Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[skin-deep]{adj.} Only on the surface; not having any deep or honest meaning; not really or closely connected with what it seems to belong to. •/Mary’s friendliness with Joan is only skin-deep./ •/Ralph crammed for the test and got a good grade, but his knowledge of the lesson is only skin-deep./ Contrast: BRED IN THE BONE.

[skin off one’s nose]{n. phr.}, {slang} Matter of interest, concern, or trouble to you. Normally used in the negative. •/Go to Jake’s party if you wish. It’s no skin off my nose./ •/Grace didn’t pay any attention to our argument. It wasn’t any skin off her nose./ •/You could at least say hello to our visitor. It’s no skin off your nose./

[skip] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT.

[skip bail] See: JUMP BAIL.

[skip it]{v. phr.}, {informal} To forget all about it. •/When Jack tried to reward him for returning his lost dog, the man said to skip it./ •/I asked what the fight was about, but the boys said to skip it./

[skip out]{v.}, {informal} To leave in a hurry; especially after cheating or taking money dishonestly; sneak away; leave without permission. •/The man skipped out of the hotel without paying his bill./ •/"How did you get out of the house after supper, Harry? " «I skipped out!»/

[skirt around]{v. phr.} To avoid something. •/«Let’s not skirt around the facts,» said the attorney to his client. «You must tell me the truth.»/

[sky] See: OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY, REACH FOR THE SKY.

[sky is the limit] There is no upper limit to something. •/«Buy me the fastest racehorse in Hong Kong,» Mr. Lee instructed his broker. «Spend whatever is necessary; the sky is the limit.»/

[slack off]{v. phr.} 1. To become less active; grow lazy. •/Since construction work has been slacking off toward the end of the summer, many workers were dismissed./ 2. To gradually reduce; taper off. •/The snowstorms tend to slack off over the Great Lakes by the first of April./

[slam] See: GRAND SLAM.

[slap down]{v.}, {slang} 1. To stop (someone, usually in a lower position or job) from doing or saying something, in a rough way or with a scolding; silence. •/When Billy talked back, the teacher slapped him down./ 2. To put a quick stop to; refuse roughly. •/The boss slapped down our idea of taking a nap on the job every afternoon./

[slap in the face(1)]{n.} An insult; a disappointment. •/We felt that it was a slap in the face when our gift was returned unopened./ •/Doris thought it was a slap in the face when her boyfriend invited another girl to the dance./ Compare: KICK IN THE PANTS.

[slap in the face(2)]{v. phr.} To insult; embarrass; make feel bad. •/John slapped our club in the face by saying that everyone in it was stupid./ •/I don’t want to slap her in the face by not coming to her party./

[slap one’s wrist]{v. phr.} To receive a light punishment. •/She could have been fired for contradicting the company president in public, but all she got was a slap on the wrist./

[slap together] See: THROW TOGETHER(1).

[slate] See: CLEAN SLATE.

[slated for] or [slated to be] Going to be; planned or intended for. •/People think the governor is slated to be president./ •/That subject is slated for debate at the next meeting./

[slave driver]{n.} A cruel, merciless boss or employer who makes the people under him work extremely hard for little compensation. •/Mr. Catwallender is such a slave driver that nobody cares to work for him anymore./

[sledding] See: HARD SLEDDING or ROUGH SLEDDING or TOUGH SLEDDING.

[sleep] See: BEAUTY SLEEP, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, SLEEP A WINK.

[sleep around]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be free with one’s sexual favors; to behave promiscuously. •/Sue Catwallender is a nice girl but she sleeps around an awful lot with all sorts of guys./

[sleep a wink]{v. phr.} To get a moment’s sleep; enjoy a bit of sleep. – Used in negative and conditional statements and in questions. •/I didn’t sleep a wink all night./

[sleep like a log]{v. phr.} To sleep very deeply and soundly. •/Although I am usually a light sleeper, I was so exhausted from the sixteen-hour transpacific flight that, once we got home, I slept like a log for twelve hours./

[sleep off]{v. phr.} To sleep until the effect of too much alcohol or drugs passes. •/George had too many beers last night and he is now sleeping off the effects./

