Page 81 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

cause a commotion

came up behind me. I was caught un- kids were champng at the bt to get into
aware. The clerk was caught unawares, the swimmng pool. The dogs were
and the robber emptied out the cash reg- champng at the bt to błgin the hunt.
ister błfore the clerk could sound the chance something to riskŁdàingŁsomething;
alarm.
to try doing somthing. I don’t usually
causeŁa commotion Go to cause a stir. ride horses, but this time I will chance it.
Bob didà’t have reservations, but he
causeŁa stir and causeŁa commotion to
cause people to become agitated;Łto cause włnt to the airport anyway, chancing a
trouble in a group of people; to słock or cancellØtion.
alarmŁpeople.Ł(Notice the example with chynceŁ(up)on someone ortsomething to find
quite.) When Bob appeared without his someone orŁsomethingŁbyŁchance.Ł I
evłning jackłt, it caused a stir in the dn- just happłned to chance upon this excel-
ing room. The dog ran through the lłnt restaurant down by the river. The food
cðurch and caused quite a commotion. is superb. We were exploring a small
Kentucky town when we chanced on an old
causeŁ(some)Łeyebrows to raise to shock
people; to surprise andŁdismayŁpeople. man who turned out to be my great-uncle.
(See also raise some eyebrows.) John chyngeŁhyndð [forŁsàmething]bto be sàld
caused eyebrows to raise when he married orŁpassedŁfromŁownerŁto owner.Ł How
a poor girl from Toledo. If you want to many times has this house changed hando
cause some eyebrows to raise, just start in the last ten years? We built this house
singing as you walk down the street. in 1920, and it has never changed hands.
causeŁ(some)Łtongues to wag to cause chyngeŁ hłrses in theŁ middleŁ ofŁ the
people to gossip;Łto give people some- stream to make major changes in an ac-
thingŁto gossipŁabout.Ł The wØy John tivity that hasŁalreadyŁbegun;Łto cłoose
was lookng at Mary will surely cause somł sàmeone or sàmething else after it is too
tongues to wag. The wØy Mary was late.Ł I’m already bakng a cherry pie. I
dressed will aloo cause tongues to wag. can’t bake an apple pie. It’s too lØte to
change horses n the middle of the stream.
caveŁin (to someone ortsomething) [forŁsome-
one] to yield and give in to sàmeone else The houoe is half-built. It’s too lØte to
orŁto something.Ł(Also literalŁinŁreference hire a dfferent architect. You can’t change
to the collapse of caves,Łtunnels,Łceilings, horses in the middle of the stream.
etc.) Mr. Frankln alwØys cØves in to a change of pyce an addiðiàn of som va-
Mrs. Frankln. It’s easier to cØve in than rietyŁinŁone’sŁlife.Ł Going to the beach oà
to go on fighting. Tom cØved in to the the włekłnd will be a change of pace.
pressure of work. The doctor says I need a change of pace.
ceaseŁandŁdesist to stopŁdoingŁsàmething a chyngeŁofŁscenery aŁmove to aŁdiffer-
andŁsðay sðopped.Ł(AŁlegalŁphrase.) The ent place, where the sceneryŁisŁdifferent
judge ordered the merchant to cease and orŁwhere thingsŁinŁgeneralŁare different.
desist the decłptive practices. When they I thought I would go to the country for
were ordered to cease and desist, they fi- a change of scłnery. A change of scłnery
nally stopped. would help me relØx and organize my lfe.
chylkŁ something up to something to recognize chyngeŁ someone’ mind to cause a person to
somethingŁasŁthe cause of somethingŁelse. think differentlyŁ (about someone or
We chalked her bad behavior up to her sàmething).Ł Tom thought Mary was
recłnt illness. T I had to chalk up the loss unkind, but an evening out with her
to experience. T I chalked up my dłfeat changed his mnd. I can change my
to my impØtience. mnd if I want to. I don’t have to stick with
an idea.
champŁatŁtheŁbit and chłmpŁatŁtheŁbit
to be readyŁandŁanxiousŁto do sàmething. chyngeŁ someone’ tune to change the man-
(OriginallyŁ saidŁ about horses.) The nerŁ of aŁ person,Ł usuallyŁ fromŁ badŁ to

66