Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[shoot the works]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To spare no expense or effort; get or give everything. •/Billy shot the works when he bought his bicycle; he got a bell, a light, a basket, and chrome trimmings on it, too./ •/The Greens shot the works on their daughter’s wedding reception./ 2. To go the limit; take a risk. •/The motor of Tom’s boat was dangerously hot, but he decided to shoot the works and try to win the race./

[shoot up]{v.} 1. To grow quickly. •/Billy had always been a small boy, but when he was thirteen years old he began to shoot up./ 2. To arise suddenly. •/As we watched, flames shot up from the roof of the barn./ 3. {informal} To shoot or shoot at recklessly; shoot and hurt badly. •/The cowboys got drunk and shot up the bar room./ •/The soldier was shot up very badly./ 4. To take drugs by injection. •/A heroin addict will shoot up as often as he can./

[shop] See: CLOSE UP SHOP, TALK SHOP.

[shop around for]{v. phr.} To make the rounds of various commercial establishments in order to find the most economical answer for one’s needs. •/We’ve been shopping around for a larger condominium that is affordable, and near the university./

[shoplifter]{n.} A thief who steals things from a store. •/The TV camera identified the shoplifter, who was then arrested and sentenced to jail./

[shopping center]{n.} A place usually for neighborhood shopping, where there is a group of stores and shops inside of a large parking lot. •/There is a bowling alley at the nearest shopping center./ •/All the stores in our shopping center stay open until nine o’clock on Friday evenings./

[shopworn]{adj.} A piece of merchandise that is offered below the usual price because it is slightly damaged or soiled. •/Although shopworn, the jacket was perfectly usable, so he eagerly bought it./

[shore leave]{n.} Permission given to a man in the Navy to leave his ship and go where he wants for a certain length of time. •/Jim went to visit New York when he was given three days' shore leave./ •/The ship did not dock long enough for the sailors to get shore leave./

[shore patrol]{n.} The police of a navy. •/The sailors who were fighting in town were arrested by the shore patrol./ •/The shore patrol was ordered to search every sailor who went on board the ship./

[shore up]{v.} To add support to (something) where weakness is shown; make (something) stronger where support is needed; support. •/When the flood waters weakened the bridge, it was shored up with steel beams and sandbags until it could be rebuilt./ •/The coach sent in a substitute guard to shore up the line when Fitchburg began to break through./

[shorn] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB.

[short] See: CAUGHT SHORT, FALL SHORT, FOR SHORT, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT, IN SHORT ORDER, IN SHORT SUPPLY, MAKE SHORT WORK OF, RUN SHORT, SELL SHORT, THE LONG AND THE SHORT.

[short and sweet]{adj.} Brief and to the point. •/Henry’s note to his father was short and sweet. He wrote, «Dear Dad, please send me $5. Love, Henry.»/

[shortchange]{v. phr.} To return less money to a customer in a store than is coming to him or her; cheat. •/I was shortchanged by the cashier when I got seven dollars back instead of eight./

[shortcut]{n.} A road shorter than the one that people normally take. •/We can save twenty minutes if we take this shortcut over the hill./

[short end]{n.} The worst or most unpleasant part. •/The new boy got the short end of it because all the comfortable beds in the dormitory had been taken before he arrived./ •/The girls who served refreshments at the party got the short end of it. When everybody had been served, there was no cake left for them./

[shorthanded]{adj.} Understaffed; short on workers. •/With several employees gone for the holiday weekend and two dozen people in line, the rent-a-car agency suddenly found itself terribly shorthanded./

[short haul]{n.} A short distance; a short trip. •/The Scoutmaster said that it was just a short haul to the lake./ •/The man from the moving company said they did not make short hauls, so we hired a truck to move our furniture three blocks to our new house./ Contrast: LONG HAUL.

