tear one s hair Idiom, Proverb
a little hair off the dog
(See hair off the dog)
Angel Hair
phencyclidine
armchair
armchair armchair quarterback or
a person who is not a quarterback (or general, etc.), but offers opinions and criticism on the performance or decisions of those who are
Armchair critic
An armchair critic is someone who offers advice but never shows that they could actually do any better.
bad hair day
1. a day when one is unable to arrange one's hair into a satisfactory and pleasing style
2. used figuratively for a problematic and difficult day
by a hair
by a hair Also,
by a hairbreadth or
whisker. Very narrowly. For example,
His serve was out by a hair, or
We made our flight by a hairbreadth, or
Dad missed hitting the pole by a whisker. The first two hyperboles for the very narrowest margin date from the 1300s and 1400s respectively;
whisker meaning “a small amount” was first recorded in 1913. Also see
by the skin of one's teeth;
hang by a thread.
By a hair's breadth
If a person escapes from some danger by a hair's breadth, they only just managed to avoid it. The breadth is the thickness of a hair, so they probably feel somewhat lucky because the margin between success and what could easily have been failure was so close.
by a hair’s breadth
Idiom(s):
by a hair(’s breadth) AND by a whiskerTheme:
AMOUNT - SMALL
just barely; by a very small distance. (The whisker phrase is folksy.)
• I just missed getting on the plane by a hair's breadth.
• I made it by a hair!
• The arrow missed the deer by a whisker.
by the short hairs
by the short hairs
Under one's complete control. This expression is often used with get or have, as in She had her husband by the short hairs. It is in effect a euphemism for have someone by the balls, the hairs in question being pubic hair. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]
chair
chair
see musical chairs, play.
chairman of the boards (hockey)
a player who controls play along the boards In the 1970s Doug was chairman of the boards for the Hawks.
crew cut|crew|crew haircut|cut|haircut
n. A boy's or man's hair style, cut so that the hair stands up in short, stiff bristle. Many boys like to get crew cuts during the summer to keep cooler.
curl one's hair
Idiom(s): curl someone's hair AND make someone's hair curl
Theme: SHOCK
to frighten or alarm someone; to shock someone with sight, sound, or taste.
• Don't ever sneak up on me like that again. You really curled my hair.
• The horror film made my hair curl.
curl one's hair|curl|hair
v. phr., slang To shock; frighten; horrify; amaze. Wait till you read what it says about you
this'll curl your hair. The movie about monsters from another planet curled his hair.
curl your hair
shock you, disgust you The man described the accident. It was enough to curl your hair!
deuce of haircuts
two weeks
Don't stand there with curlers in your hair
This means 'don't keep me waiting'. It's said to someone who is taking too long to get moving.
fair-haired boy
favorite boy, favorite man He's the fair-haired boy in this office. They think he's perfect.
fair-haired boy|boy|fair|fair haired|hair
n., informal A person that gets special favors; favorite; pet. If he wins the election by a large majority, he will become his party's fair-haired boy. The local boy playing first base could do no wrong; he was the fair-haired boy of the fans. Charles was a good student and behaved very well; he became the teacher's fair-haired boy.
get gray hair from
get gray hair from
Be very worried or upset by. For example, I know I'm going to get gray hair from his driving. Similarly, give gray hair to means “to worry someone,” as in The boy's love of rock climbing gave his parents gray hair. This idiom alludes to the notion that extreme anxiety or grief can cause one's hair to turn gray. [Early 1600s]
get gray hair|get|get gray|gray hair|hair
v. phr., informal To become old or gray from worrying; become very anxious or worried.
Often used with "over". "If John doesn't join the team, I won't get gray hair over it," the coach said. Naughty children are why mothers get gray.
Compare: GIVE GRAY HAIR.
get gray hairs
Idiom(s): get gray hair(s)
Theme: ANXIETY
to have one's hair turn gray from stress or frustration.
• I'm getting gray hair because I have three teenage boys.
• Oh, Tom, stop it! I'm going to get gray hairs.
• I have gray hairs from raising four kids.
get in one's hair
Idiom(s): get in one's hair
Theme: ANNOYANCE
to bother or irritate someone.
• Billy is always getting in his mother's hair.
• I wish you'd stop getting in my hair.
get in your hair
(See in your hair)
get out of your hair
leave, not bother you, get lost "Let me ask one more question; then I'll get out of your hair."
give gray hair|give|gray hair|hair
v. phr., informal To make (someone) anxious, confused, or worried. The traffic problem is enough to give a policeman gray hairs.
Compare: GET GRAY HAIR.
give sb gray hairs
Idiom(s): give sb gray hair(s)
Theme: FRUSTRATION
to cause someone's hair to turn gray from stress or frustration.
• My three teenage boys are giving me gray hair.
