NTC’S American IDIOMS Dictionary phần 6 pptx

behavior was quite out of line. I do not wish to speak further about this matter. ᮀ Bill, that remark was out of line. Please be more respectful. out of line (with something ) 1. not prop- erly lined up in a line of things. ᮀ I told you not to get out of line. Now, get back in line. ᮀ One of those books on the shelf is out of line with the others. Please fix it. 2. unreasonable when compared to something (else). ᮀ The cost of this meal is out of line with what other restaurants charge. ᮀ Your request is out of line. out of luck without good luck; having bad fortune. (Informal.) ᮀ If you wanted some ice cream, you’re out of luck. ᮀ I was out of luck. I got there too late to get a seat. out of necessity because of necessity; due to need. ᮀ I bought this hat out of neces- sity. I needed one, and this was all there was. ᮀ We sold our car out of necessity. out of one’s element not in a natural or comfortable situation. (Compare this with in one’s element.) ᮀ When it comes to computers, I’m out of my element. ᮀ Sally’s out of her element in math. out of one’s head Go to out of one’s mind. out of one’s mind and out of one’s head; out of one’s senses silly and senseless; crazy; irrational. ᮀ Why did you do that? You must be out of your mind! ᮀ Good grief, Tom! You have to be out of your head! ᮀ She’s acting as if she were out of her senses. out of one’s senses Go to out of one’s mind. out of order 1. not in the correct order. ᮀ This book is out of order. Please put it in the right place on the shelf. ᮀ You’re out of order, John. Please get in line after Jane. 2. not following correct parliamentary procedure. ᮀ I was declared out of order by the president. ᮀ Ann inquired, “Isn’t a motion to table the question out of order at this time?” 3. not operating; broken. ᮀ The coffee machine is out of order. It takes your money and gives you no coffee. ᮀ We will have to use the stairs. The elevator is out of order. out of place 1. not in a proper place. ᮀ The salt was out of place in the cupboard, so I couldn’t find it. ᮀ Billy, you’re out of place. Please sit next to Tom. 2. improper and impertinent; out of line. ᮀ That kind of behavior is out of place in church. ᮀ Your rude remark is quite out of place. out-of-pocket expenses the actual amount of money spent. (Refers to the money one person pays while doing something on someone else’s behalf. One is usually paid back this money.) ᮀ My out-of-pocket expenses for the party were nearly $175. ᮀ My employer usually pays all out-of-pocket expenses for a business trip. out of practice performing poorly due to a lack of practice. ᮀ I used to be able to play the piano extremely well, but now I’m out of practice. ᮀ The baseball players lost the game because they were out of practice. out of print [for a book] to be no longer available for sale from the publisher. ᮀ The book you want is out of print, but per- haps I can find a used copy for you. ᮀ It was published nearly ten years ago, so it’s probably out of print. out of proportion Go to in proportion. out of reach 1. not near enough to be reached or touched. ᮀ Place the cookies out of reach, or Bob will eat them all. ᮀ The mouse ran behind the piano, out of reach. The cat just sat and waited for it. 2. unattainable. ᮀ I wanted to be presi- dent, but I’m afraid that such a goal is out of reach. ᮀ I shall choose a goal that is not out of reach. out of season 1. not now available for sale. (The opposite of in season. Compare this with off season.) ᮀ Sorry, oysters are out of season. We don’t have any. ᮀ Water- melon is out of season in the winter. 2. not now legally able to be hunted or caught. ᮀ Are salmon out of season? ᮀ I caught a trout out of season and had to pay a fine. out of service inoperable; not now oper- ating. ᮀ Both elevators are out of service, so I had to use the stairs. ᮀ The washroom is temporarily out of service. out of line (with something) 302 out of shape and out of condition not in the best physical condition. ᮀ I get out of breath when I run because I’m out of shape. ᮀ Keep exercising regularly, or you’ll get out of condition. out of sight 1. not visible. (Especially with get, keep, or stay.) ᮀ The cat kept out of sight until the mouse came out. ᮀ “Get out of sight, or they’ll see you!” called John. 2. [for a price to be] very high. (Informal.) ᮀ I won’t pay this bill. It’s out of sight. ᮀ The estimate was out of sight, so I didn’t accept it. 3. figuratively stunning, unbe- lievable, or awesome. (Slang.) ᮀ Wow, this music is out of sight! ᮀ What a wild party—out of sight! Out of