are off duty in a foreign port./ * /It seems that all the taxis in New York are off duty whenever it rains./ - Often used with hyphens, before a noun. * /The bank robber was captured by an off-duty policeman./ Contrast: ON DUTY. [off feed] or [off one's feed] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not feeling well; lacking in vitality; droopy; moody. * /Mary was worried; her canary was off feed./ * /Jerry seemed to be off his feed; he did not joke and laugh with the others./ [off (one/he/she/it) goes!] {v. phr.} Said of a person, a vehicle, or a memorable thing who/which has started leaving or moving, both as a statement of fact (declarative assertion) or as a command (imperative). * /When the boat hit the water in the formal launching ceremony, they cried out simultaneously, "Off she goes!"/ [off guard] {adj.} In a careless attitude; not alert to coming danger; not watching. * /In the second that the boxer was off guard, his opponent landed a knockout punch./ * /Timmy s question caught Jean off guard, and she told him the secret before she knew it./ Contrast: ON GUARD. [offhand] {adj.} 1. Informal; casual; careless. * /Dick found Bob's offhand manner inappropriate for business./ 2. In an improvised fashion. * /Offhand, I would guess that at least five thousand people attended the festival./ [off in a flash] See: IN A FLASH. [off-key] {adj.}, {informal} 1. Not proper; queer. * /When George told jokes at the funeral, everyone thought his action was off-key./ 2. In a false key. * /John always sings off-key./ Compare: OUT OF LINE. [off limits] See: OUT OF BOUNDS. [off one's back] {adj. phr.} 1. {informal} Stopped from bothering one; removed as an annoyance or pest. * /"Having a kid brother always following me is a nuisance," Mary told her mother. "Can't you get him off my back?"/ * /The singer was so popular with teenagers that he took a secret vacation, to keep them off his back./ Contrast: ON ONE'S BACK(2). See: GIVE THE SHIRT OFF ONE'S BACK. [off one's chest] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Told to someone and so not bothering you anymore; not making you feel worried or upset, because you have talked about it. * /After Dave told the principal that he had cheated on the test, he was glad because it was off his chest./ * /Father felt that Tom wasn't helping enough around the house, so he got it off his chest by giving Tom a list of things to do./ Compare: MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF. Contrast: ON ONE'S CHEST. [off one's feet] See: KNOCK OFF ONE'S FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE'S FEET. [off one's hands] {adv. phr.} No longer in your care or possession. * /Ginny was glad to have the sick dog taken off her hands by the doctor./ Contrast: ON ONE'S HANDS. [off one's head] {adj. phr.} Crazy; mad. * /We had no doubt that the old man was off his head when we saw him jumping into the lake with his winter coat on./ [off one's high horse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not acting proud and scornful; humble and agreeable. * /The girls were so kind to Nancy after her mother died that she came down off her high horse and made friends with them./ 2. Acting friendly again; not angry and unpleasant any more; agreeable. * /Sally wouldn't speak to anyone all afternoon because she couldn't go to the movies, but she's off her high horse now./ Contrast: ON ONE'S HIGH HORSE. [off one's nut] See: OFF ONE'S HEAD. [off one's rocker] or [off one's trolley] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not thinking correctly; crazy; silly; foolish. * /Tom is off his rocker if he thinks he can run faster than Bob can./ * /If you think you can learn to figure skate in one lesson, you're off your trolley./ Syn.: OUT OF ONE'S HEAD. [off one's trolley] See: OFF ONE'S ROCKER. [off season] See: LOW SEASON. Contrast: HIGH SEASON, ON SEASON. [offshoot] {n.} A derivative; a side product. * /The discovery of nuclear reactors was ah offshoot of research in quantum physics./ [off the air] {adj. phr.} Not broadcasting; observing radio silence. * /The talk show is off the air on Wednesdays and Fridays./ [off the bat] See: RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF THE BAT. [off the beam] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) Not in the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the wrong direction. * /A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when his plane is off the beam./ 2. {slang} Wrong; mistaken. * /Maud was off the beam when she said that the girls didn't like her./ Contrast: ON THE BEAM. [off the beaten track] {adv. phr.} Not well known or often used; not gone to or seen by many people; unusual. * /The theater is off the beaten track./ * /We are looking for a vacation spot that is off the beaten track./ Compare: OUT OF THE WAY. [off the cuff] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Without preparing ahead of time what you will, say; without preparation. * /Some presidents like to speak off the cuff to newspaper reporters but others prefer to think questions over and write their answers./ [off-the-cuff] {adj.