American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
.pdfthrough a physical barrier since about 1400, this phrase began to be used figuratively in the late 1500s.
break up
1. Divide into many pieces; disintegrate. For example, Now break up the head of garlic into separate cloves. [Mid-1700s] 2. Interrupt the continuity of something, as in A short walk will break up the long morning. 3. Also, break it up. Scatter, disperse, as in The crowd broke up as soon as they reached the streets. [Late 1400s] This phrase is also used as an imperative, as in "Break it up!" shouted the police officer. [c. 1930] 4. Bring or come to an end, as in His gambling was bound to break up their marriage.
5. Also, break someone up. Burst into or cause one to burst into an expression of feeling, such as laughter or tears. For example, His jokes always break me up, or That touching eulogy broke us all up, or I looked at her and just broke up. The precise meaning depends on the context. This sense grew out of a usage from the early 1800s that meant "upset" or ''disturb." [Colloquial; early 1800s]
break wind
Expel intestinal gas, as in Beans always make him break wind. [Early 1500s]
break with
1. Separate from, sever relations with. For example, On this issue the prime minister was forced to
break with his cabinet. [Late 1500s] Also see BREAK OFF, def. 2 and 3. 2. Depart from, reject, as in The couple broke with tradition and decided to write their own marriage vows. [Late 1800s]
breast
hand. see KEEP ABREAST OF; MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF.
breath
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with BREATH, also see CATCH ONE'S
BREATH; HOLD ONE'S BREATH; IN THE SAME BREATH; OUT OF BREATH; SAVE ONE'S BREATH; TAKE ONE'S BREATH AWAY; UNDER ONE'S BREATH; WASTE ONE'S BREATH; WITH BATED BREATH.
breathe
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BREATHE, also see AS I LIVE AND
BREATHE; BREATHING SPACE; NOT BREATHE A WORD.
breathe down someone's neck
1. Pursue someone closely; pose a threat to one, as in The immigration authorities were breathing down his neck. [Mid-1900s] 2. Watch or supervise someone very closely, as in The boss is always
breathing down our necks. [Mid-1900s] breathe easy Also, breathe easily or freely. Relax, feel relieved from anxiety, stress, or tension. For example, Now that exams are over with, I can breathe easy, or Whenever I'm back in the mountains, I can breathe freely again. This idiom originally (late 1500s) was put as breathe again, implying that one had stopped breathing (or held one's breath) while feeling anxious or nervous. Shakespeare had it in King John (4:2): "Now I breathe again aloft the flood." The variant dates from the first half of the 1800s.
breathe life into Also, breathe new life into. Revive someone or something. For example,
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) shows one how to breathe life into a drowning victim, or Her appointment breathed new life into the firm. This term is used both literally, for reviving a person who has stopped breathing temporarily, and figuratively, for giving new impetus to or renewing some project. Also see BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
breathe one's last
Die, as in Aunt Agatha breathed her last on Tuesday. This term was
used by Shakespeare in 3 Henry VI (5:2): "Montague has breathed his last." It has survived but today is considered a poetic euphemism.
breathing space
1. Room or time in which to breathe, as in In that crowded hall, there was hardly any breathing space. Previously this term was put as breathing room. [Mid-1600s] 2. A rest or pause. For example, I can't work at this all day; I need some breathing space. This usage replaced the earlier breathing while. [Mid-16005]
breath of fresh air
New and refreshing, as in His arrival was like a breath of fresh air. This term transfers the idea of fresh air to a new approach or welcome arrival, and has largely replaced both the earlier breath of heaven and breath of spring, although the latter is still heard occasionally. [Mid-1800s]
bred
hand. see BORN AND BRED. Also see under BREED.
breed
hand. see FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.
breeze
hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with BREEZE, also see HANDS DOWN (IN A
BREEZE); SHOOT THE BREEZE.
breeze in
1. Arrive in a casual way, as in She breezed in, two hours late. This phrase transfers the blowing of
a light wind to human entrances. [Colloquial; c. 1900] 2. Win easily, as in A fine golfer, he breezed in first. This usage at first alluded to horse racing but soon was transferred to more general use. [c. 1900]
brick
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BRICK, also see DROP A BRICK; HIT
THE BRICKS; LIKE A CAT ON A HOT BRICK; LIKE A TON OF BRICKS; MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW; RUN INTO A STONE (BRICK) WALL.
