American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

stag party

A social gathering for men exclusively, often involving entertainment considered unsuitable for women. For example, They wanted to give him a stag party before the wedding but John wasn't interested. This idiom uses stag in the sense of "a man unaccompanied by a woman." [c. 1850]

stake

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with STAKE, also see AT STAKE; BURN AT

THE STAKE; HAVE A STAKE IN; PULL UP STAKES.

stake a claim Also, stake out a claim. Indicate something as one's own, as in I'm staking a claim to the drumstick, or She staked out a claim for herself in the insurance business. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, originally meant "register a claim to land by marking it with stakes." It was being used figuratively by the late 1800s.

stake out

Keep an area or person under police surveillance; also, assign someone to conduct such a surveillance. For example, They staked out the house, or He was staked out in the alley, watching for drug dealers.

[c. 1940]

stamp

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STAMP, also see RUBBER STAMP.

stamping ground Also, old stamping ground. A habitual or favorite haunt, as in Whenever we visit, we go back to our old stamping ground, the drugstore nearest the high school. This term alludes to a traditional gathering place for horses or cattle, which stamp down the ground with their hooves. [Early 1800s]

stamp out

Extinguish or destroy, as in The government stamped out the rebellion in a bru

tal way, or The police were determined to stamp out drug dealers. This metaphoric expression alludes to extinguishing a fire by trampling on it. [Mid-1800s]

stand

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with STAND, also see CAN'T STAND THE

SIGHT OF; HEART MISSES A BEAT (STANDS STILL); (STAND) IN AWE OF; IT STANDS TO REASON; KNOW WHERE ONE STANDS; MAKE A STAND; MAKE ONE'S HAIR STAND ON END; NOT HAVE (STAND) AN EARTHLY CHANCE; TAKE A STAND; WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON.

stand a chance

Watch over, act as a lookout, as in We'll climb the tree and get the apples if Josh will stand guard, or There's a parking space; stand guard while I make a U-turn and get to it. This term alludes to the military defense of posting guards to watch for the enemy.

stand in awe

hand. see IN AWE OF.

stand in for

Substitute for, as in He's kindly agreed to stand in for me at the reception. [Early 1900s]

standing joke

Something that is always funny even though it is often repeated. For example, Mary's "Dennis who?" when her husband is mentioned is a standing joke around here. This idiom employs standing in the sense of "established" or "regular," a usage dating from the mid-1500s.

standing on one's head

hand. see under DO BLINDFOLDED.

stand in good stead

Be extremely useful, as in That umbrella stood me in good stead on our trip; it rained every day.

[c. 1300]

standing order

A regulation that is in force until it is specifically changed or withdrawn, as in The waiters have standing orders to fill all glasses as they are emptied. This idiom began life in the mid-1600s as standing rule; the word order began to be used about 1800 for such military orders and gradually was extended to other areas.

stand off

1. Stay at a distance, remain apart, as in Carol stood off from the others. [First half of 1600s] This usage gave rise to the adjective standoffish for "aloof" or "reserved in a haughty way." 2. Put off, keep away, as in The police stood off the angry strikers. [Second half of 1800s]

stand on

1. Be based on, depend on, as in Our success will stand on their support. [c. 1600] 2. Insist on observance of, as in Let's not stand on ceremony. This usage today is nearly always put in a negative context. [Mid-1500s]

stand one's ground Also, hold one's ground; stand fast. Be firm or unyielding, as in You've got to respect him for standing his ground when all the others disagree, or I'm going to hold my ground on this issue, or No matter how he votes, I'm standing fast. This idiom, dating from the early 1600s, originally was applied to an army holding its territory against the enemy, but was being used figuratively as well by the end of the 1600s.

stand up and be counted

Reveal one's convictions or opinions, especially when it requires courage to do so. For example,