}, {informal} Not prepared ahead of time. - Used of a speech or remarks. * /Jack was made master of ceremonies because he was a good off-the-cuff speaker./ [off the ground] See: GET OFF THE GROUND. [off the handle] See: FLY OFF THE HANDLE. [off the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG. [off the hook] {adv. phr.} Out of trouble; out of an awkward or embarrassing situation. * /Thelma found she had made two dates for the same night; she asked Sally to get her off the hook by going out with one of the boys./ [off the record(1)] {adv. phr.} Confidentially. * /"Off the record," the boss said, "you will get a good raise for next year, but you'll have to wait for the official letter."/ Contrast: ON RECORD, GO ON RECORD, JUST FOR THE RECORD. [off the record(2)] {adj. phr.} Not to be published or told; secret; confidential. * /The president told the reporters his remarks were strictly off the record./ - Sometimes used with hyphens, before the noun. * /The governor was angry when a newspaper printed his off-the-record comments./ [off the top of one's head] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Without thinking hard; quickly. * /Vin answered the teacher's question off the top of his head./ * /When Lorraine was asked to recite, she talked off the top of her head./ [off the wagon] {adj. phr.}, {slang} No longer refusing to drink whiskey or other alcoholic beverages; drinking liquor again, after stopping for a while. * /When a heavy drinker quits he must really quit. One little drink of whiskey is enough to drive him off the wagon./ Contrast: ON THE WAGON. [off the wall] {adj. phr.} Strange; out of the ordinary; stupid. * /He has been making off-the-wall remarks all day; something must he the matter with him./ [of it] See: WHAT OF IT. [of late] {adv. phr.}, {formal} In the recent past; not long ago; a short time ago; lately; recently. * /There have been too many high school dropouts of late./ [of necessity] {adv. phr.} Because there is no other way; because it must be; necessarily. * /Being a professional actor of necessity means working nights and Sundays./ [of no avail] See: TO NO AVAIL. [of old(1)] {adj. phr.} Of ancient times; of long ago. * /Knights of old had to wear armor in battle./ [of old(2)] {adv. phr.} From earlier experience. * /You won't get any money from Freddie. I know him of old./ [of oneself] See: GIVE OF ONESELF. [of one's life] {adj. phr.} The best or worst; greatest. - Usually describing a time or effort. * /At Disneyland, Tommy had the time of his life./ * /His race for the presidency was the political fight of his life./ [of one's own accord] or [of one's own free will] {adv. phr.} Without suggestion or help from anyone else; without being told; voluntarily. * /On her mother's birthday, Betsy did the dishes of her own accord./ * /But Johnny hates baths. I can't believe he would take one of his own free will./ [of one's own free will] See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD. [of service] {adj. phr.} Valuable as a source of aid; helpful; useful. * /When a visitor seems lost or confused, the courteous student will ask "May I be of service?"/ * /A good jackknife is often of service to a camper./ [of sorts] or [of a sort] {adj. phr.} Not especially good; not very good; of common quality. * /Joel was a magician of sorts, and popular at parties./ [often] See: EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY SO OFTEN, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. [of die devil] See: SPEAK OF THE DEVIL AND HE APPEARS. [of the first water] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Of the finest quality; superior; very good; best. * /The jeweler chose diamonds of the first water for the queen's crown./ * /The dance program at graduation was of the first water./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS. [of the same mind] {adv. phr.} In agreement; in consonance. * /It is a good thing when father and son are of the same mind regarding business and politics./ [oil] See: POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS. [oil the wheels] See: GREASE THE WHEELS. [ointment] See: PLY IN THE OINTMENT. [old] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE, COMMON AS AN OLD SHOE, OF OLD. [old as the hills] {adj. phr.} Very old; ancient. * /"Why didn't you laugh?" she asked. "Because that joke is as old as the hills," he answered./ [old boy network] {n. phr.} A system whereby men who went to the same school help each other to get good jobs, regardless of their ability or training. * /Peter got his lucrative job thanks to the old boy network rather than because of his qualifications./ Compare: OLD COLLEGE TRY. [old boy] or [old chap] {n.