just in time to catch the bus./ * /John liked to get to work  in  good
time and talk. to the man who worked on his machine before him./ 2. In
the end; after a while; finally. * /Fred and Jim  did  not  like  each
other at first, but in time they became  friends./  3.  In  the  right
rhythm; in step. * /The marchers  kept  in  time  with  the  band./  *
/Johnny didn't play his piano piece in time./

   [into account] See: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

   [into a nose dive] See: oo INTO A TAIL SPIN or GO INTO A NOSE DIVE.

   [into a tail spin] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN.

   [into commission] See: IN COMMISSION.

   [into effect] {adv. phr.} Into use or operation. *  /The  new  rule
was put into effect at once./ * /The judge ordered the  old  suspended
penalty into effect./

   [into hot water] See: HOT WATER.

   [into line] {adv. phr.} 1.  Into  agreement.  *  /The  department's
spending was brought into line with the budget./ 2. Under  control.  *
/Independent congressmen were brought into line by warnings that  jobs
for their friends would be kept back./ * /The players who  had  broken
training rules fell into line when the coach  warned  them  that  they
would he put off the team./

   [into one's blood] See: IN ONE'S BLOOD.

   [into one's head] See: BEAT INTO ONE'S HEAD, TAKE INTO ONE'S HEAD.

   [into one's own] See: COME INTO ONE'S OWN.

   [into one's own hands] See: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS.

   [into one's shell] See: IN ONE'S SHELL.

   [into one's shoes] See: STEP INTO ONE'S SHOES.

   [into practice] See: IN PRACTICE.

   [into question] {adv. phr.} Into doubt or argument. - Usually  used
with "call", "bring" or "come". * /This soldier's  courage  has  never
been called into question./ * /If a boy steals, his parents'  teaching
comes into question./

   [into the bargain] See: IN THE BARGAIN.

   [into the fire] See: OUT OP THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.

   [into the ground] See: RUN INTO THE GROUND.

   [into the hands of] See: PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF.

   [into thin air] {adv. phr.} Without anything  left;  completely.  *
/When Bob returned to the room, he was  surprised  to  find  that  his
books had vanished into thin air./ Compare: OUT OF THIN AIR.

   [in toto] {adv.  phr.}  As  a  whole;  in  its  entirety;  totally;
altogether. * /The store refused the advertising  agency's  suggestion
in toto./ * /They bought the  newspaper  business  in  toto./  *  /The
paving job was accepted in toto./ (Latin, meaning "in the whole.")

   [in touch] {adj. phr.} Talking or writing to each other; giving and
getting news. * /John kept in touch with his school friends during the
summer./ * /Police anywhere in the U.S. can  get  in  touch  instantly
with any other police department by teletype./ * /The man  claimed  to
be in touch with people  on  another  planet./  Compare:  KEEP  TRACK.
Contrast: OUT OF TOUCH.

   [in tow] {adj. phr.} 1. Being pulled. * /The tugboat had the  large
ocean liner in tow as they came into the harbor./ *  /An  engine  came
with a long string of cars in tow./  2.  Being  taken  from  place  to
place; along with someone. * /Janet took  the  new  girl  in  tow  and
showed her where to go./ * /Mrs. Hayes went to  the  supermarket  with
her four little children in tow./

   [in trust] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In safe care for another.  *  /The
money was held by the hank in trust for the widow./ *  /At  his  death
Mr. Brown left a  large  sum  in  trust  for  his  son  until  he  was
twenty-five./

   [in tune] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. At  the  proper  musical  pitch;
high or low enough in sound. * /The piano is in tune./ 2.  Going  well
together; in agreement; matching; agreeable. - Often used with "with".
* /In his new job, John felt in tune with  his  surroundings  and  his
associates./ Contrast: OUT OF TUNE.

   [in turn] {adv. phr.} According to a settled order; each  following
another. * /Each man in turn  got  up  and  spoke./  *  /Two  teachers
supervised the lunch hour in turn./ * /Two of  the  three  boys  tease
their younger brother - John, the biggest, teases Bob, the middle boy;
and Bob in turn teases Tim, the youngest./ Compare: IN ORDER.

   [in two] {adv. phr.} Into two parts or pieces; into two  divisions.
* /John and Mary pulled on the wishbone  until  it  came  in  two./  *
/There was only one piece of cake, but we cut it  in  two./  Syn.:  IN
HALF.

   [in two shakes of a lamb's tail] {adv.}, {informal} Quickly; in  no
time at all. * /I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail./

   [in --- up to the] See: UP TO THE --- IN.

   [in vain] {adv.  phr.}  1.  Without  effect;  without  getting  the
desired result; without success. * /The drowning man  called  in  vain
for help./ * /To cry over spilled milk is to cry in vain./ Compare: GO
FOR NOTHING, NO USE. 2. See: TAKE ONE'S NAME IN VAIN.

   [in view] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In sight; visible.  *  /We  came
around a bend and there was the ocean in view./ 2. As a purpose, hope,
or expectation. * /John had his son's education in view when he  began
to save money./ * /The end that we must keep always in view  is  peace
with justice./ Compare: EYE TO.

   [in view of] {prep.} After thinking about; because of.  *  /Schools
were closed for the day in view of the heavy snowstorm./ * /In view of
rising labor costs, many companies have turned to  automation./  Syn.:
IN THE LIGHT OF.

   [in virtue of] See: BY VIRTUE OF.

   [in wait] See: LIE IN WAIT.

   [in with] {prep.} In friendship, favor, or closeness with;  in  the
trust or liking of. * /We trusted on Byrd's being in with  the  mayor,
not knowing that the mayor no longer liked him./ * /It  took  the  new
family some time to get in with their neighbors./

   [I.O.U.] {adj. phr.} I owe you, abbreviated; a promissory  note.  *
/I had to borrow some money from John and, in order to remind both  of
us, I wrote him an I.O.U. note for $250./

   [Irish] See: GET ONE'S DANDER UP or GET ONE'S IRISH UP.

   [iron horse] {n.}, {informal} A railroad locomotive; the engine  of
a railroad train. * /In its first days, the iron horse frightened many
people as it roared across country scattering sparks./

   [iron in the fire] {n. phr.} Something you are doing;  one  of  the
projects with which a person is busy; job, * /John  had  a  number  of
irons in the fire, and he managed to keep all of them hot./ -  Usually
used in the phrase "too many irons in the fire". * /"Ed  has  a  dozen
things going all the time, but none of them seem  to  work  out."  "No
wonder. He has too many irons in the fire."/

   [iron out] {v.}, {informal} To discuss and reach an agreement about
(a  difference);  find  a  solution  for  (a   problem);   remove   (a
difficulty).  *  /The  company  and  its  workers  ironed  out   their
differences over hours and pay./ * /The House and  Senate  ironed  out
the differences between their two different tax bills./ Compare:  MAKE
UP(5).

   [is] See: SUCH AS IT IS, THAT IS.

   [island] See: SAFETY ISLAND.

   [issue] See: AT ISSUE, TAKE ISSUE.

   [is that so] {informal} 1. Oh, indeed? That's interesting.  -  Used
in simple acceptance or reply. * /"The Republicans have pulled a trick
at city hall." "Is that so?"/ 2. Surely not? - Used  in  disbelief  or
sarcasm. * /"The moon is made of green cheese." "Is that so?"/ * /"I'm
going to take your girlfriend to the dance," said Bob.  "Oh,  is  that
so!" said Dick. "Try it and you'll be sorry."/

   [itching palm] {n.}, {slang} A wish for money;  greed.  *  /He  was
born with an itching palm./ * /The bellboys in that hotel seem  always
to have itching palms./

   [I tell you] See: I'LL SAY.

   [I tell you what] See: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

   [item] See: COLLECTOR'S ITEM, CONSUMER ITEMS.

   [it figures] {informal sentence} It checks out; it makes sense;  it
adds up. * /It figures that Bob got the highest raise at our firm;  he
is the most productive salesman./

   [it is an ill wind that blows nobody good]  No  matter  how  bad  a
happening is, someone can usually gain something from it. - A proverb.
* /When Fred got hurt in the game John got a chance to play.  It's  an
ill wind that blows nobody good./

   [it never rains but it pours] One good thing or bad thing is  often
followed by others of the same kind. - A proverb, *  /John  got  sick,
then his brothers and sisters all got sick.  It  never  rains  but  it
pours./

   [it's a cinch] {informal sentence} It is very easy. * /"What  about
the final exam?" Fred asked. "It was a cinch" Sam answered./  Compare:
PIECE OF CAKE.

   [it's a deal] {informal sentence}  Consider  it  done;  OK;  it  is
agreed. * /"How much for this used car?" Bill asked.  "Two  thousand,"
the man answered. "I'll give $1,500," Bill said. "It's  a  deal!"  the
owner answered as they sealed the transaction./

   [it's been ---, it's been real] {informal} Shortened form  for  "it
has been real nice (being with you)" - used colloquially between  very
close friends.

   [itself] See: END IN ITSELF.

   [it's high time] {informal sentence} It is overdue. * /It  is  high
time for John Browning to  be  promoted  to  full  professor;  he  has
written a great deal but his books went unnoticed./

   [Ivy League] {n.} A small  group  of  the  older  and  more  famous
eastern U.S. colleges and universities. * /Several  Ivy  League  teams
play each other regularly each year./ * /Harvard, Yale, and  Princeton
were the original Ivy League./



        J

   [Jack] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY.

   [jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK.

   [jack of all trades] {n.}, {informal} (Often followed by the  words
"master of none.") A person who is knowledgeable in many areas. Can be
used as praise, or as a derogatory remark depending on the context and
the intonation. * /Peter is a jack  of  all  trades;  he  can  survive
anywhere!/ * /"How come Joe did such a sloppy job?" Mary asked.  "He's
a jack of all trades," Sally answered./

   [jackpot] See: HIT THE JACKPOT.

   [jack-rabbit start] {n.}, {informal} A very  sudden  start  from  a
still position; a  very  fast  start  from  a  stop.  *  /Bob  made  a
jack-rabbit start when the traffic light turned green./

   [Jack Robinson] See: BEFORE ONE CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.

   [jack up] {v.} 1. To lift with a jack. * /The man jacked up his car
to fit a flat tire./ 2. {informal} To make (a price) higher; raise.  *
/Just before Christmas, some stores jack up their prices./

   [jailbait] {n.}, {slang} A girl below the legal age of consent  for
sex;  one  who  tempts  you  to  intimacy  which  is   punishable   by
imprisonment. * /Stay away from Arabella, she is a jailbait./

   [jailbird] {n.}, {informal} A convict; someone who is  in  jail  or
has been recently  released  from  prison.  *  /Because  Harry  was  a
jailbird, it was understandably hard for him to find a job after being
imprisoned./

   [jake flake] {n.}, {slang} A boring person whose company is usually
not wanted. * /Please don't invite Turner, he is a jake flake./

   [jar on] {v. phr.} To irritate. * /The constant construction  noise
was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting./

   [jaw] See: GLASS JAW.

   [jawbreaker] {n.} 1. A large piece of hard candy  or  bubblegum.  *
/Billy asked his mother for a quarter to buy some  jawbreakers  and  a
chocolate bar./  2.  [informal]  A  word  or  name  that  is  hard  to
pronounce. * /His name, Nissequogue, is a real jawbreaker./

   [jaw drop] or [jaw drop a mile] {informal}  Mouth  fall  wide  open
with surprise. - Used with a possessive. * /Tom's jaw dropped  a  mile
when he won the prize./

   [jaws tight] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Angry; uptight;  tense.  *
/Why are you getting your jaws so tight?/

   [jazz up] {v.}, {slang} To brighten up; add more  noise,  movement,
or color; make more lively or exciting. * /The  party  was  very  dull
until Pete jazzed it up with his drums./

   [Jehu] See: DRIVE LIKE JEHU.

   [jerk] or [jerker] See: SODA JERK or SODA JERKER.

   [jerry-built]  {adj.}  1.  Built  poorly  or  carelessly  of  cheap
materials; easily broken. * /That jerry-built cabin will blow apart in
a strong wind./  2.  Done  without  careful  preparation  or  thought;
planned too quickly. * /When the  regular  television  program  didn't
come on, a jerry-built program was substituted at the last minute./

   [Jesus  boots]  or  [Jesus  shoes]  {n.},  {slang}  Men's  sandals,
particularly as worn by hippies and very casually dressed people. * /I
dig your Jesus boots, man, they look cool./

   [jig's up] See: GAME'S UP.

   [jim-dandy] {n.}, {slang} Something wonderful; something very good.
* /Tommy's new boat is really a jim-dandy! I wish I had one like it./

   [jink] See: HIGH JINKS.

   [job] See: DO A JOB ON, FALL DOWN ON THE JOB, LIE DOWN ON THE  JOB,
ON THE JOB.

