idiomB.htm
Collected from various sources by U Kyaw Tun (UKT), M.S. (I.P.S.T., U.S.A.), and staff of TIL (Tun Institute of Learning, http://www.tuninst.net ) for staff and students of TIL Computing and Language Center, Yangon, Myanmar. Not for sale.
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Eidiom-txt-indx.htm
• babe • babe in arms • babe in the woods • baby blues • baby boomer • back at it • back at ya • back down • back off • back on your feet • B02 • back out • back teeth are floating • back to square one • back to the drawing board • back to the grind • back up • back you • back yourself into a corner • backpack (business) • backroom boys • B03 • backside • back up • bad apple • bad blood • bad breath • bad date • bad news • bad taste in my mouth • badmouth • bafflegab • B04 • bag and baggage • bag lady • bag of tricks • bag some rays • bagel • bah • bail me out • bail out • balance of power • balderdash • B05 • ball her [B] • ball-park figure • ball's in your court • ballistic • baloney • bam • bananas • bandwidth • bang [B] • bang for your buck • B06 • bang on • bank on • bankroll • baptism by fire • bar fly • bar hop • bar none • bar star • bare bones • bare-faced lie • B07 • bare your soul • barf • bark is worse than his bite • bark up the wrong tree • barnburner • bash • basket case • basta la musica • bat a thousand • bat an eye • B08 • bat five hundred • bat her eyes • bated breath • battleaxe • batty • bawl me out • be-all, end-all • be my guest • be my undoing • be off • B09 • be there • be there for me • be there or be square • be yourself • bean pole • bear down • bear the brunt • beat a dead horse • beat a hasty retreat • beat around the bush • B10 • beat it • beat the pants off • beat the rap • beat up • beat up on • beat your head against a stone wall • beat your time • beater • beauty is in the eye of the beholder • beauty is only skin deep • B11 • beck and call • become of • becomes you • bed down • beef it up • beehive of activity • beeline • been around • been had • before you can say Jack Robinson • B12 • beg off • beg to differ • beg your pardon • beggars can't be choosers • begs the question • behind bars • behind the curve • behind the eight ball • behind the scenes • B13 • behind your back • being there • believe my ears • believe my eyes • bells and whistles • belly up • belly up to the bar • bellyache • below the poverty line • belt you • B14 • bend over backwards • bend the rules • bend your ear • bend your elbow • benefit of the doubt • beside myself • beside the point • best interests at heart • best laid plans • B15 • best of both worlds • bet on • bet on a lame rooster • bet you dollars to donuts • better half • better late than never • better off • better than a kick in the ass [B] • better than sex • better the devil you know • B16 • better to have loved • between a rock and a hard place • between sixes and sevens • between the devil and the deep blue sea • betwixt and between • bevy of beauties • beyond help • beyond me • beyond repair • beyond the call of duty • B17 • beyond the pale • biff/biffy • Big Apple • big boys • big break • big bucks • big cheese • big deal • big hairy deal • big picture • B18 • big rig • big shot • big-sky thinking • big time • big wheel • big wigs • Bigfoot • bigger fish to fry • bigger than life • bigger they are • B19 • bigmouth • bilk • bimbo • binner • birdbrain • birder • birds of a feather flock together • birthday suit • bit by bit • bit off • B20 • bitch • bitch [B] • bite me • bite off more than you can chew • bite the bullet • bite the dust • bite the hand that feeds you • bite your tongue • biter (curling) • bits and pieces • bitten by the same bug • bitter end • bitter pill • blab • blabbermouth • black eye • Black Friday • black-listed • black mark • black out • black sheep • blackout • blank • blast • blast you • blasted • bleeding heart • blessing in disguise • blind date • blind leading the blind • blood from a stone • blood is thicker than water • blood is up • blood money • bloody well • blotto • blow a bundle • blow a kiss • blow chunks • blow it • blow it out of proportion • blow it out your ear • blow it up (photo) • blow job [B] • blow me [B] • blow me down • blow me over • blow my cover • blow sky high • blow snakes (music) • blow the lid off • blow the whistle • blow them away • blow this joint • blow this Popsicle stand • blow to kingdom come • blow up • blow you away • blow you out of the water • blow your lid/stack/top • blow your mind • blow your stones [B] • blow your wad • blue • blue-collar worker • blue in the face • blue moon • blue sky • blurt out • boarding • Bob's your uncle • bodacious • body language • boggle your mind • bogof • boiling mad • bolt from the blue • bomb around • bomb out • bone dry • bone of contention • bone to pick • bone up on • bonkers • bonzer • booboo • boobs [B] • boogie • book worm • booked/booked up • boom box • boom or bust • boot it • boot up • bootleg • booze • boozing buddies •
From Magnuson
babe -- back on your feet Internet
link
babe
babe -- darling, honey, girlfriend
"Hi, babe. Want to sit with me?" "Sure, honey. I'd love to."
From Magnuson
babe in arms -- (See
a babe in arms)
From Magnuson
babe in the woods -- (See
a babe in the woods)
From Magnuson
baby blues -- feeling sad when you are
pregnant
After seven months, Karly had the baby blues. She was feeling sad.
From Magnuson
baby boomer -- a person born during the
decade after World War II
Baby boomers will retire in the first decade of the 21st century.
From Magnuson
back at it -- having returned to a past
habit or occupation,
at it again
"I was so glad to hear George quit drinking." "Well, he's back at it."
From Magnuson
back at ya -- I wish you the same as you
wished me,
ditto,
same to you
"Merry Christmas, Val." "Back at ya, Wayne."
From Magnuson
back down -- yield, not challenge, not
stand up to
Ole won't back down from you. He's ready to fight.
From Magnuson
back off -- do not come closer, do not
touch me
Back off, you animal! Don't touch me!
From Magnuson
back on your feet -- feeling better,
recovered from an illness
When you're back on your feet, we want you to return to work.
From Magnuson
back out -- backroom boys Internet link
back
out
back out -- decide not to do it,
change your mind
If you sign your name, you can't back out. You have to pay.
From Magnuson
back teeth are floating -- have to urinate, need to pee
Please watch for a rest room. My back teeth are floating.
From Magnuson
back to square one -- back to the first step,
start from scratch
If you forget to do one of the steps, it's back to square one.
From Magnuson
back to the drawing board -- back to the beginning,
back to square one
If this plan fails, it's back to the drawing board. We start again.
From Magnuson
back to the grind -- return to the job, go back to work
After New Year's, it's back to the grind - the old routine.
From Magnuson
back up -- go backwards, drive in reverse
I'll back up the truck so we can load it.
From Magnuson
back you -- support your decision, sign your application
His brother will back him if he needs financing.
From Magnuson
back yourself into a corner -- put yourself in a bad position, have no
escape
If you buy what you can't afford you back yourself into a corner.
From Magnuson
backpack (business) -- support, be the parent company
First, GM backpacked Saab. Then they bought the company.
From Magnuson
backroom boys -- men who play poker and smoke in a room at the back of
the store
When the police raided Gino's they arrested four of the backroom boys.
From Magnuson
backside -- bafflegab Internet link
backside
backside -- buttocks,
bum,
buns
When I was learning to skate, I fell a lot. My backside was sore!
From Magnuson
backup -- saving information on a computer disk
Don't forget to make a backup disk of all your computer files.
From Magnuson
bad apple -- bad one, rotten one
He's the bad apple in that group. He's always in trouble.
From Magnuson
bad blood -- bad feelings, a negative relationship
John and Fred are bitter enemies. There's bad blood between them.
From Magnuson
bad breath -- unpleasant smell from the mouth,
jungle mouth
I've been eating garlic, so I may have bad breath.
From Magnuson
bad date -- a man who beats a prostitute,
the john
Viki had another bad date. A guy beat her and took her clothes.
From Magnuson
bad news -- troublemaker, someone who causes problems
Don't hire him. Everybody says he's bad news.
From Magnuson
bad taste in my mouth -- (See
a bad taste in my mouth)
From Magnuson
badmouth -- criticize, say bad things about,
put down
Don't badmouth employers. Don't criticize your references.
