Текст книги "Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц"

Автор книги: Adam Makkai

Соавторы: Maya Glinberg
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[branch out]{v.} To add new interests or activities; begin doing other things also. •/First Jane collected stamps; then she branched out and collected coins, too./ •/John started a television repair shop; when he did well, he branched out and began selling television sets too./

[brand-new] also [bran-new]{adj.} As new or fresh as when just made and sold by the manufacturer; showing no use or wear. •/He had taken a brand-new car from the dealer’s floor and wrecked it./ •/In Uncle Tom’s trunk, we found a wedding ring, still in its little satin-lined box, still brand-new./

[brass] See: DOUBLE IN BRASS, GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

[brass hat]{n.}, {slang} 1. A high officer in the army, navy, or air force. •/The brass hats In Washington often discuss important secrets./ 2. Any person who has a high position in business, politics, or other work. •/Mr. Woods, the rich oil man, is a political brass hat./

[brass tacks] See: GET DOWN TO BRASS TACKS.

[brave it out]{v. phr.} To endure something difficult or dangerous through to the end; keep on through trouble or danger. •/It was a dangerous ocean crossing in wartime, but captain and crew braved it out./

[brazen it out]{v. phr.} To pretend you did nothing wrong; be suspected, accused, or scolded without admitting you did wrong; act as if not guilty. •/The teacher found a stolen pen that the girl had in her desk, but the girl brazened it out; she said someone else must have put it there./

[bread] See: HALF A LOAF is BETTER THAN NONE, KNOW WHICH SIDE ONE’S BREAD IS BUTTERED ON, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE’S MOUTH.

[bread and butter(1)]{n. phr.} The usual needs of life; food, shelter, and clothing. •/Ed earned his bread and butter as a bookkeeper, but added a little jam by working with a dance band on weekends./

[bread and butter(2)]{adj.} Thanking someone for entertainment or a nice visit; thank-you. •/After spending the weekend as a guest in the Jones' home, Alice wrote the Joneses the usual bread-and-butter letter./ See: BREAD AND BUTTER LETTER.

[bread and butter(3)]{interj.}, {informal} Spoken to prevent bad luck that you think might result from some action. •/We’d say «Bread and butter!» when we had passed on opposite sides of a tree./

[bread-and-butter letter]{n.} A written acknowledgment of hospitality received. •/Jane wrote the Browns a bread-and-butter letter when she returned home from her visit to them./

[breadbasket]{n.}, {slang} The stomach. •/John is stuffing his breadbasket again./

[break] See: COFFEE BREAK.

[break away] or [break loose]{v. phr.} To liberate oneself from someone or something. •/Jane tried to break loose from her attacker, but he was too strong./

[break camp]{v. phr.} To take down and pack tents and camping things; take your things from a camping place. •/The scouts broke camp at dawn./

[break down]{v.} (stress on «down») 1. To smash or hit (something) so that it falls; cause to fall by force. •/The firemen broke down the door./ 2. To reduce or destroy the strength or effect of; weaken; win over. •/By helpful kindness the teacher broke down the new boy’s shyness./ •/Advertising breaks down a lot of stubbornness against change./ 3. To separate into elements or parts; decay. •/Water is readily broken down into hydrogen and oxygen./ •/After many years, rocks break down into dirt./ 4. To become unusable because of breakage or other failure; lose power to work or go. •/The car broke down after half an hour’s driving./ •/His health broke down./ •/When the coach was sick in bed, the training rules of the team broke down./ Compare: GO BACK ON(2).

[breakdown] See: NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

[breaker] See: JAW-BREAKER.

[break even]{v. phr.}, {informal} (stress on «even») To end a series of gains and losses having the same amount you started with; have expenses equal to profits; have equal gain and loss. •/The storekeeper made many sales, but his expenses were so high that he just broke even./ •/If you gamble you are lucky when you break even./

[break-even]{n.} The point of equilibrium in a business venture when one has made as much money as one had invested, but not more – that would be «profit.» •/«We’ve reached the break-even point at long last!» – Max exclaimed with joy./

[break ground]{v. phr.} To begin a construction project by digging for the foundation; especially, to turn the formal first spadeful of dirt. •/City officials and industrial leaders were there as the company broke ground for its new building./ See: BREAK NEW GROUND.

