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[beat all] or [beat the Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be strange
or surprising. * /John found a box full of money buried in his garage.
Doesn't that beat all!/ * /It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a
basket./
[beat all hollow] also [beat hollow] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do much
better than; to beat very badly. * /We beat their team all hollow./ *
/As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./
[beat a retreat] {v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a
drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat./ 2.
To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too
few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming./
Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.
[beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.
[beat down] {v.} 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over;
conquer. * /All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks./ 2.
{informal} a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. * /Can
we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a
lower price or easier payments. * /He tried to beat us down, so we did
not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. * /At noon the sun
beat down on our heads as we walked home./
[beaten path] {n. phr.} The usual route or way of operating that
has been conventionally established, * /If we always follow the beaten
path, we'll never have the courage to try something new./
[beaten track] {n.} See: BEATEN PATH.
[beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.
[beat into one's head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To teach by telling
again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to be cross and punish
often. * /Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten
into his head./ * /I cannot beat it into his head that he should take
off his hat in the house./
[beat it] {v.}, {slang} To go away in a hurry; get out quickly. *
/When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could./ - Often used
as a command. * /The big boy said, "Beat it, kid. We don't want you
with us."/ Compare: CLEAR OUT(2), LIGHT OUT, HEAD FOR THE HILLS.
[beat one to it] {v. phr.} To arrive or get ahead of another
person. * /I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it!
Thanks for calling me./
[beat one's brains out] or [beat one's brains] {v. phr.}, {slang}
To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire
yourself out by thinking. * /It was too hard for him and he beat his
brains out trying to get the answer./ * /Some students are lazy, but
others beat their brains and succeed./
[beat one's gums] {v. phr.}, {slang} To engage in idle talk, or
meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. * /"Stop beating your
gums, Jack," Joe cried. "I am falling asleep."/ Compare: CHEW THE FAT
or CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE
or SHOOT THE BULL.
[beat one's head against a wall] {v. phr.} To struggle uselessly
against something that can't be beaten or helped; not succeed after
trying very hard. * /Trying to make him change his mind is just
beating your head against a wall./
[beat the band] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At great speed; with much
noise or commotion. - Used after "to". * /The fire engines were going
down the road to beat the band./ * /The audience cheered and stamped
and clapped to beat the band./
[beat the bushes] also [beat the brush] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
try very hard to find or get something. * /The mayor was beating the
bushes for funds to build the playground./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE
BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.
[beat the drum] {v. phr.} To attract attention in order to
advertise something or to promote someone, such as a political
candidate. * /Mrs. Smith has been beating the drum in her town in
order to get her husband elected mayor./
[beat the gun] See: JUMP THE GUN.
[beat the --- out of] or [lick the --- out of] or [whale the ---
out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To beat hard; give a bad beating to. -
Used with several words after "the", as "daylights", "living
daylights", "tar". * /The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the
daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again./
[beat the meat] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To masturbate
(said primarily of men). * /"So what did you do for sex in prison for
seven years?" Joe asked. "Well, unless you want to become gay, you can
beat the meat and that's about it," Max answered./
[beat the pants off] {v. phr.} 1. To prevail over someone in a race
or competition. * /Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming
race./ 2. To give someone a severe physical beating. * /Jack beat the
pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central
Park./
[beat the rap] {v. phr.} To escape the legal penalty one ought to
receive. * /In spite of the strong evidence against him, the prisoner
beat the rap and went free./
[beat the shit out of] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See: KNOCK
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.
[beat time] {v. phr.} To follow the rhythm of a piece of music by
moving one's fingers or feet. * /Jack was beating time with his foot
during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor./
[beat to] {v.}, {informal} To do something before someone else does
it. * /I was waiting to buy a ticket but only one ticket was left, and
another man beat me to it./ * /We were planning to send a rocket into
space but the Russians beat us to it./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON.
[beat to the punch] or [beat to the draw] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do
something before another person has a chance to do it. * /John was
going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to the draw./ * /Lois
bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch./
[beat up] {v.}, {informal} To give a hard beating to; hit hard and
much; thrash; whip. * /When the new boy first came, he had to beat up
several neighborhood bullies before they would leave him alone./ -
Used with "on" in substandard speech. * /The tough boy said to Bill,
"If you come around here again, I'll beat up on you."/
[beauty sleep] {n.} A nap or rest taken to improve the appearance.
* /She took her beauty sleep before the party./ * /Many famous
beauties take a beauty sleep every day./
[beaver] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable}, {citizen's band
radio jargon} A female, especially one driving along the highway and
operating a CB radio. * /I didn't know there was a beaver aboard that
eighteen wheeler./
[because of] {prep.} On account of; by reason of; as a result of. *
/The train arrived late because of the snowstorm./
[beck] See: AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL.
[become of] {v. phr.} To happen to; befall. * /What will become of
the children, now that both parents are in jail?/
[bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, GO TO BED WITH THE
CHICKENS, MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, PUT TO BED.
[bed of nails] {n. phr.} A difficult or unhappy situation or set of
circumstances. * /"There are days when my job is a regular bed of
nails," Jim groaned./ Contrast: BED OF ROSES.
[bed of roses] or [bowl of cherries] {n. phr.} A pleasant easy
place, job, or position; an easy life. * /A coal miner's job is not a
bed of roses./ * /After nine months of school, summer camp seemed a
bowl of cherries./ Compare: IN CLOVER, LIFE OF RILEY.
[bed of thorns] {n. phr.} A thoroughly unhappy time or difficult
situation. * /I'm sorry I changed jobs; my new one turned out to be a
bed of thorns./ See: BED OF NAILS.
[bee] See: BIRDS AND THE BEES.
[beef about] {v. phr.} To complain about something. * /Stop beefing
about your job, Jack. You could have done a lot worse!/
[beef up] {v.}, {informal} To make stronger by adding men or
equipment; make more powerful; reinforce. * /The general beefed up his
army with more big guns and tanks./ * /The university beefed up the
football coaching staff by adding several good men./
[bee in one's bonnet] {n. phr.}, {informal} A fixed idea that seems
fanciful, odd, or crazy. * /Robert Fulton had a bee in his bonnet
about a steamboat./ * /Grandmother has some bee in her bonnet about
going to the dance./
[beeline] See: MAKE A BEELINE FOR.
[be even-Steven] {v. phr.} To be in a position of owing no favors
or debt to someone. * /Yesterday you paid for my lunch, so today I
paid for yours; now we're even-Steven./
[before long] {adv. phr.} In a short time; without much delay; in a
little while, soon. * /Class will be over before long./ * /We were
tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long./
[before one can say Jack Robinson] {adv. cl.}, {informal} Very
quickly; suddenly. - An overused phrase. * /Before I could say Jack
Robinson, the boy was gone./ Compare: IN A FLASH, RIGHT AWAY.
[before swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE.
[before you know it] {adv. phr.} Sooner than one would expect. *
/Don't despair; we'll be finished with this work before you know it!/
[beg] See: BEGGING.
[be game] {v. phr.} To be cooperative, willing, sporting. * /When I
asked Charlie to climb Mount McKinley with us, he said he was game if
we were./
[beggars can't be choosers] People who can not choose what they
will have, must accept what they get; if you are not in control, you
must take what you can gel. * /We wanted to leave on the train in the
morning but it doesn't go until afternoon, so we must go then. Beggars
can't he choosers./ * /Mary got a red dress from her sister, although
she didn't like red. She kept it because she said beggars should not
be choosers./ Compare: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.
[begin with] {adv. phr.} As a preliminary statement; in the first
place. * /To begin with, you are far too young to get married./
[beg off] {v.} To ask to be excused. * /Father told Tom to rake the
yard, but Tom tried to beg off./ * /Mrs. Crane accepted an invitation
to a luncheon, but a headache made her beg off./ Compare: BACK OUT.
[beg the question] {v. phr.}, {literary} To accept as true
something that is still being argued about, before it is proved true;
avoid or not answer a question or problem. * /The girls asked Miss
Smith if they should wear formal dresses to the party; Miss Smith said
they were begging the question because they didn't know yet if they
could get permission for a party./ * /Laura told Tom that he must
believe her argument because she was right. Father laughed and told
Laura she was begging the question./ Compare: TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[behalf] See: IN BEHALF OF or ON BEHALF OF, IN ONE'S BEHALF or ON
ONE'S BEHALF.
[behavior] See: ON ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR.
[be hard on] {v. phr.} To be strict or critical with another; be
severe. * /"Don't be so hard on Jimmy," Tom said. "He is bound to
rebel as he gets older."/
[behind] See: DRY BEHIND THE EARS, FALL BEHIND, GET BEHIND, HANG
BACK or HANG BEHIND.
[behind bars] {adv. phr.} In jail; in prison. * /He was a
pickpocket and had spent many years behind bars./ * /That boy is
always in trouble and will end up behind bars./
[behind one's back] {adv. phr.} When one is absent; without one's
knowledge or consent; in a dishonest way; secretly; sneakily. * /Say
it to his face, not behind his back./ * /It is not right to criticize
a person behind his back./ Contrast: TO ONE'S FACE.
[behind the eight-ball] {adj. phr.}, {slang} In a difficult
position; in trouble. * /Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he
lost his job, he found he was behind the eight-ball./ * /Bill can't
dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight-ball with the girls./
Compare: HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE(2), IN A HOLE.
[behind the scenes] {adv. phr.} Out of sight; unknown to most
people; privately. * /Much of the banquet committee s work was done
behind the scenes./ * /John was president of the club, but behind the
scenes Lee told him what to do./
[behind the times] {adj. phr.} Using things not in style; still
following old ways; old-fashioned. * /Johnson's store is behind the
times./ * /The science books of 30 years ago are behind the times
now./ * /Mary thinks her parents are behind the times because they
still do the foxtrot and don't know any new dances./
[behind time] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1a. Behind the correct time;
slow. * /That clock is behind time./ 1b. Behind schedule; late. * /The
train is running behind time today./ 2. Not keeping up; not at the
proper time; overdue. * /Your lessons are good, but why are you behind
time?/ * /We are behind time in paying the rent./ Contrast: AHEAD OF
TIME, IN TIME, ON TIME.
