o make over his pants. The tailor cut off the cuffs and put a belt across the back./ [make passes at] See: MAKE A PASS AT. [make rounds] {v. phr.} To travel the same route, making several stops along the way. * /The milkman makes his rounds every morning./ * /The doctor makes the rounds of the hospital rooms./ [make sense] {v. phr.} 1. To be something you can understand or explain; not be difficult or strange. * /The explanation in the school book made no sense because the words were hard./ Compare: MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF. 2. To seem right to do; sound reasonable or practical. * /Does it make sense to let little children play with matches?/ [make short work of] {v. phr.} To finish rapidly. * /The cat made short work of the baby rabbit./ * /Tim was anxious to get to the movies so he made short work of his homework./ [make sit up] {v. phr.} To shock to attention; surprise; create keen interest. * /Her sudden appearance at the party and her amazingly low-cut dress made us all sit up./ [make something of] {v. phr.} 1. To make (something) seem important. * /When girls see another girl with a boy, they often try to make something of it./ 2. To start a fight over; use as an excuse to start a quarrel. * /Bob accidentally shoved Bill in the corridor, and Bill made something of it./ * /Ann didn't like what Mary said about her. She tried to make something of what Mary said./ Compare: START SOMETHING. [make sport of] See: MAKE FUN OF. [make sure] {v. phr.} To see about something yourself; look at to be sure. * /Father makes sure that all the lights are off before he goes to bed./ * /Mary thought she had time to get to school but she ran all the way just to make sure./ * /Before you write your report on the life of Washington you should make sure of your facts./ [make the best of] {v. phr.} To do something you do not like to do and not complain; accept with good humor. * /The girl did not like to wash dishes but she made the best of it./ Compare: MAKE A VIRTUE OF NECESSITY. [make the blood boil] See: MAKE ONE'S BLOOD BOIL. [make the feathers fly] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To enjoy working; be strong and work hard. * /When Mrs. Hale did her spring cleaning she made the feathers fly./ 2. See: MAKE THE FUR FLY. [make the fur fly] or [make the feathers fly] {v. phr.}, {informal} Say or write mean things about someone or to jump on and fight hard. * /A man fooled Mr. Black and got his money. Mr. Black will really make the fur fly when he finds the man./ * /Mrs. Baker's dog dug holes in her neighbor's garden. The neighbor really made the fur fly when she saw Mrs. Baker./ [make the grade] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make good; succeed. * /It was clear that Mr. Baker had made the grade in the insurance business./ * /It takes hard study to make the grade in school./ 2. To meet a standard; qualify. * /That whole shipment of cattle made the grade as prime beef./ [make the most of] {v. phr.} To do the most you can with; get the most from; use to the greatest advantage. * /She planned the weekend in town to make the most of it./ * /George studied hard. He wanted to make the most of his chance to learn./ * /The teacher went out of the room for five minutes and some bad boys made the most of it./ * /Bill liked Mary; he would do anything for her, and Mary made the most of it./ Compare: MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES. [make the scene] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be present; to arrive at a certain place or event. * /I am too tired to make the scene; let's go home./ [make things hum] See: KEEP THINGS HUMMING. [make time] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be successful in arriving at a designated place in short or good time. * /We're supposed to be there at 6 P.M., and it's only 5:30 - we're making good time./ 2. To be successful in making sexual advances to someone. * /Joe sure is making time with Sue, isn't he?/ [make tongues wag] See: TONGUES TO WAG. [make tracks] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go fast; get a speedy start; hurry. * /Man, it's time we made tracks!/ * /The boys made tracks for home when it began to get dark./ Compare: GET GOING, MAKE HASTE. [makeup] {n.} (stress on "make") 1. Cosmetics. * /All the actors and actresses put on a lot of makeup./ 2. Attributive auxiliary in lieu of, or belated. * /The professor gave a makeup to the sick students./ [make up] {v.