From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
What does to win by a nose mean?
:
by a very short distance His horse won the race by a nose
.
What is the meaning of neck by neck?
When two people or things are neck and neck,
they are so close or similar that it's impossible to tell who's better or winning
. A neck and neck race is too close to call.
Is neck to neck a phrase?
COMMON In a race or contest, if two competitors are neck and neck,
they are exactly level with each other
, so that it is impossible to say who will win. … Note: Two horses are said to be neck and neck when they are exactly level and it is impossible to say which one is winning the race.
What does taking it in the neck mean?
British, informal. :
to be severely punished or criticized He really got it in the neck for not finishing the job on time
.
What is the thing in your neck called?
The neck is the start of the spinal column and spinal cord. The spinal column contains about two dozen inter-connected, oddly shaped, bony segments, called vertebrae. The neck contains seven of these, known as the
cervical vertebrae
. They are the smallest and uppermost vertebrae in the body.
How do you use neck and neck in a sentence?
(1) I mean to catch him up and come neck and neck into the winning post. (2) The cyclists were neck and neck as they approached the final lap. (3) It was a photo finish, with three horses neck and neck at the finishing line. (4)
The two contestants are neck and neck with 20 points each
.
The lion's share is an idiomatic expression which now
refers to the major share of something
. The phrase derives from the plot of a number of fables ascribed to Aesop and is used here as their generic title.
What is by the skin of one's teeth?
If you do something by the skin of your teeth,
you only just succeed in doing it
: He escaped from the secret police by the skin of his teeth. Expressions used to describe situations. a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush) idiom.
What does the phrase window dressing mean?
1 :
the display of merchandise in a retail store
window. 2a : the act or an instance of making something appear deceptively attractive or favorable. b : something used to create a deceptively favorable or attractive impression.
What is a nip and tuck?
A nip and tuck, is more commonly referred to as
a facelift
. It is a proven, effective cosmetic surgery procedure known formally as a rhytidectomy. There are many cosmetic procedures for the face. However, a nip and tuck is still the most popular procedure to smooth facial wrinkles.
What does a pencil neck mean?
Filters
.
A person with a very thin neck
. noun. (idiomatic, US, pejorative) An insubstantial person; a weakling.
What is keep your eye on the ball?
informal. :
to continue thinking about or giving attention to something important
: to stay focused She really needs to keep her eye on the ball if she wants to win the election.
What does stick one's neck out mean?
If you stick your neck out, it means
you take a risk by saying or doing something that other people might not like
. Examples: John stuck his neck out and told the boss what we thought of him. He decided to stick his neck out and buy a new sports car, even though he hadn't asked his wife.
Where did the saying neck of the woods come from?
The phrase comes from
the sense of neck as a strip of land
. In Britain, this refers to land with water on both sides, but early Americans used it to mean “a settlement in the woods.”
How do you spell severe pain?
extremely painful; causing intense suffering; unbearably distressing; torturing: an excruciating noise; excruciating pain.
