McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs Richard A. Spears, Ph.D. Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 0-07-148685-2 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: 0-07-146934-6 All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. 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For more information about this title, click here Contents About This Dictionary v How to Use This Dictionary ix Acknowledgments xv Terms and Symbols xvii Dictionary 1 Phrase-Finder Index 783 This page intentionally left blank About This Dictionary All languages have phrases that cannot be under- GOALS OF THE DICTIONARY stood literally and, therefore, cannot be used with confidence. They are opaque or unpredictable A major goal ofthis dictionary is to make certain because they don’t have expected, literal meaning. that each definition of a phrase illustrates the Even ifyou know the meaning ofall the words in meaning of the phrase and matches it in syntax. a phrase and understand all the grammar of the The major exceptions are definitions that begin phrase completely, the meaning ofthe phrase may with “a phrase” or “an expression.” Similarly, the still be confusing. A phrase or sentence of this examples for each sense must match the defini- type is said to be idiomatic. This dictionary is a tion in meaning and syntax. The best use of the collection ofthe idiomatic phrases and sentences entries is to study the entry head, definition, and that occur frequently in American English. Many example carefully. Look for the meaning that is of them occur in some fashion in other varieties common to all three. If the diligent user can see of English also. the elements of meaning shared by the entry Many overlapping terms have been used to phrase, the definition, and the example(s), the describe the idiomatic phrases included here: ver- dictionary entry has done its task well. bal collocations, idioms, idiomatic expressions, A second goal is to provide the learner with clichés, proverbs, set phrases, fixed phrases, enough information about the many forms that phrasal verbs, common phrases, prepositional an idiom might take to allow the user to recog- verbs, and phrasal/prepositional verbs. They all nize it in a variety of contexts and to be able to offer the same kinds of problems to the speaker use it in speech and writing. and writer of English. They are unclear because A third goal is to make the details accessible the meaning of the phrase is not literal or pre- to the learner. Idiomatic expressions and their dictable. Phrasal verbs, also called two-word verbs, variants are complex and unpredictable. There are are idiomatic expressions because the second ele- many synonyms and near synonyms. General ment of the verb (the adverb or preposition) is cross-referencing in the body of the dictionary not necessarily predictable. For instance, why the will help users find synonymous phrases. The word upincall up a friend? Why not say call on a Phrase-Finder Index provides a powerful tool for friendor call in a friend? Actually, those are three locating entry forms embedded in other entries separate, unpredictable combinations, and they and partially remembered phrases. The form of each mean something completely different. For the entry is quite straightforward, consisting of example, you can call up a friendon the telephone, entry, definition, comments (if any), and exam- call on a friendto have a visit, and call in a friend ples. Senses are numbered and may include vari- to come and help you with something. ants in addition tothose found in the entry head. Although there are some entries that are very A minimum of abbreviations and symbols are casual or informal English, slang and idioms used, and these are explained in the section should not be confused. Some slang is also “Terms and Symbols.” The user who understands idiomatic, and some idioms are also slang, but the meaning of entry head, variable, and wild generally they refer to different aspects of lan- card termis equipped to understand everything guage. There are a few slang terms in this dictio- that follows. nary, because they are also fairly commonly known idioms. v Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Click here for terms of use. About This Dictionary WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS These differences may never be revealed if the DICTIONARY? entry heads are just bail out and see through, with no object indicated. This dictionary presents The dictionary will prove useful for native speak- the additional details that a native speaker already ers who are looking for synonymous idiomatic knows. The information needed for the learner phrases. Many phrases can be expressed in a vari- includes whether the verb can take an object and, ety of ways, and this dictionary, through cross- if so, what kind of object (human, nonhuman, referencing, can lead the native speaker to equiv- or both) is needed. The learner also needs to alent forms with the same or similar meaning. know what additional prepositional phrases are The index provides a means for a writer to find required or optional for the correct use of the the most appropriate phrase for a given purpose. expressions. Native speakers can find most of what they want by looking up words representing key ideas in the index and following the references to phrases in PHRASE ORIGINS the dictionary itself. Likewise, near-native speakers who need help A surprising number of phrases have literary or with phrasal verbs and common idiomatic phrases Biblical origins. The works ofShakespeare, in par- will find this reference very