sight, out of mind. If you do not see something, you will not think about it. (Proverb.) ᮀ When I go home, I put my schoolbooks away so I won’t worry about doing my homework. After all, out of sight, out of mind. ᮀ Jane dented the fender on her car. It’s on the right side, so she does- n’t have to look at it. Like they say, out of sight, out of mind. out of sorts not feeling well; grumpy and irritable. ᮀ I’ve been out of sorts for a day or two. I think I’m coming down with something. ᮀ The baby is out of sorts. Maybe she’s getting a tooth. out of spite with the desire to harm some- one or something. ᮀ Jane told some evil gossip about Bill out of spite. ᮀ That was not an accident! You did it out of spite. out of step (with someone or something )1. and out of time (with someone or some- thing ) [marching or dancing] out of ca- dence with someone else. ᮀ You’re out of step with the music. ᮀ Pay attention, Ann. You’re out of time. 2. not as up-to-date as someone or something. ᮀ John is out of step with the times. ᮀ Billy is out of step with the rest of the class. out of stock not immediately available in a store; [for goods] to be temporarily un- available. ᮀ Those items are out of stock, but a new supply will be delivered on Thursday. ᮀ I’m sorry, but the red ones are out of stock. Would a blue one do? out of style and out of fashion not fash- ionable; old-fashioned; obsolete. ᮀ John’s clothes are really out of style. ᮀ He does- n’t care if his clothes are out of fashion. out of the blue Go to out of a clear blue sky. out of the corner of one’s eye [seeing something] at a glance; glimpsing (some- thing). ᮀ I saw someone do it out of the corner of my eye. It might have been Jane who did it. ᮀ I only saw the accident out of the corner of my eye. I don’t know who is at fault. out of the frying pan into the fire from a bad situation to a worse situation. (Of- ten with jump.) ᮀ When I tried to argue about my fine for a traffic violation, the judge charged me with contempt of court. I really went out of the frying pan into the fire. ᮀ I got deeply in debt. Then I really got out of the frying pan into the fire when I lost my job. out of the hole out of debt. (Also literal. Informal.) ᮀ I get paid next week, and then I can get out of the hole. ᮀ I can’t seem to get out of the hole. I keep spend- ing more money than I earn. out of the ordinary unusual. ᮀ It was a good meal, but not out of the ordinary. ᮀ Your report was nicely done, but nothing out of the ordinary. out of the question not possible; not per- mitted. ᮀ I’m sorry, but it’s out of the question. ᮀ You can’t go to Florida this spring. We can’t afford it. It’s out of the question. out of the red out of debt. (Informal.) ᮀ This year our company is likely to get out of the red before fall. ᮀ If we can cut down on expenses, we can get out of the red fairly soon. out of the running no longer being con- sidered; eliminated from a contest. (Compare this with in the running.) ᮀ After the first part of the diving meet, three members of our team were out of the run- ning. ᮀ After the scandal was made pub- lic, I was no longer in the running. I pulled out of the election. out of the running 303 out of the swim of things not in the mid- dle of activity; not involved in things. (Informal. The opposite of in the swim of things. ) ᮀ While I had my cold, I was out of the swim of things. ᮀ I’ve been out of the swim of things for a few weeks. Please bring me up to date. out-of-the-way not on the regular route; following a different, more awkward, route. ᮀ They live on a quiet, out-of-the- way street. ᮀ I know an out-of-the-way little restaurant on Maple Street. out of the woods past a critical phase; out of the unknown. (Informal.) ᮀ When the patient got out of the woods, everyone re- laxed. ᮀ I can give you a better prediction for your future health when you are out of the woods. out of thin air out of nowhere; out of nothing. (Informal.) ᮀ Suddenly—out of thin air—the messenger appeared. ᮀ You just made that up out of thin air. out of this world wonderful; extraordi- nary. ᮀ This pie is just out of this world. ᮀ Look at you! How lovely you look—sim- ply out of this world. out of time (with someone or something ) Go to out of step (with someone or something ). out of touch (with someone or something )1. [with someone] no longer talking to or writing to someone; knowing no news of someone. ᮀ I’ve been out of touch with my brother for many years. ᮀ We’ve been out of touch for quite some time. 2. [with something] not keeping up with the de- velopments of something. ᮀ I’ve been out of touch with