Definition of -one in English English dictionary
- any similar compound containing a carbonyl functional group
- a ketone
- Chinaman on one's back
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Chinaman on one's back
- A drug addiction
The chances are that he will stay with his first love, the needle, and that the habit will lose the glorious drive and tingle that it had at first, and become the chinaman on his back who drives him like a slave to get more money to buy more junk.
- Christmas number one
- the single at the top of the singles charts on Christmas Day (25 December)
- Evil One
- The Devil; Satan; Lucifer
- Formula One
- The highest class of motor racing sanctioned by the FIA
- Johnny-one-note
- An opinion or viewpoint on a single subject or a few particular subjects which is frequently expressed by a person or organization
- World War One
- Alternative form of World War I
- above one's bend
- Out of one's control or power
- ace up one's sleeve
- A surprise advantage of which others are not aware
- aces up one's sleeve
- plural form of ace up one's sleeve
- act one's age
- To be mature and not childish
Act your age and stop fiddling with that pen - you’re showing us up.
- after one's own heart
- Of a person: having the same ideas, opinions or behaviour as oneself
I found the father of Thuvia a man after my own heart, and that night saw the beginning of a friendship which has grown until it is second only to that which obtains between Tars Tarkas, the green Jeddak of Thark, and myself.
- albatross around one's neck
- something that one is associated with that keeps one from succeeding in what they want to achieve
He bought the properties last year hoping to make a profit out of reselling them; however, with the economic downturn, they have now become an albatross around his neck.
- albatross round one's neck
- Alternative form of albatross around one's neck
- all one's eggs in one basket
- The state of having invested heavily in just one area
the stock market decline wouldn’t have hurt him so badly if he hadn’t had all his eggs in one basket.
- all one's eggs in one basket
- The state of having devoted all of one’s resources to one thing
at his age he will not get another shot; he really has all his eggs in this one basket.
- all-as-one
- synchronized
- an offer one can't refuse
- An offer from one side in any transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept
- any way one slices it
- from any perspective; in every case
Any way you slice it, we have to get out of here and we have to take him with us.
- as best one can
- In the best possible way, given the circumstances
We tried to make our lives comfortable as best we could.
- as good as one's word
- Faithful to a promise one has made
He said he'd pay me back this week, and he was as good as his word.
- at one
- In harmony or unity
She felt perfectly at one with nature.
- at one time
- simultaneously
- at one time
- formerly
At one time, I could walk ten miles in a day, but I can't any longer.
- at one's fingertips
- Readily available
He seemed to have all sports knowledge at his fingertips, we could scarcely finish a question before he had answered it.
- at the end of one's rope
- Out of options; having no more options
- at the top of one's lungs
- Very loudly; as loudly as (vocally) possible
He started screaming at the top of his lungs after his team scored.
- back of one's mind
- The supposed location of low-importance plans
Wallpapering the bedroom has been at the back of my mind for some time now.
- back to square one
- Located back at the start, as after a dead-end or failure
After spending six hours on the intake we realized that there was nothing wrong with it, so we are back to square one.
- bad taste in one's mouth
- A feeling of guilt, responsibility, or embarrassment as to cause nausea
Knowing that I had inadvertently aided a killer, left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
- bad taste in one's mouth
- A feeling of disappointment and frustration
- bare one's teeth
- To show one's aggression
- be in one's altitudes
- The man is in his altitudes, i.e. he is drunk. (1811 Dictionary of Vulgar Tongue)
- beat one's meat
- To masturbate
- beat one's meat
- To waste time; to engage in an unproductive activity
- bend one's elbow
- To drink alcoholic beverages, especially at a public house or bar
One day is no worse than the next for El Caucho; so it's a whim when he starts bending his elbow or ties one on. When he is really plastered, El Caucho looks grim, but he isn't really nasty.
- beyond one's ken
- Beyond one’s knowledge or understanding
- beyond one's pay grade
- Beyond one's level of authority
Sir, I think that is a policy decision only the President can make. That is beyond my pay grade.
- bid one's time
- Common misspelling of bide one's time
- bide one's time
- To wait for a suitable opportunity
- big one
- A dollar
I paid 150,000 big ones for her to kill herself in front of the biggest wigs in Hollywood? ”.
