as

as a duck takes to water easily and nat-

urally. (Informal.) She took to singing

just as a duck takes to water. The baby

adapted to bottle-feeding as a duck takes

to water.

as a (general) rule usually; almost always.

He can be found in his office as a gen-

eral rule. As a general rule, Jane plays

golf on Wednesdays. As a rule, things

tend to get less busy after supper time.

as a last resort as the last choice; if every-

thing else fails. Call the doctor at home

only as a last resort. As a last resort, she

will perform surgery.

as alike as (two) peas in a pod very sim-

ilar. (Compare this with like (two) peas

in a pod.) The twins are as alike as two

peas in a pod. These two books are as

alike as peas in a pod.

as a matter of course normally; as a nor-

mal procedure. The nurse takes your

temperature as a matter of course. You

are expected to make your own bed as a

matter of course.

as a matter of fact actually; in addition to

what has been said; in reference to what

has been said. (See also matter-of-fact.)

As a matter of fact, John came into the

room while you were talking about him.

I’m not a poor worker. As a matter of fact,

I’m very efficient.

as an aside as a comment; as a comment

that is not supposed to be heard by every-

one. At the wedding, Tom said as an

aside, “The bride doesn’t look well.” At

the ballet, Billy said as an aside to his

mother, “I hope the dancers fall off the

stage!”

as a result of something because of some-

thing that has happened. As a result of

the accident, Tom couldn’t walk for six

months. We couldn’t afford to borrow

money for a house as a result of the rise

in interest rates.

as a token (of something) symbolic of some-

thing, especially of gratitude; as a me-

mento of something. He gave me a rose

as a token of the time we spent together.

Here, take this $100 as a token of my ap-

preciation. I can’t thank you enough.

Please accept this money as a token.

(as) awkward as a cow on a crutch and

(as) awkward as a cow on roller

skates very awkward. When Lulu was

pregnant, she was awkward as a cow on a

crutch. Tom will never be a gymnast.

He’s as awkward as a cow on roller skates!

(as) awkward as a cow on roller skates

Go to (as) awkward as a cow on a crutch.

(as) bad as all that as bad as reported; as

bad as it seems. (Usually expressed in the

negative.) Come on! Nothing could be

as bad as all that. Stop crying. It can’t

be as bad as all that.

(as) bald as a baby’s backside Go to (as)

bald as a coot.

(as) bald as a coot and (as) bald as a

baby ’s backside completely bald. If

Tom’s hair keeps receding like that, he’ll

be bald as a coot by the time he’s thirty.

FRED: Now, I’ll admit my hair is thin-

ning a little on the top, but— JANE: Thin-

ning? You’re not thinning, you’re as bald as

a baby’s backside!

(as) baleful as death promising evil; very

threatening. The wind’s moan was as

baleful as death. His voice sounded bale-

ful as death.

(as) big as all outdoors very big, usually

referring to a space of some kind.

(Folksy.) You should see Bob’s living

room. It’s as big as all outdoors. The new

movie theater is as big as all outdoors.

(as) big as life and (as) big as life and

twice as ugly an exaggerated way of say-

ing that a person or a thing appeared in

a particular place. (Folksy. The second

phrase is slang.) The little child just

stood there as big as life and laughed very

hard. I opened the door, and there was

Tom as big as life. I came home and

found this cat in my chair, as big as life and

twice as ugly.

(as) big as life and twice as ugly Go to

(as) big as life.

(as) black as a skillet black. I don’t

want to go down to the cellar. It’s as black

as a skillet down there.  The bruise

turned black as a skillet.

(as) black as a sweep extremely dirty.

(The sweep is a chimney sweep.) After

playing in the mud all morning, the chil-

dren were as black as sweeps. When Jane

came in from working on her car, Alan told

her, “Wash before you come to the dinner

table. You’re black as a sweep!”

(as) black as coal completely black.

Mark’s eyes were as black as coal. The

stranger’s clothes were all black as coal.

(as) black as night very dark and black.

The ink in this pen is black as night.

During the eclipse, my room was as black

as night.

(as) black as one is painted as evil as de-

scribed. (Usually negative.) The land-

lord is not as black as he is painted. He

seems quite generous. Young people are

rarely black as they are painted in the

media.

(as) black as pitch very black; very dark.

The night was as black as pitch. The

rocks seemed black as pitch against the sil-

ver sand.

(as) black as the ace of spades very

black. (Refers to playing cards.) The

car was long and shiny and black as the ace

of spades. Jill’s shoes are black as the ace

of spades.

(as) blind as a bat with imperfect sight;

blind. My grandmother is as blind as a

bat. I’m getting blind as a bat. I can

hardly read this page.

(as) bold as brass very bold; bold to the

point of rudeness. Lisa marched into

the manager’s office, bold as brass, and

demanded her money back. The tiny

kitten, as bold as brass, began eating the

dog’s food right in front of the dog’s nose.

(as) bright as a button intelligent; quick-

minded. (Usually used to describe chil-

dren.) Why, Mrs. Green, your little girl

is as bright as a button. You can’t fool

Mandy. She may be only six years old, but

she’s bright as a button.

(as) bright as a new pin bright and clean;

shiny. After Nora cleaned the house, it

was as bright as a new pin. My kitchen

f loor is bright as a new pin since I started

using this new f loor wax.

(as) busy as a bee Go to (as) busy as a

beaver.

(as) busy as a cat on a hot tin roof full

of lively activity; very busy. I’m afraid

I can’t go to lunch with you on Saturday;

I’ll be busy as a cat on a hot tin roof, be-

tween working overtime and the two par-

ties I have to go to. Jerry’s three part-

time jobs kept him as busy as a cat on a hot

tin roof.

(as) busy as a hibernating bear not busy

at all. TOM: I can’t go with you. I’m

busy. JANE: Yeah. You’re as busy as a

hibernating bear. He lounged on the sofa

all day, busy as a hibernating bear.

(as) busy as a one-armed paperhanger

very busy. My boss keeps me as busy as

a one-armed paperhanger.   I’ve got

plenty of work. I’m busy as a one-armed

paperhanger.

(as) busy as Grand Central Station very

busy; crowded with customers or other

people. (Refers to Grand Central Station

in New York City.) This house is as busy

as Grand Central Station.  When the

tourist season starts, this store is busy as

Grand Central Station.

(as) busy as popcorn on a skillet very

active. She rushed around, as busy as

popcorn on a skillet. Prying into other

folks’ business kept him busy as popcorn on

a skillet.

(as) calm as a toad in the sun very calm

and content. She smiled, as calm as a

toad in the sun. Nothing ruff les him.

He’s calm as a toad in the sun.

(as) clear as a bell very clear and easy to

hear. I fixed the radio, so now all the

stations come in clear as a bell. Through

the wall, I could hear the neighbors talk-

ing, just as clear as a bell.

(as) clear as crystal 1. very clear; trans-

parent. The stream was as clear as crys-

tal. She cleaned the windowpane until

it was clear as crystal. 2. very clear; easy

to understand. The explanation was as

clear as crystal. Her lecture was not clear

as crystal, but at least it was not dull.

(as) clear as mud not understandable. (In-

formal.) Your explanation is as clear as

mud. This doesn’t make sense. It’s clear

as mud.

(as) clear as vodka 1. very clear. The

weather is as clear as vodka. The river

wasn’t exactly as clear as vodka because it

had just rained. 2. very understandable.

Everything he said is as clear as vodka.

I understand what John said, but every-

thing you say is clear as vodka.

(as) close as two coats of paint close and

intimate. When Tom and Mary were

kids, they were as close as two coats of

paint. All their lives, the cousins were

close as two coats of paint.