bricks and mortar
Basic and essential, as in Matthew Arnold's essay (1865): "Margate, that bricks-and-mortar image of British Protestantism." This phrase transfers essential building materials to other fundamental matters. It also may be used more literally to denote a building or buildings (whether or not made of bricks and mortar), as in The alumni prefer to see their donations in the form of bricks and mortar. [Mid-1800s]
bricks shy of a load
Mentally impaired, either unintelligent or merely eccentric. For example, He may be handsome but he's not too bright?
a few bricks shy of a load. This term, transferring a light load to lightweight mental capacity, is usually preceded by either a few or a specific number such as two. [Slang; 1960s]
bride
hand. see GIVE AWAY (THE BRIDE).
bridge
hand. see BURN ONE'S BRIDGES; CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN ONE COMES TO IT; WATER OVER THE DAM (UNDER THE BRIDGE).
brief
hand. see HOLD NO BRIEF FOR; IN BRIEF.
bright
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BRIGHT, also see LOOK ON THE
BRIGHT SIDE.
bright and early
Early in the morning, at dawn, as in It's a long trip, so we'll have to start out bright and early. The bright here presumably alludes to the brilliance of the dawning sun, which has long been noted by poets. [Early 1800s]
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Eager and alert, as in Here is my new kindergarten class, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The allusion here is to the appearance of a squirrel, which with its beady eyes and bushy tail looks ready for anything. [1930s]
bright idea
A clever thought or plan. For example, John had a bright idea for saving space?
we would each have a terminal but share the printer. This term uses bright in the sense of "intelligent" or "quick-witted" and may be
employed either straightforwardly, as in the example above, or ironically, as in Jumping in the pool with your clothes on?
that was some bright idea. [Late 1800s]
bright side
A favorable or hopeful aspect, as in Bob is inclined to look on the bright side of everything. This idiom uses bright in the sense of "lit up with gladness or hope." [First half of 1800s] Also see
GLASS IS HALF FULL.
brim
hand. see FILLED TO THE BRIM.
bring about Also, bring to pass. Make something happen, accomplish or result in something. For example, The revised tax code brought about considerable changes in accounting. The first term dates from the 1400s, and the variant, today considered rather formal, from the first half of the
1500s. Also see BRING ON, def. 1.
bring around Also, bring round. 1. Conduct someone or convey something to others. For example, Anne brought around the new intern to meet the nursing staff, or The clerk will bring round the papers for you to sign. [Late 1800s] 2. Also, bring to. Restore to health or consciousness. For example, Some fresh air will help bring him to. [First half of 1800s] 3. Convert or persuade someone, as in The senator was sure he could bring around the other committee members. [Mid-1800s]
bring down
1. Cause to fall, collapse, or die. For example, The pilot won a medal for bringing down enemy aircraft, or The bill's defeat was sure to bring down the party. [c. 1300] 2. Cause a punishment or judgment, as in The bomb threats brought down the public's wrath on the terrorists [Mid-1600s] 3. Reduce, lower, as in I won't buy it till they bring down the price, or He refused to bring himself down to their level. This usage may be literal, as in the first example, or figurative, as in the second. [First half of 1500s]
bring down the curtain
hand. see RING DOWN THE CURTAIN.
bring down the house Also, bring the house down. Evoke tumultuous applause and cheers, as in Her solo brought the house down. This hyperbolic term suggests noise loud enough to pose a threat to the building?
an unlikely occurrence. In the late 1800s, British music-hall comedians punned on it: when the audience greeted a joke with silence, they said, "Don't clap so hard; you'll bring down the house (it's a very old house)." [Mid-1700s]
bring forth
1. Give rise to, introduce. For example, I may be new, but I can still bring forth any proposals I consider necessary. [c. 1200] 2. Give birth; see under BRING INTO THE WORLD.
bring home
Get to the heart of a matter, make perfectly clear. For example, The crash brought home the danger of drinking and driving. This term uses home in the figurative sense of "touching someone or something closely." [Second half of 1800s]
bring home the bacon
1. Earn a living, provide the necessities of life, as in Now that she had a job, Patricia could bring home the bacon. 2. Be successful, accomplish something of value, as in George went to Washington and brought home the bacon?
he got the funding we needed. Although the earliest citation for this phrase in the Oxford English Dictionary dates from 1924, the term is widely believed to come from the much older game of catching a greased pig, a popular competition at country fairs in which the winner was awarded the pig.
bring into line
hand. see under FALL IN LINE.
