σαν την άδικη κατάρα

σαν την άδικη κατάρα • (san tin ádiki katára)

san tin ádiki katára (romanization)
like the unfair curse (literally)

Όλο τρέχει από μέρος σε μέρος σαν την άδικη κατάρα.

He's always running around from place to place like a blue-arsed fly.

Ólo tréchei apó méros se méros san tin ádiki katára.

like a headless chicken
like a headless chicken

like a blue-arsed fly
like a blue-arsed fly

(idiomatic, simile) like a headless chicken, like a blue-arsed fly (frantically, hurriedly)


after one's own soul

"Give me a kiss, my dear boy," said Fagan, with tears in his eyes. "You're after my own soul. As long as Jack Fagan lives you shall never want a friend or a second."

1844 January–December, W[illiam] M[akepeace] Thackeray, “In which I Show Myself to be a Man of Spirit”, in “The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq. [The Luck of Barry Lyndon.]”, in Miscellanies: Prose and Verse, volume III, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1856, →OCLC, page 37:

after one's own heart
after one's own heart#English


on the burst

(sports, rugby, colloquial) (Of a player taking a pass) running at full speed towards the opposition.


on the boil

(Of a heated liquid) simmering strongly and about to boil.

trying to keep the deal on the boil

(colloquial) continuing; active; in a state of activity or development.

(colloquial) Going smoothly; working well.

(sports, colloquial) Playing exceptionally well.


off the boil

(Of a heated liquid) having just stopped boiling.

the deal has come off the boil

(colloquial) no longer continuing or active.

The railway industry is fully aware of how important off-peak travel now is, especially as commuter and business travel went off the boil when the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how easy it is to work from home.

2024 August 21, “Comment: Seize the leisure travel initiative”, in RAIL, number 1016, page 3:

(colloquial) No longer going smoothly or working well.

(sports, colloquial) No longer playing exceptionally well.


out of course

The foundation of our whole economic system is out of course with the economic laws of the Bible, which require money to be used as a medium of exchange only and prohibit its perversion into a commodity out of which to build up a ruinous system of credit inflation with its ever-increasing but never-ending toll of interest.

1965, Destiny Quarterly Review, volume 36, page 226:

out of order; not in harmony or agreement


sur le pied de guerre

on a war footing (in a state of preparedness for waging war; ready to go to war; ready to go into battle)

(figuratively) in fighting trim (in good preparation or condition; ready to confront a challenge)


in spite of someone's teeth

Poor Would-be became a debauchee through mere bashfulness, and a foolish sort of modesty, that has made many a man drunk in spite of his teeth.

1823, The British Essayists: Connoisseur, page 137:

in someone's face; in defiance of opposition from someone


in one foul swoop

Mondegreen variant of in one fell swoop, where "fell" (of a strong and cruel nature; eager and unsparing; grim; fierce; ruthless; savage) is misheard as "foul" (disgusting) or "fowl" (a bird).

The acquiescence of the party as the result of hasty and immature deliberation, is indicative of a supreme contempt of comrades, and vitiates in one foul swoop the conditions that regulate the movement.

1915 November 18, The Labor Call, page 10:

All their suspicions had evaporated in one foul swoop by Neil's announcement, and was now confirmed by a document that if they signed, asked them to become trustees of Neil's charity.

2013, Chris J. Berry, The Celestial Window, page 22:

I need to get it all out at once, inflicting the damage in one foul swoop before facing the fallout left in my wake.

(idiomatic, proscribed) (Achieved or completed) with a single action; in a single stroke.


buiten westen

From straying too far to the west from one's course at sea. Compare French être à l’ouest.


in a fix

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-in a fix.wav


dans le pétrin

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-dans le pétrin.wav

être dans le pétrin

(informal, figuratively) in the soup, in a fix, in a pickle, in trouble


dans les choux

LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-dans les choux.wav

être dans les choux


auf Heller und Pfennig

[aʊ̯f ˈhɛlɐ ʊnt ˈp͡fɛnɪç]


bis in die Puppen

Literally, “up to the dolls”, from a certain sculpture way off from Berlin. Accordingly rarely heard in western Germany.

Wir haben gequatscht bis in die Puppen / Und vorher gingen wir sinnlos Shoppen

2008, “Drei Männer her”, performed by Ina Müller:

We chatted late into the night / And before that we went shopping for no reason

Ausgelassene Atmosphäre, Alkohol, Tanzen bis in die Puppen – Feiertage sind spaßig, bergen aber offenbar auch das Risiko, es mit der Verhütung nicht ganz so genau zu nehmen.

2024 September 2, Dirk Einecke, “„Pille danach“ findet nach Feiertagen reißenden Absatz”, in MMW - Fortschritte der Medizin, volume 166, →DOI, pages 32–34:

(idiomatic) until all hours, late into the night


at second hand

Even devoted monarchists knew of her only at second hand, as a cipher, a still, small, largely silent, smiling figure, bound by her sense of duty and service, surrounded by turmoil and hubbub.

September 8 2022, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian:

By an intermediary or by indirect means; usually relating to something heard, by hearsay.


of all places

They had a Jacuzzi on the deck, which was usually crowded, but I did manage to squeeze in once between two couples from Yakima, Washington, of all places.

2016, O Bod, Of All Places: Sometimes It's the Journey, →ISBN:

(idiomatic, often used as a sentence adverb) Surprisingly.


out of wind

In riding up hill the horse is always to be favoured, by bearing him hard, for fear of running him out of wind; but in running down hill, if the horse's feet and shoulders will bear it, and the rider dares venture his neck, he may have a full loose.

1819, Abraham Rees, The Cyclopaedia; Or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences and Literature, Volume 29:

Scroggins came to the scratch much distressed and out of wind.

1824, Pierce Egan, Boxiana; Or, Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism:

And I was the one had to blow on it to keep it goin' he was plumb out of wind.

2006, Elmer Kelton, The Raiders: Sons of Texas, →ISBN:


on the rails

To The wineplace.com and Chris, Marshy and Chris for keeping me on the rails.

2000, Paul Clarke, Learning Schools, Learning Systems, →ISBN, page vii:

Logic is nothing other than methods we have learned that keep thinking on the rails.

2001, Frederick Ferre, Living and Value: Toward a Constructive Postmodern Ethics, →ISBN, page 4:

Menin Road got the offensive back on the rails but conditions, which had been deplorable before, favoured the outcome.

2012, Peter Pedersen, ANZACS on the Western Front, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) In working order, functioning properly.

For several Saturdays after he'd seen a film about men who lived on the rails, he left home with a Spam sandwich in a paper bag, a compass and a ball of twine (though he wasn't sure why he included the twine).

2005, Dan Gerber, A Voice from the River: A Novel, →ISBN, page 14:

And then over two months of hitch-hiking' and trekking in Banff and Jasper National Parks, and a few hundred miles on the rails.

2012, Meynardie Blanchard, Rails Trails and Other Tales, →ISBN, page 31:

Nevertheless, he loved traveling on the rails and became a lifelong railroad buff.

2014, Jeri Quinzio, Food on the Rails: The Golden Era of Railroad Dining, →ISBN, page 12:

(horse racing) Racing toward the inside, near the fence that bounds the track.

The larger the wheels, the less will any dust, twigs, or inequalities on the rails affect them.

1830, Thomas Earle, A Treatise on Railroads and Internal Communications, etc, page 54:

Now we lounged on the decks all the time, feet up on the rails while a string band played for us.

2013, Reg Twigg, Survivor on the River Kwai, →ISBN:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, rail.


over the rainbow

So when we landed in Rosedale that Saturday the 28th of June, we weren't in Toronto anymore, but only Grandma was over the rainbow to see us.

2006, Dorothy Palmer, When Fenelon Falls, →ISBN, page 54:

It practically called out to me, and when I saw the three dollar price tag, I was over the rainbow for it.

2007, Martin H. Greenberg, Jean Rabe, Pandora's Closet, →ISBN:

She was beyond happiness, she was over the rainbow.

2010, Linda Lecuona, Uri: A Donkey's Tale of the Cross, →ISBN, page 18:

Somewhere over the rainbow
 My son waits for me,
There in the presence of our Heavenly Father
 He's as happy as can be.

2012, Linda Hussey, Diamond in the Sky, page 56:

Knowing that these would be my final moments with my son, I told him that if he needed to go, it would be all right. And with my cheek against his, I whispered in his ear, “I'll meet you just over the rainbow, tomorrow.”

2012, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Chicken Soup for the Soul Children with Special Needs, →ISBN:

One thing for sure, I won't know until I die. And it looks like we don't let the ones left behind know what is over the rainbow.

2013, Gary Fish, Yes, Men Do Cry: A Journal, →ISBN, page 194:

I mean the man I'm based on is dead and gone. His soul rose up over the rainbow and is headed for an existence way beyond what we are.

2015, Walter Mosley, Inside a Silver Box: A Novel, →ISBN, page 229:

The afterlife or the path a soul takes to reach the afterlife.

Even if it is finished and we have no souls, there may still be some higher order of intelligence out there, somewhere over the rainbow, or in a parallel universe we cannot see.

2010, G.R. Pafumi, Is Our Vision of God Obsolete?, →ISBN:

Where is the pot of gold over the rainbow here?

2012, Bonnie Kaye, Doomed Grooms: Gay and Bisexual Husbands in Straight Marriages, →ISBN:

Some of these dreams have always felt “over the rainbow” while others appeared to almost be in our grasp.

2015, Grant D. Fairley, William S Cook Jr., Your Third Act: A Guide to a Great Retirement, →ISBN:

Beyond one's grasp; impossible to reach or achieve.


van tijd tot tijd

1881, Eduard Douwes Dekker, Max Havelaar, 5th printing, p.41

But, I thought, if I let this Stem write my book? If I have anything to add, I myself can write a chapter from time to time. Frits can also help. He has a list of words written with two Es, and Mary can write it out neatly.

Maar, dacht ik, als ik myn boek door dien Stem schryven liet? Als ik er wat by te voegen heb, schryf ikzelf van-tyd tot-tyd een hoofdstuk. Frits kan ook helpen. Hy heeft een lystje van woorden die met twee e's geschreven worden, en Marie kan alles in 't net schryven.


at short sight

bills at short sight

(finance, archaic) (payable) soon after being presented


in aggregate

Leaving aside the abundance of negativity for the time being, in aggregate these attempts at definition speak to the multitude of linguistic phenomena characteristic of language hybridity in multilingual settings, albeit explained with differing emphases by different definers.

2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 7:


yeri gəlmişkən

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Allahverdi Verdizade-yeri gəlmişkən.wav

(conjunctive, idiomatic) speaking of which


sözü gəlmişkən

LL-Q9292 (aze)-Azerbaijani audiorecordings-sözü gəlmişkən.wav


naye

Contraction of na yeye; [[Appendix:Swahili_noun_classes#M-wa class|m class_((I))]] inflected form of na; and him/her, with him/her


out of play

Bristol City have told their Championship rivals, including Huddersfield Town, that they will not be kicking the ball out of play this season, unless a player has suffered a genuine head injury.

2019 August 5, Mel Booth, Emelio Galantini, Aidan McCartney, “Huddersfield Town and Championship told of Bristol City stance on kicking ball out”, in Examiner Live:

(sports) Unavailable to be played according to the rules of the game in question.


van likmevestje

Literally, “of lick-my-vest”, but the element vestje is generally considered to derive from French fesse (“buttock, butt”).