[break in]{v.} (stress on «in») 1a. To break from outside. •/The firemen broke in the door of the burning house./ 1b. To enter by force or unlawfully. •/Thieves broke in while the family was away./ 2. To enter suddenly or interrupt. •/A stranger broke in on the meeting without knocking./ •/The secretary broke in to say that a telegram had arrived./ Compare: CUT IN(2). 3. To make a start in a line of work or with a company or association; begin a new job. •/He broke in as a baseball player with a minor league./ 4. To teach the skills of a new job or activity to. •/An assistant foreman broke in the new man as a machine operator./ 5. To lessen the stiffness or newness of by use. •/He broke in a new pair of shoes./ •/Breaking in a new car requires careful driving at moderate speeds./

[break-in]{n.} (stress on «break») A robbery; a burglary. •/We lost our jewelry during a break-in./

[break into]{v.} 1. To force an entrance into; make a rough or unlawful entrance into. •/Thieves broke into the store at night./ 2. {informal} To succeed in beginning (a career, business, or a social life) •/He broke into television as an actor./ 3. To interrupt. •/He broke into the discussion with a shout of warning./ 4. To begin suddenly. •/He broke into a sweat./ •/She broke into tears./ •/The dog heard his master’s whistle and broke into a run./

[break new ground]{v. phr.} 1. To start a new activity previously neglected by others; do pioneering work. •/Albert Einstein broke new ground with his theory of relativity./ 2. To begin something never done before. •/The school broke new ground with reading lessons that taught students to guess the meaning of new words./

[break off]{v.} 1. To stop suddenly. •/The speaker was interrupted so often that he broke off and sat down./ •/When Bob came in, Jean broke off her talk with Linda and talked to Bob./ 2. {informal} To end a friendship or love. •/I hear that Tom and Alice have broken off./ •/She broke off with her best friend./

[break one’s balls]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To do something with maximum effort; to do something very difficult or taxing •/I’ve been breaking my balls to buy you this new color TV set and you aren’t the least bit appreciative!/ Compare: BREAK ONE’S NECK.

[break one’s heart]{v. phr.} To discourage greatly; make very sad or hopeless. •/His son’s disgrace broke his heart./ •/When Mr. White lost everything he had worked so hard for, it broke his heart./

[break one’s neck]{v. phr.}, {slang} To do all you possibly can; try your hardest. – Usually used with a limiting adverb or negative. •/John nearly broke his neck trying not to be late to school./ •/Mother asked Mary to go to the store when she was free, but not to break her neck over it./

[break one’s word]{v. phr.} To renege on a promise. •/When Jake broke his word that he would marry Sarah, she became very depressed./

[break out]{v.} 1. To begin showing a rash or other skin disorder. – Often used with «with». •/He broke out with scarlet fever./ 2. To speak or act suddenly and violently. •/He broke out laughing./ •/She broke out, «That is not so!»/ 3. To begin and become noticeable. •/Fire broke out after the earthquake./ •/War broke out in 1812./ Compare: FLARE UP. 4. {informal} To bring out; open and show. •/When word of the victory came, people began breaking out their flags./ •/When Mr. Carson’s first son was born, he broke out the cigars he had been saving./

[break the ice]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To conquer the first difficulties in starting a conversation, getting a party going, or making an acquaintance. •/To break the ice Ted spoke of his interest in mountain climbing, and they soon had a conversation going./ •/Some people use an unusual thing, such as an unusual piece of jewelry, to break the ice./ 2. To be the first person or team to score in a game. •/The Wolves broke the ice with a touchdown./

[break the record]{v. phr.} To set or to establish a new mark or record. •/Algernon broke the record in both the pentathlon and the decathlon and took home two gold medals from the Olympics./

[break through]{v.} To be successful after overcoming a difficulty or bar to success. •/Dr. Salk failed many times but he finally broke through to find a successful polio vaccine./ •/Jim studied very hard this semester in college, and he finally broke through onto the Dean’s List for the first time./

