[on the track of] or [on the trail of] Hunting or looking for; trying to find; following. * /The hunter is on the track of a deer./ * /The lawyer is on the trail of new proof in the case./ * /Jim collects old stamps; he is on the track of one in Midville this afternoon./
[on the trail of] See: ON THE TRACK OF.
[on the trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
[on the up and up] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Honest; trustworthy; sincere. * /We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This information is on the up and up./ Compare: ON THE LEVEL.
[on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE.
[on the wagon] <adv. phr.> Participating in an alcohol addiction program; not touching any alcoholic beverage. * /Jim's doctor and his family finally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on the wagon./ Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.
[on the wane and on the wax] <adv. phr.> Decreasing and increasing. - Said of the moon. * /The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax at regular intervals lasting half a month./
[on the warpath] <adj. phr.>, <informal> 1. Very angry. * /When Mother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath./ * /Betty has been on the warpath ever since she found out she was not invited to the party./ 2. Making an attack; fighting. * /The government is on the warpath against narcotics./ * /The police are on the warpath against speeders./
[on the watch] <adj. phr.> Alert; watchful. * /The customs inspector was on the watch for diamond smugglers./ * /Mary was on the watch for bargains at the auction./ Compare: EYE OUT, LOOK OUT(2).
[on the way] or [on one's way] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Coming; going toward a place or goal; started. * /Help was on the way./ * /The train left and Bill was on his way to New York./ * /He is well on the way to becoming a fine mechanic./
[on the whole] <adv. phr.> 1. In the most important things; in most ways. * /On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year./ * /Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show./ Syn.: IN ALL(2), FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. * /On the whole, men are stronger than women./ * /On the whole, children begin walking when they are about one year old./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, IN GENERAL.
[on the wing] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. In the air; while flying. * /The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing./ 2. <informal> In constant motion; always very busy. * /Susan was on the wing doing things to get ready for her trip./ * /Mr. Jones had a busy schedule and his secretary had to catch him on the wing to sign the letters./ Syn.: ON THE FLY. 3. <informal> Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere. * /Mary's husband is a traveling salesman and he's always on the wing./ * /They stayed in France for a week and then they were on the wing again./ Syn.: ON THE GO, ON THE MOVE.
[on the words] See: HANG ON THE WORDS OF.
[on the wrong foot] See: GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.
[on the wrong side of the bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.
[on the wrong track] <adv. phr.> Lost; pursuing the wrong lead. * /Professor MacAlister confessed that his chemical experiments were on the wrong track./ Contrast: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE.
[on time] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. At the time arranged; not late; promptly. * /The train left on time./ * /Mary is always on time for an appointment./ Contrast: AHEAD OF TIME, BEHIND TIME. 2. On the installment plan; on credit, paying a little at a time. * /John bought a car on time./ * /You can buy things at the department store on time./
[on top] <adv.> or <adj. phr.>, <informal> In the lead; with success; with victory. * /The horse that everyone had expected would be on top actually came in third./ * /Although John had been afraid that he was not prepared for the exam, he came out on top./
[on top of] <prep>. 1. On the top of; standing or lying on; on. * /When the player on the other team dropped the ball, Bill fell on top of it./ * /That high hill has a tower on top of it./ 2. <informal> Very close to. * /The elevator was so crowded that everybody was on top of each other./ * /I couldn't find my umbrella and then I realized I was almost on top of it./ 3. <informal> In addition to; along with. * /Mrs. Lane had many expenses and on top of everything else, her baby became ill./ * /Mary worked at the store all day and on top of that she had to baby-sit with her brother./ 4. <informal> Managing very well; in control of. * /Although his new job was very complicated, John was on top of it within a few weeks./ * /No matter what goes wrong, Mary always stays on top of it./ 5. Knowing all about; not falling behind in information about; up-to-date on. * /Mary stays on top of the news by reading newspapers and magazines./ * /When he was in California, Mr. Jones kept on top of things in his office by telephoning every day./
[on top of the world] or [sitting on top of the world] also (Southern) [sitting on high cotton] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Feeling pleased and happy; feeling successful. * /John was on top of the world when he found out that he got into college./ * /When Ruth won first prize in the contest, she felt as though she was sitting on top of the world./ * /The girls were sitting on high cotton because their basketball team had won the trophy./ Compare: FLYING HIGH, WALK ON AIR.
[on trial] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. For testing or trying out for a time before making a decision. * /I was lucky that I had bought the machine on trial because I didn't like it and was able to return it./ * /Mother bought a new dishwasher on trial and was trying it out before deciding whether to keep it./ 2. In a court being tried for a crime before a judge or jury. * /John White was on trial for murder./ * /Mary was on trial before the Student Committee for spoiling school property./
[on words] See: PLAY ON WORDS.
[on your life] See: NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
[open] See: EYES OPEN, THROW OPEN.
[open and aboveboard] <adj. phr.> Honest. * /Jacob felt that the firm he was doing business with wasn't entirely open and aboveboard./
[open and shut] See: CUT AND DRIED.