- bite off more than one can chew
- To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing
I think I bit off more than I could chew when I agreed to paint this house by myself.
- bite one's lip
- To forcibly prevent oneself from speaking, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute
He broke off and bit his lip, feeling that he had better subdue the rising anger in his voice.
- bite one's tongue
- To forcibly prevent oneself from speaking, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute
After the comments she made about homosexuals, I wanted to scream at her, but I bit my tongue instead.
- bite the big one
- To be unpleasant or undesirable
- bite the big one
- To die
- bite the hand that feeds one
- To cause harm to a benefactor
And the reality is, for all the talk about lobbying reform, Congress has never been known to bite the hand that feeds it.
- blot one's copy book
- to damage one's own reputation through bad behavior
- blow one's nose
- To expel mucus or other matter from one’s nasal passages, via one’s nostril, by force of lung power
- blow one's top
- to be explosively angry. To lose one's temper
When my dad found out I had failed the exams, he just blew his top.
- blow up in one's face
- To fail disastrously
If I took the risk to speak with my friend and the whole thing blew up in my face, I'd probably feel ashamed and exposed whenever I thought about it for a very, very long time.
- born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
- born rich or in a wealthy family
He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and probably never had to work a day in his life.
- break one off
- an 1800s baseball term meaning to throw a curve ball
- break one's duck
- To score one's first run in an innings
- break one's duck
- To do something for the first time
- break one's fast
- To eat breakfast; to eat the first meal of the day after a night of not eating or to conclude any period of fasting by consuming food
Thinking that it might be Lord Carbury, and that, if so, he would probably not wait until half past nine to break his fast, she ran gaily off.
- burn a hole in one's pocket
- To cause someone to be tempted to spend money
The fortune burned a hole in his pocket, and he could not resist spending several thousand francs on jewelry for Eveline;.
- burn one's candle at both ends
- To work extremely or excessively hard; to work too hard for good health or peace of mind
She has been burning her candle at both ends lately, trying to put it together on time.
- burn one's fingers
- to harm oneself; to suffer consequences of one's actions
He burned his fingers in the stock market and has been timid about investing ever since.
- bury one's head in the sand
- To deliberately ignore the reality of a situation
- bust one's ass
- to work very hard, to put in a lot of effort
- bust one's butt
- To work exceptionally hard
I've been busting my butt getting the tent fixed, while you're just sipping cocoa. Give me a hand.
- button one's lip
- To remain silent, especially in order to keep a secret or to avoid saying something inappropriate
Busch wisely buttoned his lip and didn't say anything else.
- by one's lights
- According to one's understanding
- by the skin of one's teeth
- barely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare
I passed the test by the skin of my teeth.
- call it as one sees it
- To speak frankly about a given topic
- call them as one sees them
- Alternative form of call it as one sees it
- cast one's vote
- To vote for something
- cast up one's accounts
- To vomit
- catch one's breath
- To take in a breath sharply and hold it, usually in reaction to a sudden shock, or surprise
John caught his breath when he saw the bottle rolling unstoppably towards the opposite edge of the table.
- caught with one's fingers in the cookie jar
- Alternative form of caught with one's hand in the cookie jar
- caught with one's hand in the cookie jar
- Observed or apprehended while committing a theft, especially while embezzling money
Frankenmanto was, in fact, a certified kleptomaniac who had to carry a doctor’s letter on her to explain the embarrassing little moments when she was caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
- caught with one's pants down
- Caught off guard, unprepared, or in an embarrassing situation
- change one's tune
- To change one's story
The suspect changed his tune when he learned the police had the evidence.
- change one's tune
- To reconsider; rethink; to reach a different conclusion
I think they'll change their tune as soon as they try it the other way.
- chip on one's shoulder
- A habitually combative attitude, usually because of a harboured grievance, sense of inferiority, or having something to prove
He really has a chip on his shoulder about being passed over for that promotion.
