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[score] See: SETTLE A SCORE also WIPE OUT AN OLD SCORE, THE SCORE.
[scot-free] <adj. phr.> Without punishment; completely free. * /In spite of his obvious guilt, the jury acquitted him and he got off scot-free./
[scotch broth] <n.> A thick barley soup with vegetables and mutton or beef. * /Mother cooked a hearty scotch broth for dinner./
[Scott] See: GREAT GODFREY or GREAT SCOTT.
[scout] See: GOOD EGG or GOOD SCOUT.
[scout around] <v. phr.> To search for; look around. * /When we first came to town, we had to scout around for a suitable apartment./
[scrape] See: BOW AND SCRAPE.
[scrape the bottom of the barrel] <v. phr.>, <informal> To use or take whatever is left after the most or the best has been taken; accept the leftovers. * /At first they took out quarters, but they had so little money that they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel and paid with nickels and pennies for their lunch./ * /The garage owner had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find a qualified mechanic to work for him./
[scrape together] <v. phr.> To quickly assemble, usually from scanty ingredients. * /We were so hungry we had to scrape together some lunch from all kinds of frozen leftovers./
[scrape up] See: SCARE UP.
[scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH, PUT ONE'S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE, UP TO PAR or UP TO SCRATCH.
[scratch around for] <v. phr.> To search randomly for something. * /If you scratch around for a more reliable used car, maybe you'll feel more confident on the road./
[scratch one's back] <v. phr.>, <informal> To do something kind and helpful for someone or to flatter him in the hope that he will do something for you. Usually used in the expression "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." * /Mary asked Jean to introduce her to her brother. Jean said, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."/
[scratch the surface] <v. phr.> To learn or understand very little about something. - Usually used with a limiting adverb (as "only", "hardly"). * /We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found we had only scratched the surface./ * /High school students have only scratched the surface of their subjects, and even after college graduation, they still find there is much more to learn./
[scream bloody murder] <v. phr.>, <informal> To yell or protest as strongly as one can. * /When the thief grabbed her purse, the woman screamed bloody murder./ * /When the city doubled property taxes, home owners screamed bloody murder./
[screen test] <n.> A short movie made to see if an actor or actress is good enough or the right one to play a part. * /Ellen acted well on the stage, but she failed her screen test./
[screw] See: HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, PUT ON THE SCREWS.
[screw around] <v. phr.>, <vulgar>, <avoidable> To hang around idly without accomplishing anything, to loaf about, to beat or hack around. * /You guys are no longer welcome here; all you do is screw around all day./
[screws] See: TIGHTEN THE SCREWS.
[screw up] <v. phr.>, <slang>, <semi-vulgar>, <best avoided> 1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion. * /The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he had to be fired./ 2. To cause someone to be neurotic or maladjusted. * /Her divorce screwed her up so badly that she had to go to a shrink./
[screw-up] <n.> A mistake; an error; a confusing mess. * /"What a screw-up!" the manager cried, when he realized that the bills were sent to the wrong customers./
[screw up one's courage] or [pluck up one's courage] <v. phr.> To force yourself to be brave. * /The small boy screwed up his courage and went upstairs in the dark./ * /When his father came home in a bad mood, it took Pete some time to screw up his courage and ask him for a dollar./ Compare: WHISTLE IN THE DARK.
[scrimmage] See: LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.
[scrounge around] <v. phr.>, <slang> 1. To search for an object aimlessly without having one clearly in mind. * /I don't know what's the matter with him, he is just scrounging around all day long./ 2. To look around for a way to get a free drink or a free meal. * /Sue and her husband are so broke they never eat properly; they just scrounge around from one place to the next until someone offers them something./
[sea] See: AT SEA, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HIGH SEAS, NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, PUT TO SEA.
[sea legs] <n. phr.> 1. Adjustment to being in a boat that is rocking on the sea. * /This is my first transatlantic trip so give me a day to get my sea legs before you make me dance./ 2. Adjustment to a new job or situation. * /"I have just been transferred here and I haven't found my sea legs yet," the new colleague joked./
[seam] See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.
[search] See: IN SEARCH OF.
