in the event

I had also concluded that I should arrive […] in time for the afternoon services, but in the event I was in this also disappointed.

1836, Andrew Reed, James Matheson, Congregational Union of England and Wales, A narrative of the visit to the American churches by the deputation from the Congregational Union of England and Wales (volume 1, page 197)

She had met and fallen in love with the man who collected the milk from the dairy, and she had decided to marry him when he asked her. In the event, he didn't ask her, but there was obviously something going on between them, and she forced his hand.

2010, Anna Champney, Buried Past, Hidden Secrets, page 88:

In the event, higher sale proceeds were achieved by allowing EWS Railway to acquire all but Freightliner, which was sold as a management buy-out.

2024 January 10, 'Industry Insider', “Success built on liberalisation and market freedom”, in RAIL, number 1000, page 69:

As things (have) turned out or are turning out; ultimately; in the end; eventually.


OAK

In poker, 3 OAK beats two pair.


from a mile away

When Talley met with his seniors privately after a practice in mid-August, he posed the question, “Are we going to have problems with any of the freshmen?” Almost in a chorus, the group had identified Antwon Young as the potential problem child, a situation that Talley had seen coming from a mile away.

2007, Tony Moss, A Season in Purgatory: Villanova and Life in College Football's Lower Class, University of Nebraska Press, published 2007, →ISBN, page 38:

For tactile kids I always suggest keeping nutritious snacks around — peanut butter, bananas, or carrots — so that their blood sugar doesn't drop too low, because if they get caught up in some kind of intense game or sport, they may forget to eat, and you'll want to have a quick antidote to the tantrum you can see coming from a mile away.

2009, Priscilla J. Dunstan, Child Sense: From Birth to Age 5, How to Use the 5 Senses to Make Sleeping, Eating, Dressing, and Other Everyday Activities Easier While Strengthening Your Bond With Your Child, Bantam Books, →ISBN, pages 90–91:

“You could see the betrayal coming from a mile away,” said a Romney insider.

2012, Ronald B. Scott, Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics, Lyons Press, published 2012, →ISBN:


at one's leisure

“Hannah! Hannah!” exclaimed her mother; “I told you not to go near that tree! Get your flowers quick, if you must get them, and come away.”
Hannah went on gathering the flowers at her leisure.
“You will certainly get stung,” said her mother.

1872, Jacob Abbott, Gentle Measures In The Management And Training Of The Young […] , Harper & Brothers, page 40:


at leisure

Free from any occupation; not busy; idle.


off at the races

off to the races
off to the races#English


in the saddle

1990, December 28 broadcast, PBS Newshour, David Gergen
the pessimism […] in this country was in the saddle even before Saddam Hussein came along


on the flip side

They were behind twice, first to James Morrison's 11th-minute strike and then Kenny Miller's effort early in the second half. England responded with goals of their own from Theo Walcott and Daniel Welbeck and, on the balance of play, probably deserved the victory. On the flip-side, they could conceivably have lost because of their various shortcomings in defence. They also have a goalkeeper, Joe Hart, who is a danger to his own team on nights like these.

14 August 2013, Daniel Taylor, “Rickie Lambert's debut goal gives England victory over Scotland”, in The Guardian:


in the main

[…] I entirely agree with you in the main as to the propriety of doing everything one could by way of providing for a child one had in a manner taken into one's own hands; […]

1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter I, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 8:

Mr. Fechter has been in the main more accustomed to speak French than to speak English.

1869 August, Charles Dickens, “On Mr. Fechter's Acting”, in The Atlantic Monthly:

"A new generation is growing up in our midst . . . and its enthusiasm, even when it is misdirected, is, I believe, in the main sincere."

1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “The Dead”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC:

Bill Clinton's philandering was regarded as a moral failing or a joke — but not, in the main, as an illness.

2011 February 28, John Cloud, “Sex Addiction: A Disease or a Convenient Excuse?”, in Time, retrieved 2013-08-13:

Now, I hold no candle for the train operators, and I think that in the main they have been far too craven about any government proposals. But in this instance, they have been badly traduced, led up the hill, and then chucked back down it.

2023 November 15, Christian Wolmar, “Ministers should carry the can for ticket office fiasco”, in RAIL, number 996, page 47:

Principally; on the whole; for the most part.


like shelling peas

Do you know that some people, no matter how much money they have or how far medical techniques improve, will never be able to have children while for others it's like shelling peas?

1996, Stephen Smith, Parentcraft, page 14:

At school he could deliver straight A's like shelling peas.

They just rolled my wicket over and said it was like shelling peas.

2010, Leo McKinstry, Geoff Boycott: A Cricketing Hero, page 43:


like molasses in January

slow as molasses in January
slow as molasses in January#English

Alternative form of slow as molasses in January


in the weeds

It was in a series of such back-and-forth sessions that Rumsfeld crafted the war on Iraq. . . . [G]enerals were alarmed to see a Defense Secretary get so far down in the weeds of a military operation.

2003 December 29, Michael Duffy, Mark Thompson, “Secretary of war”, in CNN, retrieved 2013-09-21:

Mr. Obama devoted so much time to the Afghan issue — nearly 11 hours on the day after Thanksgiving alone — that he joked, “I’ve got more deeply in the weeds than a president should, and now you guys need to solve this.”

2009 December 5, Peter Baker, “How Obama Came to Plan for ‘Surge’ in Afghanistan”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-09-21:

In order to ban prop trading, you first have to define it, and when you try, you are immediately in the weeds.

2012 May 19, Stephen Foley, “Business: Jamie Dimon has become Exhibit A in the case for regulation”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 2013-09-21:

(idiomatic) Immersed or entangled in details or complexities.

Anger may be the only recourse when you're "in the weeds," as chefs call the nightmare of not being ready when orders pour in and you fall behind and can't see a way out.

1998 June 24, Eric Asimov, “The First Job: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-09-21:

She saw that she was in the weeds on every front. There were unanswered phone messages from a food writer at the Times, from an editor at Gourmet, and from the latest restaurateur hoping to steal Brian’s chef.

2001, Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections:

She took on way too much work in the kitchen and didn't know when to say when. . . . Like one of the judges said, "No matter how great a chef you are, once you get in the weeds, it's over."

2009 October 22, “'Top Chef' Las Vegas Power Rankings: 'Restaurant Wars'”, in starpulse.com, retrieved 2013-09-21:

(idiomatic, restaurant slang, of a cook or server) Overwhelmed with diners' orders.


on a kick

And he is now on a kick of having me make orange juice, rather than buying the frozen concentrate.

1994, Marjorie L. DeVault, Feeding the Family: The Social Organization of Caring as Gendered Work, page 145:

They have a great idea, especially since everyone is on a health kick lately.

2013, Kate Woodruff, Central Michigan Life, Fruitful beginnings: Students create plans for fruit business:

(idiomatic) Having a period of enthusiasm towards some activity.


as a whole

If a Bushel of Wheat be considered as a Whole whose Parts are Eight Gallons, and if Five of those Gallons be assumed, then the remaining Three are the Complement of that Part to the Whole.

1735, John Kirkby, Arithmetical Institutions: Containing a Compleat System of Arithmetic Natural, Logarithmical, and Algebraical:

And just as it is only the animal organism as a whole that can be regarded as a real entity, the calls of which it is composed having no distinct independent life, so Comte constantly repeats that 'Humanity is the only real existence, the individual being a mere metaphysical abstraction.'

1898, J. Beattie Crozier, Civilization and progress, page 145:

Economically, too, London is startlingly different. The capital, unlike the country as a whole, has no budget deficit: London’s public spending matches the taxes paid in the city. The average Londoner contributes 70 percent more to Britain’s national income than people in the rest of the country.

2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times:


off the hizzy

That party was off the hizzy!

(slang) Off the hook, fresh, awesome, cool, excellent.

Yeah, seducin' this bitch with my diamonds, shit so easy
I ain't writin' this shit off the heezy
You wouldn't last a mile in my shoes, it ain't easy

2023 September 18, “Playin With A Demon / Jokes On U” (track 6), in Summrs (lyrics), What We Didn’t Have:

Off the top of one's head
off the top of one's head

(slang) Off the top of one's head, by improvision rather than preparation.


into the bargain

That same evening, the gentleman in the white waistcoat most positively and decidedly affirmed, not only that Oliver would be hung, but that he would be drawn and quartered into the bargain.

1837, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], chapter 3, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], published 1838, →OCLC:

He was roofless, dinnerless, breakfastless, supperless, penniless, friendless, all at once; and brandyless into the bargain.

'Yet here I find you trying it again and looking like a beggar's child into the bargain.'

1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 88:

(informal) along with it; additionally; as well


as often as not

"[T]hese old people—there's no trusting them, Fred. . . . [Y]ou can't calculate upon 'em, and even then they deceive you just as often as not."

1841, Charles Dickens, chapter 7, in The Old Curiosity Shop:

"I am a man that tries to do his duty, and makes a mess of it as often as not."

1896, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Persons of the Tale”, in Fables:

[I]f he discovered a sale where there were books he would as often as not waste half the next day in going again to acquire a job lot of them.

1910, H. G. Wells, chapter 7, in The History of Mr. Polly:

The hall porter said that, as often as not, the flat was untenanted.

1918, Edgar Wallace, chapter 7, in The Man Who Knew:

As often as not, the perpetrators have been other Americans — motivated not by patriotism for a foreign flag, but by simple profit.

2012 October 24, Eamon Javers, “Spies and Co.”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-10-29:

(idiomatic) More or less half of the time; on many occasions but not always; frequently.


out of reach

Outside the distance to which someone can stretch out their hand.

ulottumattomissa

beyond the distance of an outstretched hand or arm

I'm sorry, but your goal of becoming an astronaut is out of reach with those grades.

City have lost two previous semi-finals to Real but they made no mistake here at a joyous Etihad Stadium to now stand one step away from claiming the trophy that has always stayed tantalisingly out of reach for Pep Guardiola's team.

2023 May 17, Phil McNulty, “Manchester City 4 - 0 Real Madrid”, in BBC Sport:


to the backbone

staunch to the backbone

1834, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, The Last Days of Pompeii:

Sir Culling was an extreme Low Churchman, an Exeter Hallite to the backbone, and the head and front of the Platitudinarian Party.

1894, Richard William Murray, South African Reminiscences, page 138:

In temperament he was Dutch to the backbone — at least as we imagine Dutch.

