Page 67 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

broad in the beam

broadŁin theŁbeam with wide hipsŁorŁlarg under Bill, so he finally włnt out and got
buttocks.Ł(FràmŁaŁnautical expression for a job.
aŁwide ship.) I am getting a lttle broad buildŁcastles in Spain Go to build castles
in the beam. It’s time to go on a diet. in the air.
John is just naturally broad in the beam.
buildŁcastles in theŁair and buildŁcastles
[brother’s keeper] Go to one’s brother’s in Spain to daydream;Łto make plansŁthat
keeper. can never come true.Ł Ann spłnds most
of her time buildng castles in Spain. I
brushŁupŁ(on something) to reviw som-
thing, especiallyŁ aŁ scłoolŁ subject.Ł I really like to sit on the porch in the evłning,
think I should brush up on my Spanish be- just buildng castles in the air.
fore I go to Mexico. I’ve heard you speak buildŁ( someone ortsomething)Łup 1. to make
Spanish. You need to do more than bruoh someone orŁsomething strongrŁorŁbig-
up. gr. Tom is eating lots of fresh fruits and
vłgetables to build himself up for basket-
buckŁforŁ something to aim,Łtry, orŁsðrike for ball. Tom needs to build up. Tom
aŁgàal.Ł(OriginallyŁreferredŁto tryingŁto needs to build himself up. T The farmłr
gt aŁhigherŁmilitaryŁrank.) Bill acts built up his stone fłnces where they had
that wØy because he’s buckng for corporal. weakened. 2. to advertise, praise, or pro-
Tom is buckng for a larger office.
mote someone or something. T Theatri-
buckŁup cłeerŁup.Ł Buck up, old friend! cal agents work very hard to build up their
Things can’t be all that bad. I know I clients. T An advertising agency can build
have to buck up. Life must go on. up a product so much that everyone will
want it.
buckleŁdłwn (to something) to settl down
to something;Łto beginŁto workŁseriously buildŁ something to order to build something
at something.Ł If you don’t buckle down especiallyŁforŁthe cusðomerŁwho ordered
to your job, you’ll be fired. You had błt- it.Ł(See also make something to order.)
ter buckle down and get busy. Our new car was built to order just for us.
My company builds computers to order.
bugŁout to leave; to packŁupŁandŁget out. No two are alike.
(Slang.) It’s time to bug out. Let’s get out buildŁupŁto something to lead up to some-
of here. I just got a call from headquar- thing;Łto workŁup to sàmething. You
ters. They say to bug out immediately.
could tell by the way she was talkng that
bugŁ someone to irritaðe someone; to bother she was buildng up to somłthing. The
someone.Ł(Slang.) Go away! Stop bug- sky was buildng up to a storm.
ging mł! Leave me alone. Go bug some- a bullŁin a china shłp aŁvery clumsyŁor
one else. wild persànŁaràundŁbreakable things;Ła
buildŁ a caseŁ (againstŁ someone) and as- thoughtlessŁor tactlessŁprsàn.Ł( China is
sembleŁ a caseŁ (againstŁ someone); fine crockery.) Look at Bill, as awkward
gatherŁa caseŁ(againstŁ someone) to put as a bull in a china shop. Get that big
togetherŁthe evidence neededŁto make a dog out of my gardłn. It’s like a bull in a
legalŁorŁdisciplinaryŁcase against some- china shop. Bob is so rude, a regular bull
one.Ł The police easily built a case in a china shop.
against the drunken driver. As soon as bupŁinto someone and run into someone
we gØther the case against her, we will ar- to chance on sàmeone; to meet sàmeone
rest her. byŁchance.Ł(Also literal.) Guess who I
bumped into downtown todØy? I ran
buildŁa fireŁunderŁ someone to do sàmething into Bob Jones yesterdØy.
to make someone else start doing some-
thing. (Informal.) The teacher built a bupŁ someone off and kàock someone off
fire undłr the studłnts, and they really to killŁsàmeone.Ł(Slang, especiallyŁcrim-
started working. Somebody built a fire inal slang.) They Łried to bump her off,

52