information, etc.: The phrase “fit on the back of a postcard comes to mind but a postcard would probably be too large to list out all that I know about art. Cf.: on the back of a postage stamp — used as a more emphatic variant of the former: Alas, my list of strengths will fit on the back of a postage stamp . on the back of an envelope—(of plans, calculations, etc.) exe- cuted in a simplistic and speedy way and usually in need of more work (also: on the back of a fag packet): He has made decisions sketched out on the back of an envelope without proper consultation again. on the bandwagon • on the wagon on the bandwagon—participating in what seems likely to be a successful enterprise (supporting a particular candidate, movement, etc. in the hope of a personal gain): Everyone is on the bandwagon it seems, whether through action or just rhetorical agreement. on the wagon—(coll.) abstaining from alcohol: Vince had a weakness: he was an alcoholic. For ten months of each year he stayed on the wagon ; twice a year, regularly, he fell off, sometimes with doleful consequences on the job. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase in the cart—(coll.) in difficulties or trouble: You’ll have to do what you’re bid, or maybe you’ll find yourself in the cart . on the block • on the blocks on the block—(coll.) 1. offered for sale (at an auction): The Seattle radio station has been on the block for a year with no offers to buy it. 2. at risk; in serious and threatening situation: Her reputation is on the block now, and it’s nobody’s fault but hers. Cf.: put one’s head on the block—risk one’s reputation or position when taking a particular course of action: When the Prime Minister called a by-election, he put his head on the block . Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase on the chopping block— = on the block 2: Our whole future is on the chopping block now. on the blocks —1. said of runners or swimmers positioned on their starting blocks prior to the starting signal: When stand- ing on the blocks waiting for the gun to go off, it all boils down to what one’s body can do. 2. ready and waiting to start an activity: If it were a question of replacing a man or a pony, the management would sooner replace a man because there were so many other men up on the blocks , waiting for a job. on the book • on the books on the book —1. (coll.) on credit: He let me have a couple of bottles on the book . 2. (Theater) on duty as prompter: There is no longer such a job as “prompter.” It is, however, normal practice for there to be a member of the stage-management team “on the book .” on the books —1. said of existing rules, laws, etc.: After Gor- bachev had been in command for three years, the new privately owned cooperatives had new laws on the books . 2. in the accountant’s records of money: We’ve got to put forth our best efforts from now till the end of the month, or we’ll be in red on the books . 3. in the official list of members, patients, etc.: Had he been on the books as an Indian, he would have been considered a ward of the Government. on the chance • on the off chance on the chance—act on the probability of smth.: Do you want to bet your organization’s security on the chance that everyone will remember to lock down their computers? on the off chance—act on the very remote likelihood of smth.: She flew in from New York on the off-chance of getting tickets to see Becker play his last match at Wimbledon. on the clock • on the hour on the clock—(coll.) 1. said of one’s working time: Hey, get to work, you’re still on the clock , stop loafing. 2. on the dial of a taximeter, speedometer, etc.: Neither vehicle had much mileage on the clock . on the hour —at exactly one o’clock, two o’clock, etc.: Buses for London leave every hour on the hour . See also: in time / on time. on the contrary • to the contrary on the contrary—1. in opposition to what might be expected: She did not exult in her rival’s fall, but, on the contrary , com- miserated her. 2. on the other hand: People used to say that a musical was written for musical slobs. Mr. Sondheim, on the contrary , assumes that you have heard some Ravel and Debussy. to the contrary—1. = on the contrary 1: The liberal resurrec- tion is not a sign of vitality of the capitalist system, but to the contrary , it is a mark of its failure. 2. to the opposite effect: Working-class to the backbone, just like us. And if he’s been filling you up with a lot of toffee to the contrary , more fool you. 3. in spite of smth.; notwithstanding smth.: I know she’s unhappy, all her brave talk to the contrary . on the cutting edge of something • on the razor’s edge of something on the cutting edge of something—(also: at the cutting edge of something ) involved in the most advanced developments in a particular field: The Museum has remained on the cutting edge of science education by developing innovative and inter- active programs. on a razor’s edge of something—(also: on the knife-edge of something ) on the brink of smth. bad or dangerous: They could laugh themselves sick with the memory of it now, but at the time they had been on a razor’s edge of failure or suc- cess. on the dot • to the dot on the dot—exactly at a given time; at the precise moment: We were to dine with the Prousts at seven and we reached their house on the dot . Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase off one’s dot—(sl.) crazy or behaving as if mad: And you have to act up like they do or they think you’re off your dot . to the dot—(also: to the letter) exactly; precisely: The citizens of Neustadt followed the curfew regulations to the dot . on the downhill side • on the downhill slide on the downhill side—1. older than the age specified: I back- packed in the Grand Canyon with my fiancé, Paul. Not bad for someone who is on the downhill side of fourty. 2. said of a bad situation which may be getting progressively worse: Evangelical Christians agree—America is on the downhill side of decadence. on the downhill slide— = on the downhill slide 2: Workers have been on a downhill slide for years, losing wages, losing jobs, losing respect, and in all too many cases, losing hope. on the floor • on the shop floor on the floor —1. in a movie or TV studio: I’ll make a shooting script…. It’ll be something you can go on the floor with. 2. (of a film) being shot; in production: At Elstree, only one film, the Guinea Pig, is on the floor . 3. (Parliament) in the part where the members sit: Their job is to contribute to policy- making through debate on the floor . on the shop floor—in the part of a factory concerned with productive as opposed to administrative work: The worker on the shop floor does not identify himself with the goals of the manager. on the bandwagon – 252 –