- chip on one's shoulder
- A form of challenge in the same spirit as a medieval knight throwing down his gauntlet
- chip on one's shoulder
- A tendency to take offence quickly
- close one's eyes
- To ignore
- come out of one's shell
- To become a naturist. To convert to naturism
- come out of one's shell
- To reveal one's true self
- comfortable in one's own skin
- Relaxed and confident in one's manner of presenting oneself and interacting with others; conveying the impression that one has a clear, satisfying understanding of one's own abilities and situation
Perot was witty and comfortable in his own skin, which I thought would reassure his supporters and perhaps sway some of the undecided voters.
- comfortable in one's skin
- Alternative form of comfortable in one's own skin
- cool one's jets
- To become less excited, intense, or active
Belle's boyfriend Jesse (Henry Simmons) is left to cool his jets while his woman bangs around the New York area.
- count one's blessings
- To focus one's attention on the circumstances of one's life which are pleasant or fortunate, especially with the intention of diverting one's thoughts from serious or disagreeable matters
The other out-of-town Dons patiently listened, perhaps counting their blessings that each had a city all to himself.
- cover one's bases
- To be thorough; to prepare thoroughly or completely
She eats a balanced diet, but takes vitamin pills anyway, to cover her bases.
- crap one's pants
- To be extremely frightened
- cream in one's jeans
- To ejaculate while wearing one's trousers
And you always cream in your jeans when your neck breaks. It has something to do with the pressure on the spinal cord being transmitted through the prostate.
- cream in one's jeans
- To experience an orgasm while clothed; to be thoroughly excited or delighted
Myrna was certain the woman would cream in her jeans at this opportunity to be a good neighbor.
- creating one flesh
- Present participle of create one flesh. Marrying
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh - Genesis 2:24.
- cross a bridge before one comes to it
- To worry about a future situation despite being as yet unable to act on it
- cross one's arms
- To link one's arms together across one's chest
- cross one's fingers
- to tell a white lie
- cross one's heart
- To attest to the truthfulness of an associated statement
- cross that bridge when one gets there
- Alternative form of cross that bridge when one comes to it
- cross that bridge when one gets to it
- Alternative form of cross that bridge when one comes to it
- crosses one's fingers
- Third-person singular simple present indicative form of cross one's fingers
- crossing one's fingers
- Present participle of cross one's fingers
- cry one's eyes out
- To weep for an elongated time, or in an excessive manner
- cut off one's nose to spite one's face
- To harm oneself as a result of attempting to harm an adversary
- cut one loose
- to fart
- cut one some slack
- To be lenient with; to give grace to someone after a mistake
- cut one's coat according to one's cloth
- live according to one's means, and not more
- cut one's losses
- To discontinue an effort that seems unlikely ever to bear fruit
- cut one's teeth
- To begin; to gain early experience
He cut his teeth flying model airplanes as a child, so aeronautical engineering came naturally.
- cutting off one's nose to spite one's face
- Present participle of cut off one's nose to spite one's face
- cutting one's losses
- Present participle of cut one's losses
- damned if one does and damned if one doesn't
- A dilemma where either choice results in a negative outcome
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
- dig one's own grave
- To behave in a way that is likely to have future negative effects on oneself
- do one's block
- To become enraged
- do one's damnedest
- To do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way
I think he'll do his damnedest to become CEO one day.
- do one's darnedest
- To do one's utmost; to make every effort or to try every possible approach or way
I don't think he'll succeed, but he's doing his darnedest to build a working spaceship.
- do one's nut
- To become stridently angry, especially from worry
Mum did her nut after we stayed out all night without calling her.
- do one's thing
- To do what one habitually does
- do one's utmost
- To make the greatest possible effort
Please try to do your utmost to be there on Saturday. It's really important that you are there.
- don't put all your eggs in one basket
- Don't dedicate all your resources into one thing
- drag one's heels
- To drag one's feet
- draw one's last breath
- To die
- dree one's weird
- (Scotland and Northern UK) To submit to one's fate
Her eyes were dry and bright as she replied: ‘I must dree my weird, as we say in the north.’.
- drown one's sorrows
- to drink heavily to commiserate oneself
- dry one's eyes
- To cease crying
So Dorothy dried her eyes and said, I suppose we must try it; but I am sure I do not want to kill anybody, even to see Aunt Em again..
