cord in both the pentathlon and the decathlon and took home two gold medals from the Olympics./ [break through] {v.} To be successful after overcoming a difficulty or bar to success. * /Dr. Salk failed many times but he finally broke through to find a successful polio vaccine./ * /Jim studied very hard this semester in college, and he finally broke through onto the Dean's List for the first time./ [breakthrough] {n.} A point of sudden success after a long process of experimentation, trial and error. * /The U.S. Space Program experienced a major breakthrough when Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in June of 1969./ [break up] {v. phr.} To end a romantic relationship, a marriage, or a business partnership. * /Tom and Jane broke up because Tom played so much golf that he had no time for her./ [break up] {v.} 1. To break into pieces. * /The workmen broke up the pavement to dig up the pipes under it./ * /River ice breaks up in the spring./ 2. {informal} To lose or destroy spirit or self-control. - Usually used in the passive. * /Mrs. Lawrence was all broken up after her daughter's death, and did not go out of the house for two months./ Compare: CRACK UP, GO TO PIECES. 3. To come or to put to an end, especially by separation; separate. * /Some men kept interrupting the speakers, and finally broke up the meeting./ * /The party broke up at midnight./ - Often used in the informal phrase "break it up". * /The boys were fighting, and a passing policeman ordered them to break it up./ Compare: CUT OUT(1). 4. {informal} To stop being friends. * /Mary and June were good friends and did everything together, but then they had a quarrel and broke up/ Compare: BREAK OFF. [break-up] {n.} The end of a relationship, personal or commercial. * /The break-up finally occurred when Smith and Brown decided to sue each other for embezzlement./ [break with] {v.} To separate yourself from; end membership in; stop friendly association with. * /He broke with the Democratic party on the question of civil rights./ * /He had broken with some friends who had changed in their ideas./ [breast] See: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF. [breath] See: CATCH ONE'S BREATH, DRAW A LONG BREATH or TAKE A LONG BREATH, HOLD ONE'S BREATH, IN THE SAME BREATH, OUT OF BREATH, SAVE ONE'S BREATH, SECOND WIND also SECOND BREATH, TAKE ONE'S BREATH AWAY, UNDER ONE'S BREATH, WASTE ONE'S BREATH. [breathe down one's neck] {v. phr.}, {informal} To follow closely; threaten from behind; watch every action. * /Too many creditors were breathing down his neck./ * /The carpenter didn't like to work for Mr. Jones, who was always breathing down his neck./ [breathe easily] or [breathe freely] {v.} To have relief from difficulty or worry; relax; feel that trouble is gone; stop worrying. * /Now that the big bills were paid, he breathed more easily./ * /His mother didn't breathe easily until he got home that night./ [breathe one's last] {v. phr.} To die. * /The wounded soldier fell back on the ground and breathed his last./ [bred in the bone] {adj. phr.} Belonging to your nature or character, especially from early teaching or long habit; natural from belief or habit; believing deeply. * /The Willett children's cleanness is bred in the none./ Often used, with hyphens before the noun. * /Joe is a bred-in-the-bone horseman; he has been riding since he was six./ Contrast: SKIN-DEEP. [breeches] See: TOO BIG FOR ONE'S BREECHES. [breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE, WIN IN A WALK or WIN IN A BREEZE. [breeze in] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To walk into a place casually (like a soft blowing wind). * /Betsie breezed in and sat down at the bar./ [brew] See: HOME BREW. [brick] See: MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW. [brick wall] See: STONE WALL. [bridge] See: BURN ONE'S BRIDGES, CROSS A BRIDGE BEFORE ONE COMES TO IT, WATER OVER THE DAM or WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE. [brief] See: HOLD A BRIEF FOR, IN BRIEF or IN SHORT or IN A WORD. [bright and early] {adj. phr.} Prompt and alert; on time and ready; cheerful and on time or before time. * /He came down bright and early to breakfast./ * /She arrived bright and early for the appointment./ [bring about] {v.} To cause; produce; lead to. * /The war had brought about great changes in living./ * /Drink brought about his downfall./ [bring around] or [bring round] {v.} 1. {informal} To restore to health or consciousness cure. * /He was quite ill, but good nursing brought him around./ Compare: BRING TO(1). 