Met zo'n kerel van likmevestje ga ik niet naar de stad, hoor.

I'm not going into town with such a good-for-nothing bloke, I swear.

of low quality or competence; worthless, good-for-nothing


on a lark

When you meet the girl who wouldn't et cetera you will tell her that your are slumming, visiting your own six A.M. Lower East Side of the soul on a lark, stepping nimbly between the piles of garbage to the gay marimba rhythms in your head.

1984, Jay McInerney, Bright Lights, Big City, →ISBN, page 4:

(idiomatic) In a frolicky or frivolous manner; on a whim.


derrière les barreaux

LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-derrière les barreaux.wav


on the blob

Apparently a reference to the blobbing (i.e. dripping) of menstrual blood, likely following the model of on the rag.

I have no problems fucking wimin on the blob. But some of them do

1993 April 19, Sean McAfee, “The Great a.t. IRC Party, part III”, in alt.tasteless (Usenet), message-ID <1993Apr19.224852.14466@mtu.edu>:

Sweet's heroines are – well, unskinny; they eat lard, drink, smoke, ponce off the state, have huge dumps and go on the blob at inconvenient times.

1997 July 3, Nicholas Lezard, “Paperbacks”, in The Guardian, page A14:

Katie Can you stop staring at my tits please? […]
Jay She must be on the blob.

2012, Damon Beesley, Iain Morris, The Inbetweeners: The Complete Scripts with Added Extras, Random House, page 285:

Personally CW can think of no tampon in the world it would trust while wearing a white dress, on the blob, at a glamorous media event.

2015 February 13, Caitlin Moran, “Celebrity Watch”, in The Times:

(British, slang, vulgar) Menstruating; on one's period.


on the case

From the idea of a detective trying to solve a crime or mystery.

Near-synonym: on the job

(informal) Actively working on something.


on terms with

I know Mr. Herapath very well, but I am not on terms with him.


in fine feather

Dowley was in fine feather, and I early got him started, and then adroitly worked him around onto his own history for a text and himself for a hero, and then it was good to sit there and hear him hum.

1889, Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court:

The little actress was in fine feather.

Yes, indeed, Miss Jane, you look in fine feather! I couldn't be more pleased.

2000, Elizabeth Mansfield, Miscalculations, →ISBN:


wie Sand am Meer

(idiomatic) (in) an innumerable amount; extremely common


co gallo de

[koˈɣaʎʊ ðɪ]


mit Ach und Krach

Literally, “with alas and crash”, probably an alteration of synonymous mit Ach und Weh (literally “with alas and woe”).

by the skin of one's teeth
by the skin of one's teeth

(idiomatic) by the skin of one's teeth (barely and with great exertion)


tot in den treure

Literally, “up to the point of annoyance, up to the point of grieving”.


aus dem Handgelenk

»Völlig ausgeschlossen, daß dieser Mann fünfundzwanzig Jahre nicht Schach gespielt haben soll! Er hat doch jeden Zug, jede Gegenpointe auf fünf, auf sechs Züge vorausberechnet. So etwas kann niemand aus dem Handgelenk. Das ist doch völlig ausgeschlossen – nicht wahr?«

1943, Stefan Zweig, Schachnovelle [The Royal Game]:

"Totally impossible that supposedly this man hasn't played chess in 25 years. He has calculated every move, every counterpoint for five, six moves in advance. No one can do that off the cuff. That's totally impossible – isn't it?"

(idiomatic) without much effort or preparation


like buggery

hurt like buggery

run like buggery ― run like a bat out of hell

sell like buggery ― sell like hot cakes


within one's means

live within one's means

Without spending more than one can afford.


through the ceiling

through the roof
through the roof#English


wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel

De-wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel.ogg

(idiomatic) like a bolt out of the blue, like a bolt from the blue


aus heiterem Himmel

/aʊ̯s ˈhaɪ̯təʁəm ˈhɪməl/

Jetzt jedoch, eines Morgens, beim ersten Frühstück, ganz überraschend und sozusagen aus heiterem Himmel, erlitt er einen Zufall und Raptus, der allgemeines Aufsehen erregte, den ganzen Speisesaal auf die Beine brachte.

1924, Thomas Mann, Der Zauberberg [The Magic Mountain], volume 2, Berlin: S. Fischer, page 575:

(idiomatic, figurative) out of the blue, out of nowhere


on bail

The assailant was released on bail.


on remand

The man was on remand for armed robbery.


on-time

The train arrived on-time


on one's P's

(Australia) Said of a person who is on their provisional driver's licence and displays P-plates on their vehicle; not yet possessing a full driver's licence.


on one's L's

(Australia) Said of a person who is on their learner's permit and displays L-plates on their vehicle; not yet possessing a provisional or full driver's licence.


on everyone's lips

Bellingham was the name on everyone's lips, even reluctantly among the small band of Scotland fans who chose to publicly appreciate England's superstar - belatedly and once the game was lost, admittedly.

2023 September 12, Phil McNulty, “Scotland 1-3 England: 'Complete package' Jude Bellingham puts concluding flourish on world-class performance”, in BBC Sport:

(figuratively) Being the subject of general discussion or rumour.


like stink on shit

(simile, vulgar, derogatory) In very close proximity; following closely.


bei Leibe

„Hör,“ sprach der Fisch, „wenn du mich wieder ins Wasser wirfst, so will ich dir noch einmal das Schloß mit dem Schrank voll Gesottenem und Gebratenem zurückgeben; nur halt dich fest, und verrath bei Leibe nicht von wem dus hast, sonst gehts wieder verloren.“

1843, Brothers Grimm, “Die Goldkinder”, in Kinder- und Haus-Märchen, Band 1^(https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Die_Goldkinder_(1843)), 5th edition, pages 499–500:

“Listen,” said the fish, “if you throw me back into the water, I'll give you back the castle with the cupboard full of cooked and fried foods; just hold on tight and by no means reveal who you got it from, otherwise it will be lost again.”

under no circumstances
under no circumstances

(obsolete spelling of beileibe, with nicht or kein) under no circumstances

Er ist gut bei Leibe.


in my honest opinion

Used to introduce or qualify a statement, as expressing one's own view, not one backed by external authority or to be accepted without question


at one's own peril

Knowingly accepting the risks associated with one's action.


at one's own risk

CDEM ADVISORY: Visitors to Tuchanka land at their own risk. The CDEM will not attempt to extract citizens threatened by clan warfare.

2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Tuchanka:

Taking personal responsibility for any harm that arises from a dangerous activity.

後果自負

taking personal responsibility for any harm that arises from a dangerous activity


on rails

So, first of all, let's clear it out of the way: it is not possible to deorbit any of the moons in the game. They are all on rails, and nothing you can do will adjust their orbit in any way whatsoever.

2012 November 10, Scott Manley, 0:18 from the start, in What does it Take To Deorbit A Moon In Kerbal Space Program, archived from the original on 2022-09-26:

(video games, of a character or object) Constrained to travel along a preset fixed path.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, rails.


in lame man's terms

in layman's terms
in layman's terms#English


en bras de chemise

LL-Q150 (fra)-DenisdeShawi-en bras de chemise.wav

in one's shirt sleeves, in shirt sleeves, casually dressed


in hysterics

Ryan had the place in hysterics by converting two spot kicks before the interval and he then produced the coup de grace with seven minutes left. The only sour note for Larne was the dismissal of Chris Gallagher, with 30 minutes left.

2024 August 29, Alex Mills, “Larne headed for Conference League group stages as Andy Ryan hat-trick secures historic Play-Off joy”, in Belfast Telegraph:

(informal) laughing or celebrating very hard and unable to stop.


in itself

Oxygen is not flammable in itself, but it supports combustion.

Inherently; viewed independently, without reference to anything else.


por mi parte

(idiomatic) for my part; as for me; I, for one


on the outlook

1791, James Bruce, Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773, Dublin: P. Wogan et al., Volume 3, Book 5, Chapter 4, p. 444,
One of the gang that used to be upon the outlook from this station, as soon as any caravan came in sight, cried out, Ribieraini, which in Tigrè signifies they are coming this way;

[…] an extract from his log-book of the transactions of the day […] intimated their being on the outlook for a smuggling lugger

1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC, page 160:

Behind the curtain, between the laths of the Venetian blind, his mother would be secretly on the outlook watching for his return;

1884, Margaret Oliphant, chapter 3, in The Wizard’s Son, volume 1, London: Macmillan, page 47:

Two black dots circled lazily. Martian patrol craft, the military on the outlook for any sign of unusual activity.

1954, Philip K. Dick, “The Crystal Crypt”, in The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick, volume 1, Burton, MI: Subterranean Press, page 289:

Watching intently (from a vantage point, for someone or something).


to one's dying day

until one's dying day
until one's dying day#English

Alternative form of until one's dying day


with one's dying breath

with one's last breath
with one's last breath#English

Alternative form of with one's last breath


with one's last breath

(literary) At the point when one about to die.


at war

(literal, typically with with or against) Fighting in a war.

literal; typically with with or against; literal; typically with with or against

The decision to separate a child from his parents is at war with our values.

(figurative, by extension) (typically with with or against) Vigorously opposed (to); in strong conflict (with).


like Blackpool Illuminations

In reference to Blackpool Illuminations, an annual festival of light founded in 1879.

Turn all those lights off. It's like Blackpool Illuminations in here!

(informal, British, simile) Very brightly lit.


over hard

(US) Of an egg prepared as food, fried on both sides all the way through, with the yolk intact.


ar amrantiad

(North Wales)

in the blink of an eye
in the blink of an eye


for one's own good

To an excessive extent or degree, especially to the extent that it is negative, gets in the way, etc.


on the block

go on the block

put on the block

(chiefly US and Canada) Available or for sale at an auction.


out of both sides of one's mouth

to speak out of both sides of one's mouth

to talk out of both sides of one's mouth

If speaking out of both sides of your mouth at the same time were a modern art form, they would be on permanent exhibition at the Tate. Sadly, it is not the only issue where they exhibit that trait, but I shall not go into the subject of vigilantism here.

2002 April 7, Derek Mooney, “Ireland's future is in Europe”, in The Observer:

The lawyer, Samuel Hirsch, said: "They're speaking out of both sides of their mouth," when the company claims its food is healthy but should be eaten in moderation.

2003 February 21, David Teather, quoting Samuel Hirsch, “‘McFrankenstein’ returns to haunt fast food chain in new court action”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Even to a long-term student of political ventriloquy, the Abbott government’s capacity to speak out of both sides of its mouth on climate policy is astonishing.

2015 June 19, Lenore Taylor, “The Coalition is engaging in double talk on climate policy – it has no other option”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(figuratively, originally US) Indicating contradictory things.

laugh out of the other side of one's mouth

run with the hare and hunt with the hounds


in Hülle und Fülle

Niemand erheiterte sich dabei mehr als Effi, was dann meistens Veranlassung wurde, kleinstädtische Geschichten in Hülle und Fülle folgen zu lassen.

1896, Theodor Fontane, chapter 24, in Effi Briest, Berlin: F. Fontane & Co.:


with a bang

go off with a bang

(informal, figuratively) Flamboyantly; in a noticeable and exciting manner.

