tender that it melted  in  your
mouth./ 2. To taste very good; be delicious.  *  /Mother's  apple  pie
really melts in your mouth./

   [memory] See: IN MEMORY OF.

   [mend] See: ON THE MEND.

   [mend one's fences] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something  to  make
people like or  follow  you  again;  strengthen  your  friendships  or
influence. * /The senator  went  home  from  Washington  to  mend  his
fences./ * /John saw that his friends did not like him, so he  decided
to mend his fences./

   [mend one's ways] {v. phr.} To reform; change one's  behavior  from
negative to positive. * /He had better mend his ways or he'll wind  up
in jail./

   [mental telepathy] {n. phr.} The passing of one  person's  thoughts
to another without any discoverable talking  or  carrying  of  signals
between them. * /Mrs. Smith knew the moment her husband's ship sank on
the other  side  of  the  world.  It  seems  like  a  case  of  mental
telepathy./ * /Most or all men who practice mental telepathy on  stage
have  really  trained  themselves  to  detect  tiny  clues  from   the
audience./

   [mention] See: NOT TO MENTION.

   [meow] See: CAT'S MEOW.

   [mercy] See: AT THE MERCY OF.

   [mercy killing] {n. phr.} The  act  of  killing  a  terminally  ill
patient or animal in  order  to  avoid  further  suffering.  *  /Mercy
killing of humans is illegal  in  most  countries,  yet  many  doctors
practice it secretly./

   [merrier] See: MORE THE MERRIER.

   [merry] See: LEAD A MERRY CHASE, MAKE MERRY.

   [message] See: GET THE MESSAGE.

   [mess around] {v.  phr.}  1.  To  engage  in  idle  or  purposeless
activity. * /Come on, you guys, - start doing some  work,  don't  just
mess around all day!/ 2. {vulgar} To be promiscuous; to indulge in sex
with little discrimination as to who the partner is.  *  /Allen  needs
straightening out; he's been messing  around  with  the  whole  female
population of his class./ Compare: FOOL AROUND.

   [mess up] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To  cause  trouble;  to
spoil something. * /What did you have to mess up my accounts for?/  2.
To cause someone emotional trauma. * /Sue will never get married;  she
got messed up when  she  was  a  teenager./  3.  To  beat  up  someone
physically. * /When Joe came in after the fight with the boys, he  was
all messed up./

   [method in (to) one's madness] {n. phr.} A plan or organization  of
ideas hard to perceive at first, but  that  becomes  noticeable  after
longer and closer examination. * /We thought he was crazy to  threaten
to resign from the university but, when he was offered a tenured  full
professorship, we realized that there had been method in his madness./

   [mickey mouse(1)] {adj.}, {slang} Inferior; second  rate;  chicken;
easy; gimmicky. * /Watch out for Perkins; he's full  of  mickey  mouse
ideas./

   [mickey mouse(2)] {n.} ({derogatory}) A stupid person; a policeman;
a white man (as used by blacks).

   [midair] See: UP IN THE AIR(2) also IN MIDAIR.

   [middle] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF  THE  STREAM,  IN  THE
MIDDLE.

   [middle ground] {n.} A place halfway between the two  sides  of  an
argument; a compromise. * /John wanted to go running. Bill said it was
too hot. Tom took the middle ground and  suggested  a  hike./  *  /The
committee found a middle ground between the two proposals./

   [middleman]  {n.}  A  person  or  small  business  standing  in  an
intermediary position between two parties. * /A retail merchant is the
middleman between the factory and the consumer./

   [middle of the road] {n. phr.} A way of  thinking  which  does  not
favor one idea or thing too much; being halfway between two  different
ideas. * /The teacher did not support the boys or  the  girls  in  the
debate, but stayed in the middle of the road./

   [middle-of-the-road] {adj.} Favoring  action  halfway  between  two
opposite movements or ideas; with ideas halfway between  two  opposite
sides;  seeing  good  on  both  sides.  *  /The  men  who  wrote   the
Constitution followed a middle-of-the-road  plan  on  whether  greater
power belonged to the United States  government  or  to  the  separate
states./ * /Senator Jones favors a middle-of-the-road  policy  in  the
labor-management dispute./

   [midfield stripe] {n.} The line across the  center  of  a  football
field; the 50-yard line. *  /The  visitors  were  able  to  cross  the
midfield stripe once during the whole game./

   [midnight oil] See: BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.

   [midstream] See: CHANGE HORSES IN  THE  MIDDLE  OF  THE  STREAM  or
CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM.

   [might] See: WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.

   [mighty] See: HIGH-AND-MIGHTY.

   [mile] See: GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, JAW  DROP  or
JAW DROP A MILE, MISS BY A MILE, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE.

   [mile markers] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio  jargon}  Small
signs along interstate highways  usually  bearing  a  number.  *  /The
Smokey is located at 131 mile marker./

   [miles away] {adj. phr.} Inattentive; not  concentrating.  *  /When
Betty said, "We have theater tickets for tonight," Ken didn't react as
his mind was miles away./

   [milk] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

   [mill] See: RUN-OF-THE-MILL, THROUGH THE MILL.

   [mill around] {v.  phr.}  To  move  impatiently  in  no  particular
direction. * /The crowd milled around, waiting for the arrival of  the
president./

   [million] See: FEEL LIKE A MILLION, LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS.

   [millstone around one's neck] {n. phr.} An  intolerable  burden.  *
/Max said that his old car was a millstone around his neck./  Compare:
MONKEY ON ONE'S BACK.

   [mince words] {v. phr.} To choose words carefully for the  sake  of
politeness or deception. *  /I  like  people  who  speak  frankly  and
truthfully without mincing words./

   [mind] See: CROSS ONE'S MIND or PASS THROUGH  ONE'S  MIND,  GIVE  A
PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, HALF A MIND, IN MIND, IN ONE'S MIND'S  EYE,  MAKE
UP ONE'S MIND, NEVER MIND, ON ONE'S MIND, OUT OF ONE'S HEAD or OUT  OF
ONE'S MIND, PUT IN MIND OF, READ ONE'S MIND.

   [mind like a steel trap] {n. phr.} A very quick  and  understanding
mind, which is quick to catch an idea. * /Henry is not fond of sports,
but he has a mind like a steel trap./ * /A successful lawyer must have
a mind like a steel trap./

   [mind one's own business] {v. phr.} To not interfere in the affairs
of others. * /He finally got tired of her criticism and  told  her  to
mind her own business./

   [mind one's p's and q's] {v. phr.} To be very careful what  you  do
or say; not make mistakes. * /When the principal of the school visited
the class the students all minded their p's and q's./ * /If  you  wish
to succeed you must mind your p's and q's./ (From the  old  U.S.  Navy
when sailors marked on a board in the bar how many Pints and Quarts of
liquor they had taken. It was bad manners to cheat.) Syn.: WATCH ONE'S
STEP.

   [mind-reader] See: READ ONE'S MIND.

   [mind  you]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  I  want  you  to  notice  and
understand. * /Mind you, I am not blaming him./

   [mine] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES, RUN OF THE MILL or RUN  OF  THE
MINE.

   [mine of information] {n. phr.} A person, a book, etc., that  is  a
valuable source of information. * /A  dictionary  can  be  a  mine  of
information./ * /He is a mine of information on the stock market./

   [minority leader] {n. phr.} The leader of the political party  that
has fewer votes in a legislative house. * /The minority leader of  the
Senate supported the bill./ * /The minority leader  in  the  House  of
Representatives held a caucus./ Compare: MAJORITY LEADER.

   [mint money] See: COIN MONEY.

   [minutes of the meeting] {n. phr.} The notes taken by the recording
secretary; of an official body or an association recording of what was
said and transacted during the given session. * /"Shall we accept  the
minutes of our last meeting as read by the  secretary?"  the  chairman
asked./

   [misfire] {v.} To fail to appeal; fall flat. * /The standup comic's
jokes misfired with the  audience./  Compare:  GO  OVER  LIKE  A  LEAD
BALLOON.

   [miss] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT or HEART MISS A BEAT.

   [miss a trick] {v. phr.} To fail to see, hear, or notice  something
of even the slightest importance. * /He never misses a trick  when  it
comes to the stock market./

   [miss by a mile] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To shoot at something and
be far from hitting it; not hit near. * /Jack's first shot missed  the
target by a mile./ 2. To be very wrong; be  far  from  right.  *  /Lee
tried to guess on the examination, but his answers missed by a  mile./
3. To fail badly; not succeed at all.  *  /John  Brown  wanted  to  be
governor but in the election he missed by a mile./

   [missing link] n. 1.  Something  needed  to  complete  a  group;  a
missing part of a chain of things. * /A 1936  penny  was  the  missing
link in John's collection of pennies./ * /The detective hunted for the
fact that was the missing link in the case./  2.  An  unknown  extinct
animal that was supposed to be a  connection  between  man  and  lower
animals. * /The missing link would be half man and half ape./

   [miss is as good as a mile] It is the same if one fails  or  misses
something by much or by little. - A proverb. * /We thought Tom  had  a
home run but the ball went foul by inches. A miss  is  as  good  as  a
mile./

   [Missouri] See: FROM MISSOURI.

   [miss out] {v.}, {informal} To  fail;  lose  or  not  take  a  good
chance; miss something good. * /Jim's mother told him he missed out on
a chance to go fishing with his father because he came home  late./  *
/You missed out by not coming with us; we had a great time./  Compare:
LOSE OUT.

   [miss the boat] also [miss the bus] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  fail
through slowness; to put something off until too late;  do  the  wrong
thing and lose the chance. *  /Mr.  Brown  missed  the  boat  when  he
decided not to buy the house./ * /In college he didn't study enough so
he missed the boat and failed to pass./ * /Ted could have married Lena
but he put off asking her and missed the boat./

   [miss the point] {v. phr.} To be unable to comprehend  the  essence
of what was meant. * /The student didn't get a passing  grade  on  the
exam because, although he wrote three pages, he  actually  missed  the
point./

   [mistake] See: BY MISTAKE.

   [misty-eyed] or [dewey-eyed] {adj. phr.} 1. Having eyes  damp  with
tears; emotional. * /The teacher was misty-eyed when the  school  gave
her a retirement gift./ 2. Of the kind who cries easily;  sentimental.
* /The movie appealed to dewey-eyed girls./

   [mixed bag] {n. phr.} A varied set of people,  ideas,  objects,  or
circumstances, including both the good and the bad. * /This report  is
a mixed bag of opinions./ * /There was a mixed bag of  people  at  the
press conference./

   [mixed blessing] {n.} Something  good  that  has  bad  features.  *
/John's new bicycle was a mixed blessing. The other boys  were  always
asking John to ride it./

   [mixed up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Confused  in  mind;  puzzled.  *
/Bob was all mixed up after the accident./  Compare:  BALL  UP(1).  2.
Disordered; disarranged; not neat. * /The  papers  on  his  desk  were
mixed  up./  3.  {informal}  Joined  or  connected  (with  someone  or
something bad). * /Harry was mixed up in a fight after  the  game./  *
/Mary's father told her not to get mixed up  with  the  students  that
always break school rules./

   [mix up] {v.} To confuse; make a mistake about.  *  /Jimmy  doesn't
know colors yet; he mixes up purple with blue./  *  /Even  the  twins'
mother mixes them up./ Compare: MIXED UP.

   [molehill] See: MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

   [moment] See: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.

   [Monday] See: BLUE MONDAY.

   [money] See: COIN MONEY or MINT MONEY, EASY  MONEY,  FOOL  AND  HIS
MONEY ARE SOON PARTED, FOR LOVE OR MONEY,  IN  THE  CHIPS  or  IN  THE
MONEY, MADE OF MONEY, MARRY MONEY, PUT  ONE'S  MONEY  ON  A  SCRATCHED
HORSE, RUN FOR ONE'S MONEY, SEE THE COLOR  OF  ONE'S  MONEY,  SPENDING
MONEY or POCKET MONEY.

   [money burns a hole in one's pocket] See:  BURN  A  HOLE  IN  ONE'S
POCKET.

   [money is no object] {informal sentence} The price of something  is
irrelevant. * /Please show me your most beautiful mink coat; money  is
no object./

   [money to burn] {n. phr.}, {informal} Very much money, more than is
needed. * /Dick's uncle died and left him money to burn./ * /When  Joe
is twenty-one he will have money to burn./ * /Jean is  looking  for  a
husband with money to burn./ Compare: MADE OF MONEY.

   [monkey] See: GREASE MONKEY, MAKE A FOOL OF or MAKE A MONKEY OF.