1907, Alfred Thayer Mahan, From Sail to Steam: Reflections of Naval Life:

(idiomatic) Through and through; thoroughly; entirely.


upon the tapis

[…] when any thing was supposed to be upon the tapis worth knowing or listening to, it was the rule to leave the door, not absolutely shut, but somewhat ajar […]

1759–1767, [Laurence Sterne], The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume (please specify |volume=I to IX), London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […]:

Of this, however, I was not aware; although, in the present instance, I saw clearly that something of a whimsical nature was upon the tapis with my friend, and that Hermann was its especial object.

(idiomatic) Under discussion or consideration.


on the tapis

"Well, I must say, it is a comfort to have any body like you about one, Helen, for Georgiana (...) is really over head and ears in love with that sailor (...); she thinks of nothing else, I am convinced, though the most spirit-stirring affair in the world is on the tapis—your brother Glentworth's election.

1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter LXII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 165:

And a sudden chorus of “Oh noes,” uttered ironically by the other boys, brought Aunt Belle on the tapis, with a stern admonition to be quiet.

1884, Rosa Nouchette Carey, Robert Ord's Atonement, page 216:


in passing

We mostly talked about his mother's illness, but he told me in passing that he'd won a small prize in the lottery.

Did she mention my name just in passing?

1968, “Did She Mention My Name?”, performed by Gordon Lightfoot:

Incidentally; as a brief diversion from another topic etc.


at six and seven

at sixes and sevens
at sixes and sevens#English


on speaking terms

Ms. [Gomotsang] Modibu considers herself to be on speaking terms with the animals she sees every day. She sees them as her colleagues.

2017 August 22, Hillary Richard, “The Wonder Women of Botswana Safari”, in New York Times, archived from the original on 2017-08-22:

Cap [Captain America] and I fell out hard. We're not on speaking terms.

2018, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War (motion picture), spoken by Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.):

Acquainted and friendly; in a state where salutations and general remarks can be comfortably exchanged.


on a sudden

How are thou loſt, how on a ſudden loſt,

1667, John Milton, “Book CCXLVII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 900:

On a sudden he was aware of a man linking along at his side. He cried a fine night, and the man replied.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:


in present

With them, in present, half his kingdom; the rest to follow at his death.

1670, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in The History of Britain, that Part Especially now Call’d England. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for James Allestry, […] , →OCLC:


in this connection

We Americans have not yet thoroughly acquired the habit of regarding the museums as great picture books, and yet such they are, and in this connection I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. J. A. Allen, […] for much valuable assistance and advice in connection with this book.

1895, Mabel Osgood Wright, “To The Reader”, in Birdcraft: A Field Book of Two Hundred Song, Game, and Water Birds:

Information technology contributes to making society and the individual person's everyday more transparent than earlier. Bulk information concerning the individual is collected at an apparently uncontrollable number of points in society. In this connection there is a continuous need for mapping out the occurrence and the possibility of abuse of the electronic traces consumers leave behind in society.

1995, “Consumer Research”, in Hans Jeleby, editor, Facts and Views on Nordic Consumer Policy[:] An Anthology, →ISBN, page 169:

(formal, sometimes proscribed, dated) In connection with this subject; in this regard.


nws

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of no worries.


for best

Those constitutions […] are now established for best, and not to be mended.

1641 May, John Milton, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Cavvses that hitherto have Hindred it; republished as Will Taliaferro Hale, editor, Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England (Yale Studies in English; LIV), New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1916, →OCLC:


at one stroke

I made up my mind that a man confined to his room by inflammation of the lungs, a fellow who had only two wishes left in the world, to see a particular woman, and then to die, could neatly accomplish those two wishes at one stroke by taking this journey in the rain.

1895, Thomas Hardy, chapter 9, in Jude the Obscure:

I should be ready to do the job without being paid for it, though I don't say it is not sweeter to get both gold and revenge at one stroke.

1898, G. A. Henty, “On A Mexican Ranche”, in Yule Logs: Longmans' Christmas Annual:

(literal) With a single blow, effort, or act.

[T]he whole object of the poem is to show what infinities of spiritual good and evil a current and sordid story may contain. When once this is realised, it explains at one stroke the innumerable facts about the work.

1903, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, chapter 7, in Robert Browning:

. . . with the wind of ruin in his hair,
Soul sprang full-statured from the broken flesh,
And at one stroke he lived the whole of life.

1909, Edith Wharton, “A Torchbearer”, in Artemis to Actaeon and Other Verses:

At one stroke his dashing raiment gave him high superiority over Johnnie Watson and other rivals who might loom.

1916, Booth Tarkington, chapter 7, in Seventeen:

In a blaze of creativity during 10 days in 1950 photographing the Paris collections, he became at one stroke one of the major fashion photographers of the century.

1997 December 14, Vicki Goldberg, “Photography View: One Eye on Art, the Other on Commerce”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-01-01:

(figuratively, by extension) At once, immediately; in an instant.


like a spare prick at a wedding

En-au-like a spare prick at a wedding.ogg


at it

Mart. Oh they are at it.
Lart. Their noise be our instruction.

c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

We were at it until three o'clock in the morning.

1893, Edwin H Porter, The Fall River Tragedy:

Occupied with a given activity; busy with something.

I came home early and caught them at it in the front room.

He's always at it
You're always at it
'Cause you're an orgasm addict
We're all orgasm addicts

1977, Buzzcocks (lyrics and music), “Orgasm Addict”:

It’s Spring, and everybody’s at it. ¶ The neighbours’ cats stroll into my garden, mewling and hoping for a little bit of in flagrante. Honey bees brazenly assault the cherry blossom.

2015 April 16, Richard P. Grant, “Sex and the successful fundraiser”, in The Guardian:

Engaged in sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.


in operation

The free market is still in operation, and the number fed from it increases weekly.

December 31, 1861, "UNITED STATES STEAMER R.R. COYLER, OFF FORT PICKENS", published in The New York Times in 1862

When the engine is in operation, the farther this lever is moved downward toward the driver (referring to as "opening the throttle") the faster the engine runs and the greater the power furnished.

1919, For Motor Company, Ford Manual/The Car and Its Operation:

activated; functional; functioning; operating; working


on the safe side

Just to be on the safe side, why don't you Google him?

Oh, no, my dear, I ordered that six months ago, just to be on the safe side. But upon my soul, I was sure then that we'd be on board to-day.

c. 1921 (date written), Karel Čapek, translated by Paul Selver, R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots): A Fantastic Melodrama […], Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1923, →OCLC, Act 2:


in my humble opinion

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

dle mého skromného názoru

used to introduce or qualify a statement


in short trousers

From an early 20th century practice of reserving short pants only for small children.

We didn't have computers or mobile phones back when I was in short trousers!


over the river and through the woods

/ˈoʊ.vɚ ðə ˈɹɪvɚ ən(d)θɹu ðə wʊdz/

En-au-over the river and through the woods.ogg

Lydia Maria Child
Over the River and Through the Wood

Originally based on a Thanksgiving poem written by Lydia Maria Child, this phrase was eventually turned into one of the many various Christmas carols and then soon developed its own meaning in the English lexicon. See the Wikipedia article for more information.

(figuratively) Trying to achieve a particular task, often with difficulty.

(figuratively) Having lost one's mind; insane.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see over, the, river, and, through, the, woods.


in the same breath

(idiomatic) Said or done almost simultaneously, in one sequence.

Said of two things that cannot be true simultaneously.


by now

See by, sense 3: “not later than (the given time); not later than the end of (the given time interval)”.

Coordinate term: by then

Near-synonyms: already, at this stage, at this point

My parents should have arrived by now. I wonder what's keeping them.

Totally overwhelmed by now, I started to hand out the fliers willy-nilly.

The hour being what it is; the hour being so advanced; considering that it is so far in time already; now that so much time has elapsed; if not before, now at the latest.


in contrast

She wakened in sharp panic, bewildered by the grotesquerie of some half-remembered dream in contrast with the harshness of inclement fact, drowsily realizing that since she had fallen asleep it had come on to rain smartly out of a shrouded sky.

1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter II (Burglary), page 378, column 1:


in sunder

He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 46:9:


by halves

Thou fool, I ne'er do things by halves,
Farthings are made for Irish slaves;
No brass for me, it must be gold,
Or fifty pounds in silver told.

c. 1724, Punch's Petition to the Ladies, Jonathan Swift:

I have no notion of loving people by halves; it is not my nature. My attachments are always excessively strong.

1817, Jane Austen, chapter 6, in Northanger Abbey:

Johnson, who, as we have before remarked, rarely praised or dispraised things by halves, broke forth in a warm eulogy.

1849, Washington Irving, chapter 26, in Oliver Goldsmith: A Biography:

She was too thoroughgoing to do things by halves.

1901, Ralph Connor, chapter 6, in The Man From Glengarry:

"When things happen to us in Latin America, it is never by halves. There is no equilibrium, so when it rains, towns get inundated and disappear, and when we have a revolution, half the population dies."

1989 July 30, Larry Rohter, “Theater: In Latin America, Headlines Inspire The Drama”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-03-05:

They don't do things by halves in the States. Whether it is cars, burgers or waistlines, Americans like to think bigger.

2006 Sept. 24, Gareth Chadwick, "Far-flung business: Making all the right moves, The Independent (UK) (retrieved 5 March 2014)

(idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) Partially, incompletely; inadequately, halfheartedly, shoddily.


to no avail

Germany huffed and switched angles and went wide, slinging in crosses, and finally sending on Der Targetman, Mario Gomez, for the last 11 minutes. To no avail, as Mexico held on for a sensational win against the defending champions.

2018 June 17, Barney Ronay, “Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2019-08-05:

(idiomatic) With no success or benefit; unsuccessfully.


on the docket

I am just reminded that the president, who is also transfer-agent, of the Black Rapids Coal Company, happens to be on board here, and, having been subpoenaed as witness in a stock case on the docket in Kentucky, has his transfer-book with him.

1857, Herman Melville, chapter IV, in The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade:

A new skiercross pro tour is on the docket, as well as freeskiing. Just like racing, both require strong but supple legs rather than jackhammer quads.

in hand; under consideration, or in process of execution or performance


off the hinges

[…] they were enabled to bear it, 'till being distracted by their torments, their understandings were thrown off the hinges […]

a. 1694, John Tillotson, The Support of Good Men:


like mad

We poked a stick into the hornets' nest and ran like mad.

