Page 335 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

pop off

of the people working in the yard, Ellłn mous sense of self-worth. The Smiths
włnt into a rage. were possessed of a great deal of fine rancð
land.
płpŁoff to make aŁwisecrack orŁsmart-aleck
remark.Ł(Infàrmal.) If you pop off one postageŁandŁhyndling chargesŁforŁsending
more time, you’ll have to stay after school. [something]b thràugh the mailŁ andŁ for
Bob kłeps poppng off at the worst times. wrappingŁ andŁ handlingŁ the item.Ł (Se
also shipping and handling.) The cost of
płpŁ one’ cork 1. to suddnly becom mn-
tally disðurbed;Łto go crazy. (Slang.) I the book was quite reasonable, but the
was so upset that I nearly popped my cork. postage and handlng was outrageous.
They put him away because he popped They did not charge postage and handlng
his cork. 2. to become very angry. (Slang.) because I prepaid the order.
My mother popped her cork when she the płtŁcallingŁtheŁkettleŁblack [anŁin-
heard about my grades. Calm down! sðance of] sàmeone with aŁfault accusing
Don’t pop your cork. someone else of having the same fault.
płpŁtheŁqueðtion to askŁsàmeone to marry Ann is alwØys lØte, but she was rudł
one.Ł(Infàrmal.) I was surprised when enough to tell everyone when I was lØte.
he popped the question. I’ve błen wait- Now that’s the pot callng the kettle black!
ing for years for someone to pop the You’re callng me thoughtless? That’s
question. really a case of the pot callng the kłttlł
black.
płpŁup 1. [forŁaŁbaseballŁbatter]bto hit a
baseballŁ that gàesŁ upward ratherŁ than poundŁa beat to walkŁaŁràute.Ł(Infàrmal.
outward.Ł The cØtcher came to bØt and UsuallyŁsaidŁof aŁpolice patrolŁofficer.)
popped up. I hope I doà’t pop up this Officer Smith pounded the same beat for
time. 2. [forŁaŁbaseball]bto flyŁupward years and years. I don’t want to pound
ratherŁthanŁoutward.Ł The ball popped a beat all my lfe.
up and włnt foul. The ball will always poundŁ something out 1. to playŁsomething
pop up if you hit it in a certain way. 3. to loudlyŁonŁthe piano. (Also literal.ŁSlang.
arise suddenly; to appearŁwithout warn- Compare thisŁwith belt something out.)
ing.Ł New problłms keep poppng up all Don’t pound the music out! Just play t. T
the time. Billy popped up out of nowhere Listen to her pound out that song. 2. to
and scared his mother. type somethingŁon a typewriter. (Slang.)
a płrtentŁofŁthings to come Go to a har- Please pound it out again. There are six
binger of things to come. errors. T It’ll take just a fłw mnutes to
pound out this letter.
poseŁa queðtion to askŁaŁquesðion;Łto im-
plyŁ the needŁ forŁ askingŁ aŁ quesðion.Ł poundŁtheŁpaveent to walkŁthrough the
Genetic research poses many ethical ques- sðreetsŁlookingŁforŁaŁjob.Ł(Infàrmal.) I
tions. My interviewer posed a hypo- spłnt two months poundng the pØvłmłnt
thetical question. after the factory I worked for closed.
Hey, Bob. You’d błtter get busy poundng
poseŁas someone to pretend to be sàmeone. those nails uàless you want to be out
The impostor posed as the presidłnt of poundng the pØvłmłnt.
the company. My twin posed as mł
while I włnt on vacØtion. pourŁcoldŁwaterŁon something and dash
coldŁ waterŁ on something; throwŁ cold
possessedŁbyŁ something under the control waterŁon something to discourage doing
of sàmething;ŁobsessedŁwith something. sàmething;Ł to reduce enthusiasmŁ for
She acted as if she włre possessed by evil something.Ł When my fØther said I
sprits. He was possessed by a powerful couldà’t have the car, he poured cold wa-
sense of guilt.
ter on my plans. John threw cold water
possessedŁofŁ something having something. on the whole project by refusing to partic-
(Formal.) Bill was possessed of an enor- ipate. I hate to dash cold water on your

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