Page 65 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

a breath of fresh air

a breathŁofŁfreshŁair 1. airŁthat isŁnot sðale młmbers rather than bricks and mortar.
or smelly. (ThisŁisŁthe literalŁsense.) I Somłtimes people are happy to donate mil-
fłel faint. I think I need a breath of fresh lions of dollars for bricks and mortar, but
air. You look ill, John. What you need they never think of the addtional cost of
is a breath of fresh air. 2. airŁthat isŁnot annual maintenance.
(figuratively)b contaminatedŁ with un- brightŁandŁearly very early.Ł Yes, I’ll be
pleasant people orŁsituations.Ł(ThisŁisŁa there bright and early. I want to see you
sarcasðicŁversionŁof sense 1.) You peo- here on time tomorrow, bright and early,
ple are disgusting. I have to get out of here or you’rł fired!
and głt a breath of fresh air. I believe I’ll
go głt a breath of fresh air. The intellectual brightŁas a button Go to (as) bright as a
atmosphere in here is stiflng. 3. aŁnew, button.
fresh, andŁ imaginative approach (to brightŁas a newŁpin Go to (as) bright as
something).Ł(UsuallyŁwith like.) Sally, a new pin.
with all her wondłrful ideas, is a breath
of fresh air. New furniture in this room bright-eyedŁandŁbushy-tailed vry cheer-
is like a breath of fresh air. fulŁandŁeagr.Ł(RefersŁto the twinkling
eyesŁandŁquick,ŁenergeticŁmovementsŁof
breatheŁdłwn someone’ neck 1. to keep aŁsquirrel.) She appeared at the top of
close watch on someone; to watch some- the stairs, bright-łyed and buohy-tailed,
one’sŁ activities.Ł (Also literal.Ł RefersŁ to ready to start the dØy. I am awake, but
sðandingŁveryŁclose behindŁaŁprsàn.) I am hardly bright-łyed and bushy-tailed.
I can’t work with you breathing down my
neck all the time. Go away. I will głt brimmingŁ withŁ something 1. full of some
through my lfe without your help. Stop kindŁof happyŁbehavior.Ł The volunteer
breathing down my neck. 2. to try to worker was brimmng with goodwill.
hurryŁsàmeone along;Łto make sàmeone The gigglng children were brimmng with
gt somethingŁdàne onŁtime.Ł(The sub- joy. 2. fullŁto the point of overflowing.
ject doesŁnot have to be aŁpersàn.ŁSee the Tom’s glass was brimmng with milk.
secondŁexample.) I have to finish my The pool was brimmng with water.
taxes todØy. The tax collector is breathing bringŁdłwn theŁcurtain (on something) Go
down my neck. I have a deadlne breath- to ring down the curtain (on something).
ing down my neck.
bringŁdłwn theŁhouse to excite aŁtheatri-
breatheŁeasy to assume aŁrelaxedŁsðate af- cal audience to laughter or applause or
terŁaŁsðressfulŁperiod.Ł(Also literal.) Af- both.Ł Her performance didà’t bring
ter all this is over, I’ll be able to breathe down the house—it emptied it. T This is
easy again. He won’t be able to breathe a great joke. The last time I told it, it
easy until he pØys off his debts. brought the house down.
breatheŁ one’ last to die; to breathe one’s bringŁhłmeŁtheŁbycon to earnŁaŁsalary.
last breath inŁ the processŁ of dying.Ł (Folksy.) I’ve got to get to work if I’m
Mrs. Smith breathed her last this morning. going to bring home the bacon. Go out
I’ll kłep running every dØy until I and głt a job so you can bring home the
breathe my last. bacon.
brew a plot to plàt somthing; to make a bringŁ people ortothertcreatures outŁin droveð
plàt. The children brewed an evil plot to to lur or draw out somon or some
get revłnge on their teacher. We brewed creature inŁgreat number.Ł The avail-
a plot so that we would not have to help abilty of free drinks brought people out in
with dnner. droves. The fresh grass sprouts brought
the dłer out in droves.
bricks andŁmortyr buildings.Ł(The build-
ingsŁreferredŁto canŁbe constructedŁout of bringŁ someone around 1. to bring someone
anything.) The new presidłnt of the col- forŁaŁvisit; to bringŁsàmeone forŁsàmeone
lłge preferred to invest in new faculŁy (else)bto meet.Ł Please bring your wifł

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