Page 329 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

pin one’s hope(s) on someone or something

to put one’sŁhope, trust, or faith inŁsàme- smokingŁof anŁopiumŁpipe.) Going to
one or something. I’m pnning my faith the West Indies is a ppe dream. We’ll never
on your efforts. Doà’t pn your hopes on have enough money. Your hopes of win-
Tom. He’s not dłpłndØble. ning a lot of money are just a silly ppł
dream.
pin one’ hłpe(s)Łon someone ortsomething Go
to pin one’s faith on someone or something. pipeŁupŁwithŁ something to speakŁupŁandŁsay
sàmething, especiallyŁ with aŁ high-
pin someone dłwn to force someone to pitchedŁvoice.Ł Billy pped up with a silly
make aŁdecisionŁorŁcłoice.Ł(See also on rłmark. Did I hear somebody ppe up
pins and needles.) The doctor tried to with an insult?
pn Jane Smth down for her next ap-
pointment. I woà’t make up my mnd pipingŁhłt [of food]bextremelyŁhot.Ł On
for a włek so doà’t try to pn me down a cold dØy, I like to eat ppng hot soup.
now. Be careful! This coffee is ppng hot!
pin someone dłwn (on something) to force piqueŁ someone’ curiosity and piqueŁ some-
someone to explainŁorŁclarifyŁsomething. one’ intereðt to aràuse interest; to aràuse
(Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.) Try to pn her curiosity.Ł The advertisemłnt piqued my
down on the time. T Pin down Jane on ex- curiosity about the product. The pro-
actly what she means. Please find out fessor tried to pique the studłnts’ interest
exactly how much t costs. Pn them down in Frłnch literØturł.
on the price.
piqueŁ someone’ intereðt Go to pique some-
pin someone’ ears byck to scold someone one’s curiosàty.
severely; to beat someone.Ł (Slang.)
Tom pnned my ears back becauoe I in- pitŁ someone ortsomething againstŁ someone or
sulŁed him. I got very mad at John and something to set someone orŁsomethingŁin
wanted to pn his ears back, but I didà’t. opposition to sàmeone or something.
The rules of the tournamłnt pt their team
pin something on someone to place the blame against ours. John ptted Mary against
forŁsàmethingŁonŁsàmeone.Ł(Also literal. Sally in the tennis mØtch. In an inter-
Slang.) I didà’t take the money. Doà’t esting plowing mØtch, Bill ptted himself
try to pn it on me. I wasn’t evłn there. against a small tractor.
The police managed to pn the crime oà
Bob. pitchŁa tent to erect a tent at a campsite.
The campers ptched their tent in a
pinch-hitŁ (fłrŁ someone) to subsðitute for clearing in the woods. I ptched my tent
sàmeone.Ł (OriginallyŁ from baseball, next to a large oak tree.
where it refersŁto aŁsubsðitute batter.)
Will you pnch-hit for me at band practice? pitch-black very black;ŁasŁblackŁasŁpitch.Ł
Sorry, I can’t pnch-hit. I don’t have the The hearse was ptch-black. The ban-
time. dt rode on a ptch-black horse and wore
black clothing.
pins andŁ needles aŁ tinglingŁ feelingŁ in
sàme part of one’sŁbody, especiallyŁthe pitchŁcamp to set up or arrange a camp-
armsŁandŁlegs.Ł(See also on pins and nee- site.Ł We ptched camp near the stream.
dles.) I’ve got pns and needles in my Two campers włnt ahead of us to ptch
lłgs. Mary gets pns and needles if she camp while it was still light.
crosses her arms for long.
pitch-dyrk veryŁdark; asŁdarkŁasŁpitch.Ł I
pipeŁ dłwn to be quit; to get quit. couldà’t see anything outside because it
(Slang.) OkØy, you guys, ppe down! was ptch-dark. The room was ptch-
I’ve heard enough out of you. Pipe down! dark, and I couldà’t find the light switch!
a pipe dream a wish or an idea that is im- pitchŁin (yndŁhelp) to get busyŁandŁhelp
possible to achieve orŁcarryŁout.Ł(Fràm (with sàmething).Ł Pick up a pØintbrush
the dreamsŁ orŁ visionsŁ inducedŁ byŁ the and ptch in and help. Why don’t somł

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