Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 61 страниц)

[age] See: ACT ONE’S AGE or BE ONE’S AGE, DOG’S AGE or COON’S AGE, LEGAL AGE or LAWFUL AGE, OF AGE, OVER AGE, UNDER AGE.

[agent] See: FREE AGENT.

[Agent Orange]{n.} A herbicide used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War, considered by some to cause birth defects and cancer, hence, by extension, an instance of «technological progress pollution». •/If things continue as they have, we’ll all be eating some Agent Orange with our meals./

[ago] See: WHILE AGO.

[agree with]{v.} To have a good effect on, suit. •/The meat loaf did not agree with him./ •/The warm, sunny climate agreed with him, and he soon grew strong and healthy./

[ahead] See: DEAD AHEAD, GET AHEAD.

[ahead of]{prep.} 1. In a position of advantage or power over. •/He studies all the time, because he wants to stay ahead of his classmates./ 2. In front of; before. •/The troop leader walked a few feet ahead of the boys./ 3. Earlier than; previous to, before. •/Betty finished her test ahead of the others./

[ahead of the game]{adv. or adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. In a position of advantage; winning (as in a game or contest); ahead (as by making money or profit); making it easier to win or succeed. •/The time you spend studying when you are in school will put you ahead of the game in college./ •/After Tom sold his papers, he was $5 ahead of the game./ 2. Early; too soon; beforehand. •/When Ralph came to school an hour early, the janitor said, «You’re ahead of the game.»/ •/John studies his lessons only one day early; if he gets too far ahead of the game, he forgets what he read./

[ahead of time]{adv. phr.} Before the expected time; early. •/The bus came ahead of time, and Mary was not ready./ •/The new building was finished ahead of time./ Contrast: BEHIND TIME.

[a hell of] a [or one hell of a]{adj. or adv. phr.}, {informal} Extraordinary; very. •/He made a hell of a shot during the basketball game./ •/Max said seven months was a hell of a time to have to wait for a simple visa./ •/The fall Max took left one hell of a bruise on his knee./

[aim] See: TAKE AIM.

[air] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR, CLEAR THE AIR, GIVE ONESELF AIRS, GET THE AIR at GET THE BOUNCE(1), GIVE THE AIR at GIVE THE BOUNCE(1), IN THE AIR, INTO THIN AIR, LEAVE HANGING or LEAVE HANGING IN THE AIR, ON THE AIR, OUT OF THIN AIR, UP IN THE AIR, WALK ON AIR.

[airbus] n. A trade name, also used informally for a wide-bodied airplane used chiefly as a domestic passenger carrier. •/Airbuses don’t fly overseas, but mainly from coast to coast./

[air one’s dirty linen in public] or [wash one’s dirty linen in public]{v. phr.} To talk about your private quarrels or disgraces where others can hear; make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret. •/Everyone in the school knew that the superintendent and the principal were angry with each other because they aired their dirty linen in public./ •/No one knew that the boys' mother was a drug addict, because the family did not wash its dirty linen in public./

[airquake]{n.} An explosive noise of undetermined origin usually heard in coastal communities and appearing to come from some higher point in elevation. •/What was that awful noise just now? – I guess it must have been an airquake./

[air shuttle]{n.}, {informal} Air service for regular commuters operating between major cities at not too far a distance, e.g., between Boston and New York City; such flights operate without reservation on a frequent schedule. •/My dad takes the air shuttle from Boston to New York once a week./

[a la]{prep.} In the same way as; like. •/Billy played ball like a champion today, a la the professional ball players./ •/Joe wanted to shoot an apple off my head a la William Tell./ (From French «a la», in the manner of.)

[albatross around one’s neck]{n. phr.}, {literary} Guilt, the haunting past, an unforgettable problem. •/Even though it was an accident, John’s father’s death has been an albatross around John’s neck./ Compare: MONKEY ON ONE’S BACK.

[alert] See: ON THE ALERT.

