Page 51 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

be the last straw

dàwnfall.Ł This cold will be the death of beŁwithŁ someone to be on somon’s sid;
me. All these problłms will be the death to be alliedŁwith sàmeone.Ł(Also literal.)
of me yłt. Keep on trying, John. We are all with
you. I’m with you in your efforts to win
be the last straw and be the straw that
brokeŁtheŁcamel’s byck to be the final reelection.
thing.;Łto be the last little burdenŁorŁpràb- beyrŁa grudgeŁ(againstŁ someone) and have
lemŁthat causesŁeverythingŁto collapse. a grudgeŁ (againstŁ someone);Ł hłldŁ a
(FràmŁthe image of aŁcamelŁbeingŁloaded grudgeŁ(against someone) to have an old
dàwnŁwith much weight, one sðraw at a resentment for someone; to be càntinu-
time.ŁFinally, at sàme pàint, whenŁone is allyŁangryŁat someone.Ł(See also nurse a
addingŁsðraw afterŁsðraw, one sðraw will grudge (against someone).) She bears a
finallyŁbe too much andŁthe camel’sŁback grudge against the judge who sentenced
will break.) When Sally came down her. I have a grudge against my land-
sick, that was the straw that broke the lord for overcharging me. How long can
camel’s back. When she showed up lØte, a peroon hold a grudge? Let’s be friends.
that was the straw that broke the camłl’o beyrŁfruit to yield results;Łto give results.
back.
(Also literalŁforŁfruit-bearingŁplantsŁand
be the spit and image ofŁ someone and be trees.) I hope your new plan bears fruit.
theŁspittingŁimageŁofŁ someone to làok We’ve had many good ideas, but none
very much like someone; to resemble of them has borne fruit.
sàmeone veryŁclosely.Ł(Folksy.ŁThe sec- beyrŁ in mindŁ thatŁ somethingt is so to r-
ond version isŁaŁfrequent erràr.) John mmber that somthing is so; to consider
is the spt and image of his father. I’m that somethingŁis so. (See also keep some-
not the spt and image of anyone. AŁ one or something in mind.) Bear in mnd
first, I thought you were saying spitting that the trip will be expłnsive. I asked
image.
the teacher to bear in mnd that I am just
beŁtheŁspittingŁimageŁofŁ someone Go to be a błginner.
the spit and image of someone.
bearŁ one’ cross and cyrry one’ cross to
beŁ theŁ strawŁ thatŁ brokeŁ theŁ camel’s carryŁ or bearŁ one’sŁ burden;Ł to endure
byck Go to be the last straw. one’sŁdifficulties.Ł(ThisŁisŁaŁChrisðianŁbib-
licalŁtheme.ŁIt isŁalwaysŁusedŁfiguratively
beŁto do something to be obligedŁto do sàme-
thing;Łto be expectedŁor directedŁto dà except inŁthe biblicalŁcontext.)b It’s a
something.Ł Am I to clean up the entire very bad disease, but I’ll bear my cross.
ktchen by myself? John is to take the I can’t help you with it. You’ll just have to
money to the bank. carry your cross.
beyrŁ someone ort something in mind Go to
beŁtoo and beŁso to be sàmethingŁ(despite
anythingŁto the contrary).Ł(AnŁemphatic keep someone or something in mind.
formŁof is, am, are, was, were. Se also beyrŁ something out to demonstrate or prove
do too, have too.) MOTHER: Billy, you that something is right. I hope that the
aren’t old enough to be up this lØte. BILLY: facts will bear your story out. T I’m sure
I am too! I was so! I was there exactly that the facts will bear out my story.
when I said I would bł!
beyrŁtheŁbruntŁ(ofŁ something) to withsðand
beŁusedŁto doingtsomething Go to be used to the worst part orŁthe sðràngest part of
something. sàmething, such asŁanŁattack.Ł I had to
bear the brunt of her screamng and
beŁusedŁto something and beŁusedŁto do- yellng. Why don’t you talk with her the
ingt something accusðomedŁ to something; next time? I’m tired of bearing the brunt.
comfàrtable with sàmethingŁbecause it is
familiar.Ł We are used to cooking our beyrŁ watching to needŁwatching;Łto de-
own food. I lved in Alaska so long that serve observaðion or monitoring. This
I am used to the cold. problłm will bear wØtching. This is a

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