[short list] or [short-listed]{v. phr.} To place on the list of select finalists for a job. •/Only three of the twenty-seven applicants were short-listed for the assistant professorial vacancy in our department./

[short of(1)]{adj. phr.} 1. Less or worse than. •/Don’t do anything short of your best./ 2. Not having enough. •/We did not buy anything because we were short of money./ •/The girls were asked to wait on tables because the kitchen was short of help./

[short of(2)]{adv. phr.} Away from; at a distance from. •/The day’s drive still left us a hundred miles short of the ocean./ •/The golfer’s shot fell far short of the hole./

[short of breath]{adj.} Panting and wheezing. •/He ran up six flights of stairs so rapidly that he was short of breath for several minutes./

[short-order cook]{n.} A person who prepares food that cooks quickly. •/Bruce found a summer job as a short-order cook in a drive-in restaurant./ •/The new diner needs another short-order cook./ Compare: SLING HASH.

[short shrift]{n.} Little or no attention. – Usually used with «get» or «give». •/In books about jobs, women’s work is consistently given short shrift./

[short-spoken]{adj.} Using so few words that you seem impatient or angry; speaking in a short impatient way; saying as little as possible in an unfriendly way. •/Jim is always short-spoken when he is tired./ •/We were hoping to borrow Dad’s car, but he was so short-spoken when he came home that we were afraid to ask./

[shot] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG SHOT, BY A LONG SHOT, CALL ONE’S SHOT, CALL THE SHOTS, FOUL SHOT, LONG SHOT.

[shot in the arm]{n. phr.}, {informal} Something inspiring or encouraging. •/The general’s appearance was a shot in the arm for the weary soldiers./ •/We were ready to quit, but the coach’s talk was a shot in the arm./

[shot in the dark]{n. phr.} An attempt without much hope or chance of succeeding; a wild guess. •/A was just a shot in the dark, but I got the right answer to the teacher’s question./

[shot through with] Full of. •/His speech was shot through with praise for the president./ •/Jane’s letter was shot through with hints for a pony./

[shoulder] See: CHIP ON ONE’S SHOULDER, COLD SHOULDER, GOOD HEAD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS, HEAD AND SHOULDERS, PUT ONE’S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL, ON ONE’S SHOULDERS, RUB ELBOWS or RUB SHOULDERS, SQUARE ONE’S SHOULDERS, WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

[shoulder to cry on] or [to lean on]{n. phr.} A sympathetic person who is willing to listen to one’s complaints and troubles. •/When Ken left her, Donna needed a shoulder to lean on, and Bob was right there to fill the role./

[shoulder to shoulder]{adv. phr.} 1. One beside the other; together. •/The three boys were shoulder to shoulder all during the working hours./ Compare: SIDE BY SIDE. 2. Each helping the other; in agreement; together. – Often used with «stand». •/We can win the fight if we all stand shoulder to shoulder./ Compare: SEE EYE TO EYE.

[shoulder to the wheel] See: PUT ONE’S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.

[shout down]{v.} To object loudly to; defeat by shouting. •/Grace suggested that we give our club money to charity, but she was shouted down./ •/The crowd shouted down the Mayor’s suggestions./

[shout from the housetops] or [shout from the rooftops]{v. phr.}, {informal} To tell everyone; broadcast, especially one’s own personal business. •/Mr. Clark was so happy when his son was born that he shouted the news from the housetops./ •/When Mary bleached her hair, her neighbors shouted it from the housetops./

[shouting] See: ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING.

[shove down one’s throat] or [ram down one’s throat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To force you to do or agree to (something not wanted or liked.) •/We didn’t want Mr. Bly to speak at our banquet, but the planning committee shoved him down our throats./ •/The president was against the idea, but the club members rammed it down his throat./

[shove off] See: PUSH OFF.

[show] See: GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD, GO TO SHOW or GO TO PROVE, ROAD SHOW, STEAL THE SHOW, TALENT SHOW, VARIETY SHOW, WHOLE CHEESE or WHOLE SHOW.

[show a clean pair of heels] See: TAKE TO ONE’S HEELS.

