American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

sign over

Legally dispose of or make over to a different owner, as in She signed over nearly all of her property to the church. [Early 1700s]

sign up

Enlist in an organization; also, register or subscribe to something. For example, He signed up for four years in the navy, or Are you planning to sign up for that pottery class? [Early 1900s]

silence is golden

Keeping one's mouth shut is a great virtue, as in Don't tell anyone else about it?

silence is golden. Although this precise phrase was first recorded only in 1848, it is part of a much older proverb, "Speech is silver and silence is golden."

silent majority

A group that makes up a majority of voters but does not widely express its views through marches or demonstrations. For example, They thought they had a convincing case, but they hadn't counted on the silent majority. This idiom was first recorded in 1874 but gained currency in the 1960s, when President Richard Nixon claimed that his policies were supported by a majority of citizens who did not bother to make their views known.

silk

hand. see CAN'T MAKE A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOW'S EAR; SMOOTH AS SILK.

silver

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SILVER, also see BORN WITH A SILVER

SPOON; CROSS SOMEONE'S PALM WITH SILVER; HAND TO ON A SILVER PLATTER.

silver lining

An element of hope or a redeeming quality in an otherwise bad situation, as in The rally had a disappointing turnout, but the silver lining was that those who came pledged a great deal of money.

This metaphoric term is a shortening of Every cloud has a silver lining, in turn derived from John Milton's Comus (1634): "A sable cloud turns forth its silver lining on the night."

simmer down

Become calm after anger or excitement, as in Simmer down, Mary; I'm sure he'll make it up to you, or I haven't time to look at your report now, but I will when things have simmered down a bit. This idiom derives from simmer in the sense of "cook at low heat, below the boiling point." [Second half of 1800s]

simon pure

Absolutely genuine, quite authentic, as in That laboratory test was simon pure; none of the specimens was adulterated. This expression comes from the name of a character in a play, Susannah Centilivre's A Bold Stroke for a Wife (1717), who is the victim of an impersonation but turns up in the end and proves that he is "the real Simon Pure."

simple

hand. see PURE AND SIMPLE.

sin

hand. see LIVE IN SIN; MORE SINNED AGAINST THAN SINNING; MULTITUDE OF SINS; UGLY AS SIN; WAGES OF SIN.

since

hand. see GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD.

sine qua non

An essential element or condition, as in A perfect cake is the sine qua non of a birthday party. This phrase is Latin for "without which not" and has been used in English since about 1600. It appears more in writing than in speech.

sing a different tune Also, sing another tune. hand. See CHANGE ONE'S TUNE.

sing for one's supper

Work for one's pay or reward, as in Entertaining visiting scientists is part of the job; you know I have to sing for my supper. This metaphoric term alludes to wandering minstrels who performed in taverns and were paid with a meal. First recorded in 1609, it gained currency with the familiar nursery rhyme, "Little Tommy Tucker, sings for his supper" (c. 1744).

single

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SINGLE, also see EACH AND EVERY

(EVERY SINGLE).

single file, in Also, in Indian file. Aligned one behind the other, as in We have to bike in single file here, or The children were told to march in Indian file. Both usages are associated with military formations; the first term was first recorded in 1670; the variant, alluding to the usual marching order of Native Americans, was first recorded in 1758.

single out

Choose or distinguish from others, as in We singled him out from all the other applicants. This idiom was first recorded in 1629.

sing out

Call out loudly, shout, as in One of them fell in the stream and sang out for help. [Early 1800s]

sing someone's praises

Commend someone, especially to others, as in They were singing her praises to the entire community. [Mid-1500s] Also see PRAISE TO THE SKIES.

sink

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SINK, also see DESERT A SINKING

SHIP; ENOUGH TO SINK A SHIP; EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK; HEART SINKS.

sinker

hand. see HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.

sink in

Penetrate the mind, be absorbed, as in The news of the crash didn't sink in right away. [Late 1300s]

sinking feeling, a

A sense of dread or apprehension, as in I had a sinking feeling that I'd forgotten my ticket. This expression employs sink in the sense of "become depressed," a usage dating from the early 1600s.

