ntract with a team. * /The Giants signed two free agents who had been released by the Cardinals./ [free and easy] {adj.} Not strict; relaxed or careless. * /The teacher was free and easy with his students./ * /He had a free and easy way of acting that attracted many friends./ * /They were free and easy with their money and it was soon gone./ [free ball] {n.} A ball in football that is in play, that is not in the possession of anyone, that is not a legally thrown forward pass, and that belongs to the first team which can grab it. * /A Notre Dame player fell on a free ball and recovered it for his team./ [free enterprise] {n. phr.} A system in which private business is controlled by as few government rules as possible. * /The United States is proud of its free enterprise./ [free hand] {n.} Great freedom. * /The teacher had a free hand in her classroom./ * /Bob put paint on the fence with a free hand./ Compare: FREE REIN. [freeload] {v.} To have oneself supported in terms of food and housing at someone else's expense. * /When are you guys going to stop freeloading and do some work?/ [free rein] {n.} Freedom to do what you want. * /The king had free rein in his country./ * /Father is strict with the children, but Mother gives them free rein./ Compare: FREE HAND. [free throw] {n.} A shot at the basket in basketball without interference from opponents. * /Mike scored the winning point on a free throw./ Compare: FIELD GOAL(2), FOUL SHOT. [free-for-all] {n.} 1. Unlimited, free access to something everybody wants. * /The Smith's party was a lavish free-for-all; everybody could eat and drink as much as they wanted./ 2. A barroom, tavern, or street fight in which everybody participates. * /The celebration after the soccer game victory turned into an uncontrollable free-for-all./ [freeze] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD or BLOOD FREEZES. [freeze one's blood] See: BLOOD RUNS COLD. [freeze out] {v.}, {informal} To force out or keep from a share or part in something by unfriendly or dishonest treatment. * /The other boys froze John out of the club./ [freeze over] {v.} To become covered with ice. * /The children wanted the lake to freeze over so they could ice-skate./ [French fried potato] or [French fry] {n.} A narrow strip of potato fried in deep fat. - Usually used in the plural. * /Sue ordered a hamburger and french fries./ [French leave] {n.} The act of slipping away from a place secretly and without saying good-bye to anyone. * /"It's getting late," Rob whispered to Janet. "Let's take French leave and get out of here."/ [fresh from] {adj.} Recently returned from; experienced in. * /Tom was fresh from two years in Paris and was very condescending in matters pertaining to cuisine and wines./ [friction tape] {n.} Black cloth tape with one sticky side used around electric wires. * /The boy fixed his cracked baseball bat with some friction tape./ [Friday] See: GIRL FRIDAY. [friend] See: BOY FRIEND, FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND, GIRL FRIEND, LADY FRIEND, MAKE FRIENDS. [friends with] Friendly to; a friend of. * /Alice found several girls to be friends with on the first day of school./ * /At first I didn't like John, but now I am friends with him./ [frightened out of one's wits] See: OUT OF ONE'S WITS. [frightened to death] See: TO DEATH. [fritter away] See: FOOL AWAY. [fro] See: TO AND FRO. [frog] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND, LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND. [from bad to worse] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE. [from grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE. [from hand to hand] {adv. phr.} From one person to another and another. * /The box of candy was passed from hand to hand./ * /Jane brought her engagement ring, and it passed from hand to hand until all the girls had admired it./ [from hand to mouth] See: LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH. [from little acorns] See: GREAT OAKS FROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW. [from Missouri] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Doubtful; suspicious. * /Don't try to fool me. I'm from Missouri./ [from mouth to mouth] {adv. phr.} See: BY WORD OF MOUTH. [from pillar to post] {adv. phr.} From one place to another many times. * /Sarah's father changed jobs several times a year, and the family was moved from pillar to post./ [from rags to riches] {adv. phr.} Suddenly making a fortune; becoming rich overnight. * /The Smiths went from rags to riches when they unexpectedly won the lottery./ [from scratch] {adv. phr.}, {informal} With no help from anything done before; from the beginning; from nothing. * /Dick built a radio from scratch./ * /In sewing class, Mary already knew how to sew a little, but Jane had to start from scratch./ Compare: FROM THE GROUND UP. [from the bottom of one's heart] or [with all one's heart] {adv. phr.