The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  spitting image A precise resemblance, especially in closely related persons. For example, Dirk is the spitting image of his grandfather. This idiom alludes to the earlier use of the noun spit for “likeness,” in turn probably derived from an old proverb, “as like one as if he had been spit out of his mouth” (c. 1400). The current idiom dates from about 1900.

  spit up Vomit, as in Infants often spit up part of their milk.

  splash down Land in water, as in The spacecraft splashed down within a few hundred yards of the pickup point. The splash in this idiom alludes to the impact of a solid body on water. [c. 1960]

  spleen → See VENT ONE’S SPLEEN.

  splinter group A part of an organization that breaks away from the main body, usually owing to disagreement. For example, Perot’s supporters at first constituted a splinter group but soon formed a third political party. This idiom alludes to the noun splinter, a fragment of wood or some other material that is split or broken off. [Mid-1900s]

  split hairs Make trivial distinctions, quibble, as in Let’s not split hairs about whose turn it is; I’ll close up today and you do it tomorrow. This metaphoric idiom transfers dividing so fine an object as a single hair to other petty divisions. [Second half of 1600s]

  split one’s sides Also, laugh one’s head off. Be extremely amused, laugh uproariously. For example, That comedian had us splitting our sides, or Jane laughed her head off when she saw Rob’s costume. The first of these hyperbolic terms dates from about 1700.

  split second An instant, a fraction of a second, as in Our best swimmer came in a split second before theirs. This expression alludes to a stop watch that has two second hands, one above the other, for timing more than one athlete or intervals of a race by a single athlete. Each hand can be stopped independently of the other, so a second can be “split” when one second hand stops a fraction of a second after the other. [c. 1880]

  split the difference Compromise between two close figures, divide the remainder equally. For ­example, You’re asking $5,000 for the car and I’m ­offering $4,000; let’s split the difference and make it $4,500. [c. 1700]

  split ticket A ballot cast for candidates of more than one party, as in I’m registered as an Independent, and indeed I usually vote a split ticket. This idiom uses ticket in the sense of “a list of nominees for office,” a usage dating from the late 1700s. Also see STRAIGHT TICKET.

  spoil → In addition to the idioms beginning with SPOIL, also see SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD; TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH; TO THE VICTOR BELONG THE SPOILS.

  spoil for Be eager for, as in He’s just spoiling for a fight. This idiom nearly always refers to some kind of altercation. It may allude to spoil in the sense of “deteriorate over a period of time.” [Mid-1800s]

  spoken for → See SPEAK FOR, def. 3.

  sponge → In addition to the idiom beginning with SPONGE, also see THROW IN THE SPONGE.

  sponge on Also, sponge off. Impose on another’s hospitality or generosity, as in He’s been sponging on relatives for the past year. This expression uses sponge in the sense of “to soak up something.” [Late 1600s]

  spoon → See BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON; GREASY SPOON.

  sporting blood Willingness to take risks, as in His sporting blood won’t let him stay away from the races. This idiom uses sporting in the sense of ­“associated with gambling.”

  sporting chance, a A fair chance for success, as in She thinks she has a sporting chance for being named bureau chief. [Colloquial; late 1800s]

  spot → See BLIND SPOT; HIT THE HIGH SPOTS; HIT THE SPOT; IN A BIND (TIGHT SPOT); IN A FIX (SPOT); JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT; KNOCK THE SOCKS (SPOTS) OFF; LEOPARD CANNOT CHANGE ITS SPOTS; ON THE SPOT; ROOTED TO THE SPOT; SOFT SPOT; X MARKS THE SPOT.

  spotlight → See IN THE LIMELIGHT (SPOTLIGHT); STEAL THE SHOW (SPOTLIGHT).

  spread like wildfire Disseminate or circulate very quickly, as in The rumor about their divorce spread like wildfire. The noun wildfire means “a raging, rapidly spreading conflagration.” [c. 1800]

  spread oneself too thin Overextend oneself, undertake too many different enterprises. For example, Tom’s exhausted; what with work, volunteer ­activities, and social life he’s spread himself too thin. This expression alludes to smearing something (like butter on bread) in such a thin layer that it does not cover the surface. Jonathan Swift used spread thin in a positive sense, that is, something should occur less often (Polite Conversation, 1731–1738): “They [polite speeches] ought to be husbanded better, and spread much thinner.”