[be-in] {n.}, {slang}, {hippie culture} A gathering or social
occasion with or without a discernible purpose, often held in a public
place like a park or under a large circus tent. * /The youngsters
really enjoyed the great springtime jazz be-in at the park./
[be in a stew] {v. phr.} To be worried, harassed, upset. * /Al has
been in a stew ever since he got word that his sister was going to
marry his worst enemy./
[being] See: FOR THE TIME BEING.
[be in labor] {v. phr.} To be in parturition; experience the
contractions of childbirth. * /Vane had been in labor for eight hours
before her twin daughters were finally born./
[be in someone else's shoes] {v. phr.} To be in someone else's
situation. * /Fred has had so much trouble recently that we ought to
be grateful we're not in his shoes./
[be into something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have taken something
up partly as a nobby, partly as a serious interest of sorts (basically
resulting from the new consciousness and self-realization movement
that originated in the late Sixties). * /Roger's wife is into women's
liberation and women's consciousness./ * /Did you know that Syd is
seriously into transcendental meditation?/ * /Jack found out that his
teenage son is into pot smoking and gave him a serious scolding./
[be itching to] {v. phr.} To have a very strong desire to do
something. * /Jack is itching to travel abroad./
[be it so] See: SO BE IT.
[belabor the point] {v. phr.} To overexplain something to the point
of obviousness, resulting in ridicule. * /"Lest I belabor the point,"
the teacher said, "I must repeat the importance of teaching good
grammar in class."/
[belfry] See: BATS IN ONE'S BELFRY or BATS IN THE BELFRY.
[believe] See: MAKE BELIEVE, SEEING IS BELIEVING.
[believe one's ears] {v. phr.} 1. To believe what one hears; trust
one's hearing. - Used with a negative or limiter, or in an
interrogative or conditional sentence. * /He thought he heard a horn
blowing in the distance, but he could not believe his ears./ 2. To be
made sure of (something). * /Is he really coming? I can hardly believe
my ears./
[believe one's eyes] {v. phr.} 1. To believe what one sees; trust
one's eyesight. - Used with a negative or limiter or in an
interrogative or conditional sentence. * /Is that a plane? Can I
believe my eyes?/ 2. To be made sure of seeing something. * /She saw
him there but she could hardly believe her eyes./
[bell] See: RING A BELL, WITH BELLS ON.
[bellyache] {v.} To constantly complain. * /Jim is always
bellyaching about the amount of work he is required to do./
[belly up] {adj.}, {informal} Dead, bankrupt, or financially
ruined. * /Tom and Dick struggled on for months with their tiny
computer shop, but last year they went belly up./
[belly up] {v.}, {informal} To go bankrupt, become afunctional; to
die. * /Uncompetitive small businesses must eventually all belly up./
[below par] {adj.} or {adv.} Below standard. * /Bob was fired
because his work has been below par for several months now./ Contrast:
UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.
[below the belt] {adv. phr.} 1. In the stomach; lower than is legal
in boxing. * /He struck the other boy below the belt./ 2. {informal}
In an unfair or cowardly way; against the rules of sportsmanship or
justice; unsportingly; wrongly. * /It was hitting below the belt for
Mr. Jones's rival to tell people about a crime that Mr. Jones
committed when he was a young boy./ * /Pete told the students to vote
against Harry because Harry was in a wheelchair and couldn't be a good
class president, but the students thought Pete was hitting below the
belt./
[belt] See: BELOW THE BELT, SEAT BELT, TIGHTEN ONE'S BELT, UNDER
ONE'S BELT.
[belt out] {v.}, {slang} To sing with rough rhythm and strength;
shout out. * /She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after
another all evening./ * /Young people enjoy belting out songs./
[be my guest] {v. phr.} Feel free to use what I have; help
yourself. * /When Suzie asked if she could borrow John's bicycle, John
said, "Be my guest."/
[beneath one] {adj. phr.} Below one's ideals or dignity. * /Bob
felt it would have been beneath him to work for such low wages./
[bench] See: ON THE BENCH, WARM THE BENCH.
[bench warmer] See: WARM THE BENCH.
[bend over backward] or [lean over backward] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To try so hard to avoid a mistake that you make the opposite mistake
instead; do the opposite of something that you know you should not do;
do too much to avoid doing the wrong thing; also, make a great effort;
try very hard. * /Instead of punishing the boys for breaking a new
rule, the principal bent over backward to explain why the rule was
important./ * /Mary was afraid the girls at her new school would be
stuck up, but they leaned over backward to make her feel at home./
Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY.
[benefit] See: GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
[bent on] or [bent upon] Very decided, determined, or set. * /The
sailors were bent on having a good time./ * /The policeman saw some
boys near the school after dark and thought they were bent on
mischief./ * /The bus was late, and the driver was bent upon reaching
the school on time./
[be nuts about] {v. phr.} To be enthusiastic or very keen about
someone or something; be greatly infatuated with someone. * /Hermione
is nuts about modern music./ * /"I am nuts about you, Helen," Jim
said. "Please let's get married!"/
[be off] {v. phr.} 1. {v.} To be in error; miscalculate. * /The
estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house./ 2. {v.}
To leave. * /Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying
goodbye./ 3. {adj.} Cancelled; terminated. * /The weather was so bad
that we were told that the trip was off./ 4. {adj.} Crazy. * /I'm sure
Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind would say such
things./ 5. {adj.} Free from work; having vacation time. * /Although
we were off for the rest of the day, we couldn't go to the beach
because it started to rain./
[be on] {v. phr.} 1. To be in operation; be in the process of being
presented. * /The news is on now on Channel 2; it will be off in five
minutes./ 2. To be in the process of happening; to take place. * /We
cannot travel now to certain parts of Africa, as there is a civil war
on there right now./
[be one's age] See: ACT ONE'S AGE.
[be oneself] {v.} To act naturally; act normally without trying
unduly to impress others. * /Just try being yourself; I promise people
will like you more./
[be on the outs with] {v. phr.} To not be on speaking terms with
someone; be in disagreement with someone. * /Jane and Tom have been on
the outs with one another since Tom started to date another woman./
[be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS, GO ON THE ROCKS.
[be on the verge of] {v. phr.} To be about to do something; be very
close to. * /We were on the verge of going bankrupt when,
unexpectedly, my wife won the lottery and our business was saved./
[be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON, FALL OFF THE WAGON.
[be on to] {v. phr.} To understand the motives of someone; not be
deceived. * /Jack keeps telling us how wealthy his family is, but we
are on to him./
[be over] {v. phr.} To be ended; be finished. * /The show was over
by 11 P.M./ * /The war will soon be over./
[be out] {v. phr.} 1. To not be at home or at one's place of work.
* /I tried to call but they told me that Al was out./ 2. To be
unacceptable; not be considered; impossible. * /I suggested that we
hire more salespeople but the boss replied that such a move was
positively out./ 3. To be poorer by; suffer a loss of. * /Unless more
people came to the church picnic, we realized we would be out $500 at
least./ 4. To be in circulation, in print, published. * /Jane said
that her new novel won't be out for at least another month./ 5. A
baseball term indicating that a player has been declared either unfit
to continue or punished by withdrawing him. * /The spectators thought
that John was safe at third base, but the umpire said he was out./
[be out to] {v. phr.} To intend to do; to plan to commit. * /The
police felt that the gang may be out to rob another store./
[berth] See: GIVE A WIDE BERTH.
[be set on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To be determined about something. *
/Tow is set upon leaving his Chicago job for Tokyo, Japan, although he
speaks only English./
[beside oneself] {adj. phr.} Very much excited; somewhat crazy. *
/She was beside herself with fear./ * /He was beside himself, he was
so angry./ * /When his wife heard of his death, she was beside
herself./
[beside the point] or [beside the question] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}
Off the subject; about something different. * /What you meant to do is
beside the point; the fact is you didn't do it./ * /The judge told the
witness that his remarks were beside the point./ Compare: BEAT AROUND
THE BUSH, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
[best] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, AT BEST, FOR THE BEST, GET THE BETTER
OF or GET THE BEST OF, HAD BETTER or HAD BEST, HE LAUGHS BEST WHO
LAUGHS LAST, MAKE THE BEST OF, PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD, SECOND
BEST, TO THE BEST OF ONE'S KNOWLEDGE, WITH THE BEST or WITH THE BEST
OF THEM.
[best bib and tucker] or [Sunday best] or [Sunday go-to-meeting
clothes] {n. phr.}, {informal} Best clothes or outfit of clothing. *
/The cowboy got all dressed up in his best bib and tucker to go to the
dance./ * /Mary went to the party in her Sunday best and made a hit
with the boys./ Compare: GLAD RAGS.
[best man] {n.} The groom's aid (usually his best friend or a
relative) at a wedding. * /When Agnes and I got married, my brother
Gordon was my best man./
[best seller] {n.} An item (primarily said of books) that outsells
other items of a similar sort. * /Catherine Neville's novel "The
Eight" has been a national best seller for months./ * /Among imported
European cars, the Volkswagen is a best seller./
[bet] See: YOU BET or YOU BET YOUR BOOTS or YOU BET YOUR LIFE.
[be the making of] {v. phr.} To account for the success of someone
or something. * /The strict discipline that we had to undergo in
graduate school was the making of many a successful professor./ * /The
relatively low cost and high gas mileage are the making of Chevrolet's
Geo Metro cars./
[bet one's boots] or [bet one's bottom dollar] or [bet one's shirt]
{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To bet all you have. * /This horse will win.
