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: 58 (всего у книги 61 страниц)
[turnover]{n.} 1. The proportion of expenditure and income realized in a business; the volume of traffic in a business. •/Our turnover is so great that in two short years we tripled our original investment and are expanding at a great rate./ 2. Triangular baked pastry filled with some fruit. •/John’s favorite dessert is apple turnovers./ 3. The number of employees coming and going in a company. •/The boss is so strict in our office that the turnover in personnel is very large./
[turn over]{v.} 1. To roll, tip, or turn from one side to the other; overturn; upset. •/He’s going to turn over the page./ •/The bike hit a rock and turned over./ 2, To think about carefully; to consider. •/He turned the problem over in his mind for three days before he did anything about it./ 3. To give to someone for use or care. •/I turned my library books over to the librarian./ •/Mrs. Jackson brought her boy to the school and turned him over to the housefather./ •/Bob turns over most of the money he earns to his mother./ 4. Of an engine or motor; to start. •/The battery is dead and the motor won’t turn over./ 5a. To buy and then sell to customers. •/The store turned over $5,000 worth of skiing equipment in January./ 5b. To be bought in large enough amounts; sell. •/In a shoe store, shoes of medium width turn over quickly, because many people wear that size, but a pair of narrow shoes may not be sold for years./
[turn over a new leaf]{v. phr.} To start afresh; to have a new beginning. •/«Don’t be sad, Jane,» Sue said. «A divorce is not the end of the world. Just turn over a new leaf and you will soon be happy again.»/ Compare: CLEAN SLATE.
[turn over in one’s grave] See: TURN IN ONE’S GRAVE.
[turn over in one’s mind]{v. phr.} To carefully consider. •/I will have to turn it over in my mind whether to accept the new job offer from Japan./
[turn tail]{v. phr.}, {informal} To run away from trouble or danger. •/When the bully saw my big brother, he turned tail and ran./
[turn the clock back]{v. phr.} To return to an earlier period. •/Mother wished she could turn the clock back to the days before the children grew up and left home./ •/Will repealing the minimum wage for workers under age eighteen turn the clock back to the abuses of the last century?/
[turn the other cheek]{v. phr.} To let someone do something to you and not to do it in return; not hit back when hit; be patient when injured or insulted by someone; not try to get even. •/Joe turned the other cheek when he was hit with a snowball./
[turn the scales]{v. phr.} To affect the balance in favor of one party or group against the other. •/It could well be that the speech he made turned the scales in their favor./
[turn the tables]{v. phr.} To make something happen just the opposite of how it is supposed to happen. •/The boys turned the tables on John when they took his squirt gun away and squirted him./
[turn the tide]{v. phr.} To change what looks like defeat into victory. •/We were losing the game until Jack got there. His coming turned the tide for us, and we won./ Compare: TIP THE SCALES.
[turn the trick]{v. phr.}, {informal} To bring about the result you want; succeed in what you plan to do. •/Jerry wanted to win both the swimming and diving contests, but he couldn’t quite turn the trick./ Compare: DO THE TRICK.
[turn thumbs down]{v. phr.} To disapprove or reject; say no. – Usually used with «on». •/The company turned thumbs down on Mr. Smith’s sales plan./ •/The men turned thumbs down on a strike at that time./
[turn to]{v.} To begin working with much energy. •/All the boys turned to and cleaned the cabin in a few minutes./ •/Mary turned to and studied for the test./ Syn.: FALL TO.
[turn turtle]{v. phr.} To turn upside down. •/The car skidded on the ice and turned turtle./
[turn up]{v.} 1. To find; discover. •/The police searched the house hoping to turn up more clues./ 2. To appear or be found suddenly or unexpectedly. •/The missing boy turned up an hour later./ •/A man without training works at whatever jobs turn up./ Compare: SHOW UP(3).
[turn up one’s nose at]{v. phr.} To refuse as not being good enough for you. •/He thinks he should only get steak, and he turns up his nose at hamburger./
[turn up one’s toes]{v. phr.}, {slang} To die. •/One morning the children found that their pet mouse had turned up his toes, so they had a funeral for him./ Compare: PUSH UP THE DAISIES.
[turtle] See: TURN TURTLE.
[tut-tut]{interj.}, {informal} Used to express mild disapproval. •/«Tut-tut,» said the teacher. «You shouldn’t cross the street without looking.»/ •/Tut-tut, put that piece of candy back. You’ve already had three pieces./
[twice] See: BIG AS LIFE(2), LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, THINK TWICE, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY and BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.
