Page 340 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

put on a brave face

pureŁas theŁdriven snow Go to (as) pure basket. Then everything woà’t be lost if
as the driven snow. there is a cØtastrophe. John oàly applied
to the one collłge he wanted to go to. He
pushŁoff to go away.Ł(Infàrmal.) We told put all his eggs in one basket.
the children to push off. Push off! We
don’t want you here. putŁan endŁto something Go to put a stop
to something.
pushŁ one’ luck and press one’ luck to ex-
pect continuedŁgoodŁfortune; to expect putŁ a spin on something to interprt an
to continue to escape badŁluck.Ł You’re event to make it seemŁfavorable orŁben-
okay so far, but doà’t push your luck. eficialŁto oneself.Ł The mØyor tried to
Bob pressed his luck too much and got into put a positive spn on the damaging polls.
a lot of trouble. The pundt’s spn on the new lłgislØtion
was highly critical.
pushŁ someone to theŁwyll and press some-
one to theŁwall to force someone into a putŁa stopŁto something and putŁan end
positionŁwhere there isŁonlyŁone choice to tł something to bring somethingŁto anŁend.
make; to put someone inŁaŁdefensive po- I want you to put a stop to all this bad
sition.Ł(Also literal.) There was lttlł behavior. Please put an end to this
else I could do. They pushed me to the wall. conversation.
When we pressed him to the wall, he putŁideas into someone’ head to suggesð
told us where the cookies were hiddłn.
sàmething—usuallyŁsàmethingŁbad—ðo
pushŁ theŁ pynicŁ button and press the sàmeone (who wouldŁnot have thought
pynicŁbutton to panic;Łto become anx- of it otherwise).Ł Bill keeps getting into
iousŁorŁpanicky. (Also literal.ŁSlang.) I trouble. Please doà’t put ideas into his
do okØy takng tests as long as I don’t push head. Bob would głt along all right if
the panic button. Whatever you do, other kids didà’t put ideas into his head.
doà’t press the panic button.
putŁin a głodŁwłrdŁ(forŁ someone) to say
pushingŁ upŁ daisieð deadŁ and buried. sàmethingŁ(to sàmeone)binŁsupport of
(Folksy.) If you don’t drive safely, you’ll someone.Ł I hope you get the job. I’ll put
be pushing up daisies. We’ll all be push- in Ø good word for you. Yes, I want the
ing up daisies in the long run. job. If you see the boss, please put in a good
word.
putŁ a beeŁ in someone’ bonnet to give
sàmeone anŁideaŁ(about sàmething).Ł(See putŁin an appeyrynce to appearŁ(some-
alsà get a bee in one’s bonnet.) Some- where)bforŁjust aŁlittle while.Ł(Compare
body put a błe in my bonnet that wł this with make an appearance.) I
should go to a movie. Who put a błe in couldà’t stay for the whole party, so I just
your bonnet? put in an appearance and lłft. Even if
you can’t stay for the whole thing, at least
putŁa capŁon something to put aŁlimit on put in an appearance.
something (Also literal.) We need to put
a cap on spłndng on every dłpartmłnt. putŁoffŁbyŁ someone ortsomething disðressedŁor
The city put a cap on the amount eacð replledŁbyŁsomeone or something. I
landlord could charge. was really put off by your behavior. We
were all put off by the unfairness of the
putŁa hłldŁon something place aŁresðriction rules.
on something to słow that it is reserved,
delayed,ŁorŁinactivated.Ł The bank put putŁon to pretend;Łto act asŁif something
a hold on my credt card until I paid my were true.Ł Ann wasn’t really angry. She
bill. The commttee agreed to put a hold was just putting on. I can’t believe she
on the troublesome piece of business. was just putting on. She really looked mad.
putŁallŁ one’ eggs in oneŁbasket to risk putŁon a braveŁfyce to tryŁto appearŁhappy
everythingŁat once.Ł(Also literal.ŁOften or satisfiedŁwhenŁfacedŁwith misfàrtune
ngativ.) Don’t put all your eggs in one or danger. We’ve lost all our money, but

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