in the ballpark

An early source is the 1945 book Memoirs of a Shy Photographer by Kenneth Patchen:
1945, Kenneth Patchen, Memoirs Of a Shy Photographer, New Directions:
"You're out in left field." "And you're out of the ballpark!"
In context, the first speaker is suggesting the listener's perspective is fringe; which may also be the origin of the idiom "out in left field." The response keeps the baseball metaphor, and suggests the first speaker is even further fringe than themselves.
In 1950, a scientific paper related to the US atomic program and/or ballistic missile development decides on a range the area of a standard baseball park as an "on target" area for a desired missile landing. Thus, a missile that lands "in the ballpark" was considered sufficiently accurate (for nuclear weapons at least).
Later, in the 1960s, the term "ballpark" would be repurposed for the name of the desired landing zone for de-orbiting satellites.

quote-book

Memoirs Of a Shy Photographer

(figuratively) In the same general vicinity (as); somewhat similar (to); typically construed with of.


to arms

Used to order an attack, a summons to war or battle.


on the cards

Originally referring to the predictions of fortune-tellers using cards.

Wolves, sensing the comeback of all comebacks was on the cards, kept pressing and set up an exciting finish when Ronald Zubar's header was judged to have crossed the line, even though it appeared that Nigel de Jong had successfully cleared the effort.

2011 January 15, Saj Chowdhury, “Man City 4 - 3 Wolves”, in BBC:


out of the frying pan and into the fire

out of the frying pan, into the fire#English

Alternative form of out of the frying pan, into the fire


with open arms

(idiomatic) With enthusiasm, as if embracing


in private

Privately, in an area where no one else can see or hear.


in the toilet

Doing that again will put your job in the toilet.

(idiomatic) Finished; at an ignoble end.


for the heck of it

for the hell of it
for the hell of it#English


a/k/a

General Sir Bernard Montgomery, a/k/a Monty, was the commander of the 21st Army Group.

Initialism of also known as; having the specified alias.


into thin air

Popularized by Shakespeare, see quotations.

He seemed to vanish into thin air.

Our Reuels now are ended: Theſe our actors, / (As I foretold you) were all Spirits, and / Are melted into Ayre, into thin Ayre, / And like the baſeleſſe fabricke of this viſion

1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 15, column 1:

(idiomatic) Immediately and inexplicably out of sight.

in Luft (sich in Luft auflösen - to vanish into thin air)


in focus

Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. That’s because the lenses that are excellent at magnifying tiny subjects produce a narrow depth of field.

2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:

(of an image) Sharp and clear with no fuzziness.

As he spoke the plan became in focus.

(idiomatic, of one's thoughts) Clearly perceived.


like a lamb to the slaughter

1993, a-ha - Lamb To The Slaughter
I went down to the water
Like a lamb to the slaughter
Didn't know what was waiting for me there
Nobody warned me
Nobody told me
My excuse is I wasn't prepared

(simile) Helplessly and innocently, without knowing the unpleasant consequences.


as a lamb to the slaughter

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 53:7:

like a lamb to the slaughter
like a lamb to the slaughter#English

Alternative form of like a lamb to the slaughter


on a full stomach

You shouldn't swim on a full stomach.

(idiomatic) Directly after eating; straight after a meal.


to taste

Add garlic to taste.


off the beaten track

From Nikko northwards my route was altogether off the beaten track, and had never been traversed in its entirety by any European. I lived among the Japanese, and saw their mode of living in regions unaffected by European contact.

The Manifold Valley is on the borders of Staffordshire and Derbyshire, very much off the beaten track and somewhat difficult of access.

1945 September and October, H. C. Casserley, “The Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 263:

1970, Bohdan S. Wynar and Anna Grace Patterson, American Reference Books Annual, D. A Rothschild, Libraries Unlimited Inc., p. 235,
It is not the author's purpose to dwell on famous attractions, but rather to go off the beaten track, and frequently the tourist is encouraged to leave the car and explore the surrounding country on foot.

The search for authenticity arguably motivates backpackers to travel off the beaten track in search of areas not yet contaminated by tourists or other backpackers.

2004, Greg Richards, Julie Wilson, The Global Nomad: Backpacker Travel in Theory and Practice, page 140:

(idiomatic) In or to a place or places not commonly visited.


in flower

flowering, blossoming, having flowers open.


in bloom

'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.

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

Blooming, blossoming, having flowers opening.


below the fold

(newspapers) Printed on the lower half of the front page of a broadsheet newspaper, such that it is not immediately visible on a folded copy of the newspaper, e.g. as displayed at a newsstand or in a vending machine.

graphical user interface
graphical user interface

(by extension, web design, graphical user interface) Far enough down that it is not likely to be visible in the initial display of a window or screen, such that the end user will probably have to scroll down before seeing it.


in esse

Borrowed from Latin in (“in”) + esse (“be”).

in being, in actuality, having actual existence (contradistinguished by in posse; compare in potentia)


like a dog on heat

like a dog in heat
like a dog in heat#English

(simile) Alternative form of like a dog in heat


in heat

(biology) In oestrus; receptive to mating.


as a matter of law

The advantages are altogether undefined and uncertain, and cannot, as a matter of law, be set off against the positive injury arising to a man from his character being defamed.

1839, The Law Journal reports for the year 1839, page 316:

It is not necessary for the barrister to give his reasons, but if we saw enough on the face of the document to shew that the statement was not reasonably sufficient, we should say as a matter of law that his decision was wrong.

1848, The Law Journal reports for the year 1848, page 38:

When, however, from the evidence, there is a presumption of law, the neglect of the judge to tell the jury that, as a matter of law, certain facts being proved, they must assume certain other facts to be true, or their refusal to do so is ground for a new trial as a matter of right.

1892, John Houston Merrill, Thomas Johnson Michie, Charles Frederic Williams, The American and English Encyclopedia of Law, Vol. 19, p. 58

We reaffirm our opinion that the evidence in this case did not conclusively show that the acts and conduct of appellant at the time were of such nature and character as would, as a matter of law, make him guilty of provoking a difficulty, so as to cut off wholly his right of self-defense.

1909, The Lawyers' Reports Annotated, Book 22, p. 524:

...the plaintiff's lawyer and the defendant's lawyer can each stand up and move for judgment as a matter of law in their favor.

2015, Stephen N. Subrin, Margaret Y.K. Woo, Litigating in America: Civil Procedure in Context, p. 175


in twain

From Middle English in tweyn, in twen, in tweyne (also as on tweyne). Compare Old English on twēġen (“in two”).

When the masked stranger hew with his axe, the baker's head did split in twain and his body fell like a lump to the ground in turn.

And when cold Winter ſplit the Rocks in twain,
And Ice the running Rivers did reſtrain,
He ſtripp’d the Bears-foot of its leafy Growth,

1697, trans. John Dryden, Virgil, Georgics, book IV, lines 202–205

And calling weſtern Winds, accus’d the Spring of Sloth.

It was an anomalous situation. Precedents, there were none. No state ever before had been rent in twain.

1913, Warren Wood, When Virginia was Rent in Twain:

[…]shortly, it will rend my loins in twain, burst forth, and pull us down, down, down into the deep, dark waters of commitment.

2003, Bill Odenkirk (writer), Kif Kroker in “Kif Gets Knocked Up a Notch”, Futurama, season 4, episode 1

(archaic) In two, in halves, into two parts, asunder


on a par

Their pretensions are on a par.

His ability is on a par with his ambition.

Working conditions and pay for women should be on a par with those for men.

On a level; in the same condition, circumstances, position, rank, etc.; equal.


at a premium

At a high, or higher than expected, price.

Disk space on that server is at a premium.

So many people were doing up their apartments that supplies of high-grade fixtures and fittings were at a premium. There were waiting lists for baths, doorknobs, imported hardwoods, antiqued fireplaces, bidets, marble slabs.

2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 3:

Flair and invention were very much at a premium, suffocated by the relentless pace and often fractious nature of proceedings. The absence of James Morrison from the centre of Scotland’s midfield, the West Brom man ruled out on the morning of the game by illness, had already diminished the creative capacity of the home side in that department.

2014 November 14, Stephen Halliday, “Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero”, in The Scotsman:

Both Ameobi and Sunderland forward Darren Bent had gone close in the early exchanges but chances were at a premium thereafter.

2011 January 16, Saj Chowdhury, “Sunderland 1 - 1 Newcastle”, in BBC:


in short

[H]e told me I did not treat him as if he was my husband, or talk of my children as if I was a mother; and, in short, that I did not deserve to be used as a wife.

1722 (indicated as 1721), [Daniel Defoe], The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. […], London: […] W[illiam Rufus] Chetwood, […]; and T. Edling, […], published 1722, →OCLC:

Mr Snagsby has dealt in all sorts of blank forms of legal process; in skins and rolls of parchment; in paper—foolscap, brief, draft, brown, white, whitey-brown, and blotting; in stamps; in office-quills, pens, ink, India-rubber, pounce, pins, pencils, sealing-wax, and wafers; in red tape, and green ferret; in pocket-books, almanacs, diaries, and law lists; in string boxes, rulers, inkstands—glass and leaden, penknives, scissors, bodkins, and other small office-cutlery; in short, in articles too numerous to mention.

1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter X, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC:

I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker, / And in short, I was afraid.

1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egotist […], published 1917, →OCLC, page 13:

Most political experts expect the Minnesota election to be decided in the courts or even in the state senate. In short, it's a mess.

2008 December 4, Kate Pickert, “A Brief History of Recounts”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2013-08-15:

As a summary; as a shortened version of what has been told or what would have been told.

оҙон һүҙҙең ҡыҫҡыһы

oźon hüźźeñ qıśqıhı


in the same vein

His comments to the press were in the same carping vein as in previous speeches.

samanlaista (possibly + adjective in partitive)

samaan tapaan (possibly + adjective in illative in between the two words)


as such

This is a valuable artefact and should be treated as such.

In the role or manner of the thing mentioned.

en tant que tel

in the role or manner of the thing mentioned

I don't have a library as such, but I do have quite a large collection of books.

(usually in negative constructions) In a true or literal sense.

Money as such is not the root of evil.

