The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Read online

  break one’s back Also, break one’s neck. Make a great effort, work very hard. For example, I’ve been breaking my back over this problem for the past week, or Don’t break your neck to get there; we’ll wait for you. Both versions of this expression, polite equivalents of BREAK ONE’S ASS, transfer the literal fracture of one’s back or neck to figurative exertion. However, break one’s neck has the secondary connotation of proceeding with reckless speed, a sense also conveyed by the term breakneck pace. Originally this idiom alluded to literally breaking one’s neck by rushing heedlessly along, but it has been used figuratively for the past 300 years. Also see BREAK THE BACK OF.

  break one’s balls → See under BREAK ONE’S ASS.

  break one’s fall Interrupt a tumble or descent, as in It’s a long way down over this cliff, with nothing to break your fall. [Mid-1800s]

  break one’s neck → See under BREAK ONE’S BACK.

  break one’s word Violate or fail to observe a promise or contract one has made. For example, You can trust him implicitly; I’ve never known him to break his word. [c. A.D. 1000]

  break out 1. Develop suddenly and forcefully. For example, A fire broke out last night, or He broke out in a sweat. [A.D. 1000] 2. Be affected with a skin eruption, such as a rash or boils, as in A teenager’s face often breaks out in pimples. [c. 1300] 3. Prepare something for consumption, action, or use, as in Let’s break out the champagne, or It’s such a fine day—let’s break out the fishing rods. [Early 1800s] 4. break out of. Force out by breaking; also, escape from confinement. For example, The hurricane broke the glass out of all the windows, or He broke out of prison but was soon apprehended. [Early 1600s] 5. Isolate a portion of a body of data, as in Please break out the sales figures from the quarterly report. [Mid-1900s]

  break out of → See BREAK OUT, def. 4.

  break ranks Fall out of line or into disorder; also, fail to conform, deviate. For example, The recruits were warned that they must not break ranks, or Harry was told to adhere to the party platform and not break ranks. This idiom uses rank in the sense of “soldiers drawn up in line,” and the term originally referred to their falling into disarray. The figurative usage dates from the mid-1800s.

  break someone → In addition to the idioms beginning with BREAK SOMEONE, also see under BREAK ONE’S.

  break someone of something Cause someone to discontinue a habit or practice, as in Mom tried for years to break Betty of biting her nails. The Oxford English Dictionary cites a quotation from W. Wotton’s History of Rome (1701): “He... broke them of their warm Baths,” which presumably refers to breaking Romans of their custom of bathing regularly. Today we are more apt to break someone of a bad habit. [Early 1600s]

  break someone’s heart Cause someone severe emotional pain or grief. For example, If the verdict is guilty, it will break her mother’s heart. This hyperbole has appeared in works by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and George Bernard Shaw, among others. In noun form it appears as both a broken heart and heartbreak (Shaw wrote a play entitled Heartbreak House, 1913). Today it also is used ironically, as in You only scored an A-minus on the final? That breaks my heart! [Late 1300s]

  break someone’s serve In tennis and related sports, win a game served by one’s opponent, as in The only way he’ll win the match is to break Bill’s serve. The use of serve, from the earlier service, meaning “starting play” in these sports, dates from the early 1600s.

  break someone up → See under BREAK UP, def. 5.

  break the back of Overpower, overcome; also, get through the hardest part of. For example, This new offense has broken the back of the opposing team, or We’re well over halfway there; we’ve broken the back of this journey. [Mid-1800s]

  break the bank Ruin one financially, exhaust one’s resources, as in I guess the price of a movie won’t break the bank. This term originated in gambling, where it means that a player has won more than the banker (the house) can pay. It also may be used ironically, as above. [c. 1600]

  break the ice 1. Make a start, pave the way, as in Newton’s theories broke the ice for modern physics. This idiom alludes to breaking ice in a channel so that a ship can pass. [Early 1600s] Also see BREAK GROUND. 2. Relax a tense or very formal situation, as in Someone at the conference table will have to break the ice. [Early 1600s]

  break the news Make something known, as in We suspected that she was pregnant but waited for her to break the news to her in-laws. This term, in slightly different form (break a matter or break a business), dates from the early 1500s. Another variant is the 20th-century journalistic phrase, break a story, meaning “to reveal a news item or make it available for publication.”

