The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  sell down the river Betray, as in They kept the merger a secret until the last minute, so the employees who were laid off felt they’d been sold down the river. This expression, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to slaves being sold down the Mississippi River to work as laborers on cotton plantations. Its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.

  sell like hot cakes → See LIKE HOT CAKES.

  sell off Get rid of by selling, often at reduced prices. For example, The jeweler was eager to sell off the last of the diamond rings. [c. 1700] Also see SELL OUT, def. 1.

  sell oneself 1. Convince another of one’s merits, present oneself in a favorable light, as in A job interview is an ideal opportunity to sell oneself to a prospective employer. Originally this idiom, dating from the second half of the 1700s, alluded to selling one’s services for money, but it was being used more loosely by the mid-1800s. 2. Compromise one’s principles for monetary gain. An early version was sell oneself (or one’s soul) to the devil, which alluded to enlisting the devil’s help in exchange for one’s soul after death. It is embodied in the legend of Faust, first recorded in the late 1500s.

  sell out 1. Dispose of entirely by selling. For example, The rancher finally sold out to the oil company, or The tickets to the concert were sold out a month ago. [Late 1700s] 2. Betray one’s cause or colleagues, as in He sold out to the other side. [Slang; late 1800s]

  sell short 1. Contract for the sale of securities or commodities one expects to own at a later date and at a lower price, as in Selling short runs the risk of a market rise, forcing one to pay more than one expected. [Mid-1800s] 2. sell someone short. Under­estimate the true value or worth of someone, as in Don’t sell her short; she’s a very able lawyer. [First half of 1900s]

  sell someone on Convince or persuade someone of the worth or desirability of something, as in They were hoping to sell enough legislators on their bill so that it would pass easily, or Dave was really sold on that new car. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

  send away Also, send off. 1. Dispatch someone or something, as in We send the children away to camp every summer, or I sent off that letter last week. The first term dates from the first half of the 1500s, the variant from the late 1700s. 2. Order an item, as in I sent away for those gloves last month but they haven’t arrived yet. Also see SEND FOR, def. 2.

  send down Suspend or dismiss from a university, principally a British one. For example, He’s done very poorly ever since he was sent down from Oxford. [Mid-1800s]

  send flying Cause to be knocked or scattered about, as in She bumped into the table and sent all the ­papers flying. This somewhat hyperbolic idiom was first recorded in 1789.

  send for 1. Summon someone, request that someone come, as in She sent for all the children when their father lay dying. [Late 1500s] 2. Order a delivery of something, as in The king sent for a bottle of wine. Also see SEND AWAY, def. 2; SEND OUT, def. 2.

  send in 1. Cause to be dispatched or delivered, as in Let’s send in a letter of protest to the hiring committee. [Early 1700s] 2. Cause someone to become involved in a particular undertaking, as in This disagreement is serious; it’s time to send in the lawyers, or In the final few minutes the coach sent in Richard on right wing. [Mid-1800s]

  send off → See SEND AWAY, def. 1.

  send on 1. Forward something, as in He’s moved; I’ll send on this letter to his new address. [First half of 1800s] 2. send someone on. Cause someone to go on an errand or path, as in I sent your brother on an errand but he should be back soon, or They’ve sent us on a wild goose chase. [Second half of 1800s]

  send out 1. Issue or dispatch, as in We sent out the wedding invitations last month, or When did you send out that message? [c. 1400] 2. send out for. Order a delivery of something, as in Every Wednesday we send out for Chinese food.

  send round Circulate widely, as in A copy of the new bylaws is being sent round to all union members. [First half of 1800s]

  send someone about his or her business Also, send someone packing. Dismiss someone abruptly, as in They always ring the bell at suppertime, asking for signatures, but I send them about their business, or The owner caught Jack taking small items from the store and sent him packing. The first term, which in effect tells people to tend to their own affairs, was first recorded in 1768; the variant, alluding to telling people to pack their bags and leave, was first recorded in 1594. Also see SEND AWAY.

  send someone packing → See SEND SOMEONE ABOUT HIS OR HER BUSINESS.