I would bet my bottom dollar on it./ * /Jim said he would bet his
boots that he would pass the examination./ 2. or [bet one's life]. To
feel very sure; have no doubt. * /Was I scared when I saw the bull
running at me? You bet your life I was!/
[bet on the wrong horse] {v. phr,}, {informal} To base your plans
on a wrong guess about the result of something; misread the future;
misjudge a coming event. * /To count on the small family farm as an
important thing in the American future now looks like betting on the
wrong horse./ * /He expected Bush to be elected President in 1992 but
as it happened, he bet on the wrong horse./
[better] See: ALL BETTER, DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR,
FOR BETTER OR WORSE, FOR THE BETTER, GET THE BETTER OF, GO --- ONE
BETTER, HAD BETTER, HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE or HALF A LOAF IS
BETTER THAN NO BREAD, SEE BETTER DAYS, THINK BETTER OF.
[better half] {n.}, {informal} One's marriage partner (mostly said
by men about their wives.) * /"This is my better half, Mary," said
Joe./
[better late than never] It is better to come or do something late
than never. * /The firemen didn't arrive at the house until it was
half burned, but it was better late than never./ * /Grandfather is
learning to drive a car. "Better late than never," he says./ Compare:
HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE.
[better than] {prep. phr.} More than; greater than; at a greater
rate than. * /The car was doing better than eighty miles an hour./ *
/It is better than three miles to the station./
[between] See: BETWIXT AND BETWEEN, COME BETWEEN, PEW AND FAR
BETWEEN.
[between a rock and a hard place] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE
DEEP BLUE SEA.
[between life and death] {adv. phr.} In danger of dying or being
killed; with life or death possible. * /He held on to the mountainside
between life and death while his friends went to get help./ * /The
little sick girl lay all night between life and death until her fever
was gone./
[between the devil and the deep blue sea] or {literary} [between
two fires] or [between a rock and a hard place] {adv. phr.} Between
two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do. * /The pirates
had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between
the devil and the deep blue sea./ * /The boy was between a rock and a
hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night
and be picked up by the police./ * /When the man's wife and her mother
got together, he was between two fires./ Compare: COMING AND GOING(2),
IN A BIND.
[between the eyes] See: HIT BETWEEN THE EYES.
[between the lines] See: READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
[between two fires] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.
[between two shakes of a lamb's tail] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK
ROBINSON.
[be up to no good] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be plotting and
conniving to commit some illegal act or crime. * /"Let's hurry!" Susan
said to her husband. "It's dark here and those hoodlums obviously are
up to no good."/
[be up to something] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To feel strong enough
or knowledgeable enough to accomplish a certain task. * /Are you up to
climbing all the way to the 37th floor?/ * /Are we up to meeting the
delegation from Moscow and speaking Russian to them?/ 2. Tendency to
do something mischievous. * /I'm afraid Jack is up to one of his old
tricks again./
[beyond measure] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {formal} So much that it
can not be measured or figured without any limits. * /With her parents
reunited and present at her graduation, she had happiness beyond
measure./ * /No one envied him for he was popular beyond measure./
[beyond one's depth] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Over your head in
water; in water too deep to touch bottom. * /Jack wasn't a good
swimmer and nearly drowned when he drifted out beyond his depth./ 2.
In or into something too difficult for you; beyond your understanding
or ability. * /Bill decided that his big brother's geometry book was
beyond his depth./ * /Sam's father started to explain the atom bomb to
Sam but he soon got beyond his depth./ * /When Bill played checkers
against the city champion, Bill was beyond his depth./ Compare: OVER
ONE'S HEAD(1).
[beyond one's means] {adj. phr.} Too expensive, not affordable. *
/Unfortunately, a new Mercedes Benz is beyond my means right now./
[beyond one's nose] See: SEE BEYOND ONE'S NOSE.
[beyond question(1)] {adj. phr.} Not in doubt certain; sure. - Used
in the predicate. * /People always believe anything that Mark says;
his honesty is beyond question./ Contrast: IN QUESTION.
[beyond question(2)] or [without question] {adv. phr.} Without
doubt or argument; surely; unquestionably. * /Beyond question, it was
the coldest day of the winter./ * /John's drawing is without question
the best in the class./
[beyond reasonable doubt] {adv. phr.}, {formal and legal} Virtually
certain; essentially convincing. * /The judge instructed the jurors to
come up with a verdict of guilty only if they were convinced beyond a
reasonable doubt that Algernon was the perpetrator./
[beyond the pale] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In disgrace; with no chance
of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the members
of a group. * /After the outlaw killed a man he was beyond the pale
and not even his old friends would talk to him./ * /Tom's swearing is
beyond the pale; no one invites him to dinner any more./
[beyond the shadow of a doubt] {adv. phr.}, {formal and legal}
Absolutely certain, totally convincing. * /Fred burglarized Mrs.
Brown's apartment, beyond the shadow of a doubt./
[bib] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[bide one's time] {v. phr.} To await an opportunity; wait patiently
until your chance comes. * /Refused work as an actor, Tom turned to
other work and bided his time./ * /Jack was hurt deeply, and he bided
his time for revenge./
[bid fair] {v.}, {literary} To seem likely; promise. * /He bids
fair to be a popular author./ * /The day bids fair to be warm./
[big] See: IN A BIG WAY, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, LITTLE PITCHERS
HAVE BIG EARS, TALK BIG, TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BREECHES, WHAT'S THE BIG
IDEA.
[big as life] or [large as life] {adj. phr.} 1. or [life-size] The
same size as the living person or thing. * /The statue of Jefferson
was big as life./ * /The characters on the screen were life-size./ 2.
or [big as life and twice as natural] {informal} In person; real and
living. * /I had not seen him for years, but there he was, big as life
and twice as natural./
[big cheese] or [big gun] or [big shot] or [big wheel] or [big wig]
{n.}, {slang} An important person; a leader; a high official; a person
of high rank. * /Bill had been a big shot in high school./ * /John
wanted to be the big cheese in his club./ Compare: WHOLE CHEESE.
[big daddy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The most important, largest
thing, person or animal in a congregation of similar persons, animals,
or objects. * /The whale is the big daddy of everything that swims in
the ocean./ * /The H-bomb is the big daddy of all modern weapons./ *
/Al Capone was the big daddy of organized crime in Chicago during
Prohibition./
[big deal] {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} (loud stress on the word
"deal") Trifles; an unimportant, unimpressive thing or matter. * /So
you became college president - big deal!/
[big frog in a small pond] {n. phr.}, {informal} An important
person in a small place or position; someone who is respected and
honored in a small company, school, or city; a leader in a small
group. * /As company president, he had been a big frog in a small
pond, but he was not so important as a new congressman in Washington./
Contrast: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[bigger than one's stomach] See: EYES BIGGER THAN ONE'S STOMACH.
[big hand] {n.} Loud and enthusiastic applause. * /When Pavarotti
finished singing the aria from Rigoletto, he got a very big hand./
[big head] {n.}, {informal} Too high an opinion of your own ability
or importance; conceit. * /When Jack was elected captain of the team,
it gave him a big head./ Compare: SWELLED HEAD.
[big house] {n.} A large jail or prison. * /The rapist will spend
many years in the big house./
[big lie, the] {n.}, {informal} A major, deliberate
misrepresentation of some important issue made on the assumption that
a bold, gross lie is psychologically more believable than a timid,
minor one. * /We all heard the big lie during the Watergate months./ *
/The pretense of democracy by a totalitarian regime is part of the big
lie about its government./
[big mouth] or [big-mouthed] See: LOUD MOUTH, LOUD-MOUTHED.
[big shot] or [big wig] {n.} An important or influential person. *
/Elmer is a big shot in the State Assembly./
[big stink] {n.}, {slang} A major scandal; a big upheaval. * /I'll
raise a big stink if they fire me./
[big time] {n.}, {informal} 1. A very enjoyable time at a party or
other pleasurable gathering. * /I certainly had a big time at the club
last night./ 2. The top group; the leading class; the best or most
important company. * /After his graduation from college, he soon made
the big time in baseball./ * /Many young actors go to Hollywood, but
few of them reach the big time./
[big-time] {adj.} Belonging to the top group; of the leading class;
important. * /Jean won a talent contest in her home town, and only a
year later she began dancing on big-time television./ * /Bob practices
boxing in the gym every day; he wants to become a big time boxer./ -
Often used in the phrase "big-time operator". * /Just because Bill has
a new football uniform he thinks he is a big-time operator./ Compare:
SHOW OFF. Contrast: SMALL-TIME.
[big top] {n.} The main tent under which a circus gives its show;
the circus and circus life. * /Lillian Leitzel was one of the great
stars of the big top./ * /The book tells of life under the big top./
[big wheel] {n.}, {informal} An influential or important person who
has the power to do things and has connections in high places. *
/Uncle Ferdinand is a big wheel in Washington; maybe he can help you
with your problem./
[big yawn] {n.} A very boring person, story or event. * /I love my
grandma very much, but the stories she tells sure are a yawn./
[bill] See: CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, FILL THE BILL.
[bind] See: DUTY BOUND, IN A BIND, MUSCLE BOUND, ROOT-BOUND.