   [monkey around] See: FUCK AROUND, HORSE AROUND, MESS AROUND.

   [monkey business]  {n.},  {slang},  {informal}  1.  Any  unethical,
illegitimate, or objectionable activity that is furtive or  deceitful,
e.g., undercover sexual advances, cheating, misuse  of  public  funds,
etc. * /There is a lot of monkey business going on in that firm; you'd
better watch out who you deal with!/  2.  Comical  or  silly  actions;
goofing off. * /Come on boys, let's cut out the  monkey  business  and
get down to work!/

   [monkey on one's back] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unsolved or nagging
problem. * /"My math course  is  a  real  monkey  on  my  back,"  Jack
complained./ Compare: ALBATROSS AROUND ONE'S  NECK,  MILLSTONE  AROUND
ONE'S NECK.

   [monkey wrench] See: THROW A MONKEY WRENCH.

   [monster] See: GREEN-EYED MONSTER.

   [month in, month out] See: DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

   [month of Sundays] {n. phr.}, informal A very long time. - Used for
emphasis after "for" or "in" and usually with a negative  verb.  *  /I
have not had devil's food cake in a month of Sundays./ * /When he  got
her first letter, he felt that he had not heard from her for  a  month
of Sundays./ Syn.: DOG'S AGE.

   [moon] See: ASK FOR THE MOON or CRY FOR THE MOON, DARK OF THE MOON,
FULL OF THE MOON, ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, PROMISE THE MOON.

   [moonshine] {n.} Illegally distilled  alcoholic  beverage  made  at
home, mostly on a farm. * /Grandpa is at it again in the barn,  making
moonshine out of plums./

   [mop the floor with] or [mop up the floor with] or [wipe the  floor
with] or [wipe up the floor with] {v. phr.}, {slang}  To  defeat  very
clearly or quickly; to beat badly. * /The bully threatened to  mop  up
the floor with Billy./ * /Our team wiped the floor with  the  visiting
team./

   [mop up] {v. phr.} To disperse  or  liquidate  isolated  groups  or
detachments of opposing forces. * /Our forces won the basic battle but
there still remain pockets of resistance they must mop up./

   [mop up the floor with] See: MOP THE FLOOR WITH.

   [more] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW.

   [more often  than  not]  {adv.  phr.}  More  than  half  the  time;
fifty-one or more times out of  a  hundred;  not  quite  usually,  but
fairly regularly. * /Nancy comes over  on  Saturday  more  often  than
not./ * /Ben is a fairly good runner. He wins more often than not./

   [more or less] {adv. phr.} 1. Somewhat; rather; mostly;  fairly.  *
/Earl made some mistakes on the test, but his  answers  were  more  or
less right./ * /Ed is more or less  intelligent./  *  /Betty  believes
more or less in fairies./ Compare: IN A WAY.  2.  About;  nearly;  not
exactly, but almost. * /The new building cost more or  less  what  the
builder figured./ * /It is a mile, more or less, from his home to  the
school./ * /He has wanted to date her more or less since he first  saw
her./ Compare: OR SO.

   [more than] {adv.} Over what you might expect; very. *  /They  were
more than glad to help./ * /He was more than upset by  the  accident./
Contrast: LESS THAN.

   [more than one can chew] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW.

   [more than one could shake a stick at] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very
many; a great many; more than you can count. * /There were more people
at the game  than  you  could  shake  a  stick  at./  *  /I  had  more
assignments for homework than I could shake a stick at./

   [more the merrier] {n. phr.} The more people who join in  the  fun,
the better it will be. - Used in welcoming more people to join  others
in some pleasant activity. * /Come with us on the boat ride; the  more
the merrier./

   [morning after] {n.}, {slang} The effects  of  drinking  liquor  or
staying up late as felt the next morning; a hangover. *  /One  of  the
troubles of drinking too much liquor is the  morning  after./  *  /Mr.
Smith woke up with a big headache and knew it was the morning after./

   [Moses] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MOSES.

   [moss] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS.

   [most] See: AT MOST, MAKE THE MOST OF.

   [mother] See: TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.

   [motion] See: GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

   [mountain] See: MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.

   [mouse] See: PLAY CAT AND MOUSE WITH.

   [mouth] See: BORN WITH  A  SILVER  SPOON  IN  ONE'S  MOUTH,  BUTTER
WOULDN'T MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH, BY WORD OF MOUTH, DOWN IN THE  DUMPS  or
DOWN IN THE MOUTH, FOAM AT THE MOUTH, HEART IN ONE'S MOUTH, KEEP ONE'S
MOUTH SHUT, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH, LEAVE A BAD  TASTE
IN ONE'S MOUTH, LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH, LOOK  A  GIFT  HORSE  IN  THE
MOUTH, MAKE ONE'S MOUTH WATER, MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH, PUT ONE'S FOOT  IN
IT or PUT ONE'S FOOT IN ONE'S MOUTH, PUT WORDS INTO ONE'S MOUTH, SHOOT
OFF ONE'S MOUTH, STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S  MOUTH,  TAKE  THE  BIT  IN
ONE'S MOUTH, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH.

   [mouthful] See: SAY A MOUTHFUL.

   [mouth-watering] {adj.} Smelling or looking very good to eat. * /It
was a mouth-watering meal./

   [move] See: GET A MOVE ON, ON THE MOVE.

   [move a muscle] {v. phr.} To move even a very  little.  -  Used  in
negative sentences and questions and with  "if".  *  /The  deer  stood
without moving a muscle until the hunter was gone./ * /The girls  were
so startled that they did not move a muscle./ * /You're sitting  right
where you were when I left! Have you moved a muscle?/  *  /The  robber
said he would shoot the bank worker if he moved a muscle./

   [move heaven and earth] {v. phr.} To try every way;  do  everything
you can. * /Joe moved heaven and earth  to  be  sent  to  Washington./
Compare: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

   [move  in  on]  {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {colloquial}  To  take  over
something that belongs to another. * /He moved in on my girlfriend and
now we're not talking to each other./

   [movement] See: LABOR MOVEMENT.

   [moving spirit] {n. phr.} The main figure behind a business  or  an
activity; the one who inspires the others. * /Mr. Smith is the  moving
spirit behind our expansion plans./

   [much] See: AS MUCH AS, FOR AS MUCH AS, MAKE MUCH OF, SO  MUCH,  SO
MUCH FOR, THINK A GREAT DEAL OF or THINK MUCH OF.

   [much as] See: AS MUCH AS(1).

   [much less] {conj.} And also not; and even less able or likely  to.
- Used after a negative clause. * /I never even spoke to the man, much
less insulted him./ * /John couldn't even pick up the box,  much  less
carry it upstairs./ * /George can hardly understand  arithmetic,  much
less algebra./ Compare: LET ALONE, NOT TO MENTION.

   [mud] See: NAME IS MUD, STICK-IN-THE-MUD.

   [mud in your eye] {n. phr.}, {informal} A cheering exclamation when
people drink, much like "cheers!" * /Each time John raised  his  glass
he said, "Well, here's mud in your eye!"/

   [mug shot] {n. phr.}  A  police  photograph  showing  the  arrested
person's full face and profile. * /"Go over these mug shots," Sergeant
O'Malley said, "and tell me if you find the person  who  held  up  the
liquor store!"/

   [Muhammad] See: IF THE HILL WON'T COME TO MUHAMMAD,  THEN  MUHAMMAD
MUST COME TO THE HILL.

   [mull over] {v. phr.} To consider; think over. *  /He  mulled  over
the offer for some time, but finally rejected it./

   [mum is the word] You must keep the secret; keep silent; don't tell
anyone. - Often used as an interjection. * /We are planning a surprise
party for John and mum is the word./ * /"Mum is the word!" the  robber
captain told his men./

   [murder] See: SCREAM BLOODY MURDER.

   [muscle] See: MOVE A MUSCLE.

   [muscle-bound] {adj.} Having your muscles large,  hard,  and  tight
from too much exercising; having muscles so  developed  that  you  can
hardly move. * /Bob was big and strong, but he was  muscle-bound,  and
Bill could beat him./ * /An athlete must train properly so as  not  to
become muscle-hound./

   [muscle in on] {v. phr.} To intrude; penetrate; force oneself  into
another's business or territory. * /The eastern Mafia  muscled  in  on
the western Mafia's turf and a shooting war was started./

   [music] See: FACE THE MUSIC.

   [musical chairs] {n. phr.} (Originally the  name  of  a  children's
game.) The transfer of a number of officers in  an  organization  into
different jobs, especially each other's jobs. *  /The  boss  regularly
played musical chairs with department heads to keep them fresh on  the
job./

   [music to one's ears] {n. phr.} Something  one  likes  to  hear.  *
/When the manager phoned to say I got the job,  it  was  music  to  my
ears./

   [mustard] See: CUT THE MUSTARD.

   [muster] See: PASS MUSTER.

   [my God] or [my  goodness]  {interj.}  Used  to  express  surprise,
shock, or dismay. * /My God! What happened to the car?/

   [my lips are sealed] {informal sentence} A promise  that  one  will
not give away a secret. * /"You can tell me  what  happened,  "  Helen
said. "My lips are sealed."/



        N

   [nail] See: HARD AS NAILS, HIT THE NAIL  ON  THE  HEAD,  TOOTH  AND
NAIL.

   [nail down] {v. phr.},  {informal}  To  make  certain;  make  sure;
settle. * /Joe had a hard time selling his car, but he finally  nailed
the sale down when he got his friend Sam to give him $300./ * /The New
York Yankees nailed down the American League  Championship  when  they
beat the Red Sox 3 to 0 on September 15./

   [nail one's colors to the mast] {literary}  To  let  everyone  know
what you think is right and refuse to change. * /During  the  election
campaign the candidate nailed his colors to the mast on  the  question
of civil rights./

   [name] See: CALL NAMES, HANDLE TO ONE'S NAME, IN NAME,  TAKE  ONE'S
NAME IN VAIN, TO ONE'S NAME.

   [name calling] See: CALL NAMES.

   [named after] {adj.  phr.}  Given  the  same  name  as  someone.  *
/Archibald was named after his father./

   [name day] {n.} The day of the saint for whom a person is named.  *
/Lawrence's name day is August 10, the feast of St. Lawrence./

   [namedropper]  {n.  phr.}  A  person  who  is   always   mentioning
well-known names. * /Since her move to  Hollywood  she  has  become  a
regular namedropper./

   [name is mud] {informal} (You) are in trouble; a person  is  blamed
or no longer liked. - Used in the possessive.  *  /If  you  tell  your
mother I spilled ink on her rug my name will be  mud./  *  /Your  name
will be mud if you tell the teacher  about  the  bad  thing  we  did./
Compare: IN THE DOG HOUSE.

   [name of the game] {n.}, {informal} The crux of  the  matter;  that
which actually occurs under the disguise of something else. * /Getting
medium income families to support the rest of  society  -  that's  the
name of the game!/

   [narrow down] {v. phr.} To limit within very strict margins. *  /Of
the numerous applicants, the list has been narrowed  down  to  just  a
few./

   [narrow escape] {n. phr.} An escape by a very small margin; a  near
miss. * /If the truck that hit his car  had  been  coming  faster,  it
would have killed him; it was certainly a narrow escape that  he  only
had a broken arm!/

   [narrow-minded] {adj. phr.} Limited in outlook;  resistant  to  new
ideas; bigoted. * /He is generally very  open  about  everything,  but
when it comes to politics, he is terribly narrow-minded./

   [nary a] {informal}  Not  a  single;  not  one;  never  a.  *  /One
afternoon a large dark cloud came in the sky. John  thought  it  would
rain so he took his raincoat - but nary a drop  fell./  *  /John  went
fishing but he caught nary a one./

   [nasty-nice] {adj.} Unkind in  a  polite  way;  disagreeable  while
pretending to be gracious. * /The bus driver has a nasty-nice  way  of
showing his dislike./

   [natural] See: BIG AS LIFE or BIG AS LIFE AND TWICE AS NATURAL.

   [natural-born] {adj.} 1. Being a (citizen) because you were born in
the country. * /Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt came to the  United  States  from
Germany  and  are  naturalized  citizens  but   their   children   are
natural-born  citizens./  2.  Born  with  great  ability   to   become
(something); having great ability (as in a sport or art)  almost  from
the start. * /Joe had never played baseball before trying out for  the
team but he showed that he was a natural-born pitcher  and  he  became
the best in the league./ * /Mozart was  a  natural-born  musician.  He
could play the piano well when he was only six years old./

   [nature] See: SECOND NATURE.

