The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  all the way 1. Also, the whole way. The entire distance, from start to finish, as in He ran all the way home, or The baby cried the whole way home. [Late 1700s] 2. Completely, as in I’m on your side all the way. [First half of 1900s] 3. See GO ALL THE WAY.

  all the worse → See ALL THE, def. 1.

  all things to all people, be Satisfy everyone completely, as in The trouble with the governor’s campaign is that she is trying to be all things to all people. This proverbial expression was long phrased be all things to all men, but today men is often replaced by people to avoid gender discrimination. The expression originated in Paul’s statement (I Corinthians 9:22): “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Today it often appears in a political context, but phrased negatively, as in He wants to be a good school committee member, but he can’t be all things to all people.

  all thumbs Physically awkward, especially with ­respect to the hands, as in When it comes to knitting, Mary is all thumbs. The notion of this idiom derives from a proverb in John Heywood’s collection of 1546: “When he should get aught, each finger is a thumb.”

  all-time high The very best or largest amount on record. This term, first recorded in 1939, may refer to such diverse situations as the largest audience for a performance, the highest score for a team, and so on. The antonym, all-time low, means the very worst or smallest amount on record. For example, Housing prices are at an all-time high, or Attendance at college dances is at an all-time low.

  all told Added up, in summation, as in The ferry will hold 80 passengers all told, or All told, his proposal makes some good points. This idiom, first recorded in 1850, uses the verb tell in the sense of “count.”

  all to the good → See TO THE GOOD.

  all up Defeated; also, near death. For example, The home team knew it was all up when their star quarter­back was injured, or The party lost their way over a week ago and in this sub-zero weather I’m sure it’s all up with them. This idiom uses up in the sense of “finished.” [Early 1700s] Also see ALL OVER, def. 4.

  all very well All right or quite true as far as it goes. For example, It’s all very well for Jane to drop out, but how will we find enough women to make up a team? This idiom, first recorded in 1853, generally precedes a question beginning with “but,” as in the example. Also see WELL AND GOOD.

  all well and good → See WELL AND GOOD.

  all wet Completely wrong, mistaken, as in If you think you can beat the system and win at roulette, you’re all wet. The original allusion in this expression is unclear, that is, how moisture or dampness is related to wrongness. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

  all wool and a yard wide Genuine, not fake; of excellent quality; also, honorable. For example, You can count on Ned—he’s all wool and a yard wide. This metaphorical term alludes to a length of highly valued pure-wool cloth that measures exactly a yard (and not an inch less). [Late 1800s]

  all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy) Hard work without time for recreation is not good for one’s health, as in If Harry keeps up that grueling schedule, he’s headed for a breakdown—all work and no play isn’t healthy. A proverb included in James Howell’s collection of 1659, this phrase remains so familiar that it is often shortened, as in the example.

  all year round Throughout the entire year, without regard to seasons. For example, Thanks to the indoor courts we can play tennis all year round. [Mid-1700s]

  alma mater Also, Alma Mater. The school or college one attended and, usually, graduated from, as in During football season I always check to see how my alma mater is doing. This expression sometimes refers to the institution’s official song, as in I never did learn the words to my college’s alma mater. The term is Latin for “kind mother.” [c. 1800]

  alone → See GO IT ALONE; LEAVE SOMEONE ALONE; LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE; LET ALONE.

  along → In addition to the idioms beginning with ALONG, also see ALL ALONG; ALL ALONG THE LINE; BE ALONG; COME ALONG; FOLLOW ALONG; GET ALONG; GO ALONG; PLAY ALONG; RUN ALONG; STRING ALONG.

