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[baloney] <n.>, <informal> Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or trivial. * /John brags that he's won the $10 million lottery, and I think it's just a lot of baloney./ * /"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney," Susie answered with a disgusted look./ * /Do you still believe all that baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and Hungary./

[banana oil] <n.>, <slang> Flattery that is an obvious exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive. * /Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/

[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.

[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

[band together] <v. phr.> To join a group to exert united force. * /The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop the company from building new smokestacks./

[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[bandy about] <v. phr.> To spread rumors or whisper secrets. * /The news of Jim and Mary's divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office had heard it./

[bang up] <adj.>, <informal> Very successful; very good; splendid; excellent. * /The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./ * /John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.

[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.

[bank on] <v.>, <informal> To depend on; put one's trust in; rely on. * /He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he could once prove the dirty work./ * /The students were banking on the team to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.

[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.

[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.

[bargain for] or [bargain on] <v.> To be ready for; expect. * /When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he bargained for./ * /The final cost of building the house was much more than they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.

[barge in] <v. phr.>, <informal> To appear uninvited at someone's house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. * /I'm sorry for barging in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./ * /I'm sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/

[bark up the wrong tree] <v. phr.>, <informal> To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. * /If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ * /He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ * /The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./

[bark worse than one's bite] <informal> Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. * /The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ * /The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ * /She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite./

[barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.

[base on balls] <n.> First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. * /He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls./

[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE'S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

[basket case] <n.>, <slang>, <also informal> 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. * /Stop drinking, or else you'll wind up a basket case!/

[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] <v. phr.>, <informal> To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. - Used in negative sentences. * /When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ * /Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

[bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

[bats in one's belfry] or [bats in the belfry] <n. phr.>, <slang> Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. * /When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry./

[bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

[batting average] <n. phr.> Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). * /Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations./

[battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.

[battle of nerves] <n. phr.> A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. * /It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university./ See: WAR OF NERVES.

[bawl out] <v.>, <informal> To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. * /The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

[be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.

[beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[beach bunny] <n.>, <slang> An attractive girl seen on beaches mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn't get into the water and swim. * /What kind of a girl is Susie? - She's a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen's Surf on Waikiki but I've never seen her swim./

[bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

[be a fly on the wall] <v. phr.> To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. * /How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance's parents are saying about me!/

[be a good hand at] <v. phr.> To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. * /Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building./

[beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

[bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE'S HEAD or USE ONE'S BEAN.

[be an item] <v. phr.> To be a couple; belong to one another. * /No one is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized that they are an item./

[be a poor hand at] <v. phr.> To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. * /Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.

[be at pains] <v. phr.> To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. * /The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats./

[bear] See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.

[bear a grudge] <v. phr.> To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. * /Come on, John, be a good sport and don't bear a grudge because I beat you at golf./ Contrast: BURY THE HATCHET.

[bear a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

[beard] See: LAUNCH UP ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE'S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE'S BEARD.

[bear down] <v.> 1. To press or push harder; work hard at; give full strength and attention. * /She is bearing down in her studies to win a scholarship./ * /The baseball pitcher is bearing down./ * /The pitcher bore down on the star batter./ * /Teachers of the deaf bear down on English./ * /The sergeant bears down on lazy soldiers./ Contrast: LET UP(2b). 2. To move toward in an impressive or threatening way. - Often used with "on". * /While he was crossing the street a big truck bore down on him./ * /The little ship tried to escape when the big pirate ship bore down./ * /After the boys threw the snowballs they saw a large lady bearing down upon them from across the street./

[bear down on] or [upon] <v. phr.> To draw constantly nearer with great speed and force. * /The police cars were bearing down on the bank robbers' get-away car./

[bear fruit] <v. phr.> To yield results. * /We hope that the company's new investment policy will bear fruit./

[bear in mind] See: IN MIND.

[bear in the air] or [bear in the sky] <n. phr.>, <slang>, <citizen's band jargon> A police helicopter flying overhead watching for speeders. * /Slow down, good buddy, there's a bear in the air./

[bear off the palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM.

[bear one's cross] See: CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

[bear out] <v.> To show to be right; prove; support. * /Modern findings do not bear out the old belief that the earth is flat./ * /Seward's faith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out, even though it was once called "Seward's Folly."/

[bear trap] <n.>, <slang>, <citizen's band radio jargon> A police radar unit designed to catch speeders. * /Watch the bear trap at exit 101./

[bear up] <v.> 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. * /The old bridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more./ * /He was borne up by love of country./ 2. To keep up one's courage or strength; last. Often used with "under". * /This boat will bear up under hurricane winds./ * /She bore up well at the funeral./ Syn.: STAND UP. Compare: CARRY ON.

[bear watching] <v. phr.> 1. To be worth watching or paying attention to; have a promising future. * /That young ball player will bear watching./ 2. To be dangerous or untrustworthy. * /Those tires look badly worn; they will bear watching./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.

