American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

speak of the devil

The person just mentioned has appeared, as in Why, speak of the devil?

there's Jeannie. This expression is a shortening of the older Speak of the devil and he's sure to appear, based on the superstition that pronouncing the devil's name will cause his arrival on the scene. The figurative use was already explained in James Kelly's Scottish Proverbs (1721).

speak one's mind Also, speak out. Say what one really thinks, talk freely and fearlessly, as in Will you give me a chance to speak my mind or am I supposed to agree with everything you say? or Jan welcomed the chance to speak out about abortion. The first term dates from about 1600, the variant from the late 1600s. Also see SPEAK ONE'S PIECE.

speak one's piece Also, say one's piece. Say what one thinks, or what one usually says or is expected to say. For example, All right, you've spoken your piece; now let someone else have a turn. The piece in this expression alludes to a memorized poem or speech of the kind recited in a classroom. [Mid-1900s]

speak out

hand. see SPEAK ONE'S MIND; SPEAK UP, def. 1.

speak out of turn

hand. see OUT OF TURN, def. 2.

speak the same language

Understand one another very well, agree with each other, as in Negotiations went on for days, but finally both sides realized they weren't speaking the same language. This term, alluding to literal understanding of spoken words, dates from the late 1800s.

speak too soon

Assume something prematurely, as in I guess I spoke too soon about moving to Boston; I didn't get the job after all.

speak up

1. Also, speak out. Talk loudly, so as to be heard, as in Speak up, child, I can't

hear you, or He should speak out so that those in back can hear him. The first term dates from the early 1700s, the variant from the early 1500s. 2. Also, speak up for. Express one's opinion or one's support for someone or something. For example, When it comes to speaking up about the town's needs, you can rely on Mary, or I'm glad you spoke up for me in that meeting. [c. 1700]

speak volumes

Be significant, indicate a great deal, as in That house of theirs speaks volumes about their income.

This idiom uses volumes in the sense of "the information contained in volumes of books." [c. 1800]

spill the beans

Disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely, as in You can count on little Carol to spill the beans about the surprise. In this colloquial expression, first recorded in 1919, spill means "divulge," a usage dating from the 1500s.

spin

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SPIN, also see GO INTO A TAILSPIN;

MAKE ONE'S HEAD SPIN; PUT A SPIN ON.

spin a yarn

Tell a story, especially a long drawn-out or totally fanciful one, as in This author really knows how to spin a yarn, or Whenever he's late he spins some yarn about a crisis. Originally a nautical term dating from about 1800, this expression probably owes its life to the fact that it embodies a double meaning, yarn signifying both "spun fiber" and "a tale."

spin control

Manipulation of news, especially political news, as in The White House press secretary is a master of spin control. This idiom uses spin in the sense of "interpretation," that is, how something will be

interpreted by the public (also see PUT A SPIN ON). [c. 1980] Also see SPIN DOCTOR.

spin doctor

An individual charged with getting others to interpret a statement or event from a particular viewpoint, as in Charlie is the governor's spin doctor. This term, born about 1980 along with SPIN

CONTROL, uses doctor in the colloquial sense of "one who repairs something."

spin off

Derive or produce from something else, especially a small part from a larger whole. For example,

The corporation decided to spin off the automobile parts division, or Her column was spun off from her book on this subject. The expression transfers the throwing off by centrifugal force, as in spinning, to other enterprises. [Mid-1900s]

spin one's wheels

Expend effort with no result, as in We're just spinning our wheels here while management tries to make up its mind. This idiom, with its image of a vehicle in snow or sand that spins its wheels but cannot move, dates from the mid-1900s.

spin out

1. Protract or prolong, as in They spun out the negotiations over a period of months. This idiom alludes to drawing out a thread by spinning. [c. 1600] 2. Rotate out of control, as in The car spun out and crashed into the store window. [Mid-1900s]

spirit

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SPIRIT, also see KINDRED SPIRIT.

spirit away

Carry off mysteriously or secretly, as in The police found that the documents had been spirited away from the office. This term derives from the noun spirit, in the sense of "a supernatural being such as a ghost." [Second half of 1600s]

spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, the

One would like to undertake something but hasn't the energy or strength to do so. For example,

