once

once and for all finally and irreversibly.

I want to get this problem settled once

and for all. I told him once and for all

that he has to start studying.

once in a blue moon very rarely. Sel-

dom go to a movie—maybe once in a blue

moon. I don’t go into the city except once

in a blue moon.

once-in-a-lifetime chance a chance that

will never occur again in one’s lifetime.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Don’t miss it. She offered me a once-in-

a-lifetime chance, but I turned it down.

once in a while Go to (every) now and

then.

once upon a time once in the past. (A for-

mula used to begin a fairy tale.) Once

upon a time, there were three bears.

Once upon a time, I had a puppy of my own.

one and all everyone. “Good morning

to one and all,” said Jane as she walked

through the outer office. Let’s hope that

this turns out to be a wonderful party for

one and all.

the one and only the famous and talented

(person). (Used in theatrical introduc-

tions. See also my one and only. ) And

now—the one and only—Jane Smith!

Let’s have a big hand for the one and only

Bob Jones!

one and the same the very same person

or thing. John Jones and J. Jones are one

and the same. Men’s socks and men’s

stockings are almost one and the same.

one at a time Go to one by one.

one by one and one at a time the first

one, then the next one, then the next one,

etc.; one at a time; each in turn. I have

to deal with problems one by one. I can’t

handle them all at once. Okay, just take

things one at a time. The children came

into the room one by one. Fred peeled

potatoes one by one, hating every minute

of it.

one for the (record) books a record-

breaking act. What a dive! That’s one

for the record books. I’ve never heard

such a funny joke. That’s really one for the

books.

One good turn deserves another. A good

deed should be repaid with another good

deed. (Proverb.) If he does you a favor,

you should do him a favor. One good turn

deserves another. Glad to help you out.

One good turn deserves another.

one in a hundred Go to one in a thousand.

one in a million Go to one in a thousand.

one little bit any at all; at all. (Also literal.)

Jean could not be persuaded to change

her mind one little bit. I don’t want to

hear anything more about it. Not even one

little bit.

One man’s meat is another man’s poi-

son. One person’s preference may be dis-

liked by another person. (Proverb.)

John just loves his new fur hat, but I think

it is horrible. Oh, well, one man’s meat is

another man’s poison. The neighbors are

very fond of their dog even though it’s ugly,

loud, and smelly. I guess one man’s meat

is another man’s poison.

One man’s trash is another man’s trea-

sure. Something that one person con-

siders worthless may be considered valu-

able by someone else. (Proverb.)

Why would anyone want to hang a picture

like that on the wall? A: One man’s trash

is another man’s treasure. A: Bob’s un-

cle is always going through people’s gar-

bage, looking for old stuff. B: One man’s

trash is another man’s treasure.

one-night stand an activity lasting one

night. (Informal. Refers to either a mu-

sical performance or a period of sexual

activity.) Our band has played a lot of

one-night stands. What we want is an

engagement for a week, not just a one-

night stand.

one of these days someday; in some sit-

uation like this one. One of these days,

someone is going to steal your purse if you

don’t take better care of it. You’re going

to get in trouble one of these days.

one sandwich short of a picnic not very

smart; lacking sufficient intelligence.

(Jocular.) Poor Bob just isn’t too bright.

He’s one sandwich short of a picnic. She

not stupid. Just one sandwich short of a

picnic.

One thing leads to another. One event

sets things up for another event and so

on. (As an explanation of how little prob-

lems lead to big problems.) I kept

spending more and more money until I

was broke. You know how one thing leads

to another.  He bought a car, then a

house, then a boat. One thing leads to

another.

one thing or person after another a series of

things or people that seems without limit.

It’s just one problem after another.

One customer after another has been buy-

ing shoes today!

one to a customer each person can have

or receive only one. (Refers to sales re-

strictions where each customer is per-

mitted to buy only one.) “Only one to

a customer!” said the chef as he handed

out the hamburgers. Is it one to a cus-

tomer, or can I take two now?

One’s bark is worse than one’s bite. One

may threaten, but not do much damage.

(Proverb.) Don’t worry about Bob. He

won’t hurt you. His bark is worse than his

bite. She may scream and yell, but have

no fear. Her bark is worse than her bite.

one’s better half one’s spouse. (Usually

refers to a wife.) I think we’d like to

come for dinner, but I’ll have to ask my

better half. I have to go home now to my

better half. We are going out tonight.

one’s brother ’s keeper someone responsi-

ble for someone else. (Preceded by be, be-

come, seem like, or act like.) I can’t force

these kids to go to school and get an edu-

cation so they can get jobs. I am not my

brother’s keeper. You can’t expect me to

be my brother’s keeper. Each of us should

be responsible!

one’s daily dozen physical exercises done

every day. (Informal.) My brother al-

ways feels better after his daily dozen.

