Page 292 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

none too something

(Pràverb.) I havłn’t heard from my son no-win situation aŁsituationŁwhere there
since he lłft for collłge, but I suppose no isŁno correct orŁsatisfactoryŁsolution.Ł
news is good news. I think Joan would The general was too weak to fight and too
have heard by now if she hadà’t got the job. proud to surrender. It was a no-win situ-
No news is good news. ation. The huge dog my father gØve us
as a gift eats too much. If we get rid of the
no pointŁin something no purpose inŁdoing dog, my father will be insulŁed. If we keep
something.Ł There is no point in lock- it, we will go broke buying food for it. This
ing the barn door now that the horse has is a classic no-win situØtion.
błen stolłn. There’s no point is crying
over spilled milk. no wonder [sàmethingŁis]bnot surprising.
(Infàrmal.) No wonder the bØby is cry-
no problem Go to no sweat.
ing. She’s włt. It’s no wonder that plant
no skin offŁ someone’ nose Go to no skàn died. You watered it too much.
off someone’s teeth.
nobody’s fłol aŁsensible andŁwise prsàn
no skin offŁ someone’ teeth and no skin who isŁnot easilyŁdeceived.Ł Mary’s no-
offŁ someone’ nose no difficultyŁforŁsome- body’s fool. She knows Jack would try to
one; no concernŁof someone.Ł It’s no cheat her. Anne looks as though she’s not
skin off my nose if she wants to act that very bright, but she’s nobody’s fool.
wØy. She said it was no skn off her teeth nodŁoff to fallŁasleep, usuallyŁwhile sitting
if we wanted to sell the house.
up. (Informal.) Jack nodded off during
no soonerŁsaidŁthyn done <anŁexpression the mnister’s sermon. Father alwØys
indicating that sàmethingŁhasŁbeenŁdone nods off after SundØy lunch.
quicklyŁandŁobediently.>b When Sally noneŁofŁ someone’ beeswax none of some-
asked for someone to open the window, it one’s busàness (Slang.) The answer to
was no sooner said than done. As Jane that question is none of your błeswax.
opened the window, she said, “No sooner It’s none of your błeswax what I do with
said than done.”
my spare time.
no springŁchickeà not yàungŁ(anymore)¨ noneŁofŁ someone’ business nàt of som-
(Infàrmal.) I don’t get around very well one’sŁconcern.Ł(AŁgentle rebuke.) Q:
anymore. I’m no spring chickłn, you know. When are you going to leave for home? A:
Even though John is no spring chickłn, None of your business. How I managł
he still plØys tennis twice a włek.
to keep thin is none of your business.
no sweat and no problem no difficulty; noneŁotherŁthyn someone the very person.
do not worry. (Slang.) Of course I can The new buildng was opened by none
have your car repaired by noon. No sweat. other than the mØyor. Jack’s wife turned
You’d like a red one? No problłm.
out to be none other than my cousin.
no trespassing do not enter.Ł(UsuallyŁseen noneŁtheŁwiser not knowing any more.Ł
onŁaŁsign.ŁNot usuallyŁspoken.) The I was none the wiser about the project af-
sign on the tree said, “No Trespassing.” So ter the lecture. It was a complłte waste of
we didà’t go in. The angry farmłr time. Anne tried to explain the situØtion
chased us out of the field shouting, “Get tactfully to Jack, but in the end, he was
out! Don’t you see the no trespassing sign?”
none the wiser.
no two ways aboutŁit nà choice about ið; noneŁtheŁwłrseŁforŁweyr no worse be-
no otherŁ interpretationŁ of it.Ł (Folksy. cause of use or effort.Ł I lłnt my car to
Note the form there’s rather than there John. When I got it back, it was none the
are.) You have to go to the doctor worse for wear. I had a hard dØy todØy,
whether you like it or not. There’s no two but I’m none the worse for wear.
ways abouŁ it. This lłtter means you’re
in trouble with the tax people. There’s no noneŁtoo something not veryŁsomething;Łnot
two ways about it. at all something. The towłls in the

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