across the ditch

By analogy with across the pond, and the fact that the Tasman Sea is much smaller than the Atlantic Ocean.

The rate of arrivals fluctuates with the relative economic fortunes of each country, but since the late 1960s, faster growth, higher wages, greater job opportunities and a stronger dollar have been an economic magnet drawing New Zealanders across the ditch.

2016, Peter Mares, Not Quite Australian: How Temporary Migration Is Changing the Nation, →ISBN:

(informal, Australia, New Zealand) On or to the other side of the Tasman Sea.


with closed doors

behind closed doors
behind closed doors#English

Synonym of behind closed doors (“in private”)


by fair means or foul

[Utterson] resumed; "if not by fair means, then by foul—if not of your consent, then by brute force!"

1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, page 82:

By any means necessary, not excluding dirty tricks.


in full cry

"I started straight for the Sukkestad-moor and had scarcely let the hounds loose, before they found scent and were soon in full cry."

1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 76:

Of a pack of hunting dogs: baying together while in active pursuit of quarry.


by no manner of means

(archaic, formal) Under no circumstances whatsoever; not at all.


on the horizon

The goals and entertainment dried up after the break as Wales made a raft of substitutions but, with more meaningful challenges to come, a capacity crowd at the Stok Racecourse appreciated the bigger picture with Croatia on the horizon.

2023 October 11, Dafydd Pritchard, “Wales 4-0 Gibraltar”, in BBC Sport:


like sin

(slang) Very much, or very hard; strongly.


pma

(copyright law) Alternative form of p.m.a.


p.m.a.

post mortem auctoris
post mortem auctoris#English

(copyright law) Initialism of post mortem auctoris.


post mortem auctoris

Borrowed from Latin post mortem auctoris.

(chiefly copyright law) After the death date of the author of a work.


under correction

Subject to being corrected, if mistaken.


in a manner

In order to judge properly of the question before us, we must consider it minutely in its principal parts. I conceive myself that it is of a mixed nature—it is in a manner unprecedented; we cannot find one express example […]

1830, Niles' Weekly Register, volume 38, page 298:


from womb to tomb

from the cradle to the grave
from the cradle to the grave#English

(idiomatic) Synonym of from the cradle to the grave


from the womb to the tomb

from womb to tomb
from womb to tomb#English


in a sense

In one sense or interpretation, but not in all ways.


underneath one's breath

When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

under one's breath
under one's breath#English


on top of one's game

at the top of one's game
at the top of one's game#English

Alternative form of at the top of one's game


at the top of one's game

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-at the top of one's game.wav

(informal) Performing as well as one can.


by sight

to know by sight


at the top of the tree

Apple’s at the top of the tree, but the winds of change can blow it down [title]

2016 April 3, “Apple’s at the top of the tree, but the winds of change can blow it down”, in The Guardian:

(informal, figuratively) At the highest level.


on a promise

(UK, colloquial) Looking forward to sexual intercourse later.


in all conscience

I cannot, in all conscience, have somebody doing so much work for us and not getting paid.

[…] half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require; […]

c. 1703-20, “A Letter to a Very Young Lady on Her Marriage”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, John Boyle, Patrick Delany, John Hawkesworth, Deane Swift, William Bowyer, John Birch, George Faulkner, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, volume 5, Jonathan Swift:

He needed every penny of profit the Sofala could make. Little enough it was, in all conscience!

1902, Joseph Conrad, The End of the Tether:

It would seem as if the touch of a democratic and anarchical independence had paralysed improvement, which was, in all conscience, slow enough, even in the viceregal times.

2014, Clements R. Markham, Cuzco and Lima, page 285:

But could you, in all conscience, deprive these good people, who are, after all, trying to do their best, of meaningful employment, of earning their livelihoods?

2014, Belva Boroditsky Thomas, The Longest Adventure, page 201:

There was a clear sectarian bias in the proposition that Christian groups or churches were being funded from abroad and no professional news organization or editor could in all conscience let such writings pass for news.

2015, Wendy Doniger, Martha C. Nussbaum, Pluralism and Democracy in India:

God has nowhere been left without witness, and, in ways beyond our knowing, women and men who have never heard the Christian gospel, or having heard it, have, in all conscience, declined to accept it have known God's “uncovenanted mercies” and, by reason of what Anglican theologians often refer to as the ministry of the “unincarnate Logos,” have come to be of the truth that Jesus is.

2015, Schubert M. Ogden, To Preach the Truth: Selected Sermons and Homilies, page 6:


above par

"Certainly, sir, that will be an excellent method of trial."
"Ay, ay, know the way! soon find if they are above par. Be sure don't mind gold waistcoats; nothing but tinsel, all shew and no substance; better leave the matter to me; take care of you myself; know where to find one will do."

1782, Daniel Taylor, Frances Burney, Cecilia:

(idiomatic) Better than the average or normal standard.

bovenmaats

better than the average or normal standard

(golf) (of a score) More than par for the hole or course.

(of a financial instrument) Having a price below its face value.


with the skin of one's teeth

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

(dated) Synonym of by the skin of one's teeth


in the arms of Morpheus

In Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Morpheus is the god of dreams, and subsequently he was often referred to as the god of sleep. The name is borrowed from Latin Morpheus, from Ancient Greek Μορφεύς (Morpheús), from μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”) (alluding to the fact that Morpheus appeared in dreams in the forms of different people) + -εύς (-eús, suffix forming masculine nouns indicating persons concerned with particular things).

[N]ight had covered the world with her sable curtain, and wrapped the peaceful sisterhood in the arms of Morpheus.

1821 April 14, The Literary Gazette: or, Journal of Criticism, Science, and the Arts […], volume I, number 15, Philadelphia, Pa.: James Maxwell, […], →OCLC, page 238, column 3:

[L]ong before Julian had closed an eye, the heavy breathing from Sir Geoffrey Hudson's pallet declared that the dwarf was already in the arms of Morpheus.

