give it some welly

give it some welly (third-person singular simple present gives it some welly, present participle giving it some welly, simple past gave it some welly, past participle given it some welly)

gives it some welly (present singular third-person)
giving it some welly (participle present)
gave it some welly (past)
given it some welly (participle past)

Believe me, if you give it a little welly down a twisty B-road this car feels pretty entertaining

Having put the engineer at ease, I think, it was time to give the car some welly and I was amazed how effortlessly it rocketed up to, er, high speeds, then lost speed almost as rapidly when the powerful brakes came into use.

2007, David Dixon, Richard Noble, “Tom Walkinshaw's Le Mans Effort”, in Watts My Line?: The Life and Work of Editorial Artist, Lawrie Watts, page 72:

I insisted we share the driving and, after we pulled in for a tank of petrol one hour into our drive, she reluctantly let me take over. 'Give it some welly,' she said to me as I eased off the clutch. 'I'm trying,' I said

(UK) To increase fuel or power to an engine, as to a car by depressing the gas pedal.


cross the floor

en-verb

cross the floor (third-person singular simple present crosses the floor, present participle crossing the floor, simple past and past participle crossed the floor)

crosses the floor (present singular third-person)
crossing the floor (participle present)
crossed the floor (participle past)
crossed the floor (past)

(UK politics, of a member of a parliament) To vote against one’s own political party in parliament.

Two weeks ago, Mr Davies intimated to Mr Brown that he was ready to cross the floor.

2007 June 27, Philip Webster, Francis Elliott, “How Brown led his latest recruit across the floor”, in Times of London, retrieved 2008-11-09:

(UK politics, informal, of a member of a parliament) To resign from one’s political party and join another party, resulting in moving from one’s currently assigned desk or seat in the legislative chamber to a new desk or seat physically located with the other members of one’s new party.


eat one's words

eat one's words (third-person singular simple present eats one's words, present participle eating one's words, simple past ate one's words, past participle eaten one's words)

eats one's words (present singular third-person)
eating one's words (participle present)
ate one's words (past)
eaten one's words (participle past)

He didn't think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words.

This time, you have to eat your words, because, like it or not, you lost.

"Better retract that," she advised, "hadn't you?" "Why should I?" "Because if you're stupid enough to remain in Bombay, I'll make you eat your words one day."

1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter II, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, page 16:

(figuratively) To regret or retract what one has said.

กลืนน้ำลายตัวเอง (glʉʉn-nám-laai-dtuua-eeng, literally “to gulp down one's saliva”)


top it off

top it off (third-person singular simple present tops it off, present participle topping it off, simple past and past participle topped it off)

tops it off (present singular third-person)
topping it off (participle present)
topped it off (participle past)
topped it off (past)

The boss fired Fred and, to top it all off, he asked security to escort him to the door.

(idiomatic) To emphasize or underscore; to make something even better or worse.


getcha

Written form of a reduction of get you.
get + -cha

Yeah, I getcha, smarty pants.


gotcha

I gotcha now, ya little twerp.

Yeah, I gotcha. Good thinkin'!

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling


gotcha

Gotcha! You never noticed the whoopie cushion!

I got you by surprise (indicating a successful trick or prank).


gotcha

A potential problem or source of trouble.

(computing) A feature of a system or a program that works in the way it is documented but is counter-intuitive and almost invites mistake or non-function.

pillada

(computing) a feature that is counter-intuitive


top oneself

top oneself (third-person singular simple present tops oneself, present participle topping oneself, simple past and past participle topped oneself)

tops oneself (present singular third-person)
topping oneself (participle present)
topped oneself (participle past)
topped oneself (past)

From top (“to excel; to surpass; to beat”).

(US, idiomatic) To outdo oneself or do more than one's previous best.


top oneself

But Mr Blunkett, in a remarkably frank admission, said his first thought on hearing about the 57-year-old's death was to celebrate. "You wake up and you receive a phone call - Shipman's topped himself. You have just got to think for a minute: is it too early to open a bottle? And then you discover that everybody's very upset that he's done it."

2004 January 16, “Blunkett admits Shipman error”, in BBC News:


burn the midnight oil

burn the midnight oil (third-person singular simple present burns the midnight oil, present participle burning the midnight oil, simple past and past participle burned the midnight oil or burnt the midnight oil)

burns the midnight oil (present singular third-person)
burning the midnight oil (participle present)
burned the midnight oil (participle past)
burned the midnight oil (past)
burnt the midnight oil (participle past)
burnt the midnight oil (past)

Originally referring to the act of burning oil in lamps for light and safety. The noun midnight oil is attested from mid 17th c.

He was burning the midnight oil to finish his paper.

She was burning the midnight oil to finish her part of the project.

You worked at whatever task you were engaged in — churning out steel nuts for the car companies or churning out essays in college — until you were done, even if you had to burn the midnight oil. No excuses, no whining, no cheating.

2013, Phil Cousineau, Burning the Midnight Oil: Illuminating Words for the Long Night's Journey Into Day, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) To work studiously, especially late into the night.

засиж́иваться

e.g. "до по́здней но́чи"


jump the gun

jump the gun (third-person singular simple present jumps the gun, present participle jumping the gun, simple past and past participle jumped the gun)

jumps the gun (present singular third-person)
jumping the gun (participle present)
jumped the gun (participle past)
jumped the gun (past)

Unperturbed when an overanxious opponent jumped the gun in the women's 60-yd. dash, willowy Wilma Rudolph exploded perfectly from the starting blocks.

1961 February 24, “Sport: Higher & Farther”, in Time:

(sports) To begin a race too soon, before the starting gun goes off.

Taking advantage of advance press releases, gabby Walter Winchell jumped the gun a full two weeks by announcing in his radio period and tabloid column that the 1933-34 prizewinner was Men in White by Sidney Kingsley.

1934 May 14, “Theatre: Pulitzer Pother”, in Time:

The former prime minister appears to be jumping the gun, pre-empting the legal process that is just beginning to dig deeper.

2006 May 15, Rob Hughes, “Uneasiness in Italy as Scandal Widens”, in New York Times, retrieved 2011-09-03:

(idiomatic) To act or begin too soon or without due caution.

(idiomatic, finance, investing) To trade securities based on information that is not yet public; to trade on inside information.

ottaa varaslähtö

to trade securities based on yet undisclosed information


pop the question

pop the question (third-person singular simple present pops the question, present participle popping the question, simple past and past participle popped the question)

pops the question (present singular third-person)
popping the question (participle present)
popped the question (participle past)
popped the question (past)

I was not able to learn what particular ceremony was observed in forming the marriage contract, but am inclined to think that it must have been of a very simple nature. Perhaps the mere "popping the question", as it is termed with us, might have been followed by an immediate nuptial alliance.

1846, Herman Melville, chapter 26, in Typee:

[A]t a pic-nic to Kenilworth, where we drank a good deal of champagne, I actually popped the question, and was accepted. In another month, Robert Stubbs, Esq., led to the altar, Leah, widow of the late Z. Manasseh, Esq., of St. Kitt's!

1850, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 9, in Stubb's Calendar, or The Fatal Boots:

If ever I do pop the question, I shall do it on the spur of the moment. There'll be no preparation with me, nor yet any beating about the bush. "Would it suit your views, my dear, to be Mrs. Spooner?" that's about the long and the short of it.

1874, Anthony Trollope, chapter 19, in Phineas Redux:

70% of men welcome the idea of women's proposing marriage; 48% of women say they'd be willing to pop the question.

2003 July 13, “He Says and She Says”, in Newsweek, retrieved 2014-02-14:

(idiomatic, informal) To propose marriage.


change one's mind

change one's mind (third-person singular simple present changes one's mind, present participle changing one's mind, simple past and past participle changed one's mind)

changes one's mind (present singular third-person)
changing one's mind (participle present)
changed one's mind (participle past)
changed one's mind (past)

She started up the stairs, changed her mind, and turned to go back down.

So don’t necessarily assume that something has changed if I appear to have changed my mind, sometimes my mind is all that’s changed.

2006 Baggs, Amanda, Changes in Self-Awareness Over Time, Disclaimer on Assumptions, [http://] ballastexistenz.autistics.org/?page_id=294 May 2006

Of course, I was not always right. I questioned the value of Crossrail (a scheme revived by Prescott after being scrapped by the Conservatives), suggesting wrongly that it may be "doomed to hit the buffers" […]. A dozen years later, I published my book on it, extolling the line's wonders. We are all allowed to change our minds.

2024 January 10, Christian Wolmar, “A time for change? ... just as it was back in issue 262”, in RAIL, number 1000, page 61:

(idiomatic) To decide differently than one had decided before.

غَيَّرَ رَأْيَهُ

to decide differently than one had decided before


kill the fatted calf

kill the fatted calf (third-person singular simple present kills the fatted calf, present participle killing the fatted calf, simple past and past participle killed the fatted calf)

kills the fatted calf (present singular third-person)
killing the fatted calf (participle present)
killed the fatted calf (participle past)
killed the fatted calf (past)

From the parable of the prodigal son in the New Testament.

(idiomatic) To begin a festive celebration and rejoicing for someone's long-awaited return.


get on someone's case

get<,,got,got􂀿UK􂁀:gotten􂀿US􂁀> on someone's case

get on someone's case (third-person singular simple present gets on someone's case, present participle getting on someone's case, simple past got on someone's case, past participle (UK) got on someone's case or (US) gotten on someone's case)

gets on someone's case (present singular third-person)
getting on someone's case (participle present)
got on someone's case (past)
got on someone's case (UK participle past)
gotten on someone's case (US participle past)

His boss was always getting on his case about his standards of dress, even though he worked well and seldom left the back room.

(informal) To lecture, berate, or complain to somebody, especially to find fault or criticize.

all variants of earlier on someone's back


twiddle one's thumbs

twiddle one's thumbs (third-person singular simple present twiddles one's thumbs, present participle twiddling one's thumbs, simple past and past participle twiddled one's thumbs)

twiddles one's thumbs (present singular third-person)
twiddling one's thumbs (participle present)
twiddled one's thumbs (participle past)
twiddled one's thumbs (past)

to circle one's thumbs around one another, usually with the fingers interlaced, usually done idly while waiting or bored


pound the pavement

pound the pavement (third-person singular simple present pounds the pavement, present participle pounding the pavement, simple past and past participle pounded the pavement)

pounds the pavement (present singular third-person)
pounding the pavement (participle present)
pounded the pavement (participle past)
pounded the pavement (past)

After a brief and unsuccessful search, he decided it was time to start pounding the pavement.

en:campaign diligently, especially when seeking something

(idiomatic) To campaign diligently; to seek something, such as business, employment, or answers.


make believe

en-adj

make believe (comparative more make believe, superlative most make believe)

more make believe (comparative)
most make believe (superlative)

imaginary; conjured in someone's imagination, especially that of a child


blow the whistle

en-verb

blow the whistle (third-person singular simple present blows the whistle, present participle blowing the whistle, simple past blew the whistle, past participle blown the whistle)

blows the whistle (present singular third-person)
blowing the whistle (participle present)
blew the whistle (past)
blown the whistle (participle past)

When used idiomatically, probably an allusion to a police officer blowing his or her whistle on observing a violation of the law.

