Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

N

[nail] See: HARD AS NAILS, HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, TOOTH AND NAIL.

[nail down]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make certain; make sure; settle. •/Joe had a hard time selling his car, but he finally nailed the sale down when he got his friend Sam to give him $300./ •/The New York Yankees nailed down the American League Championship when they beat the Red Sox 3 to 0 on September 15./

[nail one’s colors to the mast]{literary} To let everyone know what you think is right and refuse to change. •/During the election campaign the candidate nailed his colors to the mast on the question of civil rights./

[name] See: CALL NAMES, HANDLE TO ONE’S NAME, IN NAME, TAKE ONE’S NAME IN VAIN, TO ONE’S NAME.

[name calling] See: CALL NAMES.

[named after]{adj. phr.} Given the same name as someone. •/Archibald was named after his father./

[name day]{n.} The day of the saint for whom a person is named. •/Lawrence’s name day is August 10, the feast of St. Lawrence./

[namedropper]{n. phr.} A person who is always mentioning well-known names. •/Since her move to Hollywood she has become a regular namedropper./

[name is mud]{informal} (You) are in trouble; a person is blamed or no longer liked. – Used in the possessive. •/If you tell your mother I spilled ink on her rug my name will be mud./ •/Your name will be mud if you tell the teacher about the bad thing we did./ Compare: IN THE DOG HOUSE.

[name of the game]{n.}, {informal} The crux of the matter; that which actually occurs under the disguise of something else. •/Getting medium income families to support the rest of society – that’s the name of the game!/

[narrow down]{v. phr.} To limit within very strict margins. •/Of the numerous applicants, the list has been narrowed down to just a few./

[narrow escape]{n. phr.} An escape by a very small margin; a near miss. •/If the truck that hit his car had been coming faster, it would have killed him; it was certainly a narrow escape that he only had a broken arm!/

[narrow-minded]{adj. phr.} Limited in outlook; resistant to new ideas; bigoted. •/He is generally very open about everything, but when it comes to politics, he is terribly narrow-minded./

[nary a]{informal} Not a single; not one; never a. •/One afternoon a large dark cloud came in the sky. John thought it would rain so he took his raincoat – but nary a drop fell./ •/John went fishing but he caught nary a one./

[nasty-nice]{adj.} Unkind in a polite way; disagreeable while pretending to be gracious. •/The bus driver has a nasty-nice way of showing his dislike./

[natural] See: BIG AS LIFE or BIG AS LIFE AND TWICE AS NATURAL.

[natural-born]{adj.} 1. Being a (citizen) because you were born in the country. •/Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt came to the United States from Germany and are naturalized citizens but their children are natural-born citizens./ 2. Born with great ability to become (something); having great ability (as in a sport or art) almost from the start. •/Joe had never played baseball before trying out for the team but he showed that he was a natural-born pitcher and he became the best in the league./ •/Mozart was a natural-born musician. He could play the piano well when he was only six years old./

[nature] See: SECOND NATURE.

[naught] See: GO FOR NOTHING also GO FOR NAUGHT.

[near] See: FAR AND NEAR.

[near at hand] See: AT HAND.

[necessity] See: MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY, OF NECESSITY.

[neck] See: BREATHE DOWN ONE’S NECK, BREAK ONE’S NECK, CATCH IT IN THE NECK or GET IT IN THE NECK, PAIN IN THE NECK, SAVE ONE’S NECK, STICK ONE’S NECK OUT.

[neck and neck]{adj. or adv.}, {informal} Equal or nearly equal in a race or contest; abreast; tied. •/At the end of the race the two horses were neck and neck./ •/For months John and Harry seemed to be neck and neck in Alice’s favor./ Compare: NIP AND TUCK.

[neck of the woods]{n. phr.}, {informal} Part of the country; place; neighborhood; vicinity. •/We visited Illinois and Iowa last summer; in that neck of the woods the corn really grows tall./ •/We were down in your neck of the woods last week./

[necktie party]{n.}, {slang} A hanging by a mob; lynching. •/Cattle thieves were stealing the rancher’s cattle, but the cowboys caught them and had a necktie party./ Compare: STRING UP.

[ned] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.

[needle] See: ON PINS AND NEEDLES.