1822, [Walter Scott], chapter XII, in Peveril of the Peak. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 303:

Benjamin here fell back in his chair, and soon gave vent to certain ominous sounds, which resembled, not a little, the growling of his favourite animal, the bear itself. Before, however, he was quite locked, to use the language that would suit the Della-cruscan humour of certain refined critics of the present day, "in the arms of Morpheus," he spoke aloud, observing due pauses between his epithets, the impressive terms of "monkey," "parrot," "pic-nic," "tar pot," and "linguisters."

1823, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter XV, in The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: Charles Wiley; […], →OCLC, page 221:

[A]s we were tired with the excitement and fatigues of the day, we were soon folded in the arms of Morpheus.

1853, [George Ballentine], chapter XVIII, in Autobiography of an English Soldier in the United States Army. […], New York, N.Y.: Stringer & Townsend, […], →OCLC, page 202:

"I think that the travellers would do well to abandon themselves to the arms of Morpheus," said Vasili Ivanovitch. / "That means that it is time to go to bed," said Bazarof. "I approve of the proposition. Come!"

[1867, Ivan Sergheïevitch Turgenef [i.e., Ivan Turgenev], chapter XX, in Eugene Schuyler, transl., Fathers and Sons […], New York, N.Y.: Leypoldt and Holt, →OCLC, page 144:

[T]he watcher of the corporation, […] shifted about and shuffled in his box before composing his limbs again in the arms of Morpheus.

1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part III [Nostos], pages 593–594:

Old Rip Van Winkle's long sleep record, which, according to [Washington] Irving’s story of the famous legendary character of the Hudson Valley, was 20 years, is excelled by each of us who lives to a fairly ripe old age. Thus truth is again stranger than fiction, says Dr. Donald A. Laird, of Colgate university, for by the time we are 60 years old we have spent 20 years or one-third of our lives in the arms of Morpheus.

1932 September 17, “Modern Rip Van Winkles”, in The Pathfinder, volume 39, number 2020, Washington, D.C.: Pathfinder Publishing Co., →OCLC, page 18, column 1:

You and the men under you go to sleep on duty, or desert your post and while you are wrapped in the arms of Morpheus or A.W.O.L. our enemies break through our lines, destroy all the fortifications which we have started[…].

1939, F. C. Devericks, “Report of the Chief of Staff”, in Proceedings of the 39th National Encampment of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: Columbus, Ohio, August 21 to 26, 1938 (76th Congress, 1st Session, House Document; no. 39), Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 139:

He looked over his shoulder and saw that Susan was still safely in the arms of Morpheus as the bedclothes gently rose and fell.

2013 March 15, Jan Cheal, chapter 5, in The Bee Keepers, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 24:

(literary, figurative) Asleep, sleeping.

The [Arturo] Toscanini Tour left Italy for the United States, and the continued interest sustained by the progress of the tour brought us back to the war days when we breathlessly awaited the communiqués of offensives and counter-offensives. After which we fell back into the arms of Morpheus. The only signs of life to be found are at the Contanzi Theatre in Rome.

[1921, Music News and Herald, London: Publishing Office, →OCLC, page 333, column 1:

(by extension, figurative) In a state of being completely forgotten, or of unawareness.


in quantity

It's not available in sufficient quantity.


of one's choosing

Widely credited as an early pioneer of the modern railway, Shooter died peacefully of his own choosing in Switzerland on December 13, having bravely lived with the onset of motor neurone disease in the final years of his life.

2022 December 28, Paul Stephen, “Network News: Adrian Shooter CBE: rail industry mourns "a great man"”, in RAIL, number 973, page 6:


in course

27 January 1811, Richard Rush, letter to John Adams
The very evening before it came to hand I had finished reading, in course, the last of the lectures upon rhetoric and oratory


off the track

Away from the proper subject; irrelevant, unrelated.

asian vierestä

away from the proper subject; irrelevant, unrelated

As for great men and kings being History's slaves, I think Tolstoi was off the track. Don't kid youself, kings are the most sublime sick. Manic Depressive heroes pull Mankind into their cycles and carry everybody away.

1976 September, Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift, New York, N.Y.: Avon Books, →ISBN, page 6:


in a flap

to be in a flap, to get in a flap


out of spirits

A party of natives in Tierra del Fuego endeavoured to explain to us that their friend, the captain of a sealing vessel, was out of spirits, by pulling down their cheeks with both hands, so as to make their faces as long as possible.

1872, Charles Darwin, Francis Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals:


in a corner

Paul almost had poor Keeper in a corner
Where he would have to quit his politics
Or be a Christian.

Placed in a difficult or awkward situation.

mewn congl

placed in a difficult or awkward situation

something done in a corner


on shipboard

How great is that danger, to which poor lads are now exposed, when placed on shipboard to learn the art of sailing!

1776, John Woolman, chapter XI, in A Journal of the Life, Gospel Labours, and Christian Experiences of that Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Woolman, […] , Dublin: Printed by R. Jackson, page 209:


in one's back pocket

There’s tremendous opportunities at The Bay in order to modify the offering in order to be attractive to a larger segment to the population. […] Having the Lord & Taylor banner in their back pocket, they’ve got an extra option there.

2008 July 16, David Friend, “New owner to spruce up Bay”, in The Star, Toronto, Canada, retrieved 2019-01-29:

Spitzer thinks it's an outrage that the same bankers who brought down the world economy are still firmly in place, bonuses in hand, a government guarantee in their back pocket.

2010 March 4, Sheelah Kolhatkar, “Eliot Spitzer's Mission Impossible”, in Time, retrieved 2019-01-29:

I didn’t mention my son’s remark to my parents because it seemed emotionally manipulative, but I have it in my back pocket just in case.

2010 June 18, Ben Greenman, “King of His Multigenerational Castle?”, in New York Times, retrieved 2019-01-29:

[S]he bosses around all the blokes in the European Union; has won three elections; and even has a physics degree in her back pocket.