   [naught] See: GO FOR NOTHING also GO FOR NAUGHT.

   [near] See: FAR AND NEAR.

   [near at hand] See: AT HAND.

   [necessity] See: MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY, OF NECESSITY.

   [neck] See: BREATHE DOWN ONE'S NECK, BREAK ONE'S NECK, CATCH IT  IN
THE NECK or GET IT IN THE NECK, PAIN IN THE  NECK,  SAVE  ONE'S  NECK,
STICK ONE'S NECK OUT.

   [neck and neck] {adj. or adv.}, {informal} Equal or nearly equal in
a race or contest; abreast; tied. * /At the end of the  race  the  two
horses were neck and neck./ * /For months John and Harry seemed to  be
neck and neck in Alice's favor./ Compare: NIP AND TUCK.

   [neck of the woods] {n. phr.},  {informal}  Part  of  the  country;
place; neighborhood; vicinity. * /We visited Illinois  and  Iowa  last
summer; in that neck of the woods the corn really grows tall./  *  /We
were down in your neck of the woods last week./

   [necktie party] {n.}, {slang} A  hanging  by  a  mob;  lynching.  *
/Cattle thieves were stealing the rancher's cattle,  but  the  cowboys
caught them and had a necktie party./ Compare: STRING UP.

   [ned] See: RAISE THE DEVIL.

   [needle] See: ON PINS AND NEEDLES.

   [needle in a haystack] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something that will be
very hard to find. * /"I lost my class ring  somewhere  in  the  front
yard," said June. Jim answered, "Too bad. That will be like finding  a
needle in a haystack."/

   [neither fish nor  fowl]  also  [neither  fish,  flesh,  nor  fowl]
Something or someone that does not belong to a definite group or known
class; a strange person or thing; someone or something odd or hard  to
understand. * /The man is neither fish nor fowl; he votes Democrat  or
Republican according to which will do him  the  most  good./  *  /Mrs.
Harris bought a piece of furniture that was both a table and a  chair.
Mr. Harris said it was neither fish nor fowl./ * /The movie is neither
fish nor fowl; it is a funny love story./

   [neither here nor there] {adj. phr.} Not  important  to  the  thing
being discussed; off the subject; not mattering. *  /Perhaps  you  did
stay up late finishing your homework. That's neither here  nor  there.
You still must come to school on time./ * /The boys all like the coach
but that's neither here nor there; the question is, "Does he know  how
to teach football?"/ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: HAVE  TO  DO
WITH, COME TO THE POINT.

   [neither hide nor hair] See: HIDE OR HAIR.

   [neither rhyme nor reason] {n. phr.} No emotional  or  intellectual
substance. * /As far as I am concerned, his proposal makes  no  sense;
it has neither rhyme nor reason./

   [Nellie] See: NICE NELLY or NICE NELLIE, NERVOUS NELLIE.

   [Nelly] See: NICE NELLY or NICE NELLIE, NERVOUS NELLIE.

   [nerve] See: GET ON ONE'S NERVES, GET UP THE NERVE.

   [nervous breakdown] {n.} A mild or severe attack of mental illness;
a collapse of a person's ability to make decisions and solve  problems
because of overwork, great mental strain, or the  like.  *  /When  the
mother saw her baby run over, she suffered a nervous breakdown./

   [Nervous  Nellie]  {n.},  {informal}  A  timid  person  who   lacks
determination and courage. * /I say we will never win if we don't stop
being Nervous Nellies!/

   [nervous prostration] {n.} An illness of the mind  that  makes  you
feel very tired, worried, and bored, and that often causes  headaches,
upset stomach, and other sickness. * /Aunt Jane said that taking  care
of  us  children  all  day  was  enough  to  give  any  woman  nervous
prostration./

   [nest] See: FEATHER ONE'S NEST, STIR UP A HORNET'S NEST.

   [nest egg] {n.} Savings set aside to be used in the future. * /Herb
says he doesn't have to worry about his old age because he has a  nest
egg in the bank./

   [never] See: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, IT NEVER RAINS BUT  IT  POURS,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE.

   [never mind] {v. phr.} Don't trouble about it;  don't  worry  about
it; forget it; skip it. - Usually used in  speaking  or  when  writing
dialogue. * /Never  mind  preparing  a  picnic  lunch;  we'll  find  a
lunchstand when we get to the beach./ *  /"What  did  you  say?"  "Oh,
never mind."/ * /"What about money?" "Never mind that. I'll take  care
of it."/

   [never say die] {v. phr.}  Don't  quit;  don't  be  discouraged.  *
/"Never say die!" John said, as he got on his feet and  tried  to  ice
skate again./

   [new] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

   [new blood] {n.} Something or someone that gives new life or vigor,
fresh energy or power. * /New  blood  was  brought  into  the  company
through appointment of younger men to important positions./

   [new broom sweeps clean] A new  person  makes  many  changes.  -  A
proverb. * /The new superintendent has  changed  many  of  the  school
rules. A new broom sweeps clean./

   [Newcastle] See: CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE.

   [new deal] {n.}, {informal} 1. A complete change; a fresh start.  *
/People had been on the job too long; a new deal  was  needed  to  get
things out of the old bad habits./ 2. Another chance. * /The boy asked
for a new deal after he had been punished for fighting in school./

   [newfangled]  {adj.}  Newly  invented  or  contrived;   excessively
complex. * /Dorothy  felt  that  many  newfangled  gadgets  in  Kate's
all-electric kitchen weren't really necessary./

   [new leaf] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

   [new lease on life] {n. phr.} A new chance  to  live;  an  improved
manner of living. * /After his illness and his retirement,  living  in
Hawaii was a new lease on life./

   [new man] {n.} A person who has become very much  better.  *  /Diet
and exercise made a new man of him./

   [new money] {n. phr.} People  who  have  become  rich  recently.  *
/Since Bobby's father invented a new computer component, Bobby and his
family are new money./ Contrast: OLD MONEY.

   [newshawk] {n.} A newspaper reporter. * /There are always a lot  of
newshawks following the president./

   [next door] {adv.} or  {adj.}  1.  In  or  to  the  next  house  or
apartment. * /He lived next door to me./ * /She telephoned  next  door
to ask about John./ * /The house  next  door  caught  fire./  2.  Very
close. - Used with "to". * /The sick man was next door  to  death./  *
/Printing secrets  about  our  country's  missiles  is  next  door  to
treason./

   [next to(1)] {adv.} Almost; nearly. * /It was next to impossible to
believe that in a month the grass would be green and flowers would  be
blooming./ * /It was next to unthinkable that the boy would steal./

   [next to(2)] {prep.} Just after; second to. * /Next to his  family,
baseball was his greatest love./ * /Next to pizza, Bob liked hamburger
best./

   [next to nothing] {n. phr.} Very little; almost  nothing.  *  /They
gave me next to nothing for my old car when I traded it in for  a  new
one./ * /When he first started to  work,  Mr.  Black  earned  next  to
nothing./

   [nice Nelly(1)] or [nice Nellie] {n.}, {informal} Someone who  acts
too good to be true; a prude; a prig. * /We took him for a nice  Nelly
when he wouldn't fight./

   [nice Nelly(2)] or [nice Nellie] {adj.}, {informal} Too careful not
to say or do anything wrong or improper; too proper; prudish.  *  /Her
nice Nelly behavior made her unpopular at school./

   [Nick] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.

   [nick] See: IN THE NICK OF TIME.

   [nigger in the woodpile] {n. phr.},  {slang}  Something  unexpected
that changes a situation; a hidden  factor  or  trick.  -  Racist  and
offensive, but commonly used in the past. * /I knew there had to be  a
nigger in the woodpile, because the man was being much too  generous./
* /When the salesman gave him an extra tire  for  his  bike,  the  boy
suspected a nigger in the woodpile./

   [night] See: FLY-BY-NIGHT, MAKE A NIGHT OF IT.

   [night and day] See: DAY AND NIGHT.

   [nightcap] {n.} A good-night  drink;  a  drink  taken  just  before
bedtime. * /Let's have a nightcap and then go to sleep./ * /Would  you
like to come up to my place for a nightcap?/

   [night letter] {n.} A telegram sent at night at a cheaper rate  and
delivered in the morning. * /I waited until after six o'clock  in  the
evening before sending the telegram home because I can  say  more  for
the same price in a night letter./

   [night life] {n. phr.} Entertainment at night.  *  /People  in  the
city are able to find more night life  than  those  who  live  in  the
country./

   [night owl] {n. phr.} One who sleeps during the day and stays up or
works during the night. * /Tom hardly ever sleeps at night; he prefers
to work by lamp light and has become a regular  night  owl./  Compare:
GRAVEYARD SHIFT.

   [nine] See: CAT HAS NINE LIVES, ON CLOUD NINE.

   [nine-to-five job] {n. phr.} A typical office job that starts at  9
A.M. and ends at 5 P.M. with a one-hour lunch break at 12  noon  or  1
P.M. * /We professors are not too well paid but I could never get used
to a nine-to-five job./

   [ninety] See: GAY NINETIES.

   [nip and tuck] {adj. or  adv.},  {informal}  Evenly  matched;  hard
fought to the finish. * /The game was nip  and  tuck  until  the  last
minute./ * /A was a nip and tuck race right to  the  finish  line./  *
/The two salesmen fought nip and tuck for the contract all  the  way./
Compare: NECK AND NECK.

   [nip in the bud] {v. phr.} To check at the outset; prevent  at  the
start; block or destroy in the beginning. *  /The  police  nipped  the
plot in the bud./ * /The teacher nipped the disorder in the bud./

   [no account(1)] {adj.} Of  no  importance.  *  /The  lowly  clerk's
opinion is of no account in this matter./

   [no account(2)] {n. phr.} A person of low social station.  *  /Fred
was first considered a no account but he soon proved himself to  be  a
person of great ability./

   [nobody] See: IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD.

   [nobody home] {slang} 1. Your attention is somewhere else,  not  on
what is being said or done here; you are absent-minded. * /The teacher
asked him a question three times but he still looked out  the  window.
She gave up, saying, "Nobody  home."/  2.  You  are  feeble-minded  or
insane. * /He pointed to the woman, tapped his head, and said, "Nobody
home."/

   [nobody's fool] {n. phr.} A smart person; a person who  knows  what
he is doing; a person  who  can  take  care  of  himself.  *  /In  the
classroom and  on  the  football  field,  Henry  was  nobody's  fool./
Contrast: BORN YESTERDAY.

   [nod] See: LAND OF NOD.

   [nodding acquaintance] {n.} Less than  casual  acquaintance.  *  /I
have  never  spoken  to  the  chancellor;  we  have  only  a   nodding
acquaintance./

   [no deal] or [no dice] or [no go] or [no sale] or [no soap] {slang}
Not agreed to; refused or useless;  without  success  or  result;  no;
certainly not. - Used in the  predicate  or  to  refuse  something.  *
/Billy wanted to let Bob join the team, but I said that it was no deal
because Bob was too young./ * /"Let me  have  a  dollar."  "No  dice!"
answered Joe./ * /I tried to get Mary on the telephone but it  was  no
go./ * /"Let's go to the beach tomorrow." "No sale, I  have  my  music
lesson tomorrow."/ * /I asked Dad for a new  bicycle  but  it  was  no
soap./ Compare: NOTHING DOING, NO USE.

   [no doubt] {adv.} 1. Without doubt; doubtless; surely; certainly. *
/No doubt Susan was the smartest girl in her class./  2.  Probably.  *
/John will no doubt telephone us if he comes to town./

   [no end] {adv.}, {informal} 1. Very much; exceedingly. *  /Jim  was
no end upset because he  couldn't  go  swimming./  2.  Almost  without
stopping; continually. * /The baby cried no end./

   [no end to] or {informal} [no end of] So many, or so much of, as to
seem almost endless; very many or very much. * /There was  no  end  to
the letters pouring into the post office./  *  /Bob  and  Dick  became
close friends and had no end of fun together./

   [no frills] {n. phr.} A firm or product that offers  no  extras;  a
generic product that carries no expensive label. * /We went  on  a  no
frills trip to Europe with few luxuries./

   [noggin] See: USE ONE'S HEAD or USE ONE'S NOGGIN.

   [no go] See: NO DEAL.

