Page 376 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 376

show someone or something off


              good worker as Sally. When I hired her, it  shłw-ynd-tell  aŁ trivialŁ presentation  of
              was just a shot in the dark.       somethingŁof little interest.Ł(RefersŁto the
                                                 name of aŁclassroomŁpriodŁinŁthe lower
            shłtŁ throughŁ withŁ  something containing  gradesŁwhere childrenŁbringŁsomething
              sàmething;Ł interwoven,Ł intermixed,Ł or  interesðingŁinto the classràomŁandŁsłow
              filledŁwith sàmething.    The rose was a  it to the rest of the class.)   I wouldà’t
              lovely pnk shot through with streaks of  call that młeting useful. It was sort of a
              white.   John’s commłnts are often shot  grown-up  show-and-Łell.    After  the
              through with sarcasm.   I want a well-  show-and-Łell  session  where  the  author
              marbled steak—one shot through with fØt.
                                                 talked about his book, we all włnt into the
            shłtŁto hell  Go to (all) shot to hell.  hall and had refreshmłnts.
                                               shłw głod faith  to demonsðrate good in-
            a shłtgun wedding aŁforcedŁwedding.Ł(In-  tentionsŁor goodŁwill.Ł   I’m certain that
              formal.ŁFrom imagryŁof the bride’sŁfa-  you showed good faith when you signed the
              ther having thratened the bridgroom  contract.   Do you doubt that she is show-
              with aŁsłotgunŁto force himŁto marry.)      ing good faith?
              Mary was six months pregnant when she
              married Bill. It was a real shotgun wed-  shłwŁ off  to  do  thingsŁ inŁ aŁ wayŁ that  is
              dng.    Bob would never have married  meant to attract attention.Ł   Please stop
              Jane if she hadà’t been pregnant. Jane’s fa-  showing off! You embarrass me.   John is
              ther  saw  to  it  that  it  was  a  shotguà  always showing off to his girlfriend.
              weddng.                          a shłwŁofŁhyndð  aŁdisplayŁof raisedŁhands
            shouldŁ haveŁ stoodŁ in  bed  słouldŁhave  [inŁ aŁ groupŁ of people]b that  canŁ be
              sðayedŁinŁbed.Ł    What a horrible dØy! I  countedŁforŁthe purpose of votesŁor sur-
              should have stood in bed.   The mnute I  veys.Ł   We were asked to vote for the can-
              got up and heard the news this morning,  didØtes for captain by a show of hands.
              I knew I should have stood in bed.  Jack wanted us to vote on paper, not by a
                                                 show of hands, so that we could have a se-
            shoulderŁto shoulder side byŁside; with a  cret ballot.
              sharedŁpurpose.Ł   The two armies fought
              shouldłr  to  shoulder  against  the  joint  shłwŁ one’ hynd to revealŁone’sŁintentions
              enemy.    The  strikers  said  they  would  to  someone.Ł (FràmŁ cardŁ games.)     I
              stand  shouldłr  to  shouldłr  against  the  doà’t know whether Jim is intendng to
              management.                        marry Jane or not. He’s not one to show his
                                                 hand.   If you want to głt a raise, doà’t
            shoveŁ one’ wayŁ somłwherł  to make aŁpath  show the boss your hand too soon.
              through aŁcrowdŁbyŁpushing.Ł    The im-  shłwŁ one’ (true)Łcolors to show what on
              pØtient man shoved his way through the  isŁreallyŁlike or what one isŁreallyŁthink-
              crowd.   The reporter shoved her way to  ing.Ł   Whose side are you on, John? Comł
              the front of the crowd.
                                                 on. Show your colors.   It’s hard to tell
            shoveŁ someone ortsomething dłwn  someone’  what Mary is thinking. She never shows
              throat and  ram  someone  ort something  her true colors.
              dłwn  someone’ throat;ŁforceŁ someone or  shłwŁ one tł  one’ seat Go to show someone
              something dłwn  someone’ throat to force  to a seat.
              someone  or  somethingŁ on  someone.  shłwŁsigns ofŁ  something to słow hintsŁor
              (SlangŁandŁaŁlittle rude.)    I don’t want  indicationsŁof something.Ł   I lłt the horse
              any more insurance, and I doà’t want any-  run at full spłed until it błgan to show
              one  to  shove  any  insurance  down  my  signs of tiring.   Sally is showing signs of
              throØt.    Mary isn’t invited to my party,  going to slłep.
              and I doà’t wish for anyone to ram her
              down my throØt!    Someone is alwØys try-  shłwŁ  someone  ort something off to  display
              ing to force some stupid propaganda down  someone orŁsomethingŁso that the besð
              my throØt.                         featuresŁare apparent.Ł T Mrs. Williamo

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