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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