Definition of a-one in English English dictionary
- {s} A 1, excellent, outstanding; of first quality, first rate, of the highest quality, quality "A"; first class; first rate
- -one
- a ketone
- 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.
- Evil One
- The Devil; Satan; Lucifer
- Johnny-one-note
- A person (or organization) who often expresses a strong opinion or viewpoint on a single subject or a few particular subjects
- above one's bend
- Out of one's control or power
- according to one's understanding
- As far as one can understand with the data and knowledge available at the moment
- add one's twopenn'orth
- To offer one's opinion
- albatross round one's neck
- Alternative form of albatross around one's neck
- aleph-one
- The second of the transfinite cardinal numbers; according to the continuum hypothesis, it corresponds to the number of real numbers
- all one
- A matter of indifference; a matter having no importance or consequence
And sometimes he had some preliminary information to help him, and sometimes he had not. And it was all one, really. It was about as useful as information trying to convey the locality and intentions of a cloud.
- 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
- as a group; together
- all-as-one
- synchronized
- all-in-one
- A multifunction device, especially a printer, such as one that also works as a scanner and fax machine
- an offer one can't refuse
- An offer from one side in any transaction with the results of failing to accept so unattractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept
- 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 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.
- ask me one on sport
- a sarcastic reply given when a person does not know the correct answer
- at one
- In harmony or unity
She felt perfectly at one with nature.
- at one with
- United with; in tune with
He felt completely at one with the universe.
- 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
- Alternative form of at the end of one's tether
- 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.
- ate one's seed corn
- Simple past of eat one's seed corn
- ate one's words
- Simple past of eat one's words
- back of one's mind
- One's remote memory
- back to square one
- Back to 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 went back to square one.
- 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 disappointment and frustration
- bare one's teeth
- Of an animal, to show one's teeth as a sign of 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 waste time; to engage in an unproductive activity
- bee in one's bonnet
- Something of particular interest or concern; an obsession
He has had a bee in his bonnet ever since he heard about the problem.
- bet one's bottom dollar
- To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough of something to wager everything
He talks about it a lot, but I would bet my bottom dollar that he has never actually been there.
- beyond one's pay grade
- Beyond one's capability
Figuring out how it would work logistically is above and beyond my pay grade and my brain power.
- 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
- big one
- One hundred or one thousand dollars
You could spend the five big ones and the client could get downsized to a Jiffy Lube janitor the next week.
- big one
- A dollar
I paid 150,000 big ones for her to kill herself in front of the biggest wigs in Hollywood? ”.
- bird of one's own brain
- One's own idea or conception
- 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 the big one
- To break down; to be impossible to repair or not worth repairing
- bite the big one
- To die
- bite the big one
- To be unpleasant or undesirable
- blow one's cool
- Alternative form of lose one's cool
- 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 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's duck
- To score one's first run in an innings
- break one's duck
- To do something for the first time
- 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
- 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 one's own hand
- As a result of one's own actions, especially with reference to death by suicide
He gained all his wealth by his own hand.
- 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
- carry one's own weight
- A variant of carry one's weight.''
- cast one's vote
- To vote for something
- cast up one's accounts
- To vomit
- catch one's breath
- To take a break, or rest while doing a strenuous activity, so that one's breathing becomes easier
They stopped for a moment at the end of the set to catch their breath before resuming play.
- caught with one's fingers in the cookie jar
- Alternative form of caught with one's hand in the cookie jar
- 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 tendency to take offence quickly
- chip on one's shoulder
- A form of challenge in the same spirit as a medieval knight throwing down his gauntlet
- clean up one's act
- to reform; to improve one's habits
Someday I'm going to clean up my act and start researching more carefully.
- clear one's throat
- Forcibly, (sometimes mutedly) expelling air from one's lungs, sometimes to clear mucus, sometimes to attract attention to something; less vigorous than coughing
- click one's fingers
- To pull or push one's fingers so that they make a cracking noise
- close one's eyes
- To ignore
- cold one
- A beer
I'm going to crack open a cold one.
- collect one's thoughts
- To become mentally composed, especially after being distressed, surprised, or disoriented; to become calm or organized in one's emotional state or thinking, as in preparation for a conversation, speech, decision, etc
I'm a believer, umm, Mr. Bloomberg said before standing silently at the lectern for seven seconds as he collected his thoughts.
- collect one's wits
- Alternative form of collect one's thoughts
- come out of one's shell
- To reveal one's true self
- come out of one's shell
- To become a naturist. To convert to naturism
- 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.
- cover one’s feet
- to lower one’s garment, especially to urinate or defecate
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. ().
- crack one's fingers
- to pull or push one's fingers so that they make a cracking noise
- crap one's pants
- To be extremely frightened
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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
- crossed one's fingers
- Simple past tense and past participle of cross one's fingers
- cut of one's jib
- A person's general appearance, manner, or style, or the implications thereof
Let's just say I don't like the cut of your jib, Mr. Tate..
- 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'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.
- day one
- The very beginning
I've been with this project since day one.
- dig one's own grave
- To behave in a way that is likely to have future negative effects on oneself
- do one
- To depart from a place, often with a sense of urgency
This party is boring. Let’s do one.