[search me] <informal> I don't know; how should I know? - May be considered rude. * /When I asked her what time it was, she said, "Search me, I have no watch."/
[search one's heart] or [search one's soul] <v. phr.>, <formal> To study your reasons and acts; try to discover if you have been fair and honest. * /The teacher searched his heart trying to decide if he had been unfair in failing Tom./ - [heart-searching] or [soul-searching] <n.> or <adj.> * /After much heart-searching, Jean told Beth she was sorry for the unkind things she had said./ * /The minister preached a soul-searching sermon about the thoughtless ways people hurt each other./
[search out] <v.> To search for and discover; find or learn by hunting. * /The police were trying to search out the real murderer./
[search with a fine-tooth comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB.
[season] See: HIGH SEASON, IN SEASON, LOW SEASON, OUT OF SEASON.
[seat] See: BACK SEAT DRIVER, FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS, HOT SEAT, JUDGMENT SEAT, TAKE A BACK SEAT.
[seat belt] <n.> A strong strap used to protect a person in a moving car or other vehicle by holding him in his seat. * /When the plane began to land, Billy and his mother fastened their seat belts./ * /Passengers in automobiles should wear seat belts for safety./
[second] See: PLAY SECOND PIDDLE, SPLIT SECOND.
[second best] <n.> Something that is lower than or not quite as good as the best. * /Tom liked the deluxe model bicycle; but he could afford only a second best./ * /Joan chose the best and Mary had to take the second best./ * /There were ten boys in the race. Jack won and Fred was a close second best./ Compare: RUNNER UP.
[second best] <adv.> Second; in second place. * /The team came off second best in the game./
[second-best] <adj.> Next to best; second in rank. * /Mary wore her second-best dress./ * /Bob was the second-best player on the team./ * /"I am the second-best student in this school because I was second best in the Milwaukee competition."/
[second childhood] <n. phr.> Senility; dotage. * /"Grandpa is in his second childhood; we must make allowances for him at the dinner table," my mother said, as Grandpa dropped food all over the place./
[second class] <n.> 1. The second best or highest group; the class next after the first. * /Joe was good enough in arithmetic to be put in the second class but was not good enough for the first./ Compare: FIRST CLASS. 2. The place or quarters, especially on a ship, train, or airplane which people travel who pay the next to the highest fare. * /Aunt May bought a ticket to travel in the second class on the boat trip./ Compare: FIRST CLASS, THIRD CLASS. 3. A class of mail that includes magazines and newspapers published at least four times a year and costs less for mailing than first class mail. Compare: FIRST CLASS.
[second-class(1)] <adj.> 1. Belonging in the class that is next to the highest or next best. * /He was only a second-class math student./ * /His parents traveled as second-class passengers on the boat./ * /The periodical came as second-class mail./ Compare: FIRST-CLASS, THIRD-CLASS. 2. Not so good as others; second-rate. * /They were never given full democratic rights but were always treated as second-class citizens./
[second-class(2)] <adv.> By second class. * /We went second-class on the train to New York./ * /I mailed the newspaper second-class./
[second cousin] <n.> A child of your father's or mother's first cousin. * /Mary and Jane are second cousins./
[second-guess] <v. phr.> 1. To criticize another's decision with advantage of hindsight. * /The losing team's coach is always second-guessed./ 2. To guess what someone else intends or would think or do. * /Television planners try to second-guess the public./
[secondhand] <adj.> Used; not new; preowned. * /Sometimes a secondhand car is just as reliable as a brand new one./
[second nature] <n.> Something done without any special effort, as if by natural instinct. * /Cutting tall trees has become second nature to the experienced lumberjack./
[second-rate] <adj.> Of mediocre or inferior quality. * /The movie received a bad review; it was second-rate at best./
[second-run] <adj.> Of a movie: Shown in many movie theaters before, and allowed to be shown later in other movie theaters. * /Tickets to second-run movies cost much less./
[second sight] <n. phr.> Intuition; prescience; clairvoyance. * /Some police departments employ psychics to find missing persons or objects as they are said to have second sight./
[second thought] <n.> A change of ideas or opinions resulting from more thought or study. * /Your second thoughts are very often wiser than your first ideas./ * /We decided to climb the mountain, but on second thought realized that it was too dangerous./ Compare: THINK BETTER OF.