- earn one's keep
- To perform satisfactory physical labor or to provide other worthy services in return for remuneration, lodging, or other benefits; to support oneself financially
Klee also left home to make his name, moving in his late teens to Munich, where he studied art, earned his keep as a musician and, in 1906, married Lily Stumpf.
- eat one's Wheaties
- To suddenly appear more positively assertive or able to stand up for oneself
- eat one's heart out
- To feel overwhelming sorrow, jealousy or longing, to grieve
Eat your heart out, pal! We won the title!.
- eat one's own dog food
- To use or consume the economic goods or services that oneself is producing; to be part of a closed household economy
- eat one's seed corn
- To consume what is meant for investment instead
- eat one's young
- To betray a constituent or charge out of self-serving interests or desperation; savaging
With bankruptcy looming, the corporation eventually began eating its young; massive layoffs were announced, and all employee benefits and bonuses were suspended.
- eaten one's seed corn
- Past participle of eat one's seed corn
- eaten one's words
- Past participle of eat one's words
- eating one's words
- Present participle of eat one's words
- eighty-one
- The cardinal number following eighty and preceding eighty-two
- fall on one's face
- To fail, especially in a dramatic or particularly decisive manner
thers grumbled, questioning whether this man knew anything about fighting in the desert or was simply a strutting martinet who, once he was confronted with the tactical brilliance of Rommel, would fall on his face like so many before him. Unfortunately, if Montgomery failed, he would no doubt take a good part of the Eighth Army with him.
- fall on one's feet
- Alternative form of land on one's feet
- feather in one's cap
- An accomplishment; particularly one that is flaunted or boasted of
He thinks it is quite a feather in his cap that he figured it out for himself.
- feather one's nest
- To achieve benefits, especially financial ones, by taking advantage of the opportunities with which one is presented; to amass a comfortable amount of personal wealth
Dempster must have feathered his nest pretty well; he can afford to lose a little business.
- feather one's own nest
- Alternative form of feather one's nest
- feel one's oats
- To feel important; to be empowered
The Nationals gave the Coalition its Senate majority and yesterday were feeling their oats.
- feeling one's oats
- Present participle of feel one's oats
- fifty-one
- The cardinal number immediately following fifty and preceding fifty-two
- find one's feet
- To grow in confidence in a new situation as one gains experience
If you ask for help when you need it, you will soon find your feet.
- flap one's gums
- To speak idly; to talk without effect
What's that old coot flapping his gums about this time?.
- flea in one's ear
- A stinging rebuke or rebuff
If he bothers me again, I'll send him home with a flea in his ear.
- flex one's muscles
- To tense and bend one's flexor muscles
- fly by the seat of one's pants
- To use one's judgement, initiative and realtime perceptions to decide on a course of action as events unfold without a predetermined plan
- for all one is worth
- Intensely, vigorously, with as much effort as one can supply
You should see him out there in the snow, shoveling for all he's worth.
- for one
- As the first in a number of examples
I don't like this carpet - for one, it doesn't suit our lounge room at all and it's also much too expensive.
- for one
- As one person among other people who may not hold the same opinion
I know you may not agree but I, for one, think we should get rid of this unfair piece of legislation.
- for one thing
- Used to introduce the first item in a possible sequence
- four one one
- information
Can you give me the 411 for their next concert?.
- frog in one's throat
- Hoarseness or the need to cough
I had a frog in my throat and the words didn't come out very clearly.
- from the bottom of one's heart
- In earnest; sincerely; with one's full feeling
He told her how much he loved her, and he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
- fruit of one's loins
- One's child, children, or descendents
And behind the mare, or beside her, or else cavorting ahead, came a slim black colt, the fruit of her loins, without bridle or rope.
- gather one's wits
- Alternative form of collect one's thoughts
- get into one's stride
- To become familiar with something recently learnt
- get off of one's cloud
- to detain from pestering a person
Hey! You! Get off of my cloud!.
- get one's act together
- To become serious, organized, worthwhile, etc
It didn't look like he'd ever get his act together, but eventually the project got going.
- get one's affairs in order
- To prepare for the end of one's life as one has lived it
The judge gave him ten days to get his affairs in order before beginning his sentence.
