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bubble trouble./
[buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.
[bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.
[bucket of bolts] {n.}, {slang} A very old and shaky car that
barely goes. * /When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of
bolts?/
[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.
[buckle down] or [knuckle down] {v.} To give complete attention (to
an effort or job); attend. * /They chatted idly for a few moments then
each buckled down to work./ * /Jim was fooling instead of studying; so
his father told him to buckle down./
[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.
[buck up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful;
make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. * /After
the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in
a song./ * /Tom was disappointed that he didn't make the team; but he
soon bucked up./
[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.
[bug-eyed] {adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. * /He stood
there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./
[buggy-whip] {n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on
a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. * /He's
very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./
[bughouse(1)] {n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. * /They took Joe to
the bughouse./
[bughouse(2)] {adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. * /Joe's gone
bughouse./
[bug in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information
given to someone to make him act; idea. * /I saw Mary at the jeweler's
admiring the diamond pin; I'll put a bug in Henry's ear./
[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.
[build a fire under] {v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or
unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. * /The
health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him
to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./
[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] {v. phr.} To
make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that
are unlikely. * /He liked to build castles in the air, but never
succeeded in anything./ * /To build castles in Spain is natural for
young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their
wishes./
[build on sand] {v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient foundation
for a building, a business, or a relationship. * /"I don't want to
build my business on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give me that
loan I requested."/
[build up] {v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers;
construct from parts. * /Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of
snow./ * /Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or
fill up with buildings. * /The fields where Tom's father played as a
boy are all built up now./ * /A driver should slow down when he comes
to an area that is built up./ 3a. To increase slowly or by small
amounts; grow. * /John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ *
/The noise built up until Mary couldn't stand it any longer./ 3b. To
make stronger or better or more effective. * /Fred exercised to build
up his muscles./ * /Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./ 3c.
{informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. *
/The press agent built up the young actress./ * /The movie company
spent much money building up its new picture./
[build up to] {v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a
culmination point. * /The clouds were building up to a violent storm./
* /Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./
[bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL,
TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[bullet lane] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} The
passing lane. * /Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler
is moving too slow./
[bull in a china shop] {n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says
or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. *
/We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class
party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk
made the teacher say no./
[bull session] {n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something
by a group of persons. * /After the game the boys in the dormitory had
a bull session until the lights went out./
[bullshit] {n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some}
Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. * /"Joe, this
is a lot of bullshit!"/
[bullshit] {v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social
acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to
make yourself seem impressive. * /"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can't
believe a word of what you're saying."/
[bullshit artist] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in social
acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely
flattering speeches designed to impress others. * /Joe is a regular
bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of
everyone else./
[bum around] {v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no definite
direction, like a vagabond. * /Jim had been bumming around in the
desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he
got there in the first place./
[bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS.
[bump into] {v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting to; happen
to meet; come upon by accident. * /Mary was walking down the street,
when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ * /Ed was surprised to bump into
John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO.
[bump off] {v.}, {slang} To kill in a violent way; murder in
gangster fashion. * /Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with
Tommy guns./
[bum's rush] {n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing or pushing someone out
from where he is not wanted. * /When John tried to go to the party
where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum's rush./ *
/Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum's rush./ 2. To hurry or rush
(someone). * /The salesman tried to give me the bum's rush./
[bum steer] {n.} Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on
purpose. * /Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me to go
north on the highway; you should have sent me south!/
[bundle of laughs] {n. phr.} A very amusing person, thing, or
event. * /Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that he is a bundle of
laughs./
[bundle up] See: WRAP UP(1).
[burn] See: EARS BURN, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MONEY TO BURN.
[burn a hole in one's pocket] {v. phr.} To make you want to buy
something; be likely to be quickly spent. * /Money burns a hole in
Linda's pocket./ * /The silver dollar that Don got for his birthday
was burning a hole in his pocket, and Don hurried to a dime store./
[burn down] {v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by
fire. * /The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could
get to it./
[burn in effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY.
[burn one's bridges] also [burn one's boats] {v. phr.} To make a
decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you
can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave
yourself no way to escape a position. * /Bob was a good wrestler but a
poor boxer. He burned his boats by letting Mickey choose how they
would fight./ * /When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges
behind her./
[burn one's fingers] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing
something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant
experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and
didn't want to try again./ * /Some people can't be told; they have to
burn their fingers to learn./
[burn out] {v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. *
/Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car./ 2. To destroy someone's
house or business by fire so that they have to move out. * /Three
racists burned out the Black family's home./ 3a. To go out of order;
cease to function because of long use or overheating. * /The light
bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one./ * /The
electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out a fuse./ 3b. To
break, tire, or wear out by using up all the power, energy, or
strength of. * /Bill burned himself out in the first part of the race
and could not finish./ * /The farmer burned out his field by planting
the same crop every year for many years./
[burn-out] {n.} A point of physical or emotional exhaustion. *
/There are so many refugees all over the world that charitable
organizations as well as individuals are suffering from donor
burn-out./
[burn rubber] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To start up a car or a
motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark on the
road. * /The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber - look at
the marks on the road!/ 2. To leave in a hurry. * /I guess I am going
to have to burn rubber./
[burnt child dreads the fire] or [once bitten, twice shy] A person
who has suffered from doing something has learned to avoid doing it
again. - A proverb. * /Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her
downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary stays close
to her mother when they are downtown./
[burn the candle at both ends] {v. phr.} To work or play too hard
without enough rest; get too tired. * /He worked hard every day as a
lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the
candle at both ends./
[burn the midnight oil] {v. phr.} To study late at night. * /Exam
time was near, and more and more pupils were burning the midnight
oil./
[bum to a crisp] {v. phr.} To burn black; burn past saving or using
especially as food. * /While getting breakfast, Mother was called to
the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned to a
crisp./
[burn up] {v.} 1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by
fire. * /Mr. Scott was burning up old letters./ * /The house burned up
before the firemen got there./ 2. {informal} To irritate, anger,
annoy. * /The boy's laziness and rudeness burned up his teacher./ *
/The breakdown of his new car burned Mr. Jones up./
[burn up the road] {v. phr.}, {informal} To drive a car very fast.
* /In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up the road on
his way to see her./ * /Speed demons burning up the road often cause
accidents./
[burst at the seams] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be too full or too
crowded. * /John ate so much he was bursting at the seams./ * /Mary's
album was so full of pictures it was bursting at the seams./
[burst into] {v. phr.} 1. To enter suddenly. * /Stuart burst into
the room, screaming angrily./ 2. To break out. * /The crowd burst out
cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue./
[burst into flames] {v. phr.} To begin to burn suddenly. * /The
children threw away some burning matches and the barn burst into
flames./
[burst into tears] {v. phr.} To suddenly start crying. * /Mary
burst into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in a car
accident./
[burst with joy] or [pride] {v. phr.} To be so full of the feeling
of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing one's exuberant
feelings. * /Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when they stepped
out on the moon in July, 1969./
[bury one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[bury the hatchet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a quarrel or end
a war; make peace. * /The two men had been enemies a long time, but
after the flood they buried the hatchet./ Compare: MAKE UP(5).
[bus] See: MISS THE BOAT or MISS THE BUS.
[bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN
THE BUSH.
[bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.
[bushes] See: BEAT THE BUSHES.
[business] See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND-OFFICE
BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS.
[bust up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To terminate a partnership, a
relationship, a friendship, or a marriage. * /If Jack keeps drinking
the way he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue./
[busy work] {n.} Work that is done not to do or finish anything
important, but just to keep busy. * /When the teacher finished all she
had to say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she
gave the class a test for busy work./
[but for] See: EXCEPT FOR.
[but good] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Very much so; thoroughly
completely; forcefully. - Used for emphasis. * /Jack called Charles a
bad name, and Charles hit him, but good./ * /Tom fell and broke his
leg. That taught him but good not to fool around in high trees./
Compare: AND HOW.
[but not least] See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
[butter] See: BREAD AND BUTTER.
[butterflies in one's stomach] {n. phr.} A queer feeling in the
stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or
anxiety in the stomach. * /When Bob walked into the factory office to
ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach./
[butter up] {v.}, {informal} To try to get the favor or friendship
of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. * /He began to butter up
the boss in hope of being given a better job./ Compare: POLISH THE
APPLE.
[butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] {informal} You act very
polite and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to
people but are not sincere. * /The new secretary was rude to the other
workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn't melt in her
mouth./
[butt in] {v.}, {slang} To join in with what other people are doing
without asking or being asked; interfere in other people's business;
meddle. * /Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when
Barbara butted in./ Often used with "on". * /John butted in on Bill
and Tom's fight, and got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN.
[button] See: HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC
BUTTON.
