American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

card players who do not keep their hands on the table (board) may be suspected of changing their cards under the table.

open and shut

Simple, straightforward, easily solved, as in With three eyewitnesses, the prosecutor said this case was open and shut. This term suggests that one has immediate access to the facts of a situation. [c. 1840]

open book

Something or someone that can be readily examined or understood, as in His entire life is an open book. This metaphoric expression is often expanded to read someone like an open book, meaning "to discern someone's thoughts or feelings"; variations of this metaphor were used by Shakespeare: "Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face," (Romeo and Juliet, 1:3) and "O, like a book of sport thou'lt read me o'er" (Troilus and Cressida, 4:5). [Mid-1800s] For an antonym, see

CLOSED BOOK.

open doors

hand. see OPEN THE DOOR TO.

open fire

Begin a verbal attack, as in In her second letter to the editor she opened fire, saying the reporter had deliberately misquoted her. This idiom alludes to discharging a firearm. [Mid-1800s]

open house, keep

Provide hospitality for visitors, as in They loved company and kept open house virtually all summer long. This usage differs from the plain open house, which refers to a particular occasion or period when a home or institution is open to visitors or prospective buyers. [First half of 1500s]

open mind

A mind receptive to different opinions and ideas, as in Her open mind could see merit in the new method. This phrase is often put as keep an open mind, as in The judge cautioned the jury to keep an open mind while hearing the evidence. [First half of 1800s]

open one's eyes

Become or make someone aware of the truth of a situation, as in It's time you opened your eyes to the politics of this office, or The trip to Zimbabwe opened her eyes to the difficulties faced by developing nations. [Second half of 1800s]

open one's heart to

Confide in, reveal one's thoughts and feelings to, as in Last night Meg opened her heart to her sister concerning her marriage. This expression uses heart in the sense of "the seat of thought and emotion," a usage dating from the 9th century.

open one's mouth

hand. see NOT OPEN ONE'S MOUTH.

open question

An unresolved issue, one that has not been finally determined. For example, Whether the town should pave all the unpaved roads remains an open question. In the mid-1800s this term acquired a specific meaning in the British Parliament, that is, "an issue on which members may vote independently, without respect to their party affiliation."

open season on

A period of unrestrained criticism or attack on something or someone, as in During an election year it's open season on all officeholders. This expression alludes to the period during which one may legally hunt or fish. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

open secret

Something that is supposedly clandestine but is in fact widely known, as in It's an open secret that both their children are adopted. This expression originated as the title of a Spanish play by Calderón, El Secreto a Voces ("The Noisy Secret"), which was translated by Carlo Gozzi into Italian as Il pubblico secreto (1769). In English the term came into general use during the 1800s.

open the door to Also, open doors. Create an opportunity for, as in Legalizing marijuana may open the door to all kinds of abuse, or Her statement opened the door to further discussion, or Dad's connections at the hospital have opened doors for Richard's colleagues at medical school.

[Late 1600s]

open up

1. Spread out, unfold, as in A green valley opened up before us. [Early 1800s] 2. Begin operation, as in The new store opens up next month. [Late 1700s] 3. Begin firing, begin attacking, as in The artillery opened up at dawn, or, figuratively, The speaker opened up fiercely on the opposition.

OPEN FIRE. 4. Speak freely and candidly, as in At last the witness opened up and told what happened. [Colloquial; c. 1920] 5. Make an opening by cutting, as in The surgeon opened up the patient's chest. 6. Become available or accessible, as in With new markets opening up all the time we hope to see our revenues increase dramatically. [Mid-1800s] 7. Increase the speed of a vehicle, as in Let's see how fast the car will go if you open it up. [Colloquial; c. 1920] 8. Open the door, let me (or us) in, as in Open up! This is the police. [Mid-1900s] Note that in all of these usages except def. 4 and 7, up serves as an intensifier, that is, it emphasizes the verb open.

open with

Begin with, as in The concert season opens with the Symphony performing Mahler's Ninth. This idiom uses open in the sense of "begin," a usage dating from the late 1600s.

opinion

hand. see FORM AN OPINION; MATTER OF OPINION.

opposite number, one's

One's counterpart, as in He's my opposite number in the California office. This expression is generally used for a person's equivalent in another organization or system (number alluding to their position in a hierarchy). [c. 1900]

opt out

Choose not to participate, as in Our school opted out of the state competition. [Slang; mid-1900s]

oranges

hand. see APPLES AND ORANGES.

orbit

hand. see IN ORBIT.

order

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with ORDER, also see APPLE-PIE ORDER;

