The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

country cousin One whose lack of sophistication or rural ways may amuse or embarrass city dwellers. For example, The sightseeing guide geared his tour toward country cousins who had never been to a large city before. This term, which literally means “a cousin who lives in the country,” has been used in this figurative way since the second half of the 1700s, although the idea is much older (such persons were stock figures of fun in Restoration comedies of the late 1600s and early 1700s).

  count to ten Calm down, get hold of oneself. For example, Before you tell him what you think of him, count to ten. Often used as an imperative, this phrase in effect means that if one takes the time to count from one to ten one can regain one’s composure.

  courage → In addition to the idiom beginning with COURAGE, also see DUTCH COURAGE; PLUCK UP (ONE’S COURAGE).

  courage of one’s convictions, have the Behave according to one’s beliefs. For example, Carl wouldn’t give his best friend any of the test answers; he had the courage of his convictions. This expression is believed to have originated as a translation of the French le courage de son opinion (“the courage of his opinion”), dating from the mid-1800s and at first so used. By the late 1800s it had changed to the present form.

  course → In addition to the idiom beginning with COURSE, also see COLLISION COURSE; CRASH COURSE; IN DUE COURSE; MATTER OF COURSE; OF COURSE; PAR FOR THE COURSE; RUN ITS COURSE; STAY THE COURSE.

  course of true love never ran smoothly, the Lovers often face difficulties, as in Every time he tells me that he and his wife are fighting, I say the same thing—you know about the course of true love. The full term is a quotation from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1:1): “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Over the years it has become so familiar that today it is often shortened, as in the example.

  court → See BALL’S IN YOUR COURT; DAY IN COURT; FRIEND IN COURT; HOLD COURT; KANGAROO COURT; LAUGH OUT OF COURT; PAY COURT TO.

  cousin → See COUNTRY COUSIN; FIRST COUSIN; KISSING COUSINS; SECOND COUSIN.

  cover → In addition to the idioms beginning with COVER, also see BLOW ONE’S COVER; BREAK COVER; JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER; (COVER A) MULTITUDE OF SINS; TAKE COVER; UNDER COVER.

  cover for 1. Also, cover up for. Conceal a wrongdoing or wrongdoer, as in Bill was supposed to be on duty but went to a ballgame and Alan agreed to cover for him or I covered up for my friend when her mother called to find out where she was. [1960s] Also see COVER UP, def. 2. 2. Substitute for someone, act on someone’s behalf, as in Mary was asked to cover for Joe while he was on jury duty. [c. 1970] 3. cover for something. Provide protection against some hazard, as in This policy covers the house for fire but not for theft. This idiom employs the verb to cover in the sense of “protect” or “shield,” a usage dating from the 13th century.

  cover girl An attractive woman whose photograph is featured on a magazine cover; also, a woman attractive enough to be so featured. For example, All models hope to be cover girls some day, or She’s gorgeous—a real cover girl. [c. 1910]

  cover ground Also, cover the ground or a lot of ground. 1. Go a given extent or considerable distance, especially at a satisfactory speed. For example, She really knows how to cover ground with her studies, or This outfielder covers a lot of ground. [Early 1800s] 2. Deal with or accomplish in a certain way, as in This history text covers the ground quite well. [Late 1800s] Also see COVER THE FIELD.

  cover one’s ass Also, cover one’s hide or oneself. Make excuses or otherwise take action to avoid being blamed, punished, or harmed. For example, The first thing you learn in the army is to cover your ass, or Jane is ingenious at finding ways to cover her hide. The first phrase, considered vulgar slang, dates from the 1960s; the variants are more polite.

  cover one’s tracks Conceal one’s whereabouts, activities, intentions, or the evidence of one’s involvement. For example, No one knows much about where he’s been—he’s very good at covering his tracks. This term transfers hiding one’s footprints to more general activities. [1870s] Also see COVER UP, def. 2.

  cover story 1. A magazine article that is prominently illustrated or featured on the front cover, as in The earthquake is this week’s cover story for all the news magazines. [Mid-1900s] 2. A false story intended to mislead or deceive; also, an alibi. For example, Their cover story while investigating local repair services was that they had just bought the house and were having problems, or The suspect gave the police some cover story about being held up. [Mid-1900s]

  cover the field Also, cover the territory or waterfront. Be comprehensive. For example, The review course will cover the field very well, or Bob’s new assignment really covers the territory, or The superintendent’s speech covered the waterfront on the drug problem. These expressions all employ the verb cover in the sense of “extend over” or “include,” a usage dating from the late 1700s, with the nouns (field, territory, waterfront) each meaning “whole area.”