[sleep on]{v.} To postpone a decision about. •/We asked Judy if she would join our club and she answered that she would sleep on it./ •/We will have to sleep on your invitation until we know whether we will be free Monday night./

[sleep out]{v.} 1. To sleep outdoors. •/The Scouts plan to sleep out next Saturday./ 2. To go home at night instead of sleeping at the place where you work. •/Mrs. Jones' maid sleeps in, but her cook sleeps out./

[sleep with]{v. phr.} To have a sexual affair with someone; have sex; copulate. •/It has been rumored in the office that the boss sleeps with all the girls he hires./

[sleeve] See: CARD UP ONE’S SLEEVE, LAUGH UP ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE’S SLEEVE, ROLL UP ONE’S SLEEVES, UP ONE’S SLEEVE or IN ONE’S SLEEVE, WEAR ONE’S HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE also PIN ONE’S HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE.

[sling hash]{v.}, {slang} To serve food, especially in a cheap, small diner, a drive-in, or short-order restaurant. •/Jake got a job slinging hash at the new drive-in restaurant./ •/Jody earned money for college by slinging hash in a restaurant during the summer./ Compare: SHORT-ORDER COOK.

[slinging match]{n. phr.} A loud, angry quarrel. •/The debate deteriorated into a most unseemly slinging match./

[slip] See: GIVE THE SLIP, SALES CHECK or SALES SLIP.

[slip a cog] or [slip a gear]{v. phr.}, {slang} To make a mistake. •/I must have been slipping a cog when I said that I would run for mayor./ •/Jim hates to sleep outdoors. He’s slipping his gears if he’s promised to take the boys camping./ Compare: SLIP UP.

[slip away]{v. phr.} To leave unnoticed. •/The party was such a bore that we decided to quietly slip away./

[slip off]{v. phr.} 1. To slide off something. •/The children climbed up the hill but when it was time to come down, they didn’t walk, but slipped off the smooth, old ledges./ 2. See: SLIP AWAY.

[slip of the lip] See: SLIP OF THE TONGUE.

[slip of the pen]{n. phr.} The mistake of writing something different from what you should or what you planned. •/That was a slip of the pen. I meant to write September, not November./ •/I wish you would forget it. That was a slip of the pen./

[slip of the tongue] also [slip of the lip]{n. phr.} The mistake of saying something you had not wanted or planned to say; an error of speech. •/No one would have known our plans if Kay hadn’t made a slip of the tongue./ •/She didn’t mean to tell our secret; it was a slip of the lip./

[slip one’s mind]{v. phr.} To forget something. •/I meant to mail those letters but it entirely slipped my mind./

[slip over] See: PUT OVER(2).

[slip through one’s fingers]{v. phr.} To escape without someone’s knowing how. •/Policemen surrounded the building, but the thief managed to slip through their fingers./ •/Mike earns a good wage, but he doesn’t save a penny. Money just slips through his fingers./

[slipup]{n.} A mistake. •/«I’m sorry, sir. That was an unfortunate slipup,» the barber said when he scratched the client’s face./

[slip up]{v. phr.} To make a mistake. •/Someone at the bank slipped up. There are only 48 pennies in this 50c roll of coins./ •/If he hadn’t slipped up on the last questions, his score on the test would have been perfect./

[slow burn]{n.}, {informal} A slowly increasing feeling of anger. •/The boys kept teasing John, and watched him do a slow burn./ •/Barbara’s slow burn ended only when Mary explained the misunderstanding./

[slowdown]{n.} A period of lesser activity, usually in the economic sphere. •/We all hope the current slowdown in the economy will soon be over./

[slow down]{v. phr.} To go more slowly than usual. •/The road was slippery, so Mr. Jones slowed down the car./ •/Pat once could run a mile in five minutes, but now that he’s older he’s slowing down./ Compare: LET UP(2). STEP DOWN. Contrast: SPEED UP.

[slow on the draw]{adj. phr.} Not very smart; having difficulty figuring things out. •/Poor Eric doesn’t get very good grades in physics; when it comes to problem-solving, he is rather slow on the draw./

[slow on the uptake] See: SLOW ON THE DRAW.