(informal, figuratively) Suddenly serious or down-to-earth.


with a bump

bring someone back down to earth with a bump

come down to earth with a bump

(informal, figuratively) With a sudden return to seriousness or reality.


within one's rights

to be within one's rights to do something


out of one's own pocket

to pay out of one's own pocket


without a murmur

With no complaint or objection; in a quietly passive manner.


on one's game

(informal) Performing as well as one can.


on one's hands and knees

[…] the fireman has to divide his time between getting up into the bunker to throw more turfs into the cab, and getting down on his hands and knees to get it into the firebox, and even then a reserve supply of turf must be carried on a truck behind the engine, and stops must be made on each steep ascent to raise more steam.

1945 January and February, “Notes and News: Locomotive Firing with Turf”, in Railway Magazine, page 46:

He would walk and rage and drag the steel pole and the wagon and he would drink what anyone would give him and his place as the tragic figure of Frenchtown was coalesced after he was seen on his hands and knees lapping at a puddle to rid his throat of the whiskey burn.

2021, Michael Farris Smith, chapter 30, in Nick, New York, Boston, London: Little, Brown and Company, page 159:

With one's body bent over so that the knees and palms of the hands are touching the floor.


on one's conscience

to have something on one's conscience

to be on someone's conscience

to weigh on someone's conscience


on one's honor

(US) used to emphasize that one is behaving or going to behave in a trustworthy manner.

When I was young and fever fell / My spirit I will not tell / You're on your honor not to tell

1986, R.E.M. (lyrics and music), “I Believe”, in Lifes Rich Pageant:

(dated) expected to do what one has promised, expected to uphold one's promise.


гущыӏэм пае

head

гущыӏэм пае • (gʷuśəʼɛm paje)


гущыӏэм фаӏоу

гущыӏэм фаӏоу • (gʷuśəʼɛm faʼwowu)

[ɡʷəɕəʔam faːʔʷaw]


for the better

to change for the better

to take a turn for the better


for the best

It's all for the best

Having the best possible outcome eventually.


in all fairness

The latter is an example of intermediate time adjustments although it must in all fairness be added that there has been no overall increase in the journey times of certain of the trains concerned.

1961 October, “The Winter Timetables of British Railways: London Midland Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 592:


in the heat of the moment

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-in the heat of the moment.wav

As the hasty result of strong, passionate feelings and without thoughtful consideration.


on someone's back

My mother's been on my back about getting a job.

(informal) Nagging or harassing someone.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, someone's, back.


na vlastní pěst

under one's own steam
under one's own steam


de nunca acabar

cuento de nunca acabar


te pas en te onpas

all the time; whether appropriate or not; whether relevant or not


onder het kleed

(Netherlands) under the rug, meaning to conceal something


cyn hyn

cyn hyn (mutation mutation-radical)
gyn hyn (mutation mutation-soft)
nghyn hyn (mutation mutation-nasal)
chyn hyn (mutation mutation-aspirate)

/ˌkɨ̞n ˈhɨ̞n/


gyda hyn

gyda hyn (mutation mutation-radical)
chyda hyn (irregular mutation mutation-aspirate)

/ˌɡɨ̞da ˈhɨ̞n/


hyd yn hyn

/ˌhɨːd ən ˈhɨ̞n/

(idiomatic) up to now, so far, thus far, hitherto, as yet


erbyn hyn

/ˌɛrbɨ̞n ˈhɨ̞n/


to distraction

to love someone to distraction


in rag order

He looks to be in rag order, one hand on the wall to hold himself up, the other one on his trousers, to hold them up by the looks of it. It's fairly cold out and he's making slow progress to wherever he's headed.

2003, Donal Ruane, Tales in a Rearview Mirror, page 80:

We took over the plant in rag order but had to hand it over as per BAOR standards. So light bulbs that weren't working on the dashboard had to be replaced, an A type job, or Operator job.

2009, Julian Beirne, Diary of a Sapper, page 289:

Our parents left the world in reasonably good shape but I've a horrible feeling we'll be leaving it in rag order. And I'm in rag order, myself. I'm halfway down the stairs in the morning before I'm convinced that I'm awake, that I'm actually alive.

(UK, Ireland, military, slang) In a state of mess or chaos.


in good conscience

In good conscience, innovative assaults on the inmate, such as lobotomy and electroshock therapy, could be added to other "treatments," such as coercive custodial care, deadening routine, water cures, and strait-jackets.

1988, John White, “Conscience and Convenience in Eastern Kentucky”, in Susan Emley Keefe, editor, Appalachia's Children: The Challenge of Mental Health, page 209:

Just as dissenters should be free to dissociate themselves from beliefs and practices (and so, communities) they cannot in good conscience embrace, so should communities be able to dissociate themselves from those who do not wish to conform to their ways, and whom they cannot, in good conscience, tolerate.

1997, Ian Shapiro, Will Kymlicka, Ethnicity and Group Rights, page 90:

For if “the good work” keeps him dependent and weak, it is no longer good for Rousseau, and if it is not good for him, he cannot do it in good conscience.

2016, Heinrich Meier, On the Happiness of the Philosophic Life, page 141:


à fonds perdu

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as a subsidy, being a performance without the expectation of consideration


like a million pounds

like a million dollars
like a million dollars#English

(England) Synonym of like a million dollars


for the high jump

I saw you steal those sweets. Now you're for the high jump!

(informal) In trouble; facing punishment for a misdeed.


in back

We were sitting in back.


in the barrel

Attested 1950s.
Presumably from a bawdy military joke, featuring a barrel with a glory hole, whose punchline is “It’s your turn in the barrel.”
The joke has many variants and embellishments, but the kernel is: a new sailor is being given a tour of the boat, and is shown a barrel with a glory hole, which they are able to use any time, except Tuesdays. When he asks why not Tuesdays, he is told: “Because it’s your turn in the barrel.”
Other hypotheses is that it is derived from like shooting fish in a barrel, or that it referred to a form of punishment in which the malefactor was confined within a barrel.

It’s Your Turn In The Barrel: accident investigation duty

1967, Aerospace Safety, volume 23, number 2, page i:

Reluctantly, Armstrong began spending more and more “time in the barrel,” as the astronauts called the frequent public appearances that were considered an important part of the job, because it was believed by NASA brass the only way to keep Congress passing billion-dollar budgets was to keep the public firmly in their corner.

2005, Leon Wagener, One Giant Leap: Neil Armstrong's Stellar American Journey:

Staffers rotated on and off the committee and, as it happened, this month I was in the barrel along with three others.

2006, Mark Ethridge, Grievances, page 64:

Connor took aim out the window saying "We voted him guilty, Hailey. We helped put him in the barrel and we're the only ones who can stop it. We have to.”

2009, Mark Sullivan, Triple Cross, page 198:

Practically everybody who worked for the director, including his closest friends, spent time “in the barrel.” “We'd all get our turn,” Andy Devine said. Actors tolerated Ford's abuse because they loved him, understood him, or knew he could draw a better performance from them than could any other director in Hollywood.

2014, Ronald L. Davis, John Ford: Hollywood's Old Master:

(slang) In an unpleasant or dangerous situation.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, barrel.


for show

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-for show.wav

Wealthy Nauruans spent their abundant money on cars that were for show.

Guys, get down from the climbing frames! They're just there for show!

2024, Teacher Tommy T, What did I miss? 🤣 #schoolmemes #school #teacher #schoolmemories #teaching #schooldays #students:

(idiomatic) intended to be seen but not bought or used; aesthetic as opposed to practical.

(idiomatic) done in an insincere or affected manner in order to impress others.


off the beam

“They all thought I was off the beam.” He tapped his temple with a long, shaking finger. “But they come around.”

2012, Matthew P. Mayo, Sourdoughs, Claim Jumpers & Dry Gulchers, page 163:


o hyn allan

From o (“from”) + hyn (“this”) + allan (“out”).


yn hyn o beth

/ən ˈhɨ̞n ɔ ˌbeːθ/

/ən ˈhɪn ɔ ˌbeːθ/

From yn (“in”) + hyn (“this”) + o (“of”) + beth (“a thing”).


up the boohai

(New Zealand, informal, idiomatic) Utterly and completely lost; lost in a remote location.


in vigore

il Presidente ha firmato la proposta di legge e sarà in vigore da qui in poi.

the President has signed the bill and it will be in force from here on out.


to the good

after these government reforms, we are 500 dollars to the good

we have some extra food, but it should all be to the good

In the blink of an eye, it all collapsed. Joe Rodon brought down Foden, and Rashford unleashed a piledriver beyond Ward. The English relief was palpable while the Welsh agony cut deep. Wales caved, and England were two goals to the good as Kane drilled across the box for the unmarked Foden to tap home.

2022 November 29, Ian Mitchelmore, “Wales put out of World Cup misery by England as sobering tournament must signal changing of the guard”, in WalesOnline:


on the flat

Another connection to be removed in September was that from the North London Line to the Tilbury route at Bromley, which crossed the District Line on the flat.

1959 November, “L.T. and E.R. developments in East London”, in Trains Illustrated, page 529:


back then

On the East and West Coast Main Lines in the 1950s/60s, for example, we saw the extinction of intermediate stations in order to create the same sort of accelerations that IRP is now promising. Back then, the priority was faster main line services, with wayside/intermediate stations paying the ultimate price.

2022 January 12, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Unhappy start to 2022”, in RAIL, number 948, page 3:

At that time, at the time referred to in the past.


at that time

Back then, at the time referred to in the past.


on the turn

Their sick mother was still taking medicine every day, but seemed to be on the turn: she would be better soon.

This orange juice is on the turn: better finish it quickly.

(of food or drink) Becoming spoiled or inedible.


in the field

An English medical officer has described an apparatus for the generation of chlorine gas which was used for sterilization of water in the field.

Even if the Soviets do not intend to use chemical weapons unless they are first attacked themselves by poisonous gas, it is inconceivable that such munitions would not be available in the field.

1987, Radio Free Europe Research - Volume 12, Issues 13-21, page 18:

Running short after a couple of chaotic days in the field, Hamer hoped to have the batteries by nightfall, when the company would need them the most.

2017, Warren K. Wilkins, Nine Days in May, page 261:

Set against the level of their activity in the field, the companies would argue that such losses were a small percentage of the people notionally at risk.

2009, Tony Geraghty, Soldiers of Fortune, page 188:

(military) Actively engaged in fighting or dealing with the enemy; in battle or on maneuvers.

In 1915 the average county agent spent 152 days in the field and 140 days in the office.

1921, W.A. Lloyd, Status and Results of County Agent Work: Northern and Western States: 1921, page 15:

Acknowledgment is also made of the assistance of Professor B. F. Howell, who spent several days in the field with the writer while work was being done on the Paleozoic rocks and who helped with that part of the report.

1934, Arthur Francis Buddington, Rudolf Ruedemann, Geology and Mineral Resources of the Hammond, Antwerp and Lowville Quadrangles, page 6:

We have found, and the men and women working in the field out of the unit offices will tell you, that the visits to the homes, the discussion of the problems of the child with the parents are the conditions which bring about a better relation of the Department with the father and mother, and result in a great many immediate adjustments.

1941, Criminal Law Enforcement in the City of New York, page 91:

Telephones may also be "patched" into radio transmissions through the base station, enabling, for example, communication between paramedics using radios in the field and a physician using his or her telephone at home.

1995, Nancy L. Caroline, Emergency Care in the Streets, page 930:

Away from the office, classroom, or laboratory; working with people or things in their natural environment.