[bingo card] {n.}, {slang} A response card, bound into a
periodical, containing numbers keyed to editorial or advertising
matter, giving the reader the opportunity to send for further
information by marking the numbers of the items he is interested in;
such a card can be mailed free of charge. * /Jack thinks he is saving
time by filling out bingo cards instead of writing a letter./
[bird] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE
WORM, EAT LIKE A BIRD, FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS, FOR THE
BIRDS, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
[bird has flown] {slang} The prisoner has escaped; the captive has
got away. * /When the sheriff returned to the jail, he discovered that
the bird had flown./
[bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (a)] Something we have,
or can easily get, is more valuable than something we want that we may
not be able to get; we shouldn't risk losing something sure by trying
to get something that is not sure. - A proverb. * /Johnny has a job as
a paperboy, but he wants a job in a gas station. His father says that
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush./
[bird of a different feather] {n. phr.} A person who is free
thinking and independent. * /Syd won't go along with recent trends in
grammar; he created his own. He is a bird of a different feather./
[birds of a feather flock together] People who are alike often
become friends or are together; if you are often with certain people,
you may be their friends or like them. - A proverb. * /Don't be
friends with bad boys. People think that birds of a feather flock
together./
[birds and the bees (the)] {n. phr.}, {informal} The facts we
should know about our birth. * /At various ages, in response to
questions, a child can be told about the birds and the bees./
[bird watcher] {n.} A person whose hobby is to study birds close-up
in their outdoor home. * /A bird watcher looks for the first robin to
appear in the spring./
[birthday suit] {n.} The skin with no clothes on; complete
nakedness. * /The little boys were swimming in their birthday suits./
[bit] See: A BIT, CHAMP AT THE BIT, FOUR BITS, QUITE A LITTLE or
QUITE A BIT, SIX BITS, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH, TWO BITS.
[bitch] See: SON OF A BITCH.
[bite] See: BARK WORSE THAN ONE'S BITE, PUT THE BITE ON, ONCE
BITTEN, TWICE SHY at BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.
[bite off more than one can chew] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to
do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit off
more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He
started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off
more than he could chew./
[bite one's head off] {v. phr.} To answer someone in great anger;
answer furiously. * /I'm sorry to tell you that I lost my job, but
that's no reason to bite my head off!/
[bite one's lips] {v. phr.} To force oneself to remain silent and
not to reveal one's feelings. * /I had to bite my lips when I heard my
boss give the wrong orders./
[bite the dust] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be killed in battle. *
/Captain Jones discharged his gun and another guerrilla bit the dust./
2. To fall in defeat; go down before enemies; be overthrown; lose. *
/Our team bit the dust today./
[bite the hand that feeds one] {v. phr.} To turn against or hurt a
helper or supporter; repay kindness with wrong. * /He bit the hand
that fed him when he complained against his employer./
[bitter] See: TO THE BITTER END.
[bitter pill] {n.} Something hard to accept; disappointment. *
/Jack was not invited to the party and it was a bitter pill for him./
[black] See: BLACK AND WHITE, IN THE BLACK, LOOK BLACK, POT CALLS
THE KETTLE BLACK.
[black and blue] {adj.} Badly bruised. * /Poor Jim was black and
blue after he fell off the apple tree./
[black and white] {n. phr.} 1. Print or writing; words on paper,
not spoken; exact written or printed form. * /He insisted on having
the agreement down in black and white./ * /Mrs. Jones would not
believe the news, so Mr. Jones showed her the article in the newspaper
and said, "There it is in black and white."/ 2. The different shades
of black and white of a simple picture, rather than other colors. *
/He showed us snapshots in black and white./
[black-and-white] {adj.} Divided into only two sides that are
either right or wrong or good or bad, with nothing in between;
thinking or judging everything as either good or bad. * /Everything is
black-and-white to Bill; if you're not his friend, you are his enemy./
* /The old man's religion shows his black-and-white thinking;
everything is either completely good or completely bad./
[black day] {n.} A day of great unhappiness; a disaster. * /It was
a black day when our business venture collapsed./
[black eye] {n.} 1. A dark area around one's eye due to a hard blow
during a fight, such as boxing. * /Mike Tyson sported a black eye
after the big fight./ 2. Discredit. * /Bob's illegal actions will give
a black eye to the popular movement he started./
[blackout] {n.} 1. The darkening of a city curing an air raid by
pulling down all curtains and putting out all street lights. * /The
city of London went through numerous blackouts during World War II./
2. A cessation of news by the mass media. * /There was a total news
blackout about the kidnapping of the prime minister./
[black out] {v.} 1. To darken by putting out or dimming lights, *
/In some plays the stage is blacked out for a short time and the
actors speak in darkness./ * /In wartime, cities are blacked out to
protect against bombing from planes./ 2. To prevent or silence
information or communication; refuse to give out truthful news. * /In
wartime, governments often black out all news or give out false news./
* /Dictators usually black out all criticism of the government./ *
/Some big games are blacked out on television to people who live
nearby./ 3. {informal} To lose consciousness; faint. * /It had been a
hard and tiring day, and she suddenly blacked out./
[black sheep] {n.} A person in a family or a community considered
unsatisfactory or disgraceful. * /My brother Ted is a high school
dropout who joined a circus; he is the black sheep in our family./
[blame] See: TO BLAME.
[blank check] {n.} 1. A bank check written to a person who can then
write in how much money he wants. * /John's father sent him a blank
check to pay his school bills./ 2. {informal} Permission to another
person to do anything he decides to do. * /The teacher gave the pupils
a blank check to plan the picnic./
[blanket] See: WET BLANKET.
[blast off] {v.} 1. To begin a rocket flight. * /The astronaut will
blast off into orbit at six o'clock./ 2. Also [blast away] {informal}
To scold or protest violently. * /The coach blasted off at the team
for poor playing./
[blaze a trail] {v. phr.} 1. To cut marks in trees in order to
guide other people along a path or trail, especially through a
wilderness. * /Daniel Boone blazed a trail for other hunters to follow
in Kentucky./ 2. To lead the way; make a discovery; start something
new. * /Henry Ford blazed a trail in manufacturing automobiles./ *
/The building of rockets blazed a trail to outer space./ See:
TRAILBLAZER.
[bleep out] See: BLIP OUT.
[bless one's heart] {v. phr.} To thank someone; consider one the
cause of something good that has happened. * /Aunt Jane, bless her
heart, left me half a million dollars!/
[blessing] See: MIXED BLESSING.
[blind] See: FLY BLIND.
[blind alley] {n.} 1. A narrow street that has only one entrance
and no exit. * /The blind alley ended in a brick wall./ 2. A way of
acting that leads to no good results. * /John did not take the job
because it was a blind alley./ * /Tom thought of a way to do the
algebra problem, but he found it was a blind alley./
[blind as a bat/beetle/mole/owl] {adj. phr.} Anyone who is blind or
has difficulty in seeing; a person with very thick glasses. * /Without
my glasses I am blind as a bat./
[blind date] {n.} An engagement or date arranged by friends for
people who have not previously known one another. * /A blind date can
be a huge success, or a big disappointment./
[blind leading the blind] One or more people who do not know or
understand something trying to explain it to others who do not know or
understand. * /Jimmy is trying to show Bill how to skate. The blind
are leading the blind./
[blind spot] {n.} 1. A place on the road that a driver cannot see
in the rearview mirror. * /I couldn't see that truck behind me,
Officer, because it was in my blind spot./ 2. A matter or topic a
person refuses to discuss or accept. * /My uncle Ted has a real blind
spot about religion./
[blink] See: ON THE BLINK.
[blip out] or [bleep out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To delete
electronically a word on television or on radio either because it
mentions the name of an established firm in a commercial or because it
is a censored word not allowed for television audiences, resulting in
a sound resembling the word "bleep." * /What was the old product they
compared Spic-n-Span to? - I don't know; they've bleeped it out./
[blitz] See: SAFETY BLITZ.
[block] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, KNOCK ONE'S BLOCK OFF, ON THE
BLOCK.
[blockhead] {n.}, {informal} An unusually dense, or stupid person
whose head is therefore exaggeratedly compared to a solid block of
wood. * /Joe is such a blockhead that he flunked every course as a
freshman./
[blood] See: DRAW BLOOD, FLESH AND BLOOD, IN COLD BLOOD, IN ONE'S
BLOOD or INTO ONE'S BLOOD, MAKE ONE'S BLOOD BOIL or MAKE THE BLOOD
BOIL, NEW BLOOD, OUT OF ONE'S BLOOD, RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE
FAMILY, SPORTING BLOOD, SWEAT BLOOD, WARM ONE'S BLOOD.
[blood and thunder] {n. phr.} The violence and bloodshed of stories
that present fast action rather than understanding of character. *
/Crime movies and westerns usually have lots of blood and thunder./ -
Often used like an adjective. * /John likes to watch blood-and-thunder
stories on television./
[blood freezes] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[blood is thicker than water] Persons of the same family are closer
to one another than to others; relatives are favored or chosen over
outsiders. * /Mr. Jones hires his relatives to work in his store.
Blood is thicker than water./
[blood runs cold] also [blood freezes] or [blood turns to ice] You
are chilled or shivering from great fright or horror; you are
terrified or horrified. - Usually used with a possessive. * /The
horror movie made the children's blood run cold./ * /Mary's blood
froze when she had to walk through the cemetery at night./ * /Oscar's
blood turned to ice when he saw the shadow pass by outside the
window./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END, THE CREEPS.
[blood turns to ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[bloody] See: SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.
[blot out] {v. phr.} 1. To obstruct; cover; obscure. * /The
high-rise building in front of our apartment house blots out the view
of the ocean./ 2. To wipe out of one's memory. * /Jane can't remember
the details when she was attacked in the streets; she blotted it out
of her memory./
[blow] See: AT A BLOW, BODY BLOW, COME TO BLOWS, IT'S AN ILL WIND
THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, WAY THE WIND BLOWS or HOW THE WIND BLOWS.
or surprising. * /John found a box full of money buried in his garage.
Doesn't that beat all!/ * /It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a
basket./
[beat all hollow] also [beat hollow] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do much
better than; to beat very badly. * /We beat their team all hollow./ *
/As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./
[beat a retreat] {v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a
drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat./ 2.
To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too
few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming./
Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.
[beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.
[beat down] {v.} 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over;
conquer. * /All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks./ 2.
{informal} a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. * /Can
we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a
lower price or easier payments. * /He tried to beat us down, so we did
not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. * /At noon the sun
beat down on our heads as we walked home./
[beaten path] {n. phr.} The usual route or way of operating that
has been conventionally established, * /If we always follow the beaten
path, we'll never have the courage to try something new./
[beaten track] {n.} See: BEATEN PATH.
[beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.
[beat into one's head] {v. phr.}, {informal} To teach by telling
again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to be cross and punish
often. * /Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten
into his head./ * /I cannot beat it into his head that he should take
off his hat in the house./
[beat it] {v.}, {slang} To go away in a hurry; get out quickly. *
/When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could./ - Often used
as a command. * /The big boy said, "Beat it, kid. We don't want you
with us."/ Compare: CLEAR OUT(2), LIGHT OUT, HEAD FOR THE HILLS.
[beat one to it] {v. phr.} To arrive or get ahead of another
person. * /I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it!
Thanks for calling me./
[beat one's brains out] or [beat one's brains] {v. phr.}, {slang}
To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire
yourself out by thinking. * /It was too hard for him and he beat his
brains out trying to get the answer./ * /Some students are lazy, but
others beat their brains and succeed./
[beat one's gums] {v. phr.}, {slang} To engage in idle talk, or
meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. * /"Stop beating your
gums, Jack," Joe cried. "I am falling asleep."/ Compare: CHEW THE FAT
or CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE
or SHOOT THE BULL.
[beat one's head against a wall] {v. phr.} To struggle uselessly
against something that can't be beaten or helped; not succeed after
trying very hard. * /Trying to make him change his mind is just
beating your head against a wall./
[beat the band] {adv. phr.}, {informal} At great speed; with much
noise or commotion. - Used after "to". * /The fire engines were going
down the road to beat the band./ * /The audience cheered and stamped
and clapped to beat the band./
[beat the bushes] also [beat the brush] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
try very hard to find or get something. * /The mayor was beating the
bushes for funds to build the playground./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE
BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.
[beat the drum] {v. phr.} To attract attention in order to
advertise something or to promote someone, such as a political
candidate. * /Mrs. Smith has been beating the drum in her town in
order to get her husband elected mayor./
[beat the gun] See: JUMP THE GUN.
[beat the --- out of] or [lick the --- out of] or [whale the ---
out of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To beat hard; give a bad beating to. -
Used with several words after "the", as "daylights", "living
daylights", "tar". * /The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the
daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again./
[beat the meat] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To masturbate
(said primarily of men). * /"So what did you do for sex in prison for
seven years?" Joe asked. "Well, unless you want to become gay, you can
beat the meat and that's about it," Max answered./
[beat the pants off] {v. phr.} 1. To prevail over someone in a race
or competition. * /Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming
race./ 2. To give someone a severe physical beating. * /Jack beat the
pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central
Park./
[beat the rap] {v. phr.} To escape the legal penalty one ought to
receive. * /In spite of the strong evidence against him, the prisoner
beat the rap and went free./
[beat the shit out of] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} See: KNOCK
THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.
[beat time] {v. phr.} To follow the rhythm of a piece of music by
moving one's fingers or feet. * /Jack was beating time with his foot
during the concert, which annoyed his neighbor./
[beat to] {v.}, {informal} To do something before someone else does
it. * /I was waiting to buy a ticket but only one ticket was left, and
another man beat me to it./ * /We were planning to send a rocket into
space but the Russians beat us to it./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON.
[beat to the punch] or [beat to the draw] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do
something before another person has a chance to do it. * /John was
going to apply for the job, but Ted beat him to the draw./ * /Lois
bought the dress before Mary could beat her to the punch./
[beat up] {v.}, {informal} To give a hard beating to; hit hard and
much; thrash; whip. * /When the new boy first came, he had to beat up
several neighborhood bullies before they would leave him alone./ -
Used with "on" in substandard speech. * /The tough boy said to Bill,
"If you come around here again, I'll beat up on you."/
[beauty sleep] {n.} A nap or rest taken to improve the appearance.
* /She took her beauty sleep before the party./ * /Many famous
beauties take a beauty sleep every day./
[beaver] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable}, {citizen's band
radio jargon} A female, especially one driving along the highway and
operating a CB radio. * /I didn't know there was a beaver aboard that
eighteen wheeler./
[because of] {prep.} On account of; by reason of; as a result of. *
/The train arrived late because of the snowstorm./
[beck] See: AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL.
[become of] {v. phr.} To happen to; befall. * /What will become of
the children, now that both parents are in jail?/
[bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, GO TO BED WITH THE
CHICKENS, MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, PUT TO BED.
[bed of nails] {n. phr.} A difficult or unhappy situation or set of
circumstances. * /"There are days when my job is a regular bed of
nails," Jim groaned./ Contrast: BED OF ROSES.
[bed of roses] or [bowl of cherries] {n. phr.} A pleasant easy
place, job, or position; an easy life. * /A coal miner's job is not a
bed of roses./ * /After nine months of school, summer camp seemed a
bowl of cherries./ Compare: IN CLOVER, LIFE OF RILEY.
[bed of thorns] {n. phr.} A thoroughly unhappy time or difficult
situation. * /I'm sorry I changed jobs; my new one turned out to be a
bed of thorns./ See: BED OF NAILS.
[bee] See: BIRDS AND THE BEES.
[beef about] {v. phr.} To complain about something. * /Stop beefing
about your job, Jack. You could have done a lot worse!/
[beef up] {v.}, {informal} To make stronger by adding men or
equipment; make more powerful; reinforce. * /The general beefed up his
army with more big guns and tanks./ * /The university beefed up the
football coaching staff by adding several good men./
[bee in one's bonnet] {n. phr.}, {informal} A fixed idea that seems
fanciful, odd, or crazy. * /Robert Fulton had a bee in his bonnet
about a steamboat./ * /Grandmother has some bee in her bonnet about
going to the dance./
[beeline] See: MAKE A BEELINE FOR.
[be even-Steven] {v. phr.} To be in a position of owing no favors
or debt to someone. * /Yesterday you paid for my lunch, so today I
paid for yours; now we're even-Steven./
[before long] {adv. phr.} In a short time; without much delay; in a
little while, soon. * /Class will be over before long./ * /We were
tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long./
[before one can say Jack Robinson] {adv. cl.}, {informal} Very
quickly; suddenly. - An overused phrase. * /Before I could say Jack
Robinson, the boy was gone./ Compare: IN A FLASH, RIGHT AWAY.
[before swine] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS
BEFORE SWINE.
[before you know it] {adv. phr.} Sooner than one would expect. *
/Don't despair; we'll be finished with this work before you know it!/
[beg] See: BEGGING.
[be game] {v. phr.} To be cooperative, willing, sporting. * /When I
asked Charlie to climb Mount McKinley with us, he said he was game if
we were./
[beggars can't be choosers] People who can not choose what they
will have, must accept what they get; if you are not in control, you
must take what you can gel. * /We wanted to leave on the train in the
morning but it doesn't go until afternoon, so we must go then. Beggars
can't he choosers./ * /Mary got a red dress from her sister, although
she didn't like red. She kept it because she said beggars should not
be choosers./ Compare: LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.
[begin with] {adv. phr.} As a preliminary statement; in the first
place. * /To begin with, you are far too young to get married./
[beg off] {v.} To ask to be excused. * /Father told Tom to rake the
yard, but Tom tried to beg off./ * /Mrs. Crane accepted an invitation
to a luncheon, but a headache made her beg off./ Compare: BACK OUT.
[beg the question] {v. phr.}, {literary} To accept as true
something that is still being argued about, before it is proved true;
avoid or not answer a question or problem. * /The girls asked Miss
Smith if they should wear formal dresses to the party; Miss Smith said
they were begging the question because they didn't know yet if they
could get permission for a party./ * /Laura told Tom that he must
believe her argument because she was right. Father laughed and told
Laura she was begging the question./ Compare: TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[behalf] See: IN BEHALF OF or ON BEHALF OF, IN ONE'S BEHALF or ON
ONE'S BEHALF.
[behavior] See: ON ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR.
[be hard on] {v. phr.} To be strict or critical with another; be
severe. * /"Don't be so hard on Jimmy," Tom said. "He is bound to
rebel as he gets older."/
[behind] See: DRY BEHIND THE EARS, FALL BEHIND, GET BEHIND, HANG
BACK or HANG BEHIND.
[behind bars] {adv. phr.} In jail; in prison. * /He was a
pickpocket and had spent many years behind bars./ * /That boy is
always in trouble and will end up behind bars./
[behind one's back] {adv. phr.} When one is absent; without one's
knowledge or consent; in a dishonest way; secretly; sneakily. * /Say
it to his face, not behind his back./ * /It is not right to criticize
a person behind his back./ Contrast: TO ONE'S FACE.
[behind the eight-ball] {adj. phr.}, {slang} In a difficult
position; in trouble. * /Mr. Thompson is an older man, and when he
lost his job, he found he was behind the eight-ball./ * /Bill can't
dance and has no car, so he is behind the eight-ball with the girls./
Compare: HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE(2), IN A HOLE.
[behind the scenes] {adv. phr.} Out of sight; unknown to most
people; privately. * /Much of the banquet committee s work was done
behind the scenes./ * /John was president of the club, but behind the
scenes Lee told him what to do./
[behind the times] {adj. phr.} Using things not in style; still
following old ways; old-fashioned. * /Johnson's store is behind the
times./ * /The science books of 30 years ago are behind the times
now./ * /Mary thinks her parents are behind the times because they
still do the foxtrot and don't know any new dances./
[behind time] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1a. Behind the correct time;
slow. * /That clock is behind time./ 1b. Behind schedule; late. * /The
train is running behind time today./ 2. Not keeping up; not at the
proper time; overdue. * /Your lessons are good, but why are you behind
time?/ * /We are behind time in paying the rent./ Contrast: AHEAD OF
TIME, IN TIME, ON TIME.
