The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Page 83
not have an earthly chance Also, stand no earthly chance. Have no chance whatever, as in She doesn’t have an earthly chance of getting into medical school, or Bill stands no earthly chance of winning the lottery. The use of no earthly in the sense of “no conceivable” dates from the mid-1700s.
not have anything on → See HAVE NOTHING ON.
not have one’s heart in it see under HEART IN IT.
not have the heart to Be unable to bring oneself to say or do something, as in He didn’t have the heart to tell her the cat had died. [Mid-1600s] Also see HAVE A HEART.
not having any → See under NOT HAVE.
nothing → In addition to the idioms beginning with NOTHING, also see COME TO NOTHING; COUNT FOR (NOTHING); GO FOR NOTHING; HAVE NOTHING ON; HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH; HERE GOES (NOTHING); IN NO TIME (NOTHING FLAT); LEAVE A LOT (NOTHING) TO BE DESIRED; MAKE NOTHING OF; MAKE SOMETHING (OUT) OF (NOTHING); MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING; NOT KNOW BEANS (FROM NOTHING); NOT TO MENTION (TO SAY NOTHING OF); STOP AT NOTHING; SWEET NOTHINGS; THINK NOTHING OF; WANT FOR NOTHING.
nothing but Only, as in She thinks of nothing but money. This term was first recorded about 1380.
nothing doing Certainly not, as in Can I borrow your down coat?—Nothing doing. This colloquial interjection was first recorded in 1910. Also see NO DICE.
nothing if not Above all else, as in He was nothing if not discreet. Shakespeare used this idiom in Othello (2:1): “I am nothing if not critical.” [c. 1600]
nothing like → See NOT ANYTHING LIKE.
nothing new under the sun Everything has been seen before, as in Those designs take me back to the 1950s—there really is nothing new under the sun. This world-weary view was already expressed in 1382 in the Bible translation attributed to John Wycliffe’s followers: “No thing under the sun is new” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
nothing of the kind Also, nothing of the sort. 1. No, certainly not, as in Did you push Charlie?—Nothing of the kind! or Do you think the kids were trying to shoplift?—Nothing of the sort. [Second half of 1800s] 2. Not at all like what is mentioned or expected, as in They thought we would look them up, but we’d intended nothing of the kind. [Second half of 1800s]
nothing short of The equivalent of, the same as, as in His accusation is nothing short of slander. This term is slightly stronger than little short of, meaning “almost the same as,” as in Her claim is little short of stupid. The first term dates from about 1800, the second from about 1830. Also see SHORT OF.
nothing to do with → See HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH.
nothing to it, there’s It’s not at all difficult, it’s easy, as in Of course I can fix the faucet—there’s nothing to it. This hyperbolic term was first recorded in 1934.
nothing to sneeze at → See NOT TO BE SNEEZED AT.
nothing to speak of Not much, nothing worth mentioning, as in What’s been happening in the stock market?—Nothing to speak of, or They’ve done nothing to speak of about publicity. This expression was first recorded in 1582.
nothing to write home about Ordinary or unremarkable, as in The restaurant was all right but nothing to write home about. This idiom originated in the late 1800s, possibly among troops stationed far from home, and became widespread during World War I.
nothing ventured, nothing gained One must take risks to achieve something, as in They quit their jobs, packed up, and moved to Wisconsin, saying “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Although this adage has appeared in slightly different form since the late 1300s, it was first recorded in this form only in 1624. For another version, see NO PAIN, NO GAIN.
not hurt a fly Also, not hurt a flea. Not cause harm to anyone, be gentle and mild, as in Paul’s the kindest man—he wouldn’t hurt a flea, or Bert has a temper but it’s all talk; he wouldn’t hurt a fly. Both fly and flea are used in the sense of “a small insignificant animal.” [Early 1800s]
notice → See ESCAPE NOTICE; GIVE NOTICE; SHORT NOTICE; SIT UP (AND TAKE NOTICE); TAKE NOTE (NOTICE).
not if one can help it Only without one’s agreement, only if one cannot prevent it. For example, Is he taking a second job?—Not if his wife can help it, or He’s not riding on the back of that motorcycle, not if I can help it. This idiom uses help in the sense of “prevent” or “cause to be otherwise.” [Mid-1800s]
not if you paid me Under no circumstances, as in I wouldn’t jump off the high diving board, not if you paid me. [Late 1800s]
no time at all → See IN NO TIME.
