The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Page 78
many hands make light work More helpers make a task easier, as in We need a few more volunteers to move the furniture—many hands make light work, you know. This proverb was first recorded in English in the early 1300s in a knightly romance known as Sir Bevis of Hampton. It appeared in practically all proverb collections from 1546 on. For the converse, see TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH.
many happy returns Also, many happy returns of the day. Happy birthday and many more of them, as in I came by to wish you many happy returns. This expression was first recorded in a letter of 1779 where the writer meant “Happy New Year,” but the present meaning has persisted since the second half of the 1800s.
many is the There are a great number of, as in Many is the time I’ve told her to be careful, or Many is the child who’s been warned against strangers. This phrase, always used at the beginning of a sentence and with a singular noun, was first recorded in 1297. Also see MANY A.
map → See PUT ON THE MAP; WIPE OFF THE MAP.
marble → See HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS (MARBLES).
march → In addition to the idiom beginning with MARCH, also see STEAL A MARCH ON.
marching orders, get one’s Be ordered to move on or proceed; also, be dismissed from a job. For example, The sales force got their marching orders yesterday, so now they’ll be on the road with the new product, or It’s too bad about Jack—the boss gave him his marching orders Friday. This expression originally alluded to a military command. [Colloquial; late 1700s]
march to a different beat Also, march to a different drummer. Act independently, differ in conduct or ideas from most others, as in Joe wanted to be married on a mountain top—he always marches to a different beat, or Sarah has her own ideas for the campaign; she marches to a different drummer. This idiom, alluding to being out of step in a parade, is a version of Henry David Thoreau’s statement in Walden (1854): “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” It came into wide use in the mid-1900s.
marines → See TELL IT TO THE MARINES.
mark → In addition to the idioms beginning with MARK, also see BESIDE THE POINT (MARK); BLACK MARK; GIVE BAD MARKS TO; HIGH-WATER MARK; HIT THE BULL’S-EYE (MARK); MAKE ONE’S MARK; OFF THE MARK; QUICK OFF THE MARK; TOE THE LINE (MARK); UP TO PAR (THE MARK); X MARKS THE SPOT.
mark down Reduce the price of something, as in If they mark down these shoes, I’ll buy two pairs. The mark here alludes to the label indicating a price. [Mid-1800s]
marked man, a Also, a marked woman. A person singled out as an object of suspicion, hostility, or vengeance. For example, As a witness to the robbery, he felt he was a marked man, or After her fiasco at the meeting, she was a marked woman—no one would hire her. This idiom was first recorded in 1833.
market → See CORNER THE MARKET; DRUG ON THE MARKET; FLEA MARKET; IN THE MARKET FOR; ON THE MARKET; PLAY THE MARKET; PRICE OUT OF THE MARKET.
mark my words Pay attention to what I say, as in Mark my words, that man is not to be trusted. This admonition first appeared in Miles Coverdale’s 1535 translation of the Bible (Isaiah 28:23).
mark time Wait idly for something to occur, as in We were just marking time until we received our instructions. This idiom alludes to the literal meaning of marching in place to the time, or beat, of music. [Early 1800s]
mark up 1. Deface by drawing, cutting, or another means of covering something with marks. For example, John was punished for marking up his desk, or These shoes really mark up the floor. 2. Raise the price of something, as in This small shop marks up its merchandise much more than department stores do. [Second half of 1800s]
mass media The principal means of communication to the public, including television, radio, and newspapers. First recorded in 1923, the term is now standard English. For example, Candidates court the mass media for maximum publicity.
mast → See AT HALF-MAST.
master → See PAST MASTER.
mat → See GO TO THE MAT; WELCOME MAT.
match → See MEET ONE’S MATCH; MIX AND MATCH; WHOLE BALL OF WAX (SHOOTING MATCH).
matter → In addition to the idioms beginning with MATTER, also see CRUX OF THE MATTER; FOR THAT MATTER; GRAY MATTER; MINCE MATTERS; MIND OVER MATTER; NO JOKE (LAUGHING MATTER); NO MATTER; THE MATTER.
matter of course, a Something that is expected, as in It was a matter of course that police officers received special training. It is also put as as a matter of course, meaning “as part of a standard procedure,” as in The employer checked John’s references as a matter of course. First recorded only in 1809, this idiom uses course in the sense of “the natural or logical order of events.”
