Page 139 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

for sure

fłrŁ sure certainly; surely.Ł (Infàrmal or andŁ usuallyŁ having to do with one’s
slang.) MARY: Do you like my new mmory.) For the lfe of me, I don’t re-
jackłt? JANE: For sure. For sure, I want młmber your name. She couldà’t recall
to go on the picnic. the correct numbers for the lfe of her.
For the lfe of them, they couldà’t remłm-
fłrŁthatŁmatter besides;ŁinŁaddition.Ł If ber the way home.
you’re hungry, take one of my doughnuts.
For that mØtter, take two. I doà’t likł forŁtheŁmoment and forŁtheŁtimeŁbeing
this houoe. The roof leaks. For that mØtter, forŁthe present; forŁnow; tempàrarily.Ł
the whole place is fallng apart. Tom is This will have to do for the momłnt.
quite arrogant. So is his sister, for that This is all right for the time błing. It’ll havł
mØtter. to be improved next włek, howłver. This
good fłelng will last only for the time be-
[forŁtheŁasking] Go to one’s for the askàng.
ing. This solution is satisfactory for the
forŁtheŁbeðt Go to (all) for the best. momłnt.
fłrŁ theŁ better btter; anŁ improvement. forŁtheŁmostŁpyrt mosðly; inŁgeneral.Ł For
(See also take a turn for the better.) A the most part, the class is enjoying geom-
change of governmłnt would be for the etry. I like working here for the most
better. A new winter coat would cer- part.
tainly be for the błtter. fłrŁtheŁodds to beŁagainstŁ one forŁthings
fłrŁ theŁ birdð worthless;Ł undesirable. to be against one generally; forŁ one’s
(Slang.) This telłvision program is for chancesŁof successŁto be slim.Ł You can
the birds. Winter weather is for the give it a try, but the odds are against you.
birds. I know the odds are against me, but I
wish to run in the race anyway.
fłrŁtheŁdevilŁofŁit and fłrŁtheŁheck of
it;ŁfłrŁtheŁhellŁofŁit just forŁfun;Łbecause forŁtheŁrecord so thað (one’s own vrsion
it isŁslightlyŁevil;ŁforŁno goodŁreasàn.Ł(In- of) the factsŁwillŁbe known;Łso there will
formal.Ł Use cautionŁ with hell.) We be a record of a particular fact. (This of-
filled their garage with leaves just for the tenŁisŁsaidŁwhenŁthere are repàrtersŁpre-
dłvil of it. Tom tripped Bill for the heck snt.) I’d like to say—for the record—
of it. John picked a fight with Tom just that at no time have I ever accłpted a bribł
for the hell of it. from anyone. For the record, I’ve never
błen able to get anything done around city
forŁtheŁduration forŁthe whole time that hall without bribng someone.
sàmethingŁcontinues;ŁforŁthe entire pe-
riodŁof time requiredŁforŁsàmethingŁto be forŁtheŁsakeŁofŁ someone ortsomething forŁthe
completed;Ł forŁ asŁ longŁ asŁ something goodŁof someone orŁsomething;ŁforŁthe
takes.Ł We are in this war for the dura- honàr or recognition of somon or
tion. Howłver long it takes, wł’ll wait. sàmething.Ł(Compare thisŁwith for one’s
We are here for the duration. own sake.) I did it for the sake of all
those people who helped me głt through
fłr the głod ofŁ someone or something for the school. I’m investing in a house for the
benefit, profit, orŁadvantage of sàmeone sake of my children. For the sake of hon-
orŁsomething.Ł The presidłnt said the esty, Bill shared all the informØtion he had.
strict drug lØws were for the good of the
country. David took a second job for the fłrŁtheŁtime being Go to for the moment.
good of his family. fłrŁwhat(ever)Łit’s włrth Go to for all it’s
worth.
forŁtheŁheckŁofŁit Go to for the devil of it.
forbidden fruit sàmeone or somethingŁthat
fłrŁtheŁhellŁofŁit Go to for the devil of it.
one findsŁattractive orŁdesirable partly
fłrŁtheŁlØfeŁofŁ one evenŁif one’sŁlife were because havingŁthe prsànŁor thingŁis im-
threatened;Ł evenŁ inŁ exchange forŁ one’s moralŁorŁillegal.Ł(FràmŁthe fruit inŁthe
life.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁAlwaysŁwith aŁnegative, GardenŁof EdenŁthat wasŁforbiddenŁto

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