The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  play it safe Also, play safe. Avoid extreme risks, as in I played it safe and bet only a dollar, or Let’s play safe and get a backup in case the announced speaker gets sick. [c. 1900]

  play musical chairs → See MUSICAL CHAIRS.

  play off 1. See under PLAY BOTH ENDS AGAINST THE MIDDLE. 2. Break a tie by playing an additional game or period, as in Each team had won three games so they had to play off the tie to decide the championship.

  play on Also, play upon. Take advantage of or make use of for a desired effect, as in These health care ads are meant to play on our fears. This idiom uses play in the sense of “performing on an instrument.” Shakespeare used it in Hamlet (3:2): “You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops.” [Late 1500s]

  play one’s cards close to one’s chest → See PLAY IT CLOSE TO ONE’S CHEST.

  play one’s cards right Make good use of one’s ­resources or strategies, as in She played her cards right and got a promotion. [Mid-1700s]

  play one’s trump card → See TRUMP CARD.

  play on words A word or turn of phrase with a double meaning, a pun or other humorous use of language. For example, Shakespeare was a master at plays on words—his dramas are full of puns. [First half of 1700s]

  play out 1. Finish, run out, as in This extreme fashion will soon play out, or The tension between factions will surely play itself out by next year. [Late 1500s] 2. Unwind, unreel, as in They slowly played out the cable. Also see PLAYED OUT.

  play politics Act for personal or political gain rather than principle, as in I don’t think this judge is fair—he’s playing politics. [Mid-1800s]

  play possum Pretend to be dead or asleep, as in Max always plays possum when it’s time to clean up his room. This expression alludes to the fact that the opossum falls into an apparent coma when caught, giving the appearance of death. [1820s]

  play safe → See PLAY IT SAFE.

  play second fiddle Assume a subsidiary role to someone, as in Mary resented always playing second fiddle to her older sister. This term alludes to the part of second violin in an orchestra. Although many would argue it is as important as first violin, it is the idea of subordinacy that was transferred in the figurative term, so used since about 1800.

  play the devil with Upset, ruin, make a mess of, as in This weather plays the devil with my aching joints, or Wine stains play the devil with a white tablecloth. This allusion to diabolical mischief is heard more in Britain than in America. [Mid-1500s] Also see the synonym PLAY HAVOC.

  play the field Date more than one person; avoid an exclusive commitment. For example, All of Joe’s friends are married now, but he continues to play the field. This term originated in British horse­racing, where it meant “to bet on every horse in a race except the favorite.” It was transferred to other activities about 1930.

  play the fool Act in a silly or stupid way, as in Helen deliberately played the fool so they wouldn’t realize she understood their strategy. [First half of 1500s]

  play the game Behave according to accepted customs, obey the rules. For example, Not every foreign company can be counted on to play the game. The game here alludes to a sport with a set of rules. [Late 1800s] Also see PLAY GAMES.

  play the heavy Act the part of a villain; take the blame for unkind behavior. For example, She can’t bear firing an employee, so she relies on Jim to play the heavy. This colloquial term comes from the theater, where heavy has been used for a stern, ­serious role or that of a villain since the early 1800s.

  play the market Trade in securities in order to make money, as in He is always playing the market with only mixed results. This term uses play in the sense of “gamble,” a usage dating from about 1500.

  play to the gallery Appeal to spectators for maximum approval, as in He peppers his speeches with humor and wisecracks about his opponent, clearly playing to the gallery. In this term gallery refers to the cheapest seats in a British theater and hence the least sophisticated audience. [Late 1800s]

  play up Emphasize or publicize, as in In the press interview, the coach played up the importance of having a strong defense. [c. 1900] Also see PLAY DOWN; PLAY UP TO.

  play upon → See PLAY ON.

  play up to Curry favor with, flatter, as in There’s no use playing up to the boss; it doesn’t influence him. This expression originated about 1800 in the theater, where it meant “to support or assist another actor.” Within a couple of decades it was being used in other venues.

  play with fire Take part in a dangerous undertaking, as in You’re playing with fire if you go behind his back and commit his department. Although the idea behind this metaphor is ancient, it was first recorded only in 1655.

