For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org NTC’S American IDIOMS Dictionary For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org NTC’S American IDIOMS Dictionary The Most Practical Reference for the Everyday Expressions of Contemporary American English third edition Richard A Spears, Ph.D For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org abc McGraw-Hill Copyright © 2000 by The McGraw-Hill Companies All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher 0-07-138988-1 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: 0-8442-0274-6 All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps McGraw-Hill eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions, or for use in corporate training programs For more information, please contact George Hoare, Special Sales, at george_hoare@mcgraw-hill.com or (212) 904-4069 TERMS OF USE This is a copyrighted work and The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (“McGraw-Hill”) and its licensors reserve all rights in and to the work Use of this work is subject to these terms Except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store and retrieve one copy of the work, you may not decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense the work or any part of it without McGraw-Hill’s prior consent You may use the work for your own noncommercial and personal use; any other use of the work is strictly prohibited Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms THE WORK IS PROVIDED “AS IS” McGRAW-HILL AND ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY, ADEQUACY OR COMPLETENESS OF OR RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM USING THE WORK, INCLUDING ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE WORK VIA HYPERLINK OR OTHERWISE, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE McGraw-Hill and its licensors not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free Neither McGraw-Hill nor its licensors shall be liable to you or anyone else for any inaccuracy, error or omission, regardless of cause, in the work or for any damages resulting therefrom McGraw-Hill has no responsibility for the content of any information accessed through the work Under no circumstances shall McGraw-Hill and/or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or similar damages that result from the use of or inability to use the work, even if any of them has been advised of the possibility of such damages This limitation of liability shall apply to any claim or cause whatsoever whether such claim or cause arises in contract, tort or otherwise DOI: 10.1036/0071389881 For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org Contents To the User vii Terms and Symbols ix About This Dictionary Dictionary Phrase-Finder Index Appendix xi 447 621 For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org McGraw-Hill's Terms of Use This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org To the User All languages have phrases or sentences that cannot be understood literally Even if you know the meaning of all the words in a phrase and understand all the grammar of the phrase completely, the meaning of the phrase may still be confusing Many proverbs, informal phrases, and common sayings offer this kind of problem A phrase or sentence of this type is said to be idiomatic This dictionary is a collection of the idiomatic phrases and sentences that occur frequently in American English The third edition contains more than one thousand idiomatic expressions not listed in the second edition and a number of new features that provide additional convenience and simplicity Using the Dictionary Start by looking up the complete phrase that you are seeking in the dictionary Each expression is alphabetized under the first word of the phrase, except the words a, an, and the After the first word, entry heads are alphabetized letter by letter For example, in so many words will be found in the section dealing with the letter i Entry phrases are never inverted or reordered like so many words, in ; words, in so many ; or many words, in so Initial articles—a, an, and the—are not alphabetized and appear in a different typeface in the entry In the entry heads, the words someone or one stand for persons, and something stands for things These and other generic expressions appear in a different typeface If you not find the phrase you want, or if you cannot decide exactly what the phrase is, look up any major word in the phrase in the PhraseFinder Index, which begins on page 447 There you will find all the phrases that contain the key word you have looked up Pick out the phrase you want and look it up in the dictionary An entry head may have one or more alternate forms The entry head and its alternates are printed in boldface type, and the alternate forms are preceded by “and.” Two or more alternate forms are separated by a semicolon (;) Many of the entry phrases have more than one major sense These senses are numbered with boldface numerals For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org vii NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary 05 Individual numbered senses may have additional forms that appear in boldface type, in which case the and and the additional form(s) follow the numeral 06 The boldface entry head (together with any alternate forms) is usually followed by a definition or explanation Explanations are enclosed in angle brackets (< and >), and explain or describe the entry head rather than define it Definitions take the form of words, phrases, or sentences that are semantic equivalents of the entry head Alternate definitions and restatements of the definitions are separated by a semicolon (;) These additional definitions are usually given to show slight differences in meaning or interpretation Sometimes an alternate definition is given when the vocabulary of the first definition is difficult 07 Some entries include instructions to look up some other phrase For example: scarcer than hen’s teeth Go to (as) scarce as hen’s teeth 08 A definition or explanation may be followed by comments in parentheses These comments tell about some of the variations of the phrase, explain what it refers to, give other useful information, or indicate cross-referencing 09 Some definitions are preceded by additional information in square brackets This information makes the definition clearer by supplying information about the typical grammatical context in which the phrase is found 10 Sometimes the numbered senses refer only to people or things, but not both, even though the entry head indicates both someone or something In such cases, the numeral is followed by “[with someone]” or “[with something].” 