A Cut Above and Gear Up

This huge Great Dane at age 15 mos. is a cut above the others in the dog show.

Today's idiom is  Cut Above.  It means:
A person or thing that is better in some way.

She is a cut above her colleagues. She will be chosen to represent the company.
This business suit is a cut above the last one I purchased.
This Chinese restaurant is a cut above it's competitors in this town.

The origins of this idiom are not clear, but in my opinion it derives from a better "cut" of beef.  That is, some parts of a cow are better to eat than others.  Although I am not an expert, it is my understanding that the higher regions  on the body of a cow provide better meat.   Thus, we speak about various "cuts of beef". This can also be used to refer to the better "cuts" of pork, venison, or mutton, etc.

Gearing up for the first day of swimming lessons!

Today's phrasal verb is Gear Up.  It means:
To prepare somebody or something to do something; to take action in preparation for something,

We're all geared up for the next round of talks
Our company geared up for these new challenges

A group of investors were gearing up for the takeover fight.

The town is gearing up for the carnival this weekend.
Most banks have geared themselves up for an electronic future.
The tobacco companies are gearing up to fight the new tax.
The shops are gearing up for the New Year sales.

Notes: transitive and intransitive verb.   This expression derives from the idea of shifting to a larger transmission gear on  a vehicle engine, but it could also derive from the idea of putting on special equipment or "gear",  which is worn on the body. 

 Synonyms: get ready, prepare yourself, prepare, mobilize, ready yourself, psych yourself up

Down In The Dumps

Today's idiom is Down In The Dumps, which means:
 A gloomy, melancholy state of mind; depression.

Poor Charlie has been down in the dumps since he learned that he's lost his job.
Mary has been very down in the dumps this week, and nobody can cheer her up.
I’m sorry I’ve been so down in the dumps lately. I’m just upset because my girlfriend left me.
Anna is down in the dumps because her father just died.

Synonyms: miserable, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, dismal, dispirited, downcast, downhearted, fed up*, gloomy, glum, low, melancholy, moody, unhappy, woebegone
 

Note: Someone Down In The Dumps may momentarily feel ready to be hauled off to the garbage dump, but the 'dumps' in the expression derives from the Dutch 'domp,' 'mental haze or dullness,' or from the German 'dumpf,' 'close, heavy, oppressive, gloomy. During the Elizabethan period a 'dump' was also any kind of a slow, mournful song or dance. Even in Shakespeare's time, 'in the dumps' meant 'out of spirits.

Snowball (effect) and Out Of Hand

I have two idioms for today.  The first one is Snowball (often referred to as the "snowball effect"), which means:
A process that starts from an initial state of small significance and builds upon itself, becoming larger (graver, more serious), and perhaps potentially dangerous or disastrous, though it might be beneficial instead . The common analogy is with the rolling of a small ball of snow down a snow-covered hillside. As it rolls the ball will pick up more snow, gaining more mass and surface area, and picking up even more snow and momentum as it rolls along. This idiom is frequently a verb: snow·balled, snow·ball·ing, snow·balls

The problems facing us snowballed by the hour . First, we couldn't find the car keys, then we got stuck in traffic, then we got a flat tire. In the end, we were over three hours late.
The 2008 recession in the United States is a classic example of the "snowball effect": The government responded by borrowing money until investors became anxious, thus dropping government bonds, which drove prices lower and rates higher. Unfortunately, that caused the government to decrease spending and prioritize paying back investors, which made the economy worse, creating more unemployment, debts and thus increasing the national deficit.
His success just snowballed.  First he opened one restaurant and before you knew it he had several.

Synonyms: domino effect, a vicious circle, a spiral of decline, (a virtuous circle in circumstances where the "snowball effect" is a positive one). escalation, upsurge, enlargement, developmental increase.

Today's second idiom is Out of Hand, which has four meanings:

1. Out of control

Employee absenteeism has gotten out of hand.

The situation in the classroom is getting out of hand. The students will not be quiet.

The riots got out of hand and several protesters were injured.

2. Without delay or deliberation. Without consideration or explanation

My suggestions were dismissed out of hand by my employer

The committee rejected the plan out of hand without even considering its possibilities.

 Moving to London is certainly a possibility - I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand.

 3. Uncalled for or improper; indiscreet. 

That statement is out of hand.  I demand that you retract it immediately!
That demand is out of hand.  It simply won't be considered.

4. out of somebody's hands: unable to be influenced by somebody

 The is situation is out of our hands.  Only God can decide. 

