The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Page 107
shoot off one’s mouth Speak indiscreetly; also, brag or boast. For example, Now don’t go shooting off your mouth about it; it’s supposed to be a surprise, or Terry is always shooting off his mouth about how many languages he speaks. [Slang; mid-1800s]
shoot one’s bolt Also, shoot one’s wad. Do all within one’s power; exhaust one’s resources or capabilities. For example, They were asking for more ideas but Bob had shot his bolt and couldn’t come up with any, or Don’t shoot your wad with that article or you won’t have any material for the sequels. The first expression comes from archery and referred to using up all of one’s bolts (short, heavy arrows fired with a crossbow); it was a proverb by the 1200s. The colloquial variant, dating from about 1900, comes from gambling and refers to spending all of a wad of rolled-up banknotes. Also see SHOOT THE WORKS.
shoot oneself in the foot Foolishly harm one’s own cause, as in He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted. This colloquial term alludes to an accidental shooting as opposed to a deliberate one done so as to avoid military service.
shoot straight Also, shoot square. Deal fairly and honestly, as in You can’t trust most car salesmen, but Jim always shoots straight, or We always shoot square with our customers. These colloquial terms use straight and square in the sense of “straightforward and honest,” and shoot in the sense of “deal with.”
shoot the breeze Also, shoot or throw the bull. Talk idly, chat, as in They’ve been sitting on the porch for hours, just shooting the breeze, or The guys sit around the locker room, throwing the bull. The first of these slangy terms, alluding to talking into the wind, was first recorded in 1919. In the variant, first recorded in 1908, bull is a shortening of bullshit, and means “empty talk” or “lies.”
shoot the works Expend all one’s efforts or capital, as in He’s broke after shooting the works on that new office building. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s] Also see THE WORKS.
shoot up 1. Grow or get taller very rapidly, as in She’s really shot up in the last year, and now she’s taller than her mother. [First half of 1500s] 2. Riddle with bullets; damage or terrorize with gunfire. For example, I liked the scene in which the cowboy stomps into the saloon, gets drunk, and shoots the place up. [Late 1800s] 3. Inject a drug intravenously, especially an illegal drug. For example, The police caught him shooting up and arrested him. [Slang; first half of 1900s]
shop → In addition to the idiom beginning with SHOP, also see BULL IN A CHINA SHOP; CLOSE UP (SHOP); SET UP SHOP; SHUT UP (SHOP); TALK SHOP.
shop around 1. Look for the best bargain, opportunity, or the like, as in This job offers only minimum wage so she decided to shop around for one with better pay. This expression alludes to looking in different stores in search of bargains or a particular item. [c. 1920] 2. Look for a buyer for, offer for sale to various parties, as in The company is now being actively shopped around. [Second half of 1900s]
shore up Support, prop, as in The new law was designed to shore up banks in danger of failure. This expression derives from the noun shore, meaning “prop,” a beam or timber propped against a structure to provide support. The verb shore dates from 1340 and was first recorded in a figurative context in 1581.
short → In addition to the idioms beginning with SHORT, also see BY THE SHORT HAIRS; CAUGHT SHORT; CUT SHORT; FALL SHORT; FOR SHORT; IN BRIEF (SHORT); IN SHORT ORDER; IN SHORT SUPPLY; IN THE LONG (SHORT) RUN; LIFE IS TOO SHORT; LONG AND SHORT OF IT; LONG (SHORT) HAUL; MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT; MAKE SHORT WORK OF; NOTHING SHORT OF; RUN SHORT; SELL SHORT; STOP SHORT.
short and sweet Satisfyingly brief and pertinent, as in When we asked about the coming merger, the chairman’s answer was short and sweet—it wasn’t going to happen. This expression was already proverbial in 1539, when it appeared in Richard Taverner’s translation of Erasmus’s Adagia. Over the years it was occasionally amplified, as in James Kelly’s Scottish Proverbs (1721): “Better short and sweet than long and lax.”
short end of the stick, the The inferior part, the worse side of an unequal deal. For example, Helen got the short end of the stick when she was assigned another week of night duty. The precise analogy in this term, first recorded in the 1930s, has been lost. Some believe it comes from worse end of the staff, used since the early 1500s, which in the mid-1800s became, in some instances, short or shitty end of the stick, allegedly from a stick poked up one’s rectum by another in command of the situation. Others believe it alludes to fighting with sticks, where having a shorter stick is a disadvantage. Also see WRONG END OF THE STICK.
