P

pack a punch Go to pack a wallop.

pack a wallop and pack a punch to pro-

vide a burst of energy, power, or excite-

ment. (Informal.) Wow, this spicy food

really packs a wallop. I put a special

kind of gasoline in my car because I

thought it would pack a punch. It didn’t.

a pack of lies a series of lies. The thief

told a pack of lies to cover up the crime.

John listened to Bill’s pack of lies about

the fight and became very angry.

pack them in to draw a lot of people. (In-

formal.) It was a good night at the the-

ater. The play really packed them in.

The circus manager knew he could pack

them in if he advertised the lion tamer.

pad the bill to put unnecessary items on

a bill to make the total cost higher. (In-

formal.) The plumber had padded the

bill with things we didn’t need. I was

falsely accused of padding the bill.

paddle one’s own canoe to do (something)

by oneself. (Also literal.) I’ve been left

to paddle my own canoe too many times.

Sally isn’t with us. She’s off paddling her

own canoe.

a pain in the neck a bother; an annoyance.

(Slang.) This assignment is a pain in the

neck. Your little brother is a pain in the

neck.

paint the town red to have a wild cele-

bration during a night on the town.

Let’s all go out and paint the town red!

Oh, do I feel awful. I was out all last night,

painting the town red.

pal around (with someone) to be friends

with someone; to be the companion of

someone. Bill likes to pal around with

Mary, but it’s nothing serious. Ann and

Jane still like to pal around.

pale around the gills and blue around

the gills; green around the gills look-

ing sick. (Informal. The around can be re-

placed with about.) John is looking a lit-

tle pale around the gills. What’s wrong?

Oh, I feel a little green about the gills.

pale as death Go to (as) pale as death.

palm something off (on someone) to try to get

something accepted as good. The crook

palmed a fake $50 bill off on me. Bob

palmed his research off as original work,

but we all knew he plagiarized it.

pan out Go to turn out (all right).

paper over the cracks (in something) to try

to hide faults or difficulties, often in a

hasty or not very successful way. (Also

literal when applying wallpaper.) The

politician tried to paper over the cracks in

his party’s economic policy. Tom tried to

paper over the cracks in his relationship

with the boss, but it was not possible.

She didn’t explain it. She just papered over

the cracks.

par for the course typical; about what one

could expect. (This refers to golf courses,

not school courses.) So he went off and

left you? Well that’s about par for the

course. He’s no friend. I worked for days

on this project, but it was rejected. That’s

par for the course around here.

a paradise (on earth) a place on earth that

is as lovely as paradise. The retirement

home was simply a paradise on earth.

The beach where we went for our vacation

was a paradise.

Pardon my French. Excuse me for swear-

ing or saying naughty words. (Informal.)

Pardon my French, but get that damn

cat out of here! He slipped and fell on

his butt, pardon my French.

part and parcel (of something) part of

something; an important part of some-

thing. (See also bag and baggage.) This

point is part and parcel of my whole ar-

gument. Get every part and parcel of

this machine out of my living room.

Come on! Move out—part and parcel!

part company (with someone) to leave

someone; to depart from someone.

Tom finally parted company with his

brother. They parted company, and Tom

got in his car and drove away.

part someone’s hair to come very close to

someone. (Also literal. Informal. Usually

an exaggeration.) That plane f lew so

low that it nearly parted my hair. He

punched at me and missed. He only parted

my hair.

partake of something to take something; to

eat or drink something. (Formal.) I

don’t usually partake of rich foods, but in

this instance I’ll make an exception.

Good afternoon, Judge Smith, would you

care to partake of some wine?

partial to someone or something favoring or

preferring someone or something. The

boys think their teacher is partial to female

students.  I am partial to vanilla ice

cream.

the particulars of something specific details

about something. My boss stressed the

important particulars of the project.

What are the particulars of your request?

the party line the official ideas and atti-

tudes that are adopted by the leaders of

a particular group and that the other

members are expected to accept. (From

political party.) Tom has left the club.

