The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Page 100
rich as Croesus Very wealthy, as in They’re rich as Croesus, with their penthouse, yacht, and horses. This term alludes to Croesus, the legendary King of Lydia and supposedly the richest man on earth. The simile was first recorded in English in 1577.
rid → See GET RID OF.
riddance → See GOOD RIDDANCE.
ride → In addition to the idioms beginning with RIDE, also see ALONG FOR THE RIDE; GO ALONG (FOR THE RIDE); GRAVY TRAIN, RIDE THE; HITCH A RIDE; LET RIDE; TAKE SOMEONE FOR A RIDE.
ride for a fall Court danger or disaster, as in I think that anyone who backs the incumbent is riding for a fall. This idiom alludes to the reckless rider who risks a bad spill. [Late 1800s]
ride hell-bent for leather → See HELL-BENT FOR LEATHER.
ride herd on Keep close watch or tight control over, as in Aunt Martha is always riding herd on her bridge club, making sure they follow the rules. This idiom alludes to the cowboy who rides around a herd of cattle to keep them together. [Late 1800s]
ride high Enjoy success, as in He’s been riding high ever since they made him vice president. The high here alludes to both elevated status and elation. [First half of 1800s]
ride out Survive, outlast, as in They rode out the storm, or Times were hard during the depression, but we managed to ride it out. [First half of 1500s]
ride roughshod over Act without regard for the feelings or interests of others, as in She just forget on, riding roughshod over her colleagues. This term alludes to the practice of arming horses with horseshoes mounted with projecting nails or points, which both gave them better traction and served as a weapon against fallen enemy soldiers. By 1800 it was being used figuratively for bullying behavior.
ride shotgun Guard someone or something while in transit, as in The reporter found himself in the odd position of riding shotgun for an accused mobster. This term alludes to the armed defender of a stagecoach who sat beside the driver to protect against marauders and bandits. Later it was transferred to anyone riding in the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle, as well as to the more general function of protection. [Mid-1900s]
ride up Gradually move upward from a normal position, as in This skirt is too tight and it constantly rides up. [Mid-1800s]
ridiculous → See FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS.
rid of → See GET RID OF.
right → In addition to the idioms beginning with RIGHT, also see ALL RIGHT; ALL RIGHT FOR YOU; ALL RIGHT WITH ONE; BY RIGHTS; COME (RIGHT) OUT WITH; DEAD TO RIGHTS; GET RIGHT; GIVE ONE’S EYETEETH (RIGHT ARM); GO RIGHT; GO (RIGHT) THROUGH ONE; HANG A LEFT (RIGHT); HAVE A RIGHT TO; HAVE A SCREW LOOSE (ONE’S HEAD SCREWED ON RIGHT); HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE; HIT (RIGHT) BETWEEN THE EYES; IN ONE’S OWN RIGHT; IN ONE’S RIGHT MIND; IN THE RIGHT; LEFT HAND DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING; MIGHT MAKES RIGHT; NOT RIGHT IN THE HEAD; (RIGHT) ON THE MONEY; ON THE RIGHT FOOT; ON THE RIGHT TACK; PLAY ONE’S CARDS RIGHT; PRICE IS RIGHT; PUT RIGHT; SAIL (RIGHT) THROUGH; SERVE ONE RIGHT; SET RIGHT; SET TO RIGHTS; STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION; STRIKE THE RIGHT NOTE; THAT’S RIGHT; TURN OUT ALL RIGHT; TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT; WHEN IT COMES (RIGHT DOWN) TO.
right and left In or from all directions, on every side, as in Questions were coming right and left, or She was giving orders right and left. This idiom, first recorded in 1839, uses the directions right and left to signify all sides.
right as rain In good order or good health, satisfactory, as in He was very ill, but he’s right as rain now, or If she’d only worked on it another week everything would have been as right as rain. The allusion in this simile is unclear, but it originated in Britain, where rainy weather is a normal fact of life, and indeed W.L. Phelps wrote, “The expression ‘right as rain’ must have been invented by an Englishman.” It was first recorded in 1894.
right away Also, right off. Without delay, immediately, as in Can you bring our dinners right away? We’re in a hurry, or We liked her right off. This idiom uses right as an intensifier and away in the sense of “at once,” the latter usage dating from the 1500s and surviving only in such phrases as this one and FIRE AWAY. It was first recorded in 1818. Also see RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
right hand doesn’t know what left hand is doing → See under LEFT HAND DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT HAND IS DOING.