[a little]{n.} or {adj.} A small amount (of); some. – Usually «a little» is different in meaning from «little», which emphasizes the negative; «a little» means «some»; but «little» means «not much». We say •/«We thought that the paper was all gone, but a little was left.»/ But we say, •/«We thought we still had a bag of flour, but little was left.»/ Also, we say, •/«Bob was sick yesterday, but he is a little better today.»/ But we say, •/«Bob was sick yesterday, and he is little better today.»/ Sometimes «a little» is used with «only», and then it is negative. •/We thought we had a whole bag of flour, but only a little was left./ •/We have used most of the sugar; but a little is left./ •/We did not eat all the cake; we saved a little of it for you./ •/I’m tired; I need a little time to rest./ •/Where is the paper? I need a little more./ – Often used like an adverb. •/Usually the teacher just watched the dancing class, but sometimes she danced a little to show them how./ •/The children wanted to play a little longer./ – Sometimes used with «very» for emphasis. •/The sick girl could not eat anything, but she could drink a very little tea./ Syn.: A BIT. Compare: A FEW. Contrast: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE.

[a little bird told me] To have learned something from a mysterious, unknown, or secret source. •/«Who told you that Dean Smith was resigning?» Peter asked. «A little bird told me,» Jim answered./

[a little knowledge is a dangerous thing]{literary} A person who knows a little about something may think he knows it all and make bad mistakes. – A proverb. •/John has read a book on driving a car and now he thinks he can drive. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing./

[alive] See: COME ALIVE, KNOW – IS ALIVE, LOOK ALIVE, SKIN ALIVE.

[alive and kicking]{adj. phr.} Very active; vigorous; full of energy. •/Grandpa was taken to the hospital with pneumonia, but he was discharged yesterday and is alive and kicking./

[alive with]{prep.}, {informal} Crowded with; filled with. •/The lake was alive with fish./ •/The stores were alive with people the Saturday before Christmas./

[all] See: AFTER ALL, AND ALL, AT ALL, BEAT ALL or BEAT THE DUTCH, FOR ALL, FOR ALL ONE IS WORTH, FOR ALL ONE KNOWS, FOR ALL THE WORLD, FOR GOOD also FOR GOOD AND ALL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF ONE’S HEART or WITH ALL ONE’S HEART, HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS or HAVE ALL ONE’S MARBLES, IN ALL, JUMP ON or JUMP ALL OVER or LAND ALL OVER, KNOW-IT-ALL, ON ALL FOURS, ONCE AND FOR ALL, PUT ALL ONE’S EGGS IN ONE BASKET, STRIKE ALL OF A HEAP, WALK OVER or WALK ALL OVER or STEP ALL OVER.

[all along] or ({informal}) [right along]{adv. phr.} All the time; during the whole time. •/I knew all along that we would win./ •/I knew right along that Jane would come./

[all at once]{adv. phr.} 1. At the same time; together. •/The teacher told the children to talk one at a time; if they all talked at one time, she could not understand them./ •/Bill can play the piano, sing, and lead his orchestra all at once./ 2. or [all of a sudden] Without warning; abruptly; suddenly; unexpectedly. •/All at once we heard a shot and the soldier fell to the ground./ •/All of a sudden the ship struck a rock./ Compare: AT ONCE.

[all better]{adj. phr.} Fully recovered; all well again; no longer painful. – Usually used to or by children. •/«All better now,» he kept repeating to the little girl./

[all but]{adv. phr.} Very nearly; almost. •/Crows all but destroyed a farmer’s field of corn./ •/The hikers were exhausted and all but frozen when they were found./

[all ears]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very eager to hear; very attentive. – Used in the predicate. •/Go ahead with your story; we are all ears./ •/When John told about the circus, the boys were all ears./

[alley] See: BLIND ALLEY, DOWN ONE’S ALLEY or UP ONE’S ALLEY.

[alley cat]{n.}, {slang} 1. A stray cat. 2. A person (usually a female) of rather easy-going, or actually loose sexual morals; a promiscuous person. •/You’ll have no problem dating her; she’s a regular alley cat./

[all eyes]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Wide-eyed with surprise or curiosity; watching very closely. – Used in the predicate. •/At the circus the children were all eyes./

[all gone]{adj. phr.} Used up; exhausted (said of supplies); done with; over with. •/We used to travel a lot, but, alas, those days are all gone./

[all here] See: ALL THERE.