From Magnuson
bafflegab -- confusing statements, jargon, political language
There was a lot of bafflegab in the speech, a lot of nonsense.
From Magnuson
bag and baggage -- balderdash Internet
link
bag and baggage
bag and baggage -- everything you own, all of one's possessions
The next day, he moved into her apartment - bag and baggage.
From Magnuson
bag lady -- a lady who looks for food and bottles in the streets
Behind the restaurant, a bag lady was digging in the garbage cans.
From Magnuson
bag of tricks -- skills, methods, plans; devices to entertain
You need a large bag of tricks to teach the Grade 8 class.
From Magnuson
bag some rays -- sit or lie in the sunshine, have a sun bath
While you're swimming, I'm going to bag some rays.
From Magnuson
bagel -- (See
get bageled)
From Magnuson
bah -- nonsense, it is not true
Bah! There is no tooth fairy!
From Magnuson
bail me out -- help me solve a problem, pay to get me out of jail
If they arrest me, will you bail me out - pay the bail money?
From Magnuson
bail out -- quit, leave a project, resign
Tom bailed out when Lan became Project Manager.
From Magnuson
balance of power -- (See
the balance of power)
From Magnuson
balderdash -- verbose nonsense
"Please switch off the talk show. It's just balderdash."
From Magnuson
ball her [B] -- bang for
your buck Internet link
ball
her [B]
ball her [B] -- have sex with her,
lay her
"Hey, Ted. Did you ball her?" "No. All you think about is sex!"
From Magnuson
ball-park figure -- (See
a ball-park figure)
From Magnuson
ball's in your court -- (See
the ball's in your court)
From Magnuson
ballistic -- (See
go ballistic)
From Magnuson
baloney -- false statements,
bull,
bunk,
hogwash
Most of what the speaker said is a lot of baloney - untrue.
From Magnuson
bam -- a word to describe a hit or collision,
pow
The car rolled down the hill and into the wall - bam!
From Magnuson
bananas -- very excited, nearly crazy
When we won the cup, the crowd went bananas.
From Magnuson
bandwidth -- mental capacity, mental energy, brain cells
We need a person with bandwidth, someone who understands complex management
relationships.
From Magnuson
bang [B] -- have sex with,
lay
"Did you bang her, Ted?" "If I did, I wouldn't tell you."
From Magnuson
bang for your buck -- fun for your money, value for your dollar
You get more bang for your buck at garage sales. They're fun!
From Magnuson
bang on -- bare-faced lie Internet link
bang
on
bang on -- exactly right, very true, correct,
spot on
Your answer to Question 3 was bang on. It was correct.
From Magnuson
bank on -- depend on,
count on
We were banking on more sales to pay for our marketing costs.
From Magnuson
bankroll -- provide the money to begin,
front me
If you'll bankroll me, I'll open a bistro on Mars.
From Magnuson
baptism by fire -- harsh introduction, rigorous initiation,
hit the ground running
On my first day of football camp I had to tackle a 200-pound fullback charging
straight at me. It was baptism by fire!
From Magnuson
bar fly -- (See
a bar fly)
From Magnuson
bar hop -- drink at many bars in one evening,
pub crawl
Our wives were out late last night. They were bar hopping.
From Magnuson
bar none -- including all products or people, no exceptions
Apex is the best detergent, bar none.
From Magnuson
bar star -- (See
a bar star)
From Magnuson
bare bones -- only the necessary things, no extras,
bare bones
ACTION CLEAN is a bare-bones operation - a family business.
From Magnuson
bare-faced lie -- (See
a bare-faced lie)
From Magnuson
bare your soul -- bat an eye Internet
link
bare your soul
bare your soul -- tell the public about your private experiences
To write a good novel, you may have to bare your soul.
From Magnuson
barf -- vomit, puke,
hork,
throw up
If I eat another hotdog, I'll barf. I'll be sick.
From Magnuson
bark is worse than his bite -- he sounds angry but he is not; do not
be afraid of him
Baxter sounds mad, but his bark is worse than his bite.
From Magnuson
bark up the wrong tree -- look in the wrong place, do not expect it
If you expect money from him, you're barking up the wrong tree.
From Magnuson
barnburner -- (See
a barnburner)
From Magnuson
bash -- a wild party, a party where people are drunk and noisy
"Did you go to Tina's party?" "Ya. It was a noisy bash."
From Magnuson
basket case -- (See
a basket case)
From Magnuson
basta la musica -- stop the music, do not play the music
"Basta la musica!" Papa shouted. "It's too loud!"
From Magnuson
bat a thousand -- hit every time at bat, win every competition
I've had two interviews and two offers. I'm batting a thousand!
From Magnuson
bat an eye -- flinch or blink, show a sign of guilt or shame
When they asked him about the crime, he didn't bat an eye. His expression didn't
change.
From Magnuson
bat five hundred -- be
off Internet link
bat
five hundred
bat five hundred -- hit half the times at bat, win half the
competitions
If you solve five problems out of ten, you're batting five hundred.
From Magnuson
bat her eyes -- blink the eyes, blink in a sexy way
Verna just stood there batting her eyes, trying to look sexy.
From Magnuson
bated breath -- (See
with bated breath)
From Magnuson
battleaxe -- cranky woman,
a bitch [B]
Marlene - that old battleaxe - is spreading lies about me.
From Magnuson
batty -- (See
drive me batty)
From Magnuson
bawl me out -- tell me I have been bad, scold me
If I fail math, Dad will bawl me out. He'll give me a lecture.
From Magnuson
be-all, end-all -- trying to be too great,
world beater
The new manager thinks he's the greatest - the be-all, end-all.
From Magnuson
be my guest -- have this chair, have that drink,
help yourself
Be my guest. Sit here. I can find another chair.
From Magnuson
be my undoing -- be the cause of my failure; my
Achilles heel
Credit cards may be my undoing. My VISA balance is over $5000!
From Magnuson
be off -- leave, go,
off with you
Be off, my dear, or you'll be late for work.
From Magnuson
be there -- beat around
the bush Internet link
be
there
be there -- be ready, be alert,
up for it
The captain of the hockey team shouted to his mates, "Be there, guys! We have to
win this game."
From Magnuson
be there for me -- help me when I need it, be supportive,
stand by me
"Will you be there for me?" she asked. "I need your support."
From Magnuson
be there or be square -- if you do not come we will think you are
call it square
We're having a party at 7 on Saturday. Be there or be square!
From Magnuson
be yourself -- be natural, behave normally
Don't worry about what to say at the party. Just be yourself.
From Magnuson
bean pole -- tall and thin,
string bean
Carl is a bean pole - tall and skinny - just like his father.
From Magnuson
bear down -- try harder,
bite the bullet
If you bear down a little, you can graduate this year.
From Magnuson
bear the brunt -- accept the most blame or responsibility
When we got in trouble, Ed bore the brunt of the blame.
From Magnuson
beat a dead horse -- continue to ask or try when there is no hope
They won't refund your money. You're beating a dead horse.
From Magnuson
beat a hasty retreat -- run away from, leave quickly
When the boys heard the siren they beat a hasty retreat.
From Magnuson
beat around the bush -- talk without telling the main point
Politicians often beat around the bush. They talk a lot but say little.
From Magnuson
beat it -- beauty is only skin deep Internet
link
beat it
beat it -- go,
get lost
Beat it, kid! Get going! Leave!
From Magnuson
beat the pants off -- defeat by a large score,
blow you away
Ho plays table tennis very well; she'll beat the pants off you.
From Magnuson
beat the rap -- have the charges removed or dropped,
get off
Every time the burglar was caught he was able to beat the rap.
From Magnuson
beat up -- hit and injure, defeat badly
She cared for him when he got beat up, trying to ease his pain.
From Magnuson
beat up on -- hit and injure, defeat in a fight
"Why does he beat up on people?" "Because his dad beat up on him."
From Magnuson
beat your head against a stone wall -- try an impossible task, work on
a futile project
Preventing war is like beating your head against a stone wall.
From Magnuson
beat your time -- take away your girlfriend or boyfriend
I can't believe that your friend would beat your time.
From Magnuson
beater -- a car that is in poor condition,
clunker
Why does he drive that old beater? He could buy a new car.