} (stress on "up") 1. To make by putting things or parts together. * /A car is made up of many different parts./ 2. To invent; think and say something that is new or not true. * /Jean makes up stories to amuse her little brother./ 3a. To do or provide (something lacking or needed); do or supply (something not done, lost, or missed); get back; regain; give back; repay. * /I have to make up the test I missed last week./ * /I want to go to bed early to make up the sleep I lost last night./ * /We have to drive fast to make up the hour we lost in Boston./ * /Vitamin pills make up what you lack in your diet./ * /The toy cost a dollar and Ted only had fifty cents, so Father made up the difference./ - Often used in the phrase "make it up to". * /Uncle Fred forgot my birthday present but he made it up to me by taking me to the circus./ * /Mrs. Rich spent so much time away from her children that she tried to make it up to them by giving them things./ Compare: MAKE GOOD. 3b. To do what is lacking or needed; do or give what should be done or given; get or give back what has been lost, missed, or not done; get or give instead; pay back. - Used with "for". * /We made up for lost time by taking an airplane instead of a train./ * /Saying you are sorry won't make up for the damage of breaking the window./ * /Mary had to make up for the time she missed in school when she was sick, by studying very hard./ * /The beautiful view at the top of the mountain makes up for the hard climb to get there./ 4. To put on lipstick and face paint powder. * /Clowns always make up before a circus show./ * /Tom watched his sister make up her face for her date./ 5. To become friends again after a quarrel. * /Mary and Joan quarreled, but made up after a while./ Compare: BURY THE HATCHET. 6. To try to make friends with someone; to win favor. - Followed by "to". * /The new boy made up to the teacher by sharpening her pencils./ [make up one's mind] {v. phr.} To choose what to do; decide. * /They made up their minds to sell the house./ * /Tom couldn't decide whether he should tell Mother about the broken window or let her find it herself./ Contrast: ON THE FENCE. [make waves] {v. phr.}, {informal} Make one's influence felt; create a disturbance, a sensation. * /Joe Catwallender is the wrong man for the job; he is always trying to make waves./ [make way] {v. phr.} To move from in front so someone can go through; stand aside. * /The people made way for the king./ * /When older men retire they make way for younger men to take their places./ [mama's boy] {n. phr.}, {informal} A boy who depends too much on his mother; a sissy. * /The other boys called Tommy a mama's boy because he wouldn't come out to play unless his mother stayed near him./ [man] See: COMPANY MAN, EVERY LAST MAN also EVERY MAN JACK, FRONT MAN, HIRED MAN, LADY'S MAN, NEW MAN, SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS, TO A MAN, YES-MAN. [man] or [the man] {n.}, {slang} 1. The police; a policeman. * /I am gonna turn you in to the man./ 2. The boss; the leader; the most important figure in an organization or outfit. * /The man will decide./ [man-about-town] {n. phr.} A sophisticate; an idler; a member of cafe society; one who knows where the best plays and concerts are given. * /Ask Mark where to go when you're in New York City; he's a real man-about-town./ [manger] See: DOG IN THE MANGER. [man in the moon] {n. phr.} An imaginary or nonexistent person (often used to indicate a person of ignorance). * /Stop asking me such difficult questions about nuclear physics; I know as much about it as the man in the moon./ [man in the street] {n. phr.} The man who is just like most other men; the average man; the ordinary man. * /The newspaper took a poll of the man in the street./ Compare: JOE DOAKES, JOHN Q. PUBLIC. [manner] See: ALL MANNER OF, TO THE MANNER BORN. [man of few words] {n. phr.} A man who doesn't talk very much; a man who says only what is needed. * /The principal is a man of few words, but the pupils know what he wants./ [man of his word] {n. phr.} A man who keeps his promises and does the things he agrees to do; a man who can be trusted. * /My uncle is a man of his word./ [man of letters] {n. phr.} A writer; an author; a scholar. * /Chekhov was not only a practicing physician but also a first-rate man of letters./ [man of means] {n. phr.} A rich person. * /He became a man of means by successfully playing the stock market./ [man of parts] {n. phr.}, {literary} A man who has several different skills, talents, or qualities. * /The pianist is a man of parts. He wrote the piece he played, and he also plays the organ and paints well./ [man-of-war] {n. phr.} 1. A stinging jellyfish in the Gulf of Mexico. * /"No swimming today," the sign said, "as we have a man-of-war alert."/ 2. A large battleship displaying its national flag or insignia. * /The shipwreck victims were picked up by an American man-of-war./ 3. The albatross bird. * /After several days at sea we noticed some men-of-war majestically sailing through the skies./ [man-to-man] {adj.} Honest and full in the telling; not hiding anything embarrassing. * /Tom and his father had a man-to-man talk about his smoking pot./ Compare: HEART-TO-HEART. [many] See: GOOD MANY or GREAT MANY, IN SO MANY WORDS, SO MANY. [many a] {adj.