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Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
Словарь американских идиом 8000 единиц - Letter C.
[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./
[cash-and-carry(2)] {adv}. With no credit, no time payments, and no
deliveries. * /Some stores sell cash-and-carry only./ * /It is cheaper
to buy cash-and-carry./
[cash crop] {n.} A crop grown to be sold. * /Cotton is a cash crop
in the South./ * /They raise potatoes to eat, but tobacco is their
cash crop./
[cash in] {v.} 1. To exchange (as poker chips or bonds) for the
value in money. * /He paid the bill by cashing in some bonds./ * /When
the card game ended, the players cashed in their chips and went home./
2. or [cash in one's chips] {slang} To die. * /When the outlaw cashed
in his chips, he was buried with his boots on./ * /He was shot through
the body and knew he was going to cash in./
[cash in on] {v.}, {informal} To see (a chance) and profit by it;
take advantage of (an opportunity or happening). * /Mr. Brown cashed
in on people's great interest in camping and sold three hundred
tents./
[cash on the barrelhead] {n. phr.}, {informal} Money paid at once;
money paid when something is bought. * /Father paid cash on the
barrelhead for a new car./ * /Some lawyers want cash on the
barrelhead./ Compare: COLD CASH.
[cast] or [shed] or [throw light upon] {v. phr.} To explain;
illuminate; clarify. * /The letters that were found suddenly cast a
new light on the circumstances of Tom's disappearance./ * /Einstein's
General Theory of Relativity threw light upon the enigma of our
universe./
[cast about] also [cast around] {v.}, {literary} 1. To look
everywhere; search. * /The committee was casting about for an
experienced teacher to take the retiring principal's place./ 2. To
search your mind; try to remember something; try to think of
something. * /The teacher cast about for an easy way to explain the
lesson./ * /Jane cast around for a good subject for her report./
[cast down] {adj.} Discouraged; sad; unhappy. - Used less often
than the reverse form, "downcast". * /Mary was cast down at the news
of her uncle's death./ * /Charles felt cast down when he lost the
race./
[cast in one's lot with] {formal} See: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.
[castle in the air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR.
[castles in Spain] See: CASTLES IN THE AIR.
[cast off] {v.} 1a. or [cast loose] To unfasten; untie; let loose
(as a rope holding a boat). * /The captain of the boat cast off the
line and we were soon out in open water./ 1b. To untie a rope holding
a boat or something suggesting a boat. * /We cast off and set sail at
6 A.M./ 2. To knit the last row of stitches. * /When she had knitted
the twentieth row of stitches she cast off./ 3. To say that you do not
know (someone) any more; not accept as a relative or friend. * /Mr.
Jones cast off his daughter when she married against his wishes./
[cast one's lot with] See: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.
[cast out] {v.}, {formal} To force (someone) to go out or away;
banish; expel. * /After the scandal, he was cast out of the best
society./ Compare: CAST OFF(3).
[cast pearls before swine] or [cast one's pearls before swine] {n.
phr.}, {literary} To waste good acts or valuable things on someone who
won't understand or be thankful for them, just as pigs won't
appreciate pearls. - Often used in negative sentences. * /I won't
waste good advice on John any more because he never listens to it. I
won't cast pearls before swine./
[cast the first stone] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be the first to
blame someone, lead accusers against a wrongdoer. * /Jesus said that a
person who was without sin could cast the first stone./ * /Although
Ben saw the girl cheating, he did not want to cast the first stone./
[cast up] {v.}, {literary} 1. To turn or direct upward; raise. *
/The dying missionary cast up his eyes to heaven and prayed./ 2.
{archaic} To do sums; do a problem in addition; add. * /Cast up 15,
43, 27, and 18./ * /When John had all the figures, he cast them up./
[cat] See: COPY CAT, CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT, FRAIDY-CAT or
FRAID-CAT or SCAREDY CAT OY SCARED-CAT, HOLY CATS, LET THE CAT OUT OF
THE BAG, LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY, PLAY CAT AND MOUSE
WITH, RAIN CATS AND DOGS.
[catch] See: EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM, FAIR CATCH, SHOESTRING
CATCH.
[catch-as-catch-can(1)] {adv. phr.} In a free manner; in any way
possible; in the best way you can. * /On moving day everything is
packed and we eat meals catch-as-catch-can./
[catch-as-catch-can(2)] {adj. phr.} Using any means or method;
unplanned; free. * /Rip van Winkle seems to have led a
catch-as-catch-can life./ * /Politics is rather a catch-as-catch-can
business./ Compare: HIT-OR-MISS.
[catch at] {v.} 1. To try to catch suddenly; grab for. * /The boy
on the merry-go-round caught at the brass ring, but did not get it./
2. To seize quickly; accept mentally or physically. * /The hungry man
caught at the sandwich and began to eat./ * /Joe caught at Bill's
offer to help./
[catch at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.
[catch cold] {v. phr.} 1. or [take cold] To get a common
cold-weather sickness that causes a running nose, sneezing, and
sometimes sore throat and fever or other symptoms. * /Don't get your
feet wet or you'll catch cold./ 2. {informal} To catch unprepared or
not ready for a question or unexpected happening. * /I had not studied
my lesson carefully, and the teacher's question caught me cold./ *
/The opposing team was big and sure of winning, and they were caught
cold by the fast, hard playing of our smaller players./
[catch (someone) dead] {v. phr.}, {informal} To see or hear
(someone) in an embarrassing act or place at any time. Used in the
negative usually in the passive. * /You won't catch Bill dead taking
his sister to the movies./ * /John wouldn't be caught dead in the
necktie he got for Christmas./
[catch fire] {v. phr.} 1. To begin to burn. * /When he dropped a
match in the leaves, they caught fire./ 2. To become excited. * /The
audience caught fire at the speaker's words and began to cheer./ *
/His imagination caught fire as he read./
[catch flat-footed] See: FLAT-FOOTED(2).
[catch forty winks] See: FORTY WINKS.
[catch hold of] {v. phr.} To grasp a person or a thing. * /"I've
been trying to catch hold of you all week," John said, "but you were
out of town."/ * /The mountain climber successfully caught hold of his
friend's hand and thereby saved his life./
[catch it] or [get it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be scolded or
punished. - Usually used of children. * /John knew he would catch it
when he came home late for supper./ * /Wow, Johnny! When your mother
sees those torn pants, you're going to get it./ Compare: GET WHAT'S
COMING TO ONE. Contrast: GIVE IT TO(2).
[catch it in the neck] or [get it in the neck] {v. phr.}, {slang}
To be blamed or punished. * /Tom got it in the neck because he forgot
to close the windows when it rained./ * /Students get it in the neck
when they lose library books./ Compare: CATCH IT, GET WHAT'S COMING TO
ONE.
[catch off balance] {v. phr.} To confront someone with physical
force or with a statement or question he or she is not prepared to
answer or deal with; to exploit the disadvantage of another. * /The
smaller wrestler caught his opponent off balance and managed to throw
him on the float in spite of his greater weight and strength./ * /Your
question has caught me off balance; please give me some time to think
about your problem./
[catch off guard] {v. phr.} To challenge or confront a person at a
time of lack of preparedness or sufficient care. * /The suspect was
caught off guard by the detective and confessed where he had hidden
the stolen car./
[catch on] {v.}, {informal} 1. To understand; learn about. - Often
used with "to". * /You'll catch on to the job after you've been here
awhile./ * /Don't play any tricks on Joe. When he catches on, he will
beat you./ 2. To become popular; be done or used by many people. *
/The song caught on and was sung and played everywhere./ 3. To be
hired; get a job. * /The ball player caught on with a big league team
last year./
[catch one's breath] {v. phr.} 1. To breathe in suddenly with fear
or surprise. * /The beauty of the scene made him catch his breath./
Compare: TAKE ONE'S BREATH AWAY. 2a. To rest and get back your normal
breathing, as after running. * /After running to the bus stop, we sat
down to catch our breath./ 2b. To relax for a moment after any work. *
/After the day's work we sat down over coffee to catch our breath./
[catch one's death of] or [take one's death of] {v. phr.},
{informal} To become very ill with (a cold, pneumonia, flu). * /Johnny
fell in the icy water and almost took his death of cold./ Sometimes
used in the short form "catch your death." * /"Johnny! Come right in
here and put your coat and hat on. You'll catch your death!"/
[catch one's eye] {v. phr.} To attract your attention. * /I caught
his eye as he moved through the crowd, and waved at him to come over./
* /The dress in the window caught her eye when she passed the store./
[catch red-handed] {v. phr.} /To apprehend a person during the act
of committing an illicit or criminal act./ * /Al was caught red-handed
at the local store when he was trying to walk out with a new camera he
had not paid for./
[catch sight of] {v. phr.} To see suddenly or unexpectedly. *
/Allan caught sight of a kingbird in a maple tree./ Contrast: LOSE
SIGHT OF.
[catch some rays] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get tanned
while sunbathing. * /Tomorrow I'll go to the beach and try to catch
some rays./
[catch some Z's] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To take a nap, to
go to sleep. (Because of the "z" sound resembling snoring.) * /I want
to hit the sack and catch some Z's./
[catch-22] {n.}, {informal} From Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22",
set in World War II. 1. A regulation or situation that is
self-contradictory or that conflicts with another regulation. In
Heller's book it referred to the regulation that flight crews must
report for duty unless excused for reasons of insanity, but that any
one claiming such an excuse must, by definition, be sane. *
/Government rules require workers to expose any wrongdoing in their
office, but the Catch-22 prevents them from their doing so, because
they are not allowed to disclose any information about their work./ 2.
A paradoxical situation. * /The Catch-22 of job-hunting was that the
factory wanted to hire only workers who had experience making
computers but the only way to get the experience was by working at the
computer factory./
[catch up] {v.} 1. To take or pick up suddenly; grab (something). *
/She caught up the book from the table and ran out of the room./ 2. To
capture or trap (someone) in a situation; concern or interest very
much. - Usually used in the passive with "in". * /The Smith family was
caught up in the war in Europe and we did not see them again till it
was over./ * /We were so caught up in the movie we forgot what time it
was./ Compare: MIX UP. 3. To go fast enough or do enough so as not to
be behind; overtake; come even. - Often used with "to" or "with". *
/Johnny ran hard and tried to catch up to his friends./ * /Mary missed
two weeks of school; she must work hard to catch up with her class./
Compare: UP TO. 4. To find out about or get proof to punish or arrest.
- Usually used with "with". * /A man told the police where the robbers
were hiding, so the police finally caught up with them./ 5. To result
in something bad; bring punishment. - Usually used with "with". * /The
boy's fighting caught up with him and he was expelled from school./ *
/Smoking will catch up with you./ Compare: CHICKENS COME HOME TO
ROOST. 6. To finish; not lose or be behind. - Used with "on" and often
in the phrase "get caught up on". * /Frank stayed up late to get
caught up on his homework./ * /I have to catch up on my sleep./ * /We
caught up on all the latest news when we got back to school and saw
our friends again./ Syn.: KEEP UP.
[catch with one's pants down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To surprise
someone in an embarrassing position or guilty act. * /They thought
they could succeed in the robbery, but they got caught with their
pants down./ * /When the weather turned hot in May, the drive-in
restaurant was caught with its pants down, and ran out of ice cream
before noon./
[cat got one's tongue] You are not able or willing to talk because
of shyness. Usually used about children or as a question to children.
* /Tommy's father asked Tommy if the cat had got his tongue./ * /The
little girl had a poem to recite, but the cat got her tongue./
Compare: LOSE ONE'S TONGUE.
[cat has nine lives] A cat can move so fast and jump so well that
he seems to escape being killed many times. * /We thought our cat
would be killed when he fell from the roof of the house. He was not,
but he used up one of his nine lives./
[cathouse] {n.}, {slang} A house of ill repute, a house of
prostitution. * /Massage parlors are frequently cathouses in
disguise./
[cat's meow] or [cat's pajamas] {n.}, {slang} Something very
wonderful, special, or good. * /John's new hike is really the cat's
meow./ * /Mary's party is going to be the cat's pajamas./
[caught short] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not having enough of
something when you need it. * /Mrs. Ford was caught short when the
newspaper boy came for his money a day early./ * /The man was caught
short of clothes when he had to go on a trip./
[cause eyebrows to raise] {v. phr.} To do something that causes
consternation; to shock others. * /When Algernon entered Orchestra
Hall barefoot and wearing a woman's wig, he caused eyebrows to raise./
[cause tongues to wag] See: TONGUES TO WAG.
[caution] See: THROW CAUTION TO THE WINDS.
[cave in] {v.} 1. To fall or collapse inward. * /The mine caved in
and crushed three miners./ * /Don't climb on that old roof. It might
cave in./ 2. {informal} To weaken and be forced to give up. * /The
children begged their father to take them to the circus until he caved
in./ * /After the atomic bomb, Japan caved in and the war ceased./
[cease fire] {v.} To give a military command ordering soldiers to
stop shooting. * /"Cease fire!" the captain cried, and the shooting
stopped./
[cease-fire] {n.} A period of negotiated nonaggression, when the
warring parties involved promise not to attack. * /Unfortunately, the
cease-fire in Bosnia was broken many times by all parties concerned./
[ceiling] See: HIT THE CEILING or HIT THE ROOF.
[cent] See: TWO CENTS, WORTH A CENT.
[center] See: FRONT AND CENTER, OFF-CENTER, SHOPPING CENTER.
[century] See: TURN OF THE CENTURY.
[C.E.O.] {n.} Abbreviation of "Chief Executive Officer." The head
of a company, factory, firm, etc. * /We are very proud of the fact
that our C.E.O. is a young woman./
[ceremony] See: STAND ON CEREMONY.
