Page 288 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

my one and only

exciting work. John moved into a new mull something over to think about some-
lne of work, too. thing;Łto ponderŁorŁworryŁabout some-
thing.Ł That’s an interesting idea, but I’ll
moveŁup (in theŁwłrld) to advance (one- have to mull it over. T I’ll mull ovłr your
self) andŁ become successful.Ł The suggestions and report to you next włek.
harder I work, the more I move up in the
world. Keep your eye on John. He’s really mum’s theŁwłrd dàn’t spreadŁthe secret.Ł
moving up. Doà’t tell anyone what I told you. Re-
młmber, mum’s the word. OkØy, mum’s
movers andŁ shakers people who get the word. Your secret is safe with me.
thingsŁdàne; people who are productive murderŁ on something veryŁ desðructive or
and cause other peopl to be pràductive; harmful to sàmething. Running a mar-
people who create andŁproduce.Ł The athon is murder on your knees. This dry
trouble with the ABC Company is that all weather is murder on my crops.
the movers and shakers are leaving to take
jobs elsewðere. It seems as if all the muscleŁin (on someone ortsomething) to try
movers and shakers of the world are em- forcefullyŁ to displace someone or take
ployed by a very small number of large over someon’s property, intersts, or re-
frms. lationships.Ł (Slang, especiallyŁ criminal
slang.ŁCompare thisŁwith move in (on
much ado aboutŁnothing aŁlot of excite- someone or something).) Are you trying to
ment about nothing. (ThisŁisŁthe title of muscle in on my scheme? If you try to
aŁplayŁbyŁShakespeare.ŁDo not confuse muscle in, you’ll be facing big trouble.
ado with adieu.) All the commoŁioà
about the new tax lØw turned out to bł a must sàmethingŁthat youŁmust do.Ł(In-
much ado about nothing. Your promises formal.ŁPrecededŁbyŁ be, become, or seem
alwØys turn out to be much ado about like.) When you’re in San Francisco, see
nothing. the Goldłn Gte Bridge. It’s a must. It’s
a must that you bruoh your teeth after
muchŁin evideàce vry visible or evident. every meal.
John was much in evidłnce during the musterŁ (up)Ł one’ courage to build up
conference. Your influłnce is much in one’sŁcourage; to callŁorŁbringŁforth one’s
evidłnce. I appreciate your efforts. courage.Ł I mustered my courage and
dove from the high diving board. He
much soughtŁafter wantedŁorŁdesiredŁvery
much; highlyŁdesirable.Ł This kind of had to muster up all his courage in order
crystal is much oought after. It’s very rare. to attend the dance.
Sally is a great singer. She’s much sought myŁgutŁtells meŁ(that)Ł somethingtis so my in-
after. sðinctsŁtellŁme that somethingŁisŁsà.Ł(This
rfers to one’s gut reaction or gut response,
muddyŁtheŁwater to make sàmethingŁless that is,Ł the wayŁ someone feelsŁ about
clear; to make mattersŁconfusing;Łto cre- something.) My gut tells me that her
ate difficultyŁwhere there wasŁnone be- idea is a sound one. This looks good on
fore.Ł(Also literal.) Things were going paper, but my gut tells me that it is all
along quite smoothly until you came along wrong.
and muddied the wØter. The evłnts of
the past month have muddied the wØter as my one and only one’s spouse. (Infàrmal.
far as our proposed joint vłnture is See also the one and only.) Look Øt the
concerned. time. I’ve got to get home to my one and
only. You’re my one and only. There is
muff one’ lineð Go to fluff one’s lànes. no one else for me.

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