Page 311 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

one move ahead (of someone or something)

cle is alwØys going through peoplł’s gar- she didà’t. Yes, it sounds like Tom is one
bage, lookng for old stuff. B: One man’s up.
trash is another man’s treasure.
one way or another sàmehow. I’ll do t
oneŁmoveŁaheadŁ(ofŁ someone ortsomething) one wØy or another. One wØy or an-
Go to one jump ahead (of someone or somŁ- other, I’ll get through school.
thing).
One’ byrkŁis włrseŁthyn one’ bite. One
one-nightŁ stynd anŁ activity lasðingŁ one mayŁthreaten,Łbut not do much damage.
night.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁRefersŁto eitherŁaŁmu- (Pràverb.) Doà’t worry about Bob. He
sicalŁperfàrmance orŁaŁpriodŁof sexual won’t ðurt you. His bark is worse than his
activity.) Our band has plØyed a lot of bte. She mØy scream and yell, but havł
one-night stands. What we want is an no fear. Her bark is worse than her bte.
engagłmłnt for a włek, not just a one- one’ betterŁ hylf one’sŁ spouse.Ł (Usually
night stand.
rfers to a wife.) I think wł’d like to
oneŁofŁtheseŁdays sàmeday; inŁsàme sit- come for dnner, but I’ll have to ask my
uation like this one.Ł One of these dØys, błtter half. I have to go home now to my
someone is going to steal your purse f you błtter half. We are going out tonight.
don’t take błtter care of it. You’re going one’ brother’s keeper sàmeone respànsi-
to get in trouble one of these dØys.
ble forŁsomeone else.Ł(PrecededŁbyŁ be, be-
oneŁsandwichŁshłrtŁofŁa pØcnic nàt very come, seem like, or act like.) I can’t force
smart; lackingŁ sufficient intelligence. these kids to go to school and get an edu-
(Jocular.) Poor Bob just isn’t too bright. cØtion so they can głt jobs. I am not my
He’s one sandwich short of a picnic. She brother’s keeper. You can’t expect me to
not stupid. Just one sandwich short of a be my brother’s kłeper. Each of us should
picnic. be responsiblł!
one’ dailyŁdłzeà physicalŁexercisesŁdàne
OneŁthingŁleads to another. One event
sets things up for another event and so everyŁday. (Infàrmal.) My brother al-
on.Ł(AsŁanŁexplanation of how little prob- wØys fłels better after his daily dozen.
lemsŁ leadŁ to bigŁ problems.) I kłpt She would rather do her daily dozen than
spłndng more and more money until I go on a diet.
was broke. You know how one thing leado one’ days areŁnubered one facesŁdeath
to another. He bought a car, then a orŁdismissal.Ł If I don’t get this contract,
house, then a boat. One thing leads to my dØys are numbered at this company.
another. Uncle Tom has a terminal disease. His
dØys are numbered.
one thingtortperson afterŁanother aŁseriesŁof
thingsŁorŁpeople that seemsŁwithout limit. one’ deepeðt sympathy one’s very sincere
It’s just one problłm after another. sympathy.Ł I am so sorry about the death
One customer after another has błen buy- of your father. You have my dłepest sym-
ing shoes todØy! pØthy. She sent her dłepest sympØthy to
the family.
oneŁto a cuðtomer each prsàn can have
orŁreceive onlyŁone.Ł(RefersŁto salesŁre- one’ ears are red one’sŁearsŁare redŁfrom
sðrictionsŁ where each cusðomerŁ isŁ per- embarrassment.Ł(Also usedŁfiguratively.)
mittedŁto buyŁonlyŁone.) “Only one to I’m so embarrassed. Wow, are my earo
a customłr!” said the chef as he handed red! My ears are red! I can’t believe I
out the hamburgers. Is it one to a cus- said that.
tomer, or can I take two now?
one’ eyrs areŁringing one hearsŁaŁringing
oneŁ upŁ (on someone) aheadŁof sàmeone; sàundŁbecause of exposure to anŁexplo-
with anŁadvantage overŁsàmeone.Ł Tom sion,ŁveryŁloudŁmusic,ŁorŁsome otherŁvery
is one up on Sally because he got a job and làud sound. After the explosion, my earo

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