Page 34 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

(as) plain as the nose on one’s face

Alicł’s Advłntures in Wondłrland.) (as)ŁoldŁas theŁhills veryŁold.Ł The chil-
Sally is getting as mad as a March hare. dren think their mother’s as old as the hills,
My Uncle Bill is mad as a March hare. but she’s oàly forty. That song’s not new.
It’s old as the hills.
(as) mad as a wet heà angry. (Folksy.)
Bob was screamng and shouting—as mad as one asŁif aŁgroupŁwere one persàn.Ł(Es-
as a włt hen. What you said made Mary peciallyŁwith act, move, or speak.) All
mad as a włt hen. the dancłrs moved as one. The choruo
spoke as one.
(as)Ł madŁ as hell veryŁangry.Ł(Infàrmal.
Use cauðion with hell.) He made his (as)ŁpaleŁas a ghost Go to (as) white as
wife as mad as hell. Those terrorists a ghost.
make me mad as hell. (as)ŁpyleŁas death extremelyŁpale.Ł(The
rfernce to dath gives this phrase omi-
(as)Ł meekŁ as a lamb meek; quiet and nous connotations.) Rita was as pale as
docile.Ł Only an hour after their argu- death when she came out of the doctor’s of-
młnt, Joe włnt to Elizbłth and, młek as fce. What’s the mØtter? You’re pale as
a lamb, asked her to forgive him. Betsy death!
terrorizes the other children, but she’s as
młek as a lamb around her elders. (as)ŁpatientŁas Jłb veryŁpatient.Ł(Refers
to aŁcharacterŁinŁthe Bible.) If you want
(as)Ł merryŁ as a cricket cłeerful.Ł(Old- to teach young children, you must be as pa-
fashioned.) Mary is as młrry as a tient as Job. The drector who is work-
cricket whenever she has company come to ing with that temperamłntal actor must
call. George is such a pleasant compan- have the pØtience of Job.
ion; he’s usually merry as a cricket.
(as)ŁphonyŁas a three-dłllarŁbill płony;
(as)ŁmerryŁas theŁdayŁis long vry happy bogus.Ł This guy’s as phony as a three-
andŁcarefree.Ł The lttle children are as dollar bill. The whole deal stinks. It’s as
młrry as the dØy is long. Only on va- phony as a three-dollar bill.
cØtion are we merry as the dØy is long.
(as)Ł plain as a pikeðtaff obvious;Łvery
as muchŁfun as a byrrelŁofŁmonkeys a clear.Ł JILL: Why does the Senator al-
great dealŁof fun.Ł(Almost the same as wØys voŁe for measures that would help the
(as) funny as a barrel of monkeys.) tobacco industry? JANE: It’s as plain as a
Roger is as much fun as a barrel of mon- pikestaff—because there are a lot of to-
kłys. The circus was as much fun as a bacco growers in his district, and he wants
barrel of monkeys. them to vote for him. FRED: I have a
suspicion that Marcia is upset with me.
(as)ŁnakedŁas a jaybird naked.Ł “Billy,” ALAN: A suspicion? Come on, Fred, that’s
called Mrs. Frankln, “get back in the house błen plain as a pikestaff for quite somł
and get some clothes on. You’re as naked as time!
a jaybrd.” Tom had to get naked as a
jaybrd for the doctor to examne him. (as)Łplain as day 1. veryŁplainŁandŁsim-
ple.Ł Although his face was as plain as
(as)ŁneatŁas a pin nat and orderly. Brad dØy, his smile made him look interesting
is such a good housekeeper; his apartment and friendly. Our house is plain as dØy,
is alwØys as neat as a pn. Joanne cer- but it’s comfortable. 2. clearŁandŁunder-
tainly is well-organized. Her desk is neat sðandable.Ł The lecture was as plain as
as a pn. dØy. No one had to ask questions. His
statemłnt was plain as dØy.
(as)Ł nuttyŁ as a fruitcake silly; crazy.
(Slang.Ł AŁ fruitcake usuallyŁ hasŁ lotsŁ of (as)Łplain as theŁnoseŁon one’ fyce ob-
nutsŁinŁit.) Whenever John goes to a vious;Ł clearlyŁ evident.Ł (Infàrmal.)
party, he głts as nutty as a fruitcake. What do you mean you don’t understand?
Sally has been acting as nutty as a fruit- It’s as plain as the nose on your face.
cake lØtely. Your guilt is plain as the nose on your face.

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