no time for, have Can’t be bothered with, dislike, as in Dad has no time for her temper tantrums. This expression alludes to unwillingness to spend time with someone or something.
no time like the present, there’s Do or say it now, as in Go ahead and call him—there’s no time like the present. This adage was first recorded in 1562. One compiler of proverbs, John Trusler, amplified it: “No time like the present, a thousand unforeseen circumstances may interrupt you at a future time” (Proverbs Exemplified, 1790).
not in my backyard Also, NIMBY. A vigorous protest against a proposed project, such as construction or establishing an institution, in one’s neighborhood. The alternate above is a frequently used acronym of the term. For example, As for extending the bike path, the neighbors are worried about strangers riding nearby and are screaming “not in my backyard.” [c. 1980]
not in the least → See IN THE LEAST.
not just a pretty face This person or thing has other good qualities besides an attractive appearance. Different versions of this term date from the late 1800s, although the precise wording was recorded only in 1958. The term now is applied not only to women but to men, companies, buildings, and other things. For example, That new library is not just a pretty face; it has valuable holdings. [Late 1800s]
not know beans Also, not know the first thing; not know from nothing. Be ignorant about something, as in a poem published in the Yale Literary Magazine in 1855: “When our recent Tutor is heard to speak, This truth one certainly gleans, Whatever he knows of Euclid and Greek, In Latin he don’t know beans.” The beans in this colloquial phrase, dating from the early 1800s, signify something small and worthless; not knowing the first thing about something clearly shows one doesn’t know anything about it at all; and the third slangy phrase, with its double negative, implies stupidity as well as ignorance, as in Poor girl, just starting out and she doesn’t know from nothing.
not know enough to come in out of the rain → See COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN.
not know from Adam Be unable to recognize someone, as in Although I have worked here for two months, I’ve never seen the department head; I wouldn’t know her from Adam. This term refers to the biblical story about the world’s first human being. As at least one writer has pointed out, differentiating someone from Adam makes little sense since he had no name and wore only a fig leaf. [Mid-1800s]
not know what hit one Be extremely surprised or disconcerted. This figurative version alludes to something actually attacking one. For example, The merger took place so quickly that most employees did not know what hit them. [1920s]
not know where to turn Also, not know which way to jump or turn. Have no idea of how to get help or what course to take. For example, With all these offers coming in, he didn’t know where to turn, or When her car was towed, Meg was distraught and did not know which way to jump. The first phrase dates from about 1400.
not know whether one is coming or going → See under COMING OR GOING.
not let the grass grow under one’s feet → See DON’T LET THE GRASS GROW UNDER ONE’S FEET.
not lift a finger Refuse to exert oneself to help or perform an action. For example, Dad won’t lift a finger to help them financially, or Early in the war, America officially would not lift a finger. [Mid-1900s]
not long for this world Not expected to survive. Although this expression literally applied to a person means he or she may die very soon (and was so used in an 1822 letter by Byron), today it also can be used for an organization or object. For example, When the bra
kes failed I knew my car was not long for this world.
not miss a trick Also, never miss a trick; not miss much. Not fail to be aware of what is going on. For example, When it comes to the commodities market, Mark never misses a trick, or Dad may seem absentminded, but he doesn’t miss much. The first phrase dates from the early 1900s; the variant employs miss in the sense of “fail to perceive,” a usage dating from the late 1600s.
not move a muscle → See MOVE A MUSCLE.
not my cup of tea → See CUP OF TEA.
not one iota Not even the smallest amount, as in He got not one iota of thanks for his efforts. This usage appeared in slightly different form in the New Testament (Matthew 5:18): “One jot [iota]... shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.” (The noun jot comes from the Greek iota.)
not one’s day, this is Also, just one of those days. Nothing is going right for one today. For example, The car wouldn’t start, it rained unexpectedly—this is not my day, or The phone has rung nonstop all morning; it’s just one of those days. [c. 1920]
not oneself Not feeling physically or mentally well, as in I think there’s something wrong; he’s not himself, or She seemed to be improving last week, but she’s just not feeling herself today. Also see FEEL LIKE ONESELF.