Taking not of Becker's injunction that 'methodology is too important to be left to methodologists' (Becker, 1970b, p. 3) the focus will be upon the problems that confront the researcher in the field.

2002, Robert G. Burgess, In the Field: An Introduction to Field Research:

Even though during the course of the present study we succeeded in eliminating ettringite formation and subsequent heave by the use of barium pretreatment agents, we could not develop quantitative relationships that could be used if the proposed pretreatment technology is to be applied in the field.

1995 October 10, Dmitris Dermatas, “Ettringite-Induced Swelling in Soils:State-of-the-art”, in Applied Mechanics Reviews, volume 48, number 10, page 8077:

Thus, it is our responsibility as scientists to make practitioners aware of the fact that most of the current findings in social psychology concerning conflict-related interventions were not rigorously tested in the field (Paluck and Green 2009), and convey the importance of conducting an RCT in the field before moving forward to full implementation.

2020, Yasemin Gülsüm Acar, Sigrun Marie Moss, Özden Melis Uluğ, Researching Peace, Conflict, and Power in the Field, page 227:

In a real-world setting, as opposed to the controlled conditions of a laboratory or the hypothesized parameters of a theoretical approach.

The hand is held as with a single rein, with the thumb pointing to the horse's ears; in turning, however, there is much less power of bear on either side of the bit by raising the thumb or lowering the little finger, because the distance between the snaffle-reins is only half what it was, and therefore the mode of turning by pressure upon the neck is doubly desirable; and hence its general adoption in those cases where doulbe-reined bridles are used, as in the field and on the road.

1861, John Henry Walsh, James Irvine Lupton, The Horse, in the Stable and the Field, page 291:

The latter three chapters are memoirs by or about a variety of people who have participated significantly in the field – as teachers, students, and professionals whose careers were bolstered by their acquired Chinese language competence.

2018, Vivian Ling, The Field of Chinese Language Education in the U.S.:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, field.


in a big way

1956, US Congress Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "Scope of Soviet Activity in the United States", U.S. Government Printing Office.
"We are moving up into the northwest in a big way next year so maybe I'll have a chance to come and visit you yet."

"Fred got into Pumping Iron in a big way."

1998, Cal Ripken Jr, Mike Bryan, The Only Way I Know: With Highlights from the 1997 Season:

"Noah's commitment paid off in a big way when only he, his wife and sons and his son's wives were saved from the flood that destroyed the entire earth [...]"

2008, Henry Abraham, How to Write a Book in 90 Days in God's Way:

(idiomatic) To a great extent, emphatically, or with great passion.


al primo colpo

LL-Q652 (ita)-LangPao-al primo colpo.wav

Literally, “at the first strike”. Compare French du premier coup.


en ordre dispersé

at sixes and sevens, in disarray, in disorder, in a disorganized manner


as one

(formal) simultaneously, at the same time, all together

in agreement [with with ‘someone’]

I'm in need of meeting someono who can help me find a place to stay when I get out [of prison]. Color doesn't matter, because I feel we are all as one.

1985 April 6, John R. Wagner, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, page 14:


for good or ill

In all these ventures, we ranged widely but usually relied on others for country expertise. This time, for good or ill, we are our own country experts.

2009, R. A. W. Rhodes, John Wanna, Patrick Weller, Comparing Westminster:

Whether it is a good or a bad thing; regardless.


au monde

on the face of the earth
on the face of the earth


de tous les temps

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-de tous les temps.wav


ʔalq̓ʷ

ʔalq̓ʷ tiʔəʔ adsəsgʷədil

away from the center, away from the fire, toward the wall, at the periphery; located at the back of an assembly hall.


ʔalq̓ʷbid

dʔalq̓ʷbid

located away from the center in relation to someone or something; located behind something


with all one's might

Using as much strength and effort as possible.


like a mother hawk

The important thing to learn here is to watch your kids like a Mother Hawk, don't trust anyone to save your skin especially not the courts.

(simile) Paying extremely close attention; in an extremely protective way


all over the gaff

All over the place
all over the place#English


al corrente

Literally, “at the current”. Compare French au courant.

Il presidente era stato messo al corrente ella^([sic]) positività della sua consigliera già da giovedi mattina, scrive Bloomberg.

2020 October 2, Anna Lombardi, “Stati Uniti, Trump e Melania positivi al coronavirus. Nyt: caso finora lieve "ma con sintomi" [United States, Trump and Melania positive for the coronavirus. NYT: until now minor case "but with symptoms"]”, in la Repubblica:

The President had been made aware of his advisor's positivity as early as Thursday morning, Bloomberg writes.


by day

He is a policeman by day and a thief by night.


in the bargain

into the bargain
into the bargain#English

(informal, US) Synonym of into the bargain


for one's own hand

Finance and money are much more puzzling than direct commercial profiteering for one's own hand with one's own little capital.

1944, George Bernard Shaw, Everybody's Political What's What:


from top to bottom

She's a born leader from top to bottom.

(adjectival) In an exhaustive and pervasive manner.

They restored the car from top to bottom.

(adverbial) In the manner of conducting a remedy, search, or investigation (etc.) that is thorough and complete.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see from, top, to, bottom.


on one's person

You cannot have a smartphone on your person during the exam.


a km 0

a chilometro zero
a chilometro zero#Italian

Alternative spelling of a chilometro zero


ʔiʔƛ̕qs

ʔiʔƛ̕qs ʔə tə sč̓ətqs


ʔəƛ̕ax̌ad

ʔuʔəy̓dubuɬ čəɬ ʔal tiʔəʔ ʔəƛ̕ax̌ad


in other news

(conjunctive, idiomatic, broadcasting) Used by newsreaders to introduce an unrelated piece of news.

“Humph,” he says. “Did you ask for extra soy sauce?” ¶ “Yes. Dad. It's in the bag,” she says, rolling her eyes at me. “Well, in other news, the kids I cast as Emily and George are amazing!” ¶ My grandfather's head snaps up. "You're doing Our Town? That show is a snooze.”

2014, Jennifer L. Holm, The Fourteenth Goldfish, New York, NY: Random House, →ISBN, page 40:

(by extension, conjunctive, idiomatic) Used to introduce an unrelated topic: by the way, apropos.


out of favor

(American spelling) Alternative form of out of favour.


out of favour

The Western Region was far more in the doldrums, with two types of incompatible motive power: out-of-favour vacuum-braked diesel-hydraulics and incompatible diesel electrics - a changeover policy which also affected the ability to introduce brand new coaching stock.

2020 April 8, Howard Johnston, “East-ended? When the ECML was at risk”, in Rail, page 66:

(British spelling) No longer in favour, having lost approval, support or popularity.


de son état

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(rather literary) by trade, by profession


in point of

[…] and in that discourse, I did many times take occasion to assert the laws in point of the King […]

1679, Heneage Finch Earl of Nottingham, An Exact and Most Impartial Accompt of the Indictment, Arraignment, Trial, and Judgment (according to Law) of Twenty Nine Regicides (page 186)

What is the difference, in point of the quantity and wholesomeness of Spirits, between the use of Grain of the same quality when malted, and when half malted and half raw?

1782, Reports from Committees of the House of Commons:


to those it may concern

to whom it may concern
to whom it may concern#English


ʔidaʔa

it is unbelievable that; it is highly unlikely that


at liberty

(euphemistic, theater) Unemployed; out of work.


a fondo perduto

Literally, “at lost fund”. Compare French à fonds perdu.

of or relating to a payment made without a guaranteed return; non-repayable


on main

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-on main.wav

Ellipsis of horny on main, from the practice of posting salacious or controversial material on a primary social media account, rather than on an anonymous alternate account.

online is my entire social life now so when people are horny on main it feels like seeing somebody walk down the street with their dick out

2019, @VR0NLINE, quoted in Emma Maguire, "Thirsty Tweets Of The Week", Salient (Victoria University of Wellington), Volume 82, Issue 5 (2019), page 13

I don't pride myself on being anonymous and untraceable by the government, safe behind my anime avatar in online arguments and protected from being outed as "horny on main" on social media, […] r

2020, Larson Hicks, "Suit Up", Etchings Literary Journal and Fine Arts Magazine (University of Indianapolis), Volume 32, Issue 2 (2020), page 4

Without dinners or parties to attend, social media is one of the few outlets we have left for titillation, is one of the few outlets we have left for titillation, with everyone suddenly becoming “horny on main” (internet-speak for displaying how horny you are in public, rather than on a secret private account.)

2020 May 30, Flora Gill, “Britain is hornier than ever (and we're not ashamed to say it)”, in The Times:

(Internet slang) Expressed openly when one might normally desire privacy or anonymity.


kaito

Kaito pa iyan.

Kaito pa, magkaiwal na sinda.

At that time, they were already enemies.


senza fiato

Ero senza fiato quando sono crollata su una sedia accanto a Isaac, e ho passato tutto il tempo della confessione di Patrick sulla sua mancanza di palle a dire ai polmoni che andava tutto bene, che potevano respirare, che c'era abbastanza ossigeno.

2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle [The Fault in our Stars], Mondadori, page 169:

I was really out of breath by the time I settled into a chair next to Isaac, and I devoted the entirety of Patrick’s nutless testimonial to telling my lungs they were okay, that they could breathe, that there was enough oxygen.

(figurative, by extension) breathless, amazed


ITRW

(Internet slang) Initialism of in the real world.


from the face of the earth

off the face of the earth
off the face of the earth#English


off the face of the earth

Those files were wiped off the face of the earth.

(idiomatic) Used to emphasize the state of cessation, destruction, termination, etc.


from me born

Borrowed from Jamaican Creole from mi bawn.

bor+

I don't read, I never been to a school for reading: no, I never write a letter from me born neither do I read one […]

Quoted in 2000, Huon Wardle, An Ethnography of Cosmopolitanism in Kingston, Jamaica (page 92)

But from me born, me never hear 'bout no girl wha' fall in love with her little brother.

"I don’t really know enuh miss, but from me born I just love drawing. I’m always drawing," he stated. "I draw a lot of different things, like cars, farm animals, and nuff other things."

2017 January 28, Jediael Carter, “That impressive ‘little artist’ from Craighead”, in Jamaica Observer:

"If you check the area in a central Kingston, from me born 35 years ago, there has never been a studio in the area. The youth them always have to go find a bus fare fi go elsewhere, so you know how much that take from them.
"Every other community probably has a studio near, but nobody never really come and say mek we put a studio on the main or somewhere near this community," said Morgan.

2018 June 2, Carlene Davis, “Save the youths with music! - Southside wants a recording studio to occupy the minds of unattached youngsters”, in The Gleaner:

(Jamaica) Since the time I was born; during my entire life.


from me born

1975, Vera D. Rubin, Lambros Comitas, Ganja in Jamaica: A medical anthropological study of chronic marihuana use, Mouton & Co. (publ.), page 121.
When asked if ganja made him feel sociable, one subject replied, “Me social from me born.”

When asked if ganja made him feel sociable, one subject replied, “I have been social since I was born.”

1997, Opal Palmer Adisa, It Begins with Tears, Heinemann (publ.), page 150.
‘Praise be! From me born me neva see such wickedness.' Beryl heaved her chest and folded her hands in a gesture of defiance.

‘Praise be! Since my birth I have never seen such wickedness.' Beryl heaved her chest and folded her hands in a gesture of defiance.