In some jurisdictions, it is illegal to fire a person for blowing the whistle on an employer.

(idiomatic, usually with "on") To disclose information to the public or to appropriate authorities concerning the illegal or socially harmful actions of a person or group, especially a corporation or government agency.

(team sports) To make a piercing sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game.

吹哨

make a sound which signals a referee's action or the end of a game


bite off more than one can chew

bite<,,bit,bitten> off more than one can<can,can,could> chew

bite off more than one can chew (third-person singular simple present bites off more than one can chew, present participle biting off more than one can chew, simple past bit off more than one could chew, past participle bitten off more than one could chew)

bites off more than one can chew (present singular third-person)
biting off more than one can chew (participle present)
bit off more than one could chew (past)
bitten off more than one could chew (participle past)

en-au-bite off more than one can chew.ogg

I think I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to paint this house by myself.

(idiomatic) To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.

قَضَمَ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يَسْتَطِيعُ مَضَغَهُ


stop the presses

stop the presses (third-person singular simple present stops the presses, present participle stopping the presses, simple past and past participle stopped the presses)

stops the presses (present singular third-person)
stopping the presses (participle present)
stopped the presses (participle past)
stopped the presses (past)

Originally referred to delaying the printing of a newspaper in order to change its content to accommodate the inclusion of late-breaking news.

(idiomatic) An exclamation used to introduce especially new, important, surprising, or recent developments.


shake a leg

shake a leg (third-person singular simple present shakes a leg, present participle shaking a leg, simple past shook a leg, past participle shaken a leg)

shakes a leg (present singular third-person)
shaking a leg (participle present)
shook a leg (past)
shaken a leg (participle past)

Shake a leg! We haven't got all day.

(idiomatic, frequently imperative) To get busy; to get going; to be productive.


separate the wheat from the chaff

separate the wheat from the chaff (third-person singular simple present separates the wheat from the chaff, present participle separating the wheat from the chaff, simple past and past participle separated the wheat from the chaff)

separates the wheat from the chaff (present singular third-person)
separating the wheat from the chaff (participle present)
separated the wheat from the chaff (participle past)
separated the wheat from the chaff (past)

En-au-separate the wheat from the chaff.ogg

The figurative sense is by extension from the literal sense, which is threshing. Because threshing has been an important activity for humans for thousands of years, it is well represented both in folk wisdom and (relatedly) in the bible; for example, Matthew 3:12.

As a punishment, Zhemao and her affiliated accounts were suspended permanently. Most of her articles were deleted based on community consensus. Some Wikipedians even wrote to experts, seeking help to separate the wheat from the chaff.

2022 July 13, Rachel Cheung, “A Bored Chinese Housewife Spent Years Falsifying Russian History on Wikipedia”, in Vice:

(idiomatic, intransitive) To select only that which is of value.

elválasztja/szétválasztja az ocsút a búzától

отделя́ть зёрна от пле́вел impf (otdeljátʹ zjórna ot plével, literally “to separate grain from tares”)

отдели́ть зёрна от пле́вел pf (otdelítʹ zjórna ot plével, literally “to separate grain from tares”)

му́хи отде́льно, котле́ты отде́льно (múxi otdélʹno, kotléty otdélʹno, literally “flies apart, meatballs apart”)

отдели́ть а́гнцев от ко́злищ pf (otdelítʹ ágncev ot kózlišč, literally “to separate lambs from goats”)


touch base

touch base (third-person singular simple present touches base, present participle touching base, simple past and past participle touched base)

touches base (present singular third-person)
touching base (participle present)
touched base (participle past)
touched base (past)

Touch base with your boss before you start work to make sure you understand the project.

I had met with Dr. Todd right before dinner. He had wanted to touch base with me about my ongoing treatment.

2014, A. Meredith Walters, Light in the Shadows, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 55:

(by extension, idiomatic, colloquial, Canada, US, usually with "with") To meet or make contact with someone, usually to consult, review, visit, or communicate.


ride a horse foaled by an acorn

ride<,,rode,ridden> a horse foaled by an acorn

ride a horse foaled by an acorn (third-person singular simple present rides a horse foaled by an acorn, present participle riding a horse foaled by an acorn, simple past rode a horse foaled by an acorn or (obsolete) rid a horse foaled by an acorn, past participle ridden a horse foaled by an acorn)

rides a horse foaled by an acorn (present singular third-person)
riding a horse foaled by an acorn (participle present)
rode a horse foaled by an acorn (past)
rid a horse foaled by an acorn (obsolete past)
ridden a horse foaled by an acorn (participle past)

En-au-ride a horse foaled by an acorn.ogg

An allusion to the oak used to construct the gallows.

You'll ride on a horſe that was foal'd of an acron.
That is; the gallows.

1670, John Ray, “Proverbial Phraſes”, in A Compleat Collection of Engliſh Proverbs, 4th edition, published 1768, page 197:

"What ho, my kiddy!" cried Job, "don't be glimflashy; why you'd cry beef on a blater; the cove is a bob cull, and a pal of my own; and moreover, is as pretty a Tyburn blossom as ever was brought up to ride a horse foaled by an acorn."

1828, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, chapter 82, in Pelham: or The Adventures of a Gentleman, page 385:

Fourteen, sir. No age to be riding a horse foaled by an acorn, I can tell you.

2003, Michael Crummey, River Thieves, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, page 272:

A sheep stealer, the mother told the child... and now the man twisted there, riding a horse foaled by an acorn, as the saying went, while the fat Welsh sheep in safety grazed the green pasture all around.

2008, Barbara Ker Wilson, The Lost Years of Jane Austen, Ulysses Press, →ISBN, page 21:

(obsolete, slang) To be hanged on the gallows.


angle for farthings

angle for farthings (third-person singular simple present angles for farthings, present participle angling for farthings, simple past and past participle angled for farthings)

angles for farthings (present singular third-person)
angling for farthings (participle present)
angled for farthings (participle past)
angled for farthings (past)

(obsolete, idiomatic) To beg out of a prison window with a cap, or box, let down at the end of a long string.


save someone's bacon

save someone's bacon (third-person singular simple present saves someone's bacon, present participle saving someone's bacon, simple past and past participle saved someone's bacon)

saves someone's bacon (present singular third-person)
saving someone's bacon (participle present)
saved someone's bacon (participle past)
saved someone's bacon (past)

[A]n anxious eye had been kept on the pinnace and the vessel she was chasing. "She's up to her," cried Desmond, who was looking through his glass; "she struck without a blow, and there go our fellows tumbling on board. Little doubt, however, about her being a slaver, though, as they must have seen the way in which we got hold of this craft, they thought it as well to save their bacon, and make the best of a bad job."

1876, W.H.G. Kingston, The Three Commanders:

[T]he tide being fortunately in our favour, we reached the Saint Vincent in good time, going up the accommodation ladder on the port side, which, as you know, is devoted to the use of the lower deck portion of the crew, just as Eight Bells struck. "Ha, my lads," cried the Jaunty, who stood by the entry-port, "you've just saved your bacon!"

1896, J.C. Hutcheson, Young Tom Bowling:

My lawyer got my first DUI expunged and reversed the second one. As a result, when I got my third DUI, legally I was a first offender, and instead of jail I got probation. That lawyer really saved my bacon.

2010 May 27, “What Steve Ballmer needs to do to save Microsoft's mobile bacon”, in Infoworld.com:

(slang) To rescue a person from a bad situation, especially one that is life-threatening.


stand one's ground

stand one's ground (third-person singular simple present stands one's ground, present participle standing one's ground, simple past and past participle stood one's ground)

stands one's ground (present singular third-person)
standing one's ground (participle present)
stood one's ground (participle past)
stood one's ground (past)

They expect their opponents to stand their ground on the issue.

“What on earth did you think you were doing?” demanded Dad as he kneeled on his son’s bedroom floor.
“What on earth do you think you were doing?” replied Frank.
Dad did not look pleased that his question had been met by a question, and he stood his ground. “I asked first,” said the man.

2017, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Bad Dad, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) To maintain or adhere to an opinion or position; to remain resolute in the face of opposition.


shoot the shit

shoot the shit (third-person singular simple present shoots the shit, present participle shooting the shit, simple past and past participle shot the shit)

shoots the shit (present singular third-person)
shooting the shit (participle present)
shot the shit (participle past)
shot the shit (past)

Shoot the shit is a variation of shoot the breeze. Both of these expressions mean “to chat idly just to pass the time.” A form of shoot the breeze is recorded in a poem written during World War I by a US private, who described his corporals as sociable men who were much better at “breeze-shooting” than fighting or doing actual work. It doesn’t require much skill or effort to hit the wind with a gun, so the expression goes.
Shoot the shit emerges in the 1940s, notably found in a letter by the author Norman Mailer. The shit, here, may be a more intensive and alliterative substitute for breeze, with shit meaning “stuff,” i.e., any old topic. Ever the shit-talker, the character Holden Caulfield used a milder take on the expression, shoot the crap, in J.D. Salinger’s 1951 The Catcher in the Rye.

We didn't do much besides stand around and shoot the shit, but it was fun to see him again.

(slang, vulgar) To chat casually; to gossip.


give chase

give chase (third-person singular simple present gives chase, present participle giving chase, simple past gave chase, past participle given chase)

gives chase (present singular third-person)
giving chase (participle present)
gave chase (past)
given chase (participle past)

After the robbery, the police gave chase but didn't catch the suspect.

Without thinking, Zoe ran along the outside of the building, as her stepmother and Tina fought to be first out on to the scaffold to give chase.

2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:

Under the policy, officers may give chase if they believe a person is committing or is about to commit a felony, a Class A misdemeanor such as domestic battery, or a serious traffic offense that could risk injuring others, such as drunken driving or street racing.