  break the record 1. Surpass a previous achievement, as in He was determined to break the record for the high jump. This usage is applied primarily to sports of various kinds. [1880s] 2. Move very fast, as in The lecture was so dull that we broke the record getting to the door. [Second half of 1900s]

  break through Penetrate a barrier or obstruction, as in They broke through the wall to get into the vault, or It won’t be long before we break through the code and map all human genes. Used literally for going through a physical barrier since about 1400, this phrase began to be used figuratively in the late 1500s.

  break up 1. Divide into many pieces; disintegrate. For example, Now break up the head of garlic into separate cloves. [Mid-1700s] 2. Interrupt the continuity of something, as in A short walk will break up the long morning. 3. Also, break it up. Scatter, disperse, as in The crowd broke up as soon as they reached the streets. [Late 1400s] This phrase is also used as an imperative, as in “Break it up!” shouted the police officer. [c. 1930] 4. Bring or come to an end, as in His gambling was bound to break up their marriage. 5. Also, break someone up. Burst into or cause one to burst into an expression of feeling, such as laughter or tears. For example, His jokes always break me up, or That touching eulogy broke us all up, or I looked at her and just broke up. The precise meaning depends on the context. This sense grew out of a usage from the early 1800s that meant “upset” or “disturb.” [Colloquial; early 1800s]

  break wind Expel intestinal gas, as in Beans always make him break wind. [Early 1500s]

  break with 1. Separate from, sever relations with. For example, On this issue the prime minister was forced to break with his cabinet. [Late 1500s] Also see BREAK OFF, def. 2 and 3. 2. Depart from, reject, as in The couple broke with tradition and decided to write their own marriage vows. [Late 1800s]

  breast → See KEEP ABREAST OF; MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF.

  breath → In addition to the idiom beginning with BREATH, also see CATCH ONE’S BREATH; HOLD ONE’S BREATH; IN THE SAME BREATH; OUT OF BREATH; SAVE ONE’S BREATH; TAKE ONE’S BREATH AWAY; UNDER ONE’S BREATH; WASTE ONE’S BREATH; WITH BATED BREATH.

  breathe → In addition to the idioms beginning with BREATHE, also see AS I LIVE AND BREATHE; BREATHING SPACE; NOT BREATHE A WORD.

  breathe down someone’s neck 1. Pursue someone closely; pose a threat to one, as in The immigration authorities were breathing down his neck. [Mid-1900s] 2. Watch or supervise someone very closely, as in The boss is always breathing down our necks. [Mid-1900s]

  breathe easy Also, breathe easily or freely. Relax, feel relieved from anxiety, stress, or tension. For example, Now that exams are over with, I can breathe easy, or Whenever I’m back in the mountains, I can breathe freely again. This idiom originally (late 1500s) was put as breathe again, implying that one had stopped breathing (or held one’s breath) while feeling anxious or nervous. Shakespeare had it in King John (4:2): “Now I breathe again aloft the flood.” The variant dates from the first half of the 1800s.

  breathe life into Also, breathe new life into. Revive someone or something. For example, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) shows one how to breathe life into a drowning victim, or Her appointment breathed new life into the firm. This term is used both literally, for reviving a person who has stopped breathing temporarily, and figuratively, for giving new impetus to or renewing some project
. Also see BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

  breathe one’s last Die, as in Aunt Agatha breathed her last on Tuesday. This term was used by Shakespeare in 3 Henry VI (5:2): “Montague has breathed his last.” It has survived but today is considered a poetic euphemism.

  breathing space 1. Room or time in which to breathe, as in In that crowded hall, there was hardly any breathing space. Previously this term was put as breathing room. [Mid-1600s] 2. A rest or pause. For example, I can’t work at this all day; I need some breathing space. This usage replaced the earlier breathing while. [Mid-1600s]

  breath of fresh air Something or someone new and refreshing, as in His arrival was like a breath of fresh air, or She seemed like a breath of fresh air. This term transfers the idea of fresh air to a new approach or welcome arrival, and has largely replaced both the earlier breath of heaven and breath of spring. [Mid-1800s]

  bred → See BORN AND BRED. Also see under BREED.

  breed → See FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.

