[affair] See: LOVE AFFAIR.
[afoul of]{prep.} 1. In collision with. •/The boat ran afoul of a buoy./ 2. In or into trouble with. •/The thief ran afoul of the night watchman./ •/Speeders can expect to fall afoul of the law sometimes./
[afraid of one’s shadow]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Scared of small or imaginary things; very easily frightened; jumpy; nervous. •/Mrs. Smith won’t stay alone in her house at night; she is afraid of her own shadow./ •/Johnny cries whenever he must say hello to an adult; he is afraid of his own shadow./
[a friend in need is a friend indeed] A genuine friend on whom one can always depend. — A proverb; often shortened to "a friend in need…" •/When John’s house burned down, his neighbor Jim helped him and his family with shelter, food and clothing. John said, "Jim, a friend in need is a friend indeed — this describes you."/
[after a fashion]{adv. phr.} Not very well or properly; poorly. •/He played tennis after a fashion./ •/The roof kept the rain out after a fashion./ Compare: IN A WAY.
[after all]{adv. phr.} 1. As a change in plans; anyway. — Used with emphasis on "after". •/Bob thought he couldn’t go to the party because he had too much homework, but he went after all./ 2. For a good reason that you should remember. — Used with emphasis on "all". •/Why shouldn’t Betsy eat the cake? After all, she baked it./
[after a while]{informal} or [in a while] {adv. phr.} Later, at some time in the future; after a time that is not short and not long. •/"Dad, will you help me make this model plane?" "After a while, Jimmy, when I finish reading the newspaper."/ •/The boys gathered some wood, and in a while, a hot fire was burning./ Syn.: BY AND BY. Contrast: RIGHT AWAY.
[after hours]{adv. or adj. phr.} Not during the regular, correct, or usual time; going on or open after the usual hours. •/The store was cleaned and swept out after hours./ •/The children had a secret after hours party when they were supposed to be in bed./
[after one’s own heart]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Well liked because of agreeing with your own feelings, interests, and ideas; to your liking-agreeable. Used after "man" or some similar word. •/He likes baseball and good food; he is a man after my own heart./ •/Thanks for agreeing with me about the class party; you’re a girl after my own heart./ Compare: SEE EYE TO EYE.
[after the dust clears] or [when the dust settles] {adv. phr.} When a troubling, confusing, or disastrous event is finally over. •/John invited Tim for dinner, but since Tim’s father had just died, he replied, "Thanks. I’d like to come after the dust settles."/
[again] See: COME AGAIN, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, NOW AND THEN or NOW AND AGAIN, OFF AGAIN, ON AGAIN or ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN, SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN, THEN AGAIN, TIME AND AGAIN, YOU SAID IT or YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.
[against it] See: UP AGAINST IT.
[against the clock] See: AGAINST TIME.
[against the current] or [against the stream] See: SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT.
[against the grain]{adv. phr.} 1. Across rather than with the direction of the fibers (as of wood or meat). •/He sandpapered the wood against the grain./ 2. So as to annoy or trouble, or to cause anger or dislike. — Usually follows "go". •/His coarse and rude ways went against the grain with me./ •/It went against the grain with him to have to listen to her gossip./ Compare: RUB THE WRONG WAY.
[against time] or [against the clock] {adv. phr.} 1. As a test of speed or time; in order to beat a speed record or time limit. •/John ran around the track against time, because there was no one else to race against./ 2. As fast as possible; so as to do or finish something before a certain time. •/It was a race against the clock whether the doctor would get to the accident soon enough to save the injured man./ 3. So as to cause delay by using up time. •/The outlaw talked against time with the sheriff, hoping that his gang would come and rescue him./
[age] See: ACT ONE’S AGE or BE ONE’S AGE, DOG’S AGE or COON’S AGE, LEGAL AGE or LAWFUL AGE, OF AGE, OVER AGE, UNDER AGE.
[agent] See: FREE AGENT.
[Agent Orange]{n.} A herbicide used as a defoliant during the Vietnam War, considered by some to cause birth defects and cancer, hence, by extension, an instance of "technological progress pollution". •/If things continue as they have, we’ll all be eating some Agent Orange with our meals./
[ago] See: WHILE AGO.
[agree with]{v.} To have a good effect on, suit. •/The meat loaf did not agree with him./ •/The warm, sunny climate agreed with him, and he soon grew strong and healthy./
[ahead] See: DEAD AHEAD, GET AHEAD.
[ahead of]{prep.} 1. In a position of advantage or power over. •/He studies all the time, because he wants to stay ahead of his classmates./ 2. In front of; before. •/The troop leader walked a few feet ahead of the boys./ 3. Earlier than; previous to, before. •/Betty finished her test ahead of the others./
[ahead of the game]{adv. or adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. In a position of advantage; winning (as in a game or contest); ahead (as by making money or profit); making it easier to win or succeed. •/The time you spend studying when you are in school will put you ahead of the game in college./ •/After Tom sold his papers, he was $5 ahead of the game./ 2. Early; too soon; beforehand. •/When Ralph came to school an hour early, the janitor said, "You’re ahead of the game."/ •/John studies his lessons only one day early; if he gets too far ahead of the game, he forgets what he read./
[ahead of time]{adv. phr.} Before the expected time; early. •/The bus came ahead of time, and Mary was not ready./ •/The new building was finished ahead of time./ Contrast: BEHIND TIME.