Page 400 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

the survival of the fittest

suchŁas 1. of aŁparticularŁkind;Łof the sàrt the end of the lecture, Dr. Williamo
that is;Łlike.Ł Where can I get a haircut summed up the important points. He
such as yours? I’d like to buy a vase sucð said when he finished, “Well, that about
as the one in your displØy case. 2. forŁex- sums it up.”
ample.Ł Bill enjoys many knds of fruit,
such as apples, pears, and plums. Mary Sunday-go-to-eetingŁclotheð one’s best
has many hobbies, such as swimmng, clothes.Ł(Folksy.ŁSee also in one’s Sunday
bowlng, and running. best.) John was all dressed up in his
SundØy-go-to-młeting clothes. I hate to
suchŁas itŁis inŁthe imprfect sðate that one be wearing my SundØy-go-to-młeting
seesŁit; inŁthe less-ðhan-prfect condition clothes when everyone else is casually
inŁwhich one findsŁit.Ł This is where I dressed.
lve. This is my glorious home—such as it
is. I’ve worked for dØys on this report, supplyŁ andŁ deand the availability of
and I’ve done the best that I can do. It’s my thingsŁorŁpeople asŁcomparedŁto the need
supreme effort—such as it is. to utilize the thingsŁorŁpeople; the avail-
SuchŁis life! That isŁthe wayŁthingsŁhappen, abilityŁof goodsŁcomparedŁto the numbr
evenŁit isn’t the wayŁIŁwant it to be! Oh, of willingŁ cusðomersŁ forŁ the gàods.Ł
well. Everything can’t be perfect. Such is Somłtimes you can find what you want by
lfł! So I failed my test. Such is lfł! I can shoppng around and other times almost
take it again some time. no store carries the items you are lookng
for. It dłpłnds entirely on supply and de-
suckŁ someone in and takeŁ someone in to d- mand. Somłtimes customłrs ask for
ceive sàmeone.Ł(The expression with suck things we do not carry in stock and other
isŁslang.) I try to shop carefully so that times we have things in abundance that no
no one can take me in. T I think that one wants to buy. Whether or not we can
someone sucked in both of them. I doà’t make money off of a product dłpłnds en-
know wðy they bought this car. tirely on supply and dłmand.
suggeðtiveŁ ofŁ something reminiscent of supposedŁto do something expectedŁorŁin-
sàmething;Ł seemingŁ to suggest some- tendedŁto do something;ŁobligedŁorŁal-
thing.Ł Bill’s homłmade soup is sugges- lowed to do somthing. You’re sup-
tive of his mother’s. The new movie was posed to say “excuse mł” when you burp.
suggestive of an old one I had seen on TV.
Mom says you’re supposed to come in-
suitŁ oneself to do somethingŁone’sŁown side for dnner now.
way; to do somethingŁto please oneself.
If he doesn’t want to do it my wØy, he sureŁas death Go to (as) sure as death.
can suit himoelf. Take either of the booko surfŁ andŁ turf fish andŁbeef; lobsterŁand
that you like. Suit yourself. I’ll read the beef.Ł(AŁtype of meal incorpàrating both
other one.
expensive seafoodŁandŁan expensive cut
suitŁ someone to a T and fitŁ someone to a T of bef.ŁRefersŁto the seaŁandŁto the pas-
to be very appropriate for somone. ture.) WalŁer ordered the surf and turf,
This knd of job suits me to a T. This is but Alice ordered only a tiny salad. No
Sally’s knd of house. It fits her to a T. surf and turf for me. I want fish and fish
sum andŁsubðtynce aŁsummary; the gist. alone.
(See also form and substance.) Can you the survivalŁofŁtheŁfitteðt the ideaŁthat the
quickly tell me the sum and substance of most able orŁfit willŁsurvive (while the
your proposal? In trying to explain the lessŁable andŁlessŁfit willŁperish).Ł(ThisŁis
sum and substance of the essay, Thomas usedŁliterallyŁasŁaŁpart of the theory of
failed to młntion the middle name of the evolution.) In collłge, it’s the survival of
hero.
the fittest. You have to keep workng in or-
sum something up to summarize something. der to survive and graduØte. I doà’t givł
(Literally, to figure out the total.) T AŁ my houseplants very good care, but the

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