 |
Полезное |
 |
|
|
Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
Словарь американских идиом 8000 единиц - Letter G.
[gab] See: GIFT OF GAB or GIFT OF THE GAB.
[gaff] See: STAND THE GAFF.
[gain ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go forward; move ahead. * /The
soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground./ 2. To become stronger;
make progress; improve. * /The sick man gained ground after being near
death./ * /Under Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground./
Contrast: LOSE GROUND.
[gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY.
[gallon] See: TEN-GALLON HAT.
[gallows' humor] {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very
serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. * /When the criminal
was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, "Nice way to
start the week, eh?"/
[game] See: AHEAD OF THE GAME, LOVE GAME, NAME OF THE GAME, PLAY
THE GAME, AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME.
[game at which two can play] {n. phr.} A plan, trick, or way of
acting that both sides may use. * /Rough football is a game two can
play./ * /Politics is a game at which two can play./
[game is not worth the candle] {literary} What is being done is not
worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not worth the effort. * /I
don't want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the
candle./
[game is up] or {slang} [jig is up] The secret or plan won't work;
we are caught or discovered. * /The game is up; the teacher knows who
took her keys./ * /The jig's up; the principal knows the boys have
been smoking in the basement./ Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE.
[gang] See: ROAD GANG, SECTION GANG.
[gang up on] or [gang up against] {v. phr.}, {informal} To jointly
attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in a group
against an individual. * /The class bully was stronger than all the
other boys, so they had to gang up on him to put him in his place./
Compare: LINE UP(4b).
[garbage down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speed
without much regard for manners or social convention. * /The children
garbaged down their food./
[garden apartment] {n.} An apartment with a garden near it. * /The
couple live in a garden apartment./
[garment] See: FOUNDATION GARMENT.
[gas] See: STEP ON IT or STEP ON THE GAS.
[gasket] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW A GASKET.
[gas up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of. * /The
mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip./ 2. To fill the
tank with gasoline. * /The big truck stopped at the filling station
and gassed up./
[gate] See: GET THE BOUNCE or GET THE GATE, GIVE THE BOUNCE or GIVE
THE GATE.
[gate crasher] See: CRASH THE GATE.
[gather] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.
[gather in] {v.}, {informal} To catch. * /The end gathered in the
pass and went over for a touchdown./
[gauntlet] See: RUN THE GAUNTLET, THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET.
[gay nineties] {n.} The years between 1890 and 1900; remembered as
a happy exciting time. * /Ladies wore large hats in the gay nineties./
* /Picnics were popular in the gay nineties./
[gaze] See: CRYSTAL GAZING.
[gear] See: HIGH GEAR, SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR, THROW OUT OF
GEAR.
[geese] See: FOX AND GEESE.
[gee whiz] {interj.}, {informal} Used as an exclamation to show
surprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English. * /Gee
whiz! I am late again./
[general] See: IN GENERAL.
[generation gap] {n.}, {informal}, {hackneyed phrase} The
difference in social values, philosophies, and manners between
children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack
of understanding between them and frequently leads to violent
confrontations. * /My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but we have
no generation gap in our family./
[generous to a fault] {adj. phr.} Excessively generous. * /Generous
to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her old
college./
[George] See: LET GEORGE DO IT.
[get] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, GO-GETTER, TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.
[get about] See: GET AROUND(1b).
[get a black eye] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a dark ring around the
eye after being hit by someone's fist or an object. * /In the
fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete./ * /Sue got a black eye when
she ran into a tree./ 2. To have one's character denigrated. * /Our
firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints that
were lodged against our product./
[get a break] {v. phr.} To receive a stroke of luck. * /Bill got a
break when he won the lottery./
[get across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to
make clear the meaning of. * /Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can
get across the plays./ Syn.: PUT ACROSS. 2. To become clear. * /The
teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get
across to the class./
[get after] {v.}, {informal} 1. To try or try again to make someone
do what he is supposed to do. * /Ann's mother gets after her to hang
up her clothes./ 2. To scold or make an attack on. * /Bob's mother got
after him for tracking mud into the house./ * /The police are getting
after the crooks in the city./
[get ahead] {v.} 1. {informal} To become successful. * /Mr. Brown
was a good lawyer and soon began to get ahead./ * /The person with a
good education finds it easier to get ahead./ 2. To be able to save
money; get out of debt. * /In a few more years he will be able to get
ahead./ * /After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get a
little money ahead and buy a car./
[get a load of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look at; see
(something unusual or interesting.) - Often used to show surprise or
admiration. * /Get a load of that pretty girl!/ * /Get a load of
Dick's new car!/ Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or with
interest, especially exciting news. - Often used as a command: /Get a
load of this: Alice got married yesterday!/
[get along] also [get on] {v.} 1. To go or move away; move on. *
/The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along./ 2. To
go forward; make progress; advance, * /John is getting along well in
school. He is learning more every day./ Syn.: GET AHEAD. 3. To
advance; become old or late. * /It is getting along towards sundown./
* /Grandmother is 68 and getting along./ 4. To get or make what you
need; manage. * /It isn't easy to get along in the jungle./ * /We can
get along on $100 a week./ Compare: DO WITHOUT(2), GET BY, MAKE DO. 5.
To live or work together in a friendly way; agree, cooperate; not
fight or argue. * /We don't get along with the Jones family./ * /Jim
and Jane get along fine together./ * /Don't be hard to get along
with./
[get a fix] or [give a fix] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To
provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. * /The neighborhood
pusher gave Joe a fix./ Contrast: GET A FIX ON.
[get a fix on] {v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distant
object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. * /Can you get a fix
on the submarine?/ Contrast: GET A FIX.
[get a grip on] {v. phr.} To take firm control of something. * /If
Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a grip on himself and
start working harder./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S GRIP.
[get a head start on] {v. phr.} To receive preliminary help or
instruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in a
favorable position compared to his or her peers. * /At our school,
children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special
program./
[get a kick out of] {v. phr.} To be greatly thrilled; derive
pleasure from. * /Tom and Many get a kick out of playing four hands on
the piano./
[get a line on] {v. phr.} To receive special, sometimes even
confidential information about something. * /Before Bill accepted his
new position, he got a line on how the business was being run./
[get a move on] {informal} or {slang} [get a wiggle on] {v. phr.}
To hurry up; get going. - Often used as a command. * /Get a move on,
or you will be late./
[get a raise] {v. phr.} To receive an increment in salary. *
/Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1./
[get a rise out of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To have some fun with (a
person) by making (him) angry; tease. * /The boys get a rise out of
Joe by teasing him about his girl friend./ 2. {vulgar}, {avoidable} To
be sexually aroused (said of males) * /Jim always gets a rise out of
watching adult movies./
[get (all) dolled up] See: DOLL UP.
[get along] or [on in years] {v. phr.} To age; grow old. * /My
father is getting along in years; he will be ninety on his next
birthday./
[get an earful] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hear more (of usually
unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. * /I asked how Tim
and his wife were getting along, and I certainly got an earful./
Contrast: SAY A MOUTHFUL.
[get around] {v.} 1a. To go to different places; move about. *
/Mary's father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington;
Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York./ * /Fred
broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches./ 1b. or [get
about] To become widely known especially by being talked about. * /Bad
news gets around quickly./ 2a. {informal} To get by a trick or
flattery what you want from (someone). * /Mary knows how to get around
her father./ 2b. {informal} To find a way of not obeying or doing;
escape from. * /Some people try to get around the tax laws./ * /John
did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but he got around that; he
drank a lot of water before his physical examination./
[get around to] {v.} To do (something) after putting it off; find
time for. * /Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next
Saturday./
[get at] {v.} 1. To reach an understanding of; find out the
meaning. * /This book is very hard to get at./ 2. To do harm to. *
/The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary./ Compare: GET
BACK AT. 3. To have a chance to do; attend to. * /I hope I have time
to get at my homework tonight./ Compare: GET TO(2). 4. To mean; aim
at; hint at. * /What was Betty getting at when she said she knew our
secret?/ * /What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it
is important to speak correctly./ Syn.: DRIVE AT. Compare: GET ACROSS.
[getaway car] {n. phr.} A vehicle parked near the scene of a crime
in which the criminals escape. * /The police intercepted the getaway
car at a major crossroads./
[get away] {v.} 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being
held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. * /As Jim was trying
the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom./ * /Someone left the door
open, and the puppy got away./ * /Mary tried to catch a butterfly, but
it got away from her./ * /The bank robbers used a stolen car to get
away./ * /If Mr. Graham can get away from his store this afternoon, he
will take Johnny fishing./ 2. To begin; start. * /We got away early in
the morning on the first day of our vacation./ * /The race got away to
a fast start./ Compare: GET OFF(3), START IN, START OUT.
[get away with] {v.}, {informal} To do (something bad or wrong)
without being caught or punished. * /Some students get away without
doing their homework./ See: GET BY(3).
[get away with murder] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something very
bad without being caught or punished. * /John is scolded if he is late
with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder./ * /Mrs. Smith
lets her children get away with murder./
[get a wiggle on] See: GET A MOVE ON.
[get a word in] or [get a word in edgewise] also [get a word in
edgeways] {v. phr.} To find a chance to say something when others are
talking. * /The little boy listened to the older students and finally
got in a word./ * /Mary talked so much that Jack couldn't get a word
in edgewise./
[get back at] {v.}, {informal} To do something bad to (someone who
has done something bad to you) hurt in return. * /John played a joke
on Henry, and next day Henry got back at him./ * /The elephant waited
many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper./ Syn.: PAY
BACK, SETTLE A SCORE, TIT FOR TAT. Compare: GET AT(2), GET EVEN.
[get back on one's feet] {v. phr.} To once again become financially
solvent; regain one's former status and income, or health. * /Max got
back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. Tom's business was
ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again./
[get behind] {v.} 1. To go too slowly: be late; do something too
slowly. * /The post office got behind in delivering Christmas mail./
Syn.: FALL BEHIND. Contrast: KEEP UP. 2. {informal} To support; help.
* /A club is much better if members get behind their leaders. * /We
got behind Mary to be class president./ Compare: BACK OF(3). 3.
{informal} To explain; find out the reason for. * /The police are
questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery./ Syn.:
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.
[get busy] {v. phr.} To accelerate the pace in one's activities. *
/We've got to get busy if we want to make the deadline./
[get by] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be able to go past; pass. * /The
cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get by./ 2. To
satisfy the need or demand. * /Mary can get by with her old coat this
winter./ * /The janitor does just enough work to get by./ Syn.: GET
ALONG(4). 3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. * /The soldier
thought he could get by with his dirty rifle./ * /The boy got by
without answering the teacher's question because a visitor came in./
Compare: GET AWAY WITH.
[get carried away with] See: CARRY AWAY.
[get couthed up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get oneself dressed up
neatly and look elegant and presentable. * /What are you getting all
couthed up for?/ (This derives from "uncouth" ("outlandish,
ill-mannered") by leaving off the prefix "un-".)
[get cracking] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To hurry up, to start
moving fast. (Used mostly as an imperative). * /Come on, you guys,
let's get cracking!/ (Let's hurry up!) Compare: GET GOING 2.
[get credit for] {v. phr.} To be given points of merit,
recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. * /Our
firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle./
Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR.
[get one down] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone) unhappy;
cause low spirits; cause discouragement. * /Low grades are getting
Helen down./ * /Three straight losses got the team down./ 2. To
swallow; digest. * /The medicine was so bitter I couldn't get it
down./ 3. To depress a person's spirit. * /Working at such an awful
job got Mike down./
[get down cold] {v. phr.} To memorize perfectly. * /Terry got the
text of his speech down cold./
[get down off your high horse] See: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.
[get down to] {v.}, {informal} To get started on, being on. * /Joe
wasted a lot of time before he got down to work./ * /Let's get down to
work./ Compare: GET AT(3), GET GOING, GET TO.
[get down to brass tacks] also [get down to cases] {v. phr.},
{informal} To begin the most important work or business; get started
on the most important things to talk about or know. * /The men talked
about little things and then got down to brass tacks./ * /A busy
doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks./
[get down to business] or [work] {v. phr.} To start being serious;
begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished. *
/Gentlemen, I'm afraid the party is over and we must get down to
business./
[get down to work] See: GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.
[get even] {v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. * /Mr. Johnson has a
lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something
bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. *
/Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ *
/Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he will
get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT.
[get going] {v.}, {informal} 1. To excite; stir up and make angry.
* /The boys' teasing gets John going./ * /Talking about her freckles
gets Mary going./ 2. or {chiefly British} [get cracking] To begin to
move; get started. * /The teacher told Walter to get going on his
history lesson./ * /The foreman told the workmen to get cracking./ *
/Let's get going. It's almost supper time./ Compare: GET DOWN TO, STEP
LIVELY.
[get gray hair] or [get gray] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become old
or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. - Often used
with "over". * /"If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray hair
over it," the coach said./ * /Naughty children are why mothers get
gray./ Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.
