on

on order ordered with delivery expected.

Your car is on order. It’ll be here in a few

weeks. I don’t have the part in stock, but

it’s on order.

on par (with someone or something) equal to

someone or something. Your effort is sim-

ply not on par with what’s expected from

you. These two reports are right on par.

on patrol Go to (out) on patrol.

on pins and needles anxious; in suspense.

(See also pins and needles.)I’ve been

on pins and needles all day, waiting for you

to call with the news. We were on pins

and needles until we heard that your plane

landed safely.

on probation 1. serving a period of pro-

bation. While Anne was on probation,

she reported to the police regularly. John

was on probation for a year. 2. serving a

trial period. All new members are on

probation for a year. I was on proba-

tion in my job for a full year before it be-

came permanent.

on purpose intentionally; in a way that is

meant or intended; not an accident.

The bully stepped on my foot on purpose.

Jealously, Jimmy destroyed Billy’s sand

castle on purpose.

on sale offered for sale at a special low

price. I won’t buy anything that’s not on

sale. I need a new coat, but I want to

find a nice one on sale.

on schedule at the expected or desired

time. The plane came in right on sched-

ule. Things have to happen on schedule

in a theatrical performance.

on second thought having given some-

thing more thought; having reconsidered

something. On second thought, maybe

you should sell your house and move into

an apartment. On second thought, let’s

not go to a movie.

on someone’s account because of someone.

Don’t do it on my account. They were

late on Jane’s account.

on someone’s back Go to on someone’s case.

on someone’s behalf Go to in behalf of some-

on someone’s case and on someone’s back

constantly criticizing someone. (Slang.

See also Get off someone’s case!) I’m

tired of your being on my case all the time.

It seems as if someone is always on his

back.

on someone’s doorstep Go to at someone’s

doorstep.

on someone’s or something’s last legs [for

someone or something] to be almost

worn out or finished. (Informal.) This

building is on its last legs. It should be torn

down. I feel as if I’m on my last legs. I’m

really tired.

on someone’s say-so on someone’s author-

ity; with someone’s permission. I can’t

do it on your say-so. I’ll have to get a writ-

ten request. BILL: I canceled the con-

tract with the ABC Company. BOB: On

whose say-so?

on someone’s shoulders on someone’s own

self. (Also literal. Usually with responsi-

bility.) Why should all the responsibil-

ity fall on my shoulders? She carries a

tremendous amount of responsibility on

her shoulders.

on someone’s way (somewhere) Go to on the

way (somewhere).

on speaking terms (with someone) on

friendly terms with someone. (Often in

the negative. Compare this with on good

terms (with someone).) I’m not on

speaking terms with Mary. We had a se-

rious disagreement. We’re not on speak-

ing terms.

on standby waiting for one’s turn, espe-

cially describing the status of travelers

who wait near a train, plane, or bus, hop-

ing that a seat will become available.

The passenger waited on standby for an

available seat. The agent was able to seat

all of the passengers on standby.

on target on schedule; exactly as predicted.

Your estimate of the cost was right on

target. My prediction was not on target.

on the air broadcasting (a radio or televi-

sion program). The radio station came

back on the air shortly after the storm.

We were on the air for two hours.

on the average generally; usually.

the average, you can expect about a 10 per-

cent failure rate. This report looks okay,

on the average.

on the ball alert, effective, and efficient.

(Slang.) Sally has a lot on the ball.

You’ve got to be on the ball if you want to

succeed in this business.

on the beam exactly right; thinking along

the correct lines. (Informal.) That’s the

right idea. Now you’re on the beam!

She’s not on the beam yet. Explain it to her

again.

on the bench 1. directing a session of

court. (Also literal. Said of a judge.) I

have to go to court tomorrow. Who’s on the

bench? It doesn’t matter who’s on the

bench. You’ll get a fair hearing. 2. sitting,

waiting for a chance to play in a game.

(In sports, such as basketball, football,

soccer, etc.) Bill is on the bench now. I

hope he gets to play. John played dur-

ing the first quarter, but now he’s on the

bench.

on the bias Go to on a bias.

on the blink Go to on the fritz.

on the block 1. on a city block.

the biggest kid on the block. We had a

party on the block last weekend. 2. on sale

at auction; on the auction block. We

couldn’t afford to keep up the house, so it

was put on the block to pay the taxes.

That’s the finest painting I’ve ever seen on

the block.

on the borderline in an uncertain position

between two statuses; undecided. (Also

literal.) Bill was on the borderline be-

tween an A and a B in biology. Jane was

on the borderline of joining the navy.

on the button exactly right; in exactly the

right place; at exactly the right time.