} With great feeling; sincerely. * /A mother loves a baby from the bottom of her heart./ * /John thanked his rescuer from the bottom of his heart./ * /The people welcomed the returning soldiers from the bottom of their hearts./ [from the door] See: KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR. [from the ground up] {adv. phr.} From the beginning; entirely; completely. * /After the fire they had to rebuild their cabin from the ground up./ * /Sam knows about baseball from the ground up./ * /The new cars have been changed from the ground up./ [from the heart] {adv.} Sincerely; honestly. * /John always speaks from the heart./ [from the word "go"] {adv. phr.} From start to finish; completely. * /He may look French but he is a New Yorker from the word "go."/ [from time to time] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally; at one time and then again at another time. * /Even though the Smiths have moved, we still see them from time to time./ * /Mother tries new recipes from time to time, but the children never like them./ Syn.: NOW AND THEN, AT TIMES, ONCE IN A WHILE. Compare: BY FITS AND STARTS, OFF AND ON. [from --- to ---] 1. Used with a repeated word to show that something keeps on. Without ending. * /The world grows wiser from age to age./ * /He goes from day to day without changing his necktie./ - Also used in a short form like an adjective. * /The superintendent spends more time on plans for the future, and the principal handles the day-to-day problems of the school./ 2. Used with a repeated word to show that something happens again and again. * /She sells face cream from door to door./ * /The artist goes from place to place painting pictures./ - Also used in a short form like an adjective. * /Mr. Roberts began as a door-to-door salesman, and now is president of the company./ 3. Used with words showing opposite or extreme limits, often to emphasize that something is very large or complete. * /The eagle's wings measured six feet from tip to tip./ * /Sarah read the book from cover to cover./ * /Mrs. Miller's dinner included everything from soup to nuts./ * /That book is a bestseller from Maine to California./ * /The captain looked the boy over from head to foot./ * /The dog sniffed the yard from end to end in search of a bone./ * /This new car has been redesigned from top to bottom./ * /That bookstore has books on everything from archery to zoology./ * /The television show was broadcast from coast to coast./ * /He knows mathematics from A to Z./ - Sometimes used in a short form like an adjective. * /The airplane made a non-stop coast-to-coast flight./ [from under] See: OUT FROM UNDER, PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER. [from way back] {adv. phr.} From a previous time; from a long time ago. * /They have known one another from way back when they went to the same elementary school./ [front] See: IN FRONT OF. [front and center] {adv.}, {slang} Used as a command to a person to go to someone who wants him. * /Front and center, Smith. The boss wants to see you./ [front court] {n.} The half of a basketball court that is a basketball team's offensive zone. * /The guard brought the ball up to the front court./ [front office] {n.}, {informal} The group of persons who manage a business; the officers. * /The front office decides how much the workers are paid./ [frown upon] {v. phr.} To look with disfavor upon somebody or something. * /Everybody in her family frowns upon her attachment to him./ [fruitcake] See: NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE. [fry] See: OTHER FISH TO FRY, OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE, SMALL FRY. [fuck around] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. To be promiscuous. * /John fucks around with the secretaries./ 2. To play at something without purpose, to mess around. * /He doesn't accomplish anything, because he fucks around so much./ [fuck off] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} 1. Go away! * /Can't you see you're bothering me? Fuck off!/ 2. To be lazy. * /John said "I don't feel like working, so I'll fuck off today."/ Compare: BEAT IT, GOOF OFF. [fuck up] {v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To make a mess of something or oneself. * /Because he was totally unprepared, he fucked up his exam./ * /He is so fucked up he doesn't know whether he is coming or going./ [fuck-up] {n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} A mess; a badly botched situation. * /What a fuck-up the dissolution of the USSR created!/ [fuddy-duddy] {n.} A person whose ideas and habits are old-fashioned. * /His students think Professor Jones is an old fuddy-duddy./ [fuel] See: ADD FUEL TO THE FLAME. [full] See: HAVE ONE'S HANDS FULL, IN FULL SWING, TO THE FULL. [full blast] {adv.} At full capacity. * /With all the research money at their disposal, the new computer firm was going ahead full blast./ [full-bodied] {adj.} Mature; of maximum quality. * /The wines from that region in California have a rich, full-bodied flavor./ [full-fledged] {adj.