[get his or hers] {v. phr.} To receive one's proper reward or
punishment. * /Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he's been
seeing other women./
[get hitched] {v. phr.} To get married. * /After a long period of
dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched./
[get hold of] {v.} 1. To get possession of. * /Little children
sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves./ 2. To find a
person so you can speak with him. * /Mr. Thompson spent several hours
trying to get hold of his lawyer./
[get in] {v. phr.} 1. To be admitted. * /Andy wants to go to
medical school but his grades aren't good enough for him to get in./
2. To arrive. * /What time does the plane from New York get in?/ 3. To
enter. * /"Get in the car, and let's go," Tom said in a hurry./ 4. To
put in stock; receive. * /The store just got in a new shipment of
shoes from China./
[get in on] {v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become privy
to; be included. * /This is your chance to get in on a wonderful deal
with the new company if you're willing to make an investment./
[get in on the ground floor] {v. phr.} To be one of the first
members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm,
educational institution, etc. * /Elliott got in on the ground floor
and made a fortune at the company./ * /Mr. Smith who joined the new
college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as
its president after twenty years./
[get in on the] or [one's act] {v. phr.} To do something because
others are engaged in the same act; join others. * /John's business is
succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to get in on the
act./
[get in one's hair] See: IN ONE'S HAIR.
[get in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.
[get into] See: BE INTO SOMETHING.
[get into line] {v. phr.} To cooperate; conform. * /The maverick
members of the party were advised to get into line unless they wanted
to be expelled./ Contrast: OUT OF LINE.
[get in touch with] See: IN TOUCH.
[get involved with] See: BE INVOLVED WITH.
[get in with] {v. phr.} To join up with; begin to associate with;
be accepted by. * /He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound up
in jail./ * /She got in with her father's firm and made a successful
career of it./
[get in wrong] {v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of someone;
come into disfavor. * /Although he means well, Fred is always getting
in wrong with someone at the office./
[get it] {v.} 1. See: CATCH IT. 2. To understand; comprehend;
grasp. * /"I can't get it," John said. "Why do you spend so much on
clothes."/
[get it all together] {v. phr.} 1. To be in full possession and
control of one's mental faculties; have a clear purpose well pursued.
* /You've sure got it all together, haven't you?/ 2. Retaining one's
self-composure under pressure. * /A few minutes after the burglars
left he got it all together and called the police./ 3. To be well
built, stacked (said of girls and women.) * /Sue's sure got it all
together, hasn't she?/
[get it in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK.
[get it] or [something in] or [into one's head] {v. phr.} To become
possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. * /Jack got it into his
head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change
his mind./
[get lost] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away! - Used as a command. * /Get
lost! I want to study./ * /John told Bert to get lost./ Compare: DROP
DEAD.
[get mixed up] See: MIXED UP.
[get next to] See: BE CLOSE TO.
[get off] {v.} 1. To come down from or out of. * /The ladder fell,
and Tom couldn't get off the roof./ * /The bus stopped, the door
opened, and Father got off./ 2. To take off. * /Joe's mother told him
to get his wet clothes off./ 3. To get away; leave. * /Mr. Johnson
goes fishing whenever he can get off from work./ * /William got off
early in the morning./ 4. To go free. * /Mr. Andrews got off with a $5
fine when he was caught passing a stop sign./ 5. To make (something)
go. * /The halfback got off a lung pass./ * /John got a letter off to
his grandmother./ 6. To tell. * /The governor got off several jokes at
the beginning of his speech./
[get off cheap] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a lesser punishment than
one deserves. * /Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in
prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five
years./ 2. To pay less than the normal price. * /If you had your car
repaired for only $75, you got off cheap./ Contrast: GET AWAY WITH.
[get off easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have only a little trouble;
escape something worse. * /The children who missed school to go to the
fair got off easy./ * /John got off easy because it was the first time
he had taken his father's car without permission./
[get off it] See: COME OFF IT.
[get off one's back] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To stop
criticizing or nagging someone. * /"Get off my back! Can't you see how
busy I am?"/
[get off one's case] or [back] or [tail] {v. phr.} To stop
bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one. *
/"Get off my case!" he cried angrily. "You're worse than the cops."/
Contrast: ON ONE'S CASE.
[get off one's chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST.
[get off one's tail] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy, to start
working. * /OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking!/
[get off on the wrong foot] {v. phr.} To make a bad start; begin
with a mistake. * /Peggy got off on the wrong foot with her new
teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn't like it./
[get off the ground] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a successful
beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. * /Our plans for
a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come./
[get off the hook] See: OFF THE HOOK.
[get off to a flying] or [running start] {v. phr.} To have a
promising or successful beginning. * /Ron got off to a flying start in
business school when he got nothing but A's./
[get on] or [get onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To speak to (someone)
roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. * /Mrs. Thompson
got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean./ * /The fans got
on the new shortstop after he made several errors./ Syn.: JUMP ON. 2.
See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. * /Work seems harder these days; I'm
getting on, you know./
[get one's] See: GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE.
[get one's back up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become or make angry
or stubborn. * /Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong./ * /Our
criticisms of his actions just got his hack up./
[get one's brains fried] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {also used
colloquially} 1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive
length of time. * /Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in
the sun too long - they'll get their brains fried./ 2. To get high on
drugs. * /He can't make a coherent sentence anymore - he's got his
brains fried./
[get one's dander up] or [get one's Irish up] {v. phr.} To become
or make angry. * /The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go to
the store./ * /The children get the teacher's dander up when they make
a lot of noise./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE.
[get one's ducks in a row] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get everything
ready. * /The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row
before they went to camp./ * /Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his
trip./ Compare: LINE UP.
[get one's feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.
[get one's feet wet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To begin; do something
for the first time. * /The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and
I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be
afraid to get your feet wet," said Bill./ * /"It's not hard to dance
once you get your feet wet," said the teacher./
[get one's fingers burned] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS.
[get one's foot in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR.
[get one's goat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a person disgusted
or angry. * /The boy's laziness all summer got his father's goat./ *
/The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat./
[get one's hands on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON.
[get one's number] or [have one's number] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
find out or know what kind of person somebody is. * /The boys soon had
the new student's number./ * /The girls got their new roommate's
number the first week of school./
[get one's rear in gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To hurry up, to get
going. * /I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear./
[get one's second wind] See: SECOND WIND.
[get one's teeth into] or [sink one's teeth into] {v. phr.},
{informal} To have something real or solid to think about; go to work
on seriously; struggle with. * /After dinner, John got his teeth into
the algebra lesson./ * /Frank chose a subject for his report that he
could sink his teeth into./
[get one's tongue] See: CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE.
[get on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.
[get on one's good side] {v. phr.} To gain the favor of someone;
flatter or please another. * /A clever lobbyist knows how to get on
the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate./
[get on one's nerves] {v. phr.} To make you nervous. * /John's
noisy eating habits get on your nerves./ * /Children get on their
parents' nerves by asking so many questions./
[get on the ball] See: ON THE BALL.
[get on the bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[get on the good side of] See: ON THE GOOD SIDE OF.
[get on the stick] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; to
stop being idle and to start working vigorously. * /All right, man,
let's get on the stick!/ Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE'S TAIL.
[get on to one] {v. phr.} To figure someone out; understand what
someone else is up to. * /The FBI is on to Jim's secret trading with
the enemy./
[get one wrong] {v. phr.} To misinterpret; misunderstand another. *
/Don't get me wrong; I didn 't mean to criticize you./
[get] or [have one's say] See: DAY IN COURT.
[get out] {v. phr.} 1. Leave or depart. * /"Get out of here!" the
teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving student./ * /"Driver, I
want to get out by the opera."/ 2. To publish; produce. * /Our press
is getting out two new books on ecology./ 3. To escape; leak out. *
/We must not let the news about this secret invention get out./
[get out in the open] See: OUT IN THE OPEN.
[get out of] {v. phr.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. * /He got out
of jury duty because of his illness./ 2. To gain from; extract from. *
/Tom complained that he didn't get anything out of the course on
grammar./
[get out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY.
[get out of hand] See: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL.
[get over] {v.} 1. To finish. * /Tom worked fast to get his lesson
over./ 2. To pass over. * /It was hard to get over the muddy road./ 3.
To get well from; recover from. * /The man returned to work after he
got over his illness./ 4. To accept or forget (a sorrow or suprise.) *
/It is hard to get over the death of a member of your family./ * /We
could not get over the speed of Mary's recovery from pneumonia./
[get rattled] {v. phr.} To become confused, overexcited, or
nervous. * /The thief got so rattled when he saw the police following
him that he drove his car into a ditch./
[get rid of] See: RID OF.
[get set] {v. phr.} To get ready to start. * /The runners got set./
* /The seniors are getting set for the commencement./
[get short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.
[get something out of one's system] {v. phr.} 1. To eliminate some
food item or drug from one's body. * /John will feel much better once
he gets the addictive sleeping pills out of his system./ 2. To free
oneself of yearning for something in order to liberate oneself from an
unwanted preoccupation. * /Ted bought a new cabin cruiser that he'd
been wanting for a long time, and he says he is glad that he's finally
got it out of his system./
[get something over with] See: OVER WITH(1).
get something straight {v. phr.} To clearly comprehend an issue. *
/"Let me get this straight," Burt said. "You want $85,000 for this
miserable shack?"/
[get stoned] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very drunk or high on
some drug. * /Poor Fred was so stoned that Tom had to carry him up the
stairs./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND.
[get straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, GO LEGIT.
[get stuck] {v. phr.} 1. To be victimized; be cheated. * /The
Smiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it broke
down just two days after they got it./ 2. To become entrapped or
embroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to be
unable to free oneself. * /Last winter our car got stuck in the snow
and we had to walk home./ * /Poor Jeff is stuck in a terrible job./ *
/Tom and Jane are stuck in a bad marriage./
[get (all) the breaks] {v. phr.} To be fortunate; have luck. *
/That fellow gets all the breaks! He's been working here only six
months, and he's already been promoted to vice president!/
[get the air] See: GET THE BOUNCE(1).
[get the ax] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired from a job. * /Poor
Joe got the ax at the office yesterday./ 2. To be dismissed from
school for improper conduct, such as cheating. * /Joe got caught
cheating on his final exam and he got the ax./ 3. To have a quarrel
with one's sweetheart or steady ending in a termination of the
relationship. * /Joe got the ax from Betsie - they won't see each
other again./
[get the ball rolling] or [set the ball rolling] or [start the ball
rolling] {informal} To start an activity or action; make a beginning;
begin. * /George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a
new joke./ Compare: KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.
[get the better of] or [get the best of] {v. phr.} 1. To win over,
beat; defeat. * /Our team got the best of the visitors in the last
quarter./ * /George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers./ *
/When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get the
better of his good sense and hit the boy back./ * /Dave wanted to
study till midnight, but sleepiness got the best of him./ Compare: RUN
AWAY WITH(1). 2. or [have the best of] or [have the better of] To win
or be ahead in (something); gain most from (something.) * /Bill traded
an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal./ * /Our
team had the best of it today, but they may lose the game tomorrow./ *
/The champion had all the better of it in the last part of the fight./
Contrast: GET THE WORST OF.
[get the boot] or [the gate] or [the sack] See: GET THE AXE.
[get the bounce] or [get the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [get
the air] To lose one's sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover.
* /Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl./ * /Shirley
was afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went out
with other boys while he was away./ 2. or [get the sack] also [get the
hook] To be fired; lose a job. * /Uncle Willie can't keep a job; he
got the sack today for sleeping on the job./ * /You're likely to get
the bounce if you are absent from work too much./ Contrast: GIVE THE
BOUNCE.
[get the brush-off] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be paid no attention;
not be listened to or thought important. * /My idea for a party got
the brush-off from the other children./ 2. To be treated in an unkind
or unfriendly way; be ignored. * /Frank and Jane had an argument, so
the next time he telephoned her, he got the brush-off./ Compare: COLD
SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: BRUSH OFF.
[get the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
[get the eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be looked at, especially
with interest and liking. * /The pretty girl got the eye as she walked
past the boys on the street corner./ 2. To be looked at or stared at,
especially in a cold, unfriendly way. * /When Mary asked if she could
take home the fur coat and pay later, she got the eye from the clerk./
Contrast: GIVE THE EYE.
[get the feel of] {v. phr.} To become used to or learn about,
especially by feeling or handling; get used to the experience or
feeling of; get skill in. * /John had never driven a big car, and it
took a while for him to get the feel of it./ * /You'll get the feel of
the job after you've been there a few weeks./
[get the go-ahead] or [the green light] {v. phr.} To receive the
permission or signal to start or to proceed. * /We had to wait until
we got the go-ahead on our research project./
[get the goods on] or [have the goods on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To
find out true and, often, bad information about; discover what is
wrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. * /Tell the truth, Johnny.
We know who your girl is because we've got the goods on you./ * /The
police had the goods on the burglar before he came to trial./ Compare:
HAVE SOMETHING ON.
[get the hook] See: GET THE BOUNCE(2).
[get the inside track] See: INSIDE TRACK.
