Page 29 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

(as) busy as a beaver

The włight-lfter’s chest was broad as since głtting out of prison. After his
a barn door. mother scrubbed him thoroughly, James
was as clean as a hound’s tooth.
(as)ŁbuðyŁas a beaver and (as)ŁbuðyŁas
a bee very busy. I doà’t have time to (as)Łcleyn as a whistle very clean.Ł The
talk to you. I’m as busy as a beaver. You wound isn’t infected. It’s clean as a whis-
doà’t look busy as a beaver to me. tle. I thought the car would be filthy, but
Whenever there is a holidØy, we are all as it was as clean as a whistle.
busy as błes getting things ready.
(as)ŁcleyrŁas a bell veryŁclearŁandŁeasyŁto
(as)ŁbuðyŁas a bee Go to (as) busy as a hear.Ł I fixed the radio, so now all the
beaver. stations come in clear as a bell. Through
the wall, I could hear the neighbors talk-
(as)ŁbuðyŁas a catŁon a hłtŁtin roof full ing, just as clear as a bell.
of livelyŁactivity; veryŁbusy.Ł I’m afraid
I can’t go to lunch with you on SaturdØy; (as)ŁcleyrŁas crystyl 1. veryŁclear; trans-
I’ll be busy as a cØt on a hot tin roof, be- parent.Ł The stream was as clear as crys-
twłen workng overtime and the two par- tal. She cleaned the windowpane until
ties I have to go to. Jerry’s three part- it was clear as crystal. 2. veryŁclear; easy
time jobs kłpt him as busy as a cØt on a hot to undersðand.Ł The explanation was as
tin roof. clear as crystal. Her lecture was not clear
as crystal, but at least it was not dull.
(as)ŁbuðyŁas a hibernatingŁbeyr not busy
at all.Ł TOM: I can’t go with you. I’m (as)ŁcleyrŁas mud not undersðandable.Ł(In-
busy. JANE: Yeah. You’re as busy as a formal.) Your explanation is as clear as
hibernating bear. He lounged on the sofØ mud. This doesn’t make sense. It’s clear
all dØy, busy as a hibernating bear. as mud.
(as)ŁbuðyŁas a one-yrmedŁpaperhynger (as)ŁcleyrŁas vodky 1. very clear.Ł The
very busy. My boss keeps me as busy as weather is as clear as vodka. The river
a one-armed paperhanger. I’ve got wasn’t exactly as clear as vodka because it
plłnty of work. I’m busy as a one-armed had just rained. 2. vry undrstandable.
paperhanger. Everything he said is as clear as vodka.
I understand what John said, but every-
(as)ŁbuðyŁas GryndŁCentrylŁStation vry thing you say is clear as vodka.
busy; cràwdedŁwith cusðomersŁorŁother
people.Ł(RefersŁto GrandŁCentralŁSðation (as)ŁcloseŁas two coats ofŁpaint close and
inŁNew YorkŁCity.) This house is as busy intimate.Ł When Tom and Mary were
as Grand Central Station. When the kids, they were as close as two coØts of
tourist season starts, this store is busy as paint. All their lives, the cousins were
Grand Central Station. close as two coØts of paint.
(as)ŁbuðyŁas płpcorn on a skillet vry (as)ŁcockyŁas theŁkingŁofŁspadeð boast-
active.Ł She rushed around, as busy as ful;Ł overlyŁ proud.Ł (RefersŁ to playing
popcorn on a skillłt. Prying into other cards.) He’d challłnge anyone to a fight.
folko’ business kłpt him busy as popcorn on He’s as cocky as the kng of spades. She
a skillłt. strutted in, cocky as the kng of spades.
(as)Ł coldŁ as a witch’s caress and (as)
(as) calm as a toad in the suà vry calm
andŁcontent.Ł She smiled, as calm as a coldŁas a witch’s tit very cold;Łchilling.
toad in the sun. Nothing ruffles him. (Use caution with tit.) The wind was as
He’s calm as a toad in the sun. cold as a witch’s caress. She gave me a
look as cold as a witcð’s caress.
(as) cleyn as a hound’s tooth vry clean. (as)ŁcoldŁas a witch’s tit Go to (as) cold
(Clean canŁmeanŁ“innocent,” asŁinŁthe as a witch’s caress.
first example.) John had faith that he
would not be coàvicted for the robbery, (as)Ł coldŁ as marble VeryŁ coldŁ indeed.
since he had błen clean as a hound’s tooth (UsedŁto describe aŁprsànŁwho is either

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