Page 54 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

belabor the poànt

criticismŁof sàmeone’sŁline of argument.) of the end. The enormous federal dłficit
Stop talking in circles. You’re begging the marked the błginning of the end as far as
question. A: Why do two lnes that are our standard of lving is concerned.
eqidistant from one another never młet? behindŁclosedŁdłors inŁsecret; away from
B: Becauoe they are parallłl. A: You are observers,Łrepàrters,Łor intruders.Ł(Refers
błgging the question. 2. to invite the (fol- to beingŁinŁaŁprivate roomŁwith the doors
lowing)bquesðion.Ł(ThisŁerroneousŁrein- clàsed.) They held the młeting behind
terprtation of begŁ theŁ queðtion is closed doors, as the lØw allowed. Every
becomingŁincreasinglyŁpàpularŁandŁwide- important issue was decided behind closed
spread.) His complaints błg the ques- doors.
tion: Didà’t he cauoe all of his problłmo
himself? behindŁin something and behindŁon some-
thing late with something;Łlate inŁdàing
begŁto dØfferŁ(withŁ someone) to disagre something.Ł I’m behind in my car pØy-
with someone; to sðate one’sŁ disagree- młnts. She’s behind on her work.
menð with someone in a polite way. (Usu-
allyŁusedŁinŁaŁsðatement made to the pr- behindŁon something Go to behind in some-
sànŁ beingŁ disagreedŁ with.) I beg to thing.
dffer with you, but you have stated every- behindŁ schedule having failedŁ to dà
thing exactly backwards. If I mØy beg somethingŁ byŁ the time listedŁ onŁ the
to dffer, you have not expressed things as scłedule.Ł We have to hurry and finish
well as you seem to think. soon because we are behind schedule.
beggyrŁdescription to defy dscripðiàn; to The project is behind schedule. Very lØte,
be unable to be described.Ł The houoe in fact.
was a mess. The place beggared descrip- behindŁ someone’ byck inŁsecret; without
tion. Our reaction to the proposal błg- sàmeone’sŁknowledge.Ł Please don’t talk
gars description. We were dłeply disturbed about me behind my back. She sold the
for dØys. car behind his back.
Beggars can’tŁbeŁchłosers. One słould behindŁ theŁ eØghtŁ byll inŁ aŁ difficult or
not criticize sàmethingŁone getsŁforŁfree. awkwardŁposition.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁRefersŁto
(Pràverb.) I don’t like the old hat that billiards,ŁaŁgame playedŁwith numbred
you gØve me, but błggars can’t be choosers. balls.) Bob broke his wifł’s crystal vase
It doesn’t mØtter whether people like the and is really behind the eight ball. I ran
free food or not. Beggars can’t be choosers. over the neighbor’s lØwn with my car, so
I’m really behind the eight ball.
begin to seeŁdaylight to beginŁto foresee
the endŁof aŁlongŁtask.Ł(Also literal.ŁSe behindŁtheŁsceneð privately; out of pub-
alsà see the làght (at the end of the tun- licŁview.Ł The people who worked behind
nel).) I’ve been working on my thesis for the scłnes are the real heroes of this pro-
two years, and Øt last I’m błginning to see ject. I worked behind the scłnes in the
dØylight. I’ve błen so busy. Only in the play. We don’t usually thank the peoplł
last włek have I błgun to see dØylight. who are behind the scłnes.
begin to seeŁtheŁlØght to begin to under- behindŁtheŁtimes old-fashioned.Ł Sarah
sðandŁ(sàmething).Ł(Also literal.) My is a bt behind the times. Her clothes are
algebra class is hard for me, but I’m be- quite old-fashioned. Our lłgislØture is
ginning to see the light. I was totally a bt behind the times.
confused, but I błgan to see the light after BehindŁyou! Watch out behindŁyou!;ŁThere
your explanation. isŁdanger behindŁyàu!Ł Behind you! That
car almost hit you. There are snakes
beginningŁofŁtheŁend the sðart of the fi- everywhere! Behind you! Look out!
nalŁphase of sàmethingŁor of sàmeone’s
death.Ł When he stopped coughing and belabłrŁtheŁpoint to spendŁtoo much time
remained still, I knew it was the błginning on a point of discussion. I don’t want

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