allow

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.