the word or authority of. •/According to the Bible, Adam was the firstman./
[according to one’s own lights]{adv. phr.} In accordance with one’sconscience or inclinations. •/Citizens should vote according to their ownlights./
[account] See: CALL TO ACCOUNT, CHARGE ACCOUNT, LEAVE OUT OF ACCOUNT, ONACCOUNT, ON ACCOUNT OF, ON ONE’S ACCOUNT, ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT, SAVINGSACCOUNT, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
[ace] See: WITHIN AN ACE OF.
[ace in the hole]{n. phr.} 1. An ace given to a player face down sothat other players in a card game cannot see it. •/When the cowboy bet allhis money in the poker game he did not know that the gambler had an ace in thehole and would win it from him./ 2. {informal} Someone or somethingimportant that is kept as a surprise until the right time so as to bringvictory or success. •/The football team has a new play that they are keepingas an ace in the hole for the big game./ •/The lawyer’s ace in the hole wasa secret witness who saw the accident./ Compare: CARD UP ONE’S SLEEVE.
[Achilles' heel]{n. phr.}, {literary} A physical or psychologicalweakness named after the Greek hero Achilles who was invulnerable except for aspot on his heel. •/John’s Achilles' heel is his lack of talent with numbersand math./
[acid head]{n.}, {slang} A regular user of LSD on whom thehallucinogenic drug has left a visible effect. •/The reason John acts sofunny is that he is a regular acid head./
[acid rock]{n.}, {slang} A characteristic kind of rock in whichloudness and beat predominate over melody; especially such music as influencedby drug experiences. •/John is a regular acid rock freak./
[acorn] See: GREAT OAKS PROM LITTLE ACORNS GROW.
[acoustic perfume]{n.}, {slang} Sound for covering up unwantednoise, such as music over loudspeakers in a noisy construction area. •/Let’sget out of here — this acoustic perfume is too much for my ears./
[acquire a taste for]{v. phr.} To become fond of something; get tolike something. •/Jack acquired a taste for ripe cheeses when he went toFrance./
[across the board]{adv. phr.} 1. So that equal amounts of money arebet on the same horse to win a race, to place second, or third. •/I bet $6 onthe white horse across the board./ — Often used with hyphens as anadjective. •/I made an across-the-board bet on the white horse./ 2.{informal} Including everyone or all, so that all are included. •/ThеPresident wanted taxes lowered across the board./ — Often used with hyphensas an adjective. •/Thе workers at the store got an across-the-board payraise./
[across the tracks] See: THE TRACKS.
[act] See: READ THE RIOT ACT.
[act high and mighty]{v. phr.} To wield power; act overbearingly;order others around; look down on others. •/Paul is an inexperienced teacherand he acts high and mighty with his students./
[actions speak louder than words] What you do shows your character betterand is more important than what you say. — A proverb. •/John promised tohelp me, but he didn’t. Actions speak louder than words./ •/Joe is veryquiet, but actions speak louder than words. He is the best player on theteam./
[act of faith]{n. phr.} An act or a deed that shows unquestioningbelief in someone or something. •/It was a real act of faith on Mary’s partto entrust her jewelry to her younger sister’s care./
[act of God]{n.} An occurrence (usually some sort of catastrophe) forwhich the people affected are not responsible; said of earthquakes, floods,etc. •/Hurricane Andrew destroyed many houses in Florida, but some types ofinsurance did not compensate the victims, claiming that the hurricane was anact of God./ See: FICKLE FINGER OF FATE.
[act one’s age] or [be one’s age]{v. phr.} To do the things thatpeople expect someone of your age to do, not act as if you were much youngerthan you are. •/Mr. O’Brien was playing tag with the children at the party.Then Mrs. O’Brien said, "Henry! Act your age!" and he stopped./
[actor] See: BAD ACTOR.