Brendan Monroe, 2005 "When Things Get Out  Of Hand"

Play Along and Bite The Hand That Feeds You

Today's phrasal is Play Along, which means:
To pretend to agree with somebody or something in order to gain an advantage, avoid conflict, or to get more information. 

I disagreed with the idea but I had to play along because everyone else liked it.
He knew that if he didn't play along with the reporters, they would write unpleasant stories about him. 
I don't really like their idea that much but for now, it is probably a good idea simply to play along.

It also has the literal meaning to play a musical instrument with someone or a group.  

The trombonist sat down and began to play along with the other musicians. 
(This is also called "sitting in"). 

Okay, so I couldn't find a photo for "play along", but "don't bite the hand that feeds you", my dear readers...

Today's idiom is Bite The Hand That Feeds You, which means:
Turn on someone that has supported you. to treat someone badly who has helped you in some way, often someone who has provided you with money
 
It is unwise to bite the hand that feeds you, but TV journalists need to tell the truth about the news business.
Leaving the company after they've spent three years training you  - it's a bit like biting the hand that feeds you.

Rack Up and Things That Go Bump In The Night

This is best way to avoid racking up credit debt

Today's phrasal verb  is Rack Up, which has three meanings:
1-. to place something onto or into its rack.  

You had better rack the billiard balls up when you finish this game.
  
2-  to accumulate something; to collect or acquire something.

He's racked up a number of convictions for speeding.
We racked up a lot of miles on our last vacation. 
Laura is starting to rack the money up now.
Even though Miller racked up 28 points, the team still lost.
 The company racked up sales of $8 million in its first year of trading.
 
3-To damage something

They racked the car up  in an accident.
He racked up his arm in the football game.

Notes: Separable [optional] transitive verb
Synonyms: chalk up, score, accumulate, make, achieve, collect, notch

"It's just the shadow of the tree branch, it's just the shadow of...aghhhh!"

Today's idiom is Things That Go Bump In The Night, which means:

Frightening but imagined supernatural events.

The earliest known example of the phrase in print is in the 1918 in the  Bulletin of the School Oriental and African Studies:

"To a people ... who ... believe in genii, ghosts, goblins, and those terrific things that 'go bump in the night', protective charms are eagerly sought for."

That usage suggests that the author expected his readers to be familiar with the phrase. Around the same time the phrase was incorporated into a prayer:

From goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties

And things that go bump in the night

Good Lord, deliver us!

This was recorded in The Cornish and West Country Litany, 1926, but it  is quite likely to be much earlier.

Nail and Tall Task/Tall Order

Today's slang is Nail.  Nail, as a verb, has some unusual uses that I would like to bring to your attention.  It has 8 meanings.  The first is the most standard and ordinary use of the word as a verb:
1. To attach something with nails: to fasten, attach, or secure something using nails

I nailed the broken fence post back into place.  It's not hanging loosely anymore.

2. To catch somebody who is guilty of an offense, prove the person's guilt, or have the person convicted (slang )

It took them five years to nail him for insider trading.

3.To prove that something is not true or valid and so stop others from believing it ( slang )

I finally nailed him about the "trickle down theory" of Reaganomics.  He's finally come to realize that tax breaks for the wealthy never "trickled down". 


4. To hit a target with projectile ( slang )

He nailed the 3 pointer with less than a second remaining on the clock to win the basketball game

5. To stop somebody and speak to him or her ( slang )

He nailed me in the corridor and demanded an explanation

6.  To do something precisely or skillfully: to catch, hit, seize, or execute something with skill.   (slang )

He nailed the high dive and won the medal
I nailed the test!  I got the only Perfect score!  

7 To identify somebody or establish something precisely ( slang )

I nailed him as a fraud as soon as he started talking about his wealthy background.

8. To  keep something fixed or focused on something

His gaze was nailed to the astonishing scene.
Surprise nailed him to the spot. 


Synonyms: pin, spike, tack, peg

This taxidermist was definitely given a tall order.

Today's idiom is Tall Task/Tall Order, both of which have the identical meaning: 
A formidable task, order or requirement

Finishing in time was a tall order, but we did it.
I had the tall task of having to buy her a Christmas present. She is so hard to shop for.  
Taking care of my friend's dog while he was on vacation was a tall order:  he barked night and day. 

