American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

of course

1. In the customary or expected order, naturally, as in The new minister did not, of course, fire the church secretary. This usage, first recorded in 1548, employs course in the sense of "ordinary procedure." 2. Certainly, as in Of course I'll answer the phone, or Are you going to the meeting??

Of course. [Early 1800s] Also see MATTER OF COURSE.

off

In addition to the idioms beginning with OFF, also see BACK OFF; BAD OFF; BEAT OFF;

BEAT THE PANTS OFF; BEG OFF; BE OFF; BETTER OFF; BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW; BITE SOMEONE'S HEAD OFF; BLAST OFF; BLOW OFF; BLOW OFF STEAM; BLOW THE LID OFF; BORE TO DEATH (THE PANTS OFF); BRANCH OFF; BREAK OFF; BRING OFF; BROWNED OFF; BRUSH OFF; BUG OFF; BUMP OFF; BURN OFF; BUY OFF; BUZZ OFF; CALL OFF; CAP IT ALL (OFF); CARRY OFF; CART OFF; CAST OFF; CHANGE OFF; CHARGE OFF; CHECK OFF; CHEESED OFF; CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK; CHOKE OFF; CLEAR OUT (OFF); COME OFF; COME OFF IT; COOL DOWN (OFF); COOL OFF; COUNT OFF; CRY OFF; CUT OFF; CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE; DASH OFF; DAY OFF; DIE OFF; DOZE OFF; DROP OFF; DUST OFF; EASE OFF; EASY AS PIE (ROLLING OFF A LOG); FALL AWAY (OFF); FAT OF THE LAND, LIVE OFF THE; FIGHT OFF; FIRE OFF; FIRST OFF; FISH OR CUT BAIT (SHIT OR GET OFF); FLY OFF THE HANDLE; FOB OFF; FUCK OFF; GET OFF; GET OFF ON; GET OFF ONE'S TAIL; GET OFF THE DIME; GET OFF THE GROUND; GIVE OFF; GIVE THE SHIRT OFF ONE'S BACK; GO OFF; GO OFF THE DEEP END; GOOF OFF; HANDS OFF; HATS OFF TO; HAUL OFF; HAVE IT (OFF); HEAD OFF; HIGH OFF THE HOG; HIT IT OFF; HOLD OFF; HOT OFF THE PRESS; JERK OFF; JUMPING-OFF PLACE; KEEP OFF; KICK OFF; KILL OFF; KISS OFF; KNOCK IT OFF; KNOCK OFF; KNOCK SOMEONE'S BLOCK OFF; KNOCK THE SOCKS OFF; LAUGH OFF; LAY OFF; LEAD OFF; LEAVE OFF; LET OFF; LEVEL OFF; LIFT OFF; LIKE A CHICKEN WITH ITS HEAD CUT OFF; LIKE WATER OFF A DUCK'S BACK; LOAD OFF ONE'S MIND; LOG IN (OFF); MAKE OFF; MOUTH OFF; NOD OFF; NO SKIN OFF ONE'S NOSE; ON (OFF) CAMERA; ON (OFF) DUTY; ON THE (OFF) CHANCE; PACK OFF; PAIR OFF; PALM OFF; PANTS OFF; PASS OFF; PAY OFF; PEEL OFF; PICK OFF; PISS OFF; PLAY OFF; POLISH OFF; PULL OFF; PUSH OFF; PUT OFF; PUT SOMEONE OFF; QUICK OFF THE MARK; RAKE OFF; RATTLE OFF; RIGHT AWAY (OFF); RIP OFF; ROUND OFF; RUB OFF; RUN AWAY (OFF); RUN OFF; RUN OFF AT THE MOUTH; RUN OFF WITH; RUSH OFF ONE'S FEET; SEAL OFF; SEE SOMEONE OFF; SELL OFF; SEND OFF; SET OFF; SHAKE OFF; SHOOT OFF ONE'S MOUTH; SHOW OFF; SHRUG OFF; SHIT OFF; SIGN OFF; SLACK OFF; SLEEP OFF; SLIP OUT (OFF); SOUND OFF; SPIN OFF; SPLIT ONE'S SIDES (LAUGH ONE'S HEAD OFF); SPONGE ON (OFF); SQUARE OFF; SQUEEZE OFF; STAND OFF; STAVE OFF; STOP OFF; STRAIGHT OFF; SWEAR OFF; SWITCH ON (OFF); TAIL OFF;

TAKE OFF; TAKE OFF AFTER; TAKE THE EDGE OFF; TAKE UP WHERE ONE LEFT OFF; TALK SOMEONE'S ARM OFF; TAPER OFF; TEAR OFF; TEE OFF; TELL OFF; TELL SOMEONE WHERE TO GET OFF; THROW OFF; THROW OFF; TRADE OFF; WIPE OFF THE MAP. Also see under ON.