} Many (persons or things) - Used with a singular noun. * /Many a boy learns to swim before he can read./ * /I have spent many a day in his home./ [many hands make light work] If many people work together, even a hard job becomes easier. - A proverb. * /Come on boys, many hands make light work. If we work together, we can finish painting the barn./ [many is me] There are a great number of (persons or things); many are the (persons or things). - Used at the beginning of a sentence with a singular noun. * /Many is the man I have lent money to./ * /Many was the time I ate at that restaurant./ Compare: MANY A. [many moons ago] {adv. phr.} A long, long time ago. * /Many moons ago, when I was young, I was able to dance all night./ [map] See: PUT ON THE MAP. [map out] {v. phr.} To arrange; lay out; plan. * /The candidate will meet with his campaign manager tomorrow to map out his campaign strategy./ [marble] See: HAVE ALL ONE'S BUTTONS or HAVE ALL ONE'S MARBLES. [March] See: MAD AS A HATTER or MAD AS A MARCH HARE. [march] See: STEAL A MARCH ON. [mare's nest] {n. phr.} Something that doesn't exist; a discovery that proves to be worthless. * /He claims that he has discovered a gasoline substitute but we suspect it will turn out to be a mare's nest./ [marine] See: TELL IT TO THE MARINES. [mark] See: MAKE ONE'S MARK, TOE THE LINE or TOE THE MARK, UP TO THE MARK at UP TO PAR(2), WALK THE CHALK or WALK THE CHALK LINE or WALK THE CHALK MARK, WIDE OF THE MARK. [markdown] {n.} A reduction in price. * /Joan asked, "Do you like my new sandals? They were markdowns at Marshall Field's."/ [mark down] {v. phr.} 1. To lower the price. * /The department store marked down their prices on women's sandals./ 2. To give a poor grade to a student. * /Peter was marked down for his numerous spelling errors./ 3. To make a written note of something. * /Here is my phone number; mark it down./ [marked man] {n. phr.} A man whose behavior has made him the object of suspicion; a man whose life may be in danger. * /When Dave dared to criticize the dictator openly, he became a marked man./ [market] See: FLEA MARKET, IN THE MARKET FOR, ON THE MARKET, PLAY THE MARKET. [mark off] {v. phr.} Mark with lines; lay out in sections. * /The field will be marked off in accordance with the special track events that will take place tomorrow./ [mark one's words] {v. phr.} To pay close attention to what one says; an emphatic expression indicating prophecy. * /"It will certainly rain tomorrow," he said. "Mark my words."/ [mark time] {v. phr.} 1. To move the feet up and down as in marching, but not going forward. * /The officer made the soldiers mark time as a punishment./ 2. To be idle; waiting for something to happen. * /The teacher marked time until all the children were ready for the test./ 3. To seem to be working or doing something, but really not doing it. * /It was so hot that the workmen just marked time./ [marry money] {v. phr.} To marry a rich person. * /Ellen married money when she became Hal's wife./ [masking tape] {n.} A paper tape that is stuck around the edges of a surface being painted to keep the paint off the surface next to it. * /The painters put masking tape around the window frames to keep the paint off the glass./ [masse] See: EN MASSE. [mast] See: NAIL ONE'S COLORS TO THE MAST. [master copy] {n.} 1. A perfect text to which all copies are made to conform; a corrected version used as a standard by printers. * /The master copy must be right, because if it isn't, the mistakes in it will be repeated all through the edition./ 2. A stencil from which other copies are made. * /Mr. Brown told his secretary to save the master copy so that they could run off more copies whenever they needed them./ * /The master copy was too light so many of the copies didn't come out clear./ [master key] {n. phr.} A key that opens a set of different locks. * /The building janitor has a master key to all of the apartments in this building./ [mastermind] {v.} To create; direct; invent the central plan for several individuals to follow. * /Lenin masterminded the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia./ [mastermind] {n.} A person who supplies the intelligence for a project and/or undertakes its management. * /Winston Churchill was the mastermind in the war against Hitler./ [master of ceremonies] or [M.C.] or [emcee] {n.} The person in charge of introducing the various participants in a show or entertainment. * /Bob Hope was the M.C. of many memorable shows./ [mat] See: WELCOME MAT IS OUT. [matter] See: FOR THAT MATTER, LAUGHING MATTER, NO MATTER, THE MATTER. [matter of course] {n. phr.} Something always done; the usual way; habit; rule. * /A was a matter of course for John to dress carefully when he was meeting his wife./ * /Bank officers ask questions as a matter of course when someone wants to borrow money./ [matter of fact] {n. phr.} Something that is really true; something that can be proved. * /The town records showed that it was a matter of fact that the two boys were brothers./ * /It is a matter of fact that the American war against England was successful./ - Often used for emphasis in the phrase "as a matter of fact". * /I didn't go yesterday, and as a matter of fact, f didn't go all week./ * /Mary wasn't wearing a blue dress. As a matter of fact, she hasn't got a blue dress./ Compare: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT. Contrast: MATTER OF OPINION. [matter-of-fact] {adj.