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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

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play safe

hand. see PLAY IT SAFE.

play second fiddle

Assume a subsidiary role to someone, as in Mary resented always playing second fiddle to her older sister. This term alludes to the part of second violin in an orchestra. Although many would argue it is as important as first violin, it is the idea of subordinacy that was transferred in the figurative term, so used since about 1800.

play the devil with

Upset, ruin, make a mess of, as in This weather plays the devil with my aching joints, or Wine stains play the devil with a white tablecloth. This allusion to diabolical mischief is heard more in Britain than in America. [Mid-1500s] Also see the synonym PLAY HAVOC.

play the field

Date more than one person; avoid an exclusive commitment. For example, All of Joe's friends are married now, but he continues to play the field. This term originated in British horseracing, where it meant "to bet on every horse in a race except the favorite." It was transferred to other activities about 1930.

play the fool

Act in a silly or stupid way, as in Helen deliberately played the fool so they wouldn't realize she understood their strategy. [First half of 1500s]

play the game

Behave according to accepted customs, obey the rules. For example, Not every foreign company can be counted on to play the game. The game here alludes to a sport with a set of rules. [Late 1800s] Also see PLAY GAMES.

play the heavy

Act the part of a villain; take the blame for unkind behavior. For example, She can't bear firing an employee, so she relies on Jim to play the heavy. This colloquial term comes from the theater, where heavy has been used for a stern, serious role or that of a villain since the early 1800s.

play the market

Trade in securities in order to make money, as in He is always playing the market with only mixed results. This term uses play in the sense of "gamble," a usage dating from about 1500.

play to the gallery

Appeal to spectators for maximum approval, as in He peppers his speeches with humor and wisecracks about his opponent, clearly playing to the gallery. In this term gallery refers to the cheapest seats in a British theater and hence the least sophisticated audience. [Late 1800s]

play up

Emphasize or publicize, as in In the press interview, the coach played up the importance of having

a strong defense. [c. 1900] Also see PLAY DOWN; PLAY UP TO.

play upon

hand. see PLAY ON.

play up to

Curry favor with, flatter, as in There's no use playing up to the boss; it doesn't influence him. This expression originated about 1800 in the theater, where it meant "to support or assist another actor." Within a couple of decades it was being used in other venues.

play with fire

Take part in a dangerous undertaking, as in You're playing with fire if you go behind his back and commit his department. Although the idea behind this metaphor is ancient, it was first recorded

only in 1655.

plea

hand. see

please

hand. see

COP A PLEA.

AS YOU PLEASE.

pleased as Punch

Delighted, as in We were pleased as Punch when they asked us to be godparents. This term alludes to the character Punch in Punch and Judy shows, who is always very happy when his evil deeds succeed. [Mid-1800s]

plenty

hand. see under NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA.

plot thickens, the

Circumstances are becoming very complex or mysterious. Today this term is often used ironically or half-humorously, as in His companion wasn't his wife or his partner?

the plot thickens. Originally (1671) it described the plot of a play that was overly intricate, and by the late 1800s it was used for increasingly complex mysteries in detective stories.

plow back

Reinvest earnings or profits in one's business, as in This company plows back half its profits every year. This term transfers the farming practice of turning the soil from top to bottom to financial

enterprises. [First half of 1900s]

plow into

Strike with force, crash into; also, attack vigorously. For example, The truck plowed into the retaining wall, or Carol plowed into the pile of correspondence. This expression transfers the force of the farmer's plow to other enterprises. [Late 1800s]

plow under

Cause to vanish, overwhelm, as in The independent bookstores are being plowed under by the large chains. This term alludes to the farmer's burying vegetation by turning it into the soil with a plow. [Second half of 1900s]

pluck up one's courage Also, screw up one's courage. Force oneself to overcome fear or timidity, as in He was really afraid of slipping on the ice, but he plucked up his courage and ventured down the driveway, or I screwed up my courage and dove off the high board. The first term uses pluck in the sense of "make a forcible effort"; Shakespeare put it as "Pluck up thy spirits" (The Taming of the Shrew, 4:3). The variant derives from the use of screw to mean ''force or strain by means of a screw."

plug

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with PLUG, also see PEG (PLUG) AWAY AT;

PULL THE PLUG ON.

plug away at

hand. see PEG AWAY AT.

