.} A boastful person. *  /Jim  always  has  to  be  the
center of attention; he is an insufferable showoff./

   [show off] {v. phr.} 1. To  put  out  nicely  for  people  to  see;
display; exhibit. * /The Science Fair gave Julia a chance to show  off
her shell collection./ * /The girls couldn't wait to  show  off  their
fine needlework to our visitors./ 2.  {informal}  To  try  to  attract
attention; also, try to attract attention to. * /The  children  always
show off when we have company./ * /Joe hasn't missed a chance to  show
off his muscles since that pretty girl moved in next door./

   [show of hands] {n. phr.} An open vote during a meeting when  those
who vote "yes" and those who vote "no"  hold  up  their  hands  to  be
counted. * /The chairman said, "I'd like to see a  show  of  hands  if
we're ready for the vote."/

   [show one's colors] {v. phr.} 1. To show what you are really  like.
* /We thought Toby was timid, but he showed his colors when he rescued
the ponies from the burning barn./ 2. To make known what you think  or
plan to do. * /Mr. Ryder is afraid that he will lose the  election  if
he shows his colors on civil rights./ * /We would not help  Jim  until
he showed his colors./

   [show one's face] {v. phr.} To be seen; appear. * /Bill  is  afraid
to show his face since Tom threatened to beat him up./ *  /Judy  is  a
wonderful mimic but she is too shy to  show  her  face  on  stage./  *
/After cheating on the test, Chris was ashamed to show his face./

   [show one's hand] {v. phr.} To reveal or  exhibit  one's  true  and
hitherto hidden purpose. * /Only after becoming Chancellor of  Germany
did Adolf Hitler really show his hand and reveal that he  intended  to
take over other countries./

   [show one's teeth] {v. phr.} To show anger;  show  belligerence.  *
/He is a very mild,  private  person,  but  during  a  tough  business
negotiation he knows how to show his teeth./

   [show signs] See: GIVE SIGNS.

   [show the door] {v. phr.} To ask (someone) to go away. * /Ruth  was
upsetting the other children, so  I  showed  her  the  door./  *  /Our
neighbors invited themselves to  the  party  and  stayed  until  Harry
showed them the door./

   [show up] {v.} 1. To make known the real truth about  (someone).  *
/The man said he was a mind reader, but he was shown up as a fake./ 2.
To come or bring out; become or make easy to see. * /The detective put
a chemical on the paper, and the fingertips showed up./ *  /This  test
shows up your  weaknesses  in  arithmetic./  3.  {informal}  To  come;
appear. * /We had agreed to meet at the gym,  but  Larry  didn't  show
up./ * /Only five students showed up for the class meeting./  Compare:
TURN UP(2).

   [shrift] See: SHORT SHRIFT.

   [shrink] See: HEAD SHRINKER.

   [shrug off] or  [shrug  away]  {v.}  To  act  as  if  you  are  not
interested and do not care about something; not mind; not let yourself
be bothered or hurt by. * /Alan shrugged off our questions;  he  would
not tell us what had happened./ * /Muriel shrugged away every  attempt
to comfort her./ * /The ballplayer shrugged  off  the  booing  of  the
fans./ * /Jim cut his hand but he tied a cloth around it and  shrugged
it away./

   [shudder to think] {v. phr.} To be  afraid;  hate  to  think  about
something. * /The professor is so strict I shudder to think  what  his
final exam questions will be like./

   [shut] See: KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT, PUT UP or SHUT UP,  CLOSE  ONE'S
EYES.

   [shut down] See: CLOSE DOWN.

   [shut-eye] {n.}, {slang} Sleep. * /It's very late. We'd better  get
some shut-eye./ * /I'm going to get some shut-eye  before  the  game./
Compare: FORTY WINKS.

   [shut off] {v.} 1. To make (something like  water  or  electricity)
stop coming. * /Please shut off the hose before  the  grass  gets  too
wet./ Compare: TURN OFF. 2. To be apart; be separated  from;  also  to
separate from. * /Our camp is so far from the highway we feel shut off
from the world when we are there./ * /The sow is so  bad  tempered  we
had to shut it off from its piglets./

   [shut one's eyes] See: CLOSE ONE'S EYES.

   [shut out] {v.} 1. To prevent from  coming  in;  block.  *  /During
World War II, Malta managed to shut out most of the Italian and German
bombers by throwing up an effective anti-aircraft screen./ * /The boys
were annoyed by Tom's telling club secrets and shut him out  of  their
meeting./ 2. To prevent (an opposing team) from scoring throughout  an
entire game. * /The Dodgers shut out the Reds, 5-0./

   [shut the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

   [shut up] {v.} 1. {informal} To stop talking. * /Little Ruthie told
Father about his birthday surprise before Mother could shut her up./ -
Often used as a command; usually considered rude. * /Shut up  and  let
Joe say something./ * /If you'll shut up for a minute, I'll  tell  you
our plan./ Syn.: BUTTON YOUR LIP, DRY UP(3), KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT. 2.
To close the doors and windows of. * /We got the house  shut  up  only
minutes before the storm hit./ 3. To close and  lock  for  a  definite
period of time. * /The Smiths always spend Labor Day shutting up their
summer home for the year./ * /We got to the store only  to  find  that
the owner had shut up shop for the weekend./ 4. To  confine.  *  /That
dog bites. It should be shut up./ * /John has been shut up with a cold
all week./

   [shy] See: ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY and BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.

   [shy away] or [shy off] {v.} To avoid; seem frightened or  nervous.
* /The boys shied away from our questions./ *  /The  horse  shied  off
when Johnny tried to mount it./

   [sick] See: TAKE ILL or TAKE SICK.

   [sick and tired] {adj.} 1. Feeling  strong  dislike  for  something
repeated or continued too long; exasperated; annoyed. * /Jane was sick
and tired of always having to wait for Bill, so when he didn't  arrive
on time she left without him./ * /John is sick and tired of having his
studies interrupted./ * /I've been studying all day, and I'm sick  and
tired of it./ Compare: FED UP.

   [side] See: CHOOSE UP SIDES, FROM SIDE TO SIDE, GET UP ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF THE BED, GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON  THE  OTHER  SIDE  OF  THE
FENCE or GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL,  LAUGH
ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH, ON ONE'S BAD  SIDE,  ON  ONE'S  GOOD
SIDE, ON THE SIDE, SUNNY-SIDE UP, TAKE SIDES, THORN IN  THE  FLESH  or
THORN IN THE SIDE.

   [side against] {v.} To join or be on  the  side  that  is  against;
disagree with; oppose. *  /Bill  and  Joe  sided  against  me  in  the
argument./ * /We sided against the plan to  go  by  plane./  Contrast:
SIDE WITH.

   [side by side] {adv.} 1. One beside the other in a row. *  /Alice's
dolls were lined up side by side on the window seat./ *  /Charles  and
John are neighbors; they live side by side on  Elm  Street./  Compare:
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. 2. Close together. * /The two boys  played  side
by side all afternoon./

   [sidekick] {n.} A companion; a close friend  of  lesser  status.  *
/Wherever you see Dr. Howell, Dr. Percy, his youthful sidekick is sure
to be present as well./

   [side of the tracks] See: THE TRACKS.

   [side street] {n.} A street that runs  into  and  ends  at  a  main
street. * /The store is on a side street just off Main Street./ * /The
Spellmans bought a house on a side street that runs off Broad Street./
Compare: BACK STREET, CROSS STREET.

   [side with] {v.} To agree with; help. *  /Alan  always  sides  with
Johnny in an argument./ * /Gerald sided with  the  plan  to  move  the
club./ Contrast: SIDE AGAINST.

   [sight] See: AT FIRST GLANCE or AT FIRST  SIGHT,  AT  SIGHT  or  ON
SIGHT, CATCH SIGHT OF, HEAVE IN SIGHT, LOSE SIGHT OF,  ON  SIGHT,  SET
ONE'S SIGHTS.

   [sight for sore eyes] {n. phr.},  {informal}  A  welcome  sight.  *
/After our long, dusty hike, the pond was a sight for  sore  eyes./  *
/"Jack! You're a sight for sore eyes!"/

   [sight-read] {v.} To be able to play music without memorization  by
reading the sheet music and immediately playing  it.  *  /Experienced,
good musicians are expected to be able to sight-read./

   [sight unseen] {adv. phr.} Before seeing  it;  before  seeing  her,
him, or them. * /Tom read an ad about a car and sent the money for  it
sight unseen./

   [sign] See: HIGH SIGN, INDIAN SIGN, ROAD SIGN.

   [sign in] {v.} To write your name on a special list or in a  record
book to show that you are present. * /Every worker must sign  in  when
coming back to work./ * /Teachers go to the office and  sign  in  each
morning before going to their classrooms./ Contrast SIGN OUT.

   [sign off] {v.} 1. To end a program on radio or television. * /That
TV newscaster always signs off by saluting./ 2. To  stop  broadcasting
for the day. * /That TV  station  always  signs  off  after  the  late
movie./

   [sign of the times] {n. phr.} A  characteristic  of  the  times  in
which one lives. * /It is a sad sign of the times that all  the  major
lakes and rivers are badly polluted and fish in them are poisoned./

   [sign on] {v. phr.} 1. To sign an agreement to become an  employee.
* /The new cowboys signed on with the wealthy rancher in  Nevada./  2.
To start a radio or television broadcast. *  /Station  WLAK  signs  on
every morning at 6 A.M./ Contrast: SIGN OFF.

   [sign one's own death warrant] {v. phr.} To cause your own death or
the loss of something you want very  much.  *  /Mr.  Carter  had  lung
trouble, and the doctor told him he would sign his own  death  warrant
if he didn't stop smoking./ * /When Jim's fiancee saw him  on  a  date
with another girl, he signed his own death warrant./

   [sign on the dotted line] {v. phr.} To attach one's signature on an
important document, such as a contract, a bill of sales, etc.  *  /The
seller said to the buyer, "All you need to do is sign  on  the  dotted
line."/

   [sign out] {v.} To write your name on a special list or in a record
book to show that you are leaving a place. *  /Most  of  the  students
sign out on Friday./ Contrast SIGN IN.

   [sign over] {v.} To give legally by signing your name. * /He signed
his house over to his wife./

   [sign up] {v.} 1. To promise to do something by signing your  name;
join; sign an agreement. * /We will not have the  picnic  unless  more
people sign up./ * /John wants to sign up for the  contest./  *  /Miss
Carter has signed up to be the chaperone at the dance./  2.  To  write
the name of (a person or  thing)  to  be  in  an  activity;  also,  to
persuade (someone) to do something. * /Betty decided to  sign  up  her
dog for obedience training./ * /The superintendent has signed up three
new teachers for next year./

   [signed, sealed, and delivered] {adj. phr.} Finished; completed; in
a state of completion. * /"How is the campus renovation plan  for  the
governor's office coming  along?"  the  dean  of  the  college  asked.
"Signed, sealed, and delivered," his assistant answered./ Compare: CUT
AND DRIED; HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

   [silence gives consent] If you say nothing or  do  not  say  no  to
something, it means that you agree. - A proverb. * /Don't be afraid to
say, if you don't like something. Silence gives consent./

   [silent majority] {n.}, {informal} The  large  majority  of  people
who, unlike the militants, do not  make  their  political  and  social
views known by marching and demonstrating  and  who,  presumably,  can
swing an election one way or the other. * /Sidney Miltner is a  member
of the silent majority./

   [silver] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH, EVERY  CLOUD
HAS A SILVER LINING, HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER.

   [silver  anniversary]  or  [wedding]  {n.  phr.}  The  twenty-fifth
wedding anniversary of a couple; the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  a
business or an association, etc. * /"The day after tomorrow is Mom and
Dad's silver anniversary," Sue said to her brother. "I hope you have a
nice present picked out."/

   [simmer down] {v.}, {informal} To become  less  angry  or  excited;
become calmer. * /Tom got mad, but soon simmered down./

   [Simon Legree] {n.}, {informal} A strict person, especially a boss,
who makes others work very hard. * /Don't talk on the job; the boss is
a real Simon Legree./ * /Everybody avoids the foreman. He acts like  a
Simon Legree./

   [simple] See: PURE AND SIMPLE.

   [sing a different tune] or [whistle a different tune] also [sing  a
new tune] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk or act in  the  opposite  way;
contradict something said before. * /Charles  said  that  all  smokers
should be expelled from the team but he sang a  different  tune  after
the coach caught him smoking./  Syn.:  CHANGE  ONE'S  TUNE,  DANCE  TO
ANOTHER TUNE. Compare: LAUGH OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE'S MOUTH.