- get one's ass in gear
- To exert effective effort; to get going; to get moving; to start producing
He had been sitting there for two hours until the boss showed up and told him to get his ass in gear.
- get one's butt somewhere
- go somewhere, especially quickly
I've got to get my butt to class.
- get one's claws into
- Have a controlling influence over
Once that bank gets its claws into you, it doesn't let go easily.
- get one's claws out
- To prepare to attack or retaliate
That cat will always get its claws out when it sees a mouse.
- get one's end away
- To have sex
- get one's eye in
- To become accustomed to the playing conditions, and thus bring one's hand-eye coordination to a reasonable level
- get one's finger out
- To free one's finger
- get one's finger out
- To proceed with the matter in hand
- get one's freak on
- To go crazy; to freak out
- get one's hands on
- To get; to obtain; to secure
If you can get your hands on the right ingredients, it's an easy recipe.
- get one's head around
- to understand, fathom (a problem)
When my mum did pass away I fell out with Cod because I couldn't get my head around why he'd taken away the one person that we needed in our lives, because dad was no good to us.
- get one's knickers in a knot
- Alternative form of get one's knickers in a bunch
- get one's leg over
- To have sex
It's all well and good being kind to girls and respecting them, but at the end of the day all I want to do is get my leg over.
- get one's leg over
- Literally: for a person to lift his or her leg over something
1991: He just didn't quite get his leg over. — Jonathan Agnew, BBC Test Match Special, describing Ian Botham treading on his stumps. Co-commentator Brian Johnston was reduced to a fit of on-air giggles at the (presumably unintentional) double-entendre with the slang sense above. Quoted in The Guinness Book of Cricket Blunders, Cris Freddi, Guinness Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-85112-624-3, page 138.
- get one's panties in a bunch
- Alternative form of get one's knickers in a twist
- get one's skates on
- To start doing something quickly; to stop procrastinating; to hurry up
If I don't get my skate's on now I'm going to be late!.
- get one's undies in a bundle
- Alternative form of get one's knickers in a twist
- get to one's feet
- To stand up
- gird up one's loins
- To prepare oneself for something demanding
King Gyanendra must gird up his loins and prepare himself for all exigencies.
- give as good as one gets
- To behave toward others in a manner resembling or commensurate with their behavior towards oneself, especially in a situation where one is insulted or otherwise ill-treated
The Foreign Correspondents Association's annual banquet last week turned into an angry slanging match. Botha gave as good as he got. I am sick and tired of a lot of foreign representatives descending on my country and picking up on all the dirty work instead of all the beauty, promise and goodwill, Botha said.
- give it one's best shot
- To make one's best effort or attempt; to try as hard as possible
I didn't win the contest, but I sure gave it my best shot.
- give one enough rope
- To allow one to function unhindered, or without further overbearing oversight
- give one's eye-teeth
- To sacrifice something valuable
Sandy Flash burst into a roaring laugh. “Him! Ah-ha! you think we go snacks, eh? Do I look like a fool? Barton'd give his eye-teeth to put the halter round my neck with his own hands! No, no, young man; I have ways and ways o' learnin' things that you nor him'll never guess.”.
- go out of one's way
- To make an extra effort
I wouldn't mind some help, but please don't go out of your way for me.
- grind one's gears
- To annoy or irritate
It really grinds my gears when inconsiderate people litter.
- grit one's teeth
- To clench one's teeth together tightly because of pain or anger or frustration
- hang up one's boots
- retire, call it a day
- have a bone in one's leg
- Used as a fatuous excuse to avoid doing something
No, I can't. I've got a bone in my leg..
- have a frog in one's throat
- To feel the need to cough; to have a tickle in one's throat; to have a scratchy or uneven voice
I just woke up and I have a frog in my throat. Give me a minute.
- have a mind of one's own
- To form one's personal opinions and choose one's actions without being governed by the views or choices of others; to be independently minded; to think for oneself
Be a little audacious — disagree on at least one thing so they know you have a mind of your own.
- have ants in one's pants
- To be agitated and constantly fidgeting
- have ants in one's pants
- To be sexually excited
- have butterflies in one's stomach
- To be nervous, uncertain, or anxious
He had butterflies in his stomach the morning of his wedding.