right-hand man Also, right-hand woman. A trusted helper, as in Give it to Jill, she’s my right-hand man. Based on the idea that in most people the right hand is the stronger of the two, this idiom today usually disregards gender, as in the example. However, in the 17th and 18th centuries it also meant a soldier in a post of command on the right side of a cavalry unit, and then always denoted a man. [c. 1800]
right in the head → See NOT RIGHT IN THE HEAD.
right off → See RIGHT AWAY.
right off the bat Instantly, immediately, as in I can’t tell you how many right off the bat, but I can find out. This term alludes to a baseball being hit by a bat. [First half of 1900s]
right of way 1. The right of one person or vehicle to travel over another’s property, as in The new owner doesn’t like it, but hikers have had the right of way through these woods for decades. [Mid-1700s] 2. The right to precede another person or vehicle, as in Sailboats always have the right of way over motorboats, and swimmers do over any kind of boat. [Early 1900s]
right on An exclamation of enthusiasm or encouragement, as in You’ve said it really well—right on! This interjection has a disputed origin. Some believe it comes from African-American slang (it was recorded in Odum and Johnson’s The Negro and His Songs, 1925); others feel it is a shortening of right on target, used by military airmen, or right on cue, theatrical slang for saying the right lines at the right time. [Slang; first half of 1900s] Also see WAY TO GO.
right out Also, straight out. Plainly, without holding back, as in He told her right out that he couldn’t run for another term, or When Jan told us she wanted to study medicine, Dad said straight out that he couldn’t afford medical school.
right side, on someone’s Also, on someone’s good side. In someone’s favor. It is often put as get, keep, or stay on someone’s right side, as in We must get on Bill’s right side if we’re to get approval of our plans, or Jane had a hard time staying on the good side of her difficult supervisor. The antonym on someone’s wrong side, means “in someone’s disfavor,” as in I got on her wrong side by opening my mouth once too often.
right side of the tracks The desirable part of town, as in They were relieved to learn that his fiancée came from the right side of the tracks. This expression alludes to the fact that when a railroad ran through a town, it often divided the prosperous neighborhoods from the poor ones. The latter district was called the wrong side of the tracks, as in The children from the wrong side of the tracks often came to school without having eaten breakfast. Today these terms are considered snobbish. [Second half of 1800s]
right-side out Turned correctly, with the outer side on the outside, as opposed to INSIDE OUT, def. 1. For example, I turned the sweater right-side out before putting it on.
right-side up With the top facing upward, as in Please keep the box holding the china right-side up, or He turned his cards right-side up. [Early 1500s]
right tack → See ON THE RIGHT TACK.
right up one’s alley Also, right down one’s alley. In one’s specialty, to one’s taste, as in Writing press releases is right up her alley, or He loved opera, so this program of arias was right down his alley. These idioms use alley in the sense of “one’s own province,” a usage dating from the early 1600s. [First half of 1900s] Also see CUP OF TEA.
Riley → See LIFE OF RILEY.
ring → In addition to the idioms beginning with RING, also see BRASS RING; GIVE SOMEONE A RING; HAVE A FAMILIAR RING; RUN RINGS AROUND; THREE-RING CIRCUS; THROW ONE’S HAT IN THE RING.
ring a bell Arouse an indistinct memory, remind one of something, as in That name rings a bell—I think I’ve met him. The bell here summons up a memory. [1930s]
ring down
the curtain on Bring something to an end, as in We’d best get to that grand old hotel before they ring down the curtain on it. This idiom alludes to the old practice of ringing a bell to signal that a theater curtain be lowered. Similarly, ring up the curtain on refers to a bell rung to begin a performance and came to mean starting anything, as in Their contribution rang up the curtain on the fund drive. The figurative use of these terms dates from the early 1900s.