He refused to follow the party line.

Many politicians agree with the party line

without thinking.

The party ’s over. A happy or fortunate

time has come to an end. (Also literal. In-

formal.) We go back to school tomor-

row. The party’s over. The staff hardly

worked at all under the old management,

but they’ll find the party’s over now.

pass as someone or something and pass for

someone or something to succeed in being ac-

cepted as someone or something. The

spy was able to pass as a regular citizen.

You could pass for your twin brother.

The thief was arrested when he tried to

pass as a priest.

pass away and pass on to die. (A eu-

phemism.) My aunt passed away last

month. When I pass away, I want to

have lots of f lowers and a big funeral.

When I pass on, I won’t care about the

funeral.

pass for someone or something Go to pass as

someone or something

pass muster to measure up to the required

standards. (Folksy.) I tried, but my ef-

forts didn’t pass muster.  If you don’t

wear a suit, you won’t pass muster at that

fancy restaurant. They won’t let you in.

pass on Go to pass away.

pass out to faint; to lose consciousness.

Oh, look! Tom has passed out. When he

got the news, he passed out.

pass the buck to pass the blame (to some-

one else); to give the responsibility (to

someone else). (Informal.) Don’t try to

pass the buck! It’s your fault, and every-

body knows it. Some people try to pass

the buck whenever they can.

pass the hat to attempt to collect money

for some (charitable) project. (Refers to

a hat that is sometimes used to hold the

collected cash.) Bob is passing the hat

to collect money to buy f lowers for Ann.

He’s always passing the hat for

something.

pass the time to fill up time (by doing

something). I never know how to pass

the time when I’m on vacation. What

do you do to pass the time?

pass the time of day (with someone) to

chat or talk informally with someone.

I saw Mr. Brown in town yesterday. I

stopped and passed the time of day with

him. No, we didn’t have a serious talk;

we just passed the time of day.

pass through someone’s mind and cross

someone’s mind to come to mind briefly;

for an idea to occur to someone. (Com-

pare this with come to mind.) Let me

tell you what just crossed my mind. As

you were speaking, something passed

through my mind that I’d like to discuss.

passport to something something that allows

something good to happen. John’s new

girlfriend is his passport to happiness.

Anne’s new job is a passport to financial

security.

a past master at something someone proven

to be extremely good or skillful at an ac-

tivity. (Preceded by be, become, seem like,

or act like.) Mary is a past master at

cooking omelets. Pam is a past master

at the art of complaining.

past someone’s or something’s prime beyond

the most useful or productive period.

Joan was a wonderful singer, but she’s past

her prime now. This old car’s past its

prime. I’ll need to get a new one.

pat someone on the back and give someone

a pat on the back to congratulate some-

one; to encourage someone. (Also literal

when the recipient is actually patted on

the back.) We patted Ann on the back

for a good performance. When people do

a good job, you should give them a pat on

the back.

patch someone or something up 1. [with some-

one] to doctor someone; to dress some-

one’s wounds. (Informal.) They

patched John up in the emergency room. T

I patched up Ann’s cuts with bandages and

sent her home. 2. [with something] to

(figuratively) repair the damage done by

an argument or disagreement. (Also lit-

eral.) Mr. and Mrs. Smith are trying to

patch things up. T We patched up our ar-

gument, then kissed and made up.

the path of least resistance to do the eas-

iest thing; to take the easiest route. (Of-

ten with follow the or take the. Compare

this with line of least resistance.) John

will follow the path of least resistance.

I like challenges. I won’t usually take the

path of least resistance.

patient as Job Go to (as) patient as Job.

pave the way (for someone or something) to

prepare (someone or something) for

someone or something. The public

doesn’t understand the metric system. We

need to pave the way for its introduction.

They are paving the way in the schools.

pay a call on someone to visit someone.