} Having everything that is needed to be something; complete. * /A girl needs three years of training to be a full-fledged nurse./ * /The book was a full-fledged study of American history./ [full of beans] {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. Full of pep; feeling good; in high spirits. * /The football team was full of beans after winning the tournament./ * /The children were full of beans as they got ready for a picnic./ 2. also [full of prunes] Being foolish and talking nonsense. * /You are full of prunes; that man's not 120 years old./ [full of it] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK. [full of oneself] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Interested only in yourself. * /Joe would be a nice boy if he would stop being so full of himself./ Compare: BIG HEAD. [full of prunes] See: FULL OF BEANS(2). [full of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} The moon when it is seen as a full circle; the time of a full moon. * /The robbers waited for a dark night when the full of the moon was past./ Contrast: DARK OF THE MOON. [full of the Old Nick] or [full of the devil] or [full of it] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Always making trouble; naughty; bad. * /That boy is full of the Old Nick./ [full tilt] {adv.} At full speed; at high speed. * /He ran full tilt into the door and broke his arm./ [fun] See: MAKE FUN OF. [fun and games] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A party or other entertaining event. 2. Something trivially easy. 3. Petting, or sexual intercourse. 4. (Ironically) An extraordinary difficult task. * /How was your math exam? (With a dismayed expression): - Yeah, it was all fun and games, man./ [fun house] {n.} A place where people see many funny things and have tricks played on them to make them laugh or have a good time. * /The boys and girls had a good time looking at themselves in mirrors in the fun house./ [funny bone] {n.} 1. The place at the back of the elbow that hurts like electricity when accidentally hit. * /He hit his funny bone on the arm of the chair./ 2. or {informal} [crazy bone] Sense of humor; understanding jokes. * /Her way of telling the story tickled his funny bone./ [fur] See: MAKE THE FUR FLY. [furious] See: FAST AND FURIOUS. [fuse] See: BLOW A FUSE. [fuss] See: KICK UP A FUSS. [fuss and feathers] {n.}, {informal} Unnecessary bother and excitement. * /She is full of fuss and feathers this morning./ G [gab] See: GIFT OF GAB or GIFT OF THE GAB. [gaff] See: STAND THE GAFF. [gain ground] {v. phr.} 1. To go forward; move ahead. * /The soldiers fought hard and began to gain ground./ 2. To become stronger; make progress; improve. * /The sick man gained ground after being near death./ * /Under Lincoln, the Republican Party gained ground./ Contrast: LOSE GROUND. [gallery] See: PLAY TO THE GALLERY. [gallon] See: TEN-GALLON HAT. [gallows' humor] {n. phr.} Bitter joke(s) that make fun of a very serious matter, e.g. death, imprisonment, etc. * /When the criminal was led to the electric chair on Monday morning, he said, "Nice way to start the week, eh?"/ [game] See: AHEAD OF THE GAME, LOVE GAME, NAME OF THE GAME, PLAY THE GAME, AT --- STAGE OF THE GAME. [game at which two can play] {n. phr.} A plan, trick, or way of acting that both sides may use. * /Rough football is a game two can play./ * /Politics is a game at which two can play./ [game is not worth the candle] {literary} What is being done is not worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not worth the effort. * /I don't want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the candle./ [game is up] or {slang} [jig is up] The secret or plan won't work; we are caught or discovered. * /The game is up; the teacher knows who took her keys./ * /The jig's up; the principal knows the boys have been smoking in the basement./ Compare: FAT IS IN THE FIRE. [gang] See: ROAD GANG, SECTION GANG. [gang up on] or [gang up against] {v. phr.}, {informal} To jointly attack someone, either physically or verbally; take sides in a group against an individual. * /The class bully was stronger than all the other boys, so they had to gang up on him to put him in his place./ Compare: LINE UP(4b). [garbage down] {v. phr.}, {slang} To eat eagerly and at great speed without much regard for manners or social convention. * /The children garbaged down their food./ [garden apartment] {n.} An apartment with a garden near it. * /The couple live in a garden apartment./ [garment] See: FOUNDATION GARMENT. [gas] See: STEP ON IT or STEP ON THE GAS. [gasket] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW A GASKET. [gas up] {v.}, {informal} 1. To fill the gasoline tank of. * /The mechanics gassed up the planes for their long trip./ 2. To fill the tank with gasoline. * /The big truck stopped at the filling station and gassed up./ [gate] See: GET THE BOUNCE or GET THE GATE, GIVE THE BOUNCE or GIVE THE GATE. [gate crasher] See: CRASH THE GATE. [gather] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS. [gather in] {v.