11 Examples are introduced by a ᮀ or a T and are in italic type The T introduces an example containing two elements that have been transposed, such as a particle and the object of a verb This is typically found with phrasal verbs 12 Some entry heads stand for two or more idiomatic expressions Parentheses are used to show which parts of the phrase may or may not be present For example: (all) set to something stands for all set to something and set to something For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org viii Terms and Symbols [ ] enclose a partial entry that is followed by an instruction about where to find the whole entry or a comment For instance, [heart stands still] Go to one’s heart stands still < > enclose a description of or explanation about an entry head rather than a definition For instance, Finders keepers(, losers weepers) ᮀ (a box) marks the beginning of an example T (a box containing a “T”) marks the beginning of an example in which two elements of the phrase, usually a particle and an object, are transposed and indicates that an entry head has variant forms that are the same or similar in meaning as the entry head One or more variant forms are preceded by and entry block is the body of an entry starting with a boldface word or phrase type and running to the next boldface word or phrase entry head is the first phrase or word, in boldface type, of an entry block; the phrase or word that the definition explains go to means to turn to the entry head indicated see also means to consult the entry head indicated for additional information or to find expressions similar in form or meaning to the entry head containing the see also instruction Type Styles Entry heads are printed in boldface type, e.g., Join the club! Variable parts of an entry are printed in condensed type, e.g., just the same (to someone) Entry heads being referred to as cross-references are printed in sans serif type, e.g., get the short end of the stick Variable parts of cross-references are printed in light condensed type , e.g., ease off (on someone or something ) For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org ix NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary welcome wear out one’s welcome welcome welcome someone with open arms welcome welcome to something well alive and well well All’s well that ends well well (all) well and good well as well well augur well for someone or something well get well well hail-fellow-well-met well know something only too well well leave well enough alone well let well enough alone well play one’s cards well well well and good well well-disposed toward someone or something well well-fixed well well-heeled well well-off well well-to-do well well up in years were as it were were better off (if one were somewhere else ) were better off (if something were done) were Those were the days West out West wet all wet wet (as) mad as a wet hen wet get one’s feet wet wet get wet wet mad as a wet hen wet wet behind the ears wet wet blanket wet wet someone’s whistle whack out of w(h)ack whack take a whack at someone or something whale have a whale of a time whale whale the tar out of someone what and what have you what come what may what give someone what for what have what it takes what just what the doctor ordered what know what’s what what no matter what happens what not what something is cracked up to be what recognize one for what one is what recognize something for what it is What What are you driving at? What What can I say? What What you want me to say? what what for What What goes around, comes around What What have you been up to? what what if what what makes someone tick what what makes something tick What What one doesn’t know won’t hurt one whatever for what(ever) it’s worth Whatever Whatever will be, will be what’s get what’s coming to one what’s give one what’s coming to one what’s know what’s what What’s What’s done is done What’s What’s keeping you? What’s What’s new? What’s What’s the good of something ? What’s What’s up? What’s What’s with someone ? wheel put one’s shoulder to the wheel wheel wheel and deal wheels spin one’s wheels when cross a bridge when one comes to it when know when one is not wanted when time was (when) when when all is said and done when when hell freezes over When When in Rome, as the Romans when when it comes right down to it when when it comes to something when when least expected when when one is good and ready when when push comes to shove When When the cat’s away, the mice will play when when the chips are down when when the going gets rough when when the going gets tough when when the time is ripe where fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) where give credit where credit is due where hit one where one lives where know where all the bodies are buried where know where someone stands (on someone or something ) where not know where to turn where (Now), where was I? where Put your money where your mouth is! where take up where one left off where tell someone where to get off where where one is coming from where where one lives Where Where there’s a will there’s a way Where Where there’s smoke there’s fire Where Where was I? wherefores the whys and wherefores of something whereof know whereof one speaks Where’ve Where’ve you been hiding yourself? wherewithal have the wherewithal (to something ) whet whet someone’s appetite whether not know whether one is coming or going whether whether or not which every which way which know which is which which know which side one’s bread is buttered on which not know which way to turn which see which way the wind is blowing which tell which is which whiff catch a whiff of something whiff get a whiff of something while (every) once in a while while fiddle while Rome burns while get out while the getting is good while make it worth someone’s while while make something worth someone’s while For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 612 Phrase-Finder Index while not worth one’s while while once in a while while strike while the iron is hot while while away the time while worth someone’s while whip whip something into shape whip whip something up whirl give something a whirl whisker by a whisker whisper in a stage whisper whistle (as) clean as a whistle whistle (as) slick as a whistle whistle blow the whistle (on someone ) whistle clean as a whistle