Another set of tennis? The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Today often used as a rueful admission of weariness or other physical weakness, this idiom was first recorded in the New Testament (Matthew 26:41), where Jesus tells his disciples: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." A modern equivalent is I would if I could but I can't.

spit and polish

Close attention to appearance and order, as in With a little spit and polish this house will sell very quickly. This expression originated in the military, presumably alluding to literally shining up something with the aid of a little saliva. There it also came to mean "too much attention to appearance, and not enough to more important concerns," as in The commander is so concerned with spit and polish that he overlooks the crew's morale. [Late 1800s]

spite

hand. see IN SPITE OF.

spitting distance

A very short distance, as in We were in spitting distance of winning the pennant but then we lost three games in a row. Alluding to the relatively short distance over which one's spit will carry, this idiom was first recorded in 1895 as within spitting range.

spitting image

A precise resemblance, especially in closely related persons. For example, Dirk is the spitting image of his grandfather. This idiom alludes to the earlier use of the noun spit for "likeness," in turn probably derived from an old proverb, "as like as one as if he had been spit out of his mouth" (c. 1400). The current idiom dates from about 1900.

spit up

Vomit, as in Infants often spit up part of their milk.

splash down

Land in water, as in The spacecraft splashed down within a few hundred yards of the pickup point.

The splash in this idiom alludes to the impact of a solid body on water. [c. 1960]

spleen

hand. see VENT ONE'S SPLEEN.

splinter group

A part of an organization that breaks away from the main body, usually owing to disagreement. For example, Perot's supporters at first constituted a splinter group but soon formed a third political party. This idiom alludes to the noun splinter, a fragment of wood or some other material that is split or broken off. [Mid-1900s]

split hairs

Make trivial distinctions, quibble, as in Let's not split hairs about whose turn it is; I'll close up today and you do it tomorrow. This metaphoric idiom transfers dividing so fine an object as a single hair to other petty divisions. [Second half of 1600s]

split one's sides Also, laugh one's head off. Be extremely amused, laugh uproariously. For example, That comedian had us splitting our sides, or Jane laughed her head off when she saw Rob's costume. The first of these hyperbolic terms dates from about 1700.

split second

An instant, a fraction of a second, as in Our best swimmer came in a split second before theirs.

This expression alludes to a stop watch that has two second hands, one above the other, for timing more than one athlete or intervals of a race by a single athlete. Each hand can be stopped independently of the other, so a second can be "split" when one second hand stops a fraction of a second after the other. [c. 1880]

split the difference

Compromise between two close figures, divide the remainder equally. For example, You're asking $5,000 for the car and I'm offering $4,000; let's split the difference and make it $4,500. [c. 1700]

split ticket

A ballot cast for candidates of more than one party, as in I'm registered as an Independent, and indeed I usually vote a split ticket. This idiom uses ticket in the sense of "a list of nominees for office," a usage dating from the late 1700s. Also see STRAIGHT TICKET.

spoil

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SPOIL, also see SPARE THE ROD AND

SPOIL THE CHILD; TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH; TO THE VICTOR BELONG THE SPOILS.

spoil for

Be eager for, as in He's just spoiling for a fight. This idiom nearly always refers to some kind of altercation. It may allude to spoil in the sense of "deteriorate over a period of time." [Mid-1800s]

spoken for

hand. see SPEAK FOR, def. 3.

sponge

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SPONGE, also see THROW IN THE

SPONGE.

sponge on Also, sponge off. Impose on another's hospitality or generosity, as in He's been sponging on relatives for the past year. This expression uses sponge in the sense of "to soak up something." [Late 1600s]

spoon

hand. see BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON; GREASY SPOON.

sporting blood

Willingness to take risks, as in His sporting blood won't let him stay away from the races. This idiom uses sporting in the sense of "associated with gambling."

sporting chance, a

A fair chance for success, as in She thinks she has a sporting chance for being named bureau chief.