}, {informal} To catch. * /The end gathered in the pass and went over for a touchdown./ [gauntlet] See: RUN THE GAUNTLET, THROW DOWN THE GAUNTLET. [gay nineties] {n.} The years between 1890 and 1900; remembered as a happy exciting time. * /Ladies wore large hats in the gay nineties./ * /Picnics were popular in the gay nineties./ [gaze] See: CRYSTAL GAZING. [gear] See: HIGH GEAR, SLIP A COG or SLIP A GEAR, THROW OUT OF GEAR. [geese] See: FOX AND GEESE. [gee whiz] {interj.}, {informal} Used as an exclamation to show surprise or other strong feeling. Rare in written English. * /Gee whiz! I am late again./ [general] See: IN GENERAL. [generation gap] {n.}, {informal}, {hackneyed phrase} The difference in social values, philosophies, and manners between children and their parents, teachers and relatives which causes a lack of understanding between them and frequently leads to violent confrontations. * /My daughter is twenty and I am forty, but we have no generation gap in our family./ [generous to a fault] {adj. phr.} Excessively generous. * /Generous to a fault, my Aunt Elizabeth gave away all her rare books to her old college./ [George] See: LET GEORGE DO IT. [get] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM or EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM, GO-GETTER, TELL ONE WHERE TO GET OFF. [get about] See: GET AROUND(1b). [get a black eye] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a dark ring around the eye after being hit by someone's fist or an object. * /In the fistfight Tom got a black eye from Pete./ * /Sue got a black eye when she ran into a tree./ 2. To have one's character denigrated. * /Our firm received a black eye because of all the consumer complaints that were lodged against our product./ [get a break] {v. phr.} To receive a stroke of luck. * /Bill got a break when he won the lottery./ [get across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly, make (something) clear; to make clear the meaning of. * /Mr. Brown is a good coach because he can get across the plays./ Syn.: PUT ACROSS. 2. To become clear. * /The teacher tried to explain the problem, but the explanation did not get across to the class./ [get after] {v.}, {informal} 1. To try or try again to make someone do what he is supposed to do. * /Ann's mother gets after her to hang up her clothes./ 2. To scold or make an attack on. * /Bob's mother got after him for tracking mud into the house./ * /The police are getting after the crooks in the city./ [get ahead] {v.} 1. {informal} To become successful. * /Mr. Brown was a good lawyer and soon began to get ahead./ * /The person with a good education finds it easier to get ahead./ 2. To be able to save money; get out of debt. * /In a few more years he will be able to get ahead./ * /After Father pays all the doctor bills, maybe we can get a little money ahead and buy a car./ [get a load of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take a good look at; see (something unusual or interesting.) - Often used to show surprise or admiration. * /Get a load of that pretty girl!/ * /Get a load of Dick's new car!/ Compare: LOOK OVER. 2. To listen to carefully or with interest, especially exciting news. - Often used as a command: /Get a load of this: Alice got married yesterday!/ [get along] also [get on] {v.} 1. To go or move away; move on. * /The policeman told the boys on the street corner to get along./ 2. To go forward; make progress; advance, * /John is getting along well in school. He is learning more every day./ Syn.: GET AHEAD. 3. To advance; become old or late. * /It is getting along towards sundown./ * /Grandmother is 68 and getting along./ 4. To get or make what you need; manage. * /It isn't easy to get along in the jungle./ * /We can get along on $100 a week./ Compare: DO WITHOUT(2), GET BY, MAKE DO. 5. To live or work together in a friendly way; agree, cooperate; not fight or argue. * /We don't get along with the Jones family./ * /Jim and Jane get along fine together./ * /Don't be hard to get along with./ [get a fix] or [give a fix] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {drug culture} To provide (someone) with an injection of narcotics. * /The neighborhood pusher gave Joe a fix./ Contrast: GET A FIX ON. [get a fix on] {v. phr.}, {informal} Receive a reading of a distant object by electronic means, as by radar or sonar. * /Can you get a fix on the submarine?/ Contrast: GET A FIX. [get a grip on] {v. phr.} To take firm control of something. * /If Tim wants to keep his job, he had better get a grip on himself and start working harder./ Contrast: LOSE ONE'S GRIP. [get a head start on] {v. phr.} To receive preliminary help or instruction in a particular subject so that the recipient is in a favorable position compared to his or her peers. * /At our school, children get a head start on their reading ability thanks to a special program./ [get a kick out of] {v. phr.} To be greatly thrilled; derive pleasure from. * /Tom and Many get a kick out of playing four hands on the piano./ [get a line on] {v. phr.