(as) cocky as the king of spades boast-

ful; overly proud. (Refers to playing

cards.) He’d challenge anyone to a fight.

He’s as cocky as the king of spades. She

strutted in, cocky as the king of spades.

(as) cold as a witch’s caress and (as)

cold as a witch’s tit very cold; chilling.

(Use caution with tit.) The wind was as

cold as a witch’s caress. She gave me a

look as cold as a witch’s caress.

(as) crooked as a barrel of fishhooks

and (as) crooked as a fishhook dis-

honest. Don’t play cards with him. He’s

as crooked as a barrel of fishhooks. Af-

ter Jane cheated a few folks, word got

around that she was crooked as a fishhook.

(as) crooked as a dog’s hind leg dishon-

est. Don’t trust John. He’s as crooked as

a dog’s hind leg. Mary says all politi-

cians are crooked as a dog’s hind leg.

(as) crooked as a fishhook Go to (as)

crooked as a barrel of fishhooks.

(as) dead as a dodo dead; no longer in ex-

istence. (Informal.) Yes, Adolf Hitler is

really dead—as dead as a dodo. That

silly old idea is dead as a dodo.

(as) dead as a doornail dead. (Informal.)

This fish is as dead as a doornail.

John kept twisting the chicken’s neck even

though it was dead as a doornail.

(as) deaf as a post very deaf; profoundly

deaf. He can’t hear a thing you say. He’s

as deaf as a post. Our old dog is deaf as

a post and he can’t see much either.

(as) different as night and day com-

pletely different. Although Bobby and

Billy are twins, they are as different as

night and day. Birds and bats appear

to be similar, but they are different as night

and day.

(as) drunk as a lord and (as) drunk as

a skunk very drunk. He came home

drunk as a lord again. She was as drunk

as a lord by the time they left here.

(as) easy as falling off a log and (as)

easy as rolling off a log very easy.

(Folksy.) Passing that exam was as easy

as falling off a log. Getting out of jail

was easy as rolling off a log.

(as) easy as rolling off a log Go to (as)

easy as falling off a log.

(as) exciting as watching (the) paint dry

very, very dull. This book is about as ex-

citing as watching paint dry. Listening

to you is exciting as watching the paint dry.

(as) far as anyone knows and so far as

anyone knows to the limits of anyone’s

knowledge. (Informal. The anyone can be

replaced with a more specific noun or

pronoun.) As far as anyone knows, this

is the last of the great herds of buffalo.

Far as I know, this is the best one. These

are the only keys to the house so far as any-

one knows.

as far as it goes as much as something

does, covers, or accomplishes. (Usually

said of something that is inadequate.)

Your plan is fine as far as it goes. It doesn’t

seem to take care of everything, though.

As far as it goes, this law is a good one.

It should require stiffer penalties, however.

(as) fat as a pig exceptionally fat;

grotesquely fat. If I don’t stop eating

this cake, I’ll be fat as a pig! You really

ought to go on a diet; you’re as fat as a pig.

(as) fit as a fiddle healthy and physically

fit. Mary is as fit as a fiddle. Tom

used to be fit as a fiddle. Look at him now!

(as) flat as a board very flat. (Also used

to describe someone’s chest or abdomen,

referring to well-developed abdominal

muscles or to small or absent breasts or

pectoral development—in either sex.)

Jane was f lat as a board until she was six-

teen, when she suddenly blossomed. The

terrain in that part of the country is as f lat

as a board.

(as) flat as a pancake very flat. (Infor-

mal.) The punctured tire was as f lat as

a pancake. Bobby squashed the ant f lat

as a pancake.

as for someone or something 1. and as to some-

one or something regarding someone or

something. As for the mayor, he can pay

for his own dinner. As for you, Bobby,

there will be no dessert tonight. As for

this chair, there is nothing to do but throw

it away. As to your idea about building

a new house, forget it. 2. [with someone]

quoting someone; speaking for someone.

As for me, I prefer vegetables to meat.

As for Tom, he refuses to attend the

concert.

(as) free as a bird carefree; completely

free. Jane is always happy and free as a

bird. The convict escaped from jail and

was as free as a bird for two days. In

the summer I feel free as a bird.

(as) free as (the) air completely free;

without obligations or responsibilities.

The day I got out of the army, I felt as free

as air. No, I’m not married. I don’t even

have a girlfriend. I’m free as the air.

(as) fresh as a daisy very fresh; fresh and

alert. The morning dew was as fresh as

a daisy. Sally was fresh as a daisy and

cheerful as could be.

(as) full as a tick and (as) tight as a tick

very full of food or drink. (Informal.

Refers to a tick that has filled itself full

of blood.) Little Billy ate and ate until

he was as tight as a tick. Our cat drank

the cream until he became full as a tick.

(as) funny as a barrel of monkeys and

more fun than a barrel of monkeys

very funny. (Almost the same as as much

fun as a barrel of monkeys.) Todd was

as funny as a barrel of monkeys. The en-

tire evening was funny as a barrel of mon-

keys. The party was more fun than a

barrel of monkeys.

(as) funny as a crutch not funny at all.

Your trick is about as funny as a crutch.

Nobody thought it was funny. The well-

dressed lady slipped and fell in the gutter,

which was funny as a crutch.

(as) gaudy as a butterfly gaudy; color-

ful. Marie looked as gaudy as a butter-

f ly in her new dress. Michael’s scarf is

gaudy as a butterf ly.

(as) gentle as a lamb very gentle. (Used

to describe people.) Don’t be afraid of

Mr. Smith. He may look fierce, but he’s as

gentle as a lamb. Lisa was gentle as a

lamb when dealing with children.

(as) good as done the same as being done;

almost done. (Other past participles can

replace done in this phrase: cooked, dead,

finished, painted, typed, etc.) This job

is as good as done. It’ll just take another

second. Yes, sir, if you hire me to paint

your house, it’s as good as painted.

When I hand my secretary a letter to be

typed, I know that it’s as good as typed

right then and there.

(as) good as gold genuine; authentic.

Mary’s promise is as good as gold. Yes,

this diamond is genuine—good as gold.

as good as one’s word obedient to one’s

promise; dependable in keeping one’s

promises. He was as good as his word.

He lent me the books as promised. She

said she would baby-sit and she was as

good as her word.

(as) graceful as a swan very graceful.

The boat glided out onto the lake as grace-

ful as a swan. Jane is graceful as a swan.

(as) gruff as a bear gruff; curt and unso-

ciable. I hate to ask Erica questions;

she’s always gruff as a bear. I’m always

as gruff as a bear before I’ve had my first

cup of coffee.

(as) happy as a clam happy and content.

(Note the variation in the examples.

Sometimes with additional phrases, such

as in butter sauce or at high tide.) Tom

sat there smiling, as happy as a clam.

There they all sat, eating corn on the cob

and looking happy as clams.

(as) happy as a lark visibly happy and

cheerful. (Note the variation in the ex-

amples.) Sally walked along whistling,

as happy as a lark. The children danced

and sang, happy as larks.

(as) happy as can be very happy. We

are both as happy as can be. Bob was

happy as can be when he won the lottery.

(as) hard as a rock and (as) hard as

stone very hard. This cake is as hard

as a rock! I can’t drive a nail into this

wood. It’s hard as stone.

(as) hard as nails very hard; cold and

cruel. (Refers to the nails that are used

with a hammer.) The old loaf of bread

was dried out and became as hard as nails.

Ann was unpleasant and hard as nails

(as) hard as stone Go to (as) hard as a

rock.

