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1 of 10
To match against; oppose to; put in opposition to; place in competition or rivalry with.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10
. pit against
[pit against] {v.}
To match against; oppose to; put in opposition to; place in competition or rivalry with.
The game pits two of the best pro football teams in the East against each other.
He pitted his endurance against the other man's speed.
He was pitted against an opponent just as smart as he was.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
1. To begin something with much energy; start work eagerly.
2. To give help or money for something; contribute.
Syn.: [CHIP IN]. Compare: [FALL TO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
. pitch in
[pitch in] {v.}, {informal}
1. To begin something with much energy; start work eagerly.
Pitch in and we will finish the job as soon as possible.
2. To give help or money for something; contribute.
Everyone must pitch in and work together.
We all pitched in a quarter to buy Nancy a present.
Syn.: [CHIP IN]. Compare: [FALL TO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
1. To attack with blows or words.
Syn.: [LAY INTO] (1),(2), [RIP INTO].
2. To get to work at; work hard at.
Compare: [LAY INTO], [SAIL INTO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
. pitch into
[pitch into] {v.}, {informal}
1. To attack with blows or words.
He pitched into me with his fists.
He pitched into the idea of raising taxes.
Syn.: [LAY INTO] (1),(2), [RIP INTO].
2. To get to work at; work hard at.
She pitched into the work and had the house cleaned up by noon.
He pitched into his homework right after dinner.
Compare: [LAY INTO], [SAIL INTO].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
To kiss and hug; make love.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
To catch someone unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
. pitch a curve
[pitch a curve] or [a curve ball] {v. phr.}
To catch someone unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act.
My professor pitched me a curve ball when he unexpectedly confronted me with a complicated mathematical equation that was way over my head.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
1. To mislead or deceive someone; to lie.
2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
. throw a curve
[throw a curve] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal}
1. To mislead or deceive someone; to lie.
John threw me a curve about the hiring.
2. To take someone by surprise in an unpleasant way.
Mr. Weiner's announcement threw the whole company a curve.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
1. To bet your money on what you say or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude.
2. To prove something or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
. put up or shut up
[put up or shut up] {v. phr.} {informal}
1. To bet your money on what you say or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude.
The man from out of town kept saying their team would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up."
2. To prove something or stop saying it. — Often used as a command; often considered rude.
George told Al that he could run faster than the school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
1. {informal}
To stop talking.
- Often used as a command; usually considered rude.
Syn.: [BUTTON YOUR LIP], [DRY UP] (3), [KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT].
2. To close the doors and windows of.
3. To close and lock for a definite period of time.
4. To confine.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
. shut up
[shut up] {v.}
1. {informal}
To stop talking.
Little Ruthie told Father about his birthday surprise before Mother could shut her up.
- Often used as a command; usually considered rude.
Shut up and let Joe say something.
If you'll shut up for a minute, I'll tell you our plan.
Syn.: [BUTTON YOUR LIP], [DRY UP] (3), [KEEP ONE'S MOUTH SHUT].
2. To close the doors and windows of.
We got the house shut up only minutes before the storm hit.
3. To close and lock for a definite period of time.
The Smiths always spend Labor Day shutting up their summer home for the year.
We got to the store only to find that the owner had shut up shop for the weekend.
4. To confine.
That dog bites. It should be shut up.
John has been shut up with a cold all week.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
1. To make (something like water or electricity) stop coming.
Compare: [TURN OFF].
2. To be apart; be separated from; also to separate from.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
. shut off
[shut off] {v.}
1. To make (something like water or electricity) stop coming.
Please shut off the hose before the grass gets too wet.
Compare: [TURN OFF].
2. To be apart; be separated from; also to separate from.
Our camp is so far from the highway we feel shut off from the world when we are there.
The sow is so bad tempered we had to shut it off from its piglets.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
To talk about something in a really businesslike way; talk with the aim of getting things done.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
. talk turkey
[talk turkey] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To talk about something in a really businesslike way; talk with the aim of getting things done.
Charles said, "Now, let's talk turkey about the bus trip. The fact is, it will cost each student $1.50."
The father always spoke gently to his son, but when the son broke the windshield of the car, the father talked turkey to him.
A Dictionary of American Idioms