} To receive special, sometimes even confidential information about something. * /Before Bill accepted his new position, he got a line on how the business was being run./ [get a move on] {informal} or {slang} [get a wiggle on] {v. phr.} To hurry up; get going. - Often used as a command. * /Get a move on, or you will be late./ [get a raise] {v. phr.} To receive an increment in salary. * /Because of his good work, Ted got a raise after May 1./ [get a rise out of] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To have some fun with (a person) by making (him) angry; tease. * /The boys get a rise out of Joe by teasing him about his girl friend./ 2. {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be sexually aroused (said of males) * /Jim always gets a rise out of watching adult movies./ [get (all) dolled up] See: DOLL UP. [get along] or [on in years] {v. phr.} To age; grow old. * /My father is getting along in years; he will be ninety on his next birthday./ [get an earful] {v. phr.}, {informal} To hear more (of usually unwelcome news) than one expects or wishes to hear. * /I asked how Tim and his wife were getting along, and I certainly got an earful./ Contrast: SAY A MOUTHFUL. [get around] {v.} 1a. To go to different places; move about. * /Mary's father really gets around; Monday he was in Washington; Wednesday he was in Chicago; and today he is in New York./ * /Fred broke his leg, but he is able to get about on crutches./ 1b. or [get about] To become widely known especially by being talked about. * /Bad news gets around quickly./ 2a. {informal} To get by a trick or flattery what you want from (someone). * /Mary knows how to get around her father./ 2b. {informal} To find a way of not obeying or doing; escape from. * /Some people try to get around the tax laws./ * /John did not weigh enough to join the Navy, but he got around that; he drank a lot of water before his physical examination./ [get around to] {v.} To do (something) after putting it off; find time for. * /Mr. Lee hopes to get around to washing his car next Saturday./ [get at] {v.} 1. To reach an understanding of; find out the meaning. * /This book is very hard to get at./ 2. To do harm to. * /The cat is on the chair trying to get at the canary./ Compare: GET BACK AT. 3. To have a chance to do; attend to. * /I hope I have time to get at my homework tonight./ Compare: GET TO(2). 4. To mean; aim at; hint at. * /What was Betty getting at when she said she knew our secret?/ * /What the teacher was getting at in this lesson was that it is important to speak correctly./ Syn.: DRIVE AT. Compare: GET ACROSS. [getaway car] {n. phr.} A vehicle parked near the scene of a crime in which the criminals escape. * /The police intercepted the getaway car at a major crossroads./ [get away] {v.} 1. To get loose or get free; become free from being held or controlled; succeed in leaving; escape. * /As Jim was trying the bat, it got away from him and hit Tom./ * /Someone left the door open, and the puppy got away./ * /Mary tried to catch a butterfly, but it got away from her./ * /The bank robbers used a stolen car to get away./ * /If Mr. Graham can get away from his store this afternoon, he will take Johnny fishing./ 2. To begin; start. * /We got away early in the morning on the first day of our vacation./ * /The race got away to a fast start./ Compare: GET OFF(3), START IN, START OUT. [get away with] {v.}, {informal} To do (something bad or wrong) without being caught or punished. * /Some students get away without doing their homework./ See: GET BY(3). [get away with murder] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something very bad without being caught or punished. * /John is scolded if he is late with his homework, but Robert gets away with murder./ * /Mrs. Smith lets her children get away with murder./ [get a wiggle on] See: GET A MOVE ON. [get a word in] or [get a word in edgewise] also [get a word in edgeways] {v. phr.} To find a chance to say something when others are talking. * /The little boy listened to the older students and finally got in a word./ * /Mary talked so much that Jack couldn't get a word in edgewise./ [get back at] {v.}, {informal} To do something bad to (someone who has done something bad to you) hurt in return. * /John played a joke on Henry, and next day Henry got back at him./ * /The elephant waited many years to get back at the man who fed him red pepper./ Syn.: PAY BACK, SETTLE A SCORE, TIT FOR TAT. Compare: GET AT(2), GET EVEN. [get back on one's feet] {v. phr.} To once again become financially solvent; regain one's former status and income, or health. * /Max got back on his feet soon after his open heart surgery. Tom's business was ruined due to the inflation, but he got back on his feet again./ [get behind] {v.} 1. To go too slowly: be late; do something too slowly. * /The post office got behind in delivering Christmas mail./ Syn.: FALL BEHIND. Contrast: KEEP UP. 2. {informal} To support; help. * /A club is much better if members get behind their leaders. * /We got behind Mary to be class president./ Compare: BACK OF(3). 