[be-in] {n.}, {slang}, {hippie culture} A gathering or social
occasion with or without a discernible purpose, often held in a public
place like a park or under a large circus tent. * /The youngsters
really enjoyed the great springtime jazz be-in at the park./
[be in a stew] {v. phr.} To be worried, harassed, upset. * /Al has
been in a stew ever since he got word that his sister was going to
marry his worst enemy./
[being] See: FOR THE TIME BEING.
[be in labor] {v. phr.} To be in parturition; experience the
contractions of childbirth. * /Vane had been in labor for eight hours
before her twin daughters were finally born./
[be in someone else's shoes] {v. phr.} To be in someone else's
situation. * /Fred has had so much trouble recently that we ought to
be grateful we're not in his shoes./
[be into something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have taken something
up partly as a nobby, partly as a serious interest of sorts (basically
resulting from the new consciousness and self-realization movement
that originated in the late Sixties). * /Roger's wife is into women's
liberation and women's consciousness./ * /Did you know that Syd is
seriously into transcendental meditation?/ * /Jack found out that his
teenage son is into pot smoking and gave him a serious scolding./
[be itching to] {v. phr.} To have a very strong desire to do
something. * /Jack is itching to travel abroad./
[be it so] See: SO BE IT.
[belabor the point] {v. phr.} To overexplain something to the point
of obviousness, resulting in ridicule. * /"Lest I belabor the point,"
the teacher said, "I must repeat the importance of teaching good
grammar in class."/
[belfry] See: BATS IN ONE'S BELFRY or BATS IN THE BELFRY.
[believe] See: MAKE BELIEVE, SEEING IS BELIEVING.
[believe one's ears] {v. phr.} 1. To believe what one hears; trust
one's hearing. - Used with a negative or limiter, or in an
interrogative or conditional sentence. * /He thought he heard a horn
blowing in the distance, but he could not believe his ears./ 2. To be
made sure of (something). * /Is he really coming? I can hardly believe
my ears./
[believe one's eyes] {v. phr.} 1. To believe what one sees; trust
one's eyesight. - Used with a negative or limiter or in an
interrogative or conditional sentence. * /Is that a plane? Can I
believe my eyes?/ 2. To be made sure of seeing something. * /She saw
him there but she could hardly believe her eyes./
[bell] See: RING A BELL, WITH BELLS ON.
[bellyache] {v.} To constantly complain. * /Jim is always
bellyaching about the amount of work he is required to do./
[belly up] {adj.}, {informal} Dead, bankrupt, or financially
ruined. * /Tom and Dick struggled on for months with their tiny
computer shop, but last year they went belly up./
[belly up] {v.}, {informal} To go bankrupt, become afunctional; to
die. * /Uncompetitive small businesses must eventually all belly up./
[below par] {adj.} or {adv.} Below standard. * /Bob was fired
because his work has been below par for several months now./ Contrast:
UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.
[below the belt] {adv. phr.} 1. In the stomach; lower than is legal
in boxing. * /He struck the other boy below the belt./ 2. {informal}
In an unfair or cowardly way; against the rules of sportsmanship or
justice; unsportingly; wrongly. * /It was hitting below the belt for
Mr. Jones's rival to tell people about a crime that Mr. Jones
committed when he was a young boy./ * /Pete told the students to vote
against Harry because Harry was in a wheelchair and couldn't be a good
class president, but the students thought Pete was hitting below the
belt./
[belt] See: BELOW THE BELT, SEAT BELT, TIGHTEN ONE'S BELT, UNDER
ONE'S BELT.
[belt out] {v.}, {slang} To sing with rough rhythm and strength;
shout out. * /She belted out ballads and hillbilly songs one after
another all evening./ * /Young people enjoy belting out songs./
[be my guest] {v. phr.} Feel free to use what I have; help
yourself. * /When Suzie asked if she could borrow John's bicycle, John
said, "Be my guest."/
[beneath one] {adj. phr.} Below one's ideals or dignity. * /Bob
felt it would have been beneath him to work for such low wages./
[bench] See: ON THE BENCH, WARM THE BENCH.
[bench warmer] See: WARM THE BENCH.
[bend over backward] or [lean over backward] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To try so hard to avoid a mistake that you make the opposite mistake
instead; do the opposite of something that you know you should not do;
do too much to avoid doing the wrong thing; also, make a great effort;
try very hard. * /Instead of punishing the boys for breaking a new
rule, the principal bent over backward to explain why the rule was
important./ * /Mary was afraid the girls at her new school would be
stuck up, but they leaned over backward to make her feel at home./
Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY.
[benefit] See: GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
[bent on] or [bent upon] Very decided, determined, or set. * /The
sailors were bent on having a good time./ * /The policeman saw some
boys near the school after dark and thought they were bent on
mischief./ * /The bus was late, and the driver was bent upon reaching
the school on time./
[be nuts about] {v. phr.} To be enthusiastic or very keen about
someone or something; be greatly infatuated with someone. * /Hermione
is nuts about modern music./ * /"I am nuts about you, Helen," Jim
said. "Please let's get married!"/
[be off] {v. phr.} 1. {v.} To be in error; miscalculate. * /The
estimator was off by at least 35% on the value of the house./ 2. {v.}
To leave. * /Jack ate his supper in a hurry and was off without saying
goodbye./ 3. {adj.} Cancelled; terminated. * /The weather was so bad
that we were told that the trip was off./ 4. {adj.} Crazy. * /I'm sure
Aunt Mathilda is a bit off; no one in her right mind would say such
things./ 5. {adj.} Free from work; having vacation time. * /Although
we were off for the rest of the day, we couldn't go to the beach
because it started to rain./
[be on] {v. phr.} 1. To be in operation; be in the process of being
presented. * /The news is on now on Channel 2; it will be off in five
minutes./ 2. To be in the process of happening; to take place. * /We
cannot travel now to certain parts of Africa, as there is a civil war
on there right now./
[be one's age] See: ACT ONE'S AGE.
[be oneself] {v.} To act naturally; act normally without trying
unduly to impress others. * /Just try being yourself; I promise people
will like you more./
[be on the outs with] {v. phr.} To not be on speaking terms with
someone; be in disagreement with someone. * /Jane and Tom have been on
the outs with one another since Tom started to date another woman./
[be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS, GO ON THE ROCKS.
[be on the verge of] {v. phr.} To be about to do something; be very
close to. * /We were on the verge of going bankrupt when,
unexpectedly, my wife won the lottery and our business was saved./
[be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON, FALL OFF THE WAGON.
[be on to] {v. phr.} To understand the motives of someone; not be
deceived. * /Jack keeps telling us how wealthy his family is, but we
are on to him./
[be over] {v. phr.} To be ended; be finished. * /The show was over
by 11 P.M./ * /The war will soon be over./
[be out] {v. phr.} 1. To not be at home or at one's place of work.
* /I tried to call but they told me that Al was out./ 2. To be
unacceptable; not be considered; impossible. * /I suggested that we
hire more salespeople but the boss replied that such a move was
positively out./ 3. To be poorer by; suffer a loss of. * /Unless more
people came to the church picnic, we realized we would be out $500 at
least./ 4. To be in circulation, in print, published. * /Jane said
that her new novel won't be out for at least another month./ 5. A
baseball term indicating that a player has been declared either unfit
to continue or punished by withdrawing him. * /The spectators thought
that John was safe at third base, but the umpire said he was out./
[be out to] {v. phr.} To intend to do; to plan to commit. * /The
police felt that the gang may be out to rob another store./
[berth] See: GIVE A WIDE BERTH.
[be set on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To be determined about something. *
/Tow is set upon leaving his Chicago job for Tokyo, Japan, although he
speaks only English./
[beside oneself] {adj. phr.} Very much excited; somewhat crazy. *
/She was beside herself with fear./ * /He was beside himself, he was
so angry./ * /When his wife heard of his death, she was beside
herself./
[beside the point] or [beside the question] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}
Off the subject; about something different. * /What you meant to do is
beside the point; the fact is you didn't do it./ * /The judge told the
witness that his remarks were beside the point./ Compare: BEAT AROUND
THE BUSH, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
[best] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, AT BEST, FOR THE BEST, GET THE BETTER
OF or GET THE BEST OF, HAD BETTER or HAD BEST, HE LAUGHS BEST WHO
LAUGHS LAST, MAKE THE BEST OF, PUT ONE'S BEST FOOT FORWARD, SECOND
BEST, TO THE BEST OF ONE'S KNOWLEDGE, WITH THE BEST or WITH THE BEST
OF THEM.
[best bib and tucker] or [Sunday best] or [Sunday go-to-meeting
clothes] {n. phr.}, {informal} Best clothes or outfit of clothing. *
/The cowboy got all dressed up in his best bib and tucker to go to the
dance./ * /Mary went to the party in her Sunday best and made a hit
with the boys./ Compare: GLAD RAGS.
[best man] {n.} The groom's aid (usually his best friend or a
relative) at a wedding. * /When Agnes and I got married, my brother
Gordon was my best man./
[best seller] {n.} An item (primarily said of books) that outsells
other items of a similar sort. * /Catherine Neville's novel "The
Eight" has been a national best seller for months./ * /Among imported
European cars, the Volkswagen is a best seller./
[bet] See: YOU BET or YOU BET YOUR BOOTS or YOU BET YOUR LIFE.