sink one's teeth into Also, get one's teeth into. Become fully engaged in, as in He couldn't wait to sink his teeth into that problem. This metaphoric expression alludes to an animal biting vigorously into its prey. [Early 1900s]

sink or swim

Succumb or succeed, no matter what, as in Now that we've bought the farm, we'll have to make a go of it, sink or swim. This expression alludes to the former barbaric practice of throwing a suspected witch into deep water, often weighted down. In case of sinking, the victim died; in case of swimming, the victim was considered in league with the devil and therefore was executed. A related idiom, float or sink, was used by Chaucer in the late 1300s; Shakespeare had the current form in 1 Henry IV (1:3): "Or sink or swim."

sink through the floor

Suffer extreme embarrassment, as in When she called our name on the list of those who owed dues, I sank through the floor. This hyperbolic term dates from the early 1900s.

sit

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SIT, also see AT A SITTING.

sit at one's feet

hand. see AT ONE'S FEET.

sit back

1. Relax, as in Now that the work's finished, we can just sit back. 2. Refrain from interfering or taking part, as in Mom and Dad just sat back and watched Meg try to decide whether or not she should tell on her friends. [Mid-1900s] Also see SIT BY.

sit bolt upright

hand. see BOLT UPRIGHT.

sit by Also, sit idly by. Refrain from interfering, remain passive, as in I can't just sit by and let her get in trouble.

sit down

1. Take a seat, as in Won't you sit down? I won't be long. [c. 1200] 2. sit down to. Prepare to eat a meal, as in At six we all sat down to dinner. [Late 1500s]

sit in

1. Attend or take part as a visitor, as in My son's jazz group asked me to sit in tonight. It is often put as sit in on, as in They asked me to sit in on their poker game. [Mid-1800s] 2. Take part in a sit-in, that is, an organized protest in which seated participants refuse to move. For example, The students threatened to sit in unless the dean was reinstated. [c. 1940] 3. sit in on. Visit or observe, as in I'm sitting in on his class, but not for credit. [Early 1900s] 4. sit in for. Substitute for a regular member of a group, as in I'm just sitting in for Harold, who couldn't make it.

sit on Also, sit upon. 1. Confer about or deliberate over, as in Another attorney was called to sit on the case. [Mid-1400s] 2. Suppress or repress, as in I know they were sitting on some evidence.

[Early 1900s] 3. Postpone action or resolution regarding, as in I don't know why the city council is sitting on their decision. [Early 1900s] 4. Rebuke sharply, rep

rimand, as in If he interrupts one more time I'm going to sit on him. [Slang; second half of 1800s] sit on one's hands

Take no action; also, fail to applaud. For example, Instead of making a new will, George is sitting on his hands, or The matinee audience was apathetic, sitting on their hands for the whole performance. Both usages of this metaphor for passivity date from the first half of the 1900s.

sit out

1. Also, sit through. Stay until the end of, as in We decided to sit out the lecture instead of leaving early, or He was only eight when he sat through an entire opera?

and it lasted nearly five hours. [Early 1700s] 2. Refrain from taking part in, as in Jane's foot hurt so she sat out the last three dances. [Mid1600s] 3. Outlast, outstay, as in He sat out all the other

headmaster, or His sense of humor does not sit well with this elderly audience. [Early 1700s]

six

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SIX, also see AT SIXES AND SEVENS;

DEEP SIX; JOE SIX-PACK.

six feet under

Dead and buried, as in No, you can't read my diary?

not until I'm six feet under. Although this expression alludes to what has long been the traditional depth of a grave, that is, approximately the same as the length of the coffin, it dates only from the mid-1900s.

six of one, half a dozen of the other

The two alternatives are the same, as in Either Route 2 or Long Avenue will get you there?

it's six of one, half a dozen of the other.