[button down] {v.}, {slang} (stress on "down") To state precisely,
to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. * /First let's get the facts
buttoned down, then we can plan ahead./
[button-down] {attrib. adj.}, {slang} (stress on "button")
Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. * /Joe is a regular button-down
type./
[buttonhole] {v.} To approach a person in order to speak with him
or her in private. * /After waiting for several hours, Sam managed to
buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building./
[button one's lip] also [zip one's lip] {v. phr.}, {slang} To stop
talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be quiet. * /The man was
getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip./ *
/John wanted to talk, but Dan told him to keep his lip buttoned./
Syn.: KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, SHUT UP.
[buy for a song] {v. phr.} To buy something very cheaply. * /Since
the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it
for a song./
[buy off] {v.} To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. * /When the
police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them
off./ * /The Indians were going to burn the cabins, but the men bought
them off with gifts./ Compare: PAY OFF.
[buy out] {v.} 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase the
stock of. * /He bought out several small stockholders. 2. To buy all
the goods of; purchase the merchandise of./ * /Mr. Harper bought out a
nearby hardware store./ Contrast: SELL OUT.
[buy up] {v. phr.} To purchase the entire stock of something. *
/The company is trying to buy up all the available shares./
[buzz] See: GIVE A RING also GIVE A BUZZ.
[buzz word] {n.} A word that sounds big and important in a sentence
but, on closer inspection, means little except the speaker's
indication to belong to a certain group. * /The politician's speech
was nothing but a lot of misleading statements and phony promises
hidden in a bunch of buzz words./
[by] See: TOO --- BY HALF.
[by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR
[by] or [in my book] {adv. phr.} In my opinion; as far as I am
concerned; in my judgment. * /By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very
good department head./
[by all means] also [by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly,
without fail. * /He felt that he should by all means warn Jones./
Contrast: BY NO MEANS.
[by all odds] {adv. phr.} Without question; certainly. * /He was by
all odds the strongest candidate./ * /By all odds we should win the
game, because the other team is so weak./ Compare: FAR AND AWAY.
[by a long shot] {adv. phr.}, {informal} By a big difference; by
far. - Used to add emphasis. * /Bert was the best swimmer in the race,
by a long shot./ Often used with a negative. * /Tom isn't the kind who
would be fresh to a teacher, by a long shot./ * /Our team didn't win -
not by a long shot./ Compare: MISS BY A MILE.
[by a mile] See: MISS BY A MILE.
[by and by] {adv.} After a while; at some time in the future;
later. * /Roger said he would do his homework by and by./ * /The
mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do a man's work./
Syn.: AFTER A WHILE.
[by and large] {adv. phr.} As it most often happens; more often
than not; usually; mostly. * /There were bad days, but it was a
pleasant summer, by and large./ * /By and large, women can bear pain
better than men./ Syn.: FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE WHOLE(2).
[by any means] See: BY NO MEANS.
[by a thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.
[by chance] {adv. phr.} Without any cause or reason; by accident;
accidentally. * /Tom met Bill by chance./ * /The apple fell by chance
on Bobby's head./
[by choice] {adv. phr.} As a result of choosing because of wanting
to; freely. * /John helped his father by choice./ * /Mary ate a plum,
but not by choice. Her mother told her she must eat it./
[by dint of] {prep.} By the exertion of; by the use of; through. *
/By dint of sheer toughness and real courage, he lived through the
jungle difficulties and dangers./ * /His success in college was
largely by dint of hard study./
[bye] See: BY THE WAY also BY THE BYE.
[by ear] {adv. phr.} 1. By sound, without ever reading the printed
music of the piece being played. * /The church choir sang the hymns by
ear./ 2. Waiting to see what will happen. * /I don't want to plan now;
let's just play it by ear./
[by far] {adv. phr.} By a large difference; much. * /His work was
better by far than that of any other printer in the city./ * /The old
road is prettier, but it is by far the longer way./ Compare: FAR AND
AWAY.
[by fits and starts] or [jerks] {adv. phr.} With many stops and
starts, a little now and a little more later; not all the time;
irregularly. * /He had worked on the invention by fits and starts for
several years./ * /You will never get anywhere if you study just by
fits and starts./ Compare: FROM TIME TO TIME, OFF AND ON.
[bygone] See: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES.
[by heart] {adv. phr.} By exact memorizing; so well that you
remember it; by memory. * /The pupils learned many poems by heart./ *
/He knew the records of the major league teams by heart./
[by hook or by crook] {adv. phr.} By honest ways or dishonest in
any way necessary. * /The wolf tried to get the little pigs by hook or
by crook./ * /The team was determined to win that last game by hook or
by crook, and three players were put out of the game for fouling./
[by inches] {adv. phr.} By small or slow degrees; little by little;
gradually. * /The river was rising by inches./ * /They got a heavy
wooden beam under the barn for a lever, and managed to move it by
inches./ * /He was dying by inches./
[by leaps and bounds] {adv. phr.} With long steps; very rapidly. *
/Production in the factory was increasing by leaps and bounds./ * /The
school enrollment was going up by leaps and bounds./
[by means of] {prep.} By the use of; with the help of. * /The
fisherman saved himself by means of a floating log./ * /By means of
monthly payments, people can buy more than in the past./
[by mistake] {adv. phr.} As the result of a mistake; through error.
* /He picked up the wrong hat by mistake./
[by no means] or [not by any means] also [by no manner of means] or
[not by any manner of means] {adv. phr.} Not even a little; certainly
not. * /He is by no means bright./ * /"May I stay home from school?"
"By no means."/ * /Dick worked on his project Saturday, but he is not
finished yet, by any means./ Contrast: BY ALL MEANS.
[B.Y.O.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own. Said of a kind
of party where the host or hostess does not provide the drinks or food
but people ring their own.
[B.Y.O.B.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own Bottle.
Frequently written on invitations for the kind of party where people
bring their own liquor.
[by oneself] {adv. phr.} 1. Without any others around; separate
from others; alone. * /The house stood by itself on a hill./ * /Tom
liked to go walking by himself./ * /Betty felt very sad and lonely by
herself./ 2. Without the help of anyone else; by your own work only. *
/John built a flying model airplane by himself./ * /Lois cleaned the
house all by herself./
[by one's own bootstraps] See: PULL ONE SELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.
[by storm] See: TAKE BY STORM.
[by surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[by the board] See: GO BY THE BOARD also PASS BY THE BOARD.
[by the bootstraps] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.
[by the bye] See: BY THE WAY.
[by the dozen] or [by the hundred] or [by the thousand] {adv. phr.}
Very many at one time; in great numbers. * /Tommy ate cookies by the
down./ Often used in the plural, meaning even larger numbers. * /The
ants arrived at the picnic by the hundreds./ * /The enemy attacked the
fort by the thousands./
[by the horns] See: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[by the hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN.
[by the nose] See: LEAD BY THE NOSE.
[by the piece] {adv. phr.} Counted one piece at a time, separately
for each single piece. * /John bought boxes full of bags of potato
chips and sold them by the piece./ * /Mary made potholders and got
paid by the piece./
[by the seat of one's pants] See: FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS.
[by the skin of one's teeth] {adv. phr.} By a narrow margin; with
no room to spare; barely. * /The drowning man struggled, and I got him
to land by the skin of my teeth./ * /She passed English by the skin of
her teeth./ Compare: SQUEAK THROUGH, WITHIN AN ACE OF or WITHIN AN
INCH OF.
[by the sweat of one's brow] {adv. phr.} By hard work; by tiring
effort; laboriously. * /Even with modern labor-saving machinery, the
farmer makes his living by the sweat of his brow./
[by the thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN.
[by the way] also [by the bye] {adv. phr.} Just as some added fact
or news; as something else that I think of. - Used to introduce
something related to the general subject, or brought to mind by it. *
/We shall expect you; by the way, dinner will be at eight./ * /I was
reading when the earthquake occurred, and, by the way, it was The Last
Days of Pompeii that I was reading./
[by the wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
[by turns] {adv. phr.} First one and then another in a regular way;
one substituting for or following another according to a repeated
plan. * /On the drive to Chicago, the three men took the wheel by
turns./ * /The teachers were on duty by turns./ * /When John had a
fever, he felt cold and hot by turns./ Syn.: IN TURN. Compare: TAKE
TURNS.
[by virtue of] also [in virtue of] {prep.} On the strength of;
because of; by reason of. * /By virtue of his high rank and position,
the President takes social leadership over almost everyone else./ *
/Plastic bags are useful for holding many kinds of food, by virtue of
their clearness, toughness, and low cost./ Compare: BY DINT OF.
[by way of] {prep.} 1. For the sake or purpose of; as. * /By way of
example, he described his own experience./ 2. Through; by a route
including; via. * /He went from New York to San Francisco by way of
Chicago./
[by word of mouth] {adv. phr.} From person to person by the spoken
word; orally. * /The news got around by word of mouth./ * /The message
reached him quietly by word of mouth./
[cahoots] See: IN LEAGUE WITH or IN CAHOOTS WITH.
[Cain] See: RAISE CAIN.
[cake] See: EAT-ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO, PAT-A-CAKE, TAKE THE
CAKE.
