about to
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Browse all entries 83355
Every expression in the dictionary, A to Z — pick a language, then a letter.
All languages English Tiếng Việt Chinese 中文
above all
more than anything else
above and beyond
Exceeding what is expected or required
above board
Honest and transparent in all dealings
above one's bend
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
above one's huckleberry
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
above par
Better than average or expected
above par
A commercial term meaning that the article referred to is at more than its nominal value. See PAR.
above the curve
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
above the fray
Not involved in a contentious or chaotic situation
above the law
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
above the salt
A position of honor or prestige at a table
above water
Managing to survive or stay financially afloat
Abraham and Isaac
A father-son relationship with a significant age gap
abraham's bosom
The repose of the happy in death — The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom. Richard ///, iv, 3.
abraham's willing
A shilling.
abraham-man
A vagabond, such as were driven to beg about the country after the dissolution of the monasteries.—See BESS O’ BEDLAM, infra. They are well described under the title of Bedlam Beggars.—Shakspeare’s K. Lear, ii. 3.
abraham-sham
Or SHAM ABRAHAM, to feign sickness or distress. From ABRAHAM-MAN, the ancient Cant term for a begging impostor, or one who pretended to have been mad.—Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy, vol. i. p. 360. When Abraham Newland was Cashier to the Bank of England, and signed their notes, it was sung:—
abrahamic covenant
The covenant made by God with Abraham (Gen. xii, 2, 3, and xvii), interpreted to mean that the Messiah should spring from his seed. This promise was given to Abraham, because he left his father's house to live in a strange land, as God told him.
abram cove
A cant word among thieves, signifying a naked or poor man; also a lusty, strong rogue.
absence makes the heart grow fonder
Time apart strengthens affection
absent flag
A small blue signal flown by a yacht to indicate that the owner is not aboard,
absobloodylutely
absolutely
absoflippinglutely
absolutely.
absofreakinglutely
Absolutely.
absofuckinglutely
Absolutely.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely (John Dalberg-Acton, 1887)
Complete power leads to total corruption
absolute zero
The temperature at which a theoretically perfect gas, kept at constant volume, would exert no pressure. In practice this is— 273.1° C.
absolutely worthless
It has been suggested that the term originated in the old-time tinker's custom of blocking up the hole in the article he was mending with a pellet of bread, thus making a dam which would prevent the solder from running through. This pellet was, of course, thrown away as useless when the job was finished.
absquatulate
To run away, or abscond; a hybrid American expression, from the Latin ab, and "squat" to settle.
abuse of distress
Taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state
abyssinia claim descent
Candace was the hereditary title of the Queens of Meroe, in
Abyssinian Christians
A branch of the Coptic Church. See COPTS.
AC/DC
Bisexual.
academy figures
Drawings in black and white chalk, on tinted paper, usually about half life-size and from the nude.
access to something
ability to use or get something
accident of birth
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
accident waiting to happen
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
accidental colours
See COLOURS. Accidentals in music are signs indicating sharps, flats, naturals, and double sharps and flats, other than those sharps and flats pre- scribed by the key-signature.
accidents will happen (in the best-regulated families)
Mistakes are inevitable, even with careful planning
accidents will happen in the best families. (19th century)
Mistakes or problems can occur even in well-managed situations
accommodation ladder
A flight of steps hung over the side of a ship at the gangway.
according to Cocker
completely incorrect or inaccurate
According to Grecian fable
Niobe, the daugh- ter of Tantalus and wife of Amphion, King of Thebes, was the mother of twelve children, and taunted Latona because she had only two —
according to Gunter
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
According to Gunter
Carefully and correctly done; with no possibility of mistake; the American counterpart of "according to Cocker" (see COCKER), which is more common in England,
according to his lights
According to his information or knowledge of the matter; or, according to the capacity he has for forming opinions on it.
according to Hoyle
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
account for something
explain or justify something
accounts
To cast up one's accounts; to vomit.
accused of something
Common English phrase; full definition pending editorial review.
ace up one's sleeve
A secret advantage or surprise
aceness
Excellence.
Achaean League
The first Achaean League was a religious confederation of the twelve towns of Achsea, lasting from very early times till it was broken up by Alexander the
Achilles and Patroclus
A famously close and intimate male friendship
Achilles and the tortoise
The allusion is to the following paradox proposed by Zeno: In a race Achilles, who can run ten times as fast as a tortoise, gives the latter 100 yards start; but it is impossible for him to overtake the tortoise and win the race; for, while he is running the first hundred yards the tortoise runs ten, while Achilles runs that ten the tortoise is running one, while Achilles is running one the tortoise runs one-tenth of a yard, and so on ad
Achilles of Lombardy
In Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, the brother of Sforza and Pala- medes, brothers in the allied army of Godfrey. Achilles of Lombardy was slain by Corinna.
Achilles of the West
Roland the Paladin; also called "The Christian Theseus.
achilles' heel
See ACHILLES. Heel 448 Helios Down, or out at heels. In a sad plight, in decayed circumstances, like a beggar whose boots are worn out at the heels.
achilles's spear
Shakespeare's lines:— That gold must round engirt these brows of mine
Advertisement
Ad space — ads help keep Idiomer free. Premium will remove them.