2022 June 21, Don Babwin, “Chicago police unveil long-awaited foot pursuit policy”, in The Associated Press:

The footage, which was captured at approximately 10:30 pm on September 24, shows two vehicles speeding past the patrol car on Highway 400, prompting the sheriff’s deputy to give chase.

2022 September 30, “Two Drivers Clock Speeds of 150 mph in Georgia Car Chase”, in Yahoo! News:

An NYPD officer struck in the arm by a bullet allegedly fired by a teen gunman ignored his wound and gave chase to the 16-year-old suspect, cops said Tuesday.

2023 January 17, Harry Parker, Rocco Parascandola, Thomas Tracy, “Wounded NYPD cop gave chase to Bronx teen accused of shooting him”, in New York Daily News:

(idiomatic, intransitive) To begin chasing or pursuing someone or something, whether on foot or by vehicle.


walk the dog

walk the dog (third-person singular simple present walks the dog, present participle walking the dog, simple past and past participle walked the dog)

walks the dog (present singular third-person)
walking the dog (participle present)
walked the dog (participle past)
walked the dog (past)

To take a dog for a walk, so as to give it exercise.

(idiomatic, yo-yo) To perform a trick where the yo-yo rolls on the ground, attached to the string.

(idiomatic, lacrosse) To perform a trick where the ball rolls down the shaft and is caught in the head of the lacrosse stick.


take courage

take courage (third-person singular simple present takes courage, present participle taking courage, simple past took courage, past participle taken courage)

takes courage (present singular third-person)
taking courage (participle present)
took courage (past)
taken courage (participle past)

To be resolute in difficult circumstances.


take inventory

take inventory (third-person singular simple present takes inventory, present participle taking inventory, simple past took inventory, past participle taken inventory)

takes inventory (present singular third-person)
taking inventory (participle present)
took inventory (past)
taken inventory (participle past)

[…] she sent the next day a Charge to the Provest and Bayliffs, and to her owne great Treasurer, to passe to the houses of the said foure men, and likewise to their Booths or Shops, and there to take Inventory of all their Goods and Chattells […]

1644, John Knox, David Buchanan, The Historie of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, London: George Thomason and Octavian Pullen, Book 5, p:

She swapped the rose beige dress for an apron, and took inventory of the ice box.

1929, Dashiell Hammett, chapter 17, in Red Harvest:

(intransitive, often with of) to compile an inventory; to take stock; to inventory; to inventorize.

(intransitive, often with of) to assess a situation


take note

take note (third-person singular simple present takes note, present participle taking note, simple past took note, past participle taken note)

takes note (present singular third-person)
taking note (participle present)
took note (past)
taken note (participle past)

To pay attention; to take notice; to note.


take notice

take notice (third-person singular simple present takes notice, present participle taking notice, simple past took notice, past participle taken notice)

takes notice (present singular third-person)
taking notice (participle present)
took notice (past)
taken notice (participle past)

(intransitive, often with of) To notice; to take note.


gun it

gun it (third-person singular simple present guns it, present participle gunning it, simple past and past participle gunned it)

guns it (present singular third-person)
gunning it (participle present)
gunned it (participle past)
gunned it (past)

You're going to have to gun it to pick up that much speed in such a short distance.

(informal) To accelerate or speed up quickly or suddenly.


bark up the wrong tree

bark up the wrong tree (third-person singular simple present barks up the wrong tree, present participle barking up the wrong tree, simple past and past participle barked up the wrong tree)

barks up the wrong tree (present singular third-person)
barking up the wrong tree (participle present)
barked up the wrong tree (participle past)
barked up the wrong tree (past)

An allusion to a situation in which a hunting dog misidentifies the tree up which it has chased an animal and positions itself at the base of another tree, barking upward at the branches.

You're not the first man who has made such a mistake, and found he was barking up the wrong tree.

1894, Robert Barr, chapter 21, in In the Midst of Alarms:

They all went into the house, and left me feeling a precious idiot. I had been barking up the wrong tree this time.

1915, John Buchan, chapter 10, in The Thirty-Nine Steps:

"We want West. He's a cowardly murderer—killed the man who trusted him." . . .
"Of course we may be barking up the wrong tree," the officer reflected aloud. "Maybe West isn't within five hundred miles of here."

1922, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 19, in Man Size:

After three failed marriages I realised that I may have been barking up the wrong tree and should abandon the search for the perfect wife.

2008 September 2, Ken Russell, “Let my life flash before you, in paperback”, in Times Online, UK, retrieved 2010-10-01:

(idiomatic) To take the wrong approach to a situation; to follow a false lead; to attempt to solve a problem using mistaken assumptions about its true nature.

緣木求魚 /缘木求鱼 (yuánmùqiúyú, literally “to climb a tree seeking fish”)

напада́ть на ло́жный след impf (napadátʹ na lóžnyj sled, literally “to follow a false lead”)


make a mountain out of a molehill

make<,,made> a mountain out of a molehill

make a mountain out of a molehill (third-person singular simple present makes a mountain out of a molehill, present participle making a mountain out of a molehill, simple past and past participle made a mountain out of a molehill)

makes a mountain out of a molehill (present singular third-person)
making a mountain out of a molehill (participle present)
made a mountain out of a molehill (participle past)
made a mountain out of a molehill (past)

en-us-make a mountain out of a molehill.ogg

en-au-make a mountain out of a molehill.ogg

If you’re stuck in traffic, try not to make a mountain out of a molehill worrying about it too much. You could be making it much worse.

1573, John Bridges, The Supremacie of Christian Princes Over All Persons Throughout Theor Dominions, London: Humphrey Toye, Division 18, p. 553,
to slaunder the Gospell ye aggrauate many lies, & will make a mountaine of a mole hill

1642, James Howell, Instructions for Forreine Travell, London: Humphrey Mosley, Section 14, p. 176-177,
Others have a custome to bee always relating strange things and wonders, […] they make Mountaines of Mole-hils, like Charenton-Bridge-Eccho, which doubles the sound nine times.

1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Dublin, John Smith, Volume 3, Book 15, Chapter 10, pp. 170-171,
For of all the Powers exercised by this Passion over our Minds, one of the most wonderful is that of supporting Hope in the midst of Despair. […] Yet it is equally true, that the same Passion will sometimes make Mountans of Mole-hills, and produce Despair in the midst of Hope;

“I have now only one remark to offer, on leaving this case in your hands. There is such a thing, Sergeant, as making a mountain out of a molehill. Good morning.”

1868, Wilkie Collins, chapter 12, in The Moonstone, volume 1, London: Tinsley Brothers, page 207:

She wondered why he, who did not usually trouble over trifles, made such a mountain of this molehill.

1913, D. H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, London: Heinemann, Part 2, Chapter 7, p. 181:

blow something out of proportion
blow out of proportion

(transitive, idiomatic) To treat a problem as greater than it is; to blow something out of proportion; to exaggerate the importance of something trivial.

to treat a problem as greater than it is

լվից ուղտ շինել (lvicʻ uġt šinel, literally “to make a camel out of a louse”)

aus einem Furz einen Donnerschlag machen

राई का पहाड़ बनाना (rāī kā pahāṛ banānā, literally “to make a mountain out of a mustard seed”)

침소봉대(針小棒大) (chimsobongdae, literally “pin-thin (goes) stick-thick”)

견문발검(見蚊拔劒) (gyeonmunbalgeom, literally “to see a mosquito and draw a sword”)

од мува прави слон (od muva pravi slon, literally “to make an elephant ou of a fly”)

ਰਾਈ ਦਾ ਪਹਾੜ ਬਣਾਉਣਾ (rāī dā pahāṛ baṇāuṇā, literally “to make a mountain out of a mustard seed”)

де́лать из му́хи слона́ (délatʹ iz múxi sloná, literally “to make an elephant out of a fly”)

робити з мухи слона (robyty z muxy slona, literally “to make an elephant out of a fly”)


count sheep

count sheep (third-person singular simple present counts sheep, present participle counting sheep, simple past and past participle counted sheep)

counts sheep (present singular third-person)
counting sheep (participle present)
counted sheep (participle past)
counted sheep (past)

(idiomatic) To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.

數羊 /数羊

to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring


keep one's eyes peeled

keep one's eyes peeled (third-person singular simple present keeps one's eyes peeled, present participle keeping one's eyes peeled, simple past and past participle kept one's eyes peeled)

keeps one's eyes peeled (present singular third-person)
keeping one's eyes peeled (participle present)
kept one's eyes peeled (participle past)
kept one's eyes peeled (past)

US, 19th century. Peeled probably refers to keeping one's eyelids retracted.

And directly below is our Mesozoic jungle river -- where, if you are lucky, you just may catch a glimpse of a very rare carnivore. Keep your eyes peeled, everyone!

lookouts posted to the port and starboard bows keep their eyes peeled for the ghostly outline of approaching traffic.

2003 November 14, Laura Bly, “Sailing into the past”, in USA Today:

(intransitive, idiomatic, (with "for")) To be on the alert, to be watchful.


spill the beans

spill the beans (third-person singular simple present spills the beans, present participle spilling the beans, simple past and past participle spilled the beans or spilt the beans)

spills the beans (present singular third-person)
spilling the beans (participle present)
spilled the beans (participle past)
spilled the beans (past)
spilt the beans (participle past)
spilt the beans (past)

First attested in 20th century American English. One possible origin for the phrase is from an Ancient Greek practice of using different-coloured beans for voting, where spilling the jar containing them would unwantedly reveal the results, though this might be folk etymology.

They had planned it as a surprise party, but somebody spilled the beans.

I guarantee you, someone's going to spill the beans and next thing this shit's all over the news.

2008, Patricia Cornwell, Point Of Origin:

He accepted a contract to kill you and Frank DePalma. You because she couldn't be sure what Wennington had told you, and Frank because he got cold feet and was about to spill the beans.

More unsettling was the origin story of the infamous tell-all book Princess in Love. Diana claimed to be outraged in 1994 when Daily Express journalist Anna Pasternak spilled the beans of her affair with former army officer James Hewitt[…]

April 5 2022, Tina Brown, “How Princess Diana’s Dance With the Media Impacted William and Harry”, in Vanity Fair:

Shall we meet up for a meal and I think I can be persuaded to spill the beans if I drink enough wine.

(intransitive, idiomatic) To reveal a secret; to disclose information.

թափել թեյը

to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag


lend a hand

lend a hand (third-person singular simple present lends a hand, present participle lending a hand, simple past and past participle lent a hand)

lends a hand (present singular third-person)
lending a hand (participle present)
lent a hand (participle past)
lent a hand (past)

If we all lend a hand, the work will go quickly.