   [no good] {adj. phr.} Not satisfactory; not adequate; not approved.
* /"That's no good," I told him when he began to cry./ *  /He  was  no
good at arithmetic./ * /He tried appealing to the man's pride, but  it
did no good./

   [no great shakes] {adj.}, {informal} Mediocre; unimportant. *  /Joe
Wilson is no great shakes./

   [no hard feelings] {n. phr.} A lack of resentment or anger; a state
of peace and forgiveness. * /"No hard feelings," he said. "You  should
feel free to make constructive criticism any time."/

   [no kidding] {n. phr.} Without jokes or teasing; honestly spoken. *
/"You actually  won  the  lottery?"  Dick  asked.  "No  kidding,"  Joe
replied. "I really did."/

   [no longer] {adv.} Not any more; not at the  present  time.  *  /He
could no longer be trusted and they had to let him go./ *  /The  shore
was no longer in sight./

   [no love lost] {n. phr.} Bad feeling; ill will.  *  /Bob  and  Dick
both wanted to be elected captain of the team, and there was  no  love
lost between them./ * /There was no love lost between  the  sales  and
the accounting departments./

   [no matter] 1. Not anything important.  *  /I  wanted  to  see  him
before he left but  it's  no  matter./  2.  It  makes  no  difference;
regardless of. * /She  was  going  to  be  a  singer  no  matter  what
difficulties she met./ * /He had to get the car fixed  no  matter  how
much it cost./ * /No matter what you try to do, it is important to  be
able to speak well./ * /You can't go in no  matter  who  you  are./  *
/Mary wanted to get to school on time, no matter if she  went  without
breakfast./

   [no matter what] {adv. phr.} Under any circumstances. * /We will go
to Europe this summer, no matter what./ * /Charles had decided  to  go
to the football game and he felt he must go no matter what./  Compare:
COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.

   [nonce] See: FOR THE TIME BEING also FOR THE NONCE.

   [none] See: HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONE, HAVE NONE OF.

   [none too] {adv.} Not very; not at all. * /The doctor arrived  none
too soon as Lucy's fever was alarmingly high./

   [nonsense] See: STUFF AND NONSENSE.

   [nonstarter] {n.} An idea, plan, or project that doesn't work or is
obviously no good. * /His plan to start a  new  private  school  is  a
nonstarter because he is unable to organize anything./

   [noodle] See: USE ONE'S HEAD or USE ONE'S NOODLE.

   [no picnic] {n. phr.} Something arduous;  something  that  requires
great effort to  accomplish.  *  /It  is  no  picnic  to  climb  Mount
Everest./ Contrast: A PIECE OF CAKE, A CINCH, EASY AS APPLE PIE.

   [nor] See: NEITHER FISH NOR FOWL, NEITHER HERE NOR  THERE,  NEITHER
HIDE NOR HAIR.

   [no sale] See: NO DEAL.

   [nose] See: COUNT HEADS or COUNT NOSES, CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE
ONE'S FACE, FOLLOW ONE'S NOSE, GO INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO  A  NOSE
DIVE, HARD-NOSED, KEEP ONE'S  NOSE  CLEAN,  KEEP  ONE'S  NOSE  TO  THE
GRINDSTONE, LEAD BY THE NOSE, LOOK DOWN ONE'S NOSE AT,  ON  THE  NOSE,
PAY THROUGH THE NOSE, PUT ONE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT,  SEE  BEYOND  ONE'S
NOSE, SKIN OFF ONE'S NOSE, THUMB ONE'S NOSE, TURN UP  ONE'S  NOSE  AT,
UNDER ONE'S NOSE.

   [nose about] or [nose around] {v. phr.},  {informal}  To  look  for
something kept private or secret; poke about; explore; inquire; pry. *
/In Grandmother's attic, Sally spent a while nosing about in  the  old
family pictures./ * /The detective was  nosing  around  in  the  crowd
looking for pickpockets./

   [nose down] {v.}, {of an aircraft} To head  down;  bring  down  the
nose of. * /The big airliner began to nose down for a landing./ * /The
pilot nosed the plane down toward the runway./

   [nose in(1)] or  [nose  into(1)]  {informal}  Prying  or  pestering
interest in; unwelcome interest in; impolite curiosity. *  /He  always
had his nose in other people's business./ Contrast: NOSE OUT OF.

   [nose in(2)] or [nose into(2)] {v.} To move in close;  move  slowly
in with the front first. * /The ship nosed into the pier./ * /The  car
nosed into the curb./

   [nose in a book] {n. phr.} Busy interest in reading. - Used with  a
possessive. * /Mother can't get Mary to help  do  the  housework;  she
always has her nose in a book./

   [nose is out of joint] See: PUT ONE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.

   [nose out] {v.},  {informal}  1.  To  learn  by  effort  (something
private or secret); uncover. * /The  principal  nosed  out  the  truth
about the stolen examination./ 2. To defeat by a nose length; come  in
a little ahead of in a race or contest. * /The horse  we  liked  nosed
out the second horse in  a  very  close  finish./  *  /The  Democratic
candidate nosed out his rival for Congress by a few hundred votes./

   [nose out of] {informal} Curious attention;  bothering.  -  Usually
used with a possessive and usually used with  "keep".  *  /When  Billy
asked his sister where she was going she told him to keep his nose out
of her business./ Contrast: NOSE IN.

   [nose over] {v.} To turn over on the nose  so  as  to  land  upside
down. * /The airplane made a faulty landing approach and nosed over./

   [nose up] {v.} To head up; incline the forward  end  upwards;  move
up. * /The airplane nosed up through the cloud  bank./  *  /The  pilot
nosed the plane up from the field./

   [no-show] {n.}, {informal} A person who makes a reservation,  e.g.,
at a hotel or at an airline, and then neither claims nor cancels it. *
/The airlines were messed up because of  a  great  number  of  no-show
passengers. /

   [no sooner --- than] As soon as; at once when; immediately when.  *
/No sooner did he signal to turn than the other car turned in front of
him./ * /No sooner were the picnic baskets unpacked than it  began  to
rain./

   [no spring chicken] {n. phr.} A person who is no  longer  young.  *
/Even though she is no spring chicken anymore, men  still  turn  their
heads to look at her./

   [no sweat(1)]  {adj.},  {slang},  {informal}  Easily  accomplished,
uncomplicated. * /That job was no sweat./

   [no sweat(2)] {adv.} Easily. * /We did it no sweat./

   [not a few] See: QUITE A FEW.

   [not a leg to stand on] {n. phr.},  {informal}  No  good  proof  or
excuse; no good evidence or defense to offer. * /The man  with  a  gun
and $300 in his pocket was accused of robbing an oil station.  He  did
not have a leg to stand on./

   [not a little] See: QUITE A LITTLE.

   [not  all  there]  {adj.  phr.}  Not  completely  alert   mentally;
absentminded; not together. * /Bill is a wonderful guy but he is  just
not all there./

   [not at all] See: AT ALL.

   [not bad] or [not so bad] or  [not  half  bad]  {adj.},  {informal}
Pretty good; all right; good enough. * /The party last night  was  not
bad./ * /It was not so bad, as inexpensive vacations go./ * /The  show
was not half bad./

   [not by a long shot] See: BY A LONG SHOT.

   [not by any means] See: BY NO MEANS.

   [notch] See: TIGHTEN ONE'S BELT.

   [note] See: COMPARE NOTES, TAKE NOTE OF.

   [not for all the coffee in Brazil] or  [not  for  all  the  tea  in
China] or [not for anything in the world ] or [not for love or  money]
See: NOT FOR THE WORLD.

   [not for the world] or [not for worlds]  {adv.  phr.}  Not  at  any
price; not for anything. * /I  wouldn't  hurt  his  feelings  for  the
world./ * /Not for worlds would he let his children go hungry./

   [not half bad] See: NOT BAD.

   [not have anything on] See: HAVE NOTHING ON.

   [not have the heart to] {v. phr.} To not be insensitive or cruel. *
/My boss did not have the heart to lay off  two  pregnant  women  when
they most needed their jobs./

   [nothing] See: GO FOR NOTHING, HAVE NOTHING ON, HERE GOES  NOTHING,
IN NO TIME or IN NOTHING FLAT, NOT TO MENTION or TO SAY NOTHING OF.

   [nothing doing] {adv. phr.}, {informal} I will not do it; certainly
not; no indeed; no. * /"Will you lend me a dollar?" "Nothing  doing!"/
* /"Let's go for a boat ride!" "Nothing doing!"/ Compare: NO DEAL.

   [nothing if not] {adv. phr.} Without doubt; certainly. * /With  its
bright furnishings, flowers,  and  sunny  windows,  the  new  hospital
dayroom is nothing if not cheerful./

   [nothing like] See: ANYTHING LIKE.

   [nothing of the kind] {adv. phr.} On the contrary. * /"Did you quit
your job?" he asked. "No, I did nothing of the kind," she answered./

   [nothing short of] {adv. phr.} Absolutely; thoroughly;  completely.
* /Olivier's performance in Hamlet was nothing short of magnificent./

   [nothing succeeds like success] Success in one thing makes  success
in other things easier; people like a successful person. - A  proverb.
* /The girls all like Bob because  he  is  football  captain.  Nothing
succeeds like success./

   [nothing to it] {adj. phr.} Presenting no serious challenge; easily
accomplished. * /Once you learn how to tread water, swimming is really
easy; there is nothing to it./ Compare: EASY AS APPLE PIE, A CINCH,  A
PIECE OF CAKE.

   [nothing to sneeze at] See: SNEEZE AT.

   [notice] See: SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE, TAKE NOTE OF or  TAKE  NOTICE
OF.

   [not in the least] {adv. phr.} Not at all. * /She was  not  in  the
least interested in listening to a long lecture on ethics./

   [notion] See: HALF A MIND also HALF A NOTION, TAKE INTO ONE'S  HEAD
or TAKE A NOTION.

   [not know which way to turn] or [not know which way  to  jump]  {v.
phr} To be puzzled about getting out of a difficulty; not know what to
do to get out of trouble. * /When Jane missed the last bus  home,  she
didn't know which way to turn./ * /After Mr. Brown  died,  Mrs.  Brown
had no money to pay the bills. When the landlord told her to  pay  the
rent or move out, she didn't know which way to jump./

   [not let any grass grow under one's feet] See: LET GRASS GROW UNDER
ONE'S FEET.

   [not one's cup of tea] See: CUP OF TEA.

   [not one's scene] See: CUP OF TEA.

   [not on your life] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Certainly not; not ever;
not for any reason. - Used for emphasis. * /I  wouldn't  drive  a  car
with brakes like that - not on your life./ * /Did he thank me  for  my
advice? Not on your life./

   [not see beyond one's nose] See: SEE BEYOND ONE'S NOSE.

   [not so bad] See: NOT BAD.

   [not so hot] or [not too hot] {adj.  phr.}  Ineffective;  not  very
good. * /His plans to rebuild the house in a hurry  obviously  weren't
so hot./

   [not the only fish in the sea] {n. phr.} One of many; not the  only
one of the kind; not the only one available. * /He said he could  find
other girls - she was not the only fish in the sea./ Compare: NOT  THE
ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

   [not the only pebble on the beach] {n. phr.} Not the only person to
be considered; one of many. * /George was acting pretty self-important
and we finally had to tell him that he wasn't the only pebble  on  the
beach./ Compare: NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA.

   [not the  thing]  {n.  phr.}  Not  the  accepted  form  of  action;
something socially improper. * /It is simply not  the  thing  to  wear
blue jeans to the opera./

   [not to get to first base]  {v.  phr.}  To  fail  to  make  initial
progress; have no success at all. * /I tried various ways to make Mary
interested in me as a potential husband, but I couldn 't even  get  to
first base./

   [not to give one the time of day] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To
dislike someone strongly enough so as to totally ignore  him.  *  /Sue
wouldn't give Helen the time of day./

   [not to give quarter] {v. phr.} 1. To be utterly unwilling to  show
mercy; not to allow a weaker or defeated  party  the  chance  to  save
themselves through escape. *  /The  occupying  foreign  army  gave  no
quarter - they took no  prisoners,  shot  everyone,  and  made  escape
impossible./ 2. To argue so forcefully during a negotiation  or  in  a
court of law as  to  make  any  counter-argument  or  counter-proposal
impossible. * /The District Attorney hammered away  at  the  witnesses
and gave no quarter to the attorney for the defense./

   [not to know one from Adam] {v. phr.} To  not  know  a  person;  be
unable to recognize someone. * /I have no idea who that  guy  is  that
Jane just walked in with; I don't know him from Adam./

   [not to know the  first  thing  about]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  totally
ignorant about a certain issue. * /Al assured us that he  didn't  know
the first thing about Mary's whereabouts./

   [not to know what to make of] {v. phr.} To be unable  to  decipher;
be unable to identify; not know how to decide  what  something  really
is. * /I got a mysterious letter asking me to meet Santa  Claus  at  6
P.M. at the supermarket. Is this a joke? I don't know what to make  of
it./

   [not to know whether one is  coming  or  going]  {v.  phr.}  To  be
completely confused. * /He was so perplexed he didn't know whether  he
was coming or going./ Compare: AT SEA(2).

