MPING-OFF PLACE, LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, OUT OF PLACE, PUT IN ONE'S PLACE, PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE, TAKE PLACE. [plague on both your houses] or [plague o' both your houses] Bad luck to both of you! - Used to show disgust at those who wont stop quarreling. * /The bus drivers went on strike because the bus company would not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who needed to ride the bus to work said, "A plague on both your houses."/ [plain Jane] {n. phr.} A common or simple looking young woman or girl. * /When we were in school, Ann was a plain Jane, but she blossomed out and even won the title of Miss Indiana./ [plain] or [smooth sailing] {n. phr.} An uncomplicated, unhampered, or easy course. * /For a graduate of such a famous university as he was, that assignment was plain sailing./ [plain white wrapper] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Unmarked police car. * /There's a plain white wrapper at your rear door!/ See: BROWN PAPER BAG. [plan] See: LAY AWAY PLAN. [plank] See: WALK THE PLANK. [plan on] {v.} 1. To have the plan of; have in mind. - Used with a verbal noun. * /I plan on going to the movies after I finish my homework./ * /Mary was planning on seeing John at the baseball game./ Syn.: FIGURE ON. 2. To think you will do or have; be sure about; expect. * /I'm hoping to go away for the weekend, but I'm not planning on it./ * /We can't order the food for the party until we know how many people to plan on./ * /We planned on Mary for the decorations, but she is sick./ [plate] See: HOME PLATE. [platonic love] {n. phr.} Great affection toward another person without sex. * /They are platonic lovers; they do everything together except make love./ [platter] See: HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER. [play] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, DOUBLE PLAY, FAIR PLAY, FORCE PLAY, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY, MAKE A PLAY FOR, TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY. [play along (with)] {v.} Cooperate; make no trouble. * /The honest jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker's illegal plan./ [play a part in] {v. phr.} To be instrumental in; have a role in; be concerned with. * /Some First Ladies play a greater part in political life than others./ [play around] See: FOOL AROUND. [play around with] See: TOY WITH. [play a waiting game] {v. phr.} To withhold action until one's chances for success improve. * /Ray would like to be vice president of the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the president will soon recognize his abilities./ [play ball] {v. phr.} 1. To begin play in a ball game. * /When the umpire calls "Play ball," the game begins./ 2. {informal} To join in an effort with others; cooperate. * /To get along during Prohibition, many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters./ * /A is often good business to play ball with a political machine./ [play by ear] {v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. * /Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ * /Joe doesn't need any music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go along; to fit the situation. - Used with "it". * /John decided to play it by ear when he went for his interview./ * /It was her first job and she didn't know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./ [play cat and mouse with] {v. phr.} To tease or fool (someone) by pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. * /Joe's uncle had fun playing cat and mouse with him./ * /The policeman decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in the store./ [play down] {v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. * /The newspaper stories played down the actor's unattractive past./ * /A salesman's job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he must play down any faults it has./ [played out] {adj. phr.} Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted. * /It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ * /For a while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played out./ Compare: ALL IN. [play fair] {v. phr.} To do what is right to others; act in a fair and truthful way. * /The boys like the principal because he always plays fair./ * /Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing fair./ [play fast and loose] {v. phr.} To do as you please without caring what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. * /He played fast and loose with the girl's affections./ * /He played fast and loose with the company's good name./ [play footsie] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation. * /Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political situation. * /The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the Syndicate./ [play for keeps] {v. phr.} To take an action of finality and irreversibility. * /"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/ [play hard to get] {v. phr.} To act as if one weren't interested; be fickle; be coy. * /"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach here."/ [play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.} To cause destruction; ruin; injure badly. * /The storm played havoc with the apple orchard./ * /When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it played havoc with his plans for going to college./ * /When Mr. White poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the neighborhood./ [play hooky] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stay out of school to play. * /Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times during the year./ [play into one's hands] {v. phr.} To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself. * /In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents' hands./ * /Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it./ [play off] {v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests so that they balance each other. * /The girl played off her admirers against each other./ * /Britain tried to play off European nations against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) * /The visitors came back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing off the tie./ [play on] or [play upon] {v.} 1. To cause an effect on; influence. * /A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings./ 2. To work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning plans; manage. * /The makeup salesman played on the woman's wish to look beautiful./ * /In some places, leaders play upon people's superstitious fears./ * /He played on the man's ambition and love of honor./ [play one false] {v. phr.}, {literary} To act disloyally toward (a person); betray; cheat; deceive. * /Good faith was not in him: he played anyone false who trusted him./ * /His hopes had played him false./ [play one for] {v.}, {informal} To treat (someone) as; act toward (someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. * /He played the man for a sucker./ [play one's cards right] or [play one's cards well] {v. phr.}, {informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his cards right./ * /People liked Harold, and he played his cards well - and soon he began to get ahead rapidly./ [play ostrich] {v. phr.} To refuse to face painful facts or unpleasant truths. * /She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband's drinking problem./ [play politics] {v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics./ [play possum] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To pretend to be asleep. * /Johnny seemed to be fully asleep, but his mother knew that he was playing possum./ 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escape attention by inactivity. * /The rabbit played possum under the bushes, hoping the hunter would not see him./ * /Bob played possum when the teacher looked around./ [play safe] or [play it safe] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be very careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for the sake of safety. * /He got tired as the game went on, and began to play safe./ * /Tom didn't know what the other driver would do, so he played it safe and stopped his own car./ [play second fiddle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act a smaller part; follow another's lead; be less noticed. * /His wife had the stronger mind and he played second fiddle to her./ * /During the tournament, lessons played second fiddle to basketball./ [play the devil with] or [play hob with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To cause confusion in; upset. * /Uncle Bob's unexpected visit played the devil with our own plans to travel./ * /Mother's illness played hob with our party./ [play the field] {v. phr.}, {informal} To date many different people; not always have dates with the same person. * /Al had a steady girlfriend, but John was playing the field./ * /Jim was crazy about Mary, but she was still playing the field./ Contrast: GO STEADY. [play the game] {v. phr.}, {informal} To obey the rules; do right; act fairly. * /"That's not playing the game," we told him when he wanted to desert his wife./ * /"Oh, let's play the game," he said, when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their debts./ * /Your parents want you to play the game in life./ [play the market] {v. phr.} To try to make money on the stock market by buying and selling stocks, * /John lost all his savings playing the market./ * /Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when he plays the market, and sometimes he loses./ [play to the gallery] {v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF. [play tricks on] {v. phr.} To make another the victim of some trick or joke. * /Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by hiding his clothes while he was swimming./ [play up] {v.} To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. * /The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our weaknesses./ * /The director played up the woman's glamor to conceal her lack of acting ability./ [play upon] See: PLAY ON. [play up to] {v. phr.}. {slang} 1. To try to gain the favor of, especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to please. * /He played up to the boss./ 2. To use (something) to gain an end; to attend to (a weakness). * /He played up to the old lady's vanity to get her support./ [play with fire] {v. phr.} To put oneself in danger; to take risks. * /Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire./ * /The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn't want to play with fire./ Compare: SKATE ON THIN ICE. [plough] or [plow through] {v. phr.} Pass through laboriously. * /Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to get ready for his test./ [plow] See: PUT ONE'S HAND TO THE PLOW. [plow into] {v.} 1. To attack vigorously. * /He plowed into his work and finished it in a few hours./ 2. To crash into with force. * /A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender./ [pluck up] {v.} 1. To have (courage) by your own effort; make yourself have (courage). * /In spite of failure, he plucked up heart to continue./ * /He plucked up courage when he saw a glimmer of hope./ 2. To become happier; feel better; cheer up. * /He plucked up when his wife recovered./ [pluck up one's courage] See: SCREW UP ONE'S COURAGE. [plug away] See: PEG AWAY. [plug in] {v. phr.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power wire by putting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /The integrated circuit has multiplied the number of small radios that need not be plugged in./ [plug into] {v.