- 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 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
- drain the swamp when up to one's neck in alligators
- When performing a long and complex task, and when you've gotten utterly immersed in secondary and tertiary unexpected tangential subtasks, it's easy to lose sight of the initial objective. This sort of distraction can be particularly problematic if the all-consuming subtask or sub-subtask is not, after all, particularly vital to the original, primary goal, but ends up sucking up time and resources (out of all proportion to its actual importance) only because it seems so urgent
- 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.’.
- drop one's guts
- to break wind, to fart
You haven’t just dropped your guts, have you, my dear? There’s a sudden stench in my nostrils, a stench that would stun a smaller man, a man who had not seen service in the trenches, as I have.” — 1993, Hatchings by John Eppel.
- 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..
- eat one's hat
- Used in a result clause to express disbelief in the conditional clause proposition
He said he would eat his hat if more than ten people came. He'd better fetch a knife and fork!.
- eat one's own dog food
- To test the beta programs that are in the test phase on one's own computers; to dogfood
- 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 words
- To regret or retract what one has said
He didn't think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words.
- 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
- eats one's seed corn
- Third-person singular simple present indicative form of eat one's seed corn
- eats one's words
- Third-person singular simple present indicative form 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
- fall on one's sword
- Voluntarily to take the blame for a situation
In written testimony given to Congress and made public the day before the hearing, Hurd falls on his sword, apologizing for HP's spying on its own directors and invading the privacy of journalists.
- feel one's oats
- To feel energetic or frisky; to behave in a vigorous or bold manner
It's a tough road because kids at that time are developmentally feeling their oats, Beverage said.
- 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 make a show of strength
But at a time of a growing perception in the West that China is flexing its muscles , countries closer to China’s shores also worry that it might be getting more assertive.
- flex one's muscles
- To tense and bend one's flexor muscles
- flip one's lid
- To be explosively angry
- flip one's wig
- To act in an irrational manner or appear to be temporarily insane
- flip one's wig
- To be very angry
- fold one's tent
- To withdraw, especially in a discreet manner; to disengage; to quit
There are a good number of Democrats who are unhappy with John Kerry, thinking he folded his tent without a fight.
- 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 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
- 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's particular
- For one's part; as far as one is concerned
For my own particular, I cannot deny, that whatever I have said upon this occasion, had been more proper in a preface, and more agreeable to the mode which usually directs it there.
- forty-one
- The cardinal number immediately following forty and preceding forty-two
- four one one
- information
Can you give me the 411 for their next concert?.
- frog in one's throat
- Any temporary physical difficulty in speaking
- 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.
- full of one's self
- Alternative form of full of oneself
- gather one's thoughts
- Alternative form of collect one's thoughts
- get off one's high horse
- To stop acting in an imperious, overbearing or bossy manner
- 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 back up
- To become angry, defensive, or irritable
- 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 develop a perceptual skill, especially visual
- get one's feet wet
- To begin gaining experience; To take a risk and try something new
Why don't you try getting your feet wet on the beginner slopes.
- get one's finger out
- To proceed with the matter in hand
- get one's finger out
- To free one's finger
- get one's foot in the door
- To initiate contact or a relationship; to gain access, especially to an entry-level job
But despite his academic credentials, Julian had to fight just to get his foot in the door at most laboratories.
- get one's freak on
- To dance
- get one's freak on
- To have sex
- 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 kit off
- To undress or be naked with the intention of being seen naked
The woman in this film is not shy about getting her kit off, is she?.
- get one's knickers in a knot
- Alternative form of get one's knickers in a bunch
- get one's knickers in a twist
- To become overwrought or unnecessarily upset over a trivial matter
- 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 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 shorts in a knot
- 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 something off one's chest
- Alternative form of get off one's chest
- 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 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'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.”.
- give somebody a piece of one's mind
- To express one's opinion strongly; to voice one's disagreement or dissatisfaction
That is the fourth time this week my neighbor's barking dog has woken me up. I'm going to go give her a piece of my mind about it.
- 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.
- 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
- haul one's ashes
- Have sexual intercourse with (someone)
I still get beautiful laddies to haul my ashes when my old balls get heavy.
- haul one's ashes
- To move someone's body, to move away
Anybody that can haul Sam Tate's ashes is my kinda of man.....
- 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 ants in one's pants
- To be agitated and constantly fidgeting
- have ants in one's pants
- To be sexually excited
- 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 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 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 full
- To be busy or thoroughly preoccupied
He already has his hands full with two kids and a full-time job, yet he still makes time to volunteer.
- 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 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 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 the time of one's life
- To enjoy oneself more than ever before
- hedge one's bets
- To reduce the risk of making a mistake, by keeping one's options open
- 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 above one's weight
- Alternative form of punch above one's weight
- hit below one's weight
- Alternative form of punch below one's weight
- hit one out of the ballpark
- To produce a spectacular achievement
The Canada Institute, part of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, has hit one out of the ballpark with its Montreal fundraiser.
- hit one's stride
- when walking or running, to reach a full or comfortable pace
I usually start running slowly for a warm-up and then hit my stride a few minutes into the run.
- hoist by one's own petard
- To be hurt, or destroyed by one's own plot or device, of one's own doing which one intended for another; to be "blown up by one's own bomb"
He has no one to blame but himself; he was hoisted by his own petard.
