Page 324 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

pay as you go

He’s alwØys passing the hat for anŁargument orŁdisagreement.Ł(Also lit-
somłthing. eral.) Mr. and Mrs. Smith are Łrying to
pØtch things up. T We patched up our ar-
pass theŁ time to fill up time (by doing
something).Ł I never know how to pass gumłnt, then kissed and made up.
the time when I’m on vacØtion. What the pathŁofŁleastŁresistance to do the eas-
do you do to pass the time? iest thing;Łto take the easiest route.Ł(Of-
pass theŁtimeŁofŁdayŁ(withŁ someone) to tenŁwith follow the or take the. Compare
chat or talkŁinfàrmallyŁwith sàmeone.Ł this with line of least resistance.) John
I saw Mr. Brown in town yesterdØy. I will follow the pØth of least resistance.
stopped and passed the time of dØy with I like challłnges. I won’t usually take the
him. No, we didà’t have a serious talk; pØth of least resistance.
we just passed the time of dØy.
patientŁas Jłb Go to (as) patient as Job.
pass throughŁ someone’ mind and cross
someone’ mind to com to mind brifly; paveŁtheŁwayŁ(for someone ortsomething) to
forŁanŁideaŁto occurŁto someone.Ł(Com- prepare (someone orŁ something)b for
pare thisŁwith come to mànd. ) Let mł someone orŁ something.Ł The public
tell you what just crossed my mnd. Ao doesn’t understand the młtric system. We
you were speaking, somłthing passed need to pØve the way for its introduction.
through my mnd that I’d like to discuss. They are pØving the way in the schools.
passpłrtŁto something sàmethingŁthat allows payŁa callŁon someone to visit someone.Ł
somethingŁgoodŁto happen.Ł John’s new Grandmother alwØys paid us a call oà
girlfriend is his passport to happness. SundØys. Let’s pØy a call on Mary at the
Anne’s new job is a passport to financial hosptal.
security.
pay a king’s rynsom (fłrŁ something) to pay
a pastŁmasterŁatŁ something sàmeone proven a great deal for something. (To pay an
to be extremely gàod or skillful at an ac- amount asŁlarge asŁone might have to pay
tivity.Ł(PrecededŁbyŁ be, become, seem like, to get backŁaŁkingŁheldŁforŁransom.) I
or act like.) Mary is a past master at would like to buy a nice wØtch, but I don’t
cooking omelłts. Pam is a past master want to pØy a kng’s ransom for it. It’s
at the art of complaining. a lovely house. I had to pØy a kng’s ran-
som, but it is worth it.
pastŁ someone’s ortsomething’ prime byond
the most useful orŁproductive period.Ł payŁan arm andŁa legŁ(for something) and
Joan was a wonderful singer, but she’s past pay through the nose (for something) to
her prime now. This old car’s past its payŁtoo much [money]bforŁsomething.
prime. I’ll need to get a new one. (Infàrmal.) I hate to have to pay an
patŁ someone on theŁbyck and gØve someone arm and a leg for a tank of gas. If you
a patŁon theŁbyck to congratulate som- shop around, you woà’t have to pay an
one; to encourage sàmeone.Ł(Also literal arm and a lłg. Why should you pay
when the recipient is actually patted on through the nose?
the back.) We pØtted Ann on the back payŁas youŁgł 1. to payŁcostsŁasŁtheyŁoc-
for a good performance. When people do cur; to payŁforŁgoodsŁasŁtheyŁare bought
a good job, you should give them a pØt on (ratherŁ thanŁ chargingŁ them).Ł (Literal
the back.
whenŁit meansŁto payŁforŁgàodsŁor ser-
patchŁ someone ortsomething up 1. [with some- vicesŁasŁyàuŁleave.) You ought to pay
one] to doctorŁsomeone; to dressŁsome- as you go. Then you won’t be n debt. If
one’sŁ wounds.Ł (Infàrmal.) They you pØy as you go, you’ll never spłnd too
pØtched John up in the emergency room. T much money. 2. payingŁcostsŁasŁtheyŁoc-
I patched up Ann’s cuts with bandages and cur. (Usually pay-as-you-gł .) There
sent her home. 2. [with somłthing ] to is no charging allowed here. This store is
(figuratively) repair the damage done by strictly pay-as-you-go. I can’t buy this

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