The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  potluck → See TAKE POTLUCK.

  pound → In addition to the idioms beginning with POUND, also see IN FOR A PENNY, IN FOR A POUND; PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.

  pound of flesh A debt whose payment is harshly insisted on, as in The other members of the cartel all want their pound of flesh from Brazil. This expression alludes to the scene in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (4:1) where the moneylender Shylock demands the pound of flesh promised him in payment for a loan, and Portia responds that he may have it but without an ounce of blood (since blood was not promised). [c. 1600]

  pound out Produce, especially on a keyboard, as in I can pound out another résumé, or She was pounding out song after song on the piano. [c. 1900]

  pound the pavement Walk the streets, especially in search of employment. For example, He was fired last year and he’s been pounding the pavement ever since. A similar usage is pound a beat, meaning “to walk a particular route over and over”; it is nearly always applied to a police officer. [Early 1900s]

  pour → In addition to the idioms beginning with POUR, also see IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.

  pour cold water on Also, throw cold water on. Discourage or deter, as in Cutting my year-end bonus poured cold water on my loyalty to the company, or Hearing about the outbreak of cholera threw cold water on our plans to visit Bolivia. This term, with its image of putting out a fire with water, at one time meant “defame” or “slander”; the modern meaning dates from about 1800.

  pour oil on troubled waters Soothe or calm down something or someone, as in The twins are quarreling so I’d best go pour oil on troubled waters. This term alludes to an ancient practice of pouring oil on ocean waves to calm their turbulence, which was mentioned in the eighth century. [Mid-1800s]

  pour on the coal Speed up, as in They keep passing us so pour on the coal, Mom! or We can get this issue of the paper out on time if we pour on the coal. This slangy expression originated in aviation in the 1930s but must have been an allusion to the coal-burning engines of trains and ships, since aircraft were never so powered. It has since been transferred to other vehicles and other endeavors.

  pour out one’s heart Express one’s innermost thoughts and feelings to someone else, as in Upset over the breakup, she poured out her heart to her mother. Also see OPEN ONE’S HEART TO.

  powder → See KEEP ONE’S POWDER DRY; SITTING ON A POWDER KEG; TAKE A POWDER.

  power → In addition to the idioms beginning with POWER, also see CORRIDORS OF POWER; MORE POWER TO SOMEONE; STAYING POWER.

  power behind the throne A person with great influence who stays behind the scenes and has no apparent authority. For example, Harry may be the CEO, but it’s obvious that his wife is the power behind the throne. [Mid-1800s]

  powers that be, the Those in control, the authorities, as in Our plan was vetoed by the powers that be. This expression appeared in William Tyndale’s 1526 translation of the Bible (Romans 13:1): “The powers that be are ordained of God.”

  practical → See TO ALL INTENTS AND (FOR ALL PRACTICAL) PURPOSES.

  practice → In addition to the idioms beginning with PRACTICE, also see IN PRACTICE; MAKE A PRACTICE OF; OUT OF PRACTICE; PUT INTO PRACTICE; SHARP PRACTICE.

  practice makes perfect Frequently doing something makes one better at doing it, as in I’ve knit at least a hundred sweaters, but in my case practice hasn’t made perfect. This proverbial expression was once put as Use makes mastery, but by 1560 the present form had become established.

  practice what you preach Behave as you would have others behave, as in You keep telling us to clean up, but I wish you’d practice what you preach. This idiom expresses an ancient idea but appeared in this precise form only in 1678. Also see DO AS I SAY.

  praise → In addition to the idiom beginning with PRAISE, also see DAMN WITH FAINT PRAISE; SING SOMEONE’S PRAISES.

  praise to the skies Commend lavishly or excessively, as in The critics praised the new soprano to the skies. This expression, alluding to lofty praise, was in the 1600s put as extol to the skies but ­acquired its present form in the early 1800s. Also see SING SOMEONE’S PRAISES.

  prayer, not a → See under NOT A HOPE IN HELL.

  preach → In addition to the idiom beginning with PREACH, also see PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.

  preach to the converted Try to convince someone who is already convinced, as in Why tell me smoking is bad when I gave it up years ago? You’re preaching to the converted. [Mid-1800s]

  precedent → See SET A PRECEDENT.