[Colloquial; late 1800s]

spot

hand. see BLIND SPOT; HIT THE HIGH SPOTS; HIT THE SPOT; IN A BIND (TIGHT SPOT); IN A FIX (SPOT); JOHNNYON-THE-SPOT; KNOCK THE SOCKS (SPOTS) OFF; LEOPARD CANNOT CHANGE ITS SPOTS; ON THE SPOT; ROOTED TO THE SPOT; SOFT SPOT; X MARKS THE SPOT.

spotlight

hand. see IN THE LIMELIGHT (SPOTLIGHT); STEAL THE SHOW (SPOTLIGHT).

spread like wildfire

Disseminate or circulate very quickly, as in The rumor about their divorce spread like wildfire. The noun wildfire

means "a raging, rapidly spreading conflagration." [c. 1800] spread oneself too thin

Overextend oneself, undertake too many different enterprises. For example, Tom's exhausted; what with work, volunteer activities, and social life he's spread himself too thin. This expression alludes to smearing something (like butter on bread) in such a thin layer that it does not cover the

surface. Jonathan Swift used spread thin in a positive sense, that is, something should occur less often (Polite Conversation, 1731-1738): "They [polite speeches] ought to be husbanded better, and spread much thinner."

spring chicken

hand. see NO SPRING CHICKEN.

spring for

Pay another's expenses, treat, as in I'll spring for the dinner this time. [Slang; c. 1900]

spring on someone

hand. Present or make known unexpectedly, as in They sprung the news of their engagement on the family last night. This idiom uses spring in the sense of "make a sudden move." Mark Twain used it in Tom Sawyer (1876): "Old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people here tonight."

hand. Make neat and trim, as in She spruced up the chairs with new cushions. This idiom originated in the late 1500s as simply spruce but had acquired up by 1676.

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with SPUR, also see ON THE SPUR OF THE

MOMENT; WIN ONE'S SPURS.

spur on

Goad or urge ahead, as in The thought of winning a Pulitzer Prize spurred the reporter on. This expression transfers using spurs to make a horse go faster to incentives of other kinds. [Late 1500s]

spy on

Secretly or furtively observe someone or something, as in The children loved spying on the grownups, or The company sent him to spy on the competitor's sales force. [Early 1600s]

square

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SQUARE, also see BACK TO THE

DRAWING BOARD (SQUARE ONE); FAIR AND SQUARE; ON THE SQUARE; ROUND PEG IN A SQUARE HOLE; SHOOT STRAIGHT (SQUARE).

square away

Put in order; also, get ready for. For example, Once we've got the files squared away, we can decide on next year's repertory, or She had to square away the house before leaving town. This expression uses square in the sense of "arrange in accordance with some principle," indirectly

alluding to the geometric square. [Early 1800s]

square deal

A just, equitable arrangement or transaction, as in I know I'll get a square deal if I work with that supplier. This idiom uses square in the sense of "fair" or "honest," a usage dating from the 1300s. [Late 1800s]

square meal, a

A substantial or complete meal, as in These airlines never feed you; I haven't had a square meal on one yet. [Mid-1800s]

square off

Take a fighting stance, prepare to fight, as in As they squared off, the teacher came out and stopped them, or The ambassador said the two countries were squaring off. [First half of 1800s]

square one's shoulders

Prepare to face adversity, as in She knew it wouldn't be easy but she squared her shoulders and faced the hostile audience. This expression transfers standing erect with the shoulders pulled back, forming an angle much like a square's right angle, to the situations calling for this stance. It was first recorded in 1819.

square peg in a round hole Also, round peg in a square hole. A misfit, especially a

person unsuited for a position or activity. For example, Ruth doesn't have the finesse for this job; she's a round peg in a square hole. This idiom, with its graphic image of something that cannot fit, dates from about 1800.

square the circle

Try to do the impossible, as in Getting that bill through the legislature is the same as trying to square the circle. This idiom alludes to the impossibility of turning a circle into a square. John Donne may have been the first to use it (Sermons, 1624): "Go not thou about to square either circle (God or thyself)."