automobile mechanics for many years. ᮀ I couldn’t go back into me- chanics because I’ve been out of touch for too long. out of town temporarily not in one’s own town. ᮀ I’ll be out of town next week. I’m going to a conference. ᮀ I take care of Mary’s cat when she’s out of town. out of tune (with someone or something )1. not in musical harmony with someone or something. (Compare this with in tune.) ᮀ The oboe is out of tune with the flute. ᮀ The flute is out of tune with John. ᮀ They are all out of tune. 2. not in (figu- rative) harmony or agreement. ᮀ You r proposal is out of tune with my ideas of what we should be doing. ᮀ Your ideas and mine are out of tune. out of turn not at the proper time; not in the proper order. (See also speak out of turn. ) ᮀ We were permitted to be served out of turn because we had to leave early. ᮀ Bill tried to register out of turn and was sent away. out of w(h)ack 1. crazy; silly; irrational. (Slang.) ᮀ Why do you always act as if you’re out of whack? ᮀ I’m not out of wack. I’m eccentric. 2. out of adjustment; out of order. (Slang.) ᮀ I’m afraid that my watch is out of whack. ᮀ The elevator is out of wack. We’ll have to walk up. out of work unemployed, temporarily or permanently. ᮀ How long have you been out of work? ᮀ My brother has been out of work for nearly a year. out on a limb in a dangerous position; tak- ing a chance. (Also literal.) ᮀ I don’t want to go out on a limb, but I think I’d agree to your request. ᮀ She really went out on a limb when she agreed. out on bail out of jail because bail bond money has been paid. (The money will be forfeited if the person who is out on bail does not appear in court at the proper time. See also jump bail.) ᮀ Bob is out on bail waiting for his trial. ᮀ The robber committed another crime while out on bail. out on parole out of jail but still under po- lice supervision. ᮀ Bob got out on parole after serving only a few years of his sen- tence. ᮀ He was out on parole because of good behavior. (out) on patrol away from a central loca- tion, watching over a distant area while moving through it. ᮀ Officer Smith is out on patrol and cannot see you now. ᮀ The soldiers who are on patrol on this snowy night must be very cold. out on the town celebrating at one or more places in a town. (See also night on the town. ) ᮀ I’m really tired. I was out out of the swim of things 304 on the town until dawn. ᮀ We went out on the town to celebrate our wedding anniversary. out to lunch 1. eating lunch away from one’s place of work or activity. ᮀ I’m sorry, but Sally Jones is out to lunch. May I take a message? ᮀ She’s been out to lunch for nearly two hours. When will she be back? 2. and out of it not alert; giddy; uninformed. (Slang.) ᮀ Bill is really out of it. Why can’t he pay attention? ᮀ Don’t be so out of it, John. Wake up! ᮀ Ann is really out to lunch these days. out West in the western part of the United States. (See also back East, down South, up North. ) ᮀ We lived out West for nearly ten years. ᮀ Do they really ride horses out West? outgrow something 1. to get too big for something. ᮀ Tom outgrew all his clothes in two months. ᮀ The plant outgrew its pot. 2. to become too mature for some- thing. ᮀ I outgrew my allergies. ᮀ The boys will outgrow their toys. outguess someone to guess what someone else might do; to predict what someone might do. ᮀ I can’t outguess Bill. I just have to wait and see what happens. ᮀ Don’t try to outguess John. He’s too sharp and tricky. outside of something except for something; besides something. (Also literal.) ᮀ Out- side of the cost of my laundry, I have prac- tically no expenses. ᮀ Outside of some new shoes, I don’t need any new clothing. outside the box 1. as if not bound by old, nonfunctional, or limiting structures, rules, or practices. (An adverb. Compare this with inside the box.) ᮀ You need to move your discussions outside the box and get away from silly limitations. ᮀ Noth- ing can be done outside the box in such a rigid intellectual environment. 