Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase be of service to someone—be helpful to a person: On many occasions he was of service to me, always in kindly, unobtru- sive ways. be in someone’s service—be working as smb.’s domestic ser- vant: Miss White has been in our service for five years. be at the back of one’s mind • cast one’s mind back to something be at the back of one’s mind—(also: be in the back of one’s mind) be vaguely aware of smth. that is not present in one’s conscious thoughts: There was at the back of his mind an idea, dimly seen at moments, never wholly comprehended. cast one’s mind back to something—think about smth. that happened in the past, which one might not remember well: In order to understand these developments, it is necessary to cast back one’s mind to the social attitudes of that period. be at the crossroads • cross paths be at the crossroads —be at a critical turning-point at which two or more courses of action are possible: Students are through with their exams and are now at the crossroads of a choice of career. cross paths —meet or encounter a person: Occasionally they will cross paths , especially to compete in a nationally televised debate arranged by a non-partisan organization. be aware of something • beware of something be aware of something—have knowledge of smth.; be con- scious of smth.: The government is already aware of an in- sufficient electricity supply. beware of something—(imper.) be on guard against smth.: Beware of the rain … make sure your camera is well-protected if in a side-pocket. be bad form • be in bad form be bad form—(of manners or behavior) be improper as judged by accepted social standards: It is considered bad form to arrive too early at a dinner party. be in bad form—(Sport) be in bad condition of health and training: Even when Henin is in bad form , you need to have real smart strategy to beat her. be beat • be beaten be beat—(coll.) 1. (also: be dead-beat) be very tired; be utterly exhausted: I am beat from all this packing and moving of stuff. 2. be defeated in a competition: His team was beat because it failed to execute properly during the most critical moments of the game. be beaten— = be beat 2: The moment was really amazing because Brazil, the champion, was beaten badly. be bent on doing something • have a bent for something be bent on doing something—be determined to do smth.; have the mind set on smth.: There is always a proportion of the crowd bent on harrying the speaker. have a bent for something—have a natural interest and ability in a particular area: James, who had a bent for figures, took care of the financial end of the business. be beside the mark • be off the mark be beside the mark—be not relevant to the subject under discussion: We were discussing working conditions; his re- marks about high rents were beside the mark . be off the mark —1. (also: be wide of the mark) be inaccurate or erroneous in one’s judgment: Sometimes he was off the mark . A lot of times he was just misunderstood. 2. starting smth. in response to a situation: The dog-breeder and poultry farmer were quick off the mark in using the new therapy. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase fall short of the mark—(also: come short of the mark) fail to attain some desired object: Gilbert’s efforts to amuse her often fell short of the mark . be best at something • be the best at something be best at something—be more skilled and capable in one particular area relative to others: He excels at most of the sub- jects taught here, although he is best at chemistry. be the best at something—be much superior to other people in a particular area: Mrs. Hough is the best at making children feel at home when they are just starting out on their school adventure. be beyond the law • go beyond the law be beyond the law—be out of the reach of the law: The sick criminal was arrested at night, but by morning he was beyond the law ; he had died in the night. go beyond the law—be guilty of some criminal offence: To thrash the man yourself is to go beyond the law ; he may de- serve punishment but you are not allowed to administer it. be blind to something • turn a blind eye to some- thing be blind to something —be unable to see or consider what is going on around one: She had been deaf and blind to every- thing except what had passed between them. turn a blind eye to something—pretend not to see smth.; overlook smth. deliberately: The police turn a blind eye to this problem because they are only too glad to get lorries from parking there. be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth • get the wooden spoon be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth—be born into a rich family: He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and probably never had to work a day in his life. get the wooden spoon —be the last in a sporting event or other competition: Previous City Councilor got the wooden spoon —with no votes on the first two counts. be bothered about someone • bother oneself about someone be bothered about someone—be concerned about smb.; worry about a person: I am bothered about Freda, she is out so late again. bother oneself about someone—concern oneself with smb.; preoccupy oneself with a person: Please don’t bother yourself about my brother. I’ll take care of him. be canned • be in the can be canned—(U.S. sl.) be expelled or dismissed from one’s employment: When the coach was fired, some said he was canned for siding with John. be in the can —(sl.) 1. (of a movie, etc.) be finished and ready: The scene was “in the can ” after twenty-five retakes. 2. (U.S.) be in prison: I know that he spent two years in the can for armed robbery. be carried away by something • be carried off by something be carried away by something —become eager or enthusiastic about smth.: Roosevelt was carried away by the thought of another large relief project. be carried off by something —(euph.) be killed (by a disease): Unhappily he never got to the Tradition meeting, he had been carried off by a heart attack. – 33 – be carried away by something