[backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVER
BACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.
[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] {adv. phr.} To
the full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. •/He understood
automobile engines backwards and forwards./ •/He knew basketball rules
backwards and forwards./ •/I explained matters to him so that he understood
backwards and forwards how it was./
[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.
[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE’S BAD GRACES,
LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ON
ONE’S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.
[bad actor]{n.}, {informal} A person or animal that is always
fighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. •/The boy was a bad actor and
nobody liked him./
[bad blood]{n.}, {informal} Anger or misgivings due to bad
relations in the past between individuals or groups. •/There’s a lot of bad
blood between Max and Jack; I bet they’ll never talk to each other again./
Compare: BAD SHIT.
[bad egg]{n.}, {slang} A ne’er-do-well; good-for nothing; a
habitual offender. •/The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./
Contrast: GOOD EGG.
[bad mouth (someone)]{v.}, {slang} To say uncomplimentary or
libelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another’s reputation.
•/It’s not nice to had mouth people./
[bad news]{n.}, {slang} An event, thing, or person which is
disagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. •/What’s the new professor like? — He’s all bad news to me./
[bad paper]{n.}, {slang} 1. A check for which there are no funds
in the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. •/Why are you so mad? — I was paid
with some bad paper./
[bad shit]{n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} An unpleasant event or
situation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts of
vengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind of
reconciliation. •/There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I bet
there will he more killings this year./ Compare: BAD BLOOD.
[bad trip]{n.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} A disturbing
or frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under the
influence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience in
general. •/Why’s John’s face so distorted? — He had a bad trip./ •/How
was your math exam? — Don’t mention it; it was a bad trip./
[bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OF
THE BAG.
[bag and baggage]{adv.}, {informal} With all your clothes and
other personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. •/If
they don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage./
[baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.
[bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.
[bail out(1)]{v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial by
leaving or promising money or property for a while. •/When college students
got into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail them
out./ 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or lending money.
•/He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bail
him out a couple of times./
[bail out(2)]{v.} To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute.
•/When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out./
[bail out(3)]{v.} To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throw
water out of a boat to prevent its sinking. •/Both men were kept busy bailing
out the rowboat after it began to leak./
[bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.
[bake] See: HALF-BAKED.
[baker’s dozen]{n.}, {informal} Thirteen. •/"How many of the
jelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker’s dozen."/
[balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.
[ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THE
BALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUND
BALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL.
ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.
[ball game]{n.}, {slang}, also {informal} The entire matter at
hand; the whole situation; the entire contest. •/You said we can get a second
mortgage for the house?! Wow! That’s a whole new ball game./
[ball of fire]{n.}, {informal} A person with great energy and
ability; a person who can do something very well. •/He did poorly in school
but as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ •/The new shortstop is a good
fielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOT
ONE.
[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.
[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.
[ball up]{v.}, {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. •/Don’t ball
me up./ •/Hal balled up the business with his errors./ — Often used in
the passive. •/He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming or
going./ Compare: MIXED UP.
[baloney]{n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, or
trivial. •/John brags that he’s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it’s
just a lot of baloney./ •/"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney,"
Susie answered with a disgusted look./ •/Do you still believe all that
baloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China and
Hungary./
[banana oil]{n.}, {slang} Flattery that is an obvious
exaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive.
•/Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/
[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.
[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.
[band together]{v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force.
•/The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stop
the company from building new smokestacks./
[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.
[bandy about]{v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. •/The
news of Jim and Mary’s divorce was bandied about until everyone at the office
had heard it./
[bang up]{adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid;
excellent. •/The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./
•/John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.
[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.
[bank on]{v.}, {informal} To depend on; put one’s trust in; rely
on. •/He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if he
could once prove the dirty work./ •/The students were banking on the team
to do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.
[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.
[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.
[bargain for] or [bargain on] {v.} To be ready for; expect.
•/When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than he
bargained for./ •/The final cost of building the house was much more than
they had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.
[barge in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To appear uninvited at someone’s
house or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. •/I’m sorry for barging
in like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./
•/I’m sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but could
you please tell me where the nearest exit is?/