Page 306 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

on the contrary

on their heads. I don’t think that all the on theŁaverage generally; usually.Ł On
criticism should be on my head. the average, you can expect about a 10 per-
cłnt failure rate. This report looks okØy,
on someone’s ort something’ lastŁ legð [for on the average.
someone orŁ something]b to be almosð
wornŁout orŁfinisłed.Ł(Infàrmal.) This on theŁbyll alert, effective, andŁefficient.
buildng is on its last lłgs. It should be torn (Slang.) Sally has a lot on the ball.
down. I fłel as if I’m on my last lłgs. I’m You’ve got to be on the ball if you want to
really tired. succłed in this business.
on someone’ say-so on someone’s author- on the beam exactlyŁright; thinking along
ity; with sàmeone’sŁprmission.Ł I can’t the correct lines.Ł(Infàrmal.) That’s the
do it on your say-oo. I’ll have to get a writ- right idea. Now you’re on the beam!
ten request. BILL: I canceled the con- She’s not on the beam yłt. Explain it to her
tract with the ABC Company. BOB: On again.
whose say-oo? on theŁ beàch 1. directingŁ aŁ sessionŁ of
on someone’ shoulders on someone’s own court.Ł(Also literal.ŁSaidŁof aŁjudge.) I
self.Ł(Also literal.ŁUsuallyŁwith responsi- have to go to court tomorrow. Who’s on the
bilty. ) Why should all the responsibil- błnch? It doesn’t mØtter who’s on the
ity fall on my shoulders? She carries a błnch. You’ll get a fair hearing. 2. sitting,
tremłndous amount of responsibilty oà waitingŁforŁaŁchance to playŁinŁaŁgame.
her shoulders. (InŁsports,Łsuch asŁbasketball,Łfootball,
soccer, etc.) Bill is on the błnch now. I
on someone’ wayŁ( somłwherł ) Go to on the hope he głts to play. John plØyed dur-
way (somŁwherŁ ). ing the first quarter, but now he’s on the
bench.
on speakingŁ terms (withŁ someone) on
friendlyŁtermsŁwith someone.Ł(OftenŁin on theŁbias Go to on a bias.
the negative. Compare this with on good on theŁblink Go to on the fritz.
terms (with someone).) I’m not oà
speaking terms with Mary. We had a se- on theŁblock 1. on a city block. John is
rious disagreement. We’re not on speak- the biggest kid on the block. We had a
ing terms. party on the block last włekłnd. 2. on sale
at auction;ŁonŁthe auctionŁblock.Ł We
on styndby waitingŁforŁone’sŁturn,Łespe- couldà’t afford to keep up the house, so it
ciallyŁdescribingŁthe sðatusŁof travelers was put on the block to pØy the taxes.
who wait nearŁaŁtrain,Łplane, orŁbus,Łhop- That’s the finest painting I’ve ever seen on
ingŁthat aŁseat willŁbecome available.Ł the block.
The passenger waited on standby for an
availØble seat. The agent was able to seat on theŁbłrderline inŁanŁuncertainŁposition
all of the passengers on standby. betweenŁtwo sðatuses;Łundecided.Ł(Alsà
literal.) Bill was on the borderlne be-
on tyrget on scłedule; exactlyŁasŁpredicted. twłen an A and a B in biology. Jane was
Your estimØte of the cost was right oà on the borderlne of joining the navy.
target. My prediction was not on target.
on the button exactlyŁright; inŁexactlyŁthe
on theŁair broadcasðingŁ(aŁradio orŁtelevi- right place; at exactlyŁ the right time.
sion program).Ł The radio station camł (Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.) That’s it! You’re
back on the air shortly after the storm. right on the button. He got here at one
We were on the air for two hours. o’clock on the button.
on theŁ alertŁ (fłrŁ someone ort something) on theŁcontryry asŁthe opposite.Ł(Compare
watchful and attentive for someone or this with to the contrary.) I’m not ill.
something.Ł Be on the alłrt for pick- On the contrary, I’m very healthy. She’s
pockets. You should be on the alłrt when not in a bad mood. On the contrary, she’s
you cross the street in heavy traffic. as happy as a lark.

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