In the loop a reference guide to american english idioms

BEAT A DEAD HORSE to argue or pursue a point or topic without the possibility of success BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL in a difficult situation or position 1. Barbara’s parents have told her to study medicine but she really wants to study law. How is she going to explain this to them? She’s behind the eight ball. 1. They should give up trying to argue with the boss on that subject. They’re beating a dead horse. 2. My wife wants me to hire my brother-in-law to work in my company, but I don’t want to because he’s very lazy. I’m behind the eight ball on this one. 2. The boy kept asking for a motorcycle, but his mother told him he could not have one and she would not change her mind. She told him he was beating a dead horse. Synonyms: back to the wall; in a bind/fix/jam; between the devil and the deep blue sea; between a rock and a hard place Synonyms: run (something) into the ground The expression comes from the game of billiards, or pool, in which the eight ball is always pocketed last. If one accidentally sinks the eight ball before the others, one automatically loses the game. Trying to hit another ball that is too close to the eight ball is seen as a risky situation. The expression is usually used to describe verbal communication. BEAT A HASTY RETREAT to run very fast in the opposite direction 1. The old man came out on the porch to chase away the small boys who were throwing rocks at his windows. When they saw him, they beat a hasty retreat. BELOW THE BELT, HIT (SOMEONE) to act unfairly 2. The cat wandered into the neighbor’s yard, but it beat a hasty retreat when it saw the dog. 1. John told Robert about the job he was planning to apply for and Robert went out and got it himself! Robert doesn’t play fair. He hits below the belt. Synonym: make tracks 2. Mary introduced Sally to her boyfriend, Mike, and before she knew it, Sally and Mike were dating. That was below the belt. BEAT ABOUT/AROUND THE BUSH to speak or write evasively; to talk around an issue The expression originates from the sport of boxing, in which it is against the rules to hit one’s opponent below his or her belt. 1. Judy couldn’t come right out and tell her fiancé that she no longer wanted to marry him. She had to beat around the bush until he understood. BEND (SOMEONE’S) EAR to talk to someone for a long time 2. If you disagree with my opinion, just tell me. Don’t beat around the bush. 1. I dread it every time that woman calls me on the telephone because she bends my ear about how her children don’t appreciate her. Antonym: get to the point Synonyms: stonewall; hem and haw 2. Don’t mention politics to Bill. He loves talking about politics and he’ll bend your ear about it for hours. The phrase originates from a hunting practice dating to the 15th century, in which hunters hired ‘beaters’ to drive small animals out of bushes where the hunters could more easily get to them. The beaters would lightly beat around the edges of the bushes to lure the animals out without completely frightening them away. The expression usually has a negative connotation. BESIDE (ONESELF) distraught; very anxious and troubled 1. When the mother couldn’t find her young son in the crowd, she was beside herself with worry. BEAT (SOMEONE) TO THE PUNCH to do something before someone else does it 2. I was beside myself when I realized the fire had destroyed my house. 1. They decided to make an offer to buy the house, but when they did, they found that someone else had already bought it. Someone beat them to the punch. BESIDE THE POINT irrelevant 2. Linda was going to invite him out to lunch but he beat her to the punch. He invited her before she had a chance to ask him. 1. Your excuse for not giving me your homework on Monday is beside the point. It was due the Friday before. BEAT THE BUSHES to search exhaustively 2. Her argument that she needed a new dress for the dance was beside the point. We simply couldn’t afford one. 1. We’ll have to beat the bushes if we want to find another editor as good as Arthur was. 3. The judge decided that the lawyer’s argument was beside the point, and told the jury to disregard it. 2. I’ve beat the bushes trying to find the right spare part for my old car, but I haven’t found it yet. This idiom stems from the idea of being separate from, or not part of, the main idea (the point). Compare to: leave no stone unturned 5 BET (ONE’S) BOOTS to be sure BEYOND THE PALE beyond or outside the limits of morally or socially acceptable behavior 1. Paula’s never late. If she said she would be here at 9:00, you can bet your boots she will be. 1. That remark Jerry made wasn’t simply in poor taste. It was beyond the pale. 2. I’ll bet my boots that the salesman will try to get us to buy a more expensive car. They always do. 2. Ron received an invitation to dinner and didn’t have the decency to let his hosts know he wouldn’t be able to attend. I think that kind