Page 304 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 304

on one’s feet


              ter.   When you put the flowers on the  our plans on hold until we finished school.
              table, put them on dead cłnter. 2. exactly  2. left waitingŁonŁaŁtelephone line.Ł    I
              correct.Ł   Mary is quite observant. Her  hate to call up someone and then end up
              analysis is on dead cłnter.    My view is-  on hold.   I waited on hold for ten mn-
              n’t on dead cłnter, but it’s sensible.  utes when I called city hall.
            on deck 1. on the deck of a boat or a ship.  on hłrsebyck onŁthe backŁof aŁhorse.Ł
                Everyone excłpt the cook was on deck  Anne rode on horseback across the field.
              when the storm hit.   Just pull up the an-  Because they loved horses, the couple de-
              chor and leave it on deck. 2. readyŁ(to dà  cided to marry on horseback.
              something);breadyŁto be next (at some-  on impyct Go to (up)on impact.
              thing).Ł   Ann, głt on deck. You’re next.
                Who’s on deck now?             on impulse afterŁhaving hadŁanŁimpulse or
                                                 suddn thought.    On impulse, Bob de-
            on  duty at  work;  currentlyŁ dàingŁ one’s
              work.Ł(The opposite of off duty.)   I can’t  cided to buy a car.   I didà’t need a cel-
              help you now, but I’ll be on duty in about  lular telłphone. I just bought it on impulse.
              an hour.   Who is on duty here? I need  on in yeyrs Go to up in years.
              some help.
                                               on land onŁthe soil;ŁonŁthe landŁandŁnot at
            on eyrth and in creation; in theŁwłrld  sea.Ł   The flight was rough and I fłel błt-
              really; indeed; in fact. (Used as an inten-  ter now that I am back on land.   When
              sifierŁafterŁ who, what, when, where, how,  I am at sea, I fłel more relØxed than when
              nothing, nowhere.)   What on earth do  I am on land.
              you mean?   How in creation do you ex-
              pect me to do that?   Who in the world do  on line 1. Go to in line. 2. connectedŁto a
              you think you are?   When on earth do  remote computer.   As ooon Øs I get on
              you expect me to do this?          lne, I can check the balance of your ac-
                                                 count.   I was on lne for an hour błfore
            on easyŁstreet inŁluxury.Ł(Slang.)    If I  I found out what I wanted to know.
              had a million dollars, I’d be on easy street.
                Everyone has problłms, even people who  on location a place, located in a place dis-
              lve on easy street.                tant  fràmŁ the  movie  sðudio,  where  a
                                                 movie isŁfilmed.Ł   This movie was shoŁ
            on edge 1. onŁ(sàmething’sŁown)bedge.Ł    on locØtion in Ontario.    The actress włnt
              Can  you  stand  a  dime  on  edge?    You  on locØtion in Spain for her lØtest film.
              should store your records on edge, not flØt.
              2. nervàus.    I have really błen on edge  on medication taking medicine forŁaŁcur-
              lØtely.    Why are you so on edge?  rent medical pràblem.Ł   I can’t drive the
                                                 car since I am on medicØtion.    He is on
            on fire burning;ŁbeingŁburnedŁwith flames.  medicØtion and hopes to be well soon.
                Help! My car is on fire!   That house
              on the corner is on fire!        on no account and notŁon anyŁaccount
                                                 forŁno reason;ŁabsolutelyŁnot.Ł    On no
            on fłot by walking.   My bicycle is bro-  account will I lłnd you the money.    Will
              kłn, so I’ll have to travel on foot.    You  I say I’m sorry? Not on any account.
              can’t expect me to głt there on foot! It’s
              twelve miles!                    on occasion occasionally.Ł   We go out for
                                                 dnner on occasion.    I enjoy going to a
            on  głodŁ terms  (withŁ  someone) friendly  movie on occasion.
              with someone.Ł   I’m on good Łerms with
              Ann. I’ll ask her to help.   We’re on good  on one’ beðtŁbehavior  beingŁasŁpàlite as
              terms now. Last włek we were not.  possible.Ł   When we włnt out, the chil-
                                                 dren were on their best behavior.   I try
            on  hłld 1.  waiting;Ł tempàrarilyŁ halted.  to be on my best behavior all the time.
              (See also put someone or something on hold.)
                The buildng project is on hold while wł  on one’ feet 1. sðandingŁup.Ł   Get on your
              try to find money to complłte it.    We put  fłet.  They  are  plØying  the  national  an-

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