They neuer linne to scrape our goodes / till all our wealth be gone. / Which if we chaunce to sée, / excuses then are had: / But so we sée not when ’tis done, / they will denie like mad / They neuer toke away / one iote but was their owne:

1567, “The .vj. Egloge”, in George Turberville, transl., The Eglogs of the Poet B. Mantuan Carmelitan, London:

The Devils fell upon the Damn’d; and the Damn’d fell upon the Devils, without knowing One from t’other: and all running helter-skelter, to and again, like Mad; for in fine, it was no other then a general Revolt.

1667, “The Seventh Vision of Hell Reform’d”, in Roger L’Estrange, transl., The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas, London: H. Herringman, page 258:

There were divers Antick Figures, some with Caps and Bells, one dress’d like a Punch; several Harlequins, and other ludicrous Forms, that jump’d and ran about like mad; and seem’d as if they would have it thought, that all their Wit lay in their Heels.

1741, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XVII”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC, page 118:

When Bildad was a chief-mate, to have his drab-coloured eye intently looking at you, made you feel completely nervous, till you could clutch something—a hammer or a marling-spike, and go to work like mad, at something or other, never mind what.

1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “Chapter 16”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:

All the universities are sending in long petitions to restrict their production. Otherwise, they say, mankind will become extinct through lack of fertility. But the R. U. R. shareholders, of course, won't hear of it. All the governments, on the other hand, are clamoring for an increase in production, to raise the standards of their armies. And all the manufacturers in the world are ordering Robots like mad.

I’d laughed. He’d laughed. Mine lasted the longest. During it, I thought it was going to change into a cry. But it didn’t. My eyes blinked like mad but then it was okay.

1993, Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, Penguin, page 210:

Like a mad person; in a furious or deranged manner; to a great or excessive degree; with great enthusiasm.


out of question

Alas, Malvolio, this is not my writing,
Though, I confess, much like the character
But out of question, ’tis Maria's hand.

c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

And out of question the cherfull help that may be in mariage toward sanctity of life, is the purest and so the noblest end of that contract […]

1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, book I, page 17:

1772, Richard Hurd, letter addressed to Edward Gibbon dated 29 August, 1772, in Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, London: A. Strahan et al., p. 462,
[…] the lustre of his hero’s fame, and the real power, which, out of question, he reserved to himself, would make us forget or overlook Cyaxares.

(obsolete) Unquestionably, without question, certainly.

Of King Vaphres and Necho it is out of question, that neither of them was the great King Sesostris.

1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], chapter 2, in The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, §. 6, page 242:

So when [Jesus] came walking upon the Sea to his Disciples, and they were so frighted that they cried out, believing that they had seen a Spirit; it must be out of Question that there were such things, and that they, the Disciples, had heard of them […]

1727, Daniel Defoe, chapter 8, in An Essay on the History and Reality of Apparitions, London, page 130:

(obsolete) Unquestionable, beyond question, certain.


out of central casting

From Central Casting, an American company that specializes in casting extras, body doubles, and stand-ins.

"Do I or do I not have the quintessential in-laws? I swear they're right out of central casting. A blowhard brother-in-law, bratty kids, and a sourpuss mother-in-law wide as a billboard. […]

2006, Richard Matturro, Luna, Livingtson Press, →ISBN, page 92:

Frank Grandin was straight out of central casting, the pompous, self-important, narrow-minded, big businessman, from his full head of suspiciously jet-black hair right down to the oversized gold watch on his wrist.

2008, Holly Chamberlain, Tuscan Holiday, Kensington Books, →ISBN:

As cult leaders go, Rajneesh was straight out of central casting. His preferred garb was a satin-trimmed velvet robe and shoes, usually adorned with expensive jewelry.

2013, Linda Clark, "The Bhagwan's 93 Rolls-Royces", in Keith Martin, Strange but True Tales of Car Collecting: Drowned Bugattis, Buried Belvederes, Felonious Ferraris and other Wild Stories of Automotive Misadventure, Motorbooks (2013), unnumbered page

(idiomatic) Conforming to the stereotypical image of a particular type of person or group.


from central casting

He was not the pompous university president from central casting, always pontificating; he was more like a charming professor who walked around his campus wearing the navy blue cap of his beloved Boston Red Sox and who just happened to be university president.

2002, Fay Vincent, The Last Commissioner: A Baseball Valentine, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 70:

Luckily for Giacomo, he had Marzia, an Italian grandmother straight from central casting.

2009, John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, The Book of the Dead: Lives of the Justly Famous and the Undeservedly Obscure, Crown Publishers, →ISBN:

The fact that David Cameron, the conservative prime minister, is a plummy-voiced, Eton-educated, upper-class Brit from central casting has played into [Alex] Salmond's hands.

2014 April 1, Roger Cohen, “The case for Scotland”, in International New York Times, page 9:

out of central casting
out of central casting#English

(idiomatic) Synonym of out of central casting


up to the hub

(idiomatic) As far as possible in embarrassment or difficulty, or in business; deeply involved.


of yore

In days of yore

The Dev'l was piqu'd, ſuch ſaintſhip to behold, / And long'd to tempt him like good Job of old: / But Satan novv is vviſer than of yore, / And tempts by making rich, not making poor.

1733 (indicated as 1732), [Alexander] Pope, Of the Use of Riches, an Epistle to the Right Honourable Allen Lord Bathurst, London: […] J. Wright, for Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC, page 18:

where Abraham fed his flock of yore

1827, [John Keble], The Christian Year: Thoughts in Verse for the Sundays and Holydays throughout the Year, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [B]y W. Baxter, for J. Parker; and C[harles] and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC:

Representing the older types now are some Stroudley 0-6-0 tanks, while a Drummond "C14" 0-4-0 tank might still be pottering about on the Town Quays as of yore.

1952 February, R. A. H. Weight, “A Railway Recorder in Wessex”, in Railway Magazine, page 133:

Now when I was a kid I had a bike with a banana seat, but for some reason, as you get older, and you get bikes, it's like you can never go back to those awesome seats of yore.

2022 June 14, “Tesla Split and Cybertruck Details”, in Tesla Time News:


to a degree

It has been said that Scotsmen […] are […] grave to a degree on occasions when races more favoured by nature are gladsome to excess.

1844, John Wilson, Essay on the Genius, and Character of Burns:

(idiomatic, dated) extremely; exceedingly.

All countries are to a degree controlled by other countries; it is equally obvious that some countries are controlled by others through the threat of military intervention.

1991, Alex Inkeles, On Measuring Democracy: Its Consequences and Concomitants:


out of focus

Not in focus; lacking visual sharpness; blurred or hazy.


in half

Nicholas picked up Mr Lenville's ash stick which had flown out of his hand, and breaking it in half, threw him the pieces.

1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, chapter 29, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC:

"Kindly take them in batches of ten sheets, and tear them in half, Dunstable."

1905, P. G. Wodehouse, A Corner in Lines:

A hero exhibiting “superhuman strength” has saved the life of a motorist trapped in a burning vehicle by bending the car's door in half with his bare hands.

2014 July 2, Adam Withnall, “Hero Good Samaritan bends car door in half”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 2014-07-23:

A biotechnology cancer drug cuts in half the risk that one type of breast cancer will recur after surgery.

2005 April 26, Andrew Pollack, “Breast Cancer Recurrence Is Cut in Half by a Drug”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-07-23:

[H]e helped oversee a military offensive that cut the numbers of rebel forces in half to about 8,000 fighters.

2012 May 16, John Otis, “The Blast in Bogotá: A Reminder of Colombia's Unsolved Problems”, in Time, retrieved 2014-07-23:

(set phrase) By a divisor of two; to a numerical value which is half of the original value.


up a tree

"I'm a bit up a tree, Miss," he said shuffling his feet on the oak floor. "I behaved a fool."

1864, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, chapter 53, in Uncle Silas:

I found the doctor in his study, and the whole room full of rods and lines and reels. . . . When he called me to come and look at his flies I was all up a tree, and didn't know what he was talking about.

1891, Laura E. Richards, chapter 14, in Hildegarde's Holiday:

"Oh, I'm up a tree again. I see I don't even know the A B C of this business."

1894, Robert Barr, chapter 7, in In the Midst of Alarms:

"You're a liar," says I, a little riled that Idaho should try to put me up a tree.

1904, O. Henry, “The Handbook of Hymen”, in Heart of the West:

The general consensus of opinion in Outwood's during the luncheon interval was that, having got Downing's up a tree, they would be fools not to make the most of the situation.

1909, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 40, in Mike: A Public School Story:

(idiomatic, dated) In or into a disadvantaged or difficult situation; at a loss; cornered.


from the cradle to the grave

(idiomatic) Spanning an entire lifetime; from birth to death.


by little and little

The girl raged and battled with all the force of her youth and fulness of life, until by little and little her passionate exclamations trailed off into broken murmurs as if she were in pain.

1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, chapter 2, in Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC:

(dated) A small amount at a time; little by little.


with a will

/ˌwɪθ‿ə ˈwɪl/

From with + a + will (“firmity of purpose, fixity of intent”), originally often used to refer to rowing a boat vigorously.

«Yes!» muttered the Rover, with bitter irony, as his boat rowed under the stern of the cruiser of the Crown; «yes! I, and my officers, will taste of your banquet! But the viands shall be such as these hirelings of the King shall little relish!—Pull with a will, my men, pull; in an hour, you shall rummage the store-rooms of that fool, for your reward!»

1827 November 27, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter VIII, in The Red Rover, […], volume III, Paris: […] [Lachevardiere] for Hector Bossange, […], →OCLC, page 179:

So Willy and I were wedded: I wore a lilac gown; / And the ringers rang with a will, and he gave the ringers a crown.

1859 July 16, Alfred Tennyson, “The Grandmother”, in Enoch Arden, &c., London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], published 1864, →OCLC, stanza XV, page 121:

Now, nobody does anything well that they cannot help doing: work is only done well when it is done with a will; and no man has a thoroughly sound will unless he knows he is doing what he should, and is in his place.

1866, John Ruskin, “Lecture I. Work. (Delivered before the Working Men’s Institute, at Camberwell.)”, in The Crown of Wild Olive. Three Lectures on Work, Traffic, and War, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC, page 44:

Swimming with his right arm, he held up his left to hail them, splashing upon the waves, and shouting with all his might. […] Backing their oars and putting the boat about, they pulled towards him with a will, and in five or six minutes from the time of his first halloo, two of the sailors hauled him in over the stern.

1874, Thomas Hardy, “Adventures by the Shore”, in Far from the Madding Crowd. […], volume II, London: Smith, Elder & Co., […], →OCLC, page 208:

And then the whole crew bore chorus:— / "Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!" / And at the third "ho!" drove the bars before them with a will.

