Copper Mine. 2. (of a situation) midway between two states or conditions: In this situation, half way between dictatorship and democracy, the military institution has set limits to the range of behaviors of civilian politicians. middle-of-the-road—1. (of a person or a course of action) moderate and unadventurous; tending to avoid extremes: They wanted him, the old middle-of-the-road liberal democrat, to be their first president. 2. (of music, style of dress, etc.) conven- tional, standard or mainstream: Randy Wood put out some records—not country music or downright jazz but what he called “middle of the road music.” ham and egger • like ham and eggs ham and egger—(U.S. sl., pejor.) 1. no one special; just an ordinary person: I hated this movie and I am a ham and egger who can pretty much sit through anything. 2. (Boxing ) an amateur boxer, especially of mediocre skills: Wayka is what an earlier generation of sportswriters might have referred to derisively as a “ham-and-egger .” like ham and eggs—1. said of two things that usually go together and which it is hard to separate: Camping and fishing go together like ham and eggs . 2. used in allusion to the apho- rism “It’s like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved. The pig is committed” to emphasize the difference between merely mak- ing a contribution and being fully committed: “What would keep you from taking this position?” “Lack of commitment by the administration. It’s a little like ham and eggs . You know, the chicken is a participant, the hog is committed.” hand-off • hands-off hand-off—(Rugby Football) the action of pushing off an opponent with the hand: Gray has a fine kick, with a strong hand-off . hands-off—1. (of a course of action) characterized by not interfering or getting involved: A protest must be made against this hands-off government policy. Cf.: hands-on—(of an apprach, training, etc.) involving active participation: There’s no better way to tell if you’re cut out for the work than hands- on experience. 2. (Technology) automatically controlled: Sev- eral companies have developed stabilization systems which enable the helicopter to be flown “hands-off .” hand running • hand-run hand running —(coll.) one after the other; in unbroken suc- cession: Their wants were few—a pint of beer at the end of the day, a weekly paper to pore over for seven nights hand- running hand-run —(of lace) machine-made but finished by hand: French underwear was made of the sheerest pure silk ninon and trimmed with hand-run Alençon lace. handicraftsman • handy-man handicraftsman—a man who earns his living by making decorative items completely by hand: His son inherited his own traits, and gave bright promise of excelling as a skilled handicraftsman . handy-man—a man skilled at doing small jobs such as household repairs: We had had this problem with our bath tub faucet for almost three months. First we asked a handy man to fix it. hang all one’s bells on one horse • put all one’s eggs in one basket hang all one’s bells on one horse—(UK arch.) leave all one’s property to one child: I’ll not hang all my bells on one horse . I’ll not leave all my property to one son. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase put all one’s money upon the wrong horse—(also: put one’s money on a scratched horse) base one’s plans on a wrong guess about the result of smth.: Members will keenly feel the nature of the mistake when I say that we put all our money upon the wrong horse . put all one’s eggs in one basket—allow all one’s hopes, money, etc. to depend on one event; risk everything at once: Person- ally, I prefer when at all possible not to put all my eggs in one basket , no matter how nice the basket. hang back • hang behind hang back—be slow to act; hesitate: I don’t know why he always hangs back when he gets the chance to do something. hang behind —1. lag in the rear; remain in the background: She was hanging behind too shy to speak. 2. linger in a place after others have left: One or two of the audience hung behind after the lecture. hang in the bell-ropes • hang on the bell hang in the bell-ropes —(UK arch.) said of a postponed mar- riage: During the currency of the three Sundays on which the banns were proclaimed the young couple were said jocosely to be “hanging in the bell-ropes .” hang on the bell—ring the doorbell over and over again: I want to see mountains again. And then find somewhere I can rest without a pack of relatives prying around or confounding visitors hanging on the bell . hang it • hang it up hang it—(interj.) is used to emphatically express one’s anger, irritation, etc. (also: hang it all): “Oh hang it ,” he exclaimed— in no logical connection with what he had been relating to me. hang it up —1. (coll.) cease an activity or effort: We used to own a dairy farm but decided to hang it up and enjoy life and our kids. 2. (sl.) give credit: The Colonel muttered something to the barkeeper about “hanging it up .” hang it on someone • hang one on someone hang it on someone—(sl.) blame it on smb.: We can’t hang it on someone for their race…. But once you get past a certain age, being fat is a choice. hang one on someone—(sl., also: lay one on someone) strike a person with a blow: He hit me first, but then I hung one on him and down he went like a stone. hang on • hang one on hang on—(coll.) 1. continue smth. persistently; persevere with smth.: I really want to go to sleep, but I am going to hang on for a couple more hours. 2. keep listening on the telephone; not hang up: Please hang on for a minute while I find out what team you are on. I will let you know in a minute… hang one on —(U.S. sl.) get very drunk: A simple statement to the barkeep—“I really hung one on last night”—was enough to get a little sympathy and a double Bloody Mary. hang one’s hat • hang up one’s hat hang one’s hat—1. settle oneself; take up residence: She’s looking for somewhere to hang her hat , now that her twenty- year marriage has ended. 2. (on) depend upon smb.; rely on a person: Why that’s my preacher. I hang my hat on him every time. hang up one’s hat—1. retire from a position or a job: Police chief Ron Johnson hung up his hat today after forty years of service. 2. (coll.) die: Old Johnson finally hung up his hat . He’s been sick for a while though. hang someone out to dry • leave someone hanging hang someone out to dry—(coll.) not support or help smb.; abandon a person when he is in trouble: I made a mistake – 159 – hang someone out to dry