Nietzsche was well aware of this meta-ethical question, which in the above cited aphorism he calls: “The problem of morality itself.” It is implicitly answered in his explicative attitude towards morality as such.

2012, Y. Yovel, Nietzsche as Affirmative Thinker, →ISBN:

The nature of an entity, a medieval would have said, is what-it-is-as-such. An entity does not have a certain nature in the way it has a certain property. It is a certain nature. If an entity is something as such, then it is a certain nature.

2012, K.J. Clark, Our Knowledge of God: Essays on Natural and Philosophical Theology, →ISBN:

For only in this way is it possible to uncover the psychical as such in a truly original and concrete manner.

2012 -, J.J. Kockelmans, Phenomenological Psychology: The Dutch School, →ISBN, page 13:

Although wisdom as such, courage as such, understanding as such, existence as such, and so on can readily be conceived of (but not imagined), there are no entities corresponding to those conceptions: there are only instances of wisdom, courage, and so on.

2014, Elmar J. Kremer, Analysis of Existing: Barry Miller's Approach to God, →ISBN, page 31:

Per se, by itself, in itself, in and of itself.

I'm a mother of four young children; as such, I'm always rushed off my feet.

Being as previously mentioned or described.


in a jiffy

Call her if you have any problems and she'll get it fixed in a jiffy.


like water

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-like water.wav

He throws great parties: the beer flows like water.

We will invade the village, and the blood will flow like water.

In our house we go through paper towels like water.

(simile) Abundantly; consumed rapidly or found in great quantity.


IMPOV

(Internet slang) Initialism of in my point of view.


with flying colours

with flying colors
with flying colors#English

(British spelling) Alternative spelling of with flying colors


like white on rice

Now you're the finest girl I ever saw in my life / I want to stick to you like white on rice

1975, “Baby Get It On”, performed by Ike & Tina Turner:

(simile) In very close proximity; following closely.


in peace

You may go in peace.

Now the children have gone, perhaps I can get on with my work in peace.

Without interruption; in tranquility; peacefully.


like a million bucks

After that vacation I feel like a million bucks.

(simile, colloquial) Extremely good or well.


like a million dollars

After that vacation I feel like a million dollars

(simile, colloquial) extremely good or well


in the clear

Offshore sports betting . . .is judged illegal in the U.S. under laws originally drawn up in the '60s; sites offering casino-style virtual gaming claimed they were in the clear.

2006 July 23, “Risky Business”, in Time:

(chiefly US, idiomatic) Not guilty or not suspected of wrongdoing.

FM radio stations are broadcast in the clear.

(of a television, radio or data transmission) Transmitted without encryption or scrambling.

“Think we're in the clear?” Leif asked, still studying the rooftops and doorways for new threats. Before Nick could answer, the whole world exploded in fire and smoke.

2013, Alexis Morgan, A Soldier's Heart: A Snowberry Creek Novella (A Penguin Special from Signet Eclipse), Penguin, →ISBN:


in the wind

There is something in the wind, that we cannot get in.

1594, William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, act 3, scene 1:

There's trouble in the wind, my boys.

1892, Rudyard Kipling, “Tommy”, in Barrack-room Ballads, line 31:

A grand strategic bargain between Russia and the US could be in the wind, after years of deteriorating relations.

2008 March 19, Fred Weir, “In Moscow, Rice signals warmer US-Russia ties”, in Christian Science Monitor, retrieved 2010-10-21:

In this period, road building continued unabated, but change was in the wind as the UK government recognised it had to make more use of the rail network and increase investment on a scale that it could not afford, and which would require private sector participation.

2023 March 22, 'Industry Insider', “Restoring Your Railway”, in RAIL, number 979, page 68:

(idiomatic) Impending or in the offing; imminent.

(idiomatic) At whereabouts unknown, especially when law enforcement authorities have lost track of one's location.


in secret

The meeting took place in secret.

They reviewed the report in secret.


by trade

Although he was a gifted musician, he was a plumber by trade and never played music professionally.

(idiomatic) As a profession; professionally.


for one's liking

The wedding reception was too noisy and crowded for my liking.

In a way that pleases one; to one's satisfaction.


on the lookout

I'm on the lookout for a good example of a Roman dinar from the 1st century. Let me know if you hear of one anywhere.

In London, of all places, where people are always on the lookout for opportunities to commit crimes: an unzipped handbag, a phone sticking out of a back pocket, an unpadlocked bike.

Constantly alert, intent on finding something or someone.


by rights

Well, whether the gentlemen really do deprive us of any little matters which ought to be ours by rights, I cannot say for certain; but the opinion of the old ones is they do.

1863 October 24, Charles Dickens, “Titbull’s Alms-houses”, in The Uncommercial Traveller, new edition, London: Chapman & Hall, […], published 1866, →OCLC, page 192, column 2:

He told me not to tell anyone. I suppose that I should not by rights have told you.

1884, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter VII, in Dawn […], volume I, London: Hurst and Blackett, […], →OCLC, page 101:

The rest will be speculators, that's men trying to get between you and the oilmen to get some of the money that ought, by rights, come to you.

2007 September 27, Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood, spoken by Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), Los Angeles, Calif.: Paramount Vantage; Miramax Films, →OCLC:

By rights I ought to have been lolling in bed this morning, but Nancy was ill and I had to goalkeep for the Second.

2011 February 21, Eilidh Nisbet, “February 1951”, in Giddy Old School: The Diary of a Swot 1948 to 1951, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 268:

You Keep Fucking Me is one of the highlights of a new exhibition of her paintings, all of them created since her diagnosis with a cancer that should, by rights, have seen her off.

2024 May 29, Simon Hattenstone, “The radical, ravishing rebirth of Tracey Emin: ‘I didn’t want to die as some mediocre YBA’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:


against the clock

(idiomatic) In a time-restricted manner, to meet a deadline, hurriedly, timed.


avant la lettre

Borrowed from French avant la lettre (literally “before the letter”).

bor

Suffragettes were feminists avant la lettre.
(the word "feminist" did not exist during their era)

Could the Greeks of that time, whose minds were frustrated and demoralized by defeat and misery, be expected to give a welcome to those premature Quakers and to those Tolstoyans “avant la lettre”?

1952, George Sarton, A History of Science:

How is it, then, that Flaubert was a somber impressionist avant la lettre, when the school of painters was remarkably cheerful with the exception of both Degas and Van Gogh?

1973, Marlies Kronegger, Literary Impressionism:

as St Francis of Assisi was recently discovered to be an ecologist avant la lettre

1998, Dominik Declercq, Writing Against the State: Political Rhetorics in Third and Fourth Century China, page 341:

a work with a title that is a marketing dream, pure Julia Child well avant la lettre: Le Cuisinier français, The French Chef.

2007, Joan DeJean, The Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour, page 107:

One might even advance the case for Wilde's being a celebrity avant la lettre, famous partly for being famous

2010, Stefano Evangelista, The Reception of Oscar Wilde in Europe, page 65:

You have to feel a little sorry these days for professors married to their former students. They used to be respectable citizens—leaders in their fields, department chairs, maybe even a dean or two—and now they’re abusers of power avant la lettre.

2015 February 27, Laura Kipnis, “Sexual Paranoia Strikes Academe”, in The Chronicle of Higher Education:

(idiomatic) Before the term was coined (the term being a word or phrase used just previously in an anachronistic way)


at any rate

Jim broke the window — or maybe it was John? At any rate, the window’s broken now.

He's stinking rich — or, at any rate, pretty well off.

The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He[…]played a lone hand,[…]. Most lone wolves had a moll at any rate—women were their ruin—but if the Bat had a moll, not even the grapevine telegraph could locate her.

1920, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Avery Hopwood, chapter I, in The Bat: A Novel from the Play (Dell Book; 241), New York, N.Y.: Dell Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 01:

At any rate, in my experience, they could run like the wind, but longer and heavier trains slowly but surely became too much for them.

1947 July and August, “Notes and News: Caledonian Reminiscences”, in Railway Magazine, page 256:

What moved from A to B at such speed was surely myself, or at any rate my soul or mind — the massless center of my being and home of my consciousness.

1978, Daniel C. Dennett, “Where Am I?”, in Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology, Bradford Books:

Why couldn't it be the case that there are intelligent things that are unable to carry on a conversation, or, at any rate, unable to carry on a conversation with creatures like us?

2008, Graham Oppy, David Dowe, “The Turing Test”, in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:

(conjunctive) In any case, anyway, anyhow, regardless; used to discard or qualify a previous thought.


for now

That's enough for now, we can continue our conversation tomorrow.

For now the real climate-change refugees may be living not above sea level but below it. Researchers[…]have found that, since 1970, stocks of some fish species have gradually been moving towards the world’s colder regions.[…]The world’s fish stocks, it seems, are heralding a migration that may one day occur above the seas too.

2013 August 31, “Sea change”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8851:


on-camera

(especially attributive) Alternative form of on camera.


on camera

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

While on camera, Bruce behaves famously, but as soon as they stop rolling he turns into a scoundrel.

I got you playin' with yourself on camera

2023, “3d”, performed by Jungkook ft. Jack Harlow:

In a position or situation where one is being photographed or filmed.

He isn't even on-camera talent: he just holds the cue cards.

(television, film) In or related to a role in front of the cameras, e.g. as a presenter or actor.


up the yin-yang

We've got bananas up the yin-yang this week. Does anyone know how to make banana bread?

...the currently fashionable barbarism of plus used as a conjunction; and the reference to Ethel Merman as "The Merm"; and the misuse of a favorite slang expression ("... these Kander and Ebb songs did their duty up the yin-yang (sic)").

1977, Educational Theatre Journal, volume 29, number 2, University and College Theatre Association.; American Theatre Association, page 280:

(idiomatic, colloquial, mildly vulgar) Synonym of out the wazoo.


to all intents and purposes

1500s, English law, originally “to all intents, constructions, and purposes” (found in an act adopted under Henry VIII in 1547).

To all intents and purposes the case is closed.

This treaty is to all intents and purposes no longer viable.

With the arrival of the cold war, relations between the two countries (for this is, to all intents and purposes, what they became after the end of the war) were almost completely broken off, with whole families split for the ensuing decades, some for ever.

