The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Page 18
burn oneself out → See BURN OUT, def. 3.
burn one’s fingers Harm oneself, as in I’m staying away from risky stocks; I’ve burned my fingers often enough. Some believe this expression came from a legend about a monkey who gets a cat to pull its chestnuts out of the fire (see CAT’S PAW); others hold it is from an English proverb: “Burn not thy fingers to snuff another’s candle” (James Howell, English Proverbs, 1659). [c. 1700]
burn out 1. Stop functioning because something, such as fuel, has been used up. For example, There’s nothing wrong with the lamp; the light bulb just burned out. [Late 1300s] 2. be burned out. Lose one’s home, place of work, or school as the result of a fire. For example, Hundreds of tenants are burned out every year because of negligent landlords. 3. Also, burn oneself out. Make or become exhausted or disaffected, especially with one’s work or schooling. For example, Many young lawyers burn themselves out after a few years of 70-hour weeks. This metaphoric term alludes to a fire going out for lack of new fuel. [1970s]
burn rubber Drive very fast, as in We’ll have to burn rubber to get there in time. In this bit of automotive jargon, the rubber refers to tires that heat up when they rotate suddenly at great speed. [Slang; mid-1900s]
burn someone up → See BURN UP, def. 1.
burn the candle at both ends Exhaust one’s energies or resources by leading a hectic life. For example, Joseph’s been burning the candle at both ends for weeks, working two jobs during the week and a third on weekends. This metaphor originated in France and was translated into English in Randle Cotgrave’s Dictionary (1611), where it referred to dissipating one’s wealth. It soon acquired its present broader meaning.
burn the midnight oil Stay up late working or studying, as in The semester is almost over and we’re all burning the midnight oil before exams. This expression alludes to the oil in oil lamps. [Early 1600s]
burn to a cinder Also, burn to a crisp. Destroy by fire; overcook. For example, If I stay in the sun too long, I’ll be burnt to a cinder, or He’s an awful cook—dinner was burnt to a crisp. Although both expressions can be used literally, they also function as hyperbole, as in the examples.
burn up 1. burn someone up. Make angry or very irritated, as in Arthur was really burned up at his son for denting the new car, or Those careless drivers just burn me up. [Colloquial; c. 1920] 2. Travel very fast, as in This car will burn up the road. [1940s] 3. Easily surpass or outdo, as in They’ll burn up the other teams. [Slang; late 1970s]
burst at the seams Be filled to or beyond normal capacity. For example, On her wedding day the church was bursting at the seams, or That was a wonderful meal, but I’m bursting at the seams. This expression alludes to rupturing the seams of a garment too tight for the wearer and is generally used hyperbolically. Also see COME APART AT THE SEAMS.
burst into 1. Also, burst out in or into. Break out into sudden activity. For example, burst into flames means “break out in a fire,” as in This dry woodpile may well burst into flames. A version of this term, which dates from the 16th century, was used figuratively by John Milton: “Fame is the spur... But the fair guerdon [reward] when we hope to find, and think to burst out into sudden blaze” (Lycidas, 1637). 2. Also, burst out. Give sudden utterance to. For example, burst into tears, laughter, song, speech or burst out crying, laughing, singing, etc. mean “begin suddenly to weep, laugh, sing,” and so on, as in When she saw him, she burst into tears, or I burst out laughing when I saw their outfits, or When they brought in the cake, we all burst into song. These terms have been so used since the late 1300s.
burst out → See under BURST INTO.
burst with Be overfull with something, be unable to contain oneself with an emotion. For example, Jane’s award made her parents burst with pride, or Harry is bursting with the news about his promotion. [Early 1600s]
bury one’s head in the sand → See HIDE ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND.
bury the hatchet Make peace; settle one’s differences. For example, Toward the end of the year, the roommates finally decided to bury the hatchet. Although some believe this term comes from a Native American custom for declaring peace between warring tribes, others say it comes from hang up one’s hatchet, a term dating from the early 1300s (well before Columbus landed in the New World). The word bury replaced hang up in the 1700s.
bush → See BEAT AROUND THE BUSH; BEAT THE BUSHES FOR; BRIGHT-EYED AND BUSHY-TAILED.
