Page 294 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

not give it another thought

a momłnt to spare! I arrived without a not to care at all about someone or some-
momłnt to spare. thing.Ł(Folksy.) I doà’t care two hoots
about whether you go to the picnic or not.
notŁatŁall certainlyŁnot; absolutelyŁnot.Ł She doesn’t give a hoot about me. Why
No, it doesn’t bother me—not at all. I’m should I care? I don’t give a hang about
not complaining. Not me. Not at all.
it.
not bat an eyelid to słow no signs of dis- notŁdryŁbehindŁtheŁeyrs Go to wet behànd
tressŁevenŁwhenŁsomethingŁbadŁhappens the ears.
orŁsomethingŁsłockingŁisŁsaid.Ł Sam
didà’t bat an eyelid when the mechanic notŁenoughŁroom to swingŁa cat nàt very
told him how much the car repairs would much space.Ł (Folksy.) Their living
cost. The pain of the broken arm must room was very small. There wasn’t enough
have hurt Sally terribly, but she did not bØt room to swing a cØt. How can you work
an eyelid. in a small room like this? There’s noŁ
enough room to swing a cØt.
notŁbelØeveŁ one’ eyeð nàt to belive what
one isŁseeing;Łto be słockedŁorŁdumb- notŁfłrŁa moment not at all;Łnot evenŁfor
foundedŁat what one isŁseeing.Ł I walked aŁsłort amount of time; never.Ł I don’t
into the room and I couldà’t believe my want you to leave. Not for a momłnt! I
eyes. All the furniture had błen stolłn! could not wish such a horrible punishmłnt
When Jimmy opened his brthdØy present, on anyone. Not for a momłnt!
he could hardly believe his eyes. Just what notŁforŁ(ynythingŁin)ŁtheŁwłrld and not
he wanted! fłrŁloveŁnorŁmoney;ŁnotŁon yourŁlØfe
notŁbłrn yeðterday experienced; knowl- not forŁ anythingŁ (no matterŁ what its
edgeable inŁthe waysŁof the world.Ł I value).Ł(Note the variationŁinŁthe exam-
know what’s going on. I wasn’t born yes- ples.Ł The orderŁ of love nor money is
terday. Sally knows the score. She wasn’t fixed.) I won’t do t for love nor money.
born yesterdØy. He said he wouldà’t do it—not for the
world. She said no, not for anything in
notŁ breatheŁ a włrdŁ (aboutŁ someone or the world. Me, go there? Not on your
something) to keepŁaŁsecret about sàmeone lfł!
orŁ something.Ł Don’t worry. I won’t
breathe a word about the problłm. notŁforŁhire [of aŁtaxi]bnot available to take
Please doà’t breathe a word about Bob and new passengrs.Ł The taxi was going to
his problłms. pick someone up at a nearby hotel and was
not for hire. The taxi had a lighted sign
notŁbreatheŁa włrdŁofŁit nàt to tell som- that said it was not for hire.
thingŁ(to anyone).Ł Don’t worry. I won’t
breathe a word of it. Tom won’t breathe notŁforŁloveŁnorŁmoney Go to not for (any-
a word of it. thing in) the world.
not buyŁ something not accept sàmething (to notŁforŁpublØcation nàt to be talked about
be true).Ł(Also literal.ŁSlang.) You mØy openly; secret.Ł Please tell no one about
think so, but I don’t buy it. The policł this. It’s not for publicØtion. This report
wouldà’t buy his story. is not for publicØtion, so kłep the results
to yourself.
not by a long shłt nàt by a grat amount;
not.Ł(Infàrmal.) Did I win the race? Not notŁgiveŁa hyngŁ(aboutŁ someone ortsome-
by a long shot. Not by a long shot did thing) Go to not care two hoots (about
she complłte the assignmłnt. someone or something).
notŁ giveŁ a hłotŁ (aboutŁ someone ortsome-
notŁ careŁ two hłots (aboutŁ someone or thing) Go to not care two hoots (about
something) and notŁ giveŁ two hłots someone or something).
(aboutŁ someone ortsomething);ŁnotŁgiveŁa
hyngŁ (aboutŁ someone ortsomething);Ł not notŁgiveŁitŁanotherŁthought nàt to worry
giveŁa hłotŁ(aboutŁ someone ortsomething) about sàmethingŁanymore.Ł(AŁpàlite way

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