The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms Read online

  bring to one’s knees Make one submit; reduce to a position of subservience. For example, Solitary confinement usually brings prisoners to their knees. This particular phrase dates only from the late 1800s, although there were earlier versions alluding to being on one’s knees as a gesture of submission.

  bring to pass → See BRING ABOUT.

  bring to terms Force someone to agree or continue negotiations, as in The creditors were determined to bring the company to terms. The terms here mean “the conditions for agreement.” [First half of 1700s] Also see COME TO TERMS.

  bring up 1. Raise from childhood, rear. For example, Bringing up children is both difficult and rewarding. [Late 1400s] 2. Introduce into discussion, mention, as in Let’s not bring up the cost right now. [Second half of 1800s] 3. Vomit, as in She still felt sick but couldn’t bring up anything. This usage was first recorded in Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe (1719).

  bring up the rear Be last in a line or sequence, as in As a slow walker, I’m used to bringing up the rear, or In test results Tom always brought up the rear. This term almost certainly came from the military but the earliest citation given by the Oxford English Dictionary is from a 1643 religious treatise by Sir Thomas Browne: “My desires onely are... to be but the last man, and bring up the Rere in Heaven.”

  bring up to date Convey information up to the present; also, make one aware of or conform to new ideas, improvements, or styles. For example, Bring me up to date on the test results, or We’ve been bringing Grandma up to date with a little makeup and some new clothes. The term up to date comes from bookkeeping, where it signifies account entries to the present time. [Late 1800s]

  broad → In addition to the idioms beginning with BROAD, also see CAN’T HIT THE BROAD SIDE OF A BARN.

  broad daylight Ample and obvious natural light, as in You don’t need your flashlight—it’s broad daylight, or She was accosted on her own street in broad daylight. [1300s]

  broad in the beam Having broad hips or large buttocks. For example, I’ve grown too broad in the beam for these slacks. This expression originated in the 17th century and described the wideness of a ship. It began to be used for the human body only in the 1920s.

  broad shoulders Ability to accept considerable responsibility, as in With his broad shoulders, he can easily handle both departments. [Second half of 1300s]

  broke → See FLAT BROKE; GO BROKE; GO FOR (BROKE); IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT. Also see under BREAK.

  broken reed A weak or unreliable support, as in I’d counted on her to help, but she turned out to be a broken reed. The idea behind this idiom, first recorded about 1593, was already present in a mid-15th-century translation of a Latin tract, “Trust not nor lean not upon a windy reed.”

  broom → See NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN.

  broth → See TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH.

  brow → See BY THE SWEAT OF ONE’S BROW; CAUSE RAISED EYEBROWS.

  brown → In addition to the idioms beginning with BROWN, also see DO UP (BROWN).

  brown bagger A person who brings his or her own supplies, as in The architects of the new office designed a space for brown baggers to eat lunch. The term originated in the 1930s in Britain for very serious students who carried their books about with them in brown briefcases or bags. That usage crossed the Atlantic within a few decades. However, in America from the 1960s on, it has primarily been used for persons who brought their own liquor in a brown paper bag, either legitimately or surreptitiously, to a public place or restaurant not licensed to sell it, or for those who took their lunch to work.

  browned off Very angry, as in When she locked me out I was really browned off. This expression originated as Royal Air Force slang for “disgusted” and “depressed” in the late 1930s and had crossed the Atlantic by World War II. It gradually came to be used more widely as a slangy synonym for “infuriated.” One theory for its origin, mentioned by Eric Partridge in his slang dictionary, is that it alludes to brass buttons on a uniform turning brown from lack of polishing. Partridge noted, however, that the “predominant Army opinion” was that the word had the same literal meaning as buggered.

  brownie points Credit for a good deed, as in John earned a lot of brownie points for doing his boss’s report for him. The term originated with the points earned for various achievements by the youngest group of the Girl Scouts, called Brownies. In the mid-1900s it was transferred to general use.

  brown nose Solicit favor obsequiously, toady. For example, Harry was always brown nosing, but it didn’t help his grades. This term originated in the military in the late 1930s, where it meant “to curry favor”; it alludes to ass-kissing when the backside being kissed is less than clean. Despite its scatological origin, today this slangy term is not considered particularly vulgar.