[certain] See: FOR SURE or FOR CERTAIN.
[chain gang] {n.} A group of convicts or slaves in the old South
who were chained together. * /Chain gangs are no longer an acceptable
way of punishment, according to modern criminologists./
[chain letter] {n.} A letter which each person receiving it is
asked to copy and send to several others. * /Most chain letters die
out quickly./
[chain-smoke] {v.} To smoke cigarettes or cigars one after another
without stopping. * /Mr. Jones is very nervous. He chain-smokes
cigars./ [chain smoker] {n.} * /Mr. Jones is a chain smoker./
[chain-smoking] {adj.} or {n.} * /Chain smoking is very dangerous to
health./
[chain stores] {n.} A series of stores in different locations,
joined together under one ownership and general management. * /The
goods in chain stores tend to be more uniform than in independent
ones./
[chained to the oars] {adj. phr.} The condition of being forced to
do strenuous and unwelcome labor against one's wishes for an extended
period of time. * /Teachers in large public schools frequently
complain that they feel as if they had been chained to the oars./
[chair] See: MUSICAL CHAIRS.
[chalk] See: WALK THE CHALK.
[chalk up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To write down as part of a score;
record. * /The scorekeeper chalked up one more point for the home
team./ 2. To make (a score or part of a score); score. * /The team
chalked up another victory./ * /Bob chalked up a home run and two base
hits in the game./ * /Mary chalked up good grades this term./
[champ at the bit] {v. phr.} To be eager to begin; be tired of
being held back; want to start. * /The horses were champing at the
bit, anxious to start racing./ * /As punishment John was kept after
school for two hours. He was champing at the bit to go out./
[chance] See: BY CHANCE, FAT CHANCE, STAND A CHANCE, TAKE A CHANCE.
[chance it] {v. phr.} To be willing to risk an action whose outcome
is uncertain. * /"Should we take the boat out in such stormy weather?"
Jim asked. "We can chance it," Tony replied. "We have enough
experience."/
[chance on] also [chance upon] {v.} To happen to find or meet; find
or meet by accident. * /On our vacation we chanced upon an interesting
antique store./ * /Mary dropped her ring in the yard, and Mother
chanced on it as she was raking./ Syn.: HAPPEN ON. Compare: RUN INTO.
[change] See: RING THE CHANGES.
[change color] {v. phr.} 1. To become pale. * /The sight was so
horrible that Mary changed color from fear./ * /Bill lost so much
blood from the cut that he changed color./ 2. To become pink or red in
the face; become flushed; blush. * /Mary changed color when the
teacher praised her drawing./ * /Tom got angry at the remark and
changed color./
[change hands] {v. phr.} To change or transfer ownership. * /Ever
since our apartment building changed hands, things are working a lot
better./
[change horses in the middle of a stream] or [change horses in
midstream] {v. phr.} To make new plans or choose a new leader in the
middle of an important activity. * /When a new President is to be
elected during a war, the people may decide not to change horses in
the middle of a stream./
[change off] {v.}, {informal} To take turns doing something;
alternate. * /John and Bill changed off at riding the bicycle./ * /Bob
painted one patch of wall and then he changed off with Tom./
[change of heart] {n. phr.} A change in the way one feels or thinks
about a given task, idea or problem to be solved. * /Joan had a change
of heart and suddenly broke off her engagement to Tim./ * /Fred got
admitted to medical school, but he had a change of heart and decided
to go into the Foreign Service instead./
[change of life] {n. phr.} The menopause (primarily in women). *
/Women usually undergo a change of life in their forties or fifties./
[change of pace] {n. phr.} A quick change in what you are doing. *
/John studied for three hours and then read a comic book for a change
of pace./ * /The doctor told the man he needed a change of pace./
[change one's mind] {v. phr.} To alter one's opinion or judgment on
a given issue. * /I used to hate Chicago, but as the years passed I
gradually changed my mind and now I actually love living here./
[change one's tune] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a change in your
story, statement, or claim; change your way of acting. * /The man said
he was innocent, but when they found the stolen money in his pocket he
changed his tune./ * /Bob was rude to his teacher, but she threatened
to tell the principal and he changed his tune./ Syn.: SING A DIFFERENT
TUNE.
[change up] See: LET UP(4).
[character] See: IN CHARACTER.
[charge] See: CARRYING CHARGE, CHARGE OFF(2), IN CHARGE, IN CHARGE
OF, TAKE CHARGE.
[charge account] {n.} An agreement with a store through which you
can buy things and pay for them later. * /Mother bought a new dress on
her charge account./ * /Mr. Jones has a charge account at the garage
on the corner./
[charge off] {v.} 1. To consider or record as a loss, especially in
an account book. * /The store owner charged off all of the last
season's stock of suits./ Syn.: WRITE OFF(1). 2. or [charge up]
{informal} To accept or remember (something) as a mistake and not
worry about it any more. - Often used with "to experience". * /He
charged off his mistakes to experience./ Syn.: CHALK UP. Compare:
CHARGE TO.
[charge something to something] {v.} 1. To place the blame on; make
responsible for. * /John failed to win a prize, but he charged it to
his lack of experience./ * /The coach charged the loss of the game to
the team's disobeying his orders./ 2. To buy something on the credit
of. * /Mrs. Smith bought a new pocketbook and charged it to her
husband./ * /Mr. White ordered a box of cigars and had it charged to
his account./
[charge up] {v. phr.} 1. To submit to a flow of electricity in
order to make functional. * /I mustn't forget to charge up my razor
before we go on our trip./ 2. To use up all the available credit one
has on one's credit card(s). * /"Let's charge dinner on the Master
Card," Jane said. "Unfortunately I can't," Jim replied. "All of my
credit cards are completely charged up."/
[charge with] {v. phr.} To accuse someone in a court of law. * /The
criminal was charged with aggravated kidnapping across a state line./
[charmed life] {n.} A life often saved from danger; a life full of
lucky escapes. * /He was in two airplane accidents, but he had a
charmed life./ * /During the war a bullet knocked the gun out of his
hand, but he had a charmed life./
[chase] See: GIVE CHASE, GO CHASE ONESELF, LEAD A MERRY CHASE.
[chase after] See: RUN AFTER.
[chase around] See: RUN AROUND.
[cheapskate] {n.}, {informal} A selfish or stingy person; a person
who will not spend much. - An insulting term. * /None of the girls
like to go out on a date with him because he is a cheapskate./
[cheat on someone] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be unfaithful (to one's
wife or husband, or to one's sweetheart or fiancee). * /It is rumored
that Joe cheats on his wife./
[check] See: BLANK CHECK, CLAIM CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK, IN CHECK, RAIN
CHECK, RUBBER CHECK, SALES CHECK.
[check in] {v.} 1a. To sign your name (as at a hotel or
convention). * /The last guests to reach the hotel checked in at 12
o'clock./ Contrast: CHECK OUT. 1b. {informal} To arrive. * /The
friends we had invited did not check in until Saturday./ 2. To receive
(something) back and make a record of it. * /The coach checked in the
football uniforms at the end of the school year./ * /The students put
their books on the library desk, and the librarian checked them in./
[check off] {v.} To put a mark beside (the name of a person or
thing on a list) to show that it has been counted. * /The teacher
checked off each pupil as he got on the bus./ * /Bill wrote down the
names of all the states he could remember, and then he checked them
off against the list in his book./ Compare: TICK OFF.
[check on someone/thing] or [check up on someone/thing] {v}. To try
to find out the truth or rightness of; make sure of; examine; inspect;
investigate. * /We checked on Dan's age by getting his birth record./
* /Mrs. Brown said she heard someone downstairs and Mr. Brown went
down to check up on it./ * /You can check on your answers at the back
of the book./ * /The police are checking up on the man to see if he
has a police record./ * /Grandfather went to have the doctor check on
his health./ Compare: LOOK INTO, LOOK OVER.
[check out] {v.} 1a. To pay your hotel bill and leave. * /The last
guests checked out of their rooms in the morning./ Contrast: CHECK IN.
1b. {informal} To go away; leave. * /I hoped our guest would stay but
he had to check out before Monday./ Compare: CHECK IN. 2a. To make a
list or record of. * /They checked out all the goods in the store./
2b. To give or lend (something) and make a record of it. * /The boss
checked out the tools to the workmen as they came to work./ 2c. To get
(something) after a record has been made of it. * /I checked out a
book from the library./ 3. {informal} To test (something, like a part
of a motor). * /The mechanic checked out the car battery./ * /"He
checked out from the motel at nine," said the detective, "then he
checked out the air in the car tires and his list of local clients."/
4. {slang} To die. * /He seemed too young to check out./
[check up] {v.} To find out or try to find out the truth or
correctness of something; make sure of something; investigate. * /Mrs.
Brown thought she had heard a burglar in the house, so Mr. Brown
checked up, but found nobody./ * /Bill thought he had a date with
Janie, but phoned her to check up./
[check-up] {n.} A periodic examination by a physician or of some
equipment by a mechanic. * /I am overdue for my annual physical
check-up./ * /I need to take my car in for a check-up./
[check with] {v. phr.} 1. To consult. * /I want to check with my
lawyer before I sign the papers./ 2. To agree with. * /Does my
reconciliation of our account check with the bank statement?/
[cheek] See: TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.
[cheer] See: BRONX CHEER.
[cheer on] {v. phr.} To vociferously encourage a person or a team
during a sports event. * /The spectators at the stadium cheered on
their home team./
[cheer up] {v.} 1. To feel happy; stop being sad or discouraged;
become hopeful, joyous, or glad. * /Jones was sad at losing the
business, but he cheered up at the sight of his daughter./ * /Cheer
up! The worst is over./ 2. To make cheerful or happy. * /The support
of the students cheered up the losing team and they played harder and
won./ * /We went to the hospital to cheer up a sick friend./ *
/Flowers cheer up a room./
[cheese] See: BIG CHEESE, WHOLE CHEESE.
[cheesebox] {n.}, {slang} A small, suburban house built by a land
developer available at low cost and resembling the other houses around
it. * /They moved to a suburb, but their house is just a cheesebox./
[cheesecake] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A showing of the legs of an
attractive woman or a display of her breasts as in certain magazines
known as cheesecake magazines. * /Photographer to model: "Give us some
cheesecake in that pose!"/
[cherry farm] {n.}, {slang} A correctional institution of minimal
security where the inmates, mostly first offenders, work as farmhands.
* /Joe got a light sentence and was sent to a cherry farm for six
months./
[chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST, ON ONE'S CHEST.
[chew] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW.
[chew out] {v.}, {slang} To scold roughly. * /The boy's father
chewed him out for staying up late./ * /The coach chews out lazy
players./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, CALL ON THE CARPET, HAUL OVER THE COALS.
[chew the fat] or [chew the rag] {v. phr.}, {slang} To talk
together in an idle, friendly fashion; chat. * /We used to meet after
work, and chew the fat over coffee and doughnuts./ * /The old man
would chew the rag for hours with anyone who would join him./
[chew the scenery] {v. phr.}, {slang} To act overemotionally in a
situation where it is inappropriate; to engage in histrionics. * /I
don't know if Joe was sincere about our house, but he sure chewed up
the scenery!/
[chicken] See: COUNT ONE'S CHICKENS BEFORE THEY ARE HATCHED, GO TO
BED WITH THE CHICKENS, SPRING CHICKEN.
[chicken-brained] {adj.} Stupid; narrow-minded; unimaginative. * /I
can't understand how a bright woman like Helen can date such a
chicken-brained guy as Oliver./
[chicken feed] {n.}, {slang} A very small sum of money. * /John and
Bill worked very hard, but they were only paid chicken feed./ * /Mr.
Jones is so rich be thinks a thousand dollars is chicken feed./
[chicken-hearted] {adj.} Cowardly; excessively timid. * /"Come on,
let's get on that roller coaster," she cried. "Don't be so
chicken-hearted."/ See: CHICKEN-LIVERED.
[chicken-livered] {adj.}, {slang}, {colloquial} Easily scared;
cowardly. * /Joe sure is a chicken-livered guy./ See: CHICKEN-HEARTED.
[chicken out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stop doing something because
of fear; to decide not to do something after all even though
previously having decided to try it. * /I used to ride a motorcycle on
the highway, but I've chickened out./ * /I decided to take flying
lessons but just before they started I chickened out./
[chickens come home to roost] {informal} Words or acts come back to
cause trouble for a person; something bad you said or did receives
punishment; you get the punishment that you deserve. * /Fred's
chickens finally came home to roost today. He was late so often that
the teacher made him go to the principal./ - Often used in a short
form. * /Mary's selfishness will come home to roost some day./
[chicken switch] {n.}, {slang}, {Space English} 1. The emergency
eject button used by test pilots in fast and high flying aircraft by
means of which they can parachute to safety if the engine fails; later
adopted by astronauts in space capsules. * /Don't pull the chicken
switch, unless absolutely necessary./ 2. The panic button; a panicky
reaction to an unforeseen situation, such as unreasonable or
hysterical telephone calls to friends for help. * /Joe pulled the
chicken switch on his neighbor when the grease started burning in the
kitchen./
[child] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE, WITH CHILD.
[children and fools speak the truth] Children and fools say things
without thinking; they say what they think or know when grown-ups
might not think it was polite or wise to do so. - A proverb. * /"Uncle
Willie is too fat," said little Agnes. "Children and fools speak the
truth," said her father./
[children should be seen and not heard] A command issued by adults
to children ordering them to be quiet and not to interrupt. - A
proverb. * /Your children should not argue so loudly. Haven't you
taught them that children should be seen and not heard?/
[child's play] {adj.} Easy; requiring no effort. * /Mary's work as
a volunteer social worker is so agreeable to her that she thinks of it
as child's play./
[chill] See: SPINE-CHILLING.