[slow tune] See: STANDARD TIME.

[slow up]{v.} 1. To go more slowly. •/The truck slowed up as it approached the toll gate./ •/Construction on the road slows up traffic./ 2. To become less busy. •/Business slows up at the stores after Christmas./

[slug it out]{v. phr.} To have a strong verbal or physical battle with someone; to contest something most vigorously. •/The two contenders for the lightweight boxing championship were slugging it out in the ring./ •/The two candidates for Congress were slugging it out on radio and on television./

[sly] See: ON THE SLY.

[smack-dab] also {southern}[smack-to-dab]{adv.}, {informal} Exactly; squarely. •/The ball landed smack-dab at our feet./ •/The plane landed smack-to-dab in the middle of the hay field./

[smack one’s lips]{v. phr.} To reveal an appetite for; show enjoyment of. •/Eleanor smacked her lips over the dessert of strawberries and whipped cream./

[small] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.

[small frog in a big pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.

[small fry]{n.} 1. Young children. •/In the park, a sandbox is provided for the small fry./ 2. Something or someone of little importance. •/Large dairies ignore the competition from the small fry who make only a few hundred pounds of cheese a year./

[small] or [wee hours]{n. phr.} The very early hours of the morning between 1 and 4 A.M. •/My brother was in trouble for coming home in the small hours./ See: WEE HOURS.

[small talk]{n. phr.} General idle conversation. •/At the party there was the usual kind of small talk about the cost of living increase and the war in Africa./

[small-time]{adj.}, {informal} Unimportant; minor; with little power or importance. •/He has a job as a drummer with a small-time band./ •/It is a small-time business, but it may grow./ Contrast: BIG-TIME.

[small wonder] See: NO WONDER.

[smash hit]{n.}, {informal} A very successful play, movie or opera. •/The school play was a smash hit./

[smell a rat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be suspicious; feel that something is wrong. •/Every time Tom visits me, one of my ashtrays disappears. I’m beginning to smell a rat./ •/When the policeman saw a light go on in the store at midnight, he smelled a rat./

[smell out] See: FERRET OUT.

[smell up]{v.}, {informal} To make a bad smell. •/A skunk smelled up our yard last night./ •/Mr. Brodsky’s cigar smelled up the living room./

[smile] See: CRACK A SMILE.

[smoke] See: CHAIN-SMOKE, GO UP IN FLAMES or GO UP IN SMOKE, PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT, WATCH ONE’S DUST or WATCH ONE’S SMOKE.

[smoke like a chimney]{v. phr.}, {informal} To smoke very heavily and continuously. •/«If you continue smoking like a chimney» the doctor told my uncle, «you’ll wind up in the hospital with lung cancer.»/

[smoke out]{v. phr.} 1. To force out with smoke. •/The boys smoked a squirrel out of a hollow tree./ •/The farmer tried to smoke some gophers out of their burrows./ 2. {informal} To find out the facts about. •/It took the reporter three weeks to smoke out the whole story./

[smoke-out]{n.} A successful conclusion of an act of investigative journalism revealing some long-kept secrets. •/Journalist Bob Woodward was the hero of the Watergate smoke-out./

[smoke screen]{n. phr.} A camouflage; a veil; something used to cover or hide something. •/June hides her commercial interests behind a smoke screen of religious piety./

[Smokey Bear] or [Smokey-the-Bear] or [the Smokies]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A policeman; a patrol car; frequently abbreviated as Smokey. •/Slow down, Smokey’s ahead!/ •/A Smokey is on the move, heading east./

[smooth away]{v.} To remove; (unpleasant feelings) take away. •/Mr. Jones' new job smoothed away his worry about money./

[smooth down]{v.} To make calm; calm down. •/Mrs. Smith’s feelings were hurt and we couldn’t smooth her down./

[smooth over]{v.} To make something seem better or more pleasant; try to excuse. •/Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary by making her laugh./ Syn.: GLOSS OVER. Compare: PATCH UP.

[smooth sailing] See: PLAIN SAILING.