[needle in a haystack]{n. phr.}, {informal} Something that will be very hard to find. •/«I lost my class ring somewhere in the front yard,» said June. Jim answered, «Too bad. That will be like finding a needle in a haystack.»/

[neither fish nor fowl] also [neither fish, flesh, nor fowl] Something or someone that does not belong to a definite group or known class; a strange person or thing; someone or something odd or hard to understand. •/The man is neither fish nor fowl; he votes Democrat or Republican according to which will do him the most good./ •/Mrs. Harris bought a piece of furniture that was both a table and a chair. Mr. Harris said it was neither fish nor fowl./ •/The movie is neither fish nor fowl; it is a funny love story./

[neither here nor there]{adj. phr.} Not important to the thing being discussed; off the subject; not mattering. •/Perhaps you did stay up late finishing your homework. That’s neither here nor there. You still must come to school on time./ •/The boys all like the coach but that’s neither here nor there; the question is, «Does he know how to teach football?»/ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: HAVE TO DO WITH, COME TO THE POINT.

[neither hide nor hair] See: HIDE OR HAIR.

[neither rhyme nor reason]{n. phr.} No emotional or intellectual substance. •/As far as I am concerned, his proposal makes no sense; it has neither rhyme nor reason./

[Nellie] See: NICE NELLY or NICE NELLIE, NERVOUS NELLIE.

[Nelly] See: NICE NELLY or NICE NELLIE, NERVOUS NELLIE.

[nerve] See: GET ON ONE’S NERVES, GET UP THE NERVE.

[nervous breakdown]{n.} A mild or severe attack of mental illness; a collapse of a person’s ability to make decisions and solve problems because of overwork, great mental strain, or the like. •/When the mother saw her baby run over, she suffered a nervous breakdown./

[Nervous Nellie]{n.}, {informal} A timid person who lacks determination and courage. •/I say we will never win if we don’t stop being Nervous Nellies!/

[nervous prostration]{n.} An illness of the mind that makes you feel very tired, worried, and bored, and that often causes headaches, upset stomach, and other sickness. •/Aunt Jane said that taking care of us children all day was enough to give any woman nervous prostration./

[nest] See: FEATHER ONE’S NEST, STIR UP A HORNET’S NEST.

[nest egg]{n.} Savings set aside to be used in the future. •/Herb says he doesn’t have to worry about his old age because he has a nest egg in the bank./

[never] See: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.

[never mind]{v. phr.} Don’t trouble about it; don’t worry about it; forget it; skip it. – Usually used in speaking or when writing dialogue. •/Never mind preparing a picnic lunch; we’ll find a lunchstand when we get to the beach./ •/«What did you say?» «Oh, never mind.»/ •/«What about money?» «Never mind that. I’ll take care of it.»/

[never say die]{v. phr.} Don’t quit; don’t be discouraged. •/«Never say die!» John said, as he got on his feet and tried to ice skate again./

[new] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

[new blood]{n.} Something or someone that gives new life or vigor, fresh energy or power. •/New blood was brought into the company through appointment of younger men to important positions./

[new broom sweeps clean] A new person makes many changes. – A proverb. •/The new superintendent has changed many of the school rules. A new broom sweeps clean./

[Newcastle] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE.

[new deal]{n.}, {informal} 1. A complete change; a fresh start. •/People had been on the job too long; a new deal was needed to get things out of the old bad habits./ 2. Another chance. •/The boy asked for a new deal after he had been punished for fighting in school./

[newfangled]{adj.} Newly invented or contrived; excessively complex. •/Dorothy felt that many newfangled gadgets in Kate’s all-electric kitchen weren’t really necessary./

[new leaf] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

[new lease on life]{n. phr.} A new chance to live; an improved manner of living. •/After his illness and his retirement, living in Hawaii was a new lease on life./

[new man]{n.} A person who has become very much better. •/Diet and exercise made a new man of him./

[new money]{n. phr.} People who have become rich recently. •/Since Bobby’s father invented a new computer component, Bobby and his family are new money./ Contrast: OLD MONEY.