of behavior is beyond the pale. Synonym: bet (one’s) bottom dollar Whereas bet one’s bottom dollar can be used in both the affirmative and negative, bet one’s boots is used only in the affirmative. The word pale in this expression should not be confused with the adjective meaning “colorless.” Here, pale means a region surrounded by a paling or fence and ruled by a governing body. In British history, the pale was the area in and around Dublin, Ireland, which was colonized and ruled by the English. Beyond the pale was anything outside this area. To the English, this was synonymous with being outside law and order, i.e. outside civilization. BET (ONE’S) BOTTOM DOLLAR to be sure 1. I know you think you’re going to get that job, but don’t bet your bottom dollar on it. 2. I’m sure they’ll be married before the end of the year. I’d bet my bottom dollar on it. BIG CHEESE an important, powerful or influential person Synonym: bet (one’s) boots Whereas bet one’s boots is used only in the affirmative, bet one’s bottom dollar can be used in both the affirmative and the negative. 1. You can tell he’s the big cheese in this city because everyone listens to what he says – even the mayor. 2. She must really think she’s a big cheese. She speaks to her co-workers as if they were her servants. BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation Synonyms: bigwig; big shot; big wheel; head honcho BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND a person who is considered important primarily because the place or setting is small 1. Ralph found out that his brother cheated on an exam, and he knows he should tell the teacher, but he is hesitating because it’s his brother. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place. 1. I accepted a teaching position in a small village overseas because I will have responsibilities that I wouldn’t be able to get for years in a big city. I like the idea of being a big fish in a small pond. 2. The doctor told his patient that he had a very contagious disease and that it was important to tell his family. When the man refused, the doctor didn’t know whether he should call his patient’s family and tell them. He was between a rock and a hard place. 2. Diane was a big fish in a small pond in her hometown, but when she moved to New York City, nobody knew who she was. Synonym: between the devil and the deep blue sea Compare to: in a bind/fix/jam; over a barrel; behind the eight ball BIG SHOT an important, powerful, or influential person Between a rock and a hard place is more dramatic than in a bind and would be used when the problem of choice has no apparent or easy solution. 1. The company’s big shots are getting free trips to Hawaii this year. 2. Now that you’ve been made a vice-president, you’re really a big shot, aren’t you? BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA facing two difficult outcomes for the same situation Synonyms: big wheel; bigwig; big cheese; head honcho, heavyweight 1. I consider both Paul and Mitch to be friends of mine. Now they are mad at each other and each wants me to take his side against the other. No matter what I do I could lose one friend or both. I’m between the devil and the deep blue sea. The expression big shot is of ten used sarcastically or disparagingly. 2. Dana’s really between the devil and the deep blue sea. The boss wants her to lie about the financial state of the company. If she does, it would be unethical, but if she doesn’t, the boss might find a way to fire her. Synonym: between a rock and a hard place 6 BIG WHEEL an important, powerful, or influential person Whereas face the music focuses more on accepting responsibility for some misdeed, bite the bullet and grin and bear it focus more on preparing oneself to accept something painful or difficult. The expression originates from the practice where, before the days of anesthesia, a person undergoing an operation might have been told to bite down on a bullet to distract from the pain. 1. All the big wheels get the use of company cars and parking spaces right next to the door of the building. 2. Janet says she doesn’t want to become a big wheel in the company because she doesn’t want so much responsibility. BITE THE DUST to be destroyed or ruined beyond repair; slang for “to die” Synonyms: bigwig; big shot; big cheese; head honcho, heavyweight BIGWIG an important, powerful or influential person 1. The boss didn’t like my proposal and he wants me to start over. Another good idea bites the dust. 2. I think this lamp just bit the dust. It broke and I know it’s not worth fixing. 1. Fred likes to think he’s a bigwig but he really doesn’t have much power outside his own department. 2. Did you see all the expensive cars in the parking lot outside? There must be a meeting of company bigwigs today. BITTER/HARD PILL TO SWALLOW a difficult or unpleasant reality to deal with 1. John discovered the hard truth about responsibility. He didn’t get his college application in on time and the school won’t reconsider. It was a hard pill to swallow, but he had to learn the hard way. Synonyms: big wheel; big shot; big cheese; head honcho Compare to: heavyweight The expression bigwig is usually applied to a person high up in a corporate structure. 