plugged in, be

Be closely attuned or responsive, as in He couldn't make any important social connections because he just wasn't plugged in. The related expression be plugged into takes an object, as in These connoisseurs are plugged into the local art scene. These terms allude to inserting a plug into an electrical socket. [Colloquial; c. 1970]

plume oneself

Congratulate oneself, boast, as in He plumed himself on his victory. This idiom transfers the bird's habit of dressing its feathers to human self-satisfaction. [First half of 1600s]

plunge

hand. see TAKE THE PLUNGE.

plunk down

Throw or place or drop heavily, as in He plunked down the money and walked out, or It was hot work, so after an hour we plunked ourselves down in the shade. [Late 1800s]

pocket

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POCKET, also see DEEP POCKETS; IN

ONE'S POCKET; IN POCKET; LINE ONE'S POCKETS; MONEY BURNS A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET; OUT OF POCKET.

pocket money Also, spending money. Cash for incidental or minor expenses, as in They don't believe in giving the children pocket money without asking them to do chores, or Can I borrow a dollar? I'm out of all my spending money. The first term, dating from the early 1600s, alludes to keeping small sums in one's pocket; the second alludes to money that may be spent (as opposed to saved) and dates from the late 1500s.

pocket veto

The implied veto of a bill by the President of the United States or by a state governor or other executive who simply holds the bill without signing it until the legislature has adjourned. For example, The President used the pocket veto to kill the crime bill. This expression dates from the 1830s and alludes to putting the unsigned bill inside one's pocket.

poetic justice

An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn't commit. [Early 1700s]

poetic license Also, artistic license. The liberty taken by a writer or artist in deviating from conventional form or fact to achieve an effect. For example, I've never seen grass

or a tree of that color, but that's artistic license. [Late 1700s]

point

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POINT, also see AT SWORD'S POINT;

AT THAT POINT; AT THIS POINT; BELABOR THE POINT; BESIDE THE POINT; BOILING POINT; BROWNIE POINTS; CASE IN POINT; GET TO THE POINT; HIT THE HIGH SPOTS (POINTS); IN (POINT OF) FACT; IN POINT; JUMPING-OFF PLACE (POINT); MAKE A POINT OF; MAKE ONE'S POINT; MISS THE POINT; MOOT POINT; ON THE POINT OF; POSSESSION IS NINE POINTS OF THE LAW; SORE POINT; STRETCH A POINT; STRONG POINT; TAKE SOMEONE'S POINT; TO THE POINT; UP TO A POINT; WIN ON POINTS.

point in time

A particular moment, as in At no point in time had they decided to leave the country, or The exact point in time when he died has not been determined. Critics say this usage is wordy since in most cases either point or time will suffice. However, it has survived since the mid-1700s. Also see AT

THIS POINT.

point of no return

The place in a course of action beyond which reversal is not possible. For example, Once the contract is signed, we've reached the point of no return. This expression comes from aviation, where it signifies the point where an aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting point. [c. 1940]

point of view

An attitude or standpoint, how one sees or thinks of something. For example, From the manufacturer's point of view, the critical issue is cost. This expression, originally alluding to one's vantage point in seeing a building or painting or other object, dates from the early 1700s.

point out

Identify or bring to notice, as in He pointed out the oldest buildings in the city, or She pointed out an error in our reasoning. [Late 1400s]

point the finger at

Attach blame to, accuse, as in When they asked her who broke the window, she pointed the finger

at Tom. Also see PUT THE FINGER ON.

point up

Emphasize, draw attention to, as in Her comments point up the need for more security at the store. [First half of 1900s]

poison

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with POISON, also see ONE MAN'S MEAT IS

ANOTHER MAN'S POISON.

poison-pen letter

A letter, usually anonymous, that makes malicious statements about the recipient or a third party. For example, She told the police about the poison-pen letters, but they said they couldn't pursue the matter. [Early 1900s]

poke

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POKE, also see MAKE FUN OF (POKE

FUN AT); PIG IN A POKE; TAKE A POKE AT.

poke around Also, poke about. Look through things; also, make an investigation. For example, I was poking around the attic when I found these old photos, or The detective was poking about, tracking where she went on that fatal day. [Early 1800s] Also see NOSE ABOUT; POKE ONE'S

NOSE INTO.

poke fun at

hand. see under MAKE FUN OF.

poke one's nose into

Pry into or meddle in another's affairs, as in I told her to stop poking her nose into our business.