[chime in] {v.} 1. {informal} To join in. * /The whole group chimed
in on the chorus./ * /When the argument got hot, John chimed in./ 2.
To agree; go well together. - Usually used with "with". * /Dick was
happy, and the holiday music chimed in with his feelings./ * /When
Father suggested going to the shore for the vacation, the whole family
chimed in with the plan./
[chin] See: KEEP ONE'S CHIN UP, STICK ONE'S NECK OUT or STICK ONE'S
CHIN OUT, TAKE IT ON THE CHIN, UP TO THE CHIN IN.
[china shop] See: BULL IN A CHINA SHOP.
[China syndrome] {n.}, {informal} From the title of the movie with
Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon. The possibility that an industrial nuclear
reactor might explode, literally affecting the other side of the
planet (as if by eating a hole through the earth all the way to
China.) * /Antinuclear demonstrators are greatly worried about the
China syndrome./
[chip] See: CASH IN ONE'S CHIPS at CASH-IN, IN THE CHIPS. LET THE
CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY, FISH-AND-CHIPS, WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.
[chip in] or [kick in] {v.}, {informal} To give together with
others, contribute. * /The pupils chipped in a dime apiece for the
teacher's Christmas present./ * /All the neighbors kicked in to help
after the fire./ * /Lee chipped in ten points in the basketball game./
* /Joe didn't say much but chipped in a few words./
[chip off the old block] {n. phr.} A person whose character traits
closely resemble those of his parents. * /I hear that Tom plays the
violin in the orchestra his father conducts; he sure is a chip off the
old block./
[chip on one's shoulder] {n. phr.}, {informal} A quarrelsome
nature; readiness to be angered. * /He went through life with a chip
on his shoulder./ * /Jim often gets into fights because he goes around
with a chip on his shoulder./
[chips] See: WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.
[chisel] or [muscle in on] {v. phr.} To illegitimately and
forcefully intrude into someone's traditional sales or professional
arena of operation. * /Tim has a good sales territory, but he is
always afraid that someone might chisel in on it./ * /Las Vegas casino
owners are concerned that the Mafia might muscle in on their
territory./
[choice] See: BY CHOICE, FIELDER'S CHOICE.
[choke off] {v.} To put a sudden end to; stop abruptly or
forcefully. * /It was almost time for the meeting to end, and the
presiding officer had to move to choke off debate./ * /The war choked
off diamond shipments from overseas./
[choke up] {v.} 1a. To come near losing calmness or self-control
from strong feeling; be upset by your feelings. * /When one speaker
after another praised John, he choked up and couldn't thank them./ *
/When Father tried to tell me how glad he was to see me safe after the
accident, he choked up and was unable to speak./ 1b. {informal} To be
unable to do well because of excitement or nervousness. * /Bill was a
good batter, but in the championship game he choked up and did
poorly./ 2. To fill up; become clogged or blocked; become hard to pass
through. * /The channel had choked up with sand so that boats couldn't
use it./
[choose] See: PICK AND CHOOSE.
[chooser] See: BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS.
[choose up sides] {v. phr.} To form two teams with two captains
taking turns choosing players. * /The boys chose up sides for a game
of softball./ * /Tom and Joe were the captains. They chose up sides./
[chop] See: LICK ONE'S CHOPS.
[chow line] {n.}, {slang} A line of people waiting for food. * /The
chow line was already long when John got to the dining hall./ * /The
soldiers picked up trays and got into the chow line./
[Christmas] See: FATHER CHRISTMAS.
[Christmas card] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} A
speeding ticket. * /Smokey just gave a Christmas card to the eighteen
wheeler we passed./
[Christmas club] {n.} A plan for putting money in the bank to be
saved for Christmas shopping. * /John deposits $10 each week in the
Christmas club./ * /The woman will get her Christmas club money on
December 10./
[chum around with] {v. phr.} 1. To be close friends with someone. *
/They have been chumming around with one another for quite some time./
2. To travel around with someone. * /Jack is planning to chum around
with Tim in Europe this summer./
[cigar-store Indian] {n. phr.} A wooden statue of an Indian which
in the past was placed in front of a cigar store. * /A cigar store
Indian used to mean a cigar store in the same way a barber pole still
means a barber shop./
[circle] See: COME FULL CIRCLE, IN A CIRCLE or IN CIRCLES, RUN
CIRCLES AROUND also RUN RINGS AROUND.
[circulation] See: IN CIRCULATION, OUT OF CIRCULATION.
[circumstance] See: UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES also IN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
[circumstances alter cases] {formal} The way things are, or happen,
may change the way you are expected to act. * /John's father told him
never to touch his gun, but one day when Father was away, John used it
to shoot a poisonous snake that came into the yard. Circumstances
alter cases./
[circus] See: THREE-RING CIRCUS.
[citizen] See: SENIOR CITIZEN.
[civil] See: KEEP A CIVIL TONGUE IN ONE'S HEAD.
[claim] See: STAKE A CLAIM.
[claim check] {n.} A ticket needed to get back something. * /The
man at the parking lot gave Mrs. Collins a claim check./ * /The boy
put the dry cleaning claim check in his billfold./ * /The man told
Mary the pictures would be ready Friday and gave her a claim check./
[clamp down] {v.}, {informal} To put on strict controls; enforce
rules or laws. * /After the explosion, police clamped down and let no
more visitors inside the monument./ * /The school clamped down on
smoking./ * /When the crowds became bigger and wilder, the police
clamped down on them and made everyone go home./
[clam up] {v.}, {slang} To refuse to say anything more; stop
talking. * /The suspect clammed up, and the police could get no more
information out of him./
[class] See: HIGH-CLASS, SECOND CLASS.
[clay] See: FEET OF CLAY.
[clay pigeon] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A popular target at
practice shooting made of clay and roughly resembling a pigeon; an
easy target that doesn't move. * /All he can shoot is a clay pigeon./
2. A person who, like a clay pigeon in target practice, is immobilized
or is in a sensitive position and is therefore easily criticized or
otherwise victimized. * /Poor Joe is a clay pigeon./ 3. A task easily
accomplished like shooting an immobile clay pigeon. * /The math exam
was a clay pigeon./
[clean] See: COME CLEAN, KEEP ONE'S NOSE CLEAN, MAKE A CLEAN BREAST
OF, NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN, TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS, also SHOW A CLEAN
PAIR OF HEELS.
[clean bill of health] {n. phr.} 1. A certificate that a person or
animal has no infectious disease. * /The government doctor gave Jones
a clean bill of health when he entered the country./ 2. {informal} A
report that a person is free of guilt or fault. * /The stranger was
suspected in the bank robbery, but the police gave him a clean bill of
health./
[clean break] {n. phr.} A complete separation. * /Tom made a clean
break with his former girlfriends before marrying Pamela./
[cleaners] See: TO TAKE TO THE CLEANERS.
[clean hands] {n. phr.}, {slang} Freedom from guilt or dishonesty;
innocence. * /John grew up in a bad neighborhood, but he grew up with
clean hands./ * /There was much proof against Bill, but he swore he
had clean hands./
[clean out] {v.} 1. {slang} To take everything from; empty; strip.
* /George's friends cleaned him out when they were playing cards last
night./ * /The sudden demand for paper plates soon cleaned out the
stores./ 2. {informal} To get rid of; remove; dismiss. * /The new
mayor promised to clean the crooks out of the city government./
[clean slate] {n. phr.} A record of nothing but good conduct,
without any errors or bad deeds; past acts that are all good without
any bad ones. * /Johnny was sent to the principal for whispering. He
had a clean slate so the principal did not punish him./ * /Mary stayed
after school for a week, and after that the teacher let her off with a
clean slate./ Compare: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.
[clean sweep] {n. phr.} A complete victory. * /Our candidate for
the United States Senate made a clean sweep over his opponent./
[clean up] {v. phr.} 1. To wash and make oneself presentable. *
/After quitting for the day in the garage, Tim decided to clean up and
put on a clean shirt./ 2. To finish; terminate. * /The secretary
promised her boss to clean up all the unfinished work before leaving
on her Florida vacation./ 3. {informal} To make a large profit. * /The
clever investors cleaned up on the stock market last week./
[clean-up] {n.} 1. An act of removing all the dirt from a given set
of objects. * /What this filthy room needs is an honest clean-up./ 2.
The elimination of pockets of resistance during warfare or a police
raid. * /The FBI conducted a clean-up against the drug pushers in our
district./
[clear] See: COAST IS CLEAR, IN THE CLEAR, OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT
OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY, SEE ONE'S WAY CLEAR, STEER
CLEAR OF.
[clear-cut] {adj.} Definite; well defined. * /The president's new
policy of aggressive action is a clear-cut departure from his old
methods of unilateral appeasement./
[clear-eyed] {adj.} Understanding problems or events clearly; being
able to tell very well the results of a way of acting. * /Tom is very
clear-eyed. He knows he doesn't have much chance of winning the race,
but he will try his best./ * /He is a clear-eyed and independent
commentator on the news./
[clear one's name] {v. phr.} To prove someone is innocent of a
crime or misdeed of which he has been accused. * /The falsely accused
rapist has been trying in vain to clear his name./
[clear out] {v.} 1. To take everything out of; empty. * /When Bill
was moved to another class he cleared out his desk./ 2. {informal} To
leave suddenly; go away; depart. * /The cop told the boys to clear
out./ * /Bob cleared out without paying his room rent./ * /Clear out
of here! You're bothering me./ Compare: BEAT IT.
[clear the air] {v. phr.} To remove angry feelings,
misunderstanding, or confusion. * /The President's statement that he
would run for office again cleared the air of rumors and guessing./ *
/When Bill was angry at Bob, Bob made a joke, and it cleared the air
between them./
[clear the decks] {v. phr.} To put everything in readiness for a
major activity; to eliminate unessentials. * /The governor urged the
State Assembly to clear the decks of all but the most pressing issues
to vote on./
[clear up] {v.} 1. To make plain or clear; explain; solve. * /The
teacher cleared up the harder parts of the story./ * /Maybe we can
clear up your problem./ 2. To become clear. * /The weather cleared up
after the storm./ 3. To cure. * /The pills cleared up his stomach
trouble./ 4. To put back into a normal, proper, or healthy state. *
/The doctor can give you something to clear up your skin./ * /Susan
cleared up the room./ 5. To become cured. * /This skin trouble will
clear up in a day or two./
[clerk] See: ROOM CLERK or DESK CLERK.
[cliffdweller] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A city person who lives on
a very high floor in an apartment building. * /Joe and Nancy have
become cliffdwellers - they moved up to the 30th floor./
[clifihanger] {n.}, {informal} A sports event or a movie in which
the outcome is uncertain to the very end keeping the spectators in
great suspense and excitement. * /Did you see "The Fugitive"? It's a
regular cliffhanger./
[climb] See: SOCIAL CLIMBER.
[climb on the bandwagon] See: ON THE BANDWAGON.
[climb the wall] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To react to a
challenging situation with too great an emotional response,
frustration, tension, and anxiety. * /By the time I got the letter
that I was hired, I was ready to climb the wall./ 2. To be so
disinterested or bored as to be most anxious to get away at any cost.
* /If the chairman doesn't stop talking, I'll climb the wall./
[clinging vine] {n.} A very dependent woman; a woman who needs much
love and encouragement from a man. * /Mary is a clinging vine; she
cannot do anything without her husband./
[cling to one's mother's apron strings] See: TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S
APRON STRINGS.
[clip joint] {n.}, {slang} A low-class night club or other business
where people are cheated. * /The man got drunk and lost all his money
in a clip joint./ * /The angry woman said the store was a clip joint./
[clip one's wings] {v. phr.} To limit or hold you back, bring you
under control; prevent your success. * /When the new president tried
to become dictator, the generals soon clipped his wings./ * /Jim was
spending too much time on dates when he needed to study so his father
stopped his allowance; that clipped his wings./
[cloak-and-dagger] {adj.} Of or about spies and secret agents. *
/It was a cloak-and-dagger story about some spies who tried to steal
atomic secrets./ * /The book was written by a retired colonel who used
to take part in cloak-and-dagger plots./ (From the wearing of cloaks
and daggers by people in old adventure stories.) Compare: BLOOD AND
THUNDER.
[clock] See: AGAINST TIME or AGAINST THE CLOCK, AROUND THE CLOCK or
THE CLOCK AROUND, PUT BACK THE CLOCK or TURN BACK THE CLOCK, GO LIKE
CLOCKWORK or GO OFF LIKE CLOCKWORK, TURN THE CLOCK BACK.
[clock watcher] {n. phr.}, {informal} A worker who always quits at
once when it is time; a man who is in a hurry to leave his job. *
/When Ted got his first job, his father told him to work hard and not
be a clock watcher./
[close at hand] {adj. phr.} Handy; close by; within one's range. *
/My calendar isn't close at hand, so I can't tell you whether we can
come next week or not./ * /I always keep my pencils and erasers close
at hand when I work on a draft proposal./
[close call] or [shave] {n. phr.} A narrow escape. * /That sure was
a close call when that truck came near us from the right!/ * /When Tim
fell off his bicycle in front of a bus, it was a very close shave./
[closed book] {n.} A secret; something not known or understood. *
/The man's early life is a closed book./ * /For Mary, science is a
closed book./ * /The history of the town is a closed book./
[closed-door] {adj.} Away from the public; in private or in secret;
limited to a few. * /The officers of the club held a closed-door
meeting./ * /The committee decided on a closed-door rule for the
investigation./ Compare: IN PRIVATE.
