O
Idioms beginning with "O"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of O:
[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 […]
[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 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 […]
[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."