- have eyes bigger than one's belly
- To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy
Your eyes are bigger than your belly.
- have eyes bigger than one's stomach
- To take more food on one's plate than one can eat; to be greedy
Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.
- have eyes in the back of one's head
- To be particularly, especially uncannily, observant; a perceived ability to see in all directions at once
It's so busy at our office you need eyes in the back of your head to work there!.
- have had one's Weet-Bix today
- To exhibit plenty of vitality or strength or other superior performance
- have had one's chips
- To be dead or finished
He must have had his chips, she thought, and our children will be born fatherless.
- have had one's day
- Alternative form of have seen one's day
- have one's cake and eat it too
- To seek to have two things which are mutually incompatible (such as eating a piece of cake and yet still possessing that piece for future use)
Do you seriously want to break up with her and still have sex with her? You can't have your cake and eat it too!.
- have one's ducks in a row
- To be organized; to have one's affairs in order; specifically, to have a multi-person effort coordinated towards the exact same goal
Wouldn't it be nice to have our ducks in a row and not have to search for the papers every time we needed them?.
- have one's ears lowered
- To get a haircut
When you need a haircut, you go to a barber, so here I am at Tommy's Bronxville's tonsorial prepared to get clipped. Or, as we said as kids, have my ears lowered.
- have one's feet on the ground
- To be a practical person. To be sensible
We think we can trust John with this new position as he has his feet on the ground.
- have one's hand out
- To be requesting benefits, especially if not entitled to them
Whenever there was an appropriations bill, he always had his hand out for his guys.
- have one's hands tied
- to be powerless to act, to be thwarted
I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. My hands are tied.
- have one's head in the clouds
- To have fantastic or impractical dreams; to think impractically
He has his head in the clouds when it comes to finances, with no idea how much that lifestyle will cost.
- have one's head in the clouds
- To daydream; to think about matters other than the present reality
He sat there with his head in the clouds all day, when he should have been minding the store.
- have one's heart set on
- to want or desire deeply, regardless of practicality or rationality
He should buy a truck for his job, but he has his heart set on a sports car.
- have one's name on it
- To be reserved for someone
That new bartender has got my name all over her, hands off!.
- have one's number on it
- Te be destined for someone
I'll catch that fish. It has my number on it.
- have one's way
- to obtain the circumstances one wishes for; to do what one wishes to do, or to have others do what one wishes them to do
He held out to me a bowl of steaming broth, that filled the room with a savour sweeter, ten thousand times, to me than every rose and lily of the world; yet would not let me drink it at a gulp, but made me sip it with a spoon like any baby. Thus while I drank, he told me where I was, namely, in an attic at the Why Not?, but would not say more then, bidding me get to sleep again, and I should know all afterwards. And so it was ten days or more before youth and health had their way, and I was strong again; and all that time Elzevir Block sat by my bed, and nursed me tenderly as a woman. So piece by piece I learned the story of how they found me.
- have one's way
- to make love with someone
- have one's way with
- To engage in sexual intercourse with
- have one's wits about one
- To remain calm, composed, or aware
It is important for emergency responders to have their wits about them at all times.
- have one's work cut out for one
- To face a large task or project
If he plans to translate all the idioms, he has his work cut out for him.
- have seen one's day
- To be at the point in a life cycle or career of no longer being useful or effective; to be worn-out
Written off by most observers as a champion who had seen his day, the Sampras who stalked the courts as world number one for six straight years in the 1990s rose from the ashes to add to his lustre with a record-setting 14th Grand Slam title.
- have the time of one's life
- To enjoy oneself immensely
- hedge one's bets
- To reduce the risk of making a mistake, by keeping one's options open
- hedge one's bets
- To place bets with a third party in order to offset potential losses
- hide one's light under a bushel
- To conceal one's talents or positive qualities, especially due to modesty or shyness; to avoid attention
British soroptimists have hidden their light under a bushel: there's a feeling here that we shouldn't seek publicity because we'd be drawing attention to ourselves..
- hit one out of the ballpark
- To hit a fair ball so well that the ball flies over all of the spectators' seats and lands outside the stadium