2011 December 19, Kerry Brown, “Kim Jong-il obituary”, in The Guardian:

Have you heard the word "gadgetbahn"? It's a portmanteau coined to describe transport proposals that, to all intents and purposes, ought to be delivered using proven railway technology... and yet go out of their way to be anything but a railway.

2020 November 18, Gareth Dennis, “Can Cambridgeshire plan transform transportation?”, in Rail, page 64:

(idiomatic, British) For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.


between the devil and the deep blue sea

en-au-caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.ogg

(idiomatic) Between undesirable alternatives.

devil to pay, and no pitch hot

the devil to pay and no pitch hot or ready


on the make

From make (“companion, spouse, mate”), related to match (“counterpart, partner”).

Harry (Matthew Cowles) and Tim (Timothy Meyers) are an inseparable pair of macho punks always on the make for an easy sexual score.

1973 November 26, T. E. Kalem, “The Theatre: Savage Mating Dance”, in Time:

(informal) Actively seeking a romantic encounter or relationship.

In a city where everybody was "hustling," everybody, as they phrased it, "on the make," why should anyone take a second glance at Peter Gudge?

1920, Upton Sinclair, chapter 1, in 100%: The Story of a Patriot:

She said that anyone under the age of thirty living in a resort community was on the make somehow: “pimping, dealing, hooking, detoxing, escaping, scamming, or what have you.”

1991, Douglas Coupland, “It Can't Last”, in Generation X, New York: St. Martin's Press, →OCLC, page 36:

(informal, by extension) Actively seeking an opportunity for self-advancement; eager to ingratiate oneself to others in order to secure some advantage.


in short supply

But that would require imagination - something in short supply in the Treasury.

2021 November 3, Christian Wolmar, “A lot of words... but very little in the way of action”, in RAIL, number 943, page 45:


at ease

Calque of Old French a eise, from a (“at”) + eise (“ease”).

Alternative form: at one's ease

(military, marching) In a relaxed position with the feet apart rather than at attention.

At this command, the soldiers will carry their firelocks as they please, as prescribed in the soldier's drill, No 120, and are no longer required to march with the same step, or to observe silence ; the files will march at ease ; but they will be careful not to confuse the ranks, and the front rank must never pass before the guide, who is on the directing side, and that the two last ranks always preserve about three feet distance from each other.

1809, William Duane, The American military library:

If the column be composed of a considerable number of battalions, the commander can march it at ease, as a column of route.

1821, Pierce Darrow, Winfield Scott, Scott's Militia Tactics, page 133:

When marching at ease, you must march in orderly ranks in silence, but you need not keep step or march at attention.

1984, Wayne R. Gustafson, Military requirements for petty officer third class, page 3-28:

(military, marching) Allowed to refrain from being in rigid formation.

稍息

(military) allowed to refrain from rigid formation


in the zone

It's when I'm in the zone that I feel by myself, the most vibrantly alone.

1999, Ann McCutchan, The Muse that Sings: Composers Speak about the Creative Process, page 214:

Just let yourself play, enjoying all of the feelings and sensations that come when you are in the zone.

2000, Donald R. Liggett, Sport Hypnosis, page 15:

Athletes in these circumstances comment on the pain, but often refer to the experience as being "in the zone," a condition of distraction ...

2002, Robert C. Scaer, The Body Bears the Burden: Trauma, Dissociation, and Disease, page 94:

Indeed, game researchers Bryce and Rutter (2001) reported that the feeling many gamers have of being in the zone (ie, totally engrossed, losing sense of time) is comparable to what athletes experience on the field.

2005, Curtis P. Haugtvedt, Karen A. Machleit, Richard Yalch, Online Consumer Psychology: Understanding And Influencing Consumer Behavior, page 184:

These elements represent the essential features of optimal performances, which athletes have described as "hot," "in a groove," "on a roll," or "in the zone".

2006, Robert Stephen Weinberg, Daniel Gould, Foundations of Sport And Exercise Psychology, page 148:

(idiomatic) In a mental state of focused concentration on the performance of an activity, in which one dissociates oneself from distracting or irrelevant aspects of one's environment.


to a man

From to (“indicating a limit reached”) + a + man (“adult male human; human regardless of gender or sex”), indicating that something reaches the extent of every individual person.

There is hardly a man in the world, one would think so ignorant, as not to know that the ordinary quack-doctors, who publish their great abilities in little brown billets, distributed to all who pass by, are to a man impostors and murderers; […]

1712 August 10 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “WEDNESDAY, July 30, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 444; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 186:

To a man, Cyrenaica's new landlords insist they are the launchpad for a countrywide liberation, with Tripoli as the capital, not a separatist movement.

2011 February 25, “Building a new Libya”, in The Economist, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-09-19:

[W]ould Iran’s players sing their national anthem, which is seen as a gesture in support of the regime? To a man, the answer was a stony-faced no.

2022 November 21, David Hytner, “England open World Cup in style with Bukayo Saka double in 6–2 rout of Iran”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-08-09:

Including every person; without exception; unanimously.


head

EN-AU ck1 from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.ogg

En-au-from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.ogg

That call I took as we arrived here was to tell me about another meeting with the AC tomorrow. More nit-picking and recommendations from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.

2004, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Carnage on the Committee, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 134:

WHEN READING REPORTS from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious one may find a statement saying that "China doesn't like Japan very much."

2005 August 25, Aaron McKenna, “Chinese gaming firm PowerNet Technology to launch anti-Japanese wargame”, in The Inquirer:

Eating while driving is dangerous, says a new report from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious.

2006 August 19, Jonathan Goddard, “Distractions cause accidents ‘Shocker,’”, in Pocket-lint:

Once again, the solution comes from the Department of the Bleeding Obvious, but is worth repeating nonetheless.

2008 May 4, Tim Weber, “Analysis: Microsoft without Yahoo”, in BBC News:

(idiomatic, informal, UK, Australia) So obvious that it was unnecessary to say.


off the charts

Advance sales quickly went off the charts.

A key feature of mainstream Western media today is the relentless China-bashing. It is off the charts and tiring, often involving regurgitated trivia or fabricated stories with no evidence to support callous statements about the country, demonstrating a deep lack of understanding. But such stories continue to be churned out with no end in sight.

2023 February 21, Chandran Nair, “Anti-China Rhetoric Is Off the Charts in Western Media”, in The Diplomat:

Outside of the normal range of measurement; beyond expectations.


in the fast lane

For baby-boomer parents, life without kids often feels like suddenly slamming on the brakes after years in the fast lane.

2003 October 13, B. Krandrowitz, K. Springen, “Free At Last!”, in Newsweek:

He readily admits to a life of promiscuity and a history of many liaisons with prostitutes. "I lived in the fast lane," he confesses.

2005 April 18, Claudia Wallis, “AIDS: A Growing Threat”, in Time:

(idiomatic) In a lifestyle, employment position, or other set of circumstances where the rapid pace is exciting, frantic, or risky.

lujaa

in a lifestyle, etc. with a rapid, exciting, frantic, or risky pace


on track

Before 1914 the Russian economy was on track to outperform that of France and Britain within a decade.

1995 May 15, Andrew Nagorski, Michael Elliott, “'V' Is Also For Vulnerable”, in Newsweek:

(idiomatic) Proceeding as planned, as expected, or in a manner consistent with an established pattern.

en bonne voie

To proceed as planning, staying on target

(idiomatic) On a well-defined promotion path in an organisation, usually tenure.


in the act

She denied it but she had been spotted in the act.

He was caught in the act in the store after hours.

He was caught in the act of climbing out the window.

(idiomatic) In the process of doing something considered criminal or otherwise wrong; used to emphasize the eye-witness evidence.


as a matter of fact

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-as a matter of fact.wav

The house of Ruthven was a small but ultra-modern limestone affair, between Madison and Fifth; a pocket-edition of the larger mansions of their friends, but with less excuse for the overelaboration since the dimensions were only twenty by a hundred. As a matter of fact its narrow ornate façade presented not a single quiet space the eyes might rest on[…]."

1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter V, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

Greedo: Going somewhere, Solo? / Han Solo: Yes, Greedo. As a matter of fact, I was just going to see your boss. Tell Jabba that I've got his money.

1977 May 25, 48:03 from the start, in Star Wars (Star Wars), episode IV (Science Fiction), Lucasfilm Ltd.:

R. Jeeves: An interesting theory, sir. Would you care to expatiate upon it?
B.W. Wooster: As a matter of fact, no, Jeeves. The thought just occurred to me, as thoughts do.
R. Jeeves: Very good, sir.

1992 May 3, “Comrade Bingo”, in Jeeves and Wooster, Series 3, Episode 6:


with bells on

How about a BBQ at our house, Saturday June 14th, 4pm?

Great idea! We'll be there with bells on.

(idiomatic, especially regarding acceptance of an invitation) With eager anticipation and enthusiasm.


for the loss

(Internet slang) Of something which completes a process in an unsuccessful manner; carrying significant drawbacks, or lacking significant benefits, to the point that the object is inferior to its competition.


for the lose

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

(Internet slang) Something undesirable; an exclamation suggesting an unwanted result or condition.


below decks

[O]n the wind shifting and becoming more violent, the landsmen soon retired below decks.

1817, Maria Edgeworth, chapter 31, in Ormond:

Phaidor and I were taken below decks, where, still fast bound, we were thrown into a small compartment which contained a single port-hole.

1913 January–May, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Gods of Mars”, in The All-Story, New York, N.Y.: Frank A. Munsey Co., →OCLC; republished as “Under Arrest”, in The Gods of Mars, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., 1918 September, →OCLC, page 117:

(nautical) In or into any of the spaces below the main deck of a vessel.


on sight

I recognized him on sight.

"Permissive" working allows more than one train to be in a block section at one time but trains must be run at low speed in order to stop on sight behind the train in front. Such working is often authorised to allow freight trains to "bunch" together to await a path through a bottleneck instead of being strung out over several block sections, as would be necessary if absolute working were in force.

1962 October, “Talking of Trains: The collisions at Connington”, in Modern Railways, page 232:

He dismissed the idea on sight.