[calculated risk] {n.} An action that may fail but is judged more
likely to succeed. * /The sending of troops to the rebellious island
was a calculated risk./
[calf love] See: PUPPY LOVE.
[call] See: AT CALL, AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL, CLOSE CALL, ON CALL,
PORT OF CALL, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK, WITHIN CALL.
[call a halt] {v. phr.} To give a command to stop. * /The scouts
were tired during the hike, and the scoutmaster called a halt./ *
/When the children's play, got too noisy, their mother called a halt./
[call a spade a spade] {v. phr.} To call a person or thing a name
that is true but not polite; speak bluntly; use the plainest language.
* /A boy took some money from Dick's desk and said he borrowed it, but
I told him he stole it; I believe in calling a spade a spade./
[call down] also [dress down] {v.}, {informal} To scold. * /Jim was
called down by his teacher for being late to class./ * /Mother called
Bob down for walking into the kitchen with muddy boots./ Compare: CALL
ON THE CARPET, CHEW OUT, BAWL OUT, READ THE RIOT ACT.
[call for] {v.} 1. To come or go to get (someone or something). *
/John called for Mary to take her to the dance./ Syn.: PICK UP. 2. To
need; require. * /The cake recipe calls for two cups of flour./ *
/Success in school calls for much hard study./
[call girl] {n.}, {slang} A prostitute catering to wealthy
clientele, especially one who is contacted by telephone for an
appointment. * /Rush Street is full of call girls./
[calling down] also [dressing down] {n. phr.}, {informal} A
scolding; reprimand. * /The judge gave the boy a calling down for
speeding./
[call in question] or [call into question] or [call in doubt] {v.
phr.} To say (something) may be a mistake; express doubt about;
question. * /Bill called in question Ed's remark that basketball is
safer than football./
[call it a day] {v. phr.} To declare that a given day's work has
been accomplished and go home; to quit for the day. * /"Let's call it
a day," the boss said, "and go out for a drink."/ * /It was nearly
midnight, so Mrs. Byron decided to call it a day, and left the party,
and went home./ * /The four golfers played nine holes and then called
it a day./ Compare: CLOSE UP SHOP.
[call it a night] {v. phr.} To declare that an evening party or
other activity conducted late in the day is finished. * /I am so tired
that I am going to call it a night and go to bed./
[call it quits] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To decide to stop what you
are doing; quit. * /When Tom had painted half the garage, he called it
quits./ 2. To agree that each side in a fight is satisfied; stop
fighting because a wrong has been paid back; say things are even. *
/Pete called Tom a bad name, and they fought till Tom gave Pete a
bloody nose; then they called it quits./ 3. To cultivate a habit no
longer. * /"Yes, I called it quits with cigarettes three years ago."/
[call names] {v. phr.} To use ugly or unkind words when speaking to
someone or when talking about someone. - Usually used by or to
children. * /Bill got so mad he started calling Frank names./
[call off] {v.} To stop (something planned); quit; cancel. * /When
the ice became soft and sloppy, we had to call off the ice-skating
party./ * /The baseball game was called off because of rain./
[call on] or [call upon] {v.} 1. To make a call upon; visit. * /Mr.
Brown called on an old friend while he was in the city./ 2. To ask for
help. * /He called on a friend to give him money for the busfare to
his home./
[call one's bluff] {v. phr.}, {informal} To ask someone to prove
what he says he can or will do. (Originally from the card game of
poker.) * /Tom said he could jump twenty feet and so Dick called his
bluff and said "Let's see you do it!"/
[call one's shot] {v. phr.} 1. To tell before firing where a bullet
will hit. * /An expert rifleman can call his shot regularly./ * /The
wind was strong and John couldn't call his shots./ 2. or [call the
turn] To tell in advance the result of something before you do it. *
/Mary won three games in a row, just as she said she would. She called
her turns well./ * /Nothing ever happens as Tom says it will. He is
very poor at calling his turns./
[call on the carpet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To call (a person)
before an authority (as a boss or teacher) for a scolding or
reprimand. * /The worker was called on the carpet by the boss for
sleeping on the job./ * /The principal called Tom on the carpet and
warned him to stop coming to school late./
[call the roll] {v. phr.} To read out the names on a certain list,
usually in alphabetical order. * /The sergeant called the roll of the
newly enlisted volunteers in the army./
[call the shots] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give orders; be in
charge; direct; control. * /Bob is a first-rate leader who knows how
to call the shots./ * /The quarterback called the shots well, and the
team gained twenty yards in five plays./ Syn.: CALL THE TUNE.
[call the tune] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be in control; give orders
or directions; command. * /Bill was president of the club but Jim was
secretary and called the tune./ * /The people supported the mayor, so
he could call the tune in city matters./ Syn.: CALL THE SHOTS.
[call the turn] See: CALL ONE'S SHOT(2).
[call to account] {v. phr.} 1. To ask (someone) to explain why he
did something wrong (as breaking a rule). * /The principal called Jim
to account after Jim left school early without permission./ 2. To
scold (as for wrong conduct); reprimand. * /The father called his son
to account for disobeying him./
[call to arms] {v. phr.} To summon into the army. * /During World
War II millions of Americans were called to arms to fight for their
country./
[call to mind] {v. phr.} To remember; cause to remember. * /Your
story calls to mind a similar event that happened to us a few years
back./
[call to order] {v. phr.} 1. To open (a meeting) formally. * /The
chairman called the committee to order./ * /The president pounded with
his gavel to call the convention to order./ 2. To warn not to break
the rules of a meeting. * /The judge called the people in the court
room to order when they talked too loud./
[call out] {v. phr.} 1. To shout; speak loudly. * /My name was
called out several times, but I was unable to hear it./ 2. To summon
someone. * /If the rioting continues, the governor will have to call
out the National Guard./
[call up] {v.} 1. To make someone think of; bring to mind; remind.
* /The picture of the Capitol called up memories of our class trip./
2. To tell to come (as before a court). * /The district attorney
called up three witnesses./ 3. To bring together for a purpose; bring
into action. * /Jim called up all his strength, pushed past the
players blocking him, and ran for a touchdown./ * /The army called up
its reserves when war seemed near./ 4. To call on the telephone. *
/She called up a friend just for a chat./
[call upon] See: CALL ON.
[calm down] {v. phr.} To become quiet; relax. * /"Calm down, Mr.
Smith," the doctor said with a reassuring smile. "You are going to
live a long time."/
[camel] See: STRAW THAT
BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK at LAST STRAW.
[camp] See: BREAK CAMP.
[campaign] See: WHISPERING CAMPAIGN.
[camp follower] {n.} 1. A man or woman who goes with an army, not
to fight but to sell something. * /Nowadays camp followers are not
allowed as they were long ago./ 2. A person who goes with a famous or
powerful person or group in hope of profit. * /A man who runs for
president has many camp followers./
[camp out] {v.} To live, cook, and sleep out of doors (as in a
tent). * /We camped out near the river for a week./
[can] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, CATCH AS CATCH CAN.
[canary] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY or LOOK LIKE
THE CAT THAT SWALLOWED THE CANARY.
[cancel out] {v.} To destroy the effect of; balance or make
useless. * /The boy got an "A" in history to cancel out the "C" he got
in arithmetic./ * /Our track team won the mile relay to cancel out the
other team's advantage in winning the half-mile relay./ * /Tom's hot
temper cancels out his skill as a player./
[cancer stick] {n.}, {slang} A cigarette. * /Throw away that cancer
stick! Smoking is bad for you!/
[candle] BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS, GAME IS NOT WORTH THE
CANDLE, HOLD A CANDLE.
[canned heat] {n.} Chemicals in a can which burn with a hot,
smokeless flame. * /Some people use canned heat to keep food warm./ *
/The mountain climbers used canned heat for cooking./
[canned laughter] {n.}, {informal} The sounds of laughter heard on
certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in front
of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from
a stereo track to underscore the funny points. * /"How can there be an
audience in this show when it is taking place in the jungle? - Why,
it's canned laughter you're hearing."/
[canned music] {n.} Recorded music, as opposed to music played
live. * /"Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am tired
of all this canned music we've been listening to."/
[canoe] See: PADDLE ONE'S OWN CANOE.
[can of worms] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A complex problem, or
complicated situation. * /Let's not get into big city politics -
that's a different can of worms./ 2. A very restless, jittery person.
* /Joe can't sit still for a minute - he is a can of worms./
[can't help but] {informal} also {formal} [cannot but] {v. phr.} To
be forced to; can only; must. * /When the streets are full of melting
snow, you can't help but get your shoes wet./ * /When a friend gave
Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn't help but go./ * /When a close
friend dies, you cannot but feel sad./ Compare: CAN HELP, HAVE TO.