From Magnuson
beauty is in the eye of the beholder -- each person has a different
idea of what is beautiful,
one man's garbage...
To him, the statue is elegant; to me, it's ugly. Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder!
From Magnuson
beauty is only skin deep -- do not judge a person by physical
features,
you can't tell a book...
If you want to date a beauty queen, remember that beauty is only skin deep.
From Magnuson
beck and call -- before you can say Jack Robinson
Internet link
beck
and call
beck and call -- (See at your beck and call)
From Magnuson
become of -- happen to,
end up
What became of Ko after he moved? How's he doing?
From Magnuson
becomes you -- looks good on you, is right for you,
suits you
That perfume becomes you. It smells good on you.
From Magnuson
bed down -- lie down and sleep, find a place to sleep
After grazing in the valley, the deer will bed down on the hill.
From Magnuson
beef it up -- add more bulk, increase the size
"Does this doll look like Santa?" "Yes, if you beef it up a little."
From Magnuson
beehive of activity -- (See
a beehive of activity)
From Magnuson
beeline -- (See
make a beeline)
From Magnuson
been around -- experienced, not naive,
wasn't born yesterday
Margo's been around; she can work with the convicts.
From Magnuson
been had -- cheated, swindled,
taken in
If he paid a hundred dollars for that radio, he's been had.
From Magnuson
before you can say Jack Robinson -- very quickly,
in a split second,
in no time
Before you could say Jack Robinson, the ghost was gone!
From Magnuson
beg off -- behind the scenes Internet link
beg
off
beg off -- ask to be excused from duty,
get out of a task
Some people volunteer to work and then they beg off.
From Magnuson
beg to differ -- have a different opinion, disagree with
When I stated the cause of the loss, he said, "I beg to differ."
From Magnuson
beg your pardon -- excuse me, please do not be offended
I beg your pardon, but I am using this phone booth.
beg your pardon -- what did you say? will you repeat what you said?
Beg your pardon? Did you say you are Paul Newman?
From Magnuson
beggars can't be choosers -- people who receive free things should not
expect the best
When they complained about the shabby coats, he said, "Beggars can't be
choosers."
From Magnuson
begs the question -- suggests this question, leaves this question
unanswered
"That's a fine idea," said the Head Mouse, "but it begs the question: Which one
of us will put the bell on the cat?"
From Magnuson
behind bars -- in jail, in prison,
in the slammer
Behind bars, she didn't have much of a social life.
From Magnuson
behind the curve -- having lower than average test scores, having a
low performance ( the bell curve - a line graph of test scores )
I was behind the curve when I wrote that test. I'll probably get a low grade.
From Magnuson
behind the eight ball -- in a difficult position, in a predicament,
between the devil and...
I'm behind the eight ball with the Tax Department. I deducted college tuition
fees from my taxable income, but I didn't pay the fees!
Editor's note: eight ball
-- not eight balls: no copying mistake
From Magnuson
behind the scenes -- out of sight, unnoticed,
unsung hero
This organization has many people who work behind the scenes helping us to
succeed.
From Magnuson
behind your back -- belt you Internet link
behind your back
behind your back -- where you cannot see, when you are not here
He says nice things to you, but criticizes you behind your back.
From Magnuson
being there -- being where good things happen, being in the right
place at the right time
Caleb seems to succeed by just being there. Good things happen to him wherever
he is.
From Magnuson
believe my ears -- (See
can't believe my ears)
From Magnuson
believe my eyes -- (See
can't believe my eyes)
From Magnuson
bells and whistles -- (See
all the bells and whistles)
From Magnuson
belly up -- not operating, bankrupt,
tits up
Four car dealers went belly up during the recession.
From Magnuson
belly up to the bar -- sit close to the bar, find a chair at the bar
Belly up to the bar, boys. I'd like to buy you a drink.
From Magnuson
bellyache -- complain, whine
Don't bellyache about the referee. Just play your best.
From Magnuson
below the poverty line -- not earning enough to survive, very poor,
as poor as a church mouse
If husband and wife are earning minimum wage, they're living below the poverty
line.
From Magnuson
belt you -- hit you, punch you
I should belt you for saying that my sister looks like a dog.
From Magnuson
bend over backwards -- best laid plans
Internet link
bend
over backwards
bend over backwards -- do anything to help, try to please,
go the extra mile
They'll bend over backwards to find a room for you. They give excellent service.
From Magnuson
bend the rules -- change the rules to help,
look the other way
Ed won't accept late reports. He won't bend the rules.
From Magnuson
bend your ear -- ask you to listen,
buttonhole you
Carl, can I bend your ear for a minute? I have some news.
From Magnuson
bend your elbow -- drink beer or liquor,
tip a few
Your eyes look red and tired. Bend your elbow last night?
From Magnuson
benefit of the doubt -- (See
the benefit of the doubt)
From Magnuson
beside myself -- very upset, very worried,
at loose ends
She was beside herself with grief when her sister died.
From Magnuson
beside the point -- off topic, not related, irrelevant
The brand of cigarette is beside the point. Smoking is the issue.
From Magnuson
best foot forward -- (See
put your best foot forward)
From Magnuson
best interests at heart -- thinking of a person's needs,
in mind
When I give low grades, I still have your best interests at heart.
From Magnuson
best laid plans -- (See
the best-laid plans)
From Magnuson
best of both worlds -- better the devil you know...
Internet link
best
of both worlds
best of both worlds -- (See the best of both worlds)
From Magnuson
bet on -- place a bet, gamble
I bet on the bay mare, and she won! I bet $20 on her.
From Magnuson
bet on a lame rooster -- bet on a loser,
fall for that
If you vote for that guy, you're betting on a lame rooster.
From Magnuson
bet you dollars to donuts -- I will bet dollars, you bet donuts;
give you odds
Ben is the fastest runner. I'll bet you dollars to donuts he wins.
From Magnuson
better half -- spouse, wife or husband
Bring your better half when you visit us. We'd like to meet her.
From Magnuson
better late than never -- it is better to arrive late than not to
arrive
"You're an hour late," he said. "Better late than never," I replied.
From Magnuson
better off -- in better conditions: healthier or wealthier etc.
Are you better off renting an apartment than buying a house?
From Magnuson
better than a kick in the ass [B] -- better than punishment, not as
bad as it could be,
don't knock it
When I told him we had won $10 in the Lotto, he said, "It's better than a kick
in the ass."
From Magnuson
better than sex -- very good, excellent, fantastic
"Hey, James. How was skydiving?" "Great! Better than sex!"
From Magnuson
better the devil you know... -- a new devil could be worse than the
old devil
"Should we fire the coach?" "No - better the devil we know than the one we
don't."
From Magnuson
better to have loved... -- beyond the call of duty
Internet link
better to have loved...
better to have loved... -- (See it is better to have loved and lost...)
From Magnuson
between a rock and a hard place -- in a difficult position, making a
difficult choice,
Sophie's choice
If I told the truth, I would lose my friend. I was between a rock and a hard
place.
From Magnuson
between sixes and sevens -- (See
at sixes and sevens)
From Magnuson
between the devil and the deep blue sea -- in a difficult position, no
place to go,
between a rock...,
Sophie's choice
If he ran, they would shoot him; if he stayed in the shop, the gas would kill
him. He was between the devil and the deep blue sea.
From Magnuson
betwixt and between -- not able to choose one or the other, ambivalent
Which should I choose - PC or Mac? I'm betwixt and between.
From Magnuson
bevy of beauties -- a group of beautiful women, a few
lovelies
Mr. Gable returned to Hollywood and his bevy of beauties.
From Magnuson
beyond help -- lost, cannot be saved
Some addicts are beyond help. They don't want to be helped.
From Magnuson
beyond me -- (See
it's beyond me)
From Magnuson
beyond repair -- ruined, cannot be repaired,
a lost cause
That copier is wrecked. It's beyond repair.
From Magnuson
beyond the call of duty -- (See
above and beyond the call of duty)
From Magnuson
beyond the pale -- big picture Internet
link
beyond the pale
beyond the pale -- beyond the limit, over the boundary
His comment went beyond the pale of respect. It was vulgar.