[second to none] <adj. phr.> Excellent; first rate; peerless. * /Our new State University campus is second to none. There is no need to pay all that high tuition at a private college./
[second wind] also [second breath] <n.> 1. The easier breathing that follows difficult breathing when one makes a severe physical effort, as in running or swimming./ * /After the first quarter mile, a mile runner usually gets his second wind and can breathe better./ * /We climbed with labored breathing for half an hour, but then got our second wind and went up more easily./ 2. <informal> The refreshed feeling you get after first becoming tired while doing something and then becoming used to it. * /Tom became very tired of working at his algebra, but after a while he got his second wind and began to enjoy it./
[secret] See: IN SECRET, OPEN SECRET.
[section gang] or [section crew] <n.> A group of railroad workers who watch and repair a number of miles of track. * /The section crew was called out to fix the broken bridge./
[section hand] <n.> A worker who repairs railway track; one of the men in a section gang. * /The section hands moved off the track while the train went by./
[security blanket] <n.>, <slang>, <colloquial> An idea, person, or object that one holds on to for psychological reassurance or comfort as infants usually hang on to the edge of a pillow, a towel, or a blanket. * /Sue has gone to Aunt Mathilda for a chat; she is her security blanket./
[see] See: CAN'T SEE THE WOODS FOR THE TREES, LET ME SEE or LET'S SEE.
[see a lot of] <v. phr.> To go out regularly with someone; have an affair with someone. * /They have been seeing a lot of each other lately./
[see about] <v.> 1. To find out about; attend to. * /If you are too busy, I'll see about the train tickets./ 2. <informal> To consider; study. * /I cannot take time now but I'll see about your plan when I have time./ Compare: SEE TO, LOOK INTO, THINK OVER.
[see after] See: LOOK AFTER.
[see better days] <v. phr.> 1. To enjoy a better or happier life. * /Mr. Smith is poor now, but he will see better days./ 2. To become old, damaged, or useless. Used in the perfect tense. * /Mv blue coat is ten years old. It has seen better days./ * /Our car wasn't old, but it had seen better days./
[see beyond one's nose] or [see beyond the end of one's nose] <v. phr.> To make wise judgments about questions of importance to yourself and others; act with farseeing understanding. Used in negative, conditional, and interrogative sentences. * /He couldn't save money or make plans for the future; he just never saw beyond the end of his nose./ * /People who always complain about school taxes would stop it if they could see beyond their noses and understand the importance of first-class schools./
[seed] See: GO TO SEED or RUN TO SEED.
[see daylight] <v. phr.>, <informal> To know that an end or success is near. * /We thought we would never finish building the house, but now we can see daylight./ * /Sarah thought it would take forever to read the book for her report, but finally she saw daylight./
[see eye to eye] <v. phr.> To agree fully; hold exactly the same opinion. * /Though we did not usually agree, we saw eye to eye in the matter of reducing taxes./ * /Jim did not see eye to eye with Sally on where they would go for their vacation./
[see fit] or [think fit] <v. phr.> To decide that an action is necessary, wise, or advisable; choose. * /Jim asked "Dad, what time should I come home after the dance?" His father answered, "You way do as you see fit."/ - Often used with an infinitive. * /After much thought, we did not see fit to join the Smiths on their Caribbean cruise./ * /The boys were angry because Ed thought fit to report the fight to the principal./
[see how the land lies] <v. phr.>, <informal> To reconnoiter; investigate. * /Before going there in person to ask for a job, you had better see how the land lies and who does what./ Compare: CASE THE JOINT.
[seeing is believing] Seeing something is good proof. * /Bill told Joe he had passed his test, but Joe said, "Seeing is believing."/
[see into] <v.> To know or understand the real nature or meaning of. * /Suddenly the teacher saw into Linda's strange actions./
[see off] <v.> To go to say or wave goodbye to. * /His brother went to the train with him to see him off./ * /When Marsha flew to Paris, Flo saw her off at the airport./
[see one home] <v. phr.> To walk a person home. * /"Let me see you home, dear," Nick said to Jenny at the end of the party./
[see one's way clear] <v. phr.> To know no reason for not doing something; feel that you are free. * /John finally saw his way clear to help his friends./ * /Mary had to do her homework and help her mother before she could see her way clear to go to the movies with Jane./
[see out] <v.> 1. To go with to an outer door. * /A polite man sees his company out after a party./ 2. To stay with and finish; not quit. * /Pete's assignment was hard but he saw it out to the end./
[see reason] <v. phr.> To think or act sensibly, especially after realizing what the facts are on a certain matter and accepting advice about it. * /He finally saw reason and reshaped his sales strategy by lowering the prices as his older brother had suggested./
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