This term simply equates two different ways of saying "six." [First half of 1800s]

sixth sense

Keen intuition, as in She had a sixth sense that they would find it in the cellar. This term alludes to a sense in addition to the five physical senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. [c. 1800]

size

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SIZE, also see CUT DOWN (TO SIZE);

PICK ON (SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE); TAKE DOWN A NOTCH (TO SIZE); THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF IT; TRY ON (FOR SIZE).

size up

Make an estimate, opinion, or judgment of, as in She sized up her opponent and decided to withdraw from the election. This usage transfers measuring the size of something to broader meaning. [Late 1800s]

skate

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SKATE, also see CHEAP SKATE; ON THIN

ICE, SKATE.

skate over

Treat superficially or hurriedly, avoid mentioning, as in He concentrated on the main points of the contract and skated over the details. This idiom transfers the gliding motion of skating to dealing with something in a cursory way. [Mid-1900s]

skeleton in the closet

A shameful secret, as in Both her parents were alcoholics; that was the skeleton in her closet. This metaphoric term alludes to a murder victim long concealed in a closet, possibly based on some true incident that is now forgotten. [Early 1800s]

skid

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SKID, also see ON THE SKIDS; PUT THE

SKIDS ON; PUT THE SKIDS UNDER.

skid row

A squalid district inhabited by derelicts and vagrants; also, a life of impoverished dissipation. For example, That part of town is our skid row, or His drinking was getting so bad we thought he was headed for skid row. This expression originated in the lumber industry, where it signified a road or track made of logs laid crosswise over which logs were slid. Around 1900 the name Skid Road was used for the part of a town frequented by loggers, which had many bars and brothels, and by the 1930s the variant skid row, with its current meaning, came into use.

skin

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SKIN, also see BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN

DEEP; BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH; GET UNDER SOMEONE'S SKIN; JUMP OUT OF ONE'S SKIN; MAKE ONE'S FLESH CREEP (SKIN CRAWL); MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT; NO SKIN OFF ONE'S NOSE; SAVE ONE'S BACON (SKIN); SOAKED TO THE SKIN; THICK SKIN.

skin alive

Punish severely, as in If I find the guy who slashed my tire I'll skin him alive. This hyperbolic expression transfers the barbaric practice of flaying a live prisoner to other forms of punishment. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

skin and bones Painfully thin, emaciated. This phrase often is expanded to nothing but skin and bones, as in She came home from her trip nothing but skin and bones. This hyperbolic expression?

one could hardly be alive without some flesh?

dates from the early 1400s.

skin deep

hand. see BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP.

skin off one's nose

hand. see NO SKIN OFF ONE'S NOSE.

skin of one's teeth

hand. see BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH.

skip

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SKIP, also see HEART MISSES (SKIPS) A

BEAT; HOP, SKIP, AND A JUMP.

skip bail Also, jump bail. Fail to appear in court for trial and thereby give up the bail bond (paid to secure one's appearance). For example, I can't afford to skip bail?

I'd lose half a million, or We were sure he'd jump bail but he finally showed up. This idiom uses skip and jump in the sense of "evade." The first dates from about 1900, the variant from the mid-1800s. Also see MAKE BAIL.

skip it

Drop the subject, ignore the matter, as in I don't understand what you mean.?

Oh, skip it for now. This interjection uses skip in the sense of "pass over." [Colloquial; c. 1930]

skip out Leave hastily, abscond, as in They just skipped out of town. It is also put as skip out on, meaning "desert, abandon" as in He skipped out on his wife, leaving her with the four children.

[Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

sky

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SKY, also see BLOW SKY-HIGH; OUT OF

A CLEAR BLUE SKY; PIE IN THE SKY; REACH FOR THE SKY.

sky's the limit, the

There is no limit (to ambition, aspirations, expense, or the like). For example, Order anything you like on the menu??

the sky's the limit tonight, or He's so brilliant he can do anythingthe sky's the limit. This metaphoric idiom was first recorded in 1920.

slack off

Decrease in activity or intensity, as in If business ever slacks off we can go on vacation, or When the project fell behind schedule again, she thought we were slacking off. [Second half of 1800s]

slam dunk

A forceful, dramatic move, as in That indictment was a slam dunk if ever there was one. This expression is also often put as a verb, slam-dunk, meaning "make a forceful move against someone," as in This is a great chance for us to slam-dunk the opposition. The idiom comes from basketball, where it refers to a dramatic shot in which the ball is thrust into the basket from above the rim. It was transferred to other activities from about 1980 on.

slap down

Restrain or correct emphatically, as in They thought he was getting far too arrogant and needed to be slapped down. This idiom, which literally means "inflict a physical blow," began to be used figuratively in the first half of the 1900s.

slap in the face

A sharp rebuke or rebuff, as in Being criticized in front of my staff was a real slap in the face, or We thought it quite a slap in the face when they returned our letter unopened. The figurative use of this term, which can also refer to a literal blow, dates from the late 1800s.

slap on the back

A gesture of congratulation, as in The coach gave him a slap on the back for coming in first. [Early 1800s]

slap on the wrist

A mild reproof, as in We were fined heavily, and all she got from the judge was a slap on the wrist.

[Early 1900s]

slate

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SLATE, also see CLEAN SLATE.

slated for, be

Be planned or scheduled, as in The history test is slated for Thursday, or He's slated for a second round of auditions. [Late 1800s]

slaughter

hand. see LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER.

sleaze factor

The element in a political party, administration, or other organization that is corrupt, controversial, or tainted by scandal. For example, I can't see myself making a campaign contribution to them?

there's too much of a sleaze factor. This slangy expression derives from the adjective sleazy, which

means "vulgar" or "tawdry." The idiom was first used in politics in the 1980s.

sledding

hand. see EASY SLEDDING; TOUGH SLEDDING.

sleep

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SLEEP, also see LET SLEEPING DOGS

LIE; LOSE SLEEP OVER; PUT TO SLEEP. Also see under ASLEEP.

sleep around

Engage in sex promiscuously, as in Fortunately, no one mentioned that both of them had slept around in their younger days. [Colloquial; 1920s]

sleep a wink, not

Not sleep at all, as in I couldn't sleep a wink last night. This expression, in which wink alludes to closing the eyes for sleep, was first recorded about 1325.

sleep in

1. Sleep at one's place of employment, as in They have a butler and maid who both sleep in. [First half of 1800s] 2. Sleep late, either accidentally or deliberately. For example, I slept in and missed my usual train, or On weekends we like to sleep in. [Late 1800s]

sleep like a log Also, sleep like a top. Sleep very soundly, as in I slept like a log, or She said she slept like a top. Both of these similes transfer the immobility of an object to that of a person who is sound asleep (since a top spinning quickly looks immobile). The first dates from the late 1600s; the variant is newer.

sleep on something

Consider something overnight before deciding, as in I don't know if I want to go on such a long hike; let me sleep on it. This usage was first recorded in 1519 in the state papers of King Henry

VIII: "His Grace . . . said that he would sleep and dream upon the matter."

sleep out

1. Sleep at home, as opposed to one's place of employment, as in We have a full-time nurse for her, but she sleeps out. [Mid-1800s] 2. Sleep away from one's own home, as in She's not here; she's sleeping out.

sleep over

Spend the night as a guest in another's home, as in Karen's friend Wilma is going to sleep over tonight. [Second half of 1800s]

sleep through

1. Sleep without waking for a period of time, usually the night, as in At three months many babies have learned to sleep through. [Mid-1900s] 2. sleep through something. Fail to pay attention, as in We all slept through the explanation and then had trouble getting the machines started.

sleep with

Be sexually intimate with, as in The playwright had made several attempts to sleep with the maid.

The related phrase sleep together means "have sexual relations," as in We wondered if they were sleeping together but didn't dare to ask them. The verb sleep has been associated with sex since the 10th century. Sleep with dates from the 1300s; sleep together was first recorded a