} 1. Simply telling or showing the truth; not explaining or telling more. * /The newspaper gave a matter-of-fact account of the murder trial./ 2. Showing little feeling or excitement or trouble; seeming not to care much. * /When Mary's father died she acted in a very matter-of-fact way./ * /He was a very matter-of-fact person./ [matter of opinion] {n. phr.} Something that may or may not be true; something that people do not all agree on. * /Whether or not he was a good general is a matter of opinion./ Compare: MATTER OF FACT. [matter of record] {n. phr.} A fact or event that is kept officially as a legal record. * /If you are convicted of speeding it becomes a matter of record./ * /A birth certificate or a marriage license is a matter of record./ [may] See: BE THAT AS IT MAY, COME WHAT MAY, LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. [M.C.] or [emcee] {v.} To act as master of ceremonies at a show. * /The famous actor emceed the entire television show./ [me] See: DEAR ME, PICK-ME-UP, SO HELP ME. [mean business] {v. phr.}, {informal} To decide strongly to do what you plan to do; really mean it; be serious. * /The boss said he would fire us if we didn't work harder and he means business./ * /When she went to college to study, she meant business./ * /He just liked the company of the other girls he dated, but this time he seems to mean business./ [means] See: BY ALL MEANS, BY MEANS OF, BY NO MEANS, WAYS AND MEANS. [means to an end] {n. phr.} An action leading to some end or purpose. * /Money for him was just a means to an end; actually he wanted power./ [mean well] {v. phr.} To have good intentions. * /Fred generally means well, but he has a tendency to be tactless./ [measure] See: BEYOND MEASURE, FOR GOOD MEASURE, MADE-TO-MEASURE, TAKE ONE'S MEASURE or TAKE THE MEASURE OF. [measure off] {v. phr.} To mark by measuring. * /She measured off three yards with which to make the new dress./ [measure up] {v.} To be equal; be of fully high quality; come up. * /John didn't measure up to the best catchers but he was a good one./ * /Lois' school work didn't measure up to her ability./ Compare up: TO PAR. Contrast: FALL SHORT. [meatball] {n.}, {slang} A dull, boring, slow-witted, or uninteresting person. * /You'll never get an interesting story out of that meatball - stop inviting him./ [medicine] See: TAKE ONE'S MEDICINE. [medium] See: STRIKE A HAPPY MEDIUM. [meet] See: MAKE ENDS MEET. [meet halfway] See: GO HALFWAY. [meeting] See: BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES. [meet one's death] {v. phr.} To die. * /Algernon met his death in a car accident./ [meet one's eye] {v. phr.} To be in plain view or come into plain view; appear clearly or obviously. * /When John rounded the bend, a clear blue lake met his eye./ * /On a first reading the plan looked good, but there was more to it than met the eye./ [meet one's match] {v. phr.} To encounter someone as good as oneself. * /The champion finally met his match and lost the game./ [meet one's Waterloo] {v. phr.} To be defeated; lose an important contest. * /After seven straight victories the team met its Waterloo./ * /John fought instead of running, and the bully met his Waterloo./ (After Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo.) [meet up with] {v. phr.} To meet by accident; come upon without planning or expecting to. * /When he ran around the tree, Bob suddenly meet up with a large bear./ * /The family would have arrived on time, but they met up with a flat tire./ [meet with] {v.} 1. To meet (someone), usually by accident. * /In the woods he met with two strangers./ Syn.: COME UPON. 2. To meet together, usually by plan; join; have a meeting with. * /The two scouts met with the officers to talk about plans for the march./ 3. To experience (as unhappiness); suffer (as bad luck); have (as an accident or mishap). * /The farmer met with misfortune; his crops were destroyed by a storm./ * /The traveler met with an accident on the road./ [melt] See: BUTTER WOULDN'T MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH, MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH. [melting pot] {n. phr.} A country where different nationalities mingle and mix with the result that, in the second generation, most people speak the main language of the country and behave like the majority. * /It is no longer considered entirely true that the United States is a melting pot; many immigrants speak a second language./ [melt in one's mouth] {v. phr.} 1. To be so tender as to seem to need no chewing. * /The chicken was so tender that it melted in your mouth./ 2. To taste very good; be delicious. * /Mother's apple pie really melts in your mouth./ [memory] See: IN MEMORY OF. [mend] See: ON THE MEND. [mend one's fences] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something to make people like or follow you again; strengthen your friendships or influence. * /The senator went home from Washington to mend his fences./ * /John saw that his friends did not like him, so he decided to mend his fences./ [mend one's ways] {v. phr.