   [sing for one's supper] {v. phr.}, {informal} To have to  work  for
what one desires. * /I realized a long time ago that I had to sing for
my supper if I wanted to get ahead in my profession./

   [sing in tune] See: IN TUNE.

   [single] See: EVERY SINGLE.

   [single out] {v. phr.} To select or choose one from among  many.  *
/There were a lot of pretty girls at the  high  school  prom  but  Don
immediately singled out Sally./

   [sing one's praises] {v. phr.} To extol or praise  continuously.  *
/The audience left the concert with everyone singing  the  praises  of
the young piano virtuoso./

   [sing out of tune] See: OUT OF TUNE.

   [sink] See: HEART SINKS.

   [sinker] See: HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

   [sink  in]  or  [soak  in]  {v.},  {informal}  To   be   completely
understood; be fully realized or felt. *  /Everybody  laughed  at  the
joke but Joe; it took a moment for it to sink  in  before  he  laughed
too./ * /When Frank heard that war had started, it didn't sink in  for
a long time until his father was  drafted  into  the  army./  Compare:
BRING HOME.

   [sink one's teeth into] See: GET ONE'S TEETH INTO.

   [sink or swim] {v. phr.} To succeed or fail by  your  own  efforts,
without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don't  work
hard to succeed. * /When Joe was fourteen, his parents  died,  and  he
was left by himself to sink or swim./ * /Tom's new job  was  confusing
and no one had time to help him learn, so he had to sink or swim./

   [sit] See: GO SIT ON A TACK, ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTING.

   [sit back] {v.} 1. To be built a distance away; stand away (as from
a street). * /Our house sits back from the road./ 2. To  relax;  rest,
often while others are working; take time  out.  *  /Sit  back  for  a
minute and think about what you have done./

   [sit by] {v.} 1. To stay near; watch and care for. * /The nurse was
told to sit by the patient until he woke up./ *  /Mother  sat  by  her
sick baby all night./ 2. To sit and watch  or  rest  especially  while
others work. * /Don't just sit idly by while the  other  children  are
all busy./

   [sit down] {v.} To sit on a seat or resting  place.  *  /After  gym
class Jim was tired and was glad to sit down and rest./

   [sit in] {v.} 1. To be a member; participate.  *  /We're  having  a
conference and we'd like you to sit in./ also [sit in  on]:  To  be  a
member of; participate in. * /We want you to sit in on  the  meeting./
2. To attend but not participate. Often used with "on". * /Our teacher
was invited to sit in on the conference./ Compare: LOOK ON.

   [sit on] {v.} 1. To be a member of  (a  jury,  board,  commission),
etc. * /Mr. Brown sat on the jury at  the  trial./  2.  {informal}  To
prevent from starting or doing something; squelch. * /The teacher  sat
on Fred before he could get started  with  the  long  story./  *  /The
teacher sat on Joe as soon as he began showing off./

   [sit on a bomb] or [bombshell]  {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  be  in
possession of anything that is potentially disastrous or dangerous.  *
/The finance department will be sitting on a bomb unless  it  finds  a
way to cut overhead expenses./

   [sit on a volcano] {v.}, {informal} 1.  To  be  in  a  place  where
trouble may start or danger may come suddenly. * /Bob was in that part
of South America before the revolution began. He knew he  was  sitting
on a volcano./ * /The policemen who patrolled the big city  slum  area
that summer were sitting on a volcano./

   [sit on one's hands] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do nothing;  fail  or
refuse to do anything. * /We asked Bill for help with our project, but
he sat on his hands./

   [sit on the fence] See: ON THE FENCE.

   [sit out] {v.} To not take part in. * /The next dance is  a  polka.
Let's sit it out./ * /Toby had to sit out the last half  of  the  game
because his knee hurt./

   [sitter] See: ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTER.

   [sitting on a powder keg] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.

   [sit  through]  {v.}  To  watch  or  listen  until  (something)  is
finished. * /The show was so boring that we could hardly  sit  through
the first act./ * /Elaine liked the movie so much that she sat through
three showings./

   [sit tight] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make no move or  change;  stay
where you are. - Often used as a command. * /Sit tight; I'll be  ready
to go in a few minutes./ * /The doctor said  to  sit  tight  until  he
arrived./ * /The gangsters sat tight in the mountains while the police
looked for them./ Compare: STAND PAT.

   [sitting on top of the world] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

   [sitting pretty] {adj.}, {slang} To be in a lucky position. *  /The
new library is sitting pretty because a wealthy woman gave it  $10,000
worth of reference books./ * /Mr. Jones was sitting pretty  until  his
$25,000-a-year job was dropped by the company./

   [sit up] {v.} 1. To move into a sitting position.  *  /Joe  sat  up
when he heard the knock on his bedroom door./ 2. To stay awake instead
of going to bed. * /Mrs. Jones will sit up until both of her daughters
get home from the dance./ * /We sat up until two A.M. hoping for  news
from Alaska./ 3. {informal} To be surprised. * /Janice really  sat  up
when I told her the gossip about Tom./

   [sit-up] {n.} A vigorous exercise in which  the  abdominal  muscles
are strengthened by locking one's  feet  in  a  fastening  device  and
sitting up numerous times. * /Do a few sit-ups if you want  to  reduce
your waist./

   [sit up and take notice] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be surprised into
noticing something. * /Grace had never impressed her teachers. Hearing
that she had won the essay contest made them sit up and take  notice./
* /George's sudden success made the town sit up and take notice./

   [sit up for] {v. phr.} To wait until after the  usual  bedtime  for
someone's return. * /Mrs. Smith always sits up for her two  daughters,
no matter how late it is./

   [sit up with] {v. phr.} To be with; particularly  to  keep  someone
ill company. * /Mrs. Brown sat up with her sick husband all  night  in
the hospital room./

   [sit well (with)] {v.} Find favor  with;  please.  *  /The  reduced
school budget did not sit well with the teachers./

   [sit with] {v.}, {informal} To be accepted by; affect.  -  Used  in
interrogative sentences and in negative sentences modified by  "well".
*  /How  did  your  story  sit  with  your  mother?/  *  /Bob's   poor
sportsmanship doesn't sit well with the coach./

   [six] See: AT SIXES AND SEVENS, DEEP-SIX.

   [six bits] {n.}, {slang} Seventy-five cents. * /"Lend me  six  bits
till Friday, Sam," said Jim. "I've spent all my allowance."/  Compare:
TWO BITS.

   [six of one and half-a-dozen of the other] {n. phr.} Two things the
same; not a real choice; no difference. *  /Which  coat  do  you  like
better, the brown or the blue? It's six of one and half-a-dozen of the
other./ * /Johnny says it's six of one and half-a-dozen of  the  other
whether he does the job tonight or tomorrow night./

   [size] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE, PINT-SIZE.

   [size  up]  {v.},  {informal}  To  decide  what  one  thinks  about
(something); to form an opinion about (something). * /Give Joe an hour
to size up the situation and he'll tell you what to do next./  *  /Our
coach went to New  York  to  size  up  the  team  we'll  face  in  our
homecoming game./ Compare: TAKE STOCK(2).

   [skate] See: CHEAP SKATE.

   [skate on thin ice] {v.  phr.}  To  take  a  chance;  risk  danger,
disapproval or anger. * /You'll be skating on thin ice if you ask  Dad
to increase your allowance again./ * /John knew he was skating on thin
ice, but he could not resist teasing his sister about her boyfriend./

   [skating  rink]  {n.},  {slang},  {citizen's  band  radio   jargon}
Slippery road. * /Attention all units - there's a skating rink ahead!/

   [skeleton in the closet] {n. phr.} A shameful  secret;  someone  or
something kept hidden, especially by a family. * /The skeleton in  our
family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he  drank
too much./

   [skid lid] {n.}, {slang} A crash helmet worn by  motorcyclists  and
race drivers. * /How much did you pay for that handsome skid lid?/

   [skid row] {n.} The poor part of a city where men live who have  no
jobs and drink too much liquor. * /That man  was  once  rich,  but  he
drank and gambled too much, and ended his life living on skid row./  *
/The Bowery is New York City's skid row./

   [skim the surface] {v. phr.} To do something very superficially.  *
/He seems knowledgeable in many different areas but his familiarity is
very superficial, since he only skims the  surface  of  everything  he
touches./

   [skin] See: BY THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH, GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN,  JUMP
OUT OF ONE'S SKIN, KEEP ONE'S EYES PEELED or KEEP ONE'S EYES  SKINNED,
SAVE ONE'S NECK or SAVE ONE'S SKIN, WITH A WHOLE SKIN or  IN  A  WHOLE
SKIN.

   [skin alive] {v. phr.} 1. {informal} To scold  angrily.  *  /Mother
will skin you alive when she sees your torn pants./ 2.  {informal}  To
spank or beat. * /Dad was ready to skin us alive when he found we  had
ruined his saw./ 3. {slang} To defeat. * /We all did our best, but the
visiting gymnastic team skinned us alive./

   [skin and bones] {n.} A person or animal that is very thin; someone
very skinny. * /The puppy is healthy now, but when we found him he was
just skin and bones./ * /Have you been  dieting?  You're  nothing  but
skin and bones!/

   [skin-deep] {adj.} Only on the surface;  not  having  any  deep  or
honest meaning; not really or closely connected with what it seems  to
belong to. * /Mary's friendliness with  Joan  is  only  skin-deep./  *
/Ralph crammed for the test and got a good grade, but his knowledge of
the lesson is only skin-deep./ Contrast: BRED IN THE BONE.

   [skin off one's  nose]  {n.  phr.},  {slang}  Matter  of  interest,
concern, or trouble to you. Normally used in the negative.  *  /Go  to
Jake's party if you wish. It's no skin off my nose./ *  /Grace  didn't
pay any attention to our argument. It wasn't any skin off her nose./ *
/You could at least say hello to our visitor. It's no  skin  off  your
nose./

   [skip] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT.

   [skip bail] See: JUMP BAIL.

   [skip it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To forget all  about  it.  *  /When
Jack tried to reward him for returning his lost dog, the man  said  to
skip it./ * /I asked what the fight was about, but the  boys  said  to
skip it./

   [skip out] {v.}, {informal} To leave in a hurry;  especially  after
cheating or  taking  money  dishonestly;  sneak  away;  leave  without
permission. * /The man skipped out of the  hotel  without  paying  his
bill./ * /"How did you get out of the house after supper, Harry? "  "I
skipped out!"/

   [skirt around] {v. phr.} To avoid something. *  /"Let's  not  skirt
around the facts," said the attorney to his client. "You must tell  me
the truth."/

   [sky] See: OUT OF THE BLUE or OUT OF A CLEAR SKY or OUT OF A  CLEAR
BLUE SKY, REACH FOR THE SKY.

   [sky is the limit] There is no upper limit to something. * /"Buy me
the fastest racehorse in Hong Kong," Mr. Lee  instructed  his  broker.
"Spend whatever is necessary; the sky is the limit."/

   [slack off] {v. phr.} 1. To become less active; grow lazy. * /Since
construction work has been slacking off toward the end of the  summer,
many workers were dismissed./ 2. To gradually  reduce;  taper  off.  *
/The snowstorms tend to slack off over the Great Lakes by the first of
April./

   [slam] See: GRAND SLAM.

   [slap down] {v.}, {slang} 1. To stop (someone, usually in  a  lower
position or job) from doing or saying something, in  a  rough  way  or
with a scolding; silence. *  /When  Billy  talked  back,  the  teacher
slapped him down./ 2. To put a quick stop to; refuse roughly.  *  /The
boss slapped  down  our  idea  of  taking  a  nap  on  the  job  every
afternoon./

   [slap in the face(1)] {n.} An insult; a disappointment. * /We  felt
that it was a slap in the face when our gift was returned unopened./ *
/Doris thought it was a slap in the face when  her  boyfriend  invited
another girl to the dance./ Compare: KICK IN THE PANTS.

   [slap in the face(2)] {v. phr.} To  insult;  embarrass;  make  feel
bad. * /John slapped our club in the face by saying that  everyone  in
it was stupid./ * /I don't want to slap her in the face by not  coming
to her party./

   [slap one's wrist] {v. phr.} To receive a light punishment. *  /She
could have been fired  for  contradicting  the  company  president  in
public, but all she got was a slap on the wrist./

   [slap together] See: THROW TOGETHER(1).

   [slate] See: CLEAN SLATE.