[newshawk]{n.} A newspaper reporter. •/There are always a lot of newshawks following the president./

[next door]{adv.} or {adj.} 1. In or to the next house or apartment. •/He lived next door to me./ •/She telephoned next door to ask about John./ •/The house next door caught fire./ 2. Very close. – Used with «to». •/The sick man was next door to death./ •/Printing secrets about our country’s missiles is next door to treason./

[next to(1)]{adv.} Almost; nearly. •/It was next to impossible to believe that in a month the grass would be green and flowers would be blooming./ •/It was next to unthinkable that the boy would steal./

[next to(2)]{prep.} Just after; second to. •/Next to his family, baseball was his greatest love./ •/Next to pizza, Bob liked hamburger best./

[next to nothing]{n. phr.} Very little; almost nothing. •/They gave me next to nothing for my old car when I traded it in for a new one./ •/When he first started to work, Mr. Black earned next to nothing./

[nice Nelly(1)] or [nice Nellie]{n.}, {informal} Someone who acts too good to be true; a prude; a prig. •/We took him for a nice Nelly when he wouldn’t fight./

[nice Nelly(2)] or [nice Nellie]{adj.}, {informal} Too careful not to say or do anything wrong or improper; too proper; prudish. •/Her nice Nelly behavior made her unpopular at school./

[Nick] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.

[nick] See: IN THE NICK OF TIME.

[nigger in the woodpile]{n. phr.}, {slang} Something unexpected that changes a situation; a hidden factor or trick. – Racist and offensive, but commonly used in the past. •/I knew there had to be a nigger in the woodpile, because the man was being much too generous./ •/When the salesman gave him an extra tire for his bike, the boy suspected a nigger in the woodpile./

[night] See: FLY-BY-NIGHT, MAKE A NIGHT OF IT.

[night and day] See: DAY AND NIGHT.

[nightcap]{n.} A good-night drink; a drink taken just before bedtime. •/Let’s have a nightcap and then go to sleep./ •/Would you like to come up to my place for a nightcap?/

[night letter]{n.} A telegram sent at night at a cheaper rate and delivered in the morning. •/I waited until after six o’clock in the evening before sending the telegram home because I can say more for the same price in a night letter./

[night life]{n. phr.} Entertainment at night. •/People in the city are able to find more night life than those who live in the country./

[night owl]{n. phr.} One who sleeps during the day and stays up or works during the night. •/Tom hardly ever sleeps at night; he prefers to work by lamp light and has become a regular night owl./ Compare: GRAVEYARD SHIFT.

[nine] See: CAT HAS NINE LIVES, ON CLOUD NINE.

[nine-to-five job]{n. phr.} A typical office job that starts at 9 A.M. and ends at 5 P.M. with a one-hour lunch break at 12 noon or 1 P.M. •/We professors are not too well paid but I could never get used to a nine-to-five job./

[ninety] See: GAY NINETIES.

[nip and tuck]{adj. or adv.}, {informal} Evenly matched; hard fought to the finish. •/The game was nip and tuck until the last minute./ •/A was a nip and tuck race right to the finish line./ •/The two salesmen fought nip and tuck for the contract all the way./ Compare: NECK AND NECK.

[nip in the bud]{v. phr.} To check at the outset; prevent at the start; block or destroy in the beginning. •/The police nipped the plot in the bud./ •/The teacher nipped the disorder in the bud./

[no account(1)]{adj.} Of no importance. •/The lowly clerk’s opinion is of no account in this matter./

[no account(2)]{n. phr.} A person of low social station. •/Fred was first considered a no account but he soon proved himself to be a person of great ability./

[nobody] See: IT’S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD.

[nobody home]{slang} 1. Your attention is somewhere else, not on what is being said or done here; you are absent-minded. •/The teacher asked him a question three times but he still looked out the window. She gave up, saying, «Nobody home.»/ 2. You are feeble-minded or insane. •/He pointed to the woman, tapped his head, and said, «Nobody home.»/

[nobody’s fool]{n. phr.} A smart person; a person who knows what he is doing; a person who can take care of himself. •/In the classroom and on the football field, Henry was nobody’s fool./ Contrast: BORN YESTERDAY.

[nod] See: LAND OF NOD.