[close down] or [shut down] {v.} To stop all working, as in a
factory; stop work entirely; also: to stop operations in. * /The
factory closed down for Christmas./ * /The company shut down the
condom plant for Easter./
[closed shop] {n. phr.} 1. A plant or factory that employs only
union workers. * /Our firm has been fighting the closed shop policy
for many years now./ 2. A profession or line of work dominated by
followers of a certain mode of thinking and behaving that does not
tolerate differing views or ideas. * /Certain groups of psychologists,
historians, and linguists often behave with a closed-shop mentality./
Contrast: OPEN SHOP.
[close in] {v.} To come in nearer from all sides. * /We wanted the
boat to reach shore before the fog closed in./ - Often used with "on".
* /The troops were closing in on the enemy.
[close its doors] {v. phr.} 1. To keep someone or something from
entering or joining; become closed. * /The club has closed its doors
to new members./ 2. To fail as a business; go bankrupt. * /The fire
was so damaging that the store had to close its doors./ * /Business
was so poor that we had to close our doors after six months./ Compare:
CLOSE THE DOOR. Contrast: OPEN ITS DOORS.
[close-knit] {adj.} Closely joined together by ties of love,
friendship, or common interest; close. * /The Joneses are a close-knit
family./ * /The three boys are always together. They form a very
close-knit group./
[close one's eyes] or [shut one's eyes] {v. phr.} To refuse to see
or think about. * /The park is beautiful if you shut your eyes to the
litter./ * /The ice was very thin, but the boys shut their eyes to the
danger and went skating./ Compare: OPEN ONE'S EYES.
[dose out] {v.} To sell the whole of; end (a business or a business
operation) by selling all the goods; also, to sell your stock and stop
doing business. * /The store closed out its stock of garden supplies./
* /Mr. Jones closed out his grocery./ * /Mr. Randall was losing money
in his shoe store, so he decided to close out./
[close quarters] {n. phr.} Limited, cramped space. * /With seven
boy scouts in a tent, they were living in very close quarters./
[close ranks] {v. phr.} 1. To come close together in a line
especially for fighting. * /The soldiers closed ranks and kept the
enemy away from the bridge./ 2. To stop quarreling and work together;
unite and fight together. * /The Democrats and Republicans closed
ranks to win the war./ * /The leader asked the people to close ranks
and plan a new school./
[close shave] See: CLOSE CALL.
[closet] See: SKELETON IN THE CLOSET.
[close the books] {v. phr.} To stop taking orders; end a
bookkeeping period. * /The tickets were all sold, so the manager said
to close the books./ * /The department store closes its books on the
25th of each month./
[close the door] or [bar the door] or [shut the door] {v. phr.} To
prevent any more action or talk about a subject. * /The President's
veto closed the door to any new attempt to pass the bill./ * /Joan was
much hurt by what Mary said, and she closed the door on Mary's attempt
to apologize./ * /After John makes up his mind, he closes the door to
any more arguments./ Contrast: OPEN THE DOOR.
[close to home] {adv. phr.} Too near to someone's personal
feelings, wishes, or interests. * /When John made fun of Bob's way of
walking, he struck close to home./ * /When the preacher spoke about
prejudice, some people felt he had come too close to home./
[close-up] {n.} A photograph, motion picture, or video camera shot
taken at very close range. * /Directors of movies frequently show
close-ups of the main characters./
[close up shop] {v. phr.} 1. To shut a store at the end of a day's
business, also, to end a business. * /The grocer closes up shop at 5
o'clock./ * /After 15 years in business at the same spot, the garage
closed up shop./ 2. {informal} To stop some activity; finish what you
are doing. * /After camping out for two weeks, the scouts took down
their tents and closed up shop./ * /The committee finished its
business and closed up shop./ Compare: CALL IT A DAY.
[clothes] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.
[clothing] See: WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
[cloud] See: EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, IN THE CLOUDS, ON
CLOUD NINE, UNDER A CLOUD.
[clover] See: FOUR-LEAF CLOVER, IN CLOVER or IN THE CLOVER.
[club] See: CHRISTMAS CLUB.
[cluck and grunt] {n.}, {slang}, {avoid it in restaurants} The
familiar restaurant dish of ham and eggs; since ham is made of pork
(and pigs grunt) and eggs come from hens (which cluck.) * /"I am sorry
I can't fix you an elaborate meal, but I can give you a quick cluck
and grunt."/
[clutch] See: RIDE THE BRAKE.
[coal] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE, HAUL OVER THE COALS or RAKE
OVER THE COALS, HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON ONE'S HEAD.
[coast is clear] No enemy or danger is in sight; there is no one to
see you. * /When the teacher had disappeared around the corner, John
said, "Come on, the coast is clear."/ * /The men knew when the night
watchman would pass. When he had gone, and the coast was clear, they
robbed the safe./ * /When Father stopped the car at the stop sign,
Mother said, "The coast is clear on this side."/
[coat tail] See: ON ONE'S COAT TAILS.
[cock] See: GO OFF HALF-COCKED also GO OFF AT HALF COCK.
[cock-and-bull story] {n. phr.} An exaggerated or unbelievable
story. * /"Stop feeding me such cock-and-bull stories," the detective
said to the suspect./
[cockeyed] {adj.} Drunk; intoxicated. * /Frank has been drinking
all day and, when we met, he was so cockeyed he forgot his own
address./
[cocksure] {adj.} Overconfident; very sure. * /Paul was cocksure
that it wasn 't going to snow, but it snowed so much that we had to
dig our way out of the house./
[C.O.D.] {n. phr.} Abbreviation of "cash on delivery." * /If you
want to receive a piece of merchandise by mail and pay when you
receive it, you place a C.O.D. order./
[coffee break] {n.} A short recess or time out from work in which
to rest and drink coffee. * /The girls in the office take a coffee
break in the middle of the morning and the afternoon./
[coffee hour] {n.} A time for coffee or other refreshments after a
meeting; a time to meet people and have refreshments. * /After the
business meeting we had a coffee hour./ * /The Joneses had a coffee
hour so their visitor could meet their neighbors./
[coffee table] {n.} A low table used in a living room. * /There
were several magazines on the coffee table./
[coffin nail] {n.}, {slang} A cigarette. * /"I stopped smoking,"
Algernon said. "In fact, I haven't had a coffin nail in well over a
year."/
[cog] See: SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR.
[coin money] or [mint money] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a lot of
money quickly; profit heavily; gain big profit. * /Fred coined money
with many cigarette vending machines and juke boxes./
[cold] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD, BLOW HOT AND COLD, CATCH COLD or TAKE
COLD, IN COLD BLOOD, OUT COLD, OUT IN THE COLD, PASS OUT(2),
STONE-COLD, STOP COLD, THROW COLD WATER ON.
[cold cash] or [hard cash] {n.} Money that is paid at the time of
purchase; real money; silver and bills. * /Mr. Jones bought a new car
and paid cold cash for it./ * * /Some stores sell things only for cold
cash./ Compare: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.
[cold comfort] {n.} Something that makes a person in trouble feel
very little better or even worse. * /When Tim lost the race, it was
cold comfort to him to hear that he could try again in two weeks./ *
/Mary spent her vacation sick in bed and Jane's letter about her trip
was cold comfort./
[cold feet] {n. phr.}, {informal} A loss of courage or nerve; a
failure or loss of confidence in yourself. * /Ralph was going to ask
Mary to dance with him but he got cold feet and didn't./
[cold fish] {n.}, {informal} A queer person; a person who is
unfriendly or does not mix with others. * /No one knows the new
doctor, he is a cold fish./ * /Nobody invites Eric to parties because
he is a cold fish./
[cold-shoulder] {v.}, {informal} To act towards a person; with
dislike or scorn; be unfriendly to. * /Fred cold-shouldered his old
friend when they passed on the street./ * /It is impolite and unkind
to cold-shoulder people./ Compare: BRUSH OFF(2), HIGH-HAT, LOOK DOWN
ONE'S NOSE AT.
[cold shoulder] {n.}, {informal} Unfriendly treatment of a person,
a showing of dislike for a person or of looking down on a person. -
Used in the cliches "give the cold shoulder" or "turn a cold shoulder
to" or "get the cold shoulder". * /When Bob asked Mary for a date she
gave him the cold shoulder./ * /The membership committee turned a cold
shoulder to Jim's request to join the club./
[cold snap] {n.} A short time of quick change from warm weather to
cold. * /The cold snap killed everything in the garden./
[cold turkey] {adv.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Abruptly and without
medical aid to withdraw from the use of an addictive drug or from a
serious drinking problem. * /Joe is a very brave guy; he kicked the
habit cold turkey./ 2. {n.} An instance of withdrawal from drugs,
alcohol, or cigarette smoking. * /Joe did a cold turkey./
[cold war] {n.} A struggle that is carried on by other means and
not by actual fighting; a war without shooting or bombing. * /After
World War II, a cold war began between Russia and the United States./
[collar] See: HOT UNDER THE COLLAR, ROMAN COLLAR, SAILOR COLLAR.
[collective farm] {n.} A large government-run farm made by
combining many small farms. * /The Russian farmers used to live on
collective farms./
[collector's item] {n.} Something rare or valuable enough to
collect or save. * /Jimmy's mother found an old wooden doll in the
attic that turned out to be a collector's item./
[College Boards] {n.} A set of examinations given to test a
student's readiness and ability for college. * /John got a high score
on his College Boards./ * /College Boards test both what a student has
learned and his ability to learn./
[color] See: CHANGE COLOR, GIVE COLOR TO or LEND COLOR TO, HAUL
DOWN ONE'S COLORS, HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR, NAIL ONE'S COLORS TO
THE MAST, OFF-COLOR or OFF-COLORED, SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS, SEE THE
COLOR OF ONE'S MONEY, SHOW ONE'S COLORS, WITH FLYING COLORS.
[color guard] {n.} A military guard of honor for the flag of a
country; also: a guard of honor to carry and protect a flag or banner
(as of a club). * /There were four Marines in the color guard in the
parade./ * /Bob was picked to be a color guard and to carry the banner
of the drum corps at the football game./
[color scheme] {n.} A plan for colors used together as decoration.
* /The color scheme for the dance was blue and silver./ * /Mary
decided on a pink and white color scheme for her room./
[comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB.
[come] See: CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE
COMES TO IT, EASY COME - EASY GO, FIRST COME - FIRST SERVED, GET
WHAT'S COMING TO ONE, HAVE IT COMING, HOW COME also HOW'S COME, IF
WORST COMES TO WORST, JOHNNY-COME-LATELY, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT
OF THE RAIN, KNOW IF ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME
OUT OF A BANDBOX, SHIP COME IN.
[come about] {v.} To take place; happen, occur. * /Sometimes it is
hard to tell how a quarrel comes about./ * /When John woke up he was
in the hospital, but he didn't know how that had come about./
[come a cropper] 1. To fall off your horse. * /John's horse
stumbled, and John came a cropper./ 2. To fail. * /Mr. Brown did not
have enough money to put into his business and it soon came a
cropper./ Compare: RIDING FOR A FALL.
[come across] {v.} 1. or [run across] To find or meet by chance. *
/He came across a dollar bill in the suit he was sending to the
cleaner./ * /The other day I ran across a book that you might like./ *
/I came across George at a party last week; it was the first time I
had seen him in months./ Compare: COME ON(3), RUN INTO(3b). 2. To give
or do what is asked. * /The robber told the woman to come across with
her purse./ * /For hours the police questioned the man suspected of
kidnapping the child, and finally he came across with the story./
[come again] {v.}, {informal} Please repeat; please say that again.
- Usually used as a command. * /"Harry has just come into a fortune,"
my wife said. "Come again? " I asked her, not believing it./ * /"Come
again," said the hard-of-hearing man./
[come alive] or [come to life] {v.} 1. {informal} To become alert
or attentive; wake up and look alive; become active. * /When Mr.
Simmons mentioned money, the boys came alive./ * /Bob pushed the
starter button, and the engine came alive with a roar./ 2. To look
real; take on a bright, natural look. * /Under skillful lighting, the
scene came alive./ * /The President came alive in the picture as the
artist worked./
[come along] {v.} To make progress; improve; succeed. * /He was
coming along well after the operation./ * /Rose is coming right along
on the piano./
[come a long way] {v. phr.} To show much improvement; make great
progress. * /The school has come a long way since its beginnings./ *
/Little Jane has come a long way since she broke her leg./
[come apart at the seams] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To become
upset to the point where one loses self-control and composure as if
having suffered a sudden nervous breakdown. * /After his divorce Joe
seemed to be coming apart at the seams./
[come around] See: COME ROUND.
[come at] {v.} 1. To approach; come to or against; advance toward.
* /The young boxer came at the champion cautiously./ 2. To understand
(a word or idea) or master (a skill); succeed with. * /The sense of an
unfamiliar word is hard to come at./
[come back] {v.}, {informal} 1. To reply; answer. * /The lawyer
came back sharply in defense of his client./ * /No matter how the
audience heckled him, the comedian always had an answer to come back
with./ 2. To get a former place or position back, reach again a place
which you have lost. * /After a year off to have her baby, the singer
came back to even greater fame./ * /It is hard for a retired prize
fighter to come hack and beat a younger man./
[comeback] {n.}, {v. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
A return call. * /Thanks for your comeback./
[come back to earth] or [come down to earth] {v. phr.} To return to
the real world; stop imagining or dreaming; think and behave as usual.
* /After Jane met the movie star it was hard for her to come back to
earth./ * /Bill was sitting and daydreaming so his mother told him to
come down to earth and to do his homework./ Compare: COME TO ONE'S
SENSES, DOWN-TO-EARTH. Contrast: IN THE CLOUDS.