[twice as natural] See: BIG AS LIFE or BIG AS LIFE AND TWICE AS NATURAL.
[twiddle one’s thumbs]{v. phr.} To do nothing; be idle. •/I’d rather work than stand around here twiddling my thumbs./
[twist one around one’s little finger] also [turn one around one’s little finger] or [wrap one around one’s finger]{v. phr.} To have complete control over; to be able to make (someone) do anything you want. •/Sue can twist any of the boys around her little finger./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH A HOOP.
[twist one’s arm]{v. phr.}, {informal} To force someone; threaten someone to make him do something. – Usually used jokingly. •/Will you dance with the prettiest girl in school? Stop, you’re twisting my arm!/ •/I had to twist Tom’s arm to make him eat the candy!/
[two] See: BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA or BETWEEN TWO FIRES, TWO CENTS, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH, CUT BOTH WAYS or CUT TWO WAYS, HAVE TWO STRIKES AGAINST ONE, IN TWO, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT, PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER, STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET or STAND ON ONE’S OWN TWO FEET, TELL A THING OR TWO, THING OR TWO.
[two bits]{n.}, {slang} Twenty-five cents; a quarter of a dollar. •/A haircut only cost two bits when Grandfather was young./ Compare: FOUR BITS, SIX BITS.
[two cents]{n.}{informal} 1. Something not important or very small; almost nothing. •/Paul was so angry that he said for two cents he would quit the team./ •/When John saw that the girl he was scolding was lame, he felt like two cents./ 2. or [two cents worth] Something you want to say; opinion. – Used with a possessive. •/The boys were talking about baseball, and Harry put in his two cents worth, even though he didn’t know much about baseball./ •/If we want your two cents, we’ll ask for it./
[two-faced]{adj.} Insincere; disloyal; deceitful. •/Don’t confide too much in him as he has the reputation of being two-faced./ Compare: SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE.
[two’s company; three’s a crowd] An informal way to express a situation when two people desire privacy and a third one is present. – A proverb. •/Beth and Carl wanted to be alone so when Maggie joined them they said, «Two’s company; three’s a crowd.»/
[two strikes against one]{n. phr.}-From baseball. Two opportunities wasted in some undertaking, so that only one chance is left. •/Poor John has two strikes against him when it comes to his love for Frances: first, he is too fat, and, second, he is bald./
[two-time]{v.}, {slang} To go out with a second boy or girlfriend and keep it a secret from the first. •/Joan was two-timing Jim with Fred./ •/Mary cried when she found that Joe was two-timing her./ Compare: DOUBLE-CROSS.
[two to one] See: TEN TO ONE.
[two ways about it] See: NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT.
U
[U.F.O.]{n. phr.} Unidentified Flying Object. •/Some people think that the U.F.O.s are extraterrestrial beings of higher than human development who pay periodic visits to Earth to warn us of our self-destructive tendencies./
[ugly duckling]{n.} An ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive. •/Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grew up./
[uh-huh] or [um-hum]{adv.}, {informal} Yes. – Used only in speech or when recording dialogue. •/Are you going to the Fair? Uh-huh./ •/We were in Alaska, um-hum, but that was long before the earthquakes./ •/When I asked for an appointment, the nurse said, «Um-hum, I have an opening at four o’clock on Friday.»/ Contrast: HUH-UH.
[um-hum] See: UH-HUH.
[unbosom oneself]{v. phr.} To confess one’s personal thoughts or feelings; disclose private information to a confidante. •/Once she was at home with her mother, she unbosomed herself of all her troubles./
[uncertain] See: IN SO MANY WORDS(2). or IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.
[uncle] See: SAY UNCLE also CRY UNCLE.
[under] See: CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, GO UNDER, OUT FROM UNDER, SNOW UNDER.
[under a bushel] See: HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.
[under a cloud]{adj. phr.} 1. Under suspicion; not trusted. •/Joyce has been under a cloud since her roommate’s bracelet disappeared./ •/The butcher is under a cloud because the inspectors found his scales were not honest./ 2. Depressed, sad, discouraged. •/Joe has been under a cloud since his dog died./
[under age]{adj. phr.} Too young; not old enough; below legal age. •/He could not enlist in the army because he was under age./ •/Rose was not allowed to enroll in the Life Saving Course because she was under age./ Contrast: OF AGE(1).
