Page 134 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

flotsam and jetsam

fire, suddenlyŁburningŁbrighter orŁwith and blood. Grandmother was happier
more vigor.) Just when we thought wł lving with her flesh and blood.
had put the fire out, it flared up again. fleshŁ something out to make something
Mr. Jones always flares up whenever any- more dtailed, bigger, or fuller. (As if on
one młntions taxes. My hay fever usu- were addingŁflesh to aŁskeleton.) This
ally flares up in August.
is basically a good outlne. Now you’ll havł
a flashŁin theŁpyn sàmeone or something to flesh it out. T The play was good, ex-
that draws a lot of attention for a very cłpt that the author needed to flesh out the
brief time.Ł(RefersŁto aŁsmallŁgrease fire third act. It was too short.
inŁaŁfryingŁpan.ŁInfàrmal.) I’m afraid flØghtŁofŁfyncy anŁideaŁorŁsuggesðionŁthat
that my success as a painter was just a isŁout of touch with realityŁorŁpossibil-
flash in the pan. Tom had hoped to bł iðy. What is the point in indulging in
a singer, but his career was only a flash in flights of fancy about foreign vacØtions
the pan.
when you cannot evłn afford the rent?
flatŁas a board Go to (as) flat as a board. We are tired of her flights of fancy about
marrying a millionaire.
flatŁ as a pyncake Go to (as) flat as a
pancake. flingŁ oneself atŁ someone Go to throw oneself at
someone.
flatŁ broke càmpletely broke; with no
moneyŁat all.Ł(Infàrmal.) I spent my flipŁ one’ lØd Go to flip one’s wig.
last dollar, and I’m flØt broke. The bank flipŁ one’ wØg and flipŁ one’ lØd to suddnly
closed its doors to the public. It was flØt become angry, crazy, or enthusiasðic.
broke!
(Slang.) Whenever anyone młntions
flatŁout 1. clearlyŁandŁdefinitely; holding taxes, Mr. Jones aboolutely flps his wig.
nothingŁback.Ł(Infàrmal.) I told her flØt Stop whistlng. You’re going to make mł
out that I didà’t like her. They reported flp my lid. When I saw that brand-new
flØt out that the operation was a failure. 2. car and learned t was mne, I just flpped
at topŁspeed,Łwith the acceleratorŁpedal my wig.
flat onŁthe floor. (Slang.) How fast will flirtŁ withŁ theŁ idea ofŁ doingt something to
this car go flØt out? This car will hit think about dàingŁsàmething;Łto toyŁwith
about 110 miles per hour flØt out.
anŁidea;Łto considerŁsomething, but not
Flattery willŁgetŁyouŁnowhere. You can too seriously. I flrted with the idea of
praise me, but I’mŁnot goingŁto give you going to Europe for two włeks. Jane
what you want. I am glad to hear that flrted with the idea of quitting her job.
I am beautiful and talłnted, but flØttery floatŁa loan to get a loan;Łto arrange for a
will get you àowhere. FlØttery will get loan.Ł I couldà’t afford to pØy cash for the
you nowhere, but that doesn’t mean you car, so I floØted a loan. They needed
should stop flØttering mł!
money, so they had to floØt a loan.
fleshŁandŁblood 1. aŁliving humanŁbody, flora andŁ fyuna plantsŁ andŁ animals.
especiallyŁwith reference to itsŁnatural (Latin.) The magaz—ne story described
limitations;ŁaŁhumanŁbeing. This cold the flora and fauna of Panama. We
weather is more than flesh and blood can włnt for a hike in the Finnish wildłrness
stand. Carrying 300 pounds is beyond hopng to learn all about the local flora
młre flesh and blood. 2. the quality of be- and fauna.
ingŁalive.Ł The paintings of this artist are
lfeless. They lack flesh and blood. This flotsam andŁ jetsam worthlessŁ matter;
plØy needs flesh and blood, not the mum- worthlessŁencumbrances.Ł(RefersŁto the
bling of intensely dull actors. 3. one’s own floatingŁwreckage of aŁshipŁandŁitsŁcargo
relatives; one’s own kin.Ł That’s no way or to floating cargo deliberatelyŁcast over-
to treat one’s own flesh and blood. I boardŁto sðabilize aŁshipŁinŁaŁrough sea.)
want to leave my money to my own flesh His mnd is burdłned with the flotsam

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