“FROM […] chiefly dial; […] Esp in set phrases: from me born, from me a little boy, from me was a child, from me was at me knee […]”

[2002, Frederic G. Cassidy, Robert Brock Le Page, Dictionary of Jamaican English, 2nd edition (in English), University of the West Indies Press, →ISBN, FROM, page 190:

Mi bad from mi born / And that's why mi gwaan so.

2007, Munga Honourable, “Bad from Mi Born”, in Reggae Gold 2007:

I've always been a bad guy / That's why I behave like that.

from mi bawn
from mi bawn#Jamaican_Creole


de iure

→ English: de jure

→ French: de jure

→ German: de jure

→ Italian: de iure

→ Hungarian: de jure

→ Polish: de iure

→ Portuguese: de jure

→ Spanish: de iure

(This entry is a descendant hub.) according to the law, by right


gyda'i gilydd

gyda'n gilydd (first-person plural)
gyda'ch gilydd (plural second-person)
- m (singular third-person)
- f (singular third-person)
gyda'i gilydd (plural third-person)

/ˌɡɨ̞dai̯ ˈɡɪlɪð/

/ˌɡɨ̞dai̯ ˈɡɪlɨ̞ð/

/ˌɡɪdai̯ ˈɡiːlɪð/

/ˌɡɪdai̯ ˈɡɪlɪð/

/ˌɡədai̯ ˈɡiːlɪð/

/ˌɡədai̯ ˈɡɪlɪð/

/ˌɡɪdai̯ ˈɡɪli/

Daethon nhw gyda'i gilydd.

They came together (i.e. in each other's company)

together (at the same time, in close association)


dans les temps

LL-Q150 (fra)-DenisdeShawi-dans les temps.wav

être dans les temps

terminer quelque chose dans les temps

in time, on time, on schedule (within the prescribed time limit)


on one's tail

The police were on his tail for half an hour.

He was on my tail for the whole event, and he kept asking me about the food.

(sometimes figurative) Following someone closely.


by-the-bye

[…] it’s only a ward of Mr. Smallwood’s; he is on his way to Oxford, that is all. A surprisingly clever young man,—oh, by-the-bye, Miss Meadows, we are going to make up a little party on Friday, can you come, and bring your brother, Loftus.

1842, [Katherine] Thomson, chapter V, in Widows and Widowers. A Romance of Real Life., volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 71:

"Ah, by-the-bye, I wanted to ask you about that lady. Does anyone know who she is? My wife is very anxious to find out whether she is—well—er—quite the proper person, you know! When one has young girls, one cannot be too careful."

1897, Marie Corelli, “Chapter I”, in Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul, New York: Stone & Kimball, page 25:


sin más preámbulos

without further ado, with no further ado


su tutte le furie

La notizia dell’iscrizione nel registro degli indagati ha fatto andare su tutte le furie sia la presidente del Consiglio Meloni sia il ministro della Giustizia Carlo Nordio.

2023 July 9, Giacomo Salvini, “Indagini e imputazioni: leggi ad hoc per gli amici [Investigations and criminal charges: ad hoc laws for friends]”, in il Fatto Quotidiano:

The news of being on the suspects list enraged both Prime Minister Meloni and the Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio.


in one

He asked me to guess his middle name, and I got it in one.

(theater) Performed downstage between the frontmost pieces of scenery.


i Adams drakt

Literally, “in Adam's costume”. From Biblical Adam. Compare Italian in costume adamitico, French en costume d’Adam, Polish w stroju Adama.


i søvne

i (“in”) + søvne (“sleep”). The dative form søvne is no longer used productively, but is still seen in fossilized expressions, e.g. prepositional phrases. Compare Swedish i sömnen

gå i søvne

snakke i søvne


i søvne

i (“in”) + søvne (“sleep”). The term søvne is no longer used productively, but is still seen in fossilized expressions, e.g. prepositional phrases.


in preda a

Mi seguì, sconvolto, in cucina, chiuse la porta e sussurrò: «Oh, Dio!» in preda alla disperazione.

2013, F. Scott Fitzgerald, translated by Ferruccio Russo, Il Grande Gatsby [The Great Gatsby], Edizioni Scientifiche e Artistiche, page 115:

He followed me wildly into the kitchen, closed the door and whispered: "Oh, God!" in a miserable way.


da tempo

Pompeo da tempo è diventato l'esponente di punta di un establishment che teorizza il "pericolo cinese": con forti agganci nel Pentagono, ma anche al Dipartimento di Stato e nella delegazione repubblicana al Congresso.

2020 July 23, “Usa, l'attacco di Pompeo alla Cina di Xi: "Il mondo libero trionfi su questa nuova tirannia"”, in la Repubblica:

Pompeo has long been the leading exponent of an establishment that theorizes about the "Chinese danger": with strong links in the Pentagon, but also at the State Department and in the Republican delegation in Congress.


a tutto campo

Le conseguenze sono a tutto campo: dal commercio alla finanza, dagli scambi tecnologici ai visti, dalla strategia militare alla sanità, in ogni settore bisogna trarne le conseguenze insieme agli alleati.

The consequences are wide-ranging: from commerce to finance, from technological exchanges to visas, from military strategy to health, in every sector the consequences must be drawn together with the allies.


a proprio giudizio

Non riuscivo a perdonarlo né a compartirlo, ma compresi che ciò che aveva fatto a suo giudizio era pienamente giustificato.

2013, F. Scott Fitzgerald, translated by Ferruccio Russo, The Great Gatsby, Edizioni Scientifiche e Artistiche, page 202:

I couldn’t forgive him or like him but I saw that what he had done was, to him, entirely justified.


au ras des pâquerettes

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-au ras des pâquerettes.wav

(informal, derogatory, figuratively) very basic, lowbrow, unrefined (almost to the point of being coarse, crude, crass)


i lönndom

From Old Swedish i løndom, cf. Danish i løndom. Originally a dative plural form of lønd (“secret”) (cf. lagom and stundom), from Old Norse leynd (“secret”). Ultimately from the same root as ljuga (“to lie”). The pronunciation has undergone analogy with words ending in -dom (“-dom”), changing the pitch accent from accent 1 to accent 2, and the vowel of the final syllable from /ɔ/ to /ʊ/. See also lönn-.


a propria volta

la gente contagia altre persone che a loro volta infettano quelle più vulnerabili

people infect other people who in turn infect the most vulnerable ones


fino in fondo

La disonestà è qualcosa che non si biasima mai fino in fondo in una donna: mi dispiacque per un po’, dopodiché non ci pensai più.

2019, F. Scott Fitzgerald, translated by Enrico Rotelli, Il Grande Gatsby [The Great Gatsby], Bompiani:

Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply: I was casually sorry, and then I forgot.

fully, deeply, through and through, all the way


da dio

lei cucina da dio


on any view

There would on any view be important problems of citizenship, as the ways of operating of an individual within a community, but what I am suggesting is that the theories in question are opposed to any real or active citizenship, that active citizenship is a function of the plurality of social activities, of the clash of ways of living.

2007, John Anderson, Creagh McLean Cole, Lectures on Political Theory: 1941-45:

I respectfully suggest that it is on any view wrong to introduce into this branch of the criminal law questions whether particular contracts are void or voidable on the grounds of mistake or fraud or whether any mistake is sufficiently fundamental to vitiate a contract.

2013, Michael Allen, Textbook on Criminal Law, page 334:

It is not and cannot be suggested that that part of the cargo was suitable for any use without being treated. It follows, in my judgment, that on any view of the meaning of merchantable quality this cargo was not merchantable.

2016, Andrea Lista, International Commercial Sales:

One explanation for falling crime rates in certain categories is undoubtedly that there are fewer police officers to make arrests, fewer prosecutors to bring charges and fewer courts to sentence offenders. But, on any view, the figures show that reduced use of custody does not mean big increases in crime by children – quite the opposite.

2020 July 23, Chris Daw, “'A stain on national life': why are we locking up so many children?'”, in The Guardian:

Without any other possible opinion; undeniably; unquestionably.

While you can use font(_:) on any view because it is a component of the View protocol, you can use bold() only on Text views

2022, Sufyan bin Uzayr, Mastering Swift: A Beginner's Guide:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, any, view.


à ne pas mettre un chat dehors

Literally, “such that you wouldn't put a cat outside”.

lit

à ne pas mettre un chien dehors
à ne pas mettre un chien dehors#French

Synonym of à ne pas mettre un chien dehors


à ne pas mettre un chien dehors

desc

→ Dutch: weer om geen hond door te sturen (calque)

→ Polish: pogoda, że psa by nie wygnał (calque)

/a n(ə) pɑ mɛtʁ œ̃ ʃjɛ̃ də.ɔʁ/

Literally, “such that you wouldn't put a dog outside”.

lit

faire un temps à ne pas mettre un chien dehors

pleuvoir à ne pas mettre un chien dehors


sotto tiro

Facebook e Google sono sotto tiro da parte dei conservatori che, Donald Trump in testa, credono censurino i contenuti legati ai repubblicani anche se non sono mai riusciti a provarlo.

2020 July 29, Jaime D'Alessandro, “L'antitrust americano mette sotto accusa i grandi dell'hi-tech: Amazon, Apple, Facebook e Google [American antitrust accuses the greats of hi-tech: Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google]”, in la Repubblica:

Facebook and Google are under fire on the part of conservatives, Donald Trump most of all, who believe that they censor content linked to Republicans even if they have never been able to prove it.


a testa alta

Tra i documenti di Ghislaine Maxwell desecretati dal tribunale degli Stati Uniti, c'erano anche delle e-mail scambiate tra la socialite e Jeffrey Epstein dell'inizio del 2015 in cui l'uomo la rassicura scrivendole "Non hai fatto nulla di sbagliato (...). Esci a testa alta, non come una criminale in fuga".

2020 July 31, “Caso Epstein, una testimone mette in difficoltà Clinton: "Era sull'isola con due ragazze" [Epstein case, a witness puts Clinton in difficulty: "He was on the island with two girls"]”, in la Repubblica:

Among Ghislaine Maxwell's documents, declassified by a United States court, there were also some e-mails exchanged between the socialite and Jeffrey Epstein in early 2015 in which the man assures her, writing "You didn't do anything wrong (...). Go out with your head held high, not like a criminal on the run".

with one's head held high
with one's head held high


i ro og mak

free from the need to rush, or other disturbances and interruptions


til dess

Han gjekk til deſs han ſaag Lauvhytta, ſom han hadde setet og sovet i;

1868, John Bunyan, Pilegrimsferdi or denne Verdi til den komande [The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which is to Come], Bergen: Beyer, page 54:

He walked until he saw the Booth in which he had sat and slept;


alle spalle

potete trovare i palloncini alle vostre spalle

lasciare alle spalle

to let it go (literally, “to leave behind”)

Non ha mai condotto una campagna elettorale, ma ha grande esperienza alle spalle e per questo la sua è considerata la candidatura più solida.

2020 August 1, “Usa, sarà afroamericana la vice di Biden: Karen Bass e Susan Rice in pole position [USA, Biden's vice will be African-American:Karen Bass e Susan Rice in pole position]”, in la Repubblica:

She has never conducted an electoral campaign, but she has great experience behind her, and because of this, hers is considered the most solid candidacy.

Il duca di York ha sempre negato le accuse e perfino di averla mai incontrat^([sic]), sebbene ci sia una foto, pubblicata da tutti i giornali, che lo ritrae mentre le cinge la vita sorridente, con Ghislaine Maxwell alle loro spalle.

