ll from; recover from. * /The man returned to work after he got over his illness./ 4. To accept or forget (a sorrow or suprise.) * /It is hard to get over the death of a member of your family./ * /We could not get over the speed of Mary's recovery from pneumonia./ [get rattled] {v. phr.} To become confused, overexcited, or nervous. * /The thief got so rattled when he saw the police following him that he drove his car into a ditch./ [get rid of] See: RID OF. [get set] {v. phr.} To get ready to start. * /The runners got set./ * /The seniors are getting set for the commencement./ [get short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT. [get something out of one's system] {v. phr.} 1. To eliminate some food item or drug from one's body. * /John will feel much better once he gets the addictive sleeping pills out of his system./ 2. To free oneself of yearning for something in order to liberate oneself from an unwanted preoccupation. * /Ted bought a new cabin cruiser that he'd been wanting for a long time, and he says he is glad that he's finally got it out of his system./ [get something over with] See: OVER WITH(1). get something straight {v. phr.} To clearly comprehend an issue. * /"Let me get this straight," Burt said. "You want $85,000 for this miserable shack?"/ [get stoned] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very drunk or high on some drug. * /Poor Fred was so stoned that Tom had to carry him up the stairs./ Compare: THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND. [get straight] See: GO STRAIGHT, GO LEGIT. [get stuck] {v. phr.} 1. To be victimized; be cheated. * /The Smiths sure got stuck when they bought that secondhand car; it broke down just two days after they got it./ 2. To become entrapped or embroiled in a physical, emotional, or social obstacle so as to be unable to free oneself. * /Last winter our car got stuck in the snow and we had to walk home./ * /Poor Jeff is stuck in a terrible job./ * /Tom and Jane are stuck in a bad marriage./ [get (all) the breaks] {v. phr.} To be fortunate; have luck. * /That fellow gets all the breaks! He's been working here only six months, and he's already been promoted to vice president!/ [get the air] See: GET THE BOUNCE(1). [get the ax] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired from a job. * /Poor Joe got the ax at the office yesterday./ 2. To be dismissed from school for improper conduct, such as cheating. * /Joe got caught cheating on his final exam and he got the ax./ 3. To have a quarrel with one's sweetheart or steady ending in a termination of the relationship. * /Joe got the ax from Betsie - they won't see each other again./ [get the ball rolling] or [set the ball rolling] or [start the ball rolling] {informal} To start an activity or action; make a beginning; begin. * /George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a new joke./ Compare: KEEP THE BALL ROLLING. [get the better of] or [get the best of] {v. phr.} 1. To win over, beat; defeat. * /Our team got the best of the visitors in the last quarter./ * /George got the better of Robert in a game of checkers./ * /When the opposing player fouled John, John let his anger get the better of his good sense and hit the boy back./ * /Dave wanted to study till midnight, but sleepiness got the best of him./ Compare: RUN AWAY WITH(1). 2. or [have the best of] or [have the better of] To win or be ahead in (something); gain most from (something.) * /Bill traded an old bicycle tire for a horn; he got the best of that deal./ * /Our team had the best of it today, but they may lose the game tomorrow./ * /The champion had all the better of it in the last part of the fight./ Contrast: GET THE WORST OF. [get the boot] or [the gate] or [the sack] See: GET THE AXE. [get the bounce] or [get the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [get the air] To lose one's sweetheart; not be kept for a friend or lover. * /Joe is sad because he just got the gate from his girl./ * /Shirley was afraid she might get the air from her boyfriend if she went out with other boys while he was away./ 2. or [get the sack] also [get the hook] To be fired; lose a job. * /Uncle Willie can't keep a job; he got the sack today for sleeping on the job./ * /You're likely to get the bounce if you are absent from work too much./ Contrast: GIVE THE BOUNCE. [get the brush-off] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be paid no attention; not be listened to or thought important. * /My idea for a party got the brush-off from the other children./ 2. To be treated in an unkind or unfriendly way; be ignored. * /Frank and Jane had an argument, so the next time he telephoned her, he got the brush-off./ Compare: COLD SHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: BRUSH OFF. [get the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE. [get the eye] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To be looked at, especially with interest and liking. * /The pretty girl got the eye as she walked past the boys on the street corner./ 2. To be looked at or stared at, especially in a cold, unfriendly way. * /When Mary asked if she could take home the fur coat and pay later, she got the eye from the clerk./ Contrast: GIVE THE EYE. [get the feel of] {v. phr.} To become used to or learn about, especially by feeling or handling; get used to the experience or feeling of; get skill in. * /John had never driven a big car, and it took a while for him to get the feel of it./ * /You'll get the feel of the job after you've been there a few weeks./ [get the go-ahead] or [the green light] {v. phr.} To receive the permission or signal to start or to proceed. * /We had to wait until we got the go-ahead on our research project./ [get the goods on] or [have the goods on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To find out true and, often, bad information about; discover what is wrong with; be able to prove the guilt of. * /Tell the truth, Johnny. We know who your girl is because we've got the goods on you./ * /The police had the goods on the burglar before he came to trial./ Compare: HAVE SOMETHING ON. [get the hook] See: GET THE BOUNCE(2). [get the inside track] See: INSIDE TRACK. [get the jitters] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or excited. * /I always get the jitters when I sit in an airplane that's about to take off./ [get the jump on] or [have the jump on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get ahead of; start before (others); have an advantage over. * /Don't let the other boys get the jump on you at the beginning of the race./ * /Our team got the jump on their rivals in the first minutes of play, and held the lead to win./ [get the last laugh] See: HAVE THE LAST LAUGH. [get the lead out of one's pants] {v. phr.}, {slang} To get busy; work faster. * /The captain told the sailors to get the lead out of their pants./ * /The coach told the players to get the lead out of their pants./ [get the lowdown on] {v. phr.} To receive the full inside information on a person or thing. * /We need to get the lowdown on Peter before we can decide whether or not to hire him./ [get the message] or [get the word] {v. phr.}, {slang} To understand clearly what is meant. * /The principal talked to the students about being on time, and most of them got the message./ * /Mary hinted to her boyfriend that she wanted to break up, but he didn't gel the message./ Compare: THE PICTURE. [get the picture] See: THE PICTURE. [get the runaround] See: RUN AROUND. [get the sack] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be fired or dismissed from work. * /John got the sack at the factory last week./ 2. To be told by one's lover that the relationship is over. * /Joanna gave Sam the sack./ See: GET THE AX and GET THE BOUNCE(2). [get the show on the road]{v. phr.}, {informal} To start a program; get work started. * /It was several years before the rocket scientists got the show on the road./ Compare: GET THE BALL ROLLING. [get the third degree] See: THIRD DEGREE. [get the upper hand on] See: UPPER HAND. [get the word] See: GET THE MESSAGE. [get the works] See: THE WORKS. [get the worst of] also [have the worst of] {v. phr.} To lose; be defeated or beaten in; suffer most. * /Joe got the worst of the argument with Molly./ - Often used in the phrase "the worst of it". * /If you start a fight with Jim, you may get the worst of it./ * /Bill had the worst of it in his race with Al./ * /Jack traded his knife for a few marbles; he got the worst of it in that trade./ * /The driver of the car got the worst of it in the accident./ Contrast: GET THE BETTER OF(2). [get through] {v. phr.} 1. To finish. * /Barry got through his homework by late evening./ 2. To pass a course or an examination. * /I got through every one of my courses except mathematics./ [get through one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To understand or believe. * /Jack couldn't get it through his head that his father wouldn't let him go to camp if his grades didn't improve./ * /At last Mary got it through her head that she had failed to pass the test./ 2. To make someone understand or believe. * /I'll get it through his head if it takes all night./ [get through to] {v.} To be understood by; make (someone) understand. * /The little boy could not get through to his housemother./ * /Deaf people sometimes find it hard to get through to strangers./ * /When the rich boy's father lost his money, it took a long time for the idea to get through to him that he'd have to work and support himself./ [get to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To begin by chance; begin to. - Used with a verbal noun or an infinitive. * /George meant to save his dollar, but he got to thinking how good an ice cream cone would taste, and he spent it./ * /On a rainy day, Sally got to looking around in the attic and found some old pictures of Father./ * /I got to know Mary at the party./ * /I was just getting to know John when he moved away./ Compare: TAKE TO(2). 2. To have a chance to; be able to. * /The Taylors wanted to go to the beach Saturday, but it rained and they didn't get to./ * /Did you get to see the king?/ Compare: GET AT(3). 3. See: HAVE TO. [get to first base] or [reach first base] {v. phr.} To make a good start; really begin; succeed, * /Joe had a long paper to write for history class, but when the teacher asked for it, Joe hadn't got to first base yet./ * /Suppose Sam falls in love with Betty. Can he even get to first base with her?/ * /George wants to go to college and become a teacher, but I'll be surprised if he even reaches first base./ * /If you don't dress neatly, you won't get to first base when you look for a job./ Compare: FIRST BASE. [get together] {v.} To come to an agreement; agree. * /Mother says I should finish my arithmetic lesson, and Father says I should mow the lawn. Why don't you two get together?/ [get-together] {n.} A party; a gathering. * /I hate to break up this nice get-together but we must leave./ * /We manage to have a get-together with our old friends once or twice a year./ [get to the bottom of] {v. phr.} To find out the real cause of. * /The superintendent talked with several students to get to the bottom of the trouble./ * /The doctor made several tests to get to the bottom of the man's headaches./ Compare: GET TO THE HEART OF. [get to the heart of] {v. phr.} To find the most important facts about or the central meaning of; understand the most important thing about. * /You can often get to the heart of people's unhappiness by letting them talk./ * /"If you can find a topic sentence, often it will help you get to the heart of the paragraph," said the teacher./ [get to the point] See: COME TO THE POINT. [get two strikes against one] See: TWO STRIKES AGAINST. [get underway] {v. phr.} To set out on a journey; start going. * /We are delighted that our new Ph.D. program finally got underway./ [get under one's skin] {v. phr.} To bother; upset. * /The students get under Mary's skin by talking about her freckles./ * /Children who talk too much in class get under the teacher's skin./ [get up] {v.} 1. To get out of bed. * /John's mother told him that it was time to get up./ 2. To stand up; get to your feet. * /A man should get up when a woman comes into the room./ 3. To prepare; get ready. * /Mary got up a picnic for her visitor./ * /The students got up a special number of the newspaper to celebrate the school's 50th birthday./ 4. To dress up. * /One of the girls got herself up as a witch for the Halloween party./ 5. To go ahead. * /The wagon driver shouted, "Get up!" to his horses./ [get up] or [rise with the chickens] {v. phr.