ring false Also, have a false or hollow ring; strike a false note. Seem wrong or deceitful, as in Her denial rings false—I’m sure she was there when it happened, or His good wishes always seem to have a hollow ring, or Carol’s congratulatory phone call really struck a false note. Ring false and the antonym, ring true, which means “seem genuine,” allude to the old practice of judging a coin genuine or fake by the sound it gives out when tapped. This practice became obsolete when coins ceased to be made of precious metals, but by then the idioms were being used to refer to other matters. [Mid-1800s]
ring one’s chimes Arouse one’s attention, excite one, as in That kind of music really rings my chimes. [Slang; 1970]
ringside seat A place providing a close view of something, as in We lived right next door, so we had ringside seats for their quarrels. This term presumably came from boxing, where it denotes the seats just outside the boxing ring. [c. 1860]
ring the changes Keep varying how one performs an action or says something, as in She went on and on, ringing the changes on the joy of computers. This expression alludes to the art of change-ringing, where a series of church bells are rung in as many sequences, or changes, as possible. [Early 1600s]
ring true → See under RING FALSE.
ring up 1. Record, especially by means of a cash register, as in They had already rung up the sale so I decided not to get the extra items. [c. 1930] Although older cash registers usually signaled a recorded sale with the ringing of a bell, the idiom survives in the age of computers. 2. Accomplish, achieve, as in They rang up an impressive string of victories.
riot → See READ THE RIOT ACT; RUN AMOK (RIOT).
riotous living An extravagant, dissolute lifestyle, as in Two years of riotous living, and they’d squandered the entire inheritance. This term was first recorded in 1389.
rip → In addition to the idioms beginning with RIP, also see LET IT RIP.
ripe → In addition to the idiom beginning with RIPE, also see TIME IS RIPE.
ripe old age An age advanced in years, as in I expect to live to a ripe old age. The adjective ripe here means “fully developed physically and mentally,” but the current use of the idiom usually just signifies a long lifespan. [Second half of 1300s]
rip into Also, tear into. Attack or criticize vehemently, as in She ripped into her opponent’s voting record. These expressions allude to the literal senses of the verbs rip and tear, that is, “cut” or “slash.”
rip off 1. Steal, as in They fired him when they caught him ripping off some of the merchandise. 2. Cheat, defraud, as in These advertising claims have ripped off a great many consumers. 3. Copy, plagiarize, as in He was sued for ripping off someone else’s thesis. All three usages are slang from the second half of the 1900s.
rise → In addition to the idioms beginning with RISE, also see COME UP (RISE IN THE WORLD); GET A RISE OUT OF; GIVE BIRTH (RISE) TO.
rise and shine An expression used when waking someone up, as in It’s past seven, children—rise and shine! Originating as a military order in the late 1800s, shine here means “act lively, do well.”
rise from the ashes Emerge as new from something that has been destroyed, as in A few months after the earthquake large sections of the city had risen from the ashes. This expression alludes to the legendary phoenix, a bird that supposedly rose from the ashes of its funeral pyre with renewed youth.
rise in the world → See COME UP, def. 4.
rise through the ranks Also, rise from the ranks; come up through the ranks. Work one’s way to the top, as in He’s risen through the ranks, starting as a copy boy and ending up as senior editor. Originally this term was used for an officer who had worked his way up from the rank of private, a rare feat. It was being applied to nonmilitary advances by the mid-1800s. Also see COME UP, def. 4.
rise to the bait Be tempted by or react to an enticement, as in We told him there’d be lots of single young women at the party, and he rose to the bait. Likening a fish rising to bait to human behavior dates from the late 1500s.
rise to the occasion Show unexpected skill in dealing with a difficulty that arises, as in The leading man broke his leg in the first act but his understudy rose to the occasion and was rewarded with excellent reviews. [Mid-1800s]
risk → In addition to the idiom beginning with RISK, also see AT RISK; CALCULATED RISK; RUN A RISK.
risk life and limb Also, risk one’s neck. Take dangerous chances, as in There he was on the roof, risking life and limb to rescue the kitten, or I don’t want to risk my neck contradicting him. The first hyperbolic expression, dating from the early 1600s, doesn’t make sense, since if one loses one’s life one also loses the use of one’s limbs. The variant, used for risky undertakings of all kinds, physical and nonphysical, presumably alludes to being hanged or beheaded. Also see STICK ONE’S NECK OUT.
river → See SELL DOWN THE RIVER; UP THE RIVER.
road → In addition to the idioms beginning with ROAD, also see ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME; DOWN THE LINE (ROAD); END OF THE LINE (ROAD); GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD; HIT THE ROAD; ONE FOR THE ROAD; ON THE ROAD.