(idiomatic) To help or assist, especially voluntarily.


sell like hot cakes

sell like hot cakes (third-person singular simple present sells like hot cakes, present participle selling like hot cakes, simple past and past participle sold like hot cakes)

sells like hot cakes (present singular third-person)
selling like hot cakes (participle present)
sold like hot cakes (participle past)
sold like hot cakes (past)

desc

→ Telugu: హాట్ కేకు (hāṭ kēku, “popular item”)

During a power outage, candles sell like hot cakes.

You're living in a disco / Forget about the rat race / Let's do the Milkshake / Selling like a hotcake

1979, Robin Scott (lyrics and music), “Pop Muzik”:

Geffen employees confirm that about half of the initial run of forty-six thousand [copies of Nevermind] went to the Northwest, where it sold like hot cakes.

2003, Jim Berkenstadt, Charles R. Cross, Nevermind: Nirvana:

These units will sell like hot cakes for $400000 apiece. Our cost will be $250000. It's a regular gold mine.

2005, G. Timothy Haight, Daniel Singer, The real estate investment handbook:

CALENDARS featuring local men willing to get their kit off for charity are selling like hot cakes after hitting the market this week.

2009 November 27, “Calendar boys get their tops off”, in John o'Groat Journal:

I sold 12 trout specials yesterday, they sold like hot cakes.

2012, Cosmo Knight, The Day After the Great Trout Run:

(intransitive, idiomatic) To be sold in large numbers quickly.

се продава како алва (se prodava kako alva, literally “to sell like halva”)

с руками оторвать (s rukami otorvatʹ, literally “to tear away with the hands”)


take exception

en-verb

take exception (third-person singular simple present takes exception, present participle taking exception, simple past took exception, past participle taken exception)

takes exception (present singular third-person)
taking exception (participle present)
took exception (past)
taken exception (participle past)

I think he took exception to the joke about environmentalists.

I take exception to the assumption that simply because I am young I am not able to discern fact from fiction.

I am sorry to learn that the senior medical staff of the Dreadnought Hospital take exception to portions of Sir Henry Burdett's letter […] which was published in the Times of July 11th.

1898 July 20, Percival A. Nairne, letter, published in the Lancet of 1898 December 10, page 1575

[…] the body of a deceased Indian, wrapped in a blanket and reposing on the limbs of an old tree in the sandhills. Horatio Walker, then President of the Club and generally so sympathetic with artists, seemingly took exception to it, and Morris felt the silent criticism […]

1984, Jean S. McGill, Edmund Morris, Frontier Artist, Dundurn Press, →ISBN, page 165:

Upset, about 20 Kuala Lumpur-based judges met on 25 March and decided that Salleh should write to the king explaining their position. The king apparently took exception to the letter or to the manner in which it was sent […]

1989, “Asia Yearbook”, in Far Eastern Economic Review, page 167:

To take offense; to object or protest. [with to]


be mother

be mother (no third-person singular simple present, present participle being mother, no simple past, past participle been mother)

being mother (participle present)
been mother (participle past)

Pouring tea is traditionally the mother's role in a family setting.

Ah, here are the cakes and tea; shall I be mother?

They went to a cafe and had afternoon tea.
'Shall l be mother?' Marcus said, lifting a utilitarian brown teapot, all cosied up in something that looked like a bobble hat.

2009, Kate Atkinson, When Will There Be Good News?, page 277:

'Be mother, will you, Charity? Teile and Letizia have a watered-down version.'
So they had a pleasant tea, although Charity kept an anxious eye on the clock, keen not to outstay her welcome.

(idiomatic, British) To pour out tea for others.


run<,,ran,run> around like a chicken with its head cut off

run around like a chicken with its head cut off (third-person singular simple present runs around like a chicken with its head cut off, present participle running around like a chicken with its head cut off, simple past ran around like a chicken with its head cut off, past participle run around like a chicken with its head cut off)

En-au-run around like a chicken with its head cut off.ogg

The president doesn't know what to do. He's running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

(idiomatic) To act in a haphazard or aimless way; to act frantically or without control.

run around like a chicken with its head off


bash the bishop

bash the bishop (third-person singular simple present bashes the bishop, present participle bashing the bishop, simple past and past participle bashed the bishop)

bashes the bishop (present singular third-person)
bashing the bishop (participle present)
bashed the bishop (participle past)
bashed the bishop (past)

Uncertain or disputed. Goldman (1950) suggests that beat the bishop comes from a resemblance of the penis to a bishop’s miter; Partridge (7th ed., 1970) likewise derives bash the bishop from a resemblance to the Staunton bishop chess piece. Other sources, such as Green, suggest that assonance of bishop with bash, beat, bop etc. may have given rise to the phrase as a type of word play.

“Hello, Gladys,” I said, shaking her by the hand. “Joffy here used to bash the bishop so much when he was a boy we all thought he would go blind.”


flog the dolphin

flog the dolphin (third-person singular simple present flogs the dolphin, present participle flogging the dolphin, simple past and past participle flogged the dolphin)

flogs the dolphin (present singular third-person)
flogging the dolphin (participle present)
flogged the dolphin (participle past)
flogged the dolphin (past)

(idiomatic, slang) To masturbate by stimulating one's penis.


get with the program

get with the program (third-person singular simple present gets with the program, present participle getting with the program, simple past got with the program, past participle gotten with the program)

gets with the program (present singular third-person)
getting with the program (participle present)
got with the program (past)
gotten with the program (participle past)

When the student was behind on his vocabulary, the teacher said, "get with the program!"

(US, idiomatic, informal) To become organized, current, or aware.

Though natural gas prices dropped, the folks doing solar didn't get with the program.

In the first season of Stranger Things, no character was more extra than Steve Harrington — Nancy Wheeler’s frequently possessive, largely confused, often douchey boyfriend. Though he eventually got with the program and helped fight some monsters, he wasn’t exactly what you’d call the pick of the litter.

2017 November 7, Aja Romano, “The unlikely breakout star of Stranger Things 2 is unlikelier babysitter Steve Harrington”, in Vox:

(US, idiomatic, informal) To work productively toward the objective of a shared enterprise, especially after the objective or the environment has changed.

Dude, get with the program! We don't do casual Fridays any more.

(US, idiomatic, informal) To comply with the norms of a social group, especially a shared enterprise; to comply with the accepted or prevailing way of doing things.


come home to roost

come home to roost (third-person singular simple present comes home to roost, present participle coming home to roost, simple past came home to roost, past participle come home to roost)

comes home to roost (present singular third-person)
coming home to roost (participle present)
came home to roost (past)
come home to roost (participle past)

At some point, he warned, sentiment among foreign investors could turn against America's deteriorating fundamentals, triggering a sharp sell-off in U.S. stocks and bonds that would threaten to throw the economy's expansion into reverse. "Will those risks ever come home to roost? One can't predict with great confidence," said Summers.

2005 February 25, Paul Blustein, “Foreign Investment^s Flip Side; U.S. Trade Deficit Swells Along With Consumption, Debt”, in Washington Post:

(idiomatic) To have negative consequences (of an action in the past).


tumble dry

tumble dry (third-person singular simple present tumble dries, present participle tumble drying, simple past and past participle tumble dried)

tumble dries (present singular third-person)
tumble drying (participle present)
tumble dried (participle past)
tumble dried (past)

hand wash only; tumble dry low

(transitive, intransitive) To make or become dry by rolling about in the heated rotating drum of a clothes dryer.

en:dry by spinning with hot air inside a cylinder

To dry by spinning with hot air inside a cylinder.


put a sock in it

put a sock in it (third-person singular simple present puts a sock in it, present participle putting a sock in it, simple past and past participle put a sock in it)

puts a sock in it (present singular third-person)
putting a sock in it (participle present)
put a sock in it (participle past)
put a sock in it (past)

Possibly from a crude means of muffling a record player's speaker.

He went on and on until I finally told him to put a sock in it.

I found out from his mate that he was a Longfellow fan, and the fireman complained bitterly that, not being poetically inclined himself, he often wished that Alfred would "put a sock in it."

1943 September and October, T. Lovatt Williams, “Some Reminiscences of the Footplate—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 271:

(figuratively, informal, humorous, idiomatic) To stop talking; to be quiet; to shut one's mouth.


blow a gasket

blow a gasket (third-person singular simple present blows a gasket, present participle blowing a gasket, simple past blew a gasket, past participle blown a gasket)

blows a gasket (present singular third-person)
blowing a gasket (participle present)
blew a gasket (past)
blown a gasket (participle past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-blow a gasket.wav

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see blow, gasket. To cause the seal made by a gasket to fail.


duke it out

duke it out (third-person singular simple present dukes it out, present participle duking it out, simple past and past participle duked it out)

dukes it out (present singular third-person)
duking it out (participle present)
duked it out (participle past)
duked it out (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-duke it out.wav

A large crowd came to watch the boxers duke it out.

(informal) To fight, especially with the fists.

The candidates duked it out on the proposal for hours.

Like pharmaceutical companies that sue generic drug makers over their patents or technology companies that duke it out over who owns the right to microchip designs, Levi’s says it is trying to protect its most valuable asset, its trademarks.

2007 January 29, Michael Barbaro, Julie Creswell, “Levi’s Turns to Suing Its Rivals”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Twitter and Mr. Musk have assembled legal teams to duke it out.

2022 July 12, Kate Conger, Lauren Hirsch, “Twitter Sues Musk After He Tries Backing Out of $44 Billion Deal”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(informal) To argue heavily or at length.


grab some pine

grab some pine (third-person singular simple present grabs some pine, present participle grabbing some pine, simple past and past participle grabbed some pine)

grabs some pine (present singular third-person)
grabbing some pine (participle present)
grabbed some pine (participle past)
grabbed some pine (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-grab some pine.wav

Strike three! Grab some pine, meat! The saying references the pine benches in the dugout. It has absolutely nothing to do with pine tar used for grip on bats

(sports) Go sit on the bench. Typically used as a taunt after a strikeout. Popularized by Giants sportscaster Mike Krukow.


see a man

see a man (third-person singular simple present sees a man, present participle seeing a man, simple past saw a man, past participle seen a man)

sees a man (present singular third-person)
seeing a man (participle present)
saw a man (past)
seen a man (participle past)

Although they were all out, at the bases, and the rest of our nine having gone to see a man there was nobody to take the bat.

1867 September 12, Ball Players' Chronicle, page 3:

I'll be right back. I've just got to go to the ladies' room to see a man.