[can't make an omelette without breaking (some) eggs] To achieve a
certain goal one must sometimes incur damage, experience difficulties,
or make sacrifices. - A proverb. * /When we drove across the country,
we put a lot of mileage on our car and had a flat tire, but it was a
pleasant trip. "Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking some
eggs," my wife said with a smile./
[can't see the wood for the trees] or [can't see the woods for the
trees] or [can't see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unable
to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts;
criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future
achievement. * /Teachers sometimes notice language errors and do not
see the good ideas in a composition; they cannot see the woods for the
trees./ * /The voters defeated a bond issue for the new school because
they couldn't see the forest for the trees; they thought of their
taxes rather than of their children's education./ * /We should think
of children's growth in character and understanding more than of their
little faults and misdeeds; some of us can't see the wood for the
trees./
[cap] See: FEATHER IN ONE'S CAP, SET ONE'S CAP FOR, PUT ON ONE'S
THINKING CAP.
[cap the climax] {v. phr.} To exceed what is already a high point
of achievement. * /Sam's piano recital was great, but Bill's
performance capped the climax./
[card] See: CREDIT CARD, FLASH CARD, HOUSE OF CARDS, IN THE CARDS
or ON THE CARDS, LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, PLAY ONE'S CARDS RIGHT,
PUT ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, STACK THE CARDS, TRUMP CARD.
[cards stacked against one] See: STACK THE CARDS.
[card up one's sleeve] {n. phr.}, {informal} Another help, plan, or
argument kept back and produced if needed; another way to do
something. * /John knew his mother would lend him money if necessary,
but he kept that card up his sleeve./ * /Bill always has a card up his
sleeve, so when his first plan failed he tried another./ Compare: ACE
IN THE HOLE(2).
[care] See: COULDN'T CARE LESS, HAVE A CARE, GIVE A HANG or CARE A
HANG, TAKE CARE.
[carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET, MAGIC CARPET, ROLL OUT THE RED
CARPET.
[car pool] {n.} A group of people who own cars and take turns
driving each other to work or on some other regular trip. * /It was
John's father's week to drive his own car in the car pool./
[carriage trade] {n.}, {literary} Rich or upper class people. *
/The hotel is so expensive that only the carriage trade stays there./
* /The carriage trade buys its clothes at the best stores./
[carrot and stick] {n. phr.} The promise of reward and threat of
punishment, both at the same time. * /John's father used the carrot
and stick when he talked about his low grades./
[carry] See: CASH-AND-CARRY.
[carry a torch] or [carry the torch] {v. phr.} 1. To show great and
unchanging loyalty to a cause or a person. * /Although the others gave
up fighting for their rights, John continued to carry the torch./ 2.
{informal} To be in love, usually without success or return. * /He is
carrying a torch for Anna, even though she is in love with someone
else./
[carry a tune] {v. phr.} To sing the right notes without catching
any false ones. * /Al is a wonderful fellow, but he sure can't carry a
tune and his singing is a pain to listen to./
[carry away] {v.} To cause very strong feeling; excite or delight
to the loss of cool judgment. * /The music carried her away./ * /He
let his anger carry him away./ - Often used in the passive, * /She was
carried away by the man's charm./ * /He was carried away by the sight
of the flag./
[carry coals to Newcastle] {v. phr.} To do something unnecessary;
bring or furnish something of which there is plenty. * /The man who
waters his grass after a good rain is carrying coals to Newcastle./ *
/Joe was carrying coals to Newcastle when he told the doctor how to
cure a cold./ (Newcastle is an English city near many coal mines, and
coal is sent out from there to other places.)
[carrying charge] {n.} An extra cost added to the price of
something bought on weekly or monthly payments. * /The price of the
bicycle was $50. Jim bought it for $5.00 a month for ten months plus a
carrying charge of $1 a month./
[carry on] {v.} 1. To cause death of; kill. * /Years ago smallpox
carried off hundreds of Indians of the Sioux tribe./ Compare: WIPE
OUT. 2. To succeed in winning. * /Bob carried off honors in science./
* /Jim carried off two gold medals in the track meet./ 3. To succeed
somewhat unexpectedly in. * /The spy planned to deceive the enemy
soldiers and carried it off very well./ * /In the class play, Lloyd
carried off his part surprisingly well./
[carry --- off one's feet] See: KNOCK OFF ONE'S FEET, SWEEP OFF
ONE'S FEET.
[carry off the palm] or [bear off the palm] {v. phr.}, {literary}
To gain the victory; win. * /John carried off the palm in the tennis
championship match./ * /Our army bore off the palm in the battle./
(From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in a
game as a sign of victory.)
[carry on] {v.} 1. To work at; be busy with; manage. * /Bill and
his father carried on a hardware business./ * /Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith
carried on a long correspondence with each other./ 2. To keep doing as
before; continue. * /After his father died, Bill carried on with the
business./ * /The colonel told the soldiers to carry on while he was
gone./ * /Though tired and hungry, the Scouts carried on until they
reached camp./ Compare: BEAR UP(2), GO ON. 3a. {informal} To behave in
a noisy, foolish, and troublesome manner. * /The boys carried on in
the swimming pool until the lifeguard ordered them out./ 3b.
{informal} To make too great a show of feeling, such as anger, grief,
and pain. * /John carried on for ten minutes after he hit his thumb
with the hammer./ Compare: TAKE ON(4). 4. {informal} To act in an
immoral or scandalous way; act disgracefully. * /The townspeople said
that he was carrying on with a neighbor girl./
[carry one's cross] or {literary} [bear one's cross] {v. phr.} To
live with pain or trouble; keep on even though you suffer or have
trouble. * /Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the other boys
play basketball./ * /We didn't know the cheerful woman was bearing her
cross, a son in prison./
[carry out] {v.} To put into action; follow; execute. * /The
generals were determined to carry out their plans to defeat the
enemy./ * /John listened carefully and carried out the teacher's
instructions./
[carry over] {v.} 1. To save for another time. * /The store had
some bathing suits it had carried over from last year./ * /What you
learn in school should carry over into adult life./ 2. To transfer (as
a figure) from one column, page, or book to another. * /When he added
up the figures, he carried over the total into the next year's account
book./ 3. To continue in another place. * /The story was carried over
to the next page./
[carry the ball] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take the most important
or difficult part in an action or business. * /None of the other boys
would tell the principal about their breaking the window, and John had
to carry the ball./ * /When the going is rough, Fred can always be
depended on to carry the ball./
[carry the banner] {v. phr.} To support a cause or an ideal with
obvious advocacy. * /Our college is carrying the banner for saving the
humpback whale, which is on the list of endangered species./
[carry the day] {v. phr.}, {informal} To win completely; to succeed
in getting one's aim accomplished. * /The defense attorney's summary
before the jury helped him carry the day./
[carry the torch] See: CARRY A TORCH.
[carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders] See: WEIGHT OF
THE WORLD ON ONE'S SHOULDERS.
[carry through] {v.} 1a. To put into action. * /Mr. Green was not
able to carry through his plans for a hike because he broke his leg./
1b. To do something you have planned; put a plan into action. * /Jean
makes good plans but she cannot carry through with any of them./
Compare: GO THROUGH WITH, CARRY OUT. 2. To keep (someone) from failing
or stopping; bring through; help. * /When the tire blew out, the rules
Jim had learned in driving class carried him through safely./
[carry weight] {n.} To be influential; have significance and/or
clout; impress. * /A letter of recommendation from a full professor
carries more weight than a letter from an assistant professor./
[cart before the horse (to put)] {n. phr.}, {informal} Things in
wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. - An overused
expression. Usually used with "put" but sometimes with "get" or
"have". * /When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn't
delivered, I told him he was putting the cart before the horse./ * /To
get married first and then get a job is getting the cart before the
horse./
[cart off] or [cart away] {v.}, {informal} To take away, often with
force or with rough handling or behavior. * /The police carted the
rioters off to jail./ * /When Bobby wouldn't eat his supper, his
mother carted him away to bed./
[carved] or [chiseled] or [inscribed in granite] / [written in
stone] {adj. phr.} Holy; unchangeable; noble and of ancient origin. *
/You should wear shoes when you come to class, although this is not
carved in granite./ * /The Constitution of the United States is so
hard to change that one thinks of it as written in stone./
[case] See: BASKET CASE, CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES, COUCH CASE, GET
DOWN TO BRASS TACKS also GET DOWN TO CASES, IN ANY CASE, IN CASE or IN
THE EVENT, IN CASE OF also IN THE EVENT OF, VANITY CASE.
[case in point] {n. phr.} An example that proves something or helps
to make something clearer. * /An American can rise from the humblest
beginnings to become President. Abraham Lincoln is a case in point./
[case the joint] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To study the layout of a
place one wishes to burglarize. * /The hooded criminals carefully
cased the joint before robbing the neighborhood bank./ 2. To
familiarize oneself with a potential workplace or vacation spot as a
matter of preliminary planning. * /"Hello Fred," he said. "Are you
working here now?" "No, not yet," Fred answered. "I am merely casing
the joint."/
[cash] See: COLD CASH.
[cash-and-carry(1)] {adj.} Selling things for cash money only and
letting the customer carry them home, not having the store deliver
them; also sold in this way. * /This is a cash-and-carry store only./
* /You can save money at a cash-and-carry sale./
[buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.
[bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.