2020 August 3, Enrico Franceschini, “Le perversioni del principe Andrea nelle carte desecretate del processo Epstein [Prince Andrea's perversions in the declassified papers of the Epstein trial]”, in la Repubblica:

The Duke of York has always denied the accusations and even of having ever met her, even though there is a photo, published by all the newspapers, that shows him smiling, encircling her waist, with Ghislaine Maxwell behind them.

(also figurative) (typically with di) behind


for sour apples

She can't act for sour apples.

Synonym of for toffee (“at all, especially of a skill or ability”)


in via di

Literally, “in way of”. Compare French en voie de.

paese in via di sviluppo

Le api sono in via di estinzione.

Altri 631 sono "in via di guarigione", ossia negativi al primo tampone di verifica, dopo la malattia e in attesa dell'esito del secondo.

2020 August 3, Giovanni Gagliardi, “Coronavirus, il bollettino di oggi 3 agosto: 159 contagi e 12 morti [Coronavirus, today's bulletin 3 August: 159 contagions and 12 dead]”, in la Repubblica:

Another 631 are "on the way to recovery", or rather negative for the first test buffer, after the disease and awaiting the outcome of the second.

in the phase of; approaching (a condition); on the way of/to; in the process of


sotto i riflettori

L'avevano legato a una sedia circondata da quadranti, sotto i riflettori.

2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

He was strapped into a chair surrounded by dials, under dazzling lights.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sotto, riflettore.

A capo della procura di Manhattan c’è un noto magistrato democratico, Cyrus Vance Jr., figlio di un ex segretario di Stato e già sotto i riflettori per l’inchiesta sull’ex direttore del Fondo monetario Dominique Strauss Kahn.

2020 August 3, Federico Rampini, “La procura di Manhattan indaga per frode bancaria sull'azienda di Trump. Presidente Usa: "Caccia alle streghe" [The Manhattan prosecutor's office investigates Trump's company for bank fraud. US President: "Witch hunt"]”, in la Repubblica:

At the head of the Manhattan prosecutor's office there's a well-known Democratic magistrate, Cyrus Vance Jr., son of a former Secretary of State and already in the spotlight for the investigation into the former Director of the Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss Kahn.

(idiomatic) in the spotlight; at the center of attention


in fin di vita

Literally, “in end of life”. Compare French en fin de vie.

Manifestanti sono scesi in piazza in numerose città da un angolo all'altro del Paese per il decimo giorno consecutivo per chiedere giustizia per l'uomo, dopo che le immagini dell'agente Derek Chauvin, che gli pressava il suo ginocchio sul collo mentre era a terra e in fin di vita, hanno fatto il giro del mondo.

2020 June 5, “George Floyd, notte di proteste negli Usa: a New York la polizia usa i manganelli sui manifestanti [George Floyd, nights of protests in the US: in New York the police uses truncheons on the demonstrators]”, in Fanpage.it:

Demonstrators took to the streets in numerous cities from one corner of the country to the other for the tenth consecutive day to ask for justice for the man, after the images of the agent Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee to his neck while he was on the ground and dying, went around the world.


in mano

quante ne hai in mano?

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, mano.

Lei prese immediatamente in mano la situazione come aveva già fatto in mensa.

She had immediately taken charge of the situation, just as she had done in the canteen.


di vedetta

«Non uscire allo scoperto. Ci potrebbe essere qualcuno di vedetta. Se restiamo dietro i rami non corriamo nessun pericolo.»

"Don’t go out into the open. There might be someone watching. We’re all right if we keep behind the boughs."

in the position of a guard or reconnoiter from a place suitable for observation; on the lookout


in the moment

Not the grim humans who struggle clench-jawed into work each day, more like a boisterous bunch of mini-humans let loose in a child's playground - free, rambunctious, just happy to be alive and in the moment.

2005, Sean Dooley, The Big Twitch, Sydney: Allen and Unwin, page 63:

She lived in the moment, surrendered to whatever the day presented, and remained her true, original self.

2010, Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration, page 532:

Fully and freely enjoying oneself without thought to past or future.

chwilą (used mostly in the phrase "żyć chwilą")


tra i piedi

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see tra, piedi.

Viveva in un pensionato con altre trenta ragazze («Sempre donne tra i piedi! Quanto le odio!» disse di sfuggita), ed era addetta, come Winston aveva immaginato, alle macchine scriviromanzo del Dipartimento di Letteratura.

She lived in a hostel with thirty other girls ("Always in the stink of women! How I hate women!" she said parenthetically), and she worked, as he had guessed, on the novel-writing machines in the Fiction Department.

(idiomatic) providing bother or frustration; in one's hair


di vista

Li conoscevo appena, di vista.

only as a matter of impressions; superficially


tutt'al più

Literally, “everything at most”. Compare French tout au plus.

Potevi ribellarti solo disobbedendo in segreto o, tutt'al più, con atti isolati di violenza, uccidendo qualcuno o facendo saltare in aria qualcosa.

You could only rebel against it by secret disobedience or, at most, by isolated acts of violence such as killing somebody or blowing something up.


for your information

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-for your information.wav

For your information, my son was a straight A student in college, so he's not just some schmo!

(colloquial) Used to introduce a rebuttal to the interlocutor's previous statement, especially when the statement angered or offended the speaker.

لمعلوماتك

used to introduce a rebuttal to the interlocutor's previous statement

For your information, you're reading English in Wiktionary.

(colloquial) Used as a satiric preface to highlight information that an interlocutor should already know or should be able to surmise.

I kept the dates and times in the logbook for your information.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see for, your, information.


upon the matter

Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the matter, equal in foot.

1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, “(please specify |book=I to XVI)”, in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the Theater, published 1707, →OCLC:

upon the whole matter
upon the whole matter#English

Alternative form of upon the whole matter


a denti asciutti

a bocca asciutta
a bocca asciutta#Italian


in diritto

Sapeva bene che così le lasciava tutt'e due a bocca asciutta, ma non poteva farne a meno; si sentiva perfino in diritto di agire a quel modo.

He knew that he was starving the other two, but he could not help it; he even felt that he had a right to do it.


a bocca asciutta

Ed è ver ch'io rimango,
Spietato, a bocca asciutta,
Solo perché tu fai
Di tue parole fango?

17ᵗʰ century, Jacopo Salviati, Lamento della Sandra innamorata di Fello [Lamentation of Sandra in love with Fello], published 1856, page 153, collected in Rime burlesche di eccellenti autori by Pietro Fanfani:

Merciless one, am I really to be left disillusioned, just because you don't keep your word?

(figurative, by extension) disillusioned


in barba a

In barba alla Polizia del Pensiero? Alla morte del Grande Fratello? All'umanità? Al futuro?

To the confusion of the Thought Police? To the death of Big Brother? To humanity? To the future?


a tutti gli effetti

Pence diventerebbe a tutti gli effetti il capo dell'esecutivo. Con una ricaduta per la campagna: gli americani comincerebbero a immaginarsi che votare per Trump può significare una presidenza Pence.

2020 October 2, Federico Rampini, “L'incognita sul voto, così il virus diventa l'arbitro della corsa [The unknown on the vote: this is how the virus becomes the race's arbiter]”, in la Repubblica:

Pence would become for all intents and purposes the head of the executive. With a fallout for the campaign: Americans would begin to imagine that voting for Trump could mean a Pence presidency.

for all intents and purposes
for all intents and purposes


out of the goodness of one's heart

You really think that conman offered you assistance out of the goodness of his heart? Doubtful. He must be working an angle.

Motivated by genuine altruism, as opposed to self-serving incentives.


di bocca in bocca

Possiamo comunicare il nostro sapere solo di bocca in bocca, di generazione in generazione.

We can only spread our knowledge outwards from individual to individual, generation after generation.


a patto di

Ma quel futuro poteva diventare anche vostro a patto di tener viva la mente come loro han saputo tener vivo il corpo, e di tramandare la segreta dottrina per cui due più due fa quattro.

But you could share in that future if you kept alive the mind as they kept alive the body, and passed on the secret doctrine that two plus two make four.


beyond one's years

Back-formation from wise beyond one's years.

back-form

I know now after raising a very bright and sensitive son myself, no parents could have handled me better than my own. I was intelligent beyond my years, but emotionally, ...

1998, William Dales Hartt, Final Legacies, Nova Publishers, →ISBN, page 39:

I am beyond my years, but I cannot keep count, as my Abacus runs to computer grail.

2003, OBanya, Sickles Raised from Dust: And Other Poems:

I was always very smart beyond my years. Everyone always said so. Heeeheee.

2011, Wayne Whicher, A Home With No Roof, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 88:

Dear Diary, In some ways I am beyond my years. I mean how many eighteen year olds feel ready to settle down and marry this day and age? Most people my age are going away to college, partying on the weekends, and still trying to figure ...

2012, Jillian Amodio, Diaries of a Teenage Bride, AuthorHouse, →ISBN:

She told me a story of how the doctor who delivered me told her that I was special ...and I was smart beyond my years. He told her my reflexes were not only on target but better than other babies. I loved this story. For an instant I felt special.

2015, Cheryl Forrester, Carl Sutton, Selective Mutism In Our Own Words: Experiences in Childhood and Adulthood, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 68:

Of herself, she has said, “Most people who get to know me would say that I am beyond my years, and I do feel that way. All that I have experienced has aged me mentally.” In the opinion of this professor, that translates to: wiser than her years.

2016, Don Stannard-Friel, Street Teaching in the Tenderloin: Jumpin’ Down the Rabbit Hole, Springer, →ISBN, page 359:

Being intelligent beyond my years I soon put two and two together, and understood it all: she had run into the garden, taking advantage of the absence of my stern parents, to steal in among the raspberry bushes, or to pick herself some ...

2018, Anton Chekhov, The Chorus Girl and Other Stories, BoD – Books on Demand, →ISBN, page 142:

(rare, idiomatic) Extraordinary compared to most in one's age group; characteristic of an older person.


au noir

travail au noir

travailler au noir


as we know it

the end of the world as we know it

In something's current form, which is familiar to the speaker and listener.


di per sé

Tu credi che la realtà sia oggettiva, esterna, che esiste di per sé.

You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident.


dietro l'angolo

I due promessi rimaser nascosti dietro l'angolo.

1825, Alessandro Manzoni, I promessi sposi [The Betrothed], page 204:

The two betrotheds stayed hidden behind the corner.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dietro, angolo.

la farmacia è proprio dietro l'angolo

Fingevano, e forse perfino credevano, di aver preso il potere controvoglia e solo per un periodo limitato, e che dietro l'angolo ci fosse un paradiso dove gli esseri umani sarebbero stati liberi e uguali.

They pretended, perhaps they even believed, that they had seized power unwillingly and for a limited time, and that just round the corner there lay a paradise where human beings would be free and equal.

(idiomatic) around the corner (both senses)


per gradi

Imparerai per gradi, Winston. Non c'è nulla che non possiamo ottenere.

You will learn by degrees, Winston. There is nothing that we could not do.


over 9000

over nine thousand
over nine thousand#English


auf Schusters Rappen

Literally, “on the shoemaker's black horses”.


ohne Punkt und Komma

Er redet ohne Punkt und Komma.