}, {chiefly British} One of the men educated at the same institution and bound by strong ties of loyalty to each other. * /He got the job because the boss was another old boy./ [old college try] {n. phr.} An attempt to win a favor from another by mentioning the fact that one had gone to the same college or university as the party from whom the favor is requested. * /Since he needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he contacted Jerry, but it didn't work./ Compare: OLD BOY NETWORK. [old country] {n. phr.} Primarily Europe, but also any country other than the United States where one originally came from. * /Al's wife was born in Chicago but Al himself is from the old country, Ireland./ [old flame] {n. phr.} An erstwhile lover. * /Did you know that Meg was one of Howard's old flames?/ [old guard] {n. phr.} People whose ideas may be out of date, but who have been in power for a long time. * /There will not be any change in policy at the company, as long as the old guard still works here./ [old hand] {n. phr.} An experienced and highly skilled expert at some particular job. * /Uncle Joe is an old hand at repairing car engines./ [old hat] {adj.}, {informal} Old-fashioned; not new or different. * /By now, putting satellites in orbit is old hat to space scientists./ * /Andrea thought her mother's ideas about dating were old hat./ [old maid] {n. phr.} A spinster; a woman who has never married. * /Because my old maid aunt is a terrific cook as well as a good-looking woman, nobody understands why she never married./ [old money] Contrast: NEW MONEY. [Old Nick] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK. [old school tie] See: OLD BOY NETWORK, OLD COLLEGE TRY. [old story] {n.} An everyday occurrence; something that often happens. * /Jane's temper tantrums were an old story./ * /It's an old story when a woman divorces her husband for too much drinking./ [old-timer] {n.} An old person who remembers bygone days, matters, and personalities. * /There was an old-timer at the party who told us interesting details about World War II./ Contrast: OLD GUARD, OLD HAND. [old world] {n. phr.} Europe, the continent; a continental manner. * /Tom had an old world manner that thoroughly charmed all the ladies./ Compare: OLD COUNTRY. [olive branch] {n. phr.} An overture; a symbol of peace. * /Tired of the constant fighting, the majority government extended an olive branch to the militant minority./ [on account] {adv. phr.} As part payment of a debt; to lessen the amount owed. * /John paid $10 down and $5 on account each month for his bicycle./ [on account of] {prep.} As a result of; because of. * /The picnic was held in the gym on account of the rain./ Compare: ON ONE'S ACCOUNT, OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD. [on a dime] {adv. phr.}, {informal} In a very small space. * /Bob can turn that car on a dime./ * /Tom says his new sports car will stop on a dime./ [on-again, off-again] See: OFF-AGAIN, ON-AGAIN. [on air] See: WALK ON AIR. [on a limb] See: OUT ON A LIMB. [on all four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR. [on all fours] {adv. phr.} 1. On all four legs; on hands and knees. * /Fido sat up to "beg" but dropped down on all fours to eat the dog biscuit Sam gave him./ * /Billy's father got down on all fours and gave the baby a ride./ 2. {informal} On a level of equality; of the same value. * /Wigs may be widely used, but they are still not on all fours with beautiful natural hair./ [on an average] or [on the average] {adv. phr.} In most cases; usually. * /On an average Dan's mother has to ask him three times before he helps with the dishes./ * /On the average, Mr. Blank trades in his car for a new one every three years./ [on and off] See: OFF AND ON. [on an even keel] {adv. phr,}, {informal} In a well-ordered way or condition; orderly. * /When the football rally seemed almost ready to become a riot, the principal stepped to the platform and got things back on an even keel./ [on a pedestal] {adv. phr.} Lovingly honored and cared for. * /Mrs. Raymond's children served her breakfast in bed on Mother's Day and later took her out to dinner. She felt on a pedestal./ * /Bill is always waiting on his fiancee and bringing her flowers and candy. He has certainly put her on a pedestal./ [on approval] {adv. phr.} With the understanding that the thing may be refused. * /Mr. Grey bought his camera on approval./ * /The company offered to send a package of stamps on approval./ [on a scratched horse] See: PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE. [on a shoestring] {adv. phr.} With little money to spend; on a very low budget. * /The couple was seeing Europe on a shoestring./ [on a volcano] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO. [on behalf of] See: IN BEHALF OP. [on board(1)] {prep.} On (a ship). * /Joan was not on board the ship when it sailed./ [on board(2)] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} On a ship. * /The captain was not on board when the S.S. Flandre sailed./ * /A ship was leaving the harbor, and we saw the people on board waving./ [on borrowed time] See: LIVE ON BORROWED TIME. [on call] {adj. phr.