From Magnuson
biff/biffy -- washroom, bathroom,
the can,
the john,
the loo
"Is there a biffy on the bus?" "Yes. There, at the back."
From Magnuson
Big Apple -- (See
The Big Apple)
From Magnuson
big boys -- powerful men in business, moguls,
big shots
If you want to do business with the big boys, you need money.
From Magnuson
big break -- big chance,
a lucky break
She got her big break when a talent scout heard her sing.
From Magnuson
big bucks -- a lot of money, a high price
You'll pay big bucks to rent an apartment near the university.
From Magnuson
big cheese -- the boss,
chief cook and bottle washer,
head honcho
If you've got a complaint, see the big cheese. He's our manager.
From Magnuson
big deal -- important event, major happening
A small fire is a big deal because it can cause a lot of damage.
From Magnuson
big hairy deal -- not an important matter, do not make it an issue,
big deal
"The teacher's coming!" "So big hairy deal!"
From Magnuson
big picture -- (See
the big picture)
From Magnuson
big rig -- bigger they are... Internet link
big
rig
big rig -- (See a big rig)
From Magnuson
big shot -- rich or important person,
VIP,
big boys
Randy's a big shot in the movie industry. He owns four studios.
From Magnuson
big-sky thinking -- thinking that includes everything, from horizon to
horizon;
think outside the box ( coined by Jeffery Phillips )
Yes, we need to make common-sense decisions, but first let's do some big-sky
thinking.
From Magnuson
big time -- a lot, very much,
heavy duty
You've helped me so much. I owe you big time.
From Magnuson
big wheel -- (See
a big wheel)
From Magnuson
big wigs -- important persons: judges, presidents etc.,
VIP
We've asked the big wigs to change their decision.
From Magnuson
Bigfoot -- a large ape-man living in the forests of western N.
America;
Sasquatch
Gary told me he saw Bigfoot's tracks in the sand along the Kootenay River.
From Magnuson
bigger fish to fry -- more important people to meet or do business
with
Don't bother fighting with him. You've got bigger fish to fry.
From Magnuson
bigger than life -- heroic: stronger, wiser, uglier;
larger than life
The characters in most novels seem to be bigger than life.
From Magnuson
bigger they are... -- (See
the bigger they are...)
From Magnuson
bigmouth -- bit off Internet link
bigmouth
bigmouth -- someone who talks too loud,
loud mouth
Every crowd has a bigmouth - some guy who yells at the cops.
From Magnuson
bilk -- cheat, defraud,
ripped off,
taken
He bilked me. I gave him $100 for the tickets and he kept the change!
From Magnuson
bimbo -- (See
a bimbo)
From Magnuson
binner -- a person who scavenges in garbage bins,
Dumpster diving
Some binners work in pairs. One guy climbs into the bin and hands the stuff to
his partner waiting outside.
From Magnuson
birdbrain -- a person with a tiny brain,
dumbo
Hey, birdbrain. Why are you throwing money in the river?
From Magnuson
birder -- a bird watcher, one whose hobby is watching birds
Some birders were looking at an oriole in a poplar tree.
From Magnuson
birds of a feather flock together -- people with similar feelings and
attitudes
Art and Don are birds of a feather. They like cars and football.
From Magnuson
birthday suit -- naked, nude,
in the buff
"Do you wear pajamas in bed?" "No. Just my birthday suit."
From Magnuson
bit by bit -- doing a small amount each time,
little by little
Bit by bit, they rebuilt a church that was destroyed by bombs.
From Magnuson
bit off -- (See
a bit off)
From Magnuson
bitch -- bits and pieces Internet link
bitch
bitch -- complain,
grouse
He tells me I'm always bitching, but I don't complain very much.
From Magnuson
bitch [B] -- (See
a bitch)
From Magnuson
bite me [B] -- I have no respect for you,
kiss off,
blow me
"Bite me! Take your list of whores and live with them!"
From Magnuson
bite off more than you can chew -- begin more tasks than you can
complete
When I took the night class, I bit off more than I could chew.
From Magnuson
bite the bullet -- try harder, be tougher
Bite the bullet during exam week. Don't party; just study.
From Magnuson
bite the dust -- die, quit, lose,
kick the bucket
Pete was 98 when he bit the dust. He lived for nearly a century.
From Magnuson
bite the hand that feeds you -- be unkind to the one who cares for you
or pays you
If you criticize your employer, you bite the hand that feeds you.
From Magnuson
bite your tongue -- do not say that, you should not have said that
When I mention Dad's temper Mom says, "Bite your tongue."
From Magnuson
biter (curling) -- a rock that is touching the twelve-foot circle
The Heidt rink is lying four - one is a biter.
From Magnuson
bits and pieces -- small pieces,
odds and ends
Jack built our cabin with bits and pieces - leftover materials.
From Magnuson
bitten by the same bug -- black out
Internet link
bitten by the same bug
bitten by the same bug -- have the same interest or hobby
My cousin and I were bitten by the same bug. We collect coins.
From Magnuson
bitter end -- (See
the bitter end)
From Magnuson
bitter pill -- (See
a bitter pill)
From Magnuson
blab -- tell everybody, tell secrets
I told you I like Kevin, and you blabbed it to everybody.
From Magnuson
blabbermouth -- a person who tells everything,
loud mouth
Sharon - that blabbermouth! She told the whole class I love Bill.
From Magnuson
black eye -- an eye injury that causes the skin to turn black
"How'd you get the black eye?" "Fighting - in a hockey game."
From Magnuson
Black Friday -- the day the stock market crashed (failed) in 1929
In the 1980s, there were days to remind us of Black Friday.
From Magnuson
black-listed -- excluded, not be invited, not allowed to join
Gore was black-listed because he led the demonstration.
From Magnuson
black mark -- (See
a black mark)
From Magnuson
black out -- become unconscious, faint,
pass out
If I bend over for a long time, I nearly black out when I stand up.
black out -- blessing in disguise Internet link black out
black out -- remove the nameplate and trim from a vehicle
James Dean drove a blacked-out Merc in Rebel Without A Cause.
From Magnuson
black sheep -- the bad one, the one who does bad things
He's the black sheep in that family - always in trouble.
From Magnuson
blackout -- (See
a blackout)
From Magnuson
blank -- defeat by preventing any goals,
skunk
In soccer, Italy blanked Ireland 2-nil.
From Magnuson
blast -- (See
a blast)
From Magnuson
blast you -- scold you, yell at you
Ms. Zank blasted me for using her computer. She was angry.
From Magnuson
blasted --
dad-blamed,
darn,
doggone
Where's the blasted hammer? It's never here when I need it!
From Magnuson
blasted -- drunk,
loaded,
plastered
On her 40th birthday, she went to the bar and got blasted.
From Magnuson
bleeding heart -- one who begs for sympathy for victims,
have a soft spot...
Hector is a bleeding heart for wolves. "Save the wolves," he tells people in his
speeches.
From Magnuson
blessing in disguise -- (See
a blessing in disguise)
From Magnuson
blind date -- blow a kiss Internet link
blind
date
blind date -- going out with a boy or girl you have not met
Kate met Jeff on a blind date. They got married a year later.
From Magnuson
blind leading the blind -- (See
the blind leading the blind)
From Magnuson
blood from a stone -- (See
get blood from a stone)
From Magnuson
blood is thicker than water -- blood relationships are stronger than a
marriage ceremony
When my wife supported her dad in a fight with me, I said, "So blood is
thicker than water."
From Magnuson
blood is up -- excited, angry, ready to fight
Kerry is friendly, but when his blood is up, he's dangerous.
From Magnuson
blood money -- money paid to the relative of a murdered person,
dirty money
The widow refused to take blood money from the men who murdered her husband.
From Magnuson
bloody well -- very truly, damn well
He bloody well knows my name because I bloody well told him.
From Magnuson
blotto -- exhausted,
bushed
After studying for twelve hours, she was blotto - very tired.
From Magnuson
blow a bundle -- spend a lot of money, lose a lot of money gambling
When Al went to Vegas, he blew a bundle - he lost a lot of money.
From Magnuson
blow a kiss -- kiss your hand and blow across it,
throw a kiss
Taea can blow a kiss, and she's only eighteen months old!