matter of fact, a Something that is literally or factually true, as in The records showed it to be a matter of fact that they were married in 1960. This idiom often occurs in the phrase as a matter of fact, as in As a matter of fact, you are absolutely right. Matter of fact was first recorded in 1581, and originally was a legal term distinguishing the facts of a case from the law, called matter of law, applying to it. It began to be applied to other concerns in the late 1600s.
matter of life and death, a A very urgent issue, situation, or circumstance. This expression can be used either literally, as in She told the doctor to hurry as it was a matter of life and death, or hyperbolically, as in Don’t worry about finishing on time—it’s hardly a matter of life and death. First recorded in 1849, it alludes to such urgency that someone’s life depends on it. Although a matter of life or death would make more sense, it is rarely put that way.
matter of opinion, a A question on which people hold different views, as in I rather like that design, but really, it’s a matter of opinion, or The quality of that new stock issue is a matter of opinion. This expression was first recorded in 1843.
max out 1. Exhaust one’s options, capacity, or the like by producing or performing to the maximum, as in The weight lifter maxed out at 180 kilograms. [Slang; late 1900s] 2. Reach a point at which no more growth, improvement, or benefit is possible, as in The salary for this job maxes out at $90,000. [Slang; late 1900s] 3. Relax, take things easy, as in Let’s go to the beach and max out. [Slang; late 1900s]
may → See BE THAT AS IT MAY; COME WHAT MAY; LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY; TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
me → See DEAR ME; SO HELP ME.
meal → In addition to the idiom beginning with MEAL, also see SQUARE MEAL.
meal ticket A person or thing depended on as a source of income, as in Magic Johnson was a real meal ticket for his team, or Her interpersonal skills will be her meal ticket when she goes into sales. This metaphoric expression alludes to the earlier practice of handing out tickets that entitle their holder to a meal. [Early 1900s]
mean → In addition to the idioms beginning with MEAN, also see under MEANS.
mean business Be in earnest. For example, He really means business with this deadline. This idiom uses business in the sense of “a serious endeavor.” [Mid-1800s]
means → See BEYOND ONE’S MEANS; BY ALL MEANS; BY ANY MEANS; BY MEANS OF; BY NO MEANS; END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS; WAYS AND MEANS.
mean to Intend to, as in I meant to go running this morning but got up too late. This idiom was first recorded in 1560. The antonym, do not mean to, as in I do not mean to say they are liars, was first recorded much later, in 1822.
measure → In addition to the idiom beginning with MEASURE, also see BEYOND MEASURE; FOR GOOD MEASURE; IN SOME MEASURE; MADE TO MEASURE; TAKE SOMEONE’S MEASURE.
measure up 1. Be the equal of, as in Is he a good enough actor to measure up to the other members of the cast? [Early 1900s] 2. Have the qualifications for, be of high enough quality for, as in His latest book hasn’t measured up to the reviewers’ expectations. [First half of 1900s]
meat → In addition to the idioms beginning with MEAT, also see BEAT THE MEAT; ONE’S MAN’S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S POISON.
meat and drink to one A source of great satisfaction or delight, as in Good music is meat
and drink to her. This metaphoric expression, transferring basic sustenance to satisfaction, appeared as early as 1533, in John Frith’s A Boke Answering unto Mr. Mores Letter: “It is meat and drink to this child to play.”
meat and potatoes The fundamental part or parts of something, as in This paragraph is the meat and potatoes of the contract. This metaphoric term transfers what some regard as basic fare to the basics of an issue. [Mid-1900s]
medicine → See DOSE OF ONE’S OWN MEDICINE; TAKE ONE’S MEDICINE.
medium → See HAPPY MEDIUM.
meet → In addition to the idioms beginning with MEET, also see GO (MEET SOMEONE) HALFWAY; MAKE ENDS MEET; MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
meeting of the minds Agreement, concord, as in The teachers and the headmaster had a meeting of the minds regarding smoking in school. This expression uses meet in the sense of “arrive at mutual agreement,” as clergyman Edward B. Pusey did in a letter of 1851: “Devout minds, of every school ... meet at least in this.”
meet one’s match Encounter someone equal in ability to oneself, as in The chess champion was about to meet his match in a computer. This expression originated about 1300 as find one’s match, but the alliterative meet was being used by the mid-1500s and has survived.
meet one’s Waterloo Suffer a major defeat, as in Our team’s done well this season but is about to meet its Waterloo. This term alludes to Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, Belgium, in 1815, marking the end of his military domination of Europe. It was being transferred to other kinds of defeat by the mid-1800s.