} 1. Having to be paid on demand. * /Jim didn't have the money ready even though he knew the bill was on call./ 2. Ready and available. * /This is Dr. Kent's day to be on call at the hospital./ * /The nurse is on call for emergency cases./ [once] See: AT ONCE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. [once and for all] {adv. phr.} 1. One time and never again; without any doubt; surely; certainly; definitely. * /Let me say, for once and for all, you may not go to the party Saturday./ * /For once and for all, I will not go swimming with you./ 2. Permanently. * /Bill and Tom asked the teacher to settle the argument once and for all./ * /The general decided that two bombs would destroy the enemy and end the war once and for all./ [once bitten, twice shy] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE. [once for all] See: ONCE AND FOR ALL. [once in a blue moon] {adv. phr.} Very rarely; very seldom; almost never. * /Coin collecting is interesting, hut you find a valuable coin only once in a blue moon./ * /Once in a blue moon someone grows a very pale marigold, but no truly white marigolds have been raised./ [once in a while] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally. * /We go for a picnic in the park once in a while./ * /Once in a while the puppy would run away, but usually he stayed in the yard./ Syn.: AT TIMES, FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND THEN. [once-over] {n.}, {slang} 1. A quick look; a swift examination of someone or something. - Usually used with "give" or "get". * /The new boy got the once-over from the rest of the class when he came in./ * /Bob gave his paper the once-over before handing it in./ 2. or [once-over-lightly] A quick or careless job, especially of cleaning or straightening; work done hastily for now. * /Ann gave her room a quick once-over-lightty with the broom and dust cloth./ * /"Just give my hair the once-over," Al said to the barber./ Compare: LICK AND A PROMISE. [once upon a time] {adv. phr.} Sometime before now, long ago. * /Once upon a time she was thought to be the most talented actress in the country./ - Often used at the beginning of fairy stories. * /Once upon a time there lived a king who had an ugly daughter./ [on cloud nine] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Too happy to think of anything else; very happy. * /Ada has been on cloud nine since the magazine printed the story she wrote./ * /We were on cloud nine when our team won the state championship./ Compare: ON TOP OF THE WORLD, WALK ON AIR. [on condition that] {conj.} Providing that; if. * /I will lend you the money on condition that you pay it back in one month./ * /She agreed to act in the play on condition that she could keep her costumes./ [on deck] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. On a floor of a ship open to the outdoors. * /The passengers were playing shufflehoard on deck./ * /The sailors kept busy cleaning and painting on deck./ 2. {informal} Ready to do something; present. * /The scout leader told the boys to be on deck at 8:00 Saturday morning for the hike./ * /Dick was at bat, and Bob was on deck./ [on deposit] {adv. phr.} In a bank. * /I have almost $500 on deposit in my account./ * /The children save their pennies and each month place them on deposit./ [on duty] {adj. phr.} Doing one's job; supervising. * /Two soldiers are on duty guarding the gates./ * /There is always one teacher on duty during study hour./ Contrast: OFF DUTY. [one] See: AT ONE, FOR ONE, GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER, HANG ONE ON, HOLE IN ONE, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE, NUMBER ONE, SIX OF ONE AND HALF-A-DOZEN OF THE OTHER, SLIP ONE OVER ON, TEN TO ONE, TWO TO ONE, WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE. [one and the same] {adj. phr.} The same; identical. * /Erle Stanley Gardner and A.A. Fair are one and the same person./ * /The spider lily and the Peruvian Daffodil are one and the same./ [one-armed bandit] {n.}, {slang} A slot machine, like those used in Las Vegas and other gambling places. * /Joe was playing the one-armed bandit all day - and he lost everything he had./ [on earth] See: IN THE WORLD. [on easy street] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Having enough money to live very comfortably; rather rich. * /After years of hard work, the Grants found themselves on easy street./ * /Jim's novel was a success and put him on easy street./ Compare: IN CLOVER, IN THE CHIPS, WELL-TO-DO. [one damn thing after another] or [ODTAA] (pronounced owed-tay) {n. phr.} If there is one problem, there will be more. * /First I lost my wallet, then a kid broke the window, and, lastly, my car refused to start. It was just one damn thing after another!/ Compare: IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER. [on edge] {adj. phr.