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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