speech./
[take off] {v. phr.} 1a. To leave fast; depart suddenly; run away.
* /The dog took off after a rabbit./ Compare: LIGHT OUT. 1b.
{informal} To go away; leave. * /The six boys got into the car and
took off for the drug store./ 2. To leave on a flight, begin going up.
* /A helicopter is able to take off and land straight up or down./ 3.
{informal} To imitate amusingly; copy another person's habitual
actions or speech. * /He made a career of taking off famous people for