McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms Dictionary by Richard Spears

Author:Richard Spears
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
Published: 2000-04-12T04:00:00+00:00

outside the box

Over my dead body! Inf. a defiant phrase indicating the strength of one’s opposition to something. (A joking response is “That can be arranged.”) Bill: I think I’ll rent out our spare bedroom. Sue: Over my dead body! Bill (smiling): That can be arranged.

over the counter Fig. [of medication bought or sold] without a prescription. (Hyphenated when prenominal. See also under the counter.) I don’t put much trust in over-the-counter medications.

over the edge Fig. excessive; out of control. His performance was over the edge. Too long, too dirty, and too loud!

*over the hill 1. Inf. escaped from prison or the military. (*Typically: be ∼; go ∼.) They broke out of jail and went over the hill. 2. Fig. too old (for something). (*Typically: be ∼; go ∼.) You’re only 50! You’re not over the hill yet.

over the hump Fig. over the hard part; past the midpoint. Things should be easy from now on. We finally got over the hump.

over the long haul AND in the long haul; for the long haul; for the long term; over the long term; in the long run Fig. over a long period of time. Over the long haul, this model will prove best.

over the moon Fig. delighted; amazingly happy. When I got the news, I was just over the moon!

over the short haul AND in the short haul; for the short haul; for the short term; in the short run Fig. for the immediate future. Over the short haul, you may wish you had done something different. But things will work out all right.

over the top 1. Fig. having gained more than one’s goal. Our fund-raising campaign went over the top by $3,000. 2. Inf. outrageously overdone. The comedy sketch was so over the top that most of the audience was embarrassed.

*over the wall Fig. Inf. reaching freedom from a prison. (*Typically: be ∼; go ∼.) Spike tried to go over the wall, but they caught him.

over with Go to all over.

overplay one’s hand Fig. to risk more than one can afford to risk; to be extravagant in making promises or claims. I’m not surprised that he demanded such a high raise and got fired. He always tends to overplay his hand.

overstep one’s bounds AND overstep the bounds of good taste Fig. to behave as one should not; to fail to observe some kinds of social constraint. I think he was overstepping his bounds a bit when he inquired as to the state of Bob’s health.

overstep the bounds of good taste Go to previous.

owe so a debt of gratitude Fig. a large amount of thanks owed to someone who deserves gratitude. (Actually payment of the debt is owed.) We owe you a debt of gratitude for all you have done for us.

owe it to oneself (to do sth) to have an obligation to do something to benefit only oneself. I owe it to myself to go back and get my masters degree.

owe it to so (to do sth) are obliged to someone to do something.

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