Grandmother always paid us a call on

Sundays. Let’s pay a call on Mary at the

hospital.

pay a king’s ransom (for something) to pay

a great deal for something. (To pay an

amount as large as one might have to pay

to get back a king held for ransom.) I

would like to buy a nice watch, but I don’t

want to pay a king’s ransom for it. It’s

a lovely house. I had to pay a king’s ran-

som, but it is worth it.

pay an arm and a leg (for something) and

pay through the nose (for something) to

pay too much [money] for something.

(Informal.) I hate to have to pay an

arm and a leg for a tank of gas. If you

shop around, you won’t have to pay an

arm and a leg.  Why should you pay

through the nose?

pay as you go 1. to pay costs as they oc-

cur; to pay for goods as they are bought

(rather than charging them). (Literal

when it means to pay for goods or ser-

vices as you leave.) You ought to pay

as you go. Then you won’t be in debt. If

you pay as you go, you’ll never spend too

much money. 2. paying costs as they oc-

cur. (Usually pay-as-you-go.) There

is no charging allowed here. This store is

strictly pay-as-you-go. I can’t buy this

then. I didn’t know your policy was pay-

as-you-go.

pay attention (to someone or something) to be

attentive to someone or something; to

give one’s attention or concentration to

someone or something. Pay attention

to me! I’m paying attention!

pay a visit to someone or something Go to pay

(someone or something) a visit.

pay for something 1. to pay out money for

something. Did you pay for the maga-

zine, or shall I? No, I’ll pay for it. 2. to

be punished for something. The crim-

inal will pay for his crimes. I don’t like

what you did to me, and I’m going to see

that you pay for it.

pay homage to someone to praise, respect,

and honor someone. My parents taught

me to pay homage to my elders. The

widower paid homage to his dead wife by

placing f lowers on her grave.

pay in advance to pay (for something) be-

fore it is received or delivered. I want

to make a special order. Will I have to pay

in advance? Yes, please pay in advance.

pay lip service (to something) to express

loyalty, respect, or support for something

insincerely. You don’t really care about

politics. You’re just paying lip service to the

candidate. Don’t sit here and pay lip ser-

vice. Get busy!

pay one’s debt (to society) to serve a sen-

tence for a crime, usually in prison.

The judge said that Mr. Simpson had to

pay his debt to society. Mr. Brown paid

his debt in state prison.

pay one’s dues to have earned one’s right to

something through hard work or suffer-

ing. (Literal when referring to paying the

fees required to belong to an organiza-

tion. Informal.) He worked hard to get

to where he is today. He paid his dues and

did what he was told. I have every right

to be here. I paid my dues!

pay one’s last respects to attend the wake

or funeral of someone; to approach the

coffin containing someone in a final act

of respect. I went to Bill’s wake to pay

my last respects. Everyone in town came

to the mayor’s funeral to pay their last

respects.

pay someone a back-handed compliment

and pay someone a left-handed com-

pliment to give someone a false compli-

ment that is really an insult. John said

that he had never seen me looking better.

I think he was paying me a left-handed

compliment. I’d prefer that someone in-

sulted me directly. I hate it when someone

pays me a back-handed compliment—un-

less it’s a joke.

pay someone a compliment to compliment

someone. Sally thanked me for paying

her a compliment. When Tom did his

job well, I paid him a compliment.

pay someone a left-handed compliment

Go to pay someone a back-handed

compliment.

pay (someone or something) a visit and pay

a visit to someone or something to visit

someone or something. Bill paid a visit

to his aunt in Seattle. Please pay a visit

to our house whenever you are in town.

pay someone or something off 1. [with some-

one] to pay someone a bribe (for a favor

already done). (Compare this with buy

someone off.) The lawyer was put in

prison for paying the judge off. The judge

was imprisoned also. T The lawyer paid

off the judge for deciding the case in the

lawyer’s favor. 2. to pay a debt; to pay a

debtor; to pay the final payment for

something bought on credit. This

month I’ll pay the car off. T Did you pay

off the plumber yet?

pay someone respect to honor someone; to

have and show respect for someone.