(as) high as a kite and (as) high as the

sky 1. very high. The tree grew as high

as a kite. Our pet bird got outside and

f lew up high as the sky. 2. drunk or

drugged. Bill drank beer until he got as

high as a kite. The thieves were high as

the sky on drugs.

(as) high as the sky Go to (as) high as a

kite.

(as) hoarse as a crow hoarse.

shouting at the team all afternoon, the

coach was as hoarse as a crow. JILL: Has

Bob got a cold? JANE: No, he’s always

hoarse as a crow.

(as) hot as fire very hot; burning hot.

I’m afraid Betsy has a high fever. Her fore-

head is hot as fire. In the summertime,

the concrete sidewalks feel as hot as fire.

(as) hot as hell very hot. (Informal. Use

caution with hell.) It’s as hot as hell out-

side. It must be near 100 degrees. I hate

to get into a car that has been parked in

the sun. It’s hot as hell.

(as) hungry as a bear very hungry. (In-

formal.) I’m as hungry as a bear. I could

eat anything! Whenever I jog, I get hun-

gry as a bear.

(as) hungry as a hunter very hungry.

Is there anything to eat? I’ve been out hoe-

ing my garden all morning, and I’m as

hungry as a hunter! We’d better have a

big meal ready by the time Tommy gets

home; he’s always hungry as a hunter af-

ter soccer practice.

as I expected Go to (just) as I expected.

(as) innocent as a lamb guiltless; naive.

“Hey! You can’t throw me in jail,” cried

the robber. “I’m innocent as a lamb.”

Look at the baby, as innocent as a lamb.

as it were as one might say. (Sometimes

used to qualify an assertion that may not

sound reasonable.) He carefully con-

structed, as it were, a huge sandwich.

The Franklins live in a small, as it were,

exquisite house.

(as) large as life in person; actually, and

sometimes surprisingly, present at a

place. I thought Jack was away, but

there he was as large as life. Jean was not

expected to appear, but she turned up large

as life.

(as) light as a feather of little weight.

Sally dieted until she was as light as a

feather. Of course I can lift the box. It’s

light as a feather.

(as) likely as not probably; with an even

chance either way. He will as likely as

not arrive without warning. Likely as

not, the game will be canceled.

as long as 1. and so long as since; be-

cause. As long as you’re going to the

bakery, please buy some fresh bread. So

long as you’re here, please stay for dinner.

2. and so long as if; only if. You may

have dessert so long as you eat all your veg-

etables. You can go out this evening as

long as you promise to be home by mid-

night. 3. for a specified length of time.

You may stay out as long as you like. I

didn’t go to school as long as Bill did. 4. [in

comparisons] of equal length. Is this

one as long as that one? This snake is

as long as a car!

as luck would have it by good or bad

luck; as it turned out; by chance. As

luck would have it, we had a f lat tire.

As luck would have it, the check came in

the mail today.

(as) mad as a hatter 1. crazy. (From the

crazy character called the Hatter in Lewis

Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonder-

land.) Poor old John is as mad as a hat-

All these screaming children are

driving me mad as a hatter. 2. angry.

(This is a misunderstanding of mad in

the first sense. Folksy. The first as can be

omitted.) You make me so angry! I’m as

mad as a hatter. John can’t control his

temper. He’s always mad as a hatter.

(as) mad as a hornet angry. You make

me so angry. I’m as mad as a hornet.

Jane can get mad as a hornet when some-

body criticizes her.

(as) mad as a wet hen angry. (Folksy.)

Bob was screaming and shouting—as mad

as a wet hen. What you said made Mary

mad as a wet hen.

(as) mad as hell very angry. (Informal.

Use caution with hell.) He made his

wife as mad as hell. Those terrorists

make me mad as hell.

(as) meek as a lamb meek; quiet and

docile. Only an hour after their argu-

ment, Joe went to Elizabeth and, meek as

a lamb, asked her to forgive him. Betsy

terrorizes the other children, but she’s as

meek as a lamb around her elders.

(as) merry as a cricket cheerful. (Old-

fashioned.) Mary is as merry as a

cricket whenever she has company come to

call. George is such a pleasant compan-

ion; he’s usually merry as a cricket.

(as) merry as the day is long very happy

and carefree. The little children are as

merry as the day is long. Only on va-

cation are we merry as the day is long.

as much fun as a barrel of monkeys a

great deal of fun. (Almost the same as

(as) funny as a barrel of monkeys.)

Roger is as much fun as a barrel of mon-

keys. The circus was as much fun as a

barrel of monkeys.

(as) naked as a jaybird naked. “Billy,”

called Mrs. Franklin, “get back in the house

and get some clothes on. You’re as naked as

a jaybird.” Tom had to get naked as a

jaybird for the doctor to examine him.

(as) neat as a pin neat and orderly. Brad

is such a good housekeeper; his apartment

is always as neat as a pin. Joanne cer-

tainly is well-organized. Her desk is neat

as a pin.

as one as if a group were one person. (Es-

pecially with act, move, or speak.) All

the dancers moved as one. The chorus

spoke as one.

(as) pale as a ghost Go to (as) white as

a ghost.

(as) pale as death extremely pale. (The

reference to death gives this phrase omi-

nous connotations.) Rita was as pale as

death when she came out of the doctor’s of-

fice. What’s the matter? You’re pale as

death!

(as) patient as Job very patient. (Refers

to a character in the Bible.) If you want

to teach young children, you must be as pa-

tient as Job. The director who is work-

ing with that temperamental actor must

have the patience of Job.

(as) phony as a three-dollar bill phony;

bogus. This guy’s as phony as a three-

dollar bill. The whole deal stinks. It’s as

phony as a three-dollar bill.

(as) plain as a pikestaff obvious; very

clear. JILL: Why does the Senator al-

ways vote for measures that would help the

tobacco industry? JANE: It’s as plain as a

pikestaff—because there are a lot of to-

bacco growers in his district, and he wants

them to vote for him. FRED: I have a

suspicion that Marcia is upset with me.

ALAN: A suspicion? Come on, Fred, that’s

been plain as a pikestaff for quite some

time!

(as) plain as day 1. very plain and sim-

ple. Although his face was as plain as

day, his smile made him look interesting

and friendly. Our house is plain as day,

but it’s comfortable. 2. clear and under-

standable. The lecture was as plain as

day. No one had to ask questions. His

statement was plain as day.

(as) pleased as punch very pleased; very

pleased with oneself. (Refers to the char-

acter Punch in [English] Punch and Judy

puppet shows. Punch is sometimes capi-

talized.) Wally was as pleased as punch

when he won the prize. She seems

pleased as punch, but she knows she does-

n’t deserve the award.

(as) poor as a church mouse very poor.

My aunt is as poor as a church mouse.

The Browns are poor as church mice.

(as) pretty as a picture very pretty.

Sweet little Mary is as pretty as a picture.

Their new house is pretty as a picture.

(as) proud as a peacock very proud;

haughty. John is so arrogant. He’s as

proud as a peacock. The new father was

proud as a peacock.

(as) pure as the driven snow pure and

virginal. (Often used ironically.) JILL:

Sue must have gone to bed with every man

in town. JANE: And I always thought she

was as pure as the driven snow. Robert

was notoriously promiscuous, but tried to

convince all his girlfriends that he was pure

as the driven snow.

(as) queer as a three-dollar bill very

strange. Today I saw a woman pushing

a lawn mower down the street and singing

to it as she went. I thought she was queer

as a three-dollar bill. JILL: In all the

years I’ve known him, Mike has never had

a suit and he goes barefoot. FRED: That’s

because he’s as queer as a three-dollar bill.

(as) quick as a flash Go to (as) quick as

a wink.