From Magnuson
blow chunks -- blow my cover Internet link
blow
chunks
blow chunks -- puke, vomit,
barf,
throw chunks
Juan, my boy, if you go for a ride on that Ferris wheel right after dinner,
you'll blow chunks!
From Magnuson
blow it -- cause a big mistake, ruin it,
screw up
Karen won't blow it this time. She'll skate a perfect program.
From Magnuson
blow it out of proportion -- exaggerate it, make it bigger than it should be
When Gretzky was traded, the media blew it out of proportion.
From Magnuson
blow it out your ear -- throw it away, it is meaningless or worthless
When I asked Jack about the leader's latest statement, he said, "You can blow it
out your ear. He's already changed it."
From Magnuson
blow it up (photo) -- enlarge it, magnify it
If you want to see details in the photo, blow it up.
From Magnuson
blow job [B] -- (See
a blow job)
From Magnuson
blow me [B] -- you are worth nothing, kiss my ass,
fuck off
From Magnuson
blow me down -- I am very surprised, I do not believe it
Well, blow me down, Olive. You can cook spinach, too!
black out • black sheep • blackout • blank • blast • blast you • blasted • bleeding heart • blessing in disguise • blind date • blind leading the blind • blood from a stone • blood is thicker than water • blood is up • blood money • bloody well • blotto • blow a bundle • blow a kiss • blow chunks • blow it • blow it out of proportion • blow it out your ear • blow it up (photo) • blow job [B] • blow me [B] • blow me down • blow me over •
From Magnuson
blow me over -- it is unbelievable;
far out
He's over 50? Well, blow me over!
From Magnuson
blow my cover -- reveal my true identity, reveal my hiding place
With a false passport, I can enter Bali, if nobody blows my cover.
From Magnuson
blow sky high -- blow up Internet link
blow
sky high
blow sky high -- upset a lot of people, cause a scandal or riot
This government will blow sky high if people hear these tapes.
From Magnuson
blow snakes (music) -- play great jazz, improvise creatively
I went to hear jazz at the club, and Guido was blowing snakes.
From Magnuson
blow the lid off -- reveal a story, tell some news,
break a story
When the defendant confessed, it blew the lid off the murder trial.
From Magnuson
blow the whistle -- tell the teacher or the police,
squeal
Jimmy knows we stole the keys, but he won't blow the whistle.
From Magnuson
blow them away -- defeat them badly,
kick butt
The Russians blew them away in the first game of the series.
From Magnuson
blow this joint -- leave this building,
quit this place
I'm sick of playing billiards. Let's blow this joint.
From Magnuson
blow this Popsicle stand -- leave this place,
quit this place
What a boring town! Let's blow this Popsicle stand!
From Magnuson
blow to kingdom come -- explode and destroy,
blow up
There's enough gas in the well to blow us kingdom come!
From Magnuson
blow up -- explode using a bomb or dynamite
They plan to blow up that old building because it's unsafe.
From Magnuson
blow up -- become angry,
lose your temper
If you criticize Al, he'll blow up. He's very sensitive.
From Magnuson
blow you away -- blue in the face Internet
link
blow you away
blow you away -- defeat you easily,
beat the pants off
You're going to play chess with Boris? He'll blow you away.
From Magnuson
blow you out of the water -- defeat you, humiliate you
If you challenge his leadership, he'll blow you out of the water.
From Magnuson
blow your lid/stack/top -- become very angry, shout,
lose your cool
Don't blow your stack in front of the kids. It's a bad example.
From Magnuson
blow your mind -- amaze you, astound you, shock you
Watching films of the holocaust will blow your mind.
From Magnuson
blow your stones [B] -- ejaculate,
come
There's more to it than blowing your stones. Sex is an art form.
From Magnuson
blow your wad -- spend all your money,
blow a bundle
He blew his wad on some handmade boots. They cost $700!
From Magnuson
blowout -- (See
a blowout)
From Magnuson
blue -- sad, depressed,
down,
low
"Are you blue, Dear?" "Yes. Jack left me."
From Magnuson
blue-collar worker -- someone who works at a trade, e.g., a plumber
The blue-collar workers will vote for Ed. He's a tradesman.
From Magnuson
blue in the face -- weakened, tired after trying many times
I called that dog until I was blue in the face. He would not come in.
From Magnuson
blue moon -- boiling mad Internet link
blue
moon
blue moon -- rare event, unusual happening,
that'll be the frosty Friday
If he ever says thank you there'll be a blue moon in the sky!
From Magnuson
blue sky -- great opportunity, easy life,
smooth sailing
We made T-shirts, and people loved them and bought them. From then on, it was
blue sky!
From Magnuson
blurt out -- say without thinking, reply quickly
"I did it!" the boy blurted out, and he began to cry.
From Magnuson
boarding (hockey) -- checking into the boards,
chairman of the boards
Boarding causes serious injuries to hockey players.
From Magnuson
Bob's your uncle -- no problem as "Bob," a powerful friend or relative, will
do it or have it done
When I asked her to give your application to the president, she said, "Bob's
your uncle!"
Bob's your uncle -- no problem as "Bob," a powerful friend or
relative, will do it or have it done
When I asked her to give your application to the president, she said, "Bob's
your uncle!"
From Magnuson
bodacious -- bold, daring, defying the rules, like
a daredevil
He's bodacious alright. He rode his skateboard right through traffic!
From Magnuson
body language -- body movements that show feelings
Your body language tells me that you're tense. Please relax.
From Magnuson
boggle your mind -- confuse you,
make your head spin
These numbers boggle my mind. I don't understand them.
From Magnuson
bogof -- buy one get one free, marketing method,
loss leader
If you shop for bogof items you get two for the price of one!
From Magnuson
boiling mad -- very angry, very upset,
hopping mad
By the time the car started, Emil was boiling mad.
From Magnuson
bolt from the blue -- bonzer Internet link
bolt
from the blue
bolt from the blue -- (See like a bolt from the blue)
From Magnuson
bomb around -- drive around, drive your car for fun,
cruise
"Where have you been?" "Bombin' around in Rod's car."
From Magnuson
bomb out -- fail, not succeed
Most engineers say the electric car is a failure. It bombed out.
From Magnuson
bombed -- drunk,
hammered,
sloshed to the gills
Fay was bombed before she got to the party. She was drunk.
From Magnuson
bone dry -- very dry, as dry as an old bone
Someone had drained the pool. It was bone dry.
From Magnuson
bone of contention -- point of disagreement, controversial point
Job security is the bone of contention in our discussions.
From Magnuson
bone to pick -- (See
a bone to pick with you)
From Magnuson
bone up on -- study, learn, practise
I have to bone up on my French if we're going to Paris.
From Magnuson
bonkers -- crazy, insane,
nuts,
wacko
If you watch professional wrestling you must be bonkers!
From Magnuson
bonzer -- good, fine, super,
awesome
"Did you enjoy your holiday?" "It was bonzer, mate! We had a great time!"
From Magnuson
booboo -- bootleg Internet link
booboo
booboo -- (See make a booboo)
From Magnuson
boobs [B] -- breasts, tits
Okay, she has lovely boobs. What about her personality?
From Magnuson
boogie -- go, walk, drive
Let's boogie on down to the store and rent a video.
From Magnuson
book worm -- one who reads a lot,
geek
Sarah is quite a book worm. She loves to read history books.
From Magnuson
booked/booked up -- no more space or rooms, no vacancy
The Royal Hotel is booked up. Every room is reserved.
From Magnuson
boom box -- portable radio,
ghetto blaster
We can have music at the beach if you bring your boom box.
From Magnuson
boom or bust -- either large profits or large losses, rich or poor,
feast or famine
In the oil business, it's boom or bust. Some years it's worth more than gold;
other years it isn't worth the cost of production!
From Magnuson
boot it -- drive fast,
highball it,
pedal to the metal
If you boot it, Betty won't ride with you. She hates going fast.
From Magnuson
boot up -- start or switch on a computer
Wait until I boot up the Mac. Then we can print your letter.
From Magnuson
bootleg -- produced illegally, not authorized,
software piracy
If someone offers you bootleg software, don't accept it! You could be sued!