1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Voyage”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part II (The Sea Cook), pages 77–78:

Under the wide and starry sky, / Dig the grave and let me lie. / Glad did I live and gladly die, / And I laid me down with a will.

1884 May (date written), Robert Louis Stevenson, “Requiem”, in Underwoods, London: Chatto and Windus, […], published 1887, →OCLC, book I (In English), page 43:

Then an impromptu square dance, the men devising original figures. What merriment! Jimmy took his part with a will; this was seeing life, at least.

1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “After the Race”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 56:

Many a reader whose appetite rejoices in hearty fare tucked in his napkin, smacked his lips and fell to with a will.

1934 March 26, “Books: Hurstwurst [review of Anitra’s Dance (1934) by Fannie Hurst]”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2020-12-24, page 70:

He got Jagu's permission to spend the slack afternoon hours at the watchmender's without any trouble – Jagu was taciturn, but good-natured – and he set to learning the craft with a will.

1982, Anita Desai, chapter 9, in The Village by the Sea, New Delhi; New York, N.Y.: Puffin Books, published 1992, →ISBN, page 174:

(idiomatic, originally nautical, dated) With willingness and zeal; with all one's heart or strength; earnestly, heartily.

innolla

with willingness and zeal — see also earnestly, heartily


without day

The meeting was adjourned without day.

Without a day being fixed for reconvening.


by the rood

Sim[on]. I pray thee tell me now, coulde such a shrow as thou,
Content thy selfe with such a sheepe as I, how sayst thou now?
Sus[an]. A sheepe, nay by the Roode, I rather would haue guest
you, more a Hog like, then a sheepe […]

1577, Nicholas Breton, The Workes of a Young Wyt, London: Thomas Dawson and Thomas Gardyner:

Gertrude. Have you forgot me?
Hamlet. No, by the rood, not so!

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:

By the rood! if I had my will upon ye, I should nail you upon the abbey doors, as they hang vermin before their holes.

1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter 9, in The White Company, New York, N.Y., Boston, Mass.: Thomas Y[oung] Crowell & Company […], →OCLC:

(archaic) Used as an oath to emphasize the veracity of an associated statement; equivalent to "I swear on Christ's cross."


in ordinary

An ambassador in ordinary is one constantly resident at a foreign court.

The king experienced his first attack in autumn 1788, and as his condition worsened and the physicians-in-ordinary proved unable to cope or cure, the Reverend Dr Francis Willis (1717–1807), a clergyman doctor who ran a madhouse in Lincolnshire, was called in.

1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society, published 2016, page 263:

In an official capacity (chiefly as a post-modifier in official titles).

(nautical) Out of commission and laid up; said of a naval vessel.


cross lots

"I didn't see Crosby go by, did you?"¶ "He'd have had to foot it by the path 'cross-lots," replied Ezra, gravely, from the doorstep. "He's sold his hoss."

1890, Sarah Orne Jewett, “Law Lane”, in Tales of New England, page 189:

Across the fields; by way of a shortcut.


in proper

the princes found they could not have that in proper which God made to be common

1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:


in the rough

an artist's sketch in the rough

contemplating the people in the rough

1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Sixth Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC:

In an unwrought, unrefined, or unfinished condition; unpolished.


out of heart

[He] perceyuing the most part of the Brytaynes and Scottes to be but newe Souldiers, taken vp of late to fil the numbers, knew that by proceeding tyme they woulde be soone out of heart, throughe watching and euill harborough, in such sort that in the ende they shoulde be easie ynough to deale with:

1571, “The Historie of Scotlande”, in Holinshed’s Chronicles, London: John Hunne, page 33:

“[…] heaven knows how much longer we may have to wait. Poor Edward! It puts him quite out of heart.”

1811, Jane Austen, chapter 20, in Sense and Sensibility, volume 1, London: T. Egerton, page 308:

[…] he looked out of heart and very weary, having been all night afoot, either standing watch or doctoring the wounded.

1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 11, in Kidnapped, New York: Scribner, page 102:

The old man had come down the bank and was sitting on his heels nodding at Suttree’s work and making encouraging talk. He always expected everyone to be out of heart.

1979, Cormac McCarthy, chapter 24, in Suttree, New York: Random House:


on the cross

[…] in fact, any high mobs-man could get nine pounds each for tenners got “on the cross”; […]


at pleasure

I will at pleasure now revenge my wrong; And, Traytor, thou shalt feel my vengeance long

1670, John Dryden, The Conquest of Granada:


on the stump

Campaigning for public office; on the hustings.


at rovers

shooting at rovers

Bound down on every side with many bands because it shall not run at rovers.

1551 Raphe Robynson translation of Thomas More's Utopia T. F. Didbin's 1808 edition, Vol.2 Ch.9 p.161

You must always give your men of great reading leave to show their talents on the meanest subjects, says Eugenius ; it is a kind of shooting at rovers : where a man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim, to show his strength.

1726, Joseph Addison, Dialogues upon the usefulness of ancient medals: Especially in relation to the Latin and Greek poets:

(obsolete) At casual marks; hence, at random.


off the hooks

Or was Erskine out of his mind? And he himself Watt was he not perhaps slightly deranged? And Mr. Knott himself, was he quite right in his head? Were they not all three perhaps a little off the hooks?

1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Grove Press, published 1959, →OCLC:

In the evening, by water, to the Duke of Albemarle, whom I found mightily off the hooks that the ships are not gone out of the river.

1665 June 5 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “May 26th, 1665”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume V, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1895, →OCLC:

(colloquial) Unhinged; disturbed; disordered.


from the East German judge

Because of the reputation of East German judges for giving low scores to West Germans at sporting events.

The Birdman receives straight 6-figure contracts across the board except from the East German judge, who makes him pay for his own lunch and won't even validate parking.

1988, Linda Frye Burnham, High Performance:

“Nice pop, Aldo.” “Well, I guess a five-point-six from the East German judge. Let’s get moving.”

2003, Tom Clancy, The Teeth of the Tiger, The Berkley Publishing Group, page 444:

The Camry interior styling and fit and finish get eights, even from the East German judge, but the Kia's pull solid nines.

2007, Car and Driver, volume 52, page 72:

(humorous) Used with an imaginary low score in a competition.


of all loves

Mrs. Arden desired him of all loves to come back again.

1577, Raphaell Holinshed, The Firste Volume of the Chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande […], volume I, London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Iohn Harrison, →OCLC:

(obsolete, idiomatic) For the sake of all love; by all means.


in the straw

Excuse the blots and scrawl of this letter. I am writing in an astonishing hurry and my secretary is so much engaged in copying public, that he has no time to devote to private letters—and my female secretary is at present in the straw with a young gentleman who sends his compliments to you.

1789, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney to James Madison, 28 March, in The Documentary History of the First Federal Elections 1788–1790, vol. 1, ed. Merrill Jensen and Robert A. Becker, University of Wisconsin Press, 1976, page 218

(slang, archaic) Confined to bed because of pregnancy.


on one's guard

Be on your guard against pickpockets in the railway station.

One had to be on one's guard when thus confronted and, in the course of my numerous meetings with him, I had on occasion to exercise all my wits and be prepared at a moment's notice to parry a very awkward question, to which I would much rather have given a considered reply.

1944 March and April, Chas. S. Lake, “Some C.M.Es. I Have Known: VIII—Sir H. N. Gresley”, in Railway Magazine, page 74:


off someone's hands

Let me take that off your hands.

I’ve got everything I need. My house is paid for and my three children are off my hands and doing very well. I’ve never been envious of the players who have gone on and done well for themselves on the football pitch and financially.

2022 July 24, Susan Gray, quoting Tony Carr, “‘I trained Lampard and Ferdinand – but my best decision was starting a pension’”, in The Telegraph:


over the left shoulder

He said it, and it is true — over the left shoulder.

(obsolete, slang) Used as an aside to indicate insincerity, negation, or disbelief.


under hatches

Under arrest, or in slavery, distress, etc.


on the shady side of

a man on the shady side of fifty

Alice Marriot, a personator of male characters, who was on the shady side of forty at the time of her Galveston visit—and who had lost the “mold of form” of her early years

1962, Joseph Gallegly, Footlights on the Border:


against the hair

He is the wiser man, master doctor: he is a curer of souls, and you a curer of bodies; if you should fight, you go against the hair of your professions.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:

But his Army loved him not; all went unwillingly with him, and against the hair.

1644, David Hume, The History of the Houses of Douglas and Angus, Edinburgh, Part II, p. 248:

And yet hee’l smile, but then beware,
For sure it is against the hair;

1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 74:

(obsolete) In a rough and disagreeable manner; against the grain.


in blood

If we be English deer, be then in blood:
Not rascal-like, to fall down with a pinch.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:

(archaic, hunting) In a state of perfect health and vigour.

... his privies in blood (heirs) and privies in representation (executors and administrators). For it has not been doubted, that privies in blood and privies in representation might, after the death of the insane party, avoid his[…]

1870, Joseph Story, Commentaries on Equity Jurisprudence: As Administered in England and America, page 225:

In a blood relationship, in which one is related by blood.

Members of the foreign legion paid in blood for their new citizenship.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, blood. With blood; by losing blood.


by the eye

Assure thyself thou shalt have broth by the eye

c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, (please specify the page):


on one's own hook

(informal) On one's own account or responsibility; by oneself.


in the last analysis

in the final analysis
in the final analysis#English

Alternative form of in the final analysis


around one's ears

about one's ears
about one's ears#English


about one's ears

to bring something about one’s ears

The house collapsed about our ears.

In close proximity to one; near at hand.


in bits

Rudi went flying up into the air and landed flat on his back - his ligaments nearly landed in Old Trafford. Well, their team was in bits! We were in bits! Even the ref couldn't stop laughing!

2010, Eamonn O'Keefe, I Only Wanted to Play Football, page 40:

By this time I was in bits. I was livid. I was half going to run up to them and have it out right there and then.

2011, Brian Conaghan, The Boy Who Made it Rain, page 58:

He clapped his huge hands together and let out a roar of laughter. We started laughing, too. By the time he reached us, for no reason I could fathom other than he was laughing and we were following, we were in bits.

Some women's cycles don't return for years after they get off heroin. The withdrawal was so bad I wanted to die. I was in bits and I couldn't do anything. It was like everything caught up on me at once — emotionally, mentally and psychologically.