} To reform; change one's behavior from negative to positive. * /He had better mend his ways or he'll wind up in jail./ [mental telepathy] {n. phr.} The passing of one person's thoughts to another without any discoverable talking or carrying of signals between them. * /Mrs. Smith knew the moment her husband's ship sank on the other side of the world. It seems like a case of mental telepathy./ * /Most or all men who practice mental telepathy on stage have really trained themselves to detect tiny clues from the audience./ [mention] See: NOT TO MENTION. [meow] See: CAT'S MEOW. [mercy] See: AT THE MERCY OF. [mercy killing] {n. phr.} The act of killing a terminally ill patient or animal in order to avoid further suffering. * /Mercy killing of humans is illegal in most countries, yet many doctors practice it secretly./ [merrier] See: MORE THE MERRIER. [merry] See: LEAD A MERRY CHASE, MAKE MERRY. [message] See: GET THE MESSAGE. [mess around] {v. phr.} 1. To engage in idle or purposeless activity. * /Come on, you guys, - start doing some work, don't just mess around all day!/ 2. {vulgar} To be promiscuous; to indulge in sex with little discrimination as to who the partner is. * /Allen needs straightening out; he's been messing around with the whole female population of his class./ Compare: FOOL AROUND. [mess up] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To cause trouble; to spoil something. * /What did you have to mess up my accounts for?/ 2. To cause someone emotional trauma. * /Sue will never get married; she got messed up when she was a teenager./ 3. To beat up someone physically. * /When Joe came in after the fight with the boys, he was all messed up./ [method in (to) one's madness] {n. phr.} A plan or organization of ideas hard to perceive at first, but that becomes noticeable after longer and closer examination. * /We thought he was crazy to threaten to resign from the university but, when he was offered a tenured full professorship, we realized that there had been method in his madness./ [mickey mouse(1)] {adj.}, {slang} Inferior; second rate; chicken; easy; gimmicky. * /Watch out for Perkins; he's full of mickey mouse ideas./ [mickey mouse(2)] {n.} ({derogatory}) A stupid person; a policeman; a white man (as used by blacks). [midair] See: UP IN THE AIR(2) also IN MIDAIR. [middle] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM, IN THE MIDDLE. [middle ground] {n.} A place halfway between the two sides of an argument; a compromise. * /John wanted to go running. Bill said it was too hot. Tom took the middle ground and suggested a hike./ * /The committee found a middle ground between the two proposals./ [middleman] {n.} A person or small business standing in an intermediary position between two parties. * /A retail merchant is the middleman between the factory and the consumer./ [middle of the road] {n. phr.} A way of thinking which does not favor one idea or thing too much; being halfway between two different ideas. * /The teacher did not support the boys or the girls in the debate, but stayed in the middle of the road./ [middle-of-the-road] {adj.} Favoring action halfway between two opposite movements or ideas; with ideas halfway between two opposite sides; seeing good on both sides. * /The men who wrote the Constitution followed a middle-of-the-road plan on whether greater power belonged to the United States government or to the separate states./ * /Senator Jones favors a middle-of-the-road policy in the labor-management dispute./ [midfield stripe] {n.} The line across the center of a football field; the 50-yard line. * /The visitors were able to cross the midfield stripe once during the whole game./ [midnight oil] See: BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL. [midstream] See: CHANGE HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM or CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM. [might] See: WITH MIGHT AND MAIN. [mighty] See: HIGH-AND-MIGHTY. [mile] See: GIVE ONE AN INCH AND HE WILL TAKE A MILE, JAW DROP or JAW DROP A MILE, MISS BY A MILE, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE. [mile markers] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Small signs along interstate highways usually bearing a number. * /The Smokey is located at 131 mile marker./ [miles away] {adj. phr.} Inattentive; not concentrating. * /When Betty said, "We have theater tickets for tonight," Ken didn't react as his mind was miles away./ [milk] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK. [mill] See: RUN-OF-THE-MILL, THROUGH THE MILL. [mill around] {v. phr.} To move impatiently in no particular direction. * /The crowd milled around, waiting for the arrival of the president./ [million] See: FEEL LIKE A MILLION, LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS. [millstone around one's neck] {n. phr.