[run to]{v. phr.} To approximate; reach. •/It has been estimated
that the casualties will run to over 300,000 killed by cholera and starvation
in the crowded refugee camps./
[run to seed] See: GO TO SEED.
[run true to form]{v. phr.} To follow a usual way; act as expected;
agree with how a person usually acts. •/The little boy’s actions ran true to
form. He bothered his mother until she gave him his way./ Compare: PAR FOR
THE COURSE.
[run up]{v. phr.} 1. To add to the amount of; increase. •/Karl ran
up a big bill at the bookstore./ 2. To put together or make hastily; sew
quickly together. •/Jill ran up a costume for the party on her sewing
machine./ 3. To pull (something) upward on a rope; put (something) up
quickly. •/The pirates ran up the black flag./
[run up against] See: UP AGAINST.
[run wild]{v. phr.} To be or go out of control. •/The students ran
wild during spring vacation./ •/The new supervisor lets the children run
wild./ •/The violets are running wild in the flower bed./ Compare: RUN
RIOT.
[run with the hare and hunt (ride) with the hounds]{v. phr.} To appear
to support both parties in a conflict; to conduct things in ambiguous ways.
•/Critics accused the king of running with the hare and hunting with the
hounds./
[running commentary]{n. phr.} A continual series of remarks. •/My
chiropractor gives me a running commentary on the health care debate while he
is giving me a rubdown./
[rush] See: BUM’S RUSH.
[Russian roulette]{n.} A game of chance in which one bullet is placed
in a revolver, the cartridge cylinder is spun, and the player aims the gun at
his own head and pulls the trigger. •/Only a fool would risk playing Russian
roulette./
[rust away]{v. phr.} To disappear gradually through the process of
rust or corrosion. •/If you refuse to paint those metal bars on the window,
they will soon rust away./
[rustproof]{adj.} Free from rusting or corrosion; permeated with
anti-rust chemical agents. •/My new watch is rustproof and waterproof and I
can wear it while swimming or taking a shower./
S
[saber rattling] or [sword rattling] {n.} A show of military
strength usually to frighten; a threat of military force. •/The dictator
marched his troops and tanks along the border of our country and did some saber
rattling./
[sack] See: GET THE SACK at GET THE BOUNCE(2), GIVE THE SACK at GIVE THE
BOUNCE(2), HIT THE HAY or HIT THE SACK, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG or LEAVE HOLDING
THE SACK.
[sack in/out]{v.}, {slang} To go to sleep for a prolonged period
(as in from night to morning). •/Where are you guys going to sack in/sack
out?/
[sacred cow]{n.} A person or thing that is never criticized, laughed
at, or insulted even if it deserves such treatment. •/Motherhood is a sacred
cow to most politicians./ •/The bold young governor had no respect for the
state’s sacred cows./ •/Television respects too many sacred cows./
[sacrifice fly]{n.} A baseball hit high in the air that helps a runner
score after it is caught. •/Mantle drove in two runs with a single and a
sacrifice fly./
[saddle] See: IN THE SADDLE.
[saddled with]{adj. phr.} Burdened with; handicapped. •/The business
was so saddled with debt that the new owner had a hard time making a go of it
for a couple of years./
[saddle shoe]{n.} A white shoe with a black or brown piece of leather
shaped like a saddle across the top of the shoe. •/Mary wore bobby socks and
saddle shoes./
[safe] See: PLAY SAFE.
[safe and sound]{adj. phr.} Not harmed; not hurt; safe and not
damaged. •/The package arrived safe and sound./ •/The children returned
from their trip safe and sound./ Compare: WITH A WHOLE SKIN.
[safety blitz]{n.} A defensive play in football in which the defensive
safety man makes a quick run to tackle the offensive quarterback. •/Bob’s
safety blitz kept Tom from making a touchdown./
[safety glass]{n.} Two panes of glass with a sheet of plastic between
them so that the glass will not break into pieces. •/Safety glass is used in
cars because it does not break into pieces./
[safety in numbers]{n. phr.} Protection against trouble by being in a
group. •/Peter said, "Stay in a group; there is safety in numbers."/
[safety island] or [safety zone] {n.} A raised area in a highway or
road to be used only by people walking. •/John was half-way across the street
when the light changed. He stayed on the safety island until it changed
again./
[sail] See: SET SAIL, RAKE THE WIND OUT OF ONE’S SAILS.
[sail close to the wind]{v. phr.} To be on the borderline between
legality and illegality. •/The wealthy tycoon sailed close to the wind during
Prohibition./
[sail into]{v.}, {informal} 1. To attack with great strength;
begin hitting hard. •/George grabbed a stick and sailed into the dog./
Compare: LAY INTO, PITCH INTO. 2. To scold or criticize very hard. •/The
coach really sailed into Bob for dropping the pass./ Syn.: BAWL OUT, LAY
INTO.
[sail (right) through]{v. phr.} To conclude easily and rapidly; finish
something. •/The bright young man sailed through the bar exam in record
time./
[sailor collar]{n.} A large square collar like those worn by sailors.
•/Little Timmy’s suit has a sailor collar./ •/Mary’s blouse has a sailor
collar./
[sail under false colors]{v. phr.} 1. To sail a ship, often pirate,
under the flag of another country. •/The pirate ship flew the American flag
until it got near, then raised the black flag./ 1. To pretend to be what you
are not; masquerade. •/The garage hired Jones as a mechanic, but fired him
when they found he was sailing under false colors./ •/They found out that
Smith was an escaped convict who had been sailing under false colors as a
lawyer./
[sake] See: FOR ONE’S SAKE.
[salad days]{n. phr.}, {informal} The period of one’s youth; a
period of inexperience. •/He was silly and immature during his salad days in
high school./
[sale] See: NO DEAL or NO SALE, ON SALE, WHITE SALE.
[sales check] or [sales slip] {n.} A paper which the clerk gives
the person who bought something; a paper that shows what you bought in a store
and how much you paid for it. •/Mrs. Smith checked the sales slip with what
she bought./ •/Mary brought the sales check when she returned the dress so
she could get her money back./
[sales talk]{n.} A speech made to point out all the good reasons why
the sale would help someone who might buy the product. •/Mrs. Goldsmith gave
the man a good sales talk about the new house./ •/The coach gave a sales
talk on exercise in the school assembly./
[Salisbury steak]{n.} A broiled or fried hamburger patty sometimes
containing eggs, milk, bread crumbs, and seasoning. •/James ordered a
Salisbury steak for lunch./
[salt] See: BACK TO THE SALT MINES, TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT also TAKE
WITH A PINCH OF SALT, WORTH ONE’S SALT.
[salt away]{v.}, {informal} To save (money) for the future.
•/Every week Joe salts away half of his pay./
[salt of the earth]{n. phr.}, {informal} One who helps to make
society good and wholesome; a basically good or valuable person. •/Everyone
here considers Syd and Susan the salt of the earth because they are so
generous./