  precious few Also, precious little. Very few, very little, as in There are precious few leaves left on the trees, or We have precious little fuel left. In these ­idioms precious serves as an intensive, a colloquial usage dating from the first half of the 1800s.

  premium → See AT A PREMIUM; PUT A PREMIUM ON.

  presence of mind The ability to act sensibly, promptly, and appropriately, especially in a difficult situation or emergency. For example, Distraught about losing her wallet and passport, she had the presence of mind to notify the authorities at once. This idiom in effect says that one’s mind is present and functioning. [Second half of 1600s]

  present → In addition to the idiom beginning with PRESENT, also see ALL PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR; AT PRESENT; FOR THE MOMENT (PRESENT); NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

  present company excepted Applying to everyone but those who are here now. This idiom is frequently used by a speaker who is making some unflattering remarks but does not want to insult his or her audience. For example, I’ve come across many taxpayers who don’t understand the forms, present company excepted. [Late 1700s]

  press → In addition to the idioms beginning with PRESS, also see HARD PRESSED; HOT OFF THE PRESS; PUSH (PRESS) ONE’S LUCK; PUSH (PRESS) SOMEONE’S BUTTONS. Also see under PUSH.

  pressed for time In a hurry, as in How long will it take? I’m really pressed for time. This idiom uses press in the sense of “subject to pressure,” a usage dating from the late 1600s.

  press into service Force someone or something to perform or function, as in Can I press you into service to help people find their coats? or The funeral drew such a large crowd that more chairs were pressed into service. This idiom transfers press in the sense of “seize and force someone to serve,” as seamen once were, to other activities. It was first recorded in 1871.

  press on → See PUSH ON.

  press one’s luck → See PUSH ONE’S LUCK.

  press the flesh Shake hands and mingle with people, especially when running for public office. For example, The candidate went through the crowd, pressing the flesh. [1920s]

  pretty → In addition to the idioms beginning with PRETTY, also see IN A FIX (PRETTY PICKLE); KETTLE OF FISH, PRETTY; NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE; SITTING PRETTY.

  pretty as a picture Very attractive, as in She looked pretty as a picture in her new hat. The noun picture alone was used to describe beautiful objects from the early 1800s on; this locution, however, dates from about 1900.

  pretty much Almost, nearly, approximately, as in Our homework was pretty much finished. This adverbial usage differs from the use of pretty for “considerable” (as in PRETTY PENNY). [c. 1800]

  pretty penny, a A considerable sum of money, as in That fur coat must have cost a pretty penny. [Early 1700s]

  prevail on Successfully persuade or influence, as in They prevailed on me to speak at their annual luncheon. This term uses prevail in the sense of “exert superior force.” It replaced prevail with in the mid-1600s.

  prey on 1. Plunder or pillage; also, make a profit at someone else’s expense, victimize. For example, Vikings preyed on the coastal towns of England, or The rich have been preying on the poor for centuries. [Late 1500s] 2. Hunt, especially in order to eat, as in Their cat preys on all the rodents in the neighborhood. [c. 1600] 3. Exert a baneful or injurious ­effect, as in Guilt preyed on his mind. [c. 1700]

  price → In addition to the idioms beginning with PRICE, also see AT ALL COSTS (AT ANY PRICE); CHEAP AT TWICE THE
PRICE; EVERY MAN HAS HIS PRICE.

  price is right, the The price is very reasonable, it is a good value. This term is often used jokingly to describe something that is free but otherwise not particularly praiseworthy. For example, These golf balls we found in the pond may not look new, but the price is right. [Second half of 1900s]

  price on one’s head A reward for capturing or killing someone, usually someone guilty of a crime. For example, He was a serial killer, and they put a price on his head. The head in this term presumably alludes to the older punishment of beheading. [Mid-1700s]

  price out of the market Charge so much for a product or service that no one will buy it, as in Asking $10 each for those old records is pricing yourself out of the market. Also, to price someone out of something, as in The current housing market has priced me out of buying. [First half of 1900s]

  prick up one’s ears Listen carefully, pay close attention, as in When she heard them mention her boyfriend she pricked up her ears. This term alludes to horses raising their ears at a sudden noise. [Late 1500s]

  pride → In addition to the idioms beginning with PRIDE, also see BURST WITH (PRIDE); SWALLOW ONE’S PRIDE.

