American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

ballot

hand. see STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

ballpark figure

An acceptable, roughly accurate approximation, as in I know you can't tell me the exact cost; just give me a ballpark figure. This term alludes to a baseball field, which is always an enclosed space. The expression is basically an extension of the somewhat earlier in the ballpark, meaning within a reasonable range, and out of the ballpark, beyond a reasonable range. [Slang; late 1960s]

ball's in your court, the

It's your responsibility now; it's up to you. For example, I've done all I can; now the ball's in your court. This term comes from tennis, where it means it is the opponent's turn to serve or return the ball, and has been transferred to other activities. [Second half of 1900s]

ball up

1.Roll something into a ball, as in She loved to knit and was always balling up her yarn. [Early 1800s]

2.Confuse or bungle, as in Jane got all balled up at the beginning of her speech, or Henry really balled up that exam. This term may come from the fact that when a horse is driven over soft or partly thawed snow, the snow becomes packed into icy balls on its hoofs, making it stumble. Another theory is that it alludes to the vulgar term balls for testicles. [First half of 1900s]

banana

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with BANANA, also see DRIVE SOMEONE

CRAZY (BANANAS); GO BANANAS; TOP BANANA.

banana oil

Nonsense, exaggerated flattery, as in I should be on television? Cut out the banana oil! The precise analogy in this idiom is not clear, unless it is to the fact that banana oil, a paint solvent and artificial flavoring agent, has no relation to the fruit other than that it smells like it. Possibly it is a variation on snake oil, a term for quack medicine that was extended to mean nonsense. [1920s]

band

hand. see ON THE BANDWAGON; TO BEAT THE BAND.

bang

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BANG, also see BEAT (BANG) ONE'S

HEAD AGAINST THE WALL; GET A BANG OUT OF; GO OVER BIG (WITH A BANG); MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.

bang away

1. Strike repeatedly, as in Mary is always banging away on the piano, or The doorbell must be

BANG OUT. 2. Go ahead; begin or continue. This slangy imperative usually calls merely for energetic action, as in You can start without me?

bang away. Also see GO TO (IT), def. 3.

bang for the buck

hand. see MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.

bang into

1. Crash noisily into, collide with, as in A clumsy fellow, Bill was always banging into furniture.

[Early 1700s] 2. Strike heavily so as to drive in; also, persuade. For example, I've been banging nails into the siding all day, or I can't seem to bang it into his head that time is precious. The literal usage dates from the mid-1500s, the figurative from the second half of the 1800s. Also see BUMP

INTO.

bang one's head against

hand. see BEAT ONE'S HEAD AGAINST.

bang out

Produce something loudly or hastily by striking, either a musical instrument or a typing keyboard. For example, The accompanist banged out the melody on the piano, or John planned to bang out his presentation in a couple of hours. [Late 1800s]

bang up

Damage, injure, as in Banging up the car a second time will make Dad very unhappy, or Mother fell down the stairs and was all banged up. The verb to bang alone had this meaning from the 1500s on, up being added in the late 1800s. In the early 1800s it gave rise to the colloquial adjective bang-up, for excellent or very successful, as in David did a bang-up job baking the birthday cake.

bank

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with BANK, also see BREAK THE BANK;

LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

bank on

Rely on, count on. For example, You can bank on Molly's caterer to do a good job. This expression alludes to bank as a reliable storage place for money. [Late 1800s]

baptism of fire

A severe ordeal or test, especially an initial one, as in This audition would be Robert's baptism of fire. This term transfers the original religious rite of baptism, whereby holiness is imparted, to various kinds of ordeal. At first it signified the death of martyrs at the stake, and in 19th-century France it was used for a soldier's first experience of combat. Currently it is used more loosely for any difficult first encounter.

bar

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with BAR, also see BEHIND BARS; NO HOLDS

BARRED.

bare bones

The mere essentials or plain, unadorned framework of something, as in This outline gives just the bare bones of the story; details will come later. This phrase transfers the naked skeleton of a body to figurative use. [c. 1900]

barefaced lie

A shameless falsehood. For example, Bill could tell a barefaced lie with a straight face. The adjective barefaced means