[nodding acquaintance]{n.} Less than casual acquaintance. •/I have never spoken to the chancellor; we have only a nodding acquaintance./

[no deal] or [no dice] or [no go] or [no sale] or [no soap]{slang} Not agreed to; refused or useless; without success or result; no; certainly not. – Used in the predicate or to refuse something. •/Billy wanted to let Bob join the team, but I said that it was no deal because Bob was too young./ •/«Let me have a dollar.» «No dice!» answered Joe./ •/I tried to get Mary on the telephone but it was no go./ •/«Let’s go to the beach tomorrow.» «No sale, I have my music lesson tomorrow.»/ •/I asked Dad for a new bicycle but it was no soap./ Compare: NOTHING DOING, NO USE.

[no doubt]{adv.} 1. Without doubt; doubtless; surely; certainly. •/No doubt Susan was the smartest girl in her class./ 2. Probably. •/John will no doubt telephone us if he comes to town./

[no end]{adv.}, {informal} 1. Very much; exceedingly. •/Jim was no end upset because he couldn’t go swimming./ 2. Almost without stopping; continually. •/The baby cried no end./

[no end to] or {informal}[no end of] So many, or so much of, as to seem almost endless; very many or very much. •/There was no end to the letters pouring into the post office./ •/Bob and Dick became close friends and had no end of fun together./

[no frills]{n. phr.} A firm or product that offers no extras; a generic product that carries no expensive label. •/We went on a no frills trip to Europe with few luxuries./

[noggin] See: USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’S NOGGIN.

[no go] See: NO DEAL.

[no good]{adj. phr.} Not satisfactory; not adequate; not approved. •/«That’s no good,» I told him when he began to cry./ •/He was no good at arithmetic./ •/He tried appealing to the man’s pride, but it did no good./

[no great shakes]{adj.}, {informal} Mediocre; unimportant. •/Joe Wilson is no great shakes./

[no hard feelings]{n. phr.} A lack of resentment or anger; a state of peace and forgiveness. •/«No hard feelings,» he said. «You should feel free to make constructive criticism any time.»/

[no kidding]{n. phr.} Without jokes or teasing; honestly spoken. •/«You actually won the lottery?» Dick asked. «No kidding,» Joe replied. «I really did.»/

[no longer]{adv.} Not any more; not at the present time. •/He could no longer be trusted and they had to let him go./ •/The shore was no longer in sight./

[no love lost]{n. phr.} Bad feeling; ill will. •/Bob and Dick both wanted to be elected captain of the team, and there was no love lost between them./ •/There was no love lost between the sales and the accounting departments./

[no matter] 1. Not anything important. •/I wanted to see him before he left but it’s no matter./ 2. It makes no difference; regardless of. •/She was going to be a singer no matter what difficulties she met./ •/He had to get the car fixed no matter how much it cost./ •/No matter what you try to do, it is important to be able to speak well./ •/You can’t go in no matter who you are./ •/Mary wanted to get to school on time, no matter if she went without breakfast./

[no matter what]{adv. phr.} Under any circumstances. •/We will go to Europe this summer, no matter what./ •/Charles had decided to go to the football game and he felt he must go no matter what./ Compare: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.

[nonce] See: FOR THE TIME BEING also FOR THE NONCE.

[none] See: HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE, HAVE NONE OF.

[none too]{adv.} Not very; not at all. •/The doctor arrived none too soon as Lucy’s fever was alarmingly high./

[nonsense] See: STUFF AND NONSENSE.

[nonstarter]{n.} An idea, plan, or project that doesn’t work or is obviously no good. •/His plan to start a new private school is a nonstarter because he is unable to organize anything./

[noodle] See: USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’S NOODLE.

[no picnic]{n. phr.} Something arduous; something that requires great effort to accomplish. •/It is no picnic to climb Mount Everest./ Contrast: A PIECE OF CAKE, A CINCH, EASY AS APPLE PIE.

[nor] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL, NEITHER HERE NOR THERE, NEITHER HIDE NOR HAIR.

[no sale] See: NO DEAL.