} To rise very early in the morning. * /All the farmers in this village get up with the chickens./ Contrast: GO TO BED WITH THE CHICKENS. [get-up] {n.} (stress on "get") Fancy dress or costume. * /Some get-up you're wearing!/ [get-up-and-go] also [get-up-and-get] {n. phr.}, {informal} Energetic enthusiasm; ambitious determination; pep; drive; push. * /Joe has a lot of get-up-and-go and is working his way through school./ [get up on the wrong side of the bed] {v. phr.}, {informal} To awake with a bad temper. * /Henry got up on the wrong side of the bed and wouldn't eat breakfast./ * /The man went to bed very late and got up on the wrong side of the bed./ [get up the nerve] {v. phr.} To build up your courage until you are brave enough; become brave enough. * /Jack got up the nerve to ask Ruth to dance with him./ * /The hungry little boy got up nerve to ask for another piece of cake./ [get used to] See: USED TO. [get warmed up] See: WARM UP. [get what's coming to one] or {slang} [get one's] {v. phr.} To receive the good or bad that you deserve; get what is due to you; get your share. * /At the end of the movie the villain got what was coming to him and was put in jail./ * /John didn't think he was getting what was coming to him, so he quit the job./ * /Mother told Mary that she'd get hers if she kept on being naughty./ Compare: CATCH IT, HAVE IT COMING, SERVE RIGHT. [get wind of] {v. phr.} To get news of; hear rumors about; find out about. * /The police got wind of the plans to rob the bank./ * /The captain didn't want the sailors to get wind of where the ship was going./ [get wise] {v. phr.}, {slang} To learn about something kept secret from you; become alert. * /One girl pretended to be sick on gym days when she had athletics, until the teacher got wise and made her go anyway./ - Often used with "to". * /The boys got wise to Jack's fondness for bubble gum./ * /If you don't get wise to yourself and start studying, you will fail the course./ Compare: CATCH ON, SEE THROUGH. Contrast: IN THE DARK. [get with it] {v. phr.}, {slang} To pay attention; be alive or alert; get busy. * /The students get with it just before examinations./ * /The coach told the team to get with it./ Compare: ON THE BALL. [ghost] See: GIVE UP THE GHOST. [ghost of a] Least trace of; slightest resemblance to; smallest bit even of; a very little. Usually used with "chance" or "idea" in negative sentences, or with "smile". * /There wasn't a ghost of a chance that Jack would win./ * /We didn't have the ghost of an idea where to look for John./ * /The teacher scolded Harold for drawing a funny picture on the chalkboard, but she had a ghost of a smile./ Compare: FAT CHANCE. [ghost-writer] {n.} A writer whose identity remains a secret and who writes for another who receives all the credit. * /It is rumored that John Smith's best-selling novel was written by a ghost-writer./ [gift of gab] or [gift of the gab] {n. phr.}, {informal} Skill in talking; ability to make interesting talk that makes people believe you. * /Many men get elected because of their gift of gab./ * /Mr. Taylor's gift of gab helped him get a good job./ [gild the lily] also [paint the lily] {v. phr.} To add unnecessarily to something already beautiful or good enough. * /To talk about a beautiful sunset is to gild the lily./ * /For the beautiful girl to use makeup would be to gild the lily./ * /Frank's father is a millionaire, but Frank gilds the lily by saying he is a billionaire./ [gill] See: FED TO THE GILLS at FED UP, GREEN AROUND THE GILLS or PALE AROUND THE GILLS. [gilt-edged] {adj.} Of the highest quality. * /Government saving bonds are considered by many to be a gilt-edged investment./ [gin mill] {n.}, {slang} A bar where liquor is sold. * /Rush Street in Chicago is full of gin mills./ Syn.: SPEAKEASY. [G.I.] or ["government issue"] {n.} An American soldier. * /After the war many GI's were able to get a free education./ [gird one's loins] {v. phr.}, {literary} To prepare for action; get ready for a struggle or hard work. * /David girded up his loins and went out to meet the giant Goliath./ * /Seniors must gird their loins for the battles of life./ [girl Friday] {n.} A very dependable and helpful female office worker; especially a secretary. * /Miss Johnson is the manager's girl Friday./ * /There was an advertisement in the newspaper for a girl Friday./ [girl friend] {n.}, {informal} 1. A female friend or companion. * /Jane is spending the night at her girlfriend's house./ 2. A boy's steady girl; the girl or woman partner in a love affair; girl; sweetheart. * /John is taking his girl friend to the dance./ Contrast: BOYFRIEND. [give] See: SILENCE GIVES CONSENT. [give a buzz] See: GIVE A RING. [give a cold shoulder] See: COLD SHOULDER. [give a hand] See: LEND A HAND. [give a hang] or [care a hang] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have any interest or liking; care. - Used also with other words in the place of "hang", such as "damn", "rap", "straw"; usually used in the negative. * /You can quit helping me if you want to. I don't give a hang./ * /Some people don't care a rap about sports./ * /Bruce never goes to the dances; he does not care a straw about dancing./ [give a hard time] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give trouble by what you do or say; complain. * /Jane gave her mother a hard time on the bus by fighting with her sister and screaming./ * /Don't give me a hard time, George. I'm doing my best on this job./ Compare: GIVE FITS. 2. To get in the way by teasing or playing; kid. * /Don't give me a hard time, boys. I'm trying to study./ Compare: ACT UP, IN ONE'S HAIR. [give-and-take] {n. phr.} 1. A sharing; giving and receiving back and forth between people; a giving up by people on different sides of part of what each one wants so that they can agree. * /Jimmy is too selfish. He has no notion of give-and-take with the other children but wants everything for himself./ * /There has to be give-and-take between two countries before they can be friends./ Compare: LIVE AND LET LIVE. 2. Friendly talking or argument back and forth. Friendly sharing of ideas which may not agree; also: an exchange of teasing remarks. * /After the meeting there was a lot of give-and-take about plans for the dance./ [give an ear to] or [lend an ear to] {v. phr.}, {literary} To listen to. * /Children should give an ear to their parents' advice./ * /The king lent an ear to the complaints of his people./ [give a pain] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make (you) disgusted; annoy. * /Ann's laziness gives her mother a pain./ * /John's bad manners give his teacher a pain./ Compare: PAIN IN THE NECK. [give as good as one gets] {v. phr.} To be able to give back blow for blow; defend yourself well in a fight or argument. * /The Americans gave as good as they got in the war with the English./ * /George gave as good as he got in his fight with the older boy./ Compare: EYE FOR AN EYE, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY. [give away] {v.} 1. To give as a present. * /Mrs. Jones has several kittens to give away./ 2. To hand over (a bride) to her husband at the wedding. * /Mr. Jackson gave away his daughter./ 3. To let (a secret) become known; tell the secret of. * /The little boy gave away his hiding place when he coughed./ * /Mary said she didn't care anything about John, but her blushing face gave her away./ Compare: SPILL THE BEANS, LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG. 4. See: GIVE ONESELF AWAY. [giveaway] or [dead giveaway] {n.} (stress on "give") 1. An open secret. * /By mid-afternoon, it was a dead giveaway who the new boss would be./ 2. A forced or sacrifice sale at which items are sold for much less than their market value. * /The Simpson's garage sale was actually a big giveaway./ 3. A gift; something one doesn't have to pay for. * /The tickets to the concert were a giveaway./ [give a wide berth] {v. phr.} To keep away from; keep a safe distance from. * /Mary gave the barking dog a wide berth./ * /Jack gave a wide berth to the fallen electric wires./ * /After Tom got Bob into trouble. Bob gave him a wide berth./ [give birth to] {v. phr.} 1. To bear live offspring. * /The mother gave birth to twin baby girls./ 2. To bring about; create; occasion. * /Beethoven gave birth to a new kind of symphony./ [give chase] {v. phr.} To chase or run after someone or something. * /The dog saw a rabbit and gave chase./ * /The policeman gave chase to the man who robbed the bank./ [give color to] or [lend color to] {v. phr.} To make (something) seem true or likely. * /The boy's torn clothes gave color to his story of a fight./ * /The way the man ate lent color to his story of near starvation./ [give credence to] {v. phr.} 1. To be willing to believe that something is true. * /Larry gave credence to the rumor that Fred used to be a convict./ * /Give no credence to the rumor that our state is bankrupt; nothing could be farther from the truth./ [give fits] {v. phr.} {informal} To upset; bother very much. * /Paul's higher grades give John fits./ * /The short guard gave his tall opponent fits./ Compare: GIVE A HARD TIME. [give forth] {v. phr.} To emit; produce. * /When the gong was struck it gave forth a rich, resounding sound./ [give free rein to] See: GIVE REIN TO. [give gray hair] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make (someone) anxious, confused, or worried. * /The traffic problem is enough to give a policeman gray hairs./ Compare: GET GRAY HAIR. [give ground] {v. phr.} To go backward under attack; move back; retreat. * /After fighting for a while the troops slowly began to give ground./ * /Although they were outnumbered by the enemy, the men refused to give ground./ Compare: DRAW BACK, DROP BACK, LOSE GROUND. Contrast: HOLD ONE'S GROUND, STAND OFF, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STAND PAT, STAVE OFF. [give her the gun] See: GIVE IT THE GUN. [give in] {v.} To stop fighting or arguing and do as the other person wants; give someone his own way; stop opposing someone. * /Mother kept inviting Mrs. Smith to stay for lunch, and finally she gave in./ * /After Billy proved that he could ride a bicycle safely, his father gave in to him and bought him one./ Compare: GIVE UP, SAY UNCLE. [give it some thought] {v. phr.} To wait and see; consider something after some time has elapsed. * /"Will you buy my car?" Fred asked. "Let me give it some thought," Jim answered./ Contrast: SLEEP ON. [give it the gun] or [give her the gun] {v. phr.}, {slang} To gun or speed up a motor; make a car, airplane, or something driven by a motor go faster. * /The race driver gave it the gun./ * /The speedboat pilot gave her the gun./ Compare: STEP ON IT. [give it to] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To give punishment to; beat. * /The crowd yelled for the wrestler to give it to his opponent./ Syn.: LET HAVE IT. 2. To scold. * /Jerry's mother gave it to him for coming home late./ Compare: GIVE A PIECE OF ONE'S MIND, LACE INTO. Contrast: CATCH IT. [give it to one straight] {v. phr.} To be direct; be frank. * /I asked the doctor to give it to me straight how long I have to live./ [give no quarter] {v. phr.} To be ruthless and show no mercy. * /The enemy soldiers gave no quarter and shot all the prisoners./ [give notice] {v. phr.} To inform an employer, an employee, a landlord, or a tenant of the termination of a contractual agreement of service or tenancy. * /Max gave notice at the bank where he was working./ * /Sally was given notice by her landlord./ [given to] {adj. phr.} Having a tendency to; addicted to. * /Phil is given to telling fantastic tales about his chateau in France./ [give off] {v.} To send out; let out; put forth. * /Rotten eggs give off a bad smell./ * /Burning leaves give off thick smoke./ Syn.: GIVE OUT(2). [give of oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To give your time and effort to help others. * /You should give of yourself sometimes./ * /During World War II, Governor Baldwin gave of himself by sweeping the halls of a hospital every afternoon./ [give one a dressing down] See: DRESSING DOWN. [give one a free hand] See: FREE HAND. [give one a (good) going-over] See: GO OVER(1). [give one a lift] {v. phr.