(as) quick as a wink and (as) quick as

a flash very quickly. As quick as a

wink, the thief took the lady’s purse. I’ll

finish this work quick as a wink. The

dog grabbed the meat as quick as a f lash.

The summer days went by quick as a

f lash.

(as) quiet as a mouse very quiet; shy and

silent. (Informal. Often used with chil-

dren.) Don’t yell; whisper. Be as quiet

as a mouse. Mary hardly ever says any-

thing. She’s quiet as a mouse.

(as) quiet as the grave very quiet; silent.

The house is as quiet as the grave when

the children are at school. This town is

quiet as the grave now that the offices have

closed.

(as) red as a cherry bright red. (Some-

what old-fashioned.) When the chil-

dren came in from ice-skating, Clara’s nose

was as red as a cherry. When Lester pro-

posed marriage, Nancy blushed as red as

a cherry.

(as) red as a poppy bright red. (Usually

used to describe someone blushing.)

You must be embarrassed—you’re as red

as a poppy! When her boss praised her

in front of the whole office, Emily turned

red as a poppy.

(as) red as a rose intensely red. Bill

blushed as red as a rose when we teased

him.

(as) red as a ruby deep red. (Often used

to describe a person’s lips.) Linda has

a beautiful face, with big blue eyes and lips

as red as rubies.

(as) red as blood completely red; deep

red. (The reference to blood gives this ex-

pression sinister connotations.) The

magician’s cape was lined with satin as red

as blood. I want to have my car painted

red as blood.

(as) regular as clockwork dependably re-

gular. (Informal.) She comes into this

store every day, as regular as clockwork.

Our tulips come up every year, regular

as clockwork.

(as) sharp as a razor 1. very sharp. The

penknife is sharp as a razor. The carv-

ing knife will have to be as sharp as a ra-

zor to cut through this meat. 2. very

sharp-witted or intelligent. The old

man’s senile, but his wife is as sharp as a

razor. Don’t say too much in front of the

child. She’s as sharp as a razor.

(as) sharp as a tack intellectually bright.

Melissa doesn’t say very much, but she’s

sharp as a tack. Sue can figure things

out from even the slightest hint. She’s as

sharp as a tack.

(as) sick as a dog very sick; sick and vom-

iting. We’ve never been so ill. The whole

family was sick as dogs. Sally was as sick

as a dog and couldn’t go to the party.

(as) silent as the dead and (as) silent as

the grave completely silent. (Has omi-

nous connotations because of the refer-

ence to death. Usually used to promise

someone that you will be silent and

therefore not betray a secret.) I knew

something was wrong as soon as I entered

the classroom; everyone was silent as the

dead. Jessica is as silent as the grave on

the subject of her first marriage. If you

tell me what Katy said about me, I promise

to be as silent as the grave.

(as) silent as the grave Go to (as) silent

as the dead.

(as) slick as a whistle quickly and cleanly;

quickly and skillfully. Tom took a

broom and a mop and cleaned the place up

as slick as a whistle. Slick as a whistle,

Sally pulled off the bandage.

(as) slippery as an eel devious; unde-

pendable. Tom can’t be trusted. He’s as

slippery as an eel. It’s hard to catch Joe

in his office because he’s slippery as an eel.

(as) slow as molasses in January and

slower than molasses in January slow.

Can’t you get dressed any faster? I de-

clare, you’re as slow as molasses in Janu-

ary. The traffic on the way to the con-

cert was slower than molasses in January.

(as) sly as a fox smart and clever.

nephew is as sly as a fox. You have to

be sly as a fox to outwit me.

(as) smooth as glass smooth and shiny.

(Often used to describe calm bodies of

water.) The bay is as smooth as glass,

so we should have a pleasant boat trip.

Eugene polished the f loor until it was

smooth as glass.

(as) smooth as silk very smooth. This

pudding is smooth as silk. Your skin is

as smooth as silk.

(as) snug as a bug in a rug cozy and snug.

(Informal. The kind of thing said when

putting a child to bed.) Let’s pull up the

covers. There you are, Bobby, as snug as a

bug in a rug. What a lovely little house!

I know I’ll be snug as a bug in a rug.

(as) soft as a baby’s bottom very soft and

smooth to the touch. This cloth is as

soft as a baby’s bottom. No, Bob does-

n’t shave yet. His cheeks are soft as a baby’s

bottom.

(as) soft as down soft to the touch.

(Refers to the softness of goose or duck

down.) The kitten’s fur was as soft as

down. The baby’s skin was soft as down.

(as) soft as silk very soft. This fabric is

as soft as silk. Your touch is soft as silk.

(as) soft as velvet very soft to the touch.

The horse’s nose felt as soft as velvet.

This lotion will make your skin soft as

velvet.

(as) solid as a rock very solid; dependable.

Jean has been lifting weights every day,

and her arm muscles are solid as a rock.

This company builds typewriters that

are as solid as a rock.

as soon as at the moment that; at the time

that; when. I fell asleep as soon as I lay

down. John ate dinner as soon as he

came home.

(as) sound as a dollar 1. very secure and

dependable. This investment is as sound

as a dollar. I wouldn’t put my money in

a bank that isn’t sound as a dollar. 2.

sturdy and well-constructed. This

house is as sound as a dollar. The garage

is still sound as a dollar. Why tear it down?

(as) sour as vinegar sour and disagree-

able. The old man greeted us ill-

naturedly, his face as sour as vinegar.

JILL: Is Mary in a bad mood today? JANE:

Yes, sour as vinegar.

(as) steady as a rock very steady and un-

movable; very stable. His hand was

steady as a rock as he pulled the trigger of

the revolver. You must remain as steady

as a rock when you are arguing with your

supervisor.

(as) stiff as a poker rigid and inflexible;

stiff and awkward. (Usually used to de-

scribe people.) This guy’s dead. He’s

cold and as stiff as a poker. John is not

a very good dancer; he’s stiff as a poker.

(as) still as death immobile; completely

still. (The reference to death gives this ex-

pression ominous connotations.)

George sat as still as death all afternoon.

When the storm was over, everything

was suddenly still as death.

(as) strong as a horse [of someone] very

strong. JILL: My car broke down; it’s sit-

ting out on the street. JANE: Get Linda to

help you push it; she’s as strong as a horse.

The athlete was strong as a horse. He

could lift his own weight with just one

hand.

(as) strong as a lion very strong. See if

you can get Melissa to help us move our

furniture. She’s as strong as a lion. The

football player was strong as a lion.

(as) stubborn as a mule very stubborn.

My husband is as stubborn as a mule.

Our cat is stubborn as a mule.

as such the way something is; as someone

or something is. I cannot accept your

manuscript as such. It needs revisions.

You are new here, and as such, I will have

to train you.

(as) sure as death sure; very certain. As

political tension increased, it became more

and more apparent that war was coming,

as sure as death. JILL: Is the company

definitely going to lay people off ? JANE:

Sure as death.

(as) sweet as honey and (as) sweet as

sugar 1. very sweet. These little cakes

are as sweet as honey. This fruit juice is

as sweet as honey. 2. charming; very nice

and friendly. She is as sweet as honey

whenever she talks to me. He seems

sweet as honey, but he is really mean.

(as) sweet as sugar Go to (as) sweet as

honey.

(as) swift as an arrow very fast.

new intercity train is swift as an arrow.

My week of vacation sped by as swift as an

arrow.

(as) swift as thought extremely fast.

Thanks to modern communication de-

vices, news can now travel almost as swift

as thought. You won’t have to wait for

me long; I’ll be there, swift as thought.

as the crow flies straight across the land,

as opposed to distances measured on a

road, river, etc. (Folksy.) It’s twenty

miles to town on the highway, but only ten

miles as the crow flies. Our house is only

a few miles from the lake as the crow f lies.