short for → See FOR SHORT.
short haul → See under LONG HAUL.
short notice, on Also, at short notice; at a moment’s notice. With little advance warning or time to prepare, as in They told us to be ready to move out on short notice. The noun notice here is used in the sense of “information” or “intelligence.” The “moment” in the second variant is somewhat hyperbolic. [Late 1700s]
short of 1. Having an inadequate supply of, as in We’re short of cash right now. [Late 1600s] Also see FALL SHORT. 2. Less than, inferior to, as in Nothing short of her best effort was needed to make the team. [Mid-1500s] 3. Other than, without resorting to, as in Short of yelling, I had no other way of getting his attention. 4. See STOP SHORT, def. 3.
short order 1. Quickly; see IN SHORT ORDER. 2. An order of food to be prepared and served quickly, as in It’s just a diner, serving short orders exclusively. This expression, dating from about 1890, gave rise to the adjective short-order, used not only in short-order cook, a cook specializing in short orders, but in other terms such as short-order divorce, a divorce quickly obtained owing to liberal divorce laws.
short run → See under LONG RUN.
short shrift, give Also, get short shrift. Give (or receive) cursory attention or little time. For example, The architect made elaborate plans for the entry but gave short shrift to the back of the house. Literally, shrift refers to confession to a priest, who gives absolution and penance, and short shrift to the brief time allowed for this sacrament to a prisoner before execution. Shakespeare so used it in Richard III (3:4), but it came to be used more loosely in succeeding centuries. [Late 1800s]
shot → In addition to the idioms beginning with SHOT, also see BIG CHEESE (SHOT); CALL THE SHOTS; CHEAP SHOT; GIVE IT ONE’S BEST SHOT; HAVE A CRACK (SHOT) AT; LIKE A SHOT; LONG SHOT; PARTING SHOT. Also see under SHOOT.
shotgun → In addition to the idiom beginning with SHOTGUN, also see RIDE SHOTGUN.
shotgun wedding An agreement or compromise made through necessity, as in Since neither side won a majority, the coalition government was obviously a shotgun wedding. This expression alludes to a marriage precipitated by a woman’s pregnancy, causing her father to point a literal or figurative gun at the responsible man’s head. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.
shot in the arm, a A stimulus or booster, something vitalizing or encouraging, as in Getting a new concertmaster was a real shot in the arm for the orchestra. This colloquial expression alludes to a stimulant given by injection. [c. 1920]
shot in the dark A wild, unsubstantiated guess; also, an attempt that has little chance for success. For example, It was a shot in the dark, but the engineers had a hunch that replacing the valve would make the system work, or You can try looking for your key on the beach, but I think it’s a shot in the dark. [Colloquial; late 1800s]
shot to hell Worn out, ruined, as in This carpet is shot to hell, or My privacy’s been shot to hell, what with all these reporters. This term alludes to being shot by gunfire. [Slang; late 1800s]
shot up 1. Severely wounded by gunfire; see SHOOT UP, def. 2. 2. Drugged; see SHOOT UP, def. 3.
should → In addition to the idiom beginning with SHOULD, also see (SHOULD) GET ONE’S HEAD EXAMINED.
shoulder → In addition to the idiom beginning with SHOULDER, also see BROAD SHOULDERS; CHIP ON ONE’S SHOULDER; COLD SHOULDER; CRY ON SOME
ONE’S SHOULDER; GOOD HEAD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS; HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE; ON ONE’S SHOULDERS; PUT ONE’S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL; RUB ELBOWS (SHOULDERS) WITH; SHRUG ONE’S SHOULDERS; SQUARE ONE’S SHOULDERS; STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER.
shoulder to shoulder In close proximity or cooperation, as in The volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder in the effort to rescue the miners. This expression originated in the late 1500s in the military, at first signifying troops in close formation. Its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.
should have stood in bed, I I’ve had such a bad day that I should never have gotten up at all. For example, And then I got rear-ended at the stop sign—I should have stood in bed. This ungrammatical colloquial phrase—properly put as stayed in bed—is ascribed to fight manager Joe Jacobs, who in 1935 saw his first baseball game, the opening game of the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. It was a very cold day, and when asked what he thought of baseball, Jacobs replied, “I should have stood in bed.”