   [Joe Doakes] {n.} A name used informally for  the  average  man.  *
/Let us say that Joe Doakes goes to the movies three  times  a  year./
Compare: MAN IN THE STREET, SO-AND-SO.

   [John Doe] {n.} A name used for an unknown  person,  especially  in
police and law business. * /The alarm went out  for  a  John  Doe  who
stole the diamonds from the store./

   [John Hancock] or [John Henry]  {n.},  {informal}  Your  signature;
your name in writing. * /The man said, "Put your John Hancock on  this
paper."/ * /Joe felt proud when he put his  John  Henry  on  his  very
first driver's license./

   [Johnny-come-lately]  {n.}  Someone  new  in  a  place  or   group;
newcomer; also: a new person who takes an active part in group affairs
before tlie group has accepted him; upstart. * /Everybody  was  amazed
when a Johnny-come-lately beat the old favorite in the race./ *  /When
it looked as though Mr. Brown had  a  good  chance  of  winning,  many
Johnny-come-latelies began to support him./

   [Johnny-on-the-spot] {adj. phr.} At the right  place  when  needed;
present and ready to help; very prompt; on time. * /A good waterboy is
always Johnny-on-the-spot./ * /The firemen were Johnny-on-the-spot and
put out the fire in the house soon after it started./ Compare: ON  THE
JOB.

   [John Q. Public] {n.}  A  name  used  informally  for  the  average
citizen. * /It is John Q. Public's duty to  vote  at  each  election./
Compare: JOE DOAKES.

   [join forces] or [join hands] {v. phr.} To  get  together  for  the
same aim; group together for a purpose; unite. * /The students and the
graduates joined forces to raise money when the gym  burned  down./  *
/The American soldiers joined  hands  with  the  British  in  the  war
against Germany./ Compare: THROW IN ONE'S LOT WITH.

   [join hands] See: JOIN FORCES.

   [joint] See: CLIP JOINT, PUT ONE'S NOSE OUT OF JOINT.

   [joke] See: CRACK A JOKE.

   [joking apart] See: JOKING ASIDE.

   [joking aside] or [joking apart] {v. phr.}, {informal} No  fooling;
without  exaggerating:  seriously.  *  /Joking  aside,  although   the
conditions were not very comfortable, we  had  a  wonderful  time./  *
/Joking apart, there must have been  over  a  hundred  people  in  the
room./

   [Jones] See: KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES.

   [jot down] {v. phr.} To quickly commit to  writing;  make  a  quick
note of something. * /Let me jot down your address so that I can  send
you a postcard from Europe./

   [judgment seat] {n.} A place where you are judged;  a  place  where
justice and punishment are given out. * /Mrs. Smith is so  bossy,  she
always acts as though she is in the judgment seat./

   [jug-eared] {adj.} With ears that stick out like the handles  of  a
jug. * /Tommy was a redheaded, freckle-faced, jug-eared boy./

   [juice] See: STEW IN ONE'S OWN JUICE.

   [juice dealer] {n.}, {slang} An underworld money lender who charges
exorbitant fees to his clientele and frequently  collects  payment  by
physical force. * /No matter how broke you are, never go  to  a  juice
dealer./

   [jump] See: GET THE JUMP ON or HAVE THE JUMP ON,  GO  JUMP  IN  THE
LAKE, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN or NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO JUMP.

   [jump all over] See: JUMP ON.

   [jump at] {v.} To take or accept  quickly  and  gladly.  *  /Johnny
jumped at the invitation to go swimming with  his  brother./  Compare:
TAKE UP(7).

   [jump bail] or [skip bail] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  run  away  and
fail to come to trial, and so to give up a  certain  amount  of  money
already given to a court of law to hold  with  the  promise  that  you
would come. * /The robber paid $2000 bail so he  wouldn't  be  put  in
jail before his trial, but he jumped bail and escaped  to  Mexico./  *
/The man skipped bail because he was afraid the court might put him in
jail for a long time./

   [jump ball] {n.} The starting of play in basketball by tossing  the
ball into the air between two opposing players, each of whom jumps and
tries to hit the ball to a member of his own team. * /Two players held
onto the ball at the same time and the referee called a jump ball./

   [jump down one's throat] {v. phr.} To suddenly become very angry at
someone; scold severely or angrily. * /The teacher jumped down Billy's
throat when Billy said he did not do his homework./

   [jump from the frying pan into the fire] See: OUT OP THE FRYING PAN
INTO THE FIRE.

   [jumping-off place] {n. phr.} 1. A place so far away that it  seems
to be the end of the world. *  /Columbus'  sailors  were  afraid  they
would arrive at the jumping-off place if they sailed farther west./  *
/So you visited Little  America?  That  sounds  like  the  jumping-off
place!/ 2. The starting place of a long, hard  trip  or  of  something
difficult or dangerous. * /The jumping-off place  for  the  explorer's
trip through the jungle was a little village./

   [jump on] or [jump all over] or [land on] or [land  all  over]  {v.
phr.}, {informal} To scold; criticize; blame. * /Tom's boss jumped all
over Tom because he made a careless  mistake./  *  /Janice  landed  on
Robert for dressing carelessly for their date./ * /"I don't  know  why
Bill is always jumping on me; I just don't understand him," said Bob./
Compare: FIND FAULT, GET ON, LAY OUT(7).

   [jump on the bandwagon]  or  [get  on  the  bandwagon]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To join a  popular  cause  or  movement.  *  /At  the  last
possible  moment,  the  senator  jumped  on  the  winning  candidate's
bandwagon./

   [jump out  of  one's  skin]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  be  badly
frightened; be very much surprised. * /The lightning struck  so  close
to Bill that he almost jumped out of his skin./ Compare: HAIR STAND ON
END.

   [jump pass] {n.} A pass (as in football or basketball)  made  by  a
player while jumping. * /The Bruins scored when the quarterback tossed
a jump pass to the left end./

   [jump the gun] also [beat the gun] {v. phr.} 1. To start before the
starter's gun in a race. * /The runners were called back  because  one
of them jumped the gun./ 2. {informal} To  start  before  you  should;
start before anyone else. * /The new students  were  not  supposed  to
come before noon, but one boy jumped the gun and  came  to  school  at
eight in the morning./ * /The students planned to say  happy  birthday
to the principal when the teacher raised her hand,  but  Sarah  jumped
the gun and said it when he came into the room./

   [jump the traces] See: KICK OVER THE TRACES.

   [jump the track] {v. phr.} 1. To go off rails; go or run the  wrong
way. * /The train jumped the track and there was a terrible accident./
* /The pulley of the clothesline jumped the track and Mother's washing
fell down./ 2. {informal} To  change  from  one  thought  or  idea  to
another without plan or reason; change the thought  or  idea  you  are
talking about to something different. * /Bob didn't finish his algebra
homework because his mind kept jumping the track to  think  about  the
new girl in class./ Compare: OFF THE TRACK.

   [jump through a hoop] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do whatever you  are
told to do; obey any order. * /Bob  would  jump  through  a  hoop  for
Mary./ Compare: TWIST AROUND ONE'S LITTLE FINGER, UNDER ONE'S THUMB.

   [jump to a conclusion] {v. phr.} To decide too quickly  or  without
thinking or finding the facts. * /Jerry  saw  his  dog  limping  on  a
bloody leg and jumped to  the  conclusion  that  it  had  been  shot./
Contrast: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

   [junked up] {adj.} or {v. phr.},  {slang},  {drug  culture}  To  be
under the influence of drugs, especially heroine. * /You can't talk to
Billy, he's all junked up./

   [just about] {adv.},  {informal}  Nearly;  almost;  practically.  *
/Just about everyone in town came to hear the  mayor  speak./  *  /The
dress came down to just about the middle of her  knee./  *  /Has  Mary
finished peeling the potatoes? Just about./

   [just for the fun  of  it]  {adv.  phr.}  Merely  as  a  matter  of
amusement.  *  /"I'll  bring  a  goat  to  class,"  Bob  said  to  his
classmates, "just for the fun of it; I want to see what kind of a face
Professor Brown will make."/

   [just for the hell of it] See: JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.

   [justice] See: DO JUSTICE TO.

   [just in case] {adv.  phr.}  For  an  emergency;  in  order  to  be
protected. * /"Here are my house keys. Sue," Tom said. "I'll  be  back
in two weeks, but you should have them,  just  in  case..."/  See:  IN
CASE.

   [just in time] See: IN TIME.

   [just now] {adv. phr.} 1. Just at this moment; at this time. * /Mr.
Johnson isn't here just now. Will you phone back later? 2./ {informal}
A very short time ago; only a moment ago; only a little while  ago.  *
/"Where could that boy have gone so quickly? He was here  just  now!"/
Compare: WHILE AGO.

   [just so(1)] {adj.} Exact; exactly right. * /Mrs. Robinson likes to
keep her house just so, and she makes  the  children  take  off  their
shoes when they come in the house./

   [just so(2)] {conj.} Provided; if. * /Take  as  much  food  as  you
want, just so you don't waste any food./ Syn.: AS LONG AS(2).

   [just so(3)] {adv. phr.} With great care;  very  carefully.  *  /In
order to raise healthy African violets you must treat them just so./

   [just the other way] or [the other way around] {adv. phr.} Just the
opposite. * /One would have thought that Goliath would  defeat  David,
but it was the other way around./

   [just the same] See: ALL THE SAME.

   [just what the doctor ordered] {n. phr.}, {informal}  Exactly  what
is needed or wanted. * /"Ah! Just what the doctor ordered!"  exclaimed
Joe when Mary brought him a cold soda./



        K

   [kangaroo court] {n.} A self-appointed group that decides  what  to
do to someone who is supposed to have done wrong. * /The  Chicago  mob
held a kangaroo court and shot  the  gangster  who  competed  with  Al
Capone./

   [keel] See: ON AN EVEN KEEL.

   [keel over] {v.} 1. To turn upside  down;  tip  over;  overturn.  -
Usually refers to a boat. * /The strong wind made  the  sailboat  keel
over and the passengers fell into the water./ 2.  {informal}  To  fall
over in a faint; taint. * /It was so hot during the  assembly  program
that two girls who were standing on the stage keeled  over./  *  /When
the principal told the girl her father died, she keeled right over./

   [keen about] or [on] {adj. phr.} Very enthusiastic about someone or
something. * /It is  well  known  that  Queen  Elizabeth  is  keen  on
horses./

   [keep abreast (of) someone] or [something] {v. phr.} To be informed
of the latest developments. * /It is difficult to keep abreast of  all
the various wars that are being waged on planet Earth./ Compare:  KEEP
STEP WITH.

   [keep a civil tongue in one's head]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  polite  in
speaking. * /He was very angry with his boss,  but  he  kept  a  civil
tongue in his head./ * /The bus driver began yelling at the woman  and
she told him to keep a civil tongue in his head./

   [keep a close check on] See: KEEP TAB(S) ON.

   [keep after] {v.}, {informal} To speak to (someone) about something
again and again; remind over and over again. * /Some  pupils  will  do
sloppy work unless the teacher keeps after them to  write  neatly./  *
/Sue's mother had to keep after her to clean her bedroom./

   [keep an ear to the ground] See: EAR TO THE GROUND.

   [keep an eye on] or [keep one's eye on] or [have one's eye on]  {v.
phr.} 1. To watch carefully; not stop paying attention to. * /Keep  an
eye on the stove in case the coffee boils./ * /You must keep your  eye
on the ball when you play tennis./ * /A good driver keeps his  eye  on
the road./ * /The teacher had her eye on me because she thought I  was
cheating./ * /Billy keeps a jealous eye on  his  toys./  *  /The  lion
tamer keeps a sharp eye on the lions when he is in the cage./ Compare:
LOOK OUT, LOOK OVER. 2. To watch and do what is needed  for;  mind.  *
/Mother told Jane to keep an eye on the baby  while  she  was  in  the
store./ * /Mr. Brown told John to keep an eye on the  store  while  he
was out./ Syn.: TAKE CARE OF(1).

   [keep an eye open] or [keep an eye out for] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.

   [keep an eye out] See: EYE OUT.

   [keep a stiff upper lip]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  brave;  face  trouble
bravely. * /He was very much worried about his sick daughter,  but  he
kept a stiff upper lip./ * /Although he was having some  trouble  with
the engine, the pilot kept a stiff upper  lip  and  landed  the  plane
safely./ Compare: KEEP ONE'S CHIN UP.

   [keep a straight face] See: STRAIGHT FACE, DEADPAN.

   [keep at] {v.} To continue to do; go on with. * /Mary kept  at  her
homework until she finished it./ Compare: KEEP ON(1), KEEP UP(1b).