3. {informal} To explain; find out the reason for. * /The police are questioning many people to try and get behind the bank robbery./ Syn.: GET TO THE BOTTOM OF. [get busy] {v. phr.} To accelerate the pace in one's activities. * /We've got to get busy if we want to make the deadline./ [get by] {v.}, {informal} 1. To be able to go past; pass. * /The cars moved to the curb so that the fire engine could get by./ 2. To satisfy the need or demand. * /Mary can get by with her old coat this winter./ * /The janitor does just enough work to get by./ Syn.: GET ALONG(4). 3. Not to be caught and scolded or punished. * /The soldier thought he could get by with his dirty rifle./ * /The boy got by without answering the teacher's question because a visitor came in./ Compare: GET AWAY WITH. [get carried away with] See: CARRY AWAY. [get couthed up] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get oneself dressed up neatly and look elegant and presentable. * /What are you getting all couthed up for?/ (This derives from "uncouth" ("outlandish, ill-mannered") by leaving off the prefix "un-".) [get cracking] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To hurry up, to start moving fast. (Used mostly as an imperative). * /Come on, you guys, let's get cracking!/ (Let's hurry up!) Compare: GET GOING 2. [get credit for] {v. phr.} To be given points of merit, recognition, or praise for labor or intellectual contribution. * /Our firm got a lot of credit for developing parts of the space shuttle./ Contrast: GIVE CREDIT FOR. [get one down] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make (someone) unhappy; cause low spirits; cause discouragement. * /Low grades are getting Helen down./ * /Three straight losses got the team down./ 2. To swallow; digest. * /The medicine was so bitter I couldn't get it down./ 3. To depress a person's spirit. * /Working at such an awful job got Mike down./ [get down cold] {v. phr.} To memorize perfectly. * /Terry got the text of his speech down cold./ [get down off your high horse] See: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE. [get down to] {v.}, {informal} To get started on, being on. * /Joe wasted a lot of time before he got down to work./ * /Let's get down to work./ Compare: GET AT(3), GET GOING, GET TO. [get down to brass tacks] also [get down to cases] {v. phr.}, {informal} To begin the most important work or business; get started on the most important things to talk about or know. * /The men talked about little things and then got down to brass tacks./ * /A busy doctor wants his patients to get down to brass tacks./ [get down to business] or [work] {v. phr.} To start being serious; begin to face a problem to be solved, or a task to be accomplished. * /Gentlemen, I'm afraid the party is over and we must get down to business./ [get down to work] See: GET DOWN TO BUSINESS. [get even] {v.}, {informal} 1. To owe nothing. * /Mr. Johnson has a lot of debts, but in a few years he will get even./ 2. To do something bad to pay someone back for something bad; get revenge; hurt back. * /Jack is waiting to get even with Bill for tearing up his notebook./ * /Last April First Mr. Harris got fooled by Joe, and this year he will get even./ Compare: GET BACK AT. [get going] {v.}, {informal} 1. To excite; stir up and make angry. * /The boys' teasing gets John going./ * /Talking about her freckles gets Mary going./ 2. or {chiefly British} [get cracking] To begin to move; get started. * /The teacher told Walter to get going on his history lesson./ * /The foreman told the workmen to get cracking./ * /Let's get going. It's almost supper time./ Compare: GET DOWN TO, STEP LIVELY. [get gray hair] or [get gray] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become old or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried. - Often used with "over". * /"If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray hair over it," the coach said./ * /Naughty children are why mothers get gray./ Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR. [get his or hers] {v. phr.} To receive one's proper reward or punishment. * /Tim will get his when his wife finds out that he's been seeing other women./ [get hitched] {v. phr.} To get married. * /After a long period of dating, Fred and Mary finally got hitched./ [get hold of] {v.} 1. To get possession of. * /Little children sometimes get hold of sharp knives and cut themselves./ 2. To find a person so you can speak with him. * /Mr. Thompson spent several hours trying to get hold of his lawyer./ [get in] {v. phr.} 1. To be admitted. * /Andy wants to go to medical school but his grades aren't good enough for him to get in./ 2. To arrive. * /What time does the plane from New York get in?/ 3. To enter. * /"Get in the car, and let's go," Tom said in a hurry./ 4. To put in stock; receive. * /The store just got in a new shipment of shoes from China./ [get in on] {v. phr.