[nose] See: COUNT HEADS or COUNT NOSES, CUT OFF ONE’S NOSE TO SPITE ONE’S FACE, FOLLOW ONE’S NOSE, GO INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO A NOSE DIVE, HARD-NOSED, KEEP ONE’S NOSE CLEAN, KEEP ONE’S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE, LEAD BY THE NOSE, LOOK DOWN ONE’S NOSE AT, ON THE NOSE, PAY THROUGH THE NOSE, PUT ONE’S NOSE OUT OF JOINT, SEE BEYOND ONE’S NOSE, SKIN OFF ONE’S NOSE, THUMB ONE’S NOSE, TURN UP ONE’S NOSE AT, UNDER ONE’S NOSE.

[nose about] or [nose around]{v. phr.}, {informal} To look for something kept private or secret; poke about; explore; inquire; pry. •/In Grandmother’s attic, Sally spent a while nosing about in the old family pictures./ •/The detective was nosing around in the crowd looking for pickpockets./

[nose down]{v.}, {of an aircraft} To head down; bring down the nose of. •/The big airliner began to nose down for a landing./ •/The pilot nosed the plane down toward the runway./

[nose in(1)] or [nose into(1)]{informal} Prying or pestering interest in; unwelcome interest in; impolite curiosity. •/He always had his nose in other people’s business./ Contrast: NOSE OUT OF.

[nose in(2)] or [nose into(2)]{v.} To move in close; move slowly in with the front first. •/The ship nosed into the pier./ •/The car nosed into the curb./

[nose in a book]{n. phr.} Busy interest in reading. – Used with a possessive. •/Mother can’t get Mary to help do the housework; she always has her nose in a book./

[nose is out of joint] See: PUT ONE’S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.

[nose out]{v.}, {informal} 1. To learn by effort (something private or secret); uncover. •/The principal nosed out the truth about the stolen examination./ 2. To defeat by a nose length; come in a little ahead of in a race or contest. •/The horse we liked nosed out the second horse in a very close finish./ •/The Democratic candidate nosed out his rival for Congress by a few hundred votes./

[nose out of]{informal} Curious attention; bothering. – Usually used with a possessive and usually used with «keep». •/When Billy asked his sister where she was going she told him to keep his nose out of her business./ Contrast: NOSE IN.

[nose over]{v.} To turn over on the nose so as to land upside down. •/The airplane made a faulty landing approach and nosed over./

[nose up]{v.} To head up; incline the forward end upwards; move up. •/The airplane nosed up through the cloud bank./ •/The pilot nosed the plane up from the field./

[no-show]{n.}, {informal} A person who makes a reservation, e.g., at a hotel or at an airline, and then neither claims nor cancels it. •/The airlines were messed up because of a great number of no-show passengers. /

[no sooner – than] As soon as; at once when; immediately when. •/No sooner did he signal to turn than the other car turned in front of him./ •/No sooner were the picnic baskets unpacked than it began to rain./

[no spring chicken]{n. phr.} A person who is no longer young. •/Even though she is no spring chicken anymore, men still turn their heads to look at her./

[no sweat(1)]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Easily accomplished, uncomplicated. •/That job was no sweat./

[no sweat(2)]{adv.} Easily. •/We did it no sweat./

[not a few] See: QUITE A FEW.

[not a leg to stand on]{n. phr.}, {informal} No good proof or excuse; no good evidence or defense to offer. •/The man with a gun and $300 in his pocket was accused of robbing an oil station. He did not have a leg to stand on./

[not a little] See: QUITE A LITTLE.

[not all there]{adj. phr.} Not completely alert mentally; absentminded; not together. •/Bill is a wonderful guy but he is just not all there./

[not at all] See: AT ALL.

[not bad] or [not so bad] or [not half bad]{adj.}, {informal} Pretty good; all right; good enough. •/The party last night was not bad./ •/It was not so bad, as inexpensive vacations go./ •/The show was not half bad./

[not by a long shot] See: BY A LONG SHOT.

[not by any means] See: BY NO MEANS.

[notch] See: TIGHTEN ONE’S BELT.

[note] See: COMPARE NOTES, TAKE NOTE OF.

[not for all the coffee in Brazil] or [not for all the tea in China] or [not for anything in the world ] or [not for love or money] See: NOT FOR THE WORLD.

[not for the world] or [not for worlds]{adv. phr.} Not at any price; not for anything. •/I wouldn’t hurt his feelings for the world./ •/Not for worlds would he let his children go hungry./

[not half bad] See: NOT BAD.