  spread one’s wings Also, stretch or try one’s wings. Extend or broaden one’s activities or interest, or undertake new ones. For example, Dave had never played in a quintet but decided to spread his wings. [1860s]

  spring chicken → See NO SPRING CHICKEN.

  spring for Pay another’s expenses, treat, as in I’ll spring for the dinner this time. [Slang; c. 1900]

  spring on someone → Present or make known unexpectedly, as in They sprung the news of their engagement on the family last night. This idiom uses spring in the sense of “make a sudden move.” Mark Twain used it in Tom Sawyer (1876): “Old Mr. Jones is going to try to spring something on the people here tonight.”

  spruce up → Make neat and trim, as in She spruced up the chairs with new cushions. This idiom originated in the late 1500s as simply spruce but had acquired up by 1676.

  spur → In addition to the idiom beginning with SPUR, also see ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT; WIN ONE’S SPURS.

  spur on Goad or urge ahead, as in The thought of winning a Pulitzer Prize spurred the reporter on. This expression transfers using spurs to make a horse go faster to incentives of other kinds. [Late 1500s]

  spy on Secretly or furtively observe someone or something, as in The children loved spying on the grownups, or The company sent him to spy on the competitor’s sales force. [Early 1600s]

  square → In addition to the idioms beginning with SQUARE, also see BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD (SQUARE ONE); FAIR AND SQUARE; ON THE SQUARE; ROUND PEG IN A SQUARE HOLE; SHOOT STRAIGHT (SQUARE).

  square away Put in order; also, get ready for. For example, Once we’ve got the files squared away, we can decide on next year’s repertory, or She had to square away the house before leaving town. This ­expression uses square in the sense of “arrange in accordance with some principle,” indirectly alluding to the geometric square. [Early 1800s]

  square deal A just, equitable arrangement or transaction, as in I know I’ll get a square deal if I work with that supplier. This idiom uses square in the sense of “fair” or “honest,” a usage dating from the 1300s. [Late 1800s] Also see FAIR SHAKE.

  square meal, a A substantial or complete meal, as in These airlines never feed you; I haven’t had a square meal on one yet. [Mid-1800s]

  square off Take a fighting stance, prepare to fight, as in As they squared off, the teacher came out and stopped them, or The ambassador said the two countries were squaring off. [First half of 1800s]

  square one’s shoulders Prepare to face adversity, as in She knew it wouldn’t be easy but she squared her shoulders and faced the hostile audience. This expression transfers standing erect with the shoulders pulled back, forming an angle much like a square’s right angle, to the situations calling for this stance. It was first recorded in 1819.

  square peg in a round hole Also, round peg in a square hole. A misfit, especially a person unsuited for a position or activity. For example, Ruth doesn’t have the finesse for this job; she’s a round peg in a square hole. This idiom, with its graphic image of something that cannot fit, dates from about 1800.

  square the circle Try to do the impossible, as in Getting that bill through the legislature is the same as trying to square the circle. This idiom alludes to the impossibility of constructing a square with the same area as a given circle using only a compass and straightedge. John Donne may have been the first to use it (Sermons, 1624): “Go not thou about to square either circle (God or thyself).”

  squ
are up Settle a bill or debt, as in The others went to get the car while he squared up with the waiter. This idiom derives from square in the sense of “set straight.” [Early 1800s]

  square with 1. Correspond to, agree with, as in His story doesn’t square with what the witness saw. [Late 1500s] 2. Settle a disagreement or account with someone, put a matter straight, as in We’ve squared it with the management to bring our own wine. [Mid-1800s]

  squeak by Also, squeak through. Manage barely to pass, win, survive, or the like, as in They are just squeaking by on their income, or He squeaked through the driver’s test. This idiom transfers squeak in the sense of “barely emit a sound” to “narrowly manage something.” [First half of 1900s] Also see SQUEEZE THROUGH.

  squeaky wheel gets the grease The loudest complaints get the most attention, as in No matter what table they give her, Helen generally insists on a better one and gets it—the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The current version of this idiom, with its allusion to a wagon wheel that needs oiling, is ascribed to American humorist Josh Billings (1818–1885) in a poem, “The Kicker”: “I hate to be a kicker [complainer], I always long for peace, But the wheel that does the squeaking Is the one that gets the grease.” However, the idea of the ­idiom is much older. A manuscript from about 1400 had: “Ever the worst spoke of the cart creaks.” Similar sayings were repeated over the succeeding centuries.