} 1. To give someone a ride. * /Jack gave me a lift in his new car./ 2. To comfort someone. * /Talking to my doctor yesterday gave me a lift./ [give one an inch, and he will take a mile] If you give some people a little or yield anything, they will want more and more; some people are never satisfied. * /I gave Billy a bite of candy and he wanted more and more. If you give him an inch, he'll take a mile./ * /The counselor said to Jack, "No, I can't let you get a haircut until Saturday. It's against the rules, and if I give an inch, someone will take a mile."/ [give one a piece of one's mind] {v. phr.}, {informal} To scold angrily; say what you really think to (someone). * /Mr. Allen gave the other driver a piece of his mind./ * /The sergeant gave the soldier a piece of his mind for not cleaning his boots./ Syn.: TELL OFF. Compare: BAWL OUT, DRESS DOWN, GIVE IT TO, TONGUE LASHING. [give one a ring] also {informal} [give a buzz] To call on the telephone. * /Mrs. Jacobs promised to give her husband a ring in the afternoon./ * /Alice will give her friend a buzz tonight./ [give one enough rope and he will hang himself] {informal} Give a bad person enough time and freedom to do as he pleases, and he may make a bad mistake or get into trouble and be caught. - A proverb. * /Johnny is always stealing and hasn't been caught. But give him enough rope and he'll hang himself./ - Often used in a short form, "give one enough rope". * /Mother didn't know who robbed the cookie jar, but she thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope./ [give one pause] {v. phr.} To astonish someone; cause one to stop and think. * /"Your remark gives me pause," Tom said, when Jane called him an incurable gambler./ [give one short shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT. [give oneself airs] {v. phr.} To act proud; act vain. * /Mary gave herself airs when she wore her new dress./ * /John gave himself airs when he won first prize./ [give oneself away] {v. phr.} To show guilt; show you have done wrong. * /The thief gave himself away by spending so much money./ * /Carl played a joke on Bob and gave himself away by laughing./ Compare: GIVE AWAY. [give oneself up] {v.} To stop hiding or running away; surrender. * /The thief gave himself up to the police./ * /Mr. Thompson hit another car, and his wife told him to give himself up./ Compare: TURN IN. [give oneself up to] {v. phr.} Not to hold yourself back from; let yourself enjoy. * /Uncle Willie gave himself up to a life of wandering./ * /John came inside from the cold and gave himself up to the pleasure of being in a warm room./ Compare: ENJOY ONESELF, LET ONESELF GO. [give one some of his] or [her own medicine] {v. phr.} To treat someone the way he or she treats others (used in the negative). * /The gangster beat up an innocent old man, so when he resisted arrest, a policeman gave him a little of his own medicine./ [give one's due] {v. phr.} To be fair to (a person), give credit that (a person) deserves. * /The boxer who lost gave the new champion his due./ * /We should give a good worker his due./ Compare: GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE. [give one's right arm for] {v. phr.} To give something of great value; sacrifice. * /During our long hike in the desert, I would have given my right arm for an ice cold drink./ [give one's word] {v. phr.} To seriously promise. * /"You gave me your word you would marry me," Mary bitterly complained, "but you broke your word."/ [give one the eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To look at, especially with interest and liking. * /A pretty girl went by and all the boys gave her the eye./ 2. To look or stare at, especially in a cold or unfriendly way. * /Mrs. Jones didn't like Mary and didn't speak. She just gave her the eye when they met on the street./ [give one the works] See: THE WORKS. [give or take] {v, phr.} To add or subtract. Used with a round number or date to show how approximate it is. * /The house was built in 1900, give or take five years./ [give out] {v.} 1. To make known; let it be known; publish. * /Mary gave out that she and Bob were going to be married./ 2. To let escape; give. * /The cowboy gave out a yell./ Syn.: GIVE OFF, LET GO. 3. to give to people; distribute. * /The barber gives out free lollipops to all the children./ Compare: HAND OUT, PASS OUT. 4. To fail; collapse. * /Tom's legs gave out and he couldn't run any farther./ * /The chair gave out under the fat man./ Compare: WEAR OUT. 5. To be finished or gone. * /When the food at the party gave out, they bought more./ * /The teacher's patience gave out./ Syn.: RUN OUT, RUN SHORT. Compare: USE UP, WEAR OUT. 6. {slang} Not to hold back; act freely; let yourself go. - Often used in the imperative. * /You're not working hard, Charley. Give out!/ 7. {informal} To show how you feel. * /When Jane saw the mouse, she gave out with a scream./ * /Give out with a little smile./ Compare: LET GO. [give pause] {v. phr.} To cause you to stop and think; make you doubt or worry. * /The heavy monthly payments gave Mr. Smith pause in his plans to buy a new car./ * /The bad weather gave Miss Carter pause about driving to New York City./ [give place to] See: GIVE RISE TO. [give rein to] or [give free rein to] {v. phr.} To remove all restrictions or limitations from someone or something. * /When she wrote her first mystery novel, the talented novelist gave rein to her imagination./ [give rise to] {v. phr.} To be the reason for; cause. * /A branch floating in the water gave rise to Columbus' hopes that land was near./ * /John's black eye gave rise to rumors that he had been in a fight./ [give someone his rights] or [read someone his rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. The act of advising arrested criminals that they have the right to remain silent and that everything they say can be held against them in a court of law; that they have the right to the presence of an attorney during questioning and that if they can't afford one and request it, an attorney will be appointed for them by the State. * /The cops gave Smith his rights immediately after the arrest./ 2. To sever a relationship by telling someone that he or she can go and see a divorce lawyer or the like. * /Sue gave Mike his rights before she slammed the door in his face./ Compare: READ THE RIOT ACT. [give the air] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(1). [give the ax] {v. phr.}, {colloquial} 1. Abruptly to finish a relationship. * /She gave me the ax last night./ 2. To fire an employee in a curt manner. * /His boss gave John the ax last Friday./ [give the benefit of the doubt] {v. phr.} To believe (a person) is innocent rather than guilty when you are not sure. * /The money was stolen and John was the only boy who had known where it was, but the teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ * /George's grade was higher than usual and he might have cheated, but his teacher gave him the benefit of the doubt./ [give the bounce] or [give the gate] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. or [give the air] To stop being a friend or lover to (a person); separate from. * /Mary gave John the bounce after she saw him dating another girl./ * /Bill and Jane had an argument and Bill is giving her the gate./ 2. or [give the sack] also [give the hook] To fire from a job; dismiss. * /The ball team gave Joe the gate because he never came to practice./ Contrast: GET THE BOUNCE. [give the creeps] See: THE CREEPS. [give the devil his due] {v. phr.} To be fair, even to someone who is bad; tell the truth about a person even though you don't like him, * /I don't like Mr. Jones, but to give the devil his due, I must admit that he is a good teacher./ [give the gate] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE. [give the glad eye] {v. phr.}, {slang} To give (someone) a welcoming look as if saying "come over here, I want to talk to you." * /I was surprised when Joe gave me the glad eye./ [give the go-by] {v. phr.} To pay no attention to a person; avoid. * /John fell in love with Mary, but she gave him the go-by./ * /The boy raised his hand to answer the question, but the teacher gave him the go-by./ Compare: THE RUNAROUND. [give the high sign] See: HIGH SIGN. [give the hook] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2). [give the lie to] {v. phr.}, {literary} 1. To call (someone) a liar. * /The police gave the lie to the man who said that he had been at home during the robbery./ 2. To show (something) to be false; prove untrue. * /The boy's dirty face gave the lie to his answer that he had washed./ [give the sack] See: GIVE THE BOUNCE(2). [give the shirt off one's back] {v. phr.}, {informal} To give away something or everything that you own. * /He'd give you the shirt off his back./ [give the show away] {v. phr.} To reveal a plan or information that is supposed to be secret. * /You have read further in the book than I have, but please don't tell me where the treasure was buried; otherwise you'd be giving the show away./ [give the slip] {v.} To escape from (someone); run away from unexpectedly; sneak away from. * /An Indian was following, but Boone gave him the slip by running down a hill./ * /Some boys were waiting outside the school to beat up Jack, but he gave them the slip./ [give signs of] See: SHOW SIGN(S) OF; SHOW NO SIGN OF. [give the willies] {v. phr.} To cause someone to be uncomfortable, fearful, or nervous. * /Sue hates to camp out in a tent; the buzzing of the mosquitoes gives her the willies./ [give thought to] {v. phr.} To consider; think about. * /Have you given any thought to the question of how to sell Grandpa's old house?/ Contrast: GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. [give to understand] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make a person think that something is true but not tell him; suggest; hint. * /Mr. Johnson gave Billy to understand that he would pay him if he helped him clean the yard./ 2. To make a person understand by telling him very plainly or boldly. * /Frank was given to understand in a short note from the boss that he was fired./ [give up] {v.} 1a. To stop trying to keep; surrender; yield. * /The dog had the ball in his mouth and wouldn't give it up./ * /Jimmy is giving up his job as a newsboy when he goes back to school./ Compare: GIVE ONESELF UP, HAND OVER, LET GO(1a). Contrast: HOLD ON TO. 1b. To allow; permit. * /Ford gave up two walks in the first inning./ 2. To stop doing or having; abandon; quit. * /The doctor told Mr. Harris to give up smoking./ * /Jane hated to give up her friends when she moved away./ Compare: LEAVE OFF, PART WITH. 3. To stop hoping for, waiting for, or trying to do. * /Johnny was given up by the doctors after the accident, but he lived just the same./ * /When Mary didn't come by nine o'clock, we gave her up./ * /I couldn't do the puzzle so I gave it up./ 4. To stop trying; quit; surrender. * /The war will be over when one of the countries gives up./ * /The other team gave up after we scored three touchdowns./ Compare: GIVE IN(2), RESIGN ONESELF, THROW IN THE SPONGE. [give (one) up for] {v. phr.} To abandon hope for someone or something. * /After Larry had not returned to base camp for three nights, his fellow mountain climbers gave him up for dead./ [give up the ghost] {v. phr.} To die; stop going. * /After a long illness, the old woman gave up the ghost./ * /The motor turned over a few times and gave up the ghost./ [give up the ship] {v. phr.} To stop fighting and surrender; stop trying or hoping to do something. * /"Don't give up the ship, John," said his father when John failed a test./ [give voice] {v. phr.}, {formal} To tell what you feel or think; especially when you are angry or want to object. - Used with "to". * /The students gave voice to their pleasure over the new building./ * /Little Willie gave voice to his pain when the dog bit him by crying loudly./ Compare: CRY OUT, SPEAK OUT. [give way] {v.} 1. To go back; retreat. * /The enemy army is giving way before the cannon fire./ Compare: FALL BACK. 2. To make room, get out of the way. * /The children gave way and let their mother through the door./ Compare: MAKE WAY. 3. To lose control of yourself; lose your courage or hope; yield. * /Mrs. Jones didn't give way during the flood, but she was very frightened./ Compare: GIVE UP, LOSE ONE'S HEAD. 4. To collapse; fail. * /The river was so high that the dam gave way./ * /Mary's legs gave way and she fainted./ Compare: GIVE OUT(4), LET GO(1a). 5. To let yourself be persuaded; give permission. * /Billy kept asking his mother if he could go to the movies and she finally gave way./ Compare: GIVE IN. [give way to] {v. phr.