[not have anything on] See: HAVE NOTHING ON.

[not have the heart to]{v. phr.} To not be insensitive or cruel. •/My boss did not have the heart to lay off two pregnant women when they most needed their jobs./

[nothing] See: GO FOR NOTHING, HAVE NOTHING ON, HERE GOES NOTHING, IN NO TIME or IN NOTHING FLAT, NOT TO MENTION or TO SAY NOTHING OF.

[nothing doing]{adv. phr.}, {informal} I will not do it; certainly not; no indeed; no. •/«Will you lend me a dollar?» «Nothing doing!»/ •/«Let’s go for a boat ride!» «Nothing doing!»/ Compare: NO DEAL.

[nothing if not]{adv. phr.} Without doubt; certainly. •/With its bright furnishings, flowers, and sunny windows, the new hospital dayroom is nothing if not cheerful./

[nothing like] See: ANYTHING LIKE.

[nothing of the kind]{adv. phr.} On the contrary. •/«Did you quit your job?» he asked. «No, I did nothing of the kind,» she answered./

[nothing short of]{adv. phr.} Absolutely; thoroughly; completely. •/Olivier’s performance in Hamlet was nothing short of magnificent./

[nothing succeeds like success] Success in one thing makes success in other things easier; people like a successful person. – A proverb. •/The girls all like Bob because he is football captain. Nothing succeeds like success./

[nothing to it]{adj. phr.} Presenting no serious challenge; easily accomplished. •/Once you learn how to tread water, swimming is really easy; there is nothing to it./ Compare: EASY AS APPLE PIE, A CINCH, A PIECE OF CAKE.

[nothing to sneeze at] See: SNEEZE AT.

[notice] See: SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE, TAKE NOTE OF or TAKE NOTICE OF.

[not in the least]{adv. phr.} Not at all. •/She was not in the least interested in listening to a long lecture on ethics./

[notion] See: HALF A MIND also HALF A NOTION, TAKE INTO ONE’S HEAD or TAKE A NOTION.

[not know which way to turn] or [not know which way to jump]{v. phr} To be puzzled about getting out of a difficulty; not know what to do to get out of trouble. •/When Jane missed the last bus home, she didn’t know which way to turn./ •/After Mr. Brown died, Mrs. Brown had no money to pay the bills. When the landlord told her to pay the rent or move out, she didn’t know which way to jump./

[not let any grass grow under one’s feet] See: LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE’S FEET.

[not one’s cup of tea] See: CUP OF TEA.

[not one’s scene] See: CUP OF TEA.

[not on your life]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Certainly not; not ever; not for any reason. – Used for emphasis. •/I wouldn’t drive a car with brakes like that – not on your life./ •/Did he thank me for my advice? Not on your life./

[not see beyond one’s nose] See: SEE BEYOND ONE’S NOSE.

[not so bad] See: NOT BAD.

[not so hot] or [not too hot]{adj. phr.} Ineffective; not very good. •/His plans to rebuild the house in a hurry obviously weren’t so hot./

[not the only fish in the sea]{n. phr.} One of many; not the only one of the kind; not the only one available. •/He said he could find other girls – she was not the only fish in the sea./ Compare: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[not the only pebble on the beach]{n. phr.} Not the only person to be considered; one of many. •/George was acting pretty self-important and we finally had to tell him that he wasn’t the only pebble on the beach./ Compare: NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA.

[not the thing]{n. phr.} Not the accepted form of action; something socially improper. •/It is simply not the thing to wear blue jeans to the opera./

[not to get to first base]{v. phr.} To fail to make initial progress; have no success at all. •/I tried various ways to make Mary interested in me as a potential husband, but I couldn 't even get to first base./

[not to give one the time of day]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To dislike someone strongly enough so as to totally ignore him. •/Sue wouldn’t give Helen the time of day./

[not to give quarter]{v. phr.} 1. To be utterly unwilling to show mercy; not to allow a weaker or defeated party the chance to save themselves through escape. •/The occupying foreign army gave no quarter – they took no prisoners, shot everyone, and made escape impossible./ 2. To argue so forcefully during a negotiation or in a court of law as to make any counter-argument or counter-proposal impossible. •/The District Attorney hammered away at the witnesses and gave no quarter to the attorney for the defense./