2. Jill thought she was a good singer. When her brother told her she was tone-deaf, it was a bitter pill to swallow. BIRD’S-EYE VIEW a broad view or overview of something or someplace The expression suggests something that, like a pill, is unpleasant but cannot be avoided. 1. This outline will give you a bird’s-eye view of my new book. BLACK AND BLUE discolored from a bruise; injured in a fight either physically or verbally 2. The flight attendant said if we sit on the right side of the airplane, we’d get a bird’s-eye view of the Grand Canyon. 1. The girl fell out of the tree but didn’t break any bones. She just had a black and blue knee. The expression suggests the view that a bird gets when it flies overhead. 2. James came out of the meeting black and blue, since he had made so many mistakes preparing the report without consulting his boss. BITE OFF MORE THAN (ONE) CAN CHEW to take on more work or responsibility than one can accomplish BLACK MARKET a system of buying and selling illegal goods or goods at illegal prices or quantities 1. Sue plans to oversee the construction of her new house at the same time that she has taken on a lot of volunteer work at her son’s school. I think she has bitten off more than she can chew. 1. During the war each household was allotted a small amount of sugar and butter each month. If you wanted more, you had to buy it on the black market. 2. They can’t keep up with the number of classes they’re taking at the university. They bit off more than they can chew. 2. There is a growing black market for consumer goods that are difficult or impossible to find here. BITE THE BULLET to face a difficult or unpleasant situation BLACK OUT to lose consciousness temporarily 1. With our credit cards, we’ve been spending more money than we have. We’re going to have to bite the bullet and figure out a way to pay for everything we’ve charged. 1. After my operation, the doctor told me not to drive for a few months because I might black out and have an accident. 2. Tom was walking down the street in the hot sun. He became dizzy and then blacked out. 2. The doctor says you’re going to have to change your life style unless you want to become very sick. It’s time to bite the bullet, take a look at what you’re doing to yourself, and change before it’s too late. A blackout means a period of unconsciousness. The expression is also used when the electricity goes out in a city. As a noun, blackout is one word. Compare to: face the music; grin and bear it; take the bull by the horns 7 BLACK SHEEP an outcast BLOW OFF STEAM to express one’s anger, usually noisily and harmlessly, thereby relieving one’s tension 1. I haven’t seen my uncle since I was a child, because he isn’t in contact with my parents. He’s the black sheep of the family. 1. Forgive me for yelling at you. I guess I just had to blow off some steam. 2. All the girls in that family except Mary grew up to become respected members of the community. She was the black sheep of the family. 2. When my mother needs to blow off steam, she slams the cupboard doors. Synonyms: blow (one’s) stack; fly off the handle The expression probably originates from the fact that most sheep are white and only the very different ones are black. The expression suggests the noise created when a steam boiler releases excess pressure. BLACK TIE formal dress in which men wear black bow ties and dinner jackets or tuxedos and women wear formal, usually floor-length dresses BLUE sad 1. Rachel seems pretty unhappy these days. I wonder why she’s feeling blue. 1. The dinner was black-tie, so all the men wore black bow ties and dinner jackets. 2. Let’s try to cheer up the children. They’ve been pretty blue since their pet dog died. 2. The film star’s wedding was black-tie. It was a glamorous affair that I’ll never forget. Synonyms: down in the dumps; down in the mouth The expression originates from the black bow tie that is part of men’s formal dress. BLUE-BLOOD a person (or animal) that is an aristocrat or from a noble family BLOW (ONE’S) OWN HORN to boast or brag 1. The young man’s parents did not want him to marry the woman he had chosen because they considered themselves blue-bloods and thought their son was too good for her. 1. Keith lets everyone know that the boss is going to make him the new assistant manager. He likes to blow his own horn. 2. The racehorses raised on my father’s horse farm are blue-bloods—they come from a long line of Kentucky Derby winners. 