[under arrest]{adj. phr.} Held by the police. •/The man believed to have robbed the bank was placed under arrest./ •/The three boys were seen breaking into the school building and soon found themselves under arrest./
[under construction]{adv. phr.} In the process of being built or repaired. •/It is a good idea to take the train to work while the expressway is under construction./
[under cover]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Hidden; concealed. •/The prisoners escaped under cover of darkness./ •/He kept his invention under cover until it was patented./ Compare: UNDER WRAPS.
[under false colors] See: SAIL UNDER FALSE COLORS.
[under fire]{adv. phr.} Being shot at or being attacked; hit by attacks or accusations; under attack. •/The soldiers stood firm under fire of the enemy./ •/The principal was under fire for not sending the boys home who stole the car./
[under lock and key]{adv. phr.} Secured; locked up; well protected. •/Dad keeps all his valuables under lock and key./
[under one’s belt]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In your stomach; eaten; or absorbed. •/Once he had a good meal under his belt, the man loosened his tie and fell asleep./ •/Jones is talkative when he has a few drinks under his belt./ 2. In your experience, memory or possession; learned or gotten successfully; gained by effort and skill. •/Jim has to get a lot of algebra under his belt before the examination./ •/With three straight victories under their belts, the team went on to win the championship./
[under one’s breath]{adv. phr.} In a whisper; with a low voice. •/The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud./ •/I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me./
[under one’s hat] See: KEEP UNDER ONE’S HAT.
[under one’s heel]{adv. phr.} In one’s power or control. •/If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce./
[under one’s nose] or [under the nose of]{adv. phr.}, {informal} In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place. •/The thief walked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose of the guards./ •/When Jim gave up trying to find a pen, he saw three right under his nose on the desk./
[under one’s own steam]{adv. phr.}, {informal} By one’s own efforts; without help. •/The boys got to Boston under their own steam and took a bus the rest of the way./ •/We didn’t think he could do it, but Bobby finished his homework under his own steam./
[under one’s skin] See: GET UNDER ONE’S SKIN.
[under one’s spell]{adv. phr.} Unable to resist one’s influence. •/From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy’s spell./
[under one’s thumb] or [under the thumb]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power. •/The Jones family is under the thumb of the mother./ •/Jack is a bully. He keeps all the younger children under his thumb./ •/The mayor is so popular that he has the whole town under his thumb./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH THE HOOP.
[under one’s wing]{adv. phr.} Under the care or protection of. •/Helen took the new puppy under her wing./ •/The boys stopped teasing the new student when Bill took him under his wing./ Compare: IN TOW.
[under orders]{adv. phr.} Not out of one’s own desire or one’s own free will; obligatorily; not freely. •/"So you were a Nazi prison guard? " the judge asked. «Yes, your Honor,» the man answered, «but I was acting under orders and not because I wished to harm anyone.»/
[under pain of] See: ON PAIN OF also UNDER PAIN OF.
[under protest]{adv. phr.} Against one’s wish; unwillingly. •/«I’ll go with you all right,» she said to the kidnapper, «but I want it clearly understood that I do so under protest.»/
[understand] See: GIVE ONE TO UNDERSTAND.
[under the circumstances] also [in the circumstances]{adv. phr.} In the existing situation; in the present condition; as things are. •/In the circumstances, Father couldn’t risk giving up his job./ •/Under the circumstances, the stagecoach passengers had to give the robbers their money./
[under the collar] See: HOT UNDER THE COLLAR.
[under the counter]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly (bought or sold). •/That book has been banned, but there is one place you can get it under the counter./ •/The liquor dealer was arrested for selling beer under the counter to teenagers./ – Also used like an adjective, with hyphens. •/During World War II, some stores kept scarce things hidden for under-the-counter-sales to good customers./
[under the hammer]{adv. phr.} Up for sale at auction. •/The Brights auctioned off the entire contents of their home. Mrs. Bright cried when her pewter collection went under the hammer./ •/The picture I wanted to bid on came under the hammer soon after I arrived./
[under the nose of] See: UNDER ONE’S NOSE.
[under the sun]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} On earth; in the world. – Used for emphasis. •/The President’s assassination shocked everyone under the sun./ •/Where under the sun could I have put my purse?/
[under the table] See: UNDER THE COUNTER.
[under the thumb of] See: UNDER ONE’S THUMB.