[all hours]{n. phr.}, {informal} Late or irregular times. •/The boy’s mother said he must stop coming home for meals at all hours./ •/He stayed up till all hours of the night to finish his school work./

[all in]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very tired; exhausted. •/The players were all in after their first afternoon of practice./ Syn.: PLAYED OUT, WORN OUT.

[all in a day’s work] or [all in the day’s work]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Unpleasant or bad but to be expected; not harder than usual; not unusual. •/Keeping ants away from a picnic lunch is all in the day’s work./ •/When the car had a flat tire, Father said that it was all in a day’s work./ Compare: PAR FOR THE COURSE, PUT UP WITH.

[all in all(1)]{n. phr.}, {literary} The person or thing that you love most. •/She was all in all to him./ •/Music was his all in all./

[all in all(2)] or [in all]{adv. phr.} When everything is thought about; in summary; altogether. •/All in all, it was a pleasant day’s cruise./ •/All in all, the pilot of an airplane must have many abilities and years of experience before he can he appointed./ Compare: ON THE WHOLE 1. •/Counting the balls on the green, we have six golf balls in all./

[all in good time]{adv. phr.} Some time soon, when the time is ripe for an event to take place. •/«I want to get married, Dad,» Mike said. «All in good time, Son,» answered his father./

[all in one piece]{adv. phr.} Safely; without damage or harm. •/John’s father was terribly concerned when his son was sent to war as a pilot, but he came home all in one piece./

[all kinds of]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Plenty of. •/People say that Mr. Fox has all kinds of money./ •/When Kathy was sick, she had all kinds of company./ Compare: GREAT DEAL.

[all manner of]{adj. phr.}, {formal} Many different kinds of; all sorts of. •/In a five-and-ten-cent store you can buy all manner of things./

[all of]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. At least the amount or number of; fully; no less than. •/It was all of ten o’clock before they finally started./ •/She must have paid all of $50 for that hat./ 2. Showing all the signs of; completely in. – Used with "a". •/The girls were all of a twitter before the dance./ •/Mother is all of a flutter because of the thunder and lightning./ •/The dog was all of a tremble with cold./

[all of a sudden] See: ALL AT ONCE 2.

[all out]{adv. phr.}, {informal} With all your strength, power, or determination; to the best of your ability; without holding back. – Usually used in the phrase «go all out». •/We went all out to win the game./ •/John went all out to finish the job and was very tired afterwards./ Compare: ALL THE WAY 2, FULL TILT, GO THE WHOLE HOG, GO TO ANY LENGTH, LEAVE A STONE UNTURNED, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.

[all-out effort]{n.} A great and thorough effort at solving a given problem. •/The President is making an all-out effort to convince Congress to pass the pending bill on health care./

[all-out war]{n.} Total war including civilian casualties as opposed to a war that is limited only to armies. •/Hitler was waging an all-out war when he invaded Poland./

[all over]{adv. phr.} 1. In every part; everywhere. •/He has a fever and aches all over./ •/I have looked all over for my glasses./ Compare: FAR AND WIDE. 2. {informal} In every way; completely. •/She is her mother all over./ 3. {informal} Coming into very close physical contact, as during a violent fight; wrestling. •/Before I noticed what happened, he was all over me./

[all over but the shouting]{adv. phr.}{informal} Finally decided or won; brought to an end; not able to be changed. •/After Bill’s touchdown, the game was all over but the shouting./ •/John and Tom both tried to win Jane, but after John’s promotion it was all over but the shouting./

[all over someone] See: FALL ALL OVER SOMEONE.

[allowance] See: MAKE ALLOWANCE.