She would rather do her daily dozen than

go on a diet.

one’s days are numbered one faces death

or dismissal. If I don’t get this contract,

my days are numbered at this company.

Uncle Tom has a terminal disease. His

days are numbered.

one’s deepest sympathy one’s very sincere

sympathy. I am so sorry about the death

of your father. You have my deepest sym-

pathy. She sent her deepest sympathy to

the family.

one’s ears are red one’s ears are red from

embarrassment. (Also used figuratively.)

I’m so embarrassed. Wow, are my ears

red! My ears are red! I can’t believe I

said that.

one’s ears are ringing one hears a ringing

sound because of exposure to an explo-

sion, very loud music, or some other very

loud sound. After the explosion, my ears

were ringing for hours. My ears are ring-

ing because I have a cold.

oneself again healthy again; calm again; re-

stored. (Preceded by be, become, seem

like, or act like.) After such a long ill-

ness, it’s good to be myself again. I’m

sorry that I lost my temper. I think I’m my-

self again now.

One’s eyes are bigger than one’s stomach.

One has taken more food than one can

eat. I can’t eat all this. I’m afraid that

my eyes were bigger than my stomach.

Try to take less food. Your eyes are bigger

than your stomach at every meal.

one’s fair share a share of something that is

equal to what others get or in proportion

to what is deserved. Let him take more.

He didn’t get his fair share. I want my

fair share. You cheated me! Give me some

more!

one’s for the asking one’s property if one

asks for it. I have a cherry pie here. A

slice is yours for the asking if you want it.

Uncle Mac said we could have his old

car if we wanted it. It was ours for the

asking.

one’s heart goes out to someone one feels

compassion for someone. My heart

goes out to those starving children I see on

television. We are so sorry. Our hearts

go out to you.

one’s heart is (dead) set against something

one is totally against something. Jane’s

heart is set against going there. We are

dead set against it.

one’s heart is in one’s mouth one feels

strongly emotional (about someone or

something). “Gosh, Mary,” said John,

“my heart is in my mouth whenever I see

you.” My heart is in my mouth when-

ever I hear the national anthem. It was

a touching scene. My heart was in my

mouth the whole time.

one’s heart is in the right place one has

good intentions, even if the results are

bad. (See also have one’s heart in the right

place.) She gave it a good try. Her heart

was in the right place. He is awkward,

but his heart is in the right place.

one’s heart is set on something one desires

and expects something. Jane’s heart is

set on going to London. My heart is set

on returning home.

one’s heart misses a beat and one’s heart

skips a beat one’s heart is fluttering or

palpitating. Whenever I’m near you, my

heart skips a beat. When the racehorse

fell, my heart missed a beat.

one’s heart skips a beat Go to one’s heart

misses a beat.

one’s heart stands still one’s heart (figu-

ratively) stops beating because of strong

emotions. When I first saw you, my

heart stood still. My heart will stand

still until you answer.

one’s luck runs out one’s good luck stops.

My luck ran out, so I had to come home.

She will quit gambling when her luck

runs out.

one’s name is mud one is in trouble or hu-

miliated. (Slang.) If I can’t get this con-

tract signed, my name will be mud. His

name is mud ever since he broke the crys-

tal vase.

one’s nose is in the air one is acting con-

ceited or aloof. (Note the variation with

always. See also have one’s nose in the air.)

Mary’s nose is always in the air. Her

mother’s nose was always in the air, too.

one’s number is up one’s time to die—or to

suffer some other unpleasantness—has

come. (Informal.) John is worried. He

thinks his number is up. When my num-

ber is up, I hope it all goes fast.

one’s old stamping ground the place where

one was raised or where one has spent a

lot of time. (Folksy. There are variants

with stomping and grounds.)   Ann

should know about that place. It’s near her

old stamping ground. I can’t wait to get

back to my old stomping grounds.

one’s way of life one’s lifestyle; one’s pat-

tern of living. That kind of thing just

doesn’t fit into my way of life. Our way

of life includes contributing to worthy

causes.

one’s work is cut out for one one’s task is

prepared for one; one has a lot of work to

do. (See also have one’s work cut out for

one.) This is a big job. My work is cut out

for me. The new president’s work is cut

out for him.

only have eyes for someone to be loyal to

only one person, in the context of ro-

mance. Oh, Jane! I only have eyes for

you! Don’t waste any time on Tom. He

only has eyes for Ann.

onto someone or something having discovered

the truth about someone or something.

(Informal.) The police are onto John’s

plot. Yes, they are onto him, and they

are onto the plot.

open a conversation to start a conversa-

tion. (See also strike up a conversation.)

I tried to open a conversation with him,

but he had nothing to say. She opened

a conversation with an inquiry into my

health, which got me talking about my fa-

vorite subject.

open and aboveboard Go to aboveboard.

an open-and-shut case something, usu-

ally a legal matter, that is simple and

straightforward without complications.