} An intolerable burden. * /Max said that his old car was a millstone around his neck./ Compare: MONKEY ON ONE'S BACK. [mince words] {v. phr.} To choose words carefully for the sake of politeness or deception. * /I like people who speak frankly and truthfully without mincing words./ [mind] See: CROSS ONE'S MIND or PASS THROUGH ONE'S MIND, GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, HALF A MIND, IN MIND, IN ONE'S MIND'S EYE, MAKE UP ONE'S MIND, NEVER MIND, ON ONE'S MIND, OUT OF ONE'S HEAD or OUT OF ONE'S MIND, PUT IN MIND OF, READ ONE'S MIND. [mind like a steel trap] {n. phr.} A very quick and understanding mind, which is quick to catch an idea. * /Henry is not fond of sports, but he has a mind like a steel trap./ * /A successful lawyer must have a mind like a steel trap./ [mind one's own business] {v. phr.} To not interfere in the affairs of others. * /He finally got tired of her criticism and told her to mind her own business./ [mind one's p's and q's] {v. phr.} To be very careful what you do or say; not make mistakes. * /When the principal of the school visited the class the students all minded their p's and q's./ * /If you wish to succeed you must mind your p's and q's./ (From the old U.S. Navy when sailors marked on a board in the bar how many Pints and Quarts of liquor they had taken. It was bad manners to cheat.) Syn.: WATCH ONE'S STEP. [mind-reader] See: READ ONE'S MIND. [mind you] {v. phr.}, {informal} I want you to notice and understand. * /Mind you, I am not blaming him./ [mine] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES, RUN OF THE MILL or RUN OF THE MINE. [mine of information] {n. phr.} A person, a book, etc., that is a valuable source of information. * /A dictionary can be a mine of information./ * /He is a mine of information on the stock market./ [minority leader] {n. phr.} The leader of the political party that has fewer votes in a legislative house. * /The minority leader of the Senate supported the bill./ * /The minority leader in the House of Representatives held a caucus./ Compare: MAJORITY LEADER. [mint money] See: COIN MONEY. [minutes of the meeting] {n. phr.} The notes taken by the recording secretary; of an official body or an association recording of what was said and transacted during the given session. * /"Shall we accept the minutes of our last meeting as read by the secretary?" the chairman asked./ [misfire] {v.} To fail to appeal; fall flat. * /The standup comic's jokes misfired with the audience./ Compare: GO OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON. [miss] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT or HEART MISS A BEAT. [miss a trick] {v. phr.} To fail to see, hear, or notice something of even the slightest importance. * /He never misses a trick when it comes to the stock market./ [miss by a mile] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To shoot at something and be far from hitting it; not hit near. * /Jack's first shot missed the target by a mile./ 2. To be very wrong; be far from right. * /Lee tried to guess on the examination, but his answers missed by a mile./ 3. To fail badly; not succeed at all. * /John Brown wanted to be governor but in the election he missed by a mile./ [missing link] n. 1. Something needed to complete a group; a missing part of a chain of things. * /A 1936 penny was the missing link in John's collection of pennies./ * /The detective hunted for the fact that was the missing link in the case./ 2. An unknown extinct animal that was supposed to be a connection between man and lower animals. * /The missing link would be half man and half ape./ [miss is as good as a mile] It is the same if one fails or misses something by much or by little. - A proverb. * /We thought Tom had a home run but the ball went foul by inches. A miss is as good as a mile./ [Missouri] See: FROM MISSOURI. [miss out] {v.}, {informal} To fail; lose or not take a good chance; miss something good. * /Jim's mother told him he missed out on a chance to go fishing with his father because he came home late./ * /You missed out by not coming with us; we had a great time./ Compare: LOSE OUT. [miss the boat] also [miss the bus] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail through slowness; to put something off until too late; do the wrong thing and lose the chance. * /Mr. Brown missed the boat when he decided not to buy the house./ * /In college he didn't study enough so he missed the boat and failed to pass./ * /Ted could have married Lena but he put off asking her and missed the boat./ [miss the point] {v. phr.} To be unable to comprehend the essence of what was meant. * /The student didn't get a passing grade on the exam because, although he wrote three pages, he actually missed the point./ [mistake] See: BY MISTAKE. [misty-eyed] or [dewey-eyed] {adj. phr.