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power wire by inserting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /He thought he had left the lamp plugged into the wall, and so was puzzled when it wouldn't light that night./ [plume oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be proud of yourself; boast. * /He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as his date./ * /He plumed himself on his successful planning in the election./ * /She plumed herself on the grace with which she sat on a horse./ Compare: PRIDE ONESELF. [plunk down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To drop down; fall. * /After walking a mile we plunked down on a bench to rest./ 2. To drop something noisily or firmly. * /He plunked the heavy suitcase down at the station./ 3. To pay out, primarily an excessive amount * /I had to plunk down $55 for a concert ticket./ [please] See: AS YOU PLEASE. [pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, LINE ONE'S POCKETS. [pocket money] See: SPENDING MONEY. [pocket one's pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE. [point] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, AT THE POINT OF, BESIDE THE POINT, BOILING POINT, CASE IN POINT, COME TO THE POINT, EXTRA POINT, MAKE A POINT, ON THE POINT OF, SORE SPOT or SORE POINT, STRETCH A POINT or STRAIN A POINT, TALKING POINT. [point-blank] {adv.} Straightforwardly; bluntly; directly. * /Sue refused point-blank to discuss marriage with Sam./ [point of view] {n.} Attitude; opinion. * /From the American point of view, Fidel Castro is a bad neighbor to have./ [point out] {v.} 1. To show by pointing with the finger; point to; make clear the location of. * /The guide pointed out the principal sights of the city./ 2. To bring to notice; call to attention; explain. * /The policeman pointed out that the law forbids public sale of firecrackers./ * /The school secretary pointed out that the closing date for making applications had passed./ [point up] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize. * /The increase in crime points up the need for greater police protection./ * /Johnny's report card points up his talent for math./ [poison-pen] {adj.} Containing threats or false accusations; written in spite or to get revenge, and usually unsigned. * /Mrs. Smith received a poison-pen letter telling her that her husband was untrue./ * /To get revenge on Mary, Alice wrote a poison-pen letter to the teacher and signed Mary's name to it./ [poke] See: PIG IN A POKE, TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A POKE AT. [poke around] or [poke about] {v.} 1. To search about; look into and under things. * /The detective poked around in the missing man's office./ 2. To move slowly or aimlessly; do little things. * /He didn't feel well, and poked around the house./ [poke fun at] See: MAKE FUN OF. [poles apart] {adj.} Completely different. * /The two brothers were poles apart in personality./ * / It was hard for the members to make any decisions because their ideas were poles apart./ [polish off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To defeat easily. * /The Dodgers polished off the Yankees in four straight games in the 1963 World Series./ 2. To finish completely; finish doing quickly, often in order to do something else. * /The boys were hungry and polished off a big steak./ * /Mary polished off her homework early so that she could watch TV./ [polish the apple] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try to make someone like you; to try to win favor by flattery. * /Mary polished the apple at work because she wanted a day off./ * /Susan is the teacher's pet because she always polishes the apple./ - [apple polisher] {n.}, {slang} A person who is nice to the one in charge in order to be liked or treated better; a person who does favors for a superior. * /Jane is an apple polisher. She is always helping the teacher and talking to him./ * /Joe is an apple-polisher. He will do anything for the boss./ Compare: EAGER BEAVER, YES-MAN. - [apple polishing] {n.}, {slang} Trying to win someone's good-will by small acts currying favor; the behavior of an apple polisher. * /When John I brought his teacher flowers, everyone thought he was apple polishing./ [politics] See: PLAY POLITICS. [pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND. [pool] See: CAR POOL. [pooped out] {adj.}, {slang} Worn out; exhausted. * /Everyone was pooped out after the hike./ * /The heat made them feel pooped out./ [poor as a church mouse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Penniless; broke; extremely poor. * /The newly arrived boat people were poor as church mice./ [poor-mouth] {v.} To be constantly complaining about one's poverty; keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. * /Uncle Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor-mouthing, but we know that he has half a million dollars stashed away in a secret savings account./ [pop] See: EYES POP OUT. [pop fly] {n.} A baseball batted high into the air but not very far from the plate. * /The batter hit a pop fly to the shortstop./ [pop in] {v. phr.} To suddenly appear without announcement. * /"Just pop into my office any time you're on campus," Professor Brown said./ [pop one's cork] See: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE, LOSE ONE'S MARBLES, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER. [pop the question] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask someone to marry you. * /After the dance he popped the question./ * /A man is often too bashful to pop the question./ [popup] {v.} 1. or [bob up] To appear suddenly or unexpectedly; show up; come out. * /Just when the coach thought he had everything under control, a new problem bobbed up./ * /After no one had heard from him for years, John popped up in town again./ 2. To hit a pop fly in baseball. * /Jim popped the pitch up./ [pork] See: SALT PORK. [port of call] {n. phr.} 1. Any of the ports that a ship visits after the start of a voyage and before the end; a port where passengers or cargo may be taken on or put off; an in-between port. * /Savannah is a port of call for many Atlantic coasting vessels./ 2. A place you visit regularly or often; a stop included on your usual way of going. * /It was an obscure little restaurant which I had made something of a port of call./ * /His home had become one of my regular ports of call in Boston./ [port of entry] {n. phr.} 1. A port where things brought into the country to sell may pass through customs. * /Other ports of entry have been taking business from New York./ 2. A port where a citizen of another country may legally enter a country; a port having passport and immigration facilities. * /Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner./ [position] See: SCORING POSITION. [possessed of] {adj. phr.}, {formal} In possession of; having; owning. * /He was possessed of great wealth./ * /He was possessed of great self-confidence./ [possum] See: PLAY POSSUM. [post] See: PROM PILLAR TO POST. [pot] See: GO TO POT. [potato] See: HOT POTATO. [potboiler] {n.} A book, play, or film written for the primary purpose of earning money for the author. * /"Reading a cheap potboiler helps me go to sleep," the professor wryly remarked./ [pot call the kettle black] {informal} The person who is criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses; the charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he makes it against. * /When the commissioner accused the road builder of bribery, the contractor said the pot was calling the kettle black./ * /Bill said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was calling the kettle black./ [potluck] See: TAKE POTLUCK. [potluck supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER. [potshot] {n.} A direct shot at an easy, stationary target from behind a protected position or camouflage; criticism. * /Modern journalists like to take potshots at the president of the United States./ [pound] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. [pound away at] {v. phr.} 1. To attack; criticize. * /In his campaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at the administration's foreign policy./ 2. To work industriously. * /Mike was pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels and pickaxes./ [pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum payment authorized by law. * /He had hoped that Peter would be lenient regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his full pound of flesh./ [pound out] {v. phr.} 1. To play a piece of music very loudly on a percussion instrument. * /The boy was pounding out the tune "Mary had a little lamb" on the marimba./ 2. To flatten something with a hammer. * /The bodyshop uses special hammers to pound out the indentations in the bodies of cars./ 3. To produce a piece of writing on a typewriter in haste and without much care. * /She hurriedly pounded out a letter of recommendation for the foreign graduate student./ [pound the pavement] {v. phr.}, {informal} To walk up and down the streets; tramp about. * /John pounded the pavement looking for a job./ * /Mary and Bill pounded the pavement to find an apartment./ [pour] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS. [pour cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON. [pour it on thick] See: LAY IT ON THICK. [pour money down the drain] {v. phr.} To spend one's money unwisely; to waste one's funds. * /"Stop supporting Harry's drug habit," Ralph said. "You're just pouring money down the drain."./ [pour oil on troubled waters] {v. phr.} To quiet a quarrel; say something to lessen anger and bring peace. * /The troops were nearing a bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters./ [pour out] {v.} 1. To tell everything about; talk all about. * /Mary poured out her troubles to her pal./ 2. To come out in great quantity; stream out. * /The people poured out of the building when they heard the fire alarm./ [powder] See: TAKE A POWDER. [powder room] {n.} The ladies' rest room. * /When they got to the restaurant, Mary went to the powder room to wash up./ [power behind the throne] {n. phr.} The person with the real power backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of public figures). * /It is rumored that the First Lady it the power behind the throne in the White House./ [practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF, OUT OF PRACTICE. [presence of mind] {n. phr.} Effective and quick decision-making ability in times of crisis. * /When Jimmy fell into the river, his father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from drowning./ [present] See: AT PRESENT. [press box] {n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that is for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. * /In baseball the official scorer sits in the press box./ [press conference] {n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. * /The reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press conference./ * /The press conference with the senator was broadcast on television./ [press one's luck] or [push one's luck] {v. phr.} To depend too much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. * /When John won his first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased his bets./ * /If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck./ [press the flesh] {v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to raise one's popularity during political elections. * /Incumbent Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER. [pressure group] {n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. * /Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aims./ [pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY. [pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH. [pretty penny] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /Their new house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a pretty penny./ [prevail upon] or [prevail on] {v.} To bring to an act or belief; cause a change in; persuade. * /He prevailed upon the musician to entertain instead of the absent speaker./ * /He prevailed upon me to believe in his innocence./ [prey on] or [prey upon] {v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch for food. * /Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of war or robbery. * /Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. * /Gangsters preyed on businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4. To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. * /Ill health had preyed on him for years./ * /Business worries preyed on his mind./ [prey on one's mind] {v. phr.