shout → In addition to the idioms beginning with SHOUT, also see ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING.
shout down Overwhelm or silence by yelling or jeering, as in The audience went wild and shouted down the speaker. [c. 1920]
shout from the rooftops Announce publicly, as in Just because I won first prize you needn’t shout it from the rooftops. This term alludes to climbing on a roof so as to be heard by more people. A similar phrase, using housetops, appears in the New Testament (Luke 12:3): “That which ye have spoken... shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” [c. 1600]
shove → See PUSH COMES TO SHOVE; PUSH (SHOVE) OFF; RAM (SHOVE) DOWN SOMEONE’S THROAT; STICK (SHOVE) IT.
show → In addition to the idioms beginning with SHOW, also see BARE (SHOW) ONE’S TEETH; DOG-AND-PONY SHOW; FOR SHOW; GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD; GO TO SHOW; KNOW (SHOW SOMEONE) THE ROPES; ONE-MAN SHOW; ROAD SHOW; RUN THE SHOW; STEAL THE SHOW.
show and tell A public presentation or display, as in It was a terrible bore, what with their show and tell of every last detail about their trip around the world. This expression originated in the 1940s to describe a learning exercise for young children, in which each child in a group brings some object to show the others and talks about it.
shower → See COLD SHOWER.
show must go on, the The proceedings must continue, no matter what unfortunate event has occurred, as in The chairman died yesterday but the show must go on. This expression is a theatrical credo dating from the 1800s and was transferred to other situations in the first half of the 1900s.
show off Display in an ostentatious, conspicuous way; also, seek attention by displaying one’s accomplishments, abilities, or possessions. For example, I’m wearing shorts to show off my Florida tan, or Karen loved showing off her new baby to her friends, or There’s no need to show off, Fred; we all know you’re a good dancer. [Early 1800s]
show of hands An informal vote made by participants holding up one hand each to indicate a choice, as in Let’s have a show of hands—how many want the next meeting on a Sunday? [Late 1700s]
show one’s colors → See under FALSE COLORS; also SHOW ONE’S TRUE COLORS.
show one’s face Appear, as in She was so upset that we were sure she’d never show her face at the theater again. This idiom has appeared in slightly different forms, such as show one’s neck or visage or nose, since about 1225.
show one’s hand Reveal one’s plans, intentions, or resources, especially when they were previously hidden. For example, We have to be careful not to show our hand to our competitors. The hand here refers to a hand of cards, and showing them means turning them face up. [Late 1800s]
show one’s heels Also, show a clean pair of heels. Run away, flee, as in He wanted to ask her out but she showed her heels before he had a chance, or As soon as the burglar alarm went off, the housebreaker showed a clean pair of heels. The backs of one’s heels are exactly what is seen when one is running away, but the allusion of clean is a bit puzzling, unless it is meant in the colloquial sense of “thorough,” as in a clean getaway. [First half of 1500s]
show one’s teeth → See BARE ONE’S TEETH.
show one’s true colors Reveal oneself as one really is, as in We always thought he was completely honest, but he showed his true colors when he tried to use a stolen credit card. This expression alludes to the antonym, FALSE COLORS, that is, sailing under a flag other than one’s own. [Late 1700s]
show signs of Exhibit indications or hints of, as in She definitely shows signs of accepting the appointment, or Terry’s health shows no signs of improvement. [Late 1400s]
show someone a good time Entertain someone, as in I know Aunt Dorothy will show us a good time when we visit San Francisco. This idiom uses the verb show in the sense of “accord or grant something,” a usage dating from about 1200.
show someone out Also, show someone to the door. Escort someone who is leaving to the exit door, as in Thanks for coming; please excuse me for not showing you out, or Please show Mr. Smith to the door. [Second half of 1700s] Also see SEE OUT, def. 1; SHOW SOMEONE THE DOOR.
show someone the door Order someone to leave, as in I never should have listened to him; I should have shown him the door at once. This expression, first recorded in 1778, is not the same as show someone to the door (see under SHOW SOMEONE OUT).
show someone the ropes → See under KNOW THE ROPES.