[come between] {v.} To part; divide; separate. * /John's
mother-in-law came to live in his home, and as time passed she came
between him and his wife./ * /Bill's hot rod came between him and his
studies, and his grades went down./
[come by] {v.} To get; obtain; acquire. * /A good job like that is
hard to come by./ * /Money easily come by is often easily spent./ *
/How did she come by that money?/
[come by honestly] {v. phr.}, {informal} To inherit (a
characteristic) from your parents. * /Joe comes by his hot temper
honestly; his father is the same way./
[come clean] {v. phr.}, {slang} To tell all; tell the whole story;
confess. * /The boy suspected of stealing the watch came clean after
long questioning./
[comedown] {n.} Disappointment; embarrassment; failure. * /It was
quite a comedown for Al when the girl he took for granted refused his
marriage proposal./
[come down] {v.} 1. To reduce itself; amount to no more than. -
Followed by "to". * /The quarrel finally came down to a question of
which boy would do the dishes./ Syn.: BOIL DOWN(3). 2. To be handed
down or passed along, descend from parent to child; pass from older
generation to younger ones. * /Mary's necklace had come down to her
from her grandmother./
[come down hard on] {v.}, {informal} 1. To scold or punish
strongly. * /The principal came down hard on the boys for breaking the
window./ 2. To oppose strongly. * /The minister in his sermon came
down hard on drinking./
[come down in the world] {v. phr.} To lose a place of respect or
honor, become lower (as in rank or fortune). * /The stranger plainly
had come down a long way in the world./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK.
[come down off one's high horse] {v. phr.} To become less arrogant;
to assume a more modest disposition. * /The boastful candidate for
Congress quickly came down off his high horse when he was soundly
beaten by his opponent./
[come down on like a ton of bricks] {v. phr.}, {slang} To direct
one's full anger at somebody. * /When the janitor was late for work,
the manager came down on him like a ton of bricks./
[come down to earth] See: COME BACK TO EARTH.
[come down with] {v.}, {informal} To become sick with; catch. * /We
all came down with the mumps./ * /After being out in the rain, George
came down with a cold./
[come from far and wide] {v. phr.} To originate or hail from many
different places. * /The students at this university come from far and
wide and speak many languages./
[come full circle] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To become totally
opposed to one's own earlier conviction on a given subject. * /Today's
conservative businessperson has come full circle from former radical
student days./ 2. To change and develop, only to end up where one
started. * /From modern permissiveness, ideas about child raising have
come full circle to the views of our grandparents./
[come hell or high water] {adv. phr.}, {informal} No matter what
happens; whatever may come. * /Grandfather said he would go to the
fair, come hell or high water./ Compare: COME WHAT MAY, THROUGH THE
MILL.
[come home to roost] See: CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST.
[come in] {v.} 1. To finish in a sports contest or other
competition. * /He came in second in the hundred-yard dash./ 2. To
become the fashion; begin to be used. * /Swimming trunks for men came
in after World War I; before that men used full swim suits./
[come in for] {v.} To receive. * /He came in for a small fortune
when his uncle died./ * /His conduct came in for much criticism./
[come in handy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To prove useful. * /Robinson
Crusoe found tools in the ship which came in handy when he built a
house./ * /The French he learned in high school came in handy when he
was in the army in France./
[come into] {v.} To receive, especially after another's death; get
possession of. * /He came into a lot of money when his father died./ *
/He came into possession of the farm after his uncle died./
[come into one's own] {v. phr.} To receive the wealth or respect
that you should have. * /John's grandfather died and left him a
million dollars; when John is 21, he will come into his own./ * /With
the success of the Model T Ford, the automobile industry came into its
own./
[came natural] See: COME EASY.
[come of] {v.} 1. To result from. * /After all the energy we spent
on that advertising campaign, absolutely nothing came of it./ 2. To
become of; happen to. * /"Whatever became of your son, Peter?"/
[come of age] See: OF AGE.
[come off] {v.} 1. To take place; happen. * /The picnic came off at
last, after being twice postponed./ 2. {informal} To do well; succeed.
* /The attempt to bring the quarreling couple together again came off,
to people's astonishment./
[come off it] also [get off it] {v. phr.}, {slang} Stop pretending;
bragging, or kidding; stop being silly. - Used as a command. * /"So I
said to the duchess..." Jimmy began. "Oh, come off it," the other boys
sneered./ * /Fritz said he had a car of his own. "Oh, come off it,"
said John. "You can't even drive."/
[come off] or [through with flying colors] {v. phr.} To succeed;
triumph. * /John came off with flying colors in his final exams at
college./
[come off second best] {v. phr.} To not win first but only second,
third, etc. place. * /Our home team came off second best against the
visitors./ * /Sue complains that she always comes off second best when
she has a disagreement with her husband./
[come on] {v.} 1. To begin; appear. * /Rain came on toward
morning./ * /He felt a cold coming on./ 2. To grow or do well; thrive.
* /The wheat was coming on./ * /His business came on splendidly./ 3.
or [come upon]. To meet accidentally; encounter; find. * /He came on
an old friend that day when he visited his club./ * /He came upon an
interesting idea in reading about the French Revolution./ Syn.: COME
ACROSS, HAPPEN ON. 4. {informal} Let's get started; let's get going;
don't delay; don't wait. - Used as a command. * /"Come on, or we'll he
late," said Joe, but Lou still waited./ 5. {informal} Please do it! -
Used in begging someone to do something. * /Sing us just one song,
Jane, come on!/ * /Come on, Laura, you can tell me. I won't tell
anybody./
[come-on] {n.}, {slang} An attractive offer made to a naive person
under false pretenses in order to gain monetary or other advantage. *
/Joe uses a highly successful come-on when he sells vacant lots on
Grand Bahama Island./
[come one's way] {v. phr.} To be experienced by someone; happen to
you. * /Tom said that if the chance to become a sailor ever came his
way, he would take it./ * /I hope bad luck isn't coming our way./ *
/Luck came Bill's way today and he hit a home run./ Compare: GO ONE'S
WAY, IN ONE'S FAVOR.
[come on strong] {v. phr.}, {slang} To overwhelm a weaker person
with excessively strong language, personality, or mannerisms; to
insist extremely strongly and claim something with unusual vigor. *
/Joe came on very strong last night about the War in Indochina; most
of us felt embarrassed./
[come out] {v.} 1. {Of a girl:} To be formally introduced to polite
society at about age eighteen, usually at a party; begin to go to big
parties, * /In society, girls come out when they reach the age of
about eighteen, and usually it is at a big party in their honor; after
that they are looked on as adults./ 2. To be published. * /The book
came out two weeks ago./ 3. To become publicly known. * /The truth
finally came out at his trial./ 4, To end; result; finish. * /How did
the story come out?/ * /The game came out as we had hoped./ * /The
snapshots came out well./ 5. To announce support or opposition;
declare yourself (for or against a person or thing). * /The party
leaders came out for an acceptable candidate./ * /Many Congressmen
came out against the bill./ 6. See: GO OUT FOR.
[coming-out] {adj.} Introducing a girl to polite society. * /Mary's
parents gave her a coming-out party when she was 17./
[come out for] {v. phr.} To support; declare oneself in favor of
another, especially during a political election. * /Candidates for the
presidency of the United States are anxious for the major newspapers
to come out for them./
[come out in the open] {v. phr.} 1. To reveal one's true identity
or intentions. * /Fred finally came out in the open and admitted that
he was gay./ 2. To declare one's position openly. * /The conservative
Democratic candidate came out in the open and declared that he would
join the Republican party./
[come out with] {v. phr.} 1. To make a public announcement of; make
known. * /He came out with a clear declaration of his principles./ 2.
To say. * /He comes out with the funniest remarks you can imagine./
[come over] {v.} To take control of; cause sudden strong feeling
in; happen to. * /A sudden fit of anger came over him./ * /A great
tenderness came over her./ * /What has come over him?/
[come round] or [come around] {v.} 1. To happen or appear again and
again in regular order. * /And so Saturday night came around again./ *
/I will tell him when he comes round again./ 2. {informal} To get back
health or knowledge of things; get well from sickness or a faint./ *
/Someone brought out smelling salts and Mary soon came round./ * /Jim
has come around after having had stomach ulcers./ 3. To change
direction, * /The wind has come round to the south./ 4. {informal} To
change your opinion or purpose to agree with another's. * /Tom came
round when Dick told him the whole story./
[come through] {v.}, {informal} To be equal to a demand; meet
trouble or a sudden need with success; satisfy a need. * /When the
baseball team needed a hit, Willie came through with a double./ *
/John needed money for college and his father came through./
[come to] {v.} (stress on "to") 1. To wake up after losing
consciousness; get the use of your senses back again after fainting or
being knocked out. * /She fainted in the store and found herself in
the first aid room when she came to./ * /The boxer who was knocked out
did not come to for five minutes./ * /The doctor gave her a pill and
after she took it she didn't come to for two days./ Compare: BRING TO.
2. (stress on "come") To get enough familiarity or understanding to;
learn to; grow to. - Used with an infinitive. * /John was selfish at
first, but he came to realize that other people counted, too./ *
/During her years at the school, Mary came to know that road well./ 3.
To result in or change to; reach the point of; arrive at. * /Mr. Smith
lived to see his invention come to success./ * /Grandfather doesn't
like the way young people act today; he says, "I don't know what the
world is coming to."/ 4. To have something to do with; be in the field
of; be about. - Usually used in the phrase "when it comes to". * /Joe
is not good in sports, but when it comes to arithmetic he's the best
in the class./ * /The school has very good teachers, but when it comes
to buildings, the school is poor./
[come to a dead end] {v. phr.} To reach a point from which one
cannot proceed further, either because of a physical obstacle or
because of some forbidding circumstance. * /Our car came to a dead
end; the only way to get out was to drive back in reverse./ * /The
factory expansion project came to a dead end because of a lack of
funds./
[come to blows] {v. phr.} To begin to fight. * /The two quarreling
boys came to blows after school./ * /The two countries came to blows
because one wanted to be independent from the other./
[come to grief] {v. phr.} To have a bad accident or disappointment;
meet trouble or ruin; end badly; wreck; fail. * /Bill came to grief
learning to drive a car./ * /Nick's hopes for a new house came to
grief when the house he was building burned down./ * /The fishing boat
came to grief off Cape Cod./
[come to grips with] {v. phr.} 1. To get hold of (another wrestler)
in close fighting. * /After circling around for a minute, the two
wrestlers came to grips with each other./ 2. To struggle seriously
with (an idea or problem). * /Mr. Blake's leaching helps students come
to grips with the important ideas in the history lesson./ * /Harry
cannot be a leader, because he never quite comes to grips with a
problem./ Compare: COME TO TERMS(2).
[come to hand] {v. phr.} To be received or obtained. * /Father's
letter was mailed from Florida last week and came to hand today./ *
/The new books came to hand today./ * /New information about the boy's
disappearance came to hand yesterday./
[come to heel] See: TO HEEL.
[come to life] See: COME ALIVE.
[come to light] {v. phr.} To be discovered; become known; appear. *
/John's thefts from the bank where he worked came to light when the
bank examiners made an inspection./ * /When the old woman died it came
to light that she was actually rich./ * /New facts about ancient Egypt
have recently come to light./ Compare: BRING TO LIGHT.
[come to mind] {v. phr.} To occur to someone. * /A new idea for the
advertising campaign came to mind as I was reading your book./
[come to nothing] also {formal} [come to naught] {v. phr.} To end
in failure; fail; be in vain. * /The dog's attempts to climb the tree
after the cat came to nothing./
[come to one's senses] {v. phr.} 1. Become conscious again; wake
up. * /The boxer was knocked out and did not come to his senses for
several minutes./ * /The doctors gave Tom an anesthetic before his
operation; then the doctor took out Tom's appendix before he came to
his senses./ Compare: COME TO(1). 2. To think clearly; behave as usual
or as you should; act sensibly. * /A boy threw a snowball at me and
before I could come to my senses he ran away./ * /Don't act so
foolishly. Come to your senses!/ Contrast: OUT OF ONE'S HEAD.
[come to pass] {v. phr.}, {literary} To happen; occur. * /Strange
things come to pass in troubled times./ * /It came to pass that the
jailer visited him by night./ * /His hopes of success did not come to
pass./ Compare: BRING TO PASS, COME ABOUT.
[come to terms] {v. phr.} To reach an agreement. * /Management and
the labor union came to terms about a new arrangement and a strike was
prevented./
[come to the point] or [get to the point] {v. phr.} To talk about
the important thing; reach the important facts of the matter; reach
the central question or fact. * /Henry was giving a lot of history and
explanation, but his father asked him to come to the point./ * /A good
newspaper story must come right to the point and save the details for
later./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.
[come to think of it] {v. phr.}, {informal} As I think again;
indeed; really. * /Come to think of it, he has already been given what
he needs./ * /Come to think of it, I should write my daughter today./
[come true] {v.} To really happen; change from a dream or a plan
into a fact. * /It took years of planning and saving, but their
seagoing vacation came true at last./ * /It was a dream come true when
he met the President./ * /His hope of living to 100 did not come
true./
[come up] {v.} 1. To become a subject for discussion or decision to
talk about or decide about. * /"He was a good salesman, and price
never came up until the very last," Mary said./ * /The question of
wage increases came up at the board meeting./ * /Mayor Jones comes up
for reelection this fall./ 2. To be equal; match in value. - Used with
"to". * /The new model car comes up to last year's./ 3. To approach;
come close. * /We saw a big black bear coming up on us from the
woods./ * /Christmas is coming up soon./ * /The team was out
practicing for the big game coming up./ 4. To provide; supply;
furnish. - Used with "with". * /For years Jones kept coming up with
new and good ideas./ * /The teacher asked a difficult question, but
finally Ted came up with a good answer./
[come up in the world] or [rise in the world] {v. phr.} To gain
success, wealth, or importance in life; rise to a position of greater
wealth or importance. * /He had come up in the world since he peddled
his wife's baked goods from a pushcart./ Compare: GET AHEAD. Contrast:
COME DOWN IN THE WORLD.