2015 June 4, Sophy Ridge, “Angela Merkel is finally having her feminist moment”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 2019-01-29:

(idiomatic) Ready if needed, in reserve, prepared, available for use whenever it might be advantageous.


by right

From by + right (“that which complies with justice, law or reason; legal, just, or moral entitlement”).

The post of vice-president should, by right, have been given to John.

Whiche praise, with the honour thereunto due, as inheritaunce discendeth by righte unto his most noble sonne, our moste dere soueraigne lorde that nowe presently raigneth. For, as Tulli [i.e., Marcus Tullius Cicero] saithe, the best inheritance that the fathers leue to their children, excellynge all other patrimonie, is the glorie or praise of vertue and noble actis.

1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of the Fifthe Branche, Called Circumspection, Shewed in Reprinse”, in Ernest Rhys, editor, The Boke Named the Governour […] (Everyman’s Library), London: J[oseph] M[alaby] Dent & Co; New York, N.Y.: E[dward] P[ayson] Dutton & Co, published [1907], →OCLC, 1st book, page 104:

A huſband and a ſon thou ovveſt to me, / And thou a kingdome, all of you allegeance: / The ſorrovv that I haue by right is yours, / And all the pleaſures you vſurpe are mine.

c. 1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedy of King Richard the Third. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Sims [and Peter Short] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], signature C, verso:

Ovve not all Creatures by juſt right to thee / Duty and Service, nor to ſtay till bid, / But tender all their povver?

1671, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 45, lines 325–327:

[T]all and stately men, and fair ladies, worthy of the days when the gentry of England were by due right the leaders of the people, by personal prowess and beauty, as well as by intellect and education.

1855, Charles Kingsley, “How Amyas Came Home the First Time”, in Westward Ho!: Or, The Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, […], volume I, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC, page 32:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to; justly, properly, rightfully.

իրավամբ

according to what is right, or what one is legally or morally entitled to — see also rightfully

And ſome [fowl], becauſe the light doth them offend, / Neuer appeare, but in the darke, or night. / Other reioyce, to ſe the fire ſo bright / And wene to play in it, as they pretend: / Alas, of that ſort may I be, by right. / For to withſtand her loke I am not able: / Yet can I not hide me in no dark place: […]

a. 1543 (date written), [Thomas Wyatt], “How the Louer Perisheth in His Delight, as the Flie in the Fire”, in Songes and Sonettes, London: […] Richard Tottel, published 10 August 1557 (Gregorian calendar), →OCLC, folio 21, verso:

(obsolete) In reality; correctly, to tell the truth, truthfully.


on parade

[…] he was ordered to leave general Washington’s camp, in consequence of the character that had been given of him; and upon his appearing on parade afterwards, he was ordered to leave general Washington’s camp on pain of imprisonment.

1780, Proceedings of a General Court Martial of the Line […] for the Trial of Major General Arnold, Philadelphia, page 8:

The upper clouds are to the lower, what soldiers on parade are to a mixed multitude; no men walk on their heads or their hands, and so there are certain laws which no clouds violate; but there is nothing except in the upper clouds resembling symmetrical discipline.

1843, [John Ruskin], chapter 2, in Modern Painters […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, , § 3:

Rawdon sat down in the study before the Baronet’s table, set out with the orderly blue books and the letters, the neatly docketed bills and symmetrical pamphlets, the locked account-books, desks, and dispatch boxes, the Bible, the Quarterly Review, and the Court Guide, which all stood as if on parade awaiting the inspection of their chief.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “54”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

The morning of Major Ferguson's round had come again. It was the most detested event of the week: for the staff, because he expected the punctilio of a large teaching hospital to which the resources of the place were unequal; and for the patients because for an hour or more they would be virtually on parade unable to move from their beds, smoke or talk.

1953, Mary Renault, chapter 3, in The Charioteer, New York: Pantheon, published 1959, pages 40–41:

Battalions of infantry stood on parade around the durbar ground […]

1973, Jan Morris, chapter 16, in Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress,, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, page 332:

(military) Assembled and in formation, prepared for inspection, to receive orders, etc.

Earlier the team had arrived at Liverpool John Lennon airport […] and were greeted by dignitaries, including the lord mayor of Liverpool, Alan Dean—an Everton fan—who officially invited them to go on parade.

2005 May 26, “Victorious Liverpool parade through city”, in The Guardian:

1899, Mary Noailles Murfree (as Charles Egbert Craddock), The Story of Old Fort Loudon, Chapter 1,
Perhaps her husband realized her fatigue and depression and was willing to put his French accent on parade for her amusement […]

1924, Hulbert Footner, The Steerers, Chapter 2, in Argosy All-Story Weekly, 2 August, 1924,
Their manners were better than those of most of the people in our vicinity. They looked at nobody but took their places without the least self-consciousness, and talked to each other in low tones with light smiles. You cannot be sure about married people on parade, of course; they might have been quarrelling fiercely.

Much of the progressive movement’s original steam had been generated because of capital’s predominant position in American life and progressives had successfully put the sins of the businessman on parade for all to see.

1955, Robert K. Murray, chapter 1, in Red Scare: A Study of National Hysteria, 1919-1920, New York: McGraw-Hill, published 1964, page 8:

He had found a public voice, a way of holding himself and forming sentences and formulating policy and judgment, to ensure that the personal and the carnal would be held in check and not have to be on parade.

2004, Colm Tóibín, chapter 5, in The Master, New York: Scribner, page 84:

On public display, shown in a way that attracts attention.


in the cold light of day

/ɪn‿ðə ˈkəʊld laɪt‿əv ˈdeɪ/

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-in the cold light of day.wav

Probably an allusion to a situation being seen more clearly in daylight, and after some time has passed. The word cold is used in the sense of “dispassionate; not prejudiced or partisan; impartial”.

In the cold light of day, I felt I had overreacted.