[allow for]{v.} To provide for; leave room for; give a chance to; permit. •/She cut the skirt four inches longer to allow for a wide hem./ •/Democracy allows for many differences of opinion./

[all right(1)]{adv. phr.} 1. Well enough. •/The new machine is running all right./ 2. {informal} I am willing; yes. •/«Shall we watch television?» «All right.»/ Compare: VERY WELL. 3. {informal} Beyond question, certainly. – Used for emphasis and placed after the word it modifies. •/It’s time to leave, all right, but the bus hasn’t come./

[all right(2)]{adj. phr.} 1. Good enough; correct; suitable. •/His work is always all right./ 2. In good health or spirits; well. •/«How are you?» «I’m all right.»/ 3. {slang} Good. •/He’s an all right guy./

[all right for you]{interj.} I’m finished with you! That ends it between you and me! – Used by children. •/All right for you! I’m not playing with you any more!/

[all roads lead to Rome]{literary} The same end or goal may be reached by many different ways. – A proverb. •/«I don’t care how you get the answer,» said the teacher, «All roads lead to Rome.»/

[all set]{adj. phr.} Ready to start. •/«Is the plane ready for take-off?» the bank president asked. «Yes, Sir,» the pilot answered. «We’re all set.»/

[all shook up] also [shook up]{adj.}, {slang} In a state of great emotional upheaval; disturbed; agitated. •/What are you so shook up about?/

[all systems go]{Originally from space English, now general colloquial usage.} Everything is complete and ready for action; it is now all right to proceed. •/After they wrote out the invitations, it was all systems go for the wedding./

[all the(1)]{adj. phr.}, {dialect} The only. •/A hut was all the home he ever had./

[all the(2)]{adv. phr.} Than otherwise; even. – Used to emphasize comparative adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. •/Opening the windows made it all the hotter./ •/Take a bus instead of walking and get home all the sooner./ •/If you don’t eat your dessert, all the more for us./

[all the better] See: ALL THE(2).

[all the –er]{substandard} The –est; as … as. – Used with a comparative adjective or adverb and subordinate clause in place of a superlative adjective or adverb. •/That was all the bigger he grew./ •/Is that all the faster you can go?/

[all there] or [all here]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Understanding well; thinking clearly; not crazy. – Usually used in negative sentences, •/Joe acted queerly and talked wildly, so we thought he was not all there./

[all the same(1)] or [all one]{n. phr.} Something that makes no difference; a choice that you don’t care about. •/If it’s all the same to you, I would like to be waited on first./ •/You can get there by car or by bus – it’s all one./

[all the same(2)] or [just the same]{adv. phr.}, {informal} As if the opposite were so; nevertheless; anyway; anyhow; still. •/Everyone opposed it, but Sally and Bob got married all the same./ •/Mary is deaf, but she takes tap dancing lessons just the same./ Compare: AT THAT 3, IN SPITE OF.

[all the thing] or [all the rage], [the in thing]{n. phr.} The fashionable or popular thing to do, the fashionable or most popular artist or form of art at a given time. •/After «The Graduate» Dustin Hoffman was all the rage in the movies./ •/It was all the thing in the late sixties to smoke pot and demonstrate against the war in Vietnam./

[all the time]{adv. phr.} 1. or [all the while] During the whole period; through the whole time. •/Mary went to college in her home town and lived at home all the while./ •/Most of us were surprised to hear that Mary and Tom had been engaged all year, but Sue said she knew it all the time./ 2. Without stopping; continuously •/Most traffic lights work all the time./ 3. Very often; many times. •/Ruth talks about her trip to Europe all the time, and her friends are tired of it./

[all the way] or [the whole way]{adv. phr.} 1. From start to finish during the whole distance or time. •/Jack climbed all the way to the top of the tree./ •/Joe has played the whole way in the football game and it’s almost over./ 2. In complete agreement; with complete willingness to satisfy. – Often used in the phrase «go all the way with». •/I go all the way with what George says about Bill./ •/Mary said she was willing to kiss Bill, but that did not mean she was willing to go all the way with him./ •/The bank was willing to lend Mr. Jones money to enlarge his factory but it wasn 't willing to go all the way with his plans to build another in the next town./ Compare: ALL OUT, GO THE WHOLE HOG.

[all the worse] See: ALL THE 2.

[all thumbs]{adj.}, {informal} Awkward, especially with your hands; clumsy. •/Harry tried to fix the chair but he was all thumbs./

[all told]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Counting or including everything. •/Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all told./

[all to the good] See: TO THE GOOD.