  along for the ride Participating but not actively, as in Don’t ask me how long this job will take; I’m just along for the ride. This metaphoric term often is preceded by just to emphasize the passive role of the “passenger.” [Mid-1900s]

  along in years Also, on in years. Elderly, old. For example, Grandma’s along in years now and doesn’t hear too well, or Our dog is not as frisky now that he’s getting on in years. This idiom transfers the length of along (and the “onward” of on) to the passage of time. [Late 1800s]

  alongside of 1. Beside, next to, as in Tom’s canoe lay alongside of mine. [Late 1700s] 2. Together with, as in Her children played alongside of mine all summer long. [Late 1700s] 3. Compared to, as in My car doesn’t look like much alongside of Dad’s. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

  along the lines of Also, on the lines of. Roughly similar or in keeping with. For example, We told the architect we want a design along the lines of his own house but smaller, or Jane asked the caterer for a menu on the lines of the Morgans’ wedding reception. This idiom uses line in the sense of “a direction or procedure,” a usage dating from the early 1600s.

  along with 1. In association with, as in For his second birthday we sent him a fireman’s hat, along with some books, or The audience was invited to sing along with the star. [Early 1700s] 2. In conjunction with, as in Along with what I told you before, that’s the whole story of what happened. [Early 1800s] For a synonym, see TOGETHER WITH; also see GO ALONG, def. 2 and 3.

  a lot Very many, a large number; also, very much. For example, A lot of people think the economy is declining, or Sad movies always made her cry a lot. It is sometimes put as a whole lot for greater emphasis, as in I learned a whole lot in his class. It may also emphasize a comparative indication of amount, as in We need a whole lot more pizza to feed everyone, or Mary had a lot less nerve than I expected. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

  alpha and omega The beginning and the end, the first and the last, as in She had to master the alpha and omega of the new computer program before she could even begin. This idiom and its meaning, based on the first and last letters of the Greek ­alphabet, appears in the New Testament (Revelation 1:8): “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,” where it is repeated three more times.

  also-ran Loser, failure, unsuccessful individual, as in Jane feared that her candidate, a terrible speaker, would end up as an also-ran, or As for getting promotions, Mark counted himself among the also-rans. This term comes from racing, where it describes a horse that finishes in fourth place or lower or does not finish a race at all. It first ­appeared in the 1890s in published racing results, and has since been transferred to losers in any kind of competition, and also more broadly to persons who simply don’t do well.

  alter ego A trusted, intimate friend, regarded as one’s second self. The term was originally Latin for “another self” and has been used in English since the 1500s. In the 1800s it began to be used also for a secondary personality. For example, an article described Zuckerman, a protagonist in several of Philip Roth’s novels, as the author’s alter ego (Independent, Feb. 6, 2007; cited by OED).

  ambulance chaser An attorney who seeks to profit from someone’s injury or accident; also, an inferior lawyer. For example, Karen refused to join any law firm that included ambulance chasers. The practice of suing for damages on behalf of the ­injured person in exchange for a contingency fee—usually a large percentage of the amount so won—may be older, but this derogatory term began to be used for lawyers who actively sought out individuals injured in accidents who required an ambulance. [Slang; late 1800s]

  amends → See MAKE AMENDS.

  American Dream, the The notion that living in the United States will enable prosperity in the form of owning one’s home, having an ideal job, and generally living a richer, happier life. For example, Immigrants flock to our borders, seeking the American Dream. The term was used by Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in A
merica (1835) but may be of even earlier origin. It remains current.

  amiss → See under TAKE THE WRONG WAY.

  amount to 1. Add up, develop into, as in Even though she’s careful with her money, her savings don’t amount to much, or All parents hope that their children will amount to something. [Mid-1500s] 2. Be equivalent to, as in Twenty persons won’t amount to a good turnout. [Late 1300s] Also see AMOUNT TO THE SAME THING.

  amount to the same thing Also, come to the same thing. Make no difference, be the same, as in Since it’s supposed to rain all day, whether I go outdoors now or later will amount to the same thing, or Paying in cash or with a credit card, it comes to the same thing.

  a must A necessity; a requirement. For example, The Louvre is a must for visitors to Paris, or This book is a must for serious students of English. [Late 1800s]

  an apple a day → See APPLE A DAY.

  an arm and a leg → See ARM AND A LEG.

  ancient history A past event, as in She’s talking about her sea voyage, but that’s ancient history, or And then there was his divorce, but you don’t want to hear ancient history. This hyperbolic idiom transfers the field of ancient history to a much-­repeated tale.