  plea → See COP A PLEA.

  please → See AS YOU PLEASE.

  pleased as Punch Delighted, as in We were pleased as Punch when they asked us to be godparents. This term alludes to the character Punch in Punch and Judy shows, who is always very happy when his evil deeds succeed. [Mid-1800s]

  plenty → See under NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA.

  plot thickens, the Circumstances are becoming very complex or mysterious. Today this term is often used ironically or half-humorously, as in His companion wasn’t his wife or his partner—the plot thickens. Originally (1671) it described the plot of a play that was overly intricate, and by the late 1800s it was used for increasingly complex mysteries in detective stories.

  plow back Reinvest earnings or profits in one’s business, as in This company plows back half its profits every year. This term transfers the farming practice of turning the cover crop back into the soil to enrich it to financial enterprises. [First half of 1900s]

  plow into Strike with force, crash into; also, attack vigorously. For example, The truck plowed into the retaining wall, or Carol plowed into the pile of correspondence. This expression transfers the force of the farmer’s plow to other enterprises. [Late 1800s]

  plow under Cause to vanish, overwhelm, as in The independent bookstores are being plowed under by the large chains. This term alludes to the farmer’s burying manure by turning it into the soil with a plow. [Second half of 1900s]

  pluck up one’s courage Also, screw up one’s courage. Force oneself to overcome fear or timidity, as in He was really afraid of slipping on the ice, but he plucked up his courage and ventured down the driveway, or I screwed up my courage and dove off the high board. The first term uses pluck in the sense of “make a forcible effort”; Shakespeare put it as “Pluck up thy spirits” (The Taming of the Shrew, 4:3). The variant derives from the use of screw to mean “force or strain by means of a screw.”

  plug → In addition to the idiom beginning with PLUG, also see NOT WORTH A DAMN (PLUGGED NICKEL); PEG (PLUG) AWAY AT; PULL THE PLUG ON.

  plug away at → See PEG AWAY AT.

  plugged in, be Be closely attuned or responsive, as in He couldn’t make any important social connections because he just wasn’t plugged in. The related expression be plugged into takes an object, as in These connoisseurs are plugged into the local art scene. These terms allude to inserting a plug into an electrical socket. [Colloquial; c. 1970]

  plumb the depths 1. Get to the bottom of something, examine something very closely. Originally referring to measuring the depth of water, this term has been used figuratively since the second half of the 1600s. For example, Researchers often must plumb the depths of a particular subject until they have exhausted all avenues. 2. Reach the lowest emotional point, as in He’s plumbed the depths of depression and should definitely seek out counseling. [Mid-1800s]

  plume oneself Congratulate oneself, boast, as in He plumed himself on his victory. This idiom transfers the bird’s habit of dressing its feathers to human self-satisfaction. [First half of 1600s]

  plunge → See TAKE THE PLUNGE.

  plunk down Throw or place or drop heavily, as in He plunked down the money and walked out, or It was hot work, so after an hour we plunked ourselves down in the shade. [Late 1800s]

  pocket → In addition to t
he idioms beginning with POCKET, also see DEEP POCKET; IN ONE’S POCKET; IN POCKET; LINE ONE’S POCKETS; MONEY BURNS A HOLE IN ONE’S POCKET; OUT OF POCKET.

  pocket money Also, spending money. Cash for incidental or minor expenses, as in They don’t believe in giving the children pocket money without asking them to do chores, or Can I borrow a dollar? I’m out of all my spending money. The first term, dating from the early 1600s, alludes to keeping small sums in one’s pocket; the second alludes to money that may be spent (as opposed to saved) and dates from the late 1500s.

  pocket veto The implied veto of a bill by the President of the United States or by a state governor or other executive who simply holds the bill without signing it until the legislature has adjourned. For example, The President used the pocket veto to kill the crime bill. This expression dates from the 1830s and alludes to putting the unsigned bill inside one’s pocket.

