Page 203 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

have sticky fingers

haveŁstickyŁfingers to have aŁtendencyŁto haveŁtheŁfeelŁofŁ something 1. [forŁsome-
steal.Ł (Slang.) The clłrk—who had thing]b to feelŁ like somethingŁ (else).Ł
sticky fingero—got fired. The lttle boy This plastic has the fłel of fine leather.
had sticky fingers and was always takng The lttle car has the fłel of a much larger
his father’s small change. one. 2. Go to get the feel of something.
haveŁtheŁbyllŁin one’ court to be respàn- haveŁtheŁgyllŁto do something to have suffi-
sible forŁthe next move inŁsome process; cient arrogance to do sàmething.Ł I błt
to have to make a rsponse to something you doà’t have the gall to argue with the
that sàmeone else hasŁsðarted.Ł(Also lit- mØyor. Only Jane has the gall to ask the
eral.) You have the ball in your court boss for a second raise this month.
now. You have to answer the attorney’o haveŁtheŁgiftŁofŁgab to have aŁgreat facil-
questions. There was no wØy that Liz ityŁwith language; to be abl to use lan-
could avoid acting. She had the ball in her guage very effectively.Ł (Slang.) My
court. brother really has the gift of gØb. He can
convince anyone of anything. If I had
haveŁtheŁbeðtŁofŁbłthŁwłrldð to be in a the gift of gØb like you do, I’d achieve more
situationŁwhere one canŁenjoyŁtwo dif- in life.
ferent oppàrtunities.Ł When Donna was
a fellow at the university, she had the priv- haveŁtheŁmakings ofŁ something to possess
ilłges of a professor and the freedom of a the qualitiesŁthat are neededŁforŁsome-
studłnt. She dłfinitely had the best of both thing.Ł The young boy had the makngs
worlds. Don hated to have to choose be- of a fine baseball plØyłr. My boss has all
twłen retiremłnt and continuing working. the makngs of a prison wardłn.
He wanted to do both so he could have the haveŁtheŁMidas touch to have the ability
best of both worlds.
to be successful,ŁespeciallyŁthe abilityŁto
haveŁtheŁcards styckedŁagainstŁ one and make moneyŁeasily.Ł(FromŁthe name of
haveŁtheŁdeckŁstyckedŁagainstŁ one to aŁ legendaryŁ kingŁ whose touch turned
have one’sŁchance at future successŁlim- everyðhing to gold.) Bob is a merchant
itedŁ byŁ factorsŁ overŁ which one hasŁ no banker and really has the Midas touch.
control;Łto have luck against one.Ł You The poverty-strickłn boy turned out to
can’t get very far in lfe if you have the deck have the Midas touch and was a million-
stacked against you. I can’t seem to get aire by the time he was twłnty-five.
ahead. I alwØys have the cards stacked haveŁthem rollingŁin theŁaisleð to make
against an audience roll in the aisles with laugh-
ter. (Slang.) I have the best jokes you’vł
haveŁtheŁcourageŁofŁ one’ convictions to ever heard. I’ll have them rollng in the
have enough courage andŁdetermination aisles. What a great performance. We
to carryŁout one’sŁgoals.Ł It’s fine to havł had them rollng in the aisles.
noble goals in lfe and to believe in great
things. If you doà’t have the courage of haveŁtheŁpatieàceŁofŁa saint to be very
your convictions, you’ll never reach your patient.Ł (RefersŁ to the “patience” that
goals. Jane was successful because she sàmeone experiencingŁmartyrdàmŁmight
had the courage of her convictions. have.) I doà’t know how she puts up
with all those stupid questions. She has the
haveŁtheŁdeckŁstyckedŁagainstŁ one Go to pØtience of a saint. Hurry up, please. I
have the cards stacked against one. am lØte and you are working too slow. I
don’t have the pØtience of a saint.
haveŁtheŁdevilŁto pay and haveŁhellŁto
pay to have aŁgreat deal of tràuble.Ł(In- haveŁtheŁpresence ofŁmindŁto do something
formal.ŁUse cautionŁwith hell.) If you to have the calmnessŁandŁthe abilityŁto act
cheat on your income taxes, you’ll have the sensiblyŁinŁanŁemergencyŁorŁdifficult sit-
dłvil to pØy. I came home after three n uation.Ł Jane had the presence of mnd
the morning and had hell to pØy. to phone the police when the child disap-

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