2. To cause a change in thinking; persuade; convince; make willing. * /After a good deal of discussion he brought her round to his way of thinking./ [bringdown] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. (from "bring down", past "brought down"). A critical or cutting remark said sarcastically in order to deflate a braggard's ego. * /John always utters the right bringdown when he encounters a braggard./ 2. A person who depresses and saddens others by being a chronic complainer. * /John is a regular bringdown./ [bring down] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To deflate (someone's ego). * /John brought Ted down very cleverly with his remarks./ 2. To depress (someone). * /The funeral brought me down completely./ [bring down about one's ears] or [bring down around one's ears] See: ABOUT ONE'S EARS. [bring down the house] {v. phr.}, {informal} To start an audience laughing or clapping enthusiastically. * /The principal's story was funny in itself and also touched their loyalties, so it brought down the house./ * /The President made a fine speech which brought down the house./ [bring home] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize; make (someone) realize; demonstrate. * /The accident caused a death in his family, and it brought home to him the evil of drinking while driving./ * /A parent or teacher should bring home to children the value and pleasure of reading./ [bring home the bacon] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To support your family; earn the family living. * /He was a steady fellow, who always brought home the bacon./ 2. To win a game or prize. * /The football team brought home the bacon./ [bring in] {v.} In baseball: To enable men on base to score, score. * /Dick's hit brought in both base runners./ * /A walk and a triple brought in a run in the third inning./ [bring into line] {v. phr.} To make someone conform to the accepted standard. * /Sam had to be brought into line when he refused to take his muddy shoes off the cocktail table./ [bring off] {v.} To do (something difficult); perform successfully (an act of skill); accomplish (something requiring unusual ability). * /By skillful discussion, Mr. White had brought off an agreement that had seemed impossible to get./ * /He tried several times to break the high jump record, and finally he brought it off./ Compare: PUT OVER(2). [bring on] {v.} To result in; cause; produce. * /The murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 brought on the First World War./ * /Spinal meningitis brought on John's deafness when he was six years old./ * /Reading in a poor light may bring on a headache./ [bring out] {v.} 1. To cause to appear; make clear. * /His report brought out the foolishness of the plan./ * /Brushing will bring out the beauty of your hair./ 2. To help (an ability or skill) grow or develop. * /The teacher's coaching brought out a wonderful singing voice of great power and warmth./ 3. To offer to the public by producing, publishing, or selling. * /He brought out a new play./ * /The company brought out a line of light personal airplanes./ [bring round] See: BRING AROUND. [bring suit against] {v. phr.} To sue someone in a court of law. * /Fred brought suit against Tom for fraud and embezzlement./ [bring to] {v.} (stress on "to") 1. To restore to consciousness; wake from sleep, anesthesia, hypnosis, or fainting. * /Smelling salts will often bring a fainting person to./ Compare: BRING AROUND(1). 2. To bring a ship or boat to a stop. * /Reaching the pier, he brought the boat smartly to./ [bring to a close] {v. phr.} To terminate; cause to end. * /The meeting was brought to an abrupt close when the speaker collapsed with a heart attack./ [bring to a head] {v. phr.} To cause some activity to reach the point of culmination. * /Time is running out, gentlemen, so let us bring this discussion to a head./ [bring to bay] {v. phr.} To chase or force into a place where escape is impossible without a fight; trap; corner. * /The police brought the robber to bay on the roof and he gave up./ * /The fox was brought to bay in a hollow tree and the dogs stood around it barking./ Compare: AT BAY. [bring to heel] See: TO HEEL. [bring to light] {v. phr.} To discover (something hidden); find out about; expose. * /Many things left by the ancient Egyptians in tombs have been brought to light by scientists and explorers./ * /His enemies brought to light some foolish things he had done while young, but he was elected anyway because people trusted him./ Compare: COME TO LIGHT. [bring to one's knees] {v. phr.} To seriously weaken the power or impair the function of. * /The fuel shortage brought the automobile industry to its knees./ [bring to pass] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (something) happen; succeed in causing. * /By much planning, the mother brought the marriage to pass./ * /The change in the law was slow in coming, and it took a disaster to bring it to pass./ Compare: BRING ABOUT, COME TO PASS. [bring to terms] {v. phr.} To make (someone) agree or do; make surrender. * /The two brothers were brought to terms by their father for riding the bicycle./ * /The war won't end until we bring the enemy to terms./ Contrast: COME TO TERMS. [bring up] {v.