[all up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Near to certain death or defeat without any more chance or hope. •/With their ammunition gone the patrol knew that it was all up with them./

[all very well]{adj.} All right; very good and correct; very true. – Usually followed by a «but» clause. •/It’s all very well for you to complain but can you do any better?/ •/It’s all very well if Jane comes with us, but how will she get back home?/ Compare: WELL AND GOOD.

[all walks of life]{n. phr.} All socioeconomic groups; all professions and lines of work. •/A good teacher has to be able to communicate with students from all walks of life./ •/A clever politician doesn’t alienate people from any walk of life./

[all wet]{adj.}, {slang} Entirely confused or wrong; mistaken. •/When the Wright brothers said they could build a flying machine, people thought they were all wet./ •/If you think I like baseball, you’re all wet./ Compare: OFF ONE’S ROCKER.

[all wool and a yard wide]{adj. phr.} Of fine character; especially, very generous and kind-hearted. •/He’s a wonderful brother – all wool and a yard wide./

[all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy] Too much hard work without time out for play or enjoyment is not good for anyone. – A proverb. •/Bill’s mother told him to stop studying and to go out and play, because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy./

[all year round]{adv. phr.} Always; all the time; throughout all seasons of the year. •/In California the sun shines all year round./

[alone] See: LET ALONE or LEAVE ALONE, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE or LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

[along] See: ALL ALONG or RIGHT ALONG, COME ALONG, GET ALONG, GO ALONG, RUN ALONG, STRING ALONG.

[along for the ride]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Being in a group for the fun or the credit without doing any of the work. •/He wants no members in his political party who are just along for the ride./

[along in years] or [on in years]{adj. phr.} Elderly; growing old. •/As Grandfather got on in years, he became quiet and thoughtful./ •/Our dog isn 't very playful because it is getting on in years./

[alongside of]{prep.} 1. At or along the side of. •/We walked alongside of the river./ 2. Together with. •/I played alongside of Tom on the same team./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SIDE BY SIDE. 3. {informal} Compared with or to; measured next to. •/His money doesn’t look like much alongside of a millionaire’s./

[a lot]{n.}, {informal} A large number or amount; very many or very much; lots. •/I learned a lot in Mr. Smith’s class./ •/A lot of our friends are going to the beach this summer./ – Often used like an adverb. •/Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot./ •/Grandfather was very sick last week, but he’s a lot better now./ •/You’ll have to study a lot harder if you want to pass./ – Also used as an adjective with «more», «less», and «fewer». •/There was a good crowd at the game today, but a lot more will come next week./ – Often used with «whole» for emphasis. •/John has a whole lot of marbles./ •/Jerry is a whole lot taller than he was a year ago./ Compare: GOOD DEAL, GOOD MANY, A NUMBER. Contrast: A FEW, A LITTLE.

[aloud] See: THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.

[alpha wave]{n.} A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second, associated with a state of relaxation and meditation and, hence, free of anxieties. •/Try to produce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel a lot better./

[alter] See: CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.

[always] See: GRASS is ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

[ambulance chaser]{n.} An attorney who specializes in representing victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank or talent. •/Don’t hire Cohen; he’s just another ambulance chaser./

[American plan]{n.} A system of hotel management in which meals are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not include meals. •/American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals will be included, because they are used to the American plan./

[amount to]{v.} Signify; add up to. •/John’s total income didn’t amount to more than a few hundred dollars./

[a must]{n.} 1. An inevitability; a necessity. •/Visas in many foreign countries are a must./ 2. An extremely interesting or memorable event, such as a free concert given by an international celebrity. •/Alfred Brendel’s Beethoven master classes are open to the public and are not to be missed; they’re a must./

[anchor] See: AT ANCHOR.