  poetic justice An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn’t commit. [Early 1700s]

  poetic license Also, artistic license. The liberty taken by a writer or artist in deviating from conventional form or fact to achieve an effect. For example, I’ve never seen grass or a tree of that color, but that’s artistic license. [Late 1700s]

  point → In addition to the idioms beginning with POINT, also see AT SWORD’S POINT; AT THAT POINT; AT THIS POINT; BELABOR THE POINT; BESIDE THE POINT; BOILING POINT; BROWNIE POINTS; CASE IN POINT; GET TO THE POINT; HIT THE HIGH SPOTS (POINTS); IN (POINT OF) FACT; IN POINT; JUMPING-OFF PLACE (POINT); MAKE A POINT OF; MAKE ONE’S POINT; MISS THE POINT; MOOT POINT; ON THE POINT OF; POSSESSION IS NINE POINTS OF THE LAW; SORE POINT; STRETCH A POINT; STRONG POINT; TAKE SOMEONE’S POINT; TO THE POINT; UP TO A POINT; WIN ON POINTS.

  point in time A particular moment, as in At no point in time had they decided to leave the country, or The exact point in time when he died has not been determined. Critics say this usage is wordy since in most cases either point or time will suffice. However, it has survived since the mid-1700s. Also see AT THIS POINT.

  point of no return The place in a course of action beyond which reversal is not possible. For example, Once the contract is signed, we’ve reached the point of no return. This expression comes from aviation, where it signifies the point where an aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting point. [c. 1940]

  point of view An attitude or standpoint, how one sees or thinks of something. For example, From the manufacturer’s point of view, the critical issue is cost. This expression, originally alluding to one’s vantage point in seeing a building or painting or other object, dates from the early 1700s.

  point out Identify or bring to notice, as in He pointed out the oldest buildings in the city, or She pointed out an error in our reasoning. [Late 1400s]

  point the finger at Attach blame to, accuse, as in When they asked her who broke the window, she pointed the finger at Tom. Also see PUT THE FINGER ON.

  point up Emphasize, draw attention to, as in Her comments point up the need for more security at the store. [First half of 1900s]

  poison → In addition to the idiom beginning with POISON, also see ONE MAN’S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S POISON.

  poison-pen letter A letter, usually anonymous, that makes malicious statements about the recipient or a third party. For example, She told the police about the poison-pen letters, but they said they couldn’t pursue the matter. [Early 1900s]

  poke → In addition to the idioms beginning with POKE, also see MAKE FUN OF (POKE FUN AT); PIG IN A POKE; TAKE A POKE AT.

  poke around Also, poke about. Look through things; also, make an investigation. For example, I was poking around the attic when I found these old photos, or The detective was poking about, tracking where she went on that fatal day. [Early 1800s] Also see NOSE ABOUT; POKE ONE’S NOSE INTO.

  poke fun at → See under MAKE FUN OF.

  poke one’s nose into Pry into or meddle in another’s affairs, as in I told her to stop poking her nose into our business. This usage replaced the earlier thrust one’s nose into in the mid-1800s.

  poker → In addition to the idiom beginning with POKER, also see STIFF AS A BOARD (POKER).

  poker face A visage lacking any expression that can be interpreted, as in Whenever Betty attended one of her children’s performances, she managed to keep a poker face. This term alludes to the facial expression of a poker player who is expert at concealing his feelings about his hand. [c. 1880]

  pole → See LOW MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE; NOT TOUCH WITH A TEN-FOOT POLE.

  poles apart In complete opposition, as in The two brothers were poles apart in nearly all their views. This expression alludes to the two extremities of the earth’s axis, the North and South poles. [Early 1900s]

  polish → In addition to the idioms beginning with POLISH, also see SPIT AND POLISH.

  polish off Finish or dispose of, especially quickly and easily. For example, We polished off the pie in no time, or If everyone helps, we can polish off this job today. This usage, dating from the early 1800s, came from boxing, where it originally meant “to defeat an opponent quickly and easily.” By the 1830s it was used more generally.

  polish the apple Try to win favor through flattery, as in It may help your standing with the boss if you polish the apple. This expression gave rise to the phrase apple polishing. The idiom alludes to the practice of schoolchildren bringing their teacher the gift of a bright, shiny apple. [c. 1920]

  politically correct Also, PC or p.c. Showing an effort to make broad social and political changes to redress injustices caused by prejudice. It often involves changing or avoiding language that might offend anyone, especially with respect to gender, race, or ethnic background. For example, Editors of major papers have sent out numerous directives concerning politically correct language. This expression was born in the late 1900s, and excesses in trying to conform to its philosophy gave rise to humorous parodies.