[bucket of bolts] {n.}, {slang} A very old and shaky car that
barely goes. * /When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of
bolts?/
[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.
[buckle down] or [knuckle down] {v.} To give complete attention (to
an effort or job); attend. * /They chatted idly for a few moments then
each buckled down to work./ * /Jim was fooling instead of studying; so
his father told him to buckle down./
[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.
[buck up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful;
make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. * /After
the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in
a song./ * /Tom was disappointed that he didn't make the team; but he
soon bucked up./
[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.
[bug-eyed] {adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. * /He stood
there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./
[buggy-whip] {n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on
a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. * /He's
very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./
[bughouse(1)] {n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. * /They took Joe to
the bughouse./
[bughouse(2)] {adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. * /Joe's gone
bughouse./
[bug in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information
given to someone to make him act; idea. * /I saw Mary at the jeweler's
admiring the diamond pin; I'll put a bug in Henry's ear./
[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.
[build a fire under] {v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or
unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. * /The
health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him
to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./
[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] {v. phr.} To
make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that
are unlikely. * /He liked to build castles in the air, but never
succeeded in anything./ * /To build castles in Spain is natural for
young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their
wishes./
[build on sand] {v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient foundation
for a building, a business, or a relationship. * /"I don't want to
build my business on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give me that
loan I requested."/
[build up] {v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers;
construct from parts. * /Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of
snow./ * /Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or
fill up with buildings. * /The fields where Tom's father played as a
boy are all built up now./ * /A driver should slow down when he comes
to an area that is built up./ 3a. To increase slowly or by small
amounts; grow. * /John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ *
/The noise built up until Mary couldn't stand it any longer./ 3b. To
make stronger or better or more effective. * /Fred exercised to build
up his muscles./ * /Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./ 3c.
{informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. *
/The press agent built up the young actress./ * /The movie company
spent much money building up its new picture./
[build up to] {v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a
culmination point. * /The clouds were building up to a violent storm./
* /Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./
[bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL,
TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[bullet lane] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} The
passing lane. * /Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler
is moving too slow./
[bull in a china shop] {n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says
or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. *
/We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class
party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk
made the teacher say no./
[bull session] {n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something
by a group of persons. * /After the game the boys in the dormitory had
a bull session until the lights went out./
[bullshit] {n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some}
Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. * /"Joe, this
is a lot of bullshit!"/
[bullshit] {v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social
acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to
make yourself seem impressive. * /"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can't
believe a word of what you're saying."/
[bullshit artist] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in social
acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely
flattering speeches designed to impress others. * /Joe is a regular
bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of
everyone else./
[bum around] {v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no definite
direction, like a vagabond. * /Jim had been bumming around in the
desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he
got there in the first place./
[bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS.
[bump into] {v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting to; happen
to meet; come upon by accident. * /Mary was walking down the street,
when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ * /Ed was surprised to bump into
John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO.
[bump off] {v.}, {slang} To kill in a violent way; murder in
gangster fashion. * /Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with
Tommy guns./
[bum's rush] {n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing or pushing someone out
from where he is not wanted. * /When John tried to go to the party
where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum's rush./ *
/Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum's rush./ 2. To hurry or rush
(someone). * /The salesman tried to give me the bum's rush./
[bum steer] {n.} Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on
purpose. * /Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me to go
north on the highway; you should have sent me south!/
[bundle of laughs] {n. phr.} A very amusing person, thing, or
event. * /Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that he is a bundle of
laughs./
[bundle up] See: WRAP UP(1).
[burn] See: EARS BURN, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MONEY TO BURN.
[burn a hole in one's pocket] {v. phr.} To make you want to buy
something; be likely to be quickly spent. * /Money burns a hole in
Linda's pocket./ * /The silver dollar that Don got for his birthday
was burning a hole in his pocket, and Don hurried to a dime store./
[burn down] {v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by
fire. * /The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could
get to it./
[burn in effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY.
[burn one's bridges] also [burn one's boats] {v. phr.} To make a
decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you
can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave
yourself no way to escape a position. * /Bob was a good wrestler but a
poor boxer. He burned his boats by letting Mickey choose how they
would fight./ * /When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges
behind her./
[burn one's fingers] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing
something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant
experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and
didn't want to try again./ * /Some people can't be told; they have to
burn their fingers to learn./
[burn out] {v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. *
/Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car./ 2. To destroy someone's
house or business by fire so that they have to move out. * /Three
racists burned out the Black family's home./ 3a. To go out of order;
cease to function because of long use or overheating. * /The light
bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one./ * /The
electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out a fuse./ 3b. To
break, tire, or wear out by using up all the power, energy, or
strength of. * /Bill burned himself out in the first part of the race
and could not finish./ * /The farmer burned out his field by planting
the same crop every year for many years./
[burn-out] {n.} A point of physical or emotional exhaustion. *
/There are so many refugees all over the world that charitable
organizations as well as individuals are suffering from donor
burn-out./
[burn rubber] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To start up a car or a
motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark on the
road. * /The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber - look at
the marks on the road!/ 2. To leave in a hurry. * /I guess I am going
to have to burn rubber./
[burnt child dreads the fire] or [once bitten, twice shy] A person
who has suffered from doing something has learned to avoid doing it
again. - A proverb. * /Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her
downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary stays close
to her mother when they are downtown./
[burn the candle at both ends] {v. phr.} To work or play too hard
without enough rest; get too tired. * /He worked hard every day as a
lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the
candle at both ends./
[burn the midnight oil] {v. phr.} To study late at night. * /Exam
time was near, and more and more pupils were burning the midnight
oil./
[bum to a crisp] {v. phr.} To burn black; burn past saving or using
especially as food. * /While getting breakfast, Mother was called to
the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned to a
crisp./
[burn up] {v.} 1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by
fire. * /Mr. Scott was burning up old letters./ * /The house burned up
before the firemen got there./ 2. {informal} To irritate, anger,
annoy. * /The boy's laziness and rudeness burned up his teacher./ *
/The breakdown of his new car burned Mr. Jones up./
[burn up the road] {v. phr.}, {informal} To drive a car very fast.
* /In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up the road on
his way to see her./ * /Speed demons burning up the road often cause
accidents./
[burst at the seams] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be too full or too
crowded. * /John ate so much he was bursting at the seams./ * /Mary's
album was so full of pictures it was bursting at the seams./
[burst into] {v. phr.} 1. To enter suddenly. * /Stuart burst into
the room, screaming angrily./ 2. To break out. * /The crowd burst out
cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue./
[burst into flames] {v. phr.} To begin to burn suddenly. * /The
children threw away some burning matches and the barn burst into
flames./
[burst into tears] {v. phr.} To suddenly start crying. * /Mary
burst into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in a car
accident./
[burst with joy] or [pride] {v. phr.} To be so full of the feeling
of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing one's exuberant
feelings. * /Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when they stepped
out on the moon in July, 1969./
[bury one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[bury the hatchet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a quarrel or end
a war; make peace. * /The two men had been enemies a long time, but
after the flood they buried the hatchet./ Compare: MAKE UP(5).
[bus] See: MISS THE BOAT or MISS THE BUS.
[bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN
THE BUSH.
[bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.
[bushes] See: BEAT THE BUSHES.
[business] See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND-OFFICE
BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS.
[bust up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To terminate a partnership, a
relationship, a friendship, or a marriage. * /If Jack keeps drinking
the way he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue./
[busy work] {n.} Work that is done not to do or finish anything
important, but just to keep busy. * /When the teacher finished all she
had to say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she
gave the class a test for busy work./
[but for] See: EXCEPT FOR.
[but good] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Very much so; thoroughly
completely; forcefully. - Used for emphasis. * /Jack called Charles a
bad name, and Charles hit him, but good./ * /Tom fell and broke his
leg. That taught him but good not to fool around in high trees./
Compare: AND HOW.
[but not least] See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
[butter] See: BREAD AND BUTTER.
[butterflies in one's stomach] {n. phr.} A queer feeling in the
stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or
anxiety in the stomach. * /When Bob walked into the factory office to
ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach./
[butter up] {v.}, {informal} To try to get the favor or friendship
of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. * /He began to butter up
the boss in hope of being given a better job./ Compare: POLISH THE
APPLE.
[butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] {informal} You act very
polite and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to
people but are not sincere. * /The new secretary was rude to the other
workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn't melt in her
mouth./
[butt in] {v.}, {slang} To join in with what other people are doing
without asking or being asked; interfere in other people's business;
meddle. * /Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when
Barbara butted in./ Often used with "on". * /John butted in on Bill
and Tom's fight, and got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN.
[button] See: HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC
BUTTON.
[button down] {v.}, {slang} (stress on "down") To state precisely,
to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. * /First let's get the facts
buttoned down, then we can plan ahead./
[button-down] {attrib. adj.}, {slang} (stress on "button")
Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. * /Joe is a regular button-down
type./
[buttonhole] {v.} To approach a person in order to speak with him
or her in private. * /After waiting for several hours, Sam managed to
buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building./
[button one's lip] also [zip one's lip] {v. phr.}, {slang} To stop
talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be quiet. * /The man was
getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip./ *
/John wanted to talk, but Dan told him to keep his lip buttoned./
Syn.: KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, SHUT UP.