   [not to lift a finger] {v. phr.}  To  not  help  in  the  slightest
degree.  *  /"My  husband  won't  lift  a  finger  to  help  me,"  she
complained, "although we have 12 people coming for dinner."/

   [not to mention] or [not to  speak  of]  or  [to  say  nothing  of]
Without ever needing to speak of; in addition to; besides. -  Used  to
add something to what you have said or explained. * /Dave is  handsome
and smart not to mention being a good athlete./  *  /They  have  three
fine sons, not to speak of their two lovely daughters./ * /Sally takes
singing and dancing lessons to say  nothing  of  swimming  and  tennis
lessons./ Compare: LET ALONE, TO SPEAK OF.

   [not to speak of] See: NOT TO MENTION.

   [not to touch (something)  with  a  ten-foot  pole]  {v.  phr.}  To
consider something completely undesirable or  uninteresting.  *  /Some
people won't touch spinach with a ten-foot pole./ * /Kids who wouldn't
touch an encyclopedia with a ten-foot pole love  to  find  information
with this computer program./

   [not worth a dime] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.

   [not worth a hill of beans] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.

   [not worth a red cent] See: NOT WORTH A TINKER'S DAMN.

   [not worth a tinker's damn] or not [worth  a  tinker's  dam]  {adj.
phr.}, {informal} Not worth anything; valueless. * /As a bricklayer he
was not worth a tinker's damn./ * /I am not familiar with the  subject
so my opinion would not be worth a tinker's dam./

   [no two ways about it] {n. phr.} No other choice; no alternative. *
/The boss said there were no two ways about it; we would all  have  to
work late to finish the job./

   [no use] {n.} 1. No purpose; no object; no gain. * /There's no  use
in crying about your broken bicycle./ * /Bob said, "Let's try  again."
Dick answered, "It's no use."/ 2. Bad opinion; no respect; no  liking.
- Usually used after "have". * /He had no use for dogs after a dog bit
him./ * /Jimmy had no use for arithmetic because it was hard for him./

   [no use crying over spilled milk] or  [no  use  crying  over  spilt
milk] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

   [now] See: EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, HERE AND NOW,
JUST NOW.

   [now and then] or [now  and  again]  {adv.  phr.}  Not  often;  not
regularly; occasionally; sometimes. * /Now and then he goes to a  ball
game./ * /The maid broke a dish now and then./ Syn.:  AT  TIMES,  FROM
TIME TO TIME, ONCE IN A WHILE. Compare: EVERY NOW AND  THEN,  OFF  AND
ON.

   [nowhere] See: OUT OF NOWHERE.

   [nowhere near] See: ANYTHING LIKE.

   [now --- now] {coord. adv.} Sometimes... sometimes;  by  turns;  at
one time... then at another. - Often used  with  adjectives  that  are
very different or opposite, especially to show change. * /The  weather
changed every day; it was now hot,  now  cool./  *  /The  band  played
different songs, now fast, now slow; now soft, now loud./ * /Billy ran
so quickly he seemed to be all over the field; he was now here and now
there./

   [no way] {adv.} Not at all; never; under no  circumstances.  *  /Do
you think I will do the house chores alone? No way!/

   [no wonder] also  [small  wonder]  {adj.}  Not  surprising;  to  be
expected. * /It is no wonder that  the  children  love  to  visit  the
farm./ * /The Browns didn't go  to  the  fair.  Small  wonder  -  they
dislike large noisy crowds./

   [now or never] {adv. phr.} Exclusively at the present time. * /Mike
said, "Now that Paul has resigned, there is a perfect place  for  you.
It is now or never!"/

   [now that] {conj.} Since; because;  now.  *  /Now  that  dinner  is
ready, wash your hands./ * /You came early, but now that you're  here,
take off your coat./ Syn.: INASMUCH AS.

   [nth] See: TO THE NTH DEGREE.

   [nuisance] See: PUBLIC NUISANCE.

   [nuke] {v.} To fix any meal in a microwave oven. * /When we are  in
a hurry, we nuke some beef./

   [nuke a tater] {v. phr.} 1. To bake a potato in a microwave oven. *
/"We have no time for standard baked potatoes in the oven," she  said.
"We'll just have to nuke a tater."/

   [null and void] {adj.} Not worth anything; no longer valid. * /Both
the seller and  the  buyer  agreed  to  forget  about  their  previous
contract and to consider it null and void./

   [number] See: A NUMBER, ANY NUMBER, DAYS ARE  NUMBERED,  GET  ONE'S
NUMBER, HOT NUMBER, QUITE A FEW or QUITE A NUMBER.

   [number among] {v. phr.} Consider as one of; consider to be a  part
of. * /I number Al among my best friends./

   [number one(1)] or [Number One(1)] {n. phr.}, {informal}  Yourself;
your own interests; your private or selfish advantage. Usually used in
the phrase "look out for number one". * /He was  well  known  for  his
habit of always looking out for number one./

   [number one(2)]  {adj.  phr.}  1.  Of  first  rank  or  importance;
foremost; principal. * /He is easily America's number one golfer./  2.
Of first grade; of top quality; best. * /That is  number  one  western
steer beef./

   [nurse] See: VISITING NURSE.

   [nurse a drink] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hold a drink in one's hand
at a party, pretending to be drinking it  or  taking  extremely  small
sips only. * /John's been nursing that drink all evening./

   [nurse a grudge] {v. phr.} To keep a feeling  of  envy  or  dislike
toward some person; remember something bad that a person said  or  did
to you, and dislike the person because  of  that.  *  /Torn  nursed  a
grudge against John because John took  his  place  on  the  basketball
team./ * /Mary nursed a grudge against her teacher because she thought
she deserved a better grade in English./

   [nursing home] See: CONVALESCENT HOME.

   [nut] See: HARD NUT TO CRACK or TOUGH NUT TO CRACK.

   [nut case] {n. phr.} A very silly, crazy, or foolish person.  *  /I
am going to be a nut case if I don't go on a vacation pretty soon./

   [nuts about] See: CRAZY ABOUT.

   [nuts and bolts of] {n. phr.} The basic facts or important  details
of something. * /"Ted will he an excellent  trader,"  his  millionaire
grandfather  said,  "once  he  learns  the  nuts  and  bolts  of   the
profession."/

   [nutshell] See: IN A NUTSHELL.

   [nutty as a fruitcake] {adj. phr.}, {slang}  Very  crazy;  entirely
mad. * /He looked all right, as we watched him approach, but  when  he
began to talk, we saw that he was as nutty as a fruitcake./



        O


   [oak] See: GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.

   [oars] See: REST ON ONE'S OARS.

   [oath] See: TAKE OATH.

   [oats] See: FEEL ONE'S OATS, SOW ONE'S WILD OATS.

   [obey the call of nature] See: ANSWER THE CALL OF NATURE.

   [occasion] See: ON OCCASION.

   [occupy oneself] {v. phr.} To make oneself  busy  with.  *  /Having
retired  from  business,  he  now  occupies  himself  with  his  stamp
collection./

   [oddball] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} An eccentric  person;  one  who
doesn't act like everyone else. * /John  is  an  oddball  -  he  never
invites anyone./

   [odd jobs] {n. phr.} Work that is not steady or regular in  nature;
small, isolated tasks. * /Dan does odd jobs for his neighbors,  barely
making enough to eat./

   [odds] See: BY ALL ODDS.

   [odds and ends] {n. phr.} Miscellaneous items; remnants.  *  /After
the great annual clearance sale there were only a few  odds  and  ends
left in the store./

   [odds are against] {v. phr.}  The  likelihood  of  success  is  not
probable; the chances of success are poor. * /The odds are against her
getting here before Monday./

   [odds-on] {adj.}, {informal} Almost certain; almost sure; probable.
* /Ed is the odds-on choice for class president, because he  has  good
sense and good humor./

   [of age] {adj. phr.} 1a. Old enough to be allowed to do  or  manage
something. * /Mary will be of  driving  age  on  her  next  birthday./
Contrast: OVER AGE, UNDER AGE. 1b. Old  enough  to  vote;  having  the
privileges of adulthood. * /The age at which one is considered of  age
to vote, or of age to buy alcoholic drinks, or of age to be prosecuted
as an adult, varies within the United  States./  2.  Fully  developed;
mature. * /Education for the foreign born came of age  when  bilingual
education was accepted as  a  necessary  part  of  the  public  school
system./

   [of a piece] {adj. phr.} Of the same kind; in line. - Usually  used
with "with". * /His quitting the job is of a piece with  his  dropping
out of school./

   [of course] {adv. phr.} 1. As you would expect; naturally.  *  /Bob
hit Herman, and Herman hit him back, of  course./  *  /The  rain  came
pouring down, and of course the track meet was canceled./ 2. Without a
doubt; certainly; surely. * /Of course you know that  girl;  she's  in
your class./

   [off a duck's back] See: LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK

   [off-again,  on-again]  or  [on-again,  off-again]   {adj.   phr.},
{informal} Not settled; changeable; uncertain. * /John and  Susan  had
an off-again, on-again romance./  *  /I  don't  like  this  off-again,
on-again business. Are we going to have the party or not?/

   [off and on] also [on and off] {adv.} Not regularly;  occasionally;
sometimes. * /Joan wrote to a pen  pal  in  England  off  and  on  for
several years./ * /It rained off and on all  day./  -  Sometimes  used
with hyphens like an adjective. * /A worn-out cord may make a  hearing
aid work in an off-and-on way./ Compare: BY FITS AND STARTS, FROM TIME
TO TIME, NOW AND THEN.

   [off balance] {adj. phr.} 1. Not in balance; not able to  stand  up
straight and not fall; not able to keep from turning over or  falling;
unsteady. * /Never stand up in a canoe; it will get  off  balance  and
turn over./ * /Paul  was  speeding  along  on  his  bicycle,  when  an
unexpected hole in the road caught him off balance and he fell  over./
2. Not prepared; not ready; unable to  meet  something  unexpected.  *
/Our quarterback kept the other team off  balance  by  changing  often
from line plays to passes and  tricky  end  runs./  *  /The  teacher's
surprise test caught the class off balance, and nearly everyone got  a
poor mark./

   [off base] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not agreeing with fact; wrong. *
/The idea that touching a toad causes warts is off base./ * /When  Tom
said that the teacher's explanation did not agree with the  book,  the
teacher was embarrassed at being caught off base./

   [offbeat] {adj.}, {informal} Nonconventional;  different  from  the
usual; odd. * /Linguistics used to be an offbeat field,  but  nowadays
every self-respecting university has a linguistics department./

   [off center] {adv. phr.} Not exactly in the middle.  *  /Mary  hung
the picture off center, because it was more interesting that way./

   [off-center] {adj.}, {informal} Different from the  usual  pattern;
not quite like most others; odd. * /Roger's sense of humor was  a  bit
off-center./ Compare: OFF-KEY.

   [off-color] or [off-colored] {adj.} 1. Not of  the  proper  hue  or
shade;  not  matching  a  standard  color  sample.  *  /The  librarian
complained that the painter had used an off-color green on the walls./
2. {informal} Not of the proper kind for polite society; in bad taste;
dirty. * /When Joe finished his off-color story, no one was pleased./

   [off day] {n. phr.} A period when one is not functioning at his  or
her best; a period of weakness. * /The champion was  obviously  having
an off  day;  otherwise  she  would  have  been  able  to  defeat  her
opponent./ Contrast: DAY OFF.

   [off duty] {adj.} Not supposed to be at work; having free time; not
working. * /Sailors like to go sight-seeing, when they are off duty in
a foreign port./ * /It seems that all the taxis in New  York  are  off
duty whenever it rains./ - Often used with hyphens, before a  noun.  *
/The bank robber was captured by an off-duty policeman./ Contrast:  ON
DUTY.

