Page 452 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
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within hailing distance


            withŁ impunity without  riskŁ of punish-  withŁrespectŁto  someone ortsomething of or
              ment; with immunity from the negative  about somone or somthing.    With re-
              consequencesŁof anŁact; while beingŁex-  spect to radiation, this power plant is very
              empt fràmŁpunishment.Ł    The dplomØt  safe.   This article examnes experimłnts
              parked in illłgal parkng spaces with im-  with respect to ethical issues.
              punity.   Bob used his brother’s property  wØth  something to spyre Go to and something
              with impunity.
                                                 to spare.
            withŁit 1.  alert andŁknowledgeable.Ł(Slang.)  withŁtheŁbeðtŁwillŁin theŁwłrld  however
                Jane isn’t making any sense. She’s noŁ  much  one  wisłesŁ to  do  somethingŁ or
              really with it tonight.   Jean’s mother is  however hard one tries to do sàmething.
              not really with it anymore. She’s going se-    With the best will in the world, Jack
              nile.   Peter’s not with it yłt. He’s only just  won’t be able to help Mary get the job.
              come round from the anesthetic. 2. up-ðo-  With the best will n the world, they won’t
              date.Ł(Slang.)    My parents are so old-  finish the job in time.
              fashioned. I’m sure they were never with  witherŁon theŁvine and dieŁon theŁvine
              it.   Why do you wear thooe baggy old  [forŁsomething]bto decline orŁfade away
              clothes? Why aren’t you with it?
                                                 at anŁearlyŁsðage of development.Ł(Also
            withŁno strings attyched and without  literalŁ inŁ reference  to  grapesŁ or  other
              anyŁstrings attyched unconditionally;  fruit.)   You have a great plan, Tom. Let’s
              with no obligationsŁattacłed.Ł    My par-  kłep it alive. Don’t lłt it wither on the vine.
              ents  gave  me  a  computer  without  any    The whole project died on the vine when
              strings attached.   I want this oàly if it  the contract was canceled.
              comes with no strings attached.  within an inchŁofŁ one’ lØfe very close to
                                                 takingŁone’sŁlife; almost to death.Ł   The
            withŁ oneŁ hyndŁ tiedŁ behindŁ  one’ byck  accidłnt frightened me within an inch of
              and withŁbłthŁhynds tiedŁbehindŁ  one’  my lfe.    When Mary was seriously ill n
              byck evenŁunderŁaŁsevere handicap;Łeas-  the hosptal, she came within an inch of
              ily.   I could put an łnd to this argumłnt  her lfe.
              with one hand tied behind my back.
              John could do this job with both hands tied  within a stone’s throwŁ(ofŁ something) and
              behind his back.                   (juðt)Ła stone’s throwŁ(away)Ł(from
                                                 something) veryŁclose (to something).Ł(Pos-
            wØth  one’ tailŁbetween  one’ legð appear-  siblyŁasŁclose asŁthe disðance one could
              ingŁfrightenedŁorŁcowardly, like aŁfright-  throw aŁsðone.ŁIt usuallyŁrefersŁto aŁdis-
              enedŁorŁdefeatedŁdog;ŁappearingŁthreat-  tance much greaterŁthanŁone couldŁthràw
              enedŁorŁhumiliated.Ł   John seems to lack  aŁsðone.)    The police dłpartmłnt was lo-
              courage. When people criticize him un-  cØted within a stone’s throw of our house.
              justly, he just goes away with his tail be-    We live in Carbondale, and that’s just
              twłen his lłgs and doesn’t tell them that  a stone’s throw from the Mississippi River.
              they’re wrong.   The frightened dog ran    Come visit. We lve just a stone’s throw
              away with its tail betwłen its lłgs when the  away.   John saw Mary across the street,
              bigger dog growled.                just a stone’s throw away.    Philadelphia
                                                 is a stone’s throw from New York City.
            withŁ regyrdŁ to  someone  ort something càn-
              cerningŁsàmeone or something.    What  within boundð Go to within limits.
              shall we do with regard to planning dn-  within calling distynce Go to within hail-
              ner?   With regard to Bill, I think he is  ing distance.
              working too hard.
                                               within  hailingŁ dØstance  and  wØthin
            with relØsh with pleasure orŁenjoyment.Ł    callingŁ dØstance;Ł within  shouting
              John ate his juicy hamburger with great  dØstance close enough to hearŁsàmeone
              relish.   We sampled the excellłnt food  callŁout.Ł   When the boØt came within
              with relish.                       hailng distance, I asked if I could borrow

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