} 1a. To make room for; allow to go or pass; yield to. * /John gave way to the old lady and let her pass./ 1b. To allow to decide. * /Mrs. Rogers gave way lo her husband in buying the car./ 1c. To lose control of (your feelings), not hold back. * /Timmy gave way to his feelings when his dog died./ 2. or [give place to]. To be replaced by. * /Radio has given way to television in popularity./ * /When she saw the clowns, the little girl's tears gave way lo laughter./ [glad hand] {n.}, {informal} A friendly handshake; a warm greeting. * /Father went to the front door to give Uncle Fred the glad hand when he arrived./ * /The politician went down the street on election day giving everyone the glad hand./ [glad rags] {n.}, {slang} Clothes worn to parties or on special occasions; best clothes. * /Mrs. Owens put on her glad rags for the party./ Compare: BEST BIB AND TUCKER. [glance] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST SIGHT. [glance off] {v. phr.} To ricochet. * /The bullet glanced off the wall and wounded an innocent bystander./ [glass] See: PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NOT THROW STONES, SAFETY GLASS. [glasses] See: LOOK AT THE WORLD THROUGH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. [glass jaw] {n.}, {slang} The inability of a boxer to get a hard punch on the jaw without being knocked out; a tendency to be knocked out easily. * /He would have been champion except for his glass jaw./ [globe-trotter] {n.} One who has travelled far and wide. * /Tim and Nancy are regular globe-trotters; there are few countries they haven't been to./ [glory] See: IN ONE'S GLORY. [gloss over] {v.} To try to make what is wrong or bad seem right or not important; try to make a thing look easy; pretend about; hide. * /Billy broke a window and Mother tried to gloss it over by saying it wouldn't cost much to have it fixed, but Father spanked Billy anyway./ * /John glossed over his mistake by saying that everybody did the same thing./ [glove] See: FIT LIKE A GLOVE, HAND IN GLOVE or HAND AND GLOVE, HANDLE WITH GLOVES. [glutton for punishment] {n. phr.} A greedy person; someone who wants too much of something, such as food or drink, which will make him sick. * /Fred eats so much red meat that he is a regular glutton for punishment./ [go] See: HERE GOES, HERE GOES NOTHING, BEST BIB AND TUCKER or SUNDAY-GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES, COMINGS AND GOINGS, EASY COME EASY GO, GET GOING, GET-UP-AND-GO, HAVE A GO AT, HEART GOES OUT TO, KNOW WHETHER ONE IS COMING OR GOING, LET GO, MAKE A GO OF, NO DEAL or NO GO, ON THE GO, PAY AS ONE GOES, TOUCH AND GO. [go about] {v.} 1. To be busy with; keep busy at or working on; start working on; do. * /Bobby is going about his homework very seriously tonight./ * /Just go about your business and don't keep looking out of the window./ * /How will you go about building the bird house?/ Syn.: GO AT(2). 2a. To move from one place or person to another. * /Some people go about telling untrue stories./ 2b. To go together. - Usually used with "with". * /Mother doesn't want me to go about with Jane and her friends any more./ Syn.: GO AROUND(1b). [go about one's business] {v. phr.} To mind one's own affairs. * /Fred kept bothering me with his questions all day, so I finally told him to go about his business and leave me alone./ [go after] {v.} To try to get. * /"First find out what job you want and then go after it," said Jim's father./ [go against the grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN(2). [go ahead] {v.} To begin to do something; not wait. * /The teacher told the students not to write on the paper yet, but John went ahead and wrote his name./ * /"May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead."/ Compare: GO ON(1). [go astray] {v. phr.} To become lost. * /The letter has obviously gone astray; otherwise it would have been delivered a long time ago./ [goal] See: FIELD GOAL. [goal line] {n.} A line that marks the goal in a game (as football.) * /The fullback went over the goal line from five yards out./ [goal line stand] {n.} A strong defensive effort right in front of the goal line. * /A goal line stand by the home team held the visitors on the two-yard line./ [go all the way with] See: ALL THE WAY. [go along] {v.} 1. To move along; continue. * /Uncle Bill made up the story as he went along./ Compare: GO ON(1). 2. To go together or as company; go for fun. - Often used with "with". /Mary went along with us to Jane's house./ * /John just went along for the ride to the ball game. He didn't want to play./ * /When one filling station cuts gasoline prices, the others usually go along./ 3. To agree; cooperate. - Often used with "with". * /"Jane is a nice girl." "I'll go along with that," said Bill./ * /Just because the other boys do something bad, you don't have to go along with it./ [go ape] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become highly excited or behave in a crazy way. * /Amy went ape over the hotel and beautiful beaches./ * /The electric door opener malfunctioned and caused the garage door to go ape./ [go around] {v.} 1a. To go from one place or person to another. * /Mr. Smith is going around looking for work./ * /Don't go around telling lies like that./ * /Chicken pox is going around the neighborhood./ * /A rumor is going around school that we will get the afternoon off./ 1b. To go together; keep company. - Usually used with "with". * /Bill goes around with boys older than he is because he is big for his age./ Syn.: GO ABOUT(2b). 2. To be enough to give to everyone; be enough for all. * /There are not enough desks to go around in the classroom./ [go around in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE. [goat] See: GET ONE'S GOAT. [go at] {v.} 1. To start to fight with; attack. * /The dog and the cat are going at each other again./ 2. To make a beginning on; approach; tackle. * /How are you going to go at the job of fixing the roof?/ Compare: START IN. Syn.: GO ABOUT(1). [go at it hammer and tongs] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To attack or fight with great strength or energy; have a bad argument. * /Bill slapped George's face and now they're going at it hammer and tongs in back of the house./ * /Helen and Mary have been arguing all day, and now they are going at it hammer and tongs again./ 2. To start or do something with much strength, energy, or enthusiasm. * /The farmer had to chop down a tree and he went at it hammer and tongs./ * /Charles had a lot of homework to do and he went at it hammer and tongs till bedtime./ Compare: IN EARNEST, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN. [go AWOL] See: ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. [go back on] {v. phr.} 1. To turn against; not be faithful or loyal to. * /Many of the man's friends went back on him when he was sent to prison./ * /The boy's father told him not to go back on his promise./ Compare: BACK DOWN, TURN ONE'S BACK. 2. To fail to do necessary work; not work. * /Grandfather's eyes are going back on him./ Compare: BREAK DOWN(4), GIVE OUT. [go back on one's word] {v. phr.} To renege; break a promise. * /Patrick went back on his word when he refused to marry Karen in spite of his earlier promise./ [go] or [be on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS. [go] or [be on the wagon] See: ON THE WAGON. Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON. [go bail for] {v. phr.} To advance the necessary money as security in order to release an accused person until trial. * /The arrested driver had no trouble finding someone to go bail for him./ [go begging] {v. phr.} To be not needed or wanted. * /Many old homes in the city go begging./ * /Most of the apples on the market went begging./ [go broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To lose all one's money; especially by taking a chance; owe more than you can pay. * /The inventor went broke because nobody would buy his machine./ * /Dan had a quarter but he went broke matching pennies with Fred./ [go-between] {n.} An intermediary. * /They expect Mr. Smith to act as a go-between in the dispute between management and labor./ [go bust] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become bankrupt. * /Our company lost a lot of money and went bust./ Compare: BELLY UP. [go-by] See: GIVE THE GO-BY. [go by] {v.} 1. To go or move past; pass. * /Bob had to go by the post office on his way to school, so he mailed the letter./ 2. To follow; copy; obey. * /Mother goes by a pattern when she makes a dress./ * /You will find Main Street without trouble if you go by Father's directions./ * /If you ride a bicycle, you must go by the rules of the road./ 3. To be known by; be called. * /Many actors do not go by their real names./ * /Fred goes by the nickname of Chubby./ 4. To pass; be over; end. * /Time goes by quickly on vacation./ * /The horse and buggy days have gone by./ * /The flowers have all gone by. What will I do for a bouquet?/ 5. To stop for a short visit; go to someone's house for a short while. * /"Have you seen Bill lately?" "Yes, I went by his house last week."/ Compare: STOP BY. [go by the board] also [pass by the board] {v. phr.} To go away or disappear forever, be forgotten or not used. * /Tom had several chances to go to college, but he let them go by the board./ * /Grandfather said he was too old to go to the beach. "Those days have passed by the board," he said./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN. [go by the name of] {v. phr.} To be called. * /Adolf Schicklegruber went by the name of Adolf Hitler./ [go chase oneself] {v. phr.}, {slang} Go away and stop being a nuisance. * /John's father was busy and told him to go chase himself./ * /The owner of the store told the boys in front to go chase themselves./ Compare: BEAT IT, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. [God] See: IN THE LAP OP THE GODS also ON THE KNEES OP THE GODS, MY GOD or MY GOODNESS, WOULD THAT or WOULD GOD. [God forbid] {interj.} May God prevent (something from happening); I hope that will not happen or is not true. * /Someone told the worried mother that her son might have drowned. She said, "God forbid!"/ * /God forbid that the dam break and flood the valley!/ Compare: PERISH THE THOUGHT. [Godfrey] See: GREAT GODFREY. [God knows] or [goodness knows] or [heaven knows] {informal} 1. Maybe God knows but I don't know and no one else knows. - Often used with "only". * /Do you know where Susan is? God only knows!/ 2. Surely; certainly. * /Goodness knows, the poor man needs the money./ * /Heaven only knows, I have tried hard enough./ [Godmother] See: FAIRY GODMOTHER. [go down] {v. phr.} 1. To deteriorate in quality. * /This hotel, which used to be one of the best, has gone down during the past few years./ 2. To become lower in price. * /It is said that the price of milk is expected to go down soon./ 3. To sink. * /The Titanic went down with a lot of people aboard./ [go down in history] or [go down in the records] {v. phr.} To be remembered or recorded for always. * /The lives of great men go down in history./ * /Babe Ruth went down in history as a home run hitter./ * /The boy's straight A's for four years of college went down in the records./ * /The President said that the day the war ended would go down in history./ [go down the drain] {v. phr.} To be lost or wasted forever. * /If he doesn't pass the bar examination tomorrow, his best efforts to become a lawyer will go down the drain./ [God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb] {literary} A person who is already helpless will not have more trouble; you will not have more trouble than you can bear. * /After Mr. Smith lost his job, the Smith's house caught fire, but the fire was put out before much harm was done. Mr. Smith said, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."