whistle slick as a whistle whistle wet someone’s whistle white (as) white as a ghost white (as) white as a sheet white (as) white as the driven snow white in black and white white put something down in black and white white white as a sheet white white as the driven snow white white elephant who He laughs best who laughs last who He who laughs last, laughs longest who He who pays the piper calls the tune Who Who you think you’re kidding? Who Who you think you’re talking to? Who Who would have thought? whole go whole hog whole make something up out of whole cloth whole on the whole whole (whole) new ball game whole the whole ball of wax whole the whole shooting match whom to whom it may concern whoop whoop it up whys the whys and wherefores of something wide all wool and a yard wide wide come from far and wide wide crack something wide open wide cut a wide swath wide give someone or something a wide berth wide leave oneself wide open for something wide leave oneself wide open to something wide wide-awake wide wide of the mark wig flip one’s wig wild go hog-wild wild run wild wild sow one’s wild oats wild wild about someone or something Wild Wild horses couldn’t drag someone wild a wild-goose chase wildfire spread like wildfire will against someone’s will will at will will Boys will be boys will Flattery will get you nowhere will Give one an inch, and one will take a mile will have a hunch (that) something will happen will heads will roll will ill will will last will and testament will of one’s own free will will someone’s last will and testament will There will be the devil to pay will Time will tell will Whatever will be, will be will When the cat’s away, the mice will play will Where there’s a will there’s a way will will not hear of something will with a will will with the best will in the world will The truth will out willies get the willies willies give someone the willies willing ready, willing, and able win no-win situation win win by a nose win win out (over someone or something ) win win someone over win win the day wind (as) swift as the wind wind get one’s second wind wind get wind of something wind gone with the wind wind in the wind wind see which way the wind is blowing wind swift as the wind wind take the wind out of someone’s sails wind three sheets to the wind wind throw caution to the wind wind wind down wind wind something up wind wind up doing something wind wind up somewhere windmills tilt at windmills window go window-shopping window window-shopping wine wine and dine someone wing on the wing wing wing it wings clip someone’s wings wings take someone under one’s wing(s) wings try (out) one’s wings wings waiting in the wings wink (as) quick as a wink wink not sleep a wink wink quick as a wink wink wink at something winks catch forty winks winks forty winks winks take forty winks wins Slow and steady wins the race wipe wipe someone or something out wipe wipe someone’s slate clean wipe wipe something off wipe wipe the floor up with someone wire down to the wire wire under the wire wires get one’s wires crossed wise (as) wise as an owl For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 613 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary wise (as) wise as Solomon wise Early to bed, early to rise(, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.) wise get wise (to someone or something ) wise penny-wise and pound-foolish wise put someone wise to someone or something wise wise as an owl wise wise as Solomon wise wise up (to someone or something ) wise a word to the wise wiser none the wiser wiser sadder but wiser wish wish something off on someone wishful wishful thinking wit to wit witch’s (as) cold as a witch’s caress witch’s (as) cold as a witch’s tit witch’s cold as a witch’s caress witch’s cold as a witch’s tit with able to something with one’s eyes closed with alive with someone or something with (all) over with with all right with someone with along with someone or something with arrange something with someone with arrange to something with someone with at home with someone or something with at loggerheads (with someone ) with at odds (with someone ) with bear with someone or something with be friends with someone with beg to differ (with someone ) with beside oneself (with something ) with be with someone with born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth with break off (with someone ) with break up (with someone ) with brimming with something with burn with a low blue flame with burst with joy with burst with pride with can’t anything with someone or something with carry (a lot of) weight (with someone or something ) with carry on (with someone or something ) with cast one’s lot in with someone with catch one with one’s pants down with catch up (with someone or something ) with chime in (with something ) with closefisted (with money) with close ranks (with someone ) with come clean (with someone ) with come down with something with come out with something with come through something with flying colors with come to grips with something with come to terms with someone or something with come up with someone or something with come with the territory with cooking with gas with could with someone or something with cross someone’s palm with silver with cross swords (with someone ) (on something ) with with with with with with with with with with with with curry favor (with someone ) cut loose (with something ) cut no ice (with someone ) damn someone or something with faint praise dance with death die with one’s boots on away with someone or something something with a vengeance double up (with someone ) down with some disease end up with the short end of the stick exchange more than some number of words with someone with fall head over heels in love (with someone ) with fall in love (with someone ) with fall in with someone or something with fall out (with someone about something ) with fall out (with someone over something ) with familiar with someone or something with favor someone or something with something with fed up (to somewhere ) (with someone or something ) with fiddle about (with someone or something ) with fiddle around (with someone or something ) with find fault (with someone or something ) with fit in (with someone or something ) with fit someone or something out (with something ) with fix someone up (with someone or something ) with flirt with the idea of doing something with flush with something with fool around (with someone or something ) with fraught with danger with get a free