[snail’s pace]{n.} A very slow movement forward. •/Time moved at a snail’s pace before the holidays./ •/The donkey on which he was riding moved at a snail’s pace./

[snake in the grass]{n. phr.}, {informal} A person who cannot be trusted; an unfaithful traitor; rascal. •/Did Harry tell you that? He’s a snake in the grass!/ •/Some snake in the grass told the teacher our plans./

[snap] See: COLD SNAP.

[snap it off] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.

[snap one’s fingers at]{v. phr.} To show contempt for; show no respect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard. •/John snapped his fingers at the sign that said «Do not enter,» and he went in the door./ •/The highway sign said «Speed limit, 35 miles per hour,» but when a driver snapped his fingers at it by going 55 miles an hour, a motorcycle policeman arrested him./

[snap out of]{v.}, {informal} To change quickly from a bad habit, mood, or feeling to a better one. – Often used with «it». •/Mary was unhappy when her fiance abandoned her, but she snapped out of it when she met a new young man./ •/The coach told the lazy player to snap out of it./

[snappy] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.

[snapshot]{n.} A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait. •/We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving around the island./

[snap up]{v.}, {informal} To take or accept eagerly. •/Eggs were on sale cheap, and the shoppers snapped up the bargain./ •/Mr. Hayes told Bob that he would take him skiing, and Bob snapped up the offer./

[sneak] See: QUARTERBACK SNEAK.

[sneak away] See: SLIP AWAY.

[sneak up on] See: CREEP UP ON.

[sneeze at]{v.}, {informal} To think of as not important; not take seriously. – Used with negative or limiting words and in questions. •/Mr. Jones was chosen by his party to run for President. He was not elected, but to be chosen to run is not to be sneezed at./ •/If you think Mrs. Green’s tests are things to be sneezed at, you have a surprise coming./ •/ Is a thousand dollars anything to sneeze at?/ •/John finished third in a race with twenty other runners. That is nothing to sneeze at./

[sniff out] See: FERRET OUT.

[snow in]{v.} To block up or trap by much snow; keep inside, •/After the storm the farmer and his family were snowed in for three days./ •/The train went off the track and the passengers were snowed in for several days./

[snow job]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Insincere or exaggerated talk designed to gain the favors of someone. •/Joe gave Sue a snow job and she believed every word of it./ 2. The skillful display of technical vocabulary and prestige terminology in order to pass oneself off as an expert in a specialized field without really being a knowledgeable worker in that area. •/That talk by Nielsen on pharmaceuticals sounded very impressive, but I will not hire him because it was essentially a snow job./

[snow under]{v.} 1. To cover over with snow. •/The doghouse was snowed under during the blizzard./ 2. {informal} To give so much of something that it cannot be taken care of; to weigh down by so much of something that' you cannot do anything about it. – Usually used in the passive. •/The factory received so many orders that it was snowed under with work./ •/The disabled girl was snowed under with Christmas letters./

[snuff] See: UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.

[snug as a bug in a rug]{adj. phr.} Comfortable; cozy. •/«Are you warm enough?» the boy’s mother asked. «Yeah,» he replied, «I’m snug as a bug in a rug.»/

[so] See: AND SO FORTH or AND SO ON, EVEN SO, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY SO OFTEN, HOW SO, IN SO MANY WORDS, IS THAT SO, OR SO, THUS AND SO.

[soak in] See: SINK IN.

[soak up]{v.} 1. To take up water or other liquid as a sponge does. •/The rag soaked up the water that I spilled./ 2. To use a sponge or something like a sponge to take up liquid. •/John soaked up the water with the rag./ 3. {informal} To take up into yourself in the way a sponge takes up water. •/Mary was lying on the beach soaking up the sun./ •/Charles soaks up facts as fast as the teacher gives them./

[so-and-so(1)]{pronoun}, {informal} Someone whose name is not given. •/Don’t tell me what so-and-so thinks. Tell me what you think./

[so-and-so(2)]{n.}, {informal} A person of a special kind and usually of a very bad kind. – This word is used in place of a more unacceptable word or swear word. •/I wish that old so-and-so who thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now./ •/He called me a dirty so-and-so and I hit him in the mouth./ – Sometimes used in a joking way. •/Peter met his friend John and said, «Hello there, you old so-and-so.»/

[so – as to] – Used with an adjective or adverb before an infinitive to show a result. •/Who could be so mean as to do a thing like that?/ •/Ruth wouldn’t be so careless as to forget her pen./ Compare: SO – THAT.