[open arms] See: RECEIVE WITH OPEN ARMS.
[open-door policy] <n. phr.> A policy that states that newcomers are welcome to join the company, firm, or country in question. * /During the nineteenth century the United States had an open-door policy regarding immigration./
[open fire] <v. phr.> To begin shooting. * /The big warship turned its guns toward the enemy ship and opened fire./ * /When the policeman called to the robber to stop, he turned and suddenly opened fire./
[openhanded] <adj.> Generous; liberal. * /Although not wealthy himself, Bob was always very openhanded with those who needed help./
[open heart] <n.> 1. No hiding of your feelings; frankness; freedom. * /She spoke with an open heart of her warm feelings for her pupils./ * /She told her troubles with an open heart./ Compare: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE. 2. Kindness; generosity. * /She contributed to the fund with an open heart./ * /Mr. Jones has an open heart for underprivileged children./ Compare: OPEN ONE'S HEART.
[open its doors] <v. phr.> 1. To allow someone or something to enter or join; become open. * /That college was started for women only, but a few years ago it opened its doors to men./ 2. To begin doing business; open. * /Proffitts Department Store is having a birthday sale; it first opened its doors fifty years ago this month./ Contrast: CLOSE ITS DOORS.
[open letter] <n. phr.> A public message in the form of a letter addressed to a particular person or to a group. * /There was an open letter to the president of the United States in today's morning paper./
[open market] <n. phr.> Goods or securities available for purchase by all. * /The stocks of certain companies are on the open market./
[open marriage] <n. phr.> An arrangement by mutual agreement between husband and wife whereby they are both allowed to have extramarital affairs. * /Chances are the open marriage arrangement they had didn't work out too well so they are getting a divorce./
[open-minded] <adj.> Having no dogmatic or biased views on matters of theory, religion, politics, etc. * /Fred is easy to talk to about anything; he is a highly intelligent and open-minded person./
[open one's eyes] or [open up one's eyes] <v. phr.> To make a person see or understand the truth; make a person realize; tell a person what is really happening or what really exists. * /Mary didn't believe that her cousin could be mean until the cousin opened Mary's eyes by scratching and biting her./ * /John's eyes were opened up to the world of nature when he visited his grandfather's farm./ Compare: EYES OPEN, WISE UP. - [eye opener] <n.> Something that makes you understand the truth. * /Pam's first visit to school was a real eye-opener./
[open one's heart] <v. phr.> 1. To talk about your feelings honestly; confide in someone. * /After going around worrying, Mary opened her heart to her mother./ * /John felt much better after he opened his heart to Betty./ 2. To be sympathetic to; give love or help generously. * /Mrs. Smith opened her heart to the poor little boy./ * /After the moving speech by the UN official, the people opened their hearts to the poor people of India./ Compare: OPEN HEART, WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE.
[open onto] <v. phr.> To have a view of. * /Our apartment in Chicago has a set of windows that open onto Lake Michigan./
[open Pandora's box] See: PANDORA'S BOX.
[open question] <n. phr.> A debatable issue. * /Whether assisted suicide is legal and moral or not is still an open question, recent publicity on the matter notwithstanding./
[open secret] <n.> Something that is supposed to be a secret but that everyone knows. * /It is an open secret that Mary and John are engaged./ * /Who will be appointed as the next president of the college is an open secret./
[open sesame] <n. phr.>, <literary> Immediate means of entrance, or unobstructed access to something. * /Tom mistakenly believed that his wealth would be an open sesame to the world of creative arts./
[open shop] <n. phr.> A factory or firm that employs both union and non-union labor. * /The firm refuses to adopt an open shop policy./ Contrast: CLOSED SHOP.
[open the door] <v. phr.> To allow more action or discussion; give a chance. * /Learning to read and write opens the door to a better job and better living conditions./ * /Raising the tax rates will open the door to more help for older people./ Contrast: CLOSE THE DOOR. Compare: OPEN ITS DOORS.
[open the floodgates] <v. phr.> To let loose an outburst of human activity or emotion. * /It would open the floodgates of anger and discontent if the university raised tuition too soon./
[open up] <v.> 1. To show for the first time; make clear; reveal. * /The story of Helen Keller's life opened up a whole new world to Mary./ * /Einstein's theories opened up a whole new area for study./ 2. To make available; present an opportunity; offer. * /The building of the railroad opened up new lands to the pioneers./ * /John opened up a whole new section of the Scrabble board./ 3. <informal> To go faster. * /When they got out on the highway John opened up and drove at 65 miles per hour./ 4. <informal> To begin to shoot. * /When they got close to the enemy lines, they opened up with all they had./ 5. <informal> To begin to talk frankly. * /After John learned to trust Mr. Jones, he opened up and told him how he felt./ 6. To spread out. * /After a while the road opened up and they traveled more quickly./ 7. To become available. * /When she got her college diploma, many new jobs opened up./
[open up one's eyes] See: OPEN ONE'S EYES.
[opinion] See: MATTER OP OPINION.