2. Ruth won’t make many friends if she keeps blowing her own horn about her accomplishments. Dating back to at least the 16th century, this phrase is a reference to the practice of blowing horns to announce the arrival of important officials such as kings. To blow one’s own horn is to boast or claim a position of superiority over others. BLUE LAW a law which regulates personal behavior such as going to certain movies, dancing, or gambling BLOW (ONE’S) STACK to become suddenly very angry 1. In the United States in 1920, a blue law was passed prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages. It was later repealed. 1. When Emily’s father saw the damage she had done to the family car, he blew his stack. 2. Some cities have blue laws that limit or prohibit such activities as dancing and gambling. 2. I hope the boss doesn’t blow his stack when he finds out I didn’t finish this work on time. BLUE RIBBON renowned (sentence 1); first prize (sentence 2) Compare to: raise Cain; fly off the handle; get (one’s) dander up; blow off steam 1. The president assembled a blue ribbon panel of experts to study the problem. BLOW/RUN HOT AND COLD to have mixed or inconsistent feelings about something 2. Sally’s science project won the blue ribbon because it was the best in the contest. The expression originates from the blue ribbon that is often presented to the best entry in a contest. 1. I don’t understand Jack. One day he’s really nice to me, and the next day he couldn’t care less. He blows hot and cold. 2. Pam blows hot and cold about studying nursing. Sometimes she says she would enjoy it and sometimes she says it would be too much work. 8 BLUE-COLLAR WORKER a person who earns a living doing manual labor, or generally uses his or her body rather than his or her mind to earn a living BORN YESTERDAY naive 1. Do you really think you can fool me? I’m not that dumb. I wasn’t born yesterday, you know. 1. Sam works on an assembly line mass-producing clock radios. He’s a blue-collar worker. 2. Philip is going to get hurt if he goes on trusting everyone the way he does. He never suspects that people make friends with him just because he is rich. He acts like he was born yesterday. 2. People who work in factories doing heavy labor are usually blue-collar workers. Compare to: wet behind the ears Antonym: white-collar worker The expression suggests that someone who was born yesterday has not learned to distrust or be suspicious of people and is therefore naive. Wet behind the ears suggests inexperience, while born yesterday suggests that the person is easily fooled. The expression originates from the color of the shirt generally worn by factory workers while on the job. BOILING POINT the point at which one loses one’s temper BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND (to be) realistic and practical 1. You’ve just about pushed me to the boiling point. In a minute I’m going to lose my temper. 1. They’re getting married very suddenly. They say they have both feet on the ground and that they have given it serious thought, but I have my doubts. 2. Don’t push the boss too hard about taking time off work. She hasn’t had much patience this week and it wouldn’t take much to reach her boiling point. 2. You’re leaving school before you graduate? I don’t think you know what you’re doing. Are you sure you have both feet on the ground? Compare to: make (one’s) blood boil The expression suggests heated water whose surface erupts with bubbles when it reaches a particular temperature. Synonym: down-to-earth Antonym: head in the clouds BOMB to fail completely BOTTOM LINE, THE the net result (sentence 1), or the simple and irrefutable truth (sentence 2) 1. The playwright’s new play closed on the first night. It bombed. 2. They thought they had hired an exciting speaker but instead he really bombed. 1. You’ve told me about the down payment, the closing costs, the interest rate, and the price of the house. What’s the bottom line? How much money am I actually going to have to spend on this house? Compare to: lay an egg Whereas bomb is usually applied to creative activities (e.g., a play, a book, a movie, an idea) that fail on a grand scale, lay an egg is usually applied to doing something that is socially embarrassing on a smaller scale. 2. You and I can argue around and around on this issue, but the bottom line is that our children will have to go to college if they want to get well-paid jobs in the future. Synonyms: long and short of it, nitty-gritty BONE OF CONTENTION, A a topic of dispute The expression is often used to describe a monetary figure (sentence 1), but it also describes the basic, (supposedly) undeniable truth of an argument (sentence 2). The expression probably originates from the accounting practice of adding together the profits and subtracting the costs to arrive at a final figure under the bottom line on a spreadsheet or in a ledger or account book. 1. The subject of politics is a bone of contention between Sandra and me—we never seem to agree. 