(UK, slang) In a state of extreme emotion, such as hilarity or rage.


in play

You mustn't take what I said so seriously, it was only said in play.

It's hard to tell which physical forces are in play at this altitude.

This deadly scenario with this hurricane is still in play, so please take precaution.

In operation, active, currently valid, at play, at work.

The ball is in play for an average of just seven minutes out of a sixty-minute game.

(sports) Available to be played according to the rules of the game in question; within the boundaries of the pitch etc.

Though the state has not changed hands in 20 years, the latest polls suggest it may now be in play.

(politics) Capable of being won by more than one party or candidate.

Despite the best efforts of the executive committee, it seems the company is now in play.


of counsel

(US, law) Used as the title of an attorney who has a relationship with a law firm or other organization, but is not an associate or a partner.


at all hands

On all sides; from every direction; generally.


down the wind

Birds fly swiftly down the wind.

In the direction of, and moving with, the wind.

He went down the wind still.

1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:


until all hours

I used to stay up until all hours watching television.

(informal) Until very late; until the small hours.


on it

—Jack, could you take a look at my computer? It won't boot up.
—I'm on it!

(informal) Actively doing something, or working to solve a (specified) problem.


in the wind's eye

(nautical) Directly toward the point from which the wind blows.


between wind and water

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-between wind and water.wav

(nautical) In that part of a ship's side or bottom which is frequently brought above water by the rolling of the ship, or fluctuation of the water's surface.

(colloquial, by extension) At the vulnerable part or point of anything.

(colloquial, euphemistic, by extension) At a person's crotch (i.e. between the sources of flatulence and urine).


out of frame

nor the devil himself , could hurt them, nor make them to go out of frame

1530, Hugh Latimer, letter to King Henry VIII:

(dated, idiomatic) Not in correct order or condition; irregular; disarranged.

To keep his identity mysterious, the boss only speaks from out of frame.

Not shown in a photographic frame, although present elsewhere in the scene that the frame depicts.


out of season

Not in a proper season or time; untimely; inopportune.


in two

They carry a branch half a day, meaning to do great things with it, and then they snap it in two.

1894 May, Rudyard Kipling, “Kaa’s Hunting”, in The Jungle Book, London, New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., published June 1894, →OCLC, page 47:

[I]f you can cleave it in two with one stroke of your sword, I will give you my daughter to wife.

1900, Andrew Lang, “The Twin Brothers”, in The Grey Fairy Book:

[S]outherners are expected to vote overwhelmingly to carve Africa's biggest country in two.

2011 January 10, Alex Perry, “Can Sudan Split Without Falling Apart?”, in Time, retrieved 2014-07-23:

(theater) Performed further back than "in one", but still not fully upstage.


out of gear

The work went on, until the noon-bell rang. More clattering upon the pavements. The looms, and wheels, and Hands all out of gear for an hour.

1854, Charles Dickens, “Chapter 11”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC:


FFO

2014, “Sea of Bones (Connecticut)/Snakewing/Titties/Spooky Basements/Ajna”
SNAKEWING (FFO: Black Flag, Negative Approach, Integrity, Melvins, the sound Sharon Osborne would make if Ozzy had a heart attack during sex)

(music) Initialism of for fans of (used by promoters to describe a band)


in the eye of the wind

A ship sails in the eye of the wind.

(nautical) In a direction opposed to the wind.


on the quarter

(nautical) In a direction between abeam and astern; opposite, or nearly opposite, a vessel's quarter.


in full feather

(colloquial) In full dress or in one's best clothes.

(colloquial) In good condition or high spirits.


up a stump

GEO. Why it's got to. Suppose we wandered out of it and took a chance at the language on our own responsibility, where the nation would we be? Up a stump, that's where. Our only safety is in sticking like wax to the text.

1892, Mark Twain, Meisterschaft: In Three Acts, act II, scene I, page 181:

Manager Dahlen said that Callahan and Stengel were so evenly matched that he was "up a stump" trying to pick between them.

1984, Robert W. Creamer, Stengel: His Life and Times, Bison Books, published 1996, →ISBN, page 67:

Whereas your ordinary middle-ranking persons, they never had the least notion of what it was, so naturally they were up a stump every time they come across it, you see.

1996, Mendel Mokher Sefarim, Dan Miron, & Ken Frieden, Tales of Mendele the Book Peddler, Fishke the Lame and Benjamin the Third, Schocken Books, →ISBN, page 243:

In fact, Darwin was unable to decide on a suitable present, telling his roommate that he was up a stump about what to get for his sister and new brother-in-law.

2009, Kent Freeland, A Street Called Darwin, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 54:

(informal) At a loss, puzzled, in a bind.


up the stump

Science is up the stump. She can't find out why green sorghum should be so quickly fatal to cattle, says an exchange.

1900, Queensland Agricultural Journal, volume 7, page 216:

He said old Dr. Blank had been attending to him all day, but was “up the stump” and wanted me to help.

1907, The American Journal of Clinical Medicine, volume 14, page 662:

Just today I gave his history class a few questions to answer and hand in, but when it came time to answering the last two he was up the stump.

2001, Suzanne L. Bunkers, Diaries of Girls and Women: A Midwestern American Sampler, University of Wisconsin Press, →ISBN, page 218:

Met him at a dance, a skinny little French-Canadian who shot her a line of bull and put her up the stump before waving goodbye from the troop train.

1976, Richard B. Wright, Farthings Fortune's, Macmillan of Canada, →ISBN, page 266:

"I'm real glad that you told me. When your mom and I got married, it was because she was up the stump, you know that, huh?"

1987, Anne Cameron, Stubby Amberchuk & The Holy Grail, Harbour Publishing, →ISBN, page 75:

You're up the stump, Edith Fulton. You're going to have a baby.

1989, David Helwig, A Postcard from Rome, Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 100:


on the mending hand

(archaic) convalescent; improving in health


on the earie

(slang) Listening or eavesdropping; staying alert for news.


in the nip

/ɪn ðə ˈnɪp/

The streaker ran across the playing field in the nip.

Father Dougal: Those women were in the nip!

1998, Graham Linehan & al., "Speed 3", Father Ted Series 3, Episode 3, Channel Four

(Ireland, UK, idiomatic, informal) Nude.


like peas and carrots

These vegetables are often served together.

like a house on fire
like a house on fire

(simile) Getting along very well; being compatible; like a house on fire.


for worlds

Of course I'm coming to your birthday party. I wouldn't miss it for worlds!

(in negative constructions) For any consideration; on any account.


like a boss

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

Usage peaked in 2008 after the release of the song "Like a Boss" by the comedy hip hop group The Lonely Island.

(Internet slang) skillfully, confidently


over medium

(US) Of an egg prepared as food, fried on both sides so as the whites are cooked, and the yolks are soft, but not runny.


pro parte

In part; used in nomenclature to denote that a taxon includes more than one currently recognized entity, and that only one of those entities is being considered.


in the refrigerator

This game's in the refrigerator. The door's closed, the light's out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard and the Jell-O's jiggling!

(basketball, slang) Of a game: having its outcome beyond a doubt, despite the fact that time is remaining before the final buzzer.


ex abundante cautela

Borrowed from Latin ex abundante cautēlā.

abundance of caution
abundance of caution


off one's tree

Deirdre was increasingly off her tree in the last sad days of our relationship. Her demands and quirks were ever more extravagant and dislocated.

1989, Robert McLiam Wilson, Ripley Bogle, Arcade Publishing, published 1998, →ISBN, page 192:

"These guys were off their tree," David Hawk recalled. At one point, a VMC activist asked the Weathermen what they were really after. "To kill all rich people," Ayers replied.

1994, Tom Wells, The War Within: America's Battle Over Vietnam, iUniverse, published 2005, →ISBN, page 391:

But after her wedding he goes completely off his tree, runs off into the wilderness and starts ranting in verse and writing poems in the sand with a stick.

2010, Anouchka Grose, Why Do Fools Fall in Love: A Realist's Guide to Romance, Tin House Books, published 2011, →ISBN, page 92:

(idiomatic) Crazy; unhinged; irrational.


out of one's tree

"'You outta your tree?' yelped Stan.'Choo say [Voldemort's] name for?'"

1999, J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:

Clay had learned to bring a book with him when he took Henry shopping; otherwise, he would go out of his tree with boredom.

2003, Diane Chamberlain, Kiss River, Mira, →ISBN, page 79:

I, again jokingly finalized: that to believe her own hypothesis, she had to be out of her tree, […]

2009, Terry Stocker, The Paleolithic Paradigm, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 324:

He was singing and sobbing and carrying on, out of his tree with alcohol, […]

2010, Helen Simpson, In-Flight Entertainment: Stories, Knopf, →ISBN:


off one's box

Say, if you call that acting well, you're off your box.

1896, Surgical Journal, volume 2, page 227:

"The conditions are disgusting aren't they?," he continued. "I don't know how people can. I mean, you'd have to be off your box to stay there for three days wouldn't you?

2008 April 24, Gary Flockhart, “These Modfathers aren't all they're cracked up to be”, in The Scotsman:

Annie: Anthony! Anthony! Don't you know what's happened here? Sir Jonathan has asked for our daughter's hand in marriage.
Belcher: Marry our Mary? Are you off your box, woman?

2012, Deborah McAndrew, A Government Inspector, Methuen Drama (2012), →ISBN, page 83:

(UK, slang) Crazy; unhinged; irrational.

The 44-year-old has admitted to cleaning up his act of late, kicking well-publicised drug addictions and now leading a healthier lifestyle with regular exercise and a passion for fruit smoothies.
He told the M.E.N. last week: "Innit just natural that when you're a kid you're off your box and when you're a grown up, you're not? It seems totally normal to me, that."

2007 July 11, Dianne Bourne, “Ryder happy to toe smoking line”, in Manchester Evening News:

Oh yeah, much happier, darling. I saw her smiling yesterday, a real smile and all. Not one of those weird ones she does, when she's off her box on the pills …

2010, Martina Cole, The Family, Headline, →ISBN:

So you know when you're off your box and you're dancing to this tune and the tune is one of your favourites, yeah? But because you're off your box, it's better than banging.

2012, Mike O'Leary, Misfits, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN:


out of one's box

Then she got a leg behind my knee and crash! I'm on the floor and she's flying on top of me, screaming like a maniac. I cover my face, trying to take deep breaths and all of a sudden she's flush on me, her mouth at my ear, laughing like hell with her fingers working on my ribs. Then I'm laughing too. "You're out of your box, girl," I say.