(idiomatic, dated) Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly (euphemistic) to use the toilet or (historical) drink alcohol.


throw the baby out with the bathwater

throw<,,threw,thrown> the baby out with the bathwater

throw the baby out with the bathwater (third-person singular simple present throws the baby out with the bathwater, present participle throwing the baby out with the bathwater, simple past threw the baby out with the bathwater, past participle thrown the baby out with the bathwater)

throws the baby out with the bathwater (present singular third-person)
threw the baby out with the bathwater (past)
thrown the baby out with the bathwater (participle past)

/θɹəʊ ðə ˈbeɪbi aʊt wɪð ðə ˈbɑːθwɔːtə(ɹ)/

/θɹoʊ ðə ˈbeɪbi aʊt wɪθ ðə ˈbæθwɔtɚ/

En-au-throw the baby out with the bathwater.ogg

From a German proverb that dates to 1512. First recorded by Thomas Murner in his satire Narrenbeschwörung. First appeared in English when Thomas Carlyle translated it and used it in an 1849 essay on slavery.

They cancelled the entire project because the new management didn't like the prototype, but I think they threw the baby out with the bathwater.

(idiomatic) To discard, especially inadvertently, something valuable while in the process of removing or rejecting something unwanted.

vylít vaničku i s dítětem

(idiomatic) to discard something valuable

a fürdővízzel együtt a gyereket is kiönti

角を貯めて牛を殺す (tsuno o tamete ushi o korosu, literally “save the horns and kill the cow”)

deitar fora a criança com a água do banho


stand corrected

stand corrected (third-person singular simple present stands corrected, present participle standing corrected, simple past and past participle stood corrected)

stands corrected (present singular third-person)
standing corrected (participle present)
stood corrected (participle past)
stood corrected (past)

(idiomatic) To acknowledge, after someone else's correction of a statement one made, that this statement was indeed incorrect and that this correction is justified.

sich berichtigen müssen

to acknowledge, after someone else's correction of a statement one made, that this statement was indeed incorrect and that this correction is justified — see also I stand corrected

sich eines Besseren belehren lassen müssen

謹んで御訂正を受く

つつしんでごていせいをうく


bring it weak

bring it weak (third-person singular simple present brings it weak, present participle bringing it weak, simple past and past participle brought it weak)

brings it weak (present singular third-person)
bringing it weak (participle present)
brought it weak (participle past)
brought it weak (past)

Unwilling to try his hardest, Jason instead chose to bring it weak at the gym, and didn't even break a sweat.

(intransitive, idiomatic, informal) To fail to accomplish an accomplishable task or to make an attempt at less than maximum effort; to "half-ass" or "fake the funk".


bit by a barn mouse

(UK, obsolete, dialect, idiomatic) tipsy; slightly drunk


eat humble pie

eat humble pie (third-person singular simple present eats humble pie, present participle eating humble pie, simple past ate humble pie, past participle eaten humble pie)

eats humble pie (present singular third-person)
eating humble pie (participle present)
ate humble pie (past)
eaten humble pie (participle past)

The spoken phrase a numble pie (a pie made from the entrails of a deer) was re-interpreted as an umble pie, then written as (a) humble pie, after which the figurative meaning developed.

They were good-natured enough out of their cups, and ate their humble-pie with very good appetites at a reconciliation dinner which Colonel W. had with the 44th, and where he was as perfectly stupid and correct as Prince Prettyman need be. Hang him!

1857–1858, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, chapter XII, in The Virginians. A Tale of the Last Century, volume I, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1858, →OCLC:

Polly had a spice of girlish malice, and rather liked to see domineering Tom eat humble-pie, just enough to do him good, you know.

1869–1870, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, An Old-Fashioned Girl, Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, published 1870, →OCLC:

Angela shook her head. “Men are dull creatures.”
“I have already granted that, and I am eating humble pie in asking for an explanation.”

1879, Henry James, Confidence, London: Chatto & Windus:

You square the G.V., and go home before you have to. That’s my advice. If you don’t eat humble-pie now you may live to fare worse later.

1909, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, Ann Veronica, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin:

But there seems little doubt that Fukuyama has had to eat rather a lot of humble pie.

2022 March 8, Andrew Anthony, “Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama review – a defence of liberalism… from a former neocon”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(idiomatic, intransitive) To admit one's faults; to make a humiliating apology.


make a muscle

make a muscle (third-person singular simple present makes a muscle, present participle making a muscle, simple past and past participle made a muscle)

makes a muscle (present singular third-person)
making a muscle (participle present)
made a muscle (participle past)
made a muscle (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-make a muscle.wav

To flex the biceps muscles in the upper arm as a show of muscular strength or development

prezyć bicepsy

to flex the biceps in the arm as a show of muscular strength or development


answer the call of nature

answer the call of nature (third-person singular simple present answers the call of nature, present participle answering the call of nature, simple past and past participle answered the call of nature)

answers the call of nature (present singular third-person)
answering the call of nature (participle present)
answered the call of nature (participle past)
answered the call of nature (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-answer the call of nature.wav

From answer the call + call of nature in reference to a need to urinate or defecate.

Che [Guevara] jumped from his seat and rushed from the room, pursued by the entire press corps. Down the hall he went, and into the men's room where, surrounded by reporters, he proceeded to answer the call of nature, shouting: "Liberdad!"

1978 April 18, Charles Lynch, “Trudeau struts and frets”, in Ottawa Citizen, Canada, retrieved 2010-09-03, page 7:

Unfortunately mountain climbers, like everybody else, need to answer the call of nature, and there are few toilet facilities on mountains.

2007 July 24, “Europe's Highest Toilets Installed on Mont Blanc”, in Spiegel Online International, retrieved 2010-09-03:

(idiomatic, euphemistic) To satisfy a bodily urge to urinate or defecate.


upset the applecart

upset the applecart (third-person singular simple present upsets the applecart, present participle upsetting the applecart, simple past and past participle upset the applecart)

upsets the applecart (present singular third-person)
upsetting the applecart (participle present)
upset the applecart (participle past)
upset the applecart (past)

“There are three reasons,” Trent answered. “First, he may find his way to England and upset the applecart; […]”

1900, E. Phillips Oppenheim, chapter 22, in A Millionaire of Yesterday:

She told me herself just now that the worst was over. And those confounded people must go and upset the applecart.

1922, William Somerset Maugham, Caesar's Wife, act 3, page 136:

Last week the Senate Banking Committee upset the carefully stacked apple cart when it voted 10 to 5 not to approve the Administration's bill.

1979 December 10, “Business: Putting Brakes on a Bailout”, in Time, archived from the original on 2012-02-10:

This kind of impact causes contusions in the front and back areas of the brain and can create microscopic bleeding and shearing of neural pathways, causing synapses to misfire, upsetting the applecart of your brain, sometimes forever.

2011, Mira Bartók, The Memory Palace, →ISBN, page 5:

(idiomatic) To disorganize or spoil something, especially an established arrangement or plan.


bet one's bottom dollar

bet one's bottom dollar (third-person singular simple present bets one's bottom dollar, present participle betting one's bottom dollar, simple past and past participle bet one's bottom dollar)

bets one's bottom dollar (present singular third-person)
betting one's bottom dollar (participle present)
bet one's bottom dollar (participle past)
bet one's bottom dollar (past)

He talks about it a lot, but I would bet my bottom dollar that he has never actually been there.

(idiomatic) To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough of something to wager everything.


kick like a mule

kick like a mule (third-person singular simple present kicks like a mule, present participle kicking like a mule, simple past and past participle kicked like a mule)

kicks like a mule (present singular third-person)
kicking like a mule (participle present)
kicked like a mule (participle past)
kicked like a mule (past)

This Russian drink tastes foul, but it kicks like a mule.

Now Lucy looks sweet cause he dresses like a queen
But he can kick like a mule, it's a real mean team

1972, David Bowie (lyrics and music), “All the Young Dudes”, performed by Mott the Hoople:

(simile, informal) To have a very strong physical effect.


take a shit

take a shit (third-person singular simple present takes a shit, present participle taking a shit, simple past took a shit, past participle taken a shit)

takes a shit (present singular third-person)
taking a shit (participle present)
took a shit (past)
taken a shit (participle past)

I had to use the stairs because the lift took a shit this morning.

(idiomatic, vulgar, colloquial, UK) To fail or malfunction.


turn turtle

turn turtle (third-person singular simple present turns turtle, present participle turning turtle, simple past and past participle turned turtle)

turns turtle (present singular third-person)
turning turtle (participle present)
turned turtle (participle past)
turned turtle (past)

/ˈtɜːn ˈtɜːtəl/

Possibly from the fact that turning a turtle and placing it on its back renders it helpless.

Before Noon, the next Day, I sent off the Master, Mr. Aikin, and a Party to the Island, victualled for a week, to turn Turtle. The Evening brought us light breezes with fine pleasant Weather; and the Cutter came back with a couple of Turtle, which we served out as before.

1805, James Stanier Clarke, “Pacific Ocean”, in Naufragia or Historical Memoirs of Shipwrecks and of the Providential Deliverance of Vessels, London: Printed by I. Gold, […], for J. Mawman, […], →OCLC, page 400:

No ships' crews are now allowed to turn turtle, which is converted into a government monopoly; and two pounds ten shillings is the fixed price for each.

1837, James Edward Alexander, chapter XII, in Narrative of a Voyage of Observation among the Colonies of West Africa, in the Flag-ship Thalia; and of a Campaign in Kaffir-land, on the Staff of the Commander-in-chief, in 1835. … In Two Volumes, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, publisher, […], →OCLC, page 297:

It was agreed that we would go ashore that night, and turn turtle. The season being that when the turtles commence to lay, the captain was certain that we would capture at least one.

1866, Richard Meade Bache, “How to Find a Turtles Nest—Habits of the Turtle—Turning Turtles”, in The Young Wrecker of the Florida Reef; or The Trials and Adventures of Fred Ransom, Philadelphia, Pa.: James S. Claxton, successor to W[illia]m S. & Alfred Martien, […], →OCLC, page 297:

(intransitive, now historical) To capture a turtle by turning it onto its back.

Gymnastics of every description, even the Kroo canoe afforded its mite towards the general hilarity, by turning turtle with the awkward aspirants for paddling fame.

1847, “A Leaf or Two from an Old Log”, in Colburn’s United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal, part II, London: H. Hurst, […], →OCLC, page 191:

This brig is American—the schooner alongside is a Spaniard, that turned turtle in a tornado, about six-and-thirty hours since, and on which we have been hard at work trying to raise her, since the gale which succeeded the tornado has blown its pipe out.