  pride and joy The object of one’s great pleasure, as in Our new grandson is our pride and joy, or Dana’s car is his pride and joy. This term was probably invented by Sir Walter Scott in his poem Rokeby (1813), where he described children as “a mother’s pride, a father’s joy.”

  pride of place The highest or most prominent ­position, as in His trophy had pride of place on the mantelpiece. [Early 1600s]

  pride oneself on Also, take pride in. Be proud of, take satisfaction in, as in We pride ourselves on ­always being punctual, or She took pride in her flower garden. The first term dates from the late 1300s, the second from the late 1500s.

  prime → In addition to the idioms beginning with PRIME, also see PAST ONE’S PRIME.

  prime mover The initial source of energy directed toward a goal, someone or something that sets others in motion. For example, Jean was the prime mover in getting us more laboratory space, or Patriotism was the prime mover of the revolution. [Late 1600s]

  prime of life The best years of one’s life, when one is at the peak of one’s powers, as in She was in the prime of life when she began to lose her sight. The related phrase in one’s prime can be applied to ­objects as well as persons. For example, The roses were in their prime when you last saw them. In both idioms prime means “first in quality or character.” [Early 1700s] Also see PAST ONE’S PRIME.

  prime the pump Encourage the growth or action of something, as in Marjorie tried to prime the pump by offering some new issues for discussion. In the late 1800s this expression originally was used for pouring liquid into a pump to expel the air and make it work. In the 1930s it was applied to government efforts to stimulate the economy and thereafter was applied to other undertakings.

  principle → See IN PRINCIPLE; ON PRINCIPLE.

  print → In addition to the idiom beginning with PRINT, also see GO OUT (OF PRINT); IN PRINT; SMALL PRINT.

  print out 1. Write by drawing letters as opposed to cursive writing, as in Please print out your name above your signature. 2. Use a computer printer, as in This manuscript is too long to print out, so let’s review it online. [Second half of 1900s]

  private → In addition to the idiom beginning with PRIVATE, also see FREE (PRIVATE) ENTERPRISE; IN PRIVATE.

  private eye A privately employed detective, as opposed to one working for the police or another authority. For example, The children loved stories about private eyes, and Janey wanted to become one. This expression comes from the term private investigator, the “i” of investigator being changed to “eye,” which plays on the idea of a person looking into things. [1930s]

  probability → See IN ALL PROBABILITY.

  problem → See NO PROBLEM.

  profile → See KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

  progress → See IN PROGRESS.

  prolong the agony Drag out an uncomfortable situation; also, keep one in suspense. For example, Our dentist prolongs the agony, taking phone calls in the midst of drilling a tooth. Or, Don’t prolong the agony; tell me how the play ends. [Late 1700s]

  promise → See LICK AND A PROMISE.

  proof of the pudding, the Results are what count, as in Let’s see if this ad actually helps sales—the proof of the pudding, you know. The full expression of this proverb, dating from about 1600, is The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but it has ­become so well known that it is often abbreviated.

  prop → See KNOCK THE BOTTOM (PROPS) OUT OF (FROM).

  proportion → See OUT OF PROPORTION.

  pros and cons Arguments or considerations for and against something, as in We’d best weigh all the pros and cons before we decide to add a new wing to the library. This idiom is taken from the Latin pro for “for” and contra for “against.” [Late 1500s]

  proud → In addition to the idiom beginning with PROUD, also see DO SOMEONE PROUD.

  proud as a peacock Having a very high opinion of oneself, filled with or showing excessive self-esteem. For example, She strutted about in her new outfit, proud as a peacock. This simile alludes to the male peacock, with its colorful tail that can be expanded like a fan, which has long symbolized vanity and pride. Chaucer used it in The Reeve’s Tail: “As any peacock he was proud and gay.” [1200s]

  prove → In addition to the idiom beginning with PROVE, also see EXCEPTION PROVES THE RULE.

  prove out Succeed, turn out well, as in Farm-raised trout has proved out so well that the fish industry plans to experiment with other species. [Mid-1900s]

  prune → See FULL OF BEANS, def. 2.