} To afflict; worry. * /He couldn't sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./ [price on one's head] {n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who catches a thief or a murderer. * /The hotel manager learned that the quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a price on his head./ [prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS. [prick up one's ears] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. * /The woman pricked up her ears when she heard them talking about her./ [pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE. [pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and hardships one encounters while being made pretty. - A proverb. * /"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know that pride must take a pinch?"/ [pride oneself on] {v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in; be much pleased by. * /She prided herself on her beauty./ * /He prided himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF. [print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT. [private] See: IN PRIVATE. [private eye] {n.}, {colloquial} A private investigator; a detective. * /Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/ [progress] See: IN PROGRESS. [promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE. [promise the moon] {v. phr.} To promise something impossible. * /A politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters' respect./ * /I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON. [proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual experience can the value of something be tested. - A proverb. * /He was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars. "Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."/ [prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES. [psyched up] {adj.}, {informal} Mentally alert; ready to do something. * /The students were all psyched up for their final exams./ [psych out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To find out the real motives of (someone). * /Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go berserk; to lose one's nerve. * /Joe says he doesn't ride his motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out./ * /Jim psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and wants!/ [Public] See: JOHN Q. PUBLIC. [public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC EYE. [public-address system] {n.} A set of devices for making a speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. * /The public-address system broke down during the senator's speech./ * /The news was announced over the public-address system./ [public enemy] {n. phr.} A famous criminal. * /Al Capone of Chicago used to be Public Enemy Number One during prohibition./ [public speaker] {n.} A person who speaks to the public. * /A public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people./ [puffed up] {adj.} Elated; proud; conceited. * /Just because Bob inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so puffed up./ [pull] See: LONG HAUL or LONG PULL. [pull a fast one] {v. phr.} To gain the advantage over one's opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. * /When Smith was told by his boss that he might be fired, he called the company president, his father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted./ [pull a long face] See: LONG FACE. [pull date] {n.}, {informal} The date stamped on baked goods, dairy products, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on which they may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in a retail store. * /This pie is way past the pull date - small wonder it's rotten./ [pull down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To catch (a ball) after a hard run. * /The outfielder pulled down a long drive to center field./ 2. To earn. * /Mr. Blake pulls down $500 a week./ * /John pulled down an A in algebra by studying hard./ Compare: HAUL DOWN. [pull down about one's ears] or [pull down around one's ears] See: ABOUT ONE'S EARS. [pull in] See: HAUL IN. [pull in one's horns] or [draw in one's horns] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back down on a promise. * /He said he could beat any man there single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward./ 2. To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or activities; save. * /After the business failed, Father had to pull in his horns./ * /As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in one's horns more and more as to physical activity./ [pull off] {v.}, {informal} To succeed in (something thought difficult or impossible); do. * /Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible by winning three golf tournaments in one year./ * /The bandits pulled off a daring bank robbery./ Compare: PUT ACROSS(2). [pull one's chestnuts out of the fire] To do someone else a great favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the process. * /Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for their more powerful neighbors./ [pull oneself together] {v. phr.} To become calm after being excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. * /It had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself together./ [pull oneself up by the bootstraps] or [pull oneself up by one's own bootstraps] {adv. phr.} To succeed without help; succeed by your own efforts. * /He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps./ [pull one's leg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept a ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of something; trick. * /For a moment, I actually believed that his wife had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg./ * /Western cowboys loved to pull a stranger's leg./ Compare: STRING ALONG. - [leg-pulling] {n.} * /Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys' leg-pulling./ [pull one's punches] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not to hit as hard as you can. * /Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing match./ 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. - Usually used in the negative. * /The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any punches./ Contrast: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER. [pull one's teeth] {v. phr.} To take power away from; make powerless. * /The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by blocking its ammunition supply line./ * /The student government council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth./ [pull one's weight] {v. phr.} To do your full share of work; do your part. * /In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his weight./ * /When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each child must pull his own weight./ Compare: WORTH ONE'S SALT. [pullout] {n.} An evacuation. * /The pullout of the American military proceeded on schedule./ [pull out] {v. phr.} 1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. * /The defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories./ 2. To leave (said about trains). * /The train pulled out of Grand Central Station just as the foreign students got there./ 3. To remove by order; evacuate. * /Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia./ [pull out of a hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get as if by magic; invent; imagine. * /When the introduction to a dictionary tells you how many hours went into its making, these figures were not pulled out of a hat./ * /Let's see you pull an excuse out of your hat./ [pull over] {v.} To drive to the side of the road and stop. * /The policeman told the speeder to pull over./ * /Everyone pulled over to let the ambulance pass./ [pull rank] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To assert one's superior position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a privilege or a favor. * /How come you always get the night duty? - Phineas Leman pulled rank on me./ [pull something on one] {v. phr.} To perpetrate something prejudicial; deceive. * /Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when, after going with her for three years, he suddenly married another girl./ [pull strings] or [pull wires] {v. phr.}, {informal} To secretly use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain your wishes. * /If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull strings for you./ * /Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the crowded hotel./ - [wire-puller] {n.} * /Bill got a ticket for speeding, but his father is a wire-puller and got it fixed./ - [wire-pulling] {n.} * /It took some wire-pulling to get the mayor to come to the party./ [pull the plug on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To expose (someone's) secret activities. * /The citizens' committee pulled the plug on the mayor, and he lost his election./ [pull the rug out from under] {v. phr.}, {informal} To withdraw support unexpectedly from; to spoil the plans of. * /Bill thought he would be elected, but his friends pulled the rug out from under him and voted for Vin./ * /We were planning a vacation, but the baby's illness pulled the rug out from under us./ [pull the wool over one's eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fool someone into thinking well of you; deceive. * /The businessman had pulled the wool over his partner's eyes about their financial position./ * /Bob tried to pull the wool over his teacher's eyes, but she was too smart for him./ [pull through] {v.} 1. To help through; bring safely through a difficulty or sudden trouble; save. * /A generous loan showed the bank's faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble./ 2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster; escape death or failure. * /By a near-miracle, he pulled through after the smashup./ [pull together] {v.} To join your efforts with those of others; work on a task together; cooperate. * /Many men must pull together if a large business is to succeed./ * /Tim was a good football captain because he always got his teammates to pull together./ [pull up] {v.} 1. To check the forward motion of; halt; stop. * /He pulled up his horse at the gate./ 2. To tell (someone) to stop doing something; say (someone) is doing wrong and must stop; scold. * /Jim talked rudely to Mother, and Father pulled him up./ * /Ann said in her report that America was discovered in 1634, and the teacher pulled her up./ 3. To stop moving forward; halt. * /The car slowed down and pulled up at the curb./ 4. To come even with; move up beside. * /The other boat pulled up alongside us./ [pull up one's socks] {v. phr.} To try to do better, either in terms of one's behavior or at a task one is performing. * /I'll have to pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today./ [pull up short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /He pulled up short in his red car at the corner when he saw a pregnant lady crossing./ * /When Mark saw that he was hurting Jill's feelings, he pulled up short and started to talk about something entirely different./ [pull up stakes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To leave the place where you have been living. * /We are going to pull up stakes and move to California./ * /The Jones family pulled up stakes three times in two years./ [pull wires] See: PULL STRINGS. [punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH, PACK A PUNCH, PULL ONE'S PUNCHES, TAKE A PUNCH AT. [punch-drunk] {adj.} 1. Dazed or become dulled in the mind from being hit in the head. * /He was a punch-drunk boxer who made his living shining shoes./ 2. In a foggy state of mind; groggy. * /Mary was so thrilled at winning the contest she acted punch-drunk./ * /Mark was punch-drunk for a few minutes after he fell off his bicycle./ [puppy love] also [calf love] {n.}, {informal} The first love of very young people. * /When John and Mary began going around together in junior high school, their parents said it was just puppy love./ [pure and simple] {adj.