''beardless," and one theory is that in the 1500s this condition was considered brazen in all but the youngest males. By the late 1600s barefaced also meant "brazen" or "bold," the meaning alluded to in this phrase.

bare hands, with one's

With one's hands but without tools, weapons, or other implements. For example, Jean assembled the new stove with her bare hands. This phrase, first recorded in 1604, extends the literal meaning, "with uncovered (that is, without gloves) and hence unprotected hands," to "unaided by implements."

bare necessities

Just sufficient resources, with nothing to spare. For example, The room was furnished with just the bare necessities?

bed, table, chair. This idiom uses bare in the sense of "mere, and nothing else," a usage dating from about 1200.

bare one's soul

Reveal one's most private thoughts and feelings. For example, Teenagers rarely bare their souls to their parents; they prefer their peers. This figurative use of the verb bare, which literally means "make bare" or "uncover," dates from A.D. 1000.

bare one's teeth Also, show one's teeth. Indicate hostility and readiness to fight, as in His refusal to accept my offer made it clear I'd have to bare my teeth, or In this instance, calling in a lawyer is showing one's teeth. This figurative term transfers the snarl of a dog to human anger. It first was recorded as show one's teeth in 1615.

bargain

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with BARGAIN, also see DRIVE A BARGAIN;

INTO THE BARGAIN; MAKE THE BEST OF IT (A BAD BARGAIN); MORE THAN ONE BARGAINED FOR; STRIKE A BARGAIN.

bargain for

1. Also, bargain over. Negotiate about something, usually a price. For example, In open-air markets it is standard practice to bargain for the best price. [Late 1300s] 2. Also, bargain on. Expect, be prepared for, as in In planning the picnic, we hadn't bargained for bad weather, or I hadn't bargained on John's coming along. [c. 1800] For a synonym, see COUNT ON.

barge in

Enter rudely or abruptly, intrude. For example, Her mother never knocks but just barges in. The term is also put as barge into or barge in on to mean interrupt, as in Who asked you to barge into our conversation? These phrases use to barge in the sense of "bump into" or "knock against," which may allude to the propensity of these clumsy vessels to collide with other craft. [Late 1800s]

bark

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BARK, also see TALK ONE'S ARM OFF

(THE BARK OFF A TREE).

bark is worse than one's bite, one's

A person seems more hostile or aggressive than is the case, as in Dad sounds very grouchy in the morning, but his bark's worse than his bite. This phrase was a proverb by the mid-1600s.

bark up the wrong tree

Waste one's efforts by pursuing the wrong thing or path, as in If you think I can come up with more money, you're barking up the wrong tree. This term comes from the nocturnal pursuit of raccoon-hunting with the aid of dogs. Occasionally a raccoon fools the dogs, which crowd around a tree, barking loudly, not realizing their quarry has taken a different route. [Early 1800s]

barn

hand. see CAN'T HIT THE BROAD SIDE OF A BARN; LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

bar none Also, barring none. Without exception, as in This is the best book I've read all year, bar none. [Mid1800s]

barrel

hand. see BOTH BARRELS; BOTTOM OF THE BARREL; CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD; LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL; LOCK, STOCK, AND BARREL;

Have a perfect record, as in In meeting deadlines, she's batting one thousand. The term comes from baseball statistics, where it signifies getting a hit for every turn at bat. It was transferred to other activities in the 1920s.

bats in one's belfry, have

Be crazy or at least very eccentric, as in Sally thought her aunt's belief in ghosts indicated she had bats in her belfry. This term in effect likens the bat's seemingly erratic flight in the dark to ideas flying around in a person's head. [Early 1900s]

batten down the hatches

Prepare for trouble, as in Here comes the boss?

batten down the batches. This term originated in the navy, where it signified preparing for a storm by fastening down canvas over doorways and hatches (openings) with strips of wood called battens. [Late 1800s]

bat the breeze

hand. see SHOOT THE BREEZE.

battle

hand. see HALF THE BATTLE; LOSING BATTLE; PITCHED BATTLE.

bawl out

1. Call out loudly, announce, as in Some of the players were quite hard of hearing, so the rector bawled out the bingo numbers. [1500s] 2. Scold or reprimand loudly, as in Her teacher was always bawling out the class for not paying attention. [c. 1900]

bay

hand. see AT BAY.

be

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BE, also see LET BE.

be a credit to

hand. see under DO CREDIT TO.

bead

hand. see DRAW A BEAD ON.

be-all and end-all, the

The most important element or purpose, as in Buying a house became the be-all and end-all for

the newlyweds.