} Excited or nervous; impatient. * /The magician kept the children on edge all through his show./ * /We were all on edge as we listened to the TV for news of the election results./ * /Father was on edge after driving home through the heavy holiday traffic./ See: SET ONE'S TEETH ON EDGE. Contrast: AT EASE(2). [one eye on] {informal} Watching or minding (a person or thing) while doing something else; part of your attention on. - Used after "have", "keep", or "with". * /Jane had one eye on the baby as she ironed./ * /Bill kept one eye on his books and the other on the clock./ * /Chris tried to study with one eye on the TV set./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON. [one foot in the grave] {n. phr.} Near to death. * /The dog is fourteen years old, blind, and feeble. He has one foot in the grave./ * /Grandfather has never been sick a day in his life, but Mother cares for him as if he had one foot in the grave./ [one for the books] {n, phr.}, {informal} Very unusual; a remarkable something. * /The newspaper reporter fumed in a story that was one for the books./ * /Their trip through the Rocky Mountains was one for the books./ [one-horse] {adj. phr.} Insignificant; modest; provincial. * /Arnold's business is a one-horse operation; he never had a single employee./ [one man's meat is another man's poison] What is good for one person is not necessarily good for another. - A proverb, * /Even though Jeff likes to swim in ice cold water, his brother Tun hates it. This is understandable, however, because one's man's meat is another man's poison./ Contrast: WHAT'S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. [on end] {adj. phr.} Seemingly endless. - Used with plural nouns of time. * /Judy spent hours on end writing and rewriting her essay./ * /During July and August there was no rain for weeks on end./ [one-night stand] {n. phr.} 1. A single performance given by a traveling company while on a tour. * /After they went bankrupt in the big cities, the traveling jazz quartet played one-night stands in the country./ 2. A brief affair or sexual encounter. * /"With AIDS all around us?" said Jane. "Nobody is having one-night stands anymore."/ [one of these days] or [some of these days] {adv. phr.} Someday; sometime soon. * /One of these days Herbert will be famous./ * /I'm going to do that sewing some of these days./ [one on the city] {n.}, {slang} A glass of water (which is provided free of charge, as a free gift from the city). * /What will you have? - Oh, just give me one on the city./ [one's money's worth] {n. phr.} A fair return on one's money spent or invested. * /I wouldn't say that the trip was a great bargain, but I feel that we got our money's worth./ [one's own row] See: HOE ONE'S OWN ROW. [one-two] {n.} 1. A succession of two punches, the first a short left, followed by a hard right punch, usually in the jaw. * /Ali gave Frazir the one-two./ 2. Any quick or decisive action which takes the opposition by surprise, thereby ensuring victory. * /He gave us the old one-two and won the game./ [one up] {adj. phr.} Having an advantage; being one step ahead, * /John graduated from high school; he is one up on Bob, who dropped out./ * /The Platters are one up on their neighbors. They own the only color television set in their neighborhood./ [one-upmanship] {v.}, {informal} Always keeping ahead of others; trying to keep an advantage. * /No matter what I do, I find that Jim has already done it better. He's an expert at one-upmanship./ * /Jack took the news to the principal while we were still talking about it. He's very quick to practice one-upmanship./ Compare: ONE UP. (The word one-upmanship was made up by a British humorist, Stephen Potter, on the pattern of such words as sportsmanship and workmanship.) [on faith] {adv. phr.} Without question or proof. * /He said he was twenty-one years old and the employment agency took him on faith./ * /He looked so honest that we accepted his story on faith./ [on file] {adv. phr.} Placed in a written or electronic file; on record. * /We are sorry we cannot hire you right now but we will keep your application on file./ [on fire] See: SET THE WORLD ON FIRE. [on foot] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. By walking. * /Sally's bicycle broke and she had to return home on foot./ 2. Being planned. * /The reporter said that a civil rights demonstration was on foot./ * /Plans have been set on foot for a party for Miss Jackson, because she is retiring./ [on guard] {adj. phr.} Watchful; watching. * /The police warned people to he on guard for pickpockets during the Christmas rush./ * /Two men are on guard at the door./ Contrast: OFF GUARD. [on hand] {adv. phr.} 1a. Nearby; within reach. * /Always have your dictionary on hand when you study./ 1b. Here. * /Soon school will end and vacation will be on hand./ 2. Present. * /Mr. Blake's secretary is always on hand when he appears in public./ 3. In your possession; ready. * /The Girl Scouts have plenty of cookies on hand./ * /Tim had no cash on hand to pay for the gas./ Compare: IN STORE. [on high cotton] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD also SITTING ON HIGH COTTON. [on hold] {adv. phr.