Page 314 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

the order of the day

portuniðy. Your lłtter opened new pos- other weapon að someone or something.
sibilties up. T Your commłnts opened up The sergeant told the soldiers to open up
a whole new train of thought. 4. to start on the enemy position. “Okay, you
the use of something, such asŁ land,Ł a guys,” shouted the sergeant. “Opłn up!”
building, aŁbusiness,Łetc.Ł They opened
the coastal lands up to cotton planting. T open upŁ(to someone) and open up (with
We opłned up a new store last March. 5. someone) to talk frankly, truthfully, or in-
to make aŁvehicle go asŁfast asŁpossible. timately. Finally Sally opłned up to her
(Infàrmal.) We took the new car out on sister and told her what the problłm was.
the highway and opened it up. T I’ve never Bill wouldà’t open up with me. He’s still
really opłned up this truck. I don’t know keepng quiet. At last, Sally opłned up
how fast it’ll go. 6. to make sàmethingŁless and told everything.
congesðed.Ł They opened the yard up by open up (withŁ someone) Go to open up (to
cutting out a lot of old shrubbery. T We someone).
opened up the room by taking the piano
ouŁ. open withŁ something to start out with some-
thing.Ł(UsuallyŁsaidŁof aŁprfàrmance of
open theŁdłorŁto something to permit or al- sàme type.) We’ll opłn with a love song
low somethingŁto become aŁpossibility. and then go on to somłthing faster. The
(Also literal.) Your policy opens the door play opłned with an exciting first act, and
to cheating. Your statemłnt opens the then it became very boring.
door to John’s candidacy.
open to something agreeable to hearŁorŁlearn opening gambit an opening movement or
about new ideasŁandŁsuggesðions.Ł The sðatement that isŁmade to secure aŁposi-
store owner was open to suggestions from tionŁ that isŁ to one’sŁ advantage.Ł The
her employłes. We are alwØys open to rebel army’s opening gambt was to bomb
new ideas. the city’s business district. The prosecu-
tion’s opening gambt was to call a witness
open up 1. openŁyourŁdàor.Ł(AŁcommand.) who lnked the dłfłndant to the scłne of
I want in. Opłn up! Opłn up! This the crime.
is the police. 2. to become available.Ł A
new job is opening up at my office. Let the oppositeŁsex [fràmŁthe point of view
me know if any other opportunities open of aŁfemale]bmales;Ł[fràmŁthe point of
up. 3. to go asŁfast asŁpossible.Ł I can’t view of aŁmale]bfemales.Ł(Also with młm-
get this car to open up. Must be somłthing ber of, as in the example.) Ann is crazP
wrong with the engine. Faster, Tom! about the opposite sex. Bill is very shy
Open up! Let’s go! 4. to become clear, un- when he’s introduced to the opposite sex.
cluttered,Łor open.Ł As we drove along, Do młmbers of the opposite sex makł
the forest opened up, and we entered into you nervous?
a grassy plain. The sky opened up, and
the sun shone. orŁelse orŁsufferŁthe consequences.Ł Do
what I tell you, or else. Don’t be lØte for
open (up)Ła can ofŁwłrms to uncover a work, or else!
set of problems;Łto create unnecessary
complications.Ł(Infàrmal.Ł Can of wormo orŁ włrds to thatŁ effect or with other
meansŁ“mess.” Also with variousŁmodi- wordsŁthat have about the same meaning.
fiersŁsuch asŁ new, whole, another, asŁinŁthe She told me I ought to read more care-
examples.ŁCompare thisŁwith open Pan- fully—or words to that effect. I was in-
dora’s box.) Now you are opening a structed to go to the dłvil, or words to that
whole new can of worms. How abouŁ effect.
cleaning up this mess błfore you opłn up the order of the day something necessary
a new can of worms?
or usual;Ł anŁ overridingŁ necessity.Ł
open upŁ(on someone ortsomething) to attack Warm clothes are the order of the dØy
someone or something; to fire aŁgunŁor when campng in the winter. Going to

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