  send up 1. Put in prison, as in He’ll be sent up for at least ten years. [Mid-1800s] Also see UP THE RIVER. 2. Cause to rise, as in The emissions sent up by that factory are clearly poisonous. [Late 1500s] 3. Satirize, make a parody of, as in This playwright has a genius for sending up suburban life. [First half of 1900s] 4. send up a trial balloon. See TRIAL BALLOON.

  senior moment A temporary and usually brief lapse of memory, which is generally ascribed to increasing age. It is generally meant humorously. For example, Don’t ask him what he had for dinner last night; he’s obviously having a senior moment. [Colloquial, late 1900s] Also see MENTAL BLOCK.

  sense → See COME TO ONE’S SENSES; HORSE SENSE; IN A SENSE; LULL INTO (A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY); MAKE SENSE; SIXTH SENSE; TAKE LEAVE OF (ONE’S SENSES); TALK SENSE.

  separate but equal Relating to or affected by a policy whereby two groups may be segregated if they are given equal facilities and opportunities. For example, They’ve divided up the physical education budget so that the girls’ teams are separate but equal to the boys’. This idiom comes from a Louisiana law of 1890, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Plessy v. Ferguson, “requiring all railway companies carrying passengers on their trains in this state, to provide equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races.” Subsequently it was widely used to separate African-Americans from the white population through a general policy of racial segregation. In 1954, in a unanimous ruling to end school segregation, the Supreme Court finally declared the “separate but equal” policy in education to be unconstitutional (in Brown v. Board of Education), and general “separate but equal” segregation was outlawed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

  separate the men from the boys Distinguish ­between mature, experienced individuals and novices, as in The picket line will separate the men from the boys in the union. The idiom is used without respect to gender. [c. 1930]

  separate the sheep from the goats Distinguish between good and bad individuals, or superior and inferior ones. For example, In a civil war where both sides commit atrocities, you can’t separate the sheep from the goats. This term refers to Jesus’s prophecy in the New Testament (Matthew 25:32) that the sheep (that is, the compassionate) will sit on God’s right hand (and find salvation), and the goats (the hard-hearted) will sit on the left (and be sent to damnation).

  separate wheat from chaff Sort the valuable from the worthless, as in I hope we’ll get a preview of the auction so we can separate the wheat from the chaff. This idiom alludes to the ancient practice of winnowing grain.

  serve → In addition to the idioms beginning with SERVE, also see BREAK SOMEONE’S SERVE; FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED; HAND TO ON A SILVER PLATTER (SERVE UP ON A PLATE).

  serve a purpose Also, serve one’s or the purpose. Be useful, meet the needs or requirements, satisfy, as in I don’t know why they’ve added all this information but it probably serves a purpose, or It often serves his purpose to be vague, or We don’t have a spading fork but this shovel should serve the purpose. This idiom was first recorded in 1513.

  serve one right Be deserved under the circumstances. For example, That punishment serves him right after what he’s done to you. It is also put as serves you right, as in It wasn’t accepted? Serves you right for applying so late. These idioms use serve in the sense of “treat in a specified manner,” in this case, justly. [Late 1500s]

  serve time Undergo a prison sentence; also, work at a particular task, especially an undesirable one. For example, We couldn’t hire him when we learned tha
t he had served time for robbery, or I applied for a transfer after serving time in that chaotic department. [Late 1800s]

  serve up 1. Dish out food, as in Next they served up some oysters. [First half of 1400s] 2. Provide, as in He served up joke after joke, delighting his audience. [First half of 1600s] Also see HAND TO ON A SILVER PLATTER.

  service → See AT SOMEONE’S SERVICE; LIP SERVICE; OF SERVICE TO SOMEONE; PRESS INTO SERVICE.

  session → See BULL SESSION.

  set → In addition to the idioms beginning with SET, also see ALL SET; DEAD SET AGAINST; GET SET; GET (SET) SOMEONE’S BACK UP; LAY (SET) EYES ON; ON A PEDESTAL, SET; SMART SET; TONGUES WAG (SET TONGUES WAGGING). Also see under PUT.

  set about Begin, start, as in How do we set about solving this puzzle? [c. 1600]

  set against Be or cause someone to be opposed to, as in Civil wars often set brother against brother, or The police chief’s critics were set against his officers. [Late 1200s] Also see DEAD SET AGAINST.