[breakthrough]{n.} A point of sudden success after a long process of experimentation, trial and error. •/The U.S. Space Program experienced a major breakthrough when Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in June of 1969./

[break up]{v. phr.} To end a romantic relationship, a marriage, or a business partnership. •/Tom and Jane broke up because Tom played so much golf that he had no time for her./

[break up]{v.} 1. To break into pieces. •/The workmen broke up the pavement to dig up the pipes under it./ •/River ice breaks up in the spring./ 2. {informal} To lose or destroy spirit or self-control. – Usually used in the passive. •/Mrs. Lawrence was all broken up after her daughter’s death, and did not go out of the house for two months./ Compare: CRACK UP, GO TO PIECES. 3. To come or to put to an end, especially by separation; separate. •/Some men kept interrupting the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting./ •/The party broke up at midnight./ – Often used in the informal phrase «break it up». •/The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break it up./ Compare: CUT OUT(1). 4. {informal} To stop being friends. •/Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then they had a quarrel and broke up/ Compare: BREAK OFF.

[break-up]{n.} The end of a relationship, personal or commercial. •/The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided to sue each other for embezzlement./

[break with]{v.} To separate yourself from; end membership in; stop friendly association with. •/He broke with the Democratic party on the question of civil rights./ •/He had broken with some friends who had changed in their ideas./

[breast] See: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF.

[breath] See: CATCH ONE’S BREATH, DRAW A LONG BREATH or TAKE A LONG BREATH, HOLD ONE’S BREATH, IN THE SAME BREATH, OUT OF BREATH, SAVE ONE’S BREATH, SECOND WIND also SECOND BREATH, TAKE ONE’S BREATH AWAY, UNDER ONE’S BREATH, WASTE ONE’S BREATH.

[breathe down one’s neck]{v. phr.}, {informal} To follow closely; threaten from behind; watch every action. •/Too many creditors were breathing down his neck./ •/The carpenter didn’t like to work for Mr. Jones, who was always breathing down his neck./

[breathe easily] or [breathe freely]{v.} To have relief from difficulty or worry; relax; feel that trouble is gone; stop worrying. •/Now that the big bills were paid, he breathed more easily./ •/His mother didn’t breathe easily until he got home that night./

[breathe one’s last]{v. phr.} To die. •/The wounded soldier fell back on the ground and breathed his last./

[bred in the bone]{adj. phr.} Belonging to your nature or character, especially from early teaching or long habit; natural from belief or habit; believing deeply. •/The Willett children’s cleanness is bred in the none./ Often used, with hyphens before the noun. •/Joe is a bred-in-the-bone horseman; he has been riding since he was six./ Contrast: SKIN-DEEP.

[breeches] See: TOO BIG FOR ONE’S BREECHES.

[breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE, WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE.

[breeze in]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To walk into a place casually (like a soft blowing wind). •/Betsie breezed in and sat down at the bar./

[brew] See: HOME BREW.

[brick] See: MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW.

[brick wall] See: STONE WALL.

[bridge] See: BURN ONE’S BRIDGES, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

[brief] See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD.

[bright and early]{adj. phr.} Prompt and alert; on time and ready; cheerful and on time or before time. •/He came down bright and early to breakfast./ •/She arrived bright and early for the appointment./

[bring about]{v.} To cause; produce; lead to. •/The war had brought about great changes in living./ •/Drink brought about his downfall./

[bring around] or [bring round]{v.} 1. {informal} To restore to health or consciousness cure. •/He was quite ill, but good nursing brought him around./ Compare: BRING TO(1). 2. To cause a change in thinking; persuade; convince; make willing. •/After a good deal of discussion he brought her round to his way of thinking./

[bringdown]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. (from «bring down», past «brought down»). A critical or cutting remark said sarcastically in order to deflate a braggard’s ego. •/John always utters the right bringdown when he encounters a braggard./ 2. A person who depresses and saddens others by being a chronic complainer. •/John is a regular bringdown./

[bring down]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To deflate (someone’s ego). •/John brought Ted down very cleverly with his remarks./ 2. To depress (someone). •/The funeral brought me down completely./

[bring down about one’s ears] or [bring down around one’s ears] See: ABOUT ONE’S EARS.