Stop muttering your complaints about the music; stand up and be counted if you want something changed. The counted in this expression alludes to having one's vote on a matter acknowledged. [c. 1900]

stand up for Also, stick up for. Side with, defend, as in Paul always stands up for what he thinks is right, or Ginny has learned to stick up for her family. The first recorded use of the first term is by Shakespeare in King Lear (1:2), when Edmund, Gloucester's bastard son, says: "Now gods, stand up for bastards!" The colloquial variant was first recorded in 1837.

stand up to

Confront fearlessly, oppose boldly, as in You've got to stand up to the boss if you want him to respect you. [Early 1600s]

stand up with

Be the principal witness at a wedding, that is, act as best man or maid or matron of honor. For example,

Jane asked her sister to stand up with her.

star

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STAR, also see BORN UNDER A LUCKY

STAR; SEE STARS; THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.

starch

hand. see TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.

stare down

Cause someone to waver or give in by or as if by being stared at. For example, Insisting on a better room, he stared down the manager until he got it. This expression alludes to staring at someone without being the first to blink or lower one's gaze. [Mid-1800s]

stare in the face Also, look in the face. Be glaringly obvious, although initially overlooked, as in

The solution to the problem had been staring me in the face all along, or I wouldn't know a Tibetan terrier if it looked me in the face. [Late 1600s]

stark raving mad

Totally crazy, as in The constant uncertainty over his job is making him stark raving mad. This term, meaning "completely wildly insane," is used both hyperbolically and literally. Versions of this expression appear to have sprung from the minds of great literary figures. Stark mad was first recorded by poet John Skelton in 1489; stark raving was first recorded by playwright John Beaumont in 1648; stark staring mad was first used by John Dryden in 1693. The current wording, stark raving mad, first appeared in Henry Fielding's The Intriguing Chambermaid in

1734.

stars in one's eyes, have

Be dazzled or enraptured, especially with romance; also, be naively idealistic or optimistic. For example, Thinking about their coming marriage, they both had stars in their eyes, or Kit had stars in her eyes when she talked about the millions who would buy her recording. This idiom transfers the shining of stars to eyes shining with love or enthusiasm. [c. 1900]

start

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with START, also see FALSE START; FITS

AND STARTS; FOR OPENERS (STARTERS); (START) FROM SCRATCH; FROM SOUP TO NUTS (START TO FINISH); GET OFF THE GROUND (TO A FLYING START); HEAD START; RUNNING START; TO START WITH.

starters

hand. see under FOR OPENERS.

start from scratch

hand. see FROM SCRATCH.

start in

Begin, as in He started in serving, without taking any practice. [Late 1800s] Also see START

OUT.

start in on

1. Begin doing something, as in We started right in on the repairs. Also see START IN. 2.

Attack, especially verbally, as in Nancy keeps starting in on Carl, complaining about the errors in his work. [Early 1900s]

start off

1. Set out on a trip, as in We plan to start off in the morning. [Early 1800s] Also

see START OUT. 2. start someone off. Cause someone to set out or to begin something, as in Mother packed their lunches and started them off, or Paul started them off on their multiplication tables. [Early 1700s] For start off on the right foot, see GET OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT.

start out

Set out on a trip, as in The climbers started out from base camp shortly after midnight. [Early 1900s]

start over

Begin again, as in This article is no good; I'll have to start over. [Early 1900s]

start something

Cause trouble, especially a quarrel or fight, as in Stop bringing that up?

do you want to start something?

[Colloquial; early 1900s]

start up

1. Begin to operate, especially a machine or engine, as in Start up the motor so we can get going. [First half of 1900s] 2. Move suddenly or begin an activity, as in When the alarm rang I started up. [Early 1200s] 3. Organize a new enterprise, as in Starting up a business requires considerable capital. [Second half of 1900s]

state

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STATE, also see IN A LATHER (STATE);

IN STATE; SHIP OF STATE.

