Page 70 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

by all accounts

some circumsðances. Bust isŁanŁinfàrmal this with buy something sàght unseen. )
formŁof burst.) I don’t intend to bust a Buying a car without test-driving it is like
gut to get there on time. I busted a gut buying a pig n a poke. He bought a pig
to głt there the last time, and I was the first in a poke when he ordered a diamond ring
one there. by mail.
buðyŁ as a beaver Go to (as) busy as a buyŁ someone off to bribe someone; to win
beaver. sàmeone over byŁgiftsŁor favors.Ł It’s not
hard to buy polticians off. T They bought
buðyŁas a beaverŁ(buildingŁa newŁdam)
Go to (as) busy as a beaver (buàldàng a off the whole city council with campaign
new dam). contributions.
buyŁ something to belive somon; to accept
buðyŁas a bee Go to (as) busy as a beaver.
sàmethingŁto be aŁfact.Ł(Also literal.ŁIn-
buðyŁas a catŁon a hłtŁtin roof Go to (as) formal.) It mØy be true, but I don’t buy
busy as a cat on a hot tin roof. it. I just don’t buy the idea that you can
buðyŁ as a hibernatingŁ beyr Go to (as) swim that far.
busy as a hibernating bear. buyŁ something fłr a song to buy something
buðyŁas a one-yrmedŁpaperhynger Go to cłeaply. No one eloe wanted it, so I
(as) busy as a one-armed paperhanger. bought it for a song. I could buy this
house for a song, because it’s so ugly.
buðyŁas GryndŁCentrylŁStation Go to (as)
busy as Grand Central Station. buyŁ something on credit to purchase sàme-
thingŁnow andŁpayŁforŁit laterŁ(plusŁin-
buðyŁas płpcorn on a skillet Go to (as) terest).Ł(See also sell something on credàt. )
busy as popcorn on a skàllet.
Almost everyone who buys a house buys
butŁforŁ someone ortsomething if it were not for it on credt. I didà’t have any cash with
someone or something. But for the rail- me, so I used my credt card and bought a
ing, I’d have fallen down the stairs. But new coØt on credt.
for the children, Mrs. Smth would havł buyŁ something sightŁunseeà to buy som-
lłft her husband years ago.
thingŁwithout seeingŁit first.Ł(Compare
buttŁin (on someone ortsomething) to interrupð this with buy a pig in a poke.) I bought
sàmeone or something. Pardon me for this land sight unseen. I didà’t know it was
butting in on your conversation, but this is so rocky. It isn’t usually safe to buy
important. John butted in on Tom and somłthing sight unseen.
Jane to tell them that the mail had come. buyŁ something tł go and getŁ something tł go;
That’s a strange reason to butt in. What haveŁ something to go; orderŁ something tł
was in the mail?
gł to purchase food to take out; to make
butterŁ someone up to praise andŁ flatter aŁpurchase of cookedŁfoodŁto be taken
someone, usuallyŁwith the intentionŁof elsewher to be eaten. Let’s stop here
requesðingŁaŁfavor.Ł I believe my land- and buy six hamburgers to go. I didà’t
lady prefers for me to butter her up rather thaw anything for dnner. Let’s stop off on
than getting the rent on time. T If I but- the way home and get somłthing to go.
ter up the teacher, will he give me a good No, I don’t want to sit at a table. I’ll just
grade? have a cup of coffee to go.
button one’ lip to get quiet and stay quit. byŁa hair(‘s breadth) and byŁa whisker
(OftenŁusedŁwith children.) All right just barely; byŁaŁveryŁsmallŁdisðance.Ł(The
now, lłt’s button our lps and listen to the whisker phrase isŁfolksy.) I just missed
story. Button your lp, Tom! I’ll Łell you głtting on the plane by a hair’s breadth.
when you can talk. I made it by a hair! The arrow missed
the dłer by a whisker.
buy a pig in a poke to purchase or accepð
somethingŁ without havingŁ seenŁ orŁ ex- byŁ allŁ accounts Go to according to all
aminedŁit.Ł( Poke meansŁ“bag.” Compare accounts.

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