The oxford dictionary of new words

~~~~~~*A*~~~~~~ a beauty The expression a beauty is slang for something that is highly valued. Our new car is a beauty. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Now the fridge is a beauty. It runs on gas, used to be kerosene. a bit rough Something that is a bit rough is unfair. The penalty decision was a bit rough. a blast Something that is a blast is a lot of fun. Flying in a plane is a blast. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: So that was incredibly exciting, especially coming from Alice Springs which is quite remote, to go there and be immersed in this kind of incredibly kind of cutting edge and really exciting field, yeah, that was really a blast. a dip a swim I enjoy a dip on a hot day. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Just came out with the boys for a bit of a dip. a far cry from very different from something This new car is a far cry from my old bicycle. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: For pets and owners alike, sledding is a far cry from the traditional run through the local park or walk around the block a go To give something a go means to give it a chance, or a try. I'll give that new face cream a go. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: At a public meeting he managed to convince about a dozen people from the town of 300 to give his idea a go. a hell of a lot a large amount I've got a hell of a lot of work to do. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: They're just like the full-sized locomotives but in miniature. You have to steam them up, you have to shovel coal while you're driving along. You have to make sure the water level is still the same so in many senses it's just the same as driving a big one, and a hell of a lot lighter. a helping hand / a hand help; assistance The charity offers a helping hand to the homeless. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: And then - I remember the date - on the January 20, 1955, Dad wanted a hand in the shop so he said, "Come down for a few years and help me in our general store," but it's turned out 51 years later, I'm still here. a must something that must be experienced This new film is a must. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Fishermen crave it and for tourists a taste is a must -- and that taste is catching on. a picture of health If someone is a picture of health they look very healthy. You're a picture of health today. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: 10 years on, Glenys is a picture of health but her world was rocked three years ago with another call from Jo. a steal a bargain These shoes are a steal at five dollars. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: About 60 locals have put what they could into buying the building - a steal at $33,000. a storm brewing big problems coming in the future There is a storm brewing in the office. about to To be about to do something is to be going to do it very soon or in the near future. I'm about to go to bed. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Along with his partner, musician Wendy Rule, Llewellyn Griffiths is now about to embark on a worldwide selling trip. across the board over the whole range of things Prices have fallen across the board. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Trades areas, I think the whole raft of trades, you can start at the construction trades, electrical trades, across the board. act like a sheep To act like a sheep is to follow without thinking. She always acts like a sheep and buys the latest fashion. add another string to your bow To add another string to your bow is to have another thing you can do if what you are already doing fails. You can't go through life with just one skill. You need to add another string to your bow. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Walcha district has been renowned for its sheep, its cattle, its timber, and having some of the lowest temperatures in New South Wales. Today, it is adding another string to its bow with its art. ad-hoc not planned; happening when necessary We have meetings here on an ad hoc basis. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: We do things often in a very ad hoc way. We need to do that better. against all the odds in spite of huge difficulties; even though it looked impossible Against all the odds, she became president. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Against all the odds, he survived. akin to similar to; having the same qualities Cricket is akin to baseball because they are both summer games that used a bat and ball. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The human technology equivalent is something akin to breast cancer screenings, although this horse test is much broader, and can be used as regularly as every fortnight. all but almost; just about; nearly I’ve all but finished writing the report. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Paul Schembri, from the Canegrowers Association, says the devastating mix of poor weather, low prices, competition from Brazil and crop disease have pushed many farmers deep into the red and all but out of business. The expression all but can also be used to mean all except. I answered all but the last two questions on the test. all clear The all clear is an indication that a situation is no longer dangerous. The doctor has given me the all clear and I'll be back to work soon. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Until the all clear is given, Tennant Creek residents are being asked to remain vigilant and keep a close eye on potential mozzie breeding areas. all done up dressed elaborately for an occasion She got all done up for the wedding. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Love the clothing. I'm not all done up tonight, but I love the 20s Charleston gear. all in a day's work not unusual; part of the ordinary rountine Dealing with people who are drunk is just all in a day's work to policemen in this area. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: But for black tracker Jimmy James, solving famous murders and hunting prison escapees was all in a day's work. all manner of all sorts of; all kinds of; many different types There are all manner of solutions to this problem. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: So you're saying accounts, client information, emails: all manner of sensitive information can be gotten? all of a sudden suddenly All of a sudden she decided to go out. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: ...one computer, is certainly mind-boggling complexity, but when you then strap together a million - a hundred million them and allow them to connect to each other live, all of a sudden you've created this monstrous system… all the go very popular (informal) SMS text messages are all the go. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Adventure tourism is all the go. all up adding everything together All up your bill comes to $150. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: In true accountant style, Alan Shadgett has kept all the paperwork, and he says all up it's cost him around $30,000. all walks of life all kinds of jobs and backgrounds People from all walks of life enjoy watching football. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: ...we get all walks of people that come through here. along those lines similar I liked the style of their house - perhaps we could build one along those lines. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Hopefully in a few years time the girls can start getting some crowds and start getting some match payments and contracts - something along those lines, but it is improving and we can only hope for it to get better. amounts to adds up to; seems to be; is Not feeding your pets amounts to cruel treatment. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Every time one of those children of the parents that I met in some of these locations three decades ago is in difficulty at school, is getting in trouble with the law, this amounts to a breach of the Australian ethic and idea of a fair go. and that et cetera; and so on; other things like that I like driving anything fast - motorbikes, speedboats and that. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Yeah, it's been really rewarding just, like, growing up with them and just being able to experience other cultures and being, yeah, tolerant of these other cultures and customs and that. anybody's guess When it's anybody's guess when no-one really knows what the facts are. It's anybody's guess how many kangaroos there are in Australia. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: There could be hand grenades, detonators - anything from bazooka shells to artillery shells - and hopefully they're all kept in a safe and secure state. But 60 years down the track it's anybody's guess. appear out of thin air To appear out of thin air is to appear suddenly and unexpectedly as if out of nowhere. She expects money to just appear out of thin air. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: By turning the camera on or off people could be made to vanish or appear out of thin air, and superimposing two scenes made transparent ghosts gradually appear and then fade away. apple of my eye The apple of somebody's eye is a person who is loved the most, usually a child. My daughter is the apple of my eye. apple pie order If we say that things are in apple pie order, we mean that they are in excellent condition. My health is in apple pie order. appreciate in value become more valuable; increase in price Property is something that will always appreciate in value. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: She says while they may appear a low cost option, relocatable homes rarely appreciate in value and are more expensive than conventional housing in the long term. armed with To be armed with something is to have something that can be used to achieve something. Armed with his improved English, he applied for a university course in Australia. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Armed with camcorders, a stills camera and a microphone, Michael and Drew are out to prove that ghosts exist and can be found all over Tasmania. as a rule mostly; often enough for it to appear to be a rule As a rule, cars have four wheels, but some British models have only three. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: As a rule, it's generally an older person's sport. as if as though; in a way that suggests He looked as if he would cause trouble. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: To get blokes to sing - it is very hard - and they think they can't sing but I get them to go something like...DAY-OH... DAY-AY-AY-OH... DAYLIGHT COME AND ME WANNA GO HOME... and so you ask the blokes to sing that and it's as if it's like not a song! as safe as houses very safe Investing in bank shares is as safe as houses. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: He grew up in the area and he says the precious Aldinga Scrub will be as safe as houses. as such Here , as such means literally or in the usual sense of the word. There is no hotel as such in the town, but you can find accomodation at the caravan park. because of what something is I am the main contributor and, as such, I should be paid the most. in itself; as it is I'm not interested in money as such, but I do like the things it can buy. as the crow flies The expression as the crow flies refers to the shortest distance between two points measured in the air above the ground. The top of the next hill is only a kilometre away as the crow flies, but it's twice that distance when you have to walk down into the valley and up the other side. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: It was, and is, our greatest river. Our centre of myth and legend, our Mississippi or Amazon. But it drains the world’s flattest and driest continent and weaves like a drunken sailor, taking three miles to travel one mile, as the crow flies. as well in addition to; too They sell tea as well as coffee. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Well, my father was a world champion and my great uncle was a world champion as well so it's been in my family all my life. at a crossroads at a point in time when a decision must be made or when something different is about to happen She's at a crossroads in her life. She either starts a family or takes the promotion. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: In WA, as in all of Australia's southern states, the wild-caught abalone industry is at a crossroads. at all in any way I'm not at all confused. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: In the last year or so, I've spent several thousand dollars on these seven-inches. It has never gotten me down at all. at bay To hold something at bay is to stop it from doing damage. I held the lion at bay with a chair. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: No plant is fireproof, but there are plants which are less flammable and better suited to holding the fire at bay. at close quarters close together; within a short distance I want to move to a position at close quarters to the nest so I can film the birds feeding their babies. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Living at close quarters in work camps along the rail route, fitting into the team is a key part of handling the tough conditions. at home To be at home means to feel comfortable and relaxed in a place. He's at home in the water. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: He's usually more at home on a harvester, so for Cameron Tubby, this isn't your average crop. at its peak at its best; at the highest point Her career is at its peak. at odds with not in agreement with I'm at odds with my boss about how much I should be paid. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: While the ponies are now a managed herd, conservationists argue that their presence is at odds with the founding principles of national parks. at once At once can mean immediately. I want you to do this at once. Or it can mean at the same time. I can't understand if you all talk at once. at stake at risk; in jeopardy The soldiers put their lives at stake during the battle. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: With all of science, there are large egos involved and scientists have a lot at stake. at the drop of a hat immediately; without hesitation He can recite the whole poem at the drop of a hat. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: And so we devoted last year to building that relationship so that now, at the drop of a hat, so to speak, we can actually relate to her either here or where she lives and on the telephone and, as she gets a little bit older, by computer - by email as well. at the eleventh hour at the last minute; very late We came up with a solution at the eleventh hour. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Now the action at the moment is piecemeal and at the eleventh hour for loggerhead turtles, it's not good enough. at the end of the day finally; when everything is taken into account At the end of the day a decision has to be made. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The tracking and the following of paperwork and if the stock are accurately branded and clearly branded at the end of the day we can locate them and identify them by their registered brands and earmarks at the end of your tether To be at the end of your tether is have no more patience left. I was really at the end of my tether and lost my temper. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Even if I have a day off with rough weather, I'm sort of a bit toey, but now it's just ridiculous, I'm right at the end of my tether, really. at the expense of causing damage or loss to something or somebody We could make more clothes for the market, but only at the expense of quality. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: But is this trend at the expense of the local traditional shopping strip? at the forefront in a leading position This new computer game will put us at the forefront of the industry. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: This institution has always been at the forefront of research, and was one of the first biological centres in the world to make all living plant material and herbarium records available via the internet. at the heart of At the heart of means at the centre of, the most important part of something. At the heart of the matter is his lack of money. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: At the heart of Steve Johnston's concern is the McArthur River Mine. at the moment now; at this time; presently At the moment I'm reading this example. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: We are sort of, I guess, stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment that we're only getting the same type of flower constantly, season after season. at their feet needing them; prepared to be generous to them; admiring them The brilliant young doctors had the medical world at their feet. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: In fact, any young person wanting to be trained in traditional trades has the manufacturing and construction worlds at their feet, according to many employers. at worst taking the least hopeful view; the worst thing that can happen is You might as well buy a lottery ticket - at best you win a million dollars and at worst you've wasted only a few dollars. ~~~~~~*B*~~~~~~ back a winner To back a winner means to bet on a winner, or to support something that does well. To back means to bet money on a horse. We backed a winner by investing in a successful movie. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: It might not be Las Vegas but combined with the mining resurgence, locals who've kept their money on Broken Hill now think they’ve backed a winner. back flip When someone changes what they said they they were going to do, we call it a back flip and even use it as a verb. He's back flipped on his promise to stop smoking. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: The Optometrists' Association says the government's back flip will do far more harm than good. back of beyond outback; bush; remote country My first job was in a tiny community in the back of beyond. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: They may have been living in the back of beyond, but two-way radio and the postal service kept them in touch. back on the menu back on the list of things to eat or do Now that it’s summer, ice-cream is back on the menu. This is how the expression is used in one of our stories: Here, beef is back on the menu. back then in the past Back then things were much better. This is how the expression is used in one of