This usage replaced the earlier thrust one's nose into in the mid-1800s.

poker

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with POKER, also see STIFF AS A BOARD

(POKER).

poker face

A visage lacking any expression that can be interpreted, as in Whenever Betty attended one of her children's performances, she managed to keep a poker face. This term alludes to the facial expression of a poker player who is expert at concealing his feelings about his hand. [c. 1880]

pole

hand. see LOW MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE; NOT TOUCH WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE.

poles apart

In complete opposition, as in The two brothers were poles apart in nearly all their views. This expression alludes to the two extremities of the earth's axis, the North and South poles. [Early 1900s]

polish

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POLISH, also see SPIT AND POLISH.

polish off

Finish or dispose of, especially quickly and easily. For example, We polished off the pie in no time, or If everyone helps, we can polish off this job today. This usage, dating from the early 1800s, came from boxing, where it originally meant "to defeat an opponent quickly and easily." By the 1830s it was used more generally.

polish the apple

Try to win favor through flattery, as in It may help your standing with the boss if you polish the apple. This expression gave rise to the phrase apple polishing. The idiom alludes to the practice of schoolchildren bringing their teacher the gift of a bright, shiny apple. [c. 1920]

politically correct Also, PC or p.c. Showing an effort to make broad social and political changes to redress injustices caused by prejudice. It often involves changing or avoiding language that might offend anyone, especially with respect to gender, race, or ethnic background. For example,

Editors of major papers have sent out numerous directives concerning politically correct language.

This expression was born in the late 1900s, and excesses in trying to conform to its philosophy gave rise to humorous parodies.

politics

hand. see

pond

hand. see

pony

PLAY POLITICS.

BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND; LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with PONY, also see DOG-AND-PONY SHOW.

pony up

Pay money that is owed or due, as in Come on, it's time you ponied up this month's rent. The allusion in this expression is unclear. [c. 1820]

poop out

1. Tire out, exhaust, as in I ran about ten miles, but then I was too pooped out to go on. 2. Quit, decide not to participate, especially at the last minute. For example, We had about twenty signed up for the seminar, but then half of them pooped out. [Slang; late 1800s]

poor as a churchmouse

Having little or no wealth and few possessions, as in She's poor as a churchmouse, so you can't expect her to donate anything. The reason for this long-used simile is unclear, but most believe that, since churches are not known for storing food, a mouse inside one would fare poorly. It has survived such earlier phrases as poor as Job. [Second half of 1600s]

poor relation

An inferior member of a group, as in Many regard Turkey as the poor relation in the European alliance. This expression, first recorded in 1720 for a family member in humble circumstances, began to be used figuratively in the mid-1900s.

poor taste, in Also, in bad taste. Not suitable, unseemly, offensive, as in His criticism of the Pope was in poor taste, or That television interview was in very bad taste. These idioms use taste in the sense of "discernment of what is appropriate."

pop off

1. Leave abruptly or hurriedly, as in I'm just going to pop off and mail some letters. 2. Die suddenly, as in No one expected her to pop off like that. [Colloquial; second half

of 1700s] 3. Speak thoughtlessly in an angry outburst, as in Don't pop off at me?

complain to whoever's responsible. [Slang; c. 1930] 4. pop someone off. Kill someone, as in The sniper popped off at least three men. [Slang; early 1800s] All four usages transfer pop in the sense of "explode" to other kinds of sudden or violent behavior.

pop the question

Propose marriage, as in He picked Valentine's Day to pop the question. [Early 1700s]

pop up

Suddenly appear, as in After a brief warm spell all the flowers popped up, or He's constantly popping up where he's least expected.

pork barrel

Government funding of something that benefits a particular district, whose legislator thereby wins favor with local voters. For example, Our senator knows the value of the pork barrel. This expression alludes to the fatness of pork, equated with political largesse since the mid-1800s. [c. 1900]

port

hand. see ANY PORT IN A STORM.

possessed by

Driven by, obsessed with, as in He was possessed by the idea of becoming a millionaire. This idiom employs possess in the sense of "dominate one's thoughts or ideas," a usage dating from the late 1500s.

possession is nine points of the law

Actually holding something is better than merely claiming it. For example, When Karen told John he must return the sofa he'd borrowed, he said possession is nine points of the law. This term originally alluded to nine elements that would aid someone's lawsuit, among them a good lawyer, good witnesses, a good jury, a good judge, and good luck. In time, however, the term was used more for squatter's rights. [Late 1500s]

possible

see AS FAR AS POSSIBLE; AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

possum

hand. see

post

hand. see

pot

PLAY POSSUM.