} Simply stated; basic. - Follows the noun it modifies and is used for emphasis. * /The problem, pure and simple, is finding a baby-sitter./ * /The question, pure and simple, is whether you will support me./ Compare: BOIL DOWN(3). [purpose] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, ON PURPOSE, TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES. [purse] See: LINE ONE'S POCKETS also LINE ONE'S PURSE. [purse strings] {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of the club's purse strings./ [push around] {v.}, {informal} To be bossy with; bully. * /Don't try to push me around!/ * /Paul is always pushing the smaller children around./ [push off] or [shove off] {v.} 1. To push a boat away from the shore. * /Before Tom could reach the boat, Jake had shoved off./ 2. {slang} To start; leave. * /We were ready to push off at ten o'clock, but had to wait for Jill./ * /Jim was planning to stay at the beach all day, but when the crowds arrived he shoved off./ [push on] {v. phr.} To press forward; proceed forward laboriously. * /The exhausted mountain climbers pushed on, despite the rough weather, as the peak was already in sight./ [push one's luck] See: PRESS ONE'S LUCK. [pushover] {n.} 1. Something easy to accomplish or overcome. * /For Howard steering a boat is a pushover as he was raised on a tropical island./ 2. A person easily seduced. * /It is rumored that she is a pushover when she has a bit to drink./ [push over] {v. phr.} To upset; overthrow. * /She is standing on her feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won't push her over./ * /The wind in Chicago can be so strong that sometimes I'm afraid I'll get pushed over./ [push the panic button] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very much frightened; nervous or excited, especially at a time of danger or worry. * /John thought he saw a ghost and pushed the panic button./ * /Keep cool; don't hit the panic button!/ Syn.: LOSE ONE'S HEAD. [push-up] {n.} An exercise to build strong arms and shoulders, in which you lie on your stomach and push your body up on your hands and toes. * /At the age of seventy, Grandpa still does twenty push-ups every day./ * /The football team does push-ups every day./ [push up daisies] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be dead and buried. * /I'll be around when you're pushing up daisies./ * /Don't play with guns or you may push up the daisies./ [put] See: HARD PUT or HARD PUT TO IT, STAY PUT. [put about] {v. phr.} - Nautical usage. To turn in the opposite direction; turn around. * /When we saw the storm clouds thickening in the sky, we put about quickly and raced ashore./ [put a bee in one's bonnet] See: BEE IN ONE'S BONNET. [put a bug in one's ear] or [put a flea in one's ear] See: BUG IN ONE'S EAR. [put across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly; make yourself understood; communicate. * /He knew how to put his ideas across./ Compare: GET ACROSS. 2. {informal} To get (something) done successfully; bring to success; make real. * /He put across a big sales campaign./ * /The new librarian put across a fine new library building./ Syn.: PUT OVER(2). Compare: PULL OFF. [put all one's eggs in one basket] {v. phr.} To place all your efforts, interests, or hopes in a single person or thing. * /Going steady in high school is putting all your eggs in one basket too soon./ * /To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs in one basket./ * /He has decided to specialize in lathe work, although he knows it is risky to put all his eggs in one basket./ [put a new face on] {v. phr.} To alter the aspect of something; change. * /Mr. Merry man's announcement of his candidacy for governor puts an entirely new face on the political scene in our state./ [put an end to] or [put a stop to] {v. phr.} 1. To make (something) end; stop; end. * /The farmer built an electric fence around his field to put an end to trespassing./ * /The principal said that running in the halls was dangerous, and told the teachers to put a stop to it./ 2. To destroy or kill. * /The new highway took most of the traffic from the old road and put an end to Mr. Hanson's motel business./ * /When the horse broke his leg, the farmer put an end to him./ [put aside] {v. phr.} 1. To save; put something aside for a special purpose. * /Peter puts $100 aside every week./ 2. To let go of; put away. * /The teacher to the students, "Put your books aside and start writing your tests!"/ [put away] {v.} 1. To put in the right place or out of sight. * /She put away the towels./ 2. To lay aside; stop thinking about. * /He put his worries away for the weekend./ 3. {informal} To eat or drink. * /He put away a big supper and three cups of coffee./ Compare: STOW AWAY. 4. {informal} To put in a mental hospital. * /He had to put his wife away when she became mentally ill./ 5. To put to death for a reason; kill. * /He had his dog put away when it became too old and unhappy./ [put back the clock] or [turn back the clock] {v. phr.} To go back in time; relive the past. * /If I could put back the clock I'd give more thought to preparing for a career./ * /Richard wishes that he had lived in frontier days, but he can't turn back the clock./ [put by] {v.} To save for the future; lay aside. * /He had put by a good sum during a working lifetime./ [putdown] {n.} An insult, * /It was a nasty putdown when John called his sister a fat cow./ [put down] {v. phr.} 1. To stop by force, crush. * /In 24 hours the general had entirely put down the rebellion./ 2. To put a stop to; check. * /She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good life./ 3. To write a record of; write down. * /He put down the story while it was fresh in his mind./ 4. To write a name in a list as agreeing to do something. * /The banker put himself down for $1000./ * /Sheila put Barbara down for the decorations./ 5. To decide the kind or class of; characterize. * /He put the man down as a bum./ * /He put it down as a piece of bad luck./ 6. To name as a cause; attribute. * /He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions./ 7. To dig; drill; sink. * /He put down a new well./ [put forth] {v. phr.} To produce; issue; send out. * /In the spring the apple trees put forth beautiful white blossoms./ * /The chairman of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by mail./ [put ideas into one's head] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to do something negative; put one up to something. * /Billy would never have poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been putting ideas into his head./ [put in] {v.} 1. To add to what has been said; say (something) in addition to what others say. * /While the boys were discussing the car accident, Ben put in that the road was icy./ * /My father put in a word for me and I got the job./ 2. To buy and keep in a store to sell. * /He put in a full stock of drugs./ 3. To spend (time). * /He put in many years as a printer./ * /He put in an hour a day reading./ 4. To plant. * /He put in a row of radishes./ 5. To stop at a port on a journey by water. * /After the fire, the ship put in for repairs./ 6. To apply; ask. - Used with "for". * /When a better job was open, he put in for it./ * /The sailor put in for time to visit his family before the ship went to sea./ [put in a word for] {v. phr.} To speak in favor of someone; recommend someone. * /"Don't worry about your job application," Sam said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection committee."/ [put in an appearance] also [make an appearance] {v. phr.} To be present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear. * /He put in an appearance at work, but he was too ill to stay./ * /The president put in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in./ [put in mind of] {v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To remind of; suggest to; call up the memory of. * /She puts me in mind of my sister./ * /That puts me in mind of a story./ [put in one's place] {v. phr.}, {informal} To criticize someone for impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. * /The assistant was trying to take command when the professor put him in his place by saying, "No, I'm the boss here."/ * /She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker in his place with just a glance./ Syn.: CUT DOWN TO SIZE. [put in one's two cents worth] See: TWO CENTS(2). [put in one's way] See: PUT IN THE WAY OF. [put in the way of] or [put in one's way] {v. phr.} To set before (someone); give to (someone); show the way to; help toward. * /After Joe graduated, the coach put him in the way of a good job./ * /The librarian put me in the way of a lot of new material on the subject of my report./ [put (it) in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE. [put (it) in writing] See: BLACK AND WHITE. [put it on thick] See: LAY IT ON. [put off] {v.} 1. {informal} To cause confusion in; embarrass; displease. * /I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his proposal./ * /The man's slovenliness put me off./ 2. To wait and have (something) at a later time; postpone. * /They put off the picnic because of the rain./ 3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside. * /When he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off./ * /When the bill collector called, Mrs. Smith managed to put him off./ 4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract. * /Little Jeannie began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to put her off./ 5. To move out to sea; leave shore. * /They put off in small boats to meet the coming ship./ Syn.: PUT OUT. [put on] {v. phr.} 1. To dress in. * /The boy took off his clothes and put on his pajamas./ * /Mother put a coat on the baby./ 2a. To pretend; assume; show. * /Mary isn't really sick; she's only putting on./ * /He put on a smile./ * /The child was putting on airs./ 2b. To exaggerate; make too much of. * /That's rather putting it on./ Compare: LAY IT ON. 3. To begin to have more (body weight); gain (weight). * /Mary was thin from sickness, and the doctor said she must put on ten pounds./ * /Too many sweets and not enough exercise will make you put on weight./ 4a. To plan and prepare; produce; arrange; give; stage. * /The senior class put on a dance./ * /The actor put on a fine performance./ 4b. To make (an effort). * /The runner put on an extra burst of speed and won the race./ 5. To choose to send; employ on a job. * /The school put on extra men to get the new building ready./ [put-on] {n.} An act of teasing; the playing of a practical joke on someone. * /Eric didn't realize that it was a put-on when his friends phoned him that he won the lottery./ [put on airs] {v. phr.} To show conceit; act in a superior or condescending manner. * /The fact that her parents own a villa in Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs./ [put on an act] {v. phr.} 1. To perform a play. * /The seventh grade put on a lovely act for Christmas for the parents./ 2. To pretend. * /"If you always put on an act," her father said, "people will never know who you really are."/ [put on ice] See: ON ICE(2). [put one in one's place] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE. [put one in the picture] {v. phr.} To inform someone of all the facts about a given situation. * /Once you're back from your overseas trip, we'll put you in the picture about recent developments at home./ [put one on a pedestal] {v. phr.} To exaggeratedly worship or admire a person. * /Daniel puts Elaine on a pedestal and caters to her every whim./ [put one on one's feet] See: ON ONE'S FEET(2). [put one out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY(3). [put one through one's paces] {v. phr.} To train and discipline someone; test one's abilities. * /The new recruits were certainly put through their paces by the drill sergeant./ [put one wise] {v. phr.} To bring one up-to-date; inform someone; explain. * /Our old friend David put us wise as to where the best used cars could be found in Chicago./ [put one's back to it] {v. phr.