} To be permitted to participate; become privy to; be included. * /This is your chance to get in on a wonderful deal with the new company if you're willing to make an investment./ [get in on the ground floor] {v. phr.} To be one of the first members or employees to participate in the growth of a firm, educational institution, etc. * /Elliott got in on the ground floor and made a fortune at the company./ * /Mr. Smith who joined the new college as an instructor, got in on the ground floor, and wound up as its president after twenty years./ [get in on the] or [one's act] {v. phr.} To do something because others are engaged in the same act; join others. * /John's business is succeeding so well that both of his brothers want to get in on the act./ [get in one's hair] See: IN ONE'S HAIR. [get in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY. [get into] See: BE INTO SOMETHING. [get into line] {v. phr.} To cooperate; conform. * /The maverick members of the party were advised to get into line unless they wanted to be expelled./ Contrast: OUT OF LINE. [get in touch with] See: IN TOUCH. [get involved with] See: BE INVOLVED WITH. [get in with] {v. phr.} To join up with; begin to associate with; be accepted by. * /He got in with the wrong gang of boys and wound up in jail./ * /She got in with her father's firm and made a successful career of it./ [get in wrong] {v. phr.} To incur the anger or dislike of someone; come into disfavor. * /Although he means well, Fred is always getting in wrong with someone at the office./ [get it] {v.} 1. See: CATCH IT. 2. To understand; comprehend; grasp. * /"I can't get it," John said. "Why do you spend so much on clothes."/ [get it all together] {v. phr.} 1. To be in full possession and control of one's mental faculties; have a clear purpose well pursued. * /You've sure got it all together, haven't you?/ 2. Retaining one's self-composure under pressure. * /A few minutes after the burglars left he got it all together and called the police./ 3. To be well built, stacked (said of girls and women.) * /Sue's sure got it all together, hasn't she?/ [get it in the neck] See: CATCH IT IN THE NECK. [get it] or [something in] or [into one's head] {v. phr.} To become possessed of an idea; develop a fixed idea. * /Jack got it into his head to become a marine and nothing we could say would make him change his mind./ [get lost] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away! - Used as a command. * /Get lost! I want to study./ * /John told Bert to get lost./ Compare: DROP DEAD. [get mixed up] See: MIXED UP. [get next to] See: BE CLOSE TO. [get off] {v.} 1. To come down from or out of. * /The ladder fell, and Tom couldn't get off the roof./ * /The bus stopped, the door opened, and Father got off./ 2. To take off. * /Joe's mother told him to get his wet clothes off./ 3. To get away; leave. * /Mr. Johnson goes fishing whenever he can get off from work./ * /William got off early in the morning./ 4. To go free. * /Mr. Andrews got off with a $5 fine when he was caught passing a stop sign./ 5. To make (something) go. * /The halfback got off a lung pass./ * /John got a letter off to his grandmother./ 6. To tell. * /The governor got off several jokes at the beginning of his speech./ [get off cheap] {v. phr.} 1. To receive a lesser punishment than one deserves. * /Ted could have been sentenced to fifteen years in prison; he got off cheap by receiving a reduced sentence of five years./ 2. To pay less than the normal price. * /If you had your car repaired for only $75, you got off cheap./ Contrast: GET AWAY WITH. [get off easy] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have only a little trouble; escape something worse. * /The children who missed school to go to the fair got off easy./ * /John got off easy because it was the first time he had taken his father's car without permission./ [get off it] See: COME OFF IT. [get off one's back] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To stop criticizing or nagging someone. * /"Get off my back! Can't you see how busy I am?"/ [get off one's case] or [back] or [tail] {v. phr.} To stop bothering and constantly checking up on someone; quit hounding one. * /"Get off my case!" he cried angrily. "You're worse than the cops."/ Contrast: ON ONE'S CASE. [get off one's chest] See: OFF ONE'S CHEST. [get off one's tail] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy, to start working. * /OK you guys! Get off your tails and get cracking!/ [get off on the wrong foot] {v. phr.} To make a bad start; begin with a mistake. * /Peggy got off on the wrong foot with her new teacher; she chewed gum in class and the teacher didn't like it./ [get off the ground] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a successful beginning; get a good start; go ahead; make progress. * /Our plans for a party didn't get off the ground because no one could come./ [get off the hook] See: OFF THE HOOK. [get off to a flying] or [running start] {v. phr.} To have a promising or successful beginning. * /Ron got off to a flying start in business school when he got nothing but A's./ [get on] or [get onto] {v.