hand (with someone or something ) with get a hand with something with get along (with someone or something ) with get an in (with someone ) with get away with something with get by (with something ) with get even (with someone ) with get fresh (with someone ) with get into an argument (with someone ) with get in touch (with someone ) with get involved (with someone ) with get one’s (own) way (with someone or something ) with get on (with someone or something ) with get physical (with someone ) with get something over (with) with get through with something with get to first base (with someone or something ) with get tough (with someone ) with get with something with give out with something with give someone a free hand (with something ) with give someone a hand (with someone or something ) with go all the way (with someone ) with go along (with someone or something ) with go around with someone with gone with the wind with go out (with someone ) with go over big with someone with go over something with a fine-tooth comb with go over with a bang with go steady (with someone ) For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 614 Phrase-Finder Index with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with go through with something go to bed (with someone ) go to bed with the chickens go with something go with the flow graced with something grace someone or something with one’s presence green with envy hand in glove (with someone ) handle someone with kid gloves hang around (with someone ) hang out (with someone ) have a bone to pick (with someone ) have a brush with something have an ax to grind (with someone ) have an in (with someone ) have a run-in with someone have a score to settle (with someone ) have a scrape (with someone or something ) have a thing going (with someone ) have a way with someone or something have a word with someone have contact with someone have nothing to with someone or something have one’s hands full (with someone or something ) have pull with someone have something to with something have something going (with someone ) have something in common (with someone or something ) with have something out (with someone ) with have to with someone or something with have to live with something with head over heels in love (with someone ) with help (someone or something ) out (with someone or something ) with hit it off (with someone ) with hoist with one’s own petard with hold with something with How goes it (with you)? with in accordance with something with in bad (with someone ) with in cahoots (with someone ) with in concert (with someone ) with in Dutch (with someone ) with in good (with someone ) with in keeping (with something ) with in league (with someone ) with in line with something with in love (with someone or something ) with in step (with someone or something ) with in tune with someone or something with invest someone with something with in with someone with join forces (with someone ) with keep company (with someone ) with keep in touch (with someone ) with keep pace (with someone or something ) with keep up (with someone or something ) with keep up (with the Joneses) with keep up (with the times) with kid around (with someone ) with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with kill two birds with one stone knock someone over with a feather lay it on with a trowel learn to live with something leave word (with someone ) let go (with something ) let loose (with something ) let someone have it (with both barrels) level with someone line someone or something up with something line someone up with someone lock horns (with someone ) lose one’s touch (with someone or something ) lose touch (with someone or something ) lousy with something make a hit (with someone or something ) make an appointment (with someone ) make away with someone or something make (with someone or something ) make free with someone or something make off with someone or something make out (with someone or something ) make peace (with someone ) make points (with someone ) make time (with someone ) make up (with someone ) mess about (with someone or something ) mess around (with someone or something ) mix someone up with someone else monkey around (with someone or something ) mop the floor up with someone not agree with someone not in the same league with someone or something not with it on a first-name basis (with someone ) on good terms (with someone ) on par (with someone or something ) on speaking terms (with someone ) open up (with someone ) open with something out of favor (with someone ) out of keeping (with something ) out of line (with something ) out of step (with someone or something ) out of time (with someone or something ) out of touch (with someone or something ) out of tune (with someone or something ) over and done with over with pal around (with someone ) part company (with someone ) pass the time of day (with someone ) persist with something pick a fight with someone pick a quarrel (with someone ) pipe up with something play about (with someone or something ) play along with someone or something play around (with someone or something ) play ball (with someone ) play cat and mouse (with someone ) play fast and loose (with someone or something ) For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 615 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with with play footsie (with someone ) play havoc with someone or something play hob with someone or something play with fire put someone to bed with a shovel put up with someone or something racked with pain raise cain (with someone or something ) raise havoc with someone or something raise hell (with someone or something ) raise hob with someone or something raise the devil (with someone or something ) raise the dickens (with someone or something ) rap with someone rate with someone ravished with delight reach first base (with someone or something ) receive someone with open arms reckon with someone or something resonate with someone rich with something rub elbows (with someone ) rub shoulders with someone run around like a chicken with its head cut off run around with someone run off with someone or something saddle someone with something screw around (with someone or something ) search something with a fine-tooth comb see eye to eye (with someone ) (about something ) see eye to eye (with someone ) (on something ) settle a score with someone settle the score (with someone ) settle up with someone sever ties with someone shack up (with someone ) shake hands (with someone ) shot through with something side with someone sign on (with someone ) sit up with someone sit with someone sleep with someone speak with a forked tongue split one’s sides (with laughter) square accounts (with someone ) square up with someone start (off) with a clean slate start (over) with a clean slate stay in touch (with someone ) stick someone with someone or something stick with someone or something strike a chord (with someone ) string along (with someone ) stuck with someone or something take a hard line (with someone ) take issue (with someone ) take liberties with someone or something take something home (with oneself ) take something up (with someone ) take something with a grain of salt take something with a pinch of salt with take the bitter with the sweet with take up with someone with tamper with something with tarred with the same brush with team up with someone with throw the baby out with the bath(water) with tightfisted (with money) with top something off (with something ) with touch base (with someone ) with toy with someone or something with vote with one’s feet with walk away with something with walk off with something with wall-to-wall with something with welcome someone with open arms with What’s with someone ? with wipe the floor up with someone with with a heavy heart with with all one’s heart and soul with with all the fixings with with an eye to doing something with with a vengeance with with a view to doing something with with a will with with bells on (one’s toes) with with both hands tied behind one’s back with with each passing day with with ease with with every (other) breath with with everything (on it) with with flying colors with (with) hat in hand with with impunity with with it with with no strings attached with with one hand tied behind one’s back with with one’s tail between one’s legs with with regard to someone or something with with relish with with respect to someone or something with with something to spare with with the best will in the world with work wonders (with someone or something ) with wouldn’t touch something with a ten-foot pole with wreak havoc with something with You can’t take it with you with Your secret is safe with me with a force to be reckoned with wither wither on the vine within come within an ace of doing something within come within an inch of doing something within live within one’s means within within an inch of one’s life within within a stone’s throw (of something ) within within bounds within within calling distance within within hailing distance within within limits within within reason within within shouting distance within within someone’s grasp within within someone’s reach For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 616 Phrase-Finder Index within within walking distance without absent without leave without carry on without someone or something without cut someone off without a penny without without (someone or something ) without get along (without (someone or something )) without goes without saying without go without (something ) without up the creek (without a paddle) without without a moment to spare without without any strings attached without without batting an eye without without fail without without further ado without without question without without rhyme or reason without without so much as doing something wit’s at one’s wit’s end wits frighten one out of one’s wits wits frighten the wits out of someone wits get one’s wits about one wits keep one’s wits about one wits live by one’s wits wits scare one out of one’s wits wits scare the wits out of someone wits You scared me out of my wits Woe Woe is me! wolf cry wolf wolf keep the wolf from the door wolf a wolf in sheep’s clothing wolves throw someone to the wolves woman woman to woman wonder no wonder wonder a nine days’ wonder wonders work wonders (with someone or something ) won’t What one doesn’t know won’t hurt one wood knock on wood woods in some neck of the woods woods out of the woods woods a babe in the woods wool all wool and a yard wide wool dyed-in-the-wool wool pull the wool over someone’s eyes word as good as one’s word word break one’s word word by word of mouth word from the word go word get a word in edgeways word get a word in edgewise word get the final word word get the last word word get the word word go back on one’s word word hang on someone’s every word word have a word with someone word in a word word keep one’s word word leave word (with someone ) word mum’s the word word not breathe a word (about someone or something ) word not breathe a word of it word not utter a word word put in a good word (for someone ) word say the word word take one at one’s word word true to one’s word word word by word word word for word word a word to the wise words Actions speak louder than words words at a loss (for words) words beyond words words eat one’s words words exchange more than some number of words with someone words have one’s words stick in one’s throat words in other words words in so many words words mark my word(s) words mince (one’s ) words words or words to that effect words put something into words words put words into someone’s mouth words take the words out of one’s mouth words Them’s fighting words words twist someone’s words (around) words weigh someone’s words words words to that effect work all in a day ’s work work All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy work at work work close enough for government work work dirty work work get down to work work grunt work work have one’s work cut out for one work knock off work work make fast work of someone or something work make short work of someone or something work Many hands make light work work one’s work is cut out for one work out of work work take off (from work) work work like a horse work work one’s fingers to the bone work work (one’s way) into something work work one’s way through college work work one’s way up work work on someone or something work work out work work someone or something in work work someone or something up work work someone over work work something into something else work work something off work work something out work work through channels work work wonders (with someone or something ) work a lick of work work A little (hard) work never hurt anyone work A little (hard) work never killed anyone worked (all) worked up (about something ) worked (all) worked up (over something ) worked get worked up (about something ) For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 