BACK ORDER; CALL TO ORDER; IN ORDER; IN SHORT ORDER; JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR OR

DERED; LAW AND ORDER; MADE TO ORDER; MARCHING ORDERS; ON ORDER; ON THE ORDER OF; OUT OF ORDER; PECKING ORDER; PUT ONE'S HOUSE IN ORDER; SHORT ORDER; STANDING ORDERS; TALL ORDER; TO ORDER.

order of the day, the

The prevailing or expected mode, the current agenda, as in Volatility is the order of the day in high-tech stocks, or T-shirts and blue jeans were the order of the day for the picnic. This expression, dating from the late 1600s, originally alluded to the subject of debate in a legislature on a particular day, as well as to specific commands given to troops. Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1700s.

order someone about

Give peremptory commands to someone, be domineering, as in That teacher had better learn not to order us about. [Mid-1800s]

ordinary

hand. see OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

or else

1. Otherwise, in different circumstances, as in Present your case now, or else you won't have a

chance.

[c. 1300] 2. Regardless of any extenuating circumstances, no matter what, as in Be there on time or else! [Second half of 1800s]

or other

One besides the one mentioned. This phrase is used to emphasize indefinite words beginning with some, such as someone, somehow, sometime, somewhere. For example, Someone or other will be taking tickets at the door, or I can't remember where I put the lawn rake, but it's somewhere or other in the garage, or Somehow or other he found one that matched. [c. 1600]

or so

Approximately, especially alluding to a number, as in Four hundred or so guests are invited. [Late 1500s]

or what?

A phrase following a statement that adds emphasis or suggests an option. For example, in Is this a good movie or what? the phrase asks for confirmation or agreement. However, it also may ask for an alternative, as in Is this book a biography or what? In the 1700s it generally asked for a choice among a series of options, and it still has this function, as in In what does John excel? in imagination? in reasoning powers? in mathematics? or what?

or whatever

Whatnot, or any other thing that might be mentioned, as in They've stocked wine, beer, soda, or whatever, or You can stay or leave, or whatever. [Early 1900s]

other

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with OTHER, also see AT EACH OTHER'S

THROATS; DO UNTO OTHERS; EACH OTHER; EVERY OTHER; IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER; IN SOMEONE'S POCKET (LIVE IN EACH OTHER'S POCKETS); IN OTHER WORDS; LAUGH OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH; LOOK THE OTHER WAY; MADE FOR (EACH OTHER); NONE OTHER THAN; ON THE ONE (THE OTHER) HAND; OR OTHER; RIGHT (OTHER) SIDE OF THE TRACKS; SHOE IS ON THE OTHER FOOT; SIX OF ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER; THE OTHER DAY; THIS AND THAT (AND THE OTHER); TURN THE OTHER CHEEK; WAIT FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP.

other day, the

One day recently, a short time ago, as in I saw her in the museum the other day. This term originally meant either "the next day" or "the preceding day" (tomorrow or yesterday). In its current meaning it was first recorded in 1421.

other fish to fry Also, better or bigger fish to fry. More important matters to attend to, as in

They asked me to help with the decorations, but I have other fish to fry. [Mid-1500s]

other good fish in the sea

hand. see NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA.

other side of the coin

The opposite aspect, as in I know you'd like to go, but the other side of the coin is that someone has to stay with the baby, or The subscription is expensive, but the other side of the coin is that it's an excellent publication. This term replaced the older other side of the medal or other side of the shield about 1900.

other side of the tracks

hand. see RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRACKS.

other than

1. Different from, besides, as in They were shocked to find she has a lover other than her husband.

[1250] 2. In a different manner than; otherwise than, as in How could she be other than happy with the new house? [Late 1800s] 3. other than that. Except that, as in Other than that the nearest store was five miles away, it was a perfect location.

other things being equal Also, all else being equal. Given the same circumstances, as in

Other things being equal, I prefer the green sofa. This term is a translation of the Latin phrase ceteris paribus, which was widely used until the 18th century, when it began to be replaced by the English equivalent.

other way round, the

In the reverse direction, as in I don't think the sofa will go through the door this way; let's try it the other way round.

ounce

In addition to the idiom beginning with OUNCE, also see MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK

(BOUNCE FOR THE OUNCE).

ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, an

It is easier to forestall a disaster than to deal with it. For example, The new law makes all children under twelve wear bicycle helmets?

an ounce of prevention. This ancient proverb is first recorded in Latin in Henry de Bracton's De Legibus (c. 1240) and has been repeated ever since, often in shortened form.

out

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with OUT, also see ACE OUT; ACT OUT; ALL

OUT; ASK OUT; BACK OUT; BAIL OUT; BANG OUT; BAWL OUT; BEAR OUT; BEAT ONE'S BRAINS OUT; BEAT OUT; BELT OUT; BENT OUT OF SHAPE; BLACK OUT;

BLISS OUT; BLOT OUT; BLOW ONE'S BRAINS OUT; BLOW OUT; BLURT OUT; BOTTOM OUT; BOW OUT; BRANCH OUT; BRAVE OUT; BREAK OUT; BREAK OUT OF; BRING OUT; BUG OUT; BUM OUT; BURN OUT; BURST INTO (OUT); BUY OUT; CALL OUT; CAMP OUT; CANCEL OUT; CARD IN (OUT); CARRY OUT; CAST OUT; CHECK OUT; CHEW OUT; CHICKEN OUT; CHILL OUT; CHURN OUT; CLEAN OUT; CLEAR OUT; CLOCK IN (OUT); CLOSE OUT; COME OUT; COME OUT AHEAD; COME OUT IN THE WASH; COME OUT OF; COME OUT WITH; CONK OUT; COOL OFF (OUT); COP OUT; COUNT OUT; CRANK OUT; CRAP OUT; CROP OUT; CRY (OUT) FOR; CUT IT OUT; CUT OUT; DAY AFTER DAY (DAY IN, DAY OUT); DEAL OUT; DECK OUT; DIE OUT; DIG OUT; DINE OUT ON; DISH OUT; DO OUT OF; DOPE OUT; DOWN AND OUT; DRAG ON (OUT); DRAW OUT; DROP OUT; DROWN OUT; DRUM OUT; DRY OUT; DUCK OUT; EASE OUT; EAT SOMEONE OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME; EAT ONE'S HEART OUT; EAT OUT; EAT OUT OF ONE'S HAND; EDGE OUT; EKE OUT; FADE OUT; FALL OUT; FARM OUT; FAR OUT; FEEL OUT; FERRET OUT; FIGHT IT OUT; FIGURE OUT; FILL OUT; FIND OUT; FISH OUT; FISH OUT OF WATER; FIT OUT; FIZZLE OUT; FLAKE OUT; FLAT OUT; FLESH OUT; FLIP ONE'S LID (OUT); FLUNK OUT; FOLLOW OUT; FOR CRYING OUT LOUD; FORK OVER (OUT); FREAK OUT; FREEZE OUT; FRESH OUT OF; GET OUT; GET OUT OF; GET THE LEAD OUT; GIVE OUT; GO OUT; GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY; GROSS OUT; GROW OUT OF; GUT IT OUT; HAMMER OUT; HAND OUT; HANG OUT; HANG OUT ONE'S SHINGLE; HANG OUT TO DRY; HASH OVER (OUT); HAVE AN OUT; HAVE IT OUT; HAVE ONE'S WORK CUT OUT; HEAD OUT; HEAR OUT; HEART GOES OUT TO; HELP OUT; HIDE OUT; HIRE OUT; HIT OUT; HOLD OUT; IN (OUT OF) FAVOR; IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER; IN (OUT OF) ONE'S ELEMENT; IN (OUT OF) ONE'S HAIR; IN (OUT OF) PRINT; IN (OUT OF) REACH; INS AND OUTS; INSIDE OUT; INTO (OUT OF) THIN AIR; IN (OUT OF) TUNE; IRON OUT; JURY IS STILL OUT; KEEP AN EYE OUT; KICK OUT; KNOCK OUT; KNOCK THE BOTTOM OUT; LASH OUT; LAY OUT; LEAVE OUT; LET OUT; LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG; LIGHT OUT; LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL; LIVE OUT; LOCK OUT; LOG IN (OUT); LOOK OUT; LOOK OUT FOR; LOSE OUT; LUCK OUT; MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL; MAKE CAPITAL OUT OF; MAKE OUT; MAX OUT; MELLOW OUT; MISS OUT ON; MURDER WILL OUT; MUSTER IN (OUT); NOSE OUT; NOSE OUT OF JOINT; ODD MAN OUT; ON THE OUTS; ON THE WAY OUT; OPT OUT; PAN OUT; PARCEL OUT; PASS OUT; PAY OUT; PETER OUT; PHASE IN (OUT); PICK OUT; PIG IT (OUT); PLAYED OUT; PLAY OUT; POINT OUT; POOP OUT; POUND OUT; POUR OUT; PRICE OUT OF THE MARKET; PRINT OUT; PROVE OUT; PSYCH OUT; PULL OUT; PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS; PULL OUT OF A HAT; PULL THE RUG OUT; PUNCH IN (OUT); PUT ONE OUT; PUT ONESELF OUT; PUT OUT; PUT OUT FEELERS; PUT SOMEONE OUT OF HIS OR HER MISERY; PUT OUT TO GRASS; PUZZLE OUT; RACK OUT; RAIN OUT; READ OUT OF; RIDE OUT; RIGHT OUT; RIGHT-SIDE OUT; ROLL OUT; ROOT OUT;

