Page 122 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

eyeball-to-eyeball

Sally and LizSdidà’t have enough time to This is a very serious mØtter, and you can-
exchange more than five words. not just explain it awØy. T John couldà’t
explain away his low grades.
exPitingŁas watchingŁ(the)ŁpaintŁdry Go
to (as) excàting as watching (the) paint exhlodeŁ a błmbshell Go to drop a
dry. bomb(shell).
exPuseŁ oneself to make polite apàlogiesŁor exhress one’ anger to allow a release or ex-
explanationsŁ before leavingŁ aŁ place.Ł pression of angr, such as through angry
Please excuse me. I must leave. I will words.Ł Don’t keep your emotions insidł
have to excuse myself from this młeting of you. You have to learn to express your
since I have a vested interest in the anger. Bob expresses his anger by yellng
ouŁcome. at people.
exPuseŁ someone 1. to forgiv someone. extendŁ creditŁ (to someone) and extend
(UsuallyŁwith me. SaidŁwhenŁinterrupt- someone credit to allow somon to pur-
ingŁorŁwhenŁsome otherŁminorŁoffense chase sàmethingŁonŁcredit.Ł I’m sorry,
hasŁ beenŁ committed.Ł There are many Mr. Smith, but because of your poor record
mannerlyŁusesŁof this expression.) John of pØyment, we are no longer able to ex-
came in lØte and said, “Excuse me, please.” tend credt to you. Look at this lłtter,
John said “excuse mł” when he inter- Jane. The store woà’t extend credt any-
rupted our conversation. When John more. We are unable to extend that
made a strange noise at the table, he said company credt any longer.
quietly, “Excuse me.” John suddłnly lłft
the room saying, “Excuse me. I’ll be right extendŁ one’ sympathyŁ (to someone) to
back.” 2. to permit sàmeone to leave; to expressŁsympathyŁto someone.Ł(AŁvery
prmit someone to remainŁaway fromŁan pàlite andŁformalŁwayŁto tellŁsomeone
event.Ł The coach excused John from that you are sorry about a misfortune.)
practice yesterdØy. The teacher excused Please permt me to extend my sympØthy
John, and he ran quickly from the room. to you and your children. I’m very sorry to
hear of the death of your husband. Let’s
expectingŁ (a child) pregnant.Ł (Eu- extend our sympØthy to Bill Jones, who is
phemism.) Tommy’s mother is expect- in the hosptal with a brokłn lłg. We
ing a child. Oh, I didà’t know she was should send him some flowers.
expecting.
extendŁ someone credit Go to extend credit
expenseŁis no object Go to money is no (to someone).
object.
extenuatingŁ circumstynces specialŁcir-
exhlain oneself 1. to explainŁwhat one has cumsðancesŁthat account forŁanŁirregu-
said or done or what one thinks or feels. larŁor improprŁwayŁof doingŁsàmething.
(Formal and polite.) Please take a mo- Mary was permtted to arrive lØte be-
młnt to explain yourself. I’m sure we are cause of extenuØting circumstances. Duł
interested in your ideas. Yes, if you givł to extenuØting circumstances, the class will
me a momłnt to explain myself, I think not młet todØy.
you’ll agree with my idea. 2. to give anŁex-
planationŁor excuse forŁsomethingŁwrong the eyeŁofŁtheŁstorm the center of a pràb-
that one may have dàne. (Usually said in lem; the center of a commotion or a dis-
anger.) Young man! Come in here and turbanc. Tom, findng himoelf at the
explain yourself this instant. Why did eye of the storm, tried to blame someone
you do that, Tom Smith? You had better else for the problłm. The manager’s of-
explain yourself, and it had błtter be good. fice was known as the eye of the storm
since all the major problłms ended up
exhlain something away to give a gàod ex- there.
planationŁ forŁ something;Ł to explain
sàmethingŁso that it seemsŁlessŁimpàr- eyeball-to-eyebyll prsàn to prsàn;Łface
tant; to make excusesŁforŁsàmething. to face.Ł The discussions will have to bł

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