(Also literal. Informal.) That’s it! You’re

right on the button. He got here at one

o’clock on the button.

on the defensive overly ready to defend

oneself. John goes on the defensive when

his athletic ability is questioned.

child was on the defensive when ques-

tioned about cheating.

on the dot at exactly the right time. (Also

literal. Informal. Compare this with at

sometime sharp.) I’ll be there at noon on

the dot. I expect to see you here at eight

o’clock on the dot.

on the double very fast. (Informal.)

Okay, you guys. Get over here on the dou-

ble. Get yourself into this house on the

double.

on the eve of something just before some-

thing, possibly the evening before some-

thing. John decided to leave school on

the eve of his graduation. The team held

a party on the eve of the tournament.

on the face of it superficially; from the

way it looks. This looks like a serious

problem on the face of it. It probably is mi-

nor, however. On the face of it, it seems

worthless.

on the fence (about something) undecided.

(Informal.) Ann is on the fence about

going to Mexico. I wouldn’t be on the

fence. I’d love to go.

on the fritz and on the blink not operat-

ing; not operating correctly. (Slang.)

This vacuum cleaner is on the fritz. Let’s

get it fixed. How long has it been on the

blink?

on the go busy; moving about busily. (In-

formal.) I’m usually on the go all day

long. I hate being on the go all the time.

on the heels of something soon after some-

thing. (Informal.) There was a rain-

storm on the heels of the windstorm.

The team held a victory celebration on the

heels of their winning season.

on the horns of a dilemma bothered by

having to decide between two things,

people, etc. Mary found herself on the

horns of a dilemma. She didn’t know

which to choose. I make up my mind

easily. I’m not on the horns of a dilemma

very often.

on the hour at each hour on the hour

mark. I have to take this medicine every

hour on the hour. I expect to see you

there on the hour, not one minute before

and not one minute after.

on the house [something that is] given

away free by a merchant. (Also literal. In-

formal.) “Here,” said the waiter, “have

a cup of coffee on the house.” I went to

a restaurant last night. I was the 10,000th

customer, so my dinner was on the house.

on the job working; doing what one is ex-

pected to do. I’m always on the job

when I should be. I can depend on my

furnace to be on the job day and night.

on the level Go to (strictly) on the level.

on the lookout (for someone or something)

watchful for someone or something.

Be on the lookout for signs of a storm.

I’m on the lookout for John, who is due

here any minute. Okay, you remain on

the lookout for another hour.

on the loose running around free. (Infor-

mal.) Look out! There is a bear on the

loose from the zoo. Most kids enjoy be-

ing on the loose when they go to college.

on the make 1. building or developing; be-

ing made. (Informal.) There is a com-

pany that is on the make. That was a

very good sales strategy, John. You’re a

real-estate agent on the make. 2. making

sexual advances; seeking sexual activities.

(Slang.) It seems like Bill is always on

the make. He should meet Sally, who is

also on the make.

on the market available for sale; offered

for sale. (Compare this with on the

I had to put my car on the mar-

ket. This is the finest home computer on

the market.

on the mend getting well; healing.

cold was terrible, but I’m on the mend

now. What you need is some hot chicken

soup. Then you’ll really be on the mend.

on the money and on the nose in exactly

the right place; in exactly the right

amount (of money). (Also literal. Slang.)

That’s a good answer, Bob. You’re right

on the money. This project is going to be

finished right on the nose.

on the move moving; happening busily.

What a busy day. Things are really on the

move at the store. When all the buffalo

were on the move across the plains, it must

have been very exciting.

on the nose Go to on the money.

on the off-chance because of a slight pos-

sibility that something may happen,

might be the case; just in case. I went

to the theater on the off-chance that there

were tickets for the show left. We didn’t

think we would get into the stadium, but

we went anyway on the off-chance.

on (the) one hand from one point of view;

as one side (of an issue). On one hand,

I really ought to support my team. On the

other hand, I don’t have to time to attend

all the games. On the one hand, I need

Ann’s help. On the other hand, she and I

don’t get along very well.

on the other hand from another point of

view; as the other side (of an issue). See

the examples for on (the) one hand.

on the point of doing something and at the

point of doing something ready to start do-

ing something. (Compare this with on

the verge (of doing something).) I was just

on the point of going out the door. We

were almost at the point of buying a new car

on the QT quietly; secretly. (Informal.)

The company president was making pay-

ments to his wife on the QT. The mayor

accepted a bribe on the QT.

on the right track following the right set

of assumptions. (Refers to following the

right trail.) Tom is on the right track

and will solve the mystery soon. You are

on the right track to find the answer.

on the rocks 1. in a state of destruction

or wreckage. (Refers to a ship stranded

on the rocks.) I hear their marriage is

on the rocks.  The company is on the

rocks and may not survive. 2. [poured]

onto ice cubes in a glass. Joan prefers

her drinks on the rocks. Could I have a

scotch on the rocks?

on the spot 1. at exactly the right place;

at exactly the right time. (Also literal. In-

formal. See also Johnny-on-the-spot.)