1848, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter VI, in Jack Tier; or The Florida Reef. […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Burgess, Stringer & Co., →OCLC, page 157:

If you ask a Douglas politician whether the people of the Territories have power to exclude slavery, he turns turtle, and draws his head under the shell of non-intervention.

1864, Oliver P[erry] Morton, chapter IV, in William M. French, editor, Life, Speeches, State Papers and Public Services of Gov. Oliver P. Morton, Cincinnati, Oh.: Moore, Wilstach, & Baldwin Printers, […], →OCLC, page 89:

It [the steamboat City of Fayetteville] was launched not far from the Clarendon bridge, and it has been related that some one having prophesied that it would turn turtle when it reached the water, the architect boldly rode in its bow, as it slipped off its ways and the event justified his faith in his work.

1925, Samuel A’Court Ashe, “Steamboats—Fulton Arrives”, in History of North Carolina … In Two Volumes, volume II (From 1783 to 1925), Raleigh, N.C.: Presses of Edwards & Broughton Printing Company, →OCLC, page 267:

April 1956. Two Champaign youths racing, one with 1956 Plymouth, crashes through new woven wire fence, turns turtle.

1956 July, “Hi There! Stop and Ponder—and Save a Trip up Yonder”, in Leslie E. Troeger, editor, National 4-H News, volume XXXIV, number 7, Chicago, Ill.: National Committee on Boys and Girls Club Work, →OCLC, page 11:

(intransitive) Especially of a boat or ship, or some other vehicle: to turn upside down.

On a day-to-day basis, his [Bill Hartack's] business turned turtle; some years he wouldn't even win a hundred races. But at Derby time, he was still the jockey of choice, in demand for many of the major trainers.

2016, Bill Christine, “Put the Schadenfreude on Hold”, in Bill Hartack: The Bittersweet Life of a Hall of Fame Jockey, Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 110:

(intransitive, figuratively) To fail; to go belly up.

As you encounter waves on the way out, you have five ways of getting past them: […] Turn turtle. Turn upside down and hang onto the rails (i.e., the edges) near the nose of the board, pulling it downward, so that the oncoming wave pushes on this slanted shield, forcing you and the forward part of the board downward[…].

2009, Robert “Wingnut” Weaver, with Scott Bannerot, “Getting Started: A Complete Mini-primer”, in Wingnut’s Complete Surfing, Camden, Me., New York, N.Y.: International Marine; McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, page 23:

(intransitive, surfing) To roll upside down with one's surfboard (usually a longboard) to allow a wave, especially a wave that has already broken, to pass over.


give a shit

give a shit (third-person singular simple present gives a shit, present participle giving a shit, simple past gave a shit, past participle given a shit)

gives a shit (present singular third-person)
giving a shit (participle present)
gave a shit (past)
given a shit (participle past)

/ˈɡɪv ə ˌʃɪt/

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-give a shit.wav

You're going to get me fired? I don't give a shit!

"Do it badly," said the man, "who cares? Who gives a shit?"

1982, Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe and Everything, page 114:

There are some people who still hitchhike, although not as many as before. A lot of folks gave the practice up after being buried in shallow graves near the side of the road. But here's some fun you can have in case you still like to get out and hoist a thumb.[...]Or, when the guy stops, don't say anything; just jump in and sit down. When he says, "Where you going?" say, "I don't give a shit. Let's just ride around. I'm off till Thursday." Then make a lot of motor noises with your mouth.

1997, George Carlin, “Hitchhiking Fun”, in Brain Droppings, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 222:

(vulgar, chiefly in negative constructions) To care (about something or anything); especially, to care what someone else thinks or does, particularly in relation to what they think or say about the speaker.

Scheißdreck

e.g.: Das kümmert mich einen Scheißdreck

по хую́

e.g.: мне по хую

по́хуй

e.g.: мне похуй

не еба́ть

e.g.: меня не ебёт

поеба́ть

e.g.: мне поебать

до пизды́

e.g.: мне до пизды


pop one's clogs

pop one's clogs (third-person singular simple present pops one's clogs, present participle popping one's clogs, simple past and past participle popped one's clogs)

pops one's clogs (present singular third-person)
popping one's clogs (participle present)
popped one's clogs (participle past)
popped one's clogs (past)

The old man has finally popped his clogs.


yield up the ghost

yield up the ghost (third-person singular simple present yields up the ghost, present participle yielding up the ghost, simple past and past participle yielded up the ghost)

yields up the ghost (present singular third-person)
yielding up the ghost (participle present)
yielded up the ghost (participle past)
yielded up the ghost (past)

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 5:10:

(archaic, idiomatic) For a person, to die.


cross one's fingers

cross one's fingers (third-person singular simple present crosses one's fingers, present participle crossing one's fingers, simple past and past participle crossed one's fingers)

crosses one's fingers (present singular third-person)
crossing one's fingers (participle present)
crossed one's fingers (participle past)
crossed one's fingers (past)

* As a gesture of good luck, from the Christian notion of inconspicuously making a sign of the cross as an invocation to God.
* As a gesture of lying, probably from the Schwurhand, a gesture used in some European countries when taking an oath. The right hand is raised with the index and middle fingers extended upwards (somewhat similarly to a V sign but with the thumb on the side). By crossing the two fingers, the oath is thus symbolically broken.

交叉手指

I hope everything turns out OK. I'll cross my fingers for you. / I'll cross my fingers that everything turns out OK.

“Cross your fingers that the readership loves it.” Joy crossed her fingers.

2011, Jayne Addison, About That Kiss, →ISBN:

Well, I reckon that all of us Singing Glenways ain't crossing our fingers for you.

2011, Bette Greene, Get On Out of Here, Philip Hall, →ISBN:

With another huge effort he grabbed the bucket hook again, mentally crossing his fingers for the bolts in the thin plywood to hold.

2012, Anne Holt, Tom Geddes, Blind Goddess, →ISBN:

To put the middle finger across the index finger, especially:

трыма́ць кула́кі

do this or a similar gesture to wish for good luck

Daumen drücken

put the thumb into the fist and press it

Amanda placed her right hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. Her friend Sarah told her if you cross your fingers behind your back when you tell a lie, it's not a lie. Amanda didn't know if she believed that, but she crossed her fingers anyway.

2007, Toni White, Ridge Street Home, →ISBN, page 5:

“You focus your efforts on managing your prosecutors and show up to try that case. I'll handle the rest.” Ryan nodded assent but crossed her fingers behind her back. She would do more than just show up.

2011, Carsen Taite, Nothing But the Truth, →ISBN:

“It's not like I've been having fun,” she lied, crossing her fingers behind her back.

2014, Millie Criswell, Staying Single, →ISBN:

He always tried to make sure there wasn't a mirror behind him when he made a promise, and if there was and he couldn't cross his fingers, he just crossed them in his mind and hoped this was as good as the real thing.

2014, Frank Sousa, The Tree of Young Dreamers, →ISBN, page 313:

AFTON: (CROSSING HER FINGERS) I always tell the truth. See for yourself. From the men's doorway you can see that the fjord is empty.

1969, Phyllis McCallum, The Vanilla Viking A Three-Act Play for Children, page 37:

when telling a lie (and attempting to escape the moral and other consequence of that lie).

說一個善意的謊言 /说一个善意的谎言

do this or a similar gesture to tell a white lie

no exact equivalent exists; “to tell a white lie”

She was seen crossing her fingers in the wedding photo.


call it quits

call it quits (third-person singular simple present calls it quits, present participle calling it quits, simple past and past participle called it quits)

calls it quits (present singular third-person)
calling it quits (participle present)
called it quits (participle past)
called it quits (past)

One afternoon, after twenty minutes of desperate efforts to annihilate each other according to set rules that did not permit kicking, striking below the belt, nor hitting when one was down, Cheese-Face, panting for breath and reeling, offered to call it quits.

1909, Jack London, chapter 15, in Martin Eden:

The West's longest-serving foreign minister called it quits last week.

1992 May 11, “A One-Two Punch Rattles Germany”, in Time:

To conclude; to quit or stop an activity, especially after applying oneself to it for a significant period of time.


épater le bourgeois

Borrowed from French épater le bourgeois (“amaze the bourgeois”).

bor+

All that was needed were the heroes willing to act out the fantasies the public now accepted as reality: the hero, as hedonist, who dares to do in public what the public wants to see. It was épater les bourgeois as a bourgeois calling.

1987, Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today's Students:

(literary) To scandalize, provoke the middle class.


pass gas

en-verb

pass gas (third-person singular simple present passes gas, present participle passing gas, simple past and past participle passed gas)

passes gas (present singular third-person)
passing gas (participle present)
passed gas (participle past)
passed gas (past)


go to the dogs

go to the dogs (third-person singular simple present goes to the dogs, present participle going to the dogs, simple past went to the dogs, past participle gone to the dogs)

goes to the dogs (present singular third-person)
going to the dogs (participle present)
went to the dogs (past)
gone to the dogs (participle past)

"[T]he merry old ways of good life have gone to the dogs—upon my carcase, they have!"

1874, Thomas Hardy, chapter 42, in Far from the Madding Crowd:

Poor devil, he's gone to the dogs altogether. He's got some twopenny-halfpenny job in the medical at Alexandria—sanitary officer or something like that. I'm told he lives with an ugly old Greek woman and has half a dozen scrofulous kids.

1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter L, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC, page 264:

"The C.I.A. was systematically destroyed by political correctness, by petty Beltway wars, by careerism and much more." . . . Baer, who quit the agency four years ago, says he is angry about all this, but he clearly has a good time recounting how the C.I.A. went to the dogs.

2002 February 3, Evan Thomas, "Bring Back the Exploding Cigars" (review of See No Evil by Robert Baer), New York Times (retrieved 17 Feb 2018)

(idiomatic) To decline or deteriorate shockingly.


bat for both sides

bat for both sides (third-person singular simple present bats for both sides, present participle batting for both sides, simple past and past participle batted for both sides)

bats for both sides (present singular third-person)
batting for both sides (participle present)
batted for both sides (participle past)
batted for both sides (past)

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bat, both, sides. To be a batter for both teams in an amateur cricket or baseball game.


pay attention

pay attention (third-person singular simple present pays attention, present participle paying attention, simple past and past participle paid attention)

pays attention (present singular third-person)
paying attention (participle present)
paid attention (participle past)
paid attention (past)

Please pay attention to the danger signs.

I was on my way to the door, but all at once, through the fog in my head, I began to sight one reef that I hadn't paid any attention to afore.