[bear with] <v.>, <formal> To have patience with; not get angry with. * /Your little sister is sick. Try to bear with her when she cries./ * /It is hard to bear with criticism./ Syn.: PUT UP WITH. Compare: CARRY ONE'S CROSS.

[beat] See: HEART SKIP A BEAT, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.

[beat about the bush] or [beat around the bush] <v. phr.>, <slang> To talk about things without giving a clear answer; avoid the question or the point. * /He would not answer yes or no, but beat about the bush./ * /He beat about the bush for a half hour without coming to the point./ Compare: BESIDE THE POINT. Contrast: COME TO THE POINT.

[beat all] or [beat the Dutch] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be strange or surprising. * /John found a box full of money buried in his garage. Doesn't that beat all!/ * /It beats the Dutch how Tom always makes a basket./

[beat all hollow] also [beat hollow] <v. phr.>, <slang> To do much better than; to beat very badly. * /We beat their team all hollow./ * /As a speaker, he beats us all hollow./

[beat a retreat] <v. phr.> 1. To give a signal, esp. by beating a drum, to go back. * /The Redcoats' drums were beating a retreat./ 2. To run away. * /They beat a retreat when they saw that they were too few./ * /The cat beat a hasty retreat when he saw the dog coming./ Compare: BACK DOWN, FALL BACK.

[beat around the bush] See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH.

[beat down] <v.> 1. To crush or break the spirit of; win over; conquer. * /All their defenses were beaten down by the tanks./ 2. <informal> a. To try to get reduced; force down by discussing. * /Can we beat down the price?/ b. To persuade or force (someone) to accept a lower price or easier payments. * /He tried to beat us down, so we did not sell the house./ 3. To shine brightly or hotly. * /At noon the sun beat down on our heads as we walked home./

[beaten path] <n. phr.> The usual route or way of operating that has been conventionally established, * /If we always follow the beaten path, we'll never have the courage to try something new./

[beaten track] <n.> See: BEATEN PATH.

[beat hollow] See: BEAT ALL HOLLOW.

[beat into one's head] <v. phr.>, <informal> To teach by telling again and again; repeat often; drill, also, to be cross and punish often. * /Tom is lazy and stubborn and his lessons have to be beaten into his head./ * /I cannot beat it into his head that he should take off his hat in the house./

[beat it] <v.>, <slang> To go away in a hurry; get out quickly. * /When he heard the crash he beat it as fast as he could./ - Often used as a command. * /The big boy said, "Beat it, kid. We don't want you with us."/ Compare: CLEAR OUT(2), LIGHT OUT, HEAD FOR THE HILLS.

[beat one to it] <v. phr.> To arrive or get ahead of another person. * /I was about to call you, John, but you have beat me to it! Thanks for calling me./

[beat one's brains out] or [beat one's brains] <v. phr.>, <slang> To try very hard to understand or think out something difficult; tire yourself out by thinking. * /It was too hard for him and he beat his brains out trying to get the answer./ * /Some students are lazy, but others beat their brains and succeed./

[beat one's gums] <v. phr.>, <slang> To engage in idle talk, or meaningless chatter; generally to talk too much. * /"Stop beating your gums, Jack," Joe cried. "I am falling asleep."/ Compare: CHEW THE FAT or CHEW THE RAG, SHOOT THE BREEZE or BAT THE BREEZE or FAN THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL.

[beat one's head against a wall] <v. phr.> To struggle uselessly against something that can't be beaten or helped; not succeed after trying very hard. * /Trying to make him change his mind is just beating your head against a wall./

[beat the band] <adv. phr.>, <informal> At great speed; with much noise or commotion. - Used after "to". * /The fire engines were going down the road to beat the band./ * /The audience cheered and stamped and clapped to beat the band./

[beat the bushes] also [beat the brush] <v. phr.>, <informal> To try very hard to find or get something. * /The mayor was beating the bushes for funds to build the playground./ Contrast: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH or BEAT AROUND THE BUSH.

[beat the drum] <v. phr.> To attract attention in order to advertise something or to promote someone, such as a political candidate. * /Mrs. Smith has been beating the drum in her town in order to get her husband elected mayor./

[beat the gun] See: JUMP THE GUN.

[beat the --- out of] or [lick the --- out of] or [whale the --out of] <v. phr.>, <informal> To beat hard; give a bad beating to. Used with several words after "the", as "daylights", "living daylights", "tar". * /The big kid told Charlie that he would beat the daylights out of him if Charlie came in his yard again./

[beat the meat] <v. phr.>, <vulgar>, <avoidable> To masturbate (said primarily of men). * /"So what did you do for sex in prison for seven years?" Joe asked. "Well, unless you want to become gay, you can beat the meat and that's about it," Max answered./

[beat the pants off] <v. phr.> 1. To prevail over someone in a race or competition. * /Jim beat the pants off George in the swimming race./ 2. To give someone a severe physical beating. * /Jack beat the pants off the two young men who were trying to hold him up in Central Park./