} 1. Having eyes damp with tears; emotional. * /The teacher was misty-eyed when the school gave her a retirement gift./ 2. Of the kind who cries easily; sentimental. * /The movie appealed to dewey-eyed girls./ [mixed bag] {n. phr.} A varied set of people, ideas, objects, or circumstances, including both the good and the bad. * /This report is a mixed bag of opinions./ * /There was a mixed bag of people at the press conference./ [mixed blessing] {n.} Something good that has bad features. * /John's new bicycle was a mixed blessing. The other boys were always asking John to ride it./ [mixed up] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Confused in mind; puzzled. * /Bob was all mixed up after the accident./ Compare: BALL UP(1). 2. Disordered; disarranged; not neat. * /The papers on his desk were mixed up./ 3. {informal} Joined or connected (with someone or something bad). * /Harry was mixed up in a fight after the game./ * /Mary's father told her not to get mixed up with the students that always break school rules./ [mix up] {v.} To confuse; make a mistake about. * /Jimmy doesn't know colors yet; he mixes up purple with blue./ * /Even the twins' mother mixes them up./ Compare: MIXED UP. [molehill] See: MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL. [moment] See: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. [Monday] See: BLUE MONDAY. [money] See: COIN MONEY or MINT MONEY, EASY MONEY, FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED, FOR LOVE OR MONEY, IN THE CHIPS or IN THE MONEY, MADE OF MONEY, MARRY MONEY, PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE, RUN FOR ONE'S MONEY, SEE THE COLOR OF ONE'S MONEY, SPENDING MONEY or POCKET MONEY. [money burns a hole in one's pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET. [money is no object] {informal sentence} The price of something is irrelevant. * /Please show me your most beautiful mink coat; money is no object./ [money to burn] {n. phr.}, {informal} Very much money, more than is needed. * /Dick's uncle died and left him money to burn./ * /When Joe is twenty-one he will have money to burn./ * /Jean is looking for a husband with money to burn./ Compare: MADE OF MONEY. [monkey] See: GREASE MONKEY, MAKE A FOOL OF or MAKE A MONKEY OF. [monkey around] See: FUCK AROUND, HORSE AROUND, MESS AROUND. [monkey business] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Any unethical, illegitimate, or objectionable activity that is furtive or deceitful, e.g., undercover sexual advances, cheating, misuse of public funds, etc. * /There is a lot of monkey business going on in that firm; you'd better watch out who you deal with!/ 2. Comical or silly actions; goofing off. * /Come on boys, let's cut out the monkey business and get down to work!/ [monkey on one's back] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unsolved or nagging problem. * /"My math course is a real monkey on my back," Jack complained./ Compare: ALBATROSS AROUND ONE'S NECK, MILLSTONE AROUND ONE'S NECK. [monkey wrench] See: THROW A MONKEY WRENCH. [monster] See: GREEN-EYED MONSTER. [month in, month out] See: DAY IN AND DAY OUT. [month of Sundays] {n. phr.}, informal A very long time. - Used for emphasis after "for" or "in" and usually with a negative verb. * /I have not had devil's food cake in a month of Sundays./ * /When he got her first letter, he felt that he had not heard from her for a month of Sundays./ Syn.: DOG'S AGE. [moon] See: ASK FOR THE MOON or CRY FOR THE MOON, DARK OF THE MOON, FULL OF THE MOON, ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, PROMISE THE MOON. [moonshine] {n.} Illegally distilled alcoholic beverage made at home, mostly on a farm. * /Grandpa is at it again in the barn, making moonshine out of plums./ [mop the floor with] or [mop up the floor with] or [wipe the floor with] or [wipe up the floor with] {v. phr.}, {slang} To defeat very clearly or quickly; to beat badly. * /The bully threatened to mop up the floor with Billy./ * /Our team wiped the floor with the visiting team./ [mop up] {v. phr.} To disperse or liquidate isolated groups or detachments of opposing forces. * /Our forces won the basic battle but there still remain pockets of resistance they must mop up./ [mop up the floor with] See: MOP THE FLOOR WITH. [more] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW. [more often than not] {adv. phr.} More than half the time; fifty-one or more times out of a hundred; not quite usually, but fairly regularly. * /Nancy comes over on Saturday more often than not./ * /Ben is a fairly good runner. He wins more often than not./ [more or less] {adv. phr.} 1. Somewhat; rather; mostly; fairly. * /Earl made some mistakes on the test, but his answers were more or less right./ * /Ed is more or less intelligent./ * /Betty believes more or less in fairies./ Compare: IN A WAY. 2. About; nearly; not exactly, but almost. * /The new building cost more or less what the builder figured./ * /It is a mile, more or less, from his home to the school./ * /He has wanted to date her more or less since he first saw her./ Compare: OR SO. [more than] {adv.