[be the making of] {v. phr.} To account for the success of someone
or something. * /The strict discipline that we had to undergo in
graduate school was the making of many a successful professor./ * /The
relatively low cost and high gas mileage are the making of Chevrolet's
Geo Metro cars./
[bet one's boots] or [bet one's bottom dollar] or [bet one's shirt]
{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To bet all you have. * /This horse will win.
I would bet my bottom dollar on it./ * /Jim said he would bet his
boots that he would pass the examination./ 2. or [bet one's life]. To
feel very sure; have no doubt. * /Was I scared when I saw the bull
running at me? You bet your life I was!/
[bet on the wrong horse] {v. phr,}, {informal} To base your plans
on a wrong guess about the result of something; misread the future;
misjudge a coming event. * /To count on the small family farm as an
important thing in the American future now looks like betting on the
wrong horse./ * /He expected Bush to be elected President in 1992 but
as it happened, he bet on the wrong horse./
[better] See: ALL BETTER, DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR,
FOR BETTER OR WORSE, FOR THE BETTER, GET THE BETTER OF, GO --- ONE
BETTER, HAD BETTER, HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE or HALF A LOAF IS
BETTER THAN NO BREAD, SEE BETTER DAYS, THINK BETTER OF.
[better half] {n.}, {informal} One's marriage partner (mostly said
by men about their wives.) * /"This is my better half, Mary," said
Joe./
[better late than never] It is better to come or do something late
than never. * /The firemen didn't arrive at the house until it was
half burned, but it was better late than never./ * /Grandfather is
learning to drive a car. "Better late than never," he says./ Compare:
HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE.
[better than] {prep. phr.} More than; greater than; at a greater
rate than. * /The car was doing better than eighty miles an hour./ *
/It is better than three miles to the station./
[between] See: BETWIXT AND BETWEEN, COME BETWEEN, PEW AND FAR
BETWEEN.
[between a rock and a hard place] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE
DEEP BLUE SEA.
[between life and death] {adv. phr.} In danger of dying or being
killed; with life or death possible. * /He held on to the mountainside
between life and death while his friends went to get help./ * /The
little sick girl lay all night between life and death until her fever
was gone./
[between the devil and the deep blue sea] or {literary} [between
two fires] or [between a rock and a hard place] {adv. phr.} Between
two dangers or difficulties, not knowing what to do. * /The pirates
had to fight and be killed or give up and be hanged; they were between
the devil and the deep blue sea./ * /The boy was between a rock and a
hard place; he had to go home and be whipped or stay in town all night
and be picked up by the police./ * /When the man's wife and her mother
got together, he was between two fires./ Compare: COMING AND GOING(2),
IN A BIND.
[between the eyes] See: HIT BETWEEN THE EYES.
[between the lines] See: READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
[between two fires] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.
[between two shakes of a lamb's tail] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK
ROBINSON.
[be up to no good] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be plotting and
conniving to commit some illegal act or crime. * /"Let's hurry!" Susan
said to her husband. "It's dark here and those hoodlums obviously are
up to no good."/
[be up to something] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To feel strong enough
or knowledgeable enough to accomplish a certain task. * /Are you up to
climbing all the way to the 37th floor?/ * /Are we up to meeting the
delegation from Moscow and speaking Russian to them?/ 2. Tendency to
do something mischievous. * /I'm afraid Jack is up to one of his old
tricks again./
[beyond measure] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {formal} So much that it
can not be measured or figured without any limits. * /With her parents
reunited and present at her graduation, she had happiness beyond
measure./ * /No one envied him for he was popular beyond measure./
[beyond one's depth] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Over your head in
water; in water too deep to touch bottom. * /Jack wasn't a good
swimmer and nearly drowned when he drifted out beyond his depth./ 2.
In or into something too difficult for you; beyond your understanding
or ability. * /Bill decided that his big brother's geometry book was
beyond his depth./ * /Sam's father started to explain the atom bomb to
Sam but he soon got beyond his depth./ * /When Bill played checkers
against the city champion, Bill was beyond his depth./ Compare: OVER
ONE'S HEAD(1).
[beyond one's means] {adj. phr.} Too expensive, not affordable. *
/Unfortunately, a new Mercedes Benz is beyond my means right now./
[beyond one's nose] See: SEE BEYOND ONE'S NOSE.
[beyond question(1)] {adj. phr.} Not in doubt certain; sure. - Used
in the predicate. * /People always believe anything that Mark says;
his honesty is beyond question./ Contrast: IN QUESTION.
[beyond question(2)] or [without question] {adv. phr.} Without
doubt or argument; surely; unquestionably. * /Beyond question, it was
the coldest day of the winter./ * /John's drawing is without question
the best in the class./
[beyond reasonable doubt] {adv. phr.}, {formal and legal} Virtually
certain; essentially convincing. * /The judge instructed the jurors to
come up with a verdict of guilty only if they were convinced beyond a
reasonable doubt that Algernon was the perpetrator./
[beyond the pale] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In disgrace; with no chance
of being accepted or respected by others; not approved by the members
of a group. * /After the outlaw killed a man he was beyond the pale
and not even his old friends would talk to him./ * /Tom's swearing is
beyond the pale; no one invites him to dinner any more./
[beyond the shadow of a doubt] {adv. phr.}, {formal and legal}
Absolutely certain, totally convincing. * /Fred burglarized Mrs.
Brown's apartment, beyond the shadow of a doubt./
[bib] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[bide one's time] {v. phr.} To await an opportunity; wait patiently
until your chance comes. * /Refused work as an actor, Tom turned to
other work and bided his time./ * /Jack was hurt deeply, and he bided
his time for revenge./
[bid fair] {v.}, {literary} To seem likely; promise. * /He bids
fair to be a popular author./ * /The day bids fair to be warm./
[big] See: IN A BIG WAY, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND, LITTLE PITCHERS
HAVE BIG EARS, TALK BIG, TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BREECHES, WHAT'S THE BIG
IDEA.
[big as life] or [large as life] {adj. phr.} 1. or [life-size] The
same size as the living person or thing. * /The statue of Jefferson
was big as life./ * /The characters on the screen were life-size./ 2.
or [big as life and twice as natural] {informal} In person; real and
living. * /I had not seen him for years, but there he was, big as life
and twice as natural./
[big cheese] or [big gun] or [big shot] or [big wheel] or [big wig]
{n.}, {slang} An important person; a leader; a high official; a person
of high rank. * /Bill had been a big shot in high school./ * /John
wanted to be the big cheese in his club./ Compare: WHOLE CHEESE.
[big daddy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The most important, largest
thing, person or animal in a congregation of similar persons, animals,
or objects. * /The whale is the big daddy of everything that swims in
the ocean./ * /The H-bomb is the big daddy of all modern weapons./ *
/Al Capone was the big daddy of organized crime in Chicago during
Prohibition./
[big deal] {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} (loud stress on the word
"deal") Trifles; an unimportant, unimpressive thing or matter. * /So
you became college president - big deal!/
[big frog in a small pond] {n. phr.}, {informal} An important
person in a small place or position; someone who is respected and
honored in a small company, school, or city; a leader in a small
group. * /As company president, he had been a big frog in a small
pond, but he was not so important as a new congressman in Washington./
Contrast: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[bigger than one's stomach] See: EYES BIGGER THAN ONE'S STOMACH.
[big hand] {n.} Loud and enthusiastic applause. * /When Pavarotti
finished singing the aria from Rigoletto, he got a very big hand./
[big head] {n.}, {informal} Too high an opinion of your own ability
or importance; conceit. * /When Jack was elected captain of the team,
it gave him a big head./ Compare: SWELLED HEAD.
[big house] {n.} A large jail or prison. * /The rapist will spend
many years in the big house./
[big lie, the] {n.}, {informal} A major, deliberate
misrepresentation of some important issue made on the assumption that
a bold, gross lie is psychologically more believable than a timid,
minor one. * /We all heard the big lie during the Watergate months./ *
/The pretense of democracy by a totalitarian regime is part of the big
lie about its government./
[big mouth] or [big-mouthed] See: LOUD MOUTH, LOUD-MOUTHED.
[big shot] or [big wig] {n.} An important or influential person. *
/Elmer is a big shot in the State Assembly./
[big stink] {n.}, {slang} A major scandal; a big upheaval. * /I'll
raise a big stink if they fire me./
[big time] {n.}, {informal} 1. A very enjoyable time at a party or
other pleasurable gathering. * /I certainly had a big time at the club
last night./ 2. The top group; the leading class; the best or most
important company. * /After his graduation from college, he soon made
the big time in baseball./ * /Many young actors go to Hollywood, but
few of them reach the big time./
[big-time] {adj.} Belonging to the top group; of the leading class;
important. * /Jean won a talent contest in her home town, and only a
year later she began dancing on big-time television./ * /Bob practices
boxing in the gym every day; he wants to become a big time boxer./ -
Often used in the phrase "big-time operator". * /Just because Bill has
a new football uniform he thinks he is a big-time operator./ Compare:
SHOW OFF. Contrast: SMALL-TIME.
[big top] {n.} The main tent under which a circus gives its show;
the circus and circus life. * /Lillian Leitzel was one of the great
stars of the big top./ * /The book tells of life under the big top./
[big wheel] {n.}, {informal} An influential or important person who
has the power to do things and has connections in high places. *
/Uncle Ferdinand is a big wheel in Washington; maybe he can help you
with your problem./
[big yawn] {n.} A very boring person, story or event. * /I love my
grandma very much, but the stories she tells sure are a yawn./
[bill] See: CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH, FILL THE BILL.
[bind] See: DUTY BOUND, IN A BIND, MUSCLE BOUND, ROOT-BOUND.