[show around]{v. phr.} To act as a host or guide to someone; to show newly arrived people or strangers what’s what and where. •/When Gordon and Rose arrived in Hawaii for the first time, their host showed them around the islands./

[show cause]{v. phr.} To give a reason or explanation. •/The judge asked the defendants to show cause why they should not be held without bail./

[showdown]{n.} A final challenge or confrontation during which both sides have to use all of their resources. •/You cannot know a country’s military strength until a final showdown occurs./

[showgirl]{n.} One who works as an entertainer in a bar or nightclub, musical show, etc. •/Several famous Hollywood stars actually started their careers as showgirls./

[show in] or [out] or [up] or [to the door]{v. phr.} To usher; conduct; accompany. •/«My husband will show you in,» Mary said to the guests when they arrived at the door./

[showoff]{n.} A boastful person. •/Jim always has to be the center of attention; he is an insufferable showoff./

[show off]{v. phr.} 1. To put out nicely for people to see; display; exhibit. •/The Science Fair gave Julia a chance to show off her shell collection./ •/The girls couldn’t wait to show off their fine needlework to our visitors./ 2. {informal} To try to attract attention; also, try to attract attention to. •/The children always show off when we have company./ •/Joe hasn’t missed a chance to show off his muscles since that pretty girl moved in next door./

[show of hands]{n. phr.} An open vote during a meeting when those who vote «yes» and those who vote «no» hold up their hands to be counted. •/The chairman said, «I’d like to see a show of hands if we’re ready for the vote.»/

[show one’s colors]{v. phr.} 1. To show what you are really like. •/We thought Toby was timid, but he showed his colors when he rescued the ponies from the burning barn./ 2. To make known what you think or plan to do. •/Mr. Ryder is afraid that he will lose the election if he shows his colors on civil rights./ •/We would not help Jim until he showed his colors./

[show one’s face]{v. phr.} To be seen; appear. •/Bill is afraid to show his face since Tom threatened to beat him up./ •/Judy is a wonderful mimic but she is too shy to show her face on stage./ •/After cheating on the test, Chris was ashamed to show his face./

[show one’s hand]{v. phr.} To reveal or exhibit one’s true and hitherto hidden purpose. •/Only after becoming Chancellor of Germany did Adolf Hitler really show his hand and reveal that he intended to take over other countries./

[show one’s teeth]{v. phr.} To show anger; show belligerence. •/He is a very mild, private person, but during a tough business negotiation he knows how to show his teeth./

[show signs] See: GIVE SIGNS.

[show the door]{v. phr.} To ask (someone) to go away. •/Ruth was upsetting the other children, so I showed her the door./ •/Our neighbors invited themselves to the party and stayed until Harry showed them the door./

[show up]{v.} 1. To make known the real truth about (someone). •/The man said he was a mind reader, but he was shown up as a fake./ 2. To come or bring out; become or make easy to see. •/The detective put a chemical on the paper, and the fingertips showed up./ •/This test shows up your weaknesses in arithmetic./ 3. {informal} To come; appear. •/We had agreed to meet at the gym, but Larry didn’t show up./ •/Only five students showed up for the class meeting./ Compare: TURN UP(2).

[shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.

[shrink] See: HEAD SHRINKER.

[shrug off] or [shrug away]{v.} To act as if you are not interested and do not care about something; not mind; not let yourself be bothered or hurt by. •/Alan shrugged off our questions; he would not tell us what had happened./ •/Muriel shrugged away every attempt to comfort her./ •/The ballplayer shrugged off the booing of the fans./ •/Jim cut his hand but he tied a cloth around it and shrugged it away./

[shudder to think]{v. phr.} To be afraid; hate to think about something. •/The professor is so strict I shudder to think what his final exam questions will be like./

[shut] See: KEEP ONE’S MOUTH SHUT, PUT UP or SHUT UP, CLOSE ONE’S EYES.

[shut down] See: CLOSE DOWN.

[shut-eye]{n.}, {slang} Sleep. •/It’s very late. We’d better get some shut-eye./ •/I’m going to get some shut-eye before the game./ Compare: FORTY WINKS.