[come up smelling like a rose] {v. phr.} To escape from a difficult
situation or misdeed unscathed or without punishment. * /A is
predicted that Congressman Brown, in spite of the current
investigation into his financial affairs, will come up smelling like a
rose at the end./
[come up to] {v. phr.} To equal. * /The meals cooked in most
restaurants do not come up to those prepared at home./
[come up with] {v. phr.} 1. To offer. * /We can always depend on
John Smith to come up with a good solution for any problem we might
have./ 2. To produce on demand. * /I won't be able to buy this car,
because I cannot come up with the down payment you require./ 3. To
find. * /How on earth did you come up with such a brilliant idea?/
[come upon] See: COME ON(3).
[come what may] {adv. phr.} Even if troubles come; no matter what
happens; in spite of opposition or mischance. * /Charles has decided
to get a college education, come what may./ * /The editor says we will
publish the school paper this week, come what may./
[comfort] See: COLD COMFORT.
[comfortable as an old shoe] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Pleasant and
relaxed; not stiff, strict or too polite; easy to talk and work with.
* /The stranger was as comfortable as an old shoe, and we soon were
talking like old friends./
[coming and going] or [going and coming] {adv. phr.} 1. Both ways;
in both directions. * /The truck driver stops at the same cafe coming
and going./ * /John was late. He got punished both going and coming;
his teacher punished him and his parents punished him./ 2. Caught or
helpless; in your power; left with no way out of a difficulty. - Used
after "have". * /If Beth stayed in the house, Mother would make her
help with the cleaning; if she went outside, Father would make her
help wash the car - they had her coming and going./ * /Uncle Mike is a
good checker player, and he soon had me beat coming and going./
Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.
[coming out] See: COME OUT(1).
[coming out party] {n. phr.} A debutante party in which a young
girl is formally introduced to society. * /Coming out parties used to
be more popular in the early twentieth century than nowadays,
primarily because they cost a lot of money./
[comings and goings] {n. pl.}, {informal} 1. Times of arriving and
going away; movements. * /I can't keep up with the children's comings
and goings./ 2. Activities; doings; business. * /Mary knows all the
comings and goings in the neighborhood./
[command module] {n.}, {Space English} 1. One of the three main
sections of the basic Apollo spacecraft. It weighs six tons and is
cone shaped. It contains crew compartments and from it the astronauts
can operate the lunar module (LM), the docking systems, etc. 2.
{Informal transferred sense.} The cockpit, the chief place where a
person does his most important work. * /My desk is my command module./
[commission] See: IN COMMISSION or INTO COMMISSION, OUT OF
COMMISSION.
[common] See: IN COMMON.
[common as an old shoe] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not showing off;
not vain; modest; friendly to all. * /Although Mr. Jones ran a large
business, he was common as an old shoe./ * /The most famous people are
sometimes as common as an old shoe./
[common ground] {n.} Shared beliefs, interests, or ways of
understanding; ways in which people are alike. * /Bob and Frank don't
like each other because they have no common ground./ * /The only
common ground between us is that we went to the same school./ Compare:
IN COMMON.
[common touch] {n.} The ability to be a friend of the people;
friendly manner with everyone. * /Voters like a candidate who has the
common touch./
[company] See: KEEP COMPANY, PART COMPANY.
[company man] {n.}, {informal} A worker who always agrees with
management rather than labor. - Usually used to express dislike or
disapproval. * /Joe was a company man and refused to take a part in
the strike./ Compare: YES-MAN.
[compare notes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To exchange thoughts or ideas
about something; discuss together. * /Mother and Mrs. Barker like to
compare notes about cooking./
[compliment] See: RETURN THE COMPLIMENT.
[conclusion] See: JUMP TO A CONCLUSION.
[condition] See: IN SHAPE or IN CONDITION, IN THE PINK or IN THE
PINK OF CONDITION, ON CONDITION THAT, OUT OF SHAPE or OUT OF
CONDITION.
[conference] See: PRESS CONFERENCE.
[congregate housing] {n.}, {informal} A form of housing for elderly
persons in which dining facilities and services are shared in multiple
dwelling units. * /Jerry put Grandma in a place where they have
congregate housing./
[conk out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To fall asleep suddenly
with great fatigue or after having drunk too much. * /We conked out
right after the guests had left./
[consent] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.
[consequence] See: IN CONSEQUENCE, IN CONSEQUENCE OF.
[consideration] See: IN CONSIDERATION OF.
[consumer goods] or [consumer items] {n.} Food and manufactured
things that people buy for their own use. * /In time of war, the
supply of consumer goods is greatly reduced./
[content] See: TO ONE'S HEART'S CONTENT.
[contention] See: BONE OF CONTENTION.
[contrary] See: ON THE CONTRARY, TO THE CONTRARY.
[control room] {n.} A room containing the panels and switches used
to control something (like a TV broadcast). * /While a television
program is on the air, engineers are at their places in the control
room./
[control tower] {n.} A tower with large windows and a good view of
an airport so that the traffic of airplanes can be seen and
controlled, usually by radio. * /We could see the lights at the
control tower as our plane landed during the night./
[conversation] See: MAKE CONVERSATION.
[conversation piece] {n.} Something that interests people and makes
them talk about it; something that looks unusual, comical, or strange.
* /Uncle Fred has a glass monkey on top of his piano that he keeps for
a conversation piece./
[conviction] See: HAVE THE COURAGE OF ONE'S CONVICTIONS.
[cook] See: SHORT-ORDER COOK, WHAT'S UP or WHAT'S COOKING.
[cook one's goose] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ruin someone hopelessly;
destroy one's future expectations or good name. * /The bank treasurer
cooked his own goose when he stole the bank's funds./ * /She cooked
John's goose by reporting what she knew to the police./ * /The
dishonest official knew his goose was cooked when the newspapers
printed the story about him./
[cook up] {v.}, {informal} To plan and put together; make up;
invent. * /The boys cooked up an excuse to explain their absence from
school./
[cool] See: PLOW ONE'S COOL.
[cool as a cucumber] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very calm and brave;
not nervous, worried, or anxious; not excited; composed. * /Bill is a
good football quarterback, always cool as a cucumber./
[cool customer] {n.} Someone who is calm and in total control of
himself; someone showing little emotion. * /Jim never gets too excited
about anything; he is a cool customer./
[cool down] or [cool off] {v.} To lose or cause to lose the heat of
any deep feeling (as love, enthusiasm, or anger); make or become calm,
cooled or indifferent; lose interest. * /A heated argument can be
settled better if both sides cool down first./ * /John was deeply in
love with Sally before he left for college, but he cooled off before
he got back./ * /Their friendship cooled off when Jack gave up
football./ * /The neighbor's complaint about the noise cooled the
argument down./
[cool one's heels] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be kept waiting by
another's pride or rudeness; be forced to wait by someone in power or
authority; wait. * /He cooled his heels for an hour in another room
before the great man would see him./ * /I was left to cool my heels
outside while the others went into the office./
[coon's age] See: DOG'S AGE.
[coop] See: FLY THE COOP.
[coop up] {v. phr.} To hedge in; confine; enclose in a small place.
* /How can poor Jane work in that small office, cooped up all day
long?/
[cop a feel] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To attempt to arouse
sexually by manual contact, usually by surprise. * /John talks big for
a 16 year old, but all he's ever done is cop a feel in a dark movie
theater./ Compare: FEEL UP. Contrast: COP A PLEA.
[cop a plea] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To plead guilty
during a trial in the hope of getting a lighter sentence as a result.
* /The murderer of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., copped a plea of
guilty, and got away with a life sentence instead of the death
penalty./
[cop out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To avoid committing
oneself in a situation where doing so would result in difficulties. *
/Nixon copped out on the American people with Watergate./
[cop-out] {n. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} An irresponsible excuse
made to avoid something one has to do, a flimsy pretext. * /Cowe on,
Jim, that's a cheap cop-out, and I don't believe a word of it!/
[copy cat] n. Someone who copies another person's work or manner. -
Usually used by children or when speaking to children. * /He called me
a copy cat just because my new shoes look like his./
[corn ball] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A superficially
sentimental movie or musical in which the word "love" is mentioned too
often; a theatrical performance that is trivially sentimental. * /That
movie last night was a corn hall./ 2. A person who behaves in a
superficially sentimental manner or likes performances portraying such
behavior. * /Suzie can't stand Joe; she thinks he's a corn ball./
[corn belt] {n.} 1. The Midwest; the agricultural section of the
United States where much corn is grown. * /Kansas is one of the slates
that lies within the corn belt./
[corner] See: AROUND THE CORNER, CUT CORNERS, FOUR CORNERS, OUT OF
THE CORNER OF ONE'S EYE.
[cost a bomb] or [an arm and a leg] {v. phr.} To be extremely
expensive. * /My new house has cost us an arm and a leg and we're
almost broke./
[cotton] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD also SITTING ON HIGH COTTON.
[cotton picking], [cotton-pickin'] {adj.}, {slang}, {colloquial}
Worthless, crude, common, messy. * /Keep your cotton picking hands off
my flowers!/ * /You've got to clean up your room, son, this is a
cotton-pickin' mess!/
[couch case] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person judged emotionally
so disturbed that people think he ought to see a psychiatrist (who,
habitually, make their patients lie down on a couch). * /Joe's divorce
messed him up so badly that he became a couch case./
[couch doctor] {n.}, {slang}, {colloquial} A psychoanalyst who puts
his patients on a couch following the practice established by Sigmund
Freud. * /I didn't know your husband was a couch doctor, I thought he
was a gynecologist!/
[couch potato] {n.} A person who is addicted to watching television
all day. * /Poor Ted has become such a couch potato that we can't
persuade him to do anything./
[cough up] {v.}, {slang} 1. To give (money) unwillingly; pay with
an effort. * /Her husband coughed up the money for the party with a
good deal of grumbling./ 2. To tell what was secret; make known. * /He
coughed up the whole story for the police./
[couldn't care less] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be indifferent; not
care at all. * /The students couldn't care less about the band; they
talk all through the concert./ Also heard increasingly as "could care
less" (nonstandard in this form.)
[counsel] See: KEEP ONE'S OWN COUNSEL.
[count] See: STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.
[countdown] {n.}. {Space English}, {informal} 1. A step-by-step
process which leads to the launching of a rocket. * /Countdown starts
at 23:00 hours tomorrow night and continues for 24 hours./ 2. Process
of counting inversely during the acts leading to a launch; liftoff
occurs at zero. 3. The time immediately preceding an important
undertaking, borrowed from Space English. * /We're leaving for Hawaii
tomorrow afternoon; this is countdown time for us./
[counter] See: UNDER THE COUNTER.
[count heads] or [count noses] {v. phr.}, {informal} To count the
number of people in a group. * /On the class picnic, we counted heads
before we left and when we arrived to be sure that no one got lost./ *
/The usher was told to look out into the audience and count noses./
[count off] {v.} 1. To count aloud from one end of a line of men to
the other, each man counting in turn. * /The soldiers counted off from
right to left./ 2. To place into a separate group or groups by
counting. * /The coach counted off three boys to carry in the
equipment./ * /Tom counted off enough newspapers for his route./
[count on] {v.} 1. To depend on; rely on; trust. * /The team was
counting on Joe to win the race./ * /I'll do it; you know you can
count on me./ * /The company was counting on Brown's making the right
decision./ Syn.: BANK ON. 2. See: FIGURE ON(2).
[count one's chickens before they're hatched] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To depend on getting a profit or gain before you have it; make plans
that suppose something will happen; be too sure that something will
happen. Usually used in negative sentences. * /When Jim said that he
would be made captain of the team, John told him not to count his
chickens before they were hatched./ * /Maybe some of your customers
won't pay, and then where will you be? Don't count your chickens
before they're hatched./
[count out] {v.} 1. To leave (someone) out of a plan; not expect
(someone) to share in an activity; exclude. * /"Will this party cost
anything? If it does, count me out, because I'm broke."/ * /When the
coach was planning who would play in the big game he counted Paul out,
because Paul had a hurt leg./ 2. To count out loud to ten to show that
(a boxer who has been knocked down in a fight) is beaten or knocked
out if he does not get up before ten is counted. * /The champion was
counted. out in the third round./ 3a. To add up; count again to be
sure of the amount. * /Mary counted out the number of pennies she
had./ 3b. To count out loud, (especially the beats in a measure of
music). * /The music teacher counted out the beats
"one-two-three-four," so the class would sing in time./
[count to ten] {v. phr.}, {informal} To count from one to ten so
you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off
action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong. * /Father
always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got
angry./ Compare: KEEP ONE'S HEAD. Contrast: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE
HANDLE.
[county mounty] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon}
Sheriff's deputy. * /The county mounties are parked under the bridge./
[courage] See: HAVE THE COURAGE OF ONE'S CONVICTIONS, SCREW UP
ONE'S COURAGE.
[course] See: IN DUE COURSE, MATTER OF COURSE, OF COURSE, PAR FOR
THE COURSE.
[court] See: DAY IN COURT, FRONT COURT, HOLD COURT, KANGAROO COURT.