bushel → See HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.
business → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUSINESS, also see FUNNY BUSINESS; GET DOWN (TO BUSINESS); GO ABOUT (ONE’S BUSINESS); HAVE NO BUSINESS; LAND-OFFICE BUSINESS; LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS; MAKE IT ONE’S BUSINESS; MEAN BUSINESS; MIND ONE’S OWN BUSINESS; MONKEY BUSINESS; NONE OF ONE’S BUSINESS; OUT OF BUSINESS; SEND SOMEONE ABOUT HIS OR HER BUSINESS; THE BUSINESS.
business as usual The normal course of some activity, as in The fire destroyed only a small section of the store, so it’s business as usual. This term originated as an announcement that a commercial establishment was continuing to operate in spite of fire, construction, or some similar interruption. It had been extended to broader use by 1914, when Winston Churchill said in a speech: “The maxim of the British people is ‘Business as usual,’” which became a slogan for the rest of World War I. Today it may be used in this positive sense and also pejoratively, as in Never mind that most civilians are starving to death—the ministry regards its job to be business as usual. [Late 1800s]
business end The part of something that is effective. The first recorded use, in 1878, referred to the point of a carpet tack. Later the term was applied to the muzzle of a firearm. It is also used figuratively, for the operative clause of a contract or some other issue. For example, The royalty terms are the business end of this book contract.
busman’s holiday Free time spent in much the same pursuit as one’s work. For example, Weather permitting, the lifeguard spent all her days off at the beach—a real busman’s holiday. The term alludes to a bus driver spending his day off taking a long bus ride. [Late 1800s]
bust → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUST, also see BREAK (BUST) ONE’S ASS; GO BROKE (BUST).
bust a gut Also, burst a gut. 1. Exert oneself to the utmost. For example, He was busting a gut trying to please her. This hyperbolic term alludes to hurting one’s mid-section through physical straining. The first slangy term dates from the early 1900s, the variant from about 1700. For a synonym, see BREAK ONE’S ASS. 2. Explode with strong feeling, especially laughter or anger. For example, Gene almost bust a gut laughing, or The foreman will burst a gut when he learns that the machine isn’t repaired. The former dates from the late 1800s, the latter from about 1940.
bust one’s ass → See BREAK ONE’S ASS.
busy → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUSY, also see GET BUSY.
busy as a beaver Also, busy as a bee. Hardworking, very industrious, as in With all her activities, Sue is always busy as a bee, or Bob’s busy as a beaver trying to finish painting before it rains. The comparison to beavers dates from the late 1700s, the variant from the late 1300s. Also see EAGER BEAVER; WORK LIKE A BEAVER.
busy work Activity meant to take up time but not actually be productive. For example, We have to put in an eight-hour day, even if we do nothing but busy work. [c. 1840]
but → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUT, also see ALL BUT; ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING; ANYTHING BUT; CAN’T HELP (BUT); CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR; EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK; IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS; LAST BUT NOT LEAST; NO IFS OR BUTS; NOTHING BUT; SADDER BUT WISER; SEPARATE BUT EQUAL; SLOW BUT SURE; SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK; THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.
but for Except for, were it not for. For example, But for the afternoon shower, it was a perfect day, or But for the children, they would have gotten a divorce long ago. [c. 1200]
but good Emphatically, thoroughly, as in Ruth decided to clean up the whole yard but good. The word but in this colloquialism
functions as an intensive. Also see AND HOW.
butter → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUTTER, also see BREAD AND BUTTER; BREAD-AND-BUTTER LETTER; KNOW WHICH SIDE OF ONE’S BREAD IS BUTTERED.
butterflies in one’s stomach Fluttering sensations caused by a feeling of nervous anticipation. For example, I always get butterflies in my stomach before making a speech. This term likens a nervous feeling to that resulting from swallowing live butterflies that fly about inside one. [c. 1900]
butter up Excessively praise or flatter someone, usually to gain a favor. For example, If you butter up Dad, he’ll let you borrow the car. This term transfers the oily, unctuous quality of butter to lavish praise. [c. 1700]
butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth One is overly or insincerely coy or demure. For example, She looked quite innocent, as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but we knew better. Already a proverb in John Heywood’s collection of 1546, this metaphoric expression alleges that one is literally so cool that butter inside the mouth would not melt.