1966, Jay Neugeboren, Big Man, Mariner Books, published 2000, →ISBN, page 54:

Deep down, I didn't think it would succeed. I probably listened to too many people saying, "Mirandi, you're out of your box!"

2001, Miranda Speranza Masocco Levy, “The Belle of the Ball”, in John Pen La Farge, editor, Turn Left at the Sleeping Dog: Scripting the Santa Fe Legend, 1920-1955, University of New Mexico Press, published 2006, →ISBN, page 331:

As with so many things in this life, when it comes to shopping, men are from Marks and women are from Venus (you know gents, Venus, that vintage boutique in that arcade where you sat bored out of your box one Saturday afternoon when you could have been watching that crucial Villa/Blues/Baggies game).

2005 August 31, Caroline Foulkes, “Spend It Like Beckham”, in The Birmingham Post:

And Christ anyway, you trust her judgment? She's out of her box man. Fried.

1997, Kirk Lane, Never Hit the Ground, Pulp, published 1997, →ISBN, page 10:

And I'd be quietly filing, recalling that around that time I was dragging a wardrobe out of a ski with a biker who kept screaming like a wolf because he was out of his box on magic mushrooms […]

2001, Mark Steel, Reasons to Be Cheerful: From Punk to New Labour Through the Eyes of a Dedicated Troublemaker, Scribner, published 2001, →ISBN, page 94:

It was hard to tell sometimes with Junius Booth whether he was just plain insane or merely out of his box on booze, so famed was he for his eccentric nature.

2012, Robert Sellers, An A-Z of Hellraisers: A Comprehensive Compendium of Outrageous Insobriety, Preface Publishing, published 2010, →ISBN:


in pairs

Whenever possible locomotives make the journey in pairs between Waterloo and Nine Elms, in order to minimise line occupation.

1962 April, J. N. Faulkner, “Summer Saturday at Waterloo”, in Modern Railways, page 265:


without fear or favour

The judge made his decision without fear or favour.


IMX

(Internet slang) Acronym of in my experience.


on the table

The proposed new bill will soon be on the table in Parliament.

(politics) Up for formal discussion; tabled.

"We made an offer about two weeks ago, which is still on the table," he said. "We have not withdrawn it, and hope they will consider it."

1994 June 30, Kenneth N. Gilpin, “Dart Family Files Lawsuit To Nudge Brazilian Bank”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-04-06:

Israeli intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz said all options were open for Israel. "If we have no choice, we have no choice...the military option is on the table," he said.

2015 April 3, Jonathan Broder, Matthew Cooper, “Iran Was the Easy Part: Obama Takes His Nuke Deal to Congress”, in Newsweek, retrieved 2014-04-06:

(idiomatic, by extension) Open or available for further attention or action.


at risk

to put at risk

The entire population initially seemed at risk of infection.

In a state or condition marked by a level of risk or vulnerability.

vaarassa

In a condition marked by a level of risk


within reason

To an extent which is reasonable; not beyond what is reasonable.


on the gripping hand

From the 1993 novel The Gripping Hand, by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, in which three-armed aliens use the phrase in a way akin to "on the other hand".

But, there is no previously unseen "far side" of Mars. It shows us all of itself.¶ On the other hand, the crew of the Kilroy would probably be able to see the back of the moon after the got past its orbit on their way to Mars.¶ On the gripping hand, by the time there was a flight to Mars, one would expect that flights past the moon had previously occurred.

1994 October 26, Michael Stemper, “Re: Dated Science Fiction”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <CyAHDA.tq6@empros.com>:

Not all of us are protected by having common names or by having rare names which are all but impossible to remember or spell correctly.¶ However, I haven't seen evidence that such protection is especially necessary. On the gripping hand, con badges with nicknames seems like a low-risk way of making some people more comfortable.

2001 September 8, Nancy Lebovitz, “Re: Notes on a Worldcon”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <9ndq8v$235@netaxs.com>:

Louise had two new books, one black, one red. Apparently they were about the occult. On the one hand, we needed to know what we were dealing with. On the other, I didn't think that it was the sort of thing we should be getting involved with ourselves. On the gripping hand we didn't have to use it ourselves, so that was alright.

2014, Sarah McGee, The Thin Ice, →ISBN, page 13:

(fandom slang, sequence, idiomatic) from a third point of view


under center

Bill O’Brien’s quarterback preferences aren’t quite as clear, and the Texans don’t have an obvious solution under center, but he’s also exhibited an interest in big-armed mediocrities.

2014, Bill Barnwell, What’s Next for RG3? Breaking Down 10 Possible Destinations:

(American football) Playing at the quarterback position.

(American football) (Of the quarterback) initiating play from immediately behind the center.


tbh

Alternative form: TBH

Even the model and actress Julia Fox commented under one post on TikTok, revealing that she’s also celibate and is enjoying it: “2.5 years of celibacy and never been better tbh,” she wrote.

2024 May 14, Gina Cherelus, quoting Julia Fox, “Bumble to Users: You Need Sex. Users to Bumble: Get Lost.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Exact figures aren’t known quite yet, but WWD reported that the perfume was expected to bring home $60 million in sales for its first year on the market. Tbh, the fact that Billie [Eilish] dropped her second fragrance, aptly named Eilish No. 2, just in time for the holidays in 2021 means that she probs met that figure, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

2024 September 4, Mehera Bonner, Samantha Olson, “Behold, A Breakdown of Billie Eilish's Massive Net Worth”, in Cosmopolitan:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of to be honest.


in unison

Moving, acting, or uttering of speech all at the same time.


for the Gipper

For quotations using this term, see Citations:for the Gipper.

win one for the Gipper
win one for the Gipper#English

(US, of the efforts of a team, chiefly in win one for the Gipper) In dedication to someone held in high regard.


to the nth degree

Simultaneously stunned and utterly smitten, the Moevitian fell in love with the vision before him that night: a goddess, a new-age angel, an artist in possession of perfect pitch, a two-plus-octave range, and vocal gorgeosities to the nth degree.

2000, Judith Fitzgerald, Sarah McLachlan: Building a Mystery, New Millennium edition, Kingston, Ont.: Quarry Music Books, →ISBN, page 49:

Asnicar said forensic officers were examining the Murray Street house, an operation he said which could take “several days” ... This will be done to the nth degree and we will cover every angle.

His long-awaited portmanteau, which premiered in Cannes on Monday, is the most Anderson of all Anderson films. It's Anderson distilled, Anderson squared, Anderson to the nth degree.

2021 July 12, Nicholas Barber, “The French Dispatch: Four stars for Wes Anderson's latest”, in BBC:

(idiomatic) As much as possible, to the greatest extent.


of one's choice

He got into the university of his choice.

That one has chosen, or wishes to choose.

個人選擇的

that one has chosen, or wishes to choose

(of a female; plural: of males, of females, of males and females) ihrer Wahl — The usage example would be: Er gelangte an die Universität seiner Wahl.


inside the box

"To the extent the box keeps the outside world away — then, yes, it is better to think inside the box."

2005 June 1, Martin Kihn, “"Outside the Box": The Inside Story”, in Fast Company:


like one owns the place

He strutted in here like he owned the place.

(informal) With a sense of arrogant superiority.


down the gurgler

(Australia, New Zealand, informal) Synonym of down the drain


without a hitch

So far Mr. Martindale's journey had been without a hitch

1908, Herbert Strang, Samba: A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo:

(of an event or process) Without any problems.

The truck he'd bought was without a hitch.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see without, hitch.


in full

My creditors insist on being repaid in full before the end of the month.


on the floor

I got a '69 Chevy with a 396/Fuelie heads and a Hurst on the floor.

(US, automotive) Mounted on the floor of an automobile

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


with one's dick in one's hand

They needed help and all he could do was stand there with his dick in his hand.

There was plenty of work to be done but he was just standing around with his dick in his hand.

“If Jarvis or your stripper friend gets wasted or snorts some cocaine, any confessions are going to be thrown out and we'll be standing around with our dicks in our hands.”

2011, John Schlarbaum, When Angels Fail to Fly, →ISBN:

'Second, if you guys had done your work we wouldn't be here now with our dicks in our hands waiting for the Goddamn world to end!'

2014, Malcolm Kohll, chapter 78, in Good Hope, London: Thames River Press, →ISBN, page 406:

“We need to take action now! Now is not the time to be standing around with our dicks in our hands— ”

2014, Marcus Richardson, Apache Dawn, page 129:

1972, The Godfather, ‘’Sonny:’’ Hey, listen, I want somebody good - and I mean very good - to plant that gun. I don't want my brother coming out of that toilet with just his dick in his hands, alright?

(idiomatic, vulgar, informal) In a state of being unprepared, powerless, or idle; in any case, getting nothing done.


in fairness

Chelsea were given a debatable penalty for Eden Hazard to make it 2-1 in the first period of extra-time and it was another night of repeat offending from Costa. Mourinho, in fairness, focused on his team’s shortcomings rather than any misplaced sense of injustice and even called for Uefa to let Ibrahimovic off.

2015 March 12, Daniel Taylor, “Chelsea out of Champions League after Thiago Silva sends 10-man PSG through on away goals”, in The Guardian (London):

The chap opposite seems to be trying to pull a fast one, and having seen the guard is trying to buy a ticket online... but doesn't succeed. The guard helpfully sells him one, but not quite at the price of one purchased in advance. In fairness he doesn't kick off, nor does the guard treat him like some common criminal. It's a fair cop - or should that be a fare cop?

2024 April 17, “Rural railways: do they deliver?”, in RAIL, number 1007, page 57:

As a counterpoint; for the sake of balance; to lessen the harm. [with to]


to one's way of thinking

He shouldn't be given a promotion, to my way of thinking.

as far as one is concerned
as far as one is concerned

in one's opinion; as far as one is concerned


with prejudice

To terminate with prejudice means that a note will be put in his file strongly recommending that no future contact be initiated (nor will he be be [sic] given the means to establish it).

(formal) Without the possibility of future action that reverses the decision.

The charges were dismissed with prejudice.