[under the weather]{adv. phr.} In bad health or low spirits. •/Mary called in today asking for a sick day as she is under the weather./
[under the wire]{adv. phr.} With a narrow time limit; in the last minute. •/The journalist’s new lead article on Russia was due in press at 5 P.M., and he got it in at 4:57, just under the wire./
[underway]{adv. phr.} In progress; in motion. •/The yearly fund-raising campaign for the renovation of our university campus is already underway./
[under wraps]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Not allowed to be seen until the right time; not allowed to act or speak freely; in secrecy; hidden. – Usually used with «keep». •/We have a new player, hut we are keeping him under wraps until the game./ •/What the President is planning will be kept under wraps until tomorrow./ •/The spy was kept under wraps and not allowed to talk to newspapermen./ Compare: UNDER COVER.
[unknown quantity]{n.} Someone or something whose value and importance are not known, especially in a certain situation, time or place; a new and untested person or thing. •/What we would find if we could fly to the moon is an unknown quantity./ •/The new player is still an unknown quantity. We’ll find out how good he is in the game./
[unseen] See: SIGHT UNSEEN.
[until all hours]{adv. phr.} Until very late at night. •/He is so anxious to pass his exams with flying colors that he stays up studying until all hours./
[until hell freezes over]{adv. phr.}, {slang} Forever, for an eternity. •/He can argue until hell freezes over; nobody will believe him./ Contrast: WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER.
[until the last gun is fired] See: TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED.
[unturned] See: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.
[up against]{prep. phr.} Blocked or threatened by. •/When she applied to medical school, the black woman wondered whether she was up against barriers of sex and race prejudice./
[up against it]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Faced with a great difficulty or problem; badly in need. •/The Smith family is up against it because Mr. Smith cannot find a job./ •/You will be up against it if you don’t pass the test. You will probably fail arithmetic./ Compare: HARD UP, END OF ONE’S ROPE, BACK TO THE WALL(2).
[up and about] or [around]{adv. phr.} Recovered and able to move about; once again in good health after an illness. •/My sister was ill for several weeks, but is now up and about again./
[up and at them] 1. {adv. phr.} Actively engaged in a task as if doing combat. •/«You want to know whether he will make a diligent worker?» Dick asked. «Well, I can tell you that most of the time he is up and at them like no one else I know.»/ 2. {v. phr.} To become aggressively engaged in doing something; (useable as a command). •/Come on, up and at them, you guys. We still have a lot of work to get done./
[up-and-coming]{adj. phr.} Bound toward success; upwardly mobile; progressive; ambitious. •/The newly elected state senator is an up-and-coming young politician who is expected to be highly successful in national politics in the future./
[up a stump]{adj. phr.}, {slang} Stumped; blocked; mixed up or confused in what you are trying to do. •/Jimmy knows how to add and subtract but fractions have him up a stump./
[up a tree]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Hunted or chased into a tree; treed. •/The dog drove the coon up a tree so the hunter could shoot him./ 2. {informal} in trouble; having problems; in a difficulty that it is hard to escape or think of a way out of. •/John’s father has him up a tree in the checker game./ Compare: UP THE CREEK.
[up for grabs]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Available for anyone to try to get; ready to be competed for; there for the taking. •/When the captain of the football team moved out of town, his place was up for grabs./
[up front(1)]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} The managerial section of a corporation or firm. •/Joe Catwallender finally made it (with the) up front./
[up front(2)]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Open, sincere, hiding nothing. •/Sue was completely up front about why she didn’t want to see him anymore./
[up in arms]{adj. phr.} 1. Equipped with guns or weapons and ready to fight. •/All of the colonies were up in arms against the Redcoats./ Syn.: IN ARMS. 2. Very angry and wanting to fight. •/Robert is up in arms because John said he was stupid./ •/The students were up in arms over the new rule against food in the dormitory./
[up in the air]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. {informal} In great anger or excitement. •/My father went straight up in the air when he heard I damaged the car./ •/The Jones family are all up in the air because they are taking a trip around the world./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING, BLOW A FUSE. 2. also [in midair] Not settled; uncertain; undecided. •/Plans for the next meeting have been left up in the air until Jane gets better./ •/The result of the game was left hanging in midair because it rained before the finish./ Compare: LEAVE HANGING.
[up one’s alley] See: DOWN ONE’S ALLEY.
[up one’s sleeve] or [in one’s sleeve]{adv. phr.} 1. Hidden in the sleeve of one’s shirt or coat and ready for secret or wrongful use. •/The crooked gambler hid aces up his sleeve during the card game so that he would win./ 2. {informal} Kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when needed. •/Jimmy knew that his father had some trick up his sleeve because he was smiling to himself during the checker game./ Compare: CARD UP ONE’S SLEEVE. 3. See: LAUGH UP ONE’S SLEEVE.