   [slated for] or [slated to be] Going to  be;  planned  or  intended
for. * /People think the governor is slated to be president./ *  /That
subject is slated for debate at the next meeting./

   [slave driver] {n.} A cruel, merciless boss or employer  who  makes
the people under him work extremely hard for  little  compensation.  *
/Mr. Catwallender is such a slave driver that nobody cares to work for
him anymore./

   [sledding] See: HARD SLEDDING or ROUGH SLEDDING or TOUGH SLEDDING.

   [sleep] See: BEAUTY SLEEP, LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE, SLEEP A WINK.

   [sleep around] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To be free
with one's sexual favors; to behave promiscuously. * /Sue Catwallender
is a nice girl but she sleeps around an awful lot with  all  sorts  of
guys./

   [sleep a wink] {v. phr.} To get a moment's sleep; enjoy  a  bit  of
sleep. - Used in negative and conditional statements and in questions.
* /I didn't sleep a wink all night./

   [sleep like a log] {v. phr.} To sleep very deeply  and  soundly.  *
/Although I am usually a light sleeper, I was so  exhausted  from  the
sixteen-hour transpacific flight that, once we got home, I slept  like
a log for twelve hours./

   [sleep off] {v. phr.} To sleep until the effect of too much alcohol
or drugs passes. * /George had too many beers last night and he is now
sleeping off the effects./

   [sleep on] {v.} To postpone a decision about. * /We asked  Judy  if
she would join our club and she answered that she would sleep on  it./
* /We will have to sleep on your invitation until we know  whether  we
will be free Monday night./

   [sleep out] {v.} 1. To sleep outdoors. * /The Scouts plan to  sleep
out next Saturday./ 2. To go home at night instead of sleeping at  the
place where you work. * /Mrs. Jones' maid  sleeps  in,  but  her  cook
sleeps out./

   [sleep with] {v. phr.} To have a sexual affair with  someone;  have
sex; copulate. * /It has been rumored in  the  office  that  the  boss
sleeps with all the girls he hires./

   [sleeve] See: CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE, LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE or  LAUGH
IN ONE'S SLEEVE, ROLL UP ONE'S SLEEVES, UP ONE'S SLEEVE  or  IN  ONE'S
SLEEVE, WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE also PIN ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S
SLEEVE.

   [sling hash] {v.}, {slang} To serve food, especially  in  a  cheap,
small diner, a drive-in, or short-order restaurant. * /Jake got a  job
slinging hash at the new drive-in restaurant./ *  /Jody  earned  money
for college by slinging hash  in  a  restaurant  during  the  summer./
Compare: SHORT-ORDER COOK.

   [slinging match] {n. phr.} A loud, angry  quarrel.  *  /The  debate
deteriorated into a most unseemly slinging match./

   [slip] See: GIVE THE SLIP, SALES CHECK or SALES SLIP.

   [slip a cog] or [slip a gear] {v. phr.}, {slang} To make a mistake.
* /I must have been slipping a cog when I said that I  would  run  for
mayor./ * /Jim hates to sleep outdoors. He's  slipping  his  gears  if
he's promised to take the boys camping./ Compare: SLIP UP.

   [slip away] {v. phr.} To leave unnoticed. * /The party was  such  a
bore that we decided to quietly slip away./

   [slip off] {v. phr.} 1. To slide off  something.  *  /The  children
climbed up the hill but when it was time to  come  down,  they  didn't
walk, but slipped off the smooth, old ledges./ 2. See: SLIP AWAY.

   [slip of the lip] See: SLIP OF THE TONGUE.

   [slip of the pen]  {n.  phr.}  The  mistake  of  writing  something
different from what you should or what you planned. * /That was a slip
of the pen. I meant to write September, not November./ * /I  wish  you
would forget it. That was a slip of the pen./

   [slip of the tongue] also [slip of the lip] {n. phr.}  The  mistake
of saying something you had not wanted or planned to say; an error  of
speech. * /No one would have known our plans if Kay hadn't made a slip
of the tongue./ * /She didn't mean to tell our secret; it was  a  slip
of the lip./

   [slip one's mind] {v. phr.} To forget something. * /I meant to mail
those letters but it entirely slipped my mind./

   [slip over] See: PUT OVER(2).

   [slip through one's fingers] {v. phr.} To escape without  someone's
knowing how. * /Policemen  surrounded  the  building,  but  the  thief
managed to slip through their fingers./ * /Mike earns a good wage, but
he doesn't save a penny. Money just slips through his fingers./

   [slipup]  {n.}  A  mistake.  *  /"I'm  sorry,  sir.  That  was   an
unfortunate slipup," the barber said when he  scratched  the  client's
face./

   [slip up] {v. phr.} To make a  mistake.  *  /Someone  at  the  bank
slipped up. There are only 48 pennies in this 50c roll  of  coins./  *
/If he hadn't slipped up on the last questions, his score on the  test
would have been perfect./

   [slow burn] {n.}, {informal} A slowly increasing feeling of  anger.
* /The boys kept teasing John, and watched him  do  a  slow  burn./  *
/Barbara's  slow   burn   ended   only   when   Mary   explained   the
misunderstanding./

   [slowdown] {n.}  A  period  of  lesser  activity,  usually  in  the
economic sphere. * /We all hope the current slowdown  in  the  economy
will soon be over./

   [slow down] {v. phr.} To go more slowly than usual. * /The road was
slippery, so Mr. Jones slowed down the car./ * /Pat once could  run  a
mile in five minutes, but now that  he's  older  he's  slowing  down./
Compare: LET UP(2). STEP DOWN. Contrast: SPEED UP.

   [slow on the draw] {adj. phr.} Not very  smart;  having  difficulty
figuring things out. * /Poor Eric doesn't  get  very  good  grades  in
physics; when it comes to problem-solving, he is rather  slow  on  the
draw./

   [slow on the uptake] See: SLOW ON THE DRAW.

   [slow tune] See: STANDARD TIME.

   [slow up] {v.} 1. To go more slowly. * /The truck slowed up  as  it
approached the toll gate./  *  /Construction  on  the  road  slows  up
traffic./ 2. To become less busy. * /Business slows up at  the  stores
after Christmas./

   [slug it out] {v. phr.} To have a strong verbal or physical  battle
with someone;  to  contest  something  most  vigorously.  *  /The  two
contenders for the lightweight boxing championship  were  slugging  it
out in the ring./ * /The two candidates for Congress were slugging  it
out on radio and on television./

   [sly] See: ON THE SLY.

   [smack-dab]  also  {Southern}  [smack-to-dab]  {adv.},   {informal}
Exactly; squarely. * /The ball landed smack-dab at our feet./  *  /The
plane landed smack-to-dab in the middle of the
hay field./

   [smack one's lips] {v.  phr.}  To  reveal  an  appetite  for;  show
enjoyment of.  *  /Eleanor  smacked  her  lips  over  the  dessert  of
strawberries and whipped cream./

   [small] See: BIG FROG IN A SMALL POND.

   [small frog in a big pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.

   [small fry] {n.} 1. Young children. * /In the park,  a  sandbox  is
provided for the  small  fry./  2.  Something  or  someone  of  little
importance. * /Large dairies ignore the competition from the small fry
who make only a few hundred pounds of cheese a year./

   [small] or [wee hours] {n.  phr.}  The  very  early  hours  of  the
morning between 1 and 4 A.M. * /My brother was in trouble  for  coming
home in the small hours./ See: WEE HOURS.

   [small talk] {n. phr.} General idle conversation. * /At  the  party
there was the usual kind of  small  talk  about  the  cost  of  living
increase and the war in Africa./

   [small-time] {adj.}, {informal}  Unimportant;  minor;  with  little
power or importance. * /He has a job as a drummer  with  a  small-time
band./ * /It is a small-time business, but  it  may  grow./  Contrast:
BIG-TIME.

   [small wonder] See: NO WONDER.

   [smash hit] {n.}, {informal}  A  very  successful  play,  movie  or
opera. * /The school play was a smash hit./

   [smell a rat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To  be  suspicious;  feel  that
something is wrong. * /Every time Tom visits me, one  of  my  ashtrays
disappears. I'm beginning to smell a rat./ * /When the policeman saw a
light go on in the store at midnight, he smelled a rat./

   [smell out] See: FERRET OUT.

   [smell up] {v.}, {informal} To make a bad smell. * /A skunk smelled
up our yard last night./ * /Mr. Brodsky's cigar smelled up the  living
room./

   [smile] See: CRACK A SMILE.

   [smoke] See: CHAIN-SMOKE, GO UP IN FLAMES or GO UP  IN  SMOKE,  PUT
THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT, WATCH ONE'S DUST or WATCH ONE'S SMOKE.

   [smoke like a chimney] {v. phr.}, {informal} To smoke very  heavily
and continuously. * /"If you continue  smoking  like  a  chimney"  the
doctor told my uncle, "you'll  wind  up  in  the  hospital  with  lung
cancer."/

   [smoke out] {v. phr.} 1. To force  out  with  smoke.  *  /The  boys
smoked a squirrel out of a hollow tree./ * /The farmer tried to  smoke
some gophers out of their burrows./ 2.  {informal}  To  find  out  the
facts about. * /It took the reporter three  weeks  to  smoke  out  the
whole story./

   [smoke-out] {n.} A successful conclusion of an act of investigative
journalism  revealing  some  long-kept  secrets.  *  /Journalist   Bob
Woodward was the hero of the Watergate smoke-out./

   [smoke screen] {n. phr.} A camouflage; a veil;  something  used  to
cover or hide something. * /June hides her commercial interests behind
a smoke screen of religious piety./

   [Smokey Bear] or [Smokey-the-Bear] or [the Smokies] {n.},  {slang},
{citizen's band radio jargon} A policeman; a  patrol  car;  frequently
abbreviated as Smokey. * /Slow down, Smokey's ahead!/ * /A  Smokey  is
on the move, heading east./

   [smooth away] {v.} To remove; (unpleasant feelings)  take  away.  *
/Mr. Jones' new job smoothed away his worry about money./

   [smooth down] {v.}  To  make  calm;  calm  down.  *  /Mrs.  Smith's
feelings were hurt and we couldn't smooth her down./

   [smooth over] {v.} To make something seem better or more  pleasant;
try to excuse. * /Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary  by
making her laugh./ Syn.: GLOSS OVER. Compare: PATCH UP.

   [smooth sailing] See: PLAIN SAILING.

   [snail's pace] {n.} A very slow movement forward. * /Time moved  at
a snail's pace before the holidays./ * /The donkey  on  which  he  was
riding moved at a snail's pace./

   [snake in the grass] {n. phr.}, {informal} A person who  cannot  be
trusted; an unfaithful traitor; rascal. * /Did Harry  tell  you  that?
He's a snake in the grass!/ *  /Some  snake  in  the  grass  told  the
teacher our plans./

   [snap] See: COLD SNAP.

   [snap it off] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.

   [snap one's fingers at] {v. phr.} To show  contempt  for;  show  no
respect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard.  *  /John  snapped
his fingers at the sign that said "Do not enter," and he went  in  the
door./ * /The highway sign said "Speed limit, 35 miles per hour,"  but
when a driver snapped his fingers at it by going 55 miles an  hour,  a
motorcycle policeman arrested him./

   [snap out of] {v.}, {informal} To change quickly from a bad  habit,
mood, or feeling to a better one. - Often used with "it". * /Mary  was
unhappy when her fiance abandoned her, but she snapped out of it  when
she met a new young man./ * /The coach told the lazy  player  to  snap
out of it./

   [snappy] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.

   [snapshot] {n.} A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait.
* /We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving  around  the
island./

   [snap up] {v.}, {informal} To take or accept eagerly. * /Eggs  were
on sale cheap, and the shoppers snapped up the bargain./ * /Mr.  Hayes
told Bob that he would take him skiing, and Bob snapped up the offer./

   [sneak] See: QUARTERBACK SNEAK.

   [sneak away] See: SLIP AWAY.

   [sneak up on] See: CREEP UP ON.

   [sneeze at] {v.}, {informal} To think of as not important; not take
seriously. - Used with negative or limiting words and in questions.  *
/Mr. Jones was chosen by his party to run for President.  He  was  not
elected, but to be chosen to run is not to be sneezed at./ *  /If  you
think Mrs. Green's tests are things to  be  sneezed  at,  you  have  a
surprise coming./ * / Is a thousand dollars anything to sneeze at?/  *
/John finished third in a race with  twenty  other  runners.  That  is
nothing to sneeze at./

   [sniff out] See: FERRET OUT.