} 1. Left waiting while making a telephone call. * /"Sorry sir," the secretary said, "I'll have to put you on hold for a minute."/ 2. Waiting; temporarily halted. * /"Put your marriage plans on hold, son, and wait until after graduation," his father said seriously./ [on ice] {adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. The same as won; sure to be won. * /The score was 20-10 in the last inning, and our team had the game on ice./ 2. Away for safekeeping or later use; aside. * /You will have to put your vacation plans on ice until your debts are paid./ * /The senator was voted out of office. He is on ice until the next election./ [on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS. [onion] See: KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND(2). [only] See: HAVE EYES ONLY FOR, IF ONLY. [on occasion] {adv. phr.} Sometimes; occasionally. * /We go to New York on occasion./ * /On occasion we feel like celebrating and have a party./ Compare: ONCE IN A WHILE, FROM TIME TO TIME. [on one hand] {adv. phr.} Looking at a thing in one of two possible ways; from one point of view. - Usually used with "on the other hand". * /John wants to be a printer or a teacher; on one hand, printing pays better; on the other hand, schools need good teachers./ [on one's account] {adv. phr.} For your good; because you want to help or please someone. * /Barry studied hard on his mother's account./ * /I hope you didn't bring tea to the picnic just on my account./ * /The teacher stayed in school a little late on Tom's account./ Compare: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD, ON ACCOUNT OF. [on one's back] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Making insistent demands of you; being an annoyance or bother. * /My wife has been on my back for weeks to fix the front door screen./ * /I can't get any work done with the children on my back from morning until night./ * /Jim could do a better job if his boss weren't on his back so often./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S BACK. [on one's bad side] or [on the bad side of one] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not liked by someone; not friendly with a person. * /Sally's boyfriend got on Father's bad side by keeping Sally out too late after the dance./ Contrast: ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE. [on one's behalf] See: ON BEHALF OF. [on one's chest] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Hidden in your thoughts or feelings and bothering you; making you feel worried or upset; that is something you want to talk to someone about. * /Jane looks unhappy because she has the quarrel with Susan on her chest./ * /"Well, Dave," said the coach, "You look sad - what's on your chest?"/ Compare: ON ONE'S MIND. Contrast: OFF ONE'S CHEST, [on one's coattails] {adv. phr.} Because of another's merits, success, or popularity. * /Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails./ * /Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode in on K.'s coattails./ [on oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF. [on one's feet] {adv. phr.} 1. Standing or walking; not sitting or lying down; up. * /Before the teacher finished asking the question, George was on his feet ready to answer it./ * /In a busy gasoline station, the attendant is on his feet all day./ Compare: TO ONE'S FEET. Contrast: OFF ONE'S FEET. 2. Recovering; getting better from sickness or trouble. * /Jack is back on his feet after a long illness./ * /Susan was on her feet soon after the operation./ * /The bank loaned the store money to get it back on its feet after the fire./ 3. See: LAND ON ONE'S FEET, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET, THINK ON ONE'S FEET. [on one's good behavior] {adv. phr.} Behaving right to make a good impression. * /While his father was around the boy was on his good behavior, but when the father left the boy soon got into mischief./ * /The minister is coming to dinner, and Mother wants us to be on our good behavior./ [on one's good side] or [on the good side of one] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Friendly with someone; liked by a person. * /John thought that he would get a good grade if he got on the good side of the teacher./ * /Successful workers stay on the good side of their bosses./ Contrast: ON ONE'S BAD SIDE. [on one's hands] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care or responsibility; that you must do something about. * /Mrs. Blake left her five children with me while she shopped. I could not get anything done with the children on my hands./ * /After everyone bought tickets to the dance, the club treasurer had over $100 on his hands./ * /The electricity went off while Mother was cooking supper, and she had a problem on her hands./ * /I had time on my hands before the bus came, so I bought a newspaper to read./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S HANDS. See: SIT ON ONE'S HANDS. Compare: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE'S HANDS. [on one's head] or [upon one's head] {adv. phr.