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1 of 10
A strange or unusual person who does odd things.
Categories: behave noun sleeve
A Dictionary of American Idioms
1 of 10

queer fish

[queer fish]  {n.}
A strange or unusual person who does odd things.
Uncle Algernon dresses in heavy furs in the summer and short-sleeved shirts in the winter. No wonder everyone considers him a queer fish.
Categories: behave noun sleeve
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10
Rather a large number; more than a few.
- The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more".
- Sometimes used like an adverb.
Syn.: [GOOD MANY], [NOT A FEW]. Compare: [A FEW], [A NUMBER].
Categories: adjective formal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
2 of 10

quite a few

[quite a few] or [quite a number] also  {formal} [not a few]  {n.} or  {adj. phr.}
Rather a large number; more than a few.
Quite a few went to the game.
The basket had quite a few rotten apples in it.
- The phrase "quite a number" is used like an adjective only before "less", "more".
Few people saw the play on the first night but quite a number more came on the second night.
- Sometimes used like an adverb.
We still have quite a few more miles to go before we reach New York.
Syn.: [GOOD MANY], [NOT A FEW]. Compare: [A FEW], [A NUMBER].
Categories: adjective formal noun
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10
The socially proper thing to do.
Categories: noun polite
A Dictionary of American Idioms
3 of 10

quite the thing

[quite the thing]  {n. phr.}
The socially proper thing to do.
In polite society it is quite the thing to send a written thank you note to one's host or hostess after a dinner party.
Categories: noun polite
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10
No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
4 of 10

joking aside

[joking aside] or [joking apart]  {v. phr.},  {informal}
No fooling; without exaggerating: seriously.
Joking aside, although the conditions were not very comfortable, we had a wonderful time.
Joking apart, there must have been over a hundred people in the room.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10
To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
5 of 10

jot down

[jot down]  {v. phr.}
To quickly commit to writing; make a quick note of something.
Let me jot down your address so that I can send you a postcard from Europe.
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10
Going to have a baby.
Compare: [WITH CHILD].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
6 of 10

in a family way

[in a family way] or [in the family way]  {adj. phr.},  {informal}
Going to have a baby.
Sue and Liz are happy because their mother is in the family way.
The Ferguson children are promising kittens to everyone because their cat is in a family way.
Compare: [WITH CHILD].
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10
In some ways but not in all; somewhat.
Categories: adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
7 of 10

in a sense

[in a sense]  {adv. phr.}
In some ways but not in all; somewhat.
Mr. Smith said our school is the best in the state, and in a sense that is true.
In a sense, arithmetic is a language.
Categories: adverb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10
1. In front; ahead (of the others); first.
2. Before doing or getting something.
Categories: adverb time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
8 of 10

in advance

[in advance] or [in advance of]  {adv. phr.}
1. In front; ahead (of the others); first.
In the parade, the band will march in advance of the football team.
The soldiers rode out of the fort with the scouts in advance.
2. Before doing or getting something.
The motel man told Mr. Williams he would have to pay in advance.
The paperhanger mixed his paste quite a while in advance so it would have time to cool.
It will be easier to decorate the snack bar if we cut the streamers in advance of the actual decorating.
Categories: adverb time
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10
To have your home in; come from; be from; especially, to have been born and raised in.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
9 of 10

hail from

[hail from]  {v.},  {informal}
To have your home in; come from; be from; especially, to have been born and raised in.
Mrs. Gardner hails from Mississippi.
Mr. Brown and Mr. White are old friends because they both hail from the same town.
Categories: informal verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10
1. To hold on to something, usually tightly.
Syn.: [HOLD ON] (1).
2a. To continue doing something; persist.
Compare: [HOLD OUT], [STICK OUT].
2b. To hold a lead in a race or other contest while one's opponents try to rally.
3. To continue to give trouble or cause suffering.
4. To continue listening on the telephone.
Compare: [HOLD ON] (3).
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms
10 of 10

hang on

[hang on]  {v.}
1. To hold on to something, usually tightly.
Jack almost fell off the cliff, but managed to hang on until help came.
Syn.: [HOLD ON] (1).
2a. To continue doing something; persist.
The grocer was losing money every day, but he hung on, hoping that business would improve.
Compare: [HOLD OUT], [STICK OUT].
2b. To hold a lead in a race or other contest while one's opponents try to rally.
The favorite horse opened an early lead and hung on to win as two other horses almost passed him in the final stretch.
Bunning, staked to a 6—0 lead in the first inning, hung on to heat the Dodgers 6—4.
3. To continue to give trouble or cause suffering.
Lou's cold hung on from January to April.
4. To continue listening on the telephone.
Jerry asked John, who had called him on the phone, to hung on while he ran for a pencil and a sheet of paper.
Compare: [HOLD ON] (3).
Categories: verb
A Dictionary of American Idioms