   [off feed] or [off one's feed] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not  feeling
well; lacking in vitality; droopy; moody. *  /Mary  was  worried;  her
canary was off feed./ * /Jerry seemed to be off his feed; he  did  not
joke and laugh with the others./

   [off (one/he/she/it) goes!] {v. phr.} Said of a person, a  vehicle,
or a memorable thing who/which has started leaving or moving, both  as
a  statement  of  fact  (declarative  assertion)  or  as   a   command
(imperative). * /When the boat hit the water in the  formal  launching
ceremony, they cried out simultaneously, "Off she goes!"/

   [off guard] {adj.} In a careless  attitude;  not  alert  to  coming
danger; not watching. * /In the second that the boxer was  off  guard,
his opponent landed a knockout punch./ * /Timmy s question caught Jean
off guard, and she told him the secret before she knew it./  Contrast:
ON GUARD.

   [offhand] {adj.} 1. Informal; casual; careless. * /Dick found Bob's
offhand manner  inappropriate  for  business./  2.  In  an  improvised
fashion. * /Offhand, I would guess that at least five thousand  people
attended the festival./

   [off in a flash] See: IN A FLASH.

   [off-key] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Not proper; queer. *  /When  George
told jokes at the funeral, everyone thought his action  was  off-key./
2. In a false key. * /John always  sings  off-key./  Compare:  OUT  OF
LINE.

   [off limits] See: OUT OF BOUNDS.

   [off one's back] {adj. phr.} 1. {informal} Stopped  from  bothering
one; removed as an annoyance or pest. * /"Having a kid brother  always
following me is a nuisance," Mary told her mother. "Can't you get  him
off my back?"/ * /The singer was so popular  with  teenagers  that  he
took a secret vacation, to keep them off his back./ Contrast: ON ONE'S
BACK(2). See: GIVE THE SHIRT OFF ONE'S BACK.

   [off one's chest] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Told to  someone  and  so
not bothering you anymore; not  making  you  feel  worried  or  upset,
because you have talked about it. * /After  Dave  told  the  principal
that he had cheated on the test, he was glad because it  was  off  his
chest./ * /Father felt that  Tom  wasn't  helping  enough  around  the
house, so he got it off his chest by giving Tom a list  of  things  to
do./ Compare: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF. Contrast: ON ONE'S CHEST.

   [off one's feet] See: KNOCK OFF ONE'S FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE'S FEET.

   [off one's hands] {adv. phr.} No longer in your care or possession.
* /Ginny was glad to have the sick dog taken  off  her  hands  by  the
doctor./ Contrast: ON ONE'S HANDS.

   [off one's head] {adj. phr.} Crazy; mad. * /We had  no  doubt  that
the old man was off his head when we saw him  jumping  into  the  lake
with his winter coat on./

   [off one's high horse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not acting  proud
and scornful; humble and agreeable. * /The girls were so kind to Nancy
after her mother died that she came down off her high horse  and  made
friends with them./ 2. Acting friendly again; not angry and unpleasant
any more; agreeable. * /Sally wouldn't speak to anyone  all  afternoon
because she couldn't go to the movies, but she's off  her  high  horse
now./ Contrast: ON ONE'S HIGH HORSE.

   [off one's nut] See: OFF ONE'S HEAD.

   [off one's rocker] or [off one's trolley] {adj.  phr.},  {informal}
Not thinking correctly; crazy; silly;  foolish.  *  /Tom  is  off  his
rocker if he thinks he can run faster than Bob can./ * /If  you  think
you can learn to figure skate in one lesson, you're off your trolley./
Syn.: OUT OF ONE'S HEAD.

   [off one's trolley] See: OFF ONE'S ROCKER.

   [off season] See: LOW SEASON. Contrast: HIGH SEASON, ON SEASON.

   [offshoot] {n.} A derivative; a side product. * /The  discovery  of
nuclear reactors was ah offshoot of research in quantum physics./

   [off  the  air]  {adj.  phr.}  Not  broadcasting;  observing  radio
silence. * /The talk show is off the air on Wednesdays and Fridays./

   [off the bat] See: RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

   [off the beam] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) Not in the
radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports;  flying  in
the wrong direction. * /A radio signal tells the pilot of an  airplane
when his plane is off the beam./ 2. {slang} Wrong; mistaken.  *  /Maud
was off the beam when she  said  that  the  girls  didn't  like  her./
Contrast: ON THE BEAM.

   [off the beaten track] {adv. phr.} Not well known  or  often  used;
not gone to or seen by many people; unusual. * /The theater is off the
beaten track./ * /We are looking for a vacation spot that is  off  the
beaten track./ Compare: OUT OF THE WAY.

   [off the cuff] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Without preparing  ahead  of
time what you will, say; without preparation. * /Some presidents  like
to speak off the cuff to newspaper  reporters  but  others  prefer  to
think questions over and write their answers./

   [off-the-cuff] {adj.}, {informal} Not prepared  ahead  of  time.  -
Used of a speech or remarks. * /Jack was  made  master  of  ceremonies
because he was a good off-the-cuff speaker./

   [off the ground] See: GET OFF THE GROUND.

   [off the handle] See: FLY OFF THE HANDLE.

   [off the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG.

   [off the hook] {adv. phr.} Out of trouble; out  of  an  awkward  or
embarrassing situation. * /Thelma found she had made two dates for the
same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out  with
one of the boys./

   [off  the  record(1)]  {adv.  phr.}  Confidentially.  *  /"Off  the
record," the boss said, "you will get a good raise for next year,  but
you'll have to wait for the official letter."/ Contrast: ON RECORD, GO
ON RECORD, JUST FOR THE RECORD.

   [off the record(2)] {adj.  phr.}  Not  to  be  published  or  told;
secret; confidential. * /The president told the reporters his  remarks
were strictly off the record./ - Sometimes used with  hyphens,  before
the noun. * /The governor was  angry  when  a  newspaper  printed  his
off-the-record comments./

   [off the top of one's  head]  {adv.}  or  {adj.  phr.},  {informal}
Without thinking hard; quickly. * /Vin answered the teacher's question
off the top of his head./ * /When Lorraine was asked  to  recite,  she
talked off the top of her head./

   [off the wagon] {adj. phr.}, {slang} No longer  refusing  to  drink
whiskey or other alcoholic beverages;  drinking  liquor  again,  after
stopping for a while. * /When a heavy drinker  quits  he  must  really
quit. One little drink of whiskey is  enough  to  drive  him  off  the
wagon./ Contrast: ON THE WAGON.

   [off the wall] {adj. phr.} Strange; out of the ordinary; stupid.  *
/He has been making off-the-wall remarks all day;  something  must  he
the matter with him./

   [of it] See: WHAT OF IT.

   [of late] {adv. phr.}, {formal} In the recent past; not long ago; a
short time ago; lately; recently. * /There have  been  too  many  high
school dropouts of late./

   [of necessity] {adv. phr.} Because there is no other  way;  because
it must be; necessarily. * /Being a professional  actor  of  necessity
means working nights and Sundays./

   [of no avail] See: TO NO AVAIL.

   [of old(1)] {adj. phr.} Of ancient times; of long ago.  *  /Knights
of old had to wear armor in battle./

   [of old(2)] {adv. phr.} From earlier experience. * /You  won't  get
any money from Freddie. I know him of old./

   [of oneself] See: GIVE OF ONESELF.

   [of one's life] {adj. phr.} The best or worst; greatest. -  Usually
describing a time or effort. * /At Disneyland, Tommy had the  time  of
his life./ * /His race for the presidency was the political  fight  of
his life./

   [of one's own accord] or [of  one's  own  free  will]  {adv.  phr.}
Without suggestion or help  from  anyone  else;  without  being  told;
voluntarily. * /On her mother's birthday, Betsy did the dishes of  her
own accord./ * /But Johnny hates baths. I can't believe he would  take
one of his own free will./

   [of one's own free will] See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD.

   [of service] {adj. phr.} Valuable as  a  source  of  aid;  helpful;
useful. * /When a  visitor  seems  lost  or  confused,  the  courteous
student will ask "May I be of service?"/ * /A good jackknife is  often
of service to a camper./

   [of sorts] or [of a sort] {adj. phr.} Not especially good; not very
good; of common quality. * /Joel was a magician of sorts, and  popular
at parties./

   [often] See: EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY SO OFTEN, MORE OFTEN  THAN
NOT.

   [of die devil] See: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS.

   [of the first water] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Of the finest quality;
superior; very good; best. * /The jeweler chose diamonds of the  first
water for the queen's crown./ * /The dance program at  graduation  was
of the first water./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS.

   [of the same mind] {adv. phr.} In agreement; in consonance.  *  /It
is a good thing when father and son are of  the  same  mind  regarding
business and politics./

   [oil] See: POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS.

   [oil the wheels] See: GREASE THE WHEELS.

   [ointment] See: PLY IN THE OINTMENT.

   [old] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK,  COMFORTABLE  AS  AN  OLD  SHOE,
COMMON AS AN OLD SHOE, OF OLD.

   [old as the hills] {adj. phr.} Very old; ancient.  *  /"Why  didn't
you laugh?" she asked. "Because that joke is as old as the hills,"  he
answered./

   [old boy network] {n. phr.} A system whereby men who  went  to  the
same school help each other to get  good  jobs,  regardless  of  their
ability or training. * /Peter got his lucrative job thanks to the  old
boy network rather than because of his qualifications./  Compare:  OLD
COLLEGE TRY.

   [old boy] or [old chap] {n.}, {chiefly  British}  One  of  the  men
educated at the same institution and bound by strong ties  of  loyalty
to each other. * /He got the job because  the  boss  was  another  old
boy./

   [old college try] {n. phr.} An attempt to win a favor from  another
by mentioning the fact that one  had  gone  to  the  same  college  or
university as the party from whom the favor is requested. * /Since  he
needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he  contacted
Jerry, but it didn't work./ Compare: OLD BOY NETWORK.

   [old country] {n. phr.} Primarily  Europe,  but  also  any  country
other than the United States where one originally came from.  *  /Al's
wife was born in Chicago but Al  himself  is  from  the  old  country,
Ireland./

   [old flame] {n. phr.} An erstwhile lover. * /Did you know that  Meg
was one of Howard's old flames?/

   [old guard] {n. phr.} People whose ideas may be out  of  date,  but
who have been in power for a long time.  *  /There  will  not  be  any
change in policy at the company, as long as the old guard still  works
here./

   [old hand] {n. phr.} An experienced and highly  skilled  expert  at
some particular job. * /Uncle Joe is an  old  hand  at  repairing  car
engines./

   [old hat] {adj.}, {informal} Old-fashioned; not new or different. *
/By now, putting satellites in orbit is old hat to space  scientists./
* /Andrea thought her mother's ideas about dating were old hat./

   [old maid] {n. phr.} A spinster; a woman who has never  married.  *
/Because my old maid aunt is a terrific cook as well as a good-looking
woman, nobody understands why she never married./

   [old money] Contrast: NEW MONEY.

   [Old Nick] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.

   [old school tie] See: OLD BOY NETWORK, OLD COLLEGE TRY.

   [old story] {n.}  An  everyday  occurrence;  something  that  often
happens. * /Jane's temper tantrums were an old story./ * /It's an  old
story when a woman divorces her husband for too much drinking./

   [old-timer] {n.} An old person who remembers bygone days,  matters,
and personalities. * /There was an old-timer at the party who told  us
interesting details about World War  II./  Contrast:  OLD  GUARD,  OLD
HAND.

   [old world] {n. phr.} Europe, the continent; a continental  manner.
* /Tom had an  old  world  manner  that  thoroughly  charmed  all  the
ladies./ Compare: OLD COUNTRY.

   [olive branch] {n. phr.} An overture; a symbol of peace.  *  /Tired
of the constant fighting, the majority government  extended  an  olive
branch to the militant minority./

   [on account] {adv. phr.} As part payment of a debt; to  lessen  the
amount owed. * /John paid $10 down and $5 on account  each  month  for
his bicycle./

   [on account of] {prep.} As a result of; because of. *  /The  picnic
was held in the gym  on  account  of  the  rain./  Compare:  ON  ONE'S
ACCOUNT, OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD.

   [on a dime] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a very small space.  *  /Bob
can turn that car on a dime./ * /Tom says his new sports car will stop
on a dime./

   [on-again, off-again] See: OFF-AGAIN, ON-AGAIN.

   [on air] See: WALK ON AIR.

   [on a limb] See: OUT ON A LIMB.

   [on all four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR.

   [on all fours] {adv. phr.} 1. On all four legs; on hands and knees.
* /Fido sat up to "beg" but dropped down on all fours to eat  the  dog
biscuit Sam gave him./ * /Billy's father got down  on  all  fours  and
gave the baby a ride./ 2. {informal} On a level of  equality;  of  the
same value. * /Wigs may be widely used, but they are still not on  all
fours with beautiful natural hair./

   [on an average] or [on the average]  {adv.  phr.}  In  most  cases;
usually. * /On an average Dan's mother has  to  ask  him  three  times
before he helps with the dishes./ * /On the average, Mr. Blank  trades
in his car for a new one every three years./

   [on and off] See: OFF AND ON.

