Page 377 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

show someone the ropes

was showing off her bØby to the neighbors. shutŁ something dłwn Go to close something
Bill drove around all afternoon showing down.
his new car off.
shutŁtheŁdłorŁon someone ortsomething and
shłwŁ someone theŁ ropeð to tell or show closeŁtheŁdłorŁon someone ortsomething 1.
sàmeone how sàmethingŁisŁto be dàne.Ł to close the doorŁinŁorderŁto keepŁsàme-
Since this was my first dØy on the job, the one orŁsomethingŁout.Ł Bob opened the
manager spłnt a lot of time showing mł door, and when he saw it was Mary, he
the ropes. Take some time and show the closed the door on her. “Doà’t shut the
new boy the ropes. door on mł!” screamed Mary. 2. [with
shłwŁ someone to a seat and shłwŁ one tł something] to terminate, exclude, orŁob-
one’ seat to leadŁor direct sàmeone to a sðruct something. Your bad attitudł
place to sið. May I show you to your shuts the door on any future cooperation
seat, sir? The ushers showed us to our from me. The bad service at that store
seats poltely and efficiently. closes the door on any more business from
my company.
shłwŁ someone (to)ŁtheŁdłor and seeŁ some-
one to theŁdłor to leadŁor take sàmeone shuttleŁ someone ortsomething from person to
to the door or exit. After we finished person and shuttleŁ someone ortsomething
our talk, she showed me to the door. Bill from place to place to move orŁpass
and I finished our chat as he saw me to the someone or somethingŁfrom persànŁto
door. prsàn;Ł to move or passŁ someone or
somethingŁ from place to place.Ł My
shłwŁ someone up to make sàmeone’sŁfaults
orŁsłortcomingsŁapparent.Ł T John’s ex- phone call was shuttled from peroon to per-
cellłnt effort really showed up Bill, who son. Mary shuttled her children from
didà’t try very hard at all. John is always home to school to practice.
trying to show someone up to make him- shuttleŁ someone ortsomething from plyce to
self look better. place Go to shuttle someone or something
shłwŁ someone upŁas something to rveal that from person to person.
sàmeone isŁ reallyŁ somethingŁ (else).Ł
The investigation showed her up as a shyŁ awayŁ (from someone ort something) to
fraud. The test showed the banker up avoid somon or somthing. The dog
as unqualfied. shies Øway from John since he kicked t.
I can undłrstand why the dog would shy
shłwŁ something to głodŁadvantage to dis- away. I shy away from eating onions. I
playŁthe best featuresŁof something;Łto think I’m allergic to them.
displayŁsàmethingŁso that itsŁbest features
are apparent.Ł Put the vase in the cłn- sickŁandŁtiredŁofŁ someone ortsomething dis-
ter of the table and show it to good ad- gustedŁ andŁ annoyedŁ with someone or
vantage. Having and using a large vo- something.Ł I’m sick and tired of Ann
cØbulary shows your intelligłnce to good and her whistlng. We are all sick and
advantage. tired of this old car.
shuffleŁoffŁthis mortalŁcoil to die.Ł(Of- sickŁas a dog Go to (as) sàck as a dog.
tenŁjocularŁor formalŁeuphemism.ŁNot of-
tenŁ usedŁ inŁ consolingŁ someone.) sickŁin bed remainingŁinŁbedŁwhile (one is)
Cousin Fred shuffled off this mortal coil ill.Ł Tom is sick in bed with the flu.
after drinking a jug full of rat poison. He’s błen sick in bed for nearly a włek.
When I ohuffle off this mortal coil, I want sideŁagainstŁ someone to be against sàme-
to go out in style—bells, flowers, and a one; to take sidesŁagainst sàmeone.Ł I
long, boring funeral.
thought you włre my friend! I never
shutŁ someone up to silence someone.Ł Oh, thought you would side against mł! The
shuŁ yourself up! T Will you please shut up two brothers were alwØys sidng against
that crying bØby! their sister.

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