  cover up 1. Wrap up or enfold in order to protect. For example, Be sure to cover up the outdoor furniture in case of rain, or It’s cold, so be sure to cover up the baby. [Late 1800s] 2. Conceal something, especially a crime, as in The opposition accused the President of covering up his assistant’s suicide. [c. 1920]

  cow → In addition to the idiom beginning with cow, also see CASH COW; HOLY COW; SACRED COW; TILL THE COWS COME HOME.

  cow college An agricultural college; any small, relatively unknown rural college. For example, He’s never published a paper, but he might do all right in some cow college. This term uses cow in the somewhat pejorative sense of “provincial.” [c. 1910]

  cozy up Try to get on friendly or intimate terms, ingratiate oneself. For example, That new woman is always cozying up to one or another club member so she’ll be asked to join. [Mid-1900s]

  crack → In addition to the idioms beginning with CRACK, also see BY JOVE (CRACKY); FALL BETWEEN THE CRACKS; GET CRACKING; HARD NUT TO CRACK; HAVE A CRACK AT; MAKE A CRACK; NOT ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE; PAPER OVER (THE CRACKS).

  crack a book Open a book to study or read, as in He passed the exam without cracking a book. This expression employs the verb to crack in the sense of “to open,” a slang usage that dates from the early 1700s. [Colloquial; c. 1930]

  crack a bottle Open a bottle so as to drink its contents, as in Let’s celebrate by cracking a bottle of champagne! This seemingly modern colloquialism was first recorded in H. Kelly’s School for Wives (1773): “When shall we crack a bottle together?”

  crack a joke Make a joke, say something humorous, as in You can count on Grandpa to crack a joke on every occasion. This expression uses the verb to crack in the now obsolete sense of “briskly pronounce” or “boast.” [Early 1700s]

  crack a smile Smile, as in Betty was a very serious person; she rarely cracked a smile. This colloquialism transfers crack in the sense of “break” to breaking a serious facial expression into a smile.

  crack down Act more forcefully to regulate, repress, or restrain. For example, The police cracked down on speeding. [1930s]

  cracked up 1. Past tense of CRACK UP. 2. cracked up to be. Reputed to be. This expression is always used in a negative way, as in I don’t think this book is all it’s cracked up to be. It relies on the now obsolete use of to crack up to mean “to praise extravagantly.” It appeared in The Kentuckian: “He is not the thing he is cracked up for” (May 28, 1829). [Early 1800s] 3. Under the influence of crack (a form of cocaine). For example, “Who’s cracked up, who’s cracked out, and who’s dead?” (World News Tonight, ABC-TV, May 12, 1992). [1980s]

  crack of dawn Very early morning, daybreak. For example, I got up at the crack of dawn. The crack in this term alludes either to the suddenness of sunrise or to the small wedge of light appearing as the sun rises over the horizon. Originally the term was usually put as crack of day. [Late 1800s]

  crack the whip Behave in a domineering and demanding way toward one’s subordinates. For example, He’s been cracking the whip ever since he got his promotion. This expr
ession, first recorded in 1647, alludes to drivers of horse-drawn wagons who snapped their whips hard, producing a loud cracking noise. Its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.

  crack up 1. Suffer an emotional breakdown, become insane, as in He might crack up under the strain. This usage alludes to the result of cracking one’s skull; from the early 1600s to crack alone was used in this way. [Slang; early 1900s] 2. Damage or wreck a vehicle or vessel. For example, I’m always afraid that I’ll crack up the car. 3. Experience a crash, as in We cracked up on the freeway in the middle of the ice storm. 4. Also, crack someone up. Burst or cause to burst out laughing, as in The audience cracked up, or That joke really cracked me up. [Slang; c. 1940] Also see BREAK UP, def. 5. All of these expressions derive from crack in the sense of “break into pieces” or “collapse,” a usage dating from the late 1600s. Also see CRACKED UP.

  cradle → See FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE; ROB THE CRADLE.