(by extension) Immediately something has come to one's attention.


out of one's league

Feel her breath in my face / Her body close to me / Can't look in her eyes / She's out of my league

1987, Patrick Swayze, Stacy Widelitz (lyrics and music), “She's Like the Wind”, performed by Patrick Swayze:

He has an unwitting instructor in his cocky, bullying co-worker and pal, Kent (Pablo Schreiber), a slimeball whose knockout wife, Carly (Piper Perabo), is way out of his league.

2008 June 3, Laura Collins-Hughes, “Neil LaBute Finds Reasons To Be Nice”, in New York Sun (theatre review), archived from the original on 2008-06-05:

In a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others whose accomplishments, preparedness, or other characteristics are on a significantly higher or lower level than one's own.

eri sarjassa

in a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others

These questions are out of my league, please let me ask a higher-up.

Most U.S. authors trying to depict European sophistication seem indefinably out of their league, like children sashaying around in grown-up shoes.

1964 May 15, “Also Current (book reviews)”, in Time, archived from the original on 2012-03-07:

Out of one's depth; in a situation which one is poorly prepared to handle.

heikolla jäällä

An expensive car is out of your league right now, don't you think?


to the quick

Blood dripped from every finger-end, while the nails were broken to the quick.

1904, Jack London, chapter 39, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:

Titus, I have touched thee to the quick.

c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:

This false evidence . . . stung me to the quick, and raised an indignation scarce conceivable.

1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 14, in Tom Jones, a Foundling:

The powerlessness of the strong man touched my heart to the quick.

1837, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 37, in Jane Eyre:

Very deeply; at one's most sensitive level of feeling.


for what it's worth

The phrase may have originally been used to qualify a statement of advice, opinion, or suggestion by referring to such a statement and describing it separately from making it.

Take my advice for what it’s worth—don’t marry Garth: marry some old fool.

1877, Julian Hawthorne, Garth, page 343:

“Well,” said he, “I have a suggestion to make, for what it’s worth.”

1908, Armand Both, The Half-smart Set, Frederick A. Stokes Company, page 276:

There were seven of us from America, and, for what it’s worth, I thought it was a fairly impressive group.

1999, Bruce Northam, Brad Olsen, In Search of Adventure: A Wild Travel Anthology, →ISBN, page 21:

For what it’s worth, the same holds true for fish bowls: overfill and you’ll suffocate the guppies.

2005, Jennifer Rosen, Waiter, There’s A Horse In My Wine, →ISBN, page 253:

Considering what limited worth this advice, opinion, or suggestion might have for you; used to soften the presentation of unsolicited advice or information that may not be relevant.

聽不聽由自己決定

considering what limited worth this advice may have

听不听由自己决定 (tīng bù tīng yóu zìjǐ juédìng) (no equivalent exists: lit., "it's up to you whether you take this advice")

falls es Sie interessiert

the former are common, but do not express the humble tone of the English phrase

ich möchte mich nicht aufdrängen, aber...

Sie haben mich nicht nach meinem Rat gefragt, aber...

these are less common, but do express humility

es mag keine weitere Bewandtnis haben, aber...


off the beaten path

Jean had thought that the prowler might be some tramp who had wandered far off the beaten path of migratory humans.

1915, B. M. Bower, chapter 10, in Jean of the Lazy A:

Only a small group of websites, well off the beaten path of most surfers, contain the malicious code.

2005 December 30, “Microsoft Confirms Windows Flaw”, in Time:

(idiomatic) In a secluded location; in or to a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known.


without exception

"Was everyone there?" / "Yes. Without exception".

Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.

2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:


at length

He went on at length about his supposed qualifications.

She led us through the tunnels for some time, until at length we reached a small door in the rock.

Through all these she persistently pursued the object of her mission. Her search lasted for long weary years—she followed it unweariedly, till at length she was rewarded.

1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley, page 26:

How long I slept I cannot tell, for I had nothing to guide me to the time, but woke at length, and found myself still in darkness.

1898, J. Meade Falkner, chapter 4, in Moonfleet:

‘You got rather left there, old chap,’ said Monk at length.

1903, P. G. Wodehouse, A Prefect's Uncle, A & C Black:

(formal or dated) At last, finally, eventually.

The proceedings of Congress are not given, since they are inserted at length in the "Congressional Globe;" but the principal bills are noticed under the date of their passage.

1800, Francis Vincent, United States Register, page 4:

(archaic) In full; without omission or abbreviation.


out of commission

One pair of handcuffs will put both hands out of commission.

1909, Mary Roberts Rinehart, “At the Table Next”, in The Man in Lower Ten, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC, page 200:

At the same time, the valves, pistons, motion and brakegear plus ancillary equipment is overhauled, putting the locomotive out of commission for about 26 to 30 days.

1962 June, “Diesel economy analysed—a postscript”, in Modern Railways, page 422:

A traffic light was out of commission, leaving motorists to sort their way through an occasionally busy intersection.

2008 July 2, Scot Lehigh, “Making (no) sense of police details”, in Boston Globe:

Not operational; not functioning properly.


in a league of one's own

From a figurative sense of league, as also used in the expressions out of one's league and in the same league.

(idiomatic) Far excelling even the closest contender; not having any worthy competition.


out of service

This train is going out of service at the next station.

The sign that said the elevator was "temporarily out of service" had been there for months.


on pins and needles

Merlin hesitated a moment or two, and I was on pins and needles during that little while.

1889, Mark Twain, chapter 6, in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court:

I was on pins and needles of expectation and curiosity.

1923, Hugh Lofting, chapter 1, in The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, part 5:

(idiomatic) Feeling sharp anticipation or anxiety; in a state of suspense.


in a bind

(idiomatic) In a difficult situation, usually of one's own making; having a dilemma; faced with a problem or a set of problems for which there is no easy solution.


on course

(idiomatic) Following the intended route.

United were reduced to 10 men when Jonny Evans was sent off early in the second half but City's superiority was such that they looked on course for a landmark victory from the moment they took the lead.

2011 October 23, Phil McNulty, “Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City”, in BBC Sport:

(idiomatic) Proceeding smoothly as planned.

That’s a title the US appears on course to lose – a fall from grace that may prove irreversible. The domestic debacle unleashed by the pandemic, and global perceptions of American selfishness and incompetence, could change everything.

2020 April 12, Simon Tisdall, “US's global reputation hits rock-bottom over Trump's coronavirus response”, in The Guardian:

(idiomatic) Likely to happen or to undergo something.

várományosa

likely to happen or to undergo something


in extremis

Military records describing the deaths of men as a result of injuries sustained during combat employed the phrase in a (now near-obsolete) sense to describe a man on the verge of dying: […] 'He was in extremis when seen and died about 2 hours after the action ceased at 9 pm'.

2018 December 13, Edmund Richardson, Classics in Extremis: The Edges of Classical Reception, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 116:

The purpose, of course, was to find out if the prisoner, in extremis, broke down and wrote to a family in Israel.

2001 [1990], Robert Fisk, Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 410:

This book sets out to look at what we have termed 'social work in extremis'. It is an attempt to bring together a number of case studies that look at social work responses in 'extreme' or crisis situations.

2011, Michael Lavalette, Vasilios Ioakimidis, Social Work in Extremis: Lessons for Social Work Internationally, Policy Press, →ISBN, page 1:

There was a reason we would call up the Reserves only in extremis.

2016 February 9, Christopher Holshek, Travels with Harley: Journeys in Search of Personal and National Identity, Inkshares, →ISBN:

(by extension) In desperate circumstances.


in good time

Lear: I gave you all—
Reagan: And in good time you gave it.

c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:

No visitors appeared to delay them, and they all three set off in good time for the pump-room.

1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:

A taxicab took me round in good time for my appointment.

1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 3, in The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

In time; before an appointed time; with time to spare.


on top of that

They were holding hands and, on top of that, they were kissing.


out of one's sight

Don't go out of my sight, Jenny.


in sight

When we rounded the corner, Peter was in sight at the other end of the road.

The end is in sight.

We were in sight of land.

(figuratively) Near or close in either distance or time.


on the cuff

The newspapers were jammed with ads inviting customers to buy on the cuff. Philadelphians could get a $269 television set for $5 down and $4 a week.

(chiefly US, idiomatic) On credit, with payment to be made later.


under the knife

/ˌʌndə ðə ˈnaɪf/

/ˌʌndəɹ ðə ˈnaɪf/

A reference to the situation of a patient lying on an operating table while a surgeon stands over them and operates using a surgical cutting tool (typically a scalpel).

Rumor that De Gaulle [i.e., Charles de Gaulle] was under the knife sped through Paris and the world the next morning. The staff at the Elysee Palace, De Gaulle's official residence, refused for hours either to confirm or deny the story; […] Finally, at 7:15 p.m., a bulletin signed by three doctors said that De Gaulle had been operated on that morning for "a disease of the prostate"— […]

1964 April 24, “France: Operation Royal”, in Roy Alexander, editor, Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2009-08-26:

"I don't want to go under the knife again. I had 10 surgeries as a player and many more since," [Lenny] Dykstra said, speaking as though he still had his trademark wad of tobacco in his mouth.

2006 August 19, Michael S. Schmidt, “After Shea, life diverges for two Mets”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2021-01-26:

(informal) Chiefly preceded by a form of go: undergoing a surgical procedure; into surgery.


off course

The strong winds made the car go careering off course.

Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.” So I started to back away again into the bushes. But I hadn't backed more'n a couple of yards when I see something so amazing that I couldn't help scooching down behind the bayberries and looking at it.

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

Not following the planned, or intended, route.


in a family way

She mentioned that she was in a family way and . . . stated that she needed all her money to pay the doctor's bills at the approaching deliverance.

1855 August 25, “Law Intelligence: Supreme Court—Special Term”, in New York Times, page 8:

Her way of paying for these gift subscriptions was to choose one of her sows which was in a family way and, when the sow littered, to sell its offspring.

1947 November 10, “Dear TIME-Reader”, in Time, retrieved 2008-08-11:

Three pregnancies occur in this novel: Nina, Fran and Danielle all find themselves in a family way.

2005 April 15, Carolyn See, "Squab and Squabbles" (book review of Mothers and Sons by Paul Hond), Washington Post, p. C03 (retrieved 11 Aug. 2008)

in the family way
in the family way#English

(euphemistic) Alternative form of in the family way.