2. John wants to send the children to a private school, and I think it’s unnecessary. It’s a bone of contention between us. Compare to: bone to pick, a BOTTOM OF THE BARREL the least able member of a group; the least desirable items from a collection The expression suggests a bone thrown between two dogs that would naturally fight over it. 1. That’s probably the worst idea I’ve ever heard! You’ve really reached the bottom of the barrel, haven’t you? BONE TO PICK, A a dispute 2. I guess we can ask George to help. But in my opinion, we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel if we have to turn to him. 1. I have a bone to pick with Anne. She told the boss I was looking for a new job and now he’s angry at me. 2. You could tell by the angry look on their faces and the way they walked in looking for Jane that they had a bone to pick with her. Antonym: cream of the crop This idiom is often used with the verbs “to reach” or “to scrape,” as in the examples, and is used to express a negative opinion about a person or thing. Compare to: bone of contention 9 BOTTOMS UP! a call to drink; to empty one’s glass BRING DOWN THE HOUSE to be a great success 1. We had better finish our drinks because the bar is closing. Bottoms up! 1. The comedian at the dinner show is wonderful. He brings down the house every night. 2. Young Timmy did not want to drink his medicine, but bottoms up! his mother insisted as she pressed the glass into his hands. 2. The music critic didn’t like the new symphony being presented at the concert hall. In his newspaper review, he said it would never bring down the house. The expression suggests the idea that the bottom of one’s glass will be up when one drinks. It is informal. The expression is almost exclusively used to describe theatrical or musical performances, but it could also be used for any event that would generate applause. It suggests that when an artistic performance is a great success, the audience applauds so noisily as to make the ceiling and walls of the theater collapse. BOXED IN/BOX (SOMEONE) IN restricted; to restrict someone 1. David feels boxed in because he is stuck in a deadend job and he doesn’t have any options. BRING HOME THE BACON to bring money into the household to support a family 2. Don’t box yourself in by spending all your savings on the most expensive car and not having any money left in case of an emergency. 1. It’s romantic to marry someone you love, but when you set up your household, you’re going to have bills to pay. You should think about marrying someone who will help bring home the bacon. BRAINSTORM to generate many ideas quickly 1. When faced with a complicated problem, it is often useful to brainstorm several possible solutions first before deciding on which strategy you will apply. 2. Leo became ill and couldn’t work anymore, so his wife went back to work. Now she’s the one who brings home the bacon. 2. Before we began writing, our teacher asked us to brainstorm topics for our compositions. BRUSH-OFF, GET/GIVE (SOMEONE) THE to be dismissed casually and almost cruelly Brainstorming is often a formal step in problem solving. The goal is to generate potential solutions without immediately evaluating them. Evaluation is carried out as a subsequent step. The word “brainstorm” is a verb, but its –ing form, brainstorming, is often used as a noun (as in the first sentence in this paragraph). 1. Sue accepted John’s invitation to the dance, but when Wayne asked her to go, she gave John the brush-off and told him she didn’t want to go with him. 2. The boss told me that he was busy right then and that I should come back later. I told him, “Don’t give me the brush-off. I deserve an honest answer from you.” BREADWINNER somebody that provides financially for his or her family The expression suggests the idea of brushing a small piece of lint or dirt from one’s clothing. It is usually used where one person is superior to (or thinks he is superior to) the other. 1. When Harold quit his job and went back to school, he and his wife needed to adjust to having one breadwinner instead of two. BUG to bother, annoy, or irritate mildly 2. When her family needed more money, Tara got a job after school to help out. She became a breadwinner. 1. I told you I would have that report done by the end of the day, so stop bugging me about it. BREAK THE ICE to get things started, particularly by means of a social introduction or conversation 2. The children bugged their mother about going to the movies until she lost her temper. 1. It didn’t take long for the guests at the party to break the ice. By the time dinner was served, almost everyone was chatting with someone they had just met. Compare to: rub (someone) the wrong way; set (one’s) teeth on edge; get (someone’s) dander up; get (someone’s) goat Whereas get someone’s dander up means to irritate in earnest, bug means to annoy harmlessly or perhaps humorously. The expression suggests a bug flying around one’s head. 2. I’m afraid we haven’t met. Let me break the ice by introducing myself. My name is John Taylor. The expression suggests the idea of breaking through an icy surface to clear a path for ships. 10