} On one's self. * /When the school board fired the superintendent of schools, they brought the anger of the parents upon their heads./ * /Billy had been naughty all day, but he really brought his parents' anger down on his head by pushing his little sister into a mud puddle./ Compare: ABOUT ONE'S EARS. [on one's heel] See: TURN ON ONE'S HEEL. [on one's high horse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. * /Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do./ * /Mrs. Jones asked to see a less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high horse and said the shop did not sell cheap merchandise./ 2. Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper. * /Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn't giving him enough attention./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE. [on one's honor] {adj. phr.} Bound by one's honesty; trusted. * /The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on their honor not to cheat./ * /The house father put the boys on their honor not to smoke in the dormitory./ [on one's knees] {adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. * /The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ * /The Jacksons won't contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. * /When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close./ [on one's last legs] {adj. phr.} Failing; near the end. * /The blacksmith's business is on its last legs./ * /The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs./ Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE'S KNEES(2). [on one's mind] {adv. phr.} In one's thoughts. * /I'm glad you want to talk about this. It's been on my mind for weeks./ * /What's on your mind?/ Compare: IN MIND. [on one's nerves] See: GET ON ONE'S NERVES. [on one's own] {adj. phr.} With no help from others. * /It is a happy day when you're allowed to drive a car on your own./ * /Being on your own may be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2). [on one's own account] or {informal} [on one's own hook] {adv. phr.} 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. * /After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account./ 2. See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD. [on one's own feet] See: STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET. [on one's own hook] See: ON ONE'S OWN ACCOUNT. [on one's own time] {adv. phr.} During one's free time; not during working or school hours. * /If you want to play football, you'll have to do it on your own time./ [on one's part] or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.} 1. Of or by you; of someone's. * /When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part./ * /The other team blamed their defeat on unfairness on the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE'S PART. [on one's shoulders] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care; as your responsibility. * /The success of the program rests on your shoulders./ * /He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders./ [on one's toes] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Alert; ready to act. * /The successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare: HEADS-UP, ON THE BALL. [on one's uppers] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Very poor. * /Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK. [on one's way] See: ON THE WAY. [on pain of] also [under pain of] {prep.}, {formal} At the risk of; under penalty of. * /The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs./ * /The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding./ [on paper] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. * /On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War./ * /The football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper./ [on pins and needles] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Worried; nervous. * /Jane's mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school./ * /Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play./ [on purpose] {adv. phr.} For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. * /Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose./ * /The clown fell down on purpose./ [on record] {adj. phr.} 1. An official or recorded statement or fact; said for everyone to know. * /We do not know when the famous writer was born, but the date of his death is on record./ * /The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record./ 2. Known to have said or done a certain thing. - Usually used with "as". * /The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise./ * /The governor is on record as favoring the new highway./ * /That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste in government./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD. [on sale] {adj. phr.