off, be

hand. see BE OFF.

off again, on again

hand. see OFF AND ON, def. 2.

off and on Also, on and off. 1. Intermittently, from time to time. For example, I read his column off and on, or We've been working on the garden all summer, on and off. [Early 1500s] 2. Also, off again, on again; on again, off again. Uncertain, vacillating, as in Theirs is an off again, on again relationship, or The peace talks are on again, off again. Some believe this term originally referred to minor railroad accidents, where a train went off track and then on again. [Mid-1800s]

off and running

Making a good start, progressing well, as in After the first episode the new soap opera was off and running. Originating in horse racing, as the traditional announcement at the beginning of a race

("They're off and running"), this phrase began to be used more broadly in the second half of the 1900s.

off balance

1. Out of equilibrium, unsteady, as in When learning how to ride a two-wheeler, it's easy to get off balance and fall, or She stood up and threw the canoe off balance. [Mid-1900s] 2. Surprised, unprepared, as in The teacher gives unannounced tests to keep the class off balance. [Second half of 1900s]

off base

Wrong, relying on a mistaken premise, as in His description of the accounting system was totally off base. This metaphoric term originated in baseball, where a runner who steps off a base can be put out.

[c. 1940]

off duty

hand. see under ON DUTY.

offense

hand. see NO OFFENSE; TAKE OFFENSE.

late 1800s, may allude to an elderly person falling from a rocking chair; trolley, also dating from the late 1800s, may be explained by George Ade's use of it in Artie (1896): "Any one that's got his head full of the girl proposition's liable to go off his trolley at the first curve." The last, chump, is also slang for "head" and was first recorded in 1859.

off one's high horse

hand. see ON ONE'S HIGH HORSE.

off one's rocker Also, off one's nut or trolley. hand. See OFF ONE'S HEAD.

off someone's back Also off someone's case. No longer harassing or bothering someone. It is often put as get off someone's back or case, as in I told her to get off my back?

I'll mow the lawn tomorrow, or I wish Dad would get off my case about grades. The first of these slangy terms dates from the 1880s although it became frequent only in the 1940s, and its antonym, on one's back (as in He's been on my back about that report all morning) dates from about 1960. The variant off someone's case was first recorded only in 1970, and its antonym, on someone's case (as in He's always on my case) in 1971. Also see GET OFF, def. 8.

off someone's feet

1. sweep or carry or knock off someone's feet. Overwhelm someone emotionally; infatuate someone; make a very favorable impression on someone. For example, Winning first prize knocked her off her feet, or With his little gifts and gallant behavior, he swept her off her feet, or That fine speech carried him off his feet. The term using sweep dates from about 1900, carry from the mid-1800s, and knock from the early 1900s. 2. run or rush someone off his or her feet. Work someone to the point of exhaustion, hurry or pressure someone, as in With all the preparations, they've been running me off my feet, or The waiters were rushed off their feet. These hyperbolic expressions allude to running or hurrying so much that one falls down. The first dates from the mid-1800s; the second was first recorded as rushed off one's legs in 1916.

off someone's hands Out of or removed from someone's charge, possession, or responsibility. It is often put as take off someone's hands, as in We hoped that once they saw the kittens they would take them off our hands, or I'm glad that swing set is finally off our hands. [First half of 1600s]

off the air

Not being broadcast, as in Once they knew they were off the air, the panelists burst out laughing.

This idiom, along with the antonym on the air ("being broadcast"), dates from the 1920s, air being considered a medium for radio-wave transmission.

off the beam

Off course, on the wrong track, as in He's way off the beam with that argument. This colloquial term and its antonym, on the beam, meaning "on the right track," allude to directing aircraft by means of radio beams. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

off the beaten track

An unusual route or destination, as in We found a great vacation spot, off the beaten track. This term alludes to a well-worn path trodden down by many feet and was first recorded in 1860, although the phrase beaten track was recorded in 1638 in reference to the usual, unoriginal way of doing something.

off the cuff

Impromptu, extemporaneous, as in His speech was entirely off the cuff. This term suppposedly alludes to the practice of speakers making last-minute notes on the cuff of a shirtsleeve. [1930s]

off the deep end

hand. see GO OFF THE DEEP END.

off the ground

hand. see GET OFF THE GROUND.

off the handle

hand. see FLY OFF THE HANDLE.

off the hook Also, get or let off the hook. Released (or be released) from blame or annoying obligation, as in He was out of town

during the robbery so he was off the hook, or I don't know how the muggers got off the book, or Once they found the real culprit, they let Mary off the hook. This idiom alludes to the fish that manages to free itself from the angler's hook and get away. [Mid-1800s]

off the mark Also, wide of the mark. Inaccurate, wrong, as in The forecast was off the mark, since unemployment is down, or His answers on the test were just wide of the mark. It is also put as miss the mark, meaning "be mistaken," as in The minister missed the mark when he assumed everyone would contribute to the supper. All these terms allude to mark in the sense of "a target," as do the antonyms on the mark and hit the mark, meaning "exactly right," as in He was right on the mark with that budget amendment, or Bill hit the mark when he accused Tom of lying.

