[bark up the wrong tree]{v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the wrong person to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. •/If he thinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ •/He is barking up the wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ •/The police were looking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief was short and fat./

[bark worse than one’s bite]{informal} Sound or speech more frightening or worse than your actions. •/The small dog barks savagely, but his bark is worse than his bite./ •/The boss sometimes talks roughly to the men, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ •/She was always scolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite./

[barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THE BASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.

[base on balls]{n.} First base given to a baseball batter who is pitched four balls outside of the strike zone. •/He was a good judge of pitchers and often received bases on balls./

[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE’S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

[basket case]{n.}, {slang}, {also informal} 1. A person who has had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune. 2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted around in a basket by others. •/Stop drinking, or else you’ll wind up a basket case!/

[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] {v. phr.}, {informal} To show surprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. — Used in negative sentences. •/When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ •/Bill told his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it was true./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

[bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

[bats in one’s belfry] or [bats in the belfry] {n. phr.}, {slang} Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion. •/When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in his belfry./

[bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

[batting average]{n. phr.} Degree of accomplishment (originally used as a baseball term). •/Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her heart transplant operations./

[battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.

[battle of nerves]{n. phr.} A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. •/It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university./ See: WAR OF NERVES.

[bawl out]{v.}, {informal} To reprove in a loud or rough voice; rebuke sharply; scold. •/The teacher bawled us out for not handing in our homework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

[be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.

[beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[beach bunny]{n.}, {slang} An attractive girl seen on beaches — mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn’t get into the water and swim. •/What kind of a girl is Susie? — She’s a beach bunny; she always comes to the Queen’s Surf on Waikiki but I’ve never seen her swim./

[bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

[be a fly on the wall]{v. phr.} To eavesdrop on a secret conversation. •/How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance’s parents are saying about me!/

[be a good hand at]{v. phr.} To be talented, gifted, or skilled in some activity. •/Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building./

[beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

[bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’S BEAN.

[be an item]{v. phr.} To be a couple; belong to one another. •/No one is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized that they are an item./

[be a poor hand at]{v. phr.} To be inept, untalented, or clumsy in some activity. •/Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to play with him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.

[be at pains]{v. phr.} To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. •/The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats./

[bear] See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.

[bear a grudge]{v. phr.} To persist in bearing ill feeling toward someone after a quarrel or period of hostility. •/Come on, John, be a good sport and don’t bear a grudge because I beat you at golf./ Contrast: BURY THE HATCHET.

[bear a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

[beard] See: LAUNCH UP ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE’S BEARD.

[bear down]{v.} 1. To press or push harder; work hard at; give full strength and attention. •/She is bearing down in her studies to win a scholarship./ •/The baseball pitcher is bearing down./ •/The pitcher bore down on the star batter./ •/Teachers of the deaf bear down on English./ •/The sergeant bears down on lazy soldiers./ Contrast: LET UP(2b). 2. To move toward in an impressive or threatening way. — Often used with "on". •/While he was crossing the street a big truck bore down on him./ •/The little ship tried to escape when the big pirate ship bore down./ •/After the boys threw the snowballs they saw a large lady bearing down upon them from across the street./

[bear down on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To draw constantly nearer with great speed and force. •/The police cars were bearing down on the bank robbers' get-away car./

[bear fruit]{v. phr.} To yield results. •/We hope that the company’s new investment policy will bear fruit./

[bear in mind] See: IN MIND.

[bear in the air] or [bear in the sky] {n. phr.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A police helicopter flying overhead watching for speeders. •/Slow down, good buddy, there’s a bear in the air./

[bear off the palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM.

[bear one’s cross] See: CARRY ONE’S CROSS.

[bear out]{v.} To show to be right; prove; support. •/Modern findings do not bear out the old belief that the earth is flat./ •/Seward’s faith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out, even though it was once called "Seward’s Folly."/

[bear trap]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} A police radar unit designed to catch speeders. •/Watch the bear trap at exit 101./

[bear up]{v.} 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. •/The old bridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more./ •/He was borne up by love of country./ 2. To keep up one’s courage or strength; last. — Often used with "under". •/This boat will bear up under hurricane winds./ •/She bore up well at the funeral./ Syn.: STAND UP. Compare: CARRY ON.

[bear watching]{v. phr.} 1. To be worth watching or paying attention to; have a promising future. •/That young ball player will bear watching./ 2. To be dangerous or untrustworthy. •/Those tires look badly worn; they will bear watching./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.