   [keep away] {v. phr.} To remain at a distance from. *  /Her  mother
advised Diane to keep away from men offering a ride./

   [keep back] {v. phr.} To refrain or be  restrained  from  entering;
remain back. * /The police had a hard time keeping back the crowd when
the astronauts came to town after walking on the moon./

   [keep body and soul together] {v. phr.} To keep alive;  survive.  *
/John was unemployed most of the year and hardly made enough money  to
keep body and soul together./ Compare: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.

   [keep books] {v. phr.} To keep records of money gained  and  spent;
do the work of a bookkeeper. * /Miss Jones keeps the company's books./

   [keep company] {v. phr.} 1. To stay or go along with  (someone)  so
that he will not be lonely to visit with (someone). * /John kept  Andy
company while his parents went to the movies./  *  /I'll  go  shopping
with you just to keep you company./ 2. To  go  places  together  as  a
couple; date just one person. * /After keeping company for  one  year,
Mary and John decided to marry./ * /Who is Bill keeping  company  with
now?/ Compare: GO STEADY.

   [keep cool] {v. phr.} Remain calm; remain unexcited.  *  /The  main
thing to remember in an emergency situation is to not lose one's  head
and keep cool./

   [keep down] {v.} Keep from  progressing  or  growing;  keep  within
limits; control. * /The children could not keep their voices down./  *
/We hoe the garden to keep down the weeds./ * /You can't keep  a  good
man down./ Compare: GET AHEAD.

   [keeper] See: FINDERS KEEPERS.

   [keep from] {v.}, {informal} To hold yourself back  from;  stop  or
prevent  yourself  from  (doing  something).  *  /Can  you  keep  from
repeating gossip?/ * /Jill can't keep from talking about her trip./  -
Usually used with "can" in the negative. * /You can't keep from liking
Jim./ Compare: CAN HELP.

   [keep good time] See: KEEP TIME.

   [keep  house(1)]  {v.  phr.}  To  do  the  necessary  things  in  a
household; do the cooking and cleaning. * /Since  their  mother  died,
Mary and her brother keep house for their father./

   [keep house(2)] also [play house] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  live
together without being married. * /Bob  and  Nancy  keep  house  these
days./

   [keeping] See: IN KEEPING, OUT OF KEEPING.

   [keep in mind] See: IN MIND.

   [keep in touch with] {v. phr.} To  remain  in  communication  with;
maintain contact with. * /Don't forget to keep  in  touch,  either  by
letter or phone, when you're in Europe!/

   [keep late hours] {v. phr.} To go to bed late; habitually  stay  up
(and work) late. * /"If you always keep such late hours,  your  health
might suffer," Tom's doctor said./

   [keep off] {v. phr.} To refrain from entering; stay  away  from.  *
/"Keep off the grass," the sign in the park indicated./

   [keep on] {v.} 1. To go ahead; not stop; continue. * /The neighbors
asked them to stop making noise, but they kept right on./ *  /Columbus
kept on until he saw land./ - Often used before a present  participle.
* /Relentlessly, the boy kept on asking about the birds and the bees./
* /The boy kept on talking even though the teacher had  asked  him  to
stop./ Syn.: GO ON. Compare: KEEP AT, KEEP UP. 2. To allow to continue
working for you. * /The new owner kept Fred on as gardener./

   [keep one at a distance] or [keep one at arm's length] {v. phr.} To
avoid (someone's) company; not become  too  friendly  toward.  *  /Mr.
Smith is kind to the workers in his store but after work he keeps them
at a distance./ * /Betty likes Bill and is trying to be friendly,  but
he keeps her at arm's length./  Compare:  KEEP  ONE'S  DISTANCE,  HOLD
OFF(1a).

   [keep (one) posted]  {v.  phr.}  To  receive  current  information;
inform oneself. * /My associates phoned  me  every  day  and  kept  me
posted on new developments in our business./

   [keep one's balance] {v. phr.} To stay  even-tempered;  not  become
overexcited. * /Mike has the best personality to run  our  office;  he
always keeps his balance./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S BALANCE.

   [keep one's chin up] {v. phr.} To be  brave;  be  determined;  face
trouble with courage. * /He didn't think that he would ever get out of
the jungle alive, but he kept his chin  up./  Compare:  KEEP  A  STIFF
UPPER LIP.

   [keep one's distance] {v. phr.} To be cool  toward  someone;  avoid
being friendly. * /Mary did not like her co-worker,  Betty,  and  kept
her distance from her./ Compare: KEEP ONE AT A DISTANCE.

   [keep one's end up] See: HOLD ONE'S END UP.

   [keep one's eye on] See: KEEP AN EYE ON.

   [keep one's eye on the ball] {v. phr.} 1. To watch the ball at  all
times in a sport, usually in order to hit  it  or  get  it;  not  stop
watching the ball. * /Keep your eye on the baseball or  you  won't  be
able to hit it./ 2. {informal} To be watchful and ready; be wide-awake
and ready to win or succeed; be smart. * /Tom is just starting on  the
job but if he keeps his  eye  on  the  ball,  he  will  be  promoted./
Compare: ON THE BALL, KEEP AN EYE ON or KEEP  ONE'S  EYE  ON  or  HAVE
ONE'S EYE ON.

   [keep one's eyes open] See: EYES OPEN.

   [keep one's eyes peeled] or [keep one's eyes  skinned]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To watch carefully; be always looking. * /The  bird-watcher
kept his eyes peeled for bluebirds./ * /When the boys  walked  through
the roads, they kept their eyes skinned  for  snakes./  Compare:  EYES
OPEN(1), EYE OUT.

   [keep one's feet] {v. phr.} To keep from falling or slipping  down;
keep your balance; remain standing. * /The boy stumbled on the  stairs
but was able to keep his feet./ Compare: REGAIN ONE'S FEET.

   [keep one's feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND.

   [keep one's fingers crossed] See: CROSS ONE'S FINGERS(1b).

   [keep one's hand in] {v. phr.} To keep  in  practice;  continue  to
take part. * /After he retired from teaching, Mr. Brown kept his  hand
in by giving a lecture once  in  a  while./  *  /Mr.  Smith  left  the
planning of the trip to his wife, but  he  kept  his  hand  in,  too./
Compare: KEEP UP.

   [keep one's head] also [keep one's wits about  one]  {v.  phr.}  To
stay calm when there is trouble or danger. * /When Tim heard the  fire
alarm he kept his head and looked  for  the  nearest  exit./  Compare:
COUNT TO TEN. Contrast: LOSE ONE'S HEAD.

   [keep one's head above water] {v. phr.} To remain  solvent;  manage
to stay out of debt. * /Herb's income declined so drastically that  he
now has difficulty keeping his head above water./

   [keep one's mouth shut] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be or stay silent.
- A rude expression when used as a command. * /When  the  crooks  were
captured by the police, their leader warned them to keep their  mouths
shut./ * /Charles began to tell Barry how to kick the ball, and  Barry
said angrily, "Keep your mouth shut!"/ Syn.: SHUT UP(1).

   [keep one's nose clean] {v. phr.}, {slang} To stay out of  trouble;
do only what you should do. * /The boss said Jim could have the job as
long as he kept his nose clean and  worked  hard./  *  /The  policeman
warned the boys to keep their noses clean unless they wanted to go  to
jail./ Compare: STEER CLEAR OF(2).

   [keep one's nose to the grindstone] or  [have  one's  nose  to  the
grindstone]  or  [hold  one's  nose  to  the  grindstone]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To work hard  all  the  time;  keep  busy  with  boring  or
tiresome work. * /Sarah keeps her nose to the grindstone and saves  as
much as possible to start her own business./

   [keep one's own counsel] {v. phr.}, {formal} To keep your ideas and
plans to yourself. * /John listened to what everyone had to say in the
discussion, but he kept his own counsel./ * /Although  everybody  gave
Mrs. O'Connor advice about what to do with her house, she kept her own
counsel./

   [keep one's shirt on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To calm  down;  keep  from
losing your temper or getting impatient or excited. *  /Bob  got  very
angry when John accidentally bumped into him, but  John  told  him  to
keep his shirt on./ - Usually used as a  command;  may  be  considered
impolite. * /John said to Bob, "Keep your shirt  on."/  Contrast:  GET
ONE'S DANDER UP.

   [keep one's temper] See: HOLD ONE'S TEMPER.

   [keep one's weather eye open] See: WEATHER EYE.

   [keep one's wits about one] See: KEEP ONE'S HEAD.

   [keep one's word] {v. phr.} To do what one  has  promised;  fulfill
one's promise. * /Paul kept his word and paid me the $250 that he owed
me right on time./

   [keep on the good side of] See: ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE.

   [keep open house] {v. phr.}  To  offer  hospitality  and  entertain
those who come at any given time on a  certain  day  or  afternoon.  *
/Beth and Charlie have a cottage by the  lake  where  they  keep  open
house on Saturday afternoons during the summer./

   [keep out (of)] {v. phr.} 1. To stay out; remain  out  of.  *  /The
sign on the fence said, "Danger! Keep out!"/  2.  To  stave  off;  not
allow in. * /The border patrol near El Paso, Texas, is trying to  keep
illegal immigrants out of the United States./

   [keep pace] {v. phr.} To go as fast; go at the same rate;  not  get
behind. * /When they go for a walk, Johnny has to take long  steps  to
keep pace with his father./ * /When Billy was moved to a more advanced
class, he had to work hard to keep pace./ Compare: KEEP UP(2a).

   [keep plugging along] {v. phr.}, {informal}  To  continue  to  work
diligently and with great effort, often against hardship. *  /Bob  was
not particularly talented but he kept plugging along year after  year,
and eventually became vice president./

   [keeps] See: FOR KEEPS.

   [keep step with] {v. phr.} To maintain the same degree of  progress
as someone else. * /The United States has no choice but to  keep  step
with potential enemies in terms of modern defense systems./

   [keep tab on] or [keep tabs on] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To keep  a
record of. * /The government tries to keep tabs on all the animals  in
the park./ 2. To keep a watch on; check. * /The house mother kept tabs
on the girls to be sure they were clean and neat./ Compare: KEEP TRACK
OF.

   [keep the ball  rolling]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  keep  up  an
activity or action; not allow something that is happening to  slow  or
stop. * /Clyde kept the ball rolling at the party by  dancing  with  a
lamp shade on his head./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING.

   [keep the faith] {v. phr.} To not abandon hope; stay  committed  to
the cause of democracy and racial equality. * /"Keep the faith, Baby,"
my neighbor said as he raised his fingers to show the "V" for  victory
sign./

   [keep the home fires burning] {v. phr.} To  keep  things  going  as
usual while someone is away; wait at home to welcome someone  back.  *
/While John was in the army, Mary kept the home fires burning./

   [keep the wolf (wolves) from the door] {v. phr.} To  avoid  hunger,
poverty, and/or creditors. * /"I don't like my job," Mike  complained,
"but I must do something to keep the wolves from the door."/  Compare:
KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.

   [keep things humming] {v. phr.} To cause thing to perform  smoothly
and efficiently. * /Until Mr. Long joined our computer center, we  had
all sorts of problems, but he has  corrected  them  and  really  keeps
things humming./

   [keep time] {v. phr.} 1. To show the right time. *  /My  watch  has
not kept good time since I dropped it./ 2. To keep the beat; keep  the
same rhythm; keep in step. * /Many people are surprised  at  how  well
deaf people keep time with the music when they dance./

   [keep to oneself] See: TO ONESELF(2).

   [keep track] {v. phr.} To know  about  changes;  stay  informed  or
up-to-date; keep a count or record. * /What day of the week is  it?  I
can't keep track./ - Usually used with "of". * /Mr. Stevens kept track
of his business by telephone when he was  in  the  hospital./  *  /The
farmer has so many chickens, he can hardly keep track  of  them  all./
Compare: IN TOUCH, KEEP UP(3). Contrast: LOSE TRACK.

   [keep under one's hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  keep  secret;  not
tell. * /Mr. Jones knew who had won the contest, but he kept it  under
his hat until it was announced publicly./ - Often used as a command. *
/Keep it under your hat./ Syn.: KEEP TO ONESELF.

   [keep up] {v.} 1a. To go on; not stop; continue. * /The  rain  kept
up for two days and the roads were flooded./ Compare: KEEP ON. 1b.  To
go on with (something); continue steadily; never stop. *  /Mrs.  Smith
told John to keep up the good work./ * /The teacher asked Dick to stop
bothering Mary, but he kept it up./ Compare: KEEP AT. 2a. To go at the
same rate as others. * /John had to work hard to keep  up./  *  /Billy
was the youngest boy on the hike, but he kept  up  with  the  others./
Compare: CATCH UP, KEEP PACE. Contrast: FALL  BEHIND,  GET  BEHIND(1).
2b. To keep  (something)  at  the  same  level  or  rate  or  in  good
condition. *  /The  shortage  of  tomatoes  kept  the  prices  up./  *
/Grandfather was too poor to keep up his house./ 3. To keep  informed.
- Usually used with "on" or "with". * /Mary is interested in  politics
and always keeps up with the news./ Compare: KEEP TRACK.

