Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"
Автор книги: Adam Makkai
Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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Словари
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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 61 страниц)
[at the end of one’s rope] See: END OF ONE’S ROPE.
[at the kill] See: IN AT THE KILL.
[at the least] See: AT LEAST.
[at the mercy of] or [at one’s mercy]{adj. phr.} In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. •/The champion had the other boxer at his mercy./ •/The picnic was at the mercy of the weather./ •/The small grocer was at the mercy of people he owed money to./
[at the most] See: AT MOST.
[at the outset]{adv. phr.} At the start; at the beginning. •/«You’ll live in the cheaper barracks at the outset; later you can move into the better cabins,» the camp director said to the new boys./
[at the outside]{adv. phr.} Maximally; at the utmost. •/This old house can cost no more than $40,000 at the outside./
[at the point of]{prep.} Very near to; almost at or in. •/When Mary broke her favorite bracelet, she was at the point of tears./ •/The boy hurt in the accident lay at the point of death for a week, then he got well./ Compare: ABOUT TO(1), ON THE POINT OF.
[at the ready]{adj. phr.} Ready for use. •/The sailor stood at the bow, harpoon at the ready, as the boat neared the whale./
[at the same time]{adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. •/The two runners reached the finish line at the same time./ Syn.: AT ONCE, AT ONE TIME. 2. In spite of that fact; even though; however; but; nevertheless. •/John did pass the test; at the same time, he didn’t know the subject very well./
[at the seams] See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.
[at the table] or [at table]{adv. phr.} At a meal; at the dinner table. •/The telephone call came while they were all at table./
[at the tip of one’s tongue] or [on the tip of one’s tongue]{adv. phr.}{informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. •/It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ •/John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his manners just in time./ 2. Almost remembered; at the point where one can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten. •/I have his name on the tip of my tongue./
[at the top of one’s voice] or [at the top of one’s lungs]{adv. phr.} As loud as you can; with the greatest possible sound; very loudly. •/He was singing at the top of his voice./ •/He shouted at the top of his lungs./
[at this rate] or [at that rate]{adv. phr.} At a speed like this or that; with progress like this or that. •/John’s father said that if John kept going at that rate he would never finish cutting the grass./ •/So Johnny has a whole dollar! At this rate he’ll be a millionaire./ •/«Three 100’s in the last four tests! At this rate you’ll soon be teaching the subject,» Tom said to Mary./
[at times]{adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; not every day; not every week; occasionally; sometimes. •/At times Tom’s mother lets him hold the baby./ •/You can certainly be exasperating, at times!/ •/We have pie for dinner at times./ Syn.: FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND THEN, ONCE IN A WHILE.
[at will]{adv. phr.} As you like; as you please or choose freely. •/Little Bobby is allowed to wander at will in the neighborhood./ •/With an air conditioner you can enjoy comfortable temperatures at will./
[at wits end] See: AT ONE’S WIT’S END.
[at work]{adj. phr.} Busy at a job; doing work. •/The teacher was soon hard at work correcting that day’s test./ •/Jim is at work on his car./
[at worst] or [at the worst]{adv. phr.} 1. Under the worst conditions; as the worst possibility. •/When Don was caught cheating in the examination he thought that at worst he would get a scolding./ Compare: AT MOST. Contrast AT BEST. 2. In the least favorable view, to say the worst about a thing. •/The treasurer had certainly not stolen any of the club’s money; at worst, he had forgotten to write down some of the things he had spent money for./
[aught] See: FOR AUGHT at FOR ALL(2), FOR ALL ONE KNOWS.
[Aunt Tom]{n.}, {slang}, {originally from Black English} A successful professional or business woman who, due to her success in a masculine profession, doesn’t care about the women’s liberation movement or the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. •/Hermione is a regular Aunt Tom, she’ll never vote for the ERA./
[avail] See: TO NO AVAIL or OF NO AVAIL.
[average] See: ON AN AVERAGE or ON THE AVERAGE, LAW OF AVERAGES.
[awe] See: STAND IN AWE OF.
[awkward age]{n.} Adolescence; awkwardness during adolescence. •/Sue used to be an «ugly duckling» when she was at the awkward age, but today she is a glamorous fashion model./
[AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE.
