[oil the wheels] See: GREASE THE WHEELS.
[ointment] See: PLY IN THE OINTMENT.
[old] See: CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK, COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE, COMMON AS AN OLD SHOE, OF OLD.
[old as the hills] <adj. phr.> Very old; ancient. * /"Why didn't you laugh?" she asked. "Because that joke is as old as the hills," he answered./
[old boy network] <n. phr.> A system whereby men who went to the same school help each other to get good jobs, regardless of their ability or training. * /Peter got his lucrative job thanks to the old boy network rather than because of his qualifications./ Compare: OLD COLLEGE TRY.
[old boy] or [old chap] <n.>, <chiefly British> One of the men educated at the same institution and bound by strong ties of loyalty to each other. * /He got the job because the boss was another old boy./
[old college try] <n. phr.> An attempt to win a favor from another by mentioning the fact that one had gone to the same college or university as the party from whom the favor is requested. * /Since he needed a job, he decided to use the old college try when he contacted Jerry, but it didn't work./ Compare: OLD BOY NETWORK.
[old country] <n. phr.> Primarily Europe, but also any country other than the United States where one originally came from. * /Al's wife was born in Chicago but Al himself is from the old country, Ireland./
[old flame] <n. phr.> An erstwhile lover. * /Did you know that Meg was one of Howard's old flames?/
[old guard] <n. phr.> People whose ideas may be out of date, but who have been in power for a long time. * /There will not be any change in policy at the company, as long as the old guard still works here./
[old hand] <n. phr.> An experienced and highly skilled expert at some particular job. * /Uncle Joe is an old hand at repairing car engines./
[old hat] <adj.>, <informal> Old-fashioned; not new or different. * /By now, putting satellites in orbit is old hat to space scientists./ * /Andrea thought her mother's ideas about dating were old hat./
[old maid] <n. phr.> A spinster; a woman who has never married. * /Because my old maid aunt is a terrific cook as well as a good-looking woman, nobody understands why she never married./
[old money] Contrast: NEW MONEY.
[Old Nick] See: FULL OF THE OLD NICK.
[old school tie] See: OLD BOY NETWORK, OLD COLLEGE TRY.
[old story] <n.> An everyday occurrence; something that often happens. * /Jane's temper tantrums were an old story./ * /It's an old story when a woman divorces her husband for too much drinking./
[old-timer] <n.> An old person who remembers bygone days, matters, and personalities. * /There was an old-timer at the party who told us interesting details about World War II./ Contrast: OLD GUARD, OLD HAND.
[old world] <n. phr.> Europe, the continent; a continental manner. * /Tom had an old world manner that thoroughly charmed all the ladies./ Compare: OLD COUNTRY.
[olive branch] <n. phr.> An overture; a symbol of peace. * /Tired of the constant fighting, the majority government extended an olive branch to the militant minority./
[on account] <adv. phr.> As part payment of a debt; to lessen the amount owed. * /John paid $10 down and $5 on account each month for his bicycle./
[on account of] <prep.> As a result of; because of. * /The picnic was held in the gym on account of the rain./ Compare: ON ONE'S ACCOUNT, OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD.
[on a dime] <adv. phr.>, <informal> In a very small space. * /Bob can turn that car on a dime./ * /Tom says his new sports car will stop on a dime./
[on-again, off-again] See: OFF-AGAIN, ON-AGAIN.
[on air] See: WALK ON AIR.
[on a limb] See: OUT ON A LIMB.
[on all four] See: HIT ON ALL FOUR.
[on all fours] <adv. phr.> 1. On all four legs; on hands and knees. * /Fido sat up to "beg" but dropped down on all fours to eat the dog biscuit Sam gave him./ * /Billy's father got down on all fours and gave the baby a ride./ 2. <informal> On a level of equality; of the same value. * /Wigs may be widely used, but they are still not on all fours with beautiful natural hair./
[on an average] or [on the average] <adv. phr.> In most cases; usually. * /On an average Dan's mother has to ask him three times before he helps with the dishes./ * /On the average, Mr. Blank trades in his car for a new one every three years./
[on and off] See: OFF AND ON.
[on an even keel] <adv. phr,>, <informal> In a well-ordered way or condition; orderly. * /When the football rally seemed almost ready to become a riot, the principal stepped to the platform and got things back on an even keel./
[on a pedestal] <adv. phr.> Lovingly honored and cared for. * /Mrs. Raymond's children served her breakfast in bed on Mother's Day and later took her out to dinner. She felt on a pedestal./ * /Bill is always waiting on his fiancee and bringing her flowers and candy. He has certainly put her on a pedestal./
[on approval] <adv. phr.> With the understanding that the thing may be refused. * /Mr. Grey bought his camera on approval./ * /The company offered to send a package of stamps on approval./
[on a scratched horse] See: PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE.
[on a shoestring] <adv. phr.> With little money to spend; on a very low budget. * /The couple was seeing Europe on a shoestring./
[on a volcano] See: SIT ON A VOLCANO.
[on behalf of] See: IN BEHALF OP.
[on board(1)] <prep.> On (a ship). * /Joan was not on board the ship when it sailed./
[on board(2)] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> On a ship. * /The captain was not on board when the S.S. Flandre sailed./ * /A ship was leaving the harbor, and we saw the people on board waving./
[on borrowed time] See: LIVE ON BORROWED TIME.
[on call] <adj. phr.> 1. Having to be paid on demand. * /Jim didn't have the money ready even though he knew the bill was on call./ 2. Ready and available. * /This is Dr. Kent's day to be on call at the hospital./ * /The nurse is on call for emergency cases./
[once] See: AT ONCE, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.
[once and for all] <adv. phr.> 1. One time and never again; without any doubt; surely; certainly; definitely. * /Let me say, for once and for all, you may not go to the party Saturday./ * /For once and for all, I will not go swimming with you./ 2. Permanently. * /Bill and Tom asked the teacher to settle the argument once and for all./ * /The general decided that two bombs would destroy the enemy and end the war once and for all./
[once bitten, twice shy] See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.
[once for all] See: ONCE AND FOR ALL.
[once in a blue moon] <adv. phr.> Very rarely; very seldom; almost never. * /Coin collecting is interesting, hut you find a valuable coin only once in a blue moon./ * /Once in a blue moon someone grows a very pale marigold, but no truly white marigolds have been raised./
[once in a while] <adv. phr.> Not often; not regularly; sometimes; occasionally. * /We go for a picnic in the park once in a while./ * /Once in a while the puppy would run away, but usually he stayed in the yard./ Syn.: AT TIMES, FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND THEN.
[once-over] <n.>, <slang> 1. A quick look; a swift examination of someone or something. - Usually used with "give" or "get". * /The new boy got the once-over from the rest of the class when he came in./ * /Bob gave his paper the once-over before handing it in./ 2. or [once-over-lightly] A quick or careless job, especially of cleaning or straightening; work done hastily for now. * /Ann gave her room a quick once-over-lightty with the broom and dust cloth./ * /"Just give my hair the once-over," Al said to the barber./ Compare: LICK AND A PROMISE.
[once upon a time] <adv. phr.> Sometime before now, long ago. * /Once upon a time she was thought to be the most talented actress in the country./ - Often used at the beginning of fairy stories. * /Once upon a time there lived a king who had an ugly daughter./