not on your life Certainly not, as in Go hang-gliding? Not on your life. The first recorded use of this interjection was in 1896.
not open one’s mouth Also, shut one’s mouth; not say or utter a word. Be silent, repress one’s feelings or opinions, keep a secret. For example, Don’t worry, I’m not going to open my mouth on this issue, or She promised not to say a word about it to anyone. Also see HOLD ONE’S TONGUE; KEEP ONE’S MOUTH SHUT.
not playing with a full deck → See under BRICKS SHY OF A LOAD.
not put something past someone Consider someone capable of doing something, especially something bad. For example, I wouldn’t put it past him to tell a lie or two. This expression uses past in the sense of “beyond.” [Late 1800s]
not right in the head Mentally unsound, as in Physically, she’s quite healthy for ninety, but we suspect she’s not right in the head. This usage was first recorded as right in his wits in 1662.
not see beyond one’s nose → See CAN’T SEE BEYOND THE END OF ONE’S NOSE.
not so much Dismissing something that is less true. The phrase was popularized by Jon Stewart of the television Daily Show, who used it frequently. For example, I thought a 10% raise in salary would be great, but given inflation, not so much. [Colloquial, late 1900s]
not suffer fools gladly Refuse to tolerate stupidity, as in Chris can be intimidating at these meetings; she does not suffer fools gladly. This expression comes from the New Testament (II Corinthians 11:19), where Paul sarcastically says, “For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.” [c. 1600]
not take no for answer → See TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.
not the half of it → See HALF OF IT.
not the only fish in the sea Also, lots or plenty of good fish in the sea; not the only pebble on the beach. Plenty of other suitable persons, especially for a romantic relationship. For example, When Bob walked out on Sally, all we could tell her was that he was not the only fish in the sea, or Bill knew she wasn’t the only pebble on the beach but he was determined to win her over. Both fish and pebble here refer to something available in large quantities. The expressions using fish have been used to comfort jilted lovers since the early 1500s. The variant using pebble was first recorded in a poem of 1896 by Henry Braistead: “If you want to win her hand Let the maiden understand That she’s not the only pebble on the beach.”
not think much of Have little regard for, have a low opinion of, as in Bill doesn’t think much of the carpentry work in that house. The phrase not much has been used in this sense since the mid-1800s.
not to be sneezed at Also, nothing to sneeze at. Not to be ignored or dismissed, as in It’s a great honor, not to be sneezed at, or That salary of his is nothing to sneeze at. This expression presumably alludes to turning up one’s nose in disdain. [c. 1800]
not to mention Also, not to speak of; to say nothing of. In addition to, besides what’s already been said. For example, I don’t think the voters will want that big program, not to mention the cost, or Dave teaches trumpet and trombone, not to speak of other brass instruments, or Their house is worth at least a million, to say nothing of their other assets.
not touch with a ten-foot pole Stay far away from, avoid completely, as in Ronald wouldn’t touch raw oysters with a ten-foot pole. This expression dates from the mid-1700s, when it began to replace the earlier not to be handled with a pair of tongs. In the 1800s barge-pole was sometimes substituted for ten-foot pole, but that variant has died out.
not to worry → See NO PROBLEM.
not turn a hair → See TURN A HAIR.
not up to → See UP TO.
not worth a damn Also, not worth a plugged nickel or red cent or bean or hill of beans or fig or straw or tinker’s damn. Worthless, as in That car isn’t worth a damn, or My new tennis racket is not worth a plugged nickel. As for the nouns here, a damn or curse is clearly of no great value (also see NOT GIVE A DAMN); a plugged nickel in the 1800s referred to a debased five-cent coin; a cent denotes the smallest American coin, which was red when made of pure copper (1800s); a bean has been considered trivial or worthless since the late 1300s (Chaucer so used it), whereas hill of beans alludes to a planting method whereby four or five beans are put in a mound (and still are worthless); and both fig and straw have been items of no worth since about 1400. A tinker’s dam, first recorded in 1877, was a wall of dough raised around a spot where a metal pipe is being repaired so as to hold solder in place until it hardens, whereupon the dam is discarded. However, tinker’s damn was first recorded in 1839 and probably was merely an intensification of “not worth a damn,” rather than having anything to do with the dam.