From Magnuson
booze -- bottom fell out Internet link
booze
booze -- liquor,
hooch,
moonshine
I think Gus has been drinking. His breath smells of booze.
From Magnuson
boozing buddies -- friends who drink liquor and party together
In those days, Billy and I were boozin' buddies - pals.
From Magnuson
born tired -- tired since birth, always tired
My dad says I was born tired. When the doctor slapped my bum, I just yawned!
From Magnuson
born with a silver spoon in his mouth -- born into a rich family, accustomed
to wealth
Jason won't look for a job; he was born with a silver spoon... .
From Magnuson
bosom buddy -- close friends, friends who grew up together
Don't criticize Brad, eh. He's my bosom buddy.
From Magnuson
botch it -- ruin it, do it wrong,
blow it
When you bake bread for the first time, it's easy to botch it.
From Magnuson
bottle drive -- going to houses asking for pop and liquor bottles
The bottle drive was a success. The girls earned $350.
From Magnuson
bottle man -- a man who finds bottles in garbage cans or Dumpsters
The bottle man walked down the alley pushing a cart full of junk.
From Magnuson
bottle up -- not talk about, keep in your mind
Don't keep all those feelings bottled up inside you. Talk!
From Magnuson
bottom fell out -- (See
the bottom fell out)
From Magnuson
bottom line -- bozo Internet link
bottom line
bottom line -- the final number, the conclusion
The bottom line is this: we can't afford to expand.
From Magnuson
bottom out -- go down to the bottom, arrive at the low point
The recession will bottom out by the end of the year.
From Magnuson
bottom rung -- the first step, the lowest position
Jerry, my boy, in this company you start at the bottom rung.
From Magnuson
bottoms up -- finish your drinks, drink the remainder
"Bottoms up," said his friend. "It's time to go."
From Magnuson
bounce back -- recover from failure or sickness, try again
Lana has the flu, but she bounces back quickly.
From Magnuson
bow out -- resign so someone else can serve,
step down
When Dad sees that I can manage the firm, he will bow out.
From Magnuson
bowl me over -- surprise me,
blow me down
Well, bowl me over! You've done your homework!
From Magnuson
boy, oh boy -- wow, oh man,
holy cow
Boy, oh boy! I'm glad to see you!
From Magnuson
boys will be boys -- all boys are the same; boys are rough and noisy,
a chip off the old...
When Steve came home with his shirt torn and nose bleeding, his father said,
"Boys will be boys."
From Magnuson
bozo -- a person who does unusual things, a
nerd
Lenny is kind of a bozo. He laughs at the wrong time.
From Magnuson
brain -- bread Internet Link
brain
brain -- (See what a brain)
From Magnuson
brain drain -- emigration of intelligent people
If Canada's best professors move away, it's called a brain drain.
From Magnuson
brain is fried -- brain is very tired or ruined by drug abuse
After writing six exams, my brain was fried - too much studying!
From Magnuson
brain storm -- think of ideas together,
think tank
Our family decided to brain storm the problem of wasting food.
From Magnuson
brain traffic -- thoughts and information moving through the brain
I wish I could turn off my mind when brain traffic is too heavy.
From Magnuson
branch office -- an office in another location or city
Please contact our branch office in your town or city.
From Magnuson
branch out -- open a second office/store, expand a company
Business is very good. It may be time for us to branch out.
From Magnuson
brand new/ brand spanking new -- not used
at all, just off the assembly line
Imagine a brand new Mercedes in an accident. What a shame!
From Magnuson
bravo -- great, wonderful, more, encore
"Bravo! Bravo!" the audience roared. They loved Heppner's singing and were
shouting for more.
From Magnuson
bread -- money, cash,
dough
Hey, man, we need more bread if we're gonna buy cigarettes.
From Magnuson
bread and butter -- break and enter Internet
Link
bread and butter
bread and butter -- the main product, the source of profit
We sell a variety of parts, but the oil filter is our bread and butter.
From Magnuson
breadbasket -- stomach, belly
The ball hit him just below his chest - right in the breadbasket.
breadbasket -- an area that produces grain,
wheatbelt
Saskatchewan is a major wheat producer: Canada's breadbasket.
From Magnuson
break a habit -- stop doing a daily activity: drinking coffee, smoking
Laurie can't seem to break her habit of writing on her hands.
From Magnuson
break a leg -- good luck, have a good performance (Editor's
note: "leg" here comes from the word "legend" and the idiom really
means "break a legend" or "may you outperform your previous achievement.")
"Break a leg!" she whispered as he walked on the stage.
From Magnuson
break a promise -- not do as you promised,
go back on your word
Trudy never breaks a promise. She is very dependable.
From Magnuson
break a spell -- cause a spell to stop, not be
under a spell
I was captivated by her until she smoked. That broke the spell.
From Magnuson
break a story -- be first to tell a story, be first to tell some news
The London Times broke the story of Charles's confessions.
From Magnuson
break a sweat -- begin to sweat or perspire,
work up a sweat
For exercise to be beneficial, the athlete must break a sweat.
From Magnuson
break and enter -- break a lock or window to enter illegally, B&E
They were charged with break and enter. They stole some cash.
From Magnuson
break away -- break out in a rash Internet
Link
break away
From Magnuson
break away -- move away, go away from, stop doing or using
She tried to break away when the cult leader asked for her savings.
From Magnuson
break curfew -- stay out later than the rules allow
If you break curfew, the coach will remind you of the rules.
From Magnuson
break down -- fail, not operate,
out of order
If that copier breaks down again I'm going to give it away.
From Magnuson
break in -- operate or drive slowly when it is new
When I bought my first new car, Dad said to break it in carefully.
From Magnuson
break into -- break a door or window to enter,
break and enter
I couldn't believe that my son would break into a store.
From Magnuson
break into song -- begin to sing suddenly, sing without warning
One of our teachers used to break into song when he taught poetry.
From Magnuson
break off -- tell a friend that you wish to stop seeing him
She wonders if she should break off her relationship with Liam.
From Magnuson
break out -- escape, get away,
bust out
He was shot trying to break out of prison - trying to escape.
break out -- happen suddenly, erupt
A riot will break out if you don't talk to the strikers.
From Magnuson
break out in a rash -- have a rash appear on your skin
When the temperature goes over 30° the baby breaks out in a rash.
From Magnuson
break the bank -- breakup Internet Link
break
the bank
break the bank -- spend all savings, leave no balance
One more expense this month will break the bank.
From Magnuson
break the ice -- relieve the tension,
put you at ease
Andy likes to tell a joke to break the ice - to help everybody relax.
From Magnuson
break the law/rules -- not obey the law, commit a crime
If you rob a store, you are breaking the law.
From Magnuson
break the record -- do better than the previous record
The coach believes Bev can break the record in long jump.
From Magnuson
break the silence -- talk about a secret, tell people the truth
When he accused us of the crime, my brother broke the silence.
From Magnuson
break up -- not date anymore, not be lovers anymore,
breakup
Lan and Chan broke up last night. They had a bad quarrel.
From Magnuson
break your fall -- prevent serious injury when you fall
He fell from the roof, but a tree helped to break his fall.
From Magnuson
break your heart -- cause you to feel very sad and lonely
Marilyn broke my heart. She left me for a younger man.
From Magnuson
breakdown -- sudden health failure,
fall apart
After his breakdown, he found an occupation with less stress.
From Magnuson
breakup -- separation, divorce, not being partners anymore,
break up
Since their breakup, I don't know where to send my Christmas cards.
From Magnuson
breath of fresh air -- bring an end to
Internet link
breath of fresh air
From Magnuson
breath of fresh air -- (See
a breath of fresh air)
From Magnuson
breath of wind -- (See
a breath of wind)
From Magnuson
breathe a sigh of relief -- feel relieved after a time of worry
When we saw the children were safe, we breathed a sigh of relief.
From Magnuson
breathe down my neck -- watch everything I do, follow me as I work
It's difficult to work with him breathing down my neck.
From Magnuson
breathe easy -- relax, breathe slower, stop worrying
Mother said, "I won't breathe easy until this plane is on the ground!"