[bring down the house]{v. phr.}, {informal} To start an audience laughing or clapping enthusiastically. •/The principal’s story was funny in itself and also touched their loyalties, so it brought down the house./ •/The President made a fine speech which brought down the house./

[bring home]{v.} To show clearly; emphasize; make (someone) realize; demonstrate. •/The accident caused a death in his family, and it brought home to him the evil of drinking while driving./ •/A parent or teacher should bring home to children the value and pleasure of reading./

[bring home the bacon]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To support your family; earn the family living. •/He was a steady fellow, who always brought home the bacon./ 2. To win a game or prize. •/The football team brought home the bacon./

[bring in]{v.} In baseball: To enable men on base to score, score. •/Dick’s hit brought in both base runners./ •/A walk and a triple brought in a run in the third inning./

[bring into line]{v. phr.} To make someone conform to the accepted standard. •/Sam had to be brought into line when he refused to take his muddy shoes off the cocktail table./

[bring off]{v.} To do (something difficult); perform successfully (an act of skill); accomplish (something requiring unusual ability). •/By skillful discussion, Mr. White had brought off an agreement that had seemed impossible to get./ •/He tried several times to break the high jump record, and finally he brought it off./ Compare: PUT OVER(2).

[bring on]{v.} To result in; cause; produce. •/The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 brought on the First World War./ •/Spinal meningitis brought on John’s deafness when he was six years old./ •/Reading in a poor light may bring on a headache./

[bring out]{v.} 1. To cause to appear; make clear. •/His report brought out the foolishness of the plan./ •/Brushing will bring out the beauty of your hair./ 2. To help (an ability or skill) grow or develop. •/The teacher’s coaching brought out a wonderful singing voice of great power and warmth./ 3. To offer to the public by producing, publishing, or selling. •/He brought out a new play./ •/The company brought out a line of light personal airplanes./

[bring round] See: BRING AROUND.

[bring suit against]{v. phr.} To sue someone in a court of law. •/Fred brought suit against Tom for fraud and embezzlement./

[bring to]{v.} (stress on «to») 1. To restore to consciousness; wake from sleep, anesthesia, hypnosis, or fainting. •/Smelling salts will often bring a fainting person to./ Compare: BRING AROUND(1). 2. To bring a ship or boat to a stop. •/Reaching the pier, he brought the boat smartly to./

[bring to a close]{v. phr.} To terminate; cause to end. •/The meeting was brought to an abrupt close when the speaker collapsed with a heart attack./

[bring to a head]{v. phr.} To cause some activity to reach the point of culmination. •/Time is running out, gentlemen, so let us bring this discussion to a head./

[bring to bay]{v. phr.} To chase or force into a place where escape is impossible without a fight; trap; corner. •/The police brought the robber to bay on the roof and he gave up./ •/The fox was brought to bay in a hollow tree and the dogs stood around it barking./ Compare: AT BAY.

[bring to heel] See: TO HEEL.

[bring to light]{v. phr.} To discover (something hidden); find out about; expose. •/Many things left by the ancient Egyptians in tombs have been brought to light by scientists and explorers./ •/His enemies brought to light some foolish things he had done while young, but he was elected anyway because people trusted him./ Compare: COME TO LIGHT.

[bring to one’s knees]{v. phr.} To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. •/The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees./

[bring to pass]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make (something) happen; succeed in causing. •/By much planning, the mother brought the marriage to pass./ •/The change in the law was slow in coming, and it took a disaster to bring it to pass./ Compare: BRING ABOUT, COME TO PASS.

[bring to terms]{v. phr.} To make (someone) agree or do; make surrender. •/The two brothers were brought to terms by their father for riding the bicycle./ •/The war won’t end until we bring the enemy to terms./ Contrast: COME TO TERMS.