[get the jitters] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or excited. * /I
always get the jitters when I sit in an airplane that's about to take
off./
[get the jump on] or [have the jump on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get
ahead of; start before (others); have an advantage over. * /Don't let
the other boys get the jump on you at the beginning of the race./ *
/Our team got the jump on their rivals in the first minutes of play,
and held the lead to win./
[get the last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.
[get the lead out of one's pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy;
work faster. * /The captain told the sailors to get the lead out of
their pants./ * /The coach told the players to get the lead out of
their pants./
[get the lowdown on] {v. phr.} To receive the full inside
information on a person or thing. * /We need to get the lowdown on
Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him./
[get the message] or [get the word] {v. phr.}, {slang} To
understand clearly what is meant. * /The principal talked to the
students about being on time, and most of them got the message./ *
/Mary hinted to her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, but he
didn't gel the message./ Compare: THE PICTURE.
[get the picture] See: THE PICTURE.
[get the runaround] See: RUN AROUND.
[get the sack] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired or dismissed from
work. * /John got the sack at the factory last week./ 2. To be told by
one's lover that the relationship is over. * /Joanna gave Sam the
sack./ See: GET THE AX and GET THE BOUNCE(2).
[get the show on the road]{v. phr.}, {informal} To start a program;
get work started. * /It was several years before the rocket scientists
got the show on the road./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.
[get the third degree] See: THIRD DEGREE.
[get the upper hand on] See: UPPER HAND.
[get the word] See: GET THE MESSAGE.
[get the works] See: THE WORKS.
[get the worst of] also [have the worst of] {v. phr.} To lose; be
defeated or beaten in; suffer most. * /Joe got the worst of the
argument with Molly./ - Often used in the phrase "the worst of it". *
/If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it./ * /Bill
had the worst of it in his race with Al./ * /Jack traded his knife for
a few marbles; he got the worst of it in that trade./ * /The driver of
the car got the worst of it in the accident./ Contrast: GET THE BETTER
OF(2).
[get through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish. * /Barry got through his
homework by late evening./ 2. To pass a course or an examination. * /I
got through every one of my courses except mathematics./
[get through one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To understand or believe. *
/Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let
him go to camp if his grades didn't improve./ * /At last Mary got it
through her head that she had failed to pass the test./ 2. To make
someone understand or believe. * /I'll get it through his head if it
takes all night./
[get through to] {v.} To be understood by; make (someone)
understand. * /The little boy could not get through to his
housemother./ * /Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to
strangers./ * /When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a
long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work
and support himself./
[get to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin by chance; begin to. -
Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. * /George meant to save his
dollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste,
and he spent it./ * /On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around in
the attic and found some old pictures of Father./ * /I got to know
Mary at the party./ * /I was just getting to know John when he moved
away./ Compare: TAKE TO(2). 2. To have a chance to; be able to. * /The
Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they
didn't get to./ * /Did you get to see the king?/ Compare: GET AT(3).
3. See: HAVE TO.
[get to first base] or [reach first base] {v. phr.} To make a good
start; really begin; succeed, * /Joe had a long paper to write for
history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn't got to
first base yet./ * /Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even
get to first base with her?/ * /George wants to go to college and
become a teacher, but I'll be surprised if he even reaches first
base./ * /If you don't dress neatly, you won't get to first base when
you look for a job./ Compare: FIRST BASE.
[get together] {v.} To come to an agreement; agree. * /Mother says
I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the
lawn. Why don't you two get together?/
[get-together] {n.} A party; a gathering. * /I hate to break up
this nice get-together but we must leave./ * /We manage to have a
get-together with our old friends once or twice a year./
[get to the bottom of] {v. phr.} To find out the real cause of. *
/The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottom
of the trouble./ * /The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom
of the man's headaches./ Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF.
[get to the heart of] {v. phr.} To find the most important facts
about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing
about. * /You can often get to the heart of people's unhappiness by
letting them talk./ * /"If you can find a topic sentence, often it
will help you get to the heart of the paragraph," said the teacher./
[get to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT.
[get two strikes against one] See: TWO STRIKES AGAINST.
[get underway] {v. phr.} To set out on a journey; start going. *
/We are delighted that our new Ph.D. program finally got underway./
[get under one's skin] {v. phr.} To bother; upset. * /The students
get under Mary's skin by talking about her freckles./ * /Children who
talk too much in class get under the teacher's skin./
[get up] {v.} 1. To get out of bed. * /John's mother told him that
it was time to get up./ 2. To stand up; get to your feet. * /A man
should get up when a woman comes into the room./ 3. To prepare; get
ready. * /Mary got up a picnic for her visitor./ * /The students got
up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school's 50th
birthday./ 4. To dress up. * /One of the girls got herself up as a
witch for the Halloween party./ 5. To go ahead. * /The wagon driver
shouted, "Get up!" to his horses./
[get up] or [rise with the chickens] {v. phr.} To rise very early
in the morning. * /All the farmers in this village get up with the
chickens./ Contrast: GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS.
[get-up] {n.} (stress on "get") Fancy dress or costume. * /Some
get-up you're wearing!/
[get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get] {n. phr.}, {informal}
Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. *
/Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through
school./
[get up on the wrong side of the bed] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
awake with a bad temper. * /Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed
and wouldn't eat breakfast./ * /The man went to bed very late and got
up on the wrong side of the bed./
[get up the nerve] {v. phr.} To build up your courage until you are
brave enough; become brave enough. * /Jack got up the nerve to ask
Ruth to dance with him./ * /The hungry little boy got up nerve to ask
for another piece of cake./
[get used to] See: USED TO.
[get warmed up] See: WARM UP.
[get what's coming to one] or {slang} [get one's] {v. phr.} To
receive the good or bad that you deserve; get what is due to you; get
your share. * /At the end of the movie the villain got what was coming
to him and was put in jail./ * /John didn't think he was getting what
was coming to him, so he quit the job./ * /Mother told Mary that she'd
get hers if she kept on being naughty./ Compare: CATCH IT, HAVE IT
COMING, SERVE RIGHT.
[get wind of] {v. phr.} To get news of; hear rumors about; find out
about. * /The police got wind of the plans to rob the bank./ * /The
captain didn't want the sailors to get wind of where the ship was
going./
[get wise] {v. phr.}, {slang} To learn about something kept secret
from you; become alert. * /One girl pretended to be sick on gym days
when she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her go
anyway./ - Often used with "to". * /The boys got wise to Jack's
fondness for bubble gum./ * /If you don't get wise to yourself and
start studying, you will fail the course./ Compare: CATCH ON, SEE
THROUGH. Contrast: IN THE DARK.
[get with it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To pay attention; be alive or
alert; get busy. * /The students get with it just before
examinations./ * /The coach told the team to get with it./ Compare: ON
THE BALL.
[ghost] See: GIVE UP THE GHOST.
[ghost of a] Least trace of; slightest resemblance to; smallest bit
even of; a very little. Usually used with "chance" or "idea" in
negative sentences, or with "smile". * /There wasn't a ghost of a
chance that Jack would win./ * /We didn't have the ghost of an idea
where to look for John./ * /The teacher scolded Harold for drawing a
funny picture on the chalkboard, but she had a ghost of a smile./
Compare: FAT CHANCE.
[ghost-writer] {n.} A writer whose identity remains a secret and
who writes for another who receives all the credit. * /It is rumored
that John Smith's best-selling novel was written by a ghost-writer./
[gift of gab] or [gift of the gab] {n. phr.}, {informal} Skill in
talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe
you. * /Many men get elected because of their gift of gab./ * /Mr.
Taylor's gift of gab helped him get a good job./
[gild the lily] also [paint the lily] {v. phr.} To add
unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. * /To
talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily./ * /For the
beautiful girl to use makeup would be to gild the lily./ * /Frank's
father is a millionaire, but Frank gilds the lily by saying he is a
billionaire./
[gill] See: FED TO THE GILLS at FED UP, GREEN AROUND THE GILLS or
PALE AROUND THE GILLS.
[gilt-edged] {adj.} Of the highest quality. * /Government saving
bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment./
[gin mill] {n.}, {slang} A bar where liquor is sold. * /Rush Street
in Chicago is full of gin mills./ Syn.: SPEAKEASY.
[G.I.] or ["government issue"] {n.} An American soldier. * /After
the war many GI's were able to get a free education./
[gird one's loins] {v. phr.}, {literary} To prepare for action; get
ready for a struggle or hard work. * /David girded up his loins and
went out to meet the giant Goliath./ * /Seniors must gird their loins
for the battles of life./
[girl Friday] {n.} A very dependable and helpful female office
worker; especially a secretary. * /Miss Johnson is the manager's girl
Friday./ * /There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl
Friday./
[girl friend] {n.}, {informal} 1. A female friend or companion. *
/Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend's house./ 2. A boy's
steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl;
sweetheart. * /John is taking his girl friend to the dance./ Contrast:
BOYFRIEND.
[give] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT.
[give a buzz] See: GIVE A RING.
[give a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER.
[give a hand] See: LEND A HAND.
[give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have any
interest or liking; care. - Used also with other words in the place of
"hang", such as "damn", "rap", "straw"; usually used in the negative.
* /You can quit helping me if you want to. I don't give a hang./ *
/Some people don't care a rap about sports./ * /Bruce never goes to
the dances; he does not care a straw about dancing./
[give a hard time] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give trouble by what
you do or say; complain. * /Jane gave her mother a hard time on the
bus by fighting with her sister and screaming./ * /Don't give me a
hard time, George. I'm doing my best on this job./ Compare: GIVE FITS.
2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid. * /Don't give me a
hard time, boys. I'm trying to study./ Compare: ACT UP, IN ONE'S HAIR.
[give-and-take] {n. phr.} 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back
and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of
part of what each one wants so that they can agree. * /Jimmy is too
selfish. He has no notion of give-and-take with the other children but
wants everything for himself./ * /There has to be give-and-take
between two countries before they can be friends./ Compare: LIVE AND
LET LIVE. 2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly
sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing
remarks. * /After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about
plans for the dance./
[give an ear to] or [lend an ear to] {v. phr.}, {literary} To
listen to. * /Children should give an ear to their parents' advice./ *
/The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people./
[give a pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make (you) disgusted; annoy. *
/Ann's laziness gives her mother a pain./ * /John's bad manners give
his teacher a pain./ Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK.
[give as good as one gets] {v. phr.} To be able to give back blow
for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. * /The
Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English./ *
/George gave as good as he got in his fight with the older boy./
Compare: EYE FOR AN EYE, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY.
[give away] {v.} 1. To give as a present. * /Mrs. Jones has several
kittens to give away./ 2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the
wedding. * /Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter./ 3. To let (a secret)
become known; tell the secret of. * /The little boy gave away his
hiding place when he coughed./ * /Mary said she didn't care anything
about John, but her blushing face gave her away./ Compare: SPILL THE
BEANS, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 4. See: GIVE ONESELF AWAY.
[giveaway] or [dead giveaway] {n.} (stress on "give") 1. An open
secret. * /By mid-afternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss
would be./ 2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for
much less than their market value. * /The Simpson's garage sale was
actually a big giveaway./ 3. A gift; something one doesn't have to pay
for. * /The tickets to the concert were a giveaway./
[give a wide berth] {v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe
distance from. * /Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ * /Jack
gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ * /After Tom got Bob
into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./
[give birth to] {v. phr.} 1. To bear live offspring. * /The mother
gave birth to twin baby girls./ 2. To bring about; create; occasion. *
/Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony./
[give chase] {v. phr.} To chase or run after someone or something.
* /The dog saw a rabbit and gave chase./ * /The policeman gave chase
to the man who robbed the bank./
[give color to] or [lend color to] {v. phr.} To make (something)
seem true or likely. * /The boy's torn clothes gave color to his story
of a fight./ * /The way the man ate lent color to his story of near
starvation./
[give credence to] {v. phr.} 1. To be willing to believe that
something is true. * /Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used
to be a convict./ * /Give no credence to the rumor that our state is
bankrupt; nothing could be farther from the truth./
[give fits] {v. phr.} {informal} To upset; bother very much. *
/Paul's higher grades give John fits./ * /The short guard gave his
tall opponent fits./ Compare: GIVE A HARD TIME.
[give forth] {v. phr.} To emit; produce. * /When the gong was
struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound./
[give free rein to] See: GIVE REIN TO.
[give gray hair] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) anxious,
confused, or worried. * /The traffic problem is enough to give a
policeman gray hairs./ Compare: GET GRAY HAIR.
[give ground] {v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back;
retreat. * /After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give
ground./ * /Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men
refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND.
Contrast: HOLD ONE'S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STAND PAT,
STAVE OFF.
[give her the gun] See: GIVE IT THE GUN.
[give in] {v.} To stop fighting or arguing and do as the other
person wants; give someone his own way; stop opposing someone. *
/Mother kept inviting Mrs. Smith to stay for lunch, and finally she
gave in./ * /After Billy proved that he could ride a bicycle safely,
his father gave in to him and bought him one./ Compare: GIVE UP, SAY
UNCLE.