bring into the world Also, bring forth. Give birth, as in It's certainly easier to bring a child into the world when you have a definite
means of support, or "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son" (Matthew 1:23). Both versions of this term have a somewhat archaic ring. [First half of 1400s]
bring off
Accomplish, achieve successfully, as in We managed to bring off a wonderful performance. [Early 1900s]
bring on
1. Cause to happen, produce, as in His cold brought on an asthma attack. This usage was first recorded in John Milton's Samson Agonistes (1671): "These evils . . . I myself have brought them
on." Also see BRING ABOUT. 2. Cause to appear or bring into action, as in Bring on the jugglers. [Mid-1800s]
bring out
1. Expose or reveal; make conspicuous. For example, His book brought out some new facts about the war, or Her photographs bring out the play of light on her subjects. [Late 1500s] 2. Nurture or develop a quality, as in A gifted teacher brings out the best in pupils. [c. 1700] 3. Present to the public. For example, The publisher decided to bring out this dictionary in a single volume, or Debutantes traditionally are brought out at a ball. [c. 1800]
bring round
hand. see BRING AROUND.
bring the house down
hand. see BRING DOWN THE HOUSE.
bring to
1. Restore to consciousness, as in I'll see if these smelling salts will bring her to. Also see BRING
AROUND, def. 2. 2. Cause a vessel to stop by heading into the wind or some other means. For example, As they neared the anchorage, they brought the boat to.
This usage was first recorded in 1753.
bring to a head
Cause to reach a turning point or crisis. For example, Management's newest policy has brought matters to a head. The related phrase come to a head means "to reach a crisis," as in With the last break-in, the question of security came to a head. These phrases allude to the medical sense of head, the tip of an abscess that is about to burst. [Mid-1500s]
bring to bear
Exert, apply, as in All his efforts are brought to bear on the new problem, or The union is bringing pressure to bear on management. [Late 1600s]
bring to book
Call to account, investigate. For example, He was acquitted, but one day soon he'll be brought to
book, or As for your records, the IRS is sure to bring you to book concerning your tax deductions. This term uses book in the sense of "a written record," such as an account book or ledger. [c. 1800]
bring to heel
Force to obey, subjugate. For example, The prisoners were quickly brought to heel. This term transfers commanding a dog to come close behind its master to similar control over human beings
or affairs. [Second half of 1800s]
bring to life
Enliven or energize a person or thing. For example, The promise of a big part in the play brought Jane to life, or The author's changes really brought this screenplay to life. [c. 1300] Also see
COME TO LIFE.
bring to light
Reveal or disclose something previously hidden or secret, as in After careful investigation all the facts of the case were brought to light. This term uses light in the sense of "public knowledge." [First half of 1500s]
bring to mind
Cause to be remembered, as in The film brought to mind the first time I ever climbed a mountain.
This idiom, first recorded in 1433, appears in Robert Burns's familiar "Auld Lang Syne" (1788), in which the poet asks if old times should never be brought to mind. Also see COME TO MIND.
bring to one's knees
Make one submit; reduce to a position of subservience. For example, Solitary confinement usually brings prisoners to their knees. This particular phrase dates only from the late 1800s, although there were earlier versions alluding to being on one's knees as a gesture of submission.
bring to pass
hand. see BRING ABOUT.
bring to terms
Force someone to agree or continue negotiations, as in The creditors were determined to bring the company to terms. The terms here mean "the conditions for agreement." [First half of 1700s] Also
see COME TO TERMS.
bring up
1. Raise from childhood, rear. For example, Bringing up children is both difficult and rewarding.
[Late 1400s] 2. Introduce into discussion, mention, as in Let's not bring up the cost right now.
[Second half of 1800s] 3. Vomit, as in She still felt sick but couldn't bring up anything. This usage was first recorded in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (1719).
bring up the rear
Be last in a line or sequence, as in As a slow walker, I'm used to bringing up the rear, or In test results Tom always brought up the rear. This term almost certainly came from the military but the earliest citation given by the Oxford English Dictionary is from a 1643 religious treatise by Sir Thomas Browne: "My desires onely are . . . to be but the last man, and bring up the Rere in Heaven."
bring up to date
Convey information up to the present; also, make one aware of or conform to new ideas, improvements, or styles. For example, Bring me up to date on the test results, or We've been bringing Grandma up to date with a little makeup and some new clothes. The term up to date comes from bookkeeping, where it signifies account entries to the present time. [Late 1800s]
broad
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BROAD, also see CAN'T HIT THE BROAD
SIDE OF A BARN.
broad daylight
Ample and obvious natural light, as in You don't need your flashlight?
it's broad daylight, or She was accosted on her own street in broad daylight. [1300s]
broad in the beam
Having broad hips or large buttocks. For example, I've grown too broad in the beam for these slacks. This expression originated in the 17th century and described the wideness of a ship. It began to be used for the human body only in the 1920s.