617 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary worked get worked up (over something ) worked worked up (about something ) worked worked up (over something ) works get the works works give someone the works works gum up the works works in the works works shoot the works works throw a monkey wrench into the works works the works world all over the world world carry the weight of the world on one’s worth worth one’s salt worth worth someone’s while worth An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of shoulders world come down in the world world come up in the world world dead to the world world not have a care in the world world feel on top of the world world for all the world world How’s the world (been) treating you? world in a world of one’s own world in the world world move up (in the world) world not for (anything in) the world world not long for this world world on top of the world world out of this world world set the world on fire world (sitting) on top of the world world think the world of someone or something world with the best will in the world worlds have the best of both worlds worm worm one’s way out of something worm worm something out of someone worm The early bird gets the worm worm The worm (has) turned worms open (up) a can of worms worse Could be worse worse for better or for worse worse go from bad to worse worse none the worse for wear worse One’s bark is worse than one’s bite worse take a turn for the worse worst at (the) worst worst at worst worst get the worst of something worst if worst comes to worst worst in the worst way worth for all it’s worth worth for what(ever) it’s worth worth get one’s money ’s worth worth make it worth someone’s while worth make something worth someone’s while worth not worth a dime worth not worth a hill of beans worth not worth a plugged nickel worth not worth a red cent worth not worth mentioning worth not worth one’s while worth not worth the trouble worth put one’s two cents(‘ worth) in worth worth its weight in gold would would like (to have) someone or something would would rather wouldn’t look as if butter wouldn’t melt in one’s cure worth A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush worthy worthy of the name would as luck would have it would never would have guessed would Who would have thought? would would as soon something would would give one’s right arm (for someone or something ) mouth wouldn’t wouldn’t dream of doing something wouldn’t wouldn’t touch something with a ten-foot pole wound rub salt in the wound wrack go to wrack and ruin wrap wrap something up wrapped get something wrapped up wrapped wrapped up in someone or something wraps keep something under wraps wreak wreak havoc with something wreak wreak vengeance (up)on someone or something wrench throw a monkey wrench into the works wringer put someone through the wringer wrist get a slap on the wrist wrist give someone a slap on the wrist wrist slap someone’s wrist wrist slap someone on the wrist write nothing to write home about write write someone or something off write write someone or something up write write something down write write something out wrong back the wrong horse wrong bark up the wrong tree wrong be off on the wrong foot wrong get off on the wrong foot wrong get out of the wrong side of the bed wrong get up on the wrong side of the bed wrong go wrong wrong in the wrong wrong on the wrong track wrong rub someone (‘s fur) the wrong way wrong start off on the wrong foot wrong take someone or something wrong wrong take something the wrong way wrong the wrong side of the tracks wrote someone wrote the book on something wrote That’s all she wrote X X marks the spot yard all wool and a yard wide yarn spin a yarn year (all) year round year by the year Year ring in the New Year year year after year year year in, year out For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 618 Phrase-Finder Index year year round years advanced in years years along in years years get along (in years) years on in years years up in years years well up in years years years running yesterday need something yesterday yesterday not born yesterday yet be the death of me (yet) yield yield the right-of-way yoke a yoke around someone’s neck yon hither, thither, and yon yon thither and yon you All right for you! you and what have you you before you can say Jack Robinson you before you know it you Behind you! you between you, me, and the lamppost you Can you imagine? you Do I need to paint you a picture? you Don’t let someone or something get you down you Do you read me? you Flattery will get you nowhere you goes to show you you Have I got something for you! you Have you been keeping busy? you Here’s looking at you you Here you go you How goes it (with you)? you How’s the world (been) treating you? you I’ll (try to) catch you later you mind you you pay as you go you so clean you could eat off the floor you so quiet you could hear a pin drop you so still you could hear a pin drop you Thank you for sharing you There you go you What are you driving at? you What you want me to say? you What have you been up to? you What’s keeping you? you Where’ve you been hiding yourself? you Who you think you’re kidding? you Who you think you’re talking to? You You bet (your boots)! You You can bet on it! You You can say that again! You You can’t please everyone You You can’t take it with you You You can’t teach an old dog new tricks You You got me there You You just don’t get it! you you know You You said it! You You scared me out of my wits You You scared the crap out of me You You scared the devil out of me You You scared the dickens out of me You You scared the hell out of me You You scared the pants off (of) me You You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours You You think you’re so smart! you a fine how-do-you-do you the same to you your Cat got your tongue? your Don’t hold your breath your Don’t quit your day job your Enjoy your meal your get off your high horse your Here’s mud in your eye your Hold your horses! your Hold your tongue! your Hush your mouth! your I didn’t catch your name your Keep your shirt on! your mind your manners your not on your life your pick on somebody your own size your pick on someone your own size your Put that in your pipe and smoke it! your Put your money where your mouth is! your You bet (your boots)! Your Your guess is as good as mine Your Your secret is safe with me you’re Who you think you’re kidding? you’re Who you think you’re talking to? you’re You think you’re so