useful. Speakers and ticular, have provided many memorable phrases writers trained in British English will find this that are in constant use around the world. When dictionary a good reference for checking on the the source is the Bible or Shakespeare, as well as American form and meaning ofexpressions pre- other authors, that is noted in the dictionary viously encountered in British English. entries. Most ofthe phrasal or two-word verbs are The format of the dictionary is designed to due to the Germanic origins of English. The provide the information needed by learners who choice of which particle (the second part of a are attempting to read and write conventional two-word verb) is an ancient problem. American English. It contains far more detail and There are many instances, recorded in this dic- specificity than is required by people who have tionary, ofa figurative phrasal verb being derived heard, spoken, and written standard American from a more literal interpretation of the same English all their lives. For instance, a dictionary phrasal verb. In these instances, the phrasal verbs designed for native speakers of English might (or two-word verbs) appear in both figurative and include the subentries bail outand see through. literal senses in the same entry. One sense helps However, there are major differences in meaning the user understand the other sense. In this case, between the idiomatic expressions that can be the figurative sense has its origin in the literal based on these words. sense. In entries where this occurs, the literal senses are marked Lit. and the figurative senses bail out (of something)“jump out” are marked Fig. bail someone out (of something)“post bond to get A high percentage ofthe entries in this dictio- a person out of jail” nary have their origins in a figurative usage where bail something out (of something) “remove water there is no matching literal sense. That is why they from a boat” offer special difficulty in understanding. Wher- bailsomethingout “empty a boat (ofaccumulated ever necessary or possible there is a note in the water)” entry suggesting what a figurative entry is based on or alluding to. Sometimes the relationship is see something through“work at something until completely obvious and no explanation is offered. it is finished” Quite a few of the similes (for example, as see through something “see through something busy as a beaver) are contrived and appear to that is transparent” be part of an ever-expanding repertory of color- see through something “detect a trick or decep- ful and quaint comparisons. Similarly, the senses tion” marked Rur.(rural) are often contrived and may vi About This Dictionary appear more often as colorful expressions in writ- the early use of a wordby consulting a historical ing than they ever did in real life. That these rural- dictionary, such as the Oxford English Dictionary. sounding expressions actually had a rural origin That will show the earliest usage recorded in the can be debated. Nor can all the similes be taken books and other documents that have been con- seriously. They are included because they might sulted for the creation of the dictionary. Some be encountered by the learner and their listing phrases and idioms may be included in the entries here might be useful for a writer—if nothing and quotations, but that is not the primary focus more than as something to be avoided. ofa historical dictionary. As more and more data There is another kind of “origin” that needs become available in a searchable, digital format, to be mentioned. There are a few idioms that seem it is possible to find examples of the early uses of to invite very clever but totally baseless tales of specific phrases more easily. A very careful writer origin. Many of these tales are quite popular and of historical novels or screenplays will be inter- widely known. Two examples of such “story” ested in making sure that a certain word or phrase idioms involve sleep tight and a dead ringer. was actually in use during the period in question. The first is associated with sleeping on a tightly The OEDcan be helpful in determining this kind strung, rope-supported mattress, and the second of information. An early date for a phrase (or refers to a corpse ringing a bell. The details word) does not necessarily indicate the earliest depend on the teller ofthe tale. Such tales ofori- use ofthe item nor the period ofwidespread com- gin are very entertaining to many people. The prehension in the population, however. idioms on which these stories are based are This dictionary offers the user help in seeing included in this dictionary, but the tale is neither semantic relationships and allusions, but it has told nor debunked here. goals that are quite different from those of a his- There are many additional phrases that are just torical dictionary. The major concern here is the customary patterns used to say things in both contemporary usage, and it probably reflects casual and more formal situations. Common idiomatic English over the last 50 years. The older greetings and responses are included in this cat- members ofthe native-speaking population know egory, and these expressions have their origins in more of the entries than the younger people, but the functions they were meant to serve. the latter will learn more as they age. Probably 75 percent ofthe entries are widely known, conven- tional English for 75 percent of the educated, WHEN WERE THEY FIRST USED? native-speaking adult population. Users often have an interest in dating the origins ofa phrase. It is possible to put a specific date on vii This page intentionally left blank