[ax to grind]{n. phr.}, {informal} Something to gain for yourself: a selfish reason. •/In praising movies for classroom use he has an ax to grind; he sells motion picture equipment./ •/When Charles told the teacher he saw Arthur copying his homework from Jim, he had an ax to grind; Arthur would not let Charles copy from him./
B
[babe in the woods]{n. phr.} A person who is inexperienced or innocent in certain things. •/He is a good driver, but as a mechanic he is just a babe in the woods./ Compare: OVER ONE’S HEAD, BEYOND ONE’S DEPTH.
[baby] See: WAR BABY.
[baby boom]{n.} A sudden increase in the birth rate. •/The universities were filled to capacity due to the baby boom that followed World War II./
[baby grand]{n.} A small grand piano no longer than three feet, maximally four feet. •/This apartment can’t take a regular grand piano, so we’ll have to buy a baby grand./
[baby kisser]{n.}, {slang} A person campaigning for votes in his quest for elected political office; such persons often kiss little children in public. •/Nixon was a baby kisser when he ran for Vice President with Eisenhower./
[back] See: BACK OF or IN BACK OF, BEHIND ONE’S BACK, BRUSH BACK, COME BACK, CUT BACK, DOUBLE BACK, DRAW BACK, DROP BACK. EYES IN THE BACK OF ONE’S HEAD, FADE BACK, FALL BACK, FALL BACK ON, FLANKER BACK. FROM WAY BACK, GET BACK AT, GET ONE’S BACK UP, GIVE THE SHIRT OFF ONE’S BACK, GO BACK ON, HANG BACK, HARK BACK, HOLD BACK, LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK’S BACK, LOOK BACK, OFF ONE’S BACK, ON ONE’S BACK, PAT ON THE BACK, PIGGY-BACK, PIN ONE’S EARS BACK, PUT BACK THE CLOCK or TURN BACK THE CLOCK, PUT ONE’S BACK TO IT, SCRATCH ONE’S BACK, SET BACK, SET BACK ON ONE’S HEELS, SIT BACK, STAB IN THE BACK, TAKE A BACK SEAT, TAKE BACK, TALK BACK also ANSWER BACK, TURN ONE’S BACK ON, WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS or WORLD ON ONE’S BACK, WHILE BACK.
[back and forth]{adv.} Backwards and forwards. •/The chair is rocking hack and forth./ •/The tiger is pacing hack and forth in his cage./ Compare: TO AND FRO.
[back away]{v.} To act to avoid or lessen one’s involvement in something; draw or turn back; retreat. * The townspeople backed away from the building plan when they found out how much it would cost.
[back door]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Rear of vehicle. •/I am watching your back door./
[back down] or [back off]{v.}, {informal} To give up a claim; not follow up a threat. •/Bill said he could beat Ted, but when Ted put up his fists Bill backed down./ •/Harry claimed Joe had taken his book, but backed down when the teacher talked with him./ Syn.: BEAT A RETREAT. Compare: BACK OUT, GIVE IN, GO BACK ON(1).
[back in circulation]{adv. phr.} 1. Socially active once again (said about people); back on the dating circuit after a divorce or a romantic breakup. •/Now that Sully is divorced from Jim she is hack in circulation./ 2. Once again available to the public (said about types of paper money, rare coins, or other commercially available goods). •/In the USA the two-dollar hill was back in circulation for a short time only in the 1950s and 1960s./
[back number]{n.} Something out of fashion, or out of date. •/Among today’s young people a waltz like «The Blue Danube» is a hack number./
[backfire]{v.} To misfire; to have a reverse effect from what was intended. •/Mimi’s gossip about the Head of the Department backfired wizen people began to mistrust her./
[backhanded compliment]{n. phr.} A remark that sounds like a compliment but is said sarcastically. •/«Not had for a girl» the coach said, offering a backhanded compliment./
[back of] or [in back of]{prep.} 1. In or at the rear of; to the back of; behind. •/The garage is hack of the house./ •/Our car was in hack of theirs at the traffic light./ 2. {informal} Being a cause or reason for; causing. •/Hard work was back of his success./ •/The principal tried to find out what was back of the trouble on the bus./ 3. {informal} In support or encouragement of; helping, clones will be elected because many powerful men are back of him. •/Get in back of your team by cheering them at the game./
[back out]{v. phr.} 1. To move backwards out of a place or enclosure. •/Bob slowly backed his car out of the garage./ 2. To withdraw from an activity one has promised to carry out. •/Jim tried to back out of the engagement with Jane, but she insisted that they get married./ Compare: BEG OFF, GO BACK ON.