DEAF AS A POST; FROM PILLAR TO POST; KEEP POSTED.

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with POT, also see FISH OR CUT BAIT (SHIT

OR GET OFF THE POT); GO TO POT; HIT THE JACKPOT; SWEETEN THE KITTY (POT); TAKE POTLUCK; TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT; WATCHED POT NEVER BOILS.

potato

hand. see HOT POTATO; MEAT AND POTATOES; SMALL BEER (POTATOES).

pot calling the kettle black, the

Accusing someone of faults that one has oneself, as in Tom's criticizing Dexter for dubious line calls is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, since Tom's about the worst line judge I've ever seen.

This expression dates from the days of open-hearth cooking, which blackens practically all the utensils used. [Early 1600s]

potluck

hand. see TAKE POTLUCK.

pound

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POUND, also see IN FOR A PENNY, IN

FOR A POUND; PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.

pound of flesh

A debt whose payment is harshly insisted on, as in The other members of the cartel all want their pound of flesh from Brazil. This expression alludes to the scene in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (4:1) where the moneylender Shylock demands the pound of flesh promised him in payment for a loan, and Portia responds that he may have it but without an ounce of blood (since blood was not promised). [c. 1600]

pound out

Produce, especially on a keyboard, as in I can pound out another résumé, or She was pounding out song after song on the piano. [c. 1900]

pound the pavement

Walk the streets, especially in search of employment. For example, He was fired last year and he's been pounding the pavement ever since. A similar usage is pound a beat, meaning "to walk a particular route over and over"; it is nearly always applied to a police officer. [Early 1900s]

pour

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POUR, also see IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT

POURS.

pour cold water on Also, throw cold water on. Discourage or deter, as in Cutting my year-end bonus poured cold water on my loyalty to the company, or Hearing about the outbreak of cholera threw cold water on our plans to visit Bolivia. This term, with its image of putting out a fire with water, at one time meant "defame" or "slander"; the modern meaning dates from about 1800.

pour oil on troubled waters

Soothe or calm down something or someone, as in The twins are quarreling so I'd best go pour oil

CEO, but it's obvious that his wife is the power behind the

on troubled waters. This term alludes to an ancient practice of pouring oil on ocean waves to calm their turbulence, which was mentioned in the eighth century. [Mid-1800s]

pour on the coal

Speed up, as in They keep passing us so pour on the coal, Mom! or We can get this issue of the paper out on time if we pour on the coal. This slangy expression originated in aviation in the 1930s but must have been an allusion to the coal-burning engines of trains and ships, since aircraft were never so powered. It has since been transferred to other vehicles and other endeavors.

pour out one's heart

Express one's innermost thoughts and feelings to someone else, as in Upset over the breakup, she poured out her heart to her mother. Also see OPEN ONE'S HEART.

powder

hand. see KEEP ONE'S POWDER DRY; SITTING ON A POWDER KEG; TAKE A POWDER.

power

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with POWER, also see CORRIDORS OF

POWER; MORE POWER TO SOMEONE; STAYING POWER.

power behind the throne

A person with great influence who stays behind the scenes and has no apparent authority. For example, Harry may be the

throne. [Mid-1800s]

powers that be, the

Those in control, the authorities, as in Our plan was vetoed by the powers that be. This expression appeared in William Tyndale's 1526 translation of the Bible (Romans 13:1): "The powers that be are ordained of God."

practical

hand. see TO ALL INTENTS AND (FOR ALL PRACTICAL) PURPOSES.

practice

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with PRACTICE, also see IN PRACTICE; MAKE

A PRACTICE OF; OUT OF PRACTICE; PUT INTO PRACTICE; SHARP PRACTICE.

practice makes perfect

Frequently doing something makes one better at doing it, as in I've knit at least a hundred sweaters, but in my case practice hasn't made perfect. This proverbial expression was once put as

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