smart! yours yours truly yours You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours yourself by yourself yourself Where’ve you been hiding yourself? yourselves by yourselves Z everything from A to Z zenith at the zenith of something zero zero in on something zonk zonk out zoom zoom in (on someone or something ) Zs catch some Zs For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 619 This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org Appendix Irreversible Binomials and Trinomials Irreversible binomials and trinomials are sequences of two or three words that are in a fixed order, such as fast and furious, but not furious and fast The following sequences of words are joined by and, or, but, or some type of implied conjunction The words are found only in the sequences shown here and cannot be reordered Those marked with an asterisk (*) are entries in this dictionary above and beyond* See above and beyond something Adam and Eve alive and kicking* again and again aid and abet* See aid and abet someone alive and well* all and sundry* all or nothing* all work and no play* See All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy alpha and omega* apples and oranges* arm and a leg* See cost an arm and a leg armed and dangerous* arts and letters (a division of a university) arts and sciences (a division of a university) assault and battery* back and fill* back and forth* backwards and forwards* See know something backwards and forwards bacon and eggs bacon, lettuce, and tomato [sandwich] bag and baggage* bait and switch* ball and chain* bar and grill beck and call* See at someone’s beck and call bed-and-breakfast beer and pretzels beer and skittles* See (all) beer and skittles before and after bell, book, and candle* betwixt and between* bib and tucker* See best bib and tucker big and bold* binge and purge* birds and the bees* biscuits and gravy black and blue black and white* See in black and white blood and gore blood and guts blood, sweat, and tears* bloody but unbowed* body and soul* See keep body and soul together born and bred* born and raised* bound and determined* bound and gagged bourbon and water bow and scrape* bread and butter* bread and water breaking and entering* bricks and mortar* bride and groom bright and early* bright-eyed and bushy-tailed* business or pleasure by and by* For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 621 McGraw-Hill's Terms of Use NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary by and large* by guess and by golly* cap and gown* cash-and-carry* cash or credit* cat and mouse* See play cat and mouse (with someone) cats and dogs* See rain cats and dogs cause and effect cease and desist* chapter and verse* checks and balances* cheese and crackers chips and dip* church and state* clip and save cloak-and-dagger* coat and tie* cock and bull* See cock-and-bull story coffee and Danish* coffee and doughnuts coffee, tea, or milk* come and gone* coming or going* See not know if one is coming or going country and western [music] crash and burn* cream and sugar crime and punishment cup and saucer curds and whey cut-and-dried* cut and paste* cut and run* cute and cuddly dark and stormy day and age* See in this day and age day in and day out* dead and buried* dead and gone* dead or alive deaf and dumb* death and destruction death and taxes* decline and fall dilation and curettage divide and conquer* or die* dog and pony show* doom and gloom down-and-dirty* down-and-out* drawn and quartered* dribs and drabs* drum and bugle drunk and disorderly* duck and cover* duck and drake easy come, easy go* eat and run* ebb and flow* ever and anon* fad and fashion fair and impartial* fair and square* faith, hope, and charity far and away* See far and away the best far and wide* See come from far and wide fast and furious* fast and loose* See play fast and loose (with someone or something) fat and happy* Father, Son, and Holy Ghost fear and loathing fear and trembling* See in fear and trembling feast or famine* See either feast or famine fin and feather few and far between* field and stream fight or flight Finders keepers(, losers weepers).* fine and dandy* first and foremost* first and last first and ten* first come, first served* first, last, and always fish and chips fish or fowl* See neither fish nor fowl fish or cut bait* fit and trim* fits and starts* See by fits and starts flesh and blood* flora and fauna* flotsam and jetsam* fold, spindle, or mutilate* food and drink food and water footloose and fancy-free* for better or for worse* fore and aft* forever and a day* forever and always forgive and forget* form and substance* franks and beans (frankfurters and beans) free and clear* free and easy* friend or foe* fries and a shake (French fries and a milkshake) front and center fun and games* give-and-take* God and country gone but not forgotten* good and ready* See when one is good and ready goose and gander grin and bear it* hale and hearty* half-and-half* ham and eggs hammer and nails hammer and sickle For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 622 Irreversible Binomials and Trinomials hammer and tongs* See go at it hammer and tongs hand and foot* See bound hand and foot hard-and-fast* hat and gloves have and to hold haves and have-nots head and shoulders* See head and shoulders above someone or something head over heels* See head over heels in debt; head over heels in love (with someone) head to toe* See from head to toe heads or tails* health and welfare heart and soul* heating and air-conditioning heaven and earth* See move heaven and earth to something hellfire and damnation hell or high water* See come hell or high water hem and haw* See hem and haw (around) hen and chicken here and there* here, there, and everywhere hide-and-seek* hide nor hair* See neither hide nor hair high and dry* See leave someone high and dry high-and-mighty* highways and byways* hill and dale hit-and-miss* hit-and-run* hit-or-miss* hither and thither* hither, thither, and yon* honest and aboveboard* hook, line, and sinker* See swallow something hook, line, and sinker hook or crook* See by hook or (by) crook hoot and holler* hop, skip, and a jump* horse and buggy* horse and carriage* hot and bothered* hot and cold* See blow hot and cold hot and heavy* hot and humid house and home* See eat someone out of house and home hue and cry* hunt-and-peck* husband and wife hustle and bustle* ice-cream and cake in and of itself* in and out in sickness and in health ins and outs* See ins and outs of something intents and