ROUND OFF (OUT); ROUGH OUT; RUB OUT; RULE OUT; RUN OUT OF; RUN OUT ON; RUN OUT THE CLOCK; SACK IN (OUT); SCARE OUT OF ONE'S WITS; SCREW SOMEONE OUT OF; SEE OUT; SELL OUT; SET OUT; SETTLE (WIPE OUT) OLD SCORES; SHELL OUT; SHIP OUT; SHOOT OUT; SHUT OUT; SIGN OUT; SING OUT; SINGLE OUT; SIT OUT; SKIP OUT; SLEEP OUT; SLIP OUT; SMOKE OUT; SNAP OUT OF IT; SNIFF OUT; SNUFF OUT; SOUND OUT; SPACE OUT; SPELL OUT; SPIN OUT; STAKE OUT; STAMP OUT; STAND OUT; START OUT; STEP OUT; STICK ONE'S NECK OUT; STICK OUT; STRAIGHTEN OUT; STRESS OUT; STRIKE OUT; STRING OUT; STRUNG OUT; SWEAR OUT; SWEAT OUT; TAKE A LEAF OUT OF SOMEONE'S BOOK; TAKE IT OUT ON; TAKE OUT; TAKE THE WIND OUT OF SOMEONE'S SAILS; TALKED OUT; TALK OUT; TALK OUT OF; TEASE OUT; TELL TALES (OUT OF SCHOOL); THINK OUT; THRASH OUT; THROW OUT; TIME OUT; TIRED OUT; TOP OUT; TRICK OUT; TROT OUT; TRUTH WILL OUT; TRY OUT; TUCKERED OUT; TUNE OUT; TURN OUT; WAIT OUT; WALK OUT; WANT IN (OUT); WASHED OUT; WASH OUT; WEAR OUT; WEASEL OUT; WEAVE IN AND OUT; WEED OUT; WELL OUT OF; WHACKED OUT; WIG OUT; WIN OUT; WIPE OUT; WORK OUT; WORM OUT OF; WRITE OUT; YEAR IN, YEAR OUT; ZAP OUT.

out and about

Well enough to come and go, especially after an illness. For example, I'm glad to see you're out and about again. [Late 1800s] Also see UP AND ABOUT.

out and away

By far, surpassing all others, as in He's out and away the best pitcher in the league. [First half of 1800s]

out at the elbows Also, out at the heels or knees. Wearing clothes that are worn out or torn; poor. For example, When we last saw Phil he was out at the elbows. These expressions, dating from the late 1500s and early 1600s, can refer to clothes worn through at these points as well as to a person too poor to replace them.

out back

hand. see under OUT FRONT.

out cold Also, out for the count; out like a light. Unconscious; also, asleep. For exam

ple, He crashed into the wall and was out cold, or Willie punched him too hard, and he was out for the count or Don't call Jane; she's out like a light by ten every night. The adjective cold refers to the lack of heat in a dead body and has been used to mean "unconscious" since the second half of the 1800s. The first variant comes from boxing, where a fighter who is knocked down must get up before the referee counts to ten or be declared defeated; it dates from about 1930. The last variant alludes to turning out a light and dates from the first half of the 1900s.

outdoors

hand. see BIG AS LIFE (ALL OUTDOORS).

out for, be

1. Be intent on, want, as in The management is mostly out for bigger growth in sales. [c. 1900] 2. out for blood. Intent on revenge, ready to fight with someone, as in When Tom heard they'd outbid him, he was out for blood. This hyperbolic term uses blood in the sense of "bloodshed" or "violent confrontation." Also see GO OUT FOR.

out for the count

hand. see under OUT COLD.

out from under

Free from difficulties, especially from a burden of debts or work. For example, They've been using credit cards for everything and don't know how they'll get out from under, or We have loads of mail to answer, but we'll soon get out from under. This idiom uses under in the sense of "in a position of subjection." [Mid-1800s]

out front

In front of a building or house, as in We really need to put another light out front, or I'll meet you at the museum, out front. The antonym, referring to the back of a building, is out back, as in John's out back fixing his bike. The noun front has been used for the side of a building where the main entrance is located since the mid-1300s; back for the rear of a building dates from the late 1300s.

