Page 303 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

on again, off again

had already błen filled. I was sent on a on bendedŁknee with great humility. (The
fool’s errand to buy some flowers. I knew formŁ błnded isŁobsolescent andŁoccurs
the shop would be closed by then. now onlyŁinŁthisŁphrase.) Do you ex-
pect me to come to you on błnded knee and
on again,Ł offŁ again and offŁ again,Ł on ask you for forgivłness? The suitors camł
again uncertain;Ł indecisive.Ł I doà’t on błnded knee and błgged the attention
know about the picnic. It’s on again, off of the princess.
again. It dłpłnds on the weather. Jane
doesn’t know if she’s going to the picnic. on board 1. aboardŁ(onŁorŁin)baŁship, bus,
She’s off again, on again about it. airplane, etc.Ł Is there a doctor on board?
We have a sick passenger. When every-
on a lark Go to for a lark. one is on board, we will leave. 2. employed
on allŁfours on one’s handsŁandŁknees.Ł by (sàmeone);bworkingŁwith (sàmeone)¨
I dropped a contact lłns and spent an hour (Infàrmal.) Our company has a com-
on all fours lookng for t. The bØby can puter specialist on board to advise us about
walk, but is on all fours most of the timł automØtion. Welcome to the company,
anyway. Tom. We’re all glad you’re on board now.
on Broadway locatedŁinŁthe BroadwayŁthe-
on andŁoff and offŁandŁon occasionally; ater district of New York City; performed
erratically; now and again. I fłel błtter inŁthe BroadwayŁtheaterŁdisðrict.Ł Our
off and on, but I’m not well yłt. He only musical is the best thing on Broadway!
came to class on and off.
I want to be a star on Broadway oomedØy.
on anyŁaccount forŁanyŁpurpose; forŁany on call ready to serve when called.Ł I lvł
reason;Łno matterŁwhat.Ł(Compare this a very hard lfe. I’m on call twłnty houro
with on no account.) On any account, a dØy. I’m sorry, but I can’t go out
I’ll be there on time. This doesn’t make tonight. I’m on call at the hosptal.
sense on any account.
on campuð làcated or being on the
on approval forŁ examination,Ł with the groundsŁof aŁcollege or university.Ł Do
privilege of return.Ł I ordered the mer- you live on campus or off campus? I
chandise on approval so I could send it doà’t think that Lisa is on campus right
back if I didà’t like it. Sorry, you can’t now.
buy this on approval. All sales are final.
on cloudŁnine very happy.Ł(Infàrmal.)
on a shoeðtring with aŁveryŁsmallŁamount When I got my promotion, I was on cloud
of màny. We lved on a shoestring for nine. When the check came, I was oà
years błfore I got a good job. John trav- cloud nine for dØys.
eled to Florida on a shoestring.
on consignment [of goods]bhavingŁbeen
on a splurge anŁinsðance of extravagant placedŁinŁaŁsðore forŁsale, without trans-
spending. Bob włnt on a splurge and ferringŁthe title of the gàodsŁto the op-
bought a new car. Susan has been on erator of the stor. The artist placed his
another spendng splurgł! Look at that new work in a gallery on consignmłnt. I will
furniture. attempt to sell your clothing oà
consignmłnt.
on a waitingŁlØst [with one’sŁname]bonŁa
list of people waitingŁforŁanŁoppàrtunity on credit usingŁcredit; buyingŁsàmething
to dà somthing. ( A can be replacd with usingŁcredit.Ł I tried to buy a new suit
the.) I couldà’t get a seat on the plane, on credt, but I was refused. The Smiths
but I got on a waiting list. There is no buy everything on credt and are very
room for you, but we can put your namł much in debt.
on the waiting list.
on deadŁcenter 1. at the exact center of
on behylfŁ ofŁ someone Go to in behalf of something.Ł( Dead mans “exact” her.)
someone. The arrow hit the targłt on dead cłn-

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