The cassell dictionary of english idioms

The CASSELL

DICTIONARY of

ENGLISH

IDIOMS

I

THE nose



The CASSELL

DICTIONARY OF
ENGLISH IDIOMS


The CASSELL

DICTIONARY OF

ENGUSH IDIOMS

CASSELL

Cassell

Wellington House

125 Strand
London

WC2R OBB

First published 1999

© Cassell 1999

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or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copjn-ight Licensing

Authority, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London WIP 9HE.

Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to
reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the
publisher.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue entry for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 0-304-35009-5

Printed and bound in Great Britain by
Mackays of Chatham pic, Chatham, Kent

Contents

vii Acknowledgements

viii How to use The Cassell Dictionary of English Idioms

xi Chief Abbreviations

1 The Cassell Dictionary of English Idioms

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Acknowledgements

Editor Rosalind Fergusson
Publisher Richard Milbank
Database Editor Rebecca Skipwith
Proof-readers
Jessica Feinstein
Database Technology Alice Grandison
Typesetting Michael Janes
Gentian I.T. Gonsultants

Gem Graphics

How to use The Cassell Dictionary of English Idioms

About this book

An idiom can be defined as a phrase whose meaning cannot be readily understood

from its component parts. The level of idiomaticity within these phrases can vary

greatly, from the proverbial type of idiom, e.g. too many cooks spoil the broth,

whose application is entirely metaphorical and whose practical meaning has
nothing to do with cooking soup, through those which contain idiomatic and
unidiomatic elements, e.g. dead duck, which certainly refers to something defunct,
though not necessarily to a duck, to phrasal verbs, e.g. to pick up, whose
idiomaticity consists in the combination of the two elements.

The Cassell Dictionary of English Idioms is devoted to these untranslatable and
often highly colourful phrases, whose use and misuse forms a daily part of the
English language. It provides a useful reference for native speakers and foreign
learners and includes expressions in current use from North America, Australia,

New Zealand and the whole of the British Isles as well as a smattering of archaic

and dated phrases.

Definitions are given in plain English often supported by examples to illustrate
usage and notes on the origin and history of the idioms.

A note on the positioning of entries

Every effort has been made to devise an objective and consistent system for the
placement and cross-referencing of idioms in this volume.

To enable the user to track down what are often complex, multi-word phrases with

a confusing number of potential points of definition, idioms are listed under

keywords both at their point of definition and at points of cross reference. The point
of definition is generally the first ‘significant’ and non-variable word in the phrase
in question: a noun, verb or adjective, though practical considerations dictate a
number of exceptions to this general rule (see below). Cross-references are given at
all nouns contained in an idiom following the element at which it is defined. For
example, to bell the cat is defined at ‘bell’ and has a cross-reference at ‘cat’; all work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy is defined at ‘work’, with cross-references at
‘play’, ‘jack’ and ‘boy’.

Certain nouns, verbs and adjectives are not considered ‘significant’, usually because
they are in such frequent use that the idioms they would otherwise have to house
would be too numerous. The words in question are:

all, any, bad, be, bear, beat, best, better, bring, call, carry, come, cut, draw,
enough, every, fall, find, get, give, go, good, have, hold, keep, know, lay,
leave, let, look, make, many, more, much, one, pass, pay, play, pull, put, run,
say, see, send, set, show, side, some, stand, take, throw, turn, way, worse,

worst.

It should be noted that in the absence of any more significant elements these words
have been used as points of definition and occasionally, where they have been con-
sidered semantically strong enough, they have been used as keywords even when
there is a ‘significant’ alternative, e.g. good egg is defined at ‘good’. Where no sig-
nificant element is present in a particular idiom, its placement has been a matter of
editorial judgement based on reasonable expectations of where the user might look
for it, e.g. after all is defined at ‘all’, where the emphasis suggests that it should go.

viii

A note on the form of idioms presented

Where possible the idioms have been presented in their ‘core form’, i.e. in such a
form as to account for as many collocations or variations in usage as the user is
likely to come across in Standard English.

Sometimes a word or group of words within an idiom can be replaced by another
word or group of words. These possible variants are indicated in the form in which
the idiom is presented, and combined by means of an oblique, as in with a pinch/
grain of salt. The alternative forms range from straightforward s)monymic variants
- as in the foregoing example - to structural variants reflecting two-way shifts in the
semantic and S5mtactic interaction of the component parts of the idiom as shown.
Thus the idiom presented in the form to give someone/ get the push reflects

usages that denote (a) the active role of terminating someone’s contract (His

employer gave him the push) or (b) the passive role of being on the receiving end of
that action (He got the push). In cases of simple synonymic alternatives (with a

pinch/ grain of salt), the order of the alternative elements reflects their perceived
frequency of use.

Sometimes an idiom contains elements which can be considered optional, i.e.
which can be used as part of the idiom but which can also equally well be omitted.
These elements are indicated in the form of the idiom by round brackets, e.g. to
scrape (the bottom of) the barrel.