The murder trial was an open-and-shut

case. The defendant was caught with the

murder weapon.  Jack’s death was an

open-and-shut case of suicide. He left a

suicide note.

an open book someone or something that

is easy to understand. Jane’s an open

book. I always know what she is going to

do next. The council is an open book.

It wants to save money.

open fire (on someone) to start (doing

something, such as asking questions or

criticizing). (Refers to starting to shoot at

someone.) The reporters opened fire on

the mayor. When the reporters opened

fire, the mayor was smiling, but not for

long.

open for business [of a shop, store,

restaurant, etc.] operating and ready to

do business. The store is now open for

business and invites you to come in. The

construction will be finished in March,

and we will be open for business in April.

open one’s heart (to someone) to reveal one’s

inmost thoughts to someone. I always

open my heart to my spouse when I have

a problem. It’s a good idea to open your

heart every now and then.

open Pandora’s box to uncover a lot of

unsuspected problems. When I asked

Jane about her problems, I didn’t know I

had opened Pandora’s box. You should

be cautious with people who are upset. You

don’t want to open Pandora’s box.

open season (on someone or something) 1.

[with something] unrestricted hunting of

a particular game animal. It’s always

open season on rabbits around here. Is

it ever open season on deer? 2. [with some-

one] a time when everyone is criticizing

someone. (Informal. See also open fire

(on someone).) It seems as if it’s always

open season on politicians. At the news

conference, it was open season on the

mayor.

open secret something that is supposed to

be secret but is known to a great many

people. Their engagement is an open se-

cret. Only their friends are supposed to

know, but in fact, the whole town knows.

It’s an open secret that Max is looking

for a new job.

open someone’s eyes (to something) 1. to be-

come aware of something. He finally

opened his eyes to what was going on.

It was a long time before he opened his eyes

and realized what had been happening. 2.

to cause someone else to be aware of

something. I opened his eyes to what

was happening at the office. Why can’t

I make you understand? What do I have to

do to open your eyes to the problem?

open something up 1. to unwrap something;

to open something. Yes, I want to open

my presents up. T I can’t wait to open up

my presents. T Open up this door! 2. to

begin examining or discussing some-

thing. Do you really want to open it up

now? T Now is the time to open up the

question of taxes. 3. to reveal the possi-

bilities of something; to reveal an op-

portunity. Your letter opened new pos-

sibilities up. T Your comments opened up

a whole new train of thought. 4. to start

the use of something, such as land, a

building, a business, etc. They opened

the coastal lands up to cotton planting. T

We opened up a new store last March. 5.

to make a vehicle go as fast as possible.

(Informal.) We took the new car out on

the highway and opened it up. T I’ve never

really opened up this truck. I don’t know

how fast it’ll go. 6. to make something less

congested. They opened the yard up by

cutting out a lot of old shrubbery. T We

opened up the room by taking the piano

open the door to something to permit or al-

low something to become a possibility.

(Also literal.) Your policy opens the door

to cheating. Your statement opens the

door to John’s candidacy.

open to something agreeable to hear or learn

about new ideas and suggestions. The

store owner was open to suggestions from

her employees. We are always open to

new ideas.

open (up) a can of worms to uncover a

set of problems; to create unnecessary

complications. (Informal. Can of worms

means “mess.” Also with various modi-

fiers such as new, whole, another, as in the

examples. Compare this with open Pan-

dora’s box.) Now you are opening a

whole new can of worms. How about

cleaning up this mess before you open up

a new can of worms?

open up (on someone or something) to attack

someone or something; to fire a gun or

other weapon at someone or something.

The sergeant told the soldiers to open up

on the enemy position.  “Okay, you

guys,” shouted the sergeant. “Open up!”

open up (to someone) and open up (with

someone) to talk frankly, truthfully, or in-

timately. Finally Sally opened up to her

sister and told her what the problem was.

Bill wouldn’t open up with me. He’s still

keeping quiet. At last, Sally opened up

and told everything.

open up (with someone) Go to open up (to

someone).

open with something to start out with some-

thing. (Usually said of a performance of

some type.) We’ll open with a love song

and then go on to something faster. The

play opened with an exciting first act, and

then it became very boring.

opening gambit an opening movement or

statement that is made to secure a posi-

tion that is to one’s advantage. The

rebel army’s opening gambit was to bomb

the city’s business district. The prosecu-

tion’s opening gambit was to call a witness

who linked the defendant to the scene of

the crime.

or else or suffer the consequences. Do

what I tell you, or else. Don’t be late for

work, or else!

or words to that effect or with other

words that have about the same meaning.

She told me I ought to read more care-

fully—or words to that effect. I was in-

structed to go to the devil, or words to that

effect.