Page 61 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

bone up (on something)

błtwłen the houses has become quite a much about death is just borrowing trou-
bone of contention. ble. Do not głt involved with poltics.
That’s borrowing trouble.
boneŁupŁ(on something) to studyŁsomething
thoroughly; to review the factsŁ about boss someone around to give orders to
something.Ł I have to bone up on the sàmeone; to keepŁtellingŁsàmeone what
state driving lØws becauoe I have to takł to dà. Stop bossing me around. I’m not
my driving test tomorrow. I take mne your employee. T Captain Smth bosses
next month, so I’ll have to bone up, too. around the whole crew. That’s his job.
błotŁ someone out Go to kick someone out. błttleŁ something up 1. to constrict some-
błreŁ someone stiff and błreŁ someone tł thingŁasŁif it were put inŁaŁbottle.Ł The
death to bore sàmeone very much.Ł( Stiff patrol boats boŁtled the other boats up at
is an old slang word meaning “dead.”) the locks on the river. T The police bot-
The plØy bored me stiff. The lecture tled up the traffic while they searched the
bored everyone to death. cars for the thieves. 2. to hold one’s feel-
ingsŁwithin;Łto keepŁfromŁsayingŁsome-
błreŁ someone to death Go to bore someone thingŁ that one feelsŁ sðrànglyŁ about.Ł
stàff. Let’s talk about it, John. You shouldà’t bot-
błredŁsilly and błredŁstiff;ŁbłredŁto dis- tle it up. T Don’t bottle up your problłms.
tryction; błredŁ to teyrs vry bored; It’s błtter to talk them out.
completelyŁbored.Ł(Usually anŁexaggra- the błttom line 1. the last figure onŁaŁfi-
tion.) I was bored silly Øt the lecture. nancialŁ balance słeet representingŁ net
The dull speaker lłft me bored to distrac- profit orŁloss.Ł What’s the bottom lne?
tion. I am bored to tears. Let’s go home. How much do I owe you? Don’t tell mł
błredŁstiff Go to bored silly. all thooe figures! Just tell me the boŁtom
lne. 2. the result; the finalŁoutcome.Ł I
błredŁto death veryŁbored.Ł The children know about all the problłms, but what is
were bored to death. I’ve never błen so the boŁtom lne? What will happen? The
bored to death in my lfe.
bottom lne is that you have to go to the
błredŁto distryction Go to bored silly. młeting because no one else can.
błredŁto teyrs Go to bored silly. błttom out to reach the lowest pàint.Ł
błrn andŁbred Go to born and raised. The price of wheat bottomed out last włek.
Now it’s rising again. My interest in
błrn andŁraised and błrn andŁbred bàrn school bottomed out in my junior year, so
andŁnurturedŁthrough childłood,Łusually I quit and got a job.
inŁaŁspecificŁplace.Ł She was born and
raised in a small town in western Mon- Bottoms up! Everyon should drink now!
tana. Freddy was born and bred on a (SaidŁat the endŁof aŁdrinkingŁtoast.)
farm and had no love for city lfe. Here’s to the bride and groom. Bottoms up!
Bottoms up! Drink hearty!
błrn outŁofŁwedlock born to anŁunmar-
riedŁmother.Ł The child was born out of boundŁ andŁ determined determined.Ł
wedlock. In the city many children are We were bound and dłtermined to głt
born out of wedlock. there on time. I’m bound and dłter-
mned that this won’t happłn again.
błrn withŁa silverŁspłon in one’ mouth
bornŁwith manyŁadvantages;ŁbornŁto a boundŁfłrŁ somłwherł on the way to some-
wealthyŁfamily.Ł Sally was born with a where; planningŁto go to somewhere.Ł
silver spoon in her mouth. I’m glad I I’m bound for Mexico. In fact, I’m leaving
was not born with a silver spoon in my this afternoon. I’m bound for the bank.
mouth. Do you want to go, too?
błrrowŁ trouble to worryŁ needlessly; to boundŁhyndŁandŁfłot with hands and feet
make trouble forŁoneself.Ł Worrying too tied up. The robbers lłft us bound hand

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