} Over what you might expect; very. * /They were more than glad to help./ * /He was more than upset by the accident./ Contrast: LESS THAN. [more than one can chew] See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW. [more than one could shake a stick at] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very many; a great many; more than you can count. * /There were more people at the game than you could shake a stick at./ * /I had more assignments for homework than I could shake a stick at./ [more the merrier] {n. phr.} The more people who join in the fun, the better it will be. - Used in welcoming more people to join others in some pleasant activity. * /Come with us on the boat ride; the more the merrier./ [morning after] {n.}, {slang} The effects of drinking liquor or staying up late as felt the next morning; a hangover. * /One of the troubles of drinking too much liquor is the morning after./ * /Mr. Smith woke up with a big headache and knew it was the morning after./ [Moses] See: HOLY CATS or HOLY MOSES. [moss] See: ROLLING STONE GATHERS NO MOSS. [most] See: AT MOST, MAKE THE MOST OF. [mother] See: TIED TO ONE'S MOTHER'S APRON STRINGS. [motion] See: GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. [mountain] See: MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL. [mouse] See: PLAY CAT AND MOUSE WITH. [mouth] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH, BUTTER WOULDN'T MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH, BY WORD OF MOUTH, DOWN IN THE DUMPS or DOWN IN THE MOUTH, FOAM AT THE MOUTH, HEART IN ONE'S MOUTH, KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH, LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE'S MOUTH, LIVE FROM HAND TO MOUTH, LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, MAKE ONE'S MOUTH WATER, MELT IN ONE'S MOUTH, PUT ONE'S FOOT IN IT or PUT ONE'S FOOT IN ONE'S MOUTH, PUT WORDS INTO ONE'S MOUTH, SHOOT OFF ONE'S MOUTH, STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH, TAKE THE BIT IN ONE'S MOUTH, TAKE THE BREAD OUT OF ONE'S MOUTH. [mouthful] See: SAY A MOUTHFUL. [mouth-watering] {adj.} Smelling or looking very good to eat. * /It was a mouth-watering meal./ [move] See: GET A MOVE ON, ON THE MOVE. [move a muscle] {v. phr.} To move even a very little. - Used in negative sentences and questions and with "if". * /The deer stood without moving a muscle until the hunter was gone./ * /The girls were so startled that they did not move a muscle./ * /You're sitting right where you were when I left! Have you moved a muscle?/ * /The robber said he would shoot the bank worker if he moved a muscle./ [move heaven and earth] {v. phr.} To try every way; do everything you can. * /Joe moved heaven and earth to be sent to Washington./ Compare: LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED. [move in on] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {colloquial} To take over something that belongs to another. * /He moved in on my girlfriend and now we're not talking to each other./ [movement] See: LABOR MOVEMENT. [moving spirit] {n. phr.} The main figure behind a business or an activity; the one who inspires the others. * /Mr. Smith is the moving spirit behind our expansion plans./ [much] See: AS MUCH AS, FOR AS MUCH AS, MAKE MUCH OF, SO MUCH, SO MUCH FOR, THINK A GREAT DEAL OF or THINK MUCH OF. [much as] See: AS MUCH AS(1). [much less] {conj.} And also not; and even less able or likely to. - Used after a negative clause. * /I never even spoke to the man, much less insulted him./ * /John couldn't even pick up the box, much less carry it upstairs./ * /George can hardly understand arithmetic, much less algebra./ Compare: LET ALONE, NOT TO MENTION. [mud] See: NAME IS MUD, STICK-IN-THE-MUD. [mud in your eye] {n. phr.}, {informal} A cheering exclamation when people drink, much like "cheers!" * /Each time John raised his glass he said, "Well, here's mud in your eye!"/ [mug shot] {n. phr.} A police photograph showing the arrested person's full face and profile. * /"Go over these mug shots," Sergeant O'Malley said, "and tell me if you find the person who held up the liquor store!"/ [Muhammad] See: IF THE HILL WON'T COME TO MUHAMMAD, THEN MUHAMMAD MUST COME TO THE HILL. [mull over] {v. phr.} To consider; think over. * /He mulled over the offer for some time, but finally rejected it./ [mum is the word] You must keep the secret; keep silent; don't tell anyone. - Often used as an interjection. * /We are planning a surprise party for John and mum is the word./ * /"Mum is the word!" the robber captain told his men./ [murder] See: SCREAM BLOODY MURDER. [muscle] See: MOVE A MUSCLE. [muscle-bound] {adj.} Having your muscles large, hard, and tight from too much exercising; having muscles so developed that you can hardly move. * /Bob was big and strong, but he was muscle-bound, and Bill could beat him./ * /An athlete must train properly so as not to become muscle-hound./ [muscle in on