[give it some thought] {v. phr.} To wait and see; consider
something after some time has elapsed. * /"Will you buy my car?" Fred
asked. "Let me give it some thought," Jim answered./ Contrast: SLEEP
ON.
[give it the gun] or [give her the gun] {v. phr.}, {slang} To gun
or speed up a motor; make a car, airplane, or something driven by a
motor go faster. * /The race driver gave it the gun./ * /The speedboat
pilot gave her the gun./ Compare: STEP ON IT.
[give it to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat.
* /The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent./
Syn.: LET HAVE IT. 2. To scold. * /Jerry's mother gave it to him for
coming home late./ Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LACE INTO.
Contrast: CATCH IT.
[give it to one straight] {v. phr.} To be direct; be frank. * /I
asked the doctor to give it to me straight how long I have to live./
[give no quarter] {v. phr.} To be ruthless and show no mercy. *
/The enemy soldiers gave no quarter and shot all the prisoners./
[give notice] {v. phr.} To inform an employer, an employee, a
landlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement of
service or tenancy. * /Max gave notice at the bank where he was
working./ * /Sally was given notice by her landlord./
[given to] {adj. phr.} Having a tendency to; addicted to. * /Phil
is given to telling fantastic tales about his chateau in France./
[give off] {v.} To send out; let out; put forth. * /Rotten eggs
give off a bad smell./ * /Burning leaves give off thick smoke./ Syn.:
GIVE OUT(2).
[give of oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To give your time and
effort to help others. * /You should give of yourself sometimes./ *
/During World War II, Governor Baldwin gave of himself by sweeping the
halls of a hospital every afternoon./
[give one a dressing down] See: DRESSING DOWN.
[give one a free hand] See: FREE HAND.
[give one a (good) going-over] See: GO OVER(1).
[give one a lift] {v. phr.} 1. To give someone a ride. * /Jack gave
me a lift in his new car./ 2. To comfort someone. * /Talking to my
doctor yesterday gave me a lift./
[give one an inch, and he will take a mile] If you give some people
a little or yield anything, they will want more and more; some people
are never satisfied. * /I gave Billy a bite of candy and he wanted
more and more. If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile./ * /The
counselor said to Jack, "No, I can't let you get a haircut until
Saturday. It's against the rules, and if I give an inch, someone will
take a mile."/
[give one a piece of one's mind] {v. phr.}, {informal} To scold
angrily; say what you really think to (someone). * /Mr. Allen gave the
other driver a piece of his mind./ * /The sergeant gave the soldier a
piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots./ Syn.: TELL OFF.
Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING.
[give one a ring] also {informal} [give a buzz] To call on the
telephone. * /Mrs. Jacobs promised to give her husband a ring in the
afternoon./ * /Alice will give her friend a buzz tonight./
[give one enough rope and he will hang himself] {informal} Give a
bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may
make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. - A proverb. *
/Johnny is always stealing and hasn't been caught. But give him enough
rope and he'll hang himself./ - Often used in a short form, "give one
enough rope". * /Mother didn't know who robbed the cookie jar, but she
thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope./
[give one pause] {v. phr.} To astonish someone; cause one to stop
and think. * /"Your remark gives me pause," Tom said, when Jane called
him an incurable gambler./
[give one short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.
[give oneself airs] {v. phr.} To act proud; act vain. * /Mary gave
herself airs when she wore her new dress./ * /John gave himself airs
when he won first prize./
[give oneself away] {v. phr.} To show guilt; show you have done
wrong. * /The thief gave himself away by spending so much money./ *
/Carl played a joke on Bob and gave himself away by laughing./
Compare: GIVE AWAY.
[give oneself up] {v.} To stop hiding or running away; surrender. *
/The thief gave himself up to the police./ * /Mr. Thompson hit another
car, and his wife told him to give himself up./ Compare: TURN IN.
[give oneself up to] {v. phr.} Not to hold yourself back from; let
yourself enjoy. * /Uncle Willie gave himself up to a life of
wandering./ * /John came inside from the cold and gave himself up to
the pleasure of being in a warm room./ Compare: ENJOY ONESELF, LET
ONESELF GO.
[give one some of his] or [her own medicine] {v. phr.} To treat
someone the way he or she treats others (used in the negative). * /The
gangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, a
policeman gave him a little of his own medicine./
[give one's due] {v. phr.} To be fair to (a person), give credit
that (a person) deserves. * /The boxer who lost gave the new champion
his due./ * /We should give a good worker his due./ Compare: GIVE THE
DEVIL HIS DUE.
[give one's right arm for] {v. phr.} To give something of great
value; sacrifice. * /During our long hike in the desert, I would have
given my right arm for an ice cold drink./
[give one's word] {v. phr.} To seriously promise. * /"You gave me
your word you would marry me," Mary bitterly complained, "but you
broke your word."/
[give one the eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To look at, especially
with interest and liking. * /A pretty girl went by and all the boys
gave her the eye./ 2. To look or stare at, especially in a cold or
unfriendly way. * /Mrs. Jones didn't like Mary and didn't speak. She
just gave her the eye when they met on the street./
[give one the works] See: THE WORKS.
[give or take] {v, phr.} To add or subtract. Used with a round
number or date to show how approximate it is. * /The house was built
in 1900, give or take five years./
[give out] {v.} 1. To make known; let it be known; publish. * /Mary
gave out that she and Bob were going to be married./ 2. To let escape;
give. * /The cowboy gave out a yell./ Syn.: GIVE OFF, LET GO. 3. to
give to people; distribute. * /The barber gives out free lollipops to
all the children./ Compare: HAND OUT, PASS OUT. 4. To fail; collapse.
* /Tom's legs gave out and he couldn't run any farther./ * /The chair
gave out under the fat man./ Compare: WEAR OUT. 5. To be finished or
gone. * /When the food at the party gave out, they bought more./ *
/The teacher's patience gave out./ Syn.: RUN OUT, RUN SHORT. Compare:
USE UP, WEAR OUT. 6. {slang} Not to hold back; act freely; let
yourself go. - Often used in the imperative. * /You're not working
hard, Charley. Give out!/ 7. {informal} To show how you feel. * /When
Jane saw the mouse, she gave out with a scream./ * /Give out with a
little smile./ Compare: LET GO.
[give pause] {v. phr.} To cause you to stop and think; make you
doubt or worry. * /The heavy monthly payments gave Mr. Smith pause in
his plans to buy a new car./ * /The bad weather gave Miss Carter pause
about driving to New York City./
[give place to] See: GIVE RISE TO.
[give rein to] or [give free rein to] {v. phr.} To remove all
restrictions or limitations from someone or something. * /When she
wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her
imagination./
[give rise to] {v. phr.} To be the reason for; cause. * /A branch
floating in the water gave rise to Columbus' hopes that land was
near./ * /John's black eye gave rise to rumors that he had been in a
fight./
[give someone his rights] or [read someone his rights] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. The act of advising arrested criminals that they have
the right to remain silent and that everything they say can be held
against them in a court of law; that they have the right to the
presence of an attorney during questioning and that if they can't
afford one and request it, an attorney will be appointed for them by
the State. * /The cops gave Smith his rights immediately after the
arrest./ 2. To sever a relationship by telling someone that he or she
can go and see a divorce lawyer or the like. * /Sue gave Mike his
rights before she slammed the door in his face./ Compare: READ THE
RIOT ACT.
[give the air] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(1).
[give the ax] {v. phr.}, {colloquial} 1. Abruptly to finish a
relationship. * /She gave me the ax last night./ 2. To fire an
employee in a curt manner. * /His boss gave John the ax last Friday./
[give the benefit of the doubt] {v. phr.} To believe (a person) is
innocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. * /The money was
stolen and John was the only boy who had known where it was, but the
teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ * /George's grade was
higher than usual and he might have cheated, but his teacher gave him
the benefit of the doubt./
[give the bounce] or [give the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [give
the air] To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from.
* /Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl./ *
/Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate./ 2. or
[give the sack] also [give the hook] To fire from a job; dismiss. *
/The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice./
Contrast: GET THE BOUNCE.
[give the creeps] See: THE CREEPS.
[give the devil his due] {v. phr.} To be fair, even to someone who
is bad; tell the truth about a person even though you don't like him,
* /I don't like Mr. Jones, but to give the devil his due, I must admit
that he is a good teacher./
[give the gate] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE.
[give the glad eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} To give (someone) a
welcoming look as if saying "come over here, I want to talk to you." *
/I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye./
[give the go-by] {v. phr.} To pay no attention to a person; avoid.
* /John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by./ * /The
boy raised his hand to answer the question, but the teacher gave him
the go-by./ Compare: THE RUNAROUND.
[give the high sign] See: HIGH SIGN.
[give the hook] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2).
[give the lie to] {v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To call (someone) a
liar. * /The police gave the lie to the man who said that he had been
at home during the robbery./ 2. To show (something) to be false; prove
untrue. * /The boy's dirty face gave the lie to his answer that he had
washed./
[give the sack] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2).
[give the shirt off one's back] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give away
something or everything that you own. * /He'd give you the shirt off
his back./
[give the show away] {v. phr.} To reveal a plan or information that
is supposed to be secret. * /You have read further in the book than I
have, but please don't tell me where the treasure was buried;
otherwise you'd be giving the show away./
[give the slip] {v.} To escape from (someone); run away from
unexpectedly; sneak away from. * /An Indian was following, but Boone
gave him the slip by running down a hill./ * /Some boys were waiting
outside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip./
[give signs of] See: SHOW SIGN(S) OF; SHOW NO SIGN OF.
[give the willies] {v. phr.} To cause someone to be uncomfortable,
fearful, or nervous. * /Sue hates to camp out in a tent; the buzzing
of the mosquitoes gives her the willies./
[give thought to] {v. phr.} To consider; think about. * /Have you
given any thought to the question of how to sell Grandpa's old house?/
Contrast: GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
[give to understand] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a person
think that something is true but not tell him; suggest; hint. * /Mr.
Johnson gave Billy to understand that he would pay him if he helped
him clean the yard./ 2. To make a person understand by telling him
very plainly or boldly. * /Frank was given to understand in a short
note from the boss that he was fired./
[give up] {v.} 1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. * /The
dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up./ * /Jimmy is
giving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school./ Compare:
GIVE ONESELF UP, HAND OVER, LET GO(1a). Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 1b. To
allow; permit. * /Ford gave up two walks in the first inning./ 2. To
stop doing or having; abandon; quit. * /The doctor told Mr. Harris to
give up smoking./ * /Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved
away./ Compare: LEAVE OFF, PART WITH. 3. To stop hoping for, waiting
for, or trying to do. * /Johnny was given up by the doctors after the
accident, but he lived just the same./ * /When Mary didn't come by
nine o'clock, we gave her up./ * /I couldn't do the puzzle so I gave
it up./ 4. To stop trying; quit; surrender. * /The war will be over
when one of the countries gives up./ * /The other team gave up after
we scored three touchdowns./ Compare: GIVE IN(2), RESIGN ONESELF,
THROW IN THE SPONGE.
[give (one) up for] {v. phr.} To abandon hope for someone or
something. * /After Larry had not returned to base camp for three
nights, his fellow mountain climbers gave him up for dead./
[give up the ghost] {v. phr.} To die; stop going. * /After a long
illness, the old woman gave up the ghost./ * /The motor turned over a
few times and gave up the ghost./
[give up the ship] {v. phr.} To stop fighting and surrender; stop
trying or hoping to do something. * /"Don't give up the ship, John,"
said his father when John failed a test./
[give voice] {v. phr.}, {formal} To tell what you feel or think;
especially when you are angry or want to object. - Used with "to". *
/The students gave voice to their pleasure over the new building./ *
/Little Willie gave voice to his pain when the dog bit him by crying
loudly./ Compare: CRY OUT, SPEAK OUT.
[give way] {v.} 1. To go back; retreat. * /The enemy army is giving
way before the cannon fire./ Compare: FALL BACK. 2. To make room, get
out of the way. * /The children gave way and let their mother through
the door./ Compare: MAKE WAY. 3. To lose control of yourself; lose
your courage or hope; yield. * /Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the
flood, but she was very frightened./ Compare: GIVE UP, LOSE ONE'S
HEAD. 4. To collapse; fail. * /The river was so high that the dam gave
way./ * /Mary's legs gave way and she fainted./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4),
LET GO(1a). 5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission. * /Billy
kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally
gave way./ Compare: GIVE IN.
[give way to] {v. phr.} 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass;
yield to. * /John gave way to the old lady and let her pass./ 1b. To
allow to decide. * /Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying the
car./ 1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back. * /Timmy
gave way to his feelings when his dog died./ 2. or [give place to]. To
be replaced by. * /Radio has given way to television in popularity./ *
/When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way lo
laughter./
[glad hand] {n.}, {informal} A friendly handshake; a warm greeting.
* /Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when
he arrived./ * /The politician went down the street on election day
giving everyone the glad hand./
[glad rags] {n.}, {slang} Clothes worn to parties or on special
occasions; best clothes. * /Mrs. Owens put on her glad rags for the
party./ Compare: BEST BIB AND TUCKER.