[upon oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF also TAKE UPON ONESELF.
[upon one’s head] See: ON ONE’S HEAD.
[upon the spot] See: ON THE SPOT(1).
[upper] See: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, ON ONE’S UPPERS.
[upper crust]{n.}, {informal} The richest, most famous, or important people in a certain place; the highest class. •/It is a school that only the children of the upper crust can afford./
[upper hand] or [whip hand]{n.} Controlling power; advantage. •/In the third round the champion got the upper hand over his opponent and knocked him out./ •/The cowboy trained the wild horse so that he finally got the whip hand and tamed the horse./
[upper story]{n.} 1. A floor or level of a building above the first floor. •/The apartment house where Gene lives is five stories high and he lives in one of the upper stories./ 2. {slang} A person’s head or brain. •/Lulu has nobody home in the upper story./ •/Bill’s sister says he is weak in the upper story./
[Upsadaisy!] or [Upsee-daisy!] or [Upsy-daisy!]{adv. phr.} – A popular exclamation used when just about anything is lifted, particularly a small child raised to his or her highchair or bed. •/«Upsee-daisy!» the nurse said with a smile on her face, as she lifted the baby from its bed./
[ups and downs]{n. phr.} Vicissitudes; alternating periods between good and bad times; changes in fortune. •/He is now a wealthy stock trader, but at the beginning of his career he, too, had many ups and downs./
[upset the applecart] or [upset one’s applecart]{v. phr.}, {informal} To ruin a plan or what is being done, often by surprise or accident; change how things are or are being done, often unexpectedly; ruin or mix up another person’s success or plan for success. •/John upset the other team’s applecart by hitting a home run in the last inning and we won the game./ •/We are planning a surprise party for Bill, so don’t let Mary upset the applecart by telling him before the party./ •/Frank thinks he is going to be the boss, but I’ll upset his applecart the first chance I get./ Compare: ROCK THE BOAT.
[upside down]{adv. phr.} Overturned so that the bottom is up and the top is down. •/The ladybug lay upside down in the sand and was unable to take off./ •/The problem with this company is that everything is upside down; we need a new C.E.O./
[upstairs] See: NOBODY HOME UPSTAIRS.
[up the creek] or [up the creek without a paddle]{adj. phr.}, {informal} In trouble or difficulty and unable to do anything about it; stuck. •/Father said that if the car ran out of gas in the middle of the desert, we would be up the creek without a paddle./ •/I’ll be up the creek if I don’t pass this history test./ Compare: DEEP WATER, IN THE SOUP, UP A TREE, OUT OF LUCK.
[up tight] or [uptight]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Worried, irritated, excessively eager or anxious. •/Why are you so uptight about getting that job? The more you worry, the less you’ll succeed./
[up to]{prep.} 1. As far, as deep, or as high as. •/The water in the pond was only up to John’s knees./ •/Mary is small and just comes up to Bill’s chest./ •/The shovel sank in the soft mud all the way up to the handle./ 2. Close to; approaching. •/The team did not play up to its best today./ •/Because of the rain, the number of people at the party didn’t come up to the number we expected./ 3. As high as; not more than; as much or as many as. •/Pick any number up to ten./ •/There were up to eight fire engines at the fire./ 4. or [up till] or [up until] – Until; till. •/Up to her fourth birthday, the baby slept in a crib./ •/Up to now I always thought John was honest./ •/We went swimming up till breakfast time./ •/Up until last summer we always went to the beach for our vacation./ 5. Capable of; fit for; equal to; strong or well enough for. •/We chose Harry to be captain because we thought he was up to the job./ •/Mother is sick and not up to going out to the store./ 6. Doing or planning secretly; ready for mischief. •/What are you up to with the matches, John?/ •/Mrs. Watson was sure that the boys were up to no good, because they ran when they saw her coming./ 7. Facing as a duty; to be chosen or decided by; depending on. •/It’s up to you to get to school on time./ •/I don’t care when you cut the grass. When you do it is up to you./
[up-to-date]{adj.} Modem; contemporary; the latest that technology can offer. •/«I want an up-to-date dictionary of American idioms,» Mr. Lee said, «that has all the latest Americanisms in it.»/ Contrast: STATE-OF-THE-ART.