In my over-wrought state of the night before, it had seemed reasonable enough; but here, in the cold light of day, it seemed preposterous.

1912 March, Burton E[gbert] Stevenson, “Preparations”, in The Mystery of the Boule Cabinet: A Detective Story, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, published 1918, →OCLC, page 119:

To the dreamer, a dream can seem at the time eerily indistinguishable from everyday consciousness yet, in retrospect, upon waking, so self-evidently different. The fragmented narrative, the improbability of much of what happens – flying, for example, or the transmogrification of one individual suddenly into another, and so on – seem ludicrous, even embarrassing, in the cold light of day.

2016, Susan Greenfield, “Dreaming”, in A Day in the Life of the Brain: The Neuroscience of Consciousness from Dawn till Dusk, London: Penguin Books, published 2017, →ISBN:

In the cold light of day, we're a flame in the wind / Not the fire that we've begun.

2018 August 16, Marshmello, Steve Mac, Dan Smith (lyrics and music), “Happier”, performed by Marshmello and Bastille:

Viewed calmly and dispassionately after allowing emotions to cool or after having sobered up.

in alle rust

viewed calmly and dispassionately after allowing emotions to cool

And above the crowd of living figures rise colossal forms of armed warriors, and peaceful poets, and sceptred monarchs; these glowing crimson; those standing calm and pale in the cold light of day.

1853, Anna Mary Howitt, “The Casting of the Sieges-Thor, Bavaria”, in An Art-student in Munich. […], volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 178:

However subtle the social pecking order may have been, the outsider entering the famous town with high expectations saw it in the cold light of day shrink into a philistine backwoods dump.

1989, Rüdiger Safranski, “Weimar”, in Ewald Osers, transl., Schopenhauer and the Wild Years of Philosophy, Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, published 1991, →ISBN, book 1, page 72:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see in, the, cold, light, of, day: during the day; in daylight.


in gear

(of a vehicle) Having gears correctly aligned so that movement is possible.

to get in gear

(informal, by extension) In a state of readiness or activity.


to the wide

“He's bust to the wide,” said Oliver. “Don't you agree, Wilfred?”
“I think he must be,” said Harrap. “I had it on good authority that the bank was clamping down on his overdraft. When he's finished paying both sets of costs he won't have any credit left.”

2012, Michael Gilbert, The Dust and The Heat:


in haste

In her haste to get to school, she almost forgot her school bag.

The decision had been taken in haste, and hence was the bad outcome.

Too quickly, without careful thought and planning.


on all hands

It was believed on all hands that the two of them were having an illicit affair.

’Tis acknowledg’d on all hands, ſays that learned Prelate, that the Authority, either of the Scripture or of Tradition, is founded merely on the Teſtimony of the Apoſtles, who were Eye-witneſſes to thoſe Miracles of our Saviour, by which he prov’d his divine Miſſion.

1748, [David Hume], “Essay X. Of Miracles”, in Philosophical Essays Concerning Human Understanding, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, part I, page 173:


on tag

The prisoner was released on tag.

(UK) Under judicial surveillance by means of an electronic tag worn on the ankle etc.


in a huff

In an angry or annoyed state, feeling angry or upset.


out of the ark

to be out of the ark, to come out of the ark


on short notice

(US) Alternative form of at short notice


for a laugh

(UK, informal) For no reason other than to be amusing.


off one's guard

Not on one's guard; inattentive to possible hazards and thus vulnerable.


on one's behaviour

Placed in a situation where one's best behaviour is necessary or advisable.


in someone's boots

in someone's shoes
in someone's shoes#English


FCOL

for crying out loud
for crying out loud#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of for crying out loud.


like a house afire

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

like a house on fire
like a house on fire#English


without so much as a by your leave

"What now," he said, "have the King's men respect neither for piety nor age that they burst in upon the seclusion of a holy man without so much as a 'by your leave' ?"

1914, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Outlaw of Torn:

You just slam the fucking door without so much as a by your leave.

2013, Strom Thurmond, A History of the African-American People:

By lunchtime the Professor had had enough, and he left the retreat, his Brahminical thread and all, without so much as a by your leave.

2014, Ashvajit Dharmachari, In the Footstep of the Buddha, page 212:

I had a new sympathy for babies, poor little things, who are rocked hours at a time without so much as a “by your leave” in the case.

2021, Charles Edward Stowe, The Life Of Harriet Beecher Stowe:

(dated) Omitting the social niceties, especially that of asking permission.


in the twinkling of a bedstaff

(archaic) In no time at all; immediately.


on the sauce

From on (“regularly taking”) + the + slang sauce (“any alcoholic drink”).

(slang) Drinking alcoholic beverages to excess.


for a minute

For a minute there, I lost myself.

1997, Thom Yorke (lyrics and music), “Karma Police”, performed by Radiohead:


for one's part

For my part, I don't care whether she stays or goes.

The subsidy to Prussia had also been the subject of much reprehension; for his part, there was nothing in that transaction which was to him matter of surprise.

1818, The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803:


on the grog

From on (“regularly taking”) + the + slang grog (“any alcoholic drink”).

After a fine night on the grog, with bladder pressures reaching an estimated 4,000,000 psi (estimated by drunken scientists), the comparatively short range marksmanship required of an in-sink micturator is a significantly more approachable challenge than the tricky long yellow of the traditional method.

2007, Amanda Astill, Tom Bromley, Michael Moran, Simon Trewin, Shopping While Drunk: Confessions from Modern Life, London: John Murray, →ISBN, page 157:

(Australia, slang) Drinking alcoholic beverages to excess.


by comparison

When compared to something else; in comparison.


under the rule

No party shall be permitted to supply offers to buy or sell Securities closed for his account “under the rule.”

1908, New York Produce Exchange, Report, page 349:

A contract which has not been fulfilled according to the terms thereof may be officially closed “under the rule” by the Secretary, or by a member of the Committee on Arrangements, as herein provided.