} 1. To take care of (a child); raise, train, educate. * /He gave much attention and thought to bringing up his children./ * /Joe was born in Texas but brought up in Oklahoma./ 2. {informal} To stop; halt. - Usually used with "short". * /He brought the car up short when the light changed to red./ * /Bill started to complain, I brought him up short./ 3. To begin a discussion of; speak of; mention. * /At the class meeting Bob brought up the idea of a picnic./ [bring up the rear] {v. phr.} 1. To come last in a march, parade, or procession; end a line. * /The fire truck with Santa on it brought up the rear of the Christmas parade./ * /The governor and his staff brought up the rear of the parade./ 2. {informal} To do least well; do the most poorly of a group; be last. * /In the race, John brought up the rear./ * /In the basketball tournament, our team brought up the rear./ [bring] or [wheel in] or [out] or [up the big guns] {v. phr.} To make use of a concealed plan in order to defeat an opponent in an argument or in a game, debate, or competition. * /The new computer software company decided to bring out the big guns to get ahead of the competition./ [broke] See: GO BROKE, GO FOR BROKE, STONE-BROKE OT DEAD BROKE or FLAT BROKE, STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK. [Bronx cheer] {n. phr.}, {slang} A loud sound made with tongue and lips to show opposition or scorn. * /When he began to show anti-union feelings, he was greeted with Bronx cheers all around./ [broom] See: NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN. [broth] See: SCOTCH BROTH. [brow] See: BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW. [brown] See: DO UP BROWN. [brown-bagger] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A person who does not go to the cafeteria or to a restaurant for lunch at work, but who brings his homemade lunch to work in order to save money. * /John became a brown-bagger not because he can't afford the restaurant, but because he is too busy to go there./ [brown-nose] {v.}, {slang}, {avoidable}, {though gaining in acceptance} To curry favor in a subservient way, as by obviously exaggerated flattery. * /Max brown-noses his teachers, that's why he gets all A's in his courses./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE. [brown paper bag] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} An unmarked police car. * /The beaver got a Christmas card because she didn't notice the brown paper bag at her back door./ See: PLAIN WHITE WRAPPER. [brown study] {n. phr.} A time of deep thought about something; a deep thoughtful mood. * /When his wife found him, he had pushed away his books and was in a brown study./ [brush] See: BEAT THE BUSHES or BEAT THE BRUSH. [brush aside] {v. phr.} To ignore; give no reply. * /Brushing aside the editor's comments, the young novelist proceeded with his story, which was subsequently rejected by the publisher./ [brush back] {v.} To throw a baseball pitch close to. * /The pitcher threw a high inside pitch to brush the batter back./ Syn.: DUST OFF. [brushoff] See: GET THE BRUSHOFF, BRUSH OFF or GIVE THE BRUSHOFF. [brush off] or [give the brush off] {v. phr.} 1. To refuse to hear or believe; quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important. * /John brushed off Bill's warning that he might fall from the tree./ * /I said that it might rain and to take the bus, but Joe gave my idea the brushoff./ * /Father cut his finger but he brushed it off as not important and kept working./ 2. {informal} To be unfriendly to; not talk or pay attention to (someone); get rid of. * /Mary brushed off Bill at the dance./ * /I said hello to Mr. Smith, but he gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET THE BRUSH OFF. [brush up] or [brush up on] {v.} To refresh one's memory of or skill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. * /She spent the summer brushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall./ * /He brushed up his target shooting./ [bubble gum music] {n.}, {slang} The kind of rock'n'roll that appeals to young teenagers. * /When will you learn to appreciate Mozart instead of that bubble gum music?/ [bubble trouble] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Tire trouble, flat tire. * /The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to have bubble trouble./ [buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK. [bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS. [bucket of bolts] {n.}, {slang} A very old and shaky car that barely goes. * /When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of bolts?/ [buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN. [buckle down] or [knuckle down] {v.