  brown study, in a Daydreaming or deeply contemplative, as in Margaret sits in the library, in a brown study. This term dates from the late 1500s, and although by then in a study had long meant “lost in thought,” the reason for adding brown is unclear. Moreover, the present idiom also is ambiguous, some holding that it denotes genuine thoughtfulness and others that it signifies absentmindedness.

  brunt → See BEAR THE BRUNT.

  brush → In addition to the idioms beginning with BRUSH, also see GIVE SOMEONE THE AIR (BRUSHOFF); HAVE A BRUSH WITH; TARRED WITH THE SAME BRUSH.

  brush aside Disregard, ignore, as in The teacher brushed aside our questions.

  brush off Dismiss or rebuff, as in Roberta brushed off the poor reviews with a shrug, or You can’t brush off a boyfriend and expect him to do you a favor. This expression, transferring sweeping off crumbs to a curt dismissal, was first recorded about 1820. However, it became common usage only in the 1930s. Also see GIVE SOMEONE THE AIR (BRUSHOFF).

  brush up 1. Clean, refurbish, as in We plan to get the house brushed up in time for the party. [c. 1600] 2. Also, brush up on. Review, refresh one’s memory, as in Nell brushed up on her Spanish before going to Honduras, or I’m brushing up my knowledge of town history before I speak at the club. [Late 1700s]

  brute force Also, brute strength. Savage violence, unreasoning strength, as in We hope that reason will triumph over brute force. Although this expression is also used literally to mean exceptional physical power, the figurative sense reflects the origin for brute, which comes from Latin brutus, for “heavy, stupid, unreasoning.” [First half of 1700s]

  buck → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUCK, also see BIG BUCKS; FAST BUCK; MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK; PASS THE BUCK.

  bucket → See DROP IN THE BUCKET; KICK THE BUCKET; RAIN CATS AND DOGS (BUCKETS); WEEP BUCKETS.

  buck for Strive for, aim for, as in She’s bucking for Editor of the Year. Strongly associated with seeking a promotion in the military, this expression originated in the late 1800s and is now applied more widely.

  buckle down Set to work, apply oneself with determination, as in All right, we’ll buckle down now and study for exams. Originating about 1700 as buckle to, the expression gained currency with the football song “Buckle Down, Winsocki” (from the Broadway musical comedy Best Foot Forward, 1941). [Mid-1800s]

  buckle under Give way, collapse owing to stress, as in One more heavy snowfall and the roof may buckle under, or She buckled under the strain of two jobs. [Late 1500s]

  buckle up Fasten a seat belt, as in All the children must learn to buckle up as soon as they get in a car. This term came into wide use in the second half of the 1900s, when seat belts became mandatory automobile equipment. Earlier they had been used mainly in airplanes.

  buck stops here, the I’ll take full responsibility, as in You needn’t call my boss; the buck stops here. This saying gained fame as a sign on the desk of President Harry S. Truman. It alludes to another expression that means the opposite, PASS THE BUCK. [Mid-1900s]

  buck up Cheer up, become encouraged, as in Buck up! We’ll soon have it done, or Even the promise of a vacation did not buck her up. This term was first recorded in 1844.

  bud → See
NIP IN THE BUD.

  buddy up Be very friendly, as in He is always wanting to buddy up with me, but I don’t really like him. [Slang; early 1900s]

  buff → See IN THE BUFF.

  bug → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUG, also see CUTE AS A BUTTON (BUG’S EAR); PUT A BUG IN SOMEONE’S EAR; SNUG AS A BUG IN A RUG; WHAT’S EATING (BUGGING) YOU.

  bugger off → See BUG OFF.

  bug off Also, bugger off. Go away, as in Bug off before I call the police. Both terms are often used as an imperative, as in the example, and the variant is heard more in Britain than in America. [Slang; c. 1900] For a synonym, see BUZZ OFF.

  bug out 1. Bulge, as in The news will make her eyes bug out with astonishment. This expression was originally used literally for bulging eyes and later used more loosely as a sign of astonishment. [Colloquial; mid-1800s] 2. Leave, run out, as in This conference is a bore; I think I’ll bug out. This usage originated as military slang for deserting and today is used more loosely. [Slang; c. 1950]

  bug someone Pester or annoy someone, as in Those unsolicited sales calls really bug me. It alludes to being beset by mosquitoes or other insects. [Colloquial, mid-1900s]

  build → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUILD, also see LIGHT (BUILD) A FIRE UNDER. Also see under BUILT.