• Your behavior is giving me gray hairs.
go to the chair|chair|go
v. phr. To be executed in the electric chair. After many stays of execution, the criminal finally had to go to the chair.
grab a chair
sit down, have a seat, take a load off your feet "After I introduced everybody, I said, ""Grab a chair and sit down."""
hair
hair
In addition to the idioms beginning with hair, also see bad hair day; by a hair; by the short hairs; fair-haired boy; get gray hair from; hang by a thread; hide nor hair, neither; in someone's hair; let one's hair down; make one's hair stand on end; put lead in one's pencil; split hairs; tear one's hair; turn a hair, not.
* * *
- hair of the dog that bit you
- hair shirt
Hair of the dog
If someone has a hair of the dog, they have an alcoholic drink as a way of getting rid of a hangover, the unpleasant effects of having drunk too much alcohol the night before. It is commonly used as a way of excusing having a drink early on in the day.
hair of the dog that bit one
Idiom(s): hair of the dog that bit one
Theme: DRINKING
a drink of liquor taken when one has a hangover; a drink of liquor taken when one is recovering from drinking too much liquor. (Informal.)
• Oh, I'm miserable. I need some of the hair of the dog that bit me.
• That's some hangover you've got there, Bob. Here, drink this. It's some of the hair of the dog that bit you.
hair of the dog that bit you
hair of the dog that bit you
Whatever made you ill used as a remedy, especially alcohol as a hangover cure. For example, A little hair of the dog will cure that hangover in no time. This expression, already a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 compendium, is based on the ancient folk treatment for dogbite of putting a burnt hair of the dog on the wound. It is often shortened, as in the example.
hair off the dog that bit you
remedy that uses the cause, fight fire with fire The theory of penicillin is to use the hair off the dog that bit you.
hair shirt
hair shirt
A self-imposed punishment or penance, as in I apologized a dozen times—do you want me to wear a hair shirt forever? This term, mentioned from the 13th century on, alludes to wearing a coarse, scratchy hair shirt, the practice of religious ascetics. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1800s.
hair stand on end
become frightened or afraid of something My hair stood on end when I saw the aftermath of the automobile accident.
hair stand on end|hair|stand
informal The hair of your head rises stiffly upwards as a sign or result of great fright or horror. When he heard the strange cry, his hair stood on end. The sight of the dead man made his hair stand on end.
Compare: BLOOD RUN COLD, HEART IN ONE'S MOUTH, HEART STAND STILL, JUMP OUT OF ONE'S SKIN, SPINE-CHILLING.
hair stands on end
the hair of one's head rises because of fright My hair stood on end when I saw the large dog run out and begin to bark at me.
hairbrain
not sensible, irrational, crazy, kooky Eric is talking about a hairbrain plan to train ants as employees.
haircut place|haircut|place
n., slang, citizen's band radio jargon Bridge or overpass with tight clearance. Are we going to make it in that haircut place?
hairdo
hairstyle, coiffure Did you see Eileen's hairdo? She looks lovely in tight curls.
Hairy at the heel
(UK) Someone who is hairy at the heel is dangerous or untrustworthy.
hang by a hair
Idiom(s): hang by a hair AND hang by a thread
Theme: CERTAINTY - LACKING
to be in an uncertain position; to depend on something very insubstantial.
• Your whole argument is hanging by a thread.
• John isn't failing geometry, but he's just hanging by a hair.
hang by a hair thread
depend on a very small thing;be in doubt千钧一发;处于紧急关头;安危未定
He has lost so much blood that his life hangs by a thread.他失血过多,生命垂危。
For three days he was so sick that his life hung by a thread.他病危,3天,真是命若游丝。
His life hung by a hair,but the doctors managed to revive him.他生命垂危,但医生们设法把他救了过来。
hang by a hair/a thread
depend on a very small thing;be in doubt千钧一发;处于紧急关头;安危未定
He has lost so much blood that his life hangs by a thread.他失血过多,生命垂危。
For three days he was so sick that his life hung by a thread.他病危,3天,真是命若游丝。
His life hung by a hair,but the doctors managed to revive him.他生命垂危,但医生们设法把他救了过来。
hang by a thread|hang|hang by a hair|thread
v. phr. To depend on a very small thing; be in doubt. For three days Tom was so sick that his life hung by a thread. As Joe got ready to kick a field goal, the result of the game hung by a hair.
Compare: HANG IN THE BALANCE.
have a chair
please sit down on a chair, have a seat """Please have a chair,"" my aunt said, and the man sat down."
have hair|hair|have
v. phr., slang To possess courage, fortitude, guts, sex-appeal. I like him, he's got a lot of hair.
haven't seen hide nor hair
have not seen a person, have seen no sign of him We haven't seen hide nor hair of Jack since he borrowed $1000.
hide nor hair
(See haven't seen hide nor hair)