1931, Charles Harrison Meyer, The law of stockbrokers and stock exchanges, and of commodity brokers and commodity exchanges:

(finance) Of a deal: concluded by the secretary of the stock exchange when the actual dealer has failed to do so.


from good hands

Father Joseph pretended, that he knew from good hands the High Chancellor only wanted that article changed which excluded the Swedes from the command in chief, and that regard should be had to their interests in concluding a peace.

1754, M. de Burigny (Jean Lévesque), The Life of the Truly Eminent and Learned Hugo Grotius (page 150)


inter pocula

From Latin inter pōcula (“among drinking cups”).

bor

He asked them both to dinner, and inter pocula all seemed to go well. But it was only the convivial lull that was to precede a post-prandial storm.

2011, H. R. Haweis, Music and Morals, page 242:

Between alcoholic drinks; during a drinking session.


on a tight leash

Tightly controlled; not given the freedom to do as one pleases.


in it

“You heard the sheriff yelling?” he said.
“Yes,” he said. You're in it now, aren't you, Aubrey? he thought. You're a big man, until you're not, until someone steps in your way and says, “Stop, in the name of the law.”

2012, Pam Durban, The Tree of Forgetfulness, page 133:

(slang) Getting on successfully, especially in a game.

(informal) Taking part in something, such as a lottery.

So you're taking all our trash to the dump, for free? I don't understand. What's in it for you?

Serving as an expected payout or reward.


on the knocker

(colloquial) Going from door to door attempting to buy or sell goods fraudulently.


on the nut

(slang) Not in deficit, profiting; making money.


off the nut

My first day's business took me off the nut.

1928, The Saturday Evening Post, volume 200, page 116:

(slang) In deficit, not profiting; sustaining a loss.


for fudge's sake

For fudge's sake, mate! Stop shooting at me!

(idiomatic, colloquial, euphemistic) for fuck's sake. An expression of anger or frustration.


as was

(UK) As it was; in a former state or condition.


in waves

The attention and praise come in waves for the pop star.

Relief came over me in waves.

With variable frequency; in large amounts spaced out.


on one's back

Having come to the end of one's resources.

I lay on my back, staring up at the clouds.

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


round about

Nevertheless, the modern outside cylinder 2-6-0 may be said to have had its beginnings on the G.N.R. and G.W.R. round about 1911.

1945 November and December, H. C. Casserley, “Random Reflections on British Locomotive Types—1”, in Railway Magazine, pages 318–319:

At a point or time approximately equal to.


in benefit

In the case of dispute and victimisation benefit and legal assistance, the member must have paid twenty-six weekly trade union contributions, and must be in benefit in accordance with the general rule regarding arrears as explained above.

1951, Transport and General Workers' Union (Great Britain), The Union, its work and problems (page 19)

He must pay all he owes the Union and wait three months after that to be in benefit.

1966, Lloyd Ulman, The Rise of the National Trade Union:

Having paid one's dues to a trade union, and thus eligible for the benefits of membership.


out of drawing

Drawn incorrectly, violating the principles of drawing.


in drawing

Drawn correctly, obeying the principles of drawing.


on someone's own dime

on someone's dime
on someone's dime#English


on someone's dime

They challenged my knowledge of the book, suggested that my article would inevitably be lousy and concluded that J. D. Salinger would be disgusted by what I was doing—all the while drinking on my dime.

1995 December 22, Adam Green, “If Holden Caulfield Spent a Weekend in Today's Manhattan”, in New York Times, retrieved 2019-06-03:

Their simple lives contrast sharply with the multimillion-dollar rumors surrounding Osama bin Laden. […] [T]hey weren't living large on his dime.

2001 September 23, John Cloud, “The Plot Comes Into Focus”, in Time, retrieved 2019-06-03:

But if you’re a Haitian, Mexican, or Brit and you step on American soil and are then detained by US officials, without a visa, you’ll be on the next boat back home—and on your dime too.

2011 December 19, Sebastian Doggart, “Green Card, Golden Ticket”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 2019-06-03:

(idiomatic) At the monetary expense of the person indicated.


in the sales

(UK) At a time when many stores are holding sales.


at all points

It may be said of her that she was at all points a gentlewoman.

1879, Anthony Trollope, Cousin Henry, page 129:


like grim death

Association between grim and death arose at least by 1590. More information at Grim Reaper.

I hung onto the rope like grim death.

I crouched low and held on like grim death to a little rail near me.

1944 May and June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, in Railway Magazine, page 133:

(simile) With savage determination or persistence.


as you please

bold as you please, calm as you please, cool as you please, charming as you please, casually as you please

(UK, informal) intensifier for a preceding adjective.


like fury

(UK, dated, informal) Furiously; energetically.


in the hand

These birds cannot be told apart except in the hand.

When being held in the hands; when being handled.


to be reckoned with

a force to be reckoned with

Too powerful or important to be ignored.


after one's own soul

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

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

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


on the burst

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


on the boil

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

trying to keep the deal on the boil

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

(colloquial) Going smoothly; working well.

(sports, colloquial) Playing exceptionally well.


off the boil

(Of a heated liquid) having just stopped boiling.

the deal has come off the boil

(colloquial) no longer continuing or active.

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

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

(colloquial) No longer going smoothly or working well.

(sports, colloquial) No longer playing exceptionally well.


out of course

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

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

out of order; not in harmony or agreement


in spite of someone's teeth

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

1823, The British Essayists: Connoisseur, page 137:

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


in one foul swoop

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

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

1915 November 18, The Labor Call, page 10:

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

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

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

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


in a fix

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


at second hand

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

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

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


of all places

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

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

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


out of wind

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

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

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

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

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

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


on the rails

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

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

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

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

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

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

(idiomatic) In working order, functioning properly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


over the rainbow

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

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

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

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

She was beyond happiness, she was over the rainbow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where is the pot of gold over the rainbow here?