state of the art

The highest level of development, very up-to-date, as in This new television set reflects the state of the art in screen technology. Despite including the word art, this term originated in technology, and its first recorded use appears in a 1910 book on the gas turbine. Today it is often used adjectivally, as in This is a state-of-the-art camera, and sometimes very loosely, as in That movie is state-of-the-art Woody Allen.

status quo

The existing condition or state of affairs, as in We don't want to admit more singers to the chorus; we like the status quo. This term, Latin for "state in which," has been used in English since the early 1800s.

status symbol

A position or activity that allows one's social prestige to be displayed, as in She doesn't even drive; that car of hers is purely a status symbol. [Mid-1900s]

stave off

Keep or hold away, repel, as in The Federal Reserve Board is determined to stave off inflation. This metaphoric expression transfers beating something off with a staff or stave to nonphysical repulsion. [c. 1600]

stay

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with STAY, also see HERE TO STAY; (STAY)

IN TOUCH; (STAY ON ONE'S) RIGHT SIDE; SHOULD HAVE STOOD (STAYED) IN BED; STICK (STAY) WITH.

staying power

The ability to endure or last, as in I'm not sure that this young novelist will have staying power, or

Our candidate definitely has staying power. This expression comes from racing, where it means "the strength to maintain speed through a race." [Second half of 1800s]

stay over

Remain overnight, as in We hadn't planned to stay over but the bad weather changed our plans.

[Late 1800s]

stay put

Remain in a fixed or established position, as in I can't get that trellis to stay put, or I'm coming, just stay put till I get there. [First half of 1800s]

stay the course

Hold or persevere to the end, as in No, he's not resigning; he's going to stay the course. This metaphoric expression, alluding to a horse running an entire race, was first recorded in 1916.

stay with

1. Remain in one's mind or memory, as in That song has stayed with me all these years. [Late 1500s] 2. Keep up with; also, concentrate on, continue with. For example, The runner from Kenya stayed with

Mark almost to the finish line, or She has an amazing talent for staying with a problem. [Late 1800s] Also see STICK WITH.

stead

hand. see IN SOMEONE'S SHOES (STEAD); STAND IN GOOD STEAD. Also see under INSTEAD.

steady

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STEADY, also see GO STEADY; SLOW

BUT SURE (STEADY WINS THE RACE).

steady as a rock

Firm, dependable, as in Betty always knows her part; she's steady as a rock. This simile uses rock in the sense of ''something that affords a sure support," a usage dating from the early 1500s.

steal a march on

Gain an advantage over unexpectedly or secretly, as in Macy's stole a march on their rival

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STEER, also see BUM STEER.

steer clear of

Stay away from, avoid, as in Dad warned us to steer clear of Dr. Smith and his poor advice. This idiom alludes to guiding a vessel away from some obstacle. Its figurative use was first recorded in 1723.

stem

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STEM, also see FROM SOUP TO NUTS

(STEM TO STERN).

stem the tide

Stop the course of a trend or tendency, as in It is not easy to stem the tide of public opinion. This idiom uses stem in the sense of "stop" or "restrain." [Mid-1800s]

stem to stern

hand. see under FROM SOUP TO NUTS.

step

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with STEP, also see FALSE STEP; IN STEP;

(STEP) OUT OF LINE; TAKE STEPS; WATCH ONE'S STEP.

step aside

1. Move out of the way, as in Please step aside?

I've got my arms full of groceries. This usage was first recorded in 1530. 2. Withdraw, make room for a replacement, as in The senior researcher decided to step aside for a younger colleague.

[Second half of 1900s]

step by step

By degrees, as in You'll have to go through this recipe step by step. This idiom transfers putting one foot in front of the other to other kinds of progress. [c. 1700]

step down

1. Resign from office, as in He threatened to step down if they continued to argue with him. [Late 1800s] 2. Reduce, especially in stages, as in They were stepping down the voltage. [c. 1900] Also

see STEP UP, def. 1.

step in

Enter into an activity or situation; also, intervene. For example, The business was doing poorly until Stan stepped in, or They are going to make a mess of the mailing unless someone steps in and