/ Contrast: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS. [go Dutch] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out for fun together but have each person pay for himself. * /High school students often go Dutch to basketball games./ * /Sometimes boys and girls go Dutch on dates./ * /The girl knew her boyfriend had little money, so she offered to go Dutch./ Compare: DUTCH TREAT. [go easy] See: TAKE IT EASY(1). [go fly a kite] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go away; leave. Usually used as a command, to show that you do not accept someone's ideas. * /Harry was tired of John's advice and told him to go fly a kite./ * /After Mary stood around telling Sue what was wrong with her dress. Sue told her to go fly a kite./ Compare: DROP DEAD, GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. [go for] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To try to get; aim for; try for. * /Our team is going for the championship in the game tonight./ * /The dog went for Bob's leg./ 2. To favor; support; like. * /Little Susie really goes for ice cream./ * /Bob goes for Jane in a big way./ 3. To attack; begin to fight or argue with. * /The Indian jumped out of the *hush and went for Daniel./ * /Molly went for James about being late as soon as he got home./ [go for a spin] {v. phr.} To go for a ride in a car. * /Billy has invited us to go for a spin in his new car./ [go for broke] {v. phr.}, {slang} To risk everything on one big effort; use all your energy and skill; try as hard as possible. * /The racing car driver decided to go for broke in the biggest race of the year./ Compare: ALL-OUT. [go for nothing] also {formal} [go for naught] {v. phr.} To count for nothing; be useless; be wasted. * /What the teacher said went for nothing because the pupils did not pay attention./ * /I hope that all your good work doesn't go for naught./ Compare: IN VAIN. [go from bad to worse] {adv. phr.} To change from a bad position or condition to a worse one; become worse. * /Dick's typing went from bad to worse when he was tired./ * /Jack's conduct in school has gone from bad to worse./ Compare: OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE. [go from strength to strength] {v. phr.} To move forward, increasing one's fame, power, or fortune in a series of successful achievements. * /Our basketball team has gone from strength to strength./ [go-getter] {n.} A person who works hard to become successful; an active, ambitious person who usually gets what he wants. * /The governor of the state has always been a go-getter./ * /The best salesmen are the go-getters./ [go-go] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Vigorous youthful, unusually active. * /Joe is a go-go kind of guy./ 2. Of a discotheque or the music or dances performed there. 3a. Unrestrained. 3b. Very up-to-date, hip. * /Mary wore handsome go-go boots to the discotheque last night./ [go great guns] See: GREAT GUNS. [go halfway] or [go halfway to meet one] or [meet one halfway] {v. phr.} To give up part of what you want or to do your share in reaching an agreement with someone. * /Our neighbors are willing to go halfway to meet us and pay their share for a fence between our houses./ * /Bob wants to make up after your fight and you should meet him halfway./ * /If you're willing to go halfway with us, we'll be friends again./ * /Bill met Mary halfway after their argument./ [go halves] {v. phr.}, {informal} To share half or equally become partners. * /The boys went halves in raising pigs./ * /The men are going halves in a new business./ * /The girl bought a box of candy and went halves with her roommate./ [go hang] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To stop being of interest or importance; be forgotten. - Usually used with "let". * /Mr. Johnson let his business go hang after his wife died./ 2. To leave you alone; not bother. * /When the neighbor told Father how to manage his children, Father told him to go hang./ Compare: TELL WHERE TO GET OFF. [go hard with] {v. phr.} To be painful, troublesome, or hard for; happen or result badly for. - Used after "it". * /It will go hard with you if I catch you smoking./ [go haywire] {v. phr.}, {informal} Mixed-up, out of order, not in regular working condition. * /My electric typewriter has gone all haywire; I have to call the repair man./ [go hog wild] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become extremely agitated and go out of control. * /After the soccer game was won, the fans went hog wild./ [go in a circle] or [go in circles] See: IN A CIRCLE. [go in for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do; take part in; take pleasure in. * /Most girls do not go in for rough games./ * /Mrs. Henry goes in for simple meals./ Compare: GO INTO(3), TAKE UP(5b). [going and coming] See: COMING AND GOING. [going for one] {adj. phr.} Working to help; in one's favor. * /The young woman surely will get the job; she has everything going for her./ [going on] {adv. phr.} Almost; nearly. * /Joe is going on six years old./ * /It is going on six o'clock./ [going through changes] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be in trouble, to have difficulties, to be trapped in unfavorable circumstances. * /"What's the matter with Joe?" - "He's going through changes."/ [going to] Can be expected to; planning to. - Used after "is" (or "was", etc.), with an infinitive, in the same way "will" is used, to show future. * /Some day that big tree is going to rot and fall./ * /Look at those dark clouds. It's going to rain./ * /The boys are going to practice football this afternoon./ * /For a minute Ben thought the car was going to hit him./ * /I was going to attend the meeting, but after supper I forgot about it./ - Sometimes used without the infinitive. * /That worn rope hasn't broken yet, but it's going to./ * /"Put some more wood on the fire." - "I'm going to."/ Compare: ABOUT TO(1). [go in one ear and out the other] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be not really listened to or understood; be paid no attention. * /The teacher's directions to the boy went in one ear and out the other./ * /Mother scolded Martha, but it went in one ear and out the other./ [go into] {v.} 1a. To go or fit inside of; able to be put in. * /The table is too big to go into the closet./ 1b. To be able to be divided into; be divisible into. * /Two goes into four two times./ 2. To enter a state or condition of; pass into. * /John went into a fit of temper when he didn't get his own way./ * /The sick man went into a coma./ * /The country went into mourning when the king died./ 3. To be busy in or take part in; enter as a job or profession. * /The mayor went into politics as a very young man./ * /Mr, Johnson is going into business for himself./ * /Bill wants to go into law when he gets out of school./ Compare: GO IN FOR, TAKE UP(5b). 4. To start to talk about; bring up the subject of; examine. * /We'll talk about the dead mouse after dinner, Billy. Let's not go into it now./ * /The teacher went into the subject of newspapers today./ Compare: LOOK INTO. [go into a huddle] {v. phr.} 1. To gather close together as a team in a football game, usually to find out your team's next play. * /The football team which has the ball goes into a huddle before every play to get orders on what play they will use./ 2. {informal} To talk together privately about something; discuss something where others cannot hear. * /The man went into a huddle with his lawyers before answering the question./ * /The doctors went into a huddle and decided to operate./ [go into a nose dive] See: GO INTO A TAIL SPIN. [go into a tailspin] or [go into a nose dive] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fall or go down badly; collapse; give up trying. * /The team went into a tailspin after their captain was hurt, and they were badly beaten./ 2. {informal} To become very anxious, confused, or mentally sick; give up hope. * /The man went into a tailspin after his wife died and he never got over it./ [go into orbit] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To become very happy or successful. * /Our team has gone into orbit./ Compare: FLY HIGH. 2. To lose one's temper or control completely; become very angry. * /John was afraid his father would go into orbit when he found out about the car accident./ Compare: HIT THE CEILING. [go it] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go fast; run hard; not to spare yourself. - Often used as a command. * /The coach yelled to the runner to go it./ * /At the party the girls cheered for their partners to go it./ * /The boys called, "Go it!" to the dog chasing the cat./ 2. To live; continue to do or work. * /John wants to leave home and go it alone./ Compare: ON ONE'S OWN. [go jump in the lake] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go away and quit being a bother. * /George was tired of Tom's advice and told him to go jump in the lake./ Compare: GO CHASE YOURSELF, GO FLY A KITE. [gold] See: HEART OF GOLD. [golden] See: KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG. [goldfish bowl] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A situation in which it is not possible to keep things secret for any length of time. * /Washington Society is a goldfish bowl./ 2. An apartment or place that provides no privacy for its occupant, e.g., an office that has too many windows. * /Joe's office is a goldfish bowl, that's why I didn't let him kiss me there./ [golf widow] {n.}, {informal} A woman whose husband is often away from home playing golf. * /Mrs. Thompson didn't like being a golf widow./ [go legit] {v. phr.} To start practicing a legitimate business after having been operating outside of the law. * /"The old days are over," the crime boss said to his friends. "We are going legit as of right now."/ [go like clockwork] or [go off like clockwork] {v. phr.}, {informal} To run smoothly and regularly like the workings of a clock; go smoothly and without difficulty; go on time or as planned. * /The car's motor went like clockwork after Bob fixed it./ * /The birthday party went off like clockwork and everyone had a good time./ [go native] {v. phr.} To behave like a native (said of European Americans in tropical countries). * /Mainlanders often go native in Hawaii./ [gone goose] also [gone gosling] {n.}, {slang} A person for whom there is no hope. * /Herbert's grades have been so low that he is a gone goose for the year./ * /The man was a gone gosling when a policeman caught him breaking the store window./ [gone with the wind] {adj. phr.} Gone forever; past; vanished. * /All the Indians who used to live here are gone with the wind./ * /Joe knew that his chance to get an "A" was gone with the wind when he saw how hard the test was./ Compare: DOWN THE DRAIN. [good] See: AS GOOD AS, AS GOOD AS ONE GETS, BUT GOOD, DO ONE GOOD, FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD MEASURE, GET THE GOODS ON, HOLD GOOD, IN GOOD, IN GOOD FAITH, IN GOOD TIME, IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES, IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD, MAKE GOOD, MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, NO GOOD, ON ONE'S GOOD BEHAVIOR, ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE, SO FAR, SO GOOD, STAND IN GOOD STEAD, TO THE GOOD, WELL AND GOOD, WITH GOOD GRACE. [good and ---] {adv.}, {informal} Very; completely. * /John's father was good and mad when John came home late./ * /Jack knew good and well that Tom had thrown the snowball at him./ * /I pushed Bill good and hard./ * /Susan wouldn't come out till she was good and ready./ * /I beat Joe good and proper in the game of marbles./ [good as] See: AS GOOD AS. [good as one's promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD. [good as one's word] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD. [good buddy] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's hand radio jargon} Salutation used by truckers and automobile drivers who have CB radios. * /What's the Smokey situation, good buddy?/ [good command] See: HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF. [good day] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone during the day. * /Miss Rogers said, "Good day!" when she met her friend on the street./ * /Mr. Lee said "Good day!" and left the office./ [good deal] or [great deal] {n.}, {informal} A large amount; much. - Used with "a". * /Mrs. Walker's long illness cost her a good deal./ * /George spends a great deal of his time watching television./ - Often used like an adverb. * /Cleaning up after the party took a great deal more work than the girls expected./ * /Usually it takes Father half an hour to drive to work, but in bad weather it takes a good deal longer./ * /Mother likes the gloves Mary gave her, and she uses them a good deal./ * /George is a good deal like his father; they both love to eat./ Syn.: A LOT, QUITE A LITTLE. Compare: ALL KINDS OF, GOOD MANY. Contrast: A LITTLE. [good egg] {slang} or {informal} [good scout] {n. phr.} A friendly, kind or good-natured person, a nice fellow. * /Tommy is such a good egg that everybody wants to be his friend./ Syn.: REGULAR GUY. Contrast: BAD EGG. [good evening] {interj.