   [on an even keel] {adv. phr,}, {informal} In a well-ordered way  or
condition; orderly. * /When the football rally seemed almost ready  to
become a riot, the principal stepped to the platform  and  got  things
back on an even keel./

   [on a pedestal] {adv. phr.} Lovingly honored and cared for. * /Mrs.
Raymond's children served her breakfast in bed  on  Mother's  Day  and
later took her out to dinner. She felt on  a  pedestal./  *  /Bill  is
always waiting on his fiancee and bringing her flowers and  candy.  He
has certainly put her on a pedestal./

   [on approval] {adv. phr.} With the understanding that the thing may
be refused. * /Mr. Grey bought his camera on approval./ * /The company
offered to send a package of stamps on approval./

   [on a scratched horse] See: PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE.

   [on a shoestring] {adv. phr.} With little money to spend; on a very
low budget. * /The couple was seeing Europe on a shoestring./

   [on a volcano] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.

   [on behalf of] See: IN BEHALF OP.

   [on board(1)] {prep.} On (a ship). * /Joan was  not  on  board  the
ship when it sailed./

   [on board(2)] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} On a ship. * /The  captain  was
not on board when the S.S. Flandre sailed./ * /A ship was leaving  the
harbor, and we saw the people on board waving./

   [on borrowed time] See: LIVE ON BORROWED TIME.

   [on call] {adj. phr.} 1. Having to be paid on demand. * /Jim didn't
have the money ready even though he knew the bill  was  on  call./  2.
Ready and available. * /This is Dr. Kent's day to be on  call  at  the
hospital./ * /The nurse is on call for emergency cases./

   [once] See: AT ONCE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

   [once and for all] {adv. phr.} 1. One time and never again; without
any doubt; surely; certainly; definitely. * /Let me say, for once  and
for all, you may not go to the party Saturday./ * /For  once  and  for
all, I will not go swimming with you./ 2. Permanently. * /Bill and Tom
asked the teacher to settle the argument once and  for  all./  *  /The
general decided that two bombs would destroy the enemy and end the war
once and for all./

   [once bitten, twice shy] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

   [once for all] See: ONCE AND FOR ALL.

   [once in a blue moon] {adv. phr.} Very rarely; very seldom;  almost
never. * /Coin collecting is interesting, hut you find a valuable coin
only once in a blue moon./ * /Once in a blue moon someone grows a very
pale marigold, but no truly white marigolds have been raised./

   [once in a while] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly;  sometimes;
occasionally. * /We go for a picnic in the park once in  a  while./  *
/Once in a while the puppy would run away, but usually  he  stayed  in
the yard./ Syn.: AT TIMES, FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND THEN.

   [once-over] {n.}, {slang} 1. A quick look; a swift  examination  of
someone or something. - Usually used with "give" or "get". * /The  new
boy got the once-over from the rest of the class when he came  in./  *
/Bob gave his paper  the  once-over  before  handing  it  in./  2.  or
[once-over-lightly] A quick or careless job, especially of cleaning or
straightening; work done hastily for now. * /Ann gave her room a quick
once-over-lightty with the broom and dust cloth./  *  /"Just  give  my
hair the once-over," Al said to  the  barber./  Compare:  LICK  AND  A
PROMISE.

   [once upon a time] {adv. phr.} Sometime before  now,  long  ago.  *
/Once upon a time she was thought to be the most talented  actress  in
the country./ - Often used at the beginning of fairy stories. *  /Once
upon a time there lived a king who had an ugly daughter./

   [on cloud nine] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Too happy to think of anything
else; very happy. * /Ada has been on cloud  nine  since  the  magazine
printed the story she wrote./ * /We were on cloud nine when  our  team
won the state championship./ Compare: ON TOP OF  THE  WORLD,  WALK  ON
AIR.

   [on condition that] {conj.} Providing that; if. * /I will lend  you
the money on condition that you pay it back  in  one  month./  *  /She
agreed to act in the  play  on  condition  that  she  could  keep  her
costumes./

   [on deck] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. On a floor of a ship open to the
outdoors. * /The passengers were playing shufflehoard on deck./ * /The
sailors kept busy cleaning and painting on deck./ 2. {informal}  Ready
to do something; present. * /The scout leader told the boys to  be  on
deck at 8:00 Saturday morning for the hike./ * /Dick was at  bat,  and
Bob was on deck./

   [on deposit] {adv. phr.} In a  bank.  *  /I  have  almost  $500  on
deposit in my account./ * /The children save their  pennies  and  each
month place them on deposit./

   [on duty] {adj. phr.} Doing one's job; supervising. * /Two soldiers
are on duty guarding the gates./ * /There is  always  one  teacher  on
duty during study hour./ Contrast: OFF DUTY.

   [one] See: AT ONE, FOR ONE, GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE  OTHER,  HANG
ONE ON, HOLE IN ONE, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, NUMBER ONE, SIX OF
ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER, SLIP ONE OVER ON, TEN TO  ONE,  TWO
TO ONE, WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

   [one and the same] {adj. phr.} The same; identical. * /Erle Stanley
Gardner and A.A. Fair are one and the same person./ * /The spider lily
and the Peruvian Daffodil are one and the same./

   [one-armed bandit] {n.}, {slang} A slot machine, like those used in
Las Vegas and other gambling places. * /Joe was playing the  one-armed
bandit all day - and he lost everything he had./

   [on earth] See: IN THE WORLD.

   [on easy street] {adj. phr.}, {informal}  Having  enough  money  to
live very comfortably; rather rich. * /After years of hard  work,  the
Grants found themselves on easy street./ * /Jim's novel was a  success
and put him on  easy  street./  Compare:  IN  CLOVER,  IN  THE  CHIPS,
WELL-TO-DO.

   [one damn thing after another] or [ODTAA] (pronounced owed-tay) {n.
phr.} If there is one problem, there will be more. * /First I lost  my
wallet, then a kid broke the window, and, lastly, my  car  refused  to
start. It was just one damn thing after another!/ Compare: IF IT'S NOT
ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER.

   [on edge]  {adj.  phr.}  Excited  or  nervous;  impatient.  *  /The
magician kept the children on edge all through his show./ *  /We  were
all on edge as we  listened  to  the  TV  for  news  of  the  election
results./ * /Father was on edge after driving home through  the  heavy
holiday traffic./ See: SET ONE'S TEETH ON EDGE. Contrast: AT EASE(2).

   [one eye on] {informal} Watching or minding  (a  person  or  thing)
while doing something else; part of your attention on.  -  Used  after
"have", "keep", or "with". * /Jane had one eye  on  the  baby  as  she
ironed./ * /Bill kept one eye on  his  books  and  the  other  on  the
clock./ * /Chris tried to study with one eye on the TV set./  Compare:
KEEP AN EYE ON.

   [one foot in the grave] {n. phr.} Near to  death.  *  /The  dog  is
fourteen years old, blind, and feeble. He has one foot in the  grave./
* /Grandfather has never been sick a day in his life, but Mother cares
for him as if he had one foot in the grave./

   [one  for  the  books]  {n,  phr.},  {informal}  Very  unusual;   a
remarkable something. * /The newspaper reporter fumed in a story  that
was one for the books./ * /Their trip through the Rocky Mountains  was
one for the books./

   [one-horse]  {adj.  phr.}  Insignificant;  modest;  provincial.   *
/Arnold's business is a one-horse operation; he  never  had  a  single
employee./

   [one man's meat is another man's  poison]  What  is  good  for  one
person is not necessarily good for  another.  -  A  proverb,  *  /Even
though Jeff likes to swim in ice cold water, his brother Tun hates it.
This is understandable, however, because one's man's meat  is  another
man's poison./ Contrast: WHAT'S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE  FOR  THE
GANDER.

   [on end] {adj. phr.} Seemingly endless. - Used with plural nouns of
time. * /Judy spent hours on end writing and rewriting her  essay./  *
/During July and August there was no rain for weeks on end./

   [one-night stand] {n. phr.} 1. A  single  performance  given  by  a
traveling company while on a tour. * /After they went bankrupt in  the
big cities, the traveling jazz quartet played one-night stands in  the
country./ 2. A brief affair or sexual encounter.  *  /"With  AIDS  all
around us?" said Jane. "Nobody is having one-night stands anymore."/

   [one of these days] or [some of these days]  {adv.  phr.}  Someday;
sometime soon. * /One of these days Herbert will be  famous./  *  /I'm
going to do that sewing some of these days./

   [one on the city] {n.}, {slang} A glass of water (which is provided
free of charge, as a free gift from the city). * /What will you  have?
- Oh, just give me one on the city./

   [one's money's worth] {n. phr.} A fair return on one's money  spent
or invested. * /I wouldn't say that the trip was a great bargain,  but
I feel that we got our money's worth./

   [one's own row] See: HOE ONE'S OWN ROW.

   [one-two] {n.} 1. A succession of two punches, the  first  a  short
left, followed by a hard right punch, usually in the jaw. * /Ali  gave
Frazir the one-two./ 2. Any quick or decisive action which  takes  the
opposition by surprise, thereby ensuring victory. * /He  gave  us  the
old one-two and won the game./

   [one up] {adj. phr.} Having an advantage; being one step  ahead,  *
/John graduated from high school; he is one up  on  Bob,  who  dropped
out./ * /The Platters are one up on their neighbors. They own the only
color television set in their neighborhood./

   [one-upmanship] {v.}, {informal} Always keeping  ahead  of  others;
trying to keep an advantage. * /No matter what I do, I find  that  Jim
has already done it better. He's an expert at one-upmanship./ *  /Jack
took the news to the principal while we were still talking  about  it.
He's very quick to practice one-upmanship./ Compare: ONE UP. (The word
one-upmanship was made up by a British humorist,  Stephen  Potter,  on
the pattern of such words as sportsmanship and workmanship.)

   [on faith] {adv. phr.} Without question or proof. * /He said he was
twenty-one years old and the employment agency took him on  faith./  *
/He looked so honest that we accepted his story on faith./

   [on file] {adv. phr.} Placed in a written or  electronic  file;  on
record. * /We are sorry we cannot hire you right now but we will  keep
your application on file./

   [on fire] See: SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.

   [on foot] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. By walking. *  /Sally's  bicycle
broke and she had to return home on foot./ 2. Being  planned.  *  /The
reporter said that a civil rights demonstration was on foot./ * /Plans
have been set on foot for a party for Miss  Jackson,  because  she  is
retiring./

   [on guard] {adj. phr.} Watchful; watching.  *  /The  police  warned
people to he on guard for pickpockets during the  Christmas  rush./  *
/Two men are on guard at the door./ Contrast: OFF GUARD.

   [on hand] {adv. phr.} 1a. Nearby; within reach. * /Always have your
dictionary on hand when you study./ 1b. Here. * /Soon school will  end
and vacation will be on hand./ 2. Present. * /Mr. Blake's secretary is
always on hand when he appears in  public./  3.  In  your  possession;
ready. * /The Girl Scouts have plenty of cookies on hand./ * /Tim  had
no cash on hand to pay for the gas./ Compare: IN STORE.

   [on high cotton] See: ON TOP OF THE  WORLD  also  SITTING  ON  HIGH
COTTON.

   [on hold] {adv. phr.} 1. Left  waiting  while  making  a  telephone
call. * /"Sorry sir," the secretary said, "I'll have  to  put  you  on
hold for a minute."/ 2. Waiting;  temporarily  halted.  *  /"Put  your
marriage plans on hold, son, and wait  until  after  graduation,"  his
father said seriously./

   [on ice] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. The same as won; sure to
be won. * /The score was 20-10 in the last inning, and  our  team  had
the game on ice./ 2. Away for safekeeping or later use; aside. *  /You
will have to put your vacation plans  on  ice  until  your  debts  are
paid./ * /The senator was voted out of office. He is on ice until  the
next election./

   [on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.

   [onion] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND(2).

   [only] See: HAVE EYES ONLY FOR, IF ONLY.

   [on occasion] {adv. phr.} Sometimes; occasionally. * /We go to  New
York on occasion./ * /On occasion we feel like celebrating and have  a
party./ Compare: ONCE IN A WHILE, FROM TIME TO TIME.