road hog A motorist whose vehicle straddles two traffic lanes, as in Stay in your own lane, you road hog! This expression uses hog in the sense of “a greedy or selfish person.” [Colloquial; late 1800s]
road show A tour made for a particular purpose, especially a political campaign. For example, It was primary season, and every would-be candidate was planning a road show. This term originated about 1900 for touring theatrical productions and in the mid-1900s began to be transferred to other endeavors.
road to hell is paved with good intentions, the Well-intended acts can have disastrous results, as in She tried to help by defending Dad’s position and they haven’t spoken since—the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This proverbial idiom probably derives from a similar statement by St. Bernard of Clairvaux about 1150, L’enfer est plein de bonnes volontés ou désirs (“Hell is full of good intentions or wishes”), and has been repeated ever since. [Late 1500s]
robbery → See DAYLIGHT ROBBERY; HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
robinson → See BEFORE YOU CAN SAY JACK ROBINSON.
rob Peter to pay Paul Take from one to give to another, shift resources. For example, They took out a second mortgage on their house so they could buy a condo in Florida—they’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. Although legend has it that this expression alludes to appropriating the estates of St. Peter’s Church, in Westminster, London, to pay for the repairs of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the 1800s, the saying first appeared in a work by John Wycliffe about 1382.
rob someone blind Cheat someone in an unusually deceitful or thorough fashion, as in The nurse was robbing the old couple blind. This idiom may allude to robbing a blind beggar, who cannot see that the cup collecting donations is being emptied. [Mid-1900s]
rob the cradle Have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone much younger than oneself, as in The old editor was notorious for robbing the cradle, always trying to date some young reporter. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
rob the till → See HAND IN THE TILL.
rock → In addition to the idioms beginning with ROCK, also see BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE; ON THE ROCKS; STEADY AS A ROCK.
rock bottom The lowest possible level, absolute bottom, as in Wheat prices have reached rock bottom. This idiom alludes to the presence of bedrock that prevents digging farther down. [Late 1800s]
rocker → See OFF ONE’S HEAD (ROCKER).
rocks in one’s head, have Show poor judgment, act stupidly, as in If you thi
nk that’s an accurate summary, you’ve got rocks in your head. The rocks in this idiom are a supposed substitute for brains. [Slang; 1940s]
rock the boat Disturb a stable situation, as in An easygoing manager, he won’t rock the boat unless it’s absolutely necessary. This idiom alludes to capsizing a small vessel, such as a canoe, by moving about in it too violently. [Colloquial; early 1900s]
rod → See HOT ROD; SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD.
rogues’ gallery A police collection of pictures of criminals and suspects kept for identification purposes. For example, The detective went through the entire rogues’ gallery but couldn’t find a match with the suspect. [Mid-1800s]
roll → In addition to the idioms beginning with ROLL, also see EASY AS PIE (ROLLING OFF A LOG); GET ROLLING; GET THE BALL ROLLING; HEADS WILL ROLL; ON A ROLL; (ROLL OUT THE) RED CARPET.
roll around Return or recur, as in When income tax time rolls around, Peggy is too busy to play tennis. [Late 1600s]
roll back Decrease, cut back, or reduce, especially prices, as in Unless they roll back oil prices, this summer’s tourist traffic will be half of last year’s. [c. 1940]
roll in 1. Retire for the night, as in It’s time to roll in—we’ll see you in the morning. 2. Add, as in She tried to roll in several new clauses, but the publisher would not agree. 3. Arrive, flow, or pour in, as in The football fans have been rolling in since this morning. 4. Enjoy ample amounts of, especially of wealth, as in Ask the Newmans for a donation—they’re rolling in money. This idiom alludes to having so much of something that one can roll around in it (as a pig might roll in mud). It is sometimes put as rolling in it, the it meaning money. [Late 1700s] Also see ROLL IN THE AISLES; ROLL IN THE HAY.
rolling stone A person who moves about a great deal and never settles down, as in Kate’s lived in ten cities in as many years—she’s a real rolling stone. This expression is a shortening of the proverb a rolling stone gathers no moss, first recorded in 1523, which originally meant that one who never settles anywhere will not do well. After some 300 years of this interpretation, in the mid-1800s the value of gathering moss (and staying put) began to be questioned, and in current usage the term is most often used without any particular value judgment.