  breeze → In addition to the idiom beginning with BREEZE, also see HANDS DOWN (IN A BREEZE); SHOOT THE BREEZE.

  breeze in 1. Arrive in a casual way, as in She breezed in, two hours late. This phrase transfers the blowing of a light wind to human entrances. [Colloquial; c. 1900] 2. Win easily, as in A fine golfer, he breezed in first. This usage at first alluded to horse racing but soon was transferred to more general use. [c. 1900]

  brick → In addition to the idioms beginning with BRICKS, also see DROP A BRICK; HIT THE BRICKS; LIKE A CAT ON HOT BRICKS; LIKE A TON OF BRICKS; MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW; RUN INTO A STONE (BRICK) WALL.

  bricks and mortar Basic and essential, as in Matthew Arnold’s essay (1865): “Margate, that bricks-and-mortar image of British Protestantism.” This phrase transfers essential building materials to other fundamental matters. It also may be used more literally to denote a building or buildings (whether or not made of bricks and mortar), as in The alumni prefer to see their donations in the form of bricks and mortar. [Mid-1800s]

  bricks shy of a load Mentally impaired, either unintelligent or merely eccentric. For example, He may be handsome but he’s not too bright—a few bricks shy of a load. This term, transferring a light load to lightweight mental capacity, is usually preceded by either a few or a specific number such as two. [Slang; 1960s] Synonymous slangy terms include not playing with a full deck, which refers to the game of poker, the elevator doesn’t go to the top floor, and having only one oar (not both oars) in the water. All of them date from the second half of the 1900s. An older and more polite synonym is not all there (see under ALL THERE).

  bride → See GIVE AWAY (THE BRIDE).

  bridge → See BURN ONE’S BRIDGES; CROSS A BRIDGE WHEN ONE COMES TO IT; WATER OVER THE DAM (UNDER THE BRIDGE).

  brief → See HOLD NO BRIEF FOR; IN BRIEF.

  bright → In addition to the idioms beginning with BRIGHT, also see LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

  bright and early Early in the morning, at dawn, as in It’s a long trip, so we’ll have to start out bright and early. The bright here presumably alludes to the brilliance of the dawning sun, which has long been noted by poets. [Early 1800s]

  bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Eager and alert, as in Here is my new kindergarten class, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The allusion here is to the appearance of a squirrel, which with its beady eyes and bushy tail looks ready for anything. [1930s]

  bright idea A clever thought or plan. For example, John had a bright idea for saving space—we would each have a terminal but share the printer. This term uses bright in the sense of “intelligent” or “quick-witted” and may be employed either straightforwardly, as in the example above, or ironically, as in Jumping in the pool with your clothes on—that was some bright idea. [Late 1800s]

  bright side A favorable or hopeful aspect, as in Bob is inclined to look on the bright side of everything. This idiom uses bright in the sense of “lit up with gladness or hope.” [First half of 1800s] Also see GLASS IS HALF FULL.

  brim → See FILLED TO THE BRIM.

  bring about Also, bring to pass. Make something happen, accomplish or result in something. For example, The revised tax code brought about considerable changes in accounting. The first term dates from the 1400s, and the variant, today considered rather formal, from the first half of the 1500s. Also see BRING ON, def. 1.

  bring around Also, bring round. 1. Conduct someone or convey something to others. For example, Anne brought around the new intern to meet the nursing staff, or The clerk will bring round the papers for you to sign. [Late 1800s] 2. Also, bring to. Restore to health or consciousness. For example, Some fresh air will help bring him to. [First half of 1800s] 3. Convert or persuade someone, as in The senator was sure he could bring around the other committee members. [Mid-1800s]

  bring down 1. Cause to fall, collapse, or die. For example, The pilot won a medal for bringing down enemy aircraft, or The bill’s defeat was sure to bring down the party. [c. 1300] 2. Cause a punishment or judgment, as in The bomb threats brought down the public’s wrath on the terrorists [Mid-1600s] 3. Reduce, lower, as in I won’t buy it till they bring down the price, or He refused to bring himself down to their level. This usage may be literal, as in the first example, or figurative, as in the second. [First half of 1500s]

  bring down the curtain → See RING DOWN THE ­CURTAIN.