(law) Without the possibility of bringing a new case on the same basis.


after a fashion

Coordinate term: as it were


while we're young

(idiomatic) soon, without much delay (urging someone to hurry up)


like a wet weekend

a face like a wet weekend


on fleek

Lexico
Newsweek
The Fader
Urban Dictionary

Origin unknown. Early entries for fleek in the Urban Dictionary date to 2003 (defined as “smooth, nice, sweet”) and 2009 (“awesome”); perhaps as a blend of fly (“well dressed, smart in appearance; in style, cool”) + sleek. The term was popularized by a video posted on the online video-hosting service Vine on June 21, 2014 by Chicago-area teen Kayla Newman, under her username “Peaches Monroee”, in which Newman, who had just had her eyebrows done for the first time, proudly declared “eyebrows on fleek”. She claimed that the term “just came to [her] out of the blue”. Lexico suggests it is “apparently an arbitrary formation”.

blend

Mama's fried chicken is on fleek. Popeye's is a close second, but mama's is number one.

2015 March 19, April Oberman, quoting Jalen Luter, “The Four Food Groups in the South: Home-cooked Cuisine to Live By”, in Beryl Kessio, editor, The Crimson Crier, number VI, Harvest, Ala.: Sparkman High School, page 8, column 2:

The vocal interplay between Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson was (as the kids say), on fleek.

2015 April 2–8, Eleni P. Austin, “Kate Pierson: ‘Guitars and Microphones’ (Lazy Meadow Music)”, in Tracy Dietlin, editor, Coachella Valley Weekly, volume 4, number 2, Coachella Valley, Calif.: Tracy Dietlin, page 14, column 1:

Aquarius […] Your career game will be on fleek when the sun goes into Cancer on June 21.

2015 May 22, Aurora Tower, “Here’s Your Complete Love and Life Horoscope for Summer”, in Cosmopolitan, New York, N.Y.: Hearst Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-06-23:

If you want to do outdoorsy things, follow the crowds to Clear Creek Canyon for climbing, Mt. Evans for hiking/climbing, and Summit County for skiing/snowboarding. Be mindful that Summit County is totes legit and your kit must be on fleek.

2017 December 14, Nick Doublas, quoting “Piney the 2x4”, “The Best Denver, CO Hacks from Our Readers”, in Lifehacker, archived from the original on 2021-06-13:

"This media we call social," the poem says, "is anything but." There is nothing wrong with wanting to document good times, on-fleek outfits and maybe even a particularly scrumptious Starbucks order. Just don't make it a priority.

2015 January 20, Abagail Kruise, “Don’t make social media a top priority, spend some time offline with loved ones”, in Cameron Teague Robinson, editor, The BG News, volume 94, number 54, Bowling Green, Oh.: Bowling Green State University, →OCLC, page 4, column 5:

Your coat has to really be on fleek to be dope in New York. Your outerwear just has to be on point at all times. That's really the first thing people see.

2015 February, Dio Anthony, quoting Xosha Roquemore, “Xosha Roquemore: The Realist”, in Aleksandar Tomovic, editor, Bello, West Hollywood, Calif.: Bello Media Group, Image Nation Studio, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 92, column 3:

After several costume changes, I settled on an acceptably less-crazy dress and boots. It's just that I was so damn excited about my first trip to The Grey and I needed my look on fleek, OK?

2015 February 4–10, Jessica Leigh Lebos, “Catching shades of Grey”, in Jim Morekis, editor, Connect Savannah: The News, Arts & Entertainment Weekly, Savannah, Ga.: Morris Multimedia, page 10, column 1:

No wonder her fashion choices are on fleek.

2017 December 6, Anna Murphy, “A bustier is still a killer way to power-dress”, in The Times, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2018-03-10:

(slang, of an article of clothing or outfit) Stylish and perfectly chosen or put together.

"I'm definitely pro-eyebrow, but don't go overboard. You gotta have your eyebrows filled in just the right amount for them to be on fleek," [said] Senior Raven Johnson.

2014 October 16, Ryan Ghisetti, “New brow-raising trend emerges”, in Gillen Martin, Zoe Ziegler, editors, The Arcata High School Pepperbox, volume 87, number 1, Arcata, Calif.: Arcata High School, page 30, column 2:

One day their weave might be “on fleek” (looking good) then the next morning they wake up looking like Django when he was chained, and that's a scary sight.

2015 April, Wanya Williams, “Keepin’ It Real or Keepin’ a Weave”, in Sarah Asch, Riley Kuffner, Holly Parkin, editors, The Tam News, volume X, number VI, Mill Valley, Calif.: Tamalpais High School, page 23, column 3:

Her hair was on fleek or whatever them dumb hoes be saying on Instagram.

2015 April 1, Deborah Collins, “TC”, in Down Bad, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN:

"I used to say Natalia looked fit,"” she [Emer] explains, "but now I'm like, 'Your eyebrows are on fleek.'"

2017 December 22, Annie Lord, “Exploring the Future of Makeup with the Highly-contoured Teens of Beautycon”, in Vice, New York, N.Y.: Vice Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-07-11:

(slang, of eyebrows or hair) Sleek and perfectly groomed or styled; well-groomed.


in the pudding club

* Possibly derived from the round shape of a pregnant abdomen, resembling that of a traditional boiled pudding.
* An alternative suggestion is an association with dialectal English pod (“belly”), German puddig (“swollen”), Westphalian Low German Puddek (“lump, pudding”).

(UK, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, colloquial, slang) Pregnant.


on the wrong side of history

Washington reporters . . . were seen by the president's people as on the wrong side of history—both technologically and politically.

1993 June 27, “The 'Jurassic Park' Press”, in Newsweek, retrieved 2015-04-21:

As gays have moved into the mainstream, Republicans have landed on the wrong side of history.

2007 June 14, Michael Kinsley, “The Quiet Gay Revolution”, in Time, retrieved 2015-04-21:

The Roberts court has too often been on the wrong side of history, most pointedly in its retrograde refusal to protect the right to vote.

2014 June 25, Linda Greenhouse, “The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Cellphone Privacy”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-04-21:

(idiomatic, usually politics, derogatory) Having policies or practices that are perceived as not progressive or enlightened; behaving in a manner that reflects out-of-date or disapproved opinions.


by hell

By hell, she's thick!

(vulgar) Exclamation of shock or surprise.


WROL

(survivalism) Initialism of without rule of law: describing a situation where police and legal systems have broken down


up to 11

It's the weekly half hour when the emotion is turned up to 11 but the atmosphere is so quietened that you can hear the dust clattering against the studio's lighting rig.

2010 May 22, Shane Hegarty, “Intimate details prove too close to the chat-show bone”, in The Irish Times, Dublin: Irish Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2016-04-22:

All of our ring personas are elements of our real personalities, but turned up to 11.

2012 August 15, Chris Richards, “Blade is set to cut other wrestlers down to size”, in Brentwood Gazette:

But because this is the internet, someone always has to pitch in and turn the hostility up to 11.

2015 April 18, Helen Lewis, “If only the sci-fi writers who hijacked the Hugo awards had the wit to imagine a world beyond the Good Old Days”, in The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-09-10:


in pig

‘I am in pig, what d'you think of that?’
‘A most hideous expression, Linda dear,’ said Aunt Emily, ‘but I suppose we must congratulate you.’

1945, Nancy Mitford, The Pursuit of Love, Penguin, published 2010, page 84:

(of a sow) Pregnant; also (humorous) used of a woman.


on pump

to buy something on pump

(US, Nebraska) On credit; with payment delayed until later.


in close neighbourhood

(archaic, figurative) Within close proximity.


in close neighborhood

And being in close neighborhood with the enemy we were necessitated to be pretty alert.

in close neighbourhood
in close neighbourhood#English

Alternative form of in close neighbourhood


on nodding terms

to be on nodding terms with one's neighbours

perhaps there was a squirrel or two whom he could befriend, or at least one day be on nodding terms with.

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

Having a relationship which is not close or fully developed (with someone).


on song

Alex (not on) Song as ITV pundit in Berlin -- West Ham's former Barcelona player endured a tough evening in ITV's Champions League final studio. https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/alex--not-on--song-as-itv-pundit-192922810.html

(UK, informal) Playing or performing well.


in duplicate

This contract is in duplicate.


up on one's ear

When you got up on your ear and called me names, and said I had brought you eleven miles to look at a sapling, didn't I explain to you that all the whale-ships in the North Seas had been wooding off of it for more than twenty-seven years?

1870–1871 (date written), Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “”, in Roughing It, Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company [et al.], published 1872, →OCLC, page 552:

[H]e has been wronged, so he gets up on his ear, and he kicks like a two-year-old bay steer.

1890, Samuel R Brown, May-day dreams, Passion flowers, Poetic flights and prosy thoughts, book 3, p. 86 (Google preview):

"He's right up on his ear," said Clint gloomily. "If he gets us now he will send us all packing, and don't you doubt it!"

1916, Ralph Henry Barbour, chapter 10, in Left Guard Gilbert:

I know a salesman of this sort who will never make his mark, who flares up, "gets up on his ear," as they say, when ever his sensitive, sore spots are touched.

1916, Orison Swett Marden, Selling Things (reprinted in How to Sell without "Selling", Robert C. Worstell ed., 2014), ch. 23 (Google preview)


to let

Of a property: being advertised for rent.


round the wicket

Benaud, bowling round the wicket and pitching into the rough of Trueman's footholds, brought such a collapse that in 20 minutes to tea England virtually lost the game.

2011, Steven Lynch, Wisden on the Ashes: The Authoritative Story of Cricket's Greatest Rivalry:

around the wicket
around the wicket#English

(cricket) Alternative form of around the wicket


in town

He'll be in town next week for business.

Tell everyone I'll be in town for a few days.

They definitely make the best burgers in town.

Lots of new businesses are opening up in town.

In the town or city where one lives; in the town or city being referenced.

(as traditionally used in the environs of London, England, sometimes written 'in Town') In London, especially central London.

In the growing gambling industry, alongside table games (poker, roulette, etc.) and slot machines, there is a new game in town.

2012, William Schnoebelen, Romancing Death:

(informal) Present; making an appearance.


at play

There are children at play in the street.

Another opposition force at play is the Move Forward party – hugely popular among young Thais for its radical reform agenda.

2023 May 14, Heather Chen, Kocha Olarn, “Polls close in Thailand as opposition takes on kingdom’s conservative cliques”, in CNN:


on the outside looking in

on the outside, looking in
on the outside, looking in#English

Alternative form of on the outside, looking in


on the outside, looking in

Won't you take me back again? I'll be waiting here till then / On the outside looking in

1964, “I’m On the Outside (Looking In)”, performed by Little Anthony and the Imperials:

"In a sense, I've always felt on the outside, looking in," Mr. Douglas says. "It's my background, damn it. My father was an illiterate Russian immigrant, a ragman, the lowest rung on the economic scale. There were six sisters and my mother; I was the only boy. To be a young Jewish boy in a town—Amsterdam, in upstate New York—that was quite anti-Semitic."