2. not bound by old, nonfunctional, or limiting structures, rules, or practices. (Usually outside-the-box. An adjective.) ᮀ You have some really outside-the-box ideas, Ralph. ᮀ After some long, outside-the-box discussions, we arrived at a creative solution. over again Go to (all) over again. over and above something more than some- thing; in addition to something. (Infor- mal.) ᮀ I’ll need another twenty dollars over and above the amount you have al- ready given me. ᮀ You’ve been eating too much food—over and above what is re- quired for good nutrition. That’s why you’re gaining weight. over and done with finished. (Informal.) ᮀ I’m glad that’s over and done with. ᮀ Now that I have college over and done with, I can get a job. over and over (again) repeatedly. ᮀ She stamped her foot over and over again. ᮀ Bill whistled the same song over and over. over my dead body not if I can stop you. (Slang. It means that you’ll have to kill me to prevent me from keeping you from doing something.) ᮀ Over my dead body you’ll sell this house! ᮀ You want to quit college? Over my dead body! over someone’s head too difficult or clever for someone to understand. (Also literal.) ᮀ The children have no idea what the new teacher is talking about. Her ideas are way over their heads. ᮀ She enrolled in a physics course, but it turned out to be miles over her head. over the hill overage; too old to do some- thing. (Informal.) ᮀ Now that Mary’s forty, she thinks she’s over the hill. ᮀ My grandfather was over eighty before he felt as if he was over the hill. over the hump over the difficult part. (In- formal.) ᮀ This is a difficult project, but we’re over the hump now. ᮀ I’m halfway through—over the hump—and it looks as if I may get finished after all. over the long haul for a relatively long pe- riod of time. ᮀ Over the long haul, it might be better to invest in stocks. ᮀ Over the long haul, everything will turn out all right. over there Go to (way) over there. over the short haul for the immediate fu- ture. ᮀ Over the short haul, you’d be bet- ter off to put your money in the bank. ᮀ over the short haul 305 Over the short haul, you may wish you had done something different. But things will work out all right. over the top 1. having gained more than one’s goal. ᮀ Our fund-raising campaign went over the top by $3,000. ᮀ We didn’t go over the top. We didn’t even get half of what we set out to collect. 2. excessive; be- yond the pale ; overdone. ᮀ Her imitation of the president was over the top and com- pletely offensive. ᮀ This is not satire! It is cruel and over the top. over with Go to (all) over with. owing to because of something; due to the fact of something. ᮀ Owing to the late- ness of the evening, I must go home. ᮀ We were late owing to the heavy traffic. own up (to something ) to confess to some- thing. ᮀ I know you broke the window. Come on and own up to it. ᮀ The boy holding the baseball bat owned up. What else could he do? over the top 306 pack a punch Go to pack a wallop. pack a wallop and pack a punch to pro- vide a burst of energy, power, or excite- ment. (Informal.) ᮀ Wow, this spicy food really packs a wallop. ᮀ I put a special kind of gasoline in my car because I thought it would pack a punch. It didn’t. a pack of lies a series of lies. ᮀ The thief told a pack of lies to cover up the crime. ᮀ John listened to Bill’s pack of lies about the fight and became very angry. pack them in to draw a lot of people. (In- formal.) ᮀ It was a good night at the the- ater. The play really packed them in. ᮀ The circus manager knew he could pack them in if he advertised the lion tamer. packed (in) like sardines packed very tightly. (Note the variation in the exam- ples.) ᮀ It was terribly crowded there. We were packed in like sardines. ᮀ The bus was full. The passengers were packed like sardines. ᮀ They packed us in like sardines. pad the bill to put unnecessary items on a bill to make the total cost higher. (In- formal.) ᮀ The plumber had padded the bill with things we didn’t need. ᮀ I was falsely accused of padding the bill. paddle one’s own canoe to do (something) by oneself. (Also literal.) ᮀ I’ve been left to paddle my own canoe too many times. ᮀ Sally isn’t with us. She’s off paddling her own canoe. a pain in the neck a bother; an annoyance. (Slang.) ᮀ This assignment is a pain in the neck. ᮀ Your little brother is a pain in the neck. paint the town red to have a wild cele- bration during a night on the town. ᮀ Let’s all go out and paint the town red! ᮀ Oh, do I feel awful. I was out all last night, painting the town red. pal around (with someone ) to be friends with someone; to be the companion of someone. ᮀ Bill likes to pal around with Mary, but it’s nothing serious. ᮀ Ann and Jane still like to pal around. pale around the gills and blue around the gills; green around the gills look- ing sick. (Informal. The around can be re- placed with about.) ᮀ John is looking a lit- tle pale around the gills. What’s wrong? ᮀ Oh, I feel a little green about the gills. pale as death Go to (as) pale as death. palm something off (on someone ) to try to get something accepted as good. ᮀ The crook palmed a fake $50 bill off on me. ᮀ Bob palmed