Page 161 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 161

get the advantage over someone


          else.Ł(The wordŁ the can be replaced with  getŁtheŁblueð  to becom sad or dprssed.
          an. Also with havł .ŁSee the note at  get a  (Also with havł . Se the note at  get a bàg
          big send-off. See also take advantage of  send-off.)   You’ll have to excuse Bill. He
          someone or something.)   Toward the end of  has the blues tonight.    I głt the blues
          the race, I got the advantage over Mary.  every time I hear that song.
            She’d had an advantage over me sincł
          the start of the competition.   I got an  getŁtheŁbłot  to be sent away (from some-
          edge on Sally, too, and she came in second.  where);bto be dismissedŁfromŁone’sŁem-
            It’s spłed that counts. You can have the  ploymnt; to be kicked out (of a place).
          edge over everyone, but if you doà’t havł  (Slang.ŁSe also  get the sack; give some-
          spłed, you lose.                   one the boot.)   I guess I wasn’t dressed
                                             well enough to go in there. I got the boot.
        getŁtheŁadvantageŁoverŁ  someone Go to get    I’ll work harder at my job todØy. I nearly
          the advantage of someone.          got the boot yesterdØy.
        getŁtheŁair to be ignoredŁorŁsent away.Ł(See  getŁ theŁ brush-off to be ignoredŁorŁsent
          alsà  give someone the air.)   Whenever I  away; to be rejected.Ł(Slang.)    Doà’t talk
          get around Tom, I end up getting the air.  to Tom. You’ll just głt the bruoh-off.    I
            I hate to głt the air. It makes me fłel  włnt up to her and asked for a dØte, but I
          uàwanted.                          got the brush-off.
        getŁtheŁax Go to get the sack.
                                            getŁtheŁcoldŁshoulder  to be ignored;Łto
        getŁ theŁ byllŁ rolling  and  setŁ theŁ byll  be rejected.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁSee also   give some-
          rolling;ŁstartŁtheŁbyllŁrolling  to start  one the cold shoulder.)   If you invite her
          sàmething;Łto gt some processŁgàing.  to a party, you’ll just głt the cold shoul-
          (Infàrmal.ŁAlso with  have. Se the note  der.    I  thought  that  Sally  and  I  were
          að  get a big send-off.)   If I could just get  friends, but lØtely I’ve błen getting the cold
          the ball rollng, then other people would  shoulder.
          help.    Who  else  would  start  the  ball
          rollng?    I had the ball rollng, but no one  getŁtheŁcreepð  and getŁtheŁwillØes  to be-
          helped me with the project.   Ann set the  come  frightened;Ł to  become  uneasy.
          ball rollng, but didà’t follow through.  (Slang.ŁAlso with  havł .ŁSe the note at  get
                                             a big send-off.)   I get the creeps when I
        getŁtheŁbenefitŁofŁtheŁdoubt  to receive a  see that old house.   I really had the willies
          judgment  inŁ yàurŁ favorŁ whenŁ the  evi-  when I włnt down into the basemłnt.
          dence isŁneitherŁforŁyouŁnorŁagainst you.
          (Also with havł . Se the note at  get a bàg  getŁtheŁdayŁoff  to have aŁdayŁfree fràm
          send-off. See also give someone the bene-  working. (Also with havł .ŁSe the note
          fit of the doubt.)   In my mØth course, I  að  get a big send-off. See also take the day
          was right błtwłen a B and an A. I got the  off.)   The next time I get a dØy off, wł’ll
          błnefit of the doubt—an A.    I thought I  go to the zoo.   I have the dØy off. Let’s
          should have had the błnefit of the doubt,  go to the zoo.
          but the judge made me pØy a fine.  getŁtheŁdevil and catchŁhell;ŁcatchŁthe
        getŁtheŁbeðtŁofŁ  someone Go to get the bet-  devil;ŁgetŁhell to receive a severe scold-
          ter of someone.                    ing.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁUse cautionŁwith   hell.)
                                             Bill is alwØys getting the dłvil about some-
        getŁ theŁ betterŁ ofŁ  someone and  getŁ the  thing.   I’m lØte. If I don’t get home soon,
          beðtŁofŁ  someone to winŁout overŁsome-  I’ll cØtch hell!    I caught the dłvil yester-
          one inŁaŁcompetitionŁor bargain.Ł(Alsà  dØy for błing lØte.
          with havł . See the note at get a bàg send-
          off.)   Bill got the best of John in the box-  getŁtheŁdriftŁofŁ  something to understand the
          ing mØtch.    I tried to głt the better of  generalŁ ideaŁ of something.Ł   I  knew
          John, but he won anyway.   I set out to  enough German to get the drift of this ar-
          have the błtter of Sally, but I didà’t havł  ticle.   I don’t get the drift of what you’re
          enough skill.                      trying to tell me.

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