no two ways about it No room for difference of opinion, no alternative, as in We have to agree on the nomination, and no two ways about it. [Early 1800s]
no use, it’s 1. It’s impossible; it can’t succeed. For example, It’s no use; these pieces just don’t fit. [c. 1800] 2. Also, it’s no use to man or beast. It’s worthless, it serves no purpose, as in This car is so old it’s no use to man or beast. Also see HAVE NO USE FOR.
no use crying over spilt milk → See CRY OVER SPILT MILK.
now → In addition to the idioms beginning with now, also see ANY DAY (NOW); EVERY NOW AND THEN; HERE AND NOW; JUST NOW.
now and again Also, now and then. → See EVERY NOW AND THEN.
no way Also, there is no way. Certainly not; never. For example, No way can I forget what he did, or Are you coming along?—No way! or There’s no way our candidate can lose. This colloquial expression dates from the mid-1900s, but an earlier adverb, noway, dates from the 1300s. (A slangy variant is no way, José, first recorded in 1979.)
nowhere → In addition to the idiom beginning with NOWHERE, also see GET NOWHERE; IN THE MIDDLE OF (NOWHERE); OUT OF NOWHERE.
nowhere near → See under NOT ANYTHING LIKE.
no-win situation A situation certain to end in failure or disappointment, as in If the inlaws visit them or they visit the in-laws, either way they see it as a no-win situation. [c. 1960]
no wonder Also, small wonder. It’s not at all (or hardly) surprising, as in With the goalie out with a sprained ankle, it’s no wonder you lost the game, or If he finished off all of the turkey, small wonder he has a stomachache. [c. A.D. 900]
now or never, it’s It must be done now or not at all, as in If you plan to state your case to the boss, it’s now or never. This phrase was first recorded in 1560.
now that Seeing that, since, as in Now that you’re here, you might as well stay for dinner. This usage was first recorded in 1530. For a synonym, see AS LONG AS.
now you’re talking Good for you, you’re saying the right thing, as in You’ve decided to enter the contest? Now you’re talking! [
Mid-1800s]
nth → See TO THE NTH DEGREE.
nuisance → See MAKE A NUISANCE OF ONESELF.
null and void Canceled, invalid, as in The lease is now null and void. This phrase is actually redundant, since null means “void,” that is, “ineffective.” It was first recorded in 1669.
number → In addition to the idiom beginning with NUMBER, also see A NUMBER OF; ANY NUMBER OF; BACK NUMBER; BY THE NUMBERS; CRUNCH NUMBERS; DAYS ARE NUMBERED; DO A JOB (NUMBER) ON; GET (HAVE) SOMEONE’S NUMBER; HOT NUMBER; IN ROUND NUMBERS; LOOK OUT FOR (NUMBER ONE); OPPOSITE NUMBER; SAFETY IN NUMBERS.
number is up, one’s One is in grave difficulty or near death. For example, She knew her number was up when she saw the look on her supervisor’s face, or He looks terrible; I think his number’s up. In the earliest use of this phrase, in the early 1800s, number referred to an unfavorable lottery number, but in other citations it could be any number whereby one is identified, such as the number on a military dog tag.
nurse a drink Consume a drink slowly, especially in order to conserve it. For example, He nursed one drink for the whole evening. This idiom alludes to holding a glass very carefully, as one might a child. [c. 1940]
nurse a grudge Bear resentment for a long time, as in We don’t know why Karl looks so angry; I think he’s nursing a grudge against the family. This expression uses nurse in the sense of “foster a feeling,” a usage dating from the mid-1700s.
nut → In addition to the idioms beginning with NUTS, also see DRIVE SOMEONE CRAZY (NUTS); FROM SOUP TO NUTS; HARD NUT TO CRACK.
nuts about, be Be extremely enthusiastic; also, be extremely fond of. For example, Ellen is nuts about opera, or Kevin has been nuts about Megan since he met her. This seemingly new slangy expression began life in the late 1700s as nuts on or upon; about began to be substituted about 1940.
nuts and bolts, the The essential or basic aspects of something, as in They have lofty goals but don’t specify the nuts and bolts of how to achieve them. This expression alludes to basic working components of machinery. [Mid-1900s]