You really should pay your boss more re-

spect. We have to pay our parents a lot

of respect.

pay someone’s (own) way to pay the costs

(of something) for someone. I wanted

to go to Florida this spring, but my parents

say I have to pay my own way. My aunt

is going to pay my way to Florida—only

if I take her with me!

pay the piper to face the results of one’s

actions; to receive punishment for some-

thing. (Also literal.) You can put off

paying your debts only so long. Eventually

you’ll have to pay the piper. You can’t

get away with that forever. You’ll have to

pay the piper someday.

pay through the nose (for something) Go

to pay an arm and a leg (for something).

pay to do something to be beneficial to do

something; to be profitable. It doesn’t

pay to drive downtown when you can take

the train. It pays to take an umbrella

with you if it’s supposed to rain.

pay up Pay me now! (Slang.) You owe me

$200. Come on, pay up! If you don’t pay

up, I’ll take you to court.

peg away (at something) Go to plug away (at

something).

peg someone as something and have someone

pegged as something to think of some-

one in a certain way. Susan pegged the

new employee as a lazy worker. I had

you pegged as an angry rebel before I got

to know you.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Money saved through thrift is the same

as money earned by employment. (Some-

times used to explain stinginess.) “I

didn’t want to pay that much for the book,”

said Mary. “After all, a penny saved is a

penny earned.” Bob put his money in a

new bank that pays more interest than his

old bank, saying, “A penny saved is a

penny earned.”

penny-wise and pound-foolish <an ex-

pression meaning that it is foolish to lose

a lot of money to save a little money.>

(This is the British pound sterling.)

Sally shops very carefully to save a few

cents on food, then charges the food to a

charge card that costs a lot in annual in-

terest. That’s being penny-wise and

pound-foolish. John drives thirty miles

to buy gas for three cents a gallon less than

it costs here. He’s really penny-wise and

pound-foolish.

pep someone or something up to make some-

one or something more sprightly and ac-

tive. I need a bottle of pop to pep me up.

The third act of this play needs some-

thing to pep it up. How about a few good

jokes?

per head Go to a head.

Perish the thought. Do not even consider

thinking of something. (Formal.) If

you should become ill—perish the

thought—I’d take care of you.  I’m

afraid that we need a new car. Perish the

thought.

persist in doing something to continue, with

determination, to do something. John

persists in thinking that he’s always right.

Tom persists in demanding that I agree

to his terms.

persist with something to continue the state

of something; to extend an action or

state. Please do not persist with your de-

mands that I agree to your terms. If you

persist with this intrusion, I’m going to call

the police.

perspective on something a way of looking

at a situation and determining what is

important. The jury did not have a

good perspective on the crime since some

of the evidence had to be ignored.

Studying history gives one perspective on

the present.

[pet hate] Go to someone’s pet hate.

[pet peeve] Go to someone’s pet peeve.

peter out [for something] to die or dwin-

dle away; [for something] to become ex-

hausted gradually. (Informal.) When

the fire petered out, I went to bed. My

money finally petered out, and I had to

come home.

phony as a three-dollar bill Go to (as)

phony as a three-dollar bill.

pick a fight with someone Go to pick a quar-

rel (with someone).

pick a lock to open a lock without a key;

to open a lock without using a key. The

robber picked the lock with a nail file.

The thief picked the lock on the safe and

stole the money.

pick and choose to choose very carefully

from a number of possibilities; to be se-

lective. . You must take what you are

given. You cannot pick and choose. Meg

is so beautiful. She can pick and choose

from a whole range of boyfriends.

pick a quarrel (with someone) and pick a

fight with someone to start an argument

or fight with someone. Are you trying

to pick a quarrel with me?  Max in-

tended to pick a fight with Lefty.

pick at someone or something 1. to be very crit-

ical of someone or something; to pick on

someone or something. (Informal.) Why

are you always picking at me? You al-

ways seem to be picking at your car. 2.