[cousin] See: FIRST COUSIN, SECOND COUSIN.
[cover] See: FROM COVER TO COVER at FROM --- TO(3), UNDER COVER.
[cover a lot of ground] {v. phr.} To process a great deal of
information and various facts. * /Professor Brown's thorough lecture
on asteroids covered a lot of ground today./
[covered-dish supper] or [potluck supper] A meal to which each
guest brings a share of the food. * /Dolly made a chicken casserole
for the covered-dish supper./
[cover girl] {n.} A pretty girl or woman whose picture is put on
the cover of a magazine. * /Ann is not a cover girl, but she is pretty
enough to be./
[cover ground] or [cover the ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go a distance;
travel. * /Mr. Rogers likes to travel in planes, because they cover
ground so quickly./ 2. {informal} To move over an area at a speed that
is pleasing; move quickly over a lot of ground. * /The new infielder
really covers the ground at second base./ * /Herby's new car really
covers ground!/ 3. To give or receive the important facts and details
about a subject. * /If you're thinking about a trip to Europe, the
airline has a booklet that covers the ground pretty well./ * /The
class spent two days studying the Revolutionary War, because they
couldn't cover that much ground in one day./
[cover one's tracks] or [cover up one's tracks] {v. phr.} 1. To
hide and not leave anything, especially foot marks, to show where you
have been, so that no one can follow you. * /The deer covered his
tracks by running in a stream./ 2. {informal} To hide or not say where
you have been or what you have done; not tell why you do something or
what you plan to do. * /The boys covered their tracks when they went
swimming by saying that they were going for a walk./ Compare: COVER
UP(1).
[cover the waterfront] {v. phr.} To talk or write all about
something; talk about something all possible ways. * /The principal
pretty well covered the waterfront on student behavior./
[cover up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To hide something wrong or bad from
attention. * /The spy covered up his picture-taking by pretending to
be just a tourist./ * /A crooked banker tried to cover up his stealing
some of the bank's money by starting a fire to destroy the records./
Compare: COVER ONE'S TRACKS(2). 2. In boxing: To guard your head and
body with your gloves, arms, and shoulders. * /Jimmy's father told him
to cover up and protect his chin when he boxed./ 3. To protect someone
else from blame or punishment; protect someone with a lie or alibi. -
Often used with "for". * /The teacher wanted to know who broke the
window and told the boys not to try to cover up for anyone./ * /The
burglar's friend covered up for him by saying that he was at his home
when the robbery occurred./
[cover-up] {n.}, {slang} A plan or excuse to escape blame or
punishment; lie, alibi. * /When the men robbed the bank, their
cover-up was to dress like policemen./ * /Joe's cover-up to his mother
after he had been fighting was that he fell down./
[cow] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY COW, SACRED COW.
[cowboy] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who drives his car
carelessly and at too great a speed in order to show off his courage.
* /Joe's going to be arrested some day - he is a cowboy on the
highway./
[cow college] {n.}, {slang} 1. An agricultural college; a school
where farming is studied. * /A new, bigger kind of apple is being
grown at the cow college./ 2. A new or rural college not thought to be
as good as older or city colleges. * /John wanted to go to a big
college in New York City, not to a cow college./
[cows tail] {n.}, {dialect} A person who is behind others. * /John
was the cow's tail at the exam./ * /Fred was always the old cow's tail
for football practice./
[cozy up] {v.}, {slang} To try to be close or friendly; try to be
liked. - Usually used with "to". * /John is cozying up to Henry so he
can join the club./
[crack] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK or TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.
[crack a book] {v. phr.}, {slang} To open a book in order to study.
- Usually used with a negative. * /John did not crack a book until the
night before the exam./ * /Many students think they can pass without
cracking a book./
[crack a bottle] {v. phr.} To open a new bottle of alcoholic
beverage. * /On birthdays it is customary to crack a bottle and offer
one's best wishes./
[crack a joke] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a joke; tell a joke. *
/The men sat around the stove, smoking and cracking jokes./
[crack a smile] {v. phr.}, {informal} To let a smile show on one's
face; permit a smile to appear. * /Bob told the whole silly story
without even cracking a smile./ * /Scrooge was a gloomy man, who never
cracked a smile./ * /When we gave the shy little boy an ice cream
cone, he finally cracked a smile./
[crack down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To enforce laws or rules
strictly; require full obedience to a rule. * /After a speeding driver
hit a child, the police cracked down./ - Often used with "on". *
/Police suddenly cracked down on the selling of liquors to minors./ *
/The coach cracked down on the players when he found they had not been
obeying the training rules./
[crack of dawn] {n. phr.} The time in the morning when the sun's
rays first appear. * /The rooster crows at the crack of dawn and wakes
up everybody on the farm./
[cracked up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Favorably described or
presented; praised. - Usually used in the expression "not what it's
cracked up to be". * /The independent writer's life isn't always
everything it's cracked up to be./ * /In bad weather, a sailing cruise
isn't what it's cracked up to be./
[cracking] See: GET CRACKING - at GET GOING(2).
[crackpot] {n.}, {attrib. adj.}, {informal} 1. {n.} An eccentric
person with ideas that don't make sense to most other people. * /Don't
believe what Uncle Noam tells you - he is a crackpot./ 2. {attrib.
adj.} * /That's a crackpot idea./
[crack the whip] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get obedience or
cooperation by threats of punishment. * /If the children won't behave
when I reason with them, I have to crack the whip./
[crack up] {v.} 1. To wreck or be wrecked; smash up. * /The
airplane cracked up in landing./ * /He cracked up his car./ 2.
{informal} To become mentally ill under physical or mental overwork or
worry. * /He had kept too busy for years, and when failures came, he
cracked up./ * /It seemed to be family problems that made him crack
up./ 3. Burst into laughter or cause to burst into laughter. * /That
comedian cracks me up./
[cradle] See: ROB THE CRADLE.
[cradle robber], [cradle robbing] See: ROB THE CRADLE.
[cramp] See: WRITER'S CRAMP.
[cramp one's style] {v. phr.}, {informal} To limit your natural
freedom; prevent your usual behavior; limit your actions or talk. *
/He cramped his style a good deal when he lost his money./ * /Army
rules cramped George's style./
[crash dive] {n.} A sudden dive made by a submarine to escape an
enemy; a dive made to get deep under water as quickly as possible. *
/The captain of the submarine told his crew to prepare for a crash
dive when he saw the enemy battleship approaching./
[crash-dive] {v.} 1. To dive deep underwater in a submarine as
quickly as possible. * /We shall crash-dive if we see enemy planes
coming./ 2. To dive into (something) in an airplane. * /When the
plane's motor was hit by the guns of the enemy battleship, the pilot
aimed the plane at the ship and crash-dived into it./
[crash the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} To enter without a ticket or
without paying; attend without an invitation or permission. * /Bob got
into the circus without paying. He crashed the gate./ * /Three boys
tried to crash the gate at our party but we didn't let them in./
[craw] See: STICK IN ONE'S CRAW.
[crawl up] See: RIDE UP.
[crazy] or [mad] or [nuts about] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Excessively fond of; infatuated with. * /Jack is totally nuts about
Liz, but she is not too crazy about him./
[cream] See: VANISHING CREAM.
[cream of the crop] {n. phr.} The best of a group; the top choice.
* /May Queen candidates were lovely, but Betsy and Nancy were the
cream of the crop./ * /The students had drawn many good pictures and
the teacher chose the cream of the crop to hang up when the parents
came to visit./
[creature of habit] {n. phr.} A person who does things out of habit
rather than by thought. * /Our boss is a creature of habit, so let us
not confuse him with too many new ideas./
[credibility gap] {n.}, {hackneyed phrase}, {politics} An apparent
discrepancy between what the government says and what one can observe
for oneself. * /There was a tremendous credibility gap in the USA
during the Watergate years./
[credit] See: DO CREDIT.
[creek] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
[creep] See: THE CREEPS.
[creep up on] {v.} 1. To crawl towards; move along near the ground;
steal cautiously towards so as not to be seen or noticed. * /The mouse
did not see the snake creeping up on it over the rocks./ * /Indians
were creeping up on the house through the bushes./ 2. or [sneak up on]
To come little by little; arrive slowly and unnoticed. * /The woman's
hair was turning gray as age crept up on her./ * /Winter is creeping
up on us little by little./ * /The boys didn't notice the darkness
creeping up on them while they were playing./ Compare: COME OVER.
[crew] See: SECTION GANG or SECTION CREW.
[crew cut] or [crew haircut] {n.} A boy's or man's hair style, cut
so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. * /Many boys like
to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler./
[crisp] See: BURN TO A CRISP.
[crocodile tears] {n.} Pretended grief; a show of sorrow that is
not really felt. * /When his rich uncle died, leaving him his money,
John shed crocodile tears./ (From the old legend that crocodiles make
weeping sounds to attract victims and then shed tears while eating
them.)
[crook] See: BY HOOK OR BY CROOK.
[crop] See: CASH CROP, CREAM OF THE CROP, STICK IN ONE'S CRAW or
STICK IN ONE'S CROP.
[crop out] {v.} To appear at the surface; come through or show
through from hiding or concealment. * /Rocks often crop out in New
England pasture land./ * /A hidden hate cropped out in his words./
[cropper] See: COME A CROPPER.
[crop up] {v.} To come without warning; appear or happen
unexpectedly. * /Problems cropped up almost every day when Mr. Reed
was building his TV station./ * /Serious trouble cropped up just when
Martin thought the problem of his college education was solved./
Compare: TURN UP.
[cross] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, CARRY ONE'S CROSS, DOUBLE CROSS,
KEEP ONE'S FINGERS CROSSED at CROSS ONE'S FINGERS(1b).
[cross a bridge before one comes to it] {v. phr.} To worry about
future events or trouble before they happen. - Usually used in
negative sentences, often as a proverb. * /"Can I be a soldier when I
grow up, Mother?" asked Johnny. "Don't cross that bridge until you
come to it," said his mother./ Compare: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cross-check(1)] {v.} To test the truth of by examining in
different ways or by seeing different reports about. * /If you see
something in a book that may not be true, be sure to crosscheck it in
other books./
[cross-check(2)] {n.} The testing of the truth of by checking one
report against another or others. * /A cross-check with other books
will show us if this story is true./
[cross fire] {n.} 1. Firing in a fight or battle from two or more
places at once so that the lines of fire cross. * /The soldiers on the
bridge were caught in the crossfire coming from both sides of the
bridge./ 2. Fast or angry talking back and forth between two or more
people; also, a dispute; a quarrel. * /There was a cross fire of
excited questions and answers between the parents and the children who
had been lost in the woods./ * /The principal and the graduates
quarreled about the football team, and the coach was caught in the
cross fire and lost his job./
[cross one's fingers] {v. phr.} 1a. To cross two fingers of one
hand for good luck. * /Mary crossed her fingers during the race so
that Tom would win./ 11b. or [keep one's fingers crossed] {informal}
To wish for good luck. * /Keep your fingers crossed while I take the
test./ 2. To cross two fingers of one hand to excuse an untruth that
you are telling. * /Johnny crossed his fingers when he told his mother
the lie./
[cross one's heart] or [cross one's heart and hope to die] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To say that what you have said is surely true;
promise seriously that it is true. - Often used by children in the
longer form. Children often make a sign of a cross over the heart as
they say it, for emphasis. * /"Cross my heart, I didn't hide your
bicycle," Harry told Tom./ * /"I didn't tell the teacher what you
said. Cross my heart and hope to die," Mary said to Lucy./
[cross one's mind] or [pass through one's mind] {v. phr.} To be a
sudden or passing thought; be thought of by someone; come to your
mind; occur to you. * /At first Bob was puzzled by Virginia's waving,
but then it crossed his mind that she was trying to tell him
something./ * /When Jane did not come home by midnight, many terrible
fears passed through Mother's mind./
[cross one's path] {v. phr.} To meet or encounter someone; to come
upon someone more by accident than by plan. * /Surprisingly, I crossed
John's path in Central Park one afternoon./
[cross street] {n.} A street that crosses a main street and runs on
both sides of it. * /Elm Street is a cross street on Main Street and
there is a traffic light there./ Compare: THROUGH STREET.
[cross swords] {v. phr.}, {literary} To have an argument with;
fight. - Often used with "with". * /Don't argue with the teacher;
you're not old enough to cross swords with her./
[cross the wire] {v. phr.} To finish a race. * /The Russian crossed
the wire just behind the American./
[cross up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To block or upset; throw into
confusion or disorder. * /We were going to catch him at the gate, but
he crossed us up by going in the back way./ * /Father crossed up the
surprise party we had planned for him by not getting back in time./ 2.
To deceive or be false to. * /George crossed up his partner by selling
a lot of things secretly./
[crow] See: EAT CROW.
[crow before one is out of the woods] {v. phr.} To be glad or brag
before you are safe from danger or trouble. - Usually used in negative
sentences, often as a proverb, "Don't crow before you are out of the
woods." * /John thought his team would win because the game was almost
over, but he didn't want to crow before they were out of the woods./
Often used in a short form, "out of the woods". * /Mary nearly died
during the operation, and she is not out of the woods yet./
[crown jewels] {n. pl.} The crown, staff, and jewels used for the
crowning of a king or queen; the crown and jewels representing royal
power and authority. * /The crown jewels are handed down from one king
to the next when the new king is crowned./
[crow to pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.
[crust] See: UPPER CRUST.
[crux of the matter] {n. phr.} The basic issue at hand; the core
essence that one must face. * /The crux of the matter is that he is
incompetent and we will have to fire him./
[cry] See: FAR CRY, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HUE AND CRY.