butt in Interfere, interrupt, intrude. For example, Mom is always butting in on our conversations, or It’s against the law for employers to butt in on personal matters. This term alludes to the thrusting of an animal with its horns. [Slang; 1890s]
button → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUTTON, also see CUTE AS A BUTTON; HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS; ON THE BUTTON; PUSH SOMEONE’S BUTTONS; PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON.
buttonhole someone Accost or detain a person in conversation. For example, The reporter tried to buttonhole the senator, but she got away. This term is a metaphor for literally grasping someone by a buttonhole on his or her clothing. [Mid-1800s]
button one’s lip → See BUTTON UP, def. 2.
button up 1. Close securely, fasten, as in The house was all buttoned up, or Button up your coat—it’s very cold. [Late 1500s] 2. Also, button one’s lip. Hold one’s tongue, keep quiet. For example, Please button your lip about the surprise. A variant of this usage, button one’s mouth, dates from the 17th century. [Mid-1800s] Another synonym, zip one’s lip, dates from the 1930s. 3. Finish successfully, as in I’ve got this report all buttoned up. [c. 1940]
buy a pig in a poke → See PIG IN A POKE.
buy into Purchase a membership, a share, or an interest in something. For example, I’d love to buy into this partnership, but I can’t afford it. [First half of 1600s]
buy it 1. Suffer a severe reversal, as in If they can’t raise the money in time, they’ll buy it. [Slang; mid-1900s] 2. Be killed; die. For example, By the time we could get to the hospital, he had bought it. Originating during World War I as military slang, this term later was extended to peacetime forms of death. A later slang equivalent is buy the farm, dating from about 1950. For example, He’ll soon buy the farm riding that motorcycle. According to J.E. Lighter, it alludes to training flights crashing in a farmer’s field, causing the farmer to sue the government for damages sufficient to pay off the farm’s mortgage. Since the pilot usually died in such a crash, he in effect bought the farm with his life. 3. Believe it; see BUY SOMETHING.
buy off Pay to get rid of a claim or opposition, or to avoid prosecution, as in He was caught trying to buy off the opposing candidate. [First half of 1600s]
buy out Purchase the entire stock, business rights, or interests of a concern. For example, A rival store owner offered to buy out my grandfather, but he refused. [Late 1200s]
buy something Believe something; accept as true or satisfactory. For example, You think he’s a millionaire? I just won’t buy that. [Slang; 1920s]
buy the farm → See under BUY IT.
buy time Increase the time available for a specific purpose. For example, Renting an apartment buys them time to look around for a new house.
buy up Purchase all that is available, as in They want to buy up all the land in this area. This term was first recorded in a law enacted under Henry VIII: “They buy up all manner of fish.”
buzz off Go away, leave. For example, The store owner told the teenagers to buzz off and find another place to hang out. This curt imperative dates from World War I. Also see BUG OFF.
by a hair Also, by a hairbreadth or whisker. Very narrowly. For example, His serve was out by a hair, or We made our flight by a hairbreadth, or Dad missed hitting the pole by a whisker. The first two hyperboles for the very narrowest margin date from the 1300s and 1400s respectively; whisker meaning “a small amount” was first recorded in 1913. Also see BY THE SKIN OF ONE’S TEETH; HANG BY A THREAD (HAIR).
by all accounts Also, according to all accounts. From all reports available, from what everyone is saying. For example, By all accounts the party was a great success, or They spent a fortune on their cruise, according to all accounts. These phrases rely on account in the sense of “a particular report or description of some event.” [Late 1700s]
by all means 1. Also, by all manner of means. In every possible way, as in I plan to make use of him by all means. [Late 1400s] 2. Also, by all manner of means. Without fail, at any cost, as in Losing the contract is to be avoided by all means. [c. 1600] 3. Certainly, yes, as in Are you coming tonight?—By all means, I’ll be there. [Late 1600s] Also see BY ANY MEANS; BY NO MEANS.