out in left field Also, out of left field. Eccentric, odd; also, mistaken. For example, The composer's use of dissonance in this symphony is way out in left field, or His answer was out of left field; he was totally wrong. This idiom refers to baseball's left field but the precise allusion is disputed. Among the theories proposed is that in some ballparks the left field wall is farther from the batter than the wall in right field. Another is that in early ballparks, left field was often larger than right field and therefore was home to more lost balls and general confusion. [Mid-1900s] Also

see FAR OUT.

out in the cold

Excluded from benefits given to others, neglected, as in Her stand on abortion left her out in the cold with the party. This idiom alludes to being left outdoors without shelter. [Mid-1800s] Also see

COME IN FROM THE COLD.

out in the open Also, out into the open. In or into public view or knowledge, as in I wish he wouldn't talk behind our backs but bring his complaints out in the open, or It's important to bring the merger plans out into the open. This term uses open to mean "an unconcealed state." [c.

1940]

out like a light

hand. see under OUT COLD.

out loud

Audibly, aloud, as in I sometimes find myself reading the paper out loud, or That movie was hilarious; the whole audience was laughing out loud. First recorded in 1821, this synonym for aloud was once criticized as too colloquial for formal writing, but this view is no longer widespread. Moreover, aloud is rarely used with verbs like laugh and cry. Also see FOR CRYING OUT

LOUD.

out of, be

Be lacking, as in We're out of sugar and coffee. Shakespeare used this idiom in Henry V (3:7): "These English are . . . out of beef." [Late 1500s] Also see RUN OUT OF.

out of a clear blue sky Also, out of the blue. Without warning, suddenly, as in Her offer to help us with the fundraising came out of a clear blue sky, or We got a check from Aunt Ruby out of the blue. These metaphoric terms allude to something dropping unexpectedly from the sky. [Late 1800s] Also see OUT OF NOWHERE.

out of bounds

Beyond established limits, breaking the rules, unreasonable. For example, Calling the teacher a liar?

that's out of bounds. This expression alludes to the boundaries of the playing area in numerous sports and to the rules applying to them. Its figurative use dates from the 1940s. [Early 1800s]

Also see WITHIN BOUNDS.

out of breath

Breathing with difficulty, panting, gasping. For example, After five flights of stairs I'm out of breath. This slightly hyperbolic term (since literally running out of breath means one is dead) dates from the late 1500s. Also see CATCH ONE'S BREATH.

out of business

1. No longer carrying on commercial transactions, as in He's decided to go out of business when he turns sixty-five, or The supermarkets are putting the small grocers out of business. 2. Not in working order, inoperative, as in It looks as though the merry-go-round is out of business tonight.

Also see

out of character

hand. see IN CHARACTER.

out of circulation

hand. see under IN CIRCULATION.

out of commission

Not in working order, unable to function. For example, The drawbridge is out of commission so we'll have to take the tunnel. This idiom originally referred to a ship that was laid up for repairs or held in reserve. Similarly, the antonym, in commission, referred to a ship armed and ready for action. The latter term is also used in more general contexts today, as in My car's back in commission now, so we can drive to the theater. [Late 1800s]

out of condition Also, out of shape. hand. See under IN CONDITION.

out of control Also, out of hand. No longer under management, direction, or regulation; unmanageable or unruly. For example, Housing costs are out of control, or The children were getting out of hand again. The first term uses control in the sense of "restraint," a usage dating from the late 1500s; the variant uses hand in the sense of "power" or "authority," and dates from the late 1800s.

out of date

1. Too old to be used, past the point of expiration, as in This milk is out of date. [Early 1600s] 2. Old-fashioned, no longer in style, as in Dean has three suits but they're all out of date. [Early 1800s]

out of fashion Also, out of style. hand. See GO OUT, def. 5.

out of favor

hand. see under IN FAVOR.

out of gas

hand. see under RUN OUT OF.

out of hand

OUT OF CONTROL. 2. At once, immediately, as in The second surgeon rejected the doctor's treatment plan out of hand. [1300s]

out of harm's way

In a safe condition or place, as in We fenced the yard to keep the children out of harm's way. This idiom was first recorded about 1661.

out of humor

hand. see OUT OF SORTS.

out of it

1. Not participating in or knowledgable about a particular trend, pursuit, or group. For example,

Dad looked really out of it, riding his bike in bathing trunks and long black socks, or Mary sometimes felt out of it be