(as) thick as pea soup [of a liquid or fog]

very thick. (Informal.) This fog is as

thick as pea soup. Wow, this coffee is

strong! It’s thick as pea soup.

(as) thick as thieves very close-knit;

friendly; allied. Mary, Tom, and Sally

are as thick as thieves. They go everywhere

together. Those two families are thick as

thieves.

(as) tight as a drum 1. stretched tight.

Julia stretched the upholstery fabric over

the seat of the chair until it was as tight

as a drum. 2. sealed tight. Now that

I’ve caulked all the windows, the house

should be tight as a drum. 3. very stingy.

was a child she was as ugly as a toad.

The shopkeeper was ugly as a toad, but he

was kind and generous, and everyone loved

(as) ugly as sin very ugly. The new

building is as ugly as sin. The old

woman is ugly as sin, but she dresses

beautifully.

as usual as is the normal or typical situa-

tion. John ordered eggs for breakfast as

usual. He stood quietly as usual, wait-

ing for the bus to come.

(as) warm as toast very warm and cozy.

The baby will be warm as toast in that

blanket. We were as warm as toast by

the side of the fire.

(as) weak as a baby [of someone] phys-

ically very weak. Six weeks of illness left

the athlete as weak as a baby. Hot, hu-

mid weather like this always makes me feel

weak as a baby.

(as) weak as a kitten weak; weak and

sickly. John is as weak as a kitten be-

cause he doesn’t eat well. Oh! Suddenly

I feel weak as a kitten.

He won’t contribute a cent. He’s as tight

as a drum.

as well as 1. in addition to someone or

something. Mary and Jane are coming

to the party, as well as Tom. I’m study-

ing biology and chemistry, as well as his-

tory. 2. to the same high degree as some-

one or something; as much as. Mary’s

parents treated me as well as they treated

her. I did as well as you on the test.

(as) white as a ghost and (as) pale as

a ghost [of a person] very pale. His

face is as white as a ghost. He turned

pale as a ghost when he saw his injured leg.

(as) white as a sheet very pale. Jane

was white as a sheet for weeks after her

illness. Mary went as white as a sheet

when she heard the news.

(as) white as the driven snow very white.

I like my bed sheets to be as white as

the driven snow. We have a new kitten

whose fur is white as the driven snow.

(as) wise as an owl very wise.

father is as wise as an owl. My goal is

to be wise as an owl.

(as) wise as Solomon very wise. (Refers

to a character in the Bible.) If you are

in trouble, get Chris to advise you. He’s as

wise as Solomon. This is a difficult prob-

lem. You’d need to be as wise as Solomon

to be able to solve it.









hysically or emotionally cold.) Ray-

mond took Joanna’s hand. It was cold as

marble. No one ever got a smile out of

Caroline, who was as cold as marble.

(as) comfortable as an old shoe very

comfortable; very comforting and famil-

iar. This old house is fine. It’s as com-

fortable as an old shoe. That’s a great

tradition—comfortable as an old shoe.

(as) common as an old shoe low class;

uncouth. That trashy girl is just as com-

mon as an old shoe. Jim may have

money, but he’s common as an old shoe.

(as) common as dirt vulgar; ill-mannered.

FRED: Did you notice Mr. Jones blow-

ing his nose into the linen napkin at din-

ner? ELLEN: I’m not surprised. Everyone

knows that the Joneses are as common as

dirt. Despite Jane’s efforts to imitate the

manners of the upper class, the town’s

leading families still considered her com-

mon as dirt.

(as) conceited as a barber ’s cat very

conceited; vain. Ever since he won that

award, he’s been as conceited as a barber’s

cat. She’s stuck up all right—conceited

as a barber’s cat.

(as) cool as a cucumber calm and not ag-

itated; with one’s wits about one. (Infor-

mal.) The captain remained as cool as

a cucumber as the passengers boarded the

lifeboats. During the fire the home-

owner was cool as a cucumber.

(as) crazy as a betsy bug loony. TOM:

Susan says she’s really the Queen of En-

gland. BILL: She’s crazy as a betsy bug.

Ever since his wife left him, Joe’s been act-

ing as crazy as a betsy bug.

(as) crazy as a loon very silly; completely

insane. (Folksy.) If you think you can

get away with that, you’re as crazy as a

loon. Poor old John is crazy as a loon.





(as) crooked as a barrel of fishhooks

and (as) crooked as a fishhook dis-

honest. Don’t play cards with him. He’s

as crooked as a barrel of fishhooks. Af-

ter Jane cheated a few folks, word got

around that she was crooked as a fishhook.

(as) crooked as a dog’s hind leg dishon-

est. Don’t trust John. He’s as crooked as

a dog’s hind leg. Mary says all politi-

cians are crooked as a dog’s hind leg.

(as) crooked as a fishhook Go to (as)

crooked as a barrel of fishhooks.

(as) dead as a dodo dead; no longer in ex-

istence. (Informal.) Yes, Adolf Hitler is

really dead—as dead as a dodo. That

silly old idea is dead as a dodo.

(as) dead as a doornail dead. (Informal.)

This fish is as dead as a doornail.

John kept twisting the chicken’s neck even

though it was dead as a doornail.

(as) deaf as a post very deaf; profoundly

deaf. He can’t hear a thing you say. He’s

as deaf as a post. Our old dog is deaf as

a post and he can’t see much either.

(as) different as night and day com-

pletely different. Although Bobby and

Billy are twins, they are as different as

night and day. Birds and bats appear

to be similar, but they are different as night

and day.

(as) drunk as a lord and (as) drunk as

a skunk very drunk. He came home

drunk as a lord again. She was as drunk

as a lord by the time they left here.

(as) drunk as a skunk Go to (as) drunk

as a lord.

all

all and sundry everyone; one and all.

(Folksy.) Cold drinks were served to all

and sundry. All and sundry came to the

village fair.

all around Robin Hood’s barn going

somewhere not by a direct route; going

way out of the way [to get somewhere];

by a long and circuitous route. We had

to go all around Robin Hood’s barn to get

to the little town. She walked all around

Robin Hood’s barn looking for a shop that

sold Finnish glassware.

all at once 1. suddenly. All at once the

chair broke, and Bob fell to the floor. All

at once she tripped on a stone. 2. all at the

same time. The entire group spoke all

at once. They were trying to cook din-

ner, clean house, and paint the closet all

at once.

(all) at sea (about something) confused; lost

and bewildered. Mary is all at sea about

getting married.  When it comes to

higher math, John is totally at sea.

(all) balled up troubled; confused; in a

mess. (Slang.) Look at you! You’re really

all balled up! John is all balled up be-

cause his car was stolen. Of course this

typewriter won’t work. It’s all balled up.

all day long throughout the day; during

the entire day. We waited for you at the

station all day long. I can’t keep smil-

ing all day long.

all dressed up dressed in one’s best

clothes; dressed formally. We’re all

dressed up to go out to dinner. I really

hate to get all dressed up just to go some-

where to eat.

all for something very much in favor of

something. (For is usually emphasized.)

Bill is all for stopping off to get ice

cream.  Mary suggested that they sell

their house. They weren’t all for it, but they

did it anyway.

(all) for the best good in spite of the way

it seems now; better than you think. (Of-

ten said when someone dies after a seri-

ous illness.) I’m very sorry to hear of the

death of your aunt. Perhaps it’s for the best.

I didn’t get into the college I wanted, but

I couldn’t afford it anyway. It’s probably all

for the best.

all gone used up; finished; over with.