   [on one hand] {adv. phr.} Looking at a thing in one of two possible
ways; from one point of view. - Usually used with "on the other hand".
* /John wants to be a printer or a teacher; on one hand, printing pays
better; on the other hand, schools need good teachers./

   [on one's account] {adv. phr.} For your good; because you  want  to
help or  please  someone.  *  /Barry  studied  hard  on  his  mother's
account./ * /I hope you didn't bring tea to  the  picnic  just  on  my
account./ * /The teacher stayed in  school  a  little  late  on  Tom's
account./ Compare: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD, ON ACCOUNT OF.

   [on one's back] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Making insistent demands of
you; being an annoyance or bother. * /My wife has been on my back  for
weeks to fix the front door screen./ * /I can't get any work done with
the children on my back from morning until night./ * /Jim could  do  a
better job if his boss weren't on his back so  often./  Contrast:  OFF
ONE'S BACK.

   [on one's bad side] or [on  the  bad  side  of  one]  {adj.  phr.},
{informal} Not liked  by  someone;  not  friendly  with  a  person.  *
/Sally's boyfriend got on Father's bad side by keeping Sally  out  too
late after the dance./ Contrast: ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE.

   [on one's behalf] See: ON BEHALF OF.

   [on one's chest] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Hidden in your thoughts or
feelings and bothering you; making you feel worried or upset; that  is
something you want to talk to someone about.  *  /Jane  looks  unhappy
because she has the quarrel with Susan on her chest./ * /"Well, Dave,"
said the coach, "You look sad - what's on your  chest?"/  Compare:  ON
ONE'S MIND. Contrast: OFF ONE'S CHEST,

   [on one's coattails]  {adv.  phr.}  Because  of  another's  merits,
success, or popularity. * /Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim  was
invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails./  *  /Many
people vote straight for all the  candidates  in  the  same  political
party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode  in  on
K.'s coattails./

   [on oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF.

   [on one's feet] {adv. phr.} 1. Standing or walking; not sitting  or
lying down; up. * /Before the teacher finished  asking  the  question,
George was on his feet ready to answer it./  *  /In  a  busy  gasoline
station, the attendant is on his feet  all  day./  Compare:  TO  ONE'S
FEET. Contrast: OFF ONE'S FEET. 2.  Recovering;  getting  better  from
sickness or trouble. *  /Jack  is  back  on  his  feet  after  a  long
illness./ * /Susan was on her feet soon after the operation./  *  /The
bank loaned the store money to get it  back  on  its  feet  after  the
fire./ 3. See: LAND ON ONE'S FEET, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET,  THINK  ON
ONE'S FEET.

   [on one's good behavior] {adv. phr.} Behaving right to make a  good
impression. * /While his father was around the boy  was  on  his  good
behavior, but when the father left the boy soon got into mischief./  *
/The minister is coming to dinner, and Mother wants us to  be  on  our
good behavior./

   [on one's good side] or [on the good  side  of  one]  {adj.  phr.},
{informal} Friendly with someone; liked by a person. *  /John  thought
that he would get a good grade if he got  on  the  good  side  of  the
teacher./ * /Successful  workers  stay  on  the  good  side  of  their
bosses./ Contrast: ON ONE'S BAD SIDE.

   [on  one's  hands]  {adv.}  or  {adj.  phr.}  In   your   care   or
responsibility; that you must do something about. * /Mrs.  Blake  left
her five children with me while she shopped. I could not get  anything
done with the children on my hands./ * /After everyone bought  tickets
to the dance, the club treasurer had over $100 on his hands./  *  /The
electricity went off while Mother was cooking supper, and  she  had  a
problem on her hands./ * /I had time on my hands before the bus  came,
so I bought a newspaper to read./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S HANDS. See:  SIT
ON ONE'S HANDS. Compare: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE'S HANDS.

   [on one's head] or [upon one's head] {adv. phr.} On one's  self.  *
/When the school board  fired  the  superintendent  of  schools,  they
brought the anger of the parents upon their heads./ * /Billy had  been
naughty all day, but he really brought his parents' anger down on  his
head by pushing his little sister into a mud puddle./  Compare:  ABOUT
ONE'S EARS.

   [on one's heel] See: TURN ON ONE'S HEEL.

   [on one's high horse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Acting as  if  you
are better than others; being very proud and scornful. *  /Martha  was
chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic  she  was  on  her
high horse, telling everyone what to do./ * /Mrs. Jones asked to see a
less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high  horse  and  said
the shop did not sell cheap merchandise./ 2. Refusing to  be  friendly
because you are angry; in a bad temper. * /Joe was on his  high  horse
because he felt Mary wasn't giving him  enough  attention./  Contrast:
OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.

   [on one's honor] {adj. phr.} Bound by  one's  honesty;  trusted.  *
/The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on
their honor not to cheat./ * /The house father put the boys  on  their
honor not to smoke in the dormitory./

   [on one's knees] {adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. * /The
boys were on their knees for hours  before  their  parents  agreed  to
their camping plans./ * /The Jacksons  won't  contribute  to  the  Red
Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near
failure. * /When the graduates of the school heard that it was on  its
knees they gave money generously so that it would not close./

   [on one's last legs] {adj. phr.} Failing;  near  the  end.  *  /The
blacksmith's business is on its last legs./ *  /The  dog  is  old  and
sick. He is on his last legs./ Compare: ONE  FOOT  IN  THE  GRAVE,  ON
ONE'S KNEES(2).

   [on one's mind] {adv. phr.} In one's thoughts. * /I'm glad you want
to talk about this. It's been on my mind for weeks./ * /What's on your
mind?/ Compare: IN MIND.

   [on one's nerves] See: GET ON ONE'S NERVES.

   [on one's own] {adj. phr.} With no help from others.  *  /It  is  a
happy day when you're allowed to drive a car on your own./ * /Being on
your own may be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2).

   [on one's own account] or {informal}  [on  one's  own  hook]  {adv.
phr.} 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. *  /After  they
had picked out the class gift,  members  of  the  committee  did  some
shopping on their own account./ 2. See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD.

   [on one's own feet] See: STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET.

   [on one's own hook] See: ON ONE'S OWN ACCOUNT.

   [on one's own time] {adv. phr.} During one's free time; not  during
working or school hours. * /If you want to play football, you'll  have
to do it on your own time./

   [on one's part] or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.}  1.  Of  or  by
you; of someone's. * /When Miss Brown said I was a good student,  that
was pure kindness on her part./ * /The other team blamed their  defeat
on unfairness on the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE'S PART.

   [on one's shoulders] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your  care;  as  your
responsibility.  *  /The  success  of  the  program  rests   on   your
shoulders./ * /He acts as if he had the cares  of  the  world  on  his
shoulders./

   [on one's toes] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Alert; ready to act. * /The
successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare:  HEADS-UP,  ON
THE BALL.

   [on one's uppers] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very poor. *  /Mr.  White
had been out of work for  several  months  and  was  on  his  uppers./
Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK.

   [on one's way] See: ON THE WAY.

   [on pain of] also [under pain of] {prep.}, {formal} At the risk of;
under penalty of. * /The workers went on  strike  on  pain  of  losing
their jobs./ * /The rebels had to swear under pain of death  never  to
confess where their comrades were hiding./

   [on paper] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by  appearances  only  and
not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. *  /On  paper,  the
American colonies should have lost  the  Revolutionary  War./  *  /The
football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper./

   [on pins and needles] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Worried;  nervous.  *
/Jane's mother was on pins and needles  because  Jane  was  very  late
getting home from school./ * /Many  famous  actors  are  on  pins  and
needles before the curtain opens for a play./

   [on purpose] {adv. phr.} For a reason; because  you  want  to;  not
accidentally. * /Jane did not forget her coat;  she  left  it  in  the
locker on purpose./ * /The clown fell down on purpose./

   [on record] {adj. phr.} 1. An official  or  recorded  statement  or
fact; said for everyone to know. * /We do not  know  when  the  famous
writer was born, but the date of his death is on record./ *  /The  two
candidates went on television to put their ideas on record./ 2.  Known
to have said or done a certain thing. - Usually used with "as". * /The
mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise./ * /The governor  is  on
record as favoring the new highway./ * /That congressman is on  record
as an enemy of waste in government./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.

   [on sale] {adj. phr.} Selling for a special low  price.  *  /Tomato
soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is  now  on  sale  for
fifty cents./ * /John and Mary couldn't sell all of  the  lemonade  at
twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup./

   [on schedule(1)] {adv. phr.} As planned or expected; at  the  right
time. * /The school bus arrived at school on schedule./  *  /The  four
seasons arrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME.

   [on schedule(2)] {adj. phr.}  Punctual;  as  planned.  *  /The  new
airline  claims  to  have  more  on   schedule   arrivals   than   the
competition./

   [on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.

   [on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT.

   [on sight] See: AT SIGHT.

   [on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

   [on the air] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Broadcasting or being  broadcast
on radio or TV. * /His show is on the air at six o'clock./ * /The ball
game is on the air now./

   [on the alert] {adj. phr.} Alert;  watchful;  careful.  *  /Campers
must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ *  /Drivers  must
be on the alert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE'S TOES.

   [on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE.

   [on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK.

   [on the ball] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Paying attention and doing
things well. - Used after "is" or "get". * /Ben is really on the  ball
in school./ * /The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot
stay on the team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE'S  EYE  ON
THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things.  -
Used after "have". * /John will succeed in life; he has a lot  on  the
ball./ * /The coach was eager to try out his new  team  and  see  what
they had on the ball./

   [on the bandwagon] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In or  into  the  newest
popular group or activity; in or into something you join just  because
many others are joining it. - Often  used  after  "climb",  "get",  or
"jump". * /When all George's friends decided to vote for Bill,  George
climbed on the bandwagon too./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

   [on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

   [on the beam] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1.  (Of  an  airplane)  In  the
radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports;  flying  in
the right direction. * /A radio signal tells the pilot of an  airplane
when he is flying on the beam./ 2. {slang}  Doing  well;  just  right;
good or correct. * /Kenneth's answer was right on the beam./ Contrast:
OFF THE BEAM.

   [on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law  court  as  a  judge.  *  /Judge
Wyzanski  is  on  the  bench  this  morning./  2.  Sitting  among  the
substitute players. * /The coach had to keep his star  player  on  the
bench with a sprained ankle./ Compare: BENCH WARMER.

   [on the blink] {adj. phr.} Faulty; malfunctioning;  inoperative.  *
/I need to call a competent repairman because my computer  is  on  the
blink again./

   [on the block] {adj. phr.} To be sold;  for  sale.  *  /The  vacant
house was on the block./ * /Young cattle are grown and sent to  market
to be placed on the block./

   [on the brain] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Filling your thoughts; too much
thought about; almost always in mind. * /Mary  Ann  has  boys  on  the
brain./ * /Joe's hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most
of the time./

   [on the brink of] {adv. phr.} Facing a new event  that's  about  to
happen. * /"I am on  the  brink  of  a  new  discovery,"  our  physics
professor proudly announced./

   [on the button] {adv., adj.}, {slang} At the right  place;  at  the
heart of the matter. *  /John's  remark  was  right  on  the  button./
Compare: ON THE DOT.

   [on the cards] See: IN THE CARDS.

   [on the carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET.

   [on the cheap] {adv. phr.} Inexpensively; on a tight budget. * /She
buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores./

   [on the chin] See: TAKE IT ON THE CHIN.

   [on  the  contrary]  {adv.  phr.}  Exactly  the  opposite;  rather;
instead. * /The principal thought that the children went to  the  zoo;
on the contrary,  they  went  to  the  bakery./  *  /"You  don't  like
football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very  much."/  Compare:
TO THE CONTRARY.

   [on the cuff] {adj.} or {adv. phr.},  {informal}  Agreeing  to  pay
later; to be paid for later; on credit. * /Peter lost the  money  that
Mother gave him to buy meat, and the store would not let him have meat
on the cuff./ * /Many people buy  cars  and  television  sets  on  the
cuff./

   [on the dole] {adv. phr.} Drawing unemployment  benefits.  *  /When
Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./

   [on the dot] also [on the button] {adv. phr.},  {informal}  Exactly
on time; not early and not late. * /Susan arrived at the party at 2:00
P.M. on the dot./ * /Ben's plane arrived on the dot./

   [on the double!] {adv.  phr.}  Hurry  up!  *  /"Let's  go!  On  the
double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the  engine  of  the  small
plane./

   [on the eve of] {prep.} Just before (an event). * /On  the  eve  of
the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes./

   [on the face of it] {adv. phr.} Apparently; as it seems. * /On  the
face of it, Joe's claim that he can swim five miles is true./  *  /Hi