1988 August 24, Mervyn Rothstein, “Kirk Douglas And Anger”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-08-02:

A recurrent theme of Theroux's books is this sense of being an alien, on the outside looking in.

1997 May 18, Marianne Macdonald, “Who is Paul Theroux?”, in Independent (UK), retrieved 2015-08-02:

While China's economy soars, hundreds of millions of migrant workers and rural peasants have been left on the outside looking in.

2007 August 2, Ishaan Tharoor, “India's Democratic Advantage”, in Time, retrieved 2015-08-02:

(idiomatic) Excluded from a group, process, or opportunity, and feeling downhearted as a result.


through the gate

(cricket, slang) Through a gap between the bat and the batsman's shin pad.


for Africa

Suggesting large aid donations to the Third World.

Every Christmas, my mother makes fruitcakes for Africa.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see for, Africa.


above one's pay grade

beyond one's pay grade
beyond one's pay grade#English


in season

Morel mushrooms are only in season for a few weeks in spring.


on the pat and mick

on the Pat and Mick
on the Pat and Mick#English


on the Pat and Mick

Rhyming slang for on the sick. Pat and Mick are stereotypical Irish names.

Things are very different when you are off on the sick. . . . For a start, when you are on the Pat and Mick you no longer go to work.

1981 October 2, Jack McLean, “Limping along the road to recovery”, in Glasgow Herald, Scotland, retrieved 2015-08-10:

I'm on the pat and mick at the mo. Only went to town to see my mother off on the train, as she'd come down for the weekend to cheer me up.

2008 July 22, Daisy Dart, “Re: Fatal bus accident in Leeds”, in Bus and Coach Forum, UK, retrieved 2015-08-10:

While lifting the SD1's battery the handle came off. . . . [I]t then bounced and landed on my foot—good job I was wearing my toetectors otherwise I would have spent Christmas on the pat and mick.

2013 Dec. 8, Bren, "Dropped car battery," autoshite.com Motoring chat forum (UK) (retrieved 10 Aug 2015)

Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang

(Cockney rhyming slang) Sick; out of commission due to being unwell.


at places

I felt dizzy and fainting at places, but I still made it to the finish line.

Light to moderate rain/temporary showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over the area with moderately heavy falls at places.

2013, A.S. IslamS. Attwoodet al., Assessment of capabilities, needs of communities, opportunities and ...:

Concern about the relationship between disorder and crime is further deepened by the fact that disorder and crime often co-exist at places.

2007, Sue-Ming Yang, Causal Or Merely Co-existing: A Longitudinal Study of Violence and Disorder:

(idiomatic) In some, possibly rare places.


at variance

For the good and the wicked are ever at variance with each other, and also sometimes the wicked are at variance with each other, and moreover a wicked man is sometimes at variance with himself.

(idiomatic) not in accord; in a state of disagreement


in the line of duty

"I'd hate to have the Inspector send in a report to headquarters, 'Constable Beresford missing in the line of duty.'"

1922, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 35, in Man Size:

Last year 88 other U.S. policemen were killed in the line of duty.

1965 September 10, “Helping the Widows”, in Time, retrieved 2018-03-20:

Quinn's friends repeat the mantra that Officer Galluzzo was just doing his job, the implication being that mistakes made in the line of duty should be forgiven.

2015 December 18, Kekla Magoon, “Review of All American Boy by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely”, in New York Times, retrieved 2018-03-20:

(idiomatic) As part of or while performing official duties, usually of the military or police personnel, or of government officials.

as part of or while performing official duties

при исполне́нии служе́бных обя́занностей

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, line, of, duty.


away from home

(UK, sports) Away; at the venue of an opposing team or competitor.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see away, from, home.


on the road

Some salesmen spend a lot of time on the road.

(US, Canada, sports) At the venue of an opposing team or competitor.

Of a purchased vehicle: including everything required in order to start driving, such as registration and taxes.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, the, road.


on talking terms

They weren't on talking terms last time we saw them.

It is more professional to accept differences, no matter what the grievance, and walk away on talking terms.

We are on talking terms with him about his business.

(idiomatic) able to talk with someone, either in general or about the particular topic

Reality and I were simply not on talking terms.

(idiomatic, figuratively) in agreement or harmony with (something)

After completing the last lesson, the student should be on “talking terms” with anyone who discusses the subject of algebra.

(rare) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, talking, terms.


on a tear

/ɒn ə ˈtɛə(ɹ)/

[T]he team was on a tear, having laid waste to three early round tournament opponents by a total victory margin of 82 points.

1981 April 13, “Sport: Raging Bull of Basketball”, in Time, retrieved 2015-08-28:

To say he went on a tear after turning professional would be an understatement. He went fourteen fights without tasting defeat.

2014 November 7, Dan Hardy, “Michael Bisping analysis”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 2015-08-28:

[T]he market has been on a tear for more than six years and continues to trade near record highs.

2015 July 9, William D. Cohan, “The Bumbling, Irrelevant New York Stock Exchange”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-08-28:

(idiomatic) engaged in a continuous, fast-paced procession of actions or events, especially with favorable results.

Congress has been hopping mad and the U.N.-haters have been on a tear.

2001 May 29, Thomas L. Friedman, “Foreign Affairs: 95 to 5”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-08-28:

[W]hen the gay activist and playwright Larry Kramer goes on a tear, when he really lays into somebody about being politically lazy or not wearing a condom,. . . [y]ou hear rage.

2012 September 27, Wesley Morris, “‘How to Survive a Plague’ looks back at AIDS activism’s power”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 2015-08-28:

(idiomatic) In or into a protracted state of agitation, fury, or zeal.

The man I want to tell you about, the one I met at the bar at Jimmy's Steak House, was on a tear. Hardly surprising, since this was a bar, after all, and what do people do at bars except drink, and one drink leads to another -- and if you're in a certain frame of mind, I suppose, you don't stop for a day or two or maybe more.

2013, T. C. Boyle, T.C. Boyle Stories II: The Collected Stories of T. Coraghessan Boyle, →ISBN:

That Kelly, when he goes on a tear, he don't wait for the bars to open.

1998, Dana Stabenow, Fire and Ice, page 77:

Binge drinking; engaged in a bout of heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages; on a bender.


in the furtherance of justice

in the interest of justice
in the interest of justice#English


in the interest of justice

Motion to dismiss in the interest of justice

(law, US, idiomatic) the reason of case dismissal used when the judge decides that justice will be best served when the case is dismissed

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, interest, of, justice.


by one's lonesome

on one's lonesome
on one's lonesome#English


on one's lonesome

"Sittin' there all on her lonesome the whole day long, it's understandable she gets down in the dumps."

1996, Joan Jonker, Sweet Rosie O'Grady (2012 Headline ebook edition), Google books online

But his skills with a bike were unassailable — while the factory teams were struggling with setup, it was Dunlop on his lonesome that gave the company its first International victories.

2003, Aaron P. Frank, Honda Motorcycles, →ISBN, page 176:

Working on his lonesome every day definitely had him craving a bit of human company.

2015, Josephine Myles, chapter 10, in Scrap, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) Alone; without aid or accompaniment.


on the wind

(nautical) As close as possible to the direction that the wind is blowing.


off-air

He agreed to an off-air interview.

Alternative spelling of off air, especially when used attributively.


off the lay

(of domestic poultry) having stopped laying eggs for some reason.


BEO

(space flight) Abbreviation of beyond Earth orbit.


for England

Suggests that if there was a world championship for the given action, the person under discussion could compete on the national team.

Before Venita, who could chatter for England, had a chance to hand over too much more information, Marty jumped in defensively.

2011, Bernardine Kennedy, Past Chances, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

She always wore the most disgustingly old-fashioned clothes and she could moan and complain for England but the thing that really bugged Sharon about Anne was that, despite having the disposition of a wet weekend in Scarborough, she always signed her departmental notes 'Annie' and she always turned the dot on the 'i' into a flower.

2014, David Menon, Fireflies: Detective Superintendent Jeff Barton #2, David Menon:

She could sleep for England. It's not unusual for teenagers to sleep for England, I know, but I believe Amy experienced depressions in her early teens.

2014, Janis Winehouse, Loving Amy: A Mother's Story, Random House, →ISBN:

(UK, idiomatic) Very well or for a long time.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see for, England.


up to one's eyes

He wrote that Gillies "even dressed my woulds himself and visited me at night to see if I was comfortable, though he was up to his eyes in work."

2022, Lindsey Fitzharris, The Facemaker, page 78:

up to one's eyeballs
up to one's eyeballs#English


in the bed

She's a real freak in the bed.


for all one knows

I haven't seen her for weeks. For all I know, she's moved to another country.

Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

1980 March 7, Billy Joel, “You May Be Right”, in Glass Houses:

Possibly or conceivably, given one's limited knowledge.


like merry hell

But basically the classical musicians kept their eyes glued to their parts and played like merry hell, and the drummer kept his eyes glued on the conductor drummed like merry hell whenever he was cued—but there was no emotional unity […]

2003, Maxwell Steer, Music and Mysticism: Parts 3 and 4, page 11:

They saw us and ran for it like merry hell, trying to get there and plunder it before we could raise the alarm.

2015, Jonathan Peace, The Bloodstone Of Cerillion, page 51:


like one needs a hole in the head

I need another parking citation like I need a hole in the head.


at adventure

From Middle English at aventure, a calque of Anglo-Norman and Old French a l'aventure (“at random”).

(obsolete) Alternative form of at a venture


at a venture

From earlier at adventure, with the same meaning, from Anglo-Norman and Old French a l'aventure (“at random”).

For when the Mind is once re-pleniſh’d with ſound and good Principles, not taken up at a Venture, but upon the most mature Deliberation, what can we reaſonably expect, but that it ſhould exert it ſelf in a ſuitable Manner upon all proper Occaſions.

1713, George Oldham, A Sermon Preach’d at Bishop’s-Stortford in Hertfordshire, Aug. 25. 1713. at the Anniversary Solemnity of the School-Feast.:

For my own part, I never in my life began a letter more at a venture than the present.

He had nothing better to do than to take chance for his guide, and to go at a venture through the streets of the city.

1911, Jules Verne, translated by Charles F. Horne, Round the World in Eighty Days:

(dated) at random, without application of due thought, haphazardly or recklessly


on someone's mind

She had been on his mind since they met at the bar late last night.

(idiomatic) Preoccupying someone; present in someone's thoughts.