[act out]{v.} 1. To show an idea, story, or happening by your looks,talk, and movements. •/He tried to act out a story that he had read./ 2. Toput into action. •/All his life he tried to act out his beliefs./
[act up]{v.}, {informal} 1. To behave badly; act rudely orimpolitely. •/The dog acted up as the postman came to the door./ 2. To workor run poorly (as a after all machine); skip; miss. •/Thе car acted upbecause the spark plugs were dirty./
[add fuel to the flame]{v. phr.} To make a bad matter worse by addingto its cause; spread trouble, increase anger or other strong feelings by talkor action. •/By criticizing his son’s girl, the father added fuel to theflame of his son’s love./ •/Bob was angry with Ted and Ted added fuel tothe flame by laughing at him./
[add insult to injury]{v. phr.} 1. To hurt someone’s feelings afterdoing him harm. •/He added insult to injury when he called the man a ratafter he had already beaten him up./ 2. To make bad trouble worse. •/Westarted on a picnic, and first it rained, then to add insult to injury, the carbroke down./
[addition] See: IN ADDITION.
[address] See: PUBLIC-ADDRESS SYSTEM.
[add the finishing touches]{v. phr.} To complete; finish. •/Mary’sfirst novel promised to be excellent; however, her editor suggested that sheshould add some finishing touches before accepting it./
[add up]{v.} 1. To come to the correct amount. •/The numberswouldn’t add up./ 2. {informal} To make sense; be understandable. •/Hisstory didn’t add up./
[add up to]{v.} 1. To make a total of; amount to. •/The bill addedup to $12.95./ 2. {informal} To mean; result in. •/The rain, themosquitoes, and the heat added up to a spoiled vacation./
[ad lib]{v. phr.} To improvise; interpolate during speech. •/Whenthe actress forgot her lines during the second act, she had to ad lib in orderto keep the show going./
[advance] See: IN ADVANCE or IN ADVANCE OF.
[advantage] See: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, TO ADVANTAGE.
[a few]{n.} or {adj.} A small number (of people or things); some.•/The dry weather killed most of Mother’s flowers, but a few are left./•/In the store, Mary saw many pretty rings and bracelets, and she wanted tobuy a few of them./ •/After the party, we thought that no one would helpclean up, but a few couples did./ •/Alice wanted to read a few pages morebefore she stopped./ — Usually "a few" is different in meaning from "few",which emphasizes the negative; "a few" means "some", but "few" means "notmany". •/We thought no one would come to lunch, but a few came./ •/Wethought many people would come to lunch, but few came./ But sometimes "a few"is used with "only", and then it is negative. •/We thought many people wouldcome to lunch, but only a few came./ — Sometimes used like an adverb.•/Three students have no seats; we need a few more chairs./ •/If we canset up chairs faster than people come and sit in them, we will soon be a fewahead./ — Sometimes used with "very" for emphasis. •/Uncle Ralph gave awayalmost all of his sea shells, but he still had a very few left./ Compare: ALITTLE. Contrast: A LOT, QUITE A FEW.
[affair] See: LOVE AFFAIR.
[afoul of]{prep.} 1. In collision with. •/The boat ran afoul of abuoy./ 2. In or into trouble with. •/The thief ran afoul of the nightwatchman./ •/Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes./
[afraid of one’s shadow]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Scared of small orimaginary things; very easily frightened; jumpy; nervous. •/Mrs. Smith won’tstay alone in her house at night; she is afraid of her own shadow./•/Johnny cries whenever he must say hello to an adult; he is afraid of hisown shadow./
[a friend in need is a friend indeed] A genuine friend on whom one canalways depend. — A proverb; often shortened to "a friend in need…" •/WhenJohn’s house burned down, his neighbor Jim helped him and his family withshelter, food and clothing. John said, "Jim, a friend in need is a friendindeed — this describes you."/
[after a fashion]{adv. phr.} Not very well or properly; poorly. •/Heplayed tennis after a fashion./ •/The roof kept the rain out after afashion./ Compare: IN A WAY.
[after all]{adv. phr.} 1. As a change in plans; anyway. — Used withemphasis on "after". •/Bob thought he couldn’t go to the party because he hadtoo much homework, but he went after all./ 2. For a good reason that youshould remember. — Used with emphasis on "all". •/Why shouldn’t Betsy eatthe cake? After all, she baked it./
[after a while]{informal} or [in a while]{adv. phr.} Later,at some time in the future; after a time that is not short and not long.•/"Dad, will you help me make this model plane?" "After a while, Jimmy, whenI finish reading the newspaper."/ •/The boys gathered some wood, and in awhile, a hot fire was burning./ Syn.: BY AND BY. Contrast: RIGHT AWAY.
[after hours]{adv. or adj. phr.} Not during the regular, correct, orusual time; going on or open after the usual hours. •/The store was cleanedand swept out after hours.