Variant and optional elements are never used as points of definition or cross-

reference, thus with a pinch/ grain of salt is defined at ‘salt’, rather than at ‘pinch’
or ‘grain’, while to scrape (the bottom of) the barrel is defined at ‘scrape’, with a
cross-reference at ‘barrel’, but not at ‘bottom’.

To aid the user, variable pronouns such as ‘someone’ and ‘something’ have often
been inserted to indicate the appropriate position of subject or object.

Definitions and examples

Definitions have been phrased to mirror as closely as possible the form of the idiom
given. Where an idiom includes syntactic variants (as in to give someone/ get the

push) the equivalent meanings are represented in the same way in the definition by

the use of an oblique (i.e. ‘to dismiss someone/ be dismissed from employment’).
Variable pronouns used in the idiom are also included in the same form in the
definition. Optional elements used in the idiom are represented in the definition by
round brackets where their addition alters the meaning of the idiom. Every effort
has been made to ensure that idioms are not defined with other idioms or by the
use of any opaque idiomatic expressions. The one exception to this rule relates to
where there is a direct North American English equivalent for a British English
idiom, as with the North American idiom to be rained out, which is a direct
equivalent of the British idiom to be rained off. In such cases the British expression
is given as the definition of the North American, to help the user appreciate the

equivalence.

Examples have been included in many entries in the dictionary to assist the user.

These serve two purposes: either to exemplify the most recognizable usage of the

idiom, or to reflect a usage which cannot be directly inferred from the form of the
idiom given, as in the example a behind-the-scenes investigation which
demonstrates the attributive use of the idiom behind the scenes.

IX

Labels
Descriptive labels in brackets have been added where appropriate. They fall into
three main categories - stylistic labels, e.g. (coll.), (poet.), (dated); geographical

labels, e.g. (N Am.), (Sc.); and field labels, e.g. (Law), (Mil.). A list of abbreviations

appears on p. xi.
Cross-references
The word cross-referred to appears as small capitals for usual lower case, e.g. to wet

one’s whistle wet.

Symbols
Obsolete and archaic phrases and meanings are preceded by a dagger sign t

X

Chief Abbreviations

All are given here in roman, though some may also appear in italics as labels.

attrih. attributive, attribute *Kgs. Book of Kings
Australia, Australian
Austral.

h. born *L£un. Lamentations
Gospel according to
*Luke St Luke

c. circa tMacc. Book of Maccabees
century *Mal. Malachi
cent. colloquial Gospel according to
coll. Epistle to the *Matt. St Matthew
*Cor. Corinthians Mathematics
construction, Math.
constr. Military
constructed; construed Mil.
Music
*Dan. Daniel Mus.
derog. derogatory
N Am. North America,
*Deut. Deuteronomy North American
Naut. Nautical
dial. dialect, dialectal neg. negative, negatively

*Eccles. Ecclesiastes New Zeal. New Zealand
esp. especially
*Pet. Epistle of Peter
euphem. euphemism Philos. Philosophy
*Exod. Exodus pi. plural
poet. poetical, poetry
*Ezek. Ezekiel p.p. past participle
Print. Printing
facet. facetious Proverbs

fig- figurative, figuratively *Prov.
*Ps. Psalms
*Gen. Genesis

Her. Heraldry *Rev. Revelation
Hist. History Epistle to the
*Hos. Hosea *Rom.
Romans
*Isa. Isiah
imperative *Sam. Book of Samuel
imper.
impers. impersonal Sc. Scottish
slang
Ir. Irish si.
ironical, ironically Epistle to Timothy
iron. literal, literally *Tim. Theology
Theol.
lit. United States of
US America
*Jer. Jeremiah usually
Gospel according to usu.
*John St John
Joshua
*Josh. Judges
*Judg.

* indicates a book of the Bible
tindicates a book of the Apocrypha

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THE DICTIONARY OF
ENGLISH IDIOMS


Al

A above

from A to B from one point or position to above all principally, before everything
another [a car that will get me from A
else.
toB).
above and beyond in addition to, in

from A to Z from beginning to end. excess of [above and beyond what was

abeyance required).
above oneself arrogant; conceited.
in abeyance 1 suspended, temporarily
out of use. 2 [Law) waiting for an abroad
occupant or owner.
tall abroad at a loss, astray,
abide from abroad from a foreign country.
to abide by 1 to comply with, to act upon
absence
(terms, a decision). 2 to stay faithful to
(a promise). absence makes the heart grow fonder a
period of separation can make people
ability like each other better. [From The Isle
to the best of one’s ability as well as one of Beauty (1850) by T. Haynes Bayley.]

can. conspicuous by one’s absence
CONSPICUOUS.
aboard
abstract
all aboard! a call to warn passengers to
board a ship, train etc. that is about to in the abstract without reference to
individual cases, abstractly, ideally,
depart.
theoretically.
abode
access
of no fixed abode fix.
tto make abode to dwell, to reside. easy of access easy.