(idiomatic, of speech) lengthy and rapid, without pause, possibly also somewhat incoherent


auf gut Deutsch

/aʊ̯f ɡuːt ˈdɔʏ̯tʃ/

Literally, “in good German”, with fossiled uninflected neuter adjective as in fließend Wasser etc.

Das geht mir – auf gut Deutsch – am Arsch vorbei.
Bluntly speaking, I don’t give a shit.
(literally, “That goes – in good German – past my arse.”)

(idiomatic) clearly, bluntly, possibly involving bad language


on the wrong track

using the wrong general approach to a particular task or problem; pursuing something in an unpromising way


as far as the eye can see

so long or vast as to extend beyond one's field of view


in bad

to be in bad with someone

to get in bad with someone

to put someone in bad with someone

(Canada, US, informal) out of favour, in (someone's) bad books [with with ‘someone’]


as far as the eye could see

as far as the eye can see
as far as the eye can see#English

Alternative form of as far as the eye can see


pour les intimes

Je m’appelle Pierre, ou Pierrot pour les intimes.

My name is Pierre, or Pierrot to my friends.

Used by one to say that their friends generally call them by a nickname, and that their interlocutor should feel free to call them that too.


da sé

allontanare il fucile da sé

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see da, sé.

Alla fine, ci riuscì, arrivandoci con un faticoso raggionamento: non venne da sé.

When he did recall it, it was only by consciously reasoning out what it must be: it did not come of its own accord.

without the help or intervention of others; of one's own accord; by oneself


from the top

These orders come from the top.

From the highest-ranking individual in an organization.


fra A til B

Possibly from the common practice of labelling points using letters of the alphabet, and then referring to motion from one point to another as “from A to B”, and so on.

i distriktene … der de som skal fra A til B, mangler alternative transportmidler som t-bane og tog

in the districts… where those going from A to B lack alternative means of transport such as the metro and trains

from A to B, (from one point to the next; from the beginning of a trip to the end.)

Jeg er blitt så glemsk – husker ikke fra A til B

I have become so forgetful - can't remember A to B

(colloquial) signifying a short (time) distance


fra A til Å

/ˈfrɑː ɑː tɪl oː/

Possibly from the common practice of labelling points using letters of the alphabet, and then referring to motion from one point to another as “from A to Z” (Å is the final letter of the Norwegian alphabet), and so on.

han ramser opp sløydsalens inventarliste fra a til å

1997, Pål Gerhard Olsen, Manndomsprøven:

he lists the workshop's inventory list from a to z

statsbudsjettet fra A til Å

Bangkok fra A til Å

through the whole alphabet, in an alphabetical order

Jeg leser aldri avisen fra A til Å

det blir stadig kostbarere å følge en mote fra A til Å

it is becoming increasingly expensive to follow a fashion from A to Z

[oversikt over] Brasil-VM fra A til Å

[overview of] Brazil World Cup from A to Z

from beginning to end; in a complete manner, from A to Z


in blocco

considerare il ritratto in blocco

Questo lo rifiuto in blocco. Pensa a qualcosa che ti piace.

2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle [The Fault in our Stars], Mondadori, page 25:

I reject that out of hand. Think of something you like.


m ꜣmmt

(with attached suffix pronoun) under one’s power, in one’s grasp

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see m, ꜣmmt.


sul filo di

A chi l'ha ascoltata l’ex Segretario di Stato di Obama è sembrata moderatamente ottimista, anche se consapevole che la sfida del 3 novembre si giocherà anche questa volta sul filo di poche migliaia di voti.

2020 September 4, Alberto Flores D'Arcais, “Hillary avverte Biden: fai attenzione a Facebook [Hillary warns Biden: pay attention to Facebook]”, in la Repubblica:

To those who have heard it, Obama's former Secretary of State seemed moderately optimistic, even if aware of the challenge that 3 November will be played also this time in the margin of a few thousand votes.

by a minimal difference in quantity, space, or time; in the margin of


di passaggio

Literally, “of passage”. Compare French de passage.

locale di passaggio

passageway (literally, “locale of passage”)

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see di, passaggio.

mi disse queste parole di passaggio

ho visto la città solo di passaggio

turista di passaggio

who stays in a place only for a short time, as if to visit or vacation

il romanzo sottolinea come l'uomo su questa terra sia di passaggio

the novel underlines how man['s exitence] on this Earth is fleeting


in prima fila

la mia ragazza sta in prima fila

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, prima, fila.

questo è il mio tavolo preferito, proprio in prima fila

this is my favorite table, right up front

Moltissimi bianchi sono coinvolti e lo sostengono. In prima fila i giovani, che sono meno razzisti, meno sessisti e meno omofobi.

2020 September 5, Alberto Flores D'Arcais, “L'ex sindaco di Los Angeles: "Trump recupera su Biden. Gli ispanici decisivi nella sfida presidenziale" [The former mayor of Los Angeles: "Trump catches up to Biden. Hispanics will be decisive in the presidential challenge"]”, in la Repubblica:

Many white people are involved and support it. At the forefront the young people, who are less racist, less sexist and less homofobic.


out of action

Press reports of the length of time the bridge is likely to be out of action vary greatly, but Mr. Farr gathers that a temporary structure may be ready in six months; complete reconstruction, however, will take at least two years. [It was never rebuilt or replaced, and demolished instead.]

1960 January, “Talking of Trains: The Seven Bridge disaster”, in Trains Illustrated, page 5:

In 2004, after heavy rain fell on sodden ground, floods put the line out of action from February until May.

2020 August 26, Andrew Mourant, “Reinforced against future flooding”, in Rail, page 61:

Unable to work or function, often due to a particular event.


a carico di

prendere provvedimenti a carico del leader

un'infezione a carico del fegato

(literally, “an infection negatively affecting the liver”)


sulla difensiva

Literally, “on the defensive”. Compare French sur la défensive.

«E che cosa avrei fatto io a lei?» ha chiesto, sulla difensiva.

2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle [The Fault in our Stars], Mondadori, page 81:

"What'd I do to her?" he asked, defensive.

(sports, also figurative) on the defensive


in materia

«Mi capita di essere piuttosto cieco in materia di sentimenti altrui.»

2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle [The Fault in our Stars], Mondadori, page 14:

"I can be pretty blind to other people's feelings."


a corto di

ti devi sbrigare, sei a corto di tempo

you have to hurry up, you're short on time

ormai siamo a corto di soldi


all'osso

è un scettico all'osso

Sì perché con la cerimonia di New York ridotta all'osso per colpa del virus - nell'area di Ground Zero dove morirono 2606 persone, potranno entrare sono i familiari ma non ci sarà la consueta lettura dei nomi, con le tv a mandare in onda quella dell'anno scorso - le celebrazioni ufficiali si terranno proprio nella contesa Pennsylvania: uno degli stati "indecisi" la cui conquista è essenziale per vincere le elezioni.

2020 September 11, Anna Lombardi, “Stati Uniti: Trump e Biden, il primo faccia a faccia è sull'eredità dell'11 settembre [United States: Trump and Biden, the first face-to-face is on the heritage of September 11]”, in la Repubblica:

Yes, because with the New York ceremony reduced to the minimum because of the virus - in the Ground Zero area where 2606 people died, only family members will be able to enter but there will be no usual reading off of the names, with the TVs to broadcast that of last year - the official celebrations will be held precisely in the [electorally] contested Pennsylvania: one of the "undecided" states whose conquest is essential to win the elections.

down to the least possible; down to the bare minimum


quanto basta

sale quanto basta

Era Lidewij. L'eyeliner che colava lungo le guance, sconvolta quanto basta, ci inseguiva lungo il marciapiede.

2012, John Green, translated by Giorgia Grilli, Colpa delle Stelle [The Fault in our Stars], Mondadori, page 113:

It was Lidewij, her eyeliner running down her cheeks, duly horrified, chasing us up the sidewalk.

(figurative, by extension) sufficiently, enough, as needed


from mi bawn

→ English: from me born

From mi bawn mi neva see nuhbady nyam patty wid knife an' fork.

In all my life I've never seen anyone eat a Jamaican patty with a knife and fork.

“Mi dis know sey sinting no too right. Far im a bawl like im soon dead. Mi dis run fi come tell yuh, Mek yuh know bout wha' deh gwan, Far im mud-up, mud-up from head to foot. Mi neva see nutten soh from mi bawn.”

1983, Valerie Bloom, Touch Mi, Tell Mi, →ISBN, page 28:

I just knew that something wasn't quite right, because he was crying as if he was about to die. I just ran over to come tell you, to let you know what was happening. He was full of mud from head to toe. I've never seen anything like it in all my life.


a pagamento

Poi ci sono quelle - meno numerose - che sostengono di aver avuto con lui delle relazioni sessuali a pagamento mentre lui era sposato: la più celebre è la porno-star Stormy Daniels, nome d'arte di Stephanie Clifford.

2020 September 17, Federico Rampini, “"Mi aggredì 23 anni fa": una ex modella mette nei guai Trump ["He assaulted me 23 years ago": a former model gets Trump in trouble]”, in la Repubblica:

Then there are those - less numerous - who claim to have had sexual relationships with him for a payment while he was married: the most famous is the pornstar Stormy Daniels, stage name of Stephanie Clifford.


in fighting trim

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, fighting, trim.

(idiomatic) in good preparation or condition; ready to confront a challenge


in assetto di guerra

Separati solo da una barriera metallica e un imponente dispiegamento di polizia in bicicletta: "Siamo pronti a intervenire, ma meglio non esacerbare gli animi presentandoci in assetto di guerra", spiega uno di loro.

2020 September 16, Anna Lombardi, “La battaglia per Philadelphia: Trump a caccia degli indecisi [The battle for Philadelphia: Trump hunting for the undecided [voters]]”, in la Repubblica:

Separated only by a metal barrier and an imposing deployment of police on motorcycles: "We are ready to intervene, but better not to exacerbate the spirits by presenting ourselves in fighting trim", explains one of them.


fuori combattimento

Literally, “out of battle”. Compare French hors de combat.

(boxing) with at least one knee on the ground, not capable of standing back up within ten seconds; knocked out


nel seno di

(idiomatic) Alternative form of in seno a


in seno a

tornare in seno alla famiglia

è stato riammesso in seno al partito


a dirla tutta

A dirla tutta, nel 2015 Barack Obama l'aveva invitata con discrezione a dimettersi, per via dell'età avanzata, sperando di farle lasciare il posto a un collega più giovane e di provata fede democratica.

2020 September 19, Anna Lombardi, “Usa, addio a Ruth Bader Ginsburg, giudice icona liberal della Corte Suprema. Le sue ultime volontà: "Sostituitemi dopo le elezioni" [US, farewell to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, iconic libera judge of the Supreme Court. Her last wishes: "Replace me after the elections"]”, in la Repubblica:

To tell the truth, in 2015 Barack Obama had quietly invited her to step down due to her advanced age, hoping to make her leave the spot to a younger colleague of proven Democratic faith.


til orlogs

(military, nautical) in military service in the navy


a ripetizione

Literally, “at repetition”. Compare French à répétition.

arma a ripetizione

orologio a ripetizione

that can repeat the same movement several times (of an automatic mechanism)

Altri scontri fra i due c'erano stati in precedenza, a ripetizione, per esempio quando Trump aveva esaminato e poi scartato Romney come suo segretario di Stato.

