Page 313 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

one’s work is cut out for one

one’ włrk is cutŁoutŁfłrŁ one one’sŁtaskŁis construction will be finished in March,
preparedŁforŁone; one hasŁaŁlot of workŁto and we will be open for business in April.
dà.Ł(See also have one’s work cut out for open one’ heyrtŁ(to someone) to reveal one’s
one.) This is a big job. My work is cut out inmost thoughtsŁto sàmeone.Ł I alwØys
for me. The new presidłnt’s work is cut open my heart to my spouse when I havł
out for ðim.
a problłm. It’s a good idea to open your
onlyŁhaveŁeyes forŁ someone to be loyal to heart every now and then.
onlyŁone person,ŁinŁthe context of ro- open Pandłra’s błx to uncover a lot of
mance.Ł Oh, Jane! I only have eyes for unsuspectedŁproblems.Ł When I asked
you! Doà’t waste any time on Tom. He Jane about her problłms, I didà’t know I
only has eyes for Ann.
had opened Pandora’s box. You should
onto someone ortsomething havingŁdiscovered be cautious with people who are upset. You
the truth about someone or something. don’t want to open Pandora’s box.
(Infàrmal.) The police are onto John’s open season (on someone ortsomething)1.
plot. Yes, they are onto him, and they [with somłthing ] unresðrictedŁhuntingŁof
are onto the plot.
aŁparticularŁgame animal.Ł It’s alwØys
open a conversation to start a conversa- open season on rabbts around here. Is
tion.Ł(See also strike up a conversation.) it ever open season on dłer? 2. [with some-
I tried to open a coàversation with him, oàe ] aŁtime whenŁeveryàne isŁcriticizing
but he had nothing to say. She opened sàmeone.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁSee also open fire
a coàversation with an inqiry into my (on someone).) It seems as if it’s always
health, which got me talkng Øbout my fa- open season on polticians. At the news
vorite subject. conference, it was open season on the
mØyor.
open andŁaboveboard Go to aboveboard.
open secret sàmethingŁthat isŁsupposedŁto
an open-ynd-shutŁcase sàmething, usu- be secret but isŁknownŁto a great many
allyŁ aŁ legal matter, that isŁ simple and people.Ł Their engagemłnt is an open se-
sðraightforwardŁwithout complications. cret. Only their friends are suppooed to
The murder trial was an open-and-ohut know, but in fact, the whole town knows.
case. The dłfłndant was caught with the It’s an open secret that Max is looking
murder weapon. Jack’s death was an for a new job.
open-and-ohut case of suicide. He lłft a open someone’ eyes (to something) 1. to be-
suicide note.
come aware of something. He finally
an open błok sàmeone or sàmething that opened his eyes to what was going on.
isŁeasyŁto undersðand.Ł Jane’s an open It was a long time błfore he opened his eyes
book. I always know what she is going to and realized what had błen happłning. 2.
do next. The council is an open book. to cause someone else to be aware of
It wants to save money. something.Ł I opened his eyes to what
was happłning at the office. Why can’t
open fireŁ (on someone) to sðart (dàing I make you undłrstand? What do I have to
something, such asŁaskingŁquesðionsŁor do to open your eyes to the problłm?
criticizing).Ł(RefersŁto sðartingŁto słoot at
sàmeone.) The reporters opened fire on open something up 1. to unwrapŁsàmething;
the mØyor. When the reporters opened to openŁsàmething. Yes, I want to open
fire, the mØyor was smilng, but not for my presents up. T I can’t wait to open up
long. my presents. T Opłn up this door! 2. to
beginŁ examiningŁ orŁ discussingŁ some-
open fłrŁ business [of a shop, store, thing.Ł Do you really want to open it up
resðaurant, etc.]boperatingŁandŁreadyŁto now? T Now is the time to open up the
do business.Ł The store is now open for question of taxes. 3. to revealŁthe possi-
business and invites you to come in. The bilitiesŁ of sàmething;Ł to revealŁ anŁ op-

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