   [keep up appearances] {v. phr.} To  maintain  an  outward  show  of
prosperity in spite of financial problems. * /Mr. Smith's widow had  a
hard time keeping up appearances after her husband's death./

   [keep up one's end] See: HOLD ONE'S END UP.

   [keep up with] See: KEEP STEP WITH, KEEP ABREAST OF.

   [keep up with the Joneses] {v. phr.} To follow the latest  fashion;
try to be equal with your neighbors. * /Mrs. Smith kept  buying  every
new thing that was advertised, finally Mr.  Smith  told  her  to  stop
trying to keep up with the Joneses and to start thinking for herself./

   [keep watch] {v. phr.} To be vigilant;  be  alert;  guard.  *  /The
police have asked the neighborhood to keep watch  against  an  escaped
convict./

   [keep your fingers crossed] See: CROSS ONE'S FINGERS.

   [kettle] See: KETTLE OF FISH, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK.

   [kettle of fish] {v. phr.}, {informal} Something to be  considered;
how things are; a happening; business. * /I thought he  needed  money,
but it was another kettle of  fish  -  his  car  had  disappeared./  -
Usually used with "pretty", "fine", "nice", but meaning bad trouble. *
/He had two flat tires and no spare on a country road at night,  which
was certainly a pretty kettle of fish./ * /This is a  fine  kettle  of
fish! I forgot my book./ Compare: CUP OP TEA(2).

   [key] See: LOW KEY, OFF-KEY.

   [keyed up] {adj.},  {informal}  Excited;  nervous;  anxious  to  do
something. * /Mary was all keyed up about the exam./ *  /Mother  would
not let Tom read a ghost story at bedtime; she said it would  get  him
keyed up./

   [kick about] See: KICK AROUND(3).

   [kick against the pricks] {v. phr.}, {literary}  To  fight  against
rules or authority in a way that just hurts yourself. * /Johnny kicked
against the pricks in his foster home until he learned that  he  could
trust his new family./

   [kick around] {v.}, {informal} 1. To act roughly or badly to; treat
badly; bully. * /John likes to kick around the little  boys./  *  /Mr.
Jones is always kicking his dog around./ Syn.: PUSH AROUND. 2. To  lie
around or in a place; be treated carelessly; be neglected. * /This old
coat has been kicking around the closet  for  years./  *  /The  letter
kicked around on my desk for days./  3.  {slang}  To  talk  easily  or
carelessly back and forth about; examine in a careless  or  easy-going
way. * /Bob and I kicked around the idea of going swimming, but it was
hot and we were too lazy./ Compare: TRY OUT, TALK  OVER.  4.  To  move
about often; go from one job or place to another; become  experienced.
* /Harry has kicked around all over the world as a  merchant  seaman./
Compare: HAS BEEN AROUND.

   [kick back] {v.}, {slang}, {informal} To pay  money  illegally  for
favorable contract arrangements. * /I will do it if you  kick  back  a
few hundred for my firm./

   [kickback] {n.},  {slang},  {informal}  Money  paid  illegally  for
favorable treatment. * /He was arrested for making kickback payments./

   [kick down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To shift  an  automobile,  jeep,  or
truck into lower gear by hand-shifting. * /Joe kicked  the  jeep  down
from third to second, and we slowed down./

   [kick in] See: CHIP IN.

   [kick in the pants] or [kick in the teeth]  {n.  phr.},  {informal}
Unexpected scorn or insult when  praise  was  expected;  rejection.  *
/Mary worked hard to clean up John's room, but all  she  got  for  her
trouble was a kick in the teeth./ Compare: SLAP IN THE FACE.

   [kick it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To end a bad or unwanted habit such as
drinking, smoking, or drug addiction. * /Farnsworth finally kicked it;
he's in good shape./

   [kickoff] {n.} The start  of  something,  like  a  new  venture,  a
business, a sports event, or a concert season.  *  /Beethoven's  Ninth
will be the kickoff for this summer season at Ravinia./

   [kick off] {v. phr.} 1. To make the kick  that  begins  a  football
game. * /John kicked off and the football game started./ 2. {informal}
To begin; launch; start. * /The candidate kicked off his campaign with
a speech on television./ * /The fund raising drive was kicked off with
a theater party./ 3. {slang} To die. * /Mr. Jones  was  almost  ninety
years old when he kicked off./ Syn.: KICK THE BUCKET.

   [kick oneself] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  be  sorry  or  ashamed;
regret. * /When John missed the  train,  he  kicked  himself  for  not
having left earlier./ * /Mary could have kicked  herself  for  letting
the secret out before it was announced officially./

   [kick out] or [boot out] {v.}, {informal} To make (someone)  go  or
leave; get rid of; dismiss. * /The boys made  so  much  noise  at  the
movie that the manager kicked them out./ * /The chief  of  police  was
booted out of office because he was a crook./ Syn.: THROW OUT(3).

   [kick over] {v.} 1. Of a motor: To begin to work.  *  /He  had  not
used his car for two months and when he tried to start it,  the  motor
would not kick over./ 2. {slang}  To  pay;  contribute.  *  /The  gang
forced all the storekeepers on the block to kick over $5 a  week./  3.
{slang} To die. * /Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over this morning./

   [kick over the traces] also [jump the traces] {v.  phr.}  To  break
the rules; behave badly. * /When their teacher was absent and they had
a substitute, the children kicked over the traces./ Compare:  ACT  UP,
CUT UP, LET LOOSE, OUT OF HAND, RAISE CAIN.

   [kick the bucket] {v. phr.}, {slang}  To  die.  *  /Old  Mr.  Jones
kicked the bucket just two days before  his  ninety-fourth  birthday./
Compare: KICK OFF(3).

   [kick up] {v.}, {informal} To show signs of not  working  right.  *
/John had had too much to eat and his stomach started to kick  up./  *
/After working well for a year the air  conditioner  suddenly  started
kicking up./

   [kick up a fuss] or [kick up a row] or [raise a row] also [kick  up
a dust] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; make a  disturbance.  *
/When the teacher gave the class five  more  hours  of  homework,  the
class kicked up a fuss./ * /When the teacher left the room,  two  boys
kicked up a row./ Compare: RAISE CAIN, RAISE THE ROOF.

   [kick up one's heels] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have a  merry  time;
celebrate. * /When exams were over the students went to town  to  kick
up their heels./ * /Mary was usually very quiet but  at  the  farewell
party she kicked up her heels and had a wonderful time./

   [kid] See: HANDLE WITH GLOVES or HANDLE  WITH  KID  GLOVES,  HANDLE
WITHOUT GLOVES or HANDLE WITHOUT KID GLOVES.

   [kiddie car] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} A  school
bus. * /Watch out for that kiddie car coming up behind you!/

   [kill] See: CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT, IN AT THE KILL.

   [kill off] {v.} To kill or end completely; destroy. * /The  factory
dumped poisonous wastes into the river and killed  off  the  fish./  *
/The president suggested a new law to Congress  but  many  members  of
Congress were against the idea and they killed it off./ * /Mother made
Nancy practice her dancing an hour  every  day;  Nancy  got  tired  of
dancing and that killed off her interest./

   [kill the goose that laid the golden egg] To spoil  something  that
is good or something that you have, by being greedy. -  A  proverb.  *
/Mrs. Jones gives you an apple from her tree whenever you  go  by  her
house, but don't kill the goose that laid the golden egg by  bothering
her too much./

   [kill time] {v. phr.} To cause the time to pass more rapidly; waste
time. * /The plane trip to Hong Kong  was  long  and  tiring,  but  we
managed to kill time by watching several movies./

   [kill two birds with one stone] {v. phr.} To succeed in  doing  two
things by only one action; get two results from one effort. *  /Mother
stopped at the supermarket to buy bread and then went to get  Jane  at
dancing class; she killed two birds with one stone./  *  /The  history
teacher told us that making an outline kills two birds with one stone;
it makes us study the lesson till we understand it, and  it  gives  us
notes to review before the test./

   [kilter] See: OUT OF KILTER.

   [kind] See: IN A WAY also IN A KIND OF WAY, IN KIND.

   [kindly] See: TAKE KINDLY TO.

   [kind of] or [sort of]  {adv.  phr.},  {informal}  Almost  but  not
quite; rather. * /A guinea pig looks kind of like a rabbit, but it has
short ears./ * /Bob was kind of tired when he  finished  the  job./  *
/The teacher sort of frowned but then smiled./ * /Mary  wouldn't  tell
what she wanted to be when she grew up; it was sort of a secret./

   [kindled spirits] {n. phr.}  People  who  resemble  each  other  in
numerous ways, including their ways of thinking and feeling.  *  /They
are kindred spirits; they both  like  to  go  on  long  walks  in  the
forest./

   [king's ransom] {n. phr.} 1. An  excessively  large  sum  of  money
extorted by kidnappers to let someone go free. * /The Smith family had
to pay a kings ransom for the freedom  of  their  seven-year-old  son,
Tommy./ 2. An exorbitant fee one is forced to  pay.  *  /The  realtors
exacted a king's ransom for that choice lot on the comer./

   [kiss someone] or [something goodbye] {v. phr.} To lose or give  up
someone or something forever. * /"If you won't marry Jane," Peter said
to Tom, "you might as well kiss her goodbye."/ * /People who bet on  a
losing horse at the races might as well kiss their money goodbye./

   [kite] See: GO FLY A KITE.

   [kitten] See: HAVE KITTENS.

   [knee] See: BRING TO ONE'S KNEES, IN THE LAP OF THE  GODS  also  ON
THE KNEES OF THE GODS, ON ONE'S KNEES, UP TO THE CHIN IN or UP TO  THE
KNEE IN.

   [knee-deep] or [neck-deep] {adv.} or  {adj.  phr.}  1.  Very  much;
deeply; having a big part in. * /Johnny was knee-deep in trouble./  2.
Very busy; working hard at. * /We were neck-deep  in  homework  before
the exams./ 3. Getting or having  many  or  much.  *  /The  television
station was knee-deep in phone calls./ Compare: UP TO THE CHIN IN.

   [knee-high to a grasshopper]  also  [knee-high  to  a  duck]  {adj.
phr.}, {informal} As tall  as  a  very  small  child;  very  young.  *
/Charles started reading when he was knee-high to  a  grasshopper./  *
/I've known Mary ever since she was knee-high to a duck./

   [kneeling bus] {n.}, {informal} A bus  equipped  with  a  hydraulic
device to enable it to drop almost to curb level for greater  ease  of
boarding  and  leaving  vehicle,  as  a  convenience  for  elderly  or
handicapped passengers. * /The man on crutches was pleased to see  the
kneeling bus./

   [knell] See: DEATH KNELL.

   [knit] See: CLOSE-KNIT.

   [knitting] See: STICK TO ONE'S KNITTING or TEND TO ONE'S KNITTING.

   [knock] See: SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS.

   [knock about] or [knock around] {v.} To travel without a  plan;  go
where you please. * /After he  graduated  from  college,  Joe  knocked
about for a year seeing the country before he  went  to  work  in  his
father's business./ Compare: KICK AROUND.

   [knock back on one's heels] See: SET BACK ON ONE'S HEELS.

   [knock cold] {v. phr.}, {informal} To render  unconscious.  *  /The
blow on the chin knocked Harry cold./

   [knock down] {v. phr.} To reduce; lower. * /The realtors said  that
if we decided to buy the house, they would knock  the  price  down  by
10%./

   [knocked out] {adj.}, {slang} Intoxicated; drugged;  out  of  one's
mind. * /Jim sounds so incoherent, he must be knocked out./

   [knock for a loop] or [throw for a  loop]  {v.  phr.},  {slang}  To
surprise very much. * /When I heard they were  moving,  I  was  really
knocked for a loop./ * /The news of their  marriage  threw  me  for  a
loop./

   [knock it off] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1.  To  stop  talking
about something considered  not  appropriate  or  nonsensical  by  the
listener. - Used frequently as an imperative. * /Come on,  Joe,  knock
it off, you're not making  any  sense  at  all!/  2.  To  cease  doing
something; to quit. - Heavily favored in the imperative.  *  /Come  on
boys, knock it off, you're breaking the furniture in my room!/

   [knock off] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To burglarize  someone.  *  /They
knocked off the Manning residence./  2.  To  murder  someone.  *  /The
gangsters knocked off Herman./

   [knock off one's feet] {v. phr.} To surprise (someone) so much that
he does not know what to do. * /Her husband's death knocked Mrs. Jones
off her feet./ * /When Charlie was given the prize, it knocked him off
his feet for a few minutes./ Compare: BOWL OVER(2),  SWEEP  OFF  ONE'S
FEET.