From Magnuson
brick -- (See
a brick)
From Magnuson
bridge the gap -- help people communicate, mediate
When the staff and the manager fight, I try to bridge the gap.
From Magnuson
bright -- intelligent, brainy,
sharp
I left the water running. That wasn't a very bright thing to do.
From Magnuson
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed -- frisky, lively, full of life
Perry is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tonight. He looks rested.
From Magnuson
bring an end to -- (See
put an end to)
From Magnuson
bring home the bacon -- broke Internet Link
bring
home the bacon
bring home the bacon -- bring home a paycheck, support a family
Stan is disabled, so Louise brings home the bacon.
From Magnuson
bring it off -- manage it successfully,
carry it off
Don't worry about the project. Mr. Ho can bring it off.
From Magnuson
bring the house down -- cause a lot of cheering or applause or laughter
If Kurt skates well in Calgary he'll bring the house down.
From Magnuson
bring to a close -- conclude, finish,
wrap up
Now, to bring my presentation to a close, I'll tell you a story.
From Magnuson
bring up -- introduce, begin to talk about
Please bring up that point at the meeting. We can discuss it then.
From Magnuson
bring up -- vomit, puke
Did the baby bring up his breakfast? Let me wipe it up.
From Magnuson
bring you up short -- cause you to stop and think, rebuke you
When I began to criticize Jan, Mother brought me up short.
From Magnuson
broad -- girl,
chick, prostitute
"Where's Mark?" "Over there, with the broads, as usual."
From Magnuson
broad daylight -- (See
in broad daylight)
From Magnuson
broke -- (See
flat broke)
From Magnuson
broken dreams -- brush-off Internet Link
broken dreams
From Magnuson
broken dreams -- plans that did not work, hopes that died
Their divorce will mean broken dreams for both of them.
From Magnuson
broken record -- (See
like a broken record)
From Magnuson
brouhaha -- shouting and fighting, melee,
Donnybrook
After the dance, there was a brouhaha in the schoolyard.
From Magnuson
browbeat -- force you to work, harass,
hound,
on my case
He browbeats his employees. He shouts, "You! Get to work!"
From Magnuson
brown nose [B] -- try to please the manager,
suck up to
Some guys brown nose their way to success. But is it success?
From Magnuson
browned off -- unhappy, a little bit angry,
ticked off
Tran was browned off because we were late. She didn't like that.
From Magnuson
brownie points -- points for doing extra work for the manager
Bruno earns brownie points by offering to help the manager.
From Magnuson
brush cut -- short, level haircut - like a brush on top
Your brush cut looks great - nice and flat on top.
From Magnuson
brush it off -- not let it bother you, not be concerned
When Erik criticizes my family, I just brush it off and walk away.
From Magnuson
brush-off -- (See
give him the brush-off)
From Magnuson
brush up on -- buckle up Internet Link
brush
up on
From Magnuson
brush up on -- review, relearn or practise;
bone up on
The teacher said I should brush up on my spelling - try to improve.
From Magnuson
brush with death -- nearly die,
at death's door,
on my deathbed
After a close brush with death you'll think that life is precious.
From Magnuson
brush with the law -- an illegal act, a minor crime
Judd told me about his brush with the law - a shoplifting charge.
From Magnuson
buck -- dollar,
greenback,
loonie (Editor's
note: "loonie" -- not "loony" -- is a Canadian word and is not listed in
AHTD. The word originated from the picture of a loon -- a Canadian duck -- on
one side of the Canadian dollar coin.)
When I earn some bucks, I'm going to buy a stereo.
boozing buddies • born tired • born with a silver spoon in his mouth • bosom buddy • botch it • bottle drive • bottle man • bottle up • bottom fell out • bottom line • bottom out • bottoms up • bounce back • bow out • bowl me over • boy, oh boy • boys will be boys • bozo • brain • brain drain • brain is fried • brain storm • brain traffic • branch office • branch out • brand new/ brand spanking new • bravo • bread • bread and butter • breadbasket • break a habit • break a leg • break a promise • break a spell • break a story • break a sweat • break and enter • break away • break curfew • break down • break in • break into • break into song • break off • break out • break out in a rash • break the bank • break the ice • break the law/rules • break the record • break the silence • break up • break your fall • break your heart • breakdown • breakup • breath of fresh air • breath of wind • breathe a sigh of relief • breathe down my neck • breathe easy • brick • bridge the gap • bright • bright-eyed and bushy-tailed • bring an end to • bring home the bacon • bring it off • bring the house down • bring to a close • bring up • bring you up short • broad • broad daylight • broke • broken dreams • broken record • brouhaha • browbeat • brown nose [B] • browned off • brownie points • brush cut • brush it off • brush it off • brush-off • brush up on • brush with death • brush with the law • buck • buck fever •
From Magnuson
buck fever -- nervous, unable to perform well,
choke
Every time I play in a competition I get buck fever. I get so nervous.
From Magnuson
buck stops here -- (See
the buck stops here)
From Magnuson
buck up -- be strong, be positive
Buck up, my friend. You will soon be finished with exams.
From Magnuson
buckle down -- work harder, try harder,
bite the bullet
Next term I'm going to buckle down and get good grades.
From Magnuson
buckle under -- quit, lose, not try,
give up
We're losing, but we won't buckle under. We won't quit.
From Magnuson
buckle up -- fasten your seat belt, buckle your seat belt
Buckle up. Dad won't drive away until we fasten our seat belts.
From Magnuson
buckstop (military) -- bull/bullshit/BS [B]
Internet Link
buckstop (military)
buckstop (military) -- brass marker placed on the wardroom table in a
warship (Editor's
note: not listed in AHTD.)
When Ken wants to be served he sits nearest the buckstop.
From Magnuson
buffalo -- frighten, bluff, intimidate
The director shouts a lot, but don't let him buffalo you.
From Magnuson
bug (someone) -- bother, irritate,
get to me
That scraping noise bugs me. It's quite annoying.
From Magnuson
bugger all [B] -- nothing,
diddly-squat,
fuck all
"Hey Giulio, what did you win?" "Bugger all - nothing!"
From Magnuson
build a better mousetrap -- improve a common product
If you're not an inventor, you try to build a better mousetrap.
From Magnuson
build up -- increase, raise
Talking with Rudy will build up your confidence. He's positive.
From Magnuson
built like a brick shithouse [B] -- have a strong body, have a sturdy build
Tyronne plays football. He's built like a brick shithouse.
From Magnuson
bull in a china shop -- (See
a bull in a china shop)
From Magnuson
bull/bullshit/BS [B] -- a story that is not all true,
balderdash
His explanation is a lot of bull. Don't believe it.
From Magnuson
bully for you -- bun in the oven Internet
link
bully for you
From Magnuson
bully for you -- you were lucky,
good for you
When I beat Ed at cribbage, he says, "Bully for you!"
From Magnuson
bum -- buttocks,
backside,
butt,
rear end
"Why did she slap your face?" "Because I pinched her bum."
From Magnuson
bum rap -- (See
a bum rap)
From Magnuson
bum's rush -- (See
the bum's rush)
From Magnuson
bummer -- (See
a bummer)
From Magnuson
bump and grind (hockey) -- bump other players and work to get the puck
To win hockey games we need players who bump and grind.
From Magnuson
bump and grind -- walk or dance in a sexy way
A seminude dancer was bumping and grinding under red lights.
From Magnuson
bump into -- meet by chance,
run into
Do you know who I bumped into yesterday? Larry Mason.
From Magnuson
bumper to bumper -- a lane of vehicles with the bumpers nearly touching
Traffic on Memorial Drive was bumper to bumper at 4:30 today.
From Magnuson
bun in the oven -- (See
a bun in the oven)
From Magnuson
bundle -- burn the midnight oil Internet Link
bundle
From Magnuson
bundle -- (See
make a bundle)
From Magnuson
bundle of nerves -- (See
a bundle of nerves)
From Magnuson
bundle up -- dress warmly, put on winter clothes,
rug up
Be sure to bundle up if you go skating on the lake. It's cold!
From Magnuson
bunk -- false statements, rumors,
baloney,
bull
They claim that computers can think, but that's a lot of bunk!