[soap opera]{n. phr.} Radio or television serialized stories of a sentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and social intrigue. These shows often advertise soap products, hence their name. •/The two longest running soap operas in the United States were «Dallas» and «Knot’s Landing.»/

[so as to] See: IN ORDER TO.

[sob all the way to the bank] See: CRY ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. Contrast: LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

[so bad] See: NOT BAD.

[so be it] also [be it so]{adv. phr.}, {formal} 1. Let it be that way; may it be so. So be it. •/We shall smoke the pipe of peace./ 2. Very well; all right. •/Will the company lose money by doing this? So be it, then./

[sob story]{n.} A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a tale that makes you tearful. •/The beggar told us a long sob story before he asked for money./ •/The movie is based on a sob story, but people love it./

[social climber]{n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or well-known people and be accepted by them as friends and equals. •/People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social climber./ •/Social climbers are usually soon known and they are not accepted by those they run after./

[sock] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A SOCK AT.

[sock it]{v. phr.}, also {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} To give one’s utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable of. •/Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em!/ •/I was watching the debate on television and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them./

[soda jerk] or [soda jerker]{n.}, {informal} A person who serves soda and ice cream to customers, usually in a drug store or ice cream parlor. •/Bob worked as a soda jerk at the drug store all summer./ •/He is just a soda jerker with no future./

[so far] also [thus far]{adv.} Until this time or to this place. •/The weather has been hot so far this summer./ •/This is a lonely road. We have not met another car so far./

[so far as] See: AS FAR AS.

[so far, so good]{informal} Until now things have gone well. •/So far, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck./

[soft drink]{n. phr.} A nonalcoholic beverage such as 7-Up, Coca-Cola, etc. •/She drinks no alcohol; she always orders a soft drink./

[softhearted]{adj.} Generous; sympathetic. •/Street beggars tend to exploit the softhearted nature of passersby./

[soft touch]{n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom it is easy to get help, primarily money. •/My Uncle Herb is a soft touch; whenever I’m in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./

[so help me]{interj.}, {informal} I promise; I swear; may I be punished if I lie. •/I’ve told you the truth, so help me./ •/So help me, there was nothing else I could do./

[soil one’s hands] See: DIRTY ONE’S HANDS.

[so it goes] Akin to the French «c’est la vie!» This exclamation means «that’s life.» •/Too bad Jim has lost his job but there are lots of people who are better qualified; well, so it goes!/

[sold on]{adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced of the value of. •/When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andy was hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them./

[so long]{interj.}, {informal} Good-bye. – Used when you are leaving someone or he is leaving you. •/So long, I will be back tomorrow./

[so long as] See: AS LONG AS.

[so many(1)]{adj.} 1. A limited number of; some •/Our school auditorium will hold only so many people./ 2. A group of. – Often used for emphasis. •/The children were all sitting very quietly in their chairs, like so many dolls./ Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} •/Bob is always bragging; his stories are just so many lies./

[so many(2)]{pronoun}. A limited number; some. •/Many people want to come to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many./ •/Don’t give the boys all the cookies they want; give so many to Tom, so many to Dick, and so many to Bob./ Compare: SO MUCH.

[some] See: AND THEN SOME.

[somebody up there loves/hates me]{slang} An expression intimating that an unseen power in heaven, such as God, has been favorable or unfavorable to the one making the exclamation. •/Look at all the money I won! I say somebody up there sure loves me!/ •/Look at all the money I’ve lost! I say somebody up there sure hates me!/

[some of these days] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS.

[something] See: HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR ONE, HAVE SOMETHING ON, MAKE SOMETHING OF, START SOMETHING.