  set an example Also, set a good or bad example. Behave in a way that should (or will) be imitated, as in Dad was always telling Bill to set a good ­example for his younger brother, or They were afraid of setting a bad example for the other nations. [Late 1700s]

  set apart 1. Reserve for a specific use, as in One group of tissue samples was set apart for incubation. [c. 1600] 2. Make noticeable, as in Certain traits set her apart from her peers. [Late 1400s]

  set a precedent Establish a usage, tradition, or standard to be followed in the future. For example, He set a precedent by having the chaplain lead the academic procession. The word precedent here signifies a previous instance or legal decision upon which future instances are based, a usage dating from the early 1400s. In British and American law it more specifically refers to a legal decision that may be used as a standard in subsequent cases.

  set aside 1. Separate and reserve for a special purpose, as in We have to set aside some chairs for latecomers. [Early 1700s] Also see SET BY. 2. Discard or reject, as in Setting aside all health considerations, do you believe this law is fair to smokers? [Early 1400s] 3. Declare invalid, annul, or overrule, as in The higher court set aside the conviction. [Mid-1700s] Also see LAY ASIDE.

  set at Also, set upon. Attack or assail, as in The dog set at the postman, or The hyenas set upon the wounded lion. The first term dates from the early 1400s, the variant from the late 1300s.

  set at rest → See LAY AT REST.

  set back 1. Slow down the progress of, hinder, as in The project was set back by the frequent absences of staff members. [First half of 1500s] 2. Cost, as in That car set me back twenty thousand dollars. [Colloquial; c. 1900] 3. Change to a lower level or earlier time, as in We set back the thermostat whenever we go on vacation, or On November 2 we have to set back the clocks. [First half of 1600s] Set back the clock is also used figuratively to mean “return to an earlier era,” as in He wished he could set back the clock to those carefree high-school days. Also see SET FORWARD.

  set back on one’s heels Surprise, shock, or disconcert, as in The news of their divorce set us back on our heels. This idiom, with its graphic image of someone being pushed back, dates from the first half of the 1900s.

  set back the clock → See SET BACK, def. 3.

  set by Put aside for future use, as in She had shelves and shelves of cans set by for some imagined food emergency. [Late 1500s] Also see SET ASIDE, def. 1; SET STORE BY.

  set down 1. Place in a lower position, as in Set the baby down here, or Set the bags down on the hall table. [Late 1400s] 2. Put in writing, record, as in Just set down all the facts as you remember them. [Second half of 1500s] 3. Regard, consider, as in Just set him down as a fool. [Late 1700s] 4. Assign to a cause, ascribe, as in Let’s set down his error to inexperience. [Early 1800s] 5. Land an aircraft, as in The pilot set the plane down hard on the runway. Also see PUT DOWN.

  set eyes on → See LAY EYES ON.

  set fire to → See SET ON FIRE.

  set foot 1. set foot in. Enter, as in I’ll never set foot in this house again. 2. set foot on. Step on, as in We were so happy to set foot on dry land. [c. 1600]

  set forth 1. Also, put forth. Start a journey, as in We plan to set forth at daybreak, or They put forth for France tomorrow. [c. 1400] 2. Present for consideration; also, express in words, as in She set forth a very sensible plan, or We need to set forth our ideas clearly. [Early 1500s] 3. See PUT FORTH, def. 3.

  set forward Also, set ahead. Turn a clock to a later time, as in For daylight saving time we set the clocks forward. [1600s]

  set in 1. Insert, put in, as in I still have to set in the sleeves and then the sweater will be done. [Late 1300s] 2. Begin to happen or become apparent, as in Darkness was setting in as I left. [c. 1700] 3. Move toward the shore, said of wind or water, as in The tide sets in very quickly here. [Early 1700s]

  set in motion Start something moving, give impetus to something, as in A press conference set the new project in motion. It is also put as set the wheels in motion, as in Let’s set the wheels in motion for the new ­library wing. This idiom dates from about 1800. It was preceded by put in motion, which dates from the mid-1600s.

  set in one’s ways Inflexible, fixed in one’s habits, as in She’s too set in her ways to go out and buy a dog. This idiom uses set in the sense of “in a rigid position,” a usage dating from about 1300.

