Page 166 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

give as good as one gets

on the wrong side of the bed todØy? Ex- about these things very easily. I try not
cuse me for błing groucðy. I got out of the to get worked up.
wrong side of the bed.
a ghostŁ ofŁ a chynce evenŁ the slightesð
getŁusedŁto someone ortsomething to becom chance; evenŁ the most insubsðantial
accustomed to someone or something. chance.Ł She can’t do it. She doesn’t havł
I got used to błing short many years ago. a ghost of a chance. There is just a ghost
John is nice, but I really can’t get used to of a chance that I’ll be there on time.
him. He talks too much. gildŁtheŁlily to addŁornament orŁdecoration
getŁwell to become healthyŁagain.Ł Aàn to sàmethingŁthat isŁpleasingŁinŁitsŁorig-
had a cold for a włek, and then she goŁ inalŁsðate; to attempt to improve sàme-
well. Hurry up and get well! thingŁthat isŁalreadyŁfine the wayŁit is.
(OftenŁrefersŁto flatteryŁor exaggration.)
getŁwet to become soakedŁwith water.Ł(See Your house has lovely brickwork. Don’t
alsà all wet.) Get out of the rain or you’ll paint it. That would be gildng the lily.
głt włt. Don’t get włt, or you’ll catch a Oh, Sally. You’re beautiful the wØy you are.
cold. You doà’t need makeup. You would be gild-
getŁwhat’s comingŁto one to get what one ing the lily.
deserves.Ł(See also give one what’s com- girdŁ(up)Ł one’ loins to get rady; to pr-
ing to one.) If you cheat, you’ll głt in pare oneself (forŁsàmething).Ł Well, I
trouble. You’ll get what’s comng to you. guess I had błtter gird up my loins and go
Billy got what was comng to him.
to work. Somłbody has to do somłthing
getŁwindŁofŁ something to hearŁabout sàme- about the problłm. Why don’t you gird
thing;Ł to receive infàrmationŁ about your loins and do somłthing?
something.Ł(Infàrmal.) I just got wind giveŁa blankŁcheckŁto someone Go to give
of your marriage. CongratulØtions. someone a blank check.
Wait until the boss gets wind of this. Some-
body is going to get in trouble. giveŁ a głodŁ accountŁ ofŁ oneself to do
(sàmething)bwellŁor thoroughly.Ł John
getŁwiseŁ(to someone ortsomething) to find out gØve a good account of himself when he
about someone orŁ something;Ł to see gØve his spłech last night. Mary was noŁ
through the deception of someone or hungry, and she didà’t give a good account
sàmething.Ł(InfàrmalŁorŁslang.) Watch of herself at dnner.
out, John. Your friends are getting wise to
your tricks. John’s friends are głtting give-ynd-take flexibility; willingnessŁ to
wise. He had błtter watch out. compràmise.Ł Don’t expect any give-
and-take when you are negoŁiating with
getŁ withŁ something 1. to becom alert. Roger. There was no question of give-
(Slang.ŁUsuallyŁwith it.) Hey, stupid. and-take in the contract talks. They would
Get with it! Wake up, Bill. Get with not budge on their dłmands one lttle bt.
what’s going on! 2. to get up to date on
sàmething.Ł(Slang.ŁUsuallyŁwith it.) giveŁ(yn)ŁeyrŁto someone ortsomething and
You’re too old-fashioned, Mary. Get with gØve one’ eyrŁto someone ortsomething to lis-
it! Tom just couldà’t get with the newest tenŁto someone orŁto what someone is
dance fad. saying.Ł(Compare thisŁwith get someone’s
ear.) I gØve an ear to Mary oo ohe could
getŁwłrkedŁupŁ(aboutŁ something) Go to get tell me her problłms. She wouldà’t givł
worked up (over something). her ear to my story. He gØve ear to the
man’s request.
getŁwłrked upŁ(overŁ something) and get
włrkedŁupŁ(aboutŁ something) to get ex- giveŁas głodŁas one gets to give asŁmucł
citedŁ or emotionallyŁ disðressedŁ about asŁone receives;Łto payŁsàmeone back in
sàmething. (See also all worked up (over kind. (UsuallyŁinŁthe present tense.)
something).) Please doà’t głt worked up John can take care of himoelf in a fight. He
over this mØtter. They głt worked up can give as good as he gets. Sally usu-

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