show the way Guide, as in This division has shown the way to bigger profits. This expression transfers the physical sense of guiding one in a particular direction. [Early 1500s] Also see LEAD THE WAY.
show the white feather Display cowardice, as in The minute Bob put up his fists, Bill showed the white feather and backed down. This expression comes from cockfighting, where a white feather in a bird’s tail is considered a sign of inferior breeding. [Early 1800s]
show to advantage Also, show to good or one’s advantage. Display in a flattering way, benefit, as in This lighting shows the paintings to advantage, or Your extensive use of quotations shows your learning to good advantage. [Mid-1300s]
show up 1. Be clearly visible, as in The print doesn’t show up against this dark background. [Late 1800s] 2. Put in an appearance, arrive, as in I wonder if he’ll show up at all. [Late 1800s] 3. Expose or reveal the true character of, as in This failure showed up their efforts as a waste of time. [Early 1800s] 4. Also, show someone up. Surpass someone in ability, outdo someone, as in John’s high score on that math test really showed up the rest of the class. [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]
shrift → See SHORT SHRIFT.
shrinking violet, a An extremely shy person, as in She was a shrinking violet until she went away to college. This metaphoric idiom refers to the flower, but the precise allusion is unclear, since violets thrive under a variety of conditions and often are considered a garden weed. [Early 1900s]
shrug off 1. Minimize the importance of, as in That nasty review didn’t bother him at all; he just shrugged it off. [Early 1900s] 2. Get rid of, as in She managed to shrug off her drowsiness and keep driving. [Mid-1900s] 3. Wriggle out of a garment, as in He shrugged off his coat. [First half of 1900s]
shrug one’s shoulders Show indecision or indifference, as in When I asked her if she minded staying home, she just shrugged her shoulders. This redundant idiom—shrug means “to raise and contract the shoulders”—dates from about 1450.
shuffle off 1. Get rid of, evade, as in They’ve tried to shuffle off public inquiries about the safety of their planes. This usage, dating from about 1600, also appears in the oft-quoted shuffle off this mortal coil, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet (3:1), where it means “become freed from the turmoil of life,” that is, “die.” 2. Move away reluctantly, dragging one’s feet, as in The prisoners shuffled off to their work detail. [Late 1500s]
shut → In addition to the idioms beginning with SHUT, also see CLOSE (SHUT) DOWN; CLOSE (SHUT) ONE’S EYES TO; CLOSE (SHUT) THE DOOR ON; KEEP ONE’S MOUTH SHUT; OPEN AND SHUT CASE; PUT UP OR SHUT UP.
sh
ut down 1. See CLOSE DOWN, def. 1. 2. Stop or switch off machinery, as in They shut down all the machines for one week a year. [Late 1800s]
shut off 1. Stop the flow or passage of, as in They shut off the water while repairs were being made. [Early 1800s] 2. Close off, isolate, as in Loners shut themselves off from the community. [First half of 1800s]
shut one’s eyes to → See CLOSE ONE’S EYES TO.
shut out 1. Exclude, deny entry to, block, as in Anyone convicted of a crime is shut out from the legal profession, or These curtains shut out all the light. [Late 1300s] 2. Prevent an opponent from scoring, as in They were shut out of the last two games, or Reagan shut out Ford in the Texas primary in 1976. Originating in baseball about 1880, this usage was later transferred to other sports and then even broader usage.
shut the door → See CLOSE THE DOOR.
shut up 1. Imprison, confine, enclose, as in The dog was shut up in the cellar for the night, or She shut up her memories and never talked about the past. [c. 1400] 2. Close completely, as in The windows were shut up tightly so no rain came in. [Early 1500s] This usage also occurs in shut up shop, meaning “close the premises of a business,” as in It’s late, let’s shut up shop now. [Late 1500s] Also see CLOSE UP. 3. Cause someone to stop speaking, silence someone, as in It’s time someone shut him up. [Early 1800s] 4. Stop speaking, as in I’ve told you what I think and now I’ll shut up. This usage also occurs as a rather rude imperative, as in Shut up! You’ve said enough. [First half of 1800s]
shy → In addition to the idiom beginning with SHY, also see BRICKS SHY OF A LOAD; FIGHT SHY OF; ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY.
shy away from Avoid, evade, as in He shied away from all questions concerning his private life. [Late 1700s]