[shut off]{v.} 1. To make (something like water or electricity) stop coming. •/Please shut off the hose before the grass gets too wet./ Compare: TURN OFF. 2. To be apart; be separated from; also to separate from. •/Our camp is so far from the highway we feel shut off from the world when we are there./ •/The sow is so bad tempered we had to shut it off from its piglets./

[shut one’s eyes] See: CLOSE ONE’S EYES.

[shut out]{v.} 1. To prevent from coming in; block. •/During World War II, Malta managed to shut out most of the Italian and German bombers by throwing up an effective anti-aircraft screen./ •/The boys were annoyed by Tom’s telling club secrets and shut him out of their meeting./ 2. To prevent (an opposing team) from scoring throughout an entire game. •/The Dodgers shut out the Reds, 5-0./

[shut the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[shut up]{v.} 1. {informal} To stop talking. •/Little Ruthie told Father about his birthday surprise before Mother could shut her up./ – Often used as a command; usually considered rude. •/Shut up and let Joe say something./ •/If you’ll shut up for a minute, I’ll tell you our plan./ Syn.: BUTTON YOUR LIP, DRY UP(3), KEEP ONE’S MOUTH SHUT. 2. To close the doors and windows of. •/We got the house shut up only minutes before the storm hit./ 3. To close and lock for a definite period of time. •/The Smiths always spend Labor Day shutting up their summer home for the year./ •/We got to the store only to find that the owner had shut up shop for the weekend./ 4. To confine. •/That dog bites. It should be shut up./ •/John has been shut up with a cold all week./

[shy] See: ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY and BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

[shy away] or [shy off]{v.} To avoid; seem frightened or nervous. •/The boys shied away from our questions./ •/The horse shied off when Johnny tried to mount it./

[sick] See: TAKE ILL or TAKE SICK.

[sick and tired]{adj.} 1. Feeling strong dislike for something repeated or continued too long; exasperated; annoyed. •/Jane was sick and tired of always having to wait for Bill, so when he didn’t arrive on time she left without him./ •/John is sick and tired of having his studies interrupted./ •/I’ve been studying all day, and I’m sick and tired of it./ Compare: FED UP.

[side] See: CHOOSE UP SIDES, FROM SIDE TO SIDE, GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED, GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH, ON ONE’S BAD SIDE, ON ONE’S GOOD SIDE, ON THE SIDE, SUNNY-SIDE UP, TAKE SIDES, THORN IN THE FLESH or THORN IN THE SIDE.

[side against]{v.} To join or be on the side that is against; disagree with; oppose. •/Bill and Joe sided against me in the argument./ •/We sided against the plan to go by plane./ Contrast: SIDE WITH.

[side by side]{adv.} 1. One beside the other in a row. •/Alice’s dolls were lined up side by side on the window seat./ •/Charles and John are neighbors; they live side by side on Elm Street./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. 2. Close together. •/The two boys played side by side all afternoon./

[sidekick]{n.} A companion; a close friend of lesser status. •/Wherever you see Dr. Howell, Dr. Percy, his youthful sidekick is sure to be present as well./

[side of the tracks] See: THE TRACKS.

[side street]{n.} A street that runs into and ends at a main street. •/The store is on a side street just off Main Street./ •/The Spellmans bought a house on a side street that runs off Broad Street./ Compare: BACK STREET, CROSS STREET.

[side with]{v.} To agree with; help. •/Alan always sides with Johnny in an argument./ •/Gerald sided with the plan to move the club./ Contrast: SIDE AGAINST.

[sight] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT, AT SIGHT or ON SIGHT, CATCH SIGHT OF, HEAVE IN SIGHT, LOSE SIGHT OF, ON SIGHT, SET ONE’S SIGHTS.

[sight for sore eyes]{n. phr.}, {informal} A welcome sight. •/After our long, dusty hike, the pond was a sight for sore eyes./ •/«Jack! You’re a sight for sore eyes!»/

[sight-read]{v.} To be able to play music without memorization by reading the sheet music and immediately playing it. •/Experienced, good musicians are expected to be able to sight-read./

[sight unseen]{adv. phr.} Before seeing it; before seeing her, him, or them. •/Tom read an ad about a car and sent the money for it sight unseen./

[sign] See: HIGH SIGN, INDIAN SIGN, ROAD SIGN.