[bring up]{v.} 1. To take care of (a child); raise, train, educate. •/He gave much attention and thought to bringing up his children./ •/Joe was born in Texas but brought up in Oklahoma./ 2. {informal} To stop; halt. – Usually used with «short». •/He brought the car up short when the light changed to red./ •/Bill started to complain, I brought him up short./ 3. To begin a discussion of; speak of; mention. •/At the class meeting Bob brought up the idea of a picnic./

[bring up the rear]{v. phr.} 1. To come last in a march, parade, or procession; end a line. •/The fire truck with Santa on it brought up the rear of the Christmas parade./ •/The governor and his staff brought up the rear of the parade./ 2. {informal} To do least well; do the most poorly of a group; be last. •/In the race, John brought up the rear./ •/In the basketball tournament, our team brought up the rear./

[bring] or [wheel in] or [out] or [up the big guns]{v. phr.} To make use of a concealed plan in order to defeat an opponent in an argument or in a game, debate, or competition. •/The new computer software company decided to bring out the big guns to get ahead of the competition./

[broke] See: GO BROKE, GO FOR BROKE, STONE-BROKE OT DEAD BROKE or FLAT BROKE, STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK.

[Bronx cheer]{n. phr.}, {slang} A loud sound made with tongue and lips to show opposition or scorn. •/When he began to show anti-union feelings, he was greeted with Bronx cheers all around./

[broom] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.

[broth] See: SCOTCH BROTH.

[brow] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE’S BROW.

[brown] See: DO UP BROWN.

[brown-bagger]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who does not go to the cafeteria or to a restaurant for lunch at work, but who brings his homemade lunch to work in order to save money. •/John became a brown-bagger not because he can’t afford the restaurant, but because he is too busy to go there./

[brown-nose]{v.}, {slang}, {avoidable}, {though gaining in acceptance} To curry favor in a subservient way, as by obviously exaggerated flattery. •/Max brown-noses his teachers, that’s why he gets all A’s in his courses./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.

[brown paper bag]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} An unmarked police car. •/The beaver got a Christmas card because she didn’t notice the brown paper bag at her back door./ See: PLAIN WHITE WRAPPER.

[brown study]{n. phr.} A time of deep thought about something; a deep thoughtful mood. •/When his wife found him, he had pushed away his books and was in a brown study./

[brush] See: BEAT THE BUSHES or BEAT THE BRUSH.

[brush aside]{v. phr.} To ignore; give no reply. •/Brushing aside the editor’s comments, the young novelist proceeded with his story, which was subsequently rejected by the publisher./

[brush back]{v.} To throw a baseball pitch close to. •/The pitcher threw a high inside pitch to brush the batter back./ Syn.: DUST OFF.

[brushoff] See: GET THE BRUSHOFF, BRUSH OFF or GIVE THE BRUSHOFF.

[brush off] or [give the brush off]{v. phr.} 1. To refuse to hear or believe; quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important. •/John brushed off Bill’s warning that he might fall from the tree./ •/I said that it might rain and to take the bus, but Joe gave my idea the brushoff./ •/Father cut his finger but he brushed it off as not important and kept working./ 2. {informal} To be unfriendly to; not talk or pay attention to (someone); get rid of. •/Mary brushed off Bill at the dance./ •/I said hello to Mr. Smith, but he gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET THE BRUSH OFF.

[brush up] or [brush up on]{v.} To refresh one’s memory of or skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. •/She spent the summer brushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall./ •/He brushed up his target shooting./

[bubble gum music]{n.}, {slang} The kind of rock’n'roll that appeals to young teenagers. •/When will you learn to appreciate Mozart instead of that bubble gum music?/

[bubble trouble]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Tire trouble, flat tire. •/The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to have bubble trouble./

[buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.

[bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.

[bucket of bolts]{n.}, {slang} A very old and shaky car that barely goes. •/When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of bolts?/

[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.

[buckle down] or [knuckle down]{v.} To give complete attention (to an effort or job); attend. •/They chatted idly for a few moments then each buckled down to work./ •/Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his father told him to buckle down./

[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.