   [snow in] {v.} To block up or trap by much  snow;  keep  inside,  *
/After the storm the farmer and his family were snowed  in  for  three
days./ * /The train went off the track and the passengers were  snowed
in for several days./

   [snow job] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1.  Insincere  or  exaggerated
talk designed to gain the favors of someone. * /Joe gave  Sue  a  snow
job and she believed every word of it./ 2.  The  skillful  display  of
technical vocabulary and prestige terminology in order to pass oneself
off as an expert  in  a  specialized  field  without  really  being  a
knowledgeable worker  in  that  area.  *  /That  talk  by  Nielsen  on
pharmaceuticals sounded very impressive,  but  I  will  not  hire  him
because it was essentially a snow job./

   [snow under] {v.} 1. To cover over with snow. * /The  doghouse  was
snowed under during the blizzard./ 2. {informal} To give  so  much  of
something that it cannot be taken care of; to weigh down by so much of
something that' you cannot do anything about it. - Usually used in the
passive. * /The factory received so many orders  that  it  was  snowed
under with work./ * /The disabled girl was snowed under with Christmas
letters./

   [snuff] See: UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.

   [snug as a bug in a rug] {adj. phr.} Comfortable; cozy. * /"Are you
warm enough?" the boy's mother asked. "Yeah," he replied, "I'm snug as
a bug in a rug."/

   [so] See: AND SO FORTH or AND SO ON, EVEN SO, EVERY NOW AND THEN or
EVERY SO OFTEN, HOW SO, IN SO MANY WORDS, IS THAT SO, OR SO, THUS  AND
SO.

   [soak in] See: SINK IN.

   [soak up] {v.} 1. To take up water or  other  liquid  as  a  sponge
does. * /The rag soaked up the water that I  spilled./  2.  To  use  a
sponge or something like a sponge to take up liquid. * /John soaked up
the water with the rag./ 3. {informal} To take up into yourself in the
way a sponge takes up water. * /Mary was lying on the beach soaking up
the sun./ * /Charles soaks up facts  as  fast  as  the  teacher  gives
them./

   [so-and-so(1)] {pronoun}, {informal}  Someone  whose  name  is  not
given. * /Don't tell me  what  so-and-so  thinks.  Tell  me  what  you
think./

   [so-and-so(2)] {n.}, {informal} A person  of  a  special  kind  and
usually of a very bad kind. - This word is used in  place  of  a  more
unacceptable word or swear word. * /I  wish  that  old  so-and-so  who
thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now./ * /He  called
me a dirty so-and-so and I hit him in the mouth./ - Sometimes used  in
a joking way. * /Peter met his friend John and said, "Hello there, you
old so-and-so."/

   [so --- as to] -  Used  with  an  adjective  or  adverb  before  an
infinitive to show a result. * /Who could be so mean as to do a  thing
like that?/ * /Ruth wouldn't be so careless as  to  forget  her  pen./
Compare: SO --- THAT.

   [soap opera] {n. phr.} Radio or television serialized stories of  a
sentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and  social  intrigue.
These shows often advertise soap products, hence their  name.  *  /The
two longest running soap operas in the United States were "Dallas" and
"Knot's Landing."/

   [so as to] See: IN ORDER TO.

   [sob all the way to the bank] See: CRY ALL THE  WAY  TO  THE  BANK.
Contrast: LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

   [so bad] See: NOT BAD.

   [so be it] also [be it so] {adv. phr.}, {formal} 1. Let it be  that
way; may it be so. So be it. * /We shall smoke the pipe of peace./  2.
Very well; all right. * /Will the company lose money by doing this? So
be it, then./

   [sob story] {n.} A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a tale
that makes you tearful. * /The beggar told us a long sob story  before
he asked for money./ * /The movie is based on a sob story, but  people
love it./

   [social climber] {n.} A person  who  tries  to  mix  with  rich  or
well-known people and be accepted by them as  friends  and  equals.  *
/People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is  known  as  a  social
climber./ * /Social climbers are usually soon known and they  are  not
accepted by those they run after./

   [sock] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A SOCK AT.

   [sock it] {v. phr.}, also {interj.}, {slang},  {informal}  To  give
one's utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable
of. * /Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em!/ * /I was watching the debate on
television and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them./

   [soda jerk] or [soda jerker] {n.}, {informal} A person  who  serves
soda and ice cream to customers, usually in a drug store or ice  cream
parlor. * /Bob worked as a soda jerk at the drug store all summer./  *
/He is just a soda jerker with no future./

   [so far] also [thus far] {adv.} Until this time or to this place. *
/The weather has been hot so far this summer./ *  /This  is  a  lonely
road. We have not met another car so far./

   [so far as] See: AS FAR AS.

   [so far, so good] {informal} Until now things have gone well. * /So
far, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck./

   [soft drink] {n.  phr.}  A  nonalcoholic  beverage  such  as  7-Up,
Coca-Cola, etc. * /She drinks no alcohol; she  always  orders  a  soft
drink./

   [softhearted] {adj.} Generous; sympathetic. * /Street beggars  tend
to exploit the softhearted nature of passersby./

   [soft touch] {n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom
it is easy to get help, primarily money. * /My Uncle Herb  is  a  soft
touch; whenever I'm in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./

   [so help me] {interj.}, {informal} I promise; I  swear;  may  I  be
punished if I lie. * /I've told you the truth, so help me./ * /So help
me, there was nothing else I could do./

   [soil one's hands] See: DIRTY ONE'S HANDS.

   [so it goes] Akin to the French "c'est la  vie!"  This  exclamation
means "that's life." * /Too bad Jim has lost his  job  but  there  are
lots of people who are better qualified; well, so it goes!/

   [sold on] {adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward;  convinced  of
the value of. * /When Japanese cars first appeared on the market  Andy
was hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them./

   [so long] {interj.}, {informal}  Good-bye.  -  Used  when  you  are
leaving someone or he is leaving you. *  /So  long,  I  will  be  back
tomorrow./

   [so long as] See: AS LONG AS.

   [so many(1)] {adj.} 1. A limited number  of;  some  *  /Our  school
auditorium will hold only so many people./ 2. A group of. - Often used
for emphasis. * /The children were all sitting very quietly  in  their
chairs, like so many dolls./ Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} * /Bob is always
bragging; his stories are just so many lies./

   [so many(2)] {pron}. A limited number; some. * /Many people want to
come to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many./ *  /Don't
give the boys all the cookies they want; give so many to Tom, so  many
to Dick, and so many to Bob./ Compare: SO MUCH.

   [some] See: AND THEN SOME.

   [somebody up there loves/hates me] {slang} An expression intimating
that an unseen power in heaven, such as God,  has  been  favorable  or
unfavorable to the one making the exclamation.  *  /Look  at  all  the
money I won! I say somebody up there sure loves me!/ *  /Look  at  all
the money I've lost! I say somebody up there sure hates me!/

   [some of these days] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS.

   [something] See: HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR ONE, HAVE  SOMETHING  ON,
MAKE SOMETHING OF, START SOMETHING.

   [something else] {adj.}, {slang},  {informal}  So  good  as  to  be
beyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. *
/Janet Hopper is really something else./

   [something else  again]  {n.  phr.}  A  different  kind  of  thing;
something different. * /I don't  care  if  you  borrow  my  dictionary
sometimes, but taking it without asking and keeping  it  is  something
else again./ * /"But I don't want a new car," Charles said to the  car
dealer, "I want a used  car."  "Oh,"  said  the  car  dealer,  "that's
something else again."/

   [so much(1)] {adj.} 1. A limited  amount  of;  some.  *  /Sometimes
students wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do
their lessons./ * /If you can't give everyone a full  glass  of  milk,
just put so much milk in each glass./ 2. Equally or amounting to; only
amounting to. - Often used for emphasis. * /Charley spends money as if
it were so much paper./ * /What Mary said was so much nonsense;  there
wasn't a word of truth in it./ Compare: SO MANY(1).

   [so much(2)] {pron.} A limited amount; some; a price or amount that
is agreed or will be agreed on. * /You can do only so much in a  day./
* /Milk costs so much a  quart  but  cream  costs  so  much  a  pint./
Compare: SO MANY(2).

   [so much(3)] {adv.} By that much; by the amount shown; even. - Used
with the comparative and usually followed by  "the".  *  /I  can't  go
tomorrow. So much the better; we'll go today./ * /John isn't coming to
the picnic. So much the more for us to eat!/ * /So much the worse  for
you if you break the rules./ Syn.: ALL THE(2).

   [so much as] {adv. phr.}  1.  Even.  -  Usually  used  in  negative
sentences and questions.  *  /He  didn't  so  much  as  thank  me  for
returning his money that I found./ * /Would you so much as  get  me  a
glass of water? No, you wouldn't./ 2. See: AS MUCH AS(2).

   [so much for] Enough has been said or done about. - Used  to  point
out that you have finished with one thing or  are  going  to  take  up
something else. * /So much for the geography of Ireland, we  will  now
talk about the people who live there./ * /"I have nothing more to  say
to you, Tommy, and so much for that," Mary said angrily./

   [son] See: FAVORITE SON, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

   [song] See: FOR A SONG.

   [song and dance] {n.}, {informal} 1. Foolish or uninteresting talk;
dull nonsense. Usually used with "give". * /I met Nancy today and  she
gave me a long song and dance about her family./  2.  A  long  lie  or
excuse, often meant to get pity. Usually used with  "give".  *  /Billy
gave the teacher a song and dance about his mother being  sick  as  an
excuse for being late./ * /The tramp asked us for money and  tried  to
give us a big song and dance about having  to  buy  a  bus  ticket  to
Chicago./

   [sonic boom] {n.} A loud noise and vibration in the air, made  when
a jet plane passes the speed of sound (1087 feet per second). *  /Fast
jet planes sometimes cause a sonic boom, which can break  windows  and
crack the plaster in houses below them./ * /We thought  there  was  an
explosion or earthquake, but it was only a sonic boom that  shook  the
house./

   [son of a bitch] or [sunuvabitch] also S.O.B. {n. phr.},  {vulgar},
{avoidable} (but becoming more and more acceptable, especially if said
with  a  positive  or  loving  intonation).  Fellow,  character,  guy,
individual. Negatively: * /Get  out  of  here  you  filthy,  miserable
sunuvabitch!/ Positively: * /So you won ten  million  dollars  at  the
lottery, you lucky son of a bitch (or sunuvabitch)!/ Compare: SON OF A
GUN.

   [son of a gun] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. A bad  person;  a  person  not
liked. * /I don't like Charley; keep that son of a gun out  of  here./
Syn.: BAD ACTOR. 2. A mischievous rascal; a lively guy. -  Often  used
in a joking way. * /The farmer said he would catch the son  of  a  gun
who let the cows out of the barn./ * /Hello Bill, you  old  son  of  a
gun!/ Compare: SO AND SO. 3. Something troublesome; a hard job. * /The
test today was a son of a gun./ Used as  an  exclamation,  usually  to
show surprise or disappointment. * /Son of a gun! I lost my car keys./
Compare: SON OF A BITCH.

   [soon] See: AS SOON, FOOL AND HIS MONEY ARE SOON PARTED.

   [sooner] See: HAD RATHER or HAD SOONER, NO SOONER --- THAN.

   [sooner or later] {adv. phr.} At some unknown time in  the  future;
sometime. * /John will come back sooner or later./ * /Grandpa is  very
slow about fixing things around the  house,  but  he  always  does  it
sooner or later./ Compare: OR OTHER.

   [sore] See: SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.

   [sore spot] or [sore point]  {n.}  A  weak  or  sensitive  part;  a
subject or thing about which someone becomes angry or upset easily.  *
/Don't ask Uncle John why his business failed; it's a sore  spot  with
him./ Compare: WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.

   [sorrow] See: DROWN ONE'S SORROWS.

   [sort] See: OF SORTS, IN A WAY also IN A SORT OF WAY.

   [sort of] See: KIND OF.

   [sort out] {v. phr.} 1. To alphabetize; arrange in numerical order.
* /The secretary helped Professor Brown sort out  his  numerous  index
cards./ 2. To clarify. * /"Help me sort out these bills,"  she  begged
her husband./

   [so-so] {adj.} Fair; neither good nor bad. * /The children's grades
were just so-so on the test./ * /How is the fishing today? So-so./

   [so that] {conj.} 1. or in order that; for the purpose that; so.  -
"So that" is usually followed by "can" or "could"; "in order that"  is
usually followed by "may" or "might". * /Let's get ready now  so  that
we can leave when Father comes./ * /Betty saved  her  money  in  order
that she might buy a doll./ Compare: IN ORDER TO. 2. With  the  result
that; so. * /My pencil fell under my desk, so that I couldn't see it./
* /George often told  stories  that  weren't  true,  so  that  no  one
believed him when he told about a deer in the school yard./

   [so --- that] - Used with an adjective or adverb before a clause of
result. * /The bus was so full that I could  hardly  turn  around./  *
/Billy pitched so well that everyone cheered him at  the  end  of  the
game./

   [so to speak] {adv. phr.} To say it in this way. * /John was, so to
speak, the leader of the club, but he was officially only  the  club's
secretary./ * /The horse, so to  speak,  danced  on  his  hind  legs./
Compare: AS IT WERE.