his research off as original work, but we all knew he plagiarized it. pan out Go to turn out (all right). paper over the cracks (in something ) to try to hide faults or difficulties, often in a hasty or not very successful way. (Also literal when applying wallpaper.) ᮀ The politician tried to paper over the cracks in his party’s economic policy. ᮀ Tom tried to paper over the cracks in his relationship with the boss, but it was not possible. ᮀ She didn’t explain it. She just papered over the cracks. par for the course typical; about what one could expect. (This refers to golf courses, not school courses.) ᮀ So he went off and left you? Well that’s about par for the course. He’s no friend. ᮀ I worked for days on this project, but it was rejected. That’s par for the course around here. 307 P a paradise (on earth) a place on earth that is as lovely as paradise. ᮀ The retirement home was simply a paradise on earth. ᮀ The beach where we went for our vacation was a paradise. Pardon my French. Excuse me for swear- ing or saying naughty words. (Informal.) ᮀ Pardon my French, but get that damn cat out of here! ᮀ He slipped and fell on his butt, pardon my French. part and parcel (of something ) part of something; an important part of some- thing. (See also bag and baggage.) ᮀ This point is part and parcel of my whole ar- gument. ᮀ Get every part and parcel of this machine out of my living room. ᮀ Come on! Move out—part and parcel! part company (with someone ) to leave someone; to depart from someone. ᮀ Tom finally parted company with his brother. ᮀ They parted company, and Tom got in his car and drove away. part someone’s hair to come very close to someone. (Also literal. Informal. Usually an exaggeration.) ᮀ That plane flew so low that it nearly parted my hair. ᮀ He punched at me and missed. He only parted my hair. partake of something to take something; to eat or drink something. (Formal.) ᮀ I don’t usually partake of rich foods, but in this instance I’ll make an exception. ᮀ Good afternoon, Judge Smith, would you care to partake of some wine? partial to someone or something favoring or preferring someone or something. ᮀ The boys think their teacher is partial to female students. ᮀ I am partial to vanilla ice cream. the particulars of something specific details about something. ᮀ My boss stressed the important particulars of the project. ᮀ What are the particulars of your request? parting of the ways a point at which peo- ple separate and go their own ways. (Of- ten with come to a, arrive at a, reach a, etc.) ᮀ Jane and Bob finally came to a parting of the ways. ᮀ Bill and his parents reached a parting of the ways. the party line the official ideas and atti- tudes that are adopted by the leaders of a particular group and that the other members are expected to accept. (From political party.) ᮀ Tom has left the club. He refused to follow the party line. ᮀ Many politicians agree with the party line without thinking. The party’s over. A happy or fortunate time has come to an end. (Also literal. In- formal.) ᮀ We go back to school tomor- row. The party’s over. ᮀ The staff hardly worked at all under the old management, but they’ll find the party’s over now. pass as someone or something and pass for someone or something to succeed in being ac- cepted as someone or something. ᮀ The spy was able to pass as a regular citizen. ᮀ You could pass for your twin brother. ᮀ The thief was arrested when he tried to pass as a priest. pass away and pass on to die. (A eu- phemism.) ᮀ My aunt passed away last month. ᮀ When I pass away, I want to have lots of flowers and a big funeral. ᮀ When I pass on, I won’t care about the funeral. pass for someone or something Go to pass as someone or something pass muster to measure up to the required standards. (Folksy.) ᮀ I tried, but my ef- forts didn’t pass muster. ᮀ If you don’t wear a suit, you won’t pass muster at that fancy restaurant. They won’t let you in. pass on Go to pass away. pass out to faint; to lose consciousness. ᮀ Oh, look! Tom has passed out. ᮀ When he got the news, he passed out. pass the buck to pass the blame (to some- one else); to give the responsibility (to someone else). (Informal.) ᮀ Don’t try to pass the buck! It’s your fault, and every- body knows it. ᮀ Some people try to pass the buck whenever they can. pass the hat to attempt to collect money for some (charitable) project. (Refers to a hat that is sometimes used to hold the collected cash.) ᮀ Bob is passing the hat to collect money to buy flowers for Ann. a paradise (on earth) 308 ᮀ He’s always passing the hat for something. pass the