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

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

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

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


at short sight

bills at short sight

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


in aggregate

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

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


out of play

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

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

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


on a lark

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

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

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


on the blob

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


on the case

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

Near-synonym: on the job

(informal) Actively working on something.


on terms with

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


in fine feather

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

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

The little actress was in fine feather.

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

2000, Elizabeth Mansfield, Miscalculations, →ISBN:


like buggery

hurt like buggery

run like buggery ― run like a bat out of hell

sell like buggery ― sell like hot cakes


within one's means

live within one's means

Without spending more than one can afford.


through the ceiling

through the roof
through the roof#English


on bail

The assailant was released on bail.


on remand

The man was on remand for armed robbery.


on-time

The train arrived on-time


on one's P's

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


on one's L's

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


on everyone's lips

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

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

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


like stink on shit

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


in my honest opinion

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


at one's own peril

Knowingly accepting the risks associated with one's action.


at one's own risk

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

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

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

後果自負

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


on rails

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

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

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

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


in lame man's terms

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


in hysterics

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

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

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


in itself

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

Inherently; viewed independently, without reference to anything else.


on the outlook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


to one's dying day

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

Alternative form of until one's dying day


with one's dying breath

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

Alternative form of with one's last breath


with one's last breath

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


at war

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

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

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

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


like Blackpool Illuminations

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

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

(informal, British, simile) Very brightly lit.


over hard

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


for one's own good

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


on the block

go on the block

put on the block

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


out of both sides of one's mouth

to speak out of both sides of one's mouth

to talk out of both sides of one's mouth

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

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

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

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

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

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

(figuratively, originally US) Indicating contradictory things.

laugh out of the other side of one's mouth

run with the hare and hunt with the hounds


with a bang

go off with a bang

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

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


with a bump

bring someone back down to earth with a bump

come down to earth with a bump

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


within one's rights

to be within one's rights to do something


out of one's own pocket

to pay out of one's own pocket


without a murmur

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


on one's game

(informal) Performing as well as one can.


on one's hands and knees

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

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

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

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

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


on one's conscience

to have something on one's conscience

to be on someone's conscience

to weigh on someone's conscience


on one's honor

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

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

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

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


for the better

to change for the better

to take a turn for the better


for the best

It's all for the best

Having the best possible outcome eventually.


in all fairness

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

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


in the heat of the moment

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

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


on someone's back

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

(informal) Nagging or harassing someone.

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


to distraction

to love someone to distraction


in rag order

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

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

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

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

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

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


in good conscience

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

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

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

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

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

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


like a million pounds

like a million dollars
like a million dollars#English

(England) Synonym of like a million dollars


for the high jump

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

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


in back

We were sitting in back.


in the barrel

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

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

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

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

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

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

2006, Mark Ethridge, Grievances, page 64:

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

2009, Mark Sullivan, Triple Cross, page 198:

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

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

(slang) In an unpleasant or dangerous situation.

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


for show

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

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

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

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

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

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


off the beam

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

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


up the boohai

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


to the good

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

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

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

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


on the flat

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

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


back then

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

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

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


at that time

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


on the turn

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

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

(of food or drink) Becoming spoiled or inedible.


in the field

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


in a big way

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

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

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

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

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

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


as one

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

in agreement [with with ‘someone’]

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

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


for good or ill

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

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

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


with all one's might

Using as much strength and effort as possible.


like a mother hawk

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

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


all over the gaff

All over the place
all over the place#English


by day

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


in the bargain

into the bargain
into the bargain#English

(informal, US) Synonym of into the bargain


for one's own hand

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

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


from top to bottom

She's a born leader from top to bottom.

(adjectival) In an exhaustive and pervasive manner.

They restored the car from top to bottom.

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

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


on one's person

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


in other news

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

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

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

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


out of favor

(American spelling) Alternative form of out of favour.


out of favour

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

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

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


in point of

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

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

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

1782, Reports from Committees of the House of Commons:


to those it may concern

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


at liberty

(euphemistic, theater) Unemployed; out of work.


on main

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


ITRW

(Internet slang) Initialism of in the real world.


from the face of the earth

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


off the face of the earth

Those files were wiped off the face of the earth.

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


from me born

Borrowed from Jamaican Creole from mi bawn.

bor+

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


on one's tail

The police were on his tail for half an hour.

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

(sometimes figurative) Following someone closely.


by-the-bye

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

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

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

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


in one

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

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


on any view

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

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

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

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

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

2016, Andrea Lista, International Commercial Sales:

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

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

Without any other possible opinion; undeniably; unquestionably.

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

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

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


for sour apples

She can't act for sour apples.

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


in the moment

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

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

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

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

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

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


for your information

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

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

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

لمعلوماتك

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

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

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

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

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


upon the matter

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

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

upon the whole matter
upon the whole matter#English

Alternative form of upon the whole matter


out of the goodness of one's heart

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

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


beyond one's years

Back-formation from wise beyond one's years.

back-form

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


as we know it

the end of the world as we know it

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


over 9000

over nine thousand
over nine thousand#English


on the wrong track

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


as far as the eye can see

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


in bad

to be in bad with someone

to get in bad with someone

to put someone in bad with someone

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


as far as the eye could see

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

Alternative form of as far as the eye can see


from the top

These orders come from the top.

From the highest-ranking individual in an organization.


out of action

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

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

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

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

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


in fighting trim

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

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


at scale

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

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

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

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


by the holy poker

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


on stun

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

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

Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction

Oxford University Press
w:Oxford University Press

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

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

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

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


on the slide

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

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

Yvonne was on the slide.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 280:


off the plan

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

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

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

楼花

building that is put up for sale before construction is completed

期房

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


for myself

But for myself I do not regard mediumship very favourably.

1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 276:

According to one's own opinion or preferences.


of one's own

I've always wanted a room of my own.

Belonging to oneself and to nobody else.


in a world of one's own

In a state of deep thought that makes the thinker appear disconnected from reality.


like a drowned rat

to look like a drowned rat

(simile, informal) Soaked to the point of being highly unattractive; bedraggled.


above the fray

Uninvolved in a difficult argument or struggle.