  bring down the house Also, bring the house down. Evoke tumultuous applause and cheers, as in Her solo brought the house down. This hyperbolic term suggests noise loud enough to pose a threat to the building—an unlikely occurrence. In the late 1800s, British music-hall comedians punned on it: when the audience greeted a joke with silence, they said, “Don’t clap so hard; you’ll bring down the house (it’s a very old house).” [Mid-1700s]

  bring forth 1. Give rise to, introduce. For example, I may be new, but I can still bring forth any proposals I consider necessary. [c. 1200] 2. Give birth; see under BRING INTO THE WORLD.

  bring home Get to the heart of a matter, make perfectly clear. For example, The crash brought home the danger of drinking and driving. This term uses home in the figurative sense of “touching someone or something closely.” [Second half of 1800s]

  bring home the bacon 1. Earn a living, provide the necessities of life, as in Now that she had a job, Patricia could bring home the bacon. 2. Be successful, accomplish something of value, as in George went to Washington and brought home the bacon—he got the funding we needed. Although the earliest citation for this phrase in the Oxford English Dictionary dates from 1924, the term is widely believed to come from the much older game of catching a greased pig, a popular competition at country fairs in which the winner was awarded the pig.

  bring into line → See under FALL IN LINE.

  bring into the world Also, bring forth. Give birth, as in It’s certainly easier to bring a child into the world when you have a definite means of support, or “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son” (Matthew 1:23). Both versions of this term have a somewhat archaic ring. [First half of 1400s]

  bring off Accomplish, achieve successfully, as in We managed to bring off a wonderful performance. [Early 1900s]

  bring on 1. Cause to happen, produce, as in His cold brought on an asthma attack. This usage was first recorded in John Milton’s Samson Agonistes (1671): “These evils... I myself have brought them on.” Also see BRING ABOUT. 2. Cause to appear or bring into action, as in Bring on the jugglers. [Mid-1800s]

  bring out 1. Expose or reveal; make conspicuous. For example, His book brought out some new facts about the war, or Her photographs bring out the play of light on her subjects. [Late 1500s] 2. Nurture or develop a quality, as in A gifted teacher brings out the best in pupils. [c. 1700] 3. Present to the public. For example, The publisher decided to bring out this dictionary in a single volume, or Debutantes traditionally are brought out at a ball. [c. 1800]

  bring round → See BRING AROUND.

  bring the house down → See BRING DOWN THE HOUSE.

&n
bsp; bring to 1. Restore to consciousness, as in I’ll see if these smelling salts will bring her to. Also see BRING AROUND, def. 2. 2. Cause a vessel to stop by heading into the wind or some other means. For example, As they neared the anchorage, they brought the boat to. This usage was first recorded in 1753.

  bring to a head Cause to reach a turning point or crisis. For example, Management’s newest policy has brought matters to a head. The related phrase come to a head means “to reach a crisis,” as in With the last break-in, the question of security came to a head. These phrases allude to the medical sense of head, the tip of an abscess that is about to burst. [Mid-1500s]

  bring to bear Exert, apply, as in All his efforts are brought to bear on the new problem, or The union is bringing pressure to bear on management. [Late 1600s]

  bring to book Call to account, investigate. For example, He was acquitted, but one day soon he’ll be brought to book, or As for your records, the IRS is sure to bring you to book concerning your tax deductions. This term uses book in the sense of “a written record,” such as an account book or ledger. [c. 1800]

  bring to heel Force to obey, subjugate. For example, The prisoners were quickly brought to heel. This term transfers commanding a dog to come close behind its master to similar control over human beings or affairs. [Second half of 1800s]

  bring to life Enliven or energize a person or thing. For example, The promise of a big part in the play brought Jane to life, or The author’s changes really brought this screenplay to life. [c. 1300] Also see COME TO LIFE.

  bring to light Reveal or disclose something previously hidden or secret, as in After careful investigation all the facts of the case were brought to light. This term uses light in the sense of “public knowledge.” [First half of 1500s]

  bring to mind Cause to be remembered, as in The film brought to mind the first time I ever climbed a mountain. This idiom, first recorded in 1433, appears in Robert Burns’s familiar “Auld Lang Syne” (1788), in which the poet asks if old times should never be brought to mind. Also see COME TO MIND.