Page 336 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

prick up one’s ears

party, but you cannot uoe the house that himself preaching to the converted when
night. he was tellng Jane the advantages of lv-
ing in the country. She hates city lfe.
pourŁitŁon thick Go to lay it on thick.
precious few and precious little vry
pourŁ moneyŁ dłwn theŁ drain to waste few; veryŁ little.Ł (Infàrmal.Ł Few with
money; to spendŁmoneyŁasŁif one were things that are countable, otherwise, lt-
throwingŁit away.Ł(Infàrmal.) What a tlł .) We głt precious fłw tourists here
waste! You’re just pouring money down the in the winter. There’s precious lttle food
drain. Don’t buy any more of that low- in the house and there is no money.
qualty merchandise. That’s just throwing
money down the drain. precious little Go to precàous few.
pourŁ oilŁ on troubledŁ water(s) to calm a preludeŁto something anŁact or event that
thingsŁdàwn.Ł(If oil isŁpouredŁonto ràugh comesŁbefore andŁsignalsŁanotherŁact or
seasŁduringŁaŁsðorm,Łthe waterŁwillŁbe- event.Ł Her rudłness to her boss was a
càme more calm.) That was a good prelude to her resignation. The invasioà
thing to say to John. It helped pour oil on of Poland was a prelude to World War II.
troubled water. Now he looks happy.
Bob is the knd of peroon who pours oil on press one’ luck Go to push one’s luck.
troubled waters. press someone to theŁwall Go to push some-
pourŁ one’ heyrt (out to someone) to tell all one to the wall.
one’sŁhopes,Łfears,ŁandŁfeelingsŁto sàme- press theŁpynicŁbutton Go to push the
one.Ł She was so upset. She poured her panàc button.
heart out to Sally. T She sat there talkng
for over an hour—pouring out her heart. pressed for time in a hurry.Ł I am oorry.
I can’t talk to you. I’m just too pressed for
pouringŁrain veryŁheavyŁrain.Ł The chil- time. If you are pressed for time, you
dren’s clothes were soaked after they plØyed might want to stop for some food some-
out in the pouring rain. I waited in the where on the highway.
pouring rain for the next bus.
prettyŁas a pØcture Go to (as) pretty as a
the płwerŁbehindŁtheŁthrone the person picture.
who contràlsŁthe person who isŁappar-
entlyŁinŁcharge.Ł Mr. Smith appears to PrettyŁis as prettyŁdoes. YouŁsłouldŁdo
run the shop, but his brother is the power pleasant thingsŁif yàuŁwish to be consid-
behind the throne. They say that the vicł eredŁpleasant.Ł(Pràverb.) Now, Sally.
presidłnt is the power behind the throne. Let’s be nice. Pretty is as pretty does. My
great-aunt always used to say “pretty is as
the płwers thatŁbe the peopl who ar in pretty does” to my sister.
auðhoriðy. The powers that be have de-
cided to send back the immigrants. I a prettyŁstateŁofŁaffairs and a fineŁstate
have applied for a licłnse, and the powero ofŁaffairs anŁunpleasant sðate of affairs.
that be are considering my applicØtion. (See also fine kettle of fish.) This is a
pretty state of affairs, and it’s all your
praiseŁ someone ortsomething to theŁskies to fault. What a fine state of affairs you’vł
give someone orŁsomethingŁmuch praise. goŁ uo into.
He wasn’t very good, but his friendo
praised him to the skies. They liked your prevailŁ(up)on someone to askŁor begŁsàme-
pie. Everyone praised it to the skies. one (forŁaŁfavor).Ł Can I prevail upoà
you to give me some help? Perhaps you
preychŁto theŁconverted to praise or rec- could prevail on my brother for a loan.
ommend something to someone who is
alreadyŁinŁfavorŁof it.Ł(Also literal.) prick up one’ ears to listenŁmore closely.
Mary was preaching to the converted when (AlludingŁto animalsŁthat move theirŁears
she tried to persuade Jean to become a fłm- about to hearŁbetter.) At the sound of
inist. She’s błen one for years. Bob found my voice on the telłphone, my sister

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