[on one's bad side] or [on the bad side of one] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Not liked by someone; not friendly with a person. * /Sally's boyfriend got on Father's bad side by keeping Sally out too late after the dance./ Contrast: ON ONE'S GOOD SIDE.

[on one's behalf] See: ON BEHALF OF.

[on one's chest] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Hidden in your thoughts or feelings and bothering you; making you feel worried or upset; that is something you want to talk to someone about. * /Jane looks unhappy because she has the quarrel with Susan on her chest./ * /"Well, Dave," said the coach, "You look sad - what's on your chest?"/ Compare: ON ONE'S MIND. Contrast: OFF ONE'S CHEST,

[on one's coattails] <adv. phr.> Because of another's merits, success, or popularity. * /Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails./ * /Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode in on K.'s coattails./

[on oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF.

[on one's feet] <adv. phr.> 1. Standing or walking; not sitting or lying down; up. * /Before the teacher finished asking the question, George was on his feet ready to answer it./ * /In a busy gasoline station, the attendant is on his feet all day./ Compare: TO ONE'S FEET. Contrast: OFF ONE'S FEET. 2. Recovering; getting better from sickness or trouble. * /Jack is back on his feet after a long illness./ * /Susan was on her feet soon after the operation./ * /The bank loaned the store money to get it back on its feet after the fire./ 3. See: LAND ON ONE'S FEET, STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET, THINK ON ONE'S FEET.

[on one's good behavior] <adv. phr.> Behaving right to make a good impression. * /While his father was around the boy was on his good behavior, but when the father left the boy soon got into mischief./ * /The minister is coming to dinner, and Mother wants us to be on our good behavior./

[on one's good side] or [on the good side of one] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Friendly with someone; liked by a person. * /John thought that he would get a good grade if he got on the good side of the teacher./ * /Successful workers stay on the good side of their bosses./ Contrast: ON ONE'S BAD SIDE.

[on one's hands] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> In your care or responsibility; that you must do something about. * /Mrs. Blake left her five children with me while she shopped. I could not get anything done with the children on my hands./ * /After everyone bought tickets to the dance, the club treasurer had over $100 on his hands./ * /The electricity went off while Mother was cooking supper, and she had a problem on her hands./ * /I had time on my hands before the bus came, so I bought a newspaper to read./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S HANDS. See: SIT ON ONE'S HANDS. Compare: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE'S HANDS.

[on one's head] or [upon one's head] <adv. phr.> On one's self. * /When the school board fired the superintendent of schools, they brought the anger of the parents upon their heads./ * /Billy had been naughty all day, but he really brought his parents' anger down on his head by pushing his little sister into a mud puddle./ Compare: ABOUT ONE'S EARS.

[on one's heel] See: TURN ON ONE'S HEEL.

[on one's high horse] <adj. phr.>, <informal> 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. * /Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do./ * /Mrs. Jones asked to see a less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high horse and said the shop did not sell cheap merchandise./ 2. Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper. * /Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn't giving him enough attention./ Contrast: OFF ONE'S HIGH HORSE.

[on one's honor] <adj. phr.> Bound by one's honesty; trusted. * /The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on their honor not to cheat./ * /The house father put the boys on their honor not to smoke in the dormitory./

[on one's knees] <adj. phr.> 1. Pleading; begging very hard. * /The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ * /The Jacksons won't contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. * /When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close./

[on one's last legs] <adj. phr.> Failing; near the end. * /The blacksmith's business is on its last legs./ * /The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs./ Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE'S KNEES(2).

[on one's mind] <adv. phr.> In one's thoughts. * /I'm glad you want to talk about this. It's been on my mind for weeks./ * /What's on your mind?/ Compare: IN MIND.

[on one's nerves] See: GET ON ONE'S NERVES.

[on one's own] <adj. phr.> With no help from others. * /It is a happy day when you're allowed to drive a car on your own./ * /Being on your own may be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2).

[on one's own account] or <informal> [on one's own hook] <adv. phr.> 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. * /After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account./ 2. See: OF ONE'S OWN ACCORD.

[on one's own feet] See: STAND ON ONE'S OWN FEET.

[on one's own hook] See: ON ONE'S OWN ACCOUNT.

[on one's own time] <adv. phr.> During one's free time; not during working or school hours. * /If you want to play football, you'll have to do it on your own time./

[on one's part] or [on the part of one] <adj. phr.> 1. Of or by you; of someone's. * /When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part./ * /The other team blamed their defeat on unfairness on the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE'S PART.

[on one's shoulders] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> In your care; as your responsibility. * /The success of the program rests on your shoulders./ * /He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders./

[on one's toes] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Alert; ready to act. * /The successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare: HEADS-UP, ON THE BALL.

[on one's uppers] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Very poor. * /Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE'S LUCK.

[on one's way] See: ON THE WAY.

[on pain of] also [under pain of] <prep.>, <formal> At the risk of; under penalty of. * /The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs./ * /The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding./

[on paper] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. * /On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War./ * /The football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper./

[on pins and needles] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Worried; nervous. * /Jane's mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school./ * /Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play./

[on purpose] <adv. phr.> For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. * /Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose./ * /The clown fell down on purpose./

[on record] <adj. phr.> 1. An official or recorded statement or fact; said for everyone to know. * /We do not know when the famous writer was born, but the date of his death is on record./ * /The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record./ 2. Known to have said or done a certain thing. - Usually used with "as". * /The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise./ * /The governor is on record as favoring the new highway./ * /That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste in government./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.

[on sale] <adj. phr.> Selling for a special low price. * /Tomato soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents./ * /John and Mary couldn't sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup./

[on schedule(1)] <adv. phr.> As planned or expected; at the right time. * /The school bus arrived at school on schedule./ * /The four seasons arrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME.

