Page 199 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

have one’s back to the wall

haveŁ one’ byckŁto theŁwyll to be inŁaŁde- tion. (The till isŁaŁcash boxŁorŁdrawer.)
fensive position.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁSe also push Mr. Jones had his hand in the till for
someone to the wall.) He’ll have to givł years błfore he was caught. I think that
in. He has his back to the wall. How can the new clłrk has her hand in the till.
I bØrgØin wðen I’ve got my bØck to the There is cash missing every morning.
wØll?
haveŁ one’ hynds fullŁ(withŁ someone ortsomł-
haveŁ one’ cakeŁandŁeatŁitŁtoo and eat thing) to be busyŁorŁtotallyŁoccupiedŁwith
one’ cakeŁandŁhaveŁitŁtoo to enjoy both sàmeone or sàmething. (LiteralŁwhenŁone
havingŁsàmethingŁandŁusingŁit up;Łto have cannot holdŁ anythingŁ else inŁ one’s
it both ways. (UsuallyŁsðatedŁinŁthe neg- hands.) I have my hands full with my
ative.) Tom wants to have his cake and three children. You have your hands full
eat it too. It can’t be done. Don’t buy a with the store. We both have our hando
car if you want to walk and stay healthy. full.
You can’t eat your cake and have it too.
haveŁ one’ hynds tied to be prvented fràm
haveŁ one’ druthers to get one’s choice; to dàingŁsomething. (Se also tàe someone’s
be permittedŁ to have one’sŁ preference. hands.) I can’t help you. I was told not
(Folksy.Ł The druthers isŁ from would to, so I have my hands tied. John can
rather.) If I had my druthers, I’d go to help. He doesn’t have his hands tied.
France. Tom said that if he had his
druthers, he’d choose to stay home. haveŁ one’ headŁin theŁcloudð to be un-
aware of whað is going on. “Bob, do you
haveŁ one’ eyrŁto theŁground and keep have your head in the clouds?” said the
one’ eyrŁto theŁground to listen car- teacher. She walks around all dØy with
fully, hopingŁto get advance warningŁof her head in the clouds. She must be in love.
sàmething.Ł(RefersŁto holdingŁone’sŁear
against the groundŁ to listenŁ forŁ ap- haveŁ one’ heartŁgo outŁto someone to have
proaching horses or a train.) John had compassion forŁsàmeone.Ł I can’t havł
his ear to the ground, hopng to find out my heart go out to everyone. To have
about new ideas in computers. His boss compassion is to have one’s heart go out
told him to kłep his ear to the ground so to those who are suffering.
that he’d be the first to know of a new idea.
haveŁ one’ heyrtŁin theŁrightŁplace to have
haveŁ oneself something to select, use, or con- goodŁintentions,ŁevenŁif there are badŁre-
sume something. (Folksy.ŁAlso with non- sults.Ł(See also one’s heart is in the right
rflexive prànouns, me, him, her, etc.,Łas place.) I don’t alwØys do what is right,
inŁthe last example.) He had himself a but my heart is in the right place. Good
two-hour nap. I’ll have myself one of old Tom. His heart’s in the right place.
those red ones. I think I’ll have me a big, It doesn’t mØtter if she lost the game. She
cold drink. has her heart in the right place.
haveŁ one’ feetŁon theŁground Go to get haveŁ one’ heyrtŁ on one’ sleeve Go to
one’s feet on the ground. wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve.
haveŁ one’ fingerŁin theŁpØe Go to have a haveŁ one’ heartŁsetŁagainstŁ something to be
finger in the pie. totallyŁ against something.Ł (Also with
haveŁ one’ fingerŁin too mayŁpØeð to be in- dead, asŁinŁthe example.ŁSee also dead set
volved in too many things;Łto have too against someone or something; set one’s heart
many tasksŁgàingŁto be able to do any of against something.) Jane has her heart
them well.Ł I’m too busy. I have my fin- dead set against going to Australia. John
ger n too mØy pies. She never gets any- has his heart set against going to college.
thing done because she has her finger in too haveŁ one’ heyrtŁsetŁon something to be d-
many pies.
siringŁandŁexpectingŁsàmething.Ł Jane
haveŁ one’ hyndŁin theŁtill to be sðealing has her heart set on going to London.
money fràmŁaŁcompanyŁor anŁorganiza- Bob will be disappointed. He had his heart

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