Shakespeare used this idiom in Macbeth (1:6), where Macbeth muses that "this blow might be the be-all and the end-all" for his replacing Duncan as king. [Late 1500s]

be along

Will come, will arrive, as in John said he'd be along in a few minutes, or The doctor's report will be along by the end of the week. This phrase always indicates a future event. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

beam

hand. see BROAD IN THE BEAM; OFF THE BEAM.

bean

hand. see FULL OF BEANS; NOT HAVE A BEAN; NOT KNOW BEANS; NOT WORTH A DIME (BEAN); SPILL THE BEANS; TOUGH BREAK (BEANS).

bear

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BEAR, also see BRING TO BEAR; CROSS

AS A BEAR; CROSS TO BEAR; GRIN AND BEAR IT; LOADED FOR BEAR.

bear a grudge Also, have or hold a grudge. Maintain resentment or anger against someone for a past offense. For example, They held up my claim for months, but I won't bear a grudge against them, or His grandfather was always one to hold a grudge. [c. 1600]

bear down

1. Press or weigh down on someone or something. For example, This pen doesn't write unless you bear down hard on it. [Late 1600s] 2. Try hard, intensify one's efforts, as in If you'll just bear down, you'll pass the test. 3. Move forward in a pressing or threatening way, as in The ferry bore down on our little skiff. This usage was originally nautical. [Early 1700s]

beard the lion

Confront a danger, take a risk, as in I went straight to my boss, bearding the lion. This term was originally a Latin proverb based on a Bible story (I Samuel 17:35) about the shepherd David, who pursued a lion that had stolen a lamb, caught it by its beard, and killed it. By Shakespeare's time it was being used figuratively, as it is today. Sometimes the term is amplified to beard the lion in his den, which may combine the allusion with another Bible story, that of Daniel being shut in a lions' den for the night (Daniel 6:16-24).

bear fruit

Yield results, have a favorable outcome, as in This new idea of his is bound to bear fruit. This metaphoric term, first recorded in 1879, transfers the production of fruit by a tree or plant to other kinds of useful yield.

bearings

hand. see GET ONE'S BEARINGS.

bear in mind Also, keep in mind. Remember, as in Bear in mind that I can't walk as fast as you, or Keep your constituency in mind when you speak. [First half of 1500s]

bear one's cross

hand. see CROSS TO BEAR.

bear out

Back up or confirm, as in The results bear out what he predicted, or His story bears me out exactly.

[Late 1400s]

bear the brunt

Put up with the worst of some bad circumstance, as in It was the secretary who had to bear the brunt of the doctor's anger. This idiom uses brunt in the sense of "the main force of an enemy's attack," which was sustained by the front lines of the defenders. [Second half of 1700s]

bear up

Endure, face a hardship, as in Jane found it hard to bear up under the strain of her father's illness.

This term is also used as an imperative, as in Bear up?

the trip's almost over. [c. 1600]

bear with

Put up with, make allowance for, as in He'll just have to bear with them until they decide. Nicholas Udall used this term in Ralph Roister Doister (c. 1553): "The heart of a man should more honour win by bearing with a woman." It may also be used as an imperative, as in Bear with me?

I'm getting to the point.

beat

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with BEAT, also see DEAD BEAT; HEART

MISSES A BEAT; IF YOU CAN'T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM; MARCH TO A DIFFERENT BEAT; MISS A BEAT; OFF THE BEATEN TRACK; POUND THE PAVEMENT (A BEAT); TO BEAT THE BAND.

beat a dead horse Also, flog a dead horse. Try to revive interest in a hopeless issue. For example, Politicians who favor the old single-tax idea are beating a dead horse. From the 1600s on the term dead horse was used figuratively to mean "something of no current value," specifically an advance in pay or other debt that had to be worked ("flogged") off. [Second half of 1800s]

beat all

Surpass anything, especially in a strange or amazing way, as in Adam and his cousin Eve eloped?