  cramp someone’s style Restrict or prevent someone from free action or expression, as in It really cramps my style when Mom hovers around me while I’m making dinner. Although in 1819 Charles Lamb complained that using different inks cramped his style of writing, the present sense of this colloquial term dates only from the early 1900s.

  crank in Factor in, integrate, as in We’ll have to crank in both state and federal taxes when we make our plans. [Slang; 1960s]

  crank call Also, crank letter. An irrational, fanatical, or hostile letter or telephone call. For example, Harriet was upset enough by the crank calls to notify the police, or The office was flooded with mail, including a lot of crank letters. This expression employs crank in the sense of “irrational person.” The first term dates from the mid-1900s, the variant from the 1960s.

  crank out Produce, especially mechanically or rapidly, as in I don’t know how he can crank out a novel a year. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

  crank up 1. Get started, as in The theater season is cranking up with four benefit performances. This expression transfers the literal sense of crank, “operate a motor by turning a crank,” to starting any activity. [Slang; 1930s] 2. Stimulate or intensify one’s efforts. For example, We’ve got to crank up enthusiasm for this new product, or Close to the election the campaign really cranked up. [Slang; mid-1900s]

  cranny → See NOOK AND CRANNY.

  crap → In addition to the idioms beginning with CRAP, also see CUT THE COMEDY (CRAP); FULL OF CRAP.

  crap around 1. Waste time, act foolishly, as in Stop crapping around and get to work. This usage derives from crap in the sense of “defecate.” [Vulgar slang; 1930s] 2. Trifle with, as in It’s time that we all stopped crapping around with the environment. [Vulgar slang; 1940s]

  crap out 1. Back down, quit, When it got to the point of putting up some money, Jack crapped out. This expression originated in the game of craps, where it means to make a first throw (of the dice) of two, three, or twelve, thereby losing. [Slang; 1920s] 2. Go to sleep. This usage was military slang for sleeping during work hours or during a crap game. [Slang; c. 1940] 3. Die, as in He’s really sick; he could crap out any time. This usage is less common than def. 1 or def. 2. [Slang; 1920s]

  crap up 1. Burden or clutter up, as in Jane crapped up the garden with plastic pink flamingos. [c. 1946] 2. Ruin or foul up, as in I’ve really crapped up this speech; can I just start over again? This idiom employs crap in the sense of “defecate.” [Vulgar slang; c. 1950]

  crash and burn 1. Fail utterly, as in Dale crashed and burned three times before passing the bar exam. This idiom alludes to a car or airplane that has crashed and caught fire. [Slang; 1970s] 2. In skateboarding and other sports, be taken out of competition by a collision, accident, or fall, as in Although she was favored to win the downhill race, she crashed and burned on her first run. [Slang; 1980s]

  crash course A short, intensive training course, as in Daisy planned to take a crash course in cooking before she got married. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

  crash pad A free, temporary lodging place, as in The company maintains several crash pads for employees from out-of-town divisions. This expression originally referred to a place affording runaways, drug addicts, and the like somewhere to crash in the sense of “sleep.” In time it also was used more broadly, as in the example. [Slang; 1960s]

  crash the gate Gain admittance, as to a party or concert, without being invited or without paying. For example, The concert was outdoors, but heavy security prevented anyone from crashing the gate. This term originally applied to persons getting through the gate at sports events without buying tickets. By the 1920s it was extended to being an uninvited guest at other gatherings and had given rise to the noun gatecrasher for one who did so. [Early 1900s]

  craw → See STICK IN ONE’S CRAW.

  crazy → In addition to the idioms beginning with CRAZY, also see DRIVE SOMEONE CRAZY; LIKE CRAZY.

  crazy about, be Also, be mad about. Be immoderately fond of or infatuated with, as in I’m crazy about lobster, or George is mad about his new saxophone. The first expression dates from the early 1900s. The second, with mad, is much older; Shakespeare had it as mad for in All’s Well That Ends Well (5:3): “mad for her”; and mad about was common by the mid-1700s.

  crazy like a fox Seemingly foolish but actually very shrewd and cunning. For example, You think Bob was crazy to turn it down? He’s crazy like a fox, because they’ve now doubled their offer. This usage gained currency when humorist S.J. Perelman used it as the title of a book (1944). [Early 1900s]

  cream of the crop, the The best or choicest of anything, as in The apples from this orchard are definitely the cream of the crop. The noun cream has been used to mean “the best” since the 16th century. The French equivalent of the present term, la crème de la crème (“the cream of the cream”) was familiar in English by 1800.