} To give complete attention (to an effort or job); attend. * /They chatted idly for a few moments then each buckled down to work./ * /Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his father told him to buckle down./ [buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK. [buck up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful; make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. * /After the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song./ * /Tom was disappointed that he didn't make the team; but he soon bucked up./ [bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD. [bug-eyed] {adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. * /He stood there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./ [buggy-whip] {n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. * /He's very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./ [bughouse(1)] {n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. * /They took Joe to the bughouse./ [bughouse(2)] {adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. * /Joe's gone bughouse./ [bug in one's ear] {n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information given to someone to make him act; idea. * /I saw Mary at the jeweler's admiring the diamond pin; I'll put a bug in Henry's ear./ [build] See: JERRY-BUILT. [build a fire under] {v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. * /The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./ [build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] {v. phr.} To make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that are unlikely. * /He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded in anything./ * /To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their wishes./ [build on sand] {v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient foundation for a building, a business, or a relationship. * /"I don't want to build my business on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give me that loan I requested."/ [build up] {v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; construct from parts. * /Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow./ * /Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or fill up with buildings. * /The fields where Tom's father played as a boy are all built up now./ * /A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up./ 3a. To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow. * /John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ * /The noise built up until Mary couldn't stand it any longer./ 3b. To make stronger or better or more effective. * /Fred exercised to build up his muscles./ * /Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./ 3c. {informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. * /The press agent built up the young actress./ * /The movie company spent much money building up its new picture./ [build up to] {v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a culmination point. * /The clouds were building up to a violent storm./ * /Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./ [bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS. [bullet lane] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} The passing lane. * /Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler is moving too slow./ [bull in a china shop] {n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. * /We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk made the teacher say no./ [bull session] {n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something by a group of persons. * /After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bull session until the lights went out./ [bullshit] {n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some} Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. * /"Joe, this is a lot of bullshit!"/ [bullshit] {v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to make yourself seem impressive. * /"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can't believe a word of what you're saying."/ [bullshit artist] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in social acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely flattering speeches designed to impress others. * /Joe is a regular bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of everyone else./ [bum around] {v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no definite direction, like a vagabond. * /Jim had been bumming around in the desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he got there in the first place./ [bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS. [bump into] {v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting to; happen to meet; come upon by accident. * /Mary was walking down the street, when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ * /Ed was surprised to bump into John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO. [bump off] {v.}, {slang} To kill in a violent way; murder in gangster fashion. * /Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with Tommy guns./ [bum's rush] {n. phr.