[Mid-1300s]

off the rack

Ready-made, as in She has all her clothes made; she never buys a dress off the rack. The rack here is a frame from which clothes are hung. [Mid-1900s] A British synonym is off the peg, similarly alluding to a knob from which clothes are hung and dating from the late 1800s. Also see

OFF THE SHELF.

off the rails

In an abnormal or malfunctioning condition, as in Her political campaign has been off the rails for months. The phrase occurs commonly with go, as in Once the superintendant resigned, the effort to reform the school system went off the rails. This idiom alludes to the rails on which trains run; if

a train goes off the rails, it stops or crashes. [Mid-1800s]

off the record

Unofficially, in confidence, not for publication, as in What he was about to say, he told the reporters, was strictly off the record. Probably alluding to striking evidence from a court record (because it is irrelevant or improper), this term came into wide use in the mid-1900s, especially with reference to persons who did not wish to be quoted by journalists. For antonyms, see GO ON

RECORD; JUST FOR THE RECORD.

off the shelf

Ready-made, available from merchandise or in stock, as opposed to a special order. For example,

Sometimes you can get a better discount by buying an appliance off the shelf. [First half of 1900s]

Also see OFF THE RACK; ON THE SHELF.

off the top of one's head

In an impromptu way, without much thought, as in Off the top of my head I'd say we'll double our profits in a year. This idiom suggests one has not used the inside of one's head before making some statement. [Mid-1900s] off the track Away from one's objective, train of thought, or a sequence of events, It is often put as get or put or throw off the track, as in Your question has gotten me off the track, or The interruption threw Mom off the track and she forgot what she'd already put into the stew. This term comes from railroading, where it means "derailed." Its figurative use was first recorded in 1875.

off the wagon

hand. see ON THE WAGON.

off the wall

Eccentric, unconventional, as in That idea of opening a 100-seat theater is off the wall. This expression probably originated in baseball or some other sport in which the ball can bounce off a wall in an erratic way. [Colloquial; 1960s]

of it

hand. see COME TO THINK OF IT; FOR FUN (THE FUN OF IT); FOR THE HELL OF IT; FULL OF IT; HAVE A GOOD TIME (OF IT); LONG AND SHORT OF IT; MAKE A DAY OF IT; ON THE FACE OF IT; OUT OF IT; SNAP OUT OF IT; THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT; THE HALF OF IT; WHAT OF IT.

of late

Recently, lately, as in She's been very quiet of late; is something wrong? This idiom uses late as a noun instead of an adjective, a usage dating from about 1250. The idiom dates from the early 1400s.

of necessity Also, out of necessity. As an inevitable consequence, unavoidably, as in the New

Testament: "Of necessity he must release one unto them at the Feast" (Luke 23:17). [Late 1300s]

of note

Important, of distinction, famous, as in I have nothing of note to report, or The speaker was a man of note. This idiom uses note in the sense of "importance" or "fame." [Late 1500s]

of old

Formerly, long since, at an earlier time, as in In days of old the whole town turned out to watch the parade. This somewhat archaic idiom dates from about 1400.

of one's life

Being the greatest, worst, or best occasion of a lifetime, as in She was having the time of her life at the party, or The threatened takeover of the company put the president in the fight of his life.

of one's own accord Also, of one's own free will. Voluntarily, without prompting or coercion, as in The entire audience rose of their own accord, or No, I'm climbing this mountain of my own free will. The first term dates from about 1450, the variant from about 1600.

of service to someone, be

Help someone, as in How can I be of service to you? This idiom uses service in the sense of "supplying someone's needs." [c. 1700]

of sorts Also, of a sort. Of a kind, especially a mediocre or somewhat different kind. For example,

He was wearing a jacket of sorts but no tie, or They established a constitutional government of a sort. [c. 1900]

often

hand. see EVERY NOW AND THEN (SO OFTEN); MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

often as not

hand. see under MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

of the devil

hand. see SPEAK OF THE DEVIL.

of the essence

Of the greatest importance, crucial, as in Time is of the essence. This idiom, which uses essence in the sense of "the most important element of something," was first recorded in 1873, although the phrase the essence of . . . was already being used in the mid-1600s.

of the first water

Of the finest quality, as in That was a play of the first water. This idiom refers to a grading system for diamonds for their color or luster (compared to the shininess of water). The system is no longer

used but the term, used figuratively since the early 1800s, has survived it.

of the kind

hand. see NOTHING OF THE KIND.

of the moment

Of importance at this time, as in The issue of the moment is dealing with our budget deficit. This expression gave rise in succeeding decades to the man of the moment, meaning "the most important person at this time," as in When Alan hit a home run and broke the tie, he was the man of the moment.