2020 September 22, Federico Rampini, “Usa, Romney si schiera con Trump e gli apre la strada per la conquista della Corte suprema [US, Romney sides with Trump and paves the way for him to conquer the Supreme Court]”, in la Repubblica:

Other clashes between the two had occurred before, repeatedly, for example when Trump had examined and then dismissed Romney as his Secretary of State.

fare domande a ripetizione


a raffica

Plouffe, Axe e Gibbs li seguirono a stretto giro, e per diversi minuti li assecondai mentre snocciolavano a raffica i risultati Stato per Stato...

2020, Barack Obama, chapter 9, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

Soon Plouffe, Axe, and Gibbs walked in, and I indulged them for several minutes as they rattled off state-by-state results...

È lecito temere un'elezione contestata, con un presidente che disconosce milioni di voti, cerca di invalidarli con ricorsi legali a raffica, magari sperando di risalire fino alla Corte suprema; e col rischio che la contesa scaldi le piazze.

2020 September 30, Federico Rampini, “Il presidente Trump e la strategia della rissa nel dibattito. Così conta di recuperare lo svantaggio [President Trmup and the strategy of fighting in the debate. This is how he counts on making up for the disadvantage]”, in la Repubblica:

It is legitimate to fear a contested election, with a President who disowns millions of votes, tries to invalidate them through a series of legal challenges, perhaps hoping to go back to the Supreme Court; and with the risk that the dispute will heat up the streets.

(idiomatic) in rapid and uninterrupted succession; rapid-fire


a distanza

seguirlo a distanza

amore a distanza

insegnamento a distanza

without physical contact, using telematic communication; at a distance, remote


in piena notte

Era marzo quando gli agenti avevano fatto irruzione in piena notte nell'abitazione della ragazza, che stava dormendo con il suo fidanzato.

2020 September 24, “Usa, agente che uccise Breonna Taylor solo negligente, scoppia la rivolta: feriti due poliziotti [US, agent that killed Breonna Taylor only negligent, revolt breaks out: two police officers wounded]”, in la Repubblica:

It was March when the agents broke into the house of the girl, who was sleeping with her boyfriend in the middle of the night.


at scale

This manufacturing process is fine for a cottage industry, but it can't be done at scale.

The formula for amassing an audience that would ostensibly click on your articles or buy your books or trust your judgment has become a matter of appearing likable at scale, or at least gesturing toward your status as a fellow human.

April 14 2022, Delia Cai, “Severance, the New York Times’s Twitter Guidelines, and the Forever Illusion of Work-Life Balance”, in Vanity Fair:

On a large scale: involving large amounts or volumes of something.


by the holy poker

(archaic) Used as an oath to emphasize the veracity of an associated statement.


a forza di

Literally, “at force of”. Compare French à force de.


all'ultimo sangue

Domani sera è sfida all'ultimo sangue fra Donald Trump e Joe Biden.

2020 September 27, Federico Rampini, “Stati Uniti, affondi, invettive, colpi da ko: così Trump e Biden preparano il duello tv che vale l'elezione [United States, attacks, invective, knockout blows: this is how Trump and Biden are preparing the TV duel that is worth the election]”, in la Repubblica:

Tomorrow evening is the challenge to the death between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

(idiomatic, also hyperbolic) to the death


a furia di

gli fecero scender le scale a furia di calci

(literally, “they made him go down the stairs by repeated kicks”)

«È come Goebbels, pensa che a furia di ripetere una bugia, diventa senso comune. Non sa nulla di politica estera, ha sbagliato sull'economia, è un presidente fallito».

"He is like Goebbels, he thinks that by insistingly repeating a lie, it becomes common sense. He does not know anything about foreign policy, he was wrong about the economy, he is a failed president".


in prima linea

L'ex portavoce di Barack Obama, Jay Carney, che partecipò in prima linea a due campagne elettorali, ammonisce Biden...

The former spokesperson for Barack Obama, Jay Carney, who participated on the front lines in two electoral campaigns, warns Biden...


on stun

Captain James Kirk: "Set your phaser on one quarter. I'll leave mine on stun."

1966 September 8, George Clayton Johnson, The Man Trap (Star Trek), season 1, episode 1:

Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction

Oxford University Press
w:Oxford University Press

(science fiction) An intensity setting of the fictional phaser energy weapon, from the television series Star Trek (1966–69), which non-lethally stuns its target.

It's all happening at once, right? All news streams on stun. Everything happening at the same time.

2020 September 28, The Rachel Maddow Show, Rachel Maddow (actor):

(idiomatic, informal) (usually after a plural noun), to a degree that is stunning.


in favore di

Literally, “in favor of”. Compare French en faveur de.


on the slide

The L-shaped shopping parade, which had once wooed custom away from the small shops down the hill, was on the slide, left stranded by changes in consumer habits.

2020 September 1, Tom Lamont, “The butcher's shop that lasted 300 years (give or take)”, in The Guardian:

Yvonne was on the slide.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 280:


in riga

E infatti pure loro si scontrano più volte: quando Wallace cerca di rimettere in riga il leader repubblicano.

2020 September 30, Anna Lombardi, “Trump-Biden, primo dibattito infuocato: insulti e interruzioni a ripetizione su Covid, Corte Suprema ed economia [Trump-Biden, first heated debate: repeated insults and interruptions on Covid, Supreme Court and economy]”, in la Repubblica:

And in fact even they clashed several times: when Wallace tries to make the Republican leader fall in line.

(idiomatic) in strict obedience to authority; in line


per bocca

me l'ha raccontato per bocca

Anche secondo la Bbc (ma per bocca di un suo editorialista, Anthony Zurcher) il vincitore stasera è stato Biden, "fosse anche solo perché il suo principale obiettivo era di provare agli americani che poteva andare bene sotto pressione, che non ha perso colpi per la sua età".

2020 September 30, Anna Lombardi, “Parlando di tasse, però, Biden perde un po' il filo. Dura pochissimo, ma è una defaillance evidente. [Trump-Biden, first heated debate: repeated insults and interruptions on Covid, Supreme Court and economy]”, in la Repubblica:

Even according to the BBC (but by the word of one of its lead writers, Anthony Zurcher) the winner tonight was Biden, "if only because his principal objective was to prove to Americans that he could do well under pressure, that he has not lost it because of his age".


a colpi di

sparargli a colpi di fucile

Biden ha attaccato il bilancio dell'Amministrazione sul coronavirus, il presidente gli ha rinfacciato di voler strangolare l'economia a colpi di lockdown.

2020 September 30, Federico Rampini, “Dibattito Trump-Biden: il presidente rifiuta di condannare i suprematisti bianchi, lo sfidante lo attacca sul coronavirus [Trump-Biden Debte: the President refuses to condemn white supremacists, the challenger attacks him on the coronavirus]”, in la Repubblica:

Biden attacked the Administration's budget on the coronavirus, the President charged back that he wanted to strangle the economy through a series of lockdowns.


als een tiet

Sinds zijn interview met de krant loopt zijn bedrijf als een tiet.

Since his interview with the newspaper his company has been doing very well.

(simile, somewhat vulgar) very well, very successfully


als een trein

Dankzij ons nieuwe laboratorium vorderen onze experimenten nu als een trein.

Thanks to our new laboratory, our experiments are now progressing very well.

(simile, informal) very well, very successfully


all'ordine del giorno

Nel merito Conte ha spiegato che la revisione dei decreti sicurezza "è all'ordine del giorno di questo governo anche sulla base delle indicazioni del presidente Mattarella".

2020 October 1, “Covid, Conte: "Andremo alle Camere per proroga dello stato di emergenza fino al 31 gennaio" [Covid, Conte: "We will go to the Houses [of the legislature] for extension of the state of emergency until January 31]”, in la Repubblica:

In this regard, Conte explained that the revision of the security decrees "is on the agenda of this government also on the basis of President Mattarella's indications".


a man salva

(idiomatic) easily, without putting effort, safely


a man bassa

rubare a man bassa

Il giorno dopo Trump cantava vittoria: "Sento dire che Biden vuole abbandonare, che pensa di rinunciare agli altri dibattiti. Fatti suoi. Ho vinto a man bassa, era debole, si vedeva quanto era debole".

2020 September 30, Federico Rampini, “Il presidente Trump e la strategia della rissa nel dibattito. Così conta di recuperare lo svantaggio [President Trump and the strategy of fighting in the debate. This is how he counts on making up for the disadvantage]”, in la Repubblica:

The next day Trump claimed victory: "I hear that Biden wants to quit, that he is thinking about giving up on the other debates. His business. I won by a landslide, he was weak, you could see how weak he was".

(idiomatic) without danger or obstacle; easily


a memoria

A fine settembre fa infatti il Comando dell'unità speciale più famosa ha deciso di cambiare il "credo" che ne definisce l'identità: una serie di motti, scanditi come l'atto di fede cattolico, che ogni incursore deve conoscere a memoria.

2020 October 2, Gianluca di Feo, “Trump ordina: niente parità di genere nei Navy Seal [Trump orders: no gender equality in the Navy SEALs]”, in la Repubblica:

In fact, at the end of September, the Commander of the most famous special unit decided to change the "credo" that defines his identity: a series of mottos, chanted like a Catholic act of faith, which every raider must know by heart.


alle prese

Literally, “at the grips”. Compare French être aux prises.

Sono passati oltre vent'anni da quando Demi Moore ha interpretato il "Soldato Jane" alle prese con le prove psicologiche e fisiche più dure che esistano: quelle per diventare un Seal.

More than twenty years have passed since Demi Moore played "Soldier Jane" in struggle with the hardest psychological and physical tests that exist: those to become a SEAL.

(with con) in a state of combat or struggle (with)

(archaic) in each other's grip (of two fighters)


off the plan

Buying off the plan has become a more popular way of buying property in recent years.

2010, Melissa Opie, Stephen Zamykal, Property Rich: Secure Your Financial Freedom:

Of a building, especially a residence, from the plan of a proposed building before it is actually built.

楼花

building that is put up for sale before construction is completed

期房

unfinished housing to be paid for in advance by the buyer and then completed within a certain time frame


sotto i ferri del chirurgo

La procedura venne definita dopo l'assassinio di John Kennedy nel 1963 e poi fu usata la prima volta dopo l'attentato a Ronald Reagan, quando il presidente finì sotto i ferri del chirurgo.

2020 October 2, Federico Rampini, “L'incognita sul voto, così il virus diventa l'arbitro della corsa [The unknown on the vote: this is how the virus becomes the race's arbiter]”, in la Repubblica:

The procedure was defined after the assassination of John Kennedy in 1963 and was then used the first time after the attempted murder of Ronald Reagan, when then President ended up in a surgical operation.

(idiomatic) in/under a surgical operation


sulle spalle

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sulle, spalle.

I più vedrebbero in queste parole un elogio, ma un romanzo con vent'anni sulle spalle funziona solo perché pare astutamente profetico e perché i lettori di oggi considerano i suoi scenari ancora «rilevanti»?

2016, Tom Bissell, “Tutto di tutto: Infinite Jest, vent'anni dopo [Everything of everything: Infinite Jest, twenty years later]”, in David Foster Wallace, translated by Edoardo Nesi, Infinite Jest, Einaudi, page v:

Most would see a eulogy in these words, but does a novel that bears twenty years work only because it appears astutely prophetic and because today's readers consider its scenarios still "relevant"?

(idiomatic) that bears a burdensome responsibility, blame, etc.