} To make a real effort; to try. * /You can finish the job by noon if you put your back to it./ * /I'm sure you can make the football team if you put your back to it./ [put one's best foot forward] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to make a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best. * /During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward./ * /When Ted applied for the job he put his best foot forward./ [put one's cards on the table] See: LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE. [put oneself in another's place] or [put oneself in another's shoes] {v. phr.} To understand another person's feeling imaginatively; try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into his trouble. * /It seemed like a dreadful thing for Bob to do, but I tried to put myself in his place./ * /If you will put yourself in the customer's shoes you may realize why the thing isn't selling./ [put one's finger on] also [lay one's finger on] {v. phr.} To find exactly. * /The engineers couldn't put their fingers on the reason for the rocket's failure to orbit./ * /We called in an electrician hoping he could put a finger on the cause of the short circuit./ [put one's foot down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take a decided stand; be stubborn in decision. * /John didn't want to practice his piano lesson, but his teacher put his foot down./ * /When it came to smoking pot at parties, our parents put their foot down./ [put one's foot in it] or [put one's foot in one's mouth] {v. phr.}, {informal} To speak carelessly and rudely; hurt another's feelings without intending to; make a rude mistake. * /He put his foot in it with his remark about self-made men because Jones was one of them./ * /She put her foot in her mouth with her joke about that church, not knowing that one of the guests belonged to it./ [put one's hand on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON(3). [put one's hand to] or [set one's hand to] or [turn one's hand to] {v. phr.} To start working at; try to do. * /Hal does a good job at everything mat he turns his hand to./ * /After Mr. Sullivan found farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned his hand to carpentry./ [put one's hand to the plow] or [set one's hand to the plow] {v. phr.} To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big job. * /We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't like it when he quit./ [put one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND. [put one's heart on one's sleeve] See: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE. [put one's money on a scratched horse] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bet on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning. * /You bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money on a scratched horse?/ Compare: STACK THE CARDS. [put one's nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make you jealous; leave you out of favor. * /When Jane accepted Tom's invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint./ 2. To ruin your plans; cause you disappointment. * /Joe's mother put his nose out of joint by not letting him go to the movie./ [put one's house in order] or [set one's house in order] {v. phr.} To arrange your affairs in good order. * /Grandfather knew he would not live long and set his house in order./ * /When Mr. Black died, his lawyer helped the widow put her house in order./ [put one's shoulder to the wheel] {v. phr.} To make a great effort yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. * /The effort to get a new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the wheel./ * /The company was failing in business until a new manager put his shoulder to the wheel./ [put on one's thinking cap] {v. phr.} To think hard and long about some problem or question. * /Miss Stone told her pupils to put on their thinking caps before answering the question./ [put on paper] See: BLACK AND WHITE. [put on the back burner] See: ON ICE. [put on the dog] {v. phr.} To behave ostentatiously in terms of dress and manner. * /"Stop putting on the dog with me," Sue cried at Roy. "I knew the real you from way hack!"/ [put on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE. [put on the map] {v. phr.} To make (a place) well known. * /The first successful climb of Mount Matterhorn put Zermatt, Switzerland, on the map./ * /Shakespeare put his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon on the map./ [put out] {v.} 1. To make a flame or light stop burning; extinguish; turn off. * /Please put the light out when you leave the room./ * /The firemen put out the blaze./ 2. To prepare for the public; produce; make. * /For years he had put out a weekly newspaper./ * /It is a small restaurant, which puts out an excellent dinner./ 3. To invest or loan money. * /He put out all his spare money at 4 percent or better./ 4. To make angry; irritate; annoy. * /It puts the teacher out to be lied to./ * /Father was put out when Jane spilled grape juice on his new suit./ 5. {informal} To cause inconvenience to; bother. * /He put himself out to make things pleasant for us./ * /Will it put you out if I borrow your pen?/ Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY. 6. To retire from play in baseball. * /The runner was put out at first base./ 7. To go from shore; leave. * /A Coast Guard boat put out through the waves./ 8. {vulgar}, {avoidable} Said of women easy and ready to engage in sexual intercourse. * /It is rumored that Hermione gets her promotions as fast as she does because she puts out./ [put out of action] See: OUT OF ACTION. [put out of the way] {v. phr.} To kill. * /When people spoke against the dictator, he had them put out of the way./ * /The old dog was very sick, and Father had the animal doctor put him out of the way./ [put over] {v.} 1. To wait to a later time; postpone. * /They put over the meeting to the following Tuesday./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 2. {informal} To make a success of; complete. * /He put over a complex and difficult business deal./ Syn.: BRING OFF, PUT ACROSS, SLIP OVER. 3. {informal} To practice deception; trick; fool. - Used with "on". * /George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick and needed him./ * /Tom really slipped one over on us when he came to the Halloween party dressed as a witch./ [put someone on] {v.} To play a joke on someone by saying or doing things that are only pretense; kid. * /When the voice on the phone told Mrs. Jones she had won a $10,000 prize, she thought someone was putting her on./ [put that in your pipe and smoke it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To understand something told you; accept something as fact or reality; not try to change it. - Usually used as a command, normally only in speech, and often considered rude. * /People don't vote against Santa Claus, and you might as well put that in your pipe and smoke it./ * /I am not going to do that and you can put that in your pipe and smoke it./ [put the bite on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask (for money, favors, etc.) * /John put the bite on his friend for several tickets to the dance./ * /Willie Mays put the bite on the Giants for a large raise./ [put the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE. [put their heads together] or [lay their heads together] {v. phr.}, {informal} To plan or consider things together; discuss something as a group; talk it over. * /They put their heads together and decided on a gift./ * /We laid our heads together and decided to have a picnic./ [put through] {v. phr.} 1. To carry out; arrange. * /If Jim can put through one more financial transaction like this one, we will be rich./ 2. To connect (said of telephone calls). * /The telephone operator had to put me through to Zambia as there is no direct dialing there yet./ [put through one's paces] {v. phr.}, {informal} To test the different abilities and skills of a person or a thing; call for a show of what one can do. * /He put his new car through its paces./ * /Many different problems put the new mayor through his paces in the first months of his term./ [put to bed] {v. phr.} 1. To put to rest for the night. * /Father put the three children to bed./ * /The boy seemed ill, so the nurse put him to bed./ 2. {informal} To complete preparations and print. * /The newspaper was put to bed at 1:15 A.M./ * /The pressroom was late in putting the sports section to bed./ [put to it] {adj. phr.} Hard pressed; having trouble; in difficulty; puzzled. * /When he lost his job, he was rather put to it for a while to provide for his family./ * /The boy was put to it to answer the teacher's question./ [put to rights] or [set to rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} To put in good order; clean up. * /It took the company a long time to put the office to rights after the fire./ * /It took Mrs. Smith an hour to set the room to rights after the party./ [put to sea] {v. phr.} To start a voyage. * /The captain said the ship would put to sea at six in the morning./ * /In the days of sailing ships, putting to sea depended on the tides./ [put to shame] {v. phr.} 1. To disgrace. * /The cleanliness of European cities puts our cities to shame./ * /That filthy dump puts our town to shame./ 2. To do much better than surpass. * /Einstein put other physicists to shame when he proved his theory of relativity correct./ [put to sleep] {v. phr.} 1. To cause to fall asleep. * /Mother used to put us to sleep by telling us a good-night story and giving us a kiss./ 2. To kill with an injection (said of animals). * /Dr. Murphy, the veterinarian, put our sick, old dog to sleep./ [put to the sword] {v. phr.}, {literary} To kill (people) in war, especially with a sword. * /The Romans put their enemies to the sword./ * /In some wars captives have been put to the sword./ [put to use] {v. phr.} To use. * /During the early part of the Korean war the cooks and office workers of the U.S. Army were put to use in battle./ * /Henry decided to put his dictionary to use./ * /I wish you'd put the lawn mower to use!/ [put two and two together] {v. phr.} To make decisions based on available proofs; reason from the known facts; conclude; decide. * /He had put two and two together and decided where they had probably gone./ * /It was just a mater of putting two and two together: the facts seemed to permit only one decision./ [put up] {v.} 1a. To make and pack (especially a lunch or medicine); get ready; prepare. * /Every morning Mother puts up lunches for the three children./ * /The druggist put up the medicine that the doctor had prescribed./ Compare: MAKE UP(1). 1b. To put food into jars or cans to save; can. * /Mother is putting up peaches in jars./ 1c. To store away for later use. * /The farmer put up three tons of hay for the winter./ 2. To put in place; put (something) where it belongs. * /After he unpacked the car, John put it up./ * /After the hard ride, the doctor gave the horse to the stable boy to put up./ * /After the battle, the knight put up his sword./ Syn.: PUT AWAY. 3. To suggest that (someone) be chosen a member, officer, or official. * /The club decided to take in another member, and Bill put up Charles./ - Often used with "for". * /The Republicans put Mr. Williams up for mayor./ 4. To put (hair) a special way; arrange. * /Aunt May puts up her hair in curlers every night./ Compare: DO UP(3a). 5. To place on sale; offer for sale. * /She put the house up for sale./ 6a. To provide lodging for; furnish a room to. * /The visitor was put up in the home of Mr. Wilson./ * /They put Frank up at a good hotel./ 6b. To rent or get shelter; take lodging; stay in a place to sleep. * /The traveler put up at a motel./ * /We put up with friends on our trip to Canada./ 7. To make; engage in. * /He put up a good fight against his sickness./ Compare: CARRY ON. 8. To furnish (money) or something needed; pay for. * /He put up the money to build a hotel./ [put-up] {adj.} Artificially arranged; plotted; phony; illegal. * /The FBI was sure that the bank robbers worked together with an insider and that the whole affair was a put-up job./ [put up a (brave, good, etc.) flght] {v. phr.} To resist. * /He put up a good fight but he was bound to lose in the end to the older, more experienced chess player./ [put up a (brave] or [good) front] {v. phr.