Oh, the strawberry jelly is all gone. We

used to have wonderful parties, but those

days are all gone.

all in tired; exhausted; all tuckered out.

I just walked all the way from town. I’m

all in. “What a day!” said Sally. “I’m all

in.”

all in a day ’s work part of what is ex-

pected; typical or normal. (Also literal.)

I don’t particularly like to cook, but

it’s all in a day’s work. Putting up with

rude customers isn’t pleasant, but it’s all

in a day’s work. Cleaning up after other

people is all in a day’s work for a chamber-

maid.

all in good time at some future time; in

good time; soon. (This phrase is used to

encourage people to be patient and wait

quietly.) When will the baby be born?

All in good time. MARY: I’m starved!

When will Bill get here with the pizza?

TOM: All in good time, Mary, all in good

time.

(all) in one breath spoken rapidly, usu-

ally while one is very excited. (Also lit-

eral.) Ann said all in one breath,

“Hurry, quick! The parade is coming!”

Jane was in a play, and she was so excited

that she said her whole speech in one

breath. Tom can say the alphabet all in

one breath.

all in one piece safely; without damage.

(Informal.) Her son come home from

school all in one piece, even though he had

been in a fight. The package was han-

dled carelessly, but the vase inside arrived

all in one piece.

(all) in the family restricted to one’s own

family, as with private or embarrassing

information. (Especially with keep.)

Don’t tell anyone else. Please keep it all in

the family. He only told his brother be-

cause he wanted it to remain in the family.

(all) joking aside and (all) kidding aside

being serious for a moment; in all seri-

ousness. I know I laugh at him but, jok-

ing aside, he’s a very clever scientist. I

know I threatened to leave and go round

the world, but, joking aside, I need a

vacation.

(all) kidding aside Go to (all) joking aside.

all kinds of someone or something a great

number of people or things; a great

amount of something, especially money.

(Informal. Also literal, meaning “all

types.”) There were all kinds of people

there, probably thousands. The Smith

family has all kinds of money.

all manner of someone or something all types

of people or things. We saw all manner

of people there. They came from every

country in the world. They were selling

all manner of things in the country store.

all night long throughout the whole night.

I couldn’t sleep all night long.

was sick all night long.

all of a sudden suddenly. All of a sud-

den, lightning struck the tree we were sit-

ting under. I felt a sharp pain in my side

all of a sudden.

all or nothing 1. everything or nothing at

all. Sally would not accept only part of

the money. She wanted all or nothing.

I can’t bargain over trif les. I will have to

have all or nothing. 2. time to choose to

do something or not to do it. It was

all or nothing. Tim had to jump off the

truck or risk drowning when the truck

went into the water. Jane stood at the

door of the airplane and checked her para-

chute. It was all or nothing now. She had

to jump or be looked upon as a coward.

an all-out effort a very good and thorough

effort. (See also make an all-out effort.)

We need an all-out effort to get this job

done on time. The government began an

all-out effort to reduce the federal budget.

all-out war total war, as opposed to small,

warlike acts or threats of war. We are

now concerned about all-out war in the

Middle East.  Threats of all-out war

caused many tourists to leave the country

immediately.

all over 1. finished; dead. (Compare this

with (all) over with.) Dinner is all over.

I’m sorry you didn’t get any. It’s all over.

He’s dead now. 2. everywhere. (See also

all over the earth.) Oh, I just itch all

over. She’s spreading the rumor all over.

(all) over again starting over completely

again; going through something com-

pletely yet another time. Do I have to

go through this all over again? Please

start over again for those who came in late.

all over but the shouting essentially de-

cided and concluded. (An elaboration of

all over, which means “finished.”) The

last goal was made just as the final whis-

tle sounded. Tom said, “Well, it’s all over

but the shouting.” Tom worked hard in

college and graduated last month. When

he got his diploma, he said, “It’s all over

but the shouting.”

all over the world Go to all over the earth.

all over town 1. everywhere in town.

Our dog got loose and ran all over town.

Jane looked all over town for a dress to

wear to the party. 2. known to everyone.

Now keep this a secret. I don’t want it

all over town. In a short time the secret

was known all over town.

(all) over with finished. (See also all over.)

His problems are all over with now.

After dinner is all over with, we can play

cards.

all right 1. well, good, or okay, but not ex-

cellent. (Informal. This phrase has all the

uses that okay has.) I was a little sick,

but now I’m all right. His work is all

right, but nothing to brag about.  All

right, it’s time to go. 2. beyond a doubt;

as the evidence shows. The dog’s dead

all right. It hasn’t moved at all.  The

train’s late all right. It hasn’t been late in

months. 3. hooray. (An exclamation of

joy or encouragement.) The Bears won!

All right! All right! That’s the way to do

it!

All right for you! That’s it for you!; That’s

the last chance for you! (Juvenile and in-

formal. Usually said by a child who is an-

gry with a playmate.) All right for you,

John. See if I ever play with you again.

All right for you! I’m telling your mother

what you did.

all right with someone agreeable to some-

one. If you want to ruin your life and

marry Tom, it’s all right with me. I’ll see

if it’s all right with my father.

(all) skin and bones Go to nothing but

skin and bones.

all sweetness and light very sweet, inno-

cent, and helpful. (Perhaps insincerely

so.) She was mad at first, but after a

while, she was all sweetness and light.

At the reception, the whole family was all

sweetness and light, but they argued and

fought after the guests left.

all systems (are) go everything is ready.

(Informal. Originally said when prepar-

ing to launch a rocket.) The rocket is

ready to blast off—all systems are go.

TOM: Are you guys ready to start play-

ing? BILL: Sure, Tom, all systems go.

all talk (and no action) talking about do-

ing something, but never actually doing

it. The car needs washing, but Bill is all

talk and no action on this matter. Bill

keeps saying he’ll get a job soon, but he’s

all talk and no action. Bill won’t do it.

He’s just all talk.

All that glitters is not gold. Many attrac-

tive and alluring things have no value.

(Proverb.) The used car looked fine but

didn’t run well at all. “Ah, yes,” thought

Bill, “all that glitters is not gold.” When

Mary was disappointed about losing Tom,

Jane reminded her, “All that glitters is not

gold.”

all the livelong day throughout the whole

day. (Folksy.) They kept at their work

all the livelong day. Bob just sat by the

creek fishing, all the livelong day.

all the rage in current fashion.

dance called the “f loppy disc” is all the

rage. Wearing a rope instead of a belt

is all the rage these days.

all the same (to someone) and just the

same (to someone) of no consequence to

someone; immaterial to someone. It’s

all the same to me whether we win or lose.

If it’s just the same to you, I’d rather

walk than ride. If it’s all the same, I’d

rather you didn’t smoke.

all the time 1. throughout a specific pe-

riod of time. Bill was stealing money for

the last two years, and Tom knew it all the

time. Throughout December and Janu-

ary, Jane had two jobs all the time. 2. at

all times; continuously. Your blood

keeps f lowing all the time. That electric

motor runs all the time. 3. repeatedly; ha-

bitually. She keeps a handkerchief in her

hand all the time. She hums softly all

the time.

all the way from the beginning to the end;

the entire distance, from start to finish.

(See also go all the way (with someone).)

The ladder reaches all the way to the top

of the house. I walked all the way home.

all thumbs awkward and clumsy, especially

with one’s hands. Poor Bob can’t play

the piano at all. He’s all thumbs. Mary

is all thumbs when it comes to gardening.

all to the good for the best; for one’s ben-

efit. He missed the train, but it was all

to the good because the train had a wreck.

It was all to the good that he died with-

out suffering.