  set off 1. Give rise to, cause to occur, as in The acid set off a chemical reaction. [Early 1600s] 2. Cause to explode, as in They set off a bomb. [Late 1800s] 3. Distinguish, show to be different, contrast with, as in That black coat sets him off from the others in the picture, or Italics set this sentence off from the rest of the text. [Late 1500s] 4. Enhance, make more attractive, as in That color sets off her blonde hair. [Early 1600s] 5. Begin a journey, leave, as in When do you set off for Europe? [Second half of 1700s]

  set on Also, set upon. 1. Attack; see SET AT. 2. Instigate, urge one to engage in action, as in The older boys set on the young ones to get in trouble. [Early 1500s] 3. be set on or upon. Be determined to, as in He’s set on studying law.

  set on a pedestal → See ON A PEDESTAL.

  set one back → See SET BACK, defs. 1 and 2.

  set one back on one’s feet Help restore one’s position, reestablish one, as in The outplacement ­office promised to help set the displaced workers back on their feet. This idiom uses an upright position as a metaphor for being active and productive.

  set one’s back up → See GET SOMEONE’S BACK UP.

  set one’s cap for Pursue someone romantically, as in We all thought Anne had set her cap for Joe, but we were wrong. In the 1700s this term, which may have alluded to donning one’s best headgear, was applied to members of either sex, but by the early 1800s it generally described a woman chasing a man. It is probably obsolescent.

  set one’s face against Strongly disapprove of, as in Her parents set their faces against her eloping. The term set one’s face has been used in the sense of “assume a fixed facial expression” since the mid-1500s.

  set one’s heart on Also, have one’s heart set on. Strongly desire something, as in I’d set my heart on a vacation in New Mexico but got sick and couldn’t go, or Harry had his heart set on a new pickup truck. [Late 1300s]

  set one’s mind at rest Also, put one’s mind at rest, set one’s mind at ease. Stop worrying, allay one’s anxiety. For example, Your car’s been found undamaged, so set your mind at rest. Also see LAY AT REST.

  set one’s mind on → See under PUT ONE’S MIND TO.

  set one’s seal on Also, put one’s seal on. Authorize, give one’s approval to, as in We can go ahead as soon as the boss sets his seal on it. This idiom ­alludes to the old-time practice of affixing a seal on a document as a form of verification. It also began to be used more loosely in the early 1600s.

  set one’s sights on Have as a goal, as in She’s set her sights on law school. This expression alludes to the device on a firearm used for taking aim. [Mid-1900s]

  set o
ne’s teeth on edge Irritate, annoy, make one cringe, as in That raucous laugh sets my teeth on edge. This expression alludes to the shuddering feeling evoked by a grating noise or similar irritation. It appears in several books of the Bible and was also used by Shakespeare. [c. 1600]

  set on fire 1. Also, set fire to. Cause to ignite and burn, as in The drought and high wind combined to set the woods on fire. [c. 1400] 2. Cause to become excited, as in The music set the audience on fire. Also see CATCH FIRE; SET THE WORLD ON FIRE.

  set out 1. Begin an earnest attempt, as in He set out to prove his point, or We accomplished what we set out to do. [Late 1800s] 2. Lay out systematically, as in She set out all the reports in chronological ­order. [Second half of 1500s] 3. Display for exhibition or sale, as in The Japanese restaurant set out samples of all the different kinds of sushi. [c. 1300] 4. Plant, as in It was time to set out the seedlings. [Early 1800s] 5. Begin a journey, as in They set out at dawn. [Late 1500s]

  set right Also, put right. 1. Place something in proper position; also, repair something. For example, Your tie is lopsided; let me set it right, or The faucets were in backwards but the plumber will soon put them right. [Second half of 1500s] 2. Correct someone, as in They thought he was married but he quickly set them right. 3. Make something accurate or fair, as in He offered to pay for the meal to put things right. Also see SET STRAIGHT.

  set sail Also, make sail. Begin a voyage on water, as in Dad rented a yacht, and we’re about to set sail for the Caribbean, or We’ll make sail for the nearest port. These expressions, dating from the early 1500s, originally meant “put the sails in position to catch the wind,” and hence cause the vessel to move.

  set store by Also, lay store by; set great store by. Regard as valuable or worthwhile, as in I don’t set much store by her judgment, or He sets great store by his good name. The word store here is used in the sense of “something precious,” a usage that is obsolete ­except in these terms.