Near-synonym: aloof

(by extension) having an affectedly nonchalant or mature attitude about a dispute seen as petty.


on the otherhand

on the other hand
on the other hand#English


by extension

He argued that the failure of a democratic government, by extension, meant the failure of the people.

(logic) Used to connect the internal logic of two statements.

(linguistics, semantics) In the broad sense; broadly


under hack

If, for example, you pay your mess bills with checks which repeatedly bounce, why shouldn't you get ten days under hack, or a court martial? If you say you have insurance, and then don't, why shouldn't the commanding general recommend you for a general court martial?

1984, The Marine Corps Gazette, page 25:

Sometimes they got in the way and were "thrown in the brig" by Marines, or "confined to quarters" and "put under hack" by a kind, but firm father.

1989, Verle E. Ludwig, U.S. Marines at Twentynine Palms, California, page 90:


on lobby terms

(UK, politics) Communicated by a political source to the press on the understanding that the source will not be named.


out of rack

(film) Misaligned so that partial frames are seen on screen instead of the proper projection.


in of itself

in and of itself
in and of itself#English


for the lols

Then there's the stuff Bowie read for the lols, for example the book he and his childhood friend Geoff MacCormack amused themselves by reciting chunks from on an Amtrak train from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in September 1974—a pornographic novel called Yodel in the Canyon.

2019, John O’Connell, Bowie's Bookshelf, →ISBN:


down the way

They live just down the way.

Further along a southern direction or downhill route.

I plan to publish my novel somewhere down the way.

Later; at indeterminate point in the future.


below stairs

I’le lock her into her Sister’s Room below Stairs, for to night, there’s no Balcony there.

1691, Thomas D’Urfey, Love for Money, or, The Boarding School, London: J. Hindmarsh and Abel Roper, act V, scene 1, page 45:

it was talkd, that there was an old gentleman belowstairs whom they fancied to be Sr. Isaac Newton.

1752, William Stukeley, Memoirs of Isaac Newton's life:

She felt immensely superior to him suddenly, to all the people below stairs.

1952, Patricia Highsmith, chapter 8, in The Price of Salt, New York: Norton, published 2004, page 94:

(dated) On a floor lower than the one a speaker currently occupies; below the main floor of a multi-floor building.

a. 1631, John Donne, letter to H. Goodere, in Letters to Severall Persons of Honour written by John Donne, London: Richard Marriot, 1651, pp. 158-159,
My daughter Constance is at this time with me; or the emptinesse of the town, hath made me, who otherwise live upon the almes of others, a houskeeper, for a moneth; and so she is my servant below stairs, and my companion above:

It vvas his younger Siſters Chamber, that I vvas in, and as there vvas no Body in the Houſe, but the Maids belovv Stairs, he vvas it may be the ruder: […]

1722 (indicated as 1721), [Daniel Defoe], The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. […], London: […] W[illiam Rufus] Chetwood, […]; and T. Edling, […], published 1722, →OCLC, page 21:

[…] those fortunate bachelors, or other gentlemen of pleasure, who so manage their entertainment of compromising company that even the austerest housekeeper, occupied and competent below-stairs, never feels obliged to give warning.

1904 November 10, Henry James, chapter 11, in The Golden Bowl, volume I, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, book first (The Prince), part second, pages 200–201:

In the tiny below-stairs office a moody-looking matron took the papers and signed him into the ledger.

1953, Saul Bellow, chapter 4, in The Adventures of Augie March, New York: Viking Press, →OCLC, page 57:

1972, Robertson Davies, The Manticore, Toronto: New Canadian Library, 2015, Part 2, Chapter 1,
Children always lived closer to the servants than their elders, and Caroline and I never knew where we stood with anybody, and sometimes found ourselves hostages in dark, below-stairs intrigues.

Having lived the stereotype of the penniless artist in Paris, Soutine was drawn not to the glamour of the roaring 1920s, but to those in the world below stairs[.]

2017 November 17, Skye Sherwin, “Chaïm Soutine’s Pastry Cook of Cagnes: a portrait of youth, but not innocence”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(UK, historical) In or pertaining to the lowest levels of a large house where the house staff work and are accommodated, contrasted with above stairs where the owning family reside.

Unless we wanted dear Simkins, given he is loyalty personified, the Queen Mother used to die of jealousy, to do the below stairs POV that "pleb" would be considered positively affectionate & unquestionably better than prole & actually a great improvement on Simkins?

2012 September 25, Catherine Bennett, “Mrs Cameron's diary: more trouble with the plebs”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

A paragon must embody liberal democracy. To get its hands dirty defending it is below-stairs.

2023 February 11, Janan Ganesh, “After Germany's fall, which is the paragon nation?”, in FT Weekend, page 22:

(UK, historical, as noun) The areas of a large house in which house staff work, or the staff that work there.


ahead of the pack

Some very significant but not very widely known news (even in the sector itself) is that rail is not only uniquely placed to benefit from this promised change of direction, there is already solid evidence to put the rail sector ahead of the pack as a potential investment priority.

2020 December 2, Nigel Harris, “The UK's worst crisis since 1709”, in Rail, page 3:

(idiomatic) Performing better than others.


on the scene

to come on the scene, to appear on the scene, to burst on the scene

In a prominent position during a situation.


against one's better judgment

Against my better judgment I gave them one last chance.

contrary to what one believes is moral or wise


out the blue

Out the blue you came to me. And blew away life's misery

Israel's position as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation did not come by chance or out the blue. It came with a condition.

2012, Isaac Addai-Dwomoh, Where God Leads He Provides:


from one day to the next

He drives a different car from one day to the next.

They became homeless from one day to the next.

What I have just said, Mr. President, should serve as a sufficient answer to those who say in an ironical tone that the right of suffrage has no magic virtue in itself, and that it cannot from one day to the next transform the slave into the complete citizen, and render him capable of governing the country.