   [sought after] {adj.}  Wanted  by  many  buyers;  searched  for.  *
/Antiques are much sought after nowadays./ Syn.: IN DEMAND.

   [soul] See: HEART AND SOUL, KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER.

   [soul-searching] See: SEARCH ONE'S HEART or SEARCH ONE S SOUL.

   [sound] See: HIGH-SOUNDING, SAFE AND SOUND.

   [sound effects] {n.} The noises made to imitate real  sounds  in  a
play, movie, or program. * /Greg agreed to plan the sound effects  for
the class play./ * /The movie was good but the sound effects were  not
very true to life./

   [sound off] {v.} 1. To say your name or  count  "One!  Two!  Three!
Four!" as you march. - Used as orders  in  U.S.  military  service.  *
/"Sound off!" said the sergeant, and the soldiers shouted, "One!  Two!
Three! Four!" with each step as they marched./ 2. {informal}  To  tell
what you know or think in a loud clear voice, especially  to  brag  or
complain. * /If you don't like the way  we're  doing  the  job,  sound
off!/ * /George sounded off  about  how  the  game  should  have  been
played./ * /The teacher is always sounding off about the students  not
doing their homework./ Compare: SPEAK ONE'S PIECE, SPEAK OUT.

   [sound out] {v.} To try to  find  out  how  a  person  feels  about
something usually by careful questions. * /Alfred sounded out his boss
about a day off from his job./ * /When you see the  coach,  sound  him
out about my chances of getting on the basketball  team./  Syn.:  FEEL
OUT.

   [sound  sheet]  {n.},  {slang},  {informal}  A   thin   low-quality
phonograph recording frequently bound into books and magazines for use
as promotional or advertising material; it may have either a spoken or
a musical message. * /Don't throw that away; Sue is  collecting  sound
sheets for her market research course./

   [sound truck] {n. phr.}  A  truck  equipped  with  loudspeakers.  *
/During the senatorial campaign, the streets of the big city were full
of sound trucks blaring out messages./

   [soup] See: IN THE SOUP.

   [souped-up] {adj.}, {informal} More powerful or faster  because  of
changes and additions. * /Many teen-aged boys like to drive  souped-up
cars./ * /The basketball team won the last five games  with  souped-up
plays./

   [so what] {informal} Used as an impolite  reply  showing  that  you
don't care about what another has said. * /Roy boasted that he was  in
the sixth grade, but Ted said, "So what? I am in Junior High."/  Syn.:
WHAT OF IT.

   [sow one's wild oats] {v.  phr.}  To  do  bad  or  foolish  things,
especially while you are young. * /Mr. Jones sowed his wild oats while
he was in college, but now he is a wiser and better man./

   [space] See: OUTER SPACE.

   [spaced out] {adj.}, {slang}, {informal} Having gaps in one's train
of thought, confused, incoherent; resembling the behavior  of  someone
who is under the influence of drugs. * /Joe's been acting funny lately
- spaced out, you might say./

   [space probe] {n.}, {Space English} An  unmanned  spacecraft  other
than an Earth satellite  fitted  with  instruments  which  gather  and
transmit information about other planets in the  solar  system  (e.g.,
Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) on what are called  fly-by  missions,  i.e.,
without the craft landing on any of these bodies. * /Both  the  U.S.A.
and Russia have sent up many a space probe in the past decade./

   [spade] See: CALL A SPADE A SPADE.

   [Spain] See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR or BUILD CASTLES IN SPAIN.

   [spar with] See: FENCE WITH.

   [speak] See: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS,  CHILDREN  AND  FOOLS
SPEAK THE TRUTH, NOT TO MENTION or NOT TO SPEAK OF,  SHORT-SPOKEN,  SO
TO SPEAK, TO SPEAK OF.

   [speakeasy] {n.} A bar during Prohibition where  illegal  alcoholic
beverages were sold. *  /Al  Capone's  associates  met  in  a  Chicago
speakeasy to drink and discuss business./

   [speaker] See: PUBLIC SPEAKER.

   [speak for] {v.} 1. To speak in favor of or in support  of.  *  /At
the meeting John spoke for the change in  the  rules./  *  /The  other
girls made jokes about Jane, but Mary spoke for her./  2.  To  make  a
request for; to ask for. * /The teacher was giving  away  some  books.
Fred and Charlie spoke for the same one./ 3. To give an impression of;
be evidence that (something) is or will be said. - Used with the words
"well" or "ill". * /It seems that it will rain today. That speaks  ill
for the picnic this afternoon./ * /Who  robbed  the  cookie  jar?  The
crumbs on your shirt speak ill for you, Billy./ * /John wore  a  clean
shirt and a tie when he went to ask for a job, and that spoke well for
him./ * /It speaks well for Mary that she always does her homework./

   [speak of the devil and he appears] A person comes  just  when  you
are talking about him. - A proverb. * /We were just talking about Bill
when he came in the door. Speak of the devil and he appears./

   [speak one's mind] {v. phr.} To say openly  what  you  think;  give
advice that may not be liked. * /John thought it  was  wrong  to  keep
George out of the club and he spoke his mind about it./ Compare: SOUND
OFF.

   [speak one's piece] See: SAY ONE'S PIECE.

   [speak out of turn] {v. phr.} To say something tactless; commit  an
indiscretion. * /You spoke out of turn in criticizing Aunt  Hermione's
old furniture; she  considers  herself  quite  a  connoisseur  on  the
subject./

   [speak out] or [speak up] {v.} 1. To  speak  in  a  loud  or  clear
voice. * /The trucker told the shy boy to speak up./ 2.  To  speak  in
support of or against someone or something. * /Willie spoke up for Dan
as club president./ * /Ed spoke up  against  letting  girls  join  the
club./

   [speak the same language]  {v.  phr.}  To  have  similar  feelings,
thoughts, and tastes; have a mutual understanding with another person.
* /We both love listening to Mozart.  Obviously,  we  speak  the  same
language./

   [speak volumes] {v. phr.} To tell or show much in a way other  than
speaking; be full of meaning. * /The nice present she gave  you  spoke
volumes for what she thinks of you./ * /A child's  choice  of  hobbies
speaks volumes./ Compare: READ BETWEEN THE LINES.

   [speak well of] {v. phr.} To approve of; praise. * /Everyone always
speaks well of my sister because she's so kind./

   [speak with a forked tongue] {v. phr.}, {literary} To lie;  to  say
one thing while thinking of the opposite. * /I  have  learned  not  to
trust Peter's promises because he speaks with a forked tongue./

   [speed trap] {n.} A place where  police  hide  and  wait  to  catch
drivers who are going even a little faster than  the  speed  limit.  *
/Mr. Jones was caught in a speed trap./

   [speed up] {v.} To go faster than before; also, to make go  faster.
* /The car speeded up when it reached the country./  *  /Push  in  the
throttle to speed up the engine./ Compare: PICK UP(12). Contrast: SLOW
DOWN.

   [spell out] {v.} 1. To say or read aloud the letters ot a word, one
by one; spell. * /John could not understand the word the  teacher  was
saying, so she spelled it out on the blackboard./ 2. To  read  slowly,
have trouble in understanding. *  /The  little  boy  spelled  out  the
printed words./ 3. {informal} To  explain  something  in  very  simple
words; explain very clearly. * /The class  could  not  understand  the
problem, so the teacher spelled it out for them./ * /Before  the  game
the coach spelled out to the players  what  he  wanted  them  to  do./
Compare: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

   [spell trouble] {v. phr.} To signify major  difficulties  ahead.  *
/The note  we  just  received  from  the  Chancellor  seems  to  spell
trouble./

   [spending money] or [pocket money] {n.} Money that is  given  to  a
person to spend. * /When the seniors went to New York City on a  trip,
each was given $10 in spending money./ * /Father gave John a nickel in
pocket money when he went to the store with Mother./

   [spend the night] {v. phr.} To sleep somewhere. * /It was  so  late
after the party that we decided to spend the  night  at  our  friends'
house./

   [spick-and-span] {adj.} Sparkling clean; having a brand new look. *
/She  is  such  a  good  housekeeper  that  her  kitchen   is   always
spick-and-span./

   [spill] See: CRY OVER SPILLED MILK.

   [spill the beans] {v. phr.}, {informal} To tell a secret to someone
who is not supposed to know about it. * /John's friends were going  to
have a surprise party for him, but Tom spilled  the  beans./  Compare:
GIVE AWAY(3), LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.

   [spin a yarn] {v. phr.} To tell a  story  of  adventure  with  some
exaggeration mixed in; embellish and protract such a  tale.  *  /Uncle
Fred, who used be a sailor, knows how to spin a fascinating yarn,  but
don't always believe everything he says./

   [spine-chilling] {adj.} Terrifying; causing  great  fear.  *  /Many
children find the movie, "Frankenstein,"  spine-chilling./  *  /A  was
spine-chilling to learn that a  murderer  was  in  our  neighborhood./
Compare: HAIR STAND ON END.

   [spine-tingling] {adj.} Very exciting; thrilling. *  /Our  ride  up
the mountain in a chair lift was spine-tingling./  *  /The  children's
plane ride was a spine-tingling adventure to them./

   [spinoff] {n.} A byproduct of something  else.  *  /The  television
soap opera "Knot's Landing" was considered a spinoff of "Dallas," with
many of the same characters featured in both./

   [spin off] {v.  phr.}  To  bring  something  into  existence  as  a
byproduct of something that already exists. * /When  Dr.  Catwallender
opened his medical practice, he  also  spun  off  a  small  dispensary
beside it where patients could get their prescriptions filled./

   [spin one's wheels] {v. phr.} 1. Said of cars stuck in snow or  mud
whose wheels are turning without the car moving forward. * /There  was
so much snow on the driveway that my car's wheels were spinning in  it
and we couldn't get going./ 2. To exert effort in a job without making
any progress. * /I've been working for the firm for two decades, but I
feel I am merely spinning my wheels./

   [spin out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out of control. * /The bus  spun  out
on the icy road and fell into the ditch./ 2. To make something go  out
of control. * /Tom stepped on the brakes so fast that he spun his  car
out of control and went off the road./

   [spirit away] {v. phr.} To hide or smuggle something out; abduct. *
/The famous actress was spirited away by her bodyguards as soon as she
emerged from the door./

   [spite] See: CUT OFF ONE'S NOSE TO SPITE ONE'S FACE.

   [spit] or  [piss  into  the  wedding  cake]  {v.  phr.},  {vulgar},
{avoidable} To spoil someone's pleasure or  celebration  by  doing  or
saying something harsh or unseemly in an  otherwise  happy  gathering;
bring up depressing or unhappy subjects at a supposedly happy time.  *
/Stuart really spit into the wedding cake  when  he  told  Burt  in  a
bragging fashion that Lucy, Burl's bride, used to be his girlfriend./

   [spitting image] {n.} or  [spit  and  image]  {informal}  An  exact
likeness;  a  duplicate.  *  /John  is  the  spitting  image  of   his
grandfather./ * /That vase is the spitting image of one  I  wanted  to
buy in Boston./ Compare: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

   [spit up] {v.} To vomit a little. * /The baby always spits up  when
he is burped./ * /Put a bib on the baby. I don't want him to  spit  up
on his clean clothes./

   [split end] {n.} An end in football who plays five to ten yards out
from the tackle  in  the  line.  *  /The  split  end  is  one  of  the
quarterback's most important targets for passes./ Contrast: TIGHT END.

   [split  hairs]  {v.  phr.}  To  find  and  argue  about  small  and
unimportant differences as if the differences are important.  *  /John
is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something
small and unimportant./ * /Don't split hairs about whose turn it is to
wash the dishes and make the beds;  let's  work  together  and  finish
sooner./

   [split second] {n.} A very short time; less than a second.  *  /The
lightning flash lasted a split second, and then disappeared./

   [split the difference] {v. phr.},  {informal}  To  settle  a  money
disagreement by dividing the difference, each person giving up half. *
/Bob offered $25 for Bill's bicycle and Bill wanted  $35;  they  split
the difference./

   [split ticket] {n.} A vote for candidates from more than one party.
* /Mr. Jones voted a split ticket./ * /An independent  voter  likes  a
split ticket./ Contrast: STRAIGHT TICKET.