} Selling for a special low price. * /Tomato soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents./ * /John and Mary couldn't sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup./ [on schedule(1)] {adv. phr.} As planned or expected; at the right time. * /The school bus arrived at school on schedule./ * /The four seasons arrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME. [on schedule(2)] {adj. phr.} Punctual; as planned. * /The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition./ [on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON. [on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT. [on sight] See: AT SIGHT. [on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE. [on the air] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. * /His show is on the air at six o'clock./ * /The ball game is on the air now./ [on the alert] {adj. phr.} Alert; watchful; careful. * /Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ * /Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE'S TOES. [on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE. [on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK. [on the ball] {adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Paying attention and doing things well. - Used after "is" or "get". * /Ben is really on the ball in school./ * /The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE'S EYE ON THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. - Used after "have". * /John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball./ * /The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball./ [on the bandwagon] {adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it. - Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". * /When all George's friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON. [on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD. [on the beam] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. * /A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam./ 2. {slang} Doing well; just right; good or correct. * /Kenneth's answer was right on the beam./ Contrast: OFF THE BEAM. [on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. * /Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning./ 2. Sitting among the substitute players. * /The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle./ Compare: BENCH WARMER. [on the blink] {adj. phr.} Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. * /I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again./ [on the block] {adj. phr.} To be sold; for sale. * /The vacant house was on the block./ * /Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placed on the block./ [on the brain] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. * /Mary Ann has boys on the brain./ * /Joe's hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time./ [on the brink of] {adv. phr.} Facing a new event that's about to happen. * /"I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced./ [on the button] {adv., adj.}, {slang} At the right place; at the heart of the matter. * /John's remark was right on the button./ Compare: ON THE DOT. [on the cards] See: IN THE CARDS. [on the carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET. [on the cheap] {adv. phr.} Inexpensively; on a tight budget. * /She buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores./ [on the chin] See: TAKE IT ON THE CHIN. [on the contrary] {adv. phr.} Exactly the opposite; rather; instead. * /The principal thought that the children went to the zoo; on the contrary, they went to the bakery./ * /"You don't like football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very much."/ Compare: TO THE CONTRARY. [on the cuff] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {informal} Agreeing to pay later; to be paid for later; on credit. * /Peter lost the money that Mother gave him to buy meat, and the store would not let him have meat on the cuff./ * /Many people buy cars and television sets on the cuff./ [on the dole] {adv. phr.} Drawing unemployment benefits. * /When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./ [on the dot] also [on the button] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Exactly on time; not early and not late. * /Susan arrived at the party at 2:00 P.M. on the dot./ * /Ben's plane arrived on the dot./ [on the double!] {adv. phr.} Hurry up! * /"Let's go! On the double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the engine of the small plane./ [on the eve of] {prep.} Just before (an event). * /On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes./ [on the face of it] {adv. phr.} Apparently; as it seems. * /On the face of it, Joe's claim that he can swim five miles is true./ * /Hi