[bingo card] {n.}, {slang} A response card, bound into a
periodical, containing numbers keyed to editorial or advertising
matter, giving the reader the opportunity to send for further
information by marking the numbers of the items he is interested in;
such a card can be mailed free of charge. * /Jack thinks he is saving
time by filling out bingo cards instead of writing a letter./
[bird] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE
WORM, EAT LIKE A BIRD, FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS, FOR THE
BIRDS, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
[bird has flown] {slang} The prisoner has escaped; the captive has
got away. * /When the sheriff returned to the jail, he discovered that
the bird had flown./
[bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (a)] Something we have,
or can easily get, is more valuable than something we want that we may
not be able to get; we shouldn't risk losing something sure by trying
to get something that is not sure. - A proverb. * /Johnny has a job as
a paperboy, but he wants a job in a gas station. His father says that
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush./
[bird of a different feather] {n. phr.} A person who is free
thinking and independent. * /Syd won't go along with recent trends in
grammar; he created his own. He is a bird of a different feather./
[birds of a feather flock together] People who are alike often
become friends or are together; if you are often with certain people,
you may be their friends or like them. - A proverb. * /Don't be
friends with bad boys. People think that birds of a feather flock
together./
[birds and the bees (the)] {n. phr.}, {informal} The facts we
should know about our birth. * /At various ages, in response to
questions, a child can be told about the birds and the bees./
[bird watcher] {n.} A person whose hobby is to study birds close-up
in their outdoor home. * /A bird watcher looks for the first robin to
appear in the spring./
[birthday suit] {n.} The skin with no clothes on; complete
nakedness. * /The little boys were swimming in their birthday suits./
[bit] See: A BIT, CHAMP AT THE BIT, FOUR BITS, QUITE A LITTLE or
QUITE A BIT, SIX BITS, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH, TWO BITS.
[bitch] See: SON OF A BITCH.
[bite] See: BARK WORSE THAN ONE'S BITE, PUT THE BITE ON, ONCE
BITTEN, TWICE SHY at BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.
[bite off more than one can chew] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to
do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit off
more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He
started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off
more than he could chew./
[bite one's head off] {v. phr.} To answer someone in great anger;
answer furiously. * /I'm sorry to tell you that I lost my job, but
that's no reason to bite my head off!/
[bite one's lips] {v. phr.} To force oneself to remain silent and
not to reveal one's feelings. * /I had to bite my lips when I heard my
boss give the wrong orders./
[bite the dust] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be killed in battle. *
/Captain Jones discharged his gun and another guerrilla bit the dust./
2. To fall in defeat; go down before enemies; be overthrown; lose. *
/Our team bit the dust today./
[bite the hand that feeds one] {v. phr.} To turn against or hurt a
helper or supporter; repay kindness with wrong. * /He bit the hand
that fed him when he complained against his employer./
[bitter] See: TO THE BITTER END.
[bitter pill] {n.} Something hard to accept; disappointment. *
/Jack was not invited to the party and it was a bitter pill for him./
[black] See: BLACK AND WHITE, IN THE BLACK, LOOK BLACK, POT CALLS
THE KETTLE BLACK.
[black and blue] {adj.} Badly bruised. * /Poor Jim was black and
blue after he fell off the apple tree./
[black and white] {n. phr.} 1. Print or writing; words on paper,
not spoken; exact written or printed form. * /He insisted on having
the agreement down in black and white./ * /Mrs. Jones would not
believe the news, so Mr. Jones showed her the article in the newspaper
and said, "There it is in black and white."/ 2. The different shades
of black and white of a simple picture, rather than other colors. *
/He showed us snapshots in black and white./
[black-and-white] {adj.} Divided into only two sides that are
either right or wrong or good or bad, with nothing in between;
thinking or judging everything as either good or bad. * /Everything is
black-and-white to Bill; if you're not his friend, you are his enemy./
* /The old man's religion shows his black-and-white thinking;
everything is either completely good or completely bad./
[black day] {n.} A day of great unhappiness; a disaster. * /It was
a black day when our business venture collapsed./
[black eye] {n.} 1. A dark area around one's eye due to a hard blow
during a fight, such as boxing. * /Mike Tyson sported a black eye
after the big fight./ 2. Discredit. * /Bob's illegal actions will give
a black eye to the popular movement he started./
[blackout] {n.} 1. The darkening of a city curing an air raid by
pulling down all curtains and putting out all street lights. * /The
city of London went through numerous blackouts during World War II./
2. A cessation of news by the mass media. * /There was a total news
blackout about the kidnapping of the prime minister./
[black out] {v.} 1. To darken by putting out or dimming lights, *
/In some plays the stage is blacked out for a short time and the
actors speak in darkness./ * /In wartime, cities are blacked out to
protect against bombing from planes./ 2. To prevent or silence
information or communication; refuse to give out truthful news. * /In
wartime, governments often black out all news or give out false news./
* /Dictators usually black out all criticism of the government./ *
/Some big games are blacked out on television to people who live
nearby./ 3. {informal} To lose consciousness; faint. * /It had been a
hard and tiring day, and she suddenly blacked out./
[black sheep] {n.} A person in a family or a community considered
unsatisfactory or disgraceful. * /My brother Ted is a high school
dropout who joined a circus; he is the black sheep in our family./
[blame] See: TO BLAME.
[blank check] {n.} 1. A bank check written to a person who can then
write in how much money he wants. * /John's father sent him a blank
check to pay his school bills./ 2. {informal} Permission to another
person to do anything he decides to do. * /The teacher gave the pupils
a blank check to plan the picnic./
[blanket] See: WET BLANKET.
[blast off] {v.} 1. To begin a rocket flight. * /The astronaut will
blast off into orbit at six o'clock./ 2. Also [blast away] {informal}
To scold or protest violently. * /The coach blasted off at the team
for poor playing./
[blaze a trail] {v. phr.} 1. To cut marks in trees in order to
guide other people along a path or trail, especially through a
wilderness. * /Daniel Boone blazed a trail for other hunters to follow
in Kentucky./ 2. To lead the way; make a discovery; start something
new. * /Henry Ford blazed a trail in manufacturing automobiles./ *
/The building of rockets blazed a trail to outer space./ See:
TRAILBLAZER.
[bleep out] See: BLIP OUT.
[bless one's heart] {v. phr.} To thank someone; consider one the
cause of something good that has happened. * /Aunt Jane, bless her
heart, left me half a million dollars!/
[blessing] See: MIXED BLESSING.
[blind] See: FLY BLIND.
[blind alley] {n.} 1. A narrow street that has only one entrance
and no exit. * /The blind alley ended in a brick wall./ 2. A way of
acting that leads to no good results. * /John did not take the job
because it was a blind alley./ * /Tom thought of a way to do the
algebra problem, but he found it was a blind alley./
[blind as a bat/beetle/mole/owl] {adj. phr.} Anyone who is blind or
has difficulty in seeing; a person with very thick glasses. * /Without
my glasses I am blind as a bat./
[blind date] {n.} An engagement or date arranged by friends for
people who have not previously known one another. * /A blind date can
be a huge success, or a big disappointment./
[blind leading the blind] One or more people who do not know or
understand something trying to explain it to others who do not know or
understand. * /Jimmy is trying to show Bill how to skate. The blind
are leading the blind./
[blind spot] {n.} 1. A place on the road that a driver cannot see
in the rearview mirror. * /I couldn't see that truck behind me,
Officer, because it was in my blind spot./ 2. A matter or topic a
person refuses to discuss or accept. * /My uncle Ted has a real blind
spot about religion./
[blink] See: ON THE BLINK.
[blip out] or [bleep out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To delete
electronically a word on television or on radio either because it
mentions the name of an established firm in a commercial or because it
is a censored word not allowed for television audiences, resulting in
a sound resembling the word "bleep." * /What was the old product they
compared Spic-n-Span to? - I don't know; they've bleeped it out./
[blitz] See: SAFETY BLITZ.
[block] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, KNOCK ONE'S BLOCK OFF, ON THE
BLOCK.
[blockhead] {n.}, {informal} An unusually dense, or stupid person
whose head is therefore exaggeratedly compared to a solid block of
wood. * /Joe is such a blockhead that he flunked every course as a
freshman./
[blood] See: DRAW BLOOD, FLESH AND BLOOD, IN COLD BLOOD, IN ONE'S
BLOOD or INTO ONE'S BLOOD, MAKE ONE'S BLOOD BOIL or MAKE THE BLOOD
BOIL, NEW BLOOD, OUT OF ONE'S BLOOD, RUN IN THE BLOOD or RUN IN THE
FAMILY, SPORTING BLOOD, SWEAT BLOOD, WARM ONE'S BLOOD.
[blood and thunder] {n. phr.} The violence and bloodshed of stories
that present fast action rather than understanding of character. *
/Crime movies and westerns usually have lots of blood and thunder./ -
Often used like an adjective. * /John likes to watch blood-and-thunder
stories on television./
[blood freezes] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[blood is thicker than water] Persons of the same family are closer
to one another than to others; relatives are favored or chosen over
outsiders. * /Mr. Jones hires his relatives to work in his store.
Blood is thicker than water./
[blood runs cold] also [blood freezes] or [blood turns to ice] You
are chilled or shivering from great fright or horror; you are
terrified or horrified. - Usually used with a possessive. * /The
horror movie made the children's blood run cold./ * /Mary's blood
froze when she had to walk through the cemetery at night./ * /Oscar's
blood turned to ice when he saw the shadow pass by outside the
window./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON END, THE CREEPS.
[blood turns to ice] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD.
[bloody] See: SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.
[blot out] {v. phr.} 1. To obstruct; cover; obscure. * /The
high-rise building in front of our apartment house blots out the view
of the ocean./ 2. To wipe out of one's memory. * /Jane can't remember
the details when she was attacked in the streets; she blotted it out
of her memory./
[blow] See: AT A BLOW, BODY BLOW, COME TO BLOWS, IT'S AN ILL WIND
THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, WAY THE WIND BLOWS or HOW THE WIND BLOWS.