[– and –] 1. – And is used between repeated words to show continuation or emphasis. •/When the children saw the beautiful Christmas tree they looked and looked./ •/Old Mr, Bryan has known Grandfather for years and years, since they were boys./ •/Billy dived to the bottom of the lake again and again, looking for the lost watch./ •/Everyone wished the speaker would stop, but he talked on and on./ Compare: THROUGH AND THROUGH. 2. – When «and» is used between words with opposite meaning, it often emphasizes how much you mean. •/Mr. Jones worked early and late to earn enough to live./ •/The parents hunted high and low for the lost child./ Compare: DAY AND NIGHT, FROM – TO, INSIDE AND OUT.

[and all]{informal} And whatever goes with it; and all that means. •/We don’t go out much nowadays, with the new baby and all./ •/Jack’s employer provided the tools and all./

[and how!]{interj.}, {informal} Yes, that is certainly right! – Used for emphatic agreement. •/«Did you see the game?» «And how!»/ •/«Isn’t Mary pretty?» «And how she is!»/ Syn.: YOU BET, YOU SAID IT. Compare: BUT GOOD.

[and so forth] or [and so on] And more of the same kind; and further amounts or things like the ones already mentioned. •/The costumes were red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, and so forth./ Compare: WHAT HAVE YOU.

[and the like]{n. phr.} Things of a similar nature. •/I like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the like./ •/When I go out to the beach flake towels, a mat, suntan lotion, and the like./

[and then some] And a lot more; and more too. •/It would cost all the money he had and then some./ •/Talking his way out of this trouble was going to take all his wits and then some./

[and what not] See: WHAT NOT.

[angel dust]{n.}, {slang} Phencyclidine, an addictive hallucinatory narcotic drug extremely dangerous to the users' health, also called PCP. •/Mike has gone from grass to angel dust; he will end up in the morgue./

[another] See: DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE.

[answer back] See: TALK BACK.

[answer for]{v.} 1. To take responsibility for; assume charge or supervision of. •/The secret service has to answer for the safety of the President and his family./ 2. To say you are sure that (someone) has good character or ability; guarantee: sponsor. •/When people thought Ray had stolen the money, the principal said, «Ray is no thief. I’ll answer for him.»/ 3. Take the blame or punishment for. •/When Mother found out who ate the cake, Tom had to answer for his mischief./

[answer one’s calling]{v. phr.} To fulfill one’s destiny in terms of work or profession by doing what one has a talent for. •/Don answered his calling when he became a chiropractor. Susy answered her calling when she became a violinist./

[answer the call of nature] or [obey the call of nature]{v. phr.}, {slang} To go to the bathroom to relieve oneself by urinating or defecating. •/Ted was hiking in the mountains when suddenly he had to answer the call of nature but since there was no bathroom in the woods, he excused himself and disappeared behind the bushes./

[answer to]{v.} To be named; go by a certain name or designation; be accountable. •/When you walk my dog, please remember that he answers to the name «Caesar.»/ •/As head of the company she does not have to answer to anyone./

[ante up]{v.}, {informal} To produce the required amount of money in order to close a transaction; to pay what one owes. •/«I guess I’d better ante up if I want to stay an active member of the Association», Max said./

[ants in one’s pants]{n. phr.}, {slang} Nervous over-activity; restlessness. •/Jane can not sit still; she has ants in her pants./ •/You have ants in your pants today. Is something wrong?/

[a number]{n.} A rather large number; numbers. – Used when there arc more than several and fewer than many. •/The parents were invited to see the program, and a number came./ •/We knew the Smiths rattier well; we had visited them a number of times./ – Used like an adjective before «less», «more». •/We have not set up enough folding chairs; we need a number more./ Compare: QUITE A FEW.

[any] See: HARDLY ANY or SCARCELY ANY.

[any number]{n.}, {informal} A large number; many. •/There are any number of reasons for eating good food./ •/Don’t ask George what his excuse is. He can invent any number./ Compare: A LOT, A NUMBER, GOOD MANY.

[any old how] / [any old way]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Doing something in a casual, haphazard, or careless way. •/«John,» the teacher said, «you can’t just do your homework any old way; you must pay attention to my instructions!»/

[any port in a storm] Any help is welcome in an emergency. – A proverb. •/The motel we stopped in was nothing to brag about, but we were so exhausted that it was a clear case of any port in a storm./

[anything] See: HAVE NOTHING ON or NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON, IF ANYTHING.