1865, Agénor de Gasparin, translated by Mary Louise Booth, Reconstruction! A Letter to President Johnson, page 35:

Let us imagine the difference between this software firm and a firm producing consumer appliances in the 1950s if from one day to the next all their employees—below the highest management levels—simply walked away to take employment elsewhere.

1996, Fred Block, “A Second Paradox of Thrift: Investment Strategies and the Future”, in Neva R. Goodwin, editor, As if the Future Mattered: Translating Social and Economic Theory into Human Behavior, →ISBN, page 94:

The real reason is that retirement is a traumatic experience for most people. From one day to the next they turn from fully occupied persons with responsibilities and in many cases with the powers of decision, into beings with endless hours on their hands and nothing to do.

1998, Peter Peeters, The Four Phases of Society: Where Are We Going in the 21st Century?, →ISBN, page 124:


with ill grace

TfW has staff enforcing mask protocols at all the busy stations and most travellers oblige, albeit some with ill grace.

2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 66:


in leash

"I shall hold myself strongly in leash, and see whether by this self-restraint I attain a more favorable result."

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

(figuratively) Under restraint; retrained; retaining one's composure.


at right angles to

The whole unit is rotated through 90deg to a position at right angles to the wagon and the three parts of the piling frame are unfolded from the straight line form into which they are packed for travelling to the triangular form in which they are set up for piling.

1961 November, “Talking of Trains: The North Eastern's new rail-mounted piling unit”, in Trains Illustrated, page 646:

Forming an angle of 90 degrees to something.


off one's onion

"'E's a very clever man, the master - so clever that 'e's clean balmy sometimes. I've seen 'im right off 'is onion, and no error."

1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:


to a tick

Lord John rose and shook him by the hand. "My sentiment to a tick," said he.


like a raped ape

I'd like to report that this was his last mistake, but the quick little devil dodged my arrow and took off like a raped ape.

1978, Chuck Adams, The Complete Book of Bowhunting, page 213:

The nurses' aide takes off like a raped ape and Fairingnose winks at me.

This blue Camaro looked bad, sounded worse and would run like a raped ape. I have no idea what-all-else Wayne did to this car, but it was a six-cylinder that would walk away from every car I came against.

2005, Chuck E. Sanders, The Making of a Minister, page 59:


to one's rescue

"But here is the good Bolsover to your rescue." The worthy grocer had caught sight of them through the window and came bustling out, untying his white apron.

1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:


on a bell

[…] and putting the set "on a bell," the First Assistant Director will call "Roll 'em!"

1970, Michael Pate, The Film Actor: Acting for Motion Pictures and Television, page 30:

When the beauty team departs the set, the AD will say, “Let's go on a bell.” A bell sounds throughout the stage, and […]

2013, Bethany Rooney, Mary Lou Belli, Directors Tell the Story, page 184:

(film) Warned by the ringing of a bell to remain silent during a period of shooting.


like winkin

He can run like winkin.


off the horn

[…] the butcher's joint of beef was undoubtedly a cut off the horn.

1955, Helen Ostler Wilson, Land of My Children, page 5:

(humorous) Used to describe very hard steak, as though cut from the horn of the animal.


according to Gunter

according to Cocker
according to Cocker#English

(dated, colloquial, British, idiomatic) Synonym of according to Cocker


like a shot

I went over the fence like a shot, and ran like one o'clock for the trap, cussing and swearing as I went.

1899, H. G. Wells, Mr. Brisher's Treasure:

(informal) suddenly; without delay or hesitation.


in two jumps

"I am ashamed to say that I was out of that house in two jumps."


by crumbs

He scratched his head. "Well, damn me," said he. "I never thought I would take orders from a Chink, but he says 'hist!' and by crums you've got to hist and no back talk either."

1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “De Profundis”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:

By Crums, they might get the salts and oxalic acid mixed up if they came to treat me, for there’s no love lost between us.

1895, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, The Stark Munro Letters: […], London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC:


at a low ebb

The figurative sense is an extension from the literal sense of low tide.

Polls show the prime minister’s popularity is at a low ebb.

2022 August 24, Tassanee Vejpongsa, Grant Peck, “Thai court suspends PM Prayuth pending ruling on term limit”, in The Washington Post, retrieved 2022-08-24:

(idiomatic) At a low point; in a poor state; in a state of decline or depression.


on an equal footing

In a situation in which all parties have a reasonable chance of succeeding; without conferring an undue advantage to any party.


by leaps and starts

by starts and leaps
by starts and leaps#English


like a ripe plum

I could pull it off, like a bird, single handed; but with you, in a manner of speaking, always round the corner, and ready to help me with your sage counsel, failure is impossible. She is like a ripe plum hanging on the tree, Billy .

1877, James Greenwood, Dick Temple, page 195:

If they can bring Round Pond to her knees, the rest of the world will fall like a ripe plum.

1976 ·, James A. McCracken, Innocents at Sea, page 193:

She was like a ripe plum falling into my hand!

1997, Linda Chaikin, The Pirate and His Lady:

"Then you must seek her out! She isn't going to just fall into your lap like a ripe plum, my boy,” the duke insisted.

2010, Adrienne Basso, How to Seduce a Sinner, page 43:

You said yourself he'd only to wait and the mine would have dropped into his lap like a ripe plum.


on equal terms

The two teams will battle it out on equal terms.

Although very distant from the lives of her subjects – she never went to school and had only the most fleeting experiences of being on equal terms with anyone – she grew into a much respected figure, admired for her stoicism and diligence

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

With the same set of advantages and disadvantages; on an equal footing, on a level playing field.

The two populations must learn to live with each other on equal terms.

With respect for people's backgrounds, rights, and responsibilites; as equals.


of a lifetime

the opportunity of a lifetime

That is the best one can expect to ever encounter.

elämän (genitive, placed before, often with possessive suffix)