} To act courageously, even though one is actually afraid. * /When Joe was taken in for his open heart surgery, he put up a brave front, although his hands were shaking./ [put up or shut up] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To bet your money on what you say or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often considered rude. * /The man from out of town kept saying their team would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up."/ 2. To prove something or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often considered rude. * /George told Al that he could run faster than the school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up./ [put upon] {v.} To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. - Used in the passive or in the past participle. * /Martha was put upon by the bigger girls./ * /Arthur was a much put-upon person./ [put up to] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk to and make do; persuade to; get to do. * /Older boys put us up to painting the statue red./ Compare: EGG ON. [put up with] {v.} To accept patiently; bear. * /We had to put up with Jim's poor table manners because he refused to change./ * /The mother told her children, "I refuse to put up with your tracking in mud!"/ Compare: STAND FOR. [put wise] {v.}, {slang} To tell (someone) facts that will give him an advantage over others or make him alert to opportunity or danger. * /The new boy did not know that Jim was playing a trick on him, so I put him wise./ - Often used with "to". * /Someone put the police wise to the plan of the bank robbers, and when the robbers went into the bank, the police were waiting to catch them./ Compare: TIP OFF. [put words into one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say without proof that another person has certain feelings or opinions; claim a stand or an idea is another's without asking; speak for another without right. * /When he said "John here is in favor of the idea." I told him not to put words in my mouth./ Q [q] See: MIND ONE'S P'S AND Q'S. [Q.T.] See: ON THE Q.T. [qualms] See: HAVE (NO) QUALMS ABOUT. [quantity] See: UNKNOWN QUANTITY. [quarterback sneak] {n.} A football play in which the quarterback takes the ball from the center and dives straight ahead in an attempt to gain a very short distance. * /Johnson took the ball over on a quarterback sneak for a touchdown./ [queen] See: HOMECOMING QUEEN. [queer fish] {n.} A strange or unusual person who does odd things. * /Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a queer fish./ [queer oneself] {v. phr.} To act in such a manner as to offend others and thus one's own chances or position. * /Phil has queered himself with many girls by his erratic behavior./ [quest] See: IN SEARCH OF also IN QUEST OF. [question] See: BEG THE QUESTION, BESIDE THE POINT or BESIDE THE QUESTION, BEYOND QUESTION also WITHOUT QUESTION, CALL IN QUESTION, IN QUESTION, INTO QUESTION, OUT OF THE QUESTION, POP THE QUESTION. [quick buck] See: FAST BUCK. [quick on the draw] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER. [quick on the trigger] or [trigger happy] {adj. phr.} Ready to shoot without warning; fast with a gun. * /He's a dangerous criminal quick on the trigger./ 2. {informal} Fast at answering questions or solving problems. * /In class discussions John is always quick on the trigger./ [quick on the uptake] {adj. phr.} Smart; intelligent. * /Eleanor is very witty and quick on the uptake./ [quick study] {n. phr.} One who acquires new skills and habits in record time. * /Sue is new at her job but people have confidence in her because she is a quick study./ [quit] See: CALL IT QUITS. [quite a bit] See: QUITE A LITTLE. [quite a few] or [quite a number] also {formal} [not a few] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large number; more than a few. * /Quite a few went to the game./ * /The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it./ - The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". * /Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night./ - Sometimes used like an adverb. * /We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York./ Syn.: GOOD MANY, NOT A FEW. Compare: A FEW, A NUMBER. [quite a little] or {informal} [quite a bit] also {formal} [not a little] {n.} or {adj. phr.} Rather a large amount; rather much; more than a little. * /We are not finished; quite a little is left to do./ * /Cleaning the backyard needed quite a little work./ - The phrase "quite a bit" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more". * /Six inches of snow fell today, and quite a bit more is coming tonight./ - Sometimes used like an adverb. * /Harry was sick quite a little last winter./ Compare: A LITTLE, A LOT, QUITE A PEW. [quite a number] See: QUITE A FEW. [quite the thing] {n. phr.} The socially proper thing to do. * /In polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note to one's host or hostess after a dinner party./ R [rabbit] See: JACK-RABBIT START. [race] See: DRAG RACE, RAT RACE. [race against time] {v. phr.} To be in a great hurry to finish a given project by a specified deadline. * /The workers were racing against time to finish the campus modernization project./ [race to stand still] {v. phr.} To be so far behind in one's work that one must exert an effort similar to that needed to win a race in order simply not to fall even further behind. * /"Could you review this book for us, Professor Brown?" the editor asked. "Unfortunately, no," the professor answered. "I'm so behind in my work that I am racing to stand still."/ [rack and ruin] {n. phr.} Complete decay; condition of decline. * /The entire house had been so neglected that it had gone to rack and ruin./ [rack one's brain] {v. phr.} To try your best to think; make a great mental effort; especially: to try to remember something you have known. * /Bob racked his brain trying to remember where he left the book./ * /Susan racked her brain trying to guess whom the valentine came from./ * /John racked his brain during the test trying to solve the problem./ [radio ham] {n. phr.} Someone whose hobby is the operating of shortwave radio. * /The code letters C.Q. are used by radio hams to invite other radio hams to join in the conversation./ [rag] See: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, GLAD RAGS. [rag doll] {n.} A doll made of cloth and filled with soft stuffing. * /My baby brother won't go to bed without his rag doll./ [ragged] See: RUN RAGGED. [rag trade] {n. phr.} The clothing industry. * /My brother is working in the rag trade, manufacturing dresses./ [railroad] {v.} To force through; push through by force. * /The bill was railroaded through the state legislature due to the influence of some very wealthy sponsors./ [rain] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN. [rain cats and dogs] or [rain buckets] or [rain pitchforks] {v. phr.}, {informal} To rain very hard; come down in torrents. * /In the middle of the picnic it started to rain cats and dogs, and everybody got soaked./ * /Terry looked out of the window and said, "It's raining pitchforks, so we can't go out to play right now."/ [rain check] {n.} 1. A special free ticket to another game or show which will be given in place of one canceled because of rain. * /When the drizzle turned into a heavy rain the manager announced that the baseball game would be replayed the next day. He told the crowd that they would be given rain checks for tomorrow's game as they went out through the gates./ 2. {informal} A promise to repeat an invitation at a later time. * /Bob said, "I'm sorry you can't come to dinner this evening, Dave. I'll give you a rain check."/ [rained out] {adj.} Stopped by rain. * /The ball game was rained out in the seventh inning./ * /The Friday night rally in the stadium was rained out./ [rain on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To bring misfortune to (someone); to complain to (someone) about one's bad luck. * /Don't rain on me./ [rain or shine] {adv. phr.} 1. If the weather is stormy or if it is fair. * /The parade will start promptly, rain or shine./ 2. No matter; if your luck is good or bad. * /Sam knows he can depend on his family, rain or shine./ [rainproof] {adj.} Resistant to rain; something that will not soak in water; referring to a material that repels water. * /"I don't need an umbrella," she said, "as my coat is rainproof."/ [rainy day] {n.} A time of need; especially: a time when you really need money. * /Squirrels gather acorns for a rainy day./ * /Each week Mrs. Carlson saved a little money for a rainy day./ [raise a hand] See: LIFT A FINGER. [raise a row] {v. phr.} To cause a disturbance, a fuss, or a scene. * /He raised quite a row when he noticed that someone had scratched his brand new car./ [raise a stink] {v. phr.} To cause a disturbance; complain; protest strongly. * /Quite a stink was raised in the office when the boss discovered that several employees had left early./ [raise Cain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be noisy; cause trouble. * /When John couldn't go on the basketball trip with the team he raised Cain./ * /The children raised Cain in the living room./ Compare: KICK UP A FUSS, RAISE THE DEVIL. [raise eyebrows] {v. phr.} To shock people; cause surprise or disapproval. * /The news that the princess was engaged to a commoner raised eyebrows all over the kingdom./ [raise funds] or [money] {v. phr.} To solicit donations for a charity or a specific project. * /Our church is trying to raise the funds for a new organ./ [raise hackles] or [raise one's hackles] {v. phr.} To make (someone) upset or annoyed; arouse hostility. * /Attempts to add new ingredients to the beer raised hackles among all the old brew masters./ [raise havoc] See: PLAY HAVOC WITH. [raise heck] See: RAISE THE DEVIL. [raise hob] See: RAISE THE DEVIL. [raise one's sights] {v. phr.} To aim high; be ambitious. * /Teenage boys sometimes think too much of themselves and have a tendency to raise their sights too high./ [raise one's voice] {v. phr.} To speak loudly, as if in anger or in protest. * /"I'm sorry, Mom," Peter said. "I didn't mean to raise my voice."/ [raise the devil] or [raise heck] or [raise hob] or [raise ned] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make trouble; start a fight or an argument. * /Mr. Black raised heck when he saw the dented fender. He blamed the other driver./ * /Some teenage boys raised the devil in town on Halloween night and damaged a lot of property./ Compare: KICK UP A FUSS. [raise the roof] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a lot of noise; be happy and noisy. * /The gang raised the roof with their singing./ 2. To scold loudly. * /Mother raised the roof when she saw the dog's muddy footprints on her new bedspread./ Compare: KICK UP A FUSS, RAISE CAIN. [rake in] {v. phr.} To realize great profits; take in money. * /Because of the heavy snowfall, ski lodge operators in the Rocky Mountains have been raking in the dough this winter season./ [rake off] {v. phr.} To illegally expropriate part of a sum paid. * /The secretary-treasurer of the association has been caught raking off some of the membership dues./ [rake-off] See: KICKBACK. [rake over the coals] See: HAUL OVER THE COALS. [rake up] {v. phr.} To expose; gather; bring to light. * /Let's forget about the past; there's no need to rake up all those old memories./ [ramble on about] {v. phr.} To chatter on idly and without a purpose. * /When Ted has too much to drink, he always rambles on about the good old days./ [ram down one's throat] See: SHOVE DOWN ONE'S THROAT. [random] See: AT RANDOM. [rank] See: CLOSE RANKS, PULL RANK. [rank and file] {n. phr.} Ordinary people; the regular membership of an organization; the enlisted privates in the Army. * /The general usually inspects the rank and file on specific national holidays./ * /The secretary of the association sends letters annually to the rank and file./ [rap] See: TAKE THE RAP. [rap one's knuckles] {v. phr.