   [split up] {v. phr.} 1. To separate; get a divorce. * /After  three
years of marriage,  the  unhappy  couple  finally  split  up./  2.  To
separate something; divide into portions. *  /The  brothers  split  up
their father's fortune among themselves after his death./

   [split-up] {n.} A separation or division into two or  many  smaller
parts. * /The split-up  of  our  company  was  due  to  the  founder's
untimely death./

   [spoil for] {v. phr.} To want something very badly; be  belligerent
or pugnacious about  something.  *  /After  a  few  drinks  it  became
embarrassingly evident that Hal was spoiling for  a  fight./  Compare:
HANKER AFTER, LUST FOR.

   [spoken for] {adj.} Occupied; reserved; taken; already  engaged  or
married. * /"Sorry, my boy," Mr. Jones said condescendingly,  "but  my
daughter is already spoken  for.  She  will  marry  Fred  Wilcox  next
month."/

   [sponge] See: THROW IN THE SPONGE.

   [sponge bath] {n.} A bath with a  cloth  or  sponge  and  a  little
water. * /During the drought the family had only sponge baths./ * /The
family took sponge baths because they had no bathtub./

   [sponge on] or [off] {v. phr.}  To  exploit  parasitically;  depend
upon for support. * /He is already forty years old, but he refuses  to
go to work and sponges off his retired parents./

   [spoon] See: BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN ONE'S MOUTH.

   [spoon-feed] {v.} 1. To feed with a spoon.  *  /Mothers  spoon-feed
their babies./ 2a. To make  something  too  easy  for  (a  person).  *
/Bill's mother spoon-fed him and never let him think for  himself./  *
/Alice depended on her mother for all decisions because she  had  been
spoon-fed./ 2b. To make (something) too  easy  for  someone.  *  /Some
students want the teacher to spoon-feed the lessons./

   [sporting  blood]  {n.}  Willingness  to  take  risks;  spirit   of
adventure. * /The cowboy's sporting blood tempted him to try  to  ride
the wild horse./ * /The boy's sporting blood caused him  to  run  away
with a circus./

   [spot] See: HIT THE HIGH SPOTS, HIT THE  SPOT,  JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT,
ON THE SPOT or UPON THE SPOT also IN A SPOT, SORE SPOT.

   [spot check] {n. phr.} A sample check or investigation. * /Internal
Revenue Service employees often conduct a  spot  check  of  individual
returns when the figures don't add up./

   [spotlight] See: STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT.

   [spread it on thick] See: LAY IT ON or LAY IT ON THICK.

   [spread like wildfire]  {v.  phr.}  To  spread  uncontrollably  and
rapidly. * /Bad news has a tendency to spread like wildfire./

   [spread oneself too thin] {v. phr.} To try to do too many things at
one time. * /As  the  owner,  chef,  waiter,  and  dishwasher  of  his
restaurant, Pierre was spreading himself too thin./

   [spring a leak] {v. phr.} 1. To develop  a  hole  (said  of  boats)
through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink.  *  /When
our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it./
2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. * /Our firm sprang a leak
when the vice president suddenly died of a heart attack./

   [spring chicken] {n.}, {slang} A young person. - Usually used  with
"no". * /Mr. Brown is no spring chicken, but he can still play  tennis
well./ * /The coach is no spring chicken, but he can show the  players
what to do./

   [spring on one] {v. phr.} To approach someone unexpectedly with  an
unpleasant idea or project. * /Our firm was merely six weeks old  when
they sprang the news on me that I had to go to Algiers to open  a  new
branch there./

   [spring up] {v. phr.} To arise suddenly. *  /Small  purple  flowers
were springing up all over our backyard./

   [sprout wings] {v. phr.} 1. To enter the stage after  a  period  of
development  when  wings  appear  (said  of  larvae  that  turn   into
butterflies). * /The  dragonflies  suddenly  sprouted  wings  and  are
flying all about in the park./ 2. To become good and virtuous  (as  if
airborne). * /Joe has helped many colleagues in need; he seems to have
sprouted wings./

   [spruce up] {v.}, {informal} To make clean or neat. * /Mary spruced
up the house before her company came./  *  /John  spruced  himself  up
before he went out on his date./

   [spur] See: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT, WIN ONE'S SPURS.

   [squad] See: FIRING SQUAD.

   [square] See: FAIR AND SQUARE, SHOOT STRAIGHT or SHOOT SQUARE.

   [square away] {v. phr.} 1. To arrange the sails of a ship  so  that
the wind blows from behind. * /The captain ordered the crew to  square
away and sail before the wind./ 2. {informal} To put right for use  or
action. - Often used in the passive or participle. * /The living  room
was squared away for the guests./ * /Harry got into trouble,  but  his
scoutmaster  talked  with  him  and  got  him  squared  away./   Syn.:
STRAIGHTEN OUT. 3. {informal} To stand ready to  fight;  put  up  your
fists. * /Jack and Lee squared away./ Syn.: SQUARE OFF.

   [squared away] {adj. phr.}  Looked  after  properly;  tucked  away;
arranged. * /My first two daughters are happily married, but my  third
one, Jennifer, isn't squared away yet./

   [square deal] {n. phr.} 1. Equitable or fair treatment. *  /We  are
proud to say that at this firm every employee  gets  a  square  deal./
Contrast NEW DEAL, RAW DEAL.

   [square meal] {n. phr.} A full, nourishing  well-balanced  meal.  *
/The refugees looked as if they hadn't had a square meal in months./

   [square off] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stand ready for fighting with
the fists. * /The two boxers squared off when the bell rang./

   [square  oneself  with]  {v.  phr.}  To   apologize;   re-establish
friendship with; make amends. * /"Mr. Alien is very angry with you for
leaving the firm," Bob said. "It will take more than a few words and a
drink to square yourself with him."/

   [square one's shoulders] {v. phr.} To stand  strong  and  ready  to
give battle; be brave. * /Jack squared his shoulders and  entered  the
game./ * /Graduates must square their shoulders and face the world./

   [square peg in a round hole] {n.}, {informal} A person who does not
fit into a job or position; someone who does not belong where he is. *
/Arthur is a square peg in a round hole when he is  playing  ball./  *
/George likes to work with his hands. When it comes to books,  he's  a
square peg in a round hole./ - Sometimes used in a short form, [square
peg].

   [square shooter] See: SHOOT STRAIGHT.

   [square up] {v. phr.} To liquidate debts and other  obligations.  *
/I want to square up my medical bills before I accept my new  teaching
assignment in Africa./

   [squeak] See: PIP-SQUEAK.

   [squeak by] {v. phr.} 1. To barely succeed. *  /He  was  so  poorly
prepared for his bar exam that he barely squeaked  by./  2.  To  clear
with difficulty. * /The entrance to the corridor in  the  old  Italian
castle was so narrow that I barely managed to squeak by it./

   [squeak through] {v.}, {informal} To be successful but almost fail;
win  by  a  small  score.  *  /Susan  squeaked  through  the   history
examination./ * /The football team squeaked through 7-6./ Compare:  BY
THE SKIN OF ONE'S TEETH.

   [squeeze out of] {v. phr.} To apply pressure to someone in order to
obtain what one desires. * /The police were interrogating the  suspect
to squeeze information out of him./

   [stab in the back(1)] {v. phr.}, {slang} To  say  or  do  something
unfair that harms (a friend  or  someone  who  trusts  you).  *  /Owen
stabbed his friend Max in the back by telling lies about him./

   [stab in the back(2)] {n. phr.}, {slang} An act or a lie that hurts
a friend or trusting person; a  promise  not  kept,  especially  to  a
friend. * /John stabbed his own friend in the back  by  stealing  from
his store./ * /My friend stabbed me in the back by telling the teacher
I was playing hooky when I was home sick./

   [stab in the dark] {n. phr.} A random attempt or guess at something
without previous experience or knowledge of the  subject.  *  /"You're
asking me who could have hidden grandpa's will," Fred said. "I  really
have no idea, but let me make a stab in the dark - I think  my  sister
Hermione has it."/

   [stack] See: BLOW A FUSE or BLOW ONE'S STACK.

   [stack the cards] {v.  phr.}  1.  To  arrange  cards  secretly  and
dishonestly for the purpose of cheating. * /The  gambler  had  stacked
the cards against Bill./ 2. To arrange things unfairly for or  against
a person; have things so that a person  has  an  unfair  advantage  or
disadvantage; make sure in an unfair way that things  will  happen.  -
Usually used in the passive with "in one's favor" or "against one."  *
/A tall basketball player has the cards stacked in his favor./ *  /The
cards are stacked against a poor boy who wants to go to college./

   [stage] See: AT --- STAGE OF THE  GAME,  HOLD  THE  STAGE,  ON  THE
STAGE, SET THE STAGE.

   [stage fright] {n. phr.} The fear one  feels  before  appearing  in
front of an audience. * /Many famous actors and actresses  admit  that
they often have stage fright before the curtain goes up./

   [stagestruck] {adj.} Desirous of  becoming  an  actor  or  actress;
enamored of the acting profession. * /Milly is so stagestruck that she
waits for actresses at the stage door after each  performance  to  get
their signatures./

   [stage whisper] {n. phr.} A loud whisper intended  to  reach  other
ears than those of the person(s) addressed. * /Some  jokes  should  be
told in a stage whisper./

   [stag party] See: GO STAG. Contrast: HEN PARTY.

   [stake] See: AT STAKE, PULL UP STAKES.

   [stake a claim] {v. phr.} 1. To claim ownership of land by  driving
stakes to show boundaries. * /The gold hunters staked  claims  in  the
West./ 2. {informal} To claim a person or thing as your  own  by  some
sign. Usually used with "on". * /George staked a claim  on  Dianne  by
giving her his class ring./

   [stamp] See: SAVINGS STAMP, TRADING STAMP.

   [stamping ground] {n.}, {informal} A place where  a  person  spends
much of his time. * /Pete's soda fountain is an  afterschool  stamping
ground./ * /When John returned to his hometown many  years  later,  he
visited all of his old stamping grounds./

   [stamp out] {v.} To destroy completely and make  disappear.  *  /In
the last few  years,  we  have  nearly  stamped  out  polio  by  using
vaccine./ * /The police and judges are trying  to  stamp  out  crime./
Compare: WIPE OUT.

   [stand] See: GOAL LINE STAND, HAIR STAND ON END, HEART STAND STILL,
LEG TO STAND ON.

   [stand a chance] or [stand a show] {n. phr.} To have a  possibility
or opportunity; be likely to do or  get  something.  *  /Fred  doesn't
stand a chance of being elected./ * /We stand a good chance of  seeing
Mary at the party./

   [standard time] also [slow time] {n.} Clock time that is set by law
or agreement in a country or in part of a country; especially, in  the
United States: the clock time used between fall and spring,  which  is
an hour slower than the time used in the summer. - Abbreviation ST.  *
/When we go to bed Saturday night, we will  set  our  clocks  back  an
hour, because Sunday we will be on standard time again./ * /Next  week
it will get dark an hour earlier,  because  we  will  be  on  standard
time./ Contrast: DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME.

   [stand by] {v.} 1. To be close beside or near. *  /Mary  could  not
tell Jane the secret with her little brother standing  by./  *  /Would
you just stand by and watch the big boys beat your little brother?/ 2.
To be near, waiting to do something when needed. * /The  policeman  in
the patrol car radioed the station about the robbery, and  then  stood
by for orders./ * /Lee stood by with a  fire  extinguisher  while  the
trash was burning./ 3. To follow or keep (one's promise). * /He  is  a
boy who always stands by his promises./ 4. To be  loyal  to;  support;
help. * /When three big boys attacked Bill, Ed stood by him./ *  /Some
people blamed Harry when he got into trouble, but Joe stood  by  him./
Compare: BACK UP, HANG TOGETHER, STAND UP FOR.

   [stand by one's guns] See: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.

   [stand for] {v.} 1. To be a sign of; make you  think  of;  mean.  *
/The letters "U.S.A." stand for "United States of  America."/  *  /The
written sign "=" in an arithmetic problem stands for "equals."/ * /Our
flag stands for our country./ * /The owl stands  for  wisdom./  2.  To
speak in favor of something, or show that you support it. *  /The  new
President stood for honest government./ * /John always stands for what
is right./ 3. {Chiefly British} To try to be elected for. * /Three men
from London are standing for parliament./  *  /The  governor  did  not
stand for reelection./ 4. {informal} To allow to happen or to be done;
permit. - Usually used in the negative, * /The teacher will not  stand
for fooling in the classroom./ Compare: HAVE IT(4), PUT UP WITH.