} Hello or goodbye. - Used as a formal greeting or salute when you meet or leave someone in the evening. * /When the TV program began, an announcer appeared and said, "Good evening, everyone."/ * /Finally Aunt May stood up and said, "I will not sell the house. Good evening, Mr. Flynn. "/ [good faith] {n.} 1. Belief in another person's honesty; trust. * /Uncle Dick let me have the keys to his candy store to show his good faith./ - Often used in the phrase "in good faith". * /The teacher accepted Bob's excuse for being late in good faith./ 2. Honesty of purpose; trustworthiness. * /John agreed to buy Ted's bicycle for $20, and he paid him $5 right away to show his good faith./ [good for] or [hurrah for] {adj. phr.} Used with a name or pronoun to praise someone. * /Good for George! He won the 100-yard dash./ * /You got 100 on the test? Hurrah for you./ [good-for-nothing] {adj. phr.} Worthless. * /While Janice works hard each day, her good-for-nothing husband hangs around in the bars./ [good grief!] {interj.}, {informal} Wow! Indication of surprise, good or bad. * /"Good grief," Joe cried out loud. "Is this all you will pay me for my hard work?"/ * /What a figure Melanie has, good grief! I wonder if she would be willing to go out with me./ Compare: GOODNESS GRACIOUS!, HEAVENLY DAYS!, HOLY CATS or HOLY COW or HOLY MACKEREL or HOLY MOSES. See: GOODNIGHT(2). [good head on one's shoulders] {n. phr.} Good sense; good judgment. * /Jack has a good head on his shoulders; he never drives too fast./ * /Alice is a girl with a good head on her shoulders, she always keeps good company./ * /George showed he had a good head on his shoulders by refusing to cheat./ [good many] or [great many] {n.} or {adj.} A large number (of); very many. Used with "a". * /We found some fall flowers, but the frost had already killed a good many./ * /A great many of the houses were knocked down by the earthquake./ * /Tom has a good many friends at school./ * /Mary has a great many ideas for interesting programs./ Syn.: QUITE A FEW. Compare: A LOT, ANY NUMBER, GOOD DEAL. Contrast: A FEW. [good nature] {n.} Readiness to please others and to be pleased. Cheerfulness, pleasantness. * /Everybody likes Mr. Crowe because of his good nature./ * /Miss Reynolds was remembered by her students for her good nature./ [goodness] See: HONEST-TO-GOODNESS, MY GOD or MY GOODNESS. [goodness gracious] {interj.}, {slightly archaic} Exclamation of surprise and a certain degree of disapproval. * /"Can my boyfriend stay overnight, Dad?" Melanie asked. "Goodness gracious, most certainly not!" her father replied. "What would the neighbors think?"/ [goodness knows] See: GOD KNOWS. [good night] {interj.} 1. Used as a polite phrase when you leave someone at night. * /"Good night!" said Bob as he left Dick's house after the party. "I'll see you in the morning."/ * /Bill said good night to his parents and went upstairs to bed./ 2. or [good grief] - Used to show surprise and often some fear or anger. * /Mr. Johnson's eyes opened wide when he saw the fish his little boy had caught, and said, "Good night!"/ * /Mother was angry and said to Mary, "Good grief! Haven't you started the dishes yet?"/ [good riddance] {n.} A loss that you are glad about. Often used as an exclamation, and in the sentence "good riddance to bad rubbish". To show that you are glad that something or somebody has been taken or sent away. * /The boys thought it was good riddance when the troublemaker was sent home./ * /When Mr. Roberts' old car was stolen he thought it was good riddance./ * /Betty thought it was good riddance when her little brother broke his toy drum./ * /"I'm going and won't come back," said John. "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" said Mary./ [goods] See: DELIVER THE GOODS, CONSUMER GOODS. [good show!] {adj. phr.} Excellent; terrific; wonderful. * /"Good show, boys!" the coach cried, when our team won the game./ [good scout] See: GOOD EGG. [go off] {v.} 1. To leave; to depart. * /Helen's mother told her not to go off without telling her./ 2a. To be fired; explode. * /The firecracker went off and scared Jack's dog./ 2b. To begin to ring or buzz. * /The alarm clock went off at six o'clock and woke Father./ 3. To happen. * /The party went off without any trouble./ * /The parade went off without rain./ [go off half-cocked] also [go off at half cock] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act or speak before getting ready; to do something too soon. * /Bill often goes off half cocked./ * /Mr. Jones was thinking about quilting his job, but his wife told him not to go at half cock./ [go off like clockwork] See: GO LIKE CLOCKWORK. [go off the deep end] or [go overboard] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act excitedly and without careful thinking. * /John has gone off the deep end about owning a motorcycle./ * /Mike warned his roommate not to go off the deep end and get married./ * /Some girls go overboard for handsome movie and television actors./ [goof off] {v.}, {slang} To loaf or be lazy; not want to work or be serious; fool around. * /Tow didn't get promoted because he goofed off all the time and never did his homework./ * /If you goof off on the job too much, you'll be fired./ [go off in a huff]{v. phr.} To depart in anger. * /Marian went off in a huff just because Jeff failed to open the door for her./ [go on] {v.} 1a. To continue; not stop. * /After he was hit by the ball, Billy quit pitching and went home, but the game went on./ * /The TV picture began to jump, and it went on like that until Father turned a knob./ * /I asked Jane a question but she went on reading and didn't answer./ * /Mother told Jim to stop, but he went on hitting Susan./ Syn.: KEEP ON. 1b. To continue after a pause; begin with the next thing. * /"Go on! I'm listening," said Mother./ * /The teacher pointed to the map, and went on, "But the land that Columbus came to was not India."/ - Often used before an infinitive. * /Father said Mother had gone to the hospital, and went on to say that Grandmother was coming to take care of us./ 1c. (Of time:) To pass. * /As time went on, Mary began to wonder if John had forgotten their date./ * /The years went on, and Betty's classmates became gray-haired men and women./ 2. To happen. * /Mr. Scott heard the noise and went to see what was going on in the hall./ * /The teacher knows what goes on when she leaves the room./ Syn.: TAKE PLACE. 3. To talk for too long, often angrily. * /We thought Jane would never finish going on about the amount of homework she had./ 4. To fit on; be able to be worn. * /My little brother's coat wouldn't go on me. It was too small./ 5. Stop trying to fool me; I don't believe you. - Used as a command, sometimes with "with". * /When Father told Mother she was the prettiest girl in the world. Mother just said, "Oh, go on, Charles."/ * /"Aunt May, your picture is in the paper." "Go on with you, boy!"/ [go on record] {v. phr.} To make an official statement as opposed to an informal one; say something officially that may be quoted with the person's name added for reference. * /I want to go on record that I oppose the merger with the firm of Catwallender and Swartvik./ [go on the rocks] See: ON THE ROCKS. [go one's way] {v. phr.} 1. To start again or continue to where you are going. * /The milkman left the milk and went his way./ * /The man stopped and asked me for a match, then went his way./ Compare: GO ALONG, GO ON. 2. To go or act the way you want to or usually do. * /Joe just wants to go his way and mind his own business./ * /Don't tell me how to do my job. You go your way and I'll go mine./ * /George was not a good sport; when the game did not go his way, he became angry and quit./ [goose] See: COOK ONE'S GOOSE, FOX AND GEESE, KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG, GONE GOOSE. [goose bumps] or [goose pimples] {n. plural}, {informal} Small bumps that come on a person's skin when he gets cold or afraid. * /Nancy gets goose bumps when she sees a snake./ * /Ann, put on your sweater; you're so cold you have goose pimples on your arms./ [go or drive to the wall] See: TO THE WALL. [go out] {v. phr.} 1. To pass out of date or style. * /Short skirts are gradually going out./ 2. To stop giving off light or burning. * /Put more wood on the fire or it will go out./ 3. To leave. * /When I called Sue, her mother said that she had just gone out./ [go out for] or [come out for] {v. phr.} To try for a place on (an athletic team.) * /Ten boys went out for track that spring./ * /The coach asked Tom why he didn't come out for basketball./ [go out of business] {v. phr.} To cease functioning as a commercial enterprise. * /The windows of the store are all boarded up because they went out of business./ [go out of one's way] {v. phr.} To make an extra effort; do more than usual. * /Jane went out of her way to be nice to the new girl./ * /Don did not like Charles, and he went out of his way to say bad things about Charles./ Compare: BEND OVER BACKWARD, KNOCK ONESELF OUT. [go out the window] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go out of effect; be abandoned. * /During the war, the school dress code went out the window./ [go over] {v.} 1. To examine; think about or look at carefully. * /The teacher went over the list and picked John's name./ * /The police went over the gun for fingerprints./ 2. To repeat; do again. * /Don't make me go all over it again./ * /We painted the house once, then we went over it again./ 3. To read again; study. * /After you finish the test, go over it again to look for mistakes./ * /They went over their lessons together at night./ 4. To cross; go to stop or visit; travel. * /We went over to the other side of the street./ * /I'm going over to Mary's house./ * /We went over to the next town to the game./ 5. To change what you believe. * /Father is a Democrat, but he says that he is going over to the Republicans in the next election./ * /Many of the natives on the island went over to Christianity after the white men came./ 6. To be liked; succeed. - Often used in the informal phrase "go over big". * /Bill's joke went over big with the other boys and girls./ * /Your idea went over well with the boss./ [go over like a lead balloon] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fail to generate a positive response or enthusiasm; to meet with boredom or disapproval. * /The president's suggested budget cuts went over like a lead balloon./ * /Jack's off-color jokes went over like a lead balloon./ [go over one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To be too difficult to understand. * /Penny complains that what her math teacher says simply goes over her head./ 2. To do something without the permission of one's superior. * /Fred went over his boss's head when he signed the contract on his own./ [go over with a fine-tooth comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB. [gopher ball] {n.}, {slang} A baseball pitch that is hit for a home run. * /The pitcher's only weakness this year is the gopher ball./ [go places] See: GO TO TOWN(2). [go sit on a tack] {v.}, {slang} Shut up and go away; stop bothering. - Usually used as a command and considered rude. * /Henry told Bill to go sit on a tack./ Compare: GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. [gosling] See: GONE GOOSE also GONE GOSLING. [go somebody one better] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something better than (someone else); do more or better than; beat. * /Bill's mother gave the boys in Bill's club hot dogs for refreshments, so Tom's mother said that she would go her one better next time by giving them hot dogs and ice cream./ * /John made a good dive into the water, but Bob went him one better by diving in backwards./ [go stag] {v. phr.} 1. To go to a dance or party without a companion of the opposite sex. * /When Sally turned him down, Tom decided to go stag to the college prom./ 2. To participate in a party for men only. * /Mrs. Smith's husband frequently goes stag, leaving her at home./ [go steady] {v. phr.} To go on dates with the same person all the time; dale just one person. * /At first Tom and Martha were not serious about each other, but now they are going steady./ * /Jean went steady with Bob for a year; then they had a quarrel and stopped dating each other./ Syn.: KEEP COMPANY. Contrast: PLAY THE FIELD. [go straight] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become an honest person; lead an honest life. * /After the man got out of prison, he went straight./ * /Mr. Wright promised to go straight if the judge would let him go free./ [got a thing going] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To be engaged in a pleasurable or profitable activity with someone else as a partner either in romance or in mutually profitable business. * /"You two seem to have got a thing going, haven't you?"