by all odds By far, as in She is by all odds the best player on the team. This idiom uses odds in the sense of “the amount by which one thing excels or exceeds.” [Mid-1800s]
by a long shot → See under LONG SHOT.
by a mile → See MISS BY A MILE.
by and by After a while, soon, as in She’ll be along by and by. The expression probably relies on the meaning of by as a succession of quantities (as in “two by two”). This adverbial phrase came to be used as a noun, denoting either procrastination or the future. William Camden so used it for the former (Remains, 1605): “Two anons and a by and by is an hour and a half.” And W.S. Gilbert used it in the latter sense when Lady Jane sings plaintively that little will be left of her “in the coming by and by,” that is, as she grows old (Patience, 1881). [Early 1500s]
by and large For the most part, generally speaking, as in By and large the novel was a success. This expression originated in 17th-century seamanship, where it referred to sailing into the wind and then off it, which made it easier to steer. By the early 1700s the term had been broadened to mean “in one direction and another,” whence its present meaning of “in general.” For a synonym, see FOR THE MOST PART.
by any means In any possible way, no matter how, as in By any means I’ve got to get there. [Late 1400s] Also see BY HOOK OR CROOK; BY MEANS OF; BY NO MEANS.
by any stretch Beyond ordinary limits, especially of the imagination. For example, She could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered a great actress. The phrase sometimes is put in the negative, by no stretch, as in By no stretch can that work be called an opera. [Late 1700s]
by a thread → See HANG BY A THREAD.
by chance Casually, accidentally, as in I ran into Bill purely by chance. [c. 1300] Also see BY COINCIDENCE.
by choice Deliberately, as a matter of preference. For example, No one told me to come; I’m here by choice. This expression replaced the earlier with choice, used from about 1500.
by coincidence Through an accidental simultaneous occurrence, as in By coincidence both researchers discovered the same solution. [Mid-1600s] Also see BY CHANCE.
by definition According to prior determination, as a given. For example, A hybrid vehicle by definition uses more than one source of power. [1970s]
by degrees Gradually, by successive steps or stages. For example, By degrees he began to delegate more and more of his duties to his staff. [Mid-1500s] Also see BY INCHES.
by design On purpose, deliberately, as in Whether by luck or by design, his application was accepted. This term, originally put as on design, uses design in the sense of “plan.” [First half of 1600s]
by dint of By means of, as in By dint of hard work he got his degree in three years. The word dint, which survives only in this expression
, originally meant “a stroke or blow,” and by the late 1500s signified the force behind such a blow. The current term preserves the implication of vigorous or persistent means.
by far Also, far and away. To the greatest degree, by a large margin. For example, She is by far the most experienced member of the cast, or, as Anthony Trollope wrote, “He was far and away the cleverest of his party” (The Duke’s Children, 1880). The first term dates from the late 1700s, the variant from the mid-1800s. Also see BY HALF.
by fits and starts → See FITS AND STARTS.
bygones → See LET BYGONES BE BYGONES.
by half Considerably, a great deal, as in He was too good a cook by half for this small restaurant. [c. A.D. 1000] Contrast BY HALVES.
by halves Imperfectly, reluctantly, or halfheartedly, as in You really can’t paint a portrait by halves. [Mid-1500s]
by hand With a hand or hands, manually (as opposed to a machine or some other means). For example, This letter was delivered by hand, or You can make these drawings by hand, but computer graphics are more efficient. [Mid-1500s]
by heart Also, by rote. From memory; also, mechanically. For example, Betty had trouble learning the song by heart, but her teacher insisted on it, or Japanese schools put heavy emphasis on learning by rote. These terms are often put as know by heart or learn by rote. The first term was already used by Chaucer (in Troilus and Cressida). The variant, also dating from the 1300s, often implies mere memorization without deeper understanding. Both phrases remain in use, although this form of learning is no longer so widespread as it once was. Also see COMMIT TO MEMORY.
by hook or crook By any means possible, in one way or another. For example, The car broke down, but I’ll get there by hook or crook. This term has a disputed origin. A widely held theory is that it comes from the custom of allowing commoners to take as much wood from royal forests as they could reach with a shepherd’s crook and cut down with a billhook. [1300s] Also see the synonym BY ANY MEANS.