} To scold or punish. * /The principal rapped our knuckles for cheating on the test./ * /If you talk back to Dad, you'll get your knuckles rapped./ * /The club got its knuckles rapped by the principal for hazing new members./ * /Why rap my knuckles? It wasn't my fault./ Compare: DRESSING DOWN, GIVE IT TO(2). [rat] See: SMELL A RAT. [rate] See: AT ANY RATE, FIRST RATE. [rather] See: HAD RATHER. [rat on] See: BLOW THE WHISTLE, RAT OUT. [rat out] or [rat out on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To desert; to leave at a critical time. * /Joe ratted out on Sue when she was seven months pregnant./ [rat race] {n.}, {slang} A very confusing, crowded, or disorderly rush; a confusing scramble, struggle, or way of living that does not seem to have a purpose. * /The dance last night was a rat race. It was too noisy and crowded./ * /School can be a rat race if you don't keep up with your studies./ * /This job is a rat race. The faster you work, the faster the boss wants you to work./ [rate with someone] {v. phr.} To be esteemed highly by another. * /The professor really rates with both the graduate students and the undergraduates./ [rattle] See: SABRE RAITLING. [rattle off] or [reel off] {v.} To say quickly without having to stop to think; recite easily and rapidly. * /When Roger was seven he could rattle off the names of all the states in alphabetical order./ * /Joan memorized the "Gettysburg Address" so well that she could reel it off./ * /We asked the waitress what flavors of ice cream she had, and she rattled them off./ [rattle one's saber] {v. phr.} To threaten another government or country without subsequent acts of war. * /It is considered an act of demagoguery on the part of politicians to rattle their sabers./ Compare: YELLOW JOURNALISM. [rave about] {v. phr.} To talk very enthusiastically about someone or something. * /Hank praised the new TV show very highly but we didn't think it was anything to rave about./ [raw] See: IN THE RAW. [raw deal] {n. phr.} Unfair treatment; inequity. * /Barry got a raw deal when he was sent to teach the class on advanced nuclear physics; he's an inexperienced graduate student./ [razzle-dazzle] {n.}, {slang} Fancy display; showing off. * /He is such a good player that he doesn't have to add razzle-dazzle to his game./ * /Do we need all this razzle-dazzle to advertise our fair?/ [reach] See: BOARDING HOUSE REACH. [reach first base] See: GET TO FIRST BASE. [reach for the sky] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To put your hands high above your head or be shot. - Usually used as a command. * /A holdup man walked into a gas station last night and told the attendant "Reach for the sky!"/ Syn.: HANDS UP. 2. To set one's aims high. * /"Why medical technician?" asked her father. "Reach for the sky! Become a physician!"/ [read between the lines] {v. phr.} To understand all of a writer's meaning by guessing at what he has left unsaid. * /Some kinds of poetry make you read between the lines./ * /A clever foreign correspondent can often avoid censorship by careful wording, leaving his audience to read between the lines./ [read into] {v. phr.} To attribute extra meaning to; deduce from; consider to be implicit in. * /Just because Fred's letters sounded so friendly Mary was wrong to read anything serious into them./ [read off] {v. phr.} To read in a speaking voice from a list. * /The secretary read off the names of those present in alphabetical order./ [read one like a book] {v. phr.}, {informal} To understand someone completely; know what he will think or do at any time. * /John's girlfriend could read him like a book./ Compare: READ ONE'S MIND. [read one one's rights] {v. phr.} To give to an arrested person the legally required statement regarding the rights of such a person. * /"Read him his rights," Sergeant," the captain said, "and book him for breaking and entering."/ [read one's mind] {v. phr.} To know what someone else is thinking. * /I have known John so long that I can read his mind./ - [mind reader] {n.} * /That's exactly what I was going to say. You must be a mind reader!/ Compare: READ LIKE A BOOK. [read the riot act] {v. phr.} To give someone a strong warning or scolding. * /Three boys were late to class and the teacher read the riot act to them./ [read over] {v. phr.} To read hurriedly in a rather superficial manner. * /The professor said he had no time to read my essay thoroughly but that he had read it over and would comment later in detail./ [read up on] {v. phr.} To study carefully in preparation for an examination or other special purpose. * /Since Mr. and Mrs. Lee are going to take their American citizenship exams soon, they must read up on the Constitution and the three branches of government./ [ready] See: AT THE READY, ROUGH-AND-READY. [ready-made] {adj.} Mass-produced; machine made. * /I buy all my dresses ready-made because I can't afford to have them made to order./ [ready money] {n. phr.} Cash on hand. * /Frank refuses to buy things on credit, but, if he had the ready money, he would buy that lovely old house./ [real] See: FOR REAL, IT'S BEEN REAL. [rear] See: BRING UP THE REAR. [rear end] {n.} 1. The back part (usually of a vehicle) * /The rear end of our car was smashed when we stopped suddenly and the car behind us hit us./ - Often used like an adjective, with a hyphen. * /A head-on crash is more likely to kill the passengers than a rear-end crash./ Contrast: HEAD-ON. 2. Rump; backside. * /Bobby's mother was so annoyed with his teasing that she swatted his rear end./ [rear its head] {v. phr.} To appear; emerge. * /After decades of certainty that tuberculosis had been eradicated globally, it suddenly reared its ugly head right here in the United States./ [reason] See: IN REASON, LISTEN TO REASON, RHYME OR REASON, STAND TO REASON, WITHIN REASON. [receive with open arms] See: WITH OPEN ARMS. [reckon with] {v.} To consider as one of the things which may change a situation; consider (something) that will make a difference in the results. * /The coach said the opposing pitcher had a fast ball to be reckoned with./ Syn.: TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. [reckon without] {v.} To fail to consider as one of the things which might change a situation; not think about. * /The committee for the class picnic party made careful plans for a beach party but they reckoned without a sudden change in the weather./ [record] See: MATTER OF RECORD, OFF THE RECORD, ON RECORD. [red] See: IN THE RED, PAINT THE TOWN RED, SEE RED. [redcap] {n.} A porter at an airport or at a railroad station. * /Mr. Smith works as a redcap at Chicago's O'Hare Airport./ [red carpet] See: ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET. [red cent] {n. phr.} The one-cent coin; a copper coin; very little money. * /Poor Oscar is so broke he doesn't have a red cent to his name./ [red eye] {adj. phr.} Bloodshot eyes that are strained from too much reading. * /Poor Tim has a red eye; he must have been studying too late again./ [red eye] {n. phr.}, {informal} A night flight. * /The company refused to pay for him to take a more expensive daytime flight, so he had to come in on the red eye./ [red-handed] {adj.} In the very act; while committing a crime or evil action. * /The criminal was caught red-handed while holding up the neighborhood bank at gunpoint./ [red herring] {n. phr.} A false scent laid down in order to deceive; a phony or misleading story designed to cause confusion. * /That story about the president having an affair was a red herring created by the opposition in order to discredit him./ [red-letter day] {n. phr.} A holiday; memorable day (usually printed in red on calendars). * /The Fourth of July is a red-letter day./ * /It was a red-letter day for Felix, when he won the lottery./ [red-light district] {n. phr.} A district of brothels or where prostitutes hang out. * /Most unwisely, the young sailor decided to spend his leave on shore by haunting the red-light districts of the port of call./ [red tape] {n. phr.} Unnecessary bureaucratic routine; needless but official delays. * /If you want to get anything accomplished in a hurry, you have to find someone in power who can cut through all that red tape./ [reel off] See: RATTLE OFF. [reference] See: IN REFERENCE TO or WITH REFERENCE TO. [refine on] or [refine upon] {v.} 1. To make better; improve. * /Mary was asked to refine on her first outline to make it clearer and more exact./ 2. To be better than; surpass. * /Modern medical techniques refine on those of the past./ [regain one's feet] {v. phr.} To get back up again after falling down. * /Tom fell while he skied down the hill but he regained his feet quickly./ Compare: TO ONE'S FEET. [regard] See: IN REFERENCE TO or IN REGARD TO or WITH REGARD TO. [regular guy] or [regular fellow] {n.}, {informal} A friendly person who is easy to get along with; a good sport. * /You'll like Tom. He's a regular guy./ Syn.: GOOD EGG. [rein] See: FREE REIN, GIVE REIN TO or GIVE FREE REIN TO. [relation] See: IN RELATION TO or WITH RELATION TO. [relative to] 1. On the subject of; about. * /Relative to school athletics, the principal said the students should not allow athletics to interfere with homework./ 2. In comparison with; in proportion to. * /Relative to the size of an ant, a blade of grass is as tall as a tree./ [repeat oneself] {v. phr.} To say the same thing over again, often in the same words; repeat ideas because you forget what you said or because you want to stress their importance. * /Grandfather is forgetful and often repeats himself when he tells a story./ * /A teacher often has to repeat herself several times before her pupils remember what she tells them./ [resign oneself] {v. phr.} To stop arguing; accept something which cannot be changed. * /When Jane's father explained that he could not afford to buy her a new bicycle, she finally resigned herself to riding the old one./ Compare: GIVE UP. [resistance] See: LINE OF LEAST RESISTANCE. [rest] See: LAY TO REST, PARADE REST. [rest assured] {v. phr.} To be convinced; persuaded; certain and unworried. * /"Please rest assured," he said seriously, "that I will keep all of my promises."/ [rest home] See: CONVALESCENT HOME. [rest on one's laurels] {v. phr.} To be satisfied with the success you have already won; stop trying to win new honors. * /Getting an A in chemistry almost caused Mike to rest on his laurels./ [rest on one's oars] {v. phr.} To stop trying; stop working for a while; rest. * /The man who wants to become a millionaire can never rest on his oars./ * /A high school student who wants to go to college cannot rest on his oars./ [rest room] {n.} A room or series of rooms in a public building which has things for personal comfort and grooming, such as toilets, washbowls, mirrors, and often chairs or couches. * /Sally went to the rest room to powder her nose./ Compare: POWDER ROOM. [retreat] See: BEAT A RETREAT. [return] See: IN RETURN. [return the compliment] {v. phr.} To say or do the same to someone that he has said or done to you; pay someone back. * /Mary said, "I love your new hairdo" and Suzy returned the compliment with "What a pretty dress you're wearing, Mary."/ * /John punched Jerry in the nose, and Jerry returned the compliment./ [reverse] See: DOUBLE REVERSE, IN REVERSE. [rev up] {v. phr.}, {informal}, {slang} 1. To press down sharply several times on the accelerator of an idling car in order to get maximum acceleration. * /The race driver revved up his car by pumping his accelerator./ 2. To get oneself ready in order to accomplish a demanding or difficult task. * /The boys were getting all revved up for the football game./ See: PSYCHED UP. [rhyme or reason] {n. phr.} A good plan or reason; a reasonable purpose or explanation. - Used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. * /Don could see no rhyme or reason to the plot of the play./ * /It seemed to Ruth that her little brother had temper tantrums without rhyme or reason./ [rib] See: STICK TO ONE'S RIBS or STICK TO THE RIBS. [rich] See: STRIKE IT RICH. [ride] See: ALONG FOR THE RIDE, LET RIDE, RUN WITH HARE AND HUNT (RIDE) WITH THE HOUNDS, TAKE FOR A RIDE, THUMB A RIDE. [ride herd on] {v. phr.