/ * /"You've got a good thing going with your travel bureau, why quit now?"/ [go the rounds] {v. phr.} To pass or be told from one person to another; spread among many people. * /There is a rumor going the rounds that Mr. Norton will be the new superintendent./ * /The story about Mr. Cox's falling into the lake is making the rounds./ Syn.: GO AROUND. [go the whole hog] or [go whole hog] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something completely or thoroughly; to give all your strength or attention to something. * /When Bob became interested in model airplanes, he went the whole hog./ * /The family went whole hog at the fair, and spent a lot of money./ Compare: ALL OUT, ALL THE WAY, SHOOT THE WORKS. [go through] {v.} 1. To examine or think about carefully; search. * /I went through the papers looking for Jane's letter./ * /Mother went through the drawer looking for the sweater./ Syn.: GO OVER. 2. To experience; suffer; live through. * /Frank went through many dangers during the war./ 3. To do what you are supposed to do; do what you promised. * /I went through my part of the bargain, but you didn't go through your part./ Syn.: CARRY OUT. 4. To go or continue to the end of; do or use all of. * /Jack went through the magazine quickly./ * /We went through all our money at the circus./ Syn.: RUN THROUGH. 5. To be allowed; pass; be agreed on. * /I hope the new law we want goes through Congress./ * /The sale of the store went through quickly./ [go through hell and high water] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go through danger, or trouble. * /John is ready to go through hell and high water to help his chum./ * /The soldiers went through hell and high water to capture the fort./ Compare: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, THROUGH THE MILL. [go through the motions] {v. phr.} To pretend to do something by moving or acting as if you were really doing it; do something without really trying hard or caring. * /Jane was angry because she couldn't go out, and when her mother said to dust her room she just went through the motions./ * /The team was so far behind in the game that they just went through the motions of playing at the end./ [go through with] {v. phr.} To finish; do as planned or agreed; not stop or fail to do. * /The boys don't think Bob will go through with his plans to spend the summer at a camp./ * /Mr. Trent hopes the city won't go through with its plans to widen the street./ Syn.: CARRY OUT. Compare: CARRY THROUGH, LIVE UP TO. [go to] {v.} To be ready to do; start doing something. * /When Jack went to write down the telephone number, he had forgotten it./ [go to any length] {v. phr.} To do everything you can. * /Bill will go to any length to keep Dick from getting a date with Mary./ Compare: ALL-OUT. [go to bat for] {v. phr.}, {informal} To help out in trouble or need; give aid to. * /Everybody else thought Billy had broken the window, but Tom went to bat for him./ * /Mary went to bat for the new club program./ Syn.: STAND UP FOR. [go to bed with the chickens] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to bed early at night. * /On the farm John worked hard and went to bed with the chickens./ * /Mr. Barnes goes to bed with the chickens because he has to get up at 5 A.M./ [go together] {v.} 1. To go with the same boy or girl all the time; date just one person. * /Herbert and Thelma go together./ Compare: GO STEADY, GO WITH(2), KEEP COMPANY. 2. To be suitable or agreeable with each other; match. * /Roast turkey and cranberries go together./ * /Ice cream and cake go together./ * /Green and yellow go together./ [go to great lengths] See: GO TO ANY LENGTH. [go to hell] See: GO TO THE DEVIL. [go to it!] {v. phr.} An expression of encouragement meaning go ahead; proceed. * /"Go to it!" my father cried enthusiastically, when I told him I had decided to become a doctor./ [go to one's head] {v. phr.} 1. To make one dizzy. * /Beer and wine go to a person's head./ * /Looking out the high window went to the woman's head./ 2. To make someone too proud; make a person think he is too important. * /Being the star player went to John's head./ * /The girl's fame as a movie actress went to her head./ [go to pieces] {v. phr.} To become very nervous or sick from nervousness; become wild. * /Mrs. Vance went to pieces when she heard her daughter was in the hospital./ * /The man went to pieces when the judge said he would have to go to prison for life./ * /Mary goes to pieces when she can't have her own way./ [go to pot] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be ruined; become bad; be destroyed. * /Mr. Jones' health has gone to pot./ * /The motel business went to pot when the new highway was built./ Compare: GO TO WRACK AND RUIN, GO TO THE DOGS. [go to prove] See: GO TO SHOW. [go to seed] or [run to seed] {v. phr.} 1. To grow seeds. * /Onions go to seed in hot weather./ 2. To lose skill or strength; stop being good or useful. * /Sometimes a good athlete runs to seed when he gets too old for sports./ * /Mr. Allen was a good carpenter until he became rich and went to seed./ [go to show] or [go to prove] {v. phr.}, {informal} To seem to prove; act or serve to show (a fact); demonstrate. - Often used after "it". * /Our team beat a bigger team, and it just goes to show you can win if you play hard enough./ * /The hard winter at Valley Forge goes to show that our soldiers suffered a great deal to win the Revolution./ [go to the chair] {v. phr.} To be executed in the electric chair. * /After many stays of execution, the criminal finally had to go to the chair./ [go to the devil] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go away, mind your own business. - Used as a command; considered rude. * /George told Bob to go to the devil./ * /"Go to the devil!" said Jack, when his sister tried to tell him what to do./ 2. To become bad or ruined; become useless. * /The boy got mixed up with bad company and began to steal and rob his friends. He went to the devil./ * /Mr. Jones went to the devil after he lost his business./ [go to the dogs] {v. phr.}, {informal} To go to ruin; to be ruined or destroyed. * /The man went to the dogs after he started drinking./ * /After the death of the owner, the business went to the dogs./ * /The team went to the dogs when its best players got hurt./ Compare: GO TO POT. [go to the trouble] or [take the trouble] {v. phr.} To make trouble or extra work for yourself; bother. * /John told Mr. Brown not to go to the trouble of driving him home./ * /Since your aunt took the trouble to get you a nice birthday present, the least you can do is to thank her./ Compare: PUT OUT(5). [go to town] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To do something quickly or with great force or energy; work fast or hard. * /The boys went to town on the old garage, and had it torn down before Father came home from work./ * /While Sally was slowly washing the dishes, she remembered she had a date with Pete that evening; then she really went to town./ Compare: IN NO TIME, MAKE TIME. Contrast: TAKE ONE'S TIME. 2. or [go places]. To do a good job; succeed. * /Our team is going to town this year. We have won all five games that we played./ * /Dan was a good student and a good athlete; we expect him to go places in business./ [go to waste] {v. phr.} To be wasted or lost; not used. * /The strawberries went to waste because there was nobody to pick them./ * /Joe's work on the model automobile went to waste when he dropped it./ Compare: IN VAIN. [go to wrack and ruin] {v. phr.} To fall apart and be ruined; to become useless. * /The barn went to wrack and ruin after the farmer moved./ * /The car will soon go to wrack and ruin standing out in all kinds of weather./ [go under] {v.} 1. To be sunk. * /The ship hit an iceberg and went under./ 2. To fail; be defeated. * /The filling station went under because there were too many others on the street./ [go under the hammer] {v. phr.} To be auctioned off. * /Our old family paintings went under the hammer when my father lost his job./ [go up] {v.} 1. To go or move higher; rise. * /Many people came to watch the weather balloon go up./ * /The path goes up the hill./ 2. To be able to become heard; become loud or louder. * /A shout went up from the crowd at the game./ 3. Grow in height while being built; to be built. * /The new church is going up on the corner./ 4. To increase. * /Prices of fruit and vegetables have gone up./ [go up in smoke] or [go up in flames] {v. phr.} To burn; be destroyed by fire. 1. * /The house went up in flames./ * /The barn full of hay went up in smoke./ 2. Disappear; fail; not come true. * /Jane's hopes of going to college went up in smoke when her father lost his job./ * /The team's chances to win went up in smoke when their captain was hurt./ [go up in the air] {v. phr.} To become angry; lose one's temper. * /Herb is so irritable these days that he goes up in the air for no reason at all./ [gourd] See: SAW WOOD or SAW GOURDS. [go with] {v.} 1. To match; to look good with. * /A yellow blouse goes with her blonde hair./ * /The woman bought a purse to go with her new shoes./ 2. To go out in the company of. * /Tom goes with the girl who lives across the street./ [go without] See: DO WITHOUT. [go without saying] {v. phr.} To be too plain to need talking about; not be necessary to say or mention. * /It goes without saying that children should not be given knives to play with./ * /A person with weak eyes should wear glasses. That goes without saying./ [go wrong] {v. phr.} 1. To fail; go out of order. * /Something went wrong with our car and we stalled on the road./ 2. To sink into an immoral or criminal existence. * /In a large city many young people go wrong every year./ [gown] See: TOWN AND GOWN. [grab bag] {n.} 1. A bag from which surprise packages are chosen; a bag in which there are many unknown things. * /The woman paid a quarter for a chance at the grab bag./ * /The children brought packages to be sold from the grab bag at the school carnival./ 2. A group of many different things from which to choose; a variety. * /The TV program was a grab bag for young and old alike./ [grab off] {v.}, {informal} To take quickly; take or grab before anybody else can; choose for yourself. * /The people who got to the show first grabbed off the best seats./ * /The women hurried to the store to grab off the things on sale./ * /The prettiest girls at the dance were grabbed off for partners first./ Compare: SNAP UP. [grabs] See: UP FOR GRABS. [grace] See: FALL FROM GRACE, IN ONE'S BAD GRACES, IN ONE'S GOOD GRACES, WITH BAD GRACE, WITH GOOD GRACE. [grace period] or [period of grace] {n.} The time or extra time allowed in which to do something. * /Most insurance companies have a grace period of one month for payments./ * /The teacher gave the class a week's period of grace to finish workbooks./ [grade] See: MAKE THE GRADE. [grain] See: AGAINST THE GRAIN, TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. [grand slam] {n.} A home run hit when there are three men on the bases. * /Tony's grand slam won the game for the Yankees, 4-0./ [grandstand] {v.}, {slang}, {informal} To show off, to perform histrionics needlessly. * /Stop grandstanding and get down to honest work!/ [grandstander] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} A showoff, a person who likes to engage in histrionics. * /Many people think that Evel Knievel is a grandstander./ [granted] See: TAKE FOR GRANTED. [grasp at straws] or [clutch at straws] {v. phr.} To depend on something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. * /To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp at straws./ * /The robber clutched at straws to make excuses. He said he wasn't in the country when the robbery happened./ [grass] See: LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET, SNAKE IN THE GRASS. [grasshopper] See: KNEE-HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER [grass is always greener on the other side of the fence] or [grass is always greener on the other side of the hill] We are often not satisfied and want to be somewhere else; a place that is far away or different seems better than where we are. * /John is always changing his job because the grass always looks greener to him on the other side of the fence./ [grave] See: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, TURN IN ONE'S GRAVE or TURN OVER IN ONE'S GRAVE. [graveyard shift] {n. phr.