  and all Also, and all that. Et cetera, and so on; whatever else goes with this statement. For example, We can’t afford eating out, since it’s hard to find a babysitter, they charge a lot and all, or The contractor will supply the paint and all that. [First half of 1500s]

  and how! Emphatically so. This idiom is an interjection used to stress agreement, as in Did you enjoy the play?—And how! it was wonderful. It probably originated as a direct translation of the German Und wie! [1920s]

  and/or Both or either of two options. For example, His use of copyrighted material shows that the writer is careless and/or dishonest. This idiom originated in legal terminology of the mid-1800s.

  and so forth Also, and so on. And more of the same, also, and others. For example, At the mall, we shopped, had lunch, shopped some more, and so forth, or She planned to buy an entire outfit in blue—dress, shoes, hat, and so on. The first term dates from the late 1500s, the variant from the early 1700s. Also see AND THE LIKE.

  and the like And more of the same, as in John just loves hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, and the like. [c. 1600]

  and then some And considerably more, as in I need all the help I can get and then some, or The speaker went on for an hour and then some. This idiom may originally have come from and some, a much older Scottish expression used in the same way. [Early 1900s]

  an eye for an eye → See EYE FOR AN EYE.

  angel → See FOOLS RUSH IN WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD; GUARDIAN ANGEL; ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS.

  anger → See MORE IN SORROW THAN IN ANGER.

  another → In addition to the idiom beginning with ANOTHER, also see DANCE TO ANOTHER TUNE; HAVE ANOTHER GUESS COMING; HORSE OF A DIFFERENT (ANOTHER) COLOR; ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER; ONE MAN’S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S POISON; ONE WAY OR ANOTHER; SING A DIFFERENT (ANOTHER) TUNE; TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY; WEAR ANOTHER HAT.

  another county heard from An unexpected person has spoken up or arrived on the scene, as in Jane’s cousin from California decided to contest the will—another county heard from. This idiom originally alluded to the counting of returns on election night; it appears in that context in Clifford Odets’s play, Awake and Sing (1931). However, it may echo the much older phrase, another Richmond in the field, alluding to Henry of Richmond (later Henry VII of England), chronicled in Shakespeare’s Richard III (5:4): “I think there be six Richmonds in the field; five have I slain today.” Whatever the origin, today it simply refers to an unforeseen participant or attender.

  an ounce of prevention → See OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.

  answer → In addition to the idioms beginning with ANSWER, also see KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS; TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

  answer back → See TALK BACK.

  answer for 1. Take responsibility for, take charge of, as in The new alarm system has to answer for the security of the grounds. [Late 1200s] 2. Take the blame for, as in The kids who were caught shoplifting have a lot to answer for. [c. 1200] 3. To vouch for or sponsor someone, as in I’ll answer for John as a reliable employee. [Early 1700s]

  answer to Explain or justify something to someone, as in If Mary doesn’t help us finish this project, she’ll have to answer to the boss. This expression was at first used mainly for replying to legal charges. [c. A.D. 950]

  ante up Pay what is due, contribute; by extension, do one’s share. For example, The trustees were asked to ante up $10,000 each for the new scholarship, or Tired of watching Joe sit around while they cleaned up, the roommates told him to ante up or move out. This expression comes from poker and other betting games, where to ante signifies making a bet or contribution to the pot before the cards are dealt. It was being used more loosely by the mid-1800s. Also see RAISE THE ANTE.

  ants in one’s pants, have 1. Be extremely restless, uneasy, impatient, or anxious, as in This child just can’t sit still; she must have ants in her pants. This rhyming idiom calls up a vivid image of what might cause one to be jumpy. [Slang; 1920s] 2. Be eager for sexual activity, as in Bill’s got ants in his pants for Rita. This usage is less common today. [Slang; 1920s]

  a number of A collection of persons or things; several. For example, A number of tours are available, or We’ve visited a number of times. This idiom often is modified by an adjective giving some idea of quantity, as in Only a small number of people are going. [1300s] Also see ANY NUMBER OF.