   [knock one's block off] {v. phr.},  {slang}  To  hit  someone  very
hard; beat someone up. * /Stay out of my yard or I'll knock your block
off./ * /Jim will knock your block off if he catches  you  riding  his
bike./

   [knock oneself out] {v. phr.}, {informal} To work very hard; make a
great effort. * /Mrs. Ross knocked herself out planning her daughter's
wedding./ * /Tom knocked himself out to give his guests a good  time./
Compare: BREAK ONE'S NECK, FALL OVER BACKWARDS, OUT OF ONE'S WAY.

   [knock on wood] {v. phr.} To knock on something  made  of  wood  to
keep from having bad luck. - Many people believe that  you  will  have
bad luck if you talk about good luck or brag about  something,  unless
you knock on wood; often used in a joking way.  *  /Charles  said,  "I
haven't been sick all winter." Grandfather said, "You'd  better  knock
on wood when you say that."/

   [knockout] {n.}, {slang} 1. Strikingly beautiful woman. * /Sue is a
regular knockout./ 2. A straight punch in  boxing  that  causes  one's
opponent to fall and lose consciousness. * /The champion won the fight
with a straight knockout./

   [knock out] {v. phr.} To make helpless, unworkable, or unusable.  *
/The champion knocked out the challenger in the third round./  *  /The
soldier knocked out two enemy tanks with his bazooka./

   [knock over] {v.  phr.}  To  overturn;  upset.  *  /I  accidentally
knocked over the Chinese lamp that fell on size floor and broke./

   [knock the living daylights out of] {v. phr.}, {slang},  {informal}
To render (someone) unconscious (said in exaggeration).  *  /The  news
almost knocked the living daylights out of me./

   [knock the stuffing out of] See: KNOCK THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF.

   [knot] See: TIE IN KNOTS, TIE THE KNOT.

   [knotty problem] {n. phr.} A very complicated and difficult problem
to solve. * /Doing one's income tax  properly  can  present  a  knotty
problem./

   [know] See: FOR ALL ONE KNOWS,  GOD  KNOWS  or  GOODNESS  KNOWS  or
HEAVEN KNOWS, IN THE KNOW, NOT KNOW WHICH WAY  TO  TURN  or  NOT  KNOW
WHICH WAY TO JUMP.

   [know a thing or two about] {v. phr.} To be experienced in; have  a
fairly considerable knowledge of. * /Tom has dealt with  many  foreign
traders; he knows a thing or two about stocks and bonds./

   [know enough to come in out of the rain] {v.  phr.}  To  have  good
sense; know how to take care  of  yourself.  -  Usually  used  in  the
negative. * /Bob does so many foolish things that his mother  says  he
doesn't know enough to come in out of the rain./  *  /Sally  may  look
stupid, but she knows enough to come in out of the rain./

   [know-how]  {n.},  {slang}  Expertise;  ability   to   devise   and
construct. * /The United States had the know-how to  beat  the  Soviet
Union to the moon in 1969./

   [know if one is coming or going] or [know whether one is coming  or
going] {v. phr.} To feel able to think clearly; know  what  to  do.  -
Usually used in the negative or with limiters. * /On Monday,  the  car
broke down; on Tuesday,  Mother  broke  her  arm;  on  Wednesday,  the
children all became ill with  the  mumps;  by  Thursday,  poor  Father
didn't know if he was coming or going./ * /My cousin  is  so  much  in
love that she scarcely knows whether she's coming or going./  Compare:
IN A FOG.

   [know in one's bones] See: FEEL IN ONE'S BONES.

   [know-it-all] {n.} A person who acts  as  if  he  knows  all  about
everything; someone who thinks no one can tell  him  anything  new.  *
/After George  was  elected  as  class  president,  he  wouldn't  take
suggestions from anyone; he became a know-it-all./ - Also used like an
adjective. * /The other  students  didn't  like  George's  know-it-all
attitude./

   [knowledge] See: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS  THING,  TO  THE
BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

   [know one in high places] {v. phr.} To be connected with people  in
power. * /Ted's grandfather was the  mayor  of  Chicago  so  he  knows
people in high places./

   [know one is alive] {v. phr.} Not to notice a person. -  Used  with
negative or limiting words and in questions. * /She was a good-looking
girl but she didn't know I was alive./ Compare: GIVE A HANG.

   [know one's own mind] {v. phr.} To no( hesitate  or  vacillate;  be
definite in one's ideas or plans. * /It is impossible to  do  business
with Fred, because he doesn't know his own mind./

   [know one's place] {v. phr.} To be deferential to one's  elders  or
superiors. * /Ken is a talented  teaching  assistant,  but  he  has  a
tendency to tell the  head  of  the  department  how  to  run  things.
Somebody ought to teach him to know his place./

   [know one's way around] or [know one's way about] {v. phr.}  1.  To
understand how things happen in the world; he experienced in the  ways
of the world. * /The sailor had been  in  the  wildest  ports  in  the
world. He knew his way around./  Compare:  HAVE  BEEN  AROUND.  2.  or
{informal}  [know  one's  onions]  or  [know  one's  stuff]  To   have
experience and skill in an activity. *  /Before  trying  to  make  any
pottery, it is better to get advice from someone who knows  his  stuff
in ceramics./ Compare: DRY BEHIND THE EARS.

   [know  something  inside  out]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  extremely  well
conversant with something; be an expert in;  have  thorough  knowledge
of. * /Tom knows the stock market inside out./

   [know the ropes] See: THE ROPES.

   [know the score] See: THE SCORE.

   [know what's what] See: KNOW SOMETHING INSIDE OUT.

   [know which side one's bread is buttered on] {v. phr.} To know  who
can help you and try to please him; know what is for your own gain.  *
/Dick was always polite to the boss; he knew which side his bread  was
buttered on./

   [know which way to turn] See: NOT KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN.

   [knuckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN, RAP ONE'S KNUCKLES.

   [knuckle down] See: BUCKLE DOWN.

   [knuckle under] {v. phr.} To do something because you are forced to
do it. * /Bobby refused to knuckle under to the bully./ Compare:  GIVE
IN.



        L

   [labor movement] {n.} Groups which form, strengthen,  and  increase
membership in labor unions. * /His father was connected with the labor
movement in the 1920's./

   [labor of love] {n. phr.} Something done for personal pleasure  and
not pay or profit. * /Building the model railroad was a labor of  love
for the retired engineer./

   [labor the point] See: BELABOR THE POINT.

   [labor under] {v. phr.} To be the victim of; suffer from. * /Ken is
obviously laboring under the delusion that Jennifer will marry him out
of love./

   [lace into] or [tie into] {v.}, {informal} To attack physically  or
with words; begin to hit or criticize. * /The  boxer  laced  into  his
opponent./ * /The critics laced into the new movie./ Syn.:  LAY  INTO,
RIP INTO. Compare: GIVE IT TO.

   [ladies' room] {n. phr.} A public toilet and restroom for women.  *
/Can you please tell me where the ladies' room is?/

   [lady friend] {n.} 1. A woman friend. * /His aunt stays with a lady
friend in Florida during the winter./ 2. A woman who is the lover of a
man. - Used by people trying to appear more polite, but not often used
by careful speakers. * /The lawyer took his lady  friend  to  dinner./
Syn.: GIRLFRIEND.

   [lady-killer] {n.}, {informal} 1. Any man who has strong sex appeal
toward women.  *  /Joe  is  a  regular  lady-killer./  2.  A  man  who
relentlessly pursues amorous conquests, is successful at it, and  then
abandons his heartbroken victims. * /The legendary Don Juan  of  Spain
is the most famous lady-killer of recorded history./  Compare:  LADY'S
MAN.

   [lady of the house] {n. phr.} Female owner, or wife of  the  owner,
of the house; the hostess. * /"Dinner is  served,"  the  lady  of  the
house announced to her guests./

   [lady's man] {n.} A man or boy who likes to be with women or  girls
very much and is popular with them. * /Charlie is quite a  lady's  man
now./

   [lake] See: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE.

   [laid out] {adj.} Arranged. * /Her house is very conveniently  laid
out./

   [laid up] {adj.} Sick; confined to bed. * /I  was  laid  up  for  a
couple of weeks with an ear infection./

   [lam] See: ON THE LAM.

   [lamb] See: GOD TEMPERS THE WIND TO THE SHORN LAMB, IN  TWO  SHAKES
OF A LAMB'S TAIL.

   [lame duck] {n.}, {informal} An elected  public  official  who  has
been either defeated in  a  new  election  or  whose  term  cannot  be
renewed, but who has a short period of  time  left  in  office  during
which he can  still  perform  certain  duties,  though  with  somewhat
diminished powers. * /In the last year of their second terms, American
presidents are lame ducks./

   [land] See: FAT OF THE LAND, LAY OF THE  LAND  also  HOW  THE  LAND
LIES.

   [land all over] See: JUMP ON.

   [landing ship] {n.} A ship built to land troops and army  equipment
on a beach for an invasion. * /The landing ship came near  the  beach,
doors in the bow opened, and marines ran out./

   [land-office business] {n.}, {informal} A great rush of business. *
/It was a hot day, and the drive-ins were doing a land-office business
in ice cream and cold drinks./

   [land of nod] {n. phr.} Sleep. * /The little girl went off  to  the
land of nod./

   [land on] See: JUMP ON.

   [land on one's feet] also [land on both feet] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To get yourself out of trouble without damage or injury and  sometimes
with a gain; be successful no matter what happens. * /No  matter  what
trouble he gets into, he always seems to land on his  feet./  *  /Mary
lost her first job because she was always late to work, but she landed
on her feet and soon had a better job./

   [landslide]  {n.}  An  overwhelming  victory  during  a   political
election. * /Ronald Reagan won the election of 1980 in a landslide./

   [lane] See: LOVERS' LANE.

   [lap] See: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY, IN THE LAP OF THE GODS.

   [lap up] {v.} 1. To eat or drink with the tip of the tongue. * /The
kitten laps up its milk./ 2. {informal} To take  in  eagerly.  *  /She
flatters him all the time and he just  laps  it  up./  *  /William  is
interested in rockets and space, and he laps up all he can read  about
them./ Syn.: EAT UP(3).

   [lardhead] {n.}, {slang} A stupid or slow-witted person. *  /You'll
never convince Donald; he's a lardhead./

   [large] See: AT LARGE, BY AND LARGE.

   [large as life] See: BIG AS LIFE.

   [large-eyed] See: ROUND-EYED.

   [large order] {n. phr.} Difficult job; a difficult task to fulfill.
* /It is a large order to educate three children  in  college  at  the
same time./ Compare: TALL ORDER.

   [lash] See: TONGUE LASHING.

   [lash out] {v.} 1. To kick. * /The horse  lashed  out  at  the  man
behind him./ 2. To try suddenly to hit. * /The woman lashed out at the
crowd with her umbrella./ 3. To attack  with  words.  *  /The  senator
lashed out at the administration./ * /The school newspaper lashed  out
at the unfriendly way some students treated the visiting team./

   [last] See: AT LAST, EVERY LAST MAN, EVERY SINGLE  or  EVERY  LAST,
FIRST AND LAST, HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST, HAVE THE  LAST  LAUGH,
ON ONE'S LAST LEGS, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE  LAST  GUN
IS FIRED.

   [last but not least] {adv. phr.} In the  last  place  but  not  the
least important. * /Billy will  bring  sandwiches,  Alice  will  bring
cake, Susan will bring cookies, John will bring potato chips, and last
but not least, Sally will bring the lemonade./

   [last ditch] {n.} The last place that can  be  defended;  the  last
resort. * /They will fight reform to the last ditch./

   [last-ditch] {adj.} Made or done as a  last  chance  to  keep  from
losing or tailing. * /He threw away his  cigarettes  in  a  last-ditch
effort to stop smoking./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL.

   [last-ditch effort] See: LAST DITCH.

   [last lap] {n. phr.} The final stage. * /Although the trip had been
very interesting, we were glad that we were on the  last  lap  of  our
tiring journey./ See: LAST LEG.

   [last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.

   [last leg] {n. phr.} 1. Final stages of  physical  weakness  before
dying. * /The poor old man was on his last leg in the  nursing  home./
2.  The  final  stage  of  a  journey.  *  /The  last   leg   of   our
round-the-world trip was Paris to Chicago./ See: LAST LAP.

   [last out] {v.} 1. To be enough until  the  end  of.  *  /There  is
enough food in the house to last out the snowstorm./  *  /Our  candies
won't last out the night./ 2. To continue to the end of;  continue  to
live after; live or go through. * /The old man is dying; he won't last
out the night./ * /This car will never last out the winter./  Compare:
HOLD OUT.