purposes* See for all intents and purposes jack and jill Jekyll and Hyde* Jesus, Mary, and Joseph joint and several jot and tittle juice and cookies* king and queen kiss and tell* kit and caboodle* kith and kin* knife and fork knife, fork, and spoon ladies and gentlemen last but not least* last will and testament* law and order leaps and bounds* See by leaps and bounds lick and a promise* See give something a lick and a promise lie, cheat, and steal life and death* See matter of life and death life or death like it or lump it* live and learn* live and let live* liver and onions lock and key lock, stock, and barrel* long and (the) short it* lost-and-found* lost and gone forever* loud and clear* love and marriage love nor money* See not for love nor money make or break* See make or break someone main strength and awkwardness* man and wife master and servant meat and drink meat-and-potatoes* meek and mild mergers and acquisitions mice and men* See best-laid plans of mice and men might and main* milk and honey mind and body mix and match* more or less* mortar and pestle mother and child motherhood and apple pie movers and shakers* Mr and Mrs name and address needle and thread new and improved nice and easy nickel and dime* See nickel and dime (someone) nip and tuck* nook and cranny* nothing ventured, nothing gained* now and again* now and then* For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 623 NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary now or never* null and void* nuts and bolts* See nuts and bolts (of something) odds and ends* off and running* old and gray once and for all* one and all* one and only* one and the same* open-and-shut case* out and about* Out of sight, out of mind.* over and above* See over and above something over and done with* over and over* See over and over (again) over and under pain and suffering part and parcel* See part and parcel (of something) past and present peaches and cream peanut butter and jelly pen and ink pen and pencil penny-wise and pound-foolish* pick and choose* pickles and onions pins and needles* See on pins and needles plain and simple* pomp and circumstance poor but clean* pork and beans postage and handling* potatoes and gravy pots and pans power and might pride and joy* pride and prejudice principal and interest profit and loss pros and cons p’s and q’s* See mind one’s p’s and q’s publish or perish* pure and simple* Put up or shut up!* question and answer quick and dirty* rack and pinion rain or shine* rank and file* rant and rave* See rant and rave (about someone or something) rape and pillage read and write reading and writing ready and able ready and willing ready, get set, go ready, willing, and able* red, white, and blue research and development rest and recreation rest and relaxation rhyme or reason* See without rhyme or reason rice and beans rice and peas right and wrong right or wrong rise and fall Rise and shine!* rock and a hard place* See between a rock and a hard place rock and roll rocks and rills rod and reel rod and staff room and board* root and branch rough-and-ready* rough-and-tumble* rum and coke rhythm and blues sackcloth and ashes sadder but wiser* sadism and masochism safe and sound* said and done* See after all is said and done salt and pepper sand and sea sane and sober sausage and eggs savings and loan scotch and soda scotch and water search and destroy seek and destroy separate but equal* sex and violence Shape up or ship out.* shave and shower shipping and handling* shirt and tie shoes and socks short and fat short and sassy short and stout short and sweet show-and-tell* sick and tired* See sick and tired of someone or something signed, sealed, and delivered* sink or swim* sir or madam six of one and half a dozen of another* sixes and sevens* See at sixes and sevens skin and bones* See (all) skin and bones skull and crossbones slim and trim slings and arrows “ of outrageous fortune.” (Shakespeare) slip and slide slow and sure slow(ly) but sure(ly)* For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 624 Irreversible Binomials and Trinomials smoke and mirrors* So far, so good.* soap and water Sodom and Gomorrah song and dance* See go into one’s song and dance (about something) sooner or later* sound and fury soup and salad soup and sandwich spick-and-span* spit and image* See be the spit and image of someone stand and deliver* stars and stripes start and stop stem to stern* See from stem to stern sticks and stones* stop-and-go* stop, look, and listen* straight and narrow* strawberries and cream stuff and nonsense* sugar and spice suit and tie sum and substance* supply and demand* surf and turf* sweet and low* sweet and sour* sweetness and light* See all sweetness and light swift and sure* take it or leave it* tall and thin tar and feather* See tar and feather someone tax-and-spend* tea and crumpets* then and there* thick and thin* See through thick and thin thither and yon* thrust and parry* thunder and lightning time and (time) again* time and space tip to toe* See from tip to toe tits and ass* to and fro* toing and froing* See toing and froing (on something) Tom, Dick, and Harry* See (every) Tom, Dick, and Harry tool and die tooth and nail* See fight someone or something tooth and nail touch and go* town-and-gown* town and country trial and error* trials and tribulations* Trick or treat!* tried-and-true* twist and shout two’s company(, three’s a crowd)* up and around* up-and-coming* up and at them* up and away* up and down ups and downs* vim and vigor* vinegar and oil waifs and strays wait and see* See wait-and-see attitude war and peace wash-and-wear* wax and wane* ways and means* weak and weary wear and tear* See wear and tear (on something) week in, week out* weights and measures well and good* See (all) well and good wiggle and squirm wine and cheese wine and dine* See wine and dine someone wit and wisdom wrack and ruin* See go to wrack and ruin year in, year out* you, me, and the lamppost* See between you, me, and the lamppost For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 625 This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org ... Dictionary For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at. .. information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org xiii This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org... information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org McGraw-Hill''s Terms of Use This page intentionally left blank For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at