1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

Just south of Wamphray station they overtook the runaway. The dim figure of Mitchell could be seen sitting huddled behind the stormboard. They shouted and whistled. He paid no attention.

1950 January, David L. Smith, “A Runaway at Beattock”, in Railway Magazine, page 54:

(idiomatic, intransitive) To attend; to be attentive; to focus one's attention.


thumb a lift

thumb a lift (third-person singular simple present thumbs a lift, present participle thumbing a lift, simple past and past participle thumbed a lift)

thumbs a lift (present singular third-person)
thumbing a lift (participle present)
thumbed a lift (participle past)
thumbed a lift (past)

In reference to the thumb gesture used to request a ride.

(intransitive, chiefly British) To hitchhike.


walk a tightrope

walk a tightrope (third-person singular simple present walks a tightrope, present participle walking a tightrope, simple past and past participle walked a tightrope)

walks a tightrope (present singular third-person)
walking a tightrope (participle present)
walked a tightrope (participle past)
walked a tightrope (past)

The company constantly walked a tightrope between operating on little money and filling orders quickly.

The older me, the one who prefers wine to fizz, wishes Leerhsen had more to say about things like: a) the elite and vernacular food worlds pre- and post-Bourdain; b) how Bourdain walked a moral tightrope across the conventions of travel writing and reporting, no mean feat for a wealthy white man in skinny jeans; […].

2022 October 3, Dwitght Garner, “Anthony Bourdain’s New Biography: Light on Subtlety, Heavy on Grit”, in The New York Times:

(figuratively) To undertake a precarious course of action.


whistle Dixie

whistle Dixie (third-person singular simple present whistles Dixie, present participle whistling Dixie, simple past and past participle whistled Dixie)

whistles Dixie (present singular third-person)
whistling Dixie (participle present)
whistled Dixie (participle past)
whistled Dixie (past)

Refers to the song "Dixie", the traditional anthem of the Confederate States of America. The full implication is that the Confederacy would not succeed in the American Civil War through sentiment or token action alone.

He said he was going to open a business next year, but I think he was just whistling Dixie.

"Sure is hot!" / "You ain't whistlin' Dixie!

(idiomatic, Southern US) To engage in idle conversational fantasies.

想入非非

to engage in idle conversational phantasies

bullshit

engage in idle conversation, often including fantasies


choke the chicken

choke the chicken (third-person singular simple present chokes the chicken, present participle choking the chicken, simple past and past participle choked the chicken)

chokes the chicken (present singular third-person)
choking the chicken (participle present)
choked the chicken (participle past)
choked the chicken (past)

(idiomatic, slang) To masturbate by stimulating one's penis.


have truck with

have truck with (third-person singular simple present has truck with, present participle having truck with, simple past and past participle had truck with)

has truck with (present singular third-person)
having truck with (participle present)
had truck with (participle past)
had truck with (past)

You shouldn't have any truck with them. They cheat.

I've had no truck with them for some time.

"How can I decide?" said I. "You have not told me what you want of me. But I tell you now that if it is anything against the safety of the fort I will have no truck with it, so you can drive home your knife and welcome."

1890 February, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Strange Story of Jonathan Small”, in The Sign of Four (Standard Library), London: Spencer Blackett […], →OCLC, page 240:

Warsaw Pact governments had little truck with pacifists, but their successors are more understanding.

2000 August 10, The Economist, Central Europe’s sulky conscripts:

Ant taxonomists have decided that anything that's worth separating should be separated at the species level, and have no truck with subspecies at all. Butterfly taxonomists, however, like the triple-barrelled name approach and dote on subspecies. As a result, the numbers of ant species and butterfly species are not directly comparable.

2007 March 14, Emma Marris, “The Species and the Specious”, in Nature, number 446:

2020 December 8, David Barnett, "How John Lennon was made into a mythhttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201207-how-john-lennon-was-made-into-a-myth" in BBC Online
Malik eventually tracks down Lennon, living a simple life – in a hut, with a fishing boat called Imagine – away from the spotlight he never had shone upon him, and dispensing nuggets of homespun wisdom. Which is not a portrayal Sheffield has much truck with.

(idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) To have dealings with; to truck with.


get out of here

Get out of here and don't come back!

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see get, out of, here.


buff the muffin

buff the muffin (third-person singular simple present buffs the muffin, present participle buffing the muffin, simple past and past participle buffed the muffin)

buffs the muffin (present singular third-person)
buffing the muffin (participle present)
buffed the muffin (participle past)
buffed the muffin (past)

buff (“to rub”) + the + muffin (“vagina”), chosen for the rhyme in the participle ("buffin' the muffin").

af

1999, Ericka, in alt.jokes.limericks http://groups.google.com/group/alt.jokes.limericks/msg/6a31a3b704183489?dmode=source
Dear Peter, I need your stuffin'
Your bod, your rod, and handcuffin'
While I wait for your ans-
wer, I'll take off my pants,
And start in on buffin' the muffin!

2003, Paul Austin, in alt.peeves http://groups.google.com/group/alt.peeves/msg/37b92cd0a72eaed4?dmode=source
"Dear Miss Manners, myself and my three girlfriends are playing buff the muffin this weekend and we'd like to know who's supposed to peel and slice the cucumbers for salad afterwards?"

2004, Christopher Moore, The Stupidest Angel http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0060590254&id=QNM4japF5g4C&pg=PA151&lpg=PA151&sig=kUORuHRpFvwKNOWpC8pTnEBlLqo
“Molly?” Lena said. “You sound out of breath. Are you okay?”
…
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine, Lena. Just buffing the muffin. …”


lone it

en-verb

lone it (third-person singular simple present lones it, present participle loning it, simple past and past participle loned it)

lones it (present singular third-person)
loning it (participle present)
loned it (participle past)
loned it (past)

1955-1956, Allen Ginsberg, Howl
who loned it through the streets of Idaho seeking visionary indian angels

I had a long walk home and no company, but I usually lone it anyway, for no reason except that I like to watch movies undisturbed so I can get into them and live them with the actors. … So I loned it.

Gerry had taken hires he shouldn't have taken, loned it across the mountains in a season he shouldn't have.


tinkle the ivories

tinkle the ivories (third-person singular simple present tinkles the ivories, present participle tinkling the ivories, simple past and past participle tinkled the ivories)

tinkles the ivories (present singular third-person)
tinkling the ivories (participle present)
tinkled the ivories (participle past)
tinkled the ivories (past)

tickle the ivories
tickle the ivories#English


walk the beat

walk the beat (third-person singular simple present walks the beat, present participle walking the beat, simple past and past participle walked the beat)

walks the beat (present singular third-person)
walking the beat (participle present)
walked the beat (participle past)
walked the beat (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-walk the beat.wav

(idiomatic, slang) To patrol on the job, especially as a police officer or guard.


put up one's dukes

put up one's dukes (third-person singular simple present puts up one's dukes, present participle putting up one's dukes, simple past and past participle put up one's dukes)

puts up one's dukes (present singular third-person)
putting up one's dukes (participle present)
put up one's dukes (participle past)
put up one's dukes (past)

Possibly by analogy to a king or other ruler summoning his dukes, and by extension the duke's knights or other soldiers, to battle an enemy. Another possibility is Cockney rhyming slang as explained at duke. It could also be a convoluted--though erroneous--reference to the 9th Marquess of Queensbury (after whom the rules for modern boxing were initially named).

The proceedings of the State Democratic Convention, held at Turner Hall, yesterday, were disgraceful enough to bring a blush even to the cheek of a Democrat. "Liar," "snide," "put up your dukes, if you want to fight," catcalls, hooting, and yelling filled up a greater part of the deliberations of the august body.

1886, Edward Money, The Truth about America, page 206:

(idiomatic) To raise one's clenched fists in front of one's body and stand in a threatening or defiant manner, in preparation for a fistfight.

The NBC reporter who came to the match on Wednesday told Lafferty "Come on, put up your dukes, we want to see some blood."

2008, Jonathan Schaeffer, One Jump Ahead: Computer perfection at checkers, →ISBN, page 401:

(idiomatic, by extension) To take firm action or to show oneself to be committed to such action, as when competing in a sporting event or other contest.


add one's twopenn'orth

add one's twopenn'orth (third-person singular simple present adds one's twopenn'orth, present participle adding one's twopenn'orth, simple past and past participle added one's twopenn'orth)

adds one's twopenn'orth (present singular third-person)
adding one's twopenn'orth (participle present)
added one's twopenn'orth (participle past)
added one's twopenn'orth (past)


hit the pavement

hit the pavement (third-person singular simple present hits the pavement, present participle hitting the pavement, simple past and past participle hit the pavement)

hits the pavement (present singular third-person)
hitting the pavement (participle present)
hit the pavement (participle past)
hit the pavement (past)

But getting people to hit the pavement is more than just a health concern. . . . [M]unicipalities are looking to combat inner-city decay by keeping the streets flush with pedestrians.

2007 July 31, Ceri Au, “Fighting for the Right to Flush”, in Time:

(idiomatic) To travel on foot, as on a sidewalk.


give voice

give voice (third-person singular simple present gives voice, present participle giving voice, simple past gave voice, past participle given voice)

gives voice (present singular third-person)
giving voice (participle present)
gave voice (past)
given voice (participle past)


give cry

give cry (third-person singular simple present gives cry, present participle giving cry, simple past gave cry, past participle given cry)

gives cry (present singular third-person)
giving cry (participle present)
gave cry (past)
given cry (participle past)

The journalists gave cry after the Prince, like a pack of hounds when they strike the trail of a fox.

It is, in my belief, an artificial, man-made development in hounds, since it exists only in rudimentary form in other dogs, foxes, and wolves, which are said sometimes to give cry when hunting their game.

1937, Joseph Brown Thomas, Hounds and hunting through the ages:


up the ante

up the ante (third-person singular simple present ups the ante, present participle upping the ante, simple past and past participle upped the ante)

ups the ante (present singular third-person)
upping the ante (participle present)
upped the ante (participle past)
upped the ante (past)

(dispute) To take an action that raises the stakes, i.e. that increases the chances of conflict.


beg to differ

beg to differ (third-person singular simple present begs to differ, present participle begging to differ, simple past and past participle begged to differ)

begs to differ (present singular third-person)
begging to differ (participle present)
begged to differ (participle past)
begged to differ (past)

/ˈbɛɡ tə ˈdɪfə/

/ˈbɛɡ tə ˈdɪfɚ/

From beg (“to plead with someone for help”) + to + differ.