   [last stand] {n. phr.} See: LAST DITCH.

   [last straw] or [straw that breaks the camel's back]  {n.  phr.}  A
small trouble which follows other troubles and makes one lose patience
and be unable to bear them. * /Bill had a bad day in school yesterday.
He lost his knife on the way home, then he  fell  down,  and  when  he
broke a shoe lace, that was the last straw and he  began  to  cry./  *
/Mary didn't like it when the other girls said she was proud and lazy,
but when they said she told fibs it  was  the  straw  that  broke  the
camel's back and she told the teacher./

   [last word] {n.} 1. The last remark in an argument. * /I never  win
an argument with her. She always has the last word./ 2. The final  say
in deciding something. * /The superintendent  has  the  last  word  in
ordering new desks./ 3. {informal} The  most  modern  thing.  *  /Mrs.
Green's stove is the last word in stoves./

   [latch on] or [hitch onto] {v.}, {informal}  1.  To  get  hold  of;
grasp or grab; catch. * /He looked for something  to  latch  onto  and
keep from falling./ * /The football player latched onto  a  pass./  2.
{slang} To get into your possession. *  /The  banker  latched  onto  a
thousand shares of stock./ 3. {slang} To understand.  *  /The  teacher
explained the idea of jet engines until the students latched onto it./
Syn.: CATCH ON. 4. {informal} To keep; to  hold.  *  /The  poor  woman
latched onto the little money she had left./ 5. {slang} To stay  with;
not leave. * /Marie and Dick wanted to go to the movies by themselves,
but Mane's little brother latched onto them./

   [latch string] {n.} 1. A string that opens an old-fashioned door by
lifting a small bar. * /The  early  settlers  kept  the  latch  string
outside the door when they were working around the house, but at night
they pulled it to  the  inside./  2.  {informal}  A  warm  welcome;  a
friendly greeting. - Used in such phrases  as  "the  latch  string  is
out." * /Mary has her latch siring out for everyone who comes./  Syn.:
WELCOME MAT(2).

   [late] See: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, OF LATE.

   [lately] See: JOHNNY-COME-LATELY.

   [later] See: SOONER OR LATER.

   [later on] {adv.} Later; not now. * /Finish your lessons. Later on,
we may have a surprise./ * /Bill  couldn't  stand  on  his  head  when
school started, but later on he learned how./

   [lather] See: IN A LATHER.

   [laugh] See: HE LAUGHS BEST WHO LAUGHS LAST, HAVE THE LAST LAUGH.

   [laugh all  the  way  to  the  bank]  {v.  phr.}  To  have  made  a
substantial amount of money either by  lucky  investment  or  by  some
fraudulent deal and rejoice over one's gains. * /If you had done  what
I suggested, you, too, could be laughing all the way to the bank./

   [laughing matter] {n.} A funny  happening;  a  silly  situation.  -
Usually used with "no". * /John's failing  the  test  is  no  laughing
matter!/ * /We were amused when our neighbor's cat had  five  kittens,
but when our own cat had six kittens it was no laughing matter./

   [laugh in one's beard] See: LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

   [laugh in one's sleeve] See: LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE.

   [laugh off] {v.} To dismiss with a laugh as not  important  or  not
serious; not take seriously. * /He had a bad fall  while  ice  skating
but he laughed it off./ * /You can't laugh off a ticket for speeding./
Compare: MAKE LIGHT OF.

   [laugh one out of] {v. phr.} To cause  another  to  forget  his/her
worries and sorrows by joking.  *  /Jack  was  worried  about  getting
airsick, but his son and daughter laughed him out of it./

   [laugh one's head off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To laugh very hard; be
unable to stop laughing. * /Paul's stories are so wildly funny that  I
laugh my head off whenever he starts telling one of them./

   [laugh on the wrong side of one's mouth] or  [laugh  on  the  other
side of one's mouth] or [laugh out of the other side of  one's  mouth]
{v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  be  made  sorry;  to  feel  annoyance  or
disappointment; cry. * /Paul boasted that he was a  good  skater,  but
after he fell, he laughed out of the other side of his mouth./

   [laugh up one's sleeve] or [laugh in one's  sleeve]  or  [laugh  in
one's beard] To be amused but not show it; hide your laughter.  *  /He
was laughing up his sleeve when Joe answered the phone because he knew
the call would he a joke./

   [launch window] {n.}, {Space English}, {informal} 1.  A  period  of
time when the line-up of planets, Sun, and Moon are such  as  to  make
favorable conditions for a specific space launch. * /The  mission  was
canceled until the next launch window which will be exactly six  weeks
from today./ 2. A favorable time for starting some kind  of  ambitious
adventure. * /My next launch window for a European  trip  isn't  until
school is over in June./

   [laurel] See: LOOK TO ONE'S LAURELS, REST ON ONE'S LAURELS.

   [lavender] See: LAY OUT(7).

   [law] See: LAY DOWN THE LAW, PARLIAMENTARY LAW, TAKE THE  LAW  INTO
ONE'S OWN HANDS.

   [law-abiding] {adj.} Obeying or following the law. *  /Michael  had
been a law-abiding citizen all his life./

   [lawful age] See: LEGAL AGE.

   [law of averages] {n. phr.} The idea that you  can't  win  all  the
time or lose all the time. * /The Celtics have won 10 games in  a  row
but the law of averages will catch up with them soon./

   [law unto oneself] {n. phr.}, {literary} A  person  who  does  only
what he wishes; a person who ignores or breaks the law when he doesn't
like it. * /Everybody in Germany feared Hitler because he  was  a  law
unto himself./ * /Mr. Brown told Johnny that he must stop trying to be
a law unto himself./ Compare: TAKE THE LAW INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS.

   [lay] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG.

   [lay about one] {v. phr.} To hit out in all directions. - Used with
a reflexive object: "her", "him", or "them". * /The bandits surrounded
the sheriff, but he laid about him so hard, with his  gun  used  as  a
club, that they stepped back and let him  escape./  *  /Mrs.  Franklin
didn't kill the mouse, but she laid about her so hard with  the  broom
that she scared it away./

   [lay a finger on] {v. phr.} To touch or bother, even  a  little.  -
Used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences.  *  /Don't
you dare lay a finger on the vase!/ * /Suppose Billy fakes his brother
with him; wilt the mean, tough boy down the street dare lay  a  finger
on him?/ * /If you so much as lay a finger on my boy,  I'll  call  the
police./ Compare: LAY HANDS ON, PUT ONE'S FINGER ON.

   [lay an egg] {v. phr.}, {slang} To fail  to  win  the  interest  or
favor of an audience. * /His joke laid an egg./ * /Sometimes he  is  a
successful speaker, but sometimes he lays an egg./

   [lay aside] {v. phr.} 1. To put off until another  time;  interrupt
an activity. * /The president laid aside politics to turn  to  foreign
affairs./ 2. To save. * /They tried to lay aside a little  money  each
week for their vacation./

   [lay at one's door] {v. phr.}, {literary} To blame (something) on a
person. * /The failure of the plan was laid at his door./ Compare: LAY
TO(1).

   [lay away] {v.} 1. To save. * /She laid a little of  her  pay  away
each week./ 2. To bury (a person). - Used to avoid  the  word  "bury",
which some people think is unpleasant. * /He  was  laid  away  in  his
favorite spot on the hill./

   [lay-away plan] {n.} A plan for buying something that you can't pay
cash for; a plan in which you pay some money down  and  pay  a  little
more when you can, and the store holds the article until you have paid
the full price. * /She could not afford to pay for  the  coat  all  at
once, so she used the lay-away plan./

   [lay bare] {v. phr.} To expose;  reveal;  divulge.  *  /During  his
testimony the witness laid bare the whole  story  of  his  involvement
with the accused./

   [lay by] {v.} To save, especially  a  little  at  a  time.  *  /The
students laid a little money by every week till they had enough for  a
trip to Florida./ * /The farmer laid by some of his best corn  to  use
the next year for seed./

   [lay down] {v.}  1.  To  let  (something)  be  taken;  give  up  or
surrender (something). * /The general told  the  troops  to  lay  down
their arms./ * /He was willing to lay down his life for his  country./
Compare: GIVE UP. 2. To ask people to follow; tell  someone  to  obey;
make (a rule or principle). * /The committee laid down rules about the
size of tennis courts./ 3. To declare;  say  positively;  say  surely;
state. * /She laid it down as always true that "a fool and  his  money
are soon parted."/ 4. To store or save for future use, especially in a
cellar. * /They laid down several barrels of cider./

   [lay down one's arms] {v. phr.} To  cease  fighting;  surrender.  *
/The Civil War ended when the Confederate army finally laid  down  its
arms./

   [lay down one's cards] See: LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE.

   [lay down one's life] {v. phr.} To sacrifice one's life for a cause
or person; suffer martyrdom. * /The early Christians often  laid  down
their lives for their faith./

   [lay down the law] {v. phr.} 1.  To  give  strict  orders.  *  /The
teacher lays down the law about homework every afternoon./ 2. To speak
severely or seriously about a  wrongdoing;  scold.  *  /The  principal
called in the students and laid down the law to  them  about  skipping
classes./ Compare: TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF.

   [lay eyes on] or [set eyes on] {v. phr.} To see. * /She knew he was
different as soon as she laid eyes on him./ * /I didn't know the  man;
in fact, I had never set eyes on him./

   [lay for] {v.}, {informal} To hide and wait for in order  to  catch
or attack; to lie in wait for. * /The bandits laid for him  along  the
road./ * /I knew he had the marks for the exam, so I  was  laying  for
him outside his office./

   [lay hands on] {v. phr.} 1. To get hold of;  find;  catch.  *  /The
treasure hunters can keep any treasure they can lay hands on./  *  /If
the police can lay hands on him, they will put him in jail./  Compare:
LAY ONE'S HAND ON(2). 2. To do violence to; harm; hurt. *  /They  were
afraid that if they left him alone in his disturbed condition he would
lay hands on himself./

   [lay hold of] {v. phr.} 1. To take hold of; grasp; grab. * /He laid
hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore./ 2. To get possession of.
* /He sold every washing machine he could lay hold  of./  3.  {Chiefly
British} To understand. * /Some ideas in this science book are hard to
lay hold of./

   [lay in] {v.} To store up a supply of; to get and keep  for  future
use. * /Mrs. Mason heard that the price of sugar might go up,  so  she
laid in a  hundred  pounds  of  it./  *  /Before  school  starts,  the
principal will lay in plenty of paper for the students' written work./
Compare: LAY UP.

   [lay  into]  or  [light  into]  {v.},  {informal}  1.   To   attack
physically; go at vigorously. * /The two fighters laid into each other
as soon as the bell rang./ * /John loves Italian food  and  he  really
laid into the spaghetti./ Syn.: PITCH INTO, SAIL INTO. 2.  {slang}  To
attack with words. * /The senator  laid  into  the  opponents  of  his
bill./ Syn.: LACE INTO, RIP INTO. Compare: BAWL OUT, TELL OFF.

   [lay it on] or [lay it on thick] also [put it on thick] or  [spread
it on thick] or [lay it on with a trowel]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To
persuade someone by using very much flattery; flatter. *  /Bob  wanted
to go to the movies. He laid it on thick to his mother./ *  /Mary  was
caught fibbing. She sure spread it on thick./ Compare: PUT ON(2b).

   [lay it on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE(2).

   [lay low] {v.} 1. To knock down; to force into a lying position; to
put out of action. * /Many trees were laid low by the storm./ *  /Jane
was laid low by the flu./ 2. To kill. * /The hunters  laid  low  seven
pheasants./ 3. See: LIE LOW.

   [layoff] {n.} A systematic or  periodical  dismissal  of  employees
from a factory or a  firm.  *  /Due  to  the  poor  economy,  the  car
manufacturer announced a major layoff starting next month./

   [lay off] {v. phr.} 1. To mark out the boundaries or limits. *  /He
laid off a baseball diamond on the vacant lot./ Compare:  LAY  OUT(5).
2. To put out of work. * /The company lost the contract for making the
shoes and laid off half its workers./ 3. {slang}  To  stop  bothering;
leave alone. - Usually used in the imperative. *  /Lay  off  me,  will
you? I have to study for a test./ 4. {slang} To stop using or  taking.
* /His doctor told him to lay off cigarettes./

   [lay of the land] also [how the land lies] {n. phr.} 1. The natural
features of a piece of land, such as hills and valleys. *  /The  style
of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land./
2. The way something is arranged; the important facts about something;
how things are. * /The banker wanted to check  the  lay  of  the  land
before buying the stock./ * /Before the new boy will join our club, he
wants to see how the land lies./

   [lay on] {v.} 1. To spread on or over a surface; apply. * /He  told
us that we should lay on a second coat of paint for better  protection
against the weather./ 2. To beat; to strike. * /Little John  seized  a
staff and began to lay on with great energy./ 3. See: LAY IT ON.