  any → In addition to the idioms beginning with ANY, also see AT ANY RATE; BY ANY MEANS; GO TO ANY LENGTH; IN ANY CASE; UNDER THE (ANY) CIRCUMSTANCES.

  any day 1. No particular time, as in It doesn’t matter when; any day is fine with me. 2. Also, any day now. Quite soon, as in I might get a call any day, or There could be a snowstorm any day now. 3. Also, any day of the week. Every day, as in I could eat fresh corn any day of the week. All three senses ­employ any in the sense of “no matter which,” a usage dating from A.D. 1000.

  any longer 1. With added length, as in If this skirt were any longer it would sweep the floor. 2. Still, any more, as in They don’t make this model any longer. This negative form is often put as NO LONGER.

  any number of Many; also, no particular amount of. The meaning here depends on the context. I can give you any number of reasons for John’s absence means I can offer many reasons. Any number of subscribers might stay home means that an ­un­known number will not attend.

  any old No particular, whichever or whatever, as in Any old brand of detergent suits me. [Colloquial; mid-1800s]

  anyone’s guess Something that no one knows for sure, as in Will it rain next Sunday? That’s anyone’s guess. [Mid-1900s] Also see YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.

  any port in a storm Any solution to a difficult situation (is better than none), as in John’s plan isn’t ideal, but any port in a storm. This metaphor was first recorded in 1749.

  anything → In addition to the idioms beginning with ANYTHING, also see CAN’T DO ANYTHING WITH; IF ANYTHING; LIKE ANYTHING; NOT ANYTHING LIKE.

  anything but By no means, not at all, as in He is anything but ambitious for a promotion. William Wordsworth in his long poem, The Prelude (1805–1806), wrote: “Grief call it not, ’twas anything but that.”

  anything goes Everything is permitted, as in You’re wearing sneakers to the office?—Why not? Anything goes these days. This idiom began life as everything goes, which appeared in George Meredith’s novel The Egoist (1879). In America anything was the preferred word, which gained further currency with Cole Porter’s use of the term as the title of his 1934 song and musical comedy, Anything Goes!

  anything like → See NOT ANYTHING LIKE.

  A-one Also, A-1; A-number-one. First-class, of the best quality, as in This is an A-one steak. The term comes from Lloyd’s, the British insurance company, which in its 1775 shipping register designated the condition of a ship’
s hull by a letter grade (A, B, etc.) and of its cables, anchor, and other equipment by a number grade (1, 2, etc.). By the early 1800s A-1, the best possible grade, was being transferred to anything of superior quality.

  apart → In addition to the idiom beginning with APART, also see COME APART AT THE SEAMS; FALL APART; PICK APART; POLES APART; SET APART; TAKE APART; TEAR APART; TELL APART.

  apart from Also, aside from. Besides, except for. For example, Apart from jogging occasionally in the park, she gets no exercise, or Aside from Sunday dinner with his parents they have not gone out for months. The first term dates from the early 1600s, the variant from the early 1800s.

  appearance → See KEEP UP (APPEARANCES); PUT IN AN APPEARANCE.

  appear as Act the part of in public, usually alluding to a performance on stage. For example, She got wonderful reviews when she appeared as Portia. This idiom uses appear in the sense of “to come before the public,” a usage dating from the late 1500s.

  appetite → See WHET ONE’S APPETITE.

  apple → In addition to the idioms beginning with APPLE, also see POLISH THE APPLE; ROTTEN (BAD) APPLE; UPSET THE APPLECART.

  apple a day A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems, as in He exercises regularly—an apple a day is his motto. This idiom shortens the proverb An apple a day keeps the doctor away, first cited about 1630.

  apple of one’s eye Special favorite, beloved person or thing, as in The youngest was the apple of his father’s eye. This term, which rests on the ancients’ idea that the eye’s pupil is apple-shaped and that eyes are particularly precious, appears in the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:10). [Early 1600s]

  apple-pie order Extreme neatness, as in David keeps his financial records in apple-pie order. This term is generally believed to be an English corruption of the French nappes pliées, “neatly folded linen.” [Early 1600s]