[on schedule(2)] <adj. phr.> Punctual; as planned. * /The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition./

[on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.

[on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT.

[on sight] See: AT SIGHT.

[on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.

[on the air] <adj.> or <adv. phr.> Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. * /His show is on the air at six o'clock./ * /The ball game is on the air now./

[on the alert] <adj. phr.> Alert; watchful; careful. * /Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ * /Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE'S TOES.

[on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE.

[on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK.

[on the ball] <adj. phr.>, <informal> 1. Paying attention and doing things well. - Used after "is" or "get". * /Ben is really on the ball in school./ * /The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE'S EYE ON THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. Used after "have". * /John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball./ * /The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball./

[on the bandwagon] <adj. phr.>, <informal> In or into the newest popular group or activity; in or into something you join just because many others are joining it. - Often used after "climb", "get", or "jump". * /When all George's friends decided to vote for Bill, George climbed on the bandwagon too./ See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[on the barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARRELHEAD.

[on the beam] <adv.> or <adj. phr.> 1. (Of an airplane) In the radio beam that marks the path to follow between airports; flying in the right direction. * /A radio signal tells the pilot of an airplane when he is flying on the beam./ 2. <slang> Doing well; just right; good or correct. * /Kenneth's answer was right on the beam./ Contrast: OFF THE BEAM.

[on the bench] 1. Sitting in a law court as a judge. * /Judge Wyzanski is on the bench this morning./ 2. Sitting among the substitute players. * /The coach had to keep his star player on the bench with a sprained ankle./ Compare: BENCH WARMER.

[on the blink] <adj. phr.> Faulty; malfunctioning; inoperative. * /I need to call a competent repairman because my computer is on the blink again./

[on the block] <adj. phr.> To be sold; for sale. * /The vacant house was on the block./ * /Young cattle are grown and sent to market to be placed on the block./

[on the brain] <adj. phr.>, <slang> Filling your thoughts; too much thought about; almost always in mind. * /Mary Ann has boys on the brain./ * /Joe's hobby is ham radio and he has radio on the brain most of the time./

[on the brink of] <adv. phr.> Facing a new event that's about to happen. * /"I am on the brink of a new discovery," our physics professor proudly announced./

[on the button] <adv., adj.>, <slang> At the right place; at the heart of the matter. * /John's remark was right on the button./ Compare: ON THE DOT.

[on the cards] See: IN THE CARDS.

[on the carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET.

[on the cheap] <adv. phr.> Inexpensively; on a tight budget. * /She buys most of her clothes on the cheap in secondhand stores./

[on the chin] See: TAKE IT ON THE CHIN.

[on the contrary] <adv. phr.> Exactly the opposite; rather; instead. * /The principal thought that the children went to the zoo; on the contrary, they went to the bakery./ * /"You don't like football, do you?" "On the contrary, I like it very much."/ Compare: TO THE CONTRARY.

[on the cuff] <adj.> or <adv. phr.>, <informal> Agreeing to pay later; to be paid for later; on credit. * /Peter lost the money that Mother gave him to buy meat, and the store would not let him have meat on the cuff./ * /Many people buy cars and television sets on the cuff./

[on the dole] <adv. phr.> Drawing unemployment benefits. * /When Jim lost his job he got on the dole and is still on it./

[on the dot] also [on the button] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Exactly on time; not early and not late. * /Susan arrived at the party at 2:00 P.M. on the dot./ * /Ben's plane arrived on the dot./

[on the double!] <adv. phr.> Hurry up! * /"Let's go! On the double!" the pilot cried, as he started up the engine of the small plane./

[on the eve of] <prep.> Just before (an event). * /On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes./

[on the face of it] <adv. phr.> Apparently; as it seems. * /On the face of it, Joe's claim that he can swim five miles is true./ * /His statement that he is a millionaire is, on the face of it, false./

[on the fence] <adj.> or <adv. phr.> Not able, or not wanting to choose; in doubt; undecided. - Often used with "sit". * /Jack sat on the fence for a week last spring before he finally joined the track team instead of the baseball team./ * /Mrs. Jones has decided to vote for the Democrats, but Mr. Jones is still on the fence./ See: FENCE-SITTER or FENCE-SITTING.

[on the fly(1)] <adv. phr.> 1. While in the air; in flight. * /The bird caught a bug on the fly./ * /Joe was called out because the catcher caught the ball on the fly./ 2. <informal> Between other activities; while busy with many things. * /The president was so busy that he had to dictate letters on the fly./ * /John is very busy, and people who want to talk to him have to catch him on the fly./ Compare: ON THE GO, ON THE WING(2).

[on the fly(2)] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Busy; going somewhere in a hurry; going about doing things. * /Getting the house ready for the visitors kept Mother on the fly all day./ * /The housekeeper of our school is always on the fly./

[on the go] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Active and busy. * /Successful businessmen are on the go most of the time./ * /Healthy, happy people are usually on the go./ Compare: ON THE MOVE.

[on the heels of] <prep.> Just after; following (something, especially an event). - Often used with "hard" for emphasis. * /Hard on the heels of the women's liberation parade, homosexuals declared a "gay pride week."/

[on the hog] See: LIVE HIGH OFF THE HOG or EAT HIGH ON THE HOG.

[on the hour] <adv. phr.> Each time the hour has zero minutes and zero seconds. * /The uptown bus goes past the school on the hour./ * /The woman must take her pill on the hour./

[on the house] <adj. phr.>, <informal> Paid for by the owner. * /At the opening of the new hotel, the champagne was on the house./ * /Oscar was the first customer at the diner, so his lunch was on the house./

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