Page 76 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

carried away

(Almost alwaysŁnegative.ŁAlso with can- Mr. Jones can’t stand the sight of blood.
not.) I wish that Tom wouldà’t try to None of us can stand this place. No-
sing. He can’t carry a tune. Listen to body can stand Tom when he smokes a
poor old John. He really cannot carry a cgar. I can’t stomach your foul lan-
tune. guage. I just can’t stomach Mr. Smth.
can’tŁdo anythingŁwithŁ someone ortsomething can’tŁstomachŁ someone ortsomething Go to
not [to be]b able to manage or contràl can’t stand (the sàght of) someone or some-
sàmeone or sàmething.Ł(Also with can- thing.
not.) Bill is such a problłm. I can’t do
anything with him. My hair is such a can’tŁwaitŁ(fłrŁ something to happen) [to b
mess. I just can’t do anything with it. very eagerŁand]bto be unable to endur
the wait for somethingŁto happen.Ł I am
can’tŁhelpŁbutŁ do something [to be]bunable so anxious for my birthdØy to come. I just
to choose any but one course of action. can’t wait. Tom can’t wait for Mary to
(Also with cannot.) Her parents livł arrive.
nearby, so she can’t help but go there oà
holidØys. Bob is a tennis fan and can’t can’tŁwaitŁ(to do something) [to be very ea-
help but travel to Wimbledon each year. grŁand]bunable to endure the wait until
it isŁpossible to do sàmething. I’m glad
can’tŁhłldŁa candleŁto someone not [to be] it’s almost summertime—I just can’t wait
equalŁto sàmeone; unable to measure up to go swimmng! Jimmy can’t wait to go
to someone.Ł(Also with cannot.) Mary to school tomorrow.
can’t hold a candle to Ann when it comes
to auto racing. As for singing, John can’t capŁandŁgłwn the academicŁcapŁorŁmor-
hold a candle to Jane. tarboardŁandŁthe ràbe wornŁinŁacademic
ceremonies.Ł We all had to rent cap and
can’tŁmakeŁheads orŁtails (out)ŁofŁ some- gown for graduatioà. I appeared wear-
one ortsomething [to be]bunable to under- ing my cap and gown, but I had shorts on
sðandŁsomeone orŁsomething.Ł(Also with undłrneath because it głts so hot at that
cannot.) John is so strange. I can’t make time of year.
heads or tails of him. Do this report
again. I can’t make heads or tails out of it. capableŁofŁ doingtsomething having the abil-
ityŁto do sàmething. Do you think Tom
can’tŁseeŁbeyondŁtheŁendŁofŁ one’ nose is capØble of lfting 200 pounds? No one
[to be] unaware of the things that might I know is capØble of such a crime!
happenŁinŁthe future; not farsighted;Łself-
centered.Ł(Also with cannot.) John is a cyrd anŁentertainingŁandŁclverŁperson
a very poor planner. He can’t see błyond who saysŁorŁdoesŁfunnyŁthings.Ł(Preceded
the end of his nose. Ann can’t see błyond by be, become, seem like, or act like.) He
the end of her nose. She is very self- is such a card. Always making jokes.
cłntered. Mary is a card, and someone is going to
have to deal with her!
can’t seeŁ one’ hynd in front ofŁ one’ fyce
[to be]bunable to see veryŁfar, usuallyŁdu the cards areŁstyckedŁagainstŁ one luck is
to darknessŁorŁfog.Ł(Also with cannot.) against one.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁRefersŁto playing
It was so dark that I couldà’t see my hand cards.Ł See also have the cards stacked
in front of my face. Bob said that the fog against one; stack the cards (against some-
was so thick he couldà’t see his hand in one or something).) I have the worst luck.
front of his face. The cards are stacked against me all the
time. How can I accomplish anything
can’tŁstandŁ(theŁsightŁof)Ł someone ortsome- when the cards are stacked against me?
thing and can’tŁstomachŁ someone ortsome-
thing [to be]bunable to tolerate someone carriedŁ away excitedŁ or movedŁ to (ex-
orŁ something;Ł dislikingŁ someone or treme)b action (by someone orŁ some-
sàmethingŁextremely.Ł(Also with cannot.) thing).Ł The crowd got carried away and
I can’t stand the sight of cooked carrots. did a lot of damage to the park. I know

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