meet the requirements Satisfy the conditions, as in This grade of lumber does not meet our requirements, or Lynn did not meet the requirements for this position. This expression uses meet in the sense of “satisfy,” a usage dating from the early 1800s. Also see MEASURE UP, def. 2.
meet up with Encounter, especially by accident, as in We hadn’t gone far along the trail when we met up with another mule train. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
meet with Encounter or experience, as in The housing bill met with their approval, or Drunk and homeless, he’s bound to meet with a bad end. [Mid-1400s]
mellow out Become genial or pleasant, calm down, relax, as in The teacher mellowed out when they explained what had happened. This expression uses mellow in the sense of “ripening,” with the connotation of softness and sweetness. [Slang; late 1900s]
melt → In addition to the idiom beginning with MELT, also see BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH.
melt in one’s mouth Taste very good, as in This cake is wonderful—it just melts in one’s mouth. This expression, first recorded in 1693, at first alluded to the tenderness of some food that therefore did not require chewing, but it had acquired its present meaning by about 1850. Also see BUTTER WOULDN’T MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH.
memory → See COMMIT TO MEMORY; IN MEMORY OF.
memory lane, down A sentimental recall of the past. It was used as a song title by R.H. Elkin in 1903 and B.G. De Sylva in 1924. For example, Looking at those old photo albums was a trip down memory lane.
men → See ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE (MEN); SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE BOYS. Also see under MAN.
mend → In addition to the idioms beginning with MEND, also see ON THE MEND.
mend one’s fences Improve poor relations; placate personal, political, or business contacts. For example, The senator always goes home weekends and spends time mending his fences. This metaphoric expression dates from an 1879 speech by Senator John Sherman in Mansfield, Ohio, to which he said he had returned “to look after my fences.” Although he may have meant literally to repair the fences around his farm there, media accounts of the speech took him to mean campaigning among his constituents. In succeeding decades the term was applied to nonpolitical affairs as well.
mend one’s ways Improve one’s behavior, as in Threatened with suspension, Jerry promised to mend his ways. This expression, transferring a repair of clothes to one of character, was first recorded in 1868, but 150 or so years earlier it had appeared as mend one’s manners.
mental block The inability to recall something or perform a mental process. The term was coined by psychologists in the early 1930s. The author recalls an amusing instance in which the four-year-old son of a psychology professor refused to move from the middle of the family driveway, announcing that he was a mental block. The term did come to be used more loosely, but not quite that much. For example, I’ve got a real mental block when it comes to remembering the names of the operas I’m going to see. Also see SENIOR MOMENT.
mention → See NOT TO MENTION; YOU’RE WELCOME (DON’T MENTION IT).
mercy → See AT THE MERCY OF.
merit → See ON ITS MERITS.
merrier, merry → See LEAD A (MERRY) CHASE; MORE THE MERRIER.
mess → In addition to the idioms beginning with MESS, also see MAKE A HASH (MESS) OF.
message → See GET THE MESSAGE.
mess around → See FOOL AROUND.
mess up 1. Create disorder in; muddle or ruin. For example, On rainy days the children really mess up the house, or He had a way of messing up his own business. [c. 1900] 2. Make a mistake, especially from nervousness or confusion, as in He messed up and took the wrong dossier to the meeting, or Jill swore she would never mess up again. [Colloquial; early 1900s] 3. Beat up, manhandle, as in Joe got messed up in a barroom brawl. [Slang; early 1900s]
mess with Interfere or associate with; also, annoy, bother. For example, Our group won’t mess with those street musicians, or I told him not to mess with me or there would be trouble. [Colloquial; c. 1900]
met → See under MEET.
meter is running, the Costs or other consequences are accumulating, as in We’d better come to a decision soon, for the meter is running. This metaphoric expression alludes to the fare mounting up on a taxi meter. [Late 1900s]
method in one’s madness An underlying purpose in crazy behavior, as in Harry takes seemingly random trips around the country but there’s method to his madness—he’s checking on real estate values. This expression comes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet (2:2): “Though this be madness, yet there is method in it.” For a modern equivalent, see CRAZY LIKE A FOX.
mice → See BEST-LAID PLANS (SCHEMES OF MICE AND MEN); WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY, THE MICE WILL PLAY. Also see under MOUSE.
midair → See under LEAVE HANGING.