From Magnuson
buns -- buttocks,
bum
Tony said Rita has great buns.
From Magnuson
burbs -- (See
the burbs)
From Magnuson
burn a hole in your pocket -- feel that you have to spend your money
If money burns a hole in your pocket, invest it.
From Magnuson
burn it in -- throw the ball hard to the catcher,
fastball
My hand hurts when you throw so hard. Don't burn it in, eh.
From Magnuson
burn out -- use too much emotional energy,
breakdown
Working too hard can cause a person to burn out.
From Magnuson
burn the midnight oil -- work or study very late at night
To become a doctor, you have to burn the midnight oil.
From Magnuson
burn up -- business as usual Internet Link
burn
up
From Magnuson
burn up -- become angry,
lose your cool
The coach was burned up when I got a penalty for holding.
From Magnuson
burn your ass [B] -- bother you, irritate you,
bug you
You know what burns my ass? Doing my income tax.
From Magnuson
burn your bridges -- resign without notice, leave no way to return
He can't return to the company. He's burned his bridges.
From Magnuson
burned -- convicted or punished while involved in crime
Tony got burned when he was a drug dealer. He went to jail.
From Magnuson
burning question -- (See
the burning question)
From Magnuson
bury the hatchet -- stop arguing or fighting,
throw down your arms
When will the English and the French bury the hatchet?
From Magnuson
bush telegraph -- street gossip,
through the grapevine
Arne gets the news through the bush telegraph. People tell him.
From Magnuson
bushed -- very tired,
worn out
After caring for five kids all day, Mom's bushed. She's exhausted.
From Magnuson
bushwhack -- stop you and rob you,
jump,
mugged
When he stopped to camp by the stream, two guys bushwhacked him - stole his
money and horse.
From Magnuson
business as usual -- everything is normal, nothing has changed
The morning after the holdup, it was business as usual at the bank.
From Magnuson
bust my butt -- butter fingers Internet Link
bust
my butt
From Magnuson
bust my butt -- work very hard,
work my fingers to the bone
She busts her butt to earn a good wage, and he spends it.
From Magnuson
bust out -- escape, get away,
break out
Hey, man. I can bust out of here if you have a rope.
From Magnuson
busted -- charged by the police, arrested
Shane got busted for trafficking. He sold cocaine to some kids.
From Magnuson
busy as a beaver -- (See
as busy as a beaver)
From Magnuson
but good -- completely, thoroughly,
and how
If somebody hurts her, she'll get revenge, but good!
From Magnuson
butt -- buttocks,
backside,
bum
If you tell anybody that I like her, I'll kick your butt.
From Magnuson
butt in -- intrude, interrupt
When a salesman butts in, tell him to butt out.
From Magnuson
butt of the joke -- (See
the butt of the joke)
From Magnuson
butt out -- go away,
beat it,
get lost
We asked him to butt out so we could have a private talk.
From Magnuson
butter fingers -- unable to catch or hold,
cement hands
When Anna dropped the ball, Shelly said, "Butter fingers!"
From Magnuson
butter up -- buy time Internet Link
butter up
butter up -- be nice to,
suck up to
Butter him up before you ask to borrow his car.
From Magnuson
butter wouldn't melt in his mouth -- he is very calm and clear, he has an
air of innocence,
cool,
smooth talker
When he's talking to voters, butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.
From Magnuson
button your lip -- do not tell anyone,
on the QT
Button your lip about the speeding ticket. Don't tell Dad.
From Magnuson
buttonhole you -- stop you and talk to you,
corner you and bore you
At the meeting, Al buttonholed me and asked me to vote Reform.
From Magnuson
buy a round -- buy a drink for everyone at the table,
this one is on me
When Gina was born, I bought a round for the team. Every player had a drink to
honor our baby.
From Magnuson
buy into -- believe and support, agree to support,
come onside
He will buy into our plan if the money goes to needy children.
From Magnuson
buy out -- buy a business and all the inventory
We knew his business was in debt, so we offered to buy him out.
From Magnuson
buy that -- believe that,
eat that
He says he went to see his friends at the park. I can buy that.
From Magnuson
buy the farm -- die,
kick the bucket,
pass away
"Where's Henry?" "Oh, he bought the farm years ago - died of cancer, eh."
From Magnuson
buy time -- request time to plan, ask for extra time
If we can just buy a little time, maybe the price will go down.
From Magnuson
buy up -- by and large Internet link
buy
up
buy up -- buy all of a product or all the shares in a company
At closing time, Abe comes in and buys up the last shares.
From Magnuson
buyer's market -- a time when prices are low,
soft market
The price of gold is low. It's a buyer's market in precious metals.
From Magnuson
buzz-kill -- a person who stops the fun,
party-pooper
You buzz-kill! Don't talk about air disasters when I'm flying to Rome.
From Magnuson
buzz off -- go away,
beat it,
get lost
Next time he asks to borrow something, tell him to buzz off.
From Magnuson
buzzed -- slightly intoxicated,
tipsy
Jane got buzzed on fermented coconut juice. She was happy!
From Magnuson
buzzword -- new word or expression, the latest jargon,
catch phrase
Internet, zero tolerance - these were buzzwords of the 1990s.
From Magnuson
by a country mile -- by a long distance, by a wide margin
Black Beauty won the race by a country mile. She was far ahead.
From Magnuson
by a long shot -- (See
not by a long shot)
From Magnuson
by all means -- yes, please do it
By all means, come to the Learning Skills Centre.
From Magnuson
by and large -- mostly, mainly, most of the time
By and large, chocolate is the favorite flavor.
From Magnuson
by any means -- by its very nature Internet
Link
by any means
by any means -- any way or method, by doing any job
He survived by any means when he first came to Canada.
From Magnuson
by any stretch... -- (See
not by any stretch of the imagination)
From Magnuson
by cracky -- you listen to what I say, this is the truth,
by gosh
We're lost and we have no water!
From Magnuson
by dint of -- as a result of, because of
By dint of her efforts alone, this family is happy and healthy.
From Magnuson
by golly -- I am surprised, impressed;
by gosh
By golly! She did it. She made a cherry pie!
From Magnuson
by gosh -- what an experience, this is interesting,
by golly
Well, by gosh! This is my first look at Niagara Falls!
From Magnuson
by guess or by gosh -- any way that is possible, by chance
How did I learn to speak French? By guess or by gosh, that's how.
From Magnuson
by heart -- memorized every word,
down pat
Eva knew the speech by heart. She didn't look at her notes.
From Magnuson
by hook or by crook -- any way that is possible,
by any means
He'll get that car - by hook or by crook! He'll get it somehow.
From Magnuson
by its very nature -- because of its natural habits, because it is that way
A dog, by its very nature, is dependent on humans.
From Magnuson
by jove -- by word of mouth Internet Link
by
jove
by jove -- it happened, it is amazing
By jove! We reached our goal. We sold 15,000 tickets!
From Magnuson
by leaps and bounds -- by large amounts, by a lot
The population of Calgary has grown by leaps and bounds.
From Magnuson
by no means -- not in any way,
not by any stretch...
By no means is a car a good investment. It will depreciate.
From Magnuson
by the by -- (See
by the way)
From Magnuson
by the same token -- judging by the same rule, to be fair to both sides
By the same token, he should help with the housework.
From Magnuson
by the seat of your pants -- with little money, without planning,
a lick and a promise
You can't operate a business by the seat of your pants.
From Magnuson
by the short hairs -- (See
got you by the short hairs)
From Magnuson
by the skin of their teeth -- by a little, barely
He won the election by one vote, by the skin of his teeth.
From Magnuson
by the way -- in addition to what I was saying, incidentally
By the way, I heard that Ed is resigning.
From Magnuson
by word of mouth -- by one person speaking to another, person to person,
through the grapevine
News of his birth traveled by word of mouth. Soon everyone knew that Mary had a
baby boy.
From Magnuson
Idioms: bye -- bye for now Internet link
bye
From Magnuson
bye -- goodbye
Bye, Mom. I love you.
From Magnuson
bye for now -- goodbye but I will see you soon
Bye for now. See you tonight at choir practice.