on-the-spot
980
long, but are split into regular repeated patterns, using COMMAS, and this makes the language of the novel sound like jazz music.
,on-the-'spot adj → see SPOT1
on-to /'ɒntə; before vowels 'ɒntu strong 'ɒntuː||'ɑːn-, 'ɑːn-/ prep 1 to a position or point on: He jumped onto the train. 2 be onto a good thing infml to have found a good, easy, or profitable situation 3 be onto someone infml a) to have found out about someone's illegal activities: The police are onto us! b) especially BrE to get in touch with someone: I've been onto the local authorities about the drains.
on-tol-o-gy /ˌɒntəˈlɒdʒi||ɑːn'tɑː-/ n [U] the branch of PHILOSOPHY concerned with the nature of existence ---gical /ˌɒntəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ||ˌɑːntəlɑː-/ adj ---gically /kli/ adv
o-nus /'əʊnəs n [the+S] fml the duty or responsibility of doing something: The onus is on you to complete this report.
on-ward /'ɒnwəd||'ɑːnwərd, 'ɑːn-/ adj [A] forward in space or time: the onward march of events ---onwards usually onward AmE– adv: from breakfast onwards | From now onward we'll do things my way.
on-yx /'ɒnɪks||'ɑː-/ n [U] a precious stone with lines of various colours
oo-dles /'uːdlz/ n [P(of)] old-fash infml lots: oodles of cream
oof /uːf/ interj often humor (a word like the sound that people make when hit in the stomach)
ooh la la, ooh là là /ˌuː lɑ ˈlɑː/ words said when one hears about someone or something surprising or beautiful. It is thought to sound like a French expression.
oomph /ʊmf/ n [U] slang the power of forceful activity; ENERGY: It's not a bad song, but it needs more oomph.
oops /ʊps/ also whoops interj infml (said when someone has fallen, dropped something, or made a mistake): Oops! I nearly dropped my cup of tea!
'oops-a-daisy also ups-a-daisy interj infml or humor (used to encourage someone who falls down or when helping someone to sit up, stand up, or climb): Are you ready Grandma? Come on then – oops-a-daisy!
ooze1 /uːz/ v 1 [+adv/prep] (of liquid, especially a thick liquid) to pass or flow slowly: Blood was oozing out of the wound on his leg. | (fig.) Their courage oozed away. 2 [T] to allow (liquid) to pass slowly out: The meat oozed blood. | (fig.) He simply oozes charm.
ooze2 n [U] mud or thick liquid, as at the bottom of a river
—oozy adj
op /ɒp||ɑːp/ n BrE infml for OPERATION
Op, op written abbrev. for OPUS
o-pac-i-ty /əʊˈpæsti/ n [U] the quality of being opaque
o-pal /'əʊpəl/ n [C,U] (a) precious stone which looks like milky water with colours in it
o-pa-les-cent /ˌəʊpəlesənt/ adj like an opal; having softly-shining quickly changing colours —cence n [U]
o-paque /əʊˈpeɪk/ adj 1 not able to be seen through: opaque glass 2 hard to understand → compare TRANSPARENT —ly adv —ness n [U] → see also OPACITY
'op art also optical art n [U] a form of modern art using patterns that play tricks on your eyes → compare POP ART
op. cit. /ˌɒp 'sɪt||ɑːp-/ abbrev. for opere citato Lat. in the work (usually a book) mentioned before
OPEC /'əʊpek/ abbrev. for the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries; an organization whose members include many of the countries that produce PETROLEUM (=oil from which petrol is made) but not the US or UK. OPEC members try to agree together how much oil to produce and at what price to sell it, and they have an important influence on the price of petrol all over the world.
