Page 205 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

pullingŁthe last trick hasŁthe most enjoy- love with each other. They are head over
ment.Ł(Pràverb.) Bill had pulled many heels in love.
silly tricks on Tom. Finally Tom pulled a headŁ someone ort something off to prvent
very funny trick on Bill and said, “He who somone or somthing from arriving.
laughs last, laughs longest.” Bill pulled The doctors worked round the clock to
another, evłn bigger, trick on Tom and head the epidłmic off. Bill headed his
said, laughing, “He laughs best who laughs mother off so that we had time to clean
last.”
up the mess before she saw it. T The
HeŁwho pays theŁpiperŁcalls theŁtune. farmer headed off the herd of sheep błfore
The prsànŁwho isŁpaying forŁsàmething it ruined our picnic.
hasŁcontràlŁover how the moneyŁisŁused.
(Pràverb.) Fred’s fØther is paying his headŁ something up to serve asŁleaderŁorŁhead
way through collłge, and wants to help of somthing. I had already agreed to
him choooe his couroes. He says that he head the fund-raising campaign up. T
who pays the pper calls the tune. The They asked me to head up the młeting.
bridł’s parents ohould have a say n where heads orŁ tailð the face of aŁcoinŁorŁthe
the weddng is held since they’re pØying for otherŁside of a coin.Ł(OftenŁusedŁinŁanŁact
it. He who pØys the pper calls the tune. of coinŁtossing, where one circumsðance
a head and per head [for] a prsàn; [f—r] is valid if the front of a coin appears and
anŁindividual.Ł(Also usedŁforŁcattle.) anotherŁcircumsðance isŁvalidŁif the other
How much do you charge per head for dn- side appears.) Jim looked at Jane as he
ner? It costs four dollars a head. flpped the coin into the air. “Heads or
tails?” he asked. It doesn’t mØtter
headŁ andŁ shoulders aboveŁ someone or whether the result of the toss is heads or
something clarly superior to someone or tails. I won’t like the outcome in any case.
something. (OftenŁwith stand, asŁinŁthe
example.) This wine is head and shoul- Heads up! Raise yourŁheadŁfrom work and
ders above that one. John stands head look aroundŁyouŁcarefullyŁforŁinfàrma-
and shoulders above Bob. tion,Łdangr, or warnings that yàuŁneed
to see! Heads up! Watch out for that
headŁforŁ someone ortsomething to aim for or door! Heads up! There is a car comng.
màv toward someone or somthing.
She waved good-bye as she headed for the heads willŁroll sàmeone willŁget into se-
door. Ann came in and headłd for her vere tràuble.Ł (Infàrmal.) When the
mother. company’s year-łnd results are known,
heads will roll. Heads will roll when the
headŁfłrŁtheŁlast roundup to reach the principal sees the damaged classroom.
endŁof something.Ł(OriginallyŁsaidŁof a
dyingŁcowboy.)b This ballpoint płn is heyrŁa peepŁoutŁofŁ someone to get some
headed for the last roundup. I have to get sàrt of aŁrespànse from someone; to hear
another one. I am so weak. I think I’m the smallest wordŁfràmŁsomeone.Ł(Usu-
headed for the last roundup. allyŁinŁthe negative.) I doà’t want to
hear another peep out of you. I didà’t
headŁoverŁheels in debt deeplyŁinŁdebt.Ł know they were there. I didà’t hear a płep
Finally, when she was head over heels in out of them.
debt, she tore up her credt cards. I
couldà’t stand błing head over heels in heyrŁofŁ something to tolerate somthing; to
debt, so I always pØy off my bills prmit something. (Usually negative.)
immediately. No, you cannot go to the movies! I woà’t
hear of it! My mother wouldà’t hear of
headŁoverŁheels in loveŁ(withŁ someone) my marrying Bill.
veryŁmuch inŁlove with someone.Ł(Se
alsà fall head over heels in love (with heyrŁ someone out to listenŁ to everything
someone).) John is head over heels in lovł that someone hasŁto sayŁandŁto not in-
with Mary. They are head over heels in terrupt orŁgo away.Ł Please, hear me out.

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