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2 of 10
Ready and willing to do whatever someone asks; ready to serve at a moment's notice.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
. at one's beck and call
[at one's beck and call] or [at the beck and call of] {adj. phr.}
Ready and willing to do whatever someone asks; ready to serve at a moment's notice.
A good parent isn't necessarily always at the child's beck and call.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
At any expense of time, effort, or money. Regardless of the results.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
. at all costs
[at all costs] {adv. phr.}
At any expense of time, effort, or money. Regardless of the results.
Mr. Jackson intended to save his son's eyesight at all costs.
Carl is determined to succeed in his new job at all costs.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
By small or slow degrees; little by little; gradually.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
. by inches
[by inches] {adv. phr.}
By small or slow degrees; little by little; gradually.
The river was rising by inches.
They got a heavy wooden beam under the barn for a lever, and managed to move it by inches.
He was dying by inches.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
By the use of; with the help of.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
. by means of
[by means of] {prep.}
By the use of; with the help of.
The fisherman saved himself by means of a floating log.
By means of monthly payments, people can buy more than in the past.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too soon.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
. cut short
[cut short] {v.}
To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or too soon.
Rain cut short the ball game.
An auto accident cut short the man's life.
When Dick began to tell about his summer vacation the teacher cut him short, saying "Tell us about that another time."
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there.
(From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
. cry wolf
[cry wolf] {v. phr.}
To give a false alarm; warn of a danger that you know is not there.
The general said that the candidate was just crying wolf when he said that the army was too weak to fight for the country.
(From an old story about a shepherd boy who falsely claimed a wolf was killing his sheep, just to start some excitement.)
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
Having a great desire to; being extremely eager to.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
Experienced; knowing how to do something. Usually used in the negative.
Compare: [KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND].
Contrast: [WET BEHIND THE EARS].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
. dry behind the ears
[dry behind the ears] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Experienced; knowing how to do something. Usually used in the negative.
John had just started working for the company, and was not dry behind the ears yet.
Compare: [KNOW ONE'S WAY AROUND].
Contrast: [WET BEHIND THE EARS].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
To say something startling; suggest or show something astonishing or shocking.
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
. explode a bombshell
[explode a bombshell] or [drop a bombshell] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To say something startling; suggest or show something astonishing or shocking.
The police exploded a bombshell when they arrested the kindly old banker for stealing money from the bank.
The principal exploded a bombshell by cancelling the dance as a penalty.
Political leaders exploded a bombshell when they picked the young lawyer to run for mayor.
A Dictionary of American Idioms