}, {slang} Throwing or pushing someone out from where he is not wanted. * /When John tried to go to the party where he was not invited, Bill and Fred gave him the bum's rush./ * /Tom became too noisy, and he got the bum's rush./ 2. To hurry or rush (someone). * /The salesman tried to give me the bum's rush./ [bum steer] {n.} Wrong or misleading directions given naively or on purpose. * /Man, you sure gave me a bum steer when you told me to go north on the highway; you should have sent me south!/ [bundle of laughs] {n. phr.} A very amusing person, thing, or event. * /Uncle Lester tells so many jokes that he is a bundle of laughs./ [bundle up] See: WRAP UP(1). [burn] See: EARS BURN, KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING, MONEY TO BURN. [burn a hole in one's pocket] {v. phr.} To make you want to buy something; be likely to be quickly spent. * /Money burns a hole in Linda's pocket./ * /The silver dollar that Don got for his birthday was burning a hole in his pocket, and Don hurried to a dime store./ [burn down] {v. phr.} To burn to the ground; be totally gutted by fire. * /The old frame house burned down before the firefighters could get to it./ [burn in effigy] See: HANG IN EFFIGY. [burn one's bridges] also [burn one's boats] {v. phr.} To make a decision that you cannot change; remove or destroy all the ways you can get back out of a place you have got into on purpose; leave yourself no way to escape a position. * /Bob was a good wrestler but a poor boxer. He burned his boats by letting Mickey choose how they would fight./ * /When Dorothy became a nun, she burned her bridges behind her./ [burn one's fingers] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn't want to try again./ * /Some people can't be told; they have to burn their fingers to learn./ [burn out] {v. phr.} 1. To destroy by fire or by overheating. * /Mr. Jones burned out the clutch on his car./ 2. To destroy someone's house or business by fire so that they have to move out. * /Three racists burned out the Black family's home./ 3a. To go out of order; cease to function because of long use or overheating. * /The light bulb in the bathroom burned out, and Father put in a new one./ * /The electric motor was too powerful, and it burned out a fuse./ 3b. To break, tire, or wear out by using up all the power, energy, or strength of. * /Bill burned himself out in the first part of the race and could not finish./ * /The farmer burned out his field by planting the same crop every year for many years./ [burn-out] {n.} A point of physical or emotional exhaustion. * /There are so many refugees all over the world that charitable organizations as well as individuals are suffering from donor burn-out./ [burn rubber] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To start up a car or a motorcycle from dead stop so fast that the tires leave a mark on the road. * /The neighborhood drag racers burned a lot of rubber - look at the marks on the road!/ 2. To leave in a hurry. * /I guess I am going to have to burn rubber./ [burnt child dreads the fire] or [once bitten, twice shy] A person who has suffered from doing something has learned to avoid doing it again. - A proverb. * /Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary stays close to her mother when they are downtown./ [burn the candle at both ends] {v. phr.} To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired. * /He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends./ [burn the midnight oil] {v. phr.} To study late at night. * /Exam time was near, and more and more pupils were burning the midnight oil./ [bum to a crisp] {v. phr.} To burn black; burn past saving or using especially as food. * /While getting breakfast, Mother was called to the telephone, and when she got back, the bacon had been burned to a crisp./ [burn up] {v.} 1. To burn completely; destroy or be destroyed by fire. * /Mr. Scott was burning up old letters./ * /The house burned up before the firemen got there./ 2. {informal} To irritate, anger, annoy. * /The boy's laziness and rudeness burned up his teacher./ * /The breakdown of his new car burned Mr. Jones up./ [burn up the road] {v. phr.}, {informal} To drive a car very fast. * /In his eagerness to see his girl again, he burned up the road on his way to see her./ * /Speed demons burning up the road often cause accidents./ [burst at the seams] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be too full or too crowded. * /John ate so much he was bursting at the seams./ * /Mary's album was so full of pictures it was bursting at the seams./ [burst into] {v. phr.} 1. To enter suddenly. * /Stuart burst into the room, screaming angrily./ 2. To break out. * /The crowd burst out cheering when the astronauts paraded along Fifth Avenue./ [burst into flames] {v. phr.} To begin to burn suddenly. * /The children threw away some burning matches and the barn burst into flames./ [burst into tears] {v. phr.} To suddenly start crying. * /Mary burst into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in a car accident./ [burst with joy] or [pride] {v. phr.