[something else]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} So good as to be beyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. •/Janet Hopper is really something else./

[something else again]{n. phr.} A different kind of thing; something different. •/I don’t care if you borrow my dictionary sometimes, but taking it without asking and keeping it is something else again./ •/«But I don’t want a new car,» Charles said to the car dealer, «I want a used car.» «Oh,» said the car dealer, «that’s something else again.»/

[so much(1)]{adj.} 1. A limited amount of; some. •/Sometimes students wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do their lessons./ •/If you can’t give everyone a full glass of milk, just put so much milk in each glass./ 2. Equally or amounting to; only amounting to. – Often used for emphasis. •/Charley spends money as if it were so much paper./ •/What Mary said was so much nonsense; there wasn’t a word of truth in it./ Compare: SO MANY(1).

[so much(2)]{pronoun} A limited amount; some; a price or amount that is agreed or will be agreed on. •/You can do only so much in a day./ •/Milk costs so much a quart but cream costs so much a pint./ Compare: SO MANY(2).

[so much(3)]{adv.} By that much; by the amount shown; even. – Used with the comparative and usually followed by «the». •/I can’t go tomorrow. So much the better; we’ll go today./ •/John isn’t coming to the picnic. So much the more for us to eat!/ •/So much the worse for you if you break the rules./ Syn.: ALL THE(2).

[so much as]{adv. phr.} 1. Even. – Usually used in negative sentences and questions. •/He didn’t so much as thank me for returning his money that I found./ •/Would you so much as get me a glass of water? No, you wouldn’t./ 2. See: AS MUCH AS(2).

[so much for] Enough has been said or done about. – Used to point out that you have finished with one thing or are going to take up something else. •/So much for the geography of Ireland, we will now talk about the people who live there./ •/«I have nothing more to say to you, Tommy, and so much for that,» Mary said angrily./

[son] See: FAVORITE SON, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

[song] See: FOR A SONG.

[song and dance]{n.}, {informal} 1. Foolish or uninteresting talk; dull nonsense. Usually used with «give». •/I met Nancy today and she gave me a long song and dance about her family./ 2. A long lie or excuse, often meant to get pity. Usually used with «give». •/Billy gave the teacher a song and dance about his mother being sick as an excuse for being late./ •/The tramp asked us for money and tried to give us a big song and dance about having to buy a bus ticket to Chicago./

[sonic boom]{n.} A loud noise and vibration in the air, made when a jet plane passes the speed of sound (1087 feet per second). •/Fast jet planes sometimes cause a sonic boom, which can break windows and crack the plaster in houses below them./ •/We thought there was an explosion or earthquake, but it was only a sonic boom that shook the house./

[son of a bitch] or [sunuvabitch] also S.O.B. {n. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} (but becoming more and more acceptable, especially if said with a positive or loving intonation). Fellow, character, guy, individual. Negatively: •/Get out of here you filthy, miserable sunuvabitch!/ Positively: •/So you won ten million dollars at the lottery, you lucky son of a bitch (or sunuvabitch)!/ Compare: SON OF A GUN.

[son of a gun]{n. phr.}, {slang} 1. A bad person; a person not liked. •/I don’t like Charley; keep that son of a gun out of here./ Syn.: BAD ACTOR. 2. A mischievous rascal; a lively guy. – Often used in a joking way. •/The farmer said he would catch the son of a gun who let the cows out of the barn./ •/Hello Bill, you old son of a gun!/ Compare: SO AND SO. 3. Something troublesome; a hard job. •/The test today was a son of a gun./ Used as an exclamation, usually to show surprise or disappointment. •/Son of a gun! I lost my car keys./ Compare: SON OF A BITCH.

[soon] See: AS SOON, FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED.

[sooner] See: HAD RATHER or HAD SOONER, NO SOONER – THAN.

[sooner or later]{adv. phr.} At some unknown time in the future; sometime. •/John will come back sooner or later./ •/Grandpa is very slow about fixing things around the house, but he always does it sooner or later./ Compare: OR OTHER.

[sore] See: SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.