[glance] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT.
[glance off] {v. phr.} To ricochet. * /The bullet glanced off the
wall and wounded an innocent bystander./
[glass] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW
STONES, SAFETY GLASS.
[glasses] See: LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES.
[glass jaw] {n.}, {slang} The inability of a boxer to get a hard
punch on the jaw without being knocked out; a tendency to be knocked
out easily. * /He would have been champion except for his glass jaw./
[globe-trotter] {n.} One who has travelled far and wide. * /Tim and
Nancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven't
been to./
[glory] See: IN ONE'S GLORY.
[gloss over] {v.} To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or
not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. *
/Billy broke a window and Mother tried to gloss it over by saying it
wouldn't cost much to have it fixed, but Father spanked Billy anyway./
* /John glossed over his mistake by saying that everybody did the same
thing./
[glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE, HAND IN GLOVE or HAND AND GLOVE,
HANDLE WITH GLOVES.
[glutton for punishment] {n. phr.} A greedy person; someone who
wants too much of something, such as food or drink, which will make
him sick. * /Fred eats so much red meat that he is a regular glutton
for punishment./
[go] See: HERE GOES, HERE GOES NOTHING, BEST BIB AND TUCKER or
SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES, COMINGS AND GOINGS, EASY COME EASY GO,
GET GOING, GET-UP-AND-GO, HAVE A GO AT, HEART GOES OUT TO, KNOW
WHETHER ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LET GO, MAKE A GO OF, NO DEAL or NO
GO, ON THE GO, PAY AS ONE GOES, TOUCH AND GO.
[go about] {v.} 1. To be busy with; keep busy at or working on;
start working on; do. * /Bobby is going about his homework very
seriously tonight./ * /Just go about your business and don't keep
looking out of the window./ * /How will you go about building the bird
house?/ Syn.: GO AT(2). 2a. To move from one place or person to
another. * /Some people go about telling untrue stories./ 2b. To go
together. - Usually used with "with". * /Mother doesn't want me to go
about with Jane and her friends any more./ Syn.: GO AROUND(1b).
[go about one's business] {v. phr.} To mind one's own affairs. *
/Fred kept bothering me with his questions all day, so I finally told
him to go about his business and leave me alone./
[go after] {v.} To try to get. * /"First find out what job you want
and then go after it," said Jim's father./
[go against the grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN(2).
[go ahead] {v.} To begin to do something; not wait. * /The teacher
told the students not to write on the paper yet, but John went ahead
and wrote his name./ * /"May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead."/
Compare: GO ON(1).
[go astray] {v. phr.} To become lost. * /The letter has obviously
gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago./
[goal] See: FIELD GOAL.
[goal line] {n.} A line that marks the goal in a game (as
football.) * /The fullback went over the goal line from five yards
out./
[goal line stand] {n.} A strong defensive effort right in front of
the goal line. * /A goal line stand by the home team held the visitors
on the two-yard line./
[go all the way with] See: ALL THE WAY.
[go along] {v.} 1. To move along; continue. * /Uncle Bill made up
the story as he went along./ Compare: GO ON(1). 2. To go together or
as company; go for fun. - Often used with "with". /Mary went along
with us to Jane's house./ * /John just went along for the ride to the
ball game. He didn't want to play./ * /When one filling station cuts
gasoline prices, the others usually go along./ 3. To agree; cooperate.
- Often used with "with". * /"Jane is a nice girl." "I'll go along
with that," said Bill./ * /Just because the other boys do something
bad, you don't have to go along with it./
[go ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become highly excited or behave in a
crazy way. * /Amy went ape over the hotel and beautiful beaches./ *
/The electric door opener malfunctioned and caused the garage door to
go ape./
[go around] {v.} 1a. To go from one place or person to another. *
/Mr. Smith is going around looking for work./ * /Don't go around
telling lies like that./ * /Chicken pox is going around the
neighborhood./ * /A rumor is going around school that we will get the
afternoon off./ 1b. To go together; keep company. - Usually used with
"with". * /Bill goes around with boys older than he is because he is
big for his age./ Syn.: GO ABOUT(2b). 2. To be enough to give to
everyone; be enough for all. * /There are not enough desks to go
around in the classroom./
[go around in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[goat] See: GET ONE'S GOAT.
[go at] {v.} 1. To start to fight with; attack. * /The dog and the
cat are going at each other again./ 2. To make a beginning on;
approach; tackle. * /How are you going to go at the job of fixing the
roof?/ Compare: START IN. Syn.: GO ABOUT(1).
[go at it hammer and tongs] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To attack or
fight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. * /Bill
slapped George's face and now they're going at it hammer and tongs in
back of the house./ * /Helen and Mary have been arguing all day, and
now they are going at it hammer and tongs again./ 2. To start or do
something with much strength, energy, or enthusiasm. * /The farmer had
to chop down a tree and he went at it hammer and tongs./ * /Charles
had a lot of homework to do and he went at it hammer and tongs till
bedtime./ Compare: IN EARNEST, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.
[go AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.
[go back on] {v. phr.} 1. To turn against; not be faithful or loyal
to. * /Many of the man's friends went back on him when he was sent to
prison./ * /The boy's father told him not to go back on his promise./
Compare: BACK DOWN, TURN ONE'S BACK. 2. To fail to do necessary work;
not work. * /Grandfather's eyes are going back on him./ Compare: BREAK
DOWN(4), GIVE OUT.
[go back on one's word] {v. phr.} To renege; break a promise. *
/Patrick went back on his word when he refused to marry Karen in spite
of his earlier promise./
[go] or [be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS.
[go] or [be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON. Contrast: FALL OFF THE
WAGON.
[go bail for] {v. phr.} To advance the necessary money as security
in order to release an accused person until trial. * /The arrested
driver had no trouble finding someone to go bail for him./
[go begging] {v. phr.} To be not needed or wanted. * /Many old
homes in the city go begging./ * /Most of the apples on the market
went begging./
[go broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all one's money; especially
by taking a chance; owe more than you can pay. * /The inventor went
broke because nobody would buy his machine./ * /Dan had a quarter but
he went broke matching pennies with Fred./
[go-between] {n.} An intermediary. * /They expect Mr. Smith to act
as a go-between in the dispute between management and labor./
[go bust] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become bankrupt. * /Our company
lost a lot of money and went bust./ Compare: BELLY UP.
[go-by] See: GIVE THE GO-BY.
[go by] {v.} 1. To go or move past; pass. * /Bob had to go by the
post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter./ 2. To
follow; copy; obey. * /Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a
dress./ * /You will find Main Street without trouble if you go by
Father's directions./ * /If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the
rules of the road./ 3. To be known by; be called. * /Many actors do
not go by their real names./ * /Fred goes by the nickname of Chubby./
4. To pass; be over; end. * /Time goes by quickly on vacation./ * /The
horse and buggy days have gone by./ * /The flowers have all gone by.
What will I do for a bouquet?/ 5. To stop for a short visit; go to
someone's house for a short while. * /"Have you seen Bill lately?"
"Yes, I went by his house last week."/ Compare: STOP BY.
[go by the board] also [pass by the board] {v. phr.} To go away or
disappear forever, be forgotten or not used. * /Tom had several
chances to go to college, but he let them go by the board./ *
/Grandfather said he was too old to go to the beach. "Those days have
passed by the board," he said./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN.
[go by the name of] {v. phr.} To be called. * /Adolf Schicklegruber
went by the name of Adolf Hitler./
[go chase oneself] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away and stop being a
nuisance. * /John's father was busy and told him to go chase himself./
* /The owner of the store told the boys in front to go chase
themselves./ Compare: BEAT IT, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[God] See: IN THE LAP OP THE GODS also ON THE KNEES OP THE GODS, MY
GOD or MY GOODNESS, WOULD THAT or WOULD GOD.
[God forbid] {interj.} May God prevent (something from happening);
I hope that will not happen or is not true. * /Someone told the
worried mother that her son might have drowned. She said, "God
forbid!"/ * /God forbid that the dam break and flood the valley!/
Compare: PERISH THE THOUGHT.
[Godfrey] See: GREAT GODFREY.
[God knows] or [goodness knows] or [heaven knows] {informal} 1.
Maybe God knows but I don't know and no one else knows. - Often used
with "only". * /Do you know where Susan is? God only knows!/ 2.
Surely; certainly. * /Goodness knows, the poor man needs the money./ *
/Heaven only knows, I have tried hard enough./
[Godmother] See: FAIRY GODMOTHER.
[go down] {v. phr.} 1. To deteriorate in quality. * /This hotel,
which used to be one of the best, has gone down during the past few
years./ 2. To become lower in price. * /It is said that the price of
milk is expected to go down soon./ 3. To sink. * /The Titanic went
down with a lot of people aboard./
[go down in history] or [go down in the records] {v. phr.} To be
remembered or recorded for always. * /The lives of great men go down
in history./ * /Babe Ruth went down in history as a home run hitter./
* /The boy's straight A's for four years of college went down in the
records./ * /The President said that the day the war ended would go
down in history./
[go down the drain] {v. phr.} To be lost or wasted forever. * /If
he doesn't pass the bar examination tomorrow, his best efforts to
become a lawyer will go down the drain./
[God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb] {literary} A person who is
already helpless will not have more trouble; you will not have more
trouble than you can bear. * /After Mr. Smith lost his job, the
Smith's house caught fire, but the fire was put out before much harm
was done. Mr. Smith said, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."/
Contrast: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
[go Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out for fun together but
have each person pay for himself. * /High school students often go
Dutch to basketball games./ * /Sometimes boys and girls go Dutch on
dates./ * /The girl knew her boyfriend had little money, so she
offered to go Dutch./ Compare: DUTCH TREAT.
[go easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(1).
[go fly a kite] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go away; leave. Usually used
as a command, to show that you do not accept someone's ideas. * /Harry
was tired of John's advice and told him to go fly a kite./ * /After
Mary stood around telling Sue what was wrong with her dress. Sue told
her to go fly a kite./ Compare: DROP DEAD, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[go for] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To try to get; aim for; try for.
* /Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight./ * /The
dog went for Bob's leg./ 2. To favor; support; like. * /Little Susie
really goes for ice cream./ * /Bob goes for Jane in a big way./ 3. To
attack; begin to fight or argue with. * /The Indian jumped out of the
*hush and went for Daniel./ * /Molly went for James about being late
as soon as he got home./
[go for a spin] {v. phr.} To go for a ride in a car. * /Billy has
invited us to go for a spin in his new car./
[go for broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To risk everything on one big
effort; use all your energy and skill; try as hard as possible. * /The
racing car driver decided to go for broke in the biggest race of the
year./ Compare: ALL-OUT.
[go for nothing] also {formal} [go for naught] {v. phr.} To count
for nothing; be useless; be wasted. * /What the teacher said went for
nothing because the pupils did not pay attention./ * /I hope that all
your good work doesn't go for naught./ Compare: IN VAIN.
[go from bad to worse] {adv. phr.} To change from a bad position or
condition to a worse one; become worse. * /Dick's typing went from bad
to worse when he was tired./ * /Jack's conduct in school has gone from
bad to worse./ Compare: OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[go from strength to strength] {v. phr.} To move forward,
increasing one's fame, power, or fortune in a series of successful
achievements. * /Our basketball team has gone from strength to
strength./
[go-getter] {n.} A person who works hard to become successful; an
active, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. * /The
governor of the state has always been a go-getter./ * /The best
salesmen are the go-getters./
[go-go] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Vigorous youthful, unusually
active. * /Joe is a go-go kind of guy./ 2. Of a discotheque or the
music or dances performed there. 3a. Unrestrained. 3b. Very
up-to-date, hip. * /Mary wore handsome go-go boots to the discotheque
last night./
[go great guns] See: GREAT GUNS.
[go halfway] or [go halfway to meet one] or [meet one halfway] {v.
phr.} To give up part of what you want or to do your share in reaching
an agreement with someone. * /Our neighbors are willing to go halfway
to meet us and pay their share for a fence between our houses./ * /Bob
wants to make up after your fight and you should meet him halfway./ *
/If you're willing to go halfway with us, we'll be friends again./ *
/Bill met Mary halfway after their argument./
[go halves] {v. phr.}, {informal} To share half or equally become
partners. * /The boys went halves in raising pigs./ * /The men are
going halves in a new business./ * /The girl bought a box of candy and
went halves with her roommate./
[go hang] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To stop being of interest or
importance; be forgotten. - Usually used with "let". * /Mr. Johnson
let his business go hang after his wife died./ 2. To leave you alone;
not bother. * /When the neighbor told Father how to manage his
children, Father told him to go hang./ Compare: TELL WHERE TO GET OFF.
[go hard with] {v. phr.} To be painful, troublesome, or hard for;
happen or result badly for. - Used after "it". * /It will go hard with
you if I catch you smoking./
[go haywire] {v. phr.}, {informal} Mixed-up, out of order, not in
regular working condition. * /My electric typewriter has gone all
haywire; I have to call the repair man./
[go hog wild] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become extremely agitated and
go out of control. * /After the soccer game was won, the fans went hog
wild./
[go in a circle] or [go in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE.