} To be so full of the feeling of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing one's exuberant feelings. * /Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when they stepped out on the moon in July, 1969./ [bury one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND. [bury the hatchet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a quarrel or end a war; make peace. * /The two men had been enemies a long time, but after the flood they buried the hatchet./ Compare: MAKE UP(5). [bus] See: MISS THE BOAT or MISS THE BUS. [bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH. [bushel] See: HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL. [bushes] See: BEAT THE BUSHES. [business] See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND-OFFICE BUSINESS, MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS. [bust up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To terminate a partnership, a relationship, a friendship, or a marriage. * /If Jack keeps drinking the way he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue./ [busy work] {n.} Work that is done not to do or finish anything important, but just to keep busy. * /When the teacher finished all she had to say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she gave the class a test for busy work./ [but for] See: EXCEPT FOR. [but good] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Very much so; thoroughly completely; forcefully. - Used for emphasis. * /Jack called Charles a bad name, and Charles hit him, but good./ * /Tom fell and broke his leg. That taught him but good not to fool around in high trees./ Compare: AND HOW. [but not least] See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST. [butter] See: BREAD AND BUTTER. [butterflies in one's stomach] {n. phr.} A queer feeling in the stomach caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or anxiety in the stomach. * /When Bob walked into the factory office to ask for a job, he had butterflies in his stomach./ [butter up] {v.}, {informal} To try to get the favor or friendship of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. * /He began to butter up the boss in hope of being given a better job./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE. [butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth] {informal} You act very polite and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to people but are not sincere. * /The new secretary was rude to the other workers, but when she talked to the boss, butter wouldn't melt in her mouth./ [butt in] {v.}, {slang} To join in with what other people are doing without asking or being asked; interfere in other people's business; meddle. * /Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when Barbara butted in./ Often used with "on". * /John butted in on Bill and Tom's fight, and got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN. [button] See: HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON. [button down] {v.}, {slang} (stress on "down") To state precisely, to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. * /First let's get the facts buttoned down, then we can plan ahead./ [button-down] {attrib. adj.}, {slang} (stress on "button") Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. * /Joe is a regular button-down type./ [buttonhole] {v.} To approach a person in order to speak with him or her in private. * /After waiting for several hours, Sam managed to buttonhole his boss just as she was about to leave the building./ [button one's lip] also [zip one's lip] {v. phr.}, {slang} To stop talking; keep a secret; shut your mouth; be quiet. * /The man was getting loud and insulting and the cop told him to button his lip./ * /John wanted to talk, but Dan told him to keep his lip buttoned./ Syn.: KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, SHUT UP. [buy for a song] {v. phr.} To buy something very cheaply. * /Since the building on the corner was old and neglected, I was able to buy it for a song./ [buy off] {v.} To turn from duty or purpose by a gift. * /When the police threatened to stop the gambling business, the owner bought them off./ * /The Indians were going to burn the cabins, but the men bought them off with gifts./ Compare: PAY OFF. [buy out] {v.} 1. To buy the ownership or a share of; purchase the stock of. * /He bought out several small stockholders. 2. To buy all the goods of; purchase the merchandise of./ * /Mr. Harper bought out a nearby hardware store./ Contrast: SELL OUT. [buy up] {v. phr.} To purchase the entire stock of something. * /The company is trying to buy up all the available shares./ [buzz] See: GIVE A RING also GIVE A BUZZ. [buzz word] {n.} A word that sounds big and important in a sentence but, on closer inspection, means little except the speaker's indication to belong to a certain group. * /The politician's speech was nothing but a lot of misleading statements and phony promises hidden in a bunch of buzz words./ [by] See: TOO --- BY HALF. [by a hair] See: HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR [by] or [in my book] {adv. phr.