[sign in]{v.} To write your name on a special list or in a record book to show that you are present. •/Every worker must sign in when coming back to work./ •/Teachers go to the office and sign in each morning before going to their classrooms./ Contrast SIGN OUT.

[sign off]{v.} 1. To end a program on radio or television. •/That TV newscaster always signs off by saluting./ 2. To stop broadcasting for the day. •/That TV station always signs off after the late movie./

[sign of the times]{n. phr.} A characteristic of the times in which one lives. •/It is a sad sign of the times that all the major lakes and rivers are badly polluted and fish in them are poisoned./

[sign on]{v. phr.} 1. To sign an agreement to become an employee. •/The new cowboys signed on with the wealthy rancher in Nevada./ 2. To start a radio or television broadcast. •/Station WLAK signs on every morning at 6 A.M./ Contrast: SIGN OFF.

[sign one’s own death warrant]{v. phr.} To cause your own death or the loss of something you want very much. •/Mr. Carter had lung trouble, and the doctor told him he would sign his own death warrant if he didn’t stop smoking./ •/When Jim’s fiancee saw him on a date with another girl, he signed his own death warrant./

[sign on the dotted line]{v. phr.} To attach one’s signature on an important document, such as a contract, a bill of sales, etc. •/The seller said to the buyer, «All you need to do is sign on the dotted line.»/

[sign out]{v.} To write your name on a special list or in a record book to show that you are leaving a place. •/Most of the students sign out on Friday./ Contrast SIGN IN.

[sign over]{v.} To give legally by signing your name. •/He signed his house over to his wife./

[sign up]{v.} 1. To promise to do something by signing your name; join; sign an agreement. •/We will not have the picnic unless more people sign up./ •/John wants to sign up for the contest./ •/Miss Carter has signed up to be the chaperone at the dance./ 2. To write the name of (a person or thing) to be in an activity; also, to persuade (someone) to do something. •/Betty decided to sign up her dog for obedience training./ •/The superintendent has signed up three new teachers for next year./

[signed, sealed, and delivered]{adj. phr.} Finished; completed; in a state of completion. •/«How is the campus renovation plan for the governor’s office coming along?» the dean of the college asked. «Signed, sealed, and delivered,» his assistant answered./ Compare: CUT AND DRIED; HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

[silence gives consent] If you say nothing or do not say no to something, it means that you agree. – A proverb. •/Don’t be afraid to say, if you don’t like something. Silence gives consent./

[silent majority]{n.}, {informal} The large majority of people who, unlike the militants, do not make their political and social views known by marching and demonstrating and who, presumably, can swing an election one way or the other. •/Sidney Miltner is a member of the silent majority./

[silver] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE’S MOUTH, EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING, HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER.

[silver anniversary] or [wedding]{n. phr.} The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of a couple; the twenty-fifth anniversary of a business or an association, etc. •/«The day after tomorrow is Mom and Dad’s silver anniversary,» Sue said to her brother. «I hope you have a nice present picked out.»/

[simmer down]{v.}, {informal} To become less angry or excited; become calmer. •/Tom got mad, but soon simmered down./

[Simon Legree]{n.}, {informal} A strict person, especially a boss, who makes others work very hard. •/Don’t talk on the job; the boss is a real Simon Legree./ •/Everybody avoids the foreman. He acts like a Simon Legree./

[simple] See: PURE AND SIMPLE.

[sing a different tune] or [whistle a different tune] also [sing a new tune]{v. phr.}, {informal} To talk or act in the opposite way; contradict something said before. •/Charles said that all smokers should be expelled from the team but he sang a different tune after the coach caught him smoking./ Syn.: CHANGE ONE’S TUNE, DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE. Compare: LAUGH OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH.

[sing for one’s supper]{v. phr.}, {informal} To have to work for what one desires. •/I realized a long time ago that I had to sing for my supper if I wanted to get ahead in my profession./

[sing in tune] See: IN TUNE.