Why don't we ask him and his ladies to come over in a family way and dine with some other plain country gentlefolks?

1859, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 58, in The Virginians:

The congregation agrees in a family way to take care of them for life.

2002 August 9, John Rivera, “Religious orders set to adopt milder stance on sex abusers”, in Baltimore Sun, retrieved 2008-08-11:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see family, way.


in chorus

In unison, all together, at the same time.


to a fare-you-well

to a fare-thee-well
to a fare-thee-well#English


to a fare thee well

Alternative spelling of to a fare-thee-well


to a fare-thee-well

"She's all dolled up to a fare-you-well to-night," continued Clark.

1922, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, “(please specify the page)”, in Tales of the Jazz Age, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC:

It will do little for the future of immunization to prepare excellent vaccines, test them to a fare-thee-well for safety and efficacy, and then not insure that they are adequately used.

1961, Geoffrey Edsall, “The Future of Immunization”, in Public Health Reports, volume 76, number 9, page 816:

2007, Steve Forbes, Fact and Comment: Unindicted Blunderer, Forbes, 17 Sep.,
Market participants are painfully learning the limits to slicing and dicing mortgages to a fine fare-thee-well.

(idiomatic) To the greatest extent or to completion; to a state of refinement or perfection.


ATEOTD

at the end of the day
at the end of the day#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of at the end of the day.


JFTR

(Internet) Initialism of just for the record.


with respect

With respect, boss, I don't think it is possible to get it done by then, no matter how hard we work.

Used as a mild apology for following remark, which could otherwise be taken as disrespectful.


with all due respect

With all due respect, Sir, I don't think that's the case.

It seems that you are, with all due respect, wrong in this particular case — as you see the murder took place at three o'clock.

Shepard: You have the right to your opinion, Mr. Saracino. But with all due respect, I disagree with it.
Charles Saracino: I understand. I'm glad you support the democratic process, at least.

2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Citadel:

(formal, idiomatic) A phrase used before disagreeing with someone or saying something they may find offensive, usually considered polite.


out of fix

Right now the dynamo is out of fix, so I have used the electric light current, with an interrupter.

1913 November, J. R. Schmidt, “Interesting People:Alice McConaughy”, in The American Magazine, volume LXXVI:5, page 62:

(idiomatic) Wrong, broken, nonfunctional


at the high port

I raced across the desert, rifle above my head at the high-port. A man screamed, and throwing up his hands, rolled head over heels. I jumped over him and kept on running.

1943, Francis Jackson, Passage to Tobruk: the diary of a Kiwi in the Middle East:

If you mistakenly referred to your rifle as a gun, you found yourself doubling around the parade ground with your rifle in one hand above your head at the high port, and your other hand clutching your balls. As you ran you had to shout: 'This is my rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting, this is for fun.'

2004, Peter Godwin, Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa:

'Place your rifle at the high port! That means above your head Mitchell!' James lifted the weapon and held over his head as ordered.

2008, Angus Hyslop, The Plough, the Gun and the Glory:

(idiomatic, military, of a weapon) Held with two hands as in "port arms", but carried well above the head. The high port is often the position taught for running (at the double) or charging.

I have seen no more romantic figure than Stewart Carter, his head and shoulders wrapped in a flaming red head-scarf, moustaches at the high port, crouched fanatically over the steering-wheel of a stripped-down Land Rover.

Once, they disturbed a family of forest hog, which trotted off with tails at the high port; once a lone hyena, [...]

1986, Nicholas Best, Tennis and the Masai:

We had just changed On another patrol Kinyua indicated that he could hear something in the undergrowth ahead. We had just changed places and I had assumed the lead position, when he thrust me to one side and stabbed with his shotgun a gigantic porcupine that was coming down the track at me with its bristles at the high port!

1996, Derek Peter Franklin, A Pied Cloak: Memoirs of a Colonial Police Officer (Special Branch):

Here he ran out of words, and drew himself up, beard at the high port, shaking his great head while he clasped my hand, and I meditated on the astonishing ease with which strong men of Victorian vintage could be buffaloed into incoherent embarrassment by the mere mention of feminine frailty.

2006, George MacDonald Fraser, Flashman on the March:

(idiomatic, by extension) Sticking up; (of hair, etc) standing up at a marked angle.

We can all surely see, though, that there will be heads who will weep for joy at the challenges posed by LFM, which may yet provide for the apotheosis of those colleagues who want to see a full exercise book before issuing a new one. Calculators at the high port they will prowl their schools switching off lights, cutting pencils in half and pondering the cost-effectiveness of — as an ex-colonial head with whom I worked longed to do — deterring vandals by establishing a family of baboons in the school grounds.

1990, Gerald Haigh, “Nipscratting? No thanks”, in Lynn Davies, editor, Equity and efficiency: school management in an international context:

Thomas Tring, emerging with violin in left hand and bow vertical at the high port in his right, looked about Clark's age, had a long head with thin untidy hair round a clear parting. His accompanist, two yards behind, was ruddy-faced with glasses [...]

1991, Stanley Middleton, Beginning to end:

The warden had spotted them. Mouth open in a predatory snarl which showed a metal tooth which it was rumoured actually grew there, she advanced towards them, her note-book held before her like a buckler, her pencil at the high port. The men turned and looked at her. That was all. Just looked.

(idiomatic, by extension, of anything, not just a weapon) Held in front of the body, especially in an authoritative or aggressive way.

Eventually he went off, still bubbling with enthusiasm. When his motorbike was out of earshot I went to look for Smithy. He must have taken off smartly at the high port as soon as he saw Elmer but I ran him down in the end.

[...] So we thought we'd better hop our frames out of there at the high port.

1982, Roy Parsons, The summer book: a New Zealand miscellany:

[...] inimitable drivers had taken it into their heads to leave at the high-port when the firing started.

1989, André Dennison, J. R. T. Wood, The war diaries of André Dennison:

No sooner had the shot been fired than they took off at the high port, racing hell bent for leather right in our direction.

(idiomatic, slang, by extension) At once, quickly; unhesitatingly, vigorously.

Two seconds later Charlie comes out with his hand at the high port, ready for shaking.

Among the other Americans was a bright, bird-like lady with her note-book at the high port and her biro uncapped and ready...

(idiomatic) Positioned ready for immediate use.


for the love of Christ

(colloquial) An expletive, used to express outrage or disgust.


at peace with

He lay down, cuddled the blankets up to his ears, closed his eyes and composed himself to sleep, at peace with his conscience and the world.

1904, B. M. Bower, “The Spirit of the Range”, in The Lonesome Trail and Other Stories:

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 1:4-5:

(idiomatic) Not menacing or hostile toward.


off one's game

One fellow I knew once was off his game the whole first half because some idiot was flying a kite over the field advertising some one's pills.

c. 1910, Ralph Henry Barbour, “The Dub”, in The New Boy at Hilltop and Other Stories:

Then the latter, as every golfer does at times, suddenly went right off his game.

1922, P. G. Wodehouse, “A Woman is only a Woman”, in The Clicking of Cuthbert:

(sports, of a competitor) Playing or competing below one's usual level of performance.

Big Bertha, the crowd-pleasing sand tiger shark who survived an astonishing four decades at the New York Aquarium, has died. "She was off her game. She slowed down. She wasn't quite right," said Hans Walters, the animal department supervisor.

2008 April 2, Tracy Connor, "'Mellow' shark dies," Daily News (New York) (retrieved 9 Sep. 2008)

Adam found himself answering the viewer's questions while also trying to cook—which threw him off his game.

2008 July 28, Christopher Rocchio, “Aaron McCargo Jr. wins The Next Food Network Star's fourth season”, in Reality TV World, retrieved 2008-09-09:

(idiomatic, by extension) Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell.


in the future

Perhaps humans will live on Mars in the future.

7 messages to people 500 years in the future.

A short time away in the future.

At a future time, at some point in the future.

Please put the toilet seat down in the future.


at work

He's not home at the moment: he's at work.

They've got a new photocopier at work.

Remember to call Marsha at work.
Audio (US): (file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see at, work. At one's workplace.

Don't interrupt me while I'm at work on my housing project.

This was billed as the battle between Kane and his Poland opposite number Lewandowski but this was a game where it was possible to simply enjoy two masters of their craft at work.

2021 September 8, Phil McNulty, “Poland 1-1 England”, in BBC Sport:

use tehdä in verb phrase (usually 3rd infinitive in inessive)


out of turn

There are also controls to select out-of-turn working or acknowledge a warning that the programme-roll description of a train and train-describer description are at variance, [...].[...] The machines can automatically take account of late running of trains and, if it exceeds a pre-determined amount, can despatch a train out of turn.

1960 December, “More L.T. progress with programme machines”, in Trains Illustrated, page 758:


in agreement

I am in agreement with you as far as the basic design, but not with the colour scheme you suggest.

The two of them always seem to be in agreement about every single detail.

The results are in agreement with the calculated figures.


after one's own heart

From after (“in imitation of; following”) + one’s + own + heart (“disposition; personality”), a reference to 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22 in the Bible: see the 1526 and 1611 quotations.

[H]e [God] ſet vppe David to be their kynge⸝ to whome he gave witnes⸝ ſaynge: I have founde David the ſonne of Jeſſe⸝ a man after myne awne hert⸝ he ſhall fullfyll all my will.

1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, The Actes off the Apostles xiij:[22], folio clxxiij, verso:

But now thy [Saul's] kingdome ſhall not continue: the Lord hath ſought him a man after his owne heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to bee captaine ouer his people, becauſe thou haſt not kept that which the Lord hath commanded thee.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 13:14, column 2:

[…] I turn with great complacency to the fourth class of my readers, who are men, or, if possible, women, after my own heart; grave, philosophical and investigating; fond of analyzing characters, of taking a start from first causes, and so hunting a nation down, through all the mazes of innovation and improvement.

1809, Diedrich Knickerbocker [pseudonym; Washington Irving], chapter III, in A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty. […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Inskeep & Bradford, […], →OCLC, book III, pages 141–142:

Look, Pisistratus, man after my own heart, see the gleam of bronze and gold—of amber, ivory, and silver. Everything is so splendid that it is like seeing the palace of Olympian Jove. I am lost in admiration.