  build down Reduce, diminish, as in Owing to increased vigilance, traffic in narcotics is finally building down. This term, the antonym of BUILD UP, came into use about 1980 with regard to reducing the stockpile of nuclear weapons and soon was applied more widely.

  build in Also, build into. Construct or include as an integral part; also, make automatic, concomitant, or inherent. For example, Frank Lloyd Wright liked to build in as much furniture as possible, not just bookcases but desks, tables, and the like, or We’ve got to build some slack into the schedule for this project. The literal usage referring to physical objects dates from the late 1920s. The figurative arose a decade or so later. Both are frequently used in past participle form, that is, built in.

  build on Also, build upon. Add as an extension; use as a basis or foundation. For example, They decided to build on an addition, or She was building all her hopes on passing the exam. John Locke had this idiom in his treatise on government (1689): “Sovereignty built on ‘property’... comes to nothing.” [Late 1600s]

  build on sand Use an unstable foundation, as in If you buy nothing but high-risk stocks, your portfolio will be built on sand. This metaphor appears in the New Testament, where Jesus likens those who do not heed his sayings to a foolish man who builds his house on sand, which then is washed away by rain, flood, and wind (Matthew 7:24–27). [c. 1600]

  build up 1. Fill an area with houses or other buildings, urbanize. For example, We want to protect the wetlands against those who want to build up the area. [c. 1400] 2. Gradually develop, increase in stages. For example, I want to build up my endurance for the race. [Early 1700s] 3. Accumulate or collect, as in A lot of rust has built up on the farm machinery. [Mid-1900s] 4. Increase, strengthen, develop toward, as in The sound built up until it was nearly deafening, or His argument was building up to a grand climax. [c. 1930] 5. Establish or enhance a reputation; praise or flatter. For example, Months before the official campaign could begin, they had been building up the senator’s image. [c. 1930]

  built → See MADE (BUILT) TO ORDER; NOT BUILT THAT WAY; ROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY. Also see under BUILD.

  bulk → See IN BULK.

  bull → In addition to the idioms beginning with BULL, also see COCK AND BULL STORY; HIT THE BULL’S-EYE; SHOOT THE BREEZE (BULL); TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

  bullet → See BITE THE BULLET; SWEAT BULLETS.

  bulletin board Also, electronic bulletin board. A computer service that provides facilities for people to leave messages by phone or telecomputing. For example, The National Writers Union has a bulletin board through which members communicate via their modems. Both the device and the term, alluding to the older board for posting notices, date from the late 1970s.

  bull in a china shop An extremely clumsy person, as in Her living room, with its delicate furniture and knickknacks, made him feel like a bull in a china shop. The precise origin for this term has been lost; it was first recorded in Frederick Marryat’s novel, Jacob Faithful (1834).

  bull session An informal discussion, as in College students love late-night bull sessions about anything and everything, from professors to poetry to politics. This expression originally referred to an exchange of opinions and anecdotes, including stories of sexual prowess, by men, and then came to be used more broadly. [Slang; c. 1915]

  bullshit artist Also, bull artist. A person who habitually exaggerates, flatters, or talks nonsense. For example, Don’t believe a word of it—he’s a bullshit artist. Both versions are considered vulgar slang. The first dates from the 1940s, the second from the World War I period.

  bum → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUM, also see ON THE BLINK (BUM).

  bum around 1. Loaf, wander idly, as in After graduating he decided to bum around Europe for a year. [Mid-1800s] 2. Frequent bars or nightclubs, as in Her father accused her of bumming around half the night and threatened to cut off her allowance. In the mid-1800s to bum was slang for going on a drinking spree. A century later, with the addition of around, it simply meant going to saloons or clubs.

  bum out 1. Depress, sadden, dispirit, as in He’s been really bummed out since his girlfriend moved to California. [Slang; late 1960s] 2. Annoy, irritate, vex, as in That haircut will really bum out his parents. [Slang; c. 1970] 3. Fail badly, as in I got through the midterm, but I bummed out totally on the final exam. This usage is student slang. [Late 1960s]

  bump → In addition to the idioms beginning with BUMP, also see GOOSE PIMPLES (BUMPS); LIKE A BUMP ON A LOG.