[back seat] See: TAKE A BACK SEAT.
[backseat driver]{n.}, {informal} A bossy person in a car who always tells the driver what to do. •/The man who drove the car became angry with the back seat driver./
[back street]{n.} A street not near the main streets or from which it is hard to get to a main street. •/We got lost in the back streets going through the city and it took us a half hour to find our way again./ Compare: SIDE STREET.
[back talk]{n.} A sassy, impudent reply. •/Such back talk will get you nowhere, young man!/ See: TALK BACK.
[back the wrong horse]{v. phr.} To support a loser. •/In voting for George Bush, voters in 1992 were backing the wrong horse./
[back-to-back]{adv.} 1. Immediately following. •/The health clinic had back-to-back appointments for the new students during the first week of school./ 2. Very close to, as if touching. •/Sardines are always packed in the can back-to-back./ •/The bus was so full that people had to stand back-to-back./
[back to the salt mines]{informal} Back to the job; back to work; back to work that is as hard or as unpleasant as working in a salt mine would be. – An overworked phrase, used humorously. •/The lunch hour is over, boys. Back to the salt mines!/ •/«Vacation is over,» said Billy. «Back to the salt mines.»/
[back to the wall] or [back against the wall]{adv. phr.} In a trap, with no way to escape; in bad trouble. •/The soldiers had their backs to the wall./ •/He was in debt and could not get any help; his back was against the wall./ •/The team had their backs to the wall in the second half./ Compare: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, LAST DITCH, ON THE SPOT, UP AGAINST IT.
[back up]{v.} 1. To move backwards. •/The train was backing up./ 2. To help or be ready to help; stay behind to help; agree with and speak in support of. •/Jim has joined the Boy Scouts and his father is backing him up./ •/The principal backs up the faculty./ •/Jim told us what had happened and Bob backed him up./ Compare: BACK OF(3), STAND BY(4). 3. To move behind (another fielder) in order to catch the ball if he misses it. •/The shortstop backed up the second baseman on the throw./
[backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.
[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards]{adv. phr.} To the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. •/He understood automobile engines backwards and forwards./ •/He knew basketball rules backwards and forwards./ •/I explained matters to him so that he understood backwards and forwards how it was./
[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.
[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE’S BAD GRACES, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON ONE’S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.
[bad actor]{n.}, {informal} A person or animal that is always fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. •/The boy was a bad actor and nobody liked him./
[bad blood]{n.}, {informal} Anger or misgivings due to bad relations in the past between individuals or groups. •/There’s a lot of bad blood between Max and Jack; I bet they’ll never talk to each other again./ Compare: BAD SHIT.
[bad egg]{n.}, {slang} A ne’er-do-well; good-for nothing; a habitual offender. •/The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./ Contrast: GOOD EGG.
[bad mouth (someone)]{v.}, {slang} To say uncomplimentary or libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another’s reputation. •/It’s not nice to had mouth people./
[bad news]{n.}, {slang} An event, thing, or person which is disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. •/What’s the new professor like? – He’s all bad news to me./
[bad paper]{n.}, {slang} 1. A check for which there are no funds in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. •/Why are you so mad? – I was paid with some bad paper./
[bad shit]{n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} An unpleasant event or situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of reconciliation. •/There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet there will he more killings this year./ Compare: BAD BLOOD.
[bad trip]{n.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} A disturbing or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in general. •/Why’s John’s face so distorted? – He had a bad trip./ •/How was your math exam? – Don’t mention it; it was a bad trip./
[bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
[bag and baggage]{adv.}, {informal} With all your clothes and other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. •/If they don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage./
[baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.
[bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.
[bail out(1)]{v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial by leaving or promising money or property for a while. •/When college students got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them out./ 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or lending money. •/He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail him out a couple of times./
[bail out(2)]{v.} To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute. •/When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out./
[bail out(3)]{v.} To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throw water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. •/Both men were kept busy bailing out the rowboat after it began to leak./
[bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
[bake] See: HALF-BAKED.
[baker’s dozen]{n.}, {informal} Thirteen. •/"How many of the jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. «Oh, make it a baker’s dozen.»/
[balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.
[ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THE BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUND BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL. ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.