[cry] or [scream bloody murder] {v. phr.} To bitterly and loudly
complain against an indignity. * /Pete cried bloody murder when he
found out that he didn't get the promotion he was hoping for./
[cry before one is hurt] or [holler before one is hurt] {v. phr.},
{informal} To complain when there is no reason for it; become upset
because you are worried or afraid. - Used in negative sentences. *
/When Billy went to the barber, he began to cry before the barber cut
his hair and his father told him not to cry before he was hurt./ -
Often used as a proverb. * /John was worried because he would soon
have a new boss. His mother said, "Don't cry before you're hurt!"/
Syn.: BORROW TROUBLE.
[cry buckets] {v. phr.} To shed an excessive amount of tears. *
/Grandma is crying buckets over the loss of our cat./
[cry for] or [cry out for] {v.}, {informal} To need badly; be
lacking in. * /It has not rained for two weeks and the garden is
crying for it./ * /The school is crying out for good teachers./
[cry out] {v.} 1. To call out loudly; shout; scream. * /The woman
in the water cried out "Help!"/ 2. To complain loudly; protest
strongly. - Used with "against". * /Many people are crying out against
the new rule./
[cry out for] See: CRY FOR.
[cry over spilled milk] or [cry over spilt milk] {v. phr.},
{informal} To cry or complain about something that has already
happened; be unhappy about something that cannot be helped. * /After
the baby tore up Sue's picture book, Sue's mother told her there was
no use crying over spilled milk./ * /You have lost the game but don't
cry over spilt milk./ Compare: MAKE ONE'S BED AND LIE IN IT, WATER
OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
[crystal ball] {n.} A ball, usually made of quartz crystal (glass)
that is used by fortune-tellers. * /The fortune-teller at the fair
looked into her crystal ball and told me that I would take a long trip
next year./ 2. Any means of predicting the future. * /My crystal ball
tells me you'll be making the honor roll./
[crystal gazing] {n.} The attempt to predict future events. * /The
magician's specialty was crystal gazing./
[cry uncle] See: SAY UNCLE.
[cry wolf] {v. phr.} To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that
you know is not there. * /The general said that the candidate was just
crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the
country./ (From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed
a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)
[cub scout] {n.} A member of the Cub Scouts, the junior branch of
the Boy Scouts for boys 8-10 years of age. * /Jimmie is only seven,
too young to be a Cub Scout./
[cucumber] See: COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
[cudgel] See: TAKE UP THE CUDGELS FOR.
[cudgel one's brains] See: BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT.
[cue in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To add new information to that which
is already known. * /Let's not forget to cue in Joe on what has been
happening./
[cuff] See: OFF-THE-CUFF, ON THE CUFF.
[culture vulture] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who is an avid
cultural sightseer, one who seeks out cultural opportunities
ostentatiously, such as going to the opera or seeing every museum in a
town visited, and brags about it. * /Aunt Mathilda is a regular
culture vulture; she spends every summer in a different European
capital going to museums and operas./
[cup] See: IN ONE'S CUPS.
[cup of tea] also [dish of tea] {n. phr.}, {informal} 1. Something
you enjoy or do well at; a special interest, or favorite occupation.
Used with a possessive. * /You could always get him to go for a walk:
hiking was just his cup of tea./ Compare: DOWN ONE'S ALLEY. 2.
Something to think about; thing; matter. * /That's another cup of
tea./ Compare: KETTLE OF FISH.
[curb service] {n.} Waiting on customers while they sit in their
cars. * /Families with small children often look for hamburger stands
that offer curb service./
[curiosity killed the cat] {informal} Getting too nosy may lead a
person into trouble. - A proverb. * /"Curiosity killed the cat,"
Fred's father said, when he found Fred hunting around in closets just
before Christmas./
[curl] See: PIN CURL.
[curl one's hair] {v. phr.}, {slang} To shock; frighten; horrify;
amaze. * /Wait till you read what it says about you - this'll curl
your hair./ * /The movie about monsters from another planet curled his
hair./
[curl up] {v.} 1a. To become curly or wavy. * /Bacon curls up when
it is cooked./ 1b. To roll oneself into a ball. * /Tim curled up in
bed and was asleep in five minutes./ 2. See: FOLD UP.
[current] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.
[curry favor] {v.} To flatter or serve someone to get his help or
friendship. * /Joe tried to curry favor with the new teacher by doing
little services that she didn't really want./ * /Jim tried to curry
favor with the new girl by telling her she was the prettiest girl in
the class./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.
[curve] See: THROW A CURVE.
[cut] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
[cut a class] {v. phr.} To be truant; to deliberately miss a class
and do something else instead. * /"If you keep cutting classes the way
you do, you will almost surely flunk this course," John's professor
said to him./
[cut a figure] {v. phr.} To make a favorable impression; carry off
an activity with dignity and grace. * /With his handsome face and
sporty figure, Harry cuts quite a figure with all the ladies./
[cut across] {v.} 1. To cross or go through instead of going
around; go a short way. * /John didn't want to walk to the corner and
turn, so he cut across the yard to the next street./ 2. To go beyond
to include; stretch over to act on; affect. * /The love for reading
cuts across all classes of people, rich and poor./
[cut-and-dried] {adj. phr.} Decided or expected beforehand;
following the same old line; doing the usual thing. * /The decision of
the judge was cut-and-dried./ * /The ways of the king's court were
cut-and-dried./ * /People at the convention heard many cut-and-dried
speeches./
[cut and run] {v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation.
* /When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to
cut and run./
[cut a swathe] {v. phr.} 1a. To mow a path through a field. * /The
farmer cut a swathe through the high grass with his scythe./ 1b. To
cut down as if by mowing. * /The machine gun cut a swathe in the lines
of enemy soldiers./ 2. {informal} To attract notice; make an
impression; seem important. * /The movie star cut a wide swathe when
he walked down the street./ * /John tries to show off and cut a big
swathe with the girls./ Compare: GO OVER(6), MAKE A HIT.
[cut back] {v.} 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full
speed. * /The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and
ran for a touchdown./ 2. To use fewer or use less. * /After the big
job was finished, the builder cut back the number of men working for
him./ * /The school employed forty teachers until a lower budget
forced it to cut back./
[cut back] {v. phr.} To diminish; lessen; decrease (said of
budgets). * /The state had to cut back on the university budget./
[cutback] {n.} An act of decreasing monetary sources. * /The
cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed./
[cut both ways] or [cut two ways] {v. phr.} To have two effects;
cause injury to both sides. * /People who gossip find it cuts both
ways./
[cut corners] {v. phr.} 1. To take a short way; not go to each
corner. * /He cut corners going home in a hurry./ 2. To save cost or
effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. * /John's father asked him
to cut corners all he could in college./ 3. To do less than a very
good job; do only what you must do on a job. * /He had cut corners in
building his house, and it didn't stand up well./
[cut down] {v.} To lessen; reduce; limit. * /Tom had to cut down
expenses./ * /The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking./
[cut down to size] {v. phr.}, {informal} To prove that someone is
not as good as he thinks. * /The big boy told John he could beat him,
but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size./ Syn.: PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE.
[cut ice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a difference; make an
impression; be accepted as important. - Usually used in negative,
interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /When Frank had found a
movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with him./ * /Jones is
democratic; a man's money or importance never cuts any ice with him./
* /Does comfort cut any ice with you?/ * /I don't know if beauty in a
woman cuts any ice with him./
[cut in] {v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a
line of cars, people, etc.; push in. * /After passing several cars,
Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident./ - Often used with
"on". * /A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to
brake quickly or she would have hit it./ * /The teacher beside the
lunch line saw Pete cut in, and she sent him back to wait his turn./
2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. * /While Mary and
Jim were talking on the porch, Mary's little brother cut in on them
and began to tell about his fishing trip./ * /While we were watching
the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who won the election./
Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on the shoulder and
claim the partner. * /Mary was a good dancer and a boy could seldom
finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./ - Often used with
"on". * /At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she
wanted to dance with Sally's handsome date./ 4. To connect to an
electrical circuit or to a machine. * /Harry threw the switch and cut
in the motor./ * /The airplane pilot cut in a spare gas tank./ 5.
{informal} To take in; include. * /When John's friends got a big
contract, they cut John in./
[cut into] {v.} 1. To make less; reduce. * /The union made the
company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits./ * /The other
houses got old and shabby, and that cut into the value of his house./
* /At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in and cut into
his lead./ 2. To get into by cutting in. * /She heard the other women
gossiping and cut into the talk./ * /While Bill was passing another
car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and Bill cut back
into line quickly./
[cut loose] {v.} 1. To free from ties or connections, cut the
fastenings of. * /The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its
anchor./ Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2. {informal} To break away from
control; get away and be free. * /The boy left home and cut loose from
his parents' control./ 3. {informal} To behave freely or wildly. *
/The men had come to the convention to have a good time, and they
really cut loose./ * /When he got the news of his job promotion, Jack
cut loose with a loud "Yippee!"/ Compare: LET GO(6).
[cut no ice] {v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; be
insignificant. * /The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut
no ice with this particular judge./
[cut off] {v.} 1. To separate or block. * /The flood cut the
townspeople off from the rest of the world./ * /The woods cut off the
view./ * /His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. To
interrupt or stop. * /The television show was cut off by a special
news report./ * /We were told to pay the bill or the water would be
cut off./ 3. To end the life of; cause the death of. * /Disease cut
Smith off in the best part of life./ 4. To give nothing to at death;
leave out of a will. * /Jane married a man her father hated, and her
father cut her off./ * /Frank's uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5.
To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. * /The ship cut off its
engines as it neared the dock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.
[cut off one's nose to spite one's face] {v. phr.} To suffer from
an action intended originally to harm another person. * /In walking
out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his
nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him
afterwards./
[cut offs] {n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts and
usually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e.g., considered
cool and elegant. * /Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./
[cut one's eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).
[cut one's losses] {v. phr.} To stop spending time, money, or
energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. *
/"Just cut your losses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get on with
the rest of your life."/
[cut one's teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).
[cut one's throat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To spoil one's chances;
ruin a person. * /He cut his own throat by his carelessness./ * /The
younger men in the company were cutting each other's throats in their
eagerness to win success./ * /John cut Freddie's throat with Mary by
telling her lies./
[cut out(1)] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop; quit. * /All right, now -
let's cut out the talking./ * /He was teasing the dog and Joe told him
to cut it out./ Compare: BREAK UP(3). 2. To displace in favor. * /Tony
cut Ed out with Mary./ * /John cut out two or three other men in
trying for a better job./
[cut out(2)] {adj.} 1. Made ready; given for action; facing. *
/Mary agreed to stay with her teacher's children all day; she did not
know what was cut out for her./ - Often used in the phrase "have one's
work cut out for one." * /If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he
has his work cut out fur him./ 2. Suited to; fitted for. * /Warren
seemed to be cut out for the law. It was clear very early that Fred
was cut out to he a doctor./
[cut rate(1)] {n.} A lower price; a price less than usual. * /Toys
are on sale at the store for cut rates./
[cut-rate(2)] {adj.} Sold for a price lower than usual; selling
cheap things. * /If you buy cut-rate things, be sure they are good
quality first./ * /John's brother bought a cut-rate bicycle at the
second-hand store./ * /There is a cut-rate drug-store on the corner./
[cut short] {v.} To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too
soon. * /Rain cut short the ball game./ * /An auto accident cut short
the man's life./ * /When Dick began to tell about his summer vacation
the teacher cut him short, saying "Tell us about that another time."/
[cut teeth] {v. phr.} 1. To have teeth grow out through the gums. *
/The baby was cross because he was cutting teeth./ 2. or [cut eye
teeth] {informal} To learn something very early in life; gain
experience; start by learning or doing. - Used with a possessive,
usually used with "on". * /The professional ball player cut his teeth
on a baseball bat in the sandlots./ * /Mr. Jones's company is building
the new Post Office in town but Mr. Jones cut his eye teeth as a
carpenter./
[cut the ground from under] {v. phr.} {informal} To make (someone)
fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for (a person) in
advance. * /Paul wanted to he captain but we cut the ground from under
him by saying that Henry was the best player on the team./ * /Several
workers applied for the retiring foreman's job, but the owner cut the
ground from under them by hiring a foreman from another company./
[cut the mustard] {v. phr.}, {slang} To do well enough in what
needs to be done; to succeed. * /His older brothers and sisters helped
Max through high school, but he couldn't cut the mustard in college./
[cut-throat] {adj.} Severe; intense; unrelenting. * /There is
cut-throat competition among the various software companies today./
[cut to pieces] {v. phr.} 1. To divide into small parts with
something sharp; cut badly or completely. * /Baby has cut the
newspaper to pieces with scissors./ 2. To destroy or defeat
completely. * /The soldiers were cut to pieces by the Indians./ *
/When Dick showed his book report to his big sister for correction,
she cut it to pieces./
[cut to the bone] {v. phr.} To make (something) the least or
smallest possible amount; reduce severely; leave out everything extra
or unnecessary from. * /Father cut Jane's allowance to the bone for
disobeying him./ * /When father lost his job, our living expenses had
to be cut to the bone./
[cut to the quick] {v. phr.} To hurt someone's feelings deeply. *
/The children 's teasing cut Mary to the quick./
[cut two ways] See: CUT BOTH WAYS.
[cut up] {v.} 1. {informal} To hurt the feelings of; wound. -
Usually used in the passive. * /John was badly cut up when Susie gave
him back his ring./ 2. {slang} To act funny or rough; clown, * /Joe
would always cut up if there were any girls watching./ * /At the party
Jim and Ron were cutting up and broke a chair./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.
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Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
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