Page 309 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

on the up-and-up

someone or something. I’m on the trail woà’t głt it figured out because they are oà
of a new can opener that is supposed to bł the wrong track.
easier to use. I spłnt all morning on the on thin ice inŁaŁriskyŁsituation.Ł(Also lit-
track of the new secretary, who got lost on eral.) If you try that you’ll really be on
the way to work.
thin ice. That’s too risky. If you doà’t
on theŁup-ynd-up Go to (strictly) on the want to find yourself on thin ice, you must
up-and-up. be sure of your facts.
on the verge (ofŁ doing something) just about on time at the scheduled time; at the pre-
to do sàmething, usually somethingŁim- dictedŁtime.Ł The plane landłd right on
pàrtant.Ł(Compare thisŁwith on the poànt time. We’ll have to hurry to get there
of doing something.) I’m on the verge of on time.
opening a shoe store. Tom was on the on tiptoe sðandingŁorŁwalkingŁonŁthe front
verge of quitting school when he becamł part of the feet (the ballsŁof the feet)bwith
interested in physics. I havłn’t done it no weight put onŁthe heels.Ł(ThisŁisŁdone
yłt, but I’m on the verge.
to gainŁheight orŁto walkŁquietly.) I had
on theŁ wagon not drinkingŁalcohol;Łno to stand on tiptoe in order to see over the
longrŁdrinkingŁalcohol.Ł(Also literal.) fłnce. I came in lØte and walked on tip-
None for me, thanks. I’m on the wagon. toe so I wouldà’t wake anybody up.
Look at John. I doà’t think he’s on the on top victoriousŁoverŁsàmething;Łfamous
wagon anymore. orŁnotoriousŁforŁsomething.Ł(Also literal.)
on theŁwyrpath angryŁandŁupset (at sàme- I have to study dØy and night to kłep oà
one).Ł(Infàrmal.) Oh, oh. Here comes top. Bill is on top in his field.
Mrs. Smith. She’s on the warpath again. on topŁofŁ something 1. up-ðo-date onŁsàme-
Why are you alwØys on the warpath? thing;ŁknowingŁabout the current sðate of
What’s wrong? sàmething. (Informal.) Ask Mary. She’s
on theŁwayŁ( somłwherł ) and on someone’ on top of this issue. This issue is con-
wayŁ( somłwherł ) along the route to some- stantly changing. She has to pØy Øttention
where.Ł She’s now on the wØy to San to it to stay on top of things. 2. inŁaddition
Francisco. Yes, she’s on the way. to something. Jane told Bill he was dull.
On top of that, she said he was unfriendly.
on theŁwayŁto doingtsomething and on one’ On top of błing dull, he’s unfriendly.
wayŁto doingtsomething inŁthe processŁof
dàingŁsàmething.Ł You’re on the way to on topŁofŁtheŁwłrld Go to (feel) on top
becomng a very good carpenter. She’s of the world; (sàtting) on top of the world.
on her way to becomng a first-class on trial being tried in court.Ł My sister is
sculptor. on trial todØy, so I have to go to court.
They placed the suspected thief on trial.
on theŁwhłle generally; considering every-
thing.Ł On the whole, this was a very on vacation away, taking a vacaðion; on
good day. Your work—on the whole— holiday. Where are you going on vaca-
is quite good. tion this year? I’ll be away on vacØtion
for three włeks.
on theŁwing while flying;Łwhile inŁflight.
(RefersŁto birds,Łfowl,Łetc.,Łnot people or on view visible; onŁpublicŁdisplay. The
planes.) There is nothing as pretty as a painting will be on view at the museum.
bird on the wing. The hawk caught the I’ll pull the shades so that we won’t be on
sparrow on the wing. vew.
on the wrong tryck gàing the wrong way; once and for all finallyŁandŁirreversibly.
followingŁthe wrongŁset of assumptions. I want to get this problłm settled oncł
(Also literal.) You’ll never get the right and for all. I told him once and for all
answer. You’re on the wrong track. They that he has to start studying.

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