square up

Settle a bill or debt, as in The others went to get the car while he squared up with the waiter. This idiom derives from square in the sense of "set straight." [Early 1800s]

square with

1. Correspond to, agree with, as in His story doesn't square with what the witness saw. [Late 1500s] 2. Settle a disagreement or account with someone, put a matter straight, as in We've squared it with the management to bring our own wine. [Mid-1800s]

squeak by Also, squeak through. Manage barely to pass, win, survive, or the like, as in They are just squeaking by on their income, or He squeaked through the driver's test. This idiom transfers squeak in the sense of "barely emit a sound" to "narrowly manage something." [First half of 1900s]

Also see SQUEEZE THROUGH.

squeaky wheel gets the grease

The loudest complaints get the most attention, as in No matter what table they give her, Helen generally insists on a better one and gets it?

the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The current version of this idiom, with its allusion to a wagon wheel that needs oiling, is ascribed to American humorist Josh Billings (1818-1885) in a poem, "The Kicker": "I hate to be a kicker [complainer], I always long for peace, But the wheel that does the squeaking Is the one that gets the grease." However, the idea of the idiom is much older. A manuscript from about 1400 had: "Ever the worst spoke of the cart creaks." Similar sayings were repeated over the succeeding centuries.

squeeze

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with SQUEEZE, also see MAIN SQUEEZE; PUT

THE ARM (SQUEEZE) ON; TIGHT SQUEEZE.

squeeze off

Fire a gun, as in He squeezed off one shot after another but didn't bring down a single crow. The idiom alludes to squeezing the trigger. [Mid-1900s]

squeeze play

A situation in which pressure exerted to obtain a concession or achieve a goal, as in Workers sometimes feel caught in a squeeze play between union and management. This expression, dating from about 1900, originated in baseball, where it refers to a prearranged play in which the runner on third base breaks for home plate on the pitch, and the batter bunts. [c. 1915]

squeeze through Also, squeeze by. Manage to pass, win, or survive by a narrow margin, as in

We squeezed through the second round of playoffs, or There was just enough food stored in the cabin for us to squeeze by until the hurricane ended. This idiom uses squeeze in the sense of "succeed by means of compression." [c. 1700] Also see SQUEAK BY.

squirrel away

Hide or store, as in She squirreled away her savings in at least four different banks. This expression alludes to the squirrel's habit of hiding nuts and acorns in the ground. [First half of 1900s]

stab

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STAB, also see MAKE A STAB AT.

stab in the back, a

A betrayal of trust, an act of treachery, as in Voting against our bill at the last minute was a real stab in the back. It is also put as stab someone in the back, meaning "betray someone." For example, Don't trust George; he's been known to stab his friends in the back. Both the noun and

verb forms of this idiom, alluding to a physical attack when one's back is turned, date from the early 1900s.

stable

hand. see LOCK THE BARN (STABLE) DOOR AFTER THE HORSE HAS BOLTED.

stack

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with STACK, also see BLOW ONE'S TOP

(STACK); CARDS ARE STACKED; NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK; SWEAR ON A STACK OF BIBLES.

stack the cards

hand. see CARDS ARE STACKED.

stack up

1. Measure up, equal, as in Their gift doesn't stack up against mine. This usage alludes to piling up one's chips at poker, and comparing them to those of the other players. [Early 1900s] 2. Make sense, seem plausible, as in Her explanation just doesn't stack up. Also see ADD UP, def. 2.

staff of life

A staple or necessary food, especially bread. For example, Rice is the staff of life for a majority of the earth's people. This expression, which uses staff in the sense of "a support," was first recorded in 1638.

stag

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with STAG, also see GO STAG.

stage

hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with STAGE, also see AT THIS STAGE; SET

THE SCENE (STAGE) FOR.

stage fright

Acute nervousness when performing or speaking before an audience, as in When John first had to present his findings to the board of directors, stage fright made him stutter. [Second half of 1800s]

stage whisper

A whisper loud enough to be overheard, as in Our three-year-old behaved beautifully at the ceremony, but then he asked in a stage whisper, "Why does that lady have blue hair?" This expression alludes to an actor's whisper on stage, which is meant to be heard by the audience. [Mid-1800s]