(all) tuckered out tired out; worn out.

(Folksy.) Poor John worked so hard that

he’s all tuckered out. Look at that little

baby sleeping. She’s really tuckered out.

all walks of life all social, economic, and

ethnic groups. We saw people there

from all walks of life. The people who

came to the art exhibit represented all

walks of life.

(all) well and good good; desirable.

well and good that you’re here on time. I

was afraid you’d be late again. It’s all

well and good that you’re passing English,

but what about math and science?

all wet mistaken; wrongheaded; on the

wrong track. (Also literal.) It’s not that

way, John. You’re all wet. If you think

that prices will come down, you’re all wet.

all wool and a yard wide genuine; gen-

uinely warmhearted and friendly. (Infor-

mal and folksy. Refers to cloth that is 100

percent wool and exactly one yard wide.)

Old Bob is a true gentleman—all wool

and a yard wide. The banker, hardly all

wool and a yard wide, wouldn’t give us a

loan.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull

boy. One should have recreation as well

as work. (Proverb. Jack does not refer to

anyone in particular. The phrase can be

used for persons of either sex.) Stop

reading that book and go out and play! All

work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

The doctor told Mr. Jones to stop working

on weekends and start playing golf, be-

cause all work and no play makes Jack a

dull boy.

(all) worked up (about something) Go to

(all) worked up (over something).

(all) year round throughout all the seasons

of the year; during the entire year. The

public swimming pool is enclosed so that

it can be used all year round. In the

South they can grow f lowers all year

round.

A

(a little) new to (all) this an apologetic

way of saying that one is experiencing

something new or participating in some-

thing new and is therefore ineffective or

inept. I’m sorry I’m slow. I’m a little

new to all this. She’s new to this. She

needs practice.

abide by something to follow the rules of

something; to obey someone’s orders.

John felt that he had to abide by his father’s

wishes. All drivers are expected to abide

by the rules of the road.

able to breathe (easily) again and able

to breathe (freely) again able to relax

and recover from a busy or stressful time;

able to catch one’s breath. (Also literal.

Able to can be replaced with can.) Now

that the lion has been caught, we’ll be able

to breathe freely again. Now that the an-

nual sale is over, the sales staff will be able

to breathe again. Final exams are over,

so I can breathe easily again.

able to breathe (freely) again Go to able

to breathe (easily) again.

able to do something blindfolded and able

to do something standing on one’s head

able to do something easily and quickly,

possibly without even looking. (Infor-

mal. Able to can be replaced with can.)

Bill boasted that he could pass his driver’s

test blindfolded. Mary is very good with

computers. She can program blindfolded.

Dr. Jones is a great surgeon. He can take

out an appendix standing on his head.

able to do something standing on one’s head

Go to able to do something blindfolded.

able to do something with one’s eyes closed

able to do something very easily, even

without having to think about it or look

at it. (Also literal. Also with can. Always

affirmative.) It’s easy. I can do it with

my eyes closed. I can clean the house

with my eyes closed! It’s easy!

able to fog a mirror alive, even if just

barely. (Usually jocular. Refers to the use

of a small mirror placed under one’s nose

to tell if one is breathing or not.) Look,

I don’t need an athlete to do this job. Any-

body able to fog a mirror will do fine!

I’m so tired this morning, I feel like I’m

hardly able to fog a mirror.

able to make something able to attend an

event. (Also literal. Informal. Able to can

be replaced with can.) I don’t think I’ll

be able to make your party, but thanks for

asking me. We are having another one

next month. We hope you can make it

then.

able to take a joke to be able to accept

ridicule good-naturedly; to be the object

or butt of a joke willingly. (Able to can

be replaced with can.) Let’s play a trick

on Bill and see if he’s able to take a joke.

Better not tease Ann. She can’t take a

joke.

able to take just so much able to endure

only a limited amount of discomfort.

(Able to can be replaced with can.)

Please stop hurting my feelings. I’m able to

take just so much before I get angry. I

can take just so much.

able to take something able to endure some-

thing; able to endure abuse. (Often in the

negative. Able to can be replaced with

can. See also the previous entry.) Stop

yelling like that. I’m not able to take it any-

more. Go ahead, hit me again. I can

take it.

above and beyond (something) more than

is required. Her efforts were above and

beyond. We appreciate her time. All this

extra time is above and beyond her regu-

lar hours.

(above and) beyond the call of duty in

addition to what is required; more than

is required in one’s job. We didn’t ex-

pect the police officer to drive us home.

That was above and beyond the call of

duty. The English teacher helped stu-

dents after school every day, even though

it was beyond the call of duty.

above average higher or better than the

average. Max’s grades are always above

average. His intelligence is clearly above

average

above reproach not deserving of blame or

criticism. Some politicians behave as

though they are above reproach.  You

must accept your punishment. You are not

above reproach.

above suspicion honest enough that no

one would suspect you; to be in a posi-

tion where you could not be suspected.

The general is a fine old man, completely

above suspicion. Mary was at work at

the time of the accident, so she’s above

suspicion.

absent without leave and AWOL absent

from a military unit without permission;

absent from anything without permis-

sion. (AWOL is an abbreviation. This is

a serious offense in the military.) The

soldier was taken away by the military po-

lice because he was absent without leave.

John was AWOL from school and got

into a lot of trouble with his parents.

according to all accounts and by all

accounts from all the reports; everyone

is saying. According to all accounts,

the police were on the scene immediately.

According to all accounts, the meet-

ing broke up over a very minor matter.

By all accounts, it was a very poor

performance.

according to one’s own lights according to

the way one believes; according to the

way one’s conscience or inclinations lead

one. (Rarely used informally.) People

must act on this matter according to their

own lights. John may have been wrong,

but he did what he did according to his

own lights.

according to someone or something as said or

indicated by someone or something.

According to the weather forecast, this

should be a beautiful day. According to

my father, this is a very good car to buy.

It’s too cold to go for a walk, according

to the thermometer.

according to something in proportion to

something. You will get paid according

to the number of hours that you work.

The doctor charges patients according to

their ability to pay.

accustomed to someone or something used to

or comfortable with someone or some-

thing; accepting of someone or some-

thing as common and usual. We were

accustomed to wearing shoes.  They

aren’t accustomed to paying a visit with-

out bringing a gift. I’ll never become ac-

customed to you.

[ace in the hole] Go to someone’s ace in the

hole.

an aching heart the feeling of distress be-

cause of love that is lost or has faded

away, described as being in the heart,

where love is said to reside. I try to tell

my aching heart that I don’t love him.

There is no medicine for an aching heart.

acid test a test whose findings are beyond

doubt or dispute. (Refers to a chemical

test that shows whether a metal is gold.)

Her new husband seems generous, but

the acid test will be if he lets her mother

stay with them. The senator isn’t very

popular just now, but the acid test will be

if he gets reelected.

acknowledge receipt (of something) to in-

form the sender that what was sent was

received. (Commonly used in business

correspondence.) In a letter to a shoe

company, Mary wrote, “I’m happy to ac-

knowledge receipt of four dozen pairs of

shoes.” John acknowledged receipt of the

bill. The package hasn’t arrived, so I’m

unable to acknowledge receipt.

acknowledge someone to be right to admit

or state that someone is correct about

something. Mary acknowledged Bill to

be right about the name of the store. Bill

said that the car was useless, and the me-

chanic acknowledged him to be right.

across the board equally for everyone or

everything. The school board raised the

pay of all the teachers across the board.

Congress cut the budget by reducing the

money for each department 10 percent

across the board.

act as someone to perform in the capacity of

someone, temporarily or permanently.

