Page 141 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

foul one’s own nest

winks on the plane. If you’re lucky you’ll free as (the)Łair Go to (as) free as (the) air.
get forty winks while the children are out.
free-fłr-yll aŁdisorganizedŁfight or contesð
foulŁ one’ own neðt to harm one’s own in- involvingŁeveryàne; aŁbrawl.Ł The pic-
terests;Łto bring disadvantage upon one- nic turned into a free-for-all after mid-
self.Ł He tried to discredt a fellow sena- night. The race started out in an orga-
tor with the presidłnt, but just succłeded nized manner, but ended up błing a
in foulng his own nest. The boss really free-for-all.
dislikes Mary. She certainly fouled her own free translation aŁtranslation that isŁnot
nest when she spread those rumors about compltely accurate and nàt well thought
him.
out.Ł John gØve a free translØtion of the
foulŁplay illegalŁactivity; badŁpractices.Ł sentence, which did not help us at all.
The police investigØting the death suspect Anne gave a very free translØtion of the
foul plØy. Each studłnt got an A on the poem.
test, and the teacher imagined it was the freshŁas a daisy Go to (as) fresh as a daisy.
result of foul plØy.
freshŁoutŁ(ofŁ something) and cleyn outŁ(of
foulŁ someone ortsomething up to cause disàr- something) just now havingŁsoldŁorŁusedŁup
der and confusion for someone or some- the last of sàmething.Ł(Folksy.) Sorry,
thing;Ł to tangle up someone orŁ some- I can’t serve you scrambled eggs. We are
thing;Ł to mess someone or something up. fresh out of eggs. We Øre fresh out of
(Infàrmal.) Go away! Don’t foul me up nails. I sold the last box just ten mnutes
any more. T You’ve fouled up my wholł ago. Lettuce? Sorry. I’m fresh out.
dØy. T Watch out! You’re going to foul up Sorry. We are clean out of dried beans.
my kite strings. T Stay off the field. You’re
going to foul up the coach. A friendŁin need is a friendŁindeed. A
true friend is a prson who will help you
foulŁup to do (sàmething)bbadly; to mess whenŁyàuŁreallyŁneedŁsomeone.Ł(Com-
sàmethingŁup.Ł(Infàrmal.) At the last pare thisŁ with fair-weather friend.)
mnute, he fouled up and failed the course. When Bill helped me with geomłtry, I
Take your time. Plan your moves, and really learned the meaning of “A friend n
doà’t foul up.
need is a friend indłed.” “A friend in
fouledŁup messedŁup;ŁinŁdisàrder.Ł My need is a friend indłed”Ssounds silly until
fishing lne is all fouled up. The foot- you need someone very badly.
ball Łeam got fouled up and lost the game.
friendŁ or foe aŁfriendŁorŁanŁenemy.Ł I
fryughtŁwithŁdynger [of something]bfull can’t tell whether Jim is friend or foe.
of sàmethingŁdangerousŁorŁunpleasant.Ł “Who goes there? Friend or foe?” asked the
The spy’s trip to Russia was fraught with sentry.
danger. My escape from the kidnappero frighten one outŁofŁ one’ wØts and scare
was fraught with danger.
one outŁofŁ one’ wØts to frighten one very
free and clear without encumbrance, par- badly.Ł(Se also frighten the wits out of
ticularlyŁinŁregardŁto the ownershipŁof someone.) Oh! That loud noise scared mł
sàmething. After the last pØyment, Jane out of my wits. I’ll give him a good
owned the car free and clear. If you can’t scoldng and frighten him out of his wits.
prove that you own the houoe and the land frighten someone to death and scareŁ some-
it stands on free and clear, you can’t sell one to death to frighten someone se-
it.
verely.Ł(Also literal.) The dłntist alwØys
freeŁandŁeasy casual.Ł John is so free and frightens me to death. She scared me to
easy. How can anyone be so relØxed? death when she screamed.
Now, take it easy. Just act free and easy. No frighten theŁ (lØving)Ł daylØghts outŁ of
one will know you’re nervous.
someone Go to frighten the wits out of
freeŁas a bird Go to (as) free as a bird. someone.

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