   [stand in awe of] {v. phr.} To look upon  with  wonder;  feel  very
respectful to. * /Janet always stands in awe of the superintendent./ *
/The soldier stood in awe to his officers./

   [stand in for] {v. phr.} To substitute for someone. *  /The  famous
brain surgeon was called out of town so his assistant had to stand  in
for him during the operation./

   [stand in one's way] See: IN ONE'S WAY.

   [stand in with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be liked  by  or  friendly
with. - Usually used with "well". * /John  stands  in  well  with  the
teacher./

   [stand off] {v.} 1. To stay  at  a  distance;  stay  apart.  *  /At
parties, Mr. Jones goes around talking to everyone, but Mrs. Jones  is
shy and stands off./ 2. To keep (someone  or  something)  from  coming
near or winning. * /The soldiers defending the fort stood off a  large
band of Indians./ * /The other schools wanted to beat our team and win
the championship, but our boys stood them  all  off./  Contrast:  GIVE
GROUND.

   [standoffish] {adj.} Stiff;  aloof;  reserved  in  manner.  *  /The
famous chess  player  is  hard  to  get  to  know  because  he  is  so
standoffish./

   [stand on ceremony] {v. phr.} To follow strict rules of politeness;
be very formal with other people. - Usually used with a  helping  verb
in the negative. * /Grandmother does not stand on  ceremony  when  her
grandchildren call./

   [stand one in good stead] {v. phr.} To be helpful or useful  to.  *
/A boy scout knife will stand you in good stead when you do  not  have
other tools./ * /Julia knew how to typewrite, and that  stood  her  in
good stead when she looked for a job./

   [stand one's ground] also [hold one's ground] {v. phr.} 1. To  stay
and fight instead of running away. *  /The  enemy  attacked  in  great
numbers but  our  men  stood  their  ground./  Compare:  GAIN  GROUND.
Contrast:  GIVE  GROUND,  LOSE  GROUND.  2.  To  defend  a  belief  or
statement; refuse to weaken when opposed;  insist  you  are  right.  *
/John's friends said  he  was  mistaken  but  he  stood  his  ground./
Compare: STICK TO ONE'S GUNS.

   [stand on one's own feet] or [stand on  one's  own  two  feet]  {v.
phr.} To depend on yourself; do things yourself; earn your own living;
be independent. * /After his father died, John had to stand on his own
feet and earn his own living./ * /You should learn to  stand  on  your
own two feet./

   [stand out] {v.} 1. To  go  farther  out  than  a  nearby  surface;
protect. * /A mole stood out on her cheek./ Compare: STICK OUT(1b). 2.
To be more noticeable in some way than those around  you;  be  higher,
bigger, or better. * /Fred was very tall and stood out in the  crowd./
* /John stood out as a track star./

   [stand over] {v.} 1. To watch closely; keep checking all the  time.
* /Ted's mother had to stand over him to get him to do his  homework./
2. To be held over for  later  action;  be  postponed;  wait.  *  /The
committee decided to let  the  proposal  stand  over  until  its  next
meeting./

   [stand pat] {v.}, {informal} To be satisfied  with  things  and  be
against a change. * /Bill had made up his mind  on  the  question  and
when his friends tried to change his mind,  he  stood  pat./  Compare:
STAND ONE'S GROUND(2).

   [stand the gaff] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stand rough treatment; do
well in spite of great physical or mental hardship. * /An athlete must
learn to stand the gaff./ * /No person running  for  office  gets  far
unless he can stand the gaff./ Compare: HOLD OUT 2, STICK OUT 2.

   [stand to reason] {v. phr.} To seem  very  likely  from  the  known
facts. * /If you have a driver's license, it stands to reason you  can
drive./ * /Joe is intelligent and studies hard; it  stands  to  reason
that he will pass the examination./

   [stand trial] {v. phr.} To submit to a trial by court. * /The  case
has been postponed and he may not  have  to  stand  trial  until  next
April./

   [stand up] {v.} 1. To rise to a standing position; get up  on  your
feet. * /A gentleman stands up when a lady enters a room./  2.  To  be
strong enough to use hard or for a long time.  *  /A  rocket  must  be
built strongly to stand up under the blast-off./ * /The  old  car  has
already stood up for twenty years./ Compare: WEAR WELL. 3.  {informal}
To make a date and then fail to keep it. * /June cried when Bill stood
her up on their first dale./

   [stand up and be counted] {v. phr.} To be willing to say  what  you
think in  public;  let  people  know  that  you  are  for  or  against
something. * /The equal rights movement needs people who  are  willing
to stand up and be counted./ * /If you disagree with  the  group,  you
should be ready to stand up and be counted./

   [stand up for] or {informal} [stick up for] {v.} To defend  against
attack; fight for. * /John always stands up for his rights./  *  /When
Mary was being criticized, Jane stuck up for her./ Compare:  BACK  UP,
GO TO BAT FOR, STAND BY, STAND ONE'S GROUND, STICK TO ONE'S  GUNS,  GO
TO BAT FOR.

   [stand up to] {v.} To meet with courage. * /Mary stood  up  to  the
snarling dog that leaped toward her./ * /A soldier must  stand  up  to
danger./

   [stand up with] {v.}, {informal} To be best man or maid of honor at
a wedding. * /A groom often chooses his brother to stand up with him./

   [star] See: FIVE-STAR, SEE STARS, HITCH  ONE'S  WAGON  TO  A  STAR,
LUCKY STAR, THANK ONE'S LUCKY STARS.

   [starch] See: TAKE THE STARCH OUT OF.

   [stare in the face] {n. phr.} 1. To be about to meet or  to  happen
to (you.) * /Grandmother became very sick and death was staring her in
the face./ * /Defeat stared them in the face, but the soldiers  fought
on bravely./ 2. To be easy to see; be plain. * /Are  you  looking  for
your pencil? It's on your desk, staring you in  the  face./  *  /Their
friends all knew that Mary loved John, but John did not  see  it  even
though it was staring him in the face./

   [stars in one's eyes] {n. phr.} 1. An appearance or feeling of very
great happiness or expectation of happiness. * /Mary gets stars in her
eyes when she thinks of her boyfriend./ 2. A belief in the possibility
of quick and lasting reforms in people and life and  an  eagerness  to
make such changes. * /Some inexperienced people  get  stars  in  their
eyes when they think of improving the world./ -  [starry-eyed]  {adj.}
Very  happy  and  excited,  perhaps  with  little  reason;  eager  and
self-confident about improving human nature and general conditions  of
life. * /Young people are often starry-eyed and eager to  improve  the
world; they do not know how hard it is./

   [start] See: BY FITS AND STARTS,  HEAD  START,  JACK-RABBIT  START,
RUNNING START.

   [start from scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH.

   [start in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin to do something;  start.  *
/Fred started in weeding the garden./ * /The family started in  eating
supper./ Compare: GO AT. 2. To begin a career. * /Bob started in as an
office boy and became president./ 3. To give a first job  to.  *  /The
bank started him in as a clerk./

   [start out] {v.} 1. To begin to go somewhere. * /Bill  started  out
for school on his bicycle./ * /Art started out on a voyage around  the
world./ Compare: SET OUT. 2. To begin  a  career  or  life.  *  /Harry
started out as an errand boy in a business office./ *  /We  all  start
out in life as helpless infants./ Syn.: START  IN.  3.  {informal}  To
give one a first job. * /The garage man started Pete out as  a  grease
rack man./ Syn.: START IN(3).

   [start something] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make  trouble;  cause  a
quarrel or fight. * /John is always starting something./ * /Jack likes
to play tricks on the other boys to start  something./  Compare:  MAKE
SOMETHING OF.

   [start the ball rolling] See: GET THE BALL ROLLING.

   [start up] {v.} 1. To begin operating, * /The driver started up the
motor of the car./ * /The engine started up with a roar./ 2. To  begin
to play (music). * /The  conductor  waved  his  baton,  and  the  band
started up./ * /The orchestra started up a waltz./ Compare: STRIKE UP.
3. To rise or stand suddenly. * /When he heard the bell, he started up
from his chair./

   [stash bag] or [stuff bag] {n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A small bag
containing marijuana cigarettes or the ingredients for making them.  *
/The police are holding John because they found a stash  bag  full  of
the stuff on him./ 2. Any small bag resembling a stash  bag  used  for
small personal items such as lipstick, driver's license,  etc.  *  /Do
you have any room for my keys in your stash bag?/

   [state] See: LIE IN STATE.

   [state-of-the-art] {adj. phr.} The best and - the latest any  field
of research can  offer;  modern;  the  latest;  the  most  advanced.  *
/State-of-the-art personal computers may cost a little more than older
models, but may be worth the cost for those who need  them./  Compare:
UP TO DATE.

   [status symbol] {v. phr.} Signs of wealth and prestige.  *  /A  new
yacht or airplane might be a status symbol to a bank manager./

   [stead] See: STAND IN GOOD STEAD.

   [stave off] {v.}, {literary} To keep from touching or hurting  you.
Syn.: WARD OFF. * /The white knight struck with his sword.  The  black
knight staved it off with his own sword./  *  /Bill's  warm  new  coal
staved off the cold./ * /They staved off starvation by eating  two  of
the sled dogs./

   [stay in] {v. phr.} To remain at home. * /The weather  was  so  bad
that we decided to stay in all day./

   [stay out] {v. phr.} To stay away from home. * /Her father was very
upset because Mary stayed out until 3 A.M. last night./

   [stay put] {v. phr.} To stay in place; not leave. * /Harry's father
told him to stay put until he came back./ * /The rocks can be glued to
the bulletin board to make them stay put./ * /After  Grandmother  came
home from her trip to visit Aunt May, she said she wanted to stay  put
for a while./

   [stay up late] {v. phr.} To not go to bed until very late. * /Peter
has  to  stay  up  late  these  days  as  he  is  preparing  for   his
comprehensive exams./ See: BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.

   [stay with] See: STICK WITH.

   [steady] See: GO STEADY.

   [steak] See: SALISBURY STEAK, T-BONE STEAK.

   [steal] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

   [steal a march on] {v. phr.} To get ahead of  someone  by  doing  a
thing unnoticed; get an advantage over. * /The army stole a  march  on
the enemy by marching at night and attacking them in the  morning./  *
/Jack got the job by getting up earlier than Bill. He stole a march on
him./ Compare: GET THE JUMP ON, GET THE BETTER OF, TAKE BY SURPRISE.

   [steal away] See: SLIP AWAY.

   [steal  one's  thunder]  {v.  phr.}  To  do   or   say   something,
intentionally or not, that another person has planned to say or do.  *
/Fred intended to nominate Bill for president, but John got  up  first
and stole Fred's thunder./ * /Mary was going to  sing  "Oh!  Susanna,"
but Ellen did it first and Mary said Ellen had stolen her thunder./  *
/Smith heard that Jones was going to offer  a  new  law  which  people
wanted,  so  he  himself  proposed  the  law  first,  stealing  Jones'
thunder./

   [steal the show] {v. phr.} To act or do so well  in  a  performance
that you get most of  the  attention  and  the  other  performers  are
unnoticed. * /Mary was in only one scene of the play,  but  she  stole
the show from the stars./

   [steal the spotlight] {v. phr.} To attract attention  away  from  a
person or thing that people should  be  watching.  *  /When  the  maid
walked on the stage and tripped over a rug, she  stole  the  spotlight
from the leading players./ * /Just as the speaker began, a little  dog
ran up the aisle, and stole the spotlight from him./

   [steal up on] {v. phr.} To stealthily approach  one;  sneak  up  on
someone. * /The thief stole up on his victim, snatched her purse,  and
ran away./

   [steam] See: LET OFF STEAM or  BLOW  OFF  STEAM,  UNDER  ONE'S  OWN
STEAM.

   [steamed up] {adj.}, {informal} Excited or angry about or eager  to
do something. * /The coach gave the team a pep talk before  the  game,
and he got them all steamed up to win the game./ *  /When  Mary  found
out that Jane had not kept their secret, she became all steamed up./ *
/Bill was all steamed up about the movie he had just seen./

   [steel] See: MIND LIKE A STEEL TRAP.