   [lay one's cards on the table] or [lay down one's  cards]  or  [put
one's cards on the table] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  let  someone  know
your position and interest openly; deal honestly; act without trickery
or secrets. * /In talking about buying the property, Peterson laid his
cards on the table about his plans for it./ * /Some of  the  graduates
of the school were unfriendly toward the new  superintendent,  but  he
put his cards on the table and won their support./

   [lay oneself open to] {v. phr.}  To  make  oneself  vulnerable  to;
expose oneself. * /If you don't perform your job  properly,  you  will
lay yourself open to criticism./

   [lay oneself out] {v. phr.},  {informal}  To  make  an  extra  hard
effort; try very hard. * /Larry wanted to win a medal for his  school,
so he really laid himself out in the race./

   [lay one's finger on] See: PUT ONE'S FINGER ON.

   [lay one's hands on] or [get one's hands on] {v. phr.} 1. To  seize
in order to punish or treat roughly. * /If I ever lay my hands on that
boy he'll be sorry./ Compare: LAY A FINGER ON. 2.  To  get  possession
of. * /He was unable to lay his hands on a Model T Ford for the school
play./ Compare: LAY HANDS ON(1). 3. or [lay one's  hand  on]  or  [put
one's hand on] To find; locate. * /He keeps a file of  letters  so  he
can lay his hands on one whenever he needs it./

   [lay on the line] or [put on the line] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1.  To
pay or offer to pay. * /The sponsors  had  to  lay  nearly  a  million
dollars on the line to keep the show on TV./ * /The  bank  is  putting
$5,000 on the line as a reward to  anyone  who  catches  the  robber./
Compare: PUT UP. 2. To say plainly so that there can be no doubt; tell
truthfully, * /I'm going to lay it on the line for you, Paul. You must
work harder if you want to pass./ 3. To take a chance of losing; risk.
* /The champion is laying his title on the line in the fight tonight./
* /Frank decided to lay his job on the line and tell the boss that  he
thought he was wrong./

   [lay out] {v. phr.} 1. To prepare (a dead body) for burial. *  /The
corpse was laid out by the undertaker./ 2. {slang} To knock down flat;
to hit unconscious. * /A stiff right to the jaw laid the boxer out  in
the second round./ 3. To plan. * /Come here, Fred, I have a  job  laid
out for you./ 4. To mark or show where work is  to  be  done.  *  /The
foreman laid out the job for  the  new  machinist./  5.  To  plan  the
building or arrangement of; design. *  /The  architect  laid  out  the
interior of the building./ * /The early colonists laid  out  towns  in
the wilderness./ Compare: LAY OFF(1). 6. {slang} To spend; pay. * /How
much did you have to lay out for your new car?/  7.  or  [lay  out  in
lavender] {slang} To scold; lecture. * /He was laid  out  in  lavender
for arriving an hour late  for  the  dance./  Compare:  JUMP  ON,  LAY
INTO(2), LET HAVE IT(1c).

   [layout] {n.} General situation; arrangement; plan. *  /The  layout
of their apartment overlooking Lake Michigan was strikingly  unusual./
Compare: LAID OUT.

   [layover] {n.} A stopover, usually at an airport or in a hotel  due
to interrupted air travel. * /There were several  layovers  at  O'Hare
last month due to bad weather./

   [lay over] {v.} 1. To put off until later; delay; postpone.  *  /We
voted to lay the question over to our next meeting for  decision./  2.
To arrive in one place  and  wait  some  time  before  continuing  the
journey. * /We had to lay over in St. Louis for two hours waiting  for
a plane to Seattle./

   [lay rubber] or [lay a patch] {v. phr.}, {slang} To take off  in  a
car or a motorcycle so fast that the tires (made of  rubber)  leave  a
mark on the pavement. * /Look at those crazy drag  racers;  they  laid
rubber in front of my house./

   [lay the blame at one's door] {v. phr.} To say that another  person
or group is responsible for one's own failure. * /The angry coach laid
the blame at the door  of  the  players  when  our  college  lost  the
basketball game./

   [lay the fault at one's door] See: LAY THE BLAME AT ONE'S DOOR.

   [lay their heads together] See: PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER.

   [lay to] {v.} 1. To give the blame or credit to; to name as  cause.
* /He was unpopular and when  he  made  money,  it  was  laid  to  his
dishonesty, but when he lost money, it was  laid  to  his  stupidity./
Compare: LAY AT ONE'S DOOR. 2. To hold a ship or  boat  still  against
the wind. * /The pirates decided to lay to that night and go ashore in
the morning./ Compare: LIE TO. 3. To exert oneself; to  work  hard.  *
/He picked up a shovel and laid to with the rest of the gang./

   [lay to heart] See: TAKE TO HEART.

   [lay to rest] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To put a dead person into  a
grave or tomb;  bury.  *  /President  Kennedy  was  laid  to  rest  in
Arlington National Cemetery./ 2. To get rid of; put away  permanently;
stop. * /The Scoutmaster's fears that Tom had  drowned  were  laid  to
rest when Tom came back and said he had gone for a boat ride./ *  /The
rumor that the principal had accepted another job  was  laid  to  rest
when he said it wasn't true./

   [lay up] {v.} 1. To collect a supply  of;  save  for  future,  use;
store. * /Bees lay up honey for the winter./ 2. To keep in  the  house
or in bed because of sickness or injury; disable. * /Jack was laid  up
with a twisted knee and couldn't play in the final game./ 3.  To  take
out of active service; put in a boat dock or a garage. * /Bill had  to
lay up his boat when school started./ * /If you lay up a car  for  the
winter, you should take out the battery./

   [lay waste] {v. phr.}, {literary} To cause wide  and  great  damage
to; destroy and leave in ruins; wreck. * /Enemy  soldiers  laid  waste
the land./

   [lead] See: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME, BLIND LEADING THE BLIND.

   [lead] See: GET THE LEAD OUT OF ONE'S PANTS.

   [lead a dog's life] {v. phr.}, {informal} To live a hard life, work
hard, and be treated unkindly. * /A new college student  of  long  ago
led a dog's life./

   [lead a merry chase] {v.  phr.}  To  delay  or  escape  capture  by
(someone) skillfully; make (a pursuer) work hard. * /The deer led  the
hunter a merry chase./ * /Valerie is leading  her  boyfriend  a  merry
chase./

   [lead by the nose] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have full  control  of;
make or persuade (someone) to do anything whatever. * /Many people are
easily influenced and a smart politician can lead them by the nose./ *
/Don't let anyone lead you by the nose; use your own judgment  and  do
the right thing./

   [leader] See: MAJORITY LEADER, MINORITY LEADER.

   [lead-footed] See: HEAVY-FOOTED.

   [leading light] {n.  phr.}  A  prominent  person  in  a  community,
company, or group. * /Alan is the  leading  light  of  our  discussion
group on music./

   [lead off] {v.} To begin; start; open. * /Richardson  led  off  the
inning with a double./ * /We always let Henry lead off./ * /Mr.  Jones
led off with the jack of diamonds./ * /When the teacher asked  if  the
film helped them to understand, Phil led off by saying that he learned
a lot from it./

   [lead on] {v. phr.} To encourage you to believe something untrue or
mistaken. * /Tom led us on to believe that he was  a  world  traveler,
but we found out that he had never been outside our state./ * /We were
led on to think that Jeanne and Jim were engaged to be married./

   [lead one a  merry  dance]  {v.  phr.}  To  cause  someone  unusual
discomfort or expense; tire someone by causing one to overdo. *  /With
her personal extravagances and constant social activities that cost  a
fortune, Carol led her husband a merry dance./

   [lead the way] {v. phr.} To go before and show how to go somewhere;
guide. * /The boys need someone to lead the way on their hike./ * /The
men hired an Indian to lead the way to  the  Pueblo  ruins./  *  /That
school led the way in finding methods to teach reading./

   [lead to] {v. phr.} To result in. * /Such a  heavy  arms  race  can
only lead to war./

   [leaf] See: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF.

   [leaf through] {v. phr.} To scan or glance through a book or  other
reading matter. * /I only had time to leaf through the program  before
the concert started./

   [league] See: IN LEAGUE WITH, IVY LEAGUE.

   [leaguer] See: TEXAS LEAGUER.

   [leak out] {v. phr.} To become known; escape. * /The famous  beauty
queen tried to keep her marriage a secret, but news of it soon  leaked
out./

   [leak to] {v. phr.} To purposely let  a  secret  be  known,  as  if
conveying it in the strictest confidence. * /The movie  star's  secret
divorce was leaked to the tabloids by her housekeeper./

   [lean on] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To pressure  (someone)  by
blackmailing, threats, physical violence, or the withholding  of  some
favor in order to make the person comply with a wish or request. *  /I
would gladly do what you ask if you only  stopped  leaning  on  me  so
hard!/

   [lean over backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD.

   [lean-to] {n.} 1. A shed for tools, such  as  spades,  hoes,  etc.,
attached to the wall of a house, * /Joe looked for the garden hose  in
the lean-to./ 2. A small cabin in the country.  *  /They  spend  their
weekends in their modest lean-to in Wisconsin./

   [leap] See: BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

   [leap year] {n.} Every  fourth  year  during  which  the  month  of
February contains 29 rather than 28 days. * /During a  leap  year  one
must wait a day longer for one's February pay check./

   [learn] See: LIVE AND LEARN.

   [learn by heart] See: BY HEART.

   [learn by rote] {v. phr.}  To  blindly  memorize  what  was  taught
without thinking about it. * /If you learn a subject by rote, it  will
be difficult to say anything original about it./

   [learn one's way around] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND.

   [learn the hard way] See: HARD WAY.

   [learn the ropes] See: THE ROPES.

   [least] See: AT LEAST, IN THE LEAST, LAST BUT NOT  LEAST,  LINE  OF
LEAST RESISTANCE.

   [leatherneck] {n.}, {slang}, {informal}  A  member  of  the  United
States  Marine  Corps.  *  /I  didn't  know  your  son  Joe  became  a
leatherneck./

   [leave] See: SHORE LEAVE, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT, TAKE LEAVE OF,  TAKE
ONE'S LEAVE.

   [leave a bad taste  in  one's  mouth]  {v.  phr.}  To  feel  a  bad
impression; make you feel disgusted. * /Seeing a man  beat  his  horse
leaves a bad taste in your mouth./ * /His rudeness to the teacher left
a bad taste in my mouth./

   [leave alone] See: LET ALONE.

   [leave at the altar] {v. phr.} 1. To decide not to marry someone in
the last minute; jilt. * /Ed left poor Susan  at  the  altar./  2.  To
overlook and skip for promotion; not fulfill deserved  expectation.  *
/Once again I didn't get my promotion and was left at the altar./

   [leave behind] {v. phr.} 1. Abandon. * /Refugees on  the  run  must
sometimes leave old and sick people behind./ 2.  To  forget;  go  away
without. * /We had reached our car when we noticed that  we  had  left
our keys behind./

   [leave flat] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  quit  or  leave  suddenly
without warning when wanted or needed;  desert;  forsake;  abandon.  *
/Sam found that being a member of the trail-clearing group was  a  lot
of hard work, so he left them flat./ * /My car ran out of gas and left
me flat, ten miles from town./  Compare:  LEAVE  IN  THE  LURCH,  WALK
OUT(2).

   [leave hanging] or [leave hanging in the air] {v.  phr.}  To  leave
undecided or unsettled. * /Because the committee could not decide on a
time and place, the matter of the spring dance was  left  hanging./  *
/Ted's mother didn't know what to do about the broken window,  so  his
punishment was left hanging in the air until his  father  came  home./
Compare: UP IN THE AIR.

   [leave high and dry] See: HIGH AND DRY.

   [leave holding the bag] or [leave  holding  the  sack]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} 1. To cause (someone) not to have something  needed;  leave
without anything, * /In the rush for seats, Joe was left  holding  the
bag./ 2. To force (someone) to take the whole responsibility or  blame
for something that others should share.  *  /When  the  ball  hit  the
glass, the team scattered and left George holding the bag./  *  /After
the party, the other girls on the clean-up committee  went  away  with
their dates, and left Mary holding the bag./

   [leave in the lurch] {v. phr.} To desert or leave alone in trouble;
refuse to help or support. * /The town bully  caught  Eddie,  and  Tom
left him in the lurch./ * /Bill quit his job, leaving his boss in  the
lurch./ Compare: LEAVE FLAT, HIGH AND DRY(2), WALK OUT(2).

