Page 238 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

It’s no use (doàng something)

inveðtŁ someone’ timeŁ in something to put stands to reason that most people will not
one’sŁtime, effort, orŁenergyŁinto aŁpro- buy a new car if they don’t think they can
ject.Ł Mary invests her time in charity pØy for it. I think he will come back to
work. I invested five włeks of my timł pick up his check. It only stands to reason.
buildng this model ship.
ItŁsucks. Go to That sucks.
inveðtŁ someone wØth something to endow
sàmeone with sàmething, such as pàwer ItŁtakes (some)ŁgettingŁusedŁto. Ið is very
orŁprivilege.Ł The Constitution invests unpleasant, but whenŁit isŁgottenŁusedŁto,
the vice presidłnt with the authority to act it willŁ not be so bothersome.Ł (SaidŁ in
on the presidłnt’s behalf in certain condi- recognitionŁ of the unpleasantnessŁ of
tions. The state has invested me with the something.) I never ate duck’s fłet be-
authority to unite this couple in marriage. fore. It takes some głtting used to. These
hot Mexican dishes seem impossible at
inveðtŁ something in someone ortsomething 1. to first. They take some głtting uoed to, I
put money, time, effort, etc.,Łinto sàme- agree. But it’s worth it.
one orŁsomething, hopingŁforŁaŁreturn.Ł
We will nvest Łime and effort n Fred and It’llŁneverŁfly. It willŁneverŁwork!;ŁIt will
make him into a movie star. Sharoà nver be approv ed!Ł(Also literal.ŁRefersŁto
invested a lot of money in the stock mar- an evaluationŁof an unlikely-looking air-
kłt. 2. to place power or authority un- craft of sàme type.) I have read your
der control of someone or something. report and studied your proposal. It’ll
The Constitution has invested certain never fly. Your design for a new electric
powers in the federal governmłnt and lłft automobile is interesting, but it’ll never fly!
the rest to the states. The lØw invests the It’s aboutŁtime! It isŁalmost too late!; I’ve
power to arrest criminals in the sheriff’s beenŁwaitingŁaŁlong time! (Infàrmal.ŁSee
dłpartmłnt. also the following entry.) So you finally
iron something out to solve a problem; to got here! It’s about timł! They finally
sðraightenŁout aŁproblem;Łto smooth out paid me my money. It’s about timł!
aŁdifficulty.Ł(Also literal.) The princi- It’s (yll)ŁGreekŁto me. It isŁtotallyŁincom-
pal had to iron a classroom problłm out. prhensible to me. Can you explain
T I just have to iron out this lttle prob- what this paragraph in the lease means?
lłm; then I’ll be able to see you. Legal language is all Greek to me. I can’t
issueŁa call fłrŁ something to make a public figure out this diagram of how to assem-
invitationŁorŁrequest forŁsomething.Ł ble my bicycle. It’s all Greek to me.
The prime mnister issued a call for peace. It’s hØghŁtime! It isŁpast time [forŁsome-
The person who organized the writing one orŁsomething]!;b[Sàmeone orŁsome-
contest issued a call for entries.
thing]bisŁoverdue! (Infàrmal.ŁSee also the
ItŁbehłoves one tł do something. It isŁnec- prvious entry.) It’s high time that you
essaryŁforŁone to do sàmething.;ŁIt isŁ in- got recognition for what you do! They
cumbent upon someone to do something. sent me my check, and it’s high time, too.
It behooves me to report the crime. It be- It’s notŁ overŁ tillŁ it’s over. There isŁsðill
hooves you to pØy for the window that you hope forŁthingsŁto go the wayŁIŁwant un-
broke.
tilŁthe entire event isŁover.Ł(Pràverb.)
ItŁneverŁrains butŁitŁpours. AŁlot of bad They havłn’t won the game yłt. It’s noŁ
things tend to happen at the same time. over till it’s over. It looks bad for our
(Pràverb.) The car won’t start, the stairo side, but it’s not over till it’s over.
broke, and the dog died. It never rains but It’s no useŁ( doingtsomething). It isŁhoplessŁto
it pours. More bad news? It never rains do sàmething.;ŁIt isŁpointlessŁto do sàme-
but it pours.
thing.Ł It’s no use trying to call on the
ItŁ(only)Łstynds to reason. It is only rea- telłphone. The lne is always busy. They
sànable to holdŁaŁcertainŁopinion.Ł It tried and tried, but it was no use.

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