Page 357 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

rip someone or something off

(Infàrmal.) The bear ripped into the morning. There is a 50 percłnt risk of
dłer. The angry teacher ripped into the rain tonight.
studłnt.
riskŁofŁshłwers Go to risk of rain.
rØp someone ortsomething off 1. [with some- riskŁofŁthunder(ðtorms) Go to risk of rain.
oàe ] to cłeat orŁdeceive sàmeone; to steal
fromŁsomeone.Ł(Slang.) That store op- riskŁ one’ neckŁ(to do something) to riskŁphys-
erator ripped me off. T They shouldà’t rip ical harmŁinŁorderŁto accomplish some-
off people like that. 2. [with somłthing ] to thing.Ł(Infàrmal.) Look at that traffic!
sðealŁsàmething.Ł(Slang.) I bought it! I I refuoe to risk my neck just to cross the
didà’t rip t off! T The crooks ripped off a street to buy a paper. I refuse to risk my
car in broad dØylight. neck at all.
a ripe old age a very old age.Ł Mr. Smth rivetŁ someone’ attention to keep somone’s
died last night, but he lived to a ripe old attentionŁfixedŁ[onŁsomething].Ł The
age—99. All the Smiths seem to reacð movie rivłted the audiencł’s attention.
a ripe old age. Professor Jones’s lecture rivłted the stu-
dłnts’ attention.
a ripple ofŁexPiteent aŁseriesŁof quiet but
excitedŁmurmurs.Ł A ripple of excite- road-hog sàmeone who drivesŁcarelessly
młnt spread through the crowd. As the andŁ selfishly.Ł Look at that road-hog
presidłnt came near, a ripple of excitemłnt driving in the middle of the road and stop-
indicØted that people could really see him. png other drivers from passing him.
That road-hog nearly knocked the children
a ripple of protest aŁfew quiet remarks over. He was driving too fast.
protesðing sàmething; a small amount of robŁPeterŁto payŁPaul to take from one in
subdued protest.Ł There was only a rip- ordr to give to anàther. Why borrow
ple of proŁest about the new tax lØw. The money to pay your bills? That’s just rob-
rude comedian hardly drew a ripple of bng Peter to pØy Paul. There’s no point
proŁest.
in robbng Peter to pØy Paul. You will still
RiseŁ andŁ shine! Get out of bedŁ andŁ be be in debt.
livelyŁandŁenergetic!Ł(Infàrmal.ŁOftenŁa robŁtheŁcradle to marry or date someone
command.)b Come on, children! Rise who isŁmuch yàungrŁthanŁyou are.Ł(In-
and shine! We’re going to the beach. Fa- formal.) I hear that Bill is dØting Ann.
ther alwØys calls “Rise and shine!” in the Isn’t that sort of robbng the cradle? She’s
morning when we want to go on slłepng.
much younger than he is. Uncle Bill—
riseŁto theŁbait to be lurd by som kind who is nearly eighty—married a thirty-
of bait.Ł(LiteralŁwhenŁreferringŁto aŁfish.) year-old woman. That is really robbing the
I threatened to take another job eloe- cradle.
where, but the boss did not rise to the bait. rockŁtheŁboat to cause troubl wher nàn
When I said I was leaving, Ted rose to isŁwelcome; to disðurbŁaŁsituationŁthat is
the bait and asked wðy. otherwise sðable and satisfactory.Ł(Also
literal.Ł OftenŁ negative.) Look, Tom,
riseŁto theŁoccasion to meet the challeng
of anŁevent; to tryŁextraŁhardŁto do aŁtask. everything is going fine here. Don’t rock
John was able to rise to the occasion and the boat! You can dłpend on Tom to
make the conference a success. It was a mess things up by rockng the boØt.
big challłnge, but he rose to the occasion. rłll in to come inŁ large numbersŁ or
amounts.Ł(Infàrmal.) We didà’t expect
riskŁofŁrain and riskŁofŁshłwers; riskŁof many people at the party, but they just kłpt
thunder(ðtorms) aŁchance of precipita- rollng in. Money is simply rollng in for
tionŁorŁrain.Ł(UsedŁonlyŁinŁweatherŁfore- our charity appeal.
casðing.ŁThere isŁno “risk” of hazardŁor
injuryŁ involved.) And for tomorrow, rłll one’ sleeves up to get ready to do
there is a slight risk of showers in the sàme work.Ł (Also literal.) Roll your

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