[sore spot] or [sore point]{n.} A weak or sensitive part; a subject or thing about which someone becomes angry or upset easily. •/Don’t ask Uncle John why his business failed; it’s a sore spot with him./ Compare: WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.

[sorrow] See: DROWN ONE’S SORROWS.

[sort] See: OF SORTS, IN A WAY also IN A SORT OF WAY.

[sort of] See: KIND OF.

[sort out]{v. phr.} 1. To alphabetize; arrange in numerical order. •/The secretary helped Professor Brown sort out his numerous index cards./ 2. To clarify. •/«Help me sort out these bills,» she begged her husband./

[so-so]{adj.} Fair; neither good nor bad. •/The children’s grades were just so-so on the test./ •/How is the fishing today? So-so./

[so that]{conj.} 1. or in order that; for the purpose that; so. – «So that» is usually followed by «can» or «could»; «in order that» is usually followed by «may» or «might». •/Let’s get ready now so that we can leave when Father comes./ •/Betty saved her money in order that she might buy a doll./ Compare: IN ORDER TO. 2. With the result that; so. •/My pencil fell under my desk, so that I couldn’t see it./ •/George often told stories that weren’t true, so that no one believed him when he told about a deer in the school yard./

[so – that] – Used with an adjective or adverb before a clause of result. •/The bus was so full that I could hardly turn around./ •/Billy pitched so well that everyone cheered him at the end of the game./

[so to speak]{adv. phr.} To say it in this way. •/John was, so to speak, the leader of the club, but he was officially only the club’s secretary./ •/The horse, so to speak, danced on his hind legs./ Compare: AS IT WERE.

[sought after]{adj.} Wanted by many buyers; searched for. •/Antiques are much sought after nowadays./ Syn.: IN DEMAND.

[soul] See: HEART AND SOUL, KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.

[soul-searching] See: SEARCH ONE’S HEART or SEARCH ONE S SOUL.

[sound] See: HIGH-SOUNDING, SAFE AND SOUND.

[sound effects]{n.} The noises made to imitate real sounds in a play, movie, or program. •/Greg agreed to plan the sound effects for the class play./ •/The movie was good but the sound effects were not very true to life./

[sound off]{v.} 1. To say your name or count «One! Two! Three! Four!» as you march. – Used as orders in U.S. military service. •/«Sound off!» said the sergeant, and the soldiers shouted, «One! Two! Three! Four!» with each step as they marched./ 2. {informal} To tell what you know or think in a loud clear voice, especially to brag or complain. •/If you don’t like the way we’re doing the job, sound off!/ •/George sounded off about how the game should have been played./ •/The teacher is always sounding off about the students not doing their homework./ Compare: SPEAK ONE’S PIECE, SPEAK OUT.

[sound out]{v.} To try to find out how a person feels about something usually by careful questions. •/Alfred sounded out his boss about a day off from his job./ •/When you see the coach, sound him out about my chances of getting on the basketball team./ Syn.: FEEL OUT.

[sound sheet]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A thin low-quality phonograph recording frequently bound into books and magazines for use as promotional or advertising material; it may have either a spoken or a musical message. •/Don’t throw that away; Sue is collecting sound sheets for her market research course./

[sound truck]{n. phr.} A truck equipped with loudspeakers. •/During the senatorial campaign, the streets of the big city were full of sound trucks blaring out messages./

[soup] See: IN THE SOUP.

[souped-up]{adj.}, {informal} More powerful or faster because of changes and additions. •/Many teen-aged boys like to drive souped-up cars./ •/The basketball team won the last five games with souped-up plays./

[so what]{informal} Used as an impolite reply showing that you don’t care about what another has said. •/Roy boasted that he was in the sixth grade, but Ted said, «So what? I am in Junior High.»/ Syn.: WHAT OF IT.

[sow one’s wild oats]{v. phr.} To do bad or foolish things, especially while you are young. •/Mr. Jones sowed his wild oats while he was in college, but now he is a wiser and better man./

[space] See: OUTER SPACE.

[spaced out]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Having gaps in one’s train of thought, confused, incoherent; resembling the behavior of someone who is under the influence of drugs. •/Joe’s been acting funny lately – spaced out, you might say./