Play Up To

Today's phrasal verb is Play Up To, which means:
To attempt to please somebody by flattery  or an overly nice manner  because you want them to like you or to do something for you

 I'm playing up to my boss at the moment because I want the promotion.
 He took great pains to play up to Joan’s mother

Note: transitive verb 
Synonyms: flatter, win the favor of, butter up, toady, ingratiate yourself with, creep, crawl, suck up to


 

Force One's Hand

"This bet will force his hand, hehehe..."

Today's idiom is Force Someone's Hand, which means:
To force someone to act or speak prematurely or unwillingly. To bring about a situation which necessitates a person to act, often causing that person's plan to be revealed earlier than intended. To leave a person no other option but to act with whatever resources they have available to confront the challenge.

He didn't want to decide just then, but the board forced his hand.   
The daily oppression and injustice forced the people's hand.  They had no choice but to revolt.
That bet force's my hand.  I fold.  
If you don't tell me which one of you boy's broke the vase, you're going to force my hand: I'll have to punish you both.

 Synonyms: browbeat, hold a gun to one's head, impel

This expression alludes to the hand (the cards) held in a game such as whist or poker, in which a player is compelled to play some card from his hand or to reveal his hand.  This is done by increasing the bet,  "I see your hundred and raise you 200".  That player who is being raised has no choice but to match the bet or fold his cards (quit that hand, and thus lose immediately).

Play Down/Play Up and Spin Doctor

"Play down how fattening it is and play up its taste"  (One P.R. man to another)

There are two phrasal verbs today: Play Up and Play Down.  They are antonyms, meaning they have opposite meanings. Play Down is probably the more common of the two, so I will begin with it.  It means:
To try to make something seem less important or significant than it is. 


The Government has tried to play down the importance of the minister's resignation.
The spin doctors are playing down the significance of the charge.
 He is a very humble guy.  Although he is extremely talented at a number of things, he always plays down his accomplishments. 


Play Up means:
To emphasize or exaggerate something in order t o make someone or something seem to be more important. To be a booster of something.  or to make something more easily noticed. Often something is played up in order to gain an advantage.
 
The director tried to play Ann up, but she was not really a star.
Try to play up the good qualities of our product.  
The press played the scandal up so much that everyone became bored with it.  
The report plays up the benefits of the plan, but doesn't say much about the costs.  
Instead of being defeated by her cancer treatment, she played it up, even showing off her bald head at work.
She played up her commercial know-how for all she was worth.
He plays up his ability to play guitar every chance he gets because he thinks people will be impressed.

Notes: Both are transitive  and separable [optional]
Synonyms for Play Down: minimize,make light of, underplay, underestimate, make little of
Synonyms for Play Up: exaggerate,(over)emphasize, embellish, highlight, draw attention to, stress,overstate,overstress,embroider,inflate, lay on(thick), amplify

I have a piece of slang for you today; Spin  Doctor (noun), which means:

A person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure, especially a politician. A person who provides a favourable slant to an item of news, potentially unpopular policy, etc., esp on behalf of a political personality or party. A public relations person who tries to forestall negative publicity by publicizing a favorable interpretation of the words or actions of a company or political party or famous person.   Spin Doctors try to play down or play up a situation, person, policy, etc., whichever is to their best advantage. 

 

His title is Director of Communications but he is just a spin doctor"

Whenever there is an industrial accident you can expect the company spin doctors to arrive to deliver the best possible appearance for the company

 

Synonyms: spinmeister, media flak, public relations person - publicist, propagandist, PRO, PR man, public relations officer, press agent,

This is of American origin and came about during the 1980s, when the need for 'sound bites' became pressing enough to require a new class of publicist to provide them. The earliest printed references are from that period, For example, this from The New York Times, October 1984:

"A dozen men in good suits and women in silk dresses will circulate smoothly among the reporters, spouting confident opinions. They won't be just press agents trying to impart a favorable spin to a routine release. They'll be the Spin Doctors, senior advisers to the candidates."

So, why 'spin'? For the derivation of that we need to go back to yarn. We know that sailors and other storytellers have a reputation for "spinning yarns". A "yarn" is a fictional story or tale. Given a phrase in the language like 'spin a yarn', we might expect to assume that a yarn was a "tall tale" (very hard to believe) and that the tellers spun it out.  From there it is a small step for the people employed in public relations to weave reports of factual events into palatable stories to be called 'spin doctors'. It is also possible that it means the spin given to a ball in various sports to make it go in the desired direction.    I actually personally prefer this last possibility for its origin.  Spin Doctors are good at putting the "right spin on things" so that it goes their way.