  politics → See PLAY POLITICS.

  pond → See BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND; LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.

  pony → In addition to the idioms beginning with PONY, also see DOG-AND-PONY SHOW.

  pony up Pay money that is owned or due, as in Come on, it’s time you ponied up this month’s rent. The allusion in this expression is unclear. [c. 1820]

  poop out 1. Tire out, exhaust, as in I ran about ten miles, but then I was too pooped out to go on. 2. Quit, decide not to participate, especially at the last minute. For example, We had about twenty signed up for the seminar, but then half of them pooped out. [Slang; late 1800s]

  poor as a churchmouse Having little or no wealth and few possessions, as in She’s poor as a churchmouse, so you can’t expect her to donate anything. The reason for this long-used simile is unclear, but most believe that, since churches are not known for storing food, a mouse inside one would fare poorly. It has survived such earlier phrases as poor as Job. [Second half of 1600s]

  poor relation An inferior member of a group, as in Many regard Turkey as the poor relation in the European alliance. This expression, first recorded in 1720 for a family member in humble circumstances, began to be used figuratively in the mid-1900s.

  poor taste, in Also, in bad taste. Not suitable, unseemly, offensive, as in His criticism of the Pope was in poor taste, or That television interview was in very bad taste. These idioms use taste in the sense of “discernment of what is appropriate.”

  pop off 1. Leave abruptly or hurriedly, as in I’m just going to pop off and mail some letters. 2. Die suddenly, as in No one expected her to pop off like that. [Colloquial; second half of 1700s] 3. Speak thoughtlessly in an angry outburst, as in Don’t pop off at me—complain to whoever’s responsible. [Slang; c. 1930] 4. pop someone off. Kill someone, as in The sniper popped off at least three men. [Slang; early 1800s] All four usages transfer pop in the sense of “explode” to other kinds of sudden or violent behavior.
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  pop the question Propose marriage, as in He picked Valentine’s Day to pop the question. [Early 1700s]

  pop up Suddenly appear, as in After a brief warm spell all the flowers popped up, or He’s constantly popping up where he’s least expected.

  pork barrel Government funding of something that benefits a particular district, whose legislator thereby wins favor with local voters. For example, Our senator knows the value of the pork barrel. This expression alludes to the fatness of pork, equated with political largesse since the mid-1800s. [c. 1900]

  port → See ANY PORT IN A STORM.

  possessed by Driven by, obsessed with, as in He was possessed by the idea of becoming a millionaire. This idiom employs possess in the sense of “dominate one’s thoughts or ideas,” a usage dating from the late 1500s.

  possession is nine points of the law Actually holding something is better than merely claiming it. For example, When Karen told John he must ­return the sofa he’d borrowed, he said possession is nine points of the law. This term originally alluded to nine elements that would aid someone’s lawsuit, among them a good lawyer, good witnesses, a good jury, a good judge, and good luck. In time, however, the term was used more for squatter’s rights. [Late 1500s]

  possible → See AS FAR AS POSSIBLE; AS SOON AS (POSSIBLE).

  possum → See PLAY POSSUM.

  post → See DEAF AS A POST; FROM PILLAR TO POST; KEEP POSTED.

  pot → In addition to the idiom beginning with POT, also see FISH OR CUT BAIT (SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT); GO TO POT; HIT THE JACKPOT; SWEETEN THE KITTY (POT); TAKE POTLUCK; TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT; WATCHED POT NEVER BOILS.

  potato → See HOT POTATO; MEAT AND POTATOES; SMALL BEER (POTATOES).

  pot calling the kettle black, the Accusing someone of faults that one has oneself, as in Tom’s criti­cizing Dexter for dubious line calls is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, since Tom’s about the worst line judge I’ve ever seen. This expression dates from the days of open-hearth cooking, which blackens practically all the utensils used. [Early 1600s]