[go in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do; take part in; take
pleasure in. * /Most girls do not go in for rough games./ * /Mrs.
Henry goes in for simple meals./ Compare: GO INTO(3), TAKE UP(5b).
[going and coming] See: COMING AND GOING.
[going for one] {adj. phr.} Working to help; in one's favor. * /The
young woman surely will get the job; she has everything going for
her./
[going on] {adv. phr.} Almost; nearly. * /Joe is going on six years
old./ * /It is going on six o'clock./
[going through changes] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be in
trouble, to have difficulties, to be trapped in unfavorable
circumstances. * /"What's the matter with Joe?" - "He's going through
changes."/
[going to] Can be expected to; planning to. - Used after "is" (or
"was", etc.), with an infinitive, in the same way "will" is used, to
show future. * /Some day that big tree is going to rot and fall./ *
/Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain./ * /The boys are going
to practice football this afternoon./ * /For a minute Ben thought the
car was going to hit him./ * /I was going to attend the meeting, but
after supper I forgot about it./ - Sometimes used without the
infinitive. * /That worn rope hasn't broken yet, but it's going to./ *
/"Put some more wood on the fire." - "I'm going to."/ Compare: ABOUT
TO(1).
[go in one ear and out the other] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be not
really listened to or understood; be paid no attention. * /The
teacher's directions to the boy went in one ear and out the other./ *
/Mother scolded Martha, but it went in one ear and out the other./
[go into] {v.} 1a. To go or fit inside of; able to be put in. *
/The table is too big to go into the closet./ 1b. To be able to be
divided into; be divisible into. * /Two goes into four two times./ 2.
To enter a state or condition of; pass into. * /John went into a fit
of temper when he didn't get his own way./ * /The sick man went into a
coma./ * /The country went into mourning when the king died./ 3. To be
busy in or take part in; enter as a job or profession. * /The mayor
went into politics as a very young man./ * /Mr, Johnson is going into
business for himself./ * /Bill wants to go into law when he gets out
of school./ Compare: GO IN FOR, TAKE UP(5b). 4. To start to talk
about; bring up the subject of; examine. * /We'll talk about the dead
mouse after dinner, Billy. Let's not go into it now./ * /The teacher
went into the subject of newspapers today./ Compare: LOOK INTO.
[go into a huddle] {v. phr.} 1. To gather close together as a team
in a football game, usually to find out your team's next play. * /The
football team which has the ball goes into a huddle before every play
to get orders on what play they will use./ 2. {informal} To talk
together privately about something; discuss something where others
cannot hear. * /The man went into a huddle with his lawyers before
answering the question./ * /The doctors went into a huddle and decided
to operate./
[go into a nose dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN.
[go into a tailspin] or [go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went
into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly
beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or mentally
sick; give up hope. * /The man went into a tailspin after his wife
died and he never got over it./
[go into orbit] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become very happy or
successful. * /Our team has gone into orbit./ Compare: FLY HIGH. 2. To
lose one's temper or control completely; become very angry. * /John
was afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about the
car accident./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING.
[go it] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go fast; run hard; not to spare
yourself. - Often used as a command. * /The coach yelled to the runner
to go it./ * /At the party the girls cheered for their partners to go
it./ * /The boys called, "Go it!" to the dog chasing the cat./ 2. To
live; continue to do or work. * /John wants to leave home and go it
alone./ Compare: ON ONE'S OWN.
[go jump in the lake] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go away and quit
being a bother. * /George was tired of Tom's advice and told him to go
jump in the lake./ Compare: GO CHASE YOURSELF, GO FLY A KITE.
[gold] See: HEART OF GOLD.
[golden] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.
[goldfish bowl] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A situation in which
it is not possible to keep things secret for any length of time. *
/Washington Society is a goldfish bowl./ 2. An apartment or place that
provides no privacy for its occupant, e.g., an office that has too
many windows. * /Joe's office is a goldfish bowl, that's why I didn't
let him kiss me there./
[golf widow] {n.}, {informal} A woman whose husband is often away
from home playing golf. * /Mrs. Thompson didn't like being a golf
widow./
[go legit] {v. phr.} To start practicing a legitimate business
after having been operating outside of the law. * /"The old days are
over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of
right now."/
[go like clockwork] or [go off like clockwork] {v. phr.},
{informal} To run smoothly and regularly like the workings of a clock;
go smoothly and without difficulty; go on time or as planned. * /The
car's motor went like clockwork after Bob fixed it./ * /The birthday
party went off like clockwork and everyone had a good time./
[go native] {v. phr.} To behave like a native (said of European
Americans in tropical countries). * /Mainlanders often go native in
Hawaii./
[gone goose] also [gone gosling] {n.}, {slang} A person for whom
there is no hope. * /Herbert's grades have been so low that he is a
gone goose for the year./ * /The man was a gone gosling when a
policeman caught him breaking the store window./
[gone with the wind] {adj. phr.} Gone forever; past; vanished. *
/All the Indians who used to live here are gone with the wind./ * /Joe
knew that his chance to get an "A" was gone with the wind when he saw
how hard the test was./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN.
[good] See: AS GOOD AS, AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, BUT GOOD, DO ONE GOOD,
FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD MEASURE, GET THE GOODS ON, HOLD GOOD, IN GOOD, IN
GOOD FAITH, IN GOOD TIME, IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES, IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT
BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, MAKE GOOD, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, NO GOOD, ON
ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR, ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE, SO FAR, SO GOOD, STAND IN
GOOD STEAD, TO THE GOOD, WELL AND GOOD, WITH GOOD GRACE.
[good and ---] {adv.}, {informal} Very; completely. * /John's
father was good and mad when John came home late./ * /Jack knew good
and well that Tom had thrown the snowball at him./ * /I pushed Bill
good and hard./ * /Susan wouldn't come out till she was good and
ready./ * /I beat Joe good and proper in the game of marbles./
[good as] See: AS GOOD AS.
[good as one's promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.
[good as one's word] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD.
[good buddy] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon}
Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios.
* /What's the Smokey situation, good buddy?/
[good command] See: HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF.
[good day] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting
or salute when you meet or leave someone during the day. * /Miss
Rogers said, "Good day!" when she met her friend on the street./ *
/Mr. Lee said "Good day!" and left the office./
[good deal] or [great deal] {n.}, {informal} A large amount; much.
- Used with "a". * /Mrs. Walker's long illness cost her a good deal./
* /George spends a great deal of his time watching television./ -
Often used like an adverb. * /Cleaning up after the party took a great
deal more work than the girls expected./ * /Usually it takes Father
half an hour to drive to work, but in bad weather it takes a good deal
longer./ * /Mother likes the gloves Mary gave her, and she uses them a
good deal./ * /George is a good deal like his father; they both love
to eat./ Syn.: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE. Compare: ALL KINDS OF, GOOD
MANY. Contrast: A LITTLE.
[good egg] {slang} or {informal} [good scout] {n. phr.} A friendly,
kind or good-natured person, a nice fellow. * /Tommy is such a good
egg that everybody wants to be his friend./ Syn.: REGULAR GUY.
Contrast: BAD EGG.
[good evening] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal
greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone in the evening. *
/When the TV program began, an announcer appeared and said, "Good
evening, everyone."/ * /Finally Aunt May stood up and said, "I will
not sell the house. Good evening, Mr. Flynn. "/
[good faith] {n.} 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. *
/Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good
faith./ - Often used in the phrase "in good faith". * /The teacher
accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith./ 2. Honesty of
purpose; trustworthiness. * /John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20,
and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith./
[good for] or [hurrah for] {adj. phr.} Used with a name or pronoun
to praise someone. * /Good for George! He won the 100-yard dash./ *
/You got 100 on the test? Hurrah for you./
[good-for-nothing] {adj. phr.} Worthless. * /While Janice works
hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars./
[good grief!] {interj.}, {informal} Wow! Indication of surprise,
good or bad. * /"Good grief," Joe cried out loud. "Is this all you
will pay me for my hard work?"/ * /What a figure Melanie has, good
grief! I wonder if she would be willing to go out with me./ Compare:
GOODNESS GRACIOUS!, HEAVENLY DAYS!, HOLY CATS or HOLY COW or HOLY
MACKEREL or HOLY MOSES. See: GOODNIGHT(2).
[good head on one's shoulders] {n. phr.} Good sense; good judgment.
* /Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast./ *
/Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps
good company./ * /George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by
refusing to cheat./
[good many] or [great many] {n.} or {adj.} A large number (of);
very many. Used with "a". * /We found some fall flowers, but the frost
had already killed a good many./ * /A great many of the houses were
knocked down by the earthquake./ * /Tom has a good many friends at
school./ * /Mary has a great many ideas for interesting programs./
Syn.: QUITE A FEW. Compare: A LOT, ANY NUMBER, GOOD DEAL. Contrast: A
FEW.
[good nature] {n.} Readiness to please others and to be pleased.
Cheerfulness, pleasantness. * /Everybody likes Mr. Crowe because of
his good nature./ * /Miss Reynolds was remembered by her students for
her good nature./
[goodness] See: HONEST-TO-GOODNESS, MY GOD or MY GOODNESS.
[goodness gracious] {interj.}, {slightly archaic} Exclamation of
surprise and a certain degree of disapproval. * /"Can my boyfriend
stay overnight, Dad?" Melanie asked. "Goodness gracious, most
certainly not!" her father replied. "What would the neighbors think?"/
[goodness knows] See: GOD KNOWS.
[good night] {interj.} 1. Used as a polite phrase when you leave
someone at night. * /"Good night!" said Bob as he left Dick's house
after the party. "I'll see you in the morning."/ * /Bill said good
night to his parents and went upstairs to bed./ 2. or [good grief] -
Used to show surprise and often some fear or anger. * /Mr. Johnson's
eyes opened wide when he saw the fish his little boy had caught, and
said, "Good night!"/ * /Mother was angry and said to Mary, "Good
grief! Haven't you started the dishes yet?"/
[good riddance] {n.} A loss that you are glad about. Often used as
an exclamation, and in the sentence "good riddance to bad rubbish". To
show that you are glad that something or somebody has been taken or
sent away. * /The boys thought it was good riddance when the
troublemaker was sent home./ * /When Mr. Roberts' old car was stolen
he thought it was good riddance./ * /Betty thought it was good
riddance when her little brother broke his toy drum./ * /"I'm going
and won't come back," said John. "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" said
Mary./
[goods] See: DELIVER THE GOODS, CONSUMER GOODS.
[good show!] {adj. phr.} Excellent; terrific; wonderful. * /"Good
show, boys!" the coach cried, when our team won the game./
[good scout] See: GOOD EGG.
[go off] {v.} 1. To leave; to depart. * /Helen's mother told her
not to go off without telling her./ 2a. To be fired; explode. * /The
firecracker went off and scared Jack's dog./ 2b. To begin to ring or
buzz. * /The alarm clock went off at six o'clock and woke Father./ 3.
To happen. * /The party went off without any trouble./ * /The parade
went off without rain./
[go off half-cocked] also [go off at half cock] {v. phr.},
{informal} To act or speak before getting ready; to do something too
soon. * /Bill often goes off half cocked./ * /Mr. Jones was thinking
about quilting his job, but his wife told him not to go at half cock./
[go off like clockwork] See: GO LIKE CLOCKWORK.
[go off the deep end] or [go overboard] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
act excitedly and without careful thinking. * /John has gone off the
deep end about owning a motorcycle./ * /Mike warned his roommate not
to go off the deep end and get married./ * /Some girls go overboard
for handsome movie and television actors./
[goof off] {v.}, {slang} To loaf or be lazy; not want to work or be
serious; fool around. * /Tow didn't get promoted because he goofed off
all the time and never did his homework./ * /If you goof off on the
job too much, you'll be fired./
[go off in a huff]{v. phr.} To depart in anger. * /Marian went off
in a huff just because Jeff failed to open the door for her./
[go on] {v.} 1a. To continue; not stop. * /After he was hit by the
ball, Billy quit pitching and went home, but the game went on./ * /The
TV picture began to jump, and it went on like that until Father turned
a knob./ * /I asked Jane a question but she went on reading and didn't
answer./ * /Mother told Jim to stop, but he went on hitting Susan./
Syn.: KEEP ON. 1b. To continue after a pause; begin with the next
thing. * /"Go on! I'm listening," said Mother./ * /The teacher pointed
to the map, and went on, "But the land that Columbus came to was not
India."/ - Often used before an infinitive. * /Father said Mother had
gone to the hospital, and went on to say that Grandmother was coming
to take care of us./ 1c. (Of time:) To pass. * /As time went on, Mary
began to wonder if John had forgotten their date./ * /The years went
on, and Betty's classmates became gray-haired men and women./ 2. To
happen. * /Mr. Scott heard the noise and went to see what was going on
in the hall./ * /The teacher knows what goes on when she leaves the
room./ Syn.: TAKE PLACE. 3. To talk for too long, often angrily. * /We
thought Jane would never finish going on about the amount of homework
she had./ 4. To fit on; be able to be worn. * /My little brother's
coat wouldn't go on me. It was too small./ 5. Stop trying to fool me;
I don't believe you. - Used as a command, sometimes with "with". *
/When Father told Mother she was the prettiest girl in the world.