[ball game]{n.}, {slang}, also {informal} The entire matter at hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. •/You said we can get a second mortgage for the house?! Wow! That’s a whole new ball game./
[ball of fire]{n.}, {informal} A person with great energy and ability; a person who can do something very well. •/He did poorly in school but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ •/The new shortstop is a good fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT ONE.
[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.
[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.
[ball up]{v.}, {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. •/Don’t ball me up./ •/Hal balled up the business with his errors./ – Often used in the passive. •/He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or going./ Compare: MIXED UP.
[baloney]{n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. •/John brags that he’s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it’s just a lot of baloney./ •/«Will you marry Joe?» mother asked. «Baloney,» Susie answered with a disgusted look./ •/Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./
[banana oil]{n.}, {slang} Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. •/Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/
[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.
[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.
[band together]{v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force. •/The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks./
[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[bandy about]{v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. •/The news of Jim and Mary’s divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office had heard it./
[bang up]{adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. •/The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./ •/John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.
[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.
[bank on]{v.}, {informal} To depend on; put one’s trust in; rely on. •/He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work./ •/The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.
[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.
[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.
[bargain for] or [bargain on]{v.} To be ready for; expect. •/When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for./ •/The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.
[barge in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To appear uninvited at someone’s house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. •/I’m sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./ •/I’m sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/
[bark up the wrong tree]{v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. •/If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ •/He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ •/The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./
[bark worse than one’s bite]{informal} Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. •/The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ •/The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ •/She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite./
[barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.
[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.
[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.
[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.
[base on balls]{n.} First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. •/He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls./
[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE’S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.
[basket case]{n.}, {slang}, {also informal} 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. •/Stop drinking, or else you’ll wind up a basket case!/
[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash]{v. phr.}, {informal} To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. – Used in negative sentences. •/When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ •/Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.
[bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.
[bats in one’s belfry] or [bats in the belfry]{n. phr.}, {slang} Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. •/When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry./
[bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.
[batting average]{n. phr.} Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). •/Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations./
[battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.
[battle of nerves]{n. phr.} A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. •/It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university./ See: WAR OF NERVES.
[bawl out]{v.}, {informal} To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. •/The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.
[bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.
[be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.
[beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.
[beach bunny]{n.}, {slang} An attractive girl seen on beaches – mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn’t get into the water and swim. •/What kind of a girl is Susie? – She’s a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen’s Surf on Waikiki but I’ve never seen her swim./
[bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.
[be a fly on the wall]{v. phr.} To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. •/How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance’s parents are saying about me!/
[be a good hand at]{v. phr.} To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. •/Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building./
[beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.
[bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’S BEAN.
[be an item]{v. phr.} To be a couple; belong to one another. •/No one is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized that they are an item./
[be a poor hand at]{v. phr.} To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. •/Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.
[be at pains]{v. phr.} To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. •/The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats./
[bear] See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.
[bear a grudge]{v. phr.} To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. •/Come on, John, be a good sport and don’t bear a grudge because I beat you at golf./ Contrast: BURY THE HATCHET.
[bear a hand] See: LEND A HAND.
[beard] See: LAUNCH UP ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE’S BEARD.
[bear down]{v.} 1. To press or push harder; work hard at; give full strength and attention. •/She is bearing down in her studies to win a scholarship./ •/The baseball pitcher is bearing down./ •/The pitcher bore down on the star batter./ •/Teachers of the deaf bear down on English./ •/The sergeant bears down on lazy soldiers./ Contrast: LET UP(2b). 2. To move toward in an impressive or threatening way. – Often used with «on». •/While he was crossing the street a big truck bore down on him./ •/The little ship tried to escape when the big pirate ship bore down./ •/After the boys threw the snowballs they saw a large lady bearing down upon them from across the street./
[bear down on] or [upon]{v. phr.} To draw constantly nearer with great speed and force. •/The police cars were bearing down on the bank robbers' get-away car./
[bear fruit]{v. phr.} To yield results. •/We hope that the company’s new investment policy will bear fruit./
[bear in mind] See: IN MIND.
[bear in the air] or [bear in the sky]{n. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A police helicopter flying overhead watching for speeders. •/Slow down, good buddy, there’s a bear in the air./
[bear off the palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM.
[bear one’s cross] See: CARRY ONE’S CROSS.
