Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 601 on the bandwagon - to do or join something because many others are doing it Everybody in our company is on the bandwagon to eliminate smoking in the workplace. on the beam - to be doing well, to be just right or correct What the politician said about the tax problem was right on the beam. on the bench - to be sitting/waiting for a chance to play in a sports game The new player was forced to sit on the bench for most of his first season. on the bench - to be directing a session of court (usually a judge) The new judge was on the bench for three days last week. on the blink - to be not working My stereo has been on the blink for many months. on the block - to be for sale Our house has been on the block for over a month now. on the borderline - to be undecided, to be in an uncertain position between two things My test scores are on the borderline between passing or failing the course. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 602 on the button - to be exactly on time I arrived for the meeting right on the button. on the contrary - as the opposite I thought that the speech would be boring but on the contrary it was quite interesting. on the defensive - to be trying to defend oneself I always feel that I am on the defensive when I talk to my friend about money. on the dole - to be receiving welfare This area is very poor and there are many people on the dole who live here. on the dot - to be right on time He always arrives for his meetings on the dot. on the double - very fast My father asked me to bring him the newspaper on the double. on the edge of one`s seat - to be nervously and excitedly waiting for something I have been on the edge of my seat all day while I wait for the contest to begin. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 603 on the eve of (something) - just before or on the evening before something The sports fans were very excited on the eve of the big game. on the face of it - from the way something looks, superficially On the face of it, it looked like the speeding car had caused the accident. on the fence (about something) - to be undecided The politician is on the fence about the tax issue. on the fritz - to be not operating properly My television set is on the fritz and I may have to buy a new one. on the go - to be busy doing many things I have been on the go since early morning trying to get ready for the meeting. on the heels of (something) - soon after something On the heels of the big earthquake there were two weeks of heavy rain. on the horizon - soon to happen The government promised the citizens that there was going to be a tax decrease on the horizon. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 604 on the horns of a dilemma - to be bothered by having to decide between two things/people We were on the horns of a dilemma as we tried to decide if we should move or stay in our apartment. on the hot seat - to be subject to much criticism/questioning I was on the hot seat when my supervisor began to ask what had happened to the broken computer. on the hour - to be exactly on the hour mark (12:00, 1:00 etc.) We give my grandmother her medicine on the hour. on the house - to be provided free by a business (usually a bar or restaurant) The hotel room was not ready when we arrived so they gave us drinks on the house. on the job - to be working, to be doing what you are expected to do The young man has only been on the job for a few weeks now. on the level - to be honest The man was on the level with me when he told me about my job possibilities. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 605 on the lookout for (someone or something) - to be watchful for someone or something I am always on the lookout for older original movie posters. on the loose - to be free to go, to be not shut in or stopped by anything The zoo animals were on the loose for three hours before the zookeeper discovered their escape. on the make - to be trying to get some advantage (often money or sexual) "Be careful of him. He is on the make and will try and cheat you out of your money." on the market - to be available for sale I have seen many used cameras on the market recently. on the mend - to be in the process of healing or becoming better He broke his leg last week but it is now on the mend. on the money - to be exactly right, to be in the right amount I was on the money when I guessed the correct amount for the plane ticket. on the move - to be moving around from place to place, to be in motion My sister is in Europe and has been on the move for several months now. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 606 on the nose - to be just right, to be exact What the woman said about our new boss is on the nose. on the off-chance - in case something may happen, the slight possibility that something may happen I asked the salesman if he had a part for my computer on the off-chance that he may have one in his store. on the one hand - from one point of view On the one hand I want to go on a nice holiday but on the other hand I don't have enough money. on the other hand - looking at the opposite side of a matter He is very intelligent but on the other hand he is very lazy and always gets low marks at school. on the point of (doing something) - to be ready to start doing something We were on the point of buying a new car when we changed our minds. on the QT - secretly, without anyone knowing I do not want anyone to know about my plans so let`s discuss them on the QT. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 607 on the right track - to be following the right set of assumptions I am on the right track in my search for a good piano teacher for my daughter. on the road - to be travelling (especially as a salesman or performer) Her husband is a salesman and is often on the road. on the rocks - to be breaking up (a relationship), to be ruined He has been married for seven years but his relationship is now on the rocks. on the same page - to be thinking similarly about something I was on the same page as my friend about our plans for a holiday. on the same wavelength - to be thinking similarly about something Everybody has been on the same wavelength for many months about the need for change in the company. on the sly - secretly We went to the restaurant on the sly so that nobody would know where we were. on the spot - to be in a difficult or embarrassing situation The man was put on the spot when the reporter asked him about the money. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 608 on the spur of the moment - on a sudden wish or decision, suddenly On the spur of the moment I bought a new bicycle. on the strength of (something) - due to something such as a promise or evidence On the strength of my high test score I was admitted to the university that I wanted. on the take - to be accepting bribes The border guard was discovered to be on the take and was immediately fired. on the tip of one`s tongue - not quite able to remember something The name of the movie is on the tip of my tongue. on the trail/track of (someone or something) - to be seeking someone or something The police dogs were on the trail of the man who had robbed the bank. on the up and up/on the up-and-up - to be honest/trustworthy/sincere I decided not to work for the company because I do not think that they are on the up and up. on the verge of (doing something) - to be just about to do something I was on the verge of quitting my job when I suddenly changed my mind. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 609 on the wagon - to be not drinking alcohol (usually used for someone who has a drinking problem) He has been on the wagon for over seven months now. on the warpath - to be very angry, to be looking for trouble He is on the warpath today so you should stay out of his way. on the way (somewhere) - along the route to somewhere We got something to eat on the way to the airport. on the whole - in general On the whole I think that it is a good idea but I would like to study it further. on the wrong tack - to be under a misapprehension, to be on the wrong course of action The leader of the meeting went off on the wrong tack and caused much confusion among the members of the group. on the wrong track - to be following the wrong set of assumptions, to be going the wrong way The police were on the wrong track when they went to question the owner of the small store. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 610 on thin ice - to be in a risky situation The woman was on thin ice with her company after she continued to come to work late every morning. on time - to be at the scheduled time Our train arrived exactly on time. on tiptoe - to be standing or walking on the front part of the feet I walked around the house on tiptoe so that I would not wake up my family. on top - to be in the lead He was on top of his class when he was in university. on top of (something) - in addition to something, along with something On top of everything else he wants me to work on Sunday. on top of (something/things) - to be managing very well, to be in control of things We are able to keep on top of our work now that we have someone to help us. on top of (something/things) - to know all about something, to be up-to-date He reads the newspaper every morning and is on top of the latest news. . the way something looks, superficially On the face of it, it looked like the speeding car had caused the accident. on the fence (about something) - to be undecided The politician is on the. things/people We were on the horns of a dilemma as we tried to decide if we should move or stay in our apartment. on the hot seat - to be subject to much criticism/questioning I was on the hot seat. cheat you out of your money." on the market - to be available for sale I have seen many used cameras on the market recently. on the mend - to be in the process of healing or becoming