[single] See: EVERY SINGLE.

[single out]{v. phr.} To select or choose one from among many. •/There were a lot of pretty girls at the high school prom but Don immediately singled out Sally./

[sing one’s praises]{v. phr.} To extol or praise continuously. •/The audience left the concert with everyone singing the praises of the young piano virtuoso./

[sing out of tune] See: OUT OF TUNE.

[sink] See: HEART SINKS.

[sinker] See: HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

[sink in] or [soak in]{v.}, {informal} To be completely understood; be fully realized or felt. •/Everybody laughed at the joke but Joe; it took a moment for it to sink in before he laughed too./ •/When Frank heard that war had started, it didn’t sink in for a long time until his father was drafted into the army./ Compare: BRING HOME.

[sink one’s teeth into] See: GET ONE’S TEETH INTO.

[sink or swim]{v. phr.} To succeed or fail by your own efforts, without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don’t work hard to succeed. •/When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by himself to sink or swim./ •/Tom’s new job was confusing and no one had time to help him learn, so he had to sink or swim./

[sit] See: GO SIT ON A TACK, ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTING.

[sit back]{v.} 1. To be built a distance away; stand away (as from a street). •/Our house sits back from the road./ 2. To relax; rest, often while others are working; take time out. •/Sit back for a minute and think about what you have done./

[sit by]{v.} 1. To stay near; watch and care for. •/The nurse was told to sit by the patient until he woke up./ •/Mother sat by her sick baby all night./ 2. To sit and watch or rest especially while others work. •/Don’t just sit idly by while the other children are all busy./

[sit down]{v.} To sit on a seat or resting place. •/After gym class Jim was tired and was glad to sit down and rest./

[sit in]{v.} 1. To be a member; participate. •/We’re having a conference and we’d like you to sit in./ also [sit in on]: To be a member of; participate in. •/We want you to sit in on the meeting./ 2. To attend but not participate. Often used with «on». •/Our teacher was invited to sit in on the conference./ Compare: LOOK ON.

[sit on]{v.} 1. To be a member of (a jury, board, commission), etc. •/Mr. Brown sat on the jury at the trial./ 2. {informal} To prevent from starting or doing something; squelch. •/The teacher sat on Fred before he could get started with the long story./ •/The teacher sat on Joe as soon as he began showing off./

[sit on a bomb] or [bombshell]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be in possession of anything that is potentially disastrous or dangerous. •/The finance department will be sitting on a bomb unless it finds a way to cut overhead expenses./

[sit on a volcano]{v.}, {informal} 1. To be in a place where trouble may start or danger may come suddenly. •/Bob was in that part of South America before the revolution began. He knew he was sitting on a volcano./ •/The policemen who patrolled the big city slum area that summer were sitting on a volcano./

[sit on one’s hands]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do nothing; fail or refuse to do anything. •/We asked Bill for help with our project, but he sat on his hands./

[sit on the fence] See: ON THE FENCE.

[sit out]{v.} To not take part in. •/The next dance is a polka. Let’s sit it out./ •/Toby had to sit out the last half of the game because his knee hurt./

[sitter] See: ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTER.

[sitting on a powder keg] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.

[sit through]{v.} To watch or listen until (something) is finished. •/The show was so boring that we could hardly sit through the first act./ •/Elaine liked the movie so much that she sat through three showings./

[sit tight]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make no move or change; stay where you are. – Often used as a command. •/Sit tight; I’ll be ready to go in a few minutes./ •/The doctor said to sit tight until he arrived./ •/The gangsters sat tight in the mountains while the police looked for them./ Compare: STAND PAT.