} In my opinion; as far as I am concerned; in my judgment. * /By my book, Mr. Murgatroyd is not a very good department head./ [by all means] also [by all manner of means] {adv. phr.} Certainly, without fail. * /He felt that he should by all means warn Jones./ Contrast: BY NO MEANS. [by all odds] {adv. phr.} Without question; certainly. * /He was by all odds the strongest candidate./ * /By all odds we should win the game, because the other team is so weak./ Compare: FAR AND AWAY. [by a long shot] {adv. phr.}, {informal} By a big difference; by far. - Used to add emphasis. * /Bert was the best swimmer in the race, by a long shot./ Often used with a negative. * /Tom isn't the kind who would be fresh to a teacher, by a long shot./ * /Our team didn't win - not by a long shot./ Compare: MISS BY A MILE. [by a mile] See: MISS BY A MILE. [by and by] {adv.} After a while; at some time in the future; later. * /Roger said he would do his homework by and by./ * /The mother knew her baby would be a man by and by and do a man's work./ Syn.: AFTER A WHILE. [by and large] {adv. phr.} As it most often happens; more often than not; usually; mostly. * /There were bad days, but it was a pleasant summer, by and large./ * /By and large, women can bear pain better than men./ Syn.: FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE WHOLE(2). [by any means] See: BY NO MEANS. [by a thread] See: HANG BY A THREAD. [by chance] {adv. phr.} Without any cause or reason; by accident; accidentally. * /Tom met Bill by chance./ * /The apple fell by chance on Bobby's head./ [by choice] {adv. phr.} As a result of choosing because of wanting to; freely. * /John helped his father by choice./ * /Mary ate a plum, but not by choice. Her mother told her she must eat it./ [by dint of] {prep.} By the exertion of; by the use of; through. * /By dint of sheer toughness and real courage, he lived through the jungle difficulties and dangers./ * /His success in college was largely by dint of hard study./ [bye] See: BY THE WAY also BY THE BYE. [by ear] {adv. phr.} 1. By sound, without ever reading the printed music of the piece being played. * /The church choir sang the hymns by ear./ 2. Waiting to see what will happen. * /I don't want to plan now; let's just play it by ear./ [by far] {adv. phr.} By a large difference; much. * /His work was better by far than that of any other printer in the city./ * /The old road is prettier, but it is by far the longer way./ Compare: FAR AND AWAY. [by fits and starts] or [jerks] {adv. phr.} With many stops and starts, a little now and a little more later; not all the time; irregularly. * /He had worked on the invention by fits and starts for several years./ * /You will never get anywhere if you study just by fits and starts./ Compare: FROM TIME TO TIME, OFF AND ON. [bygone] See: LET BYGONES BE BYGONES. [by heart] {adv. phr.} By exact memorizing; so well that you remember it; by memory. * /The pupils learned many poems by heart./ * /He knew the records of the major league teams by heart./ [by hook or by crook] {adv. phr.} By honest ways or dishonest in any way necessary. * /The wolf tried to get the little pigs by hook or by crook./ * /The team was determined to win that last game by hook or by crook, and three players were put out of the game for fouling./ [by inches] {adv. phr.} By small or slow degrees; little by little; gradually. * /The river was rising by inches./ * /They got a heavy wooden beam under the barn for a lever, and managed to move it by inches./ * /He was dying by inches./ [by leaps and bounds] {adv. phr.} With long steps; very rapidly. * /Production in the factory was increasing by leaps and bounds./ * /The school enrollment was going up by leaps and bounds./ [by means of] {prep.} By the use of; with the help of. * /The fisherman saved himself by means of a floating log./ * /By means of monthly payments, people can buy more than in the past./ [by mistake] {adv. phr.} As the result of a mistake; through error. * /He picked up the wrong hat by mistake./ [by no means] or [not by any means] also [by no manner of means] or [not by any manner of means] {adv. phr.} Not even a little; certainly not. * /He is by no means bright./ * /"May I stay home from school?" "By no means."/ * /Dick worked on his project Saturday, but he is not finished yet, by any means./ Contrast: BY ALL MEANS. [B.Y.O.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own. Said of a kind of party where the host or hostess does not provide the drinks or food but people ring their own. [B.Y.O.B.] (Abbreviation) {informal} Bring Your Own Bottle. Frequently written on invitations for the kind of party where people bring their own liquor. [by oneself] {adv. phr.