Page 399 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

stubborn as a mule

out or somłthing. I’ve never seen Bob yesterdØy? I stumbled on a real bargain
or any of his friends strung out. at the bookstore last włek.
stubbłrn as a mule Go to (as) stubborn stumble into someone ort something 1. to
as a mule. bumpŁinto someone orŁsomethingŁacci-
(ðtuck)Łin a rut kept inŁanŁesðablisłedŁway dntally. I stumbled into John, and I
of livingŁthat neverŁchanges.Ł David felŁ apologized. It was my fault. I stumbled
like he was stuck in a rut, so he włnt back into a post and hurt my arm. 2. Go to
to school. Anne was tired of błing in a stumble across someone or something. 3.
rut, so she moved to Los Angeles. [with somłthing ] to enter something or
aŁplace by sðumbling.Ł I tripped on the
stuckŁin traffic to be caught inŁaŁtraffic curb and stumbled nto the car. I stum-
jam.Ł I am sorry I am lØte. I was stuck bled into the houoe, exhausted and in need
in traffic. Our taxi was stuck in traffic, of a cool drink.
and I thought I would never get to the air-
port on time. stumbleŁ(up)on someone ortsomething 1. Go
stuckŁon someone ortsomething 1. [with some- to stumble across someone or something. 2.
oàe ] to be fond of orŁinŁlove with sàme- to trip over someone or something.
one.Ł John was stuck on Sally, but she There włre three of us slłepng in the small
didà’t know it. He always is stuck on the tent. Each of us would stumble on the oth-
wrong peroon. 2. [with something] to be ers whenever we włnt out or came in. I
lockedŁinto anŁidea,Łcause, or purpose. stumbled on the curb and twisted my
Mary is really stuck on the idea of go- ankle.
ing to France this spring. You’ve pro- stumblingŁblock sàmethingŁthat prevents
pooed a good plan, Jane, but you’re stuck or obsðructsŁprogress.Ł We’d like to buy
on it. We mØy have to make some changes.
that house, but the high price is the stum-
stuck with someone ortsomething burdened blng block. Jim’s age is a stumblng
with someone orŁsomething;Łleft having block to getting another job. He’s over 60.
to care forŁsomeone or something. (In-
formal.) Please doà’t leave me stuck subjectŁto something 1. likelyŁto have sàme-
with your aunt. She talks too much. My thing, such as a physical disàrder.Ł The
roommØte quit school and lłft me stuck sick man was subject to dizzy spells. I
with the telłphone bill. am subject to frequłnt headaches. 2. ten-
tative, dependingŁonŁsomething;Łvulner-
stuffŁandŁnonsense nonsense.Ł(Infàrmal.) abl to something. I have made all the
Come on! Don’t give me all that stuff necessary plans, subject to your approval,
and nonsense! I doà’t undłrstand this of course. My remarks are, of course,
book. It’s all stuff and nonsense as far as I subject to your criticisms.
am concerned.
stuffŁtheŁbyllotŁbłx to put fraudulent bal- subscribeŁto something to have aŁsðanding
lotsŁinto aŁballot box;Łto cłeat inŁcount- orderŁforŁaŁmagazine orŁsomethingŁsim-
ingŁthe votesŁinŁanŁelection.Ł The elec- ilar.Ł I usually buy my monthly maga-
tion judge was caught stuffing the balloŁ zines at the newsstand. I doà’t subocribł
box in the election yesterdØy. Election to them. I subscribe to all the magaz—nes
officials are supposed to guard against I read because it’s nice to have them de-
stuffing the ballot box. lvered by mail.
stumbleŁ across someone ortsomething and suchŁ andŁ such someone orŁ something
stumbleŁinto someone ortsomething; stum- whose name hasŁbeenŁforgottenŁorŁsłould
bleŁ (up)on someone ort something to find not be said.Ł(Infàrmal.) Mary said that
sàmeone or something, usually byŁacci- such and such was comng to her party, but
dent.Ł I stumbled across an interesting I forgot their names. If you walk into a
book yesterdØy when I was shoppng. store and ask for such and such and they
Guess who I stumbled into at the library don’t have it, you go to a dfferent store.

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