doesn't that beat all! This phrase appears to have replaced beat the Dutch. It is often used in a negative construction, as in the example. [Slang; first half of 1800s] Also see TO BEAT THE

BAND.

beat a path to someone's door

Come to someone in great numbers, as in Ever since she appeared on television, agents have been beating a path to her door. The term beat a path alludes to the trampling action of many feet. [Late 1500s]

beat a retreat Also, beat a hasty retreat. Reverse course or withdraw, usually quickly. For example, I really don't want to run into Jeff?

let's beat a retreat. This term originally (1300s) referred to the military practice of sounding drums to call back troops. Today it is used only figuratively, as in the example above.

beat around the bush Also, beat about the bush. Approach indirectly, in a round-about way, or too cautiously. For example,

Stop beating around the bush?

get to the point. This term, first recorded in 1572, originally may have alluded to beating the bushes for game.

beat back

Force to retreat or withdraw, as in His findings beat back all their arguments to the contrary. This phrase was often used in a military context (and still is), as in Their armies were beaten back. [Late 1500s]

beat down

1. Force or drive down; defeat or subdue. For example, "And finally to beat down Satan under our feet" (The Book of Common Prayer, 1552). [c. 1400] 2. Strike violently, as in the The sun kept beating down on us all day long. [Mid-1800s] 3. beat someone down. Make someone lower a price, as in He's always trying to beat us down. Economist Jeremy Bentham used this idiom in 1793: "Thus monopoly will beat down prices." [Slang; late 1700s]

beaten track

hand. see OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

beat hollow

hand. see under BEAT THE PANTS OFF.

beat into one's head Also, knock or drum into one's head. Force one to learn something. For example, Hard as I try, I can't seem to beat the correct safe combination into my head, or He promised to drum the numbers into my head by morning, or Whether we liked it or not, the English

department was determined to knock Shakespeare into our heads. Although beat implies violence, the first term, from the early 1500s, usually alludes more to a repeated striking of blows, that is, repetition or drilling; likewise with drum (alluding to drumbeats), which dates from the early 1800s.

beat it

Go away, as in We should beat it before the food's all gone. This term is rude when used as an imperative, as in Stop pestering me?beat it! [Slang; late 1800s]

beat off

Repulse, drive away by blows, as in We tried to beat off the flying ants swarming about us.

Originating in the mid-1600s in a military context, this term was being used for other activities by the mid-1700s.

beat one's brains out

Make a great mental effort to understand, solve, or remember something, as in Joe's beating his brains out to finish this puzzle. Christopher Marlowe used this hyperbolic idiom in The Massacre of Paris (1593): "Guise beats his brains to catch us in his trap." Also see RACK ONE'S BRAINS.

beat one's head against the wall Also, bang or run one's head against or into a brick wall. Waste one's time in a hopeless enterprise, as in I have tried many times to convince him to stop smoking, but I'm beating my head against a brick wall. The metaphoric phrase alludes to a physical expression of frustration. [Late 1500s] Also see BEAT THE AIR.

beat out

1. Knock into shape by beating, as in She managed to beat out all the dents in the fender. [c. 1600] 2. Surpass or defeat someone; be chosen over someone. For example, He got to the head of the line, beating out all the others. [Colloquial; second half of 1700s] Also see BEAT THE

PANTS OFF. 3. beat out of. Cheat someone of something, as in He was always trying to beat the conductor out of the full train fare. [Slang; second half of 1800s]

beats me

This baffles or puzzles me, as in I don't know how he does it?

beats me! This term originally may have alluded to a winning poker hand. It may also be related to the even earlier usage of beat for "astonished" or "at a loss." [Slang; mid-1800s]

beat someone at his or her own game

Surpass someone in his or her own specialty or undertaking. For example, Jean knew that if she matched the new store's discount she would keep all her customers and beat the new competitors at their own game. The use of game for any kind of undertaking or scheme dates from the mid-1200s.

beat the air Also, beat the wind. Continue to make futile attempts, fight to no purpose. For example, The candidates for office were so much alike that we thought our vote amounted to