1900, Homer, “Book IV”, in Samuel Butler, transl., The Odyssey: Rendered into English Prose for the Use of Those who Cannot Read the Original, London: A[rthur] C. Fifield, →OCLC, page 41:

Professor Cusins: you are a young man after my own heart.

1905, [George] Bernard Shaw, “Major Barbara”, in John Bull’s Other Island and Major Barbara: Also How He Lied to Her Husband, London: Archibald Constable & Co., published 1907, →OCLC, Act II, page 234:

I found the father of Thuvia a man after my own heart, and that night saw the beginning of a friendship which has grown until it is second only to that which obtains between Tars Tarkas, the green Jeddak of Thark, and myself.

1913 December – 1914 March, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “New Allies”, in The Warlord of Mars, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., published September 1919, →OCLC, page 133:

“I am impressed, young Frank,” began the master criminal. “Breaking into my house in the dead of night. You are a boy after my own heart. You need to come and live here with me and your mother. I could be the father you never had. I could train you up. Teach you everything I know. You could become a master criminal like me. One day all this could be yours.”

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

(idiomatic) Of a person: having the same disposition, feelings, or opinions as oneself.

In this particular party, small as it was, culture, learning, art, arms, landed interest and hereditary sway were properly personified. It was, indeed, a representative gathering after the Talberts' own hearts.

1885, Hugh Conway [pseudonym; Frederick John Fargus], “Gastronomic and Erotic”, in A Family Affair […], volume I, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, pages 244–245:

During these wanderings I once hit on a vegetarian restaurant in Farringdon Street. The sight of it filled me with the same joy that a child feels on getting a thing after its own heart. […] This was my first hearty meal since my arrival in England.

1927, M[ohandas] K[aramchand] Gandhi, “My Choice”, in Mahadev Desai, transl., The Story of My Experiments with Truth: Translated from the Original in Gujarati, volume I, Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Navajivan Press, →OCLC, part I, page 119:

(idiomatic) Of a situation or thing: according to, or appealing to, one's own desire, liking, or taste.

naar zijn hart

of a situation or thing: according to, or appealing to, one’s own desire, liking, or taste


in court

See you in court!

(law) Inside of a courthouse, for a legal trial.


on its way out

The incandescent light bulb is on its way out.

In the process of becoming redundant or obsolete.

This phone is on its way out, it can barely hold a charge.


on one's uppers

From uppers (“the top part of a leather shoe”), having worn through the sole.

“We are bound toward the scuppers,
And the time has come to act,
Or we’ll both be on our uppers
For a fact!”

1902, Guy Wetmore Carryl, How a Cat Was Annoyed and a Poet Was Booted:


in power

He's now in power at City Hall.

The party in power here is always the Democrats.

"I heard Winnie the Pooh was like garlic to a vampire to the Chinese commies," he said. "Popular arts and music, poetry, dancing and singing is a threat to those in power, and I'm really trying to bring back that rock-and-roll rebellious spirit into music, you know."

2024 January 29 [2024 January 26], Tim Lee, Ray Chung, quoting Brendan Kavanagh, “London YouTuber hid in van, received death threats after piano face-off”, in Luisetta Mudie, transl., Radio Free Asia, archived from the original on 2024-01-29:

(politics) Currently ruling; being the present controlling authority, as of a government or country.


off balance

Not physically balanced; not having physical equilibrium.

(idiomatic, of a person) surprised; perplexed


to that end

We think that the world would be a better place without advertisements. To that end, we are going to remove all of the banners from our website.

He was aiming to get into the school swimming team, and to that end he swam every evening.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner had backed manager Houllier during the week and asked for the fans to get behind their team as they looked to steer themselves away from the relegation zone.
To that end, the home supporters were in good voice to begin with, but it was Newcastle who started the game in the ascendancy, with Barton putting a diving header over the top from Jose Enrique's cross.

2011 April 10, Alistair Magowan, “Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:

(formal, conjunctive, idiomatic) For that reason, with that goal, intending to produce that result.


on a wing and a prayer

Describes a damaged warplane barely able to return to base, possibly originating in the film Flying Tigers (1942) in which the dialog refers to a flight as “coming in on one wing and a prayer”, made popular by the World War II song “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer” with lyrics by Harold Adamson.

After seeing half the senior staff walk out, the school opened the new year on a wing and a prayer.

With the hope of averting disaster despite a desperate situation teetering on failure.

Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer
Harold Adamson

на честном слове и на одном крыле

with the hope of averting disaster despite a desperate situation teetering on failure


in one's own right

His parents are wealthy, but he is a millionaire in his own right.

"Quarrelous" isn't a misspelling of "querulous" but a word in its own right.

As a consequence of one's own skill, qualification or status, rather than that of another.

per mèrits propis

as a consequence of one's own skill, qualification or state


in and of itself

by itself; with respect to its intrinsic or inherent nature without consideration of extraneous factors; per se, intrinsically, inherently


for that matter

I didn't do it. For that matter, I didn't even know that it happened.

"I can't send a young, pretty girl, or for that matter even a homely one if you'd have her, on a job like this without telling her what to expect."

1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 6:

(idiomatic) as far as that is concerned.


by definition

This property holds for all polygons; and since, by definition, all triangles are polygons, it holds for all triangles.

According to, or as a matter of, definition.

Almost by definition, a conversation requires both parties to accept each other's viewpoints to some extent.


in sheets

The rain was pouring down in sheets.

Of rain or other precipitation, very hard.


at latter Lammas

According to one theory, Lammas Day (1 August) being an important day for settling accounts, latter Lammas signified the last day for settling accounts: in other words, judgement day. Thus, in worldly terms, at latter Lammas means never.


to the day

It was a year ago to the day that I first met him.

Of temporal measurements or comparisons: exactly; measured on the level of days, rather than more loosely by weeks, months etc.


out of nowhere

It had been no easy matter when he first drifted in mysteriously out of nowhere to their little mountain cottage.

Mr Pickering's 'Hi!' came out of nowhere and hit him like a torpedo.

1916, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 12, in Uneasy Money:

The opening goal came out of nowhere and, buoyed, it was a lovely sequence of crisp passes that culminated in Steven Whittaker playing in Nathan Redmond to double the lead.

2015 May 25, Daniel Taylor, “Norwich reach Premier League after early blitz sees off Middlesbrough”, in The Guardian (London):

(idiomatic) In an unexpected or inexplicable manner of arrival or occurrence.


at sight

payable at sight

to shoot a person at sight


from on high

Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited vs,

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:78:

Can we whose souls are lighted
With Wisdom from on high,
Can we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?

1819, Reginald Heber, The Missionary Hymn:

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

1984, New International Version (Bible translation), Psalms 18:16

For the rest, that the Manchester Insurrection could yet discern no radiance of Heaven on any side of its horizon; but feared that all lights, of the O’Connor or other sorts, hitherto kindled, where but deceptive fish-oil transparencies, or bog will-o’-wisp lights, and no dayspring from on high: for this also we will honour the poor Manchester Insurrection, and augur well of it.

1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “chapter 3 (Manchester Insurrection)”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book I (Proem):

The whole point of America is that we are all supposed to be our own masters, never viewing anyone as being by birth or situation inherently better or more capable than ourselves, and so the notion of relying upon some nebulous class of investment bankers to “channel opportunity” from on high strikes me as being un-American.

2010 January 27, Matt Taibbi, “Populism: Just Like Racism!”, in True/Slant, archived from the original on 2013-01-19:


on a dime

This boat can turn on a dime.

This car has excellent brakes that will stop it on a dime.

Everything will stop on a dime / Everything will crash into itself in good time / Do you want to beat your own heart, beat your own heart / Or leave it behind / Or leave it behind

2012, Ingrid Michaelson (lyrics and music), “Do It Now”, in Human Again:

(US) Within a very short distance; especially, with agile precision in a very small space and suddenly.


in moderation

There's nothing wrong with drinking coffee in moderation.


in a way

Coordinate term: as it were

As an adult, I became a journalist whose beat is the environment. In a way, I’ve turned my youthful preoccupations into a profession.

2020 April, Elizabeth Kolbert, “Why we won't avoid a climate catastrophehttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/04/why-we-wont-avoid-a-climate-catastrophe-feature/”, in National Geographic:

To a certain degree; to an extent; in a certain sense.

in zekere zin

to a certain degree, or in a certain sense


at most

There weren't so many people at the concert — 40 at most.

At the most; at a maximum or upper limit.

فِي مُعْظَم

at the most; at a maximum or upper limit


out of print

(publishing) Not available from the publisher (of a printed work, especially a book, or a music release).


beyond a reasonable doubt

(law) A legal standard for deciding the outcome of a criminal charge, requiring evidence that is sufficient to eliminate any doubts that a reasonable person might entertain about whether a claim is true or false.


up shit creek without a paddle

En-au-up shit creek without a paddle.ogg

(idiomatic) Alternative form of up shit creek


in office

He had signed several laws since being in office as Governor.

Holding a formal position of employment or appointment.


ATW

around the world
around the world#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of around the world.


in a one-er

You can probably empty your glass in a one-er, there's not much left.


on-air

He agreed to an on-air interview.

Alternative spelling of on air, especially when used attributively.


in the right

I knew I was in the right about John being older than his wife, despite looking younger.

To be correct about what one says or thinks.


in the wrong

See here what it says in the dictionary. So, you were in the wrong about the meaning of that word.


around the world

He sailed around the world.

Around Earth from east to west, or west to east, thus crossing all meridians.

The great invasion games of basketball, field and ice hockey, lacrosse and the varied football codes seem to provide an immense attraction for all ages, and billions of people around the world play and watch these sports.

2001, Alan G. Launder, Play Practice: The Games Approach to Teaching and Coaching Sports:

In a large proportion of Earth; in various parts of Earth.


in series

The experiments were done in series.

The total resistance of two resistors connected in series is easily calculated as the simple sum.

(electricity) Of components: connected in a chain, instead of in parallel.


in parallel

Translations to all five languages were done in parallel.

At the same time; together, concurrently, cotemporally.

The total resistance of two resistors connected in parallel is easily calculated using a simple formula.

Aligned or connected side by side, instead of in series.

rinnan

aligned or connected side by side, instead of in series


from A to Z

They covered the whole field from A to Z in eight classes.