time to fill up time (by doing something). ᮀ I never know how to pass the time when I’m on vacation. ᮀ What do you do to pass the time? pass the time of day (with someone ) to chat or talk informally with someone. ᮀ I saw Mr. Brown in town yesterday. I stopped and passed the time of day with him. ᮀ No, we didn’t have a serious talk; we just passed the time of day. pass through someone’s mind and cross someone’s mind to come to mind briefly; for an idea to occur to someone. (Com- pare this with come to mind.) ᮀ Let me tell you what just crossed my mind. ᮀ As you were speaking, something passed through my mind that I’d like to discuss. passport to something something that allows something good to happen. ᮀ John’s new girlfriend is his passport to happiness. ᮀ Anne’s new job is a passport to financial security. a past master at something someone proven to be extremely good or skillful at an ac- tivity. (Preceded by be, become, seem like, or act like.) ᮀ Mary is a past master at cooking omelets. ᮀ Pam is a past master at the art of complaining. past someone’s or something’s prime beyond the most useful or productive period. ᮀ Joan was a wonderful singer, but she’s past her prime now. ᮀ This old car’s past its prime. I’ll need to get a new one. pat someone on the back and give someone a pat on the back to congratulate some- one; to encourage someone. (Also literal when the recipient is actually patted on the back.) ᮀ We patted Ann on the back for a good performance. ᮀ When people do a good job, you should give them a pat on the back. patch someone or something up 1. [with some- one] to doctor someone; to dress some- one’s wounds. (Informal.) ᮀ They patched John up in the emergency room. T I patched up Ann’s cuts with bandages and sent her home. 2. [with something] to (figuratively) repair the damage done by an argument or disagreement. (Also lit- eral.) ᮀ Mr. and Mrs. Smith are trying to patch things up. T We patched up our ar- gument, then kissed and made up. the path of least resistance to do the eas- iest thing; to take the easiest route. (Of- ten with follow the or take the. Compare this with line of least resistance.) ᮀ John will follow the path of least resistance. ᮀ I like challenges. I won’t usually take the path of least resistance. patient as Job Go to (as) patient as Job. pave the way (for someone or something ) to prepare (someone or something) for someone or something. ᮀ The public doesn’t understand the metric system. We need to pave the way for its introduction. ᮀ They are paving the way in the schools. pay a call on someone to visit someone. ᮀ Grandmother always paid us a call on Sundays. ᮀ Let’s pay a call on Mary at the hospital. pay a king’s ransom (for something ) to pay a great deal for something. (To pay an amount as large as one might have to pay to get back a king held for ransom.) ᮀ I would like to buy a nice watch, but I don’t want to pay a king’s ransom for it. ᮀ It’s a lovely house. I had to pay a king’s ran- som, but it is worth it. pay an arm and a leg (for something ) and pay through the nose (for something ) to pay too much [money] for something. (Informal.) ᮀ I hate to have to pay an arm and a leg for a tank of gas. ᮀ If you shop around, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg. ᮀ Why should you pay through the nose? pay as you go 1. to pay costs as they oc- cur; to pay for goods as they are bought (rather than charging them). (Literal when it means to pay for goods or ser- vices as you leave.) ᮀ You ought to pay as you go. Then you won’t be in debt. ᮀ If you pay as you go, you’ll never spend too much money. 2. paying costs as they oc- cur. (Usually pay-as-you-go.) ᮀ There is no charging allowed here. This store is strictly pay-as-you-go. ᮀ I can’t buy this pay as you go 309 then. I didn’t know your policy was pay- as-you-go. pay attention (to someone or something ) to be attentive to someone or something; to give one’s attention or concentration to someone or something. ᮀ Pay attention to me! ᮀ I’m paying attention! pay a visit to someone or something Go to pay ( someone or something ) a visit. pay for something 1. to pay out money for something. ᮀ Did you pay for the maga- zine, or shall I? ᮀ No, I’ll pay for it. 2. to be punished for something. ᮀ The crim- inal will pay for his crimes. ᮀ I don’t like what you did to me, and I’m going to see that you pay for it. pay homage to someone to praise, respect, and honor someone. ᮀ My parents taught me to pay homage to my elders. ᮀ The widower paid homage to his dead wife by placing flowers on her grave. pay in advance to pay (for