  squeeze → In addition to the idioms beginning with SQUEEZE, also see MAIN SQUEEZE; TIGHT SQUEEZE.

  squeeze off fire a gun, as in He squeezed off one shot after another but didn’t bring down a single crow. The idiom alludes to squeezing the trigger. [Mid-1900s]

  squeeze play A situation in which pressure is exerted to obtain a concession or achieve a goal, as in Workers sometimes feel caught in a squeeze play between union and management. This expression, dating from about 1900, originated in baseball, where it refers to a prearranged play in which the runner on third base breaks for home plate on the pitch, and the batter bunts. [c. 1915]

  squeeze through Also, squeeze by. Manage to pass, win, or survive by a narrow margin, as in We squeezed through the second round of playoffs, or There was just enough food stored in the cabin for us to squeeze by until the hurricane ended. This idiom uses squeeze in the sense of “succeed by means of compression.” [c. 1700] Also see SQUEAK BY.

  squirrel away Hide or store, as in She squirreled away her savings in at least four different banks. This expression alludes to the squirrel’s habit of hiding nuts and acorns in the ground. [First half of 1900s]

  stab → In addition to the idiom beginning with STAB, also see MAKE A STAB AT.

  stab in the back, a A betrayal of trust, an act of treachery, as in Voting against our bill at the last minute was a real stab in the back. It is also put as stab someone in the back, meaning “betray someone.” For example, Don’t trust George; he’s been known to stab his friends in the back. Both the noun and verb forms of this idiom, alluding to a physical attack when one’s back is turned, date from the early 1900s.

  stable → See LOCK THE BARN (STABLE) DOOR AFTER THE HORSE HAS BOLTED.

  stack → In addition to the idioms beginning with STACK, also see BLOW ONE’S TOP (STACK); CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST; NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK; SWEAR ON A STACK OF BIBLES.

  stack the cards → See CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST.

  stack up 1. Measure up, equal, as in Their gift ­doesn’t stack up against mine. This usage alludes to ­piling up one’s chips at poker, and comparing them to those of the other players. [Early 1900s] 2. Make sense, seem plausible, as in Her explanation just doesn’t stack up. Also see ADD UP, def. 2.

  staff of life A staple or necessary food, especially bread. For example, Rice is the staff of life for a majority of the earth’s people. This expression, which uses staff in the sense of “a support,” was first recorded in 1638.

  stag → In addition to the idiom beginning with STAG, also see GO STAG.

  stage → In addition to the idioms beginning with STAGE, also see AT THIS STAGE; SET THE SCENE (STAGE) FOR.

  stage fright Acute nervousness when performing or speaking before an audience, as in When John first had to present his findings to the board of ­directors, stage fright made him stutter. [Second half of 1800s]

  stage whisper A whisper loud enough to be overheard, as in Our three-year-old behaved beautifully at the ceremony, but then he asked in a stage whisper, “Why does that lady have blue hair?” This ­expression alludes to an actor’s whisper on stage, which is meant to be heard by the audience. [Mid-1800s]

  stag party A social gathering for men exclusively, often involving entertainment considered unsuitable for women. For example, They wanted to give him a stag party before the wedding but John wasn’t interested. This idiom uses stag in the sense of “a man unaccompanied by a woman.” [c. 1850]

  stake → In addition to the idioms beginning with STAKE, also see AT STAKE; BURN AT THE STAKE; HAVE A STAKE IN; PULL UP STAKES.

  stake a claim Also, stake out a claim. Indicate something as one’s own, as in I’m staking a claim to the drumstick, or She staked out a claim for herself in the insurance business. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, originally meant “register a claim to land by marking it with stakes.” It was ­being used figuratively by the late 1800s.

  stake out Keep an area or person under police surveillance; also, assign someone to conduct such a surveillance. For example, They staked out the house, or He was staked out in the alley, watching for drug dealers. [c. 1940]

  stamp → In addition to the idiom beginning with STAMP, also see RUBBER STAMP.

