Page 296 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

not set foot somewhere

You look as if you don’t know whether new movie that is showing at the theater.
you’re coming or going. TOM: You didà’t miss much.
notŁknowŁwhØchŁwayŁto turn Go to not notŁ moveŁ a muscle to remainŁperfectly
know where to turn. motionless.Ł Be quiet. Sit there and don’t
move a muscle. I was oo Łired I couldà’t
notŁletŁ someone catchŁ someone doingtsomething move a muscle.
and notŁ wyntŁ to catchŁ someone doing
something to findŁsomeone dàingŁsome- notŁon anyŁaccount Go to on no account.
thingŁwrong.Ł(The ideaŁisŁthat the per-
sonŁ ought not to do the wrongŁ thing notŁoneŁioty not evenŁaŁtiny bit.Ł I won’t
again,Łnot that the prsànŁsimplyŁavoid give you any at all! Not one iota! I did
gettingŁcaught.) How many Łimes havł not głt one iota of encouragłmłnt from
I told you not to play ball in the house? any of those people.
Doà’t lłt me cØtch you doing that again. notŁ one’ place nàt one’s rol to do som-
If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thou- thing.Ł It was not my place to criticiz
sand times: Don’t do that! I don’t want to my boss. It was Bill’s place to ask the
cØtch you doing it again!
questions, not yours.
notŁliftŁa fingerŁ(to helpŁ someone) and not
lØftŁa hyndŁ(to helpŁ someone) to dà nàth- notŁon yourŁlife Go to not for (anything in)
ingŁ to helpŁ someone.Ł (The someone is the world.
anyone inŁthe negative.) They would- notŁ open one’ mouth and notŁ utterŁ a
n’t lft a finger to help us. Can you włrd not to sayŁanythingŁat all;Łnot to tell
imagine that they wouldà’t lft a fingłr? somethingŁ(to anyàne).Ł Don’t worry,
Sally refused to lft a hand to help her I’ll keep your secret. I won’t even open my
own sister. mouth. Have no fear. I woà’t utter a
word. I don’t know how they found out.
notŁlØftŁa hyndŁ(to helpŁ someone) Go to not
lift a finger (to help someone). I didà’t even opłn my mouth.
notŁlongŁfłrŁthis włrld to be about to di. notŁseeŁanyŁobjection (to something) Go to
Our dog is nearly twelve years old and see no objection (to something).
not long for this world. I’m so tired. I notŁ seeŁ fyrtherŁ thyn theŁ endŁ ofŁ one’
think I’m not long for this world.
nose and notŁseeŁpastŁtheŁendŁofŁ one’
notŁmadeŁofŁmoney [of a prsàn]bnot hav- nose nàt to car about what is not actu-
ingŁaŁlot of money; not havingŁanŁun- allyŁpresent orŁobvious;Łnot to care about
limited supply of money.Ł I can’t afford the future orŁabout what isŁhappening
a car like that. I’m not made of money you elsewhere or to other people. (Could be
know. There is only so much they can literalŁor anŁexaggration inŁaŁheavyŁfog
pØy. They’re not made of money. orŁinŁdimŁlight.) Mary can’t see past the
end of her nose. She doesn’t care about
notŁmiss a thing Go to not miss much. what will happłn in the future as long as
notŁmiss much 1. and notŁmiss a thing she’s comfortable now. Jack’s been ac-
not to missŁobservingŁanyŁpart of what cused of not seeing farther than the end of
isŁgoingŁon.Ł(UsuallyŁwith do asŁinŁthe ex- his nooe. He refuoes to expand the company
amplesŁblow.) Ted doesn’t miss much. and look for new markets.
He is very alert. The puppy doesn’t miss notŁseeŁpastŁtheŁendŁofŁ one’ nose Go to
a thing. He sees every move you make. 2. not see farther than the end of one’s
not to missŁexpriencing somethingŁthat nose.
reallyŁwasŁnot worth expriencingŁany-
way. (Sarcasðic. Usually with do as in the notŁ setŁ fłot somłwherł nàt to go som-
examplesŁblow.) I missed the big sales where.Ł I wouldà’t set foot in John’s
młeting last włek, but I understand I did- room. I’m very angry at him. He never
n’t miss much. BILL: I didà’t see that set foot here.

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