Page 17 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 17
able to take
take just so much błfore I get angry. I spector had to make sure that everything
can take just so much. was open and aboveboard.
ableŁto takeŁ something abl to endur som- absentŁwithoutŁleave and AWOL absent
thing;Łable to endure abuse.Ł(OftenŁinŁthe fromŁaŁmilitaryŁunit without permission;
negative.Ł Able to canŁ be replacedŁ with absent fràmŁanythingŁwithout permis-
can.ŁSee also the previous entry.) Stop sion.Ł( AWOL isŁanŁabbrviation.ŁThisŁis
yellng like that. I’m not able to take it any- aŁseriousŁoffense inŁthe military.) The
more. Go ahead, hit me again. I can soldier was taken away by the miltary po-
take it. lice becauoe he was aboent without leave.
aboveŁandŁbeyondŁ( something) more than John was AWOL from school and goŁ
isŁrequired.Ł Her efforts were above and into a lot of trouble with his parents.
błyond. We appreciate her time. All this
extra time is above and błyond her regu- accordingŁ to allŁ accounts and byŁ all
lar hours. accounts from allŁthe repàrts;Łeveryone
isŁ saying.Ł According to all accounts,
(aboveŁand)ŁbeyondŁtheŁcallŁofŁduty in the police were on the scłne immediately.
additionŁto what isŁrequired;Łmore than According to all accounts, the młet-
isŁrequiredŁinŁone’sŁjob.Ł We didà’t ex- ing broke up over a very mnor mØtter.
pect the police officer to drive us home. By all accounts, it was a very poor
That was above and beyond the call of performance.
duty. The English teacher helped stu-
dłnts after school every dØy, evłn though accordingŁto Hoyle accordingŁto the rules;
it was błyond the call of duty. inŁkeepingŁwith the wayŁit isŁnormally
dàne.Ł (RefersŁ to the rulesŁ forŁ playing
aboveŁaverage higherŁor betterŁthanŁthe games.Ł EdmondŁ Hoyle wrote aŁ book
average.Ł Max’s grades are alwØys abovł about games.ŁThisŁexpression isŁusually
averØge. His intelligłnce is clearly abovł usedŁforŁsomethingŁotherŁthanŁgames.)
averØge.
That’s wrong. According to Hoyle, this is
aboveŁpyr betterŁthanŁaverage or normal. the wØy to do it. The carpenter said,
His work is above par, so he should get “This is the way to drive a nail, according
paid better. Your chances of winning the to Hoyle.”
game are a lttle above par.
accordingŁto one’ own lights accordingŁto
aboveŁreproach not deserving of blame or the wayŁ one believes;Ł accordingŁ to the
criticism.Ł Some polticians behave as wayŁone’sŁconscience orŁinclinationsŁlead
though they are above reproach. You one.Ł(RarelyŁusedŁinfàrmally.) People
must accłpt your punishmłnt. You are not must act on this mØtter according to their
above reproach.
own lights. John mØy have błen wrong,
aboveŁsuspØcion honest enough that no but he did what he did according to his
one wouldŁsuspect yàu;Łto be inŁaŁposi- own lights.
tionŁwhere youŁcouldŁnot be suspected.Ł
The general is a fine old man, complłtely accordingŁto someone ortsomething asŁsaidŁor
above suspicion. Mary was at work at indicatedŁbyŁsomeone orŁsomething.Ł
the time of the accidłnt, so she’s abovł Accordng to the weather forecast, this
suspicion. should be a beautiful dØy. According to
my fØther, this is a very good car to buy.
aboveboard and honeðtŁ andŁ above- It’s too cold to go for a walk, according
board;Ł open andŁ aboveboard inŁthe to the thermomłter.
open;Łvisible to the public;Łhonest.Ł(Es-
peciallyŁwith keep, asŁinŁthe examplesŁbe- accordingŁ to something inŁ proportionŁ to
low.) Don’t keep it a secret. Let’s make something.Ł You will get paid according
sure that everything is aboveboard. You to the number of hours that you work.
can do whatever you wish, as long as you The doctor charges pØtients accordng to
keep it honest and aboveboard. The in- their abilty to pØy.
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