[buy for a song] {v. phr.} To buy something very cheaply. * /Since
the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it
for a song./
[buy off] {v.} To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. * /When the
police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them
off./ * /The Indians were going to burn the cabins, but the men bought
them off with gifts./ Compare: PAY OFF.
[buy out] {v.} 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase the
stock of. * /He bought out several small stockholders. 2. To buy all
the goods of; purchase the merchandise of./ * /Mr. Harper bought out a
nearby hardware store./ Contrast: SELL OUT.
[buy up] {v. phr.} To purchase the entire stock of something. *
/The company is trying to buy up all the available shares./
[buzz] See: GIVE A RING also GIVE A BUZZ.
[buzz word] {n.} A word that sounds big and important in a sentence
but, on closer inspection, means little except the speaker's
indication to belong to a certain group. * /The politician's speech
was nothing but a lot of misleading statements and phony promises
hidden in a bunch of buzz words./
[by] See: TOO --- BY HALF.
[by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR
[by] or [in my book] {adv. phr.} In my opinion; as far as I am
concerned; in my judgment. * /By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very
good department head./
[by all means] also [by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly,
without fail. * /He felt that he should by all means warn Jones./
Contrast: BY NO MEANS.
[by all odds] {adv. phr.} Without question; certainly. * /He was by
all odds the strongest candidate./ * /By all odds we should win the
game, because the other team is so weak./ Compare: FAR AND AWAY.
[by a long shot] {adv. phr.}, {informal} By a big difference; by
far. - Used to add emphasis. * /Bert was the best swimmer in the race,
by a long shot./ Often used with a negative. * /Tom isn't the kind who
would be fresh to a teacher, by a long shot./ * /Our team didn't win -
not by a long shot./ Compare: MISS BY A MILE.
[by a mile] See: MISS BY A MILE.
[by and by] {adv.} After a while; at some time in the future;
later. * /Roger said he would do his homework by and by./ * /The
mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do a man's work./
Syn.: AFTER A WHILE.
[by and large] {adv. phr.} As it most often happens; more often
than not; usually; mostly. * /There were bad days, but it was a
pleasant summer, by and large./ * /By and large, women can bear pain
better than men./ Syn.: FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE WHOLE(2).
[by any means] See: BY NO MEANS.
[by a thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD.
[by chance] {adv. phr.} Without any cause or reason; by accident;
accidentally. * /Tom met Bill by chance./ * /The apple fell by chance
on Bobby's head./
[by choice] {adv. phr.} As a result of choosing because of wanting
to; freely. * /John helped his father by choice./ * /Mary ate a plum,
but not by choice. Her mother told her she must eat it./
[by dint of] {prep.} By the exertion of; by the use of; through. *
/By dint of sheer toughness and real courage, he lived through the
jungle difficulties and dangers./ * /His success in college was
largely by dint of hard study./
[bye] See: BY THE WAY also BY THE BYE.
[by ear] {adv. phr.} 1. By sound, without ever reading the printed
music of the piece being played. * /The church choir sang the hymns by
ear./ 2. Waiting to see what will happen. * /I don't want to plan now;
let's just play it by ear./
[by far] {adv. phr.} By a large difference; much. * /His work was
better by far than that of any other printer in the city./ * /The old
road is prettier, but it is by far the longer way./ Compare: FAR AND
AWAY.
[by fits and starts] or [jerks] {adv. phr.} With many stops and
starts, a little now and a little more later; not all the time;
irregularly. * /He had worked on the invention by fits and starts for
several years./ * /You will never get anywhere if you study just by
fits and starts./ Compare: FROM TIME TO TIME, OFF AND ON.
[bygone] See: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES.
[by heart] {adv. phr.} By exact memorizing; so well that you
remember it; by memory. * /The pupils learned many poems by heart./ *
/He knew the records of the major league teams by heart./
[by hook or by crook] {adv. phr.} By honest ways or dishonest in
any way necessary. * /The wolf tried to get the little pigs by hook or
by crook./ * /The team was determined to win that last game by hook or
by crook, and three players were put out of the game for fouling./
[by inches] {adv. phr.} By small or slow degrees; little by little;
gradually. * /The river was rising by inches./ * /They got a heavy
wooden beam under the barn for a lever, and managed to move it by
inches./ * /He was dying by inches./
[by leaps and bounds] {adv. phr.} With long steps; very rapidly. *
/Production in the factory was increasing by leaps and bounds./ * /The
school enrollment was going up by leaps and bounds./
[by means of] {prep.} By the use of; with the help of. * /The
fisherman saved himself by means of a floating log./ * /By means of
monthly payments, people can buy more than in the past./
[by mistake] {adv. phr.} As the result of a mistake; through error.
* /He picked up the wrong hat by mistake./
[by no means] or [not by any means] also [by no manner of means] or
[not by any manner of means] {adv. phr.} Not even a little; certainly
not. * /He is by no means bright./ * /"May I stay home from school?"
"By no means."/ * /Dick worked on his project Saturday, but he is not
finished yet, by any means./ Contrast: BY ALL MEANS.
[B.Y.O.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own. Said of a kind
of party where the host or hostess does not provide the drinks or food
but people ring their own.
[B.Y.O.B.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own Bottle.
Frequently written on invitations for the kind of party where people
bring their own liquor.
[by oneself] {adv. phr.} 1. Without any others around; separate
from others; alone. * /The house stood by itself on a hill./ * /Tom
liked to go walking by himself./ * /Betty felt very sad and lonely by
herself./ 2. Without the help of anyone else; by your own work only. *
/John built a flying model airplane by himself./ * /Lois cleaned the
house all by herself./
[by one's own bootstraps] See: PULL ONE SELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.
[by storm] See: TAKE BY STORM.
[by surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE.
[by the board] See: GO BY THE BOARD also PASS BY THE BOARD.
[by the bootstraps] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS.
[by the bye] See: BY THE WAY.
[by the dozen] or [by the hundred] or [by the thousand] {adv. phr.}
Very many at one time; in great numbers. * /Tommy ate cookies by the
down./ Often used in the plural, meaning even larger numbers. * /The
ants arrived at the picnic by the hundreds./ * /The enemy attacked the
fort by the thousands./
[by the horns] See: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
[by the hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN.
[by the nose] See: LEAD BY THE NOSE.
[by the piece] {adv. phr.} Counted one piece at a time, separately
for each single piece. * /John bought boxes full of bags of potato
chips and sold them by the piece./ * /Mary made potholders and got
paid by the piece./
[by the seat of one's pants] See: FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS.
[by the skin of one's teeth] {adv. phr.} By a narrow margin; with
no room to spare; barely. * /The drowning man struggled, and I got him
to land by the skin of my teeth./ * /She passed English by the skin of
her teeth./ Compare: SQUEAK THROUGH, WITHIN AN ACE OF or WITHIN AN
INCH OF.
[by the sweat of one's brow] {adv. phr.} By hard work; by tiring
effort; laboriously. * /Even with modern labor-saving machinery, the
farmer makes his living by the sweat of his brow./
[by the thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN.
[by the way] also [by the bye] {adv. phr.} Just as some added fact
or news; as something else that I think of. - Used to introduce
something related to the general subject, or brought to mind by it. *
/We shall expect you; by the way, dinner will be at eight./ * /I was
reading when the earthquake occurred, and, by the way, it was The Last
Days of Pompeii that I was reading./
[by the wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
[by turns] {adv. phr.} First one and then another in a regular way;
one substituting for or following another according to a repeated
plan. * /On the drive to Chicago, the three men took the wheel by
turns./ * /The teachers were on duty by turns./ * /When John had a
fever, he felt cold and hot by turns./ Syn.: IN TURN. Compare: TAKE
TURNS.
[by virtue of] also [in virtue of] {prep.} On the strength of;
because of; by reason of. * /By virtue of his high rank and position,
the President takes social leadership over almost everyone else./ *
/Plastic bags are useful for holding many kinds of food, by virtue of
their clearness, toughness, and low cost./ Compare: BY DINT OF.
[by way of] {prep.} 1. For the sake or purpose of; as. * /By way of
example, he described his own experience./ 2. Through; by a route
including; via. * /He went from New York to San Francisco by way of
Chicago./
[by word of mouth] {adv. phr.} From person to person by the spoken
word; orally. * /The news got around by word of mouth./ * /The message
reached him quietly by word of mouth./
[cahoots] See: IN LEAGUE WITH or IN CAHOOTS WITH.
[Cain] See: RAISE CAIN.
[cake] See: EAT-ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO, PAT-A-CAKE, TAKE THE
CAKE.
[calculated risk] {n.} An action that may fail but is judged more
likely to succeed. * /The sending of troops to the rebellious island
was a calculated risk./
[calf love] See: PUPPY LOVE.
