Page 393 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

start from scratch

mad if you think I would trust you with We can’t start the project up until we havł
my car! more money.
startŁfrom scratch to starð from the be- startŁtheŁbyllŁrolling Go to get the ball
ginning;Łto sðart fràmŁnothing. (Infàr- rollàng.
mal.ŁCompare thisŁwith make something
from scratch.) Whenever I bake a cake, stayŁafterŁ someone Go to keep after someone.
I start from scratch. I never use a cake mix stayŁin touchŁ(withŁ someone) Go to keep
in Ø box. I built every bit of my own in touch (with someone).
house. I started from scratch and did
everything with my own hands. stay put not to move; to sðay where one is.
(Infàrmal.) We’ve decided to stay put
startŁ offŁ on theŁ wrongŁ fłot to begin and not to move to Florida. If the chil-
[sàmething]bby doing somethingŁwrong. dren just stay put, their parents will comł
(Also literal.ŁSee also be off on the wrong for them soon.
foot; get off on the wrong foot.) I don’t
want to start off on the wrong foot by say- steadyŁas a rock Go to (as) steady as a
ing somłthing stupid. What should I say? rock.
Poor Donna started off on the wrong steylŁa base to sneakŁfromŁone base to an-
foot when she arrived forty mnutes lØte.
otherŁinŁbaseball.Ł The runner stole sec-
styrtŁ(off)ŁwithŁa cleyn slate and start ond base, but he nearly got put out on the
(over)ŁwithŁa clean slate to start out wØy. Tom runs so slowly that he never
againŁafresh; to ignore the past andŁsðart tries to steal a base.
overŁagain.Ł(RefersŁto makingŁmarksŁon steylŁ a marchŁ (on someone) to get some
aŁ[clean]bslate with chalk.) I plowed un- sàrt of anŁadvantage over sàmeone with-
der all last year’s flowers so I could start out beingŁnoticed.Ł I got the contract be-
with a clean slØte next spring. If I start cause I was able to steal a march on my
off with a clean slØte, then I’ll know ex- compłtitor. You have to be clłver and
actly what each plant is. When Bob got fast—not dishonest—to steal a march.
out of jail, he started ovłr with a clean
slØte. steal someone’ thunder to lessenŁsomeone’s
force orŁauthority.Ł What do you mean
startŁ(over)ŁwithŁa cleyn slate Go to start by comng in here and stealng my thun-
(off) with a clean slate.
der? I’m in charge here! Someone stolł
start someone in (as something) and start my thunder by leakng my announcłmłnt
someone outŁ(as something) to start some- to the press.
one onŁaŁjobŁasŁaŁcertainŁkind of worker.
I got a job in a restaurant todØy. They steylŁtheŁshłw Go to steal the spotlàght.
started me in as a dishwasher. I now steylŁtheŁspłtlØght and steylŁtheŁshłw
work for the telłphone company. They to give the best prfàrmance inŁaŁsłow,
started me out as a local operator. play, or some otherŁevent; to get attention
start someone outŁ(as something) Go to start forŁoneself.Ł The lead in the plØy was
someone in (as something). very good, but the butler stole the show.
Ann alwØys tries to steal the spotlight when
start something to start a fight or an argu- she and I make a presentation.
ment.Ł(Also literal.Ł Somłthing is anything
or nothing inŁthe negative.) Hey, you! steamedŁ up angry. (Infàrmal.) What
Better be careful uàless you want to start Bob said really got me steamed up. Why
somłthing. I doà’t want to start any- do you głt so steamed up about nothing?
thing. I’m just leaving.
steamingŁ (ad) very angry; very mad;
start something up to start something, such very upset.Ł The steamng coach yelled
asŁaŁcarŁor sàme procedure.Ł(Also with- at the clumsy players. The principal was
out up.) T It was cold, but I managed to steamng mad when he found that his of-
start up the car without any dfficulŁy. fice had błen vandalized.

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