I’ll act as your supervisor until Mrs. Brown

returns from vacation.   This is Mr.

Smith. He’ll act as manager from now on.

act high-and-mighty to act proud and

powerful. (Informal.) Why does the

doctor always have to act so high-and-

mighty? If Sally wouldn’t act so high-

and-mighty, she’d have more friends.

an act of faith an act or deed demonstrat-

ing religious faith; an act or deed show-

ing trust in someone or something. He

lit candles in church as an act of faith.

For him to trust you with his safety was a

real act of faith.

an act of God an occurrence (usually an

accident) for which no human is respon-

sible; a dramatic act of nature such as a

storm, an earthquake, or a windstorm.

My insurance company wouldn’t pay for

the damage because it was an act of God.

The thief tried to convince the judge that

the diamonds were in his pocket due to an

act of God.

an act of war an international act of vio-

lence for which war is considered a suit-

able response; any hostile act between

two people. To bomb a ship is an act

of war. Can spying be considered an act

of war?  “You just broke my stereo,”

yelled John. “That’s an act of war!”

act one’s age to behave more maturely; to

act as grown-up as one really is. (This is

frequently said to a child.) Come on,

John, act your age. Stop throwing rocks.

Mary! Stop picking on your little brother.

Act your age!

act up to misbehave; to run or act badly.

John, why do you always have to act up

when your father and I take you out to eat?

My arthritis is acting up. It really hurts.

My car is acting up. I could hardly get

it started this morning.




Actions speak louder than words. It is

better to do something about a problem

than just talk about it. (Proverb.) Mary

kept promising to get a job. John finally

looked her in the eye and said, “Actions

against quitting work early. Lisa always

advises against hasty actions.

advise someone against doing something to

supply someone with a suggestion of not

doing something. I advised Bill against




speak louder than words!” After listen-

quitting his job.

Lisa advised Tom




ing to the senator promising to cut federal

spending, Ann wrote a simple note saying,

“Actions speak louder than words.”

add fuel to the fire and add fuel to the

flame to make a problem worse; to say

or do something that makes a bad situa-

tion worse; to make an angry person even

more angry. (Also literal.) To spank a

crying child just adds fuel to the fire. Bill

was shouting angrily, and Bob tried to get

him to stop by laughing at him. Of course,

that was just adding fuel to the flame.

add fuel to the flame Go to add fuel to

the fire.

add insult to injury to make a bad situa-

tion worse; to hurt the feelings of a per-

son who has already been hurt. First,

the basement flooded, and then, to add in-

sult to injury, a pipe burst in the kitchen.

My car barely started this morning, and

to add insult to injury, I got a f lat tire in

the driveway.

add up (to something) 1. to total up to a par-

ticular amount. The bill added up to

$200. These groceries will add up to al-

most sixty dollars. These numbers just

won’t add up. 2. to mean something; to

signify or represent something; to result

in something. All this adds up to trou-

ble! I don’t understand. What does all

this add up to? If you think about it

carefully, these facts add up perfectly.

an affinity for someone or something a strong

preference for something; a strong liking

for something. Cats have an affinity for

seafood.  Mary’s affinity for classical

music accounts for her large collection of

recordings.

afraid of one’s own shadow easily fright-

ened; always frightened, timid, or suspi-

cious. After Tom was robbed, he was

even afraid of his own shadow. Jane has

always been a shy child. She has been

afraid of her own shadow since she was

three.

after a fashion in a manner that is just

barely adequate; poorly. He thanked

me—after a fashion—for my help. Oh,

yes, I can swim, after a fashion.

after all 1. anyway; in spite of what had

been decided. (Often refers to a change

in plans or a reversal of plans.) Mary

had planned to go to the bank first, but she

came here after all. It looks like Tom will

go to law school after all. 2. remember;

consider the fact that. Don’t punish

Tommy! After all, he’s only three years old!

After all, we really didn’t hurt anyone!

after all is said and done when every-

thing is settled or concluded; finally. (See

also when all is said and done.) After

all was said and done, it was a lovely party.

After all is said and done, it will turn

out just as I said.

after the fact after something has hap-

pened; after something, especially a

crime, has taken place. (Primarily a le-

gal phrase.) John is always making ex-

cuses after the fact. Remember to lock

your car whenever you leave it. If it’s

stolen, there is nothing you can do after the

fact.

after the fashion of someone or something in

the manner or style of someone or some-

thing. (See also after a fashion.) She

walks down the street after the fashion of

a grand lady. The church was built af-

ter the fashion of an English cathedral.

again and again repeatedly; again and

even more. I like going to the beach, and

I will go back again and again.  He

knocked on the door again and again un-

til I finally answered.

against someone’s will without a person’s

consent or agreement. You cannot force

me to come with you against my will!

Against their will, the men were made to

stand up against the wall and be searched.

against the clock in a race with time; in

a great hurry to get something done be-

fore a particular time. (See also race

against time.) Bill set a new track

record, running against the clock. He lost

the actual race, however.  In a race

against the clock, they rushed the special

medicine to the hospital.

ahead of one’s time having ideas or atti-

tudes that are too advanced to be ac-

ceptable to or appreciated by the society

in which one is living. People buy that

artist’s work now, but his paintings were

laughed at when he was alive. He was

ahead of his time. Mary’s grandmother

was ahead of her time in wanting to study

medicine.

ahead of schedule having done some-

thing before the time listed on the sched-

ule. I want to be able to finish the job

ahead of schedule. We don’t have to rush

because we are ahead of schedule.

ahead of the game being early; having an

advantage over a situation; having done

more than necessary. (Informal or slang.)

Whenever we go to a movie, we show up

ahead of the game and have to wait. Bill

has to study math very hard to keep ahead

of the game. Bob does extra work so he’s

always ahead of the game.

ahead of time beforehand; before the an-

nounced time. If you show up ahead of

time, you will have to wait. Be there

ahead of time if you want to get a good

aid and abet someone to help someone; to

incite someone to do something that is

wrong. He was scolded for aiding and

abetting the boys who were fighting. It’s

illegal to aid and abet a thief.

aim to do something to mean to do some-

thing; to intend to do something in the

future. (Folksy.) I aim to paint the

house as soon as I can find a brush. He

aims to take a few days off and go fishing.

Ain’t it the truth? Isn’t that just the way it

is?; I agree with you completely. (Infor-

mal.) A: Things aren’t the way they used

to be in the good old days. B: Ain’t it the

truth? A: You just can’t buy good shoes

anymore. B: Ain’t it the truth?

air one’s dirty linen in public and wash

one’s dirty linen in public to discuss pri-

vate or embarrassing matters in public,

especially when quarreling. (This linen

refers to sheets and tablecloths or other

soiled cloth.) John’s mother had asked

him repeatedly not to air the family’s dirty

linen in public. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson

are arguing again. Why must they always

air their dirty linen in public? Jean will

talk to anyone about her financial prob-

lems. Why does she wash her dirty linen in

public?

air one’s grievances to complain; to make

a public complaint. I know how you

feel, John, but it isn’t necessary to air your

grievances over and over. I know you’re

busy, sir, but I must air my grievances. This

matter is very serious.

air something out to freshen up something

by placing it in the open air; to freshen

a room by letting air move through it.

It’s so stale in here. Mary, please open a

window and air this place out. Please

take this pillow outside and air it out.

T I’ll have to air out the car. Someone has

been smoking in it.

alive and well Go to alive and kicking.

alive with someone or something covered with,

filled with, or active with people or

things. Look! Ants everywhere. The

f loor is alive with ants! When we got to

the ballroom, the place was alive with

dancing.  The campground was alive

with campers from all over the country.