[call] See: AT CALL, AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL, CLOSE CALL, ON CALL,
PORT OF CALL, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK, WITHIN CALL.
[call a halt] {v. phr.} To give a command to stop. * /The scouts
were tired during the hike, and the scoutmaster called a halt./ *
/When the children's play, got too noisy, their mother called a halt./
[call a spade a spade] {v. phr.} To call a person or thing a name
that is true but not polite; speak bluntly; use the plainest language.
* /A boy took some money from Dick's desk and said he borrowed it, but
I told him he stole it; I believe in calling a spade a spade./
[call down] also [dress down] {v.}, {informal} To scold. * /Jim was
called down by his teacher for being late to class./ * /Mother called
Bob down for walking into the kitchen with muddy boots./ Compare: CALL
ON THE CARPET, CHEW OUT, BAWL OUT, READ THE RIOT ACT.
[call for] {v.} 1. To come or go to get (someone or something). *
/John called for Mary to take her to the dance./ Syn.: PICK UP. 2. To
need; require. * /The cake recipe calls for two cups of flour./ *
/Success in school calls for much hard study./
[call girl] {n.}, {slang} A prostitute catering to wealthy
clientele, especially one who is contacted by telephone for an
appointment. * /Rush Street is full of call girls./
[calling down] also [dressing down] {n. phr.}, {informal} A
scolding; reprimand. * /The judge gave the boy a calling down for
speeding./
[call in question] or [call into question] or [call in doubt] {v.
phr.} To say (something) may be a mistake; express doubt about;
question. * /Bill called in question Ed's remark that basketball is
safer than football./
[call it a day] {v. phr.} To declare that a given day's work has
been accomplished and go home; to quit for the day. * /"Let's call it
a day," the boss said, "and go out for a drink."/ * /It was nearly
midnight, so Mrs. Byron decided to call it a day, and left the party,
and went home./ * /The four golfers played nine holes and then called
it a day./ Compare: CLOSE UP SHOP.
[call it a night] {v. phr.} To declare that an evening party or
other activity conducted late in the day is finished. * /I am so tired
that I am going to call it a night and go to bed./
[call it quits] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To decide to stop what you
are doing; quit. * /When Tom had painted half the garage, he called it
quits./ 2. To agree that each side in a fight is satisfied; stop
fighting because a wrong has been paid back; say things are even. *
/Pete called Tom a bad name, and they fought till Tom gave Pete a
bloody nose; then they called it quits./ 3. To cultivate a habit no
longer. * /"Yes, I called it quits with cigarettes three years ago."/
[call names] {v. phr.} To use ugly or unkind words when speaking to
someone or when talking about someone. - Usually used by or to
children. * /Bill got so mad he started calling Frank names./
[call off] {v.} To stop (something planned); quit; cancel. * /When
the ice became soft and sloppy, we had to call off the ice-skating
party./ * /The baseball game was called off because of rain./
[call on] or [call upon] {v.} 1. To make a call upon; visit. * /Mr.
Brown called on an old friend while he was in the city./ 2. To ask for
help. * /He called on a friend to give him money for the busfare to
his home./
[call one's bluff] {v. phr.}, {informal} To ask someone to prove
what he says he can or will do. (Originally from the card game of
poker.) * /Tom said he could jump twenty feet and so Dick called his
bluff and said "Let's see you do it!"/
[call one's shot] {v. phr.} 1. To tell before firing where a bullet
will hit. * /An expert rifleman can call his shot regularly./ * /The
wind was strong and John couldn't call his shots./ 2. or [call the
turn] To tell in advance the result of something before you do it. *
/Mary won three games in a row, just as she said she would. She called
her turns well./ * /Nothing ever happens as Tom says it will. He is
very poor at calling his turns./
[call on the carpet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To call (a person)
before an authority (as a boss or teacher) for a scolding or
reprimand. * /The worker was called on the carpet by the boss for
sleeping on the job./ * /The principal called Tom on the carpet and
warned him to stop coming to school late./
[call the roll] {v. phr.} To read out the names on a certain list,
usually in alphabetical order. * /The sergeant called the roll of the
newly enlisted volunteers in the army./
[call the shots] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give orders; be in
charge; direct; control. * /Bob is a first-rate leader who knows how
to call the shots./ * /The quarterback called the shots well, and the
team gained twenty yards in five plays./ Syn.: CALL THE TUNE.
[call the tune] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be in control; give orders
or directions; command. * /Bill was president of the club but Jim was
secretary and called the tune./ * /The people supported the mayor, so
he could call the tune in city matters./ Syn.: CALL THE SHOTS.
[call the turn] See: CALL ONE'S SHOT(2).
[call to account] {v. phr.} 1. To ask (someone) to explain why he
did something wrong (as breaking a rule). * /The principal called Jim
to account after Jim left school early without permission./ 2. To
scold (as for wrong conduct); reprimand. * /The father called his son
to account for disobeying him./
[call to arms] {v. phr.} To summon into the army. * /During World
War II millions of Americans were called to arms to fight for their
country./
[call to mind] {v. phr.} To remember; cause to remember. * /Your
story calls to mind a similar event that happened to us a few years
back./
[call to order] {v. phr.} 1. To open (a meeting) formally. * /The
chairman called the committee to order./ * /The president pounded with
his gavel to call the convention to order./ 2. To warn not to break
the rules of a meeting. * /The judge called the people in the court
room to order when they talked too loud./
[call out] {v. phr.} 1. To shout; speak loudly. * /My name was
called out several times, but I was unable to hear it./ 2. To summon
someone. * /If the rioting continues, the governor will have to call
out the National Guard./
[call up] {v.} 1. To make someone think of; bring to mind; remind.
* /The picture of the Capitol called up memories of our class trip./
2. To tell to come (as before a court). * /The district attorney
called up three witnesses./ 3. To bring together for a purpose; bring
into action. * /Jim called up all his strength, pushed past the
players blocking him, and ran for a touchdown./ * /The army called up
its reserves when war seemed near./ 4. To call on the telephone. *
/She called up a friend just for a chat./
[call upon] See: CALL ON.
[calm down] {v. phr.} To become quiet; relax. * /"Calm down, Mr.
Smith," the doctor said with a reassuring smile. "You are going to
live a long time."/
[camel] See: STRAW THAT
BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK at LAST STRAW.
[camp] See: BREAK CAMP.
[campaign] See: WHISPERING CAMPAIGN.
[camp follower] {n.} 1. A man or woman who goes with an army, not
to fight but to sell something. * /Nowadays camp followers are not
allowed as they were long ago./ 2. A person who goes with a famous or
powerful person or group in hope of profit. * /A man who runs for
president has many camp followers./
[camp out] {v.} To live, cook, and sleep out of doors (as in a
tent). * /We camped out near the river for a week./
[can] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, CATCH AS CATCH CAN.
[canary] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY or LOOK LIKE
THE CAT THAT SWALLOWED THE CANARY.
[cancel out] {v.} To destroy the effect of; balance or make
useless. * /The boy got an "A" in history to cancel out the "C" he got
in arithmetic./ * /Our track team won the mile relay to cancel out the
other team's advantage in winning the half-mile relay./ * /Tom's hot
temper cancels out his skill as a player./
[cancer stick] {n.}, {slang} A cigarette. * /Throw away that cancer
stick! Smoking is bad for you!/
[candle] BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS, GAME IS NOT WORTH THE
CANDLE, HOLD A CANDLE.
[canned heat] {n.} Chemicals in a can which burn with a hot,
smokeless flame. * /Some people use canned heat to keep food warm./ *
/The mountain climbers used canned heat for cooking./
[canned laughter] {n.}, {informal} The sounds of laughter heard on
certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in front
of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from
a stereo track to underscore the funny points. * /"How can there be an
audience in this show when it is taking place in the jungle? - Why,
it's canned laughter you're hearing."/
[canned music] {n.} Recorded music, as opposed to music played
live. * /"Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am tired
of all this canned music we've been listening to."/
[canoe] See: PADDLE ONE'S OWN CANOE.
[can of worms] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A complex problem, or
complicated situation. * /Let's not get into big city politics -
that's a different can of worms./ 2. A very restless, jittery person.
* /Joe can't sit still for a minute - he is a can of worms./
[can't help but] {informal} also {formal} [cannot but] {v. phr.} To
be forced to; can only; must. * /When the streets are full of melting
snow, you can't help but get your shoes wet./ * /When a friend gave
Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn't help but go./ * /When a close
friend dies, you cannot but feel sad./ Compare: CAN HELP, HAVE TO.