something) be- fore it is received or delivered. ᮀ I want to make a special order. Will I have to pay in advance? ᮀ Yes, please pay in advance. pay lip service (to something ) to express loyalty, respect, or support for something insincerely. ᮀ You don’t really care about politics. You’re just paying lip service to the candidate. ᮀ Don’t sit here and pay lip ser- vice. Get busy! pay one’s debt (to society) to serve a sen- tence for a crime, usually in prison. ᮀ The judge said that Mr. Simpson had to pay his debt to society. ᮀ Mr. Brown paid his debt in state prison. pay one’s dues to have earned one’s right to something through hard work or suffer- ing. (Literal when referring to paying the fees required to belong to an organiza- tion. Informal.) ᮀ He worked hard to get to where he is today. He paid his dues and did what he was told. ᮀ I have every right to be here. I paid my dues! pay one’s last respects to attend the wake or funeral of someone; to approach the coffin containing someone in a final act of respect. ᮀ I went to Bill’s wake to pay my last respects. ᮀ Everyone in town came to the mayor’s funeral to pay their last respects. pay someone a back-handed compliment and pay someone a left-handed com- pliment to give someone a false compli- ment that is really an insult. ᮀ John said that he had never seen me looking better. I think he was paying me a left-handed compliment. ᮀ I’d prefer that someone in- sulted me directly. I hate it when someone pays me a back-handed compliment—un- less it’s a joke. pay someone a compliment to compliment someone. ᮀ Sally thanked me for paying her a compliment. ᮀ When Tom did his job well, I paid him a compliment. pay someone a left-handed compliment Go to pay someone a back-handed compliment. pay ( someone or something ) a visit and pay a visit to someone or something to visit someone or something. ᮀ Bill paid a visit to his aunt in Seattle. ᮀ Please pay a visit to our house whenever you are in town. pay someone or something off 1. [with some- one] to pay someone a bribe (for a favor already done). (Compare this with buy someone off.) ᮀ The lawyer was put in prison for paying the judge off. The judge was imprisoned also. T The lawyer paid off the judge for deciding the case in the lawyer’s favor. 2. to pay a debt; to pay a debtor; to pay the final payment for something bought on credit. ᮀ This month I’ll pay the car off. T Did you pay off the plumber yet? pay someone respect to honor someone; to have and show respect for someone. ᮀ You really should pay your boss more re- spect. ᮀ We have to pay our parents a lot of respect. pay someone’s (own) way to pay the costs (of something) for someone. ᮀ I wanted to go to Florida this spring, but my parents say I have to pay my own way. ᮀ My aunt is going to pay my way to Florida—only if I take her with me! pay the piper to face the results of one’s actions; to receive punishment for some- thing. (Also literal.) ᮀ You can put off pay attention (to someone or something) 310 paying your debts only so long. Eventually you’ll have to pay the piper. ᮀ You can’t get away with that forever. You’ll have to pay the piper someday. pay through the nose (for something ) Go to pay an arm and a leg (for something ). pay to do something to be beneficial to do something; to be profitable. ᮀ It doesn’t pay to drive downtown when you can take the train. ᮀ It pays to take an umbrella with you if it’s supposed to rain. pay up Pay me now! (Slang.) ᮀ You owe me $200. Come on, pay up! ᮀ If you don’t pay up, I’ll take you to court. peg away (at something ) Go to plug away (at something ). peg someone as something and have someone pegged as something to think of some- one in a certain way. ᮀ Susan pegged the new employee as a lazy worker. ᮀ I had you pegged as an angry rebel before I got to know you. A penny saved is a penny earned. Money saved through thrift is the same as money earned by employment. (Some- times used to explain stinginess.) ᮀ “I didn’t want to pay that much for the book,” said Mary. “After all, a penny saved is a penny earned.” ᮀ Bob put his money in a new bank that pays more interest than his old bank, saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” penny-wise and pound-foolish <an ex- pression meaning that it is foolish to lose a lot of money to save a little money.