   [steer clear of] {v.} 1. To steer a safe distance from;  go  around
without touching. * /A ship steers clear of a rocky  shore  in  stormy
weather./ 2. {informal} To stay away from; keep  from  going  near.  *
/Fred was angry at Bill, and Bill was steering clear of him./ *  /Some
words Martha always spells wrong. She tries to steer clear of them./

   [stem the tide] {v. phr.} To resist; hold back something  of  great
pressure or strength.  *  /The  way  to  stem  the  tide  of  juvenile
delinquency is to strengthen education and to pass a stiff gun control
law./

   [step] See: IN STEP, OUT OF STEP, TAKE STEPS.

   [step all over] See: WALK OVER.

   [step down] {v.} 1. To come down in one move from a higher position
to a lower. * /As soon as the train  stopped,  the  conductor  stepped
down to help the passengers off./ 2.  To  make  go  slower  little  by
little. * /The train was approaching  the  station,  so  the  engineer
stepped it down./ Compare: SLOW DOWN, STEP UP. 3. To leave a job as an
official or some other important position. * /When  the  judge  became
ill, he had to step down./

   [step in] {v.} 1. To go inside for a quick visit. * /It was a  cold
night, and when the policeman passed, we invited him to step in for  a
cup of coffee./ 2. To begin to take part in  a  continuing  action  or
discussion, especially without being asked. * /When the dogs began  to
fight, John stepped in to stop it before they were hurt./ * /When Bill
had done as much as he was able to on  his  model  plane,  his  father
stepped in to help him./

   [step inside] {v.} To come or go  inside.  *  /Mother  invited  the
callers to step inside./

   [step into] {v.} 1. To come or go into. * /The taxi stopped, and we
stepped into it./ * /Mr. Jones called to his secretary  to  step  into
his office./ 2. To begin to do, undertake. *  /When  the  star  became
sick, his understudy stepped into his part./ *  /When  Bill  graduates
from college, he will step into a job in his father's bank./

   [step into one's shoes] {v. phr.} To do what someone  else  usually
does after he has stopped doing it. * /When Bill's father  died,  Bill
had to step into his father's shoes to support his mother./ * /A coach
trains the junior varsity to step into the shoes of the members of the
varsity team when they graduate./ * /When the boss  retires,  his  son
will step into his shoes./ Compare: IN ONE'S SHOES.

   [step off] {v.} 1. To walk or march  quickly.  *  /The  drum  major
lowered his baton and the band stepped off./  2.  or  [pace  off].  To
measure by taking a series of steps in a line. * /The  farmer  stepped
off the edge of the field to see how much fencing he  would  need./  *
/The referee stepped off a five-yard penalty against our team./

   [step on it] or [step on the gas] {v. phr.} 1. To push down on  the
gas pedal to make a car go faster. * /Be very careful when you step on
the gas. Don't go too fast./ Compare: GIVE IT THE GUN.  2.  {informal}
To go faster; hurry. * /Step on it, or we'll be late  for  school./  *
/John is a slow starter, but he can step on the gas when it  looks  as
if he might lose the race./ * /Lee was wasting time at  breakfast  and
his father told him to step on it or they would miss the bus./

   [step on one's toes] or [tread on  one's  toes]  {v.  phr.}  To  do
something that embarrasses or offends someone else. * /If you break in
when other people are talking, you may step on their toes./ * /Mary is
pretty, and she often treads on the toes  of  the  girls  by  stealing
their boyfriend./

   [step on the gas] See: STEP ON IT.

   [step out] {v. phr.} 1. To go out, particularly socially, as  on  a
date. * /Paul said to Sylvia, "You look so dressed up  tonight  -  you
must be stepping out, eh?"/ 2. To leave for a short period during  the
work day to go to the lavatory or to get a cup of coffee.  (Frequently
said by secretaries over the phone.) * /"May I speak to Mr. Kotz?" Roy
asked. "I'm sorry, sir.  He  just  stepped  out  for  a  minute,"  the
secretary answered./

   [step out on] {v. phr.} To be unfaithful to one's marriage  partner
or steady lover. * /It is rumored that he has been stepping out on his
wife. That's why she's so upset./

   [stepped up] {adj.} Carried on at a faster  or  more  active  rate;
increased. * /To fill the increase  in  orders,  the  factory  had  to
operate at a stepped-up rate./

   [step up] {v.} 1. To go from a lower to a  higher  place.  *  /John
stepped up onto the platform and began to speak./ 2. To  come  towards
or near; approach. * /The sergeant called for volunteers  and  Private
Jones stepped up to volunteer./ * /John waited until the  teacher  had
finished speaking to Mary, and then he stepped up./ 3.  To  go  or  to
make (something) go faster or more actively. * /When John found he was
going to be late, he stepped up his pace./ * /After we had reached the
outskirts of town, we stepped up the engine./ * /The enemy  was  near,
and the army stepped up its patrols to find them before they  got  too
close./ 4. To  rise  to  a  higher  or  more  important  position;  be
promoted. * /This year Mary is secretary of the club, but  I  am  sure
she will step up to president next year./ Contrast: STEP DOWN(3).

   [sterling  character]  {n.  phr.}  A   person   of   irreproachable
character; one of the highest professional standards. *  /The  nominee
for the Supreme Court must be a sterling character in  every  possible
way./

   [stew in one's own juice] {v.  phr.},  {informal}  To  suffer  from
something that you have caused to happen yourself.  *  /John  lied  to
Tom, but Tom found out. Now Tom is making John stew in his own juice./
* /I warned you not to steal those apples. You got caught, and you can
stew in your own juice./

   [stick] See: CARROT AND STICK, MORE THAN ONE COULD  SHAKE  A  STICK
AT.

   [stick around] {v.}, {informal} To stay or wait nearby.  *  /John's
father told him to stick around and they would go fishing./  *  /After
work Mr. Harris stuck around to ride home with his friend./

   [stick by one] {v. phr.} To support; remain loyal  to.  *  /All  of
Peter's friends stuck by him faithfully, in spite  of  what  has  been
said about him in the press./

   [stick in one's craw] or [stuck in one's crop] {v.  phr.}  To  make
you angry; bother you; annoy  you.  *  /His  parents'  praise  of  his
brother stuck in Jerry's craw./ * /Sue's failure to get a better grade
than Ann stuck in her crop./

   [stick in one's throat] {v. phr.} To be something you do  not  want
to say; be hard to say. * /Jean wanted to ask  the  teacher's  pardon,
but the words stuck in her throat./

   [stick-in-the-mud] {n.}, {informal} An overcareful person;  someone
who is old-fashioned and fights change. * /Mabel said her mother was a
real stick-in-the-mud to make a rule that  she  must  be  home  by  10
o'clock on weeknights  and  11:30  Saturdays./  *  /Mr.  Thomas  is  a
stick-in-the-mud who plows with mules; he won't buy a tractor./

   [stick one's neck  out]  or  [stick  one's  chin  out]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To do something dangerous  or  risky.  *  /When  I  was  in
trouble, Paul was the only one who would stick his neck  out  to  help
me./ * /John is always sticking his chin out by  saying  something  he
shouldn't./

   [stick one's nose into] See: NOSE INTO.

   [stick out] {v.} 1a. To stand out from a  wall  or  other  surface;
project; extend. * /The limb stuck out from the trunk  of  the  tree./
1b. To be seen or noticed more  easily  or  quickly  than  others;  be
noticeable. * /My house is the only brick one on the street. It sticks
out and you can't miss it./ * /Mary plays basketball  very  well.  The
others on the team are good, but she really  sticks  out./  1c.  Often
used in the informal phrase stick out like a sore thumb. * /John is so
shy and awkward that he sticks out like a  sore  thumb./  Syn.:  STAND
OUT. 2. {informal} To keep on doing something  until  it  is  done  no
matter how long, hard, or unpleasant. * /Bill is not a fast runner and
he doesn't have a chance of winning the marathon, but  he  will  stick
out the race even if he finishes last./ - Often  used  in  the  phrase
"stick it out". * /Mathematics is hard, but if you stick  it  out  you
will understand it./ Compare: HANG ON(2), STICK WITH(1).

   [stick out like a sore thumb]  {v.  phr.}  To  be  conspicuous;  be
different from the rest. * /When the foreign student was placed in  an
advanced English grammar class by mistake, it was no  wonder  that  he
stuck out like a sore thumb./

   [stick together] {v.} To remain close together in  a  situation.  *
/Stick together in the cave so that no one gets  lost./  *  /The  gang
stuck together after the game./ * /Bill and Bob stick  together  in  a
game or in a fight./ Syn.: HANG TOGETHER(1).

   [stick to one's guns] or [stand by one's guns] {v. phr.} To hold to
an aim or an opinion even though people try to stop you or say you are
wrong. * /People laughed at Columbus when he said the world was round.
He stuck to his guns and proved he was right./ * /At  first  the  boss
would not give Jane the raise in pay she wanted, but she stood by  her
guns and he gave it to her./ Compare: STAND ONE'S GROUND.

   [stick to one's knitting] or [tend to one's  knitting]  {v.  phr.},
{informal} To do your own job and not  bother  other  people.  *  /The
trouble with Henry is that he is always telling other people  what  to
do; he can't stick to his knitting./

   [stick to one's ribs] or [stick to the ribs] {v. phr.},  {informal}
To keep you from getting hungry again too quickly. * /Doctors say  you
should eat a good breakfast that sticks to your ribs./ * /Farmers  eat
food that sticks to the ribs./

   [stick to  the  point]  {v.  phr.}  To  stay  on  course  during  a
discussion; adhere to the topic; not talk about extraneous matters.  *
/Stick to the point and stop telling us your life history!/ See:  COME
TO THE POINT.

   [stick up] {v.},  {informal}  To  rob  with  a  gun.  *  /When  the
messenger left the bank, a man jumped out of an alley  and  stuck  him
up./ Syn.: HOLD UP. * /In the old West, outlaws sometimes stuck up the
stagecoaches./

   [stick-up] {n.}, {informal} A robbery by a man with a gun.  *  /Mr.
Smith was the victim of a stick-up last night./

   [stick up for] See: STAND UP FOR.

   [stick with] {v.}, {informal} 1. or [stay with] To continue  doing;
not quit. * /Fred stayed with his  homework  until  it  was  done./  *
/Practicing is tiresome, but stick with it and some day you will be  a
good pianist./ Compare: STICK TO. 2. To stay with; not leave. * /Stick
with me until we get out of the crowd./ * /For two months Bill's  boss
could not pay his salary, but Bill stuck with him because  he  thought
the company would soon succeed./ 3. To sell (someone)  something  poor
or worthless; cheat. * /Father said that the man in the store tried to
stick him with a bad TV set./ 4. To leave  (someone)  with  (something
unpleasant); force to do or keep something because  others  cannot  or
will not. - Usually used in the passive. * /When Harry and I  went  to
the store to buy ice cream cones, Harry ran out with his cone  without
paying and I was stuck with paying for it./ * /Mary  didn't  wash  the
dishes before she left so I'm stuck with it./ * /Mr.  Jones  bought  a
house that is too big and expensive, but now he's stuck with it./

   [stick with] {v. phr.} To unfairly thrust upon; encumber one  with.
* /In the restaurant my friends stuck me with the bill although it was
supposed to be Dutch treat./

   [sticky fingers] {n. phr.}, {slang} 1. The habit of stealing things
you see and want. * /Don't leave money in your  locker;  some  of  the
boys have sticky fingers./ * /Don't leave that girl alone in the  room
with so many valuable objects around, because she has sticky fingers./
2. Ability to catch a ball,  especially  football  forward  passes.  *
/Jack is very tall and has  sticky  fingers.  He  is  an  end  on  the
football team./

   [stiff] See: KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, SCARE OUT  OF  ONE'S  WITS  or
SCARE STIFF.

   [still] See: HEART STAND STILL.

   [still life] {n. phr.}  A  term  used  by  artists  to  describe  a
motionless picture of a bowl of fruit, flowers, etc.  *  /One  of  van
Gogh's most famous still lifes is a vase of yellow flowers./

   [still  waters  run  deep]  Quiet  people  probably  are   profound
thinkers. - A proverb. * /He doesn't  say  much,  but  he  sure  looks
smart. Well, still waters run deep, isn't that true?/

   [stir up] {v.} 1. To bring (something) into being, often  by  great
exertion or activity; cause. * /It was a  quiet  afternoon,  and  John
tried to stir up some excitement./ * /Bob stirred up a  fight  between
Tom and Bill./ Compare: WHIP UP(2). 2.  To  cause  (someone)  to  act;
incite to action or movement; rouse. * /The coach's pep  talk  stirred
up the team to win./ * /When Mary heard what Betty said about her, she
became stirred up./

   [stir up a hornet's nest] {v. phr.} To make many people  angry;  do
something that many people don't like. * /The principal stirred  up  a
hornet's nes