about accident
by accident 1 unintentionally. 2 by
all about it the whole of the matter.
to be about to to be on the point of (doing chance, fortuitously,
chapter of accidents chapter.
something).
to be (all) about to be essentially, to have acclamation

as its main point [Ifs all about by acclamation by a large majority or
unanimously, without a ballot.
creating the right image).

accord 2 acquaintance

accord to make account of 1 to set a value upon.

according as in proportion to. 2 to consider.
according to 1 in proportion or relation
to settle/ square accounts with to have
to [according to age and experience). one’s revenge on.
2 as stated or reported by. 3 depending
on. 4 in conformity with [went to take account of 1 to pay attention to,
to consider. 2 to make allowance for
according to plan). [take account of someone’s age).

of one’s own accord voluntarily, to take into account to take account of.
to turn to (good) account to derive
with one accord with the assent of all.
advantage from.

accordance
ace
in accordance with in conformity with, in ace in the hole [N Am.) ace/ card up

such a way as to correspond to one’s sleeve.
black as the ace of spades black.
[carried out in accordance with your to hold all the aces to be in a position of

instructions). supreme advantage or control,
to play one’s ace to make use of the most
account
effective thing one has available,
by all accounts according to what most within an ace of very close to, within a
people say, in most people’s opinion,
hair’s breadth of [He came within an
for account of to be sold on behalf of, to
be accounted for to. ace of colliding with a lorry).

in account with having business relations Achilles
with.
Achilles heel a person’s vulnerable point
of no account valueless, negligible, or fatal weakness. [The mother of the
on account 1 on credit. 2 as an interim
Greek hero Achilles held him by the
payment. heel when she dipped him in the river
on account of for the sake of, because Styx to make him invulnerable. He
was subsequently killed by an arrow
of [Don’t worry on my account). wound to his unprotected heel.]

on no account under no circumstances, acid

acid test 1 an absolute and definite test.
on one’s own account 1 for one’s own
purpose or benefit. 2 at one’s own risk; 2 a critical ordeal. [From the use of
on one’s own responsibility, nitric acid to test gold.]
to put on the acid [Austral.) to scrounge,
to account for 1 to give, or to serve as, an
explanation of. 2 to render an account to cadge.

for (expenditure, payments made etc.). acquaintance

3 to give a formal explanation or nodding acquaintance nodding.

justification of [Can you account for to make one’s acquaintance with to meet
your movements on the night of the
or encounter (someone or something)
murder?). 4 to kill or defeat (an
enemy, opponent). 5 to constitute, to for the first time.

make up. to make the acquaintance of to get to

to call/ bring to account 1 to require an know.
explanation from. 2 to reprimand, to scrape acquaintance with scrape.

to give a good account of oneself to be
successful, to do oneself credit,

to hold to account to hold responsible,
to keep account of to keep a record of.
to leave out of account to disregard.

acquire 3 address

acquire out of action not working, unable to
acquired taste something which one
operate.
learns to like. piece of the action piece.
to go into action 1 to begin to take action,
act
in the (very) act in the actual commission esp. energetically. 2 to go into battle,
to suit the action to the word suit.
of some deed [caught in the act). to take action to do something, esp.

old pals act old. something energetic or decisive or
to act counter to to disobey (orders etc.), something intended as a protest.
to act for to be the (esp. legal)
actress
representative of.
as the actress said to the bishop [coll.)
to act one’s age to behave in a manner
used to draw attention to a suggestive
befitting a person of one’s age or double meaning in the preceding
remark [Fm sure you'll rise to the
maturity [Stop fooling around and act
your age!]. occasion, as the actress said to the
to act on/ upon 1 to follow, to carry out bishop).
(advice, recommendation). 2 to have
an effect on, to influence, Adam

to act out to represent (a scene, one’s tAdam’s ale water.
desires) in physical action or by

performance. not to know someone from Adam to have
no idea at all who someone is.
to act up 1 [coll.) to behave badly.
add
2 [coll.) to function badly, to give
trouble. to add fuel to the fire to exacerbate a
to do a disappearing act disappear.
difficult situation,
to get in on the act [coll.) to become
involved in an undertaking, esp. so to add in to include,
to add insult to injury to cause further
as to benefit.
to get one’s act together 1 [coll.) to offence to someone one has already

organize or prepare oneself properly. offended.

2 [coll.) to start to behave in a more to add on to attach as a supplement or
responsible or more appropriate way.
to put on an act [coll.) to pretend, extension.

to read the riot act read. to add to to increase,
to add up 1 to perform the operation of
action
actions speak louder than words what one addition. 2 to produce a correct total

actually does is more important than when added. 3 to make sense [It
what one merely says one will do. doesn't add up).
to add up to 1 to amount to. 2 to mean,
action stations! 1 a command to military
to have as an effect.

personnel to take up positions for
addition
battle. 2 a signal to get ready for
immediate action or an imminent in addition as well, also.

event (esp. when this is planned or address

arranged). to address oneself to 1 to speak to. 2 to
in action 1 a working, operating, b (of apply oneself to, to deal with,

artillery) firing. 2 in combat, fighting to pay one’s addresses to to court.

[killed in action).