[c. 1930]

of two minds, be

Be undecided, vacillate between two alternatives, as in She's of two minds about her new job?

it's much closer to home but also less challenging. Put as in two minds, this idiom was first recorded in 1853, but variants such as diverse minds and twenty minds date back to the early 1500s.

oil

hand. see BANANA OIL; BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL; GREASE (OIL) SOMEONE'S PALM; GREASE (OIL) THE WHEELS; POUR OIL ON TROUBLED WATERS; STRIKE IT RICH (OIL).

ointment

hand. see FLY IN THE OINTMENT.

old

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with OLD, also see ANY OLD; CHIP OFF THE

OLD BLOCK; COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE; DIRTY JOKE (OLD MAN); GET THE AIR (OLD HEAVE-HO); NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLES; NO FOOL LIKE AN OLD FOOL; OF OLD; RIPE OLD AGE; SAME OLD STORY; SETTLE A SCORE (OLD SCORES); STAMPING GROUND, OLD; TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS; UP TO ONE'S OLD TRICKS.

old as Adam Also, old as the hills. Ancient, as in He must be as old as Adam by now, or That joke is as old as the hills. The first term, alluding to the first human created by God, according to the Bible, was first recorded only in 1867. The variant, referring to geological time (when mountains were created), dates from about 1800.

old chestnut

A stale joke, story, or saying, as in Dad keeps on telling that old chestnut about how many psychiatrists it takes to change a light bulb. This expression comes from William Dimond's play, The Broken Sword (1816), in which one character keeps repeating the same stories, one of them about a cork tree, and is interrupted each time by another character who says "Chestnut, you mean . . . I have heard you tell the joke twenty-seven times and I am sure it was a chestnut."

old college try, the

One's best effort, as in Come on, if we give it the old college try we just might be able to cut down this tree. This slangy expression, originally a cheer to urge a team on, dates from the 1930s when college football films were very popular.

old saw

A proverb or maxim, as in Mom's always repeating the old saw, "Haste makes waste." This term uses saw in the sense of "saying," and old in the sense of "wise" rather than old-fashioned. [Second half of 1400s]

old shoe

hand. see COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE.

old stamping ground

hand. see STAMPING GROUND.

old story, an

A common occurrence or excuse. For example, Karen's mood swings are an old story. [c. 1700]

Also see SAME OLD STORY.

old wives' tale

A superstition, as in Toads cause warts? That's an old wives' tale. This expression was already known in ancient Greece, and a version in English was recorded in 1387. Despite invoking bigoted stereotypes of women and old people, it survives.

olive branch

A symbol of peace, an offering of good will, as in They feuded for years, but finally the Hatfields came over bearing an olive branch. This term is alluded to in the Bible (Genesis 8:11), where the dove comes to Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its mouth. [c. 1600]

omega

hand. see ALPHA AND OMEGA.

on, be

hand. see BE ON.

on account

In part payment of a debt, as in He paid half the amount on account. [Early 1600s]

on account of

Owing to, because of the fact that, as in We canceled the beach picnic on account of the bad weather forecast. This idiom was first recorded in 1936.

on a dime

In a very small space, suddenly, as in That horse is so well trained it can turn on a dime. This expression alludes to the fact that the dime is the smallest-size U.S. coin. [Early 1900s]

on a first-name basis

Quite familiar and friendly, as in Practically all the guests were on a first-name basis. This idiom alludes to the fact that using a person's given name betokens familiarity. [Second half of 1900s]

on again

hand. see under OFF AND ON.

on a limb

hand. see OUT ON A LIMB.

on all fours

On one's hands and knees, as in Seven of us were on all fours, looking for the lost earring in the sand. In this idiom fours refers to the four limbs. [1300s]

on and off

hand. see OFF AND ON.

on and on

Continuously, persistently, without stopping, as in On and on they rode for three whole days. Also

see GO ON AND ON.

on an even keel

Stable, balanced, as in She had the knack of keeping us on an even keel in any emergency. This term, used figuratively since the mid-1800s, alludes to keeping a vessel's keel in a level position, assuring smooth sailing.

on a par with

As good as, equal to, as in This violinist may be an amateur but he's on a par with professional orchestral players. The noun par has meant "that which is equal" since the mid-1600s; the idiom here was first recorded in 1832.