   [leave it at that] {v. phr.} To avoid further and more  acrimonious
disagreement; not argue or discuss any  further.  *  /Our  opinion  on
health care is obviously different, so let's just leave it at that./

   [leave no stone unturned] {v. phr.} To try in every  way;  miss  no
chance; do everything possible. - Usually used in the negative. * /The
police will leave no stone unturned  in  their  search  for  the  bank
robbers./ Compare: ALL OUT, BEND HEAVEN AND EARTH, FINE-TOOTH COMB.

   [leave off] {v.} To come or put to an end; stop. * /There is a high
fence where the school yard leaves off and the woods  begin./  *  /Don
told the boys to leave off teasing his little brother./ * /Marion  put
a marker in her book so that she  would  know  where  she  left  off./
Contrast: TAKE UP.

   [leave one's mark] {v. phr.} To leave an impression upon; influence
someone. * /Tolstoy never won the Nobel Prize, but he left his mark on
world literature./ See: MAKE ONE'S MARK.

   [leave open] {v. phr.} To remain temporarily unsettled; subject  to
further discussion. * /Brad said that the question of health insurance
would be left open until some future date./

   [leave out] {v. phr.} To skip; omit. *  /The  printer  accidentally
left out two paragraphs from Alan's novel./

   [leave out in the cold] See: OUT IN THE COLD.

   [leave out of account] {v. phr.} To fail to consider; forget about.
* /The picnic planners left  out  of  account  that  it  might  rain./
Contrast: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

   [leave-taking] See: TAKE ONE'S LEAVE.

   [leave the matter open] See: LEAVE OPEN.

   [leave well enough alone] See: LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE.

   [leave without a leg to stand on] See: LEG TO STAND ON.

   [leave word with] {v. phr.} To leave a message. * /Hank  left  word
with his secretary where he could be reached by  phone  while  he  was
away from his office./

   [left] See: OUT IN LEFT FIELD, RIGHT AND LEFT.

   [left field] {n.} 1. The  part  of  a  baseball  out-field  to  the
batter's left. * /Right-handed batters usually  hit  to  left  field./
Compare: CENTER FIELD, RIGHT FIELD. 2. See: OUT IN LEFT FIELD. - [left
fielder] {n.} The player in baseball who plays in left field.  *  /The
scoreboard in the ball park is on the fence behind the left fielder./

   [left-handed] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Using the left hand habitually.
2. Crooked; phoney; homosexual. * /Morris is such a left-handed  guy./
3. Clumsy; untoward; awkward. * /Grab that hammer and stop  acting  so
left-handed./

   [left-handed  compliment]  An   ambiguous   compliment   which   is
interpretable as an offense. *  /I  didn't  know  you  could  look  so
pretty! Is that a wig you're wearing?/

   [left-wing] {adj.} That which is or belongs to a group of people in
politics that favors radical change in the direction of  socialism  or
communism. * /The left-wing faction called for an immediate strike./

   [leg] See: ON ONE'S LAST LEGS, PULL ONE'S LEG, SHAKE  A  LEG,  TAIL
BETWEEN ONE'S LEGS.

   [legal age] or [lawful age] The age at which a person is allowed to
do a certain thing or is held responsible for an action.  *  /In  most
states the legal age for voting is 27./ * /He could not get a driver's
license because he was not of lawful age./

   [leg man] {n.}, {informal} 1.  An  errand  boy;  one  who  performs
messenger services, or the like. *  /Joe  hired  a  leg  man  for  the
office./  2.  {slang},  {semi-vulgar},  {avoidable}  A  man   who   is
particularly attracted to good  looking  female  legs  and  pays  less
attention to other parts of the female anatomy. * /Herb is a leg man./

   [leg-pulling] See: PULL ONE'S LEG.

   [Legree] See: SIMON LEGREE.

   [leg to stand on] {n. phr.} A firm foundation of  facts;  facts  to
support your claim.  -  Usually  used  in  the  negative.  *  /Jerry's
answering speech left his opponent without a leg to stand on./ * /Amos
sued for damages, but did not have a leg to stand on./

   [leg work] {n.}, {informal} The physical end of a project, such  as
the typing of  research  reports;  the  physical  investigating  of  a
criminal affair; the carrying of books to and from libraries;  etc.  *
/Joe, my research assistant, does a lot of leg work for me./

   [leisure] See: AT LEISURE or AT ONE'S LEISURE.

   [lend a hand] or [give a hand] also [bear a hand] {v. phr.} To give
help; make yourself useful; help. * /The stage manager asked  some  of
the boys to lend a hand with the scenery./ * /Dick saw a woman with  a
flat tire and offered to give her a hand with  it./  Compare:  LIFT  A
FINGER.

   [lend an ear to] See: GIVE AN EAR TO.

   [lend color to] See: GIVE COLOR TO.

   [lend itself to] {v. phr.} To give a chance for or be  useful  for;
to be possible or right for. * /Bob was sick and did not go to  Jane's
party, but his  absence  lent  itself  to  misunderstanding./  *  /The
teacher's paperweight was a heavy piece of metal which sometimes  lent
itself to use as a hammer./ * /This poem lends itself to  our  program
very well./ Compare: LEND ONESELF TO.

   [lend oneself to] {v. phr.} To give help or approval to; encourage;
assist. * /Alice wouldn't  lend  herself  to  the  plot  to  hide  the
teacher's chalk./

   [length] See: AT LENGTH, GO TO ANY LENGTH, KEEP AT  A  DISTANCE  or
KEEP AT ARM'S LENGTH.

   [less] See: MORE OR LESS, MUCH LESS.

   [lesson] See: TEACH A LESSON.

   [less than] {adv.} Not; little. *  /We  were  busy  and  less  than
delighted to have company that day./ * /The boys were less than  happy
about having a party./ Contrast: MORE THAN.

   [less than no time] {n. phr.}, {informal} Very quickly. *  /We  can
be ready to go in less than no time./ * /It took Sally  less  than  no
time to get dinner ready./

   [let] See: LIVE AND LET LIVE.

   [let alone] {conj. phr.} 1. Even less; certainly not. - Used  after
a negative  clause.  *  /I  can't  add  two  and  two,  let  alone  do
fractions./ * /Jim can't drive a car, let  alone  a  truck./  Compare:
MUCH LESS, NOT TO MENTION. 2. [let alone] or  [leave  alone]  {v.}  To
stay away from; keep hands off; avoid. * /When Joel gets mad, just let
him alone./ * /Little Patsy was warned  to  leave  the  birthday  cake
alone./ Compare: LET BE.

   [let be] {v.} To pay no attention to; disregard; forget. * /Let her
be; she has a headache./ Compare: LET ALONE.

   [let bygones be bygones] {v. phr.} To let the past be forgotten.  *
/After a long, angry quarrel the two boys agreed  to  let  bygones  be
bygones and made friends again./ * /We should let bygones  be  bygones
and try to get along with  each  other./  Syn.:  FORGIVE  AND  FORGET.
Compare: BURY THE HATCHET, LIVE AND LET LIVE.

   [letdown] {n.} A disappointment; a heartbreak. * /It  was  a  major
letdown for John when Mary refused to marry him./

   [let down] {v. phr.} 1. To allow to descend; lower.  *  /Harry  let
the chain saw down on a rope and then climbed  down  himself./  2.  To
relax; stop trying so hard; take it easy. * /The horse let  down  near
the end of the race and lost./ * /The team  let  down  in  the  fourth
quarter because they were far ahead./ Compare: LET GO. 3. To  fail  to
do as well as (someone) expected; disappoint. * /The  team  felt  they
had let the coach down./

   [let down easy] {v. phr.} To refuse or say no  to  (someone)  in  a
pleasant manner; to tell bad news about a refusal or disappointment in
a kindly way. * /The teacher had to tell George that he had failed his
college examinations, but she tried to let him down easy./ * /The boss
tried to let Jim down easy when he had to tell him he  was  too  young
for the job./

   [let down one's hair] See: LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN.

   [let drop] {v. phr.} 1. To cease to talk about; set aside;  forget.
* /This is such an unpleasant subject that I suggest we  let  it  drop
for a few days./ 2. To disclose; hint. *  /He  unexpectedly  let  drop
that he was resigning and joining another firm./

   [let fall] See: LET DROP.

   [let George do it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To expect someone else  to
do the work or take the responsibility. * /Many people expect  to  let
George do it when they are on a committee./ Compare: PASS THE BUCK.

   [let go] {v.} 1a. To stop  holding  something;  loosen  your  hold;
release. * /The boy grabbed Jack's coat and would not let go./ - Often
used with "of". * /When the child let go of  her  mother's  hand,  she
fell down./ Compare: GIVE UP(1a), LET LOOSE. 1b. To weaken  and  break
under pressure. * /The old water pipe suddenly let go and water poured
out of it./ Syn.: GIVE WAY.  Contrast:  HOLD  ON  TO.  2.  To  pay  no
attention to; neglect. * /Robert let his teeth go when  he  was  young
and now he has to go to the dentist often./ * /After she was  married,
Jane let herself go  and  was  not  pretty  anymore.  /  3.  To  allow
something to pass; do nothing about. * /When Charles  was  tardy,  the
teacher scolded him and let it go at that./  *  /The  children  teased
Frank, but he smiled and let it go./ Compare: LET OFF(2), LET RIDE. 4.
To discharge from a job; fire. * /Mr. Wilson got into a  quarrel  with
his boss and was let go./ 5.  To  make  (something)  go  out  quickly;
shoot; fire. * /The soldiers let go a number of shots./ * /Robin  Hood
let go an arrow at the deer./ * /Paul was so angry that he  let  go  a
blow at the boy./ * /The truck driver saw the flat tire and let  go  a
loud curse./ * /The pitcher let go a fast ball and  the  batter  swung
and missed./ Compare: CUT LOOSE, LET  OUT.  6.  or  [let  oneself  go]
{informal} To be free in one's actions or talk; relax. * /Judge  Brown
let go at the reunion of his old class and had a good  time./  *  /The
cowboys worked hard all week, but on Saturday night they went to  town
and let themselves  go./  Syn.:  CUT  LOOSE,  LET  LOOSE(3),  LET  OFF
STEAM(2).

   [let go hang] See: GO HANG.

   [let go of] {v. phr.} To release one's grasp. * /As soon  as  Sally
let go of the leash, her dog ran away./

   [let go of  one's  mother's  apron  strings]  See:  TIED  TO  ONE'S
MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS.

   [let grass grow under one's feet] {v. phr.} To be  idle;  be  lazy;
waste  time.  -  Used  in  negative,  conditional,  and  interrogative
sentences. * /The new boy joined the football  team,  made  the  honor
roll, and found a girlfriend during the  first  month  of  school.  He
certainly did not let any grass grow under his feet./

   [let it all  hang  out]  {v.  phr.},  {slang},  {informal}  Not  to
disguise anything; to let the truth be known.  *  /Sue  can't  deceive
anyone; she just lets it all hang out./

   [let it lay] {v. phr.}, {used  imperatively},  {slang}  Forget  it;
leave it alone; do not be concerned or involved. * /Don't get involved
with Max again - just let it lay./

   [let it rip] {v.  phr.},  {used  imperatively},  {slang}  Don't  be
concerned; pay no attention to what  happens.  *  /Why  get  involved?
Forget about it and let it rip./ 2. (Imperatively) Do become  involved
and make the most of it; get in there and really try to win.  *  /Come
on man, give it all you've got and let it rip!/

   [let know] {v. phr.} To inform. * /Please let us know the  time  of
your arrival./

   [let loose] {v.} 1a. or [set loose] or [turn loose]  To  set  free;
loosen or give up your hold on. * /The farmer opened the gate and  let
the bull loose in the pasture./ * /They turned the  balloon  loose  to
let it rise in the air./ 1b. or  [turn  loose]  To  give  freedom  (to
someone) to do something; to allow (someone) to do what  he  wants.  *
/Mother let Jim loose on the apple pie./ * /The children  were  turned
loose in the toy store to pick the toys  they  wanted./  1c.  To  stop
holding something; loosen your hold. *  /Jim  caught  Ruth's  arm  and
would not let loose./ Compare: LET GO, LET OUT. 2a. {informal} To  let
or make (something) move fast or hard; release.  *  /The  fielder  let
loose a long throw  to  home  plate  after  catching  the  ball./  2b.
{informal} To release something held. * /Those dark clouds  are  going
to let loose any minute./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET GO.  3.  {informal}  To
speak or act freely; disregard ordinary limits. *  /The  teacher  told
Jim that some day she was going to let loose and  tell  him  what  she
thought of him./ * /Mother let loose on her shopping  trip  today  and
bought things for all of us./ Syn.: CUT LOOSE, LET GO.

   [let me see] or [let us see] {informal}  1.  Let  us  find  out  by
trying or performing an action. * /Let me see if you can jump over the
fence./ 2. Gi