[anything but]{adv. phr.} Quite the opposite of; far from being. •/I don’t mean he’s lazy – anything but!/ •/The boys knew they had broken the rules, and they were anything but happy when they were called to the office./

[anything like] or [anywhere near]{adv.} Nearly. – Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, often in the negative forms «nothing like» or «nowhere near». •/It’s not anything like as hot today as it was yesterday./ •/Do you think that gold ring is worth anywhere near a hundred dollars?/ •/Today’s game was nowhere near as exciting as yesterday’s game./ •/Studying that lesson should take nothing like two hours./

[anywhere near] See: ANYTHING LIKE or ANYWHERE NEAR.

[any which way] See: EVERY WHICH WAY.

[apart] See: JOKING ASIDE or JOKING APART, POLES APART, TELL APART.

[apart from] or [aside from]{prep. phr.} Beside or besides; in addition to. •/The children hardly see anyone, apart from their parents./ •/Aside from being fun and good exercise, swimming is a very useful skill./ Syn.: EXCEPT FOR, OUTSIDE OF.

[ape] See: GO APE.

[appear] See: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS.

[appearance] See: PUT IN AN APPEARANCE also MAKE AN APPEARANCE.

[apple] See: POLISH THE APPLE.

[applecart] See: UPSET THE APPLECART or UPSET ONE’S APPLECART.

[apple of one’s eye]{n. phr.} Something or someone that is adored; a cherished person or object. •/Charles is the apple of his mother’s eye./ •/John’s first car was the apple of his eye. He was always polishing it./

[apple-pie order]{n. phr.}, {informal} Exact orderly arrangement, neatness; tidy arrangement. •/The house was in apple-pie order./ •/Like a good secretary, she kept the boss’s desk in apple-pie order./

[apple polisher]; [apple polishing] See: POLISH THE APPLE.

[approval] See: ON APPROVAL.

[a pretty pass]{n. phr.} An unfortunate condition; a critical state. •/While the boss was away, things at the company had come to a pretty pass./

[apron] See: TIED TO ONE’S MOTHER’S APRON STRINGS.

[apropos of]{prep.}, {formal} In connection with; on the subject of, about; concerning. •/Apropos of higher tuition, Mr. Black told the boy about the educational loans that banks are offering./ •/Mr. White went to see Mr. Richards apropos of buying a car./

[arm] See: GIVE ONE’S RIGHT ARM, KEEP AT A DISTANCE Or KEEP AT ARM’S LENGTH, SHOT IN THE ARM, TAKE UP ARMS, TWIST ONE’S ARM, UP IN ARMS, WITH OPEN ARMS, COST AN ARM AND A LEG.

[arm and a leg]{n.}, {slang} An exorbitantly high price that must be paid for something that isn’t really worth it. •/It’s true that to get a decent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg./

[armed to the teeth]{adj. phr.} Having all needed weapons; fully armed. •/The paratroopers were armed to the teeth./

[arm in arm]{adv. phr.} With your arm under or around another person’s arm, especially in close comradeship or friendship. •/Sally and Joan were laughing and joking together as they walked arm in arm down the street./ •/When they arrived at the party, the partners walked arm in arm to meet the hosts./ Compare: HAND IN HAND.

[around one’s ears] See: ABOUT ONE’S EARS.

[around the clock] also [the clock around]{adv. phr.} For 24 hours a day continuously all day and all night. •/The factory operated around the clock until the order was filled./ •/He studied around the clock for his history exam./ – [round-the-clock]{adj.} •/That filling station has round-the-clock service./

[around the corner]{adv. phr.} Soon to come or happen; close by; near at hand. •/The fortuneteller told Jane that there was an adventure for her just around the corner./

[arrest] See: UNDER ARREST.

[as] See: FOR AS MUCH AS, IN AS MUCH AS.

[as a last resort]{adv. phr.} In lieu of better things; lacking better solutions. •/«We’ll sleep in our sleeping bags as a last resort,» John said, «since all the motels are full.»/