[up to no good]{adv. phr.} Intending to do something bad; perpetrating an illicit act. •/We could tell from the look on Dennis the Menace’s face that he was once again up to no good./
[up to one’s ears]{adv. phr.} Immersed in; covered with. •/«Around final examination time,» Professor Brown explained, «I am always up to my ears in work.»/
[up to one’s neck]{adv. phr.} Overwhelmed with; submerged in. •/«During the summer season in our cottage by the lake,» the Allens complained, «we are usually up to our necks in uninvited guests.»/ Compare: UP TO ONE’S EARS.
[up to par] or {informal}[up to scratch] or {informal}[up to snuff] 1. In good or normal health or physical condition. •/I have a cold and don’t feel up to par./ •/The boxer is training for the fight but he isn’t up to scratch yet./ 2. or [up to the mark] As good as usual; up to the usual level or quality. •/The TV program was not up to par tonight./ •/John will have to work hard to bring his grades up to snuff./ Compare: MEASURE UP.
[up to scratch] See: UP TO FAR.
[up to snuff] See: UP TO PAR.
[up to the chin in] or [in – up to the chin]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Used also with «ears», «elbows», «eyes» or «knees» instead of «chin», and with a possessive instead of «the». 1. Having a big or important part in; guilty of; not innocent of; deeply in. •/Was Tom mixed up in that trouble last night? He was up to his ears in it./ •/Mr. Johnson is up to the eyes in debt./ •/Mrs. Smith is in debt up to her chin./ Compare: TO THE HILT. 2. Very busy with; working hard at. •/Bob is up to his neck in homework./ •/They are up to their elbows in business before Christmas./ 3. Having very much or many of; flooded with. •/Mary was up to her knees in invitations to go to parties./ Compare: KNEE-DEEP.
[up to the hilt] See: TO THE HILT.
[up to the last minute]{adv. phr.} Until the last possible moment; until the very end. •/When I try to send in an important eyewitness report from the scene of a major accident, I must keep working up to the last minute./ Compare: TO THE BITTER END, UNDER THE WIRE.
[up to the mark] See: UP TO PAR(2).
[up-to-the-minute] See: UP-TO-DATE.
[urban homesteading]{n.}, {informal} Renovation and occupation through cooperative ownership by tenants of previously abandoned city apartment buildings. •/Urban homesteading is on the rise in many big American cities these days./
[use] See: NO USE, PUT TO USE.
[used to(1)]{adj. phr.} In the habit of or familiar with. •/People get used to smoking and it is hard for them to stop./ •/Farmers are used to working outdoors in the winter./ •/After my eyes became used to the dim light in the cave, I saw an old shovel on the ground./ •/On the hike Bob soon got tired, but Dick did not because he was used to walking./
[used to(2)] or [did use to]{v. phr.} Did formerly; did in the past. – Usually used with an infinitive to tell about something past. •/Uncle Henry used to have a beard, but he shaved it off./ •/Did your father use to work at the bank?/ •/People used to say that tomatoes were poison./ – Sometimes used without the infinitive. •/I don’t go to that school any more, but I used to./ •/We don’t visit Helen as much as we used to./ •/I used to go to the movies often. Did you use to?/
[used to be] or [did use to be]{v. phr.} Formerly or once was. •/Mary used to be small; but she has grown up./ •/Dick used to be the best pitcher on the team last year; now two other pitchers are better than he is./
[use every trick in the book]{v. phr.}, {informal} To avail oneself of any means at all in order to achieve one’s goal, not exclusive of possibly immoral or illegal acts. •/Algernon used every trick in the book to get Maxine to go out with him, but she kept refusing./
[use one’s head] or {slang}[use one’s bean] or {slang}[use one’s noodle] or {slang} use [one’s noggin]{v. phr.} To use your brain or mind; think; have common sense. – Often used as a command. •/If you used your bean you wouldn’t be in trouble now./ •/Never point a gun at anybody, John. Use your head!/
[use up]{v. phr.} 1. To use until nothing is left; spend or consume completely. •/Don’t use up all the soap. Leave me some to wash with./ •/Jack used up his last dollar to see the movies./ Compare: GIVE OUT(5). 2. {informal} To tire completely; make very tired; exhaust; leave no strength or force in. – Usually used in the passive. •/After rowing the boat across the lake, Robert was used up./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4), WEAR OUT.
[utility room]{n.} A room in a house or building for machinery and other things important in the daily use of the building and the work of the people in it. •/There is a utility room upstairs where Mother does the laundry./ •/The oil burner is kept in the utility room in the basement./