> (This is the British pound sterling.) ᮀ Sally shops very carefully to save a few cents on food, then charges the food to a charge card that costs a lot in annual in- terest. That’s being penny-wise and pound-foolish. ᮀ John drives thirty miles to buy gas for three cents a gallon less than it costs here. He’s really penny-wise and pound-foolish. pep someone or something up to make some- one or something more sprightly and ac- tive. ᮀ I need a bottle of pop to pep me up. ᮀ The third act of this play needs some- thing to pep it up. How about a few good jokes? per head Go to a head. Perish the thought. Do not even consider thinking of something. (Formal.) ᮀ If you should become ill—perish the thought—I’d take care of you. ᮀ I’m afraid that we need a new car. Perish the thought. perk someone or something up to make some- one or something more cheery. ᮀ A nice cup of coffee would really perk me up. T Don’t you think that new curtains would perk up this room? persist in doing something to continue, with determination, to do something. ᮀ John persists in thinking that he’s always right. ᮀ Tom persists in demanding that I agree to his terms. persist with something to continue the state of something; to extend an action or state. ᮀ Please do not persist with your de- mands that I agree to your terms. ᮀ If you persist with this intrusion, I’m going to call the police. perspective on something a way of looking at a situation and determining what is important. ᮀ The jury did not have a good perspective on the crime since some of the evidence had to be ignored. ᮀ Studying history gives one perspective on the present. [pet hate] Go to someone’s pet hate. [pet peeve] Go to someone’s pet peeve. peter out [for something] to die or dwin- dle away; [for something] to become ex- hausted gradually. (Informal.) ᮀ When the fire petered out, I went to bed. ᮀ My money finally petered out, and I had to come home. phony as a three-dollar bill Go to (as) phony as a three-dollar bill. pick a fight with someone Go to pick a quar- rel (with someone ). pick a lock to open a lock without a key; to open a lock without using a key. ᮀ The robber picked the lock with a nail file. ᮀ The thief picked the lock on the safe and stole the money. pick a lock 311 [...]... bring her in to be questioned about the jewel robbery 5 [with something] to tidy up or clean up a room or some other place ᮀ Let’s pick this room up in a hurry T I want you to pick up the entire house 6 [with something] to find, purchase, or acquire something ᮀ Where did you pick that up? T I picked up this tool at the hardware store 7 [with something] to learn something ᮀ I pick languages up easily... is usually something illegal going on play for keeps to take an action that is permanent or final (Slang.) ᮀ Mary told me that Tom wants to marry me I didn’t know he wanted to play for keeps ᮀ I like 3 16 to play cards and make money, but I don’t like to play for keeps play hard to get to be coy, shy, and fickle (Usually refers to someone of the opposite sex.) ᮀ Why can’t we go out? Why do you play hard... claim to something; to state one’s claim to something (Informal See also have dibs on something ) ᮀ I put dibs on the last piece of cake ᮀ Mary put her dibs on the book you are reading She gets it next 3 26 put oneself in someone else’s place and put oneself in someone else’s shoes to allow oneself to see or experience something from someone else’s point of view (See also in someone else’s place; in someone... someone else up T We’re putting up Ann for treasurer 5 [with something] to build a building, a sign, a fence, a wall, etc ᮀ We’ll put a garage up next month T The city put up a fence next to our house 6 [with something] to provide the money for something ᮀ The government put the money up for the cost of construction T Who will put up the money for my education? 7 [with something] to shape and arrange... a portion of a payment (Also literal Slang.) ᮀ They claimed that no one was raking anything off and that the money was only mislaid T The county treasurer was caught raking off some of the tax money 3 36 to shout angrily and wildly about someone or something ᮀ Bob rants and raves when anything displeases him ᮀ Bob rants and raves about anything that displeases him ᮀ Father rants and raves if we arrive . own up to it. ᮀ The boy holding the baseball bat owned up. What else could he do? over the top 3 06 pack a punch Go to pack a wallop. pack a wallop and pack a punch to pro- vide a burst of energy,. other place. ᮀ Let’s pick this room up in a hurry. T I want you to pick up the entire house. 6. [with something] to find, purchase, or acquire something. ᮀ Where did you pick that up? T I. close to one’s vest; keep one’s cards close to one’s chest; play cat and mouse (with someone) 3 16 keep one’s cards close to one’s vest [for someone] to work or negotiate in a care- ful and private