Mother just said, "Oh, go on, Charles."/ * /"Aunt May, your picture is
in the paper." "Go on with you, boy!"/
[go on record] {v. phr.} To make an official statement as opposed
to an informal one; say something officially that may be quoted with
the person's name added for reference. * /I want to go on record that
I oppose the merger with the firm of Catwallender and Swartvik./
[go on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS.
[go one's way] {v. phr.} 1. To start again or continue to where you
are going. * /The milkman left the milk and went his way./ * /The man
stopped and asked me for a match, then went his way./ Compare: GO
ALONG, GO ON. 2. To go or act the way you want to or usually do. *
/Joe just wants to go his way and mind his own business./ * /Don't
tell me how to do my job. You go your way and I'll go mine./ * /George
was not a good sport; when the game did not go his way, he became
angry and quit./
[goose] See: COOK ONE'S GOOSE, FOX AND GEESE, KILL THE GOOSE THAT
LAID THE GOLDEN EGG, GONE GOOSE.
[goose bumps] or [goose pimples] {n. plural}, {informal} Small
bumps that come on a person's skin when he gets cold or afraid. *
/Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees a snake./ * /Ann, put on your
sweater; you're so cold you have goose pimples on your arms./
[go or drive to the wall] See: TO THE WALL.
[go out] {v. phr.} 1. To pass out of date or style. * /Short skirts
are gradually going out./ 2. To stop giving off light or burning. *
/Put more wood on the fire or it will go out./ 3. To leave. * /When I
called Sue, her mother said that she had just gone out./
[go out for] or [come out for] {v. phr.} To try for a place on (an
athletic team.) * /Ten boys went out for track that spring./ * /The
coach asked Tom why he didn't come out for basketball./
[go out of business] {v. phr.} To cease functioning as a commercial
enterprise. * /The windows of the store are all boarded up because
they went out of business./
[go out of one's way] {v. phr.} To make an extra effort; do more
than usual. * /Jane went out of her way to be nice to the new girl./ *
/Don did not like Charles, and he went out of his way to say bad
things about Charles./ Compare: BEND OVER BACKWARD, KNOCK ONESELF OUT.
[go out the window] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out of effect; be
abandoned. * /During the war, the school dress code went out the
window./
[go over] {v.} 1. To examine; think about or look at carefully. *
/The teacher went over the list and picked John's name./ * /The police
went over the gun for fingerprints./ 2. To repeat; do again. * /Don't
make me go all over it again./ * /We painted the house once, then we
went over it again./ 3. To read again; study. * /After you finish the
test, go over it again to look for mistakes./ * /They went over their
lessons together at night./ 4. To cross; go to stop or visit; travel.
* /We went over to the other side of the street./ * /I'm going over to
Mary's house./ * /We went over to the next town to the game./ 5. To
change what you believe. * /Father is a Democrat, but he says that he
is going over to the Republicans in the next election./ * /Many of the
natives on the island went over to Christianity after the white men
came./ 6. To be liked; succeed. - Often used in the informal phrase
"go over big". * /Bill's joke went over big with the other boys and
girls./ * /Your idea went over well with the boss./
[go over like a lead balloon] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to
generate a positive response or enthusiasm; to meet with boredom or
disapproval. * /The president's suggested budget cuts went over like a
lead balloon./ * /Jack's off-color jokes went over like a lead
balloon./
[go over one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To be too difficult to
understand. * /Penny complains that what her math teacher says simply
goes over her head./ 2. To do something without the permission of
one's superior. * /Fred went over his boss's head when he signed the
contract on his own./
[go over with a fine-tooth comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB.
[gopher ball] {n.}, {slang} A baseball pitch that is hit for a home
run. * /The pitcher's only weakness this year is the gopher ball./
[go places] See: GO TO TOWN(2).
[go sit on a tack] {v.}, {slang} Shut up and go away; stop
bothering. - Usually used as a command and considered rude. * /Henry
told Bill to go sit on a tack./ Compare: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.
[gosling] See: GONE GOOSE also GONE GOSLING.
[go somebody one better] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something
better than (someone else); do more or better than; beat. * /Bill's
mother gave the boys in Bill's club hot dogs for refreshments, so
Tom's mother said that she would go her one better next time by giving
them hot dogs and ice cream./ * /John made a good dive into the water,
but Bob went him one better by diving in backwards./
[go stag] {v. phr.} 1. To go to a dance or party without a
companion of the opposite sex. * /When Sally turned him down, Tom
decided to go stag to the college prom./ 2. To participate in a party
for men only. * /Mrs. Smith's husband frequently goes stag, leaving
her at home./
[go steady] {v. phr.} To go on dates with the same person all the
time; dale just one person. * /At first Tom and Martha were not
serious about each other, but now they are going steady./ * /Jean went
steady with Bob for a year; then they had a quarrel and stopped dating
each other./ Syn.: KEEP COMPANY. Contrast: PLAY THE FIELD.
[go straight] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become an honest person; lead
an honest life. * /After the man got out of prison, he went straight./
* /Mr. Wright promised to go straight if the judge would let him go
free./
[got a thing going] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be engaged in
a pleasurable or profitable activity with someone else as a partner
either in romance or in mutually profitable business. * /"You two seem
to have got a thing going, haven't you?"/ * /"You've got a good thing
going with your travel bureau, why quit now?"/
[go the rounds] {v. phr.} To pass or be told from one person to
another; spread among many people. * /There is a rumor going the
rounds that Mr. Norton will be the new superintendent./ * /The story
about Mr. Cox's falling into the lake is making the rounds./ Syn.: GO
AROUND.
[go the whole hog] or [go whole hog] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do
something completely or thoroughly; to give all your strength or
attention to something. * /When Bob became interested in model
airplanes, he went the whole hog./ * /The family went whole hog at the
fair, and spent a lot of money./ Compare: ALL OUT, ALL THE WAY, SHOOT
THE WORKS.
[go through] {v.} 1. To examine or think about carefully; search. *
/I went through the papers looking for Jane's letter./ * /Mother went
through the drawer looking for the sweater./ Syn.: GO OVER. 2. To
experience; suffer; live through. * /Frank went through many dangers
during the war./ 3. To do what you are supposed to do; do what you
promised. * /I went through my part of the bargain, but you didn't go
through your part./ Syn.: CARRY OUT. 4. To go or continue to the end
of; do or use all of. * /Jack went through the magazine quickly./ *
/We went through all our money at the circus./ Syn.: RUN THROUGH. 5.
To be allowed; pass; be agreed on. * /I hope the new law we want goes
through Congress./ * /The sale of the store went through quickly./
[go through hell and high water] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go
through danger, or trouble. * /John is ready to go through hell and
high water to help his chum./ * /The soldiers went through hell and
high water to capture the fort./ Compare: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,
THROUGH THE MILL.
[go through the motions] {v. phr.} To pretend to do something by
moving or acting as if you were really doing it; do something without
really trying hard or caring. * /Jane was angry because she couldn't
go out, and when her mother said to dust her room she just went
through the motions./ * /The team was so far behind in the game that
they just went through the motions of playing at the end./
[go through with] {v. phr.} To finish; do as planned or agreed; not
stop or fail to do. * /The boys don't think Bob will go through with
his plans to spend the summer at a camp./ * /Mr. Trent hopes the city
won't go through with its plans to widen the street./ Syn.: CARRY OUT.
Compare: CARRY THROUGH, LIVE UP TO.
[go to] {v.} To be ready to do; start doing something. * /When Jack
went to write down the telephone number, he had forgotten it./
[go to any length] {v. phr.} To do everything you can. * /Bill will
go to any length to keep Dick from getting a date with Mary./ Compare:
ALL-OUT.
[go to bat for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help out in trouble or
need; give aid to. * /Everybody else thought Billy had broken the
window, but Tom went to bat for him./ * /Mary went to bat for the new
club program./ Syn.: STAND UP FOR.
[go to bed with the chickens] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to bed
early at night. * /On the farm John worked hard and went to bed with
the chickens./ * /Mr. Barnes goes to bed with the chickens because he
has to get up at 5 A.M./
[go together] {v.} 1. To go with the same boy or girl all the time;
date just one person. * /Herbert and Thelma go together./ Compare: GO
STEADY, GO WITH(2), KEEP COMPANY. 2. To be suitable or agreeable with
each other; match. * /Roast turkey and cranberries go together./ *
/Ice cream and cake go together./ * /Green and yellow go together./
[go to great lengths] See: GO TO ANY LENGTH.
[go to hell] See: GO TO THE DEVIL.
[go to it!] {v. phr.} An expression of encouragement meaning go
ahead; proceed. * /"Go to it!" my father cried enthusiastically, when
I told him I had decided to become a doctor./
[go to one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To make one dizzy. * /Beer and wine
go to a person's head./ * /Looking out the high window went to the
woman's head./ 2. To make someone too proud; make a person think he is
too important. * /Being the star player went to John's head./ * /The
girl's fame as a movie actress went to her head./
[go to pieces] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or sick from
nervousness; become wild. * /Mrs. Vance went to pieces when she heard
her daughter was in the hospital./ * /The man went to pieces when the
judge said he would have to go to prison for life./ * /Mary goes to
pieces when she can't have her own way./
[go to pot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be ruined; become bad; be
destroyed. * /Mr. Jones' health has gone to pot./ * /The motel
business went to pot when the new highway was built./ Compare: GO TO
WRACK AND RUIN, GO TO THE DOGS.
[go to prove] See: GO TO SHOW.
[go to seed] or [run to seed] {v. phr.} 1. To grow seeds. * /Onions
go to seed in hot weather./ 2. To lose skill or strength; stop being
good or useful. * /Sometimes a good athlete runs to seed when he gets
too old for sports./ * /Mr. Allen was a good carpenter until he became
rich and went to seed./
[go to show] or [go to prove] {v. phr.}, {informal} To seem to
prove; act or serve to show (a fact); demonstrate. - Often used after
"it". * /Our team beat a bigger team, and it just goes to show you can
win if you play hard enough./ * /The hard winter at Valley Forge goes
to show that our soldiers suffered a great deal to win the
Revolution./
[go to the chair] {v. phr.} To be executed in the electric chair. *
/After many stays of execution, the criminal finally had to go to the
chair./
[go to the devil] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go away, mind your
own business. - Used as a command; considered rude. * /George told Bob
to go to the devil./ * /"Go to the devil!" said Jack, when his sister
tried to tell him what to do./ 2. To become bad or ruined; become
useless. * /The boy got mixed up with bad company and began to steal
and rob his friends. He went to the devil./ * /Mr. Jones went to the
devil after he lost his business./
[go to the dogs] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to ruin; to be ruined
or destroyed. * /The man went to the dogs after he started drinking./
* /After the death of the owner, the business went to the dogs./ *
/The team went to the dogs when its best players got hurt./ Compare:
GO TO POT.
[go to the trouble] or [take the trouble] {v. phr.} To make trouble
or extra work for yourself; bother. * /John told Mr. Brown not to go
to the trouble of driving him home./ * /Since your aunt took the
trouble to get you a nice birthday present, the least you can do is to
thank her./ Compare: PUT OUT(5).
[go to town] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To do something quickly or with
great force or energy; work fast or hard. * /The boys went to town on
the old garage, and had it torn down before Father came home from
work./ * /While Sally was slowly washing the dishes, she remembered
she had a date with Pete that evening; then she really went to town./
Compare: IN NO TIME, MAKE TIME. Contrast: TAKE ONE'S TIME. 2. or [go
places]. To do a good job; succeed. * /Our team is going to town this
year. We have won all five games that we played./ * /Dan was a good
student and a good athlete; we expect him to go places in business./
[go to waste] {v. phr.} To be wasted or lost; not used. * /The
strawberries went to waste because there was nobody to pick them./ *
/Joe's work on the model automobile went to waste when he dropped it./
Compare: IN VAIN.
[go to wrack and ruin] {v. phr.} To fall apart and be ruined; to
become useless. * /The barn went to wrack and ruin after the farmer
moved./ * /The car will soon go to wrack and ruin standing out in all
kinds of weather./
[go under] {v.} 1. To be sunk. * /The ship hit an iceberg and went
under./ 2. To fail; be defeated. * /The filling station went under
because there were too many others on the street./
[go under the hammer] {v. phr.} To be auctioned off. * /Our old
family paintings went under the hammer when my father lost his job./
[go up] {v.} 1. To go or move higher; rise. * /Many people came to
watch the weather balloon go up./ * /The path goes up the hill./ 2. To
be able to become heard; become loud or louder. * /A shout went up
from the crowd at the game./ 3. Grow in height while being built; to
be built. * /The new church is going up on the corner./ 4. To
increase. * /Prices of fruit and vegetables have gone up./
[go up in smoke] or [go up in flames] {v. phr.} To burn; be
destroyed by fire. 1. * /The house went up in flames./ * /The barn
full of hay went up in smoke./ 2. Disappear; fail; not come true. *
/Jane's hopes of going to college went up in smoke when her father
lost his job./ * /The team's chances to win went up in smoke when
their captain was hurt./
[go up in the air] {v. phr.} To become angry; lose one's temper. *
/Herb is so irritable these days that he goes up in the air for no
reason at all./
[gourd] See: SAW WOOD or SAW GOURDS.