}, {informal} 1. To speak to (someone) roughly about something he did wrong; blame; scold. * /Mrs. Thompson got on the girls for not keeping their rooms clean./ * /The fans got on the new shortstop after he made several errors./ Syn.: JUMP ON. 2. See: GET ALONG. 3. To grow older. * /Work seems harder these days; I'm getting on, you know./ [get one's] See: GET WHAT'S COMING TO ONE. [get one's back up] {v. phr.}, {informal} To become or make angry or stubborn. * /Fred got his back up when I said he was wrong./ * /Our criticisms of his actions just got his hack up./ [get one's brains fried] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} 1. To sit in the sun and sunbathe for an excessive length of time. * /Newcomers to Hawaii should be warned not to sit in the sun too long - they'll get their brains fried./ 2. To get high on drugs. * /He can't make a coherent sentence anymore - he's got his brains fried./ [get one's dander up] or [get one's Irish up] {v. phr.} To become or make angry. * /The boy got his dander up because he couldn't go to the store./ * /The children get the teacher's dander up when they make a lot of noise./ Compare: BLOW A FUSE. [get one's ducks in a row] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get everything ready. * /The scoutmaster told the boys to get their ducks in a row before they went to camp./ * /Mr. Brown got his ducks in a row for his trip./ Compare: LINE UP. [get one's feet on the ground] See: FEET ON THE GROUND. [get one's feet wet] {v. phr.}, {informal} To begin; do something for the first time. * /The party was at Bill's house and when Ruth and I got there the party had already started. "Jump right in and don't be afraid to get your feet wet," said Bill./ * /"It's not hard to dance once you get your feet wet," said the teacher./ [get one's fingers burned] See: BURN ONE'S FINGERS. [get one's foot in the door] See: FOOT IN THE DOOR. [get one's goat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make a person disgusted or angry. * /The boy's laziness all summer got his father's goat./ * /The slow service at the cafe got Mr. Robinson's goat./ [get one's hands on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON. [get one's number] or [have one's number] {v. phr.}, {informal} To find out or know what kind of person somebody is. * /The boys soon had the new student's number./ * /The girls got their new roommate's number the first week of school./ [get one's rear in gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To hurry up, to get going. * /I'm gonna have to get my rear in gear./ [get one's second wind] See: SECOND WIND. [get one's teeth into] or [sink one's teeth into] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have something real or solid to think about; go to work on seriously; struggle with. * /After dinner, John got his teeth into the algebra lesson./ * /Frank chose a subject for his report that he could sink his teeth into./ [get one's tongue] See: CAT GET ONE'S TONGUE. [get on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS. [get on one's good side] {v. phr.} To gain the favor of someone; flatter or please another. * /A clever lobbyist knows how to get on the good side of both the House of Representatives and the Senate./ [get on one's nerves] {v. phr.} To make you nervous. * /John's noisy eating habits get on your nerves./ * /Children get on their parents' nerves by asking so many questions./ [get on the ball] See: ON THE BALL. [get on the bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON. [get on the good side of] See: ON THE GOOD SIDE OF. [get on the stick] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To get moving; to stop being idle and to start working vigorously. * /All right, man, let's get on the stick!/ Compare: ON THE BALL, GET OFF ONE'S TAIL. [get on to one] {v. phr.} To figure someone out; understand what someone else is up to. * /The FBI is on to Jim's secret trading with the enemy./ [get one wrong] {v. phr.} To misinterpret; misunderstand another. * /Don't get me wrong; I didn 't mean to criticize you./ [get] or [have one's say] See: DAY IN COURT. [get out] {v. phr.} 1. Leave or depart. * /"Get out of here!" the teacher shouted angrily to the misbehaving student./ * /"Driver, I want to get out by the opera."/ 2. To publish; produce. * /Our press is getting out two new books on ecology./ 3. To escape; leak out. * /We must not let the news about this secret invention get out./ [get out in the open] See: OUT IN THE OPEN. [get out of] {v. phr.} 1. To be excused from; avoid. * /He got out of jury duty because of his illness./ 2. To gain from; extract from. * /Tom complained that he didn't get anything out of the course on grammar./ [get out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY. [get out of hand] See: OUT OF HAND, OUT OF CONTROL. [get over] {v.} 1. To finish. * /Tom worked fast to get his lesson over./ 2. To pass over. * /It was hard to get over the muddy road./ 3. To get we