belly up to the bar
to approach or participate in something with enthusiasm
English · UK & Ireland 1634
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
Expressions you’ll hear in Britain and Ireland — distinctly British usage first, then widespread staples.
below par
Not meeting the usual standard or expectation
below the belt
Unfair.
below the mahogany
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
below the salt
of lower social status
belt and suspenders
Using two or more methods to achieve something for extra security
bench and bar
A fixed-order word pair (irreversible binomial); full definition pending editorial review.
bench jockey
A person who criticizes or gives unwanted advice from the sidelines
bend one's elbow
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
bend someone's ear
to talk to someone at length, often about a problem
bend someone's will
To force someone to do something against their wishes
bend the brain
To concentrate or think hard
bend the knee
To show respect or submit to someone's authority
bend the truth
To exaggerate or distort information
bend to one's will
To force someone to do what you want
beneath the surface
Hidden or not immediately apparent
benevolent overlord
A ruler or authority figure who exercises power in a kind and generous manner
Benjamin Button
A person who appears to grow younger over time
bent on
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
bent on a splice
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
beside oneself
extremely upset or angry
beside the point
Not relevant to the current conversation or situation
best bet
Most likely to succeed or be effective
best laid plans
Even well-planned actions can go wrong
best of the bunch
The most excellent or desirable option among a group
best pleased
Most satisfied or delighted
best regards
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
best thing since sliced bread
Something excellent or wonderful
best thing since sliced pan
Something excellent or wonderful
best-kept secret
Something that is supposed to be secret but is actually widely known.
bet one's boots
to be absolutely certain or sure of something
bet one's bottom dollar
to be absolutely certain or confident about something
bet the house
Risk everything on something
bet the ranch
Risk everything on a single endeavor or decision
betray with a kiss
To deceive or harm someone with a show of affection or friendship
better angels
Noble and good qualities of human nature
better for it
improved or benefited as a result
better late than never
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
better luck next time
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
better nature
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
better or worse
Regardless of whether a situation improves or deteriorates
better place
A better situation or location
better safe than sorry
It's wiser to avoid risks than to suffer potential consequences.
better than sex
Extremely enjoyable or pleasurable
Better the Devil you know (than the Devil you do not)
It's often safer to stick with a difficult situation than risk a worse one.
better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all
It's better to experience love and lose it than to never experience love
better to light one candle than to curse the darkness
It's more productive to take action than to complain about a problem
Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven (John Milton, in Paradise Lost)
Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt
It's wiser to say nothing than to speak and reveal one's ignorance
better wear out than rust out
It's better to die actively than passively
between Scylla and Charybdis
Faced with two equally dangerous or undesirable options
between the hammer and the anvil
Caught between two opposing forces or pressures
between the jigs and the reels
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
between the pipes
Playing as a goalkeeper in sports
between you, me, and the bedpost
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
betwixt a rock and a hard place
Faced with two difficult choices
betwixt and between
In a state of uncertainty or indecision
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts (Trojan War, Virgil in the Aeneid)
Be cautious of enemies who appear friendly
beyond a joke
Extremely annoying or frustrating
beyond a shadow of a doubt
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.