  stamping ground Also, old stamping ground, stomping ground. A habitual or favorite haunt, as in Whenever we visit, we go back to our old stamping ground, the drugstore nearest the high school. This term alludes to a traditional gathering place for horses or cattle, which stamp down the ground with their hooves. [Early 1800s]

  stamp out Extinguish or destroy, as in The government stamped out the rebellion in a brutal way, or The police were determined to stamp out drug dealers. This metaphoric expression alludes to extinguishing a fire by trampling on it. [Mid-1800s]

  stand → In addition to the idioms beginning with STAND, also see CAN’T STAND; HEART MISSES A BEAT (STANDS STILL); (STAND) IN AWE OF; IT STANDS TO REASON; KNOW WHERE ONE STANDS; MAKE A STAND; MAKE ONE’S HAIR STAND ON END; NOT HAVE (STAND) AN EARTHLY CHANCE; TAKE A STAND; WITHOUT A LEG TO STAND ON.

  stand a chance Have a possibility or a hope of success, as in Do you think Mary stands a chance of finishing the marathon? or I think we stand a fair chance of seeing the Queen arrive at Buckingham Palace. This idiom was first recorded in 1796. Also see NOT HAVE AN EARTHLY CHANCE.

  stand at ease → See AT EASE, def. 2.

  stand by 1. Be ready or available to act, as in I’m almost ready for you to carve the turkey, so please stand by. [Mid-1200s] 2. Wait for something to resume, as in We are all standing by until the power is restored. Also see ON STANDBY. 3. Be present but remain uninvolved, refrain from acting, as in I can’t stand by and see these kids shoplifting. [Late 1300s] 4. Remain loyal, as in She’s my friend and I’ll stand by her, no matter what. [Early 1500s] Also see STICK BY. 5. Adhere to, abide by, as in I’m going to stand by what I said yesterday. [Late 1300s]

  stand corrected Agree that one was wrong, as in I stand corrected—we did go to Finland in 1985. This idiom was first recorded in John Dryden’s The Maiden Queen (1668): “I stand corrected, and myself reprove.”

  stand down 1. Leave a witness stand, as in The judge told her to stand down. [Late 1600s] 2. Withdraw, as from a political contest or a game or race, as in Harry decided to stand down as a candidate for mayor. [Late 1800s] 3. Go off duty, as in The American forces were ordered to stand down. [Early 1900s]

  stand fast → See STAND ONE’S GROUND.

  stand for 1. Represent, symbolize, as in The Stars and Stripes stands for our country. [Early 1600s] 2. Advocate, support, uphold, as in The National Writers Union stands for free
dom of the press. [c. 1300] Also see STAND UP FOR. 3. Put up with, tolerate. This usage is generally in a negative context, as in Mother will not stand for rude behavior. [Late 1800s] Also see HOLD STILL FOR. 4. stand for something. Have some value or importance, as in She ­realized that appearances do stand for something. This usage dates from the mid-1800s but was preceded by stand for nothing, meaning “be worthless,” dating from the late 1300s. Also see STAND IN FOR.

  stand guard Watch over, act as a lookout, as in We’ll climb the tree and get the apples if Josh will stand guard, or There’s a parking space; stand guard while I make a U-turn and get to it. This term ­alludes to the military defense of posting guards to watch for the enemy.

  stand in awe → See IN AWE OF.

  stand in for Substitute for, as in He’s kindly agreed to stand in for me at the reception. [Early 1900s]

  standing joke Something that is always funny even though it is often repeated. for example, Mary’s “Dennis who?” when her husband is mentioned is a standing joke around here. This idiom employs standing in the sense of “established” or “regular,” a usage dating from the mid-1500s.

  standing on one’s head → See under DO BLINDFOLDED.

  stand in good stead Be extremely useful, as in That umbrella stood me in good stead on our trip; it rained every day. [c. 1300]

  standing order A regulation that is in force until it is specifically changed or withdrawn, as in The waiters have standing orders to fill all glasses as they are emptied. This idiom began life in the mid-1600s as standing rule; the word order began to be used about 1800 for such military orders and gradually was extended to other areas.

  stand off 1. Stay at a distance remain apart, as in Carol stood off from the others. [First half of 1600s] This usage gave rise to the adjective standoffish for “aloof” or “reserved in a haughty way.” 2. Put off, keep away, as in The police stood off the angry strikers. [Second half of 1800s]

  stand on 1. Be based on, depend on, as in Our success will stand on their support. [c. 1600] 2. Insist on observance of, as in Let’s not stand on ceremony. This usage today is nearly always put in a negative context. [Mid-1500s]