[not to know one from Adam]{v. phr.} To not know a person; be unable to recognize someone. •/I have no idea who that guy is that Jane just walked in with; I don’t know him from Adam./

[not to know the first thing about]{v. phr.} To be totally ignorant about a certain issue. •/Al assured us that he didn’t know the first thing about Mary’s whereabouts./

[not to know what to make of]{v. phr.} To be unable to decipher; be unable to identify; not know how to decide what something really is. •/I got a mysterious letter asking me to meet Santa Claus at 6 P.M. at the supermarket. Is this a joke? I don’t know what to make of it./

[not to know whether one is coming or going]{v. phr.} To be completely confused. •/He was so perplexed he didn’t know whether he was coming or going./ Compare: AT SEA(2).

[not to lift a finger]{v. phr.} To not help in the slightest degree. •/«My husband won’t lift a finger to help me,» she complained, «although we have 12 people coming for dinner.»/

[not to mention] or [not to speak of] or [to say nothing of] Without ever needing to speak of; in addition to; besides. – Used to add something to what you have said or explained. •/Dave is handsome and smart not to mention being a good athlete./ •/They have three fine sons, not to speak of their two lovely daughters./ •/Sally takes singing and dancing lessons to say nothing of swimming and tennis lessons./ Compare: LET ALONE, TO SPEAK OF.

[not to speak of] See: NOT TO MENTION.

[not to touch (something) with a ten-foot pole]{v. phr.} To consider something completely undesirable or uninteresting. •/Some people won’t touch spinach with a ten-foot pole./ •/Kids who wouldn’t touch an encyclopedia with a ten-foot pole love to find information with this computer program./

[not worth a dime] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN.

[not worth a hill of beans] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN.

[not worth a red cent] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER’S DAMN.

[not worth a tinker’s damn] or not [worth a tinker’s dam]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not worth anything; valueless. •/As a bricklayer he was not worth a tinker’s damn./ •/I am not familiar with the subject so my opinion would not be worth a tinker’s dam./

[no two ways about it]{n. phr.} No other choice; no alternative. •/The boss said there were no two ways about it; we would all have to work late to finish the job./

[no use]{n.} 1. No purpose; no object; no gain. •/There’s no use in crying about your broken bicycle./ •/Bob said, «Let’s try again.» Dick answered, «It’s no use.»/ 2. Bad opinion; no respect; no liking. – Usually used after «have». •/He had no use for dogs after a dog bit him./ •/Jimmy had no use for arithmetic because it was hard for him./

[no use crying over spilled milk] or [no use crying over spilt milk] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

[now] See: EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, HERE AND NOW, JUST NOW.

[now and then] or [now and again]{adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; occasionally; sometimes. •/Now and then he goes to a ball game./ •/The maid broke a dish now and then./ Syn.: AT TIMES, FROM TIME TO TIME, ONCE IN A WHILE. Compare: EVERY NOW AND THEN, OFF AND ON.

[nowhere] See: OUT OF NOWHERE.

[nowhere near] See: ANYTHING LIKE.

[now – now]{coord. adv.} Sometimes… sometimes; by turns; at one time… then at another. – Often used with adjectives that are very different or opposite, especially to show change. •/The weather changed every day; it was now hot, now cool./ •/The band played different songs, now fast, now slow; now soft, now loud./ •/Billy ran so quickly he seemed to be all over the field; he was now here and now there./

[no way]{adv.} Not at all; never; under no circumstances. •/Do you think I will do the house chores alone? No way!/

[no wonder] also [small wonder]{adj.} Not surprising; to be expected. •/It is no wonder that the children love to visit the farm./ •/The Browns didn’t go to the fair. Small wonder – they dislike large noisy crowds./

[now or never]{adv. phr.} Exclusively at the present time. •/Mike said, «Now that Paul has resigned, there is a perfect place for you. It is now or never!»/

[now that]{conj.} Since; because; now. •/Now that dinner is ready, wash your hands./ •/You came early, but now that you’re here, take off your coat./ Syn.: INASMUCH AS.

[nth] See: TO THE NTH DEGREE.