,op-'ed page n AmE the page opposite the EDITORIAL page in many American newspapers, which usually contains interesting feature articles on current subjects
o-pen1 /'əʊpən/ adj 1 not shut: She pushed/held/propped the door open. | The window was wide open. (=completely open) | An open book lay on the table. | I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. | Her mouth fell open in astonishment. | Is the road open? (=not blocked) | We must try to keep all lines of communication open. 2 [A] not surrounded by walls etc; not enclosed: the open country | open fields | open space | the open sea (=the sea far from land) | It felt good to be out in the open air (=to be outside) at last. 3 without a roof: an open boat 4 not fastened or folded: His shirt was open at the neck. | The flowers are open. 5 not completely decided or answered: an open question | Let's leave it open. (=let's not decide yet) | I like to keep my options open. | Try and keep an open mind on the subject until you have heard all the facts. 6 [F] a) ready to provide a service to customers: The bank isn't open yet. b) officially ready to start being used: I declare the new bridge open. 7 [F] (especially of a job) not filled: Is the teaching vacancy still open? 8 a) (of a feeling, system etc) not hidden or limited: open hostility/rivalry | I didn't have to bribe anyone – it was all open and above board. (=completely honest) | The house should fetch £40,000 on the open market. b) (of people) very willing to talk honestly: Let's be open with each other. | an extremely frank and open person 9 [(to)] that anyone can enter: an open competition | These gardens are open to the public. 10 BrE (of a cheque) payable in actual money to the person whose name is written on it; not CROSSED → compare CROSS2 11 tech (in PHONETICS, of a vowel) pronounced with the tongue low in the mouth → opposite CLOSE 12 [F+to] a) not safe from: This book is open to criticism. | His truthfulness is open to question. | That statement is open to being misinterpreted. b) willing to receive: I'm always open to suggestions. c) possible for: It's the only course of action open to you. 13 with open arms in a very friendly way: They welcomed us with open arms. → see also OPENLY, lay someone/oneself open to (LAY2)
open2 v 1 [I,T] to (cause to) become open: This door opens inwards. | Open your mouth. | (fig.) The decision opened the door to a flood of appeals for help from other organizations. 2 [I, T[UP OUT]] to (cause to) spread or unfold: to open a book/an umbrella | (fig.) A split has opened up in the committee. | (fig.) A new life was opening up before her. 3 [I,T] to (cause to) start: He opened the conference with a speech of welcome. | to open an investigation/a debate 4 [I,T] to (cause to) begin business: The shop opens at nine o'clock. | to open Parliament/a new hospital 5 [T] to make (a passage) usable by removing the things that are blocking it: They cleared away the rocks to open the tunnel. 6 [I] (in cricket) to be one of the two batsmen (BATSMAN) who take the first turn at batting (BAT) for one's team: Gooch and Stewart opened for England. 7 open fire (at/on) to start shooting (at) 8 open one's mouth to start talking: I knew she was French the moment she opened her mouth. 9 open someone's eyes (to) to make someone know or understand: The way he deceived me really opened my eyes to his true character.
USAGE You open or shut (close sometimes fml) doors, windows, or boxes. You undo or do up a shirt etc. You turn water or gas TAPS on or off. You turn or switch electrical things on or off.
open into/onto sthg. phr v [T] to provide a means of entering or reaching: The bedroom has French windows opening onto the garden.
open out phr v [I] to speak more freely; OPEN up
open up phr v 1 [T(to) (open sthg. ⇔ up] to make possible the development of: They opened the country up (to trade). 2 [ often imperative] infml to open a door: Open up or we'll break the door down! 3 [I] to speak more freely: When she felt she could trust me, she began to open up.
open3 n [the+S] 1 the outdoors: life in the open 2 a (sporting) competition that anyone can enter 3 in(to) the open (of opinions, secrets etc) in(to) the consciousness of the people around one
Open, the one of the important national GOLF competitions, especially the British Open Championship or the US Open Championship
,open-'air adj of or in the outdoors: an open-air concert/swimming pool → opposite INDOOR
,open-and-'shut adj easy to prove; without mystery: an open-and-shut case of murder
,open 'bar n AmE a bar where drinks are served free: They had an open bar at the mayor's reception.