[go with] {v.} 1. To match; to look good with. * /A yellow blouse
goes with her blonde hair./ * /The woman bought a purse to go with her
new shoes./ 2. To go out in the company of. * /Tom goes with the girl
who lives across the street./
[go without] See: DO WITHOUT.
[go without saying] {v. phr.} To be too plain to need talking
about; not be necessary to say or mention. * /It goes without saying
that children should not be given knives to play with./ * /A person
with weak eyes should wear glasses. That goes without saying./
[go wrong] {v. phr.} 1. To fail; go out of order. * /Something went
wrong with our car and we stalled on the road./ 2. To sink into an
immoral or criminal existence. * /In a large city many young people go
wrong every year./
[gown] See: TOWN AND GOWN.
[grab bag] {n.} 1. A bag from which surprise packages are chosen; a
bag in which there are many unknown things. * /The woman paid a
quarter for a chance at the grab bag./ * /The children brought
packages to be sold from the grab bag at the school carnival./ 2. A
group of many different things from which to choose; a variety. * /The
TV program was a grab bag for young and old alike./
[grab off] {v.}, {informal} To take quickly; take or grab before
anybody else can; choose for yourself. * /The people who got to the
show first grabbed off the best seats./ * /The women hurried to the
store to grab off the things on sale./ * /The prettiest girls at the
dance were grabbed off for partners first./ Compare: SNAP UP.
[grabs] See: UP FOR GRABS.
[grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE, IN ONE'S BAD GRACES, IN ONE'S GOOD
GRACES, WITH BAD GRACE, WITH GOOD GRACE.
[grace period] or [period of grace] {n.} The time or extra time
allowed in which to do something. * /Most insurance companies have a
grace period of one month for payments./ * /The teacher gave the class
a week's period of grace to finish workbooks./
[grade] See: MAKE THE GRADE.
[grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN, TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
[grand slam] {n.} A home run hit when there are three men on the
bases. * /Tony's grand slam won the game for the Yankees, 4-0./
[grandstand] {v.}, {slang}, {informal} To show off, to perform
histrionics needlessly. * /Stop grandstanding and get down to honest
work!/
[grandstander] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A showoff, a person who
likes to engage in histrionics. * /Many people think that Evel Knievel
is a grandstander./
[granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED.
[grasp at straws] or [clutch at straws] {v. phr.} To depend on
something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or
danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. * /To depend on
your memory without studying for a test is to grasp at straws./ * /The
robber clutched at straws to make excuses. He said he wasn't in the
country when the robbery happened./
[grass] See: LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET, SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
[grasshopper] See: KNEE-HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER
[grass is always greener on the other side of the fence] or [grass
is always greener on the other side of the hill] We are often not
satisfied and want to be somewhere else; a place that is far away or
different seems better than where we are. * /John is always changing
his job because the grass always looks greener to him on the other
side of the fence./
[grave] See: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, TURN IN ONE'S GRAVE or TURN
OVER IN ONE'S GRAVE.
[graveyard shift] {n. phr.} The work period lasting from sundown to
sunup, when one has to work in the dark or by artificial light. *
/"Why are you always so sleepy in class?" Professor Brown asked Sam.
"Because I have to work the graveyard shift beside going to school,"
Sam answered./
[gravy] See: PAN GRAVY.
[gravy train] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The kind of job that brings
in a much higher income than the services rendered would warrant. *
/Jack's job at the Athletic Club as Social Director is a regular gravy
train./
[gray] See: GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR.
[grease-ball] {n.}, {slang}, {derogatory} (avoid) An immigrant from
a southern country, such as Mexico, Italy, or Spain; a person with
oily looking black hair. * /Mr. White is a racist; he calls Mr. Lopez
from Tijuana a grease-ball because he has dark hair./
[grease monkey] {n., {slang} 1. A person who greases or works on
machinery; a mechanic or worker in a garage or gasoline station. *
/Hey, grease monkey, fill up my gas tank!/ * /The grease monkey was
all dirty when he came out from under the car./ 2. Airplane mechanic.
* /Jack was a grease monkey in the Air Force./
[grease one's palm] or [grease the palm] {slang} 1. To pay a person
for something done or given, especially dishonestly; bribe. * /Some
politicians will help you if you grease their palms./ 2. To give a
tip; pay for a special favor or extra help. * /We had to grease the
palm of the waiter to get a table in the crowded restaurant./
[grease the wheels] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something or act to
make something go smoothly or happen in the way that is wanted. * /Mr.
Davis asked a friend to grease the wheels so he could borrow money
from the bank./ * /William's father tried to grease the wheels for him
to get a new job./
[greasy spoon] {n.}, {informal} Any small, inexpensive restaurant
patronized by workers or people in a hurry; a place not noted for its
excellence of cuisine or its decor. * /I won't have time to eat lunch
at the club today; I'll just grab a sandwich at the local greasy
spoon./
[great] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF.
[great deal] See: GOOD DEAL.
[great Godfrey] or [great guns] or [great Scott] {interj.},
{informal} A saying usually used to show surprise or anger. * /Great
Godfrey! Uncle Willie is sitting on top of the flagpole!/ * /Great
guns! The lion is out of his cage./ * /Great Scott! Who stole my
watch?/
[great guns] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very fast or very hard. -
Usually used in the phrases "blow great guns", "go great guns". * /The
wind was blowing great guns, and big waves beat the shore./ * /The men
were going great guns to finish the job./ Compare: FAST AND FURIOUS.
2. Very well; successfully. * /Smith's new store opened last week and
it's going great guns./
[great many] See: GOOD MANY.
[great oaks from little acorns grow] As great oak trees grow from
tiny acorns, so many great people or things grew from a small and
unimportant beginning, so be patient. - A proverb. * /Many great men
were once poor, unimportant boys. Great oaks from little acorns grow./
[Great Scott] See: GREAT GODFREY.
[green] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE
or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL.
[green around the gills] or [pale around the gills] {adj. phr.},
{slang} Pale-faced from fear or sickness; sickly; nauseated. * /Bill's
father took him for a ride in his boat while the waves were rough, and
when he came back he was green around the gills./ * /The car almost
hit Mary crossing the street, and she was pale around the gills
because it came so close./ - Also used with other prepositions besides
"around", as "about", "at", "under", and with other colors, as "blue",
"pink", "yellow", "white".
[green-eyed monster] {n. phr.} Jealousy; envy. * /When John's
brother got the new bicycle, the green-eyed monster made John fight
with him./
[green power] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The social prestige or
power money can buy one. * /In American political elections the
candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing
them./
[green thumb] {n.}, {informal} A talent for gardening; ability to
make things grow. - Considered trite by many. * /Mr. Wilson's
neighbors say his flowers grow because he has a green thumb./
[green with envy] {adj. phr.} Very jealous; full of envy. *
/Alice's girlfriends were green with envy when they saw her new
dress./ * /The other boys were green with envy when Joe bought a
second-hand car./ Compare: GREEN-EYED MONSTER.
[grief] See: COME TO GRIEF, GOOD GRIEF, GOOD NIGHT(2) or GOOD
GRIEF.
[grin and bear it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be as cheerful as
possible in pain or trouble; do something without complaining. * /The
doctor told Mrs. Howard that she had to stop eating sweets if she
wanted to lose weight, and she tried to grin and bear it./ * /If you
must have a tooth drilled, all you can do is grin and bear it./
Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF, PUT UP WITH.
[grind] See: AX TO GRIND.
[grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.
[grind to a halt] {v. phr.}, {informal} To slow down and stop like
a machine does when turned off. * /The old car ground to a halt in
front of the house./ * /The Cardinals' offense ground to a halt before
the stubborn Steeler defense./
[grip] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH, LOSE ONE'S GRIP.
[groove] See: IN THE GROOVE.
[gross out] {v.}, {slang} To commit a vulgar act; to repel someone
by saying a disgusting or vulgar thing. * /You are going to gross out
people if you continue talking like that./
[gross-out session] {n.}, {slang}, {avoidable} A verbal contest
between teen-agers in which the object of the game is to see who can
be more disgusting or vulgar than anybody else. * /When Jim got home
he found his two teen-age sons engaged in a gross-out session; he
bawled them out and cut their weekly allowance./
[ground] See: BREAK GROUND, COMMON GROUND, COVER GROUND or COVER
THE GROUND, CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, EAR TO THE GROUND, FEET ON THE
GROUND, GAIN GROUND, GET OFF THE GROUND, GIVE GROUND, HAPPY HUNTING
GROUND, HOLD ONE'S GROUND, LOSE GROUND, MIDDLE GROUND, RUN INTO THE
GROUND, STAMPING GROUND, STAND ONE'S GROUND, FROM THE GROUND UP.
[ground ball] {n.} A ball batted onto the ground in baseball; a
grounder. * /Taylor hit a ground ball to the short-stop./
[ground floor] {n.} 1. First floor of a house or building. * /Mrs.
Turner has an apartment on the ground floor./ 2. {informal} The first
or best chance, especially in a business. * /That man got rich because
he got in on the ground floor of the television business./
[ground rule] {n.} 1. A rule in sports that is made especially for
the grounds or place where a game is played. - Usually used in the
plural. * /There was such a big crowd at the baseball game, that the
ground rules of the field were changed in case a ball went into the
crowd./ 2. A rule, usually not written, of what to do or how to act in
case certain things happen. - Usually used in the plural. * /When you
go to a new school, you don't know tire ground rules of how you are
supposed to behave./
[grow] See: GREAT OAKS PROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LET GRASS GROW
UNDER ONE'S FEET.
[growing pains] {n.} 1. Pains in children's legs supposed to be
caused by changes in their bodies and feelings as they grow. * /The
little girl's legs hurt, and her mother told her she had growing
pains./ 2. {informal} Troubles when something new is beginning or
growing. * /The factory has growing pains./
[grow on] or [grow upon] {v.} 1. To become stronger in; increase as
a habit of. * /The habit of eating before going to bed grew upon
John./ 2. To become more interesting to or liked by. * /The more Jack
saw Mary, the more she grew on him./ * /Football grew on Billy as he
grew older./
[grow out of] {v. phr.} 1. To outgrow; become too mature for. * /As
a child he had a habit of scratching his chin all the time, but he
grew out of it./ 2. To result from; arise. * /Tom's illness grew out
of his tendency to overwork and neglect his health./
[grow up] {v.} 1. To increase in size or height; become taller or
older; reach full height. * /Johnny is growing up; his shoes are too
small for him./ * /I grew up on a farm./ * /The city has grown up
since I was young./ 2. To become adult in mind or judgment; become old
enough to think or decide in important matters. * /Tom wants to he a
coach when he grows up./ * /Grow up, you're not a baby any more!/
[grudge] See: NURSE A GRUDGE.
[guard] See: COLOR GUARD, OFF GUARD, ON GUARD.
[guest] See: BF. MY GUEST.
[gum up] {v.}, {slang} To cause not to work or ruin; spoil; make
something go wrong. - Often used in the phrase "gum up the works". *
/Jimmy has gummed up the typewriter./ Syn.: THROW A MONKEY WRENCH.
[gun] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG GUN, GIVE IT THE GUN or GIVE HER THE
GUN, GREAT GODFREY or GREAT GUNS, JUMP THE GUN, SON OF A GUN, STICK TO
ONE'S GUNS or STAND BY ONE'S GUNS, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL
THE LAST GUN IS FIRED.
[gun for] {v.}, {informal} 1. To hunt for with a gun; look hard for
a chance to harm or defeat. * /The cowboy is gunning for the man who
stole his horse./ * /Bob is gunning for me because I got a higher mark
than he did./ 2. To try very hard to get. * /The man is gunning for
first prize in the golf tournament./
[gung-ho] {adj.}, {colloquial} Enthusiastic, full of eagerness in
an uncritical or unsophisticated manner. * /Suzie is all gung-ho on
equal rights for women, but fails to see the consequences./
[gut feeling] {n. phr.} An instinctive reaction. * /I have a gut
feeling that they will never get married in spite of all they say./
[gut reaction] {n. phr.} A mental or physical response that springs
from one's depths. * /My gut reaction was to get out of here as fast
as possible./
[gut talk] {n. phr.} Sincere, honest talk. * /We admire people who
speak gut talk and tell exactly what they think and feet./
[guts] See: HATE ONE'S GUTS, HAVE THE GUTS TO DO SOMETHING.
[guy] See: REGULAR GUY, WISE GUY.
|
Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
|