[buck up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful; make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. •/After the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song./ •/Tom was disappointed that he didn’t make the team; but he soon bucked up./

[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[bug-eyed]{adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. •/He stood there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./

[buggy-whip]{n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. •/He’s very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./

[bughouse(1)]{n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. •/They took Joe to the bughouse./

[bughouse(2)]{adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. •/Joe’s gone bughouse./

[bug in one’s ear]{n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information given to someone to make him act; idea. •/I saw Mary at the jeweler’s admiring the diamond pin; I’ll put a bug in Henry’s ear./

[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.

[build a fire under]{v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. •/The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./

[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain]{v. phr.} To make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that are unlikely. •/He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded in anything./ •/To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their wishes./

[build on sand]{v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient foundation for a building, a business, or a relationship. •/«I don’t want to build my business on sand,» John said, «so please. Dad, give me that loan I requested.»/

[build up]{v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; construct from parts. •/Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow./ •/Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or fill up with buildings. •/The fields where Tom’s father played as a boy are all built up now./ •/A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up./ 3a. To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow. •/John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ •/The noise built up until Mary couldn’t stand it any longer./ 3b. To make stronger or better or more effective. •/Fred exercised to build up his muscles./ •/Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./ 3c. {informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. •/The press agent built up the young actress./ •/The movie company spent much money building up its new picture./

[build up to]{v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a culmination point. •/The clouds were building up to a violent storm./ •/Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./

[bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

[bullet lane]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} The passing lane. •/Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler is moving too slow./

[bull in a china shop]{n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. •/We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk made the teacher say no./

[bull session]{n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something by a group of persons. •/After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bull session until the lights went out./

[bullshit]{n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some} Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. •/«Joe, this is a lot of bullshit!»/

[bullshit]{v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to make yourself seem impressive. •/«Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can’t believe a word of what you’re saying.»/

[bullshit artist]{n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in social acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely flattering speeches designed to impress others. •/Joe is a regular bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of everyone else./

[bum around]{v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no definite direction, like a vagabond. •/Jim had been bumming around in the desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he got there in the first place./

[bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS.

[bump into]{v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting to; happen to meet; come upon by accident. •/Mary was walking down the street, when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ •/Ed was surprised to bump into John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO.

[bump off]{v.}, {slang} To kill in a violent way; murder in gangster fashion. •/Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with Tommy guns./

[bum’s rush]{n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing or pushing someone out from where he is not wanted. •/When John tried to go to the party where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum’s rush./ •/Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum’s rush./ 2. To hurry or rush (someone). •/The salesman tried to give me the bum’s rush./

[bum steer]{n.} Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on purpose. •/Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me to go north on the highway; you should have sent me south!/

[bundle of laughs]{n. phr.} A very amusing person, thing, or event. •/Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that he is a bundle of laughs./

[bundle up] See: WRAP UP(1).

[burn] See: EARS BURN, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MONEY TO BURN.

[burn a hole in one’s pocket]{v. phr.} To make you want to buy something; be likely to be quickly spent. •/Money burns a hole in Linda’s pocket./ •/The silver dollar that Don got for his birthday was burning a hole in his pocket, and Don hurried to a dime store./

[burn down]{v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by fire. •/The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could get to it./

[burn in effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY.

[burn one’s bridges] also [burn one’s boats]{v. phr.} To make a decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave yourself no way to escape a position. •/Bob was a good wrestler but a poor boxer. He burned his boats by letting Mickey choose how they would fight./ •/When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges behind her./

[burn one’s fingers]{v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. •/He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn’t want to try again./ •/Some people can’t be told; they have to burn their fingers to learn./

[burn out]{v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. •/Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car./ 2. To destroy someone’s house or business by fire so that they have to move out. •/Three racists burned out the Black family’s home./ 3a. To go out of order; cease to function because of long use or overheating. •/The light bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one./ •/The electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out a fuse./ 3b. To break, tire, or wear out by using up all the power, energy, or strength of. •/Bill burned himself out in the first part of the race and could not finish./ •/The farmer burned out his field by planting the same crop every year for many years./