  create a scene → See MAKE A SCENE.

  creature comfort Something that contributes to physical comfort, such as food, clothing, or housing. For example, Dean always stayed in the best hotels; he valued his creature comforts. This idiom was first recorded in 1659.

  creature of habit An individual who follows a virtually unvarying routine. The first recorded use was in 1741. Charles Dickens had it in Dombey and Son (1848): “If we were not such creatures of habit as we are, we shouldn’t have reason to be astonished half so often.”

  credibility gap Distrust of a public statement or position, as in The current credibility gap at City Hall is the result of miscommunication between the mayor’s office and the press. This term originated about 1960 in connection with the American public’s disinclination to believe government statements about the Vietnam War. It soon was extended to individuals and corporations as well as government agencies to express a lack of confidence in the truth of their statements, or perception of a discrepancy between words and actions.

  credit → See DO SOMEONE PROUD (CREDIT TO); EXTEND CREDIT TO; GET CREDIT FOR; GIVE CREDIT.

  creek → See UP A CREEK.

  creep → In addition to the idiom beginning with CREEP, also see MAKE ONE’S FLESH CREEP; THE CREEPS.

  creep up on Advance slowly or stealthily, as in The cat crept up on the bird, or Autumn is creeping up on us. This expression is recorded in slightly different form—creep in or creep on—from the 15th century on. One of the Hymns to the Virgin and Christ (c. 1430) has “Now age has cropen [crept] up on me ful stille.”

  crew cut A closely cropped haircut, usually for a male, as in The boys all think crew cuts are cooler in summer. This term presumably originated in the navy (crew referring to a ship’s crew), where such a haircut was mandatory. [c. 1940]

  cricket → See NOT CRICKET.

  crime does not pay Lawbreakers do not benefit from their actions. For example, Steve didn’t think it mattered that he stole a candy bar, but he’s learned the hard way that crime does not pay. This maxim, originating as a slogan of the F.B.I. and given wide currency by the cartoon character Dick Tracy, was first recorded in 1927. There have been numerous jocular plays
on it, as in Woody Allen’s screenplay for Take the Money and Run (1969): “I think crime pays. The hours are good, you travel a lot.”

  crisp → See BURN TO A CINDER (CRISP).

  crocodile tears An insincere display of grief, as in When the play’s star broke her leg, her understudy wept crocodile tears. This term comes from the mistaken notion that crocodiles weep while eating their prey, one held in ancient Roman times. The actual term was picked up by Shakespeare and many other writers after him, and remains current. [Late 1500s]

  Croesus → See RICH AS CROESUS.

  crook → In addition to the idiom beginning with CROOK, also see BY HOOK OR CROOK.

  crook one’s elbow Also, bend one’s elbow. Drink liquor, especially a great deal. For example, Bill is known to crook his elbow now and then, or Uncle Joe rather overdoes it with bending his elbow. Both slangy expressions allude to the motion of lifting a drink to one’s lips, which involves bending the elbow. The first dates from about 1820, and the second from about 1900.

  crop → In addition to the idioms beginning with CROP, also see CREAM OF THE CROP.

  crop out Rise to the surface, become visible or evident, as in These superstitions crop out time and again. This term originated in mining, where a stratum or vein of ore is said to crop out when it comes to the surface. [Mid-1800s]

  crop up Appear unexpectedly or occasionally, as in One theory that crops up periodically is the influence of sunspots on stock prices, or We hope new talent will crop up in the next freshman class. [Mid-1800s]

  cross → In addition to the idioms beginning with CROSS, also see AT CROSS PURPOSES; AT THE CROSSROADS; CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE (CROSS-FIRE); DOT THE I’S AND CROSS THE T’S; DOUBLE CROSS; GET ONE’S WIRES CROSSED.

  cross a bridge when one comes to it Also, cross that bridge when you come to it. Deal with a situation when, and not before, it occurs. For example, If we can’t sell the house—well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. The ultimate origin of this proverb, a caution not to anticipate trouble and often put as don’t cross a bridge till you come to it, has been lost. The earliest recorded use is in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s The Golden Legend (1851): “Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it, is a proverb old and of excellent wit.”