[bear out]{v.} To show to be right; prove; support. •/Modern findings do not bear out the old belief that the earth is flat./ •/Seward’s faith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out, even though it was once called «Seward’s Folly.»/
[bear trap]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A police radar unit designed to catch speeders. •/Watch the bear trap at exit 101./
[bear up]{v.} 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. •/The old bridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more./ •/He was borne up by love of country./ 2. To keep up one’s courage or strength; last. – Often used with «under». •/This boat will bear up under hurricane winds./ •/She bore up well at the funeral./ Syn.: STAND UP. Compare: CARRY ON.
[bear watching]{v. phr.} 1. To be worth watching or paying attention to; have a promising future. •/That young ball player will bear watching./ 2. To be dangerous or untrustworthy. •/Those tires look badly worn; they will bear watching./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.
[bear with]{v.}, {formal} To have patience with; not get angry with. •/Your little sister is sick. Try to bear with her when she cries./ •/It is hard to bear with criticism./ Syn.: PUT UP WITH. Compare: CARRY ONE’S CROSS.
[beat] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.
[beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush]{v. phr.}, {slang} To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. •/He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush./ •/He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point./ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: COME TO THE POINT.
[beat all] or [beat the Dutch]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be strange or surprising. •/John found a box full of money buried in his garage. Doesn’t that beat all!/ •/It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a basket./
[beat all hollow] also [beat hollow]{v. phr.}, {slang} To do much better than; to beat very badly. •/We beat their team all hollow./ •/As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./
[beat a retreat]{v. phr.} 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. •/The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat./ 2. To run away. •/They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few./ •/The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming./ Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.
[beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.
[beat down]{v.} 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over; conquer. •/All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks./ 2. {informal} a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. •/Can we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a lower price or easier payments. •/He tried to beat us down, so we did not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. •/At noon the sun beat down on our heads as we walked home./
[beaten path]{n. phr.} The usual route or way of operating that has been conventionally established, •/If we always follow the beaten path, we’ll never have the courage to try something new./
[beaten track]{n.} See: BEATEN PATH.
[beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.
[beat into one’s head]{v. phr.}, {informal} To teach by telling again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to be cross and punish often. •/Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten into his head./ •/I cannot beat it into his head that he should take off his hat in the house./
[beat it]{v.}, {slang} To go away in a hurry; get out quickly. •/When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could./ – Often used as a command. •/The big boy said, «Beat it, kid. We don’t want you with us.»/ Compare: CLEAR OUT(2), LIGHT OUT, HEAD FOR THE HILLS.
[beat one to it]{v. phr.} To arrive or get ahead of another person. •/I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it! Thanks for calling me./
[beat one’s brains out] or [beat one’s brains]{v. phr.}, {slang} To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire yourself out by thinking. •/It was too hard for him and he beat his brains out trying to get the answer./ •/Some students are lazy, but others beat their brains and succeed./
[beat one’s gums]{v. phr.}, {slang} To engage in idle talk, or meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. •/«Stop beating your gums, Jack,» Joe cried. «I am falling asleep.»/ Compare: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL.
[beat one’s head against a wall]{v. phr.} To struggle uselessly against something that can’t be beaten or helped; not succeed after trying very hard. •/Trying to make him change his mind is just beating your head against a wall./
[beat the band]{adv. phr.}, {informal} At great speed; with much noise or commotion. – Used after «to». •/The fire engines were going down the road to beat the band./ •/The audience cheered and stamped and clapped to beat the band./
[beat the bushes] also [beat the brush]{v. phr.}, {informal} To try very hard to find or get something. •/The mayor was beating the bushes for funds to build the playground./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.
[beat the drum]{v. phr.} To attract attention in order to advertise something or to promote someone, such as a political candidate. •/Mrs. Smith has been beating the drum in her town in order to get her husband elected mayor./
[beat the gun] See: JUMP THE GUN.
[beat the – out of] or [lick the – out of] or [whale the – out of]{v. phr.}, {informal} To beat hard; give a bad beating to. – Used with several words after «the», as «daylights», «living daylights», «tar». •/The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again./
[beat the meat]{v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To masturbate (said primarily of men). •/«So what did you do for sex in prison for seven years?» Joe asked. «Well, unless you want to become gay, you can beat the meat and that’s about it,» Max answered./
[beat the pants off]{v. phr.} 1. To prevail over someone in a race or competition. •/Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming race./ 2. To give someone a severe physical beating. •/Jack beat the pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central Park./
