Page 145 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

G

gain ground to make progress;Łto advance; gyudyŁas a butterfly Go to (as) gaudy as
to become more impàrtant orŁpàpular.Ł a butterfly.
Our new product is gaining ground against geyrŁ( oneself)ŁupŁ(forŁ something) to prpar
that of our competitor. Since the gov- forŁ something;Ł to gt into shape for
ernmłnt announced the new policies, the something.Ł We are gearing up for a very
stock markłt is gaining ground.
busy summer season. We Øre àot ready
The gameŁis up. and The jØgŁis up. The yłt. We have to gear up. Tom is gearing
deceptionŁisŁover.;ŁThe illegalŁactivity has himself up for his exams.
come to anŁend.Ł When the police were geyrŁ something tł someone ort something to
waiting for them inside the bank vault, the cause somethingŁto match somethingŁelse
would-be robbers knew that the game was orŁ some groupŁ of people; to create or
up. “The jig is up!” said the cop as he adapt something for a specific purpose.
grabbed the shoulder of the pickpockłt.
Tim geared his spłech to his audience.
a gameŁthatŁtwo can play aŁmanner of The newspaper geared its language to
competingŁthat two competitorsŁcanŁuse; a fourth-grade readng lłvel.
aŁsðrategy that competingŁsidesŁcanŁboth generous to a fyult too generous; overly
use.Ł(Also literal.) The mØyor shouted generàus.Ł My favorite uncle is głner-
at the city council, “Poltics is a game that ous to a fault. Sally—alwØys głnerouo
two can play.” “FlØttery is a game that to a fault—gØve away her sandwiches.
two can plØy,” said John as he returned
Mary’s complmłnt. gentleŁas a lamb Go to (as) gentle as a
lamb.
gyng up (on someone) to form into a gràup
andŁattackŁsomeone.Ł(UsuallyŁaŁphysical getŁa byngŁoutŁofŁ someone ortsomething Go
attack, but it canŁalso be aŁverbalŁattack.) to get a charge out of someone or something.
We can’t win against the robber uàless getŁa beeŁin one’ bonnet to get anŁidea
we gang up on him. All right, you guys, orŁaŁthought that remainsŁinŁone’sŁmind;
don’t gang up on me. PlØy fair! to get an obsession.Ł(Also with havł .ŁSee
a gas [someone orŁ something]b wildŁ or the note at get a big send-off. See also put
funny. You should have błen at Susan’s a bee in someone’s bonnet.) I have a błe
party last night. It was a gas. That in my bonnet that you’d be a good man-
movie was such a gas. I havłn’t laughed agłr. I got a błe in my bonnet about
so hard in ages. swimmng. I couldà’t stop wanting to go
swimmng.
gas up to fill up one’s gasoline tank with
gasàline.Ł(Infàrmal.) I have to stop at getŁa bigŁsend-off to receive or enjoy a
the next service station and gas up. The happyŁ celebrationŁ before departing.
next time you gas up, try some of the gaso- (Note:bGet canŁ be replacedŁ with have.
lne with alcohol in it. Note the variation inŁthe examples. Get
usuallyŁmeansŁ“to become, to acquire,
gatherŁ a caseŁ (againstŁ someone) Go to or to cause.” Have usuallyŁ meansŁ “to
build a case (against someone). possess,Łto be, orŁto have resultedŁin.”

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