[sitting on top of the world] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

[sitting pretty]{adj.}, {slang} To be in a lucky position. •/The new library is sitting pretty because a wealthy woman gave it $10,000 worth of reference books./ •/Mr. Jones was sitting pretty until his $25,000-a-year job was dropped by the company./

[sit up]{v.} 1. To move into a sitting position. •/Joe sat up when he heard the knock on his bedroom door./ 2. To stay awake instead of going to bed. •/Mrs. Jones will sit up until both of her daughters get home from the dance./ •/We sat up until two A.M. hoping for news from Alaska./ 3. {informal} To be surprised. •/Janice really sat up when I told her the gossip about Tom./

[sit-up]{n.} A vigorous exercise in which the abdominal muscles are strengthened by locking one’s feet in a fastening device and sitting up numerous times. •/Do a few sit-ups if you want to reduce your waist./

[sit up and take notice]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be surprised into noticing something. •/Grace had never impressed her teachers. Hearing that she had won the essay contest made them sit up and take notice./ •/George’s sudden success made the town sit up and take notice./

[sit up for]{v. phr.} To wait until after the usual bedtime for someone’s return. •/Mrs. Smith always sits up for her two daughters, no matter how late it is./

[sit up with]{v. phr.} To be with; particularly to keep someone ill company. •/Mrs. Brown sat up with her sick husband all night in the hospital room./

[sit well (with)]{v.} Find favor with; please. •/The reduced school budget did not sit well with the teachers./

[sit with]{v.}, {informal} To be accepted by; affect. – Used in interrogative sentences and in negative sentences modified by «well». •/How did your story sit with your mother?/ •/Bob’s poor sportsmanship doesn’t sit well with the coach./

[six] See: AT SIXES AND SEVENS, DEEP-SIX.

[six bits]{n.}, {slang} Seventy-five cents. •/«Lend me six bits till Friday, Sam,» said Jim. «I’ve spent all my allowance.»/ Compare: TWO BITS.

[six of one and half-a-dozen of the other]{n. phr.} Two things the same; not a real choice; no difference. •/Which coat do you like better, the brown or the blue? It’s six of one and half-a-dozen of the other./ •/Johnny says it’s six of one and half-a-dozen of the other whether he does the job tonight or tomorrow night./

[size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE, PINT-SIZE.

[size up]{v.}, {informal} To decide what one thinks about (something); to form an opinion about (something). •/Give Joe an hour to size up the situation and he’ll tell you what to do next./ •/Our coach went to New York to size up the team we’ll face in our homecoming game./ Compare: TAKE STOCK(2).

[skate] See: CHEAP SKATE.

[skate on thin ice]{v. phr.} To take a chance; risk danger, disapproval or anger. •/You’ll be skating on thin ice if you ask Dad to increase your allowance again./ •/John knew he was skating on thin ice, but he could not resist teasing his sister about her boyfriend./

[skating rink]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Slippery road. •/Attention all units – there’s a skating rink ahead!/

[skeleton in the closet]{n. phr.} A shameful secret; someone or something kept hidden, especially by a family. •/The skeleton in our family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he drank too much./

[skid lid]{n.}, {slang} A crash helmet worn by motorcyclists and race drivers. •/How much did you pay for that handsome skid lid?/

[skid row]{n.} The poor part of a city where men live who have no jobs and drink too much liquor. •/That man was once rich, but he drank and gambled too much, and ended his life living on skid row./ •/The Bowery is New York City’s skid row./

[skim the surface]{v. phr.} To do something very superficially. •/He seems knowledgeable in many different areas but his familiarity is very superficial, since he only skims the surface of everything he touches./

[skin] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH, GET UNDER ONE’S SKIN, JUMP OUT OF ONE’S SKIN, KEEP ONE’S EYES PEELED or KEEP ONE’S EYES SKINNED, SAVE ONE’S NECK or SAVE ONE’S SKIN, WITH A WHOLE SKIN or IN A WHOLE SKIN.

[skin alive]{v. phr.} 1. {informal} To scold angrily. •/Mother will skin you alive when she sees your torn pants./ 2. {informal} To spank or beat. •/Dad was ready to skin us alive when he found we had ruined his saw./ 3. {slang} To defeat. •/We all did our best, but the visiting gymnastic team skinned us alive./

[skin and bones]{n.} A person or animal that is very thin; someone very skinny. •/The puppy is healthy now, but when we found him he was just skin and bones./ •/Have you been dieting? You’re nothing but skin and bones!/