} 1. Without any others around; separate from others; alone. * /The house stood by itself on a hill./ * /Tom liked to go walking by himself./ * /Betty felt very sad and lonely by herself./ 2. Without the help of anyone else; by your own work only. * /John built a flying model airplane by himself./ * /Lois cleaned the house all by herself./ [by one's own bootstraps] See: PULL ONE SELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS. [by storm] See: TAKE BY STORM. [by surprise] See: TAKE BY SURPRISE. [by the board] See: GO BY THE BOARD also PASS BY THE BOARD. [by the bootstraps] See: PULL ONESELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS. [by the bye] See: BY THE WAY. [by the dozen] or [by the hundred] or [by the thousand] {adv. phr.} Very many at one time; in great numbers. * /Tommy ate cookies by the down./ Often used in the plural, meaning even larger numbers. * /The ants arrived at the picnic by the hundreds./ * /The enemy attacked the fort by the thousands./ [by the horns] See: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS. [by the hundred] See: BY THE DOZEN. [by the nose] See: LEAD BY THE NOSE. [by the piece] {adv. phr.} Counted one piece at a time, separately for each single piece. * /John bought boxes full of bags of potato chips and sold them by the piece./ * /Mary made potholders and got paid by the piece./ [by the seat of one's pants] See: FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS. [by the skin of one's teeth] {adv. phr.} By a narrow margin; with no room to spare; barely. * /The drowning man struggled, and I got him to land by the skin of my teeth./ * /She passed English by the skin of her teeth./ Compare: SQUEAK THROUGH, WITHIN AN ACE OF or WITHIN AN INCH OF. [by the sweat of one's brow] {adv. phr.} By hard work; by tiring effort; laboriously. * /Even with modern labor-saving machinery, the farmer makes his living by the sweat of his brow./ [by the thousand] See: BY THE DOZEN. [by the way] also [by the bye] {adv. phr.} Just as some added fact or news; as something else that I think of. - Used to introduce something related to the general subject, or brought to mind by it. * /We shall expect you; by the way, dinner will be at eight./ * /I was reading when the earthquake occurred, and, by the way, it was The Last Days of Pompeii that I was reading./ [by the wayside] See: FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. [by turns] {adv. phr.} First one and then another in a regular way; one substituting for or following another according to a repeated plan. * /On the drive to Chicago, the three men took the wheel by turns./ * /The teachers were on duty by turns./ * /When John had a fever, he felt cold and hot by turns./ Syn.: IN TURN. Compare: TAKE TURNS. [by virtue of] also [in virtue of] {prep.} On the strength of; because of; by reason of. * /By virtue of his high rank and position, the President takes social leadership over almost everyone else./ * /Plastic bags are useful for holding many kinds of food, by virtue of their clearness, toughness, and low cost./ Compare: BY DINT OF. [by way of] {prep.} 1. For the sake or purpose of; as. * /By way of example, he described his own experience./ 2. Through; by a route including; via. * /He went from New York to San Francisco by way of Chicago./ [by word of mouth] {adv. phr.} From person to person by the spoken word; orally. * /The news got around by word of mouth./ * /The message reached him quietly by word of mouth./ C [cahoots] See: IN LEAGUE WITH or IN CAHOOTS WITH. [Cain] See: RAISE CAIN. [cake] See: EAT-ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO, PAT-A-CAKE, TAKE THE CAKE. [calculated risk] {n.} An action that may fail but is judged more likely to succeed. * /The sending of troops to the rebellious island was a calculated risk./ [calf love] See: PUPPY LOVE. [call] See: AT CALL, AT ONE'S BECK AND CALL, CLOSE CALL, ON CALL, PORT OF CALL, POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK, WITHIN CALL. [call a halt] {v. phr.} To give a command to stop. * /The scouts were tired during the hike, and the scoutmaster called a halt./ * /When the children's play, got too noisy, their mother called a halt./ [call a spade a spade] {v. phr.} To call a person or thing a name that is true but not polite; speak bluntly; use the plainest language. * /A boy took some money from Dick's desk and said he borrowed it, but I told him he stole it; I believe in calling a spade a spade./ [call down] also [dress down] {v.}, {informal} To scold. * /Jim was called down by his teacher for being late to class./ * /Mother called Bob down for walking into the kitchen with muddy boots./ Compare: CALL ON THE CARPET, CHEW OUT, BAWL OUT, READ THE RIOT ACT. [call for] {v.} 1. To come or go to get (someone or something). * /John called for Mary to take her to the dance./ Syn.: PICK UP. 2. To need; require. * /The cake recipe calls for two cups of flour./ * /Success in school calls for much hard study./ [call girl] {n.}, {slang} A prostitute catering to wealthy clientele, especially one