Midas touch A gift for making money. According to legend, Midas was a king of ancient Phrygia to whom the god Bacchus granted his wish that everything he touched would turn to gold. When the king’s food turned to gold, he asked Bacchus to reverse the gift so he would not die of hunger. In the mid-1600s the term began to be used figuratively, as in Stephen King seems to have the Midas touch, earning millions from his writings.
middle → See CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE; IN THE MIDDLE OF; PLAY BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE MIDDLE.
middling → See FAIR TO MIDDLING.
midnight oil → See BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL.
midstream → See CHANGE HORSES IN MIDSTREAM.
might and main, with Strenuously, vigorously, as in She pulled on the rope with all her might and main. This expression is redundant, since the noun main also means “strength” or “power.” It survives only in this phrase, which may also be dying out. [Late 1200s]
might makes right Superior strength can enforce one’s will or dictate justice, as in The generals dismissed the parliament and imprisoned the premier—might makes right in that country, or The big boys wouldn’t let the little ones use the basketball, a case of might makes right. This expression was first recorded in English about 1327.
mighty → See HIGH AND MIGHTY.
mildly → See PUT IT MILDLY.
mile → In addition to the idioms beginning with MILE, also see MISS BY A MILE; MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE; STICK OUT (A MILE).
mile a minute, a Very rapidly, as in She was talking a mile a minute about the accident. This expression, alluding to the literal speed of 60 miles per hour, dates from the mid-1900s, when
that speed was considered very fast, but it has survived into times of much greater velocity.
miles and miles A considerable distance; also, a large interval, by far. For example, We drove for miles and miles before we saw a gas station, or She was miles and miles a better pianist than her brother. This usage was first recorded in 1889.
milk → In addition to the idiom beginning with MILK, also see CRY OVER SPILT MILK.
milk of human kindness, the Compassion, sympathy, as in There’s no milk of human kindness in that girl—she’s totally selfish. This expression was invented by Shakespeare in Macbeth (1:5), where Lady Macbeth complains that her husband “is too full of the milk of human kindness” to kill his rivals.
mill → See GRIST FOR THE MILL; MILLS OF THE GODS GRIND SLOWLY; RUN OF THE MILL; THROUGH THE MILL; TILT AT WINDMILLS.
million → See FEEL LIKE ONESELF (A MILLION); LOOK LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS; ONE IN A MILLION.
mills of the gods grind slowly One’s destiny is inevitable even if it take considerable time to arrive. For example, I’m sure he’ll be wealthy one day, though the mills of the gods grind slowly. This expression comes from ancient Greek, translated as “The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind small.” In English it appeared in George Herbert’s Jacula Prudentum (1640) as “God’s mill grinds slow but sure.”
millstone around one’s neck A heavy burden, as in Julie finds Grandma, who is crabby, a millstone around her neck. The literal hanging of a millstone about the neck is mentioned as a punishment in the New Testament (Matthew 18:6), causing the miscreant to be drowned. Its present figurative use was first recorded in a history of the Quakers (c. 1720).
mince matters Also, mince words. Moderate or restrain one’s language to be polite or avoid giving offense. Today these phrases are nearly always put negatively, as in Not to mince matters, I feel he should resign, or Don’t mince words—say what you mean. The usage dates from the mid-1500s and transfers cutting something such as meat into small pieces to minimizing the harsh impact of words.
mincemeat → See MAKE MINCEMEAT OF.
mind → In addition to the idioms beginning with MIND, also see BACK OF ONE’S MIND; BEAR IN MIND; BLOW ONE’S MIND; BOGGLE THE MIND; BRING TO MIND; CALL TO MIND; CHANGE ONE’S MIND; COME TO MIND; CROSS ONE’S MIND; FRAME OF MIND; GO OUT OF ONE’S MIND; GREAT MINDS RUN IN THE SAME CHANNEL; HALF A MIND; HAVE A GOOD MIND TO; IN ONE’S MIND’S EYE; IN ONE’S RIGHT MIND; KNOW ONE’S OWN MIND; LOAD OFF ONE’S MIND; LOSE ONE’S MIND; MAKE UP ONE’S MIND; MEETING OF THE MINDS; NEVER MIND; OF TWO MINDS; ONE-TRACK MIND; ON ONE’S MIND; OPEN MIND; OUT OF SIGHT (OUT OF MIND); PIECE OF ONE’S MIND; PRESENCE OF MIND; PREY ON (ONE’S MIND); PUT ONE IN MIND OF; READ SOMEONE’S MIND; SPEAK ONE’S MIND.