Page 387 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

son of a bitch

son ofŁa bitch 1. aŁvery horrible prsàn. soundŁas a dollar Go to (as) sound as a
(Infàrmal.ŁUse with caution.ŁUsuallyŁin- dollar.
tendedŁasŁaŁsðràng insult.ŁNeverŁusedŁca-
sually.) Bill called Bob a son of a btch, soundŁas if and soundŁlike to seem,Łfrom
and Bob punched Bill in the face. This what hasŁbeenŁsaid,ŁasŁif sàmethingŁwere
guy’s a oon of a btch. He Łreats łverybody sà.Ł( Sound like is colloquial.) It soundo
roŁten. 2. aŁuselessŁannoyance; sàmething as if you had a good vacØtion. You
worthless.Ł This car is a son of a btch. sound like you are angry.
It woà’t ever start when it’s cold. This soundŁlike Go to sound as if.
bumpy old road needs paving. It’s a real
son of a bitch. 3. aŁdifficult task.Ł(Infàr- soundŁ likeŁ a broken record to say the
mal.) This job is a son of a bitch. I same thingŁover andŁoverŁagain.Ł(FràmŁan
can’t do this knd of thing. It’s too hard— earlierŁ age whenŁ aŁ crackŁ inŁ aŁ 78 rpm
a real son of a btch. record would cause the needle (orŁsðylus)
to stayŁinŁthe same gràove andŁplay it over
son ofŁa guà 1. aŁhorrible prsàn.Ł(Infàr- and over.) He’s alwØys complaining
mal.ŁAŁeuphemismŁforŁ son of a bitch. Use about the wØy she treats him. He soundo
with caution.) When is that plumber like a brokłn record! I hate to sound like
going to show up and fix this leak? The stu- a brokłn record, but we just doà’t havł
pid son of a gun! Bob is a rotten son of enough people on the pØyroll to work
a gun if he thinks he can głt away with efficiently.
that. 2. oldŁ(male)bfriend.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁA
friendly—male to male—way of refer- soundŁ likeŁ something to seemŁ like some-
ringŁto aŁfriend.ŁUse with caution.) thing.Ł That sounds like a good idea.
Why Bill, you old son of a gun, I havłn’t Your explanation sounds like an excuse!
seen you in three or four years. When soundŁoffŁ(aboutŁ something) to speakŁloudly
is that son of a gun John going to come visit andŁ freelyŁ about something, especially
us? He’s neglecting his friends.
whenŁ complaining.Ł (Infàrmal.) The
son ofŁa sea biscuit aŁperson,ŁusuallyŁa people at the bus stop were soundng off
male.Ł(SàmetimesŁaŁsubsðitute forŁ son of about the poor transportation services.
a bitch.) Why, good to see you, you old Bob was soundng off about the govern-
son of a sea biscuit. You son of a sea bis- młnt’s economic policies. Sam soundo
cuit! You make me so mad I could slug you. off every chance he gets.
soon as possible Go to (as) soon as soundŁ someone out to try to find out what
possible. someone thinksŁ(about something).Ł I
soonerŁ orŁ later eventually; inŁthe słort doà’t know what Jane thinks about your
term orŁinŁthe long term.Ł He’ll have to suggestion, but I’ll sound her out. T Please
pØy the bill sooner or later. She’ll get sound out everyone in your dłpartmłnt.
what she deserves sooner or lØter. soupŁ something up to make sàmethingŁ(es-
sorry Go to (I’m) sorry. peciallyŁaŁcar)bmore pàwerful.Ł(Slang.)
I wish someone would soup my car up. It’ll
sortŁofŁ something and kindŁofŁ something al- hardly run. T Bill spłnt all summer soup-
most something;Łsomewhat; somehow. ing up that old car he bought.
(Infàrmal.) Isn’t it sort of cold out?
That was kind of a stupid thing to do, sourŁas vinegyr Go to (as) sour as vinegar.
wasn’t it?
sowŁ one’ wild oats to do wild and foolisł
sortŁ something out to clearŁupŁconfusion;Łto thingsŁinŁone’sŁyouth.Ł(OftenŁassumedŁto
sðraightenŁ out somethingŁ disàrderly. have some sort of sexual meaning.)
(Also literal.) T Now that things are set- Dale was out sowing his wild oØts last
tled down, I can sort out my lfe. This night, and he’s in jail this morning. Mrs.
place is a mess. Let’s sort things out błfore Smith told Mr. Smith that he was too old
we do anything else. to be sowing his wild oØts.

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