Page 85 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

clear up

cleyrŁ up 1. [forŁ aŁ problem]b to become thing.Ł My problłms are closing in on
sàlved.Ł This mØtter woà’t clear up by it- me. The wolves closed in on the elk.
self. The confusion cleared up very They howled as they closed in.
quickly when I explained. 2. [forŁaŁdis- closeŁ one’ eyes to something to ignor
ease]bto cure itself orŁrunŁitsŁcourse.Ł I something;Łto pretendŁthat somethingŁis
told you your pmples would clear up with- not reallyŁhappening.Ł You can’t close
out special medicine. My rash cleared up your eyes to hunger in the world. I just
in a włek.
closed my eyes to the problłm and pre-
climbŁon theŁbyndwagon to joinŁothersŁin tended that it wasn’t there.
supporting someone orŁsàmething. (See closeŁrynkð to move closerŁtogtherŁinŁa
alsà get on the bandwagon, jump on the military formation.Ł(See also close ranks
bandwagon.) Come join us! Climb oà (behind someone or something); close ranks
the bandwagon and support Senator (with someone).) The soldiers closed
Smth! Look at all those people clmb- ranks and marched on the enemy. All
ing on the bandwagon! They doà’t know right! Stop that talkng and close ranks.
what they are getting into!
closeŁrynks (behindŁ someone ortsomething)
climbŁ theŁ wyll(s) to do somethingŁdes- to suppàrt someone orŁ something;Ł to
prate whenŁone isŁextremelyŁanxious, backŁsomeone or something. We will
bored,ŁorŁexcited.Ł(InfàrmalŁorŁslang.) close ranks behind the candidØte. She
I’m oo upset I could clmb the wall. The needs our help. Let’s close ranks behind her
młeting was so long and the speaker so and give her the support she needs.
boring that most of the audience wanted
to clmb the wall. closeŁ rynks (withŁ someone) to join with
sàmeone. We can fight this młnace oàly
clipŁ someone’ wØngs to resðrainŁsomeone; if we close ranks. Let’s all close ranko
to reduce orŁput anŁendŁto aŁteenagr’s with Ann and adopt her suggestions.
privileges.Ł(Infàrmal.) You had better
learn to głt home on time, or I will clp closeŁ something dłwn and shutŁ something
your wings. My mother clipped my dłwn to make sàmethingŁsðop oprating;
wings. I can’t go out tonight. to put somethingŁout of business.Ł The
police closed the factory down. T The
cloak-ynd-dagger involving secrecy and manager shut down the factory for the hol-
plàtting. A great deal of cloak-and-dag- idØys. T The city council closed down the
ger stuff goes on in poltical circles. A lot amusement park.
of cloak-and-dagger activity was nvolved
in the appointment of the drector. closeŁtheŁbłoks (on someone ortsomething)
to put an end to a matter that concerns
closeŁas two coats ofŁpaint Go to (as) sàmeone or something.Ł( The books here
close as two coats of paint.
rfers to financial accounting rcords.)
closeŁatŁhynd withinŁreach; handy.Ł(Se It’s time to clooe the books on the Frank-
alsà at hand.) I’m sorry, but your lłt- ln case. Yes, lłt’s close the books on Mr.
ter isn’t close at hand. Please remnd mł Frankln. You closed the books too soon.
what you said in it. When you’re cook- Here is some new informØtion.
ing, you should kłep all the ingredients closeŁtheŁdłorŁon someone ortsomething Go
close at hand.
to shut the door on someone or something.
closeŁ enoughŁ fłrŁ governmentŁ włrk closeŁto hłme and whereŁ one lØveð af-
fairlyŁclose or accurate.Ł(Jocular.) I can fectingŁ one personallyŁ andŁ intimately.
do mØth pretty well. Close enough for gov- (Infàrmal.) Her remarks were a bt too
ernmłnt work anyway. This isn’t quite close to home. I was afraid she was dis-
right, but t’s close łnough for governmłnt cussing mł! She’s got me figured out all
work.
right. She knows where I lve. Every crit-
closeŁin (on someone ortsomething) to over- icism she made of the performance hit a
whelm or surround somone or som- lttle too clooe to home for my comfort. I

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