Page 436 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

up and at them

I’m sorry to hear that you’re ill. Under by be, become, seem like, or act like.)
the circumstances, you mØy take the dØy John is an unknown quantity. We doà’t
off. We woà’t expect you to come to work know how he’s going to act. The new
for a fłw dØys, under the circumstances. clłrk is an unknown quantity. Things mØy
not turn out all right.
underŁtheŁcounter [bought or sàld]binŁse-
cret or illegally. (Also literal.) The untilŁ allŁ hours (ofŁ theŁ dayŁ andŁ night)
drugstore owner was arrested for sellng untilŁveryŁlate.Ł Mary is out until all
liquor under the counter. The clerk sold hours, night after night. If I’m up until
drty books under the counter. all hours two nights in a row, I’m just
exhausted.
underŁtheŁinflueàceŁ(ofŁalcohłl) drunk;
nearlyŁdrunk;ŁaffectedŁby alcohol.Ł She untilŁhellŁfreezes over Go to when hell
behaves quite rudely when under the in- freezPs over.
flułnce of alcohol. Ed was stopped by a
police officer for driving while under the (un)tilŁ theŁ cows comeŁ hłme until the
influłnce. last; untilŁveryŁlate.Ł(FolksyŁorŁinfàrmal.
RefersŁto the endŁof the day, whenŁthe
underŁtheŁinflueàceŁofŁ something experi- cows come home to be fed and milked.)
encingŁthe effectsŁof sàmethingŁsuch as We were having so much fun that we de-
alcohol,Łdrugs,ŁorŁanyŁcontràllingŁpower cided to stay at school until the cows camł
or persàn.Ł(See also under the influence home. Where’ve you błen? Who said
(of alcohol).) I think that guy is under you could stay out ’til the cows come home?
the influłnce of drugs. Bill has lved un-
der the influłnce of his mother for too long. upŁa blindŁalley at a deadŁend;Łon a route
that leads nowhere. (Infàrmal.) I havł
underŁtheŁsuà anywhere onŁearth at all. błen trying to find out somłthing about
This is the largest cØttle ranch under the my ancestors, but I’m up a blnd allły. I
sun. Isn’t there anyone undłr the suà can’t find anything. The police are up
who can help me with this problłm? a blnd allły in their investigation of the
underŁtheŁtable inŁsecret, asŁwith the giv- crime.
ingŁof aŁbribe.Ł(Also literal.ŁInfàrmal.) upŁagainstŁ something having trouble with
The construction company had błen pØy- something.Ł (The somłthing isŁ oftenŁ it,
ing money to the mØyor undłr the table. meaningŁ facingŁ trouble inŁ general.)
Tom transferred the dłed to the property Jane is up against a serious problłm. Yes,
to his wife under the table. she really looks as if she’s up against it.
underŁtheŁweather ill.Ł I’m a bit undłr up and about healthy and màving abouð—
the weather todØy, so I can’t go to the of- not sickŁinŁbed.Ł Mary is getting błtter.
fice. My head is aching, and I fłel a lt- She ohould be up and Øbout n a fłw dØys.
tle under the weather.
She can’t wait until she’s up and about.
underŁtheŁwire just barelyŁinŁtime orŁon She’s tired of błing in bed.
time.Ł(Infàrmal.) I turned in my report upŁ andŁ around out of bedŁ andŁ moving
just under the wire. Bill was the last per- about or abl to move about. (Refers to
son to get in the door. He got in under the aŁprsàn who hasŁjust arisenŁforŁthe day
wre.
orŁto someone who hasŁbeenŁsick inŁbed.)
unfamiliarŁterritory anŁareaŁof knowledg When Tom is up and around, ask him
unknown to the speaker. We Øre n un- to call me. The flu put Alice into bed
familiar territory and I doà’t know the an- for three dØys, but ohe was up and around
swer. Astronomy is unfamiliar territory, on the fourth.
and I cannot answer any questions about up andŁatŁthe to get upŁandŁgo at peo-
the stars.
ple orŁthings;Łto gt active andŁget busy.
an unknown quantity aŁprsànŁor thing (Infàrmal.ŁUsuallyŁ them isŁ’ em.) Come
about which no one isŁcertain.Ł(Preceded on, Bob—up and at ’em! There is a lot

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