} 1. To patrol on horseback around a herd of animals to see that none of them wanders away. * /Two cowboys rode herd on the cattle being driven to market./ 2. {informal} To watch closely and control; take care of. * /A special legislative assistant rides herd on the bills the president is anxious to have congress pass./ * /Mary rode herd on the small children walking home from school to keep them from running into the street./ [ride on one's coattails] {v. phr.} To succeed in a certain endeavor by attaching oneself to the greater weight of another person or corporate body. * /"We will never get our Ph.D. program approved on our own," said the head of the modern dance department, "but we might succeed if we stay in the Division of Fine Arts, riding on their coattails, as it were."/ [ride out] {v.} To survive safely; endure. * /The captain ordered all sails lowered so the ship could ride out the storm./ * /Jack decided to ride out his troubles by saying that he had made a mistake but that he had learned his lesson./ [ride roughshod over] {v. phr.} To do as you wish without considering the wishes of (another person); treat with scorn or lack of courtesy; show no sympathy for. * /The city officials rode roughshod over the people who did not want their homes torn down for a new school./ * /The boss rode roughshod over the men when they asked for higher wages./ [ride the brake] or [ride the clutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To keep your foot on the pedal. * /Riding the brake is a bad habit for a driver to form./ [ride the gravy train] {v. phr.} To live a life of plenty and luxury. * /Those who have a wealthy executive or heir to a fortune for a spouse can ride the gravy train without doing any work./ [ride up] or [crawl up] {v.} To slip gradually upward on the body. * /Shorts that ride up can be very uncomfortable./ [riding for a fall] {adj. phr.} Behaving in an overconfident way that is likely to lead to trouble; being too sure of yourself; doing something dangerous. * /The student who does not study for exams is riding for a fall./ * /Mr. Smith has borrowed too much money on his home. He is riding for a fall./ Compare: COME A CROPPER(2). [riding high] {adj.} Attracting attention; enjoying great popularity. * /After scoring the winning touchdown, John is riding high with his classmates./ [rid of] Free of; away from; without the care or trouble. * /The puppy is finally rid of worms./ * /If I could be rid of the children for the day, I would go./ * /I wish you'd get rid of that cat!/ Compare: DO AWAY WITH, THROW AWAY(1), THROW OFF(1). [right] See: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT FOR YOU, DEAD TO RIGHTS, GIVE ONE'S RIGHT ARM, HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, IN THE RIGHT, PLAY ONE'S CARDS RIGHT, PUT TO RIGHTS or SET TO RIGHTS, SERVE RIGHT, TO RIGHTS. [right along] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1a. On your way satisfactorily or without trouble. * /They fixed the engine and the train ran right along./ 1b. On your way without delay. * /Don't wait for me. Go right along./ 2. See: ALL ALONG. [right and left] {adv. phr.} In or from every direction; all around; on all sides. * /The knight rode into battle striking at the enemy right and left with his broadsword./ * /When the talk ended, questions were thrown at the speaker right and left./ [right away] or {informal} [right off] also {informal} [right off the bat] {adv. phr.} Immediately; as the next thing in order; without delay. * /Phil's mother told him to do his homework right away so that he could enjoy the weekend./ * /The Red Cross aids disaster victims right away./ * /Jill knew the answer right off./ * /The teacher said he could not think of the title of the book right off the bat./ Syn.: AT ONCE(2). Compare: HERE AND NOW, ON THE SPOT. Contrast: AFTER A WHILE. [right down] or [up one's alley] {adv. phr.} In accordance with one's specialty or predilection. * /This kind of preclassical music is right up Bill's alley; after all, he wrote his Ph.D. on Bach./ [right field] {n.} The part of a baseball outfield to the batter's right. * /Left-handed batters usually hit to right field./ Compare: CENTER FIELD, LEFT FIELD. - [right fielder] {n.} The outfielder in baseball who plays in right field. * /The batter hit a high fly ball and the right fielder caught it easily./ [right-hand man] {v. phr.} A valued and indispensable assistant. * /The chancellor of the university never goes anywhere without the vice chancellor, his right-hand man, whose judgment he greatly trusts./ [right on] {adj.}, {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Exclamation of animated approval "Yes," "That's correct," "You're telling the truth," "we believe you," etc. * /Orator: And we shall see the promised land! Crowd: Right on!/ 2. Correct; to the point; accurate. * /The reverend's remark was right on!/ [right out] or [straight out] {adv.} Plainly; in a way that hides nothing; without waiting or keeping back anything. * /When Mother asked who broke the window, Jimmie told her right out that he did it./ * /When Ann entered the beauty contest her little brother told her straight out that she was crazy./ [right side of the tracks] See: THE TRACKS. [right-wing] {adj.} Being or belonging to a political group which opposes any important change in the way the country is run. * /Some countries with right-wing governments have dictators./ Contrast: LEFT-WING. [rig out] {v. phr.} To overdecorate; doll up; dress up. * /Ann arrived all rigged out in her newest Parisian summer outfit./ [Riley] See: LIFE OF RILEY. [ring] See: GIVE A RING, RUN CIRCLES AROUND or RUN RINGS AROUND, THREE-RING CIRCUS, THROW ONE'S HAT IN THE RING. [ring a bell] {v. phr.} To make you remember something; sound familiar. * /Not even the cat's meowing seemed to ring a bell with Judy. She still forgot to feed him./ * /When Ann told Jim the name of the new teacher it rang a bell, and Jim said, "I went to school with a James Carson."/ [ring in] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To bring in (someone or something) from the outside dishonestly or without telling; often: hire and introduce under a false name. * /Bob offered to ring him in on the party by pretending he was a cousin from out of town./ * /No wonder their team beat us; they rang in a professional to pitch for them under the name of Dan Smith./ 2. To ring a special clock that records the time you work. * /We have to ring in at the shop before eight o'clock in the morning./ [ringleader] {n. phr.} The chief of an unsavory group; a higher-up. * /The FBI finally caught up with the ringleader of the dope smugglers from South America./ [ring out] {v.} To ring a special clock that records the time you leave work. * /Charles can't leave early in his new job; he has to ring out./ [ring the changes] {v. phr.} To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways. * /David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him./ * /A smart girl saves money on clothes by learning to ring the changes on a few dresses and clothes./ [ring true] {v. phr.} To have a tone of genuineness; sound convincing. * /I believed his sob story about how he lost his fortune, because somehow it all rang true./ [ring up] {v.} 1. To add and record on a cash register. * /The supermarket clerk rang up Mrs. Smith's purchases and told her she owed $33./ * /Business was bad Tuesday; we didn't ring up a sale all morning./ 2. {informal} To telephone. * /Sally rang up Sue and told her the news./ [riot] See: READ THE RIOT ACT, RUN RIOT. [ripe] See: TIME IS RIPE. [rip into] or [tear into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To start a fight with; attack. * /The puppy is tearing into the big dog./ Syn.: PITCH INTO. 2. To quarrel with; scold. * /Mrs. Brown ripped into her daughter for coming home late./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, LACE INTO, LAY OUT, LET HAVE IT. [rip off] {v.}, {slang} (Stress on "off") Steal. * /The hippies ripped off the grocery store./ [rip-off] {n.}, {slang} (Stress on "rip") An act of stealing or burglary. * /Those food prices are so high, it's almost a rip-off./ [rise] See: GET A RISE OUT OF, GIVE RISE TO. [rise from the ashes] {v. phr.} To rise from ruin; start anew. * /A year after flunking out of medical school, Don rose from the ashes and passed his qualifying exams for the M.D. with honors./ [rise in the world] See: COME UP IN THE WORLD. [rise to] {v.} To succeed in doing what is expected by trying especially hard in or on; show that you are able to do or say what is needed or proper in or on. * /Jane was surprised when the principal handed her the prize, but she rose to the occasion with a speech of thanks./ * /When Michael became sick on the day before the program, Paul rose to the need and learned Michael's part./ [rise up] {v. phr.} To stage a rebellion; revolt. * /The people finally rose up and communism came to an end in Eastern Europe./ [risk] See: CALCULATED RISK, RUN A RISK. [road] See: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME, BURN UP THE ROAD, END OF THE ROAD, GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD, HIT THE ROAD, HUG THE ROAD, MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, ON THE ROAD. [road gang] {n.} A group of men who work at road construction. * /Football players often work with road gangs during summer vacations./ [road hog] {n.}, {informal} A car driver who takes more than his share of the road. * /A road hog forced John's car into the ditch./ [road show] {n.} A theatrical play that is performed for a few days in one town and then moves to other towns. * /Many actors get their start in road shows./ * /The road show is often not as good as the original play on Broadway./ [road sign] {n.} A sign on which there is information about a road or places; a sign with directions to drivers. * /The road sign read, "25 MPH LIMIT" but Jack drove along at fifty miles an hour./ * /The road sign said Westwood was four miles away./ [road test] {n.} 1. A test to see if you can drive a car. * /Jim took the road test and got his driver's license last week./ 2. A test to see if a car works all right on the road. * /Most new cars are given road tests before they are put on the market./ * /After he repaired the car, the mechanic gave it a road test./ [roast] See: WEINER ROAST or HOT DOG ROAST. [roasting ear] {n.} An ear of corn young and tender enough to be cooked and eaten; also corn cooked on the cob. * /The scouts buried the roasting ears in the coals of their campfire./ * /At the Fourth of July picnic we had fried chicken and roasting ears./ [robbery] See: HIGHWAY ROBBERY. [robin] See: ROUND ROBIN. [rob Peter to pay Paul] {v. phr.} To change one duty or need for another; take from one person or thing to pay another. * /Bill owed Sam a dollar, so he borrowed another from Joe to pay Sam back. He robbed Peter to pay Paul./ * /Trying to study a lesson for one class during another class is like robbing Peter to pay Paul./ [rob the cradle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have dates with or marry a person much younger than yourself. * /When the old woman married a young man, everyone said she was robbing the cradle./ - [cradle-robber] {n.} * /The judge died when he was seventy. He was a real cradle-robber because he left a thirty-year-old widow./ - [cradle-robbing] {adj.} or {n.} * /Bob is seventeen and I just saw him with a girl about twelve years old. Has he started cradle-robbing? No, that girl was his sister, not his date!/ [rob the till] or [have one's hand in the till] {v. phr.}, {informal} To steal money in your trust or for which you are responsible. * /The supermarket manager suspected that one of the clerks was robbing the till./ * /Mr. Jones deposited one thousand dollars in their joint savings account and told his wife not to rob the till./ * /The store owner thought his business was failing until he discovered that the treasurer had his hand in the till./ [rock] See: HAVE ROCKS IN ONE'S HEAD, ON THE ROCKS. [rock and roll] See: ROCK 'N' ROLL. [rock-bottom] {n.} The lowest possible point. * /The nation's morale hit rock bottom in the hours following the president's assassination./ - Often used like an adjecti