(idiomatic) Covering a complete range; comprehensively; from beginning to end.


out of the corner of one's eye

I caught sight of him out of the corner of my eye.

(of a look or glance) Sideways, obliquely, askance

When he said he would pay her back next week, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye.


ante litteram

From Latin ante (“before”) + litteram, accusative singular of littera (“letter, writing”).

In the fifteenth century, he espoused ecology ante litteram. He endorsed ecology before the term "ecology" existed.

What could have been a moral victory or arguably a feminist struggle ante litteram remains a farcical squabble between a nagging wife and a ridiculous old man.

2007, Patricia Vilches, Gerald E. Seaman, Seeking Real Truths: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Machiavelli, page 191:

the new mass media played an increasingly crucial role throughout the nineteenth century as an ante litteram CNN.

2011, Davide Rodogno, Against Massacre: Humanitarian Interventions in the Ottoman Empire, 1815-1914, page 16:

Before the term existed; before the term was coined.


in clover

[S]he resigned herself with noble fortitude to lodging, as one may say, in clover, and feeding on the fat of the land.

1854, Charles Dickens, “chapter 26”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:

A young man belonging to a good London club, having an allowance of £150 a year, and earning £300 a year by driving a taxameter cab, would be in clover.

They tell Sasha, "There is big money here. You and the kids can get real decent money and live in clover the rest of your lives."

1993 August 16, James R. Gaines, “From the Managing Editor”, in Time:

Shelter at Carbury Manor was very much more comfortable than the priest's own establishment, even with the roof on, and Father Barham was in clover.

1875, Anthony Trollope, chapter 55, in The Way We Live Now, London: Chapman and Hall, […]:


behind its time

(idiomatic) Showing characteristics of the past; present in one's work after later advances in the field; coming later than could be generally accepted.


on the alert

Wild animals have to be constantly on the alert for predators.


by sail

It took many weeks to cross the Atlantic by sail.


by steam

The Nineteenth Century innovated navigation by steam.

This line once took passengers by steam to the frontier.

A nostalgic journey by steam makes even a business trip an excursion.


in all one's born days

I've never seen such an ugly man in all my born days.

(idiomatic, emphatic) Ever; in one's whole life.


by owner

CAR FOR SALE BY OWNER

1997 February 17, Dora M. Iakova <dmi0039@is.nyu.edu>, "CAR for SALE", ny.forsale, Usenet

2003 January 26, <Pudpuller@pudz.com>, "Re: HOME FOR SALE - $339k - Smyrna/King Valley", alt.atlanta and atl.general, Usenet,
Price your home under market (by a reasonable amount) and you might be able to sell it by owner after some time.

I realize that some of you reading this may wonder why problem property owners do not correct the problems themselves and then sell the property by owner or list the property for sale through a real estate broker.

2005, Thomas Lucier, How to Make Money With Real Estate Options, Wiley, →ISBN, page 53:

(of a sale or attempted sale, especially of real property) Without a real-estate agent or broker representing the seller.


in laymen's terms

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


ex nihilo

From Latin ex (“from”) + nihilō (“nothing”).

This creation ex nihilo came into being in a manner completely opposed to the ordinary course of natural law.

1996, Macy Nulman, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer, page 320:


at full throttle

Since noon she's been working at full throttle on the calculations.


at one

She felt perfectly at one with nature during her retreat to the lake.

The pastoral deity to whom they paid their devotions was Pales, as to whose sex the ancients themselves were not at one.

1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 326:

Vidal's old antagonist Norman Mailer was largely at one with him on this, jauntily alleging that endless war was the only way to vindicate the drooping virility of the traditional white American male.

2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 245:

(often with with) In agreement, unanimous, of the same opinion.

And the next daye he shewed himsilfe unto them as they strove, and wolde have sett them at one agayne saynge: Syrs ye are brethren why hurte ye won another?

1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts:

(archaic) Into a state of harmony, friendship or reconciliation.


on the record

He had forgotten that his remarks would be on the record.

He had forgotten that he was speaking on the record.

Train operators were reluctant to speak to RAIL on the record, but one responded: "The unions are rightly very clear that they don't want staff policing face coverings after the removal of legal backing.

2021 July 28, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Confusion and dissent over face mask requirements: Reaction to the Guidance: Train operators”, in RAIL, number 936, page 7:


of record

His title to the property is of record at the county clerk's office.

Officially or publicly recorded or documented.

The New York Times benefits from being considered a newspaper of record.

(of a periodical) Regarded as authoritative.

Leitmedium

authoritative media (newspaper of record)


on record

He was on record as opposing abortion.

His speech to the analysts was on record.

For Sydney, 2017 was the hottest January on record.

2017 February 20, Paul Mason, “Climate scepticism is a far-right badge of honour – even in sweltering Australia”, in the Guardian:

One of the earliest (and biggest) space weather events on record occurred in September 1859, when a massive solar eruption crashed into the Earth's magnetosphere, triggering a geomagnetic storm that lasted for days.

2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30:


out of all proportion

out of proportion
out of proportion#English


over easy

(US) Of an egg prepared as food, fried on one side until most of the whites have cooked, then lightly fried on the other to finish cooking the whites, leaving the yolk unbroken and slightly soft (runny).


of the like

He expected me to bring over a bottle of wine, or something of the like.

Of a group with the same or similar characteristics; of the same kind.


in the air

As soon as we entered we could feel the excitement and tension in the air.

You may not know La Baule. Think of it as Bognor Regis. Now, you may have spent half your life there, but I do not believe you ever heard Beethoven playing in the air.

2007 November 3, David Thomson, “Music in the air”, in The Guardian:

Polo was nothing if golf were in the air!

1902, Robert Marshall Grade, The Haunted Major:

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord.

1981, Phil Collins, “In The Air Tonight”, in Face Value:

MAHER: Well, whatever. I just said we shouldn't have two national anthems. We're one country. It's not a good idea. We've seen what happens in other countries where you have, you know- when you separate things out. That's never where America was. That's never where liberalism was. It was about being a colorblind society. So, a new national anthem? Fine. I'll go for that. But not two. Because that leads down a road we don't wanna go. Applause.
KIMMEL: Do you feel like...
MAHER: Thank you.
KIMMEL: Hey there's a lot of fear in the air and generally, you don't want to be caught applauding something that might be controversial.
MAHER: I couldn't give a fuck.
KIMMEL: I wasn't talking about you.

2021 September 16, Bill Maher, 7:52 from the start, in Bill Maher on Getting Anger from Both Sides, Our Divided Country & Norm Macdonald’s Passing, Jimmy Kimmel Live!:

In the generally prevailing feeling, idea, atmosphere, or mood.

There was a rumour about them in the air.

Prevalent without traceable origin or authority.

Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled; up in the air.

The army had its wing in the air.

(military) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank.


in any event

The product was prohibited by the law, but is, in any event, still sold in the black market


in a cleft stick

From the metaphor of being caught in a tight position, unable to move.

Ha! I see. You have got me in a cleft stick.

1901–1903, [George] Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman. A Comedy and a Philosophy, Westminster [London]: Archibald Constable & Co., published 1903, →OCLC, Act I, page 11:

Such a solution only puts the humanist in a cleft stick by trading the problem of malnutrition for that of over-population.

1964 September 3, H. Fullerton, Letters: Survival of the wild, New Scientist, Volume 23, No. 407, page 579

But considerations in drafting Sonia Gandhi apart, the Congress leadership is clearly caught in a cleft stick, with or without the services of Rajiv Gandhi′s widow.

1991, Attar Chand, Rajiv Gandhi: His Mind and Ideology, page 214:

(Australia, British, dated) In a difficult situation, unable to choose between unfavourable options; in a dilemma.

Hence when a Huichol woman is about to weave or embroider, her husband catches a large serpent and holds it in a cleft stick, while the woman strokes the reptile with one hand down the whole length of its back; …

1922, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, Forgotten Books, Easy Reading Series, page 31

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, cleft, stick.


in evidence

The usual managerial incompetence was in evidence in yesterday's meeting.

the guardians of the law were well in evidence, the obvious reason being they were paid to protect the upper classes.

The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in flowers and decoration became more studied and elaborate, garlands and wreaths being much in evidence in paintings of this time.

1978, Jacqueline Seymour, “Introduction”, in Garden Flower, Crescent Books, →LCCN, page 3:

(idiomatic) Visibly present; noticeable.

Received by a court of law as competent evidence.


wlog

without loss of generality
without loss of generality#English

(mathematics) Initialism of without loss of generality.


in two minds

On the contrary, when a man is said to be in two minds, the phrase is a mere gentle expression for his having no mind whatever.

1840, “Maxims and Maxim-mongers”, in Theodore Hook, editor, The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist, London: Henry Colburn:

Heisenberg was uncertain whether he could make it, while Born said he would probably be there. Schrödinger, of course, as usual, was in two minds about whether he could be there or not.

1989 October 14, “Feedback”, in New Scientist, volume 124, number 1686, →ISSN, page 66:

Next day, the pilots were in two minds as to whether they should continue the journey.

2013, Bear Grylls, True Grit: the Epic True Stories of Heroism and Survival That Have Shaped My Life, →ISBN, page 7:

[T]he goalkeeper, Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, also seemed to be caught in two minds.

2015 May 25, Daniel Taylor, “Norwich reach Premier League after early blitz sees off Middlesbrough”, in The Guardian (London):

He writes: “You were in two minds about it, like you have always been in two minds about the EU. I wish you had stuck to that attitude – it served you well and it kept all of us in better shape.

2019 December 26, Daniel Boffey, quoting Frans Timmermans, “Post-Brexit UK always welcome back in EU, says Timmermans”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:


by one's lights

According to one's understanding
according to one's understanding

(idiomatic) According to one's understanding.


after hours

After opening hours, usually after midnight and before daybreak.


for the last time

An expression indicating exasperation, meaning it will be the last time that something will be spoken before a punitive action will be taken.


on the bounce

A tough openeing to our Kettering Area Division 4 season, with going out of the cup in the first round, and three straight losses on the bounce.