[with something] to eat only little bits of

something. You’re only picking at your

food. Don’t you feel well? Billy is only

picking at his peas, and he usually eats all

of them.

pick holes in something and pick something

to pieces to criticize something severely;

to find all the flaws or fallacies in an ar-

gument. (Also literal.) The lawyer

picked holes in the witness’s story. They

will pick holes in your argument. She

picked my story to pieces.

the pick of something the best of the group.

This playful puppy is the pick of the

whole lot. These potatoes are the pick

of the crop.

pick one’s way through something and

make one’s way through something to

work slowly and meticulously through

written material. (Literal when referring

to moving carefully through a route filled

with obstacles.) My teacher said he

couldn’t even pick his way through my re-

port. It was just too confusing. I spent

an hour picking my way through the state

tax forms.

pick on somebody your own size Go to

pick on someone your own size.

pick on someone or something to criticize

someone or something; to abuse some-

one or something. Stop picking on me!

Why are you always picking on your

dog? Don’t pick on our house. It’s old,

but we love it.

pick on someone your own size and

pick on somebody your own size to

abuse someone who is big enough to

fight back. Go pick on somebody your

own size! Max should learn to pick on

someone his own size.

pick someone or something off to kill someone

or something with a carefully aimed gun-

shot. (Also literal.) The hunter picked

the deer off with great skill. T The killer

tried to pick off the police officer.

pick someone or something up 1. [with some-

one] to go to a place in a car, bus, etc.,

and take on a person as a passenger.

Please come to my office and pick me up

at noon. T I have to pick up Billy at school.

2. [with someone] to stop one’s car, bus,

etc., and offer someone a ride. Don’t

ever pick a stranger up when you’re out

driving! T I picked up a hitchhiker today,

and we had a nice chat. 3. [with someone]

to attempt to become acquainted with

someone for romantic or sexual pur-

poses. (Informal.) Who are you any-

way? Are you trying to pick me up? T No,

I never picked up anybody in my life! 4.

[with someone] [for the police] to find

and bring someone to the police station

for questioning or arrest. I tried to pick

her up, but she heard me coming and got

away. T Sergeant Jones, go pick up Sally

Franklin and bring her in to be questioned

about the jewel robbery. 5. [with some-

thing] to tidy up or clean up a room or

some other place. Let’s pick this room

up in a hurry. T I want you to pick up the

entire house. 6. [with something] to find,

purchase, or acquire something. Where

did you pick that up? T I picked up this

tool at the hardware store. 7. [with some-

thing] to learn something. I pick lan-

guages up easily. T I picked up a lot of

knowledge about music from my brother.

T I picked up an interesting melody from

a movie. 8. [with something] to cause

something to go faster, especially music.

All right, let’s pick this piece up and get

it moving faster. Okay, get moving. Pick

it up! 9. [with something] to resume

something. Pick it up right where you

stopped. T I’ll have to pick up my work

where I left off. 10. [with something] to

receive radio signals; to bring something

into view. I can just pick it up with a

powerful telescope. T I can hardly pick up

a signal. T We can pick up a pretty good

television picture where we live. 11. [with

something] to find a trail or route. T The

dogs finally picked up the scent. T You

should pick up Highway 80 in a few miles.

pick someone’s brain(s) to talk with some-

one to find out information about some-

thing. I spent the afternoon with

Donna, picking her brain for ideas to use

in our celebration. Do you mind if I pick

your brains? I need some fresh ideas.

pick something over to sort through some-

thing; to rummage through something.

They picked all the records over. T The

shoppers quickly picked over the sale

merchandise.

pick something to pieces Go to pick holes

in something.

pick up the check Go to pick up the tab.

pick up the tab and pick up the check

to intercept and pay the charges for a

meal, entertainment, or other goods or

services. (Meaning that the one who

picks up the check pays the charges listed

on it. Informal.) Whenever we go out,

my father picks up the tab. Order what-

ever you want. The company is picking up

the check.

picked over rejected; worn, dirty, or un-

desirable. This merchandise looks worn

and picked over. I don’t want any of it.

Everything in the store is picked over by the

end of the month.