  bump into 1. Also, bump against. Collide, come in contact with; same as BANG INTO. For example, It’s easy to bump into furniture in the dark. [Mid-1800s] 2. Encounter, meet by chance, as in While I was downtown, I bumped into George. [Colloquial; 1880s] Also see RUN INTO.

  bump off Kill, murder, as in The convict bragged about bumping off his partner, or The first fighter plane bumped off three enemy aircraft. This term was at first principally criminal slang and somewhat later military jargon. [Slang; c. 1900]

  bump up 1. Suddenly increase, as in Oil-producing nations decided to bump up the price of oil. This term is used mainly for prices or other figures. [Colloquial; 1930s] 2. Give a promotion. For example, Kevin hoped to be bumped up to first class, or After five years, she expected they would bump her up to vice-president. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

  bum rap A false accusation or conviction; also, unfair criticism or action. For example, He claimed he was in prison on a bum rap, or The theater critics gave her last play a bum rap. This expression originated in the 1920s as underworld slang, and by the mid-1900s it was also used figuratively for other kinds of injustice.

  bum’s rush Forcible ejection, abrupt dismissal. For example, When Henry started shouting, the bouncer gave him the bum’s rush, or Within hours of being fired, Alice was given the bum’s rush. This idiom uses bum in the sense of “a vagrant or tramp.” [Slang; early 1900s]

  bum steer False or misleading information; poor advice. For example, Gene felt his doctor had given him a bum steer, as he hadn’t lost any weight on the diet. [Slang; c. 1920]

  bundle → In addition to the idiom beginning with BUNDLE, also see MAKE A BUNDLE.

  bundle of nerves An extremely jittery, tense, or fearful person, as in For months after the accident, Aunt Jane was a bundle of nerves. [1930s]

  burden of proof Obligation of proving a disputed charge or allegation. For example, Are you sure you mailed the tax return on time? The burden of proof’s on you. A legal term dating from the late 1500s, it has also been used more loosely in recent times.

  burn → In addition to the idioms beginning with BURN, also see CRASH AND BURN; EARS ARE BURNING; FIDDLE WHILE ROME BURNS; (BURN) IN EFFIGY; MONEY BURNS A
HOLE IN ONE’S POCKET; MONEY TO BURN; SLOW BURN.

  burn at the stake Execute someone by tying to a stake and burning; also, punish severely. This expression refers to a method used in the Middle Ages for putting heretics to death, but now it is used as a hyperbolic metaphor for harsh punishment, as in She was sure she’d be burned at the stake for losing the contract. In fact, the stake can be used loosely for any extreme punishment. William Makepeace Thackeray so used it in Henry Esmond (1852): “‘I know I would go to the stake for you,’ said Harry.”

  burn down 1. Completely consume by fire, burn to the ground, as in Their house burned down and they had nowhere to go. [Mid-1800s] 2. Diminish for lack of fuel, as in The fire will soon burn down. [Late 1800s]

  burned up → See BURN UP.

  burner → See BACK BURNER; FRONT BURNER.

  burn in effigy → See IN EFFIGY.

  burning question An urgent or crucial issue under heated discussion. For example, Real estate taxes are always a burning question for the town leaders. This term has exact equivalents in French (question brûlante) and German (brennende Frage). [Mid-1800s]

  burn into Make an indelible impression on, as in An event like the Holocaust burns into the minds of all the survivors, or The scene was burned into her memory. This expression alludes to such processes as etching, where a caustic substance bites into a solid plate to make a design. [Early 1800s]

  burn off 1. Dissipate by heat, as in The sun will soon burn off the morning fog. 2. Clear land by burning vegetation, as in They’ve decided to burn off part of the field to prepare it for another planting. This practice has long been common in many parts of the world, but the precise term dates only from the first half of the 1800s.

  burn one’s bridges Also, burn one’s boats. Commit oneself to an irreversible course. For example, Denouncing one’s boss in a written resignation means one has burned one’s bridges, or Turning down one job before you have another amounts to burning your boats. Both versions of this idiom allude to ancient military tactics, when troops would cross a body of water and then burn the bridge or boats they had used to prevent the possibility of retreat. [Late 1800s] Also see CROSS THE RUBICON.