Thus Lord King asserted, February 28, 1818, "That the whole of what the noble Secretary of State, Lord Liverpool, had said, amounted to this, that the Sinking Fund was only nominal, and had not paid one shilling of the debt." To which Lord Liverpool replied, "He begged to differ with his Lordship, and was of opinion, that the Sinking Fund was real."

1819, Thomas Broughton, The Cure for Pauperism; or, The Ancient Standards of Value Compared with the Artificial Standards Created by the Paper Currency; with a Plan of an Effectual Measure of Finance, London: Printed for T[homas] Cadell & W[illiam] Davies, […], and J. M. Richardson, […], by Charles Wood, […], →OCLC, page 27:

"Look here, sir, this is all very well," he began, "but why can't I fall in love with your daughter? I'm a Doctor of Science and all that sort of thing. I've a perfectly decent outlook. My father was rather a swell in his science. I'm an entirely decent and respectable person." / "I beg to differ," said Mr. Pope. / "But I am." / "Again," said Mr. Pope, with great patience, and a slight forward bowing of the head, "I beg to differ."

1912, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “Crisis”, in Marriage, London: Macmillan and Co., Limited […], →OCLC, book the first (Marjorie Marries), § 8, page 183:

Most of the conversation was taken up with an agonised appraisal of the Prince's [i.e., Charles, Prince of Wales's] proper role, together with much royal muttering (conventional wisdom in 1985) that Britain had lost its dynamism for which it was once famous. I begged to differ, and implored the Prince to consider the new, entrepreneurial, street-cred economy being created at that very moment in the clubs and streets, the fashion houses and TV studios and advertising agencies of Soho and Covent Garden.

2015, Catherine Mayer, quoting Michael John Elliott, “Introduction”, in Charles: The Heart of a King, London: W. H. Allen, →ISBN; republished London: W. H. Allen, 2016, →ISBN, page 45:

(idiomatic) To offer an opposing opinion humbly.


save face

save face (third-person singular simple present saves face, present participle saving face, simple past and past participle saved face)

saves face (present singular third-person)
saving face (participle present)
saved face (participle past)
saved face (past)

He tried to make reparations to those he had injured, partly to save face.

(idiomatic, intransitive) To take an action or make a gesture intended to preserve one's reputation or honour.


give face

give face (third-person singular simple present gives face, present participle giving face, simple past gave face, past participle given face)

gives face (present singular third-person)
giving face (participle present)
gave face (past)
given face (participle past)

First used in the late 19th century (most likely in the colonial Hong Kong), a calque of dialectal Cantonese 畀面 (bei2 min2).

We gave face to one another.

2000, Ko-lin Chin, Chinatown Gangs: Extortion, Enterprise, and Ethnicity, page 200:

While she gave face to the director, his subordinates, and her colleagues, she had no face left to herself.

2001, Wenshan Jia, The remaking of the Chinese character and identity in the 21st Century, page 135:

As one example among many of good intent gone wrong, we can mention the western top manager who felt that he gave face to the Chinese side by suddenly showing up himself to negotiate instead of sending a lower ranked employee.

2003, Martin Krott, Kent Williamsson, China business ABC: the China market survival kit, page 51:


blow out of the water

blow out of the water (third-person singular simple present blows out of the water, present participle blowing out of the water, simple past blew out of the water, past participle blown out of the water)

blows out of the water (present singular third-person)
blowing out of the water (participle present)
blew out of the water (past)
blown out of the water (participle past)

This turn of events sheds a whole new light on the case. Destiny's attorneys seem to have a new pep in their step. They get busy making phone calls and assuring the family that things are about to turn in their favor. "We now have information to blow them out of the water!" the lead attorney asserts vigorously.

(idiomatic) To trounce; to defeat thoroughly, as at a game or in battle.

[…]And if I open fire - again, reading into the fact they've come clearly cleared for action and there is a mutual defense pact in place - well, I might survive a few fractions of a second longer than I would if I pointed my guns straight at them, but I'm still not really gonna be coming out of this intact, so... I'm not suicidal; I'm not gonna actually fulfill any of my mission objectives by getting myself blown out of the water; so, yeah, I - I would be frantically radioing the Kriegsmarine headquarters, saying "please, could I have some new orders, or, if I am going to have to die, can you please confirm that that's the case?"[…]

2020 May 3, Drachinifel, 39:34 from the start, in The Drydock - Episode 092, archived from the original on 2022-10-01:

The somewhat-shattered San Francisco also managed to make it out, although not before she'd come within seconds of being blown out of the water by Helena, as the two had lost contact in the dark and the flagship had loomed back out of the murk with no one and nothing available to answer the light cruiser's challenge - the radio, the whistle, the signal lights, the flags, et cetera, had all been destroyed. Luckily, one of the few surviving signalmen found a small handheld signal light and managed to blink out the ship's hull number.

2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 27:16 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN), archived from the original on 2022-11-07:

(nautical) To rapidly destroy (a vessel) with overwhelming weapons fire.


bat for the other team

bat for the other team (third-person singular simple present bats for the other team, present participle batting for the other team, simple past and past participle batted for the other team)

bats for the other team (present singular third-person)
batting for the other team (participle present)
batted for the other team (participle past)
batted for the other team (past)

From cricket or baseball, in print c. 1990.

(idiomatic, humorous, euphemistic) To be homosexual.


bite one's tongue

bite one's tongue (third-person singular simple present bites one's tongue, present participle biting one's tongue, simple past bit one's tongue, past participle bitten one's tongue)

bites one's tongue (present singular third-person)
biting one's tongue (participle present)
bit one's tongue (past)
bitten one's tongue (participle past)

She wanted to go see a movie called Gigi, which I was not too thrilled about. But being a gentleman, I bit my tongue and said, “Okay.”

2011, Mike Pappas, Growing Up the Greek Way in the Big Apple, page 103:

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath / Scared to rock the boat and make a mess.

[…]my automatic tongue-biting mechanism kicked in just in time.

2020 June 23, John Bolton, The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 305:

I swear I meant to mean the best when it ended / Even try to bite my tongue when you start shit / Now you're texting all my friends, asking questions / They never even liked you in the first place

2021 August 13, Gayle, Sara Davis, David Pittenger, “abcdefu”, in A Study of the Human Experience Volume One, performed by Gayle:

(idiomatic) To resist the urge to speak out, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute.

амаа татах (amaa tatax, literally “pull one's mouth”)

hvis du ikke har noe hyggelig å si, si ingen ting


give something a go

give something a go (third-person singular simple present gives something a go, present participle giving something a go, simple past gave something a go, past participle given something a go)

gives something a go (present singular third-person)
giving something a go (participle present)
gave something a go (past)
given something a go (participle past)

Why not give it a go? You may find it easier than you thought.

karawhiu

An idiomatic expression fot to try or attempt something


lose the plot

lose the plot (third-person singular simple present loses the plot, present participle losing the plot, simple past and past participle lost the plot)

loses the plot (present singular third-person)
losing the plot (participle present)
lost the plot (participle past)
lost the plot (past)

I lost the plot for a while then. And I lost the subplot, the script, the soundtrack, the intermission, my popcorn, the credits and the exit sign.

1995, Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, London: Victor Gollancz, →ISBN, page 25:

Right then I lost the plot. I did, man, I went over the edge.

2004, Ron Phillips, The Travels of Plymouth: A Fable for Our Time, page 202:

Finally, I lost the plot. I got into my car and drove to the police station.

2007, Caryl Wyatt, Anita Le Roux, Look Me in the Eye: Caryl's Story, page 28:

Apologise for losing the plot and explain what made you react the way you did.

2010, Jackie Hall, The Happy Mum Handbook, page 102:

(UK, idiomatic, colloquial) To cease to behave in a consistent or rational manner.

perder a linha

to cease to behave in a consistent or rational manner

But while there remains a considerable degree of consensus that the consequence of apparently losing the plot sometime between 1914 and 1918 was the cultural and economic malaise of the 1920s and 1930s, there are still some who look back on the interwar years less with criticism than with nostalgia.

1995, John Frank Williams, The Quarantined Culture: Australian Reactions to Modernism, 1913–1939, page 219:

Because of this it seems to me that we have somehow lost the plot and we're in desperate need of balance. The idea of Protestant ministers touching the body of Christ (the bread) with great love and tenderness like the priest described is almost incomprehensible.

2007, Colin James Isbister, The Body of Christ, page 99:

2011, House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs, 2nd Report of Session 2010-11: Auditors: Market Concentration and Their Role, Volume II: Evidence, page 19,
[Professor Fearnley:] If I can perhaps be a little unkind about my profession — which is fair enough I suppose — I think the accountancy profession, along with other professions, loses the plot from time to time and has to be pulled back from what it was doing before.

(UK, idiomatic, colloquial) To lose sight of an important objective or principle; to act contrarily to one's own interests through concentrating on relatively unimportant matters.

Readers enter the storyworlds of novels and then follow the logic of the events that occur in them primarily by attempting to reconstruct the fictional minds of the characters in that storyworld. Otherwise, readers lose the plot.

2005 Winter, Alan Palmer, “Intermental Thought in the Novel: The Middlemarch Mind.”, in Style, volume 39, number 4, page 427:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lose, plot.


bat an eyelash

bat an eyelash (third-person singular simple present bats an eyelash, present participle batting an eyelash, simple past and past participle batted an eyelash)

bats an eyelash (present singular third-person)
batting an eyelash (participle present)
batted an eyelash (participle past)
batted an eyelash (past)


cut it

cut it (third-person singular simple present cuts it, present participle cutting it, simple past and past participle cut it)

cuts it (present singular third-person)
cutting it (participle present)
cut it (participle past)
cut it (past)

Sometimes, professional tools are necessary and homespun solutions just don't cut it.

I couldn't cut it as a poor man, stealing

(idiomatic) To suffice; to be effective or successful.


corner the market

corner the market (third-person singular simple present corners the market, present participle cornering the market, simple past and past participle cornered the market)

corners the market (present singular third-person)
cornering the market (participle present)
cornered the market (participle past)
cornered the market (past)

"Why, there ain't going to be any wheat left in Chicago by May! If I get in now and buy a long line of cash wheat, where are all these fellows who've sold short going to get it to deliver to me?" . . . Jadwin sprang forward, gripping the broker by the shoulder. "Sam," he shouted, ". . . we can corner the market!"

1903, Frank Norris, chapter 7, in The Pit:

(idiomatic, business, finance) To monopolize a resource or commodity, as with the intent of driving up prices.