} The work period lasting from sundown to sunup, when one has to work in the dark or by artificial light. * /"Why are you always so sleepy in class?" Professor Brown asked Sam. "Because I have to work the graveyard shift beside going to school," Sam answered./ [gravy] See: PAN GRAVY. [gravy train] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The kind of job that brings in a much higher income than the services rendered would warrant. * /Jack's job at the Athletic Club as Social Director is a regular gravy train./ [gray] See: GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR. [grease-ball] {n.}, {slang}, {derogatory} (avoid) An immigrant from a southern country, such as Mexico, Italy, or Spain; a person with oily looking black hair. * /Mr. White is a racist; he calls Mr. Lopez from Tijuana a grease-ball because he has dark hair./ [grease monkey] {n., {slang} 1. A person who greases or works on machinery; a mechanic or worker in a garage or gasoline station. * /Hey, grease monkey, fill up my gas tank!/ * /The grease monkey was all dirty when he came out from under the car./ 2. Airplane mechanic. * /Jack was a grease monkey in the Air Force./ [grease one's palm] or [grease the palm] {slang} 1. To pay a person for something done or given, especially dishonestly; bribe. * /Some politicians will help you if you grease their palms./ 2. To give a tip; pay for a special favor or extra help. * /We had to grease the palm of the waiter to get a table in the crowded restaurant./ [grease the wheels] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do something or act to make something go smoothly or happen in the way that is wanted. * /Mr. Davis asked a friend to grease the wheels so he could borrow money from the bank./ * /William's father tried to grease the wheels for him to get a new job./ [greasy spoon] {n.}, {informal} Any small, inexpensive restaurant patronized by workers or people in a hurry; a place not noted for its excellence of cuisine or its decor. * /I won't have time to eat lunch at the club today; I'll just grab a sandwich at the local greasy spoon./ [great] See: THINK A GREAT DEAL OF. [great deal] See: GOOD DEAL. [great Godfrey] or [great guns] or [great Scott] {interj.}, {informal} A saying usually used to show surprise or anger. * /Great Godfrey! Uncle Willie is sitting on top of the flagpole!/ * /Great guns! The lion is out of his cage./ * /Great Scott! Who stole my watch?/ [great guns] {adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very fast or very hard. - Usually used in the phrases "blow great guns", "go great guns". * /The wind was blowing great guns, and big waves beat the shore./ * /The men were going great guns to finish the job./ Compare: FAST AND FURIOUS. 2. Very well; successfully. * /Smith's new store opened last week and it's going great guns./ [great many] See: GOOD MANY. [great oaks from little acorns grow] As great oak trees grow from tiny acorns, so many great people or things grew from a small and unimportant beginning, so be patient. - A proverb. * /Many great men were once poor, unimportant boys. Great oaks from little acorns grow./ [Great Scott] See: GREAT GODFREY. [green] See: GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL. [green around the gills] or [pale around the gills] {adj. phr.}, {slang} Pale-faced from fear or sickness; sickly; nauseated. * /Bill's father took him for a ride in his boat while the waves were rough, and when he came back he was green around the gills./ * /The car almost hit Mary crossing the street, and she was pale around the gills because it came so close./ - Also used with other prepositions besides "around", as "about", "at", "under", and with other colors, as "blue", "pink", "yellow", "white". [green-eyed monster] {n. phr.} Jealousy; envy. * /When John's brother got the new bicycle, the green-eyed monster made John fight with him./ [green power] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} The social prestige or power money can buy one. * /In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the ones who have green power backing them./ [green thumb] {n.}, {informal} A talent for gardening; ability to make things grow. - Considered trite by many. * /Mr. Wilson's neighbors say his flowers grow because he has a green thumb./ [green with envy] {adj. phr.} Very jealous; full of envy. * /Alice's girlfriends were green with envy when they saw her new dress./ * /The other boys were green with envy when Joe bought a second-hand car./ Compare: GREEN-EYED MONSTER. [grief] See: COME TO GRIEF, GOOD GRIEF, GOOD NIGHT(2) or GOOD GRIEF. [grin and bear it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be as cheerful as possible in pain or trouble; do something without complaining. * /The doctor told Mrs. Howard that she had to stop eating sweets if she wanted to lose weight, and she tried to grin and bear it./ * /If you must have a tooth drilled, all you can do is grin and bear it./ Compare: MAKE THE BEST OF, PUT UP WITH. [grind] See: AX TO GRIND. [grindstone] See: KEEP ONE'S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE. [grind to a halt] {v. phr.}, {informal} To slow down and stop like a machine does when turned off. * /The old car ground to a halt in front of the house./ * /The Cardinals' offense ground to a halt before the stubborn Steeler defense./ [grip] See: COME TO GRIPS WITH, LOSE ONE'S GRIP. [groove] See: IN THE GROOVE. [gross out] {v.}, {slang} To commit a vulgar act; to repel someone by saying a disgusting or vulgar thing. * /You are going to gross out people if you continue talking like that./ [gross-out session] {n.}, {slang}, {avoidable} A verbal contest between teen-agers in which the object of the game is to see who can be more disgusting or vulgar than anybody else. * /When Jim got home he found his two teen-age sons engaged in a gross-out session; he bawled them out and cut their weekly allowance./ [ground] See: BREAK GROUND, COMMON GROUND, COVER GROUND or COVER THE GROUND, CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER, EAR TO THE GROUND, FEET ON THE GROUND, GAIN GROUND, GET OFF THE GROUND, GIVE GROUND, HAPPY HUNTING GROUND, HOLD ONE'S GROUND, LOSE GROUND, MIDDLE GROUND, RUN INTO THE GROUND, STAMPING GROUND, STAND ONE'S GROUND, FROM THE GROUND UP. [ground ball] {n.} A ball batted onto the ground in baseball; a grounder. * /Taylor hit a ground ball to the short-stop./ [ground floor] {n.} 1. First floor of a house or building. * /Mrs. Turner has an apartment on the ground floor./ 2. {informal} The first or best chance, especially in a business. * /That man got rich because he got in on the ground floor of the television business./ [ground rule] {n.} 1. A rule in sports that is made especially for the grounds or place where a game is played. - Usually used in the plural. * /There was such a big crowd at the baseball game, that the ground rules of the field were changed in case a ball went into the crowd./ 2. A rule, usually not written, of what to do or how to act in case certain things happen. - Usually used in the plural. * /When you go to a new school, you don't know tire ground rules of how you are supposed to behave./ [grow] See: GREAT OAKS PROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW, LET GRASS GROW UNDER ONE'S FEET. [growing pains] {n.} 1. Pains in children's legs supposed to be caused by changes in their bodies and feelings as they grow. * /The little girl's legs hurt, and her mother told her she had growing pains./ 2. {informal} Troubles when something new is beginning or growing. * /The factory has growing pains./ [grow on] or [grow upon] {v.} 1. To become stronger in; increase as a habit of. * /The habit of eating before going to bed grew upon John./ 2. To become more interesting to or liked by. * /The more Jack saw Mary, the more she grew on him./ * /Football grew on Billy as he grew older./ [grow out of] {v. phr.} 1. To outgrow; become too mature for. * /As a child he had a habit of scratching his chin all the time, but he grew out of it./ 2. To result from; arise. * /Tom's illness grew out of his tendency to overwork and neglect his health./ [grow up] {v.} 1. To increase in size or height; become taller or older; reach full height. * /Johnny is growing up; his shoes are too small for him./ * /I grew up on a farm./ * /The city has grown up since I was young./ 2. To become adult in mind or judgment; become old enough to think or decide in important matters. * /Tom wants to he a coach when he grows up./ * /Grow up, you're not a baby any more!/ [grudge] See: NURSE A GRUDGE. [guard] See: COLOR GUARD, OFF GUARD, ON GUARD. [guest] See: BF. MY GUEST. [gum up] {v.}, {slang} To cause not to work or ruin; spoil; make something go wrong. - Often used in the phrase "gum up the works". * /Jimmy has gummed up the typewriter./ Syn.: THROW A MONKEY WRENCH. [gun] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG GUN, GIVE IT THE GUN or GIVE HER THE GUN, GREAT GODFREY or GREAT GUNS, JUMP THE GUN, SON OF A GUN, STICK TO ONE'S GUNS or STAND BY ONE'S GUNS, TILL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED or UNTIL THE LAST GUN IS FIRED. [gun for] {v.}, {informal} 1. To hunt for with a gun; look hard for a chance to harm or defeat. * /The cowboy is gunning for the man who stole his horse./ * /Bob is gunning for me because I got a higher mark than he did./ 2. To try very hard to get. * /The man is gunning for first prize in the golf tournament./ [gung-ho] {adj.}, {colloquial} Enthusiastic, full of eagerness in an uncritical or unsophisticated manner. * /Suzie is all gung-ho on equal rights for women, but fails to see the consequences./ [gut feeling] {n. phr.} An instinctive reaction. * /I have a gut feeling that they will never get married in spite of all they say./ [gut reaction] {n. phr.} A mental or physical response that springs from one's depths. * /My gut reaction was to get out of here as fast as possible./ [gut talk] {n. phr.} Sincere, honest talk. * /We admire people who speak gut talk and tell exactly what they think and feet./ [guts] See: HATE ONE'S GUTS, HAVE THE GUTS TO DO SOMETHING. [guy] See: REGULAR GUY, WISE GUY. H [hackle] See: RAISE HACKLES or RAISE ONE'S HACKLES. [had as soon] or [had as lief] See: AS SOON. [had better] or [had best] {informal} Should; must. * /I had better leave now, or I'll be late./ * /If you want to stay out of trouble, you had best not make any mistakes. / * /Jim decided he had better do his homework instead of playing ball./ [had rather] or [had sooner] {v.} To choose to (do one thing instead of another thing); like better to; would prefer to. - Used with an infinitive without "to". * /My aunt invited me to the movies, but I said I had rather go on a picnic with the girls./ * /I had sooner live in the city than on a farm./ [hall] See: WITHIN CALL or WITHIN HAIL. [hail-fellow-well-met(1)] {adj. phr.} Talking easily and in a friendly way to everyone you meet. * /John won the election as class president because he was hail-fellow-well-met./ [hail-fellow-well-met(2)] {n. phr.} A good friend and companion; buddy; pal. * /John just moved to town but he and the boys in the neighborhood are already hail-fellows-well-met./ [hail from] {v.}, {informal} To have your home in; come from; be from; especially, to have been born and raised in. * /Mrs. Gardner hails from Mississippi./ * /Mr. Brown and Mr. White are old friends because they both hail from the same town./ [hair] See: CURL ONE'S HAIR, GET GRAY HAIR or GET GRAY, GIVE GRAY HAIR, HANG BY A THREAD or HANG BY A HAIR, HIDE OR HAIR or HIDE NOR HAIR, IN ONE'S HAIR, LET ONE'S HAIR DOWN, OUT OF ONE'S HAIR, SPLIT HAIRS, TEAR ONE'S HAIR. [haircut place] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon} Bridge or overpass with tight clearance. * /Are we going to make it in that haircut place?/ [hairdo] {n.} Style or manner of arranging, combing, or wearing one's hair. * /"How do you like my new hairdo?" Jane asked, as she left the beauty parlor./ [hair stand on end] {informal} The hair of your head rises stiffly upwards as a sign or result of great fright or horror. * /When he heard the strange cry, his hair stood on end./ * /The sight of the dead man made his hair stand on