2001 October 8, "Popey", “Sunday League Footie”, in alt.sports.soccer.everton (Usenet):

After those eleven wins on the bounce, it’s desperately disappointing, but Ellison doesn’t seem too down when I find him back on Katana.

2003, Matthew Symonds, Larry Ellison, Softwar, →ISBN, page 462:

Two wins on the bounce. It obviously wasn't luck last week.

2007, Neil Boulton, Vamos! the Avon Plate Story, →ISBN, page 33:

(British, idiomatic, informal, chiefly sports) consecutively, in succession


in someone's time

In my time, we didn't desecrate our flag.

In my time, we still played with chemistry sets.

I've got into a few scrapes in my time.

In the time when one was of a certain age.


over time

This graph shows the population of California over time.

From a historic or evolutionary perspective.

There are surely relationships in which romantic passion dies over time; the price of abandoning them is often less than the price of endless years spent in resuscitation efforts.

2003, Stephen A. Mitchell, Can Love Last?: The Fate of Romance over Time, W. W. Norton & Company, →ISBN, page 55:

It also appears that the older with less education score initially better than the young with higher education, but over time, the young appear to surpass them.

2008, Can Attachment Explain Individual Differences in Cognitive Functioning Over Time?: Results from a 12-year Cohort-sequential Study, ProQuest, →ISBN, page 26:


at a pinch

/ˌæ.təˈpɪnʃ/

(Australia, New Zealand, British, informal, idiomatic) by a small margin or amount

(idiomatic) In an urgent or difficult situation; when no other solution is available.


in tandem

The seats were in tandem.

He runs the shop in tandem with his brother.

In countries such as the US, bird-feeding, birdwatching, and other types of ornithophilic behaviour form the basis of huge conservation efforts, in tandem with science.

2010, Mark Bonta, “Ethno-ornithology and Biological Conservation”, in Sonia Tidemann, Andrew Gosler, editors, Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society, London: Earthscan, →ISBN, pages 21–22:

Investors were now warier of Underground railways. They had seen that the Metropolitan was bringing in lower returns, having broached its City extensions. But the newly established Metropolitan Board of Works (the first London-wide authority) pressed the District to continue with the next part of the plan - Westminster to Blackfriars - so that the building of the railway could go in tandem with the construction of the new Thames Embankment and the sewer it incorporated.

2012, Andrew Martin, Underground Overground: A passenger's history of the Tube, Profile Books, →ISBN, page 61:


in droves

Viewers are switching off news and current affairs programmes in droves with shows such as Panorama, Tonight with Trevor McDonald and even Watchdog failing to connect with audiences, a new report claims.

2002 October 31, Owen Gibson, “TV audiences desert news in droves”, in The Guardian:

The difference to 2020 has been marked. People have returned to the railway in their droves, far faster than the pessimists predicted - especially this year, now that international travel restrictions have been lifted, bringing back foreign tourism.

2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 79:


at full stretch

We only just managed to finish on time by working at full stretch since first thing in the morning.

And so it proved as, with Neymar showing sleight of foot and flashes of genius, they spent much of the 90 minutes at full stretch in defence, fighting for any semblance of possession and put under stress by Brazil's pressing game.

2017 November 14, Phil McNulty, “England 0-0 Brazil”, in BBC News:


on the spectrum

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

I spent some time walking around the exhibitor area before my turn to speak. […] The first exhibitor was a mom with a kid on the spectrum. […] The next person is an artist on the spectrum.

2009 April 7, John Elder Robison, “Autism and Art as a window into the mind” (blog post)

2009, Lynn Kern Koegel, Claire LaZebnik, Growing Up on the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and Young Adults with Autism and Asperger's, Penguin Group, →ISBN:

2010, Julie Brown, Writers on the Spectrum: How Autism and Asperger Syndrome Have Influenced Literary Writing, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN:

2010, Zosia Zaks, Parenting on the Spectrum, Jessica Kingsley Limited, →ISBN:

2011, Valerie L. Gaus, Living Well on the Spectrum: How to Use Your Strengths to Meet the Challenges of Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism, Guilford Publications, →ISBN:

2014 Kumail Nanjiani as Dinesh Chugtai, "Minimum Viable Product", Silicon Valley season 1 episode 1, 6 minutes 10 seconds
There is a personal ad section on this Asperger site. Holy shit this one is looking for "a relationship that has a potential to become sexual in nature". Boy, is she on the spectrum. She can't even make eye contact with the camera.

might slag the project as monotonous or, more callously, "on the spectrum"

2023 March 21, Virginia Heffernan, “I Saw the Face of God in a Semiconductor Factory”, in WIRED:

autism spectrum disorder
autism spectrum disorder

(autism, informal) Having autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits pertaining to or within the autism spectrum.

[Infrared light] waves are too long to see, but they have enough energy to make your skin feel warm. They come right before visible light on the spectrum.

2012 September 1, Spectrum, Science, Grade 7, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, →ISBN, page 40:

The basic spectrum model is often coupled with the sex-gender distinction, whereby one's sex is seen as binary and immutable but one's gender can be anywhere on the spectrum.

2019 December 3, Katie Steele, Julie Nicholson, Radically Listening to Transgender Children: Creating Epistemic Justice through Critical Reflection and Resistant Imaginations, Lexington Books, →ISBN, page 70:

This subsection marks out the different points on the spectrum, starting with a minimal level and moving to a higher level of engagement.

2023 May 30, Rebecca J. Cook, Frontiers of Gender Equality: Transnational Legal Perspectives, University of Pennsylvania Press, →ISBN, page 166:

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


on the clock

Coordinate term: o'clock

It was six o'clock on the clock. His own watch had stopped.

1922, D. H. Lawrence, “The Horse Dealer's Daughter,”, in England, My England:

(literally) Displayed on the dial of a clock (timepiece).

Near-synonym: on the job

I discovered after my arrival that I wouldn't be able to start working for six weeks. . . . The Beverley Hills Post Office finally worked my status out with the Chicago Post Office. I was back on the clock.

1983, Odie Hawkins, Scars and Memories, →ISBN, pages 97–98:

Danica Patrick is still on the clock. Her crew members . . . are at the end of their workday. Hers drags on.

2006 May 16, Dave Caldwell, “Patrick Is First Only in Fans' Hearts”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-04-20:

"I guess it ain't all bad," Kerr said, lighting another cigarette. "I'm on the clock, so I'm getting paid while I wait."

2007 January 22, “VP drops in for quick visit to S.A.”, in San Antonio Express-News, retrieved 2009-04-20:

(idiomatic) Working at one's job; occupied in some manner during one's hours of remunerated employment.

Money earmarked for services and repairs often found its way to payroll, to put yet more unskilled workers on the clock.

1997 August 18, Tamala Edwards, James Carney, “Disaster on the Potomac: How not to run a city”, in Time:

The board authorized the Building Department to schedule Saturday inspections for water line installations as a service to residents and businesses. It requires inspections to be done "on the clock" and in a town vehicle.

2007 August 28, Kristin Shaw, “More work means more pay”, in The Independent, US, retrieved 2009-04-20:

(idiomatic) During one's official working hours; in or into a position of remunerated employment.

If a fare paid him no more than what was on the clock, he'd shout out: "If you can't afford cabs you should take the 'bus."

1971, Barry Pain, “Mrs. Murphy”, in Humorous stories, →ISBN, page 90:

Significant monies are wasted each week as bankers leave taxis outside, waiting on the clock, while they finish their lunches.

2005 April 22, “Cost Controls, Fine—But THAT'S Ridiculous”, in hereisthecity.com, UK, retrieved 2009-04-20:

(idiomatic) Of a taxicab, engaged for hire; displayed numerically as time or fare on the meter of a taxicab.

With only three seconds on the clock and the Knicks about to win, 102-96, in their playoff opener against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden last night, Rick Pitino enjoyed the moment.

1989 April 28, Dave Anderson, “Sports of the Times: Jackson Hits 'Biggest Shot Of My Life'”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-04-20:

(sports) In the official time remaining in a game or other sporting event.

There were 26 minutes on the clock before Scotland had their first real opportunity.

2007 August 22, “Scotland 1-0 South Africa: Boyd saves blushes”, in ESPN, retrieved 2009-04-20:

(sports) In the official time expired in a game or other sporting event.

(chiefly sports drafts) Under scrutiny due to having to make a decision or produce results within a set period of time.

The obvious advantages of this method of new motor vehicle delivery over long distances,, which the L.M.R. says dealers and ultimate customers are beginning to appreciate, are all-weather reliability, arrival in mint condition and with only a very small mileage "on the clock", and the assurance that the car has not been mishandled during its running-in period; [...].

1962 October, “Talking of Trains: L.M.R. car-carrying success”, in Modern Railways, page 224:

And with 112,000 miles on the clock this isn't scary mileage for this type of car.

2008 November 19, “A grand way to keep travelling”, in Irish Times, retrieved 2009-04-20:

(of a motor vehicle) Displayed numerically on the mileage or kilometric gauge.

Alas, the delivery boy is on the clock; he could and would work much faster on commission!


at the top of one's voice

"Go away!" she screamed at the top of her voice.

Of vocal sounds: very loudly; as loudly as possible.


behind the times

(idiomatic) Out of date; old-fashioned; obsolete; outmoded; outdated.


on the anvil

November 1 1711, William King, letter to Jonathan Swift
I have several things on the anvil, and near finished, that perhaps might be useful if published

She designed his retirement from the Royal Irish Artillery, and had negociated an immediate berth for him on the staff of the Commander of the Forces, and a prospective one in the household of Lord Townshend; she had another arrangement "on the anvil" for a seat in Parliament, which she would accomplish, if that were possible; and finally, a wife.

1863, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, “In Which Captain Devereux’s Fiddle Plays a Prelude to ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’”, in The House by the Church-yard. […], volume I, London: Tinsley, Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 308:

(idiomatic) In a state of discussion, formation, or preparation; not yet matured.


out there

If you want to improve your public speaking, you should put yourself out there more.

There are a lot of crazy people out there.

If you want to find love, you'll have to put yourself out there.

(informal) in a position that makes one vulnerable to rejection or scrutiny from another person, especially in a romantic context


into detail

I don't know much about it, so I hope I don't have to go into detail.

(idiomatic) Thoroughly; including every detail.