broad shoulders, have
Be able to accept considerable responsibility, as in With his broad shoulders, he can easily handle both departments. [Second half of 1300s]
broke
hand. see FLAT BROKE; GO BROKE; GO FOR (BROKE); IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT. Also see under BREAK.
broken reed
A weak or unreliable support, as in I'd counted on her to help, but she turned out to be a broken reed. The idea behind this idiom, first recorded about 1593, was already present in a mid-15th-century translation of a Latin tract, "Trust not nor lean not upon a windy reed."
broom
hand. see NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.
broth
hand. see TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH.
brow
hand. see BY THE SWEAT OF ONE'S BROW; CAUSE RAISED EYEBROWS.
brown
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BROWN, also see DO UP (BROWN).
brown bagger
A person who brings his or her own supplies, as in The architects of the new office designed a space for brown baggers to
eat lunch. The term originated in the 1930s in Britain for very serious students who carried their books about with them in brown briefcases or bags. That usage crossed the Atlantic within a few decades. However, in America from the 1960s on, it has primarily been used for persons who brought their own liquor in a brown paper bag, either legitimately or surreptitiously, to a public place or restaurant not licensed to sell it, or for those who took their lunch to work.
browned off
Very angry, as in When she locked me out I was really browned off. This expression originated as Royal Air Force slang for "disgusted" and "depressed" in the late 1930s and had crossed the Atlantic by World War II. It gradually came to be used more widely as a slangy synonym for "infuriated." One theory for its origin, mentioned by Eric Partridge in his slang dictionary, is that it alludes to brass buttons on a uniform turning brown from lack of polishing. Partridge noted, however, that the ''predominant Army opinion" was that the word had the same literal meaning as buggered.
brownie points
Credit for a good deed, as in John earned a lot of brownie points for doing his boss's report for him. The term originated with the points earned for various achievements by the youngest group of the Girl Scouts, called Brownies. In the mid-1900s it was transferred to general use.
brown nose
Solicit favor obsequiously, toady. For example, Harry was always brown nosing, but it didn't help his grades. This term originated in the military in the late 1930s, where it meant "to curry favor"; it alludes to asskissing when the backside being kissed is less than clean. Despite its scatological origin, today this slangy term is not considered particularly vulgar.
brown study, in a
Daydreaming or deeply contemplative, as in Margaret sits in the library, in a brown study. This term dates from the late 1500s, and although by then in a study had long meant "lost in thought," the reason for adding brown is unclear. Moreover, the present idiom also is ambiguous, some holding that it denotes genuine thoughtfulness and others that it signifies absentmindedness.
brunt
hand. see BEAR THE BRUNT.
brush
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BRUSH, also see GIVE SOMEONE THE
AIR (BRUSHOFF); HAVE A BRUSH WITH; TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH.
brush aside
Disregard, ignore, as in The teacher brushed aside our questions.
brush off
Dismiss or rebuff, as in Roberta brushed off the poor reviews with a shrug, or You can't brush off a boyfriend and expect him to do you a favor. This expression, transferring sweeping off crumbs to a curt dismissal, was first recorded about 1820. However, it became common usage only in the
1930s. Also see GIVE SOMEONE THE AIR (BRUSHOFF).
brush up
1. Clean, refurbish, as in We plan to get the house brushed up in time for the party. [c. 1600] 2.
Also, brush up on. Review, refresh one's memory, as in Nell brushed up on her Spanish before going to Honduras, or I'm brushing up my knowledge of town history before I speak at the club.
[Late 1700s]
brute force Also, brute strength. Savage violence, unreasoning strength, as in We hope that reason will triumph over brute force. Although this expression is also used literally to mean exceptional physical power, the figurative sense reflects the origin for brute, which comes from Latin brutus, for "heavy, stupid, unreasoning." [First half of 1700s]
buck
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BUCK, also see BIG BUCKS; FAST BUCK;
MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK; PASS THE BUCK.
bucket
hand. see DROP IN THE BUCKET; KICK THE BUCKET; RAIN CATS AND DOGS (BUCKETS); WEEP BUCKETS.
buck for
Strive for, aim for, as in She's bucking for Editor of the Year. Strongly associated with seeking a promotion in the military, this expression originated in the late 1800s and is now applied more widely.
buckle down
Set to work, apply oneself with determination, as in All right, we'll buckle down now and study for exams. Originating about 1700 as buckle to, the expression gained currency with the football song "Buckle-Down, Winsocki" (from the Broadway musical comedy Best Foot Forward, 1941).
[Mid1800s]
buckle under