[can't make an omelette without breaking (some) eggs] To achieve a
certain goal one must sometimes incur damage, experience difficulties,
or make sacrifices. - A proverb. * /When we drove across the country,
we put a lot of mileage on our car and had a flat tire, but it was a
pleasant trip. "Well, you can't make an omelette without breaking some
eggs," my wife said with a smile./
[can't see the wood for the trees] or [can't see the woods for the
trees] or [can't see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unable
to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts;
criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future
achievement. * /Teachers sometimes notice language errors and do not
see the good ideas in a composition; they cannot see the woods for the
trees./ * /The voters defeated a bond issue for the new school because
they couldn't see the forest for the trees; they thought of their
taxes rather than of their children's education./ * /We should think
of children's growth in character and understanding more than of their
little faults and misdeeds; some of us can't see the wood for the
trees./
[cap] See: FEATHER IN ONE'S CAP, SET ONE'S CAP FOR, PUT ON ONE'S
THINKING CAP.
[cap the climax] {v. phr.} To exceed what is already a high point
of achievement. * /Sam's piano recital was great, but Bill's
performance capped the climax./
[card] See: CREDIT CARD, FLASH CARD, HOUSE OF CARDS, IN THE CARDS
or ON THE CARDS, LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, PLAY ONE'S CARDS RIGHT,
PUT ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE, STACK THE CARDS, TRUMP CARD.
[cards stacked against one] See: STACK THE CARDS.
[card up one's sleeve] {n. phr.}, {informal} Another help, plan, or
argument kept back and produced if needed; another way to do
something. * /John knew his mother would lend him money if necessary,
but he kept that card up his sleeve./ * /Bill always has a card up his
sleeve, so when his first plan failed he tried another./ Compare: ACE
IN THE HOLE(2).
[care] See: COULDN'T CARE LESS, HAVE A CARE, GIVE A HANG or CARE A
HANG, TAKE CARE.
[carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET, MAGIC CARPET, ROLL OUT THE RED
CARPET.
[car pool] {n.} A group of people who own cars and take turns
driving each other to work or on some other regular trip. * /It was
John's father's week to drive his own car in the car pool./
[carriage trade] {n.}, {literary} Rich or upper class people. *
/The hotel is so expensive that only the carriage trade stays there./
* /The carriage trade buys its clothes at the best stores./
[carrot and stick] {n. phr.} The promise of reward and threat of
punishment, both at the same time. * /John's father used the carrot
and stick when he talked about his low grades./
[carry] See: CASH-AND-CARRY.
[carry a torch] or [carry the torch] {v. phr.} 1. To show great and
unchanging loyalty to a cause or a person. * /Although the others gave
up fighting for their rights, John continued to carry the torch./ 2.
{informal} To be in love, usually without success or return. * /He is
carrying a torch for Anna, even though she is in love with someone
else./
[carry a tune] {v. phr.} To sing the right notes without catching
any false ones. * /Al is a wonderful fellow, but he sure can't carry a
tune and his singing is a pain to listen to./
[carry away] {v.} To cause very strong feeling; excite or delight
to the loss of cool judgment. * /The music carried her away./ * /He
let his anger carry him away./ - Often used in the passive, * /She was
carried away by the man's charm./ * /He was carried away by the sight
of the flag./
[carry coals to Newcastle] {v. phr.} To do something unnecessary;
bring or furnish something of which there is plenty. * /The man who
waters his grass after a good rain is carrying coals to Newcastle./ *
/Joe was carrying coals to Newcastle when he told the doctor how to
cure a cold./ (Newcastle is an English city near many coal mines, and
coal is sent out from there to other places.)
[carrying charge] {n.} An extra cost added to the price of
something bought on weekly or monthly payments. * /The price of the
bicycle was $50. Jim bought it for $5.00 a month for ten months plus a
carrying charge of $1 a month./
[carry on] {v.} 1. To cause death of; kill. * /Years ago smallpox
carried off hundreds of Indians of the Sioux tribe./ Compare: WIPE
OUT. 2. To succeed in winning. * /Bob carried off honors in science./
* /Jim carried off two gold medals in the track meet./ 3. To succeed
somewhat unexpectedly in. * /The spy planned to deceive the enemy
soldiers and carried it off very well./ * /In the class play, Lloyd
carried off his part surprisingly well./
[carry --- off one's feet] See: KNOCK OFF ONE'S FEET, SWEEP OFF
ONE'S FEET.
[carry off the palm] or [bear off the palm] {v. phr.}, {literary}
To gain the victory; win. * /John carried off the palm in the tennis
championship match./ * /Our army bore off the palm in the battle./
(From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in a
game as a sign of victory.)
[carry on] {v.} 1. To work at; be busy with; manage. * /Bill and
his father carried on a hardware business./ * /Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith
carried on a long correspondence with each other./ 2. To keep doing as
before; continue. * /After his father died, Bill carried on with the
business./ * /The colonel told the soldiers to carry on while he was
gone./ * /Though tired and hungry, the Scouts carried on until they
reached camp./ Compare: BEAR UP(2), GO ON. 3a. {informal} To behave in
a noisy, foolish, and troublesome manner. * /The boys carried on in
the swimming pool until the lifeguard ordered them out./ 3b.
{informal} To make too great a show of feeling, such as anger, grief,
and pain. * /John carried on for ten minutes after he hit his thumb
with the hammer./ Compare: TAKE ON(4). 4. {informal} To act in an
immoral or scandalous way; act disgracefully. * /The townspeople said
that he was carrying on with a neighbor girl./
[carry one's cross] or {literary} [bear one's cross] {v. phr.} To
live with pain or trouble; keep on even though you suffer or have
trouble. * /Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the other boys
play basketball./ * /We didn't know the cheerful woman was bearing her
cross, a son in prison./
[carry out] {v.} To put into action; follow; execute. * /The
generals were determined to carry out their plans to defeat the
enemy./ * /John listened carefully and carried out the teacher's
instructions./
[carry over] {v.} 1. To save for another time. * /The store had
some bathing suits it had carried over from last year./ * /What you
learn in school should carry over into adult life./ 2. To transfer (as
a figure) from one column, page, or book to another. * /When he added
up the figures, he carried over the total into the next year's account
book./ 3. To continue in another place. * /The story was carried over
to the next page./
[carry the ball] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take the most important
or difficult part in an action or business. * /None of the other boys
would tell the principal about their breaking the window, and John had
to carry the ball./ * /When the going is rough, Fred can always be
depended on to carry the ball./
[carry the banner] {v. phr.} To support a cause or an ideal with
obvious advocacy. * /Our college is carrying the banner for saving the
humpback whale, which is on the list of endangered species./
[carry the day] {v. phr.}, {informal} To win completely; to succeed
in getting one's aim accomplished. * /The defense attorney's summary
before the jury helped him carry the day./
[carry the torch] See: CARRY A TORCH.
[carry the weight of the world on one's shoulders] See: WEIGHT OF
THE WORLD ON ONE'S SHOULDERS.
[carry through] {v.} 1a. To put into action. * /Mr. Green was not
able to carry through his plans for a hike because he broke his leg./
1b. To do something you have planned; put a plan into action. * /Jean
makes good plans but she cannot carry through with any of them./
Compare: GO THROUGH WITH, CARRY OUT. 2. To keep (someone) from failing
or stopping; bring through; help. * /When the tire blew out, the rules
Jim had learned in driving class carried him through safely./
[carry weight] {n.} To be influential; have significance and/or
clout; impress. * /A letter of recommendation from a full professor
carries more weight than a letter from an assistant professor./
[cart before the horse (to put)] {n. phr.}, {informal} Things in
wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. - An overused
expression. Usually used with "put" but sometimes with "get" or
"have". * /When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn't
delivered, I told him he was putting the cart before the horse./ * /To
get married first and then get a job is getting the cart before the
horse./
[cart off] or [cart away] {v.}, {informal} To take away, often with
force or with rough handling or behavior. * /The police carted the
rioters off to jail./ * /When Bobby wouldn't eat his supper, his
mother carted him away to bed./
[carved] or [chiseled] or [inscribed in granite] / [written in
stone] {adj. phr.} Holy; unchangeable; noble and of ancient origin. *
/You should wear shoes when you come to class, although this is not
carved in granite./ * /The Constitution of the United States is so
hard to change that one thinks of it as written in stone./
[case] See: BASKET CASE, CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES, COUCH CASE, GET
DOWN TO BRASS TACKS also GET DOWN TO CASES, IN ANY CASE, IN CASE or IN
THE EVENT, IN CASE OF also IN THE EVENT OF, VANITY CASE.
[case in point] {n. phr.} An example that proves something or helps
to make something clearer. * /An American can rise from the humblest
beginnings to become President. Abraham Lincoln is a case in point./
[case the joint] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To study the layout of a
place one wishes to burglarize. * /The hooded criminals carefully
cased the joint before robbing the neighborhood bank./ 2. To
familiarize oneself with a potential workplace or vacation spot as a
matter of preliminary planning. * /"Hello Fred," he said. "Are you
working here now?" "No, not yet," Fred answered. "I am merely casing
the joint."/
[cash] See: COLD CASH.
[cash-and-carry(1)] {adj.} Selling things for cash money only and
letting the customer carry them home, not having the store deliver
them; also sold in this way. * /This is a cash-and-carry store only./
* /You can save money at a cash-and-carry sale./