It’s noon, and I’m glad you’re all here on

the spot. Now we can begin. I expect you

to be on the spot when and where trouble

arises. 2. in trouble; in a difficult situa-

tion. (Informal. Compare this with on

the hot seat.) There is a problem in the

department I manage, and I’m really on

the spot. I hate to be on the spot when

it’s not my fault.

on the spur of the moment suddenly;

spontaneously. We decided to go on the

spur of the moment. I had to leave town

on the spur of the moment.

on the strength of something because of the

support of something, such as a promise

or evidence; due to something. On the

strength of your comment, I decided to give

John another chance. On the strength

of my testimony, my case was dismissed.

on the take accepting bribes. (Slang.)

don’t believe that the mayor is on the take.

The county clerk has been on the take

for years.

on the tip of one’s tongue about to be said;

almost remembered. (Also literal. See

also have something on the tip of one’s

tongue.) It’s right on the tip of my

tongue. I’ll think of it in a second. The

answer was on the tip of my tongue, but

Ann said it first.

on the track of someone or something Go to

on the trail of someone or something.

on the trail of someone or something and on

the track of someone or something seeking

someone or something; about to find

someone or something. I’m on the trail

of a new can opener that is supposed to be

easier to use. I spent all morning on the

track of the new secretary, who got lost on

the way to work.

on the up-and-up Go to (strictly) on the

up-and-up.

on the verge (of doing something) just about

to do something, usually something im-

portant. (Compare this with on the point

of doing something .) I’m on the verge of

opening a shoe store. Tom was on the

verge of quitting school when he became

interested in physics. I haven’t done it

yet, but I’m on the verge.

on the wagon not drinking alcohol; no

longer drinking alcohol. (Also literal.)

None for me, thanks. I’m on the wagon.

Look at John. I don’t think he’s on the

wagon anymore.

on the warpath angry and upset (at some-

one). (Informal.) Oh, oh. Here comes

Mrs. Smith. She’s on the warpath again.

Why are you always on the warpath?

What’s wrong?

on the way (somewhere) and on someone’s

way (somewhere) along the route to some-

where. She’s now on the way to San

Francisco. Yes, she’s on the way.

on the way to doing something and on one’s

way to doing something in the process of

doing something. You’re on the way to

becoming a very good carpenter. She’s

on her way to becoming a first-class

sculptor.

on the whole generally; considering every-

thing. On the whole, this was a very

good day. Your work—on the whole—

is quite good.

on the wing while flying; while in flight.

(Refers to birds, fowl, etc., not people or

planes.) There is nothing as pretty as a

bird on the wing. The hawk caught the

sparrow on the wing.

on the wrong track going the wrong way;

following the wrong set of assumptions.

(Also literal.) You’ll never get the right

answer. You’re on the wrong track. They

won’t get it figured out because they are on

the wrong track.

on thin ice in a risky situation. (Also lit-

eral.) If you try that you’ll really be on

thin ice. That’s too risky. If you don’t

want to find yourself on thin ice, you must

be sure of your facts.

on time at the scheduled time; at the pre-

dicted time. The plane landed right on

time. We’ll have to hurry to get there

on time.

on tiptoe standing or walking on the front

part of the feet (the balls of the feet) with

no weight put on the heels. (This is done

to gain height or to walk quietly.) I had

to stand on tiptoe in order to see over the

fence. I came in late and walked on tip-

toe so I wouldn’t wake anybody up.

on top victorious over something; famous

or notorious for something. (Also literal.)

I have to study day and night to keep on

top. Bill is on top in his field.

on top of something 1. up-to-date on some-

thing; knowing about the current state of

something. (Informal.) Ask Mary. She’s

on top of this issue. This issue is con-

stantly changing. She has to pay attention

to it to stay on top of things. 2. in addition

to something. Jane told Bill he was dull.

On top of that, she said he was unfriendly.

On top of being dull, he’s unfriendly.

on top of the world Go to (feel) on top

of the world; (sitting) on top of the world.

on trial being tried in court. My sister is

on trial today, so I have to go to court.

They placed the suspected thief on trial.

on vacation away, taking a vacation; on

holiday. Where are you going on vaca-

tion this year? I’ll be away on vacation

for three weeks.

on view visible; on public display.

painting will be on view at the museum.

I’ll pull the shades so that we won’t be on

view.