allow for someone or something 1. to plan on
having enough of something (such as
food, space, etc.) for someone. Mary is
bringing Bill on the picnic, so be sure to al-
low for him when buying the food. Al-
low for an extra person when setting the
table tonight. 2. to plan on the possibil-
ity of something. Allow for a few rainy
days on your vacation. Be sure to allow
for future growth when you plant the
rosebushes.
All’s well that ends well. An event that
has a good ending is considered good,
even if some things went wrong along the
way. (Proverb. This is the name of a play
by Shakespeare.) I’m glad you finally
got here, even though your car had a f lat
tire on the way. Oh, well. All’s well that
ends well. The groom was late for the
wedding, but everything worked out all
right. All’s well that ends well.
the almighty dollar the U.S. dollar, wor-
shiped as a god; money, viewed as more
important and powerful than anything
else. Bill was a slave to the almighty dol-
lar. It’s the almighty dollar that drives
the whole country.
along in years Go to up in years.
along with someone or something in addition
to someone or something; together with
someone or something. Jane went to
the mall along with David. I ate some
chocolates along with some fruit.
alongside (of ) someone or something as com-
pared to a person or a thing. (Also literal.
Informal. The things being compared
need not be beside one another.) Our
car looks quite small alongside of theirs.
My power of concentration is quite limited
alongside of yours.
alpha and omega both the beginning and
the end; the essentials, from the begin-
ning to the end; everything, from the be-
ginning to the end. (Refers to the first
and last letters of the Greek alphabet.)
He was forced to learn the alpha and
omega of corporate law in order to even
talk to the lawyers. He loved her deeply;
she was his alpha and omega.
amount to something [for someone or some-
thing] to be or to become valuable or
successful. Most parents hope that their
children will amount to something. I put
$200 in the bank, and I hope it will
amount to something in twenty years.
amount to the same thing and come to
the same thing to be the same as some-
thing; to have the same effect as some-
thing. Borrowing can be the same as
stealing. If the owner does not know what
you have borrowed, it amounts to the same
thing. Beer, wine. They come to the
same thing if you drink and drive.
[an] <Entries beginning with a, an, or the
are alphabetized under the second word
in the entry. That means that a bed of
roses will appear in the Bs.>
and change [some number of dollars] plus
between 1 and 99 cents more. The book
cost $12.49. That’s twelve dollars and
change. Subway fare is now one dollar
and change.
and something to spare and with something
to spare with extra left over; with more
than is needed. (With something, time,
room, money, plenty, etc.) I had as
much f lour as I needed with something to
spare. Fred said he should have enough
cash to last the week—with money to
spare.
and so on continuing on in the same way
[without saying all the details]; continu-
ing to talk, saying more and more. He
told me about all his health problems, in-
cluding his arthritis and so on. I need
some help getting ready for dinner, setting
the table, and so on.
and the like and similar things or people.
I eat hamburgers, hot dogs, and the like.
I bought shirts, pants, socks, and the
like.
and what have you and so on; and other
similar things. Their garage is full of
bikes, sleds, old boots, and what have you.
The merchant sells writing paper, pens,
string, and what have you.
angry enough to chew nails Go to mad
enough to chew nails.
another country heard from <a catch
phrase said when someone makes a com-
ment or interrupts.> Jane and Bill were
discussing business when Bob interrupted
to offer an opinion. “Another country
heard from,” said Jane. In the middle
of the discussion, the baby started crying.
“Another country heard from,” said Tom.
(another) nail in someone’s or something’s
coffin something that will harm or de-
stroy someone or something. Every
word of criticism that Bob said about the
boss was a nail in his coffin. Losing the
export order was the final nail in the com-
pany’s coffin.
answer for someone or something [with some-
thing] to assume responsibility for some-
thing. (Also literal.) John had to answer
for the theft of the bicycle since it was
found at his house. Someday we’ll all
have to answer for our wrongdoings.
answer someone’s purpose and serve some-
one’s purpose to fit or suit someone’s
purpose. This piece of wood will answer
my purpose quite nicely. The new car
serves our purpose perfectly.
answer the door [after hearing the door-
bell or a knock] to go to the door to see
who is there. Would you please answer
the door? I am busy. I wish someone
would answer the door. I can’t wait all day.
answer to someone to explain to someone;
to justify one’s actions to someone. (Usu-
ally with have to.) If John cannot be-
have properly, he’ll have to answer to me.
The car thief will have to answer to the
judge.
appear as something to act a certain part in
a play, opera, etc. Madame Smith-
Franklin appeared as Carmen at the City
Opera last season. The actor refused to
appear as a villain in the play.
appear out of nowhere to appear sud-
denly, without warning. (Almost the
same as come out of nowhere.) A huge
bear appeared out of nowhere and roared
and threatened us. A butler appeared
out of nowhere and took our coats.
the apple of someone’s eye someone’s fa-
vorite person or thing; a boyfriend or a
girlfriend. Tom is the apple of Mary’s
eye. She thinks he’s great. John’s new
stereo is the apple of his eye.
apples and oranges a pair of people or
things representing two entities that are
not similar. You can’t talk about Fred
and Ted in the same breath! They’re apples
and oranges. Talking about her current
book and her previous best-seller is like
comparing apples and oranges.
arguing for the sake of arguing and
arguing for the sake of argument sim-
ply arguing to be difficult or contrary.
You are just arguing for the sake of argu-
ing. You don’t even know what the issue
is. He is annoying, because he is always
arguing for the sake of argument.
arguing for the sake of argument Go to
arguing for the sake of arguing.
arm in arm linked or hooked together by
the arms. The two lovers walked arm in
arm down the street. Arm in arm, the
line of dancers kicked high, and the audi-
ence roared its approval.
armed and dangerous said of an armed
person who is suspected of a crime and
has not been captured and who is likely
to resist arrest. (This is a warning to po-
lice officers.) Max is at large, presumed
to be armed and dangerous. The suspect
has killed once and is armed and
dangerous.
armed to the teeth heavily armed with
deadly weapons. The bank robber was
armed to the teeth when he was caught.
There are too many guns around. The
entire country is armed to the teeth.
(a)round the clock continuously for
twenty-four hours at a time; all day and
all night. The priceless jewels were
guarded around the clock. Grandfather
was so sick that he had to have nurses
round the clock.
(a)round-the-clock constant; day and
night. (Adjective.) Grandfather re-
quired around-the-clock care. I tuned
into the around-the-clock news station.
arrange something with someone 1. and
arrange to do something with someone to
plan an event so as to include another
person or persons. Jane arranged a
meeting with Ann. Bill arranged to go
to the station with Tom and Mary. 2. to
get someone’s consent for something.
Mary arranged the entire affair with her
employer. The new mother arranged the
christening with the pastor.
arrange to do something with someone Go to
arrange something with someone.
arrive in a body Go to come in a body.
arrive on the scene Go to come on the
scene.
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