  psych out 1. Analyze or understand something; also, anticipate the intentions of someone, as in It’s hard to psych out the opposition’s thinking, but we have to try. 2. Undermine the confidence of, intimidate. For example, The basketball team managed to psych out their opponents’ guards. This ­expression is often used in the passive and can mean “lose one’s nerve,” as in After I learned that he had two doctorates in the field, I was completely psyched out. Both slangy usages date from the second half of the 1900s and allude to influencing someone psychologically.

  psych up Excite emotionally, as in The chorus was really psyched up for performing in Symphony Hall. [Slang; c. 1970]

  public → See GO PUBLIC; IN PUBLIC; IN THE PUBLIC EYE; JOHN DOE (Q. PUBLIC); WASH ONE’S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC.

  publish or perish Produce published work or fall into disfavor. For example, The younger members of the department have a heavier teaching load, but they also know it’s publish or perish. This expression is nearly always used for college or university teachers, for whom advancement frequently is predicated on publishing research in their field. [Mid-1900s]

  pudding → See PROOF OF THE PUDDING.

  puff piece An approving or flattering article, as in That was really a puff piece about the conductor, written by her cousin. The use of puff for “exaggerated praise” dates from about 1600; piece was added in the mid-1900s.

  pull → In addition to the idioms beginning with PULL, also see HAVE PULL WITH; LIKE PULLING TEETH.

  pull a boner Make a blunder, as in I pulled an awful boner when I mentioned his ex-wife. This expression is derived from the noun bone head, for “blockhead” or “stupid person.” [Slang; early 1900s]

  pull a fast one Also, put over a fast one. Engage in a deceitful practice or play an unfair trick. For example, He pulled a fast one when he gave me that fake employment record, or She tried to put over a fast one, but we found out in time to stop her. [Slang; c. 1920]

  pull away 1. Move away or withdraw, as in The car pulled away from the curb. [Mid-1900s] 2. Move ahead or forward, as in His horse pulled away and took the lead.

  pull back Retreat, as in The troops gradually pulled back. [Mid-1500s]

  pull down 1. Demolish, destroy, as in They pulled down several old office buildings downtown. [Early 1500s] 2. Lower, reduce; also, depress in h
ealth or spirits. For example, The bumper wheat crop is bound to pull down prices, or The flu really pulled him down. [Late 1500s] 3. Draw as wages, as in He pulled down a hefty salary. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

  pull in 1. Arrive at a destination, as in The train pulled in right on time. [c. 1900] 2. Rein in, restrain, as in She pulled in her horse, or The executives did not want to pull in their most aggressive salesmen. [c. 1600] 3. Arrest a suspect, as in The police said they could pull him in on lesser charges. [Late 1800s]

  pulling teeth → See LIKE PULLING TEETH.

  pull in one’s horns Also, draw in one’s horns. 1. Retreat, back down, restrain oneself, as in The town manager wanted higher taxes but public reaction made him draw in his horns. This expression alludes to the snail’s habit of drawing in the soft projecting parts of its body when it is threatened. The idea was first expressed in the 15th century as shrink one’s horns, and the idiom with draw developed about the same time. The idiom with pull did not appear until a century later. 2. Reduce ­expenses, as in That drop in profits will force the company to pull in its horns. [Late 1800s]

  pull no punches Behave unrestrainedly, hold nothing back, as in The doctor pulled no punches but told us the whole truth. This expression comes from boxing, where to pull one’s punches means “to hit less hard than one can.” This idiom, too, has been applied more generally, as in They decided to pull their punches during these delicate negotiations. [First half of 1900s]

  pull off Accomplish, bring off, especially in the face of difficulties or at the last minute. For example, I never thought we’d ever stage this play, but somehow we pulled it off. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]

  pull oneself together Regain one’s composure or self-control, as in After that frightening episode, it took her a while to pull herself together. [Second half of 1800s]

  pull oneself up by the bootstraps Succeed by one’s own efforts, as in She was homeless for nearly two years, but she managed to pull herself up by the bootstraps. This expression alludes to pulling on high boots by means of the straps or loops attached to them at the top. [Early 1900s]