on the go • on the move on the go —(coll.) 1. (also: on the trot) constantly busy moving from one task to another: The ladies were kept on the go by a continuous round of making refreshments and then washing up. 2. about to take one’s leave: The guest was on the go for half an hour though the host began to show signs of impa- tience. on the move—1. moving about from place to place: It was a very cold day, and the teacher watching the playground kept on the move to stay warm. 2. said of people moving in large numbers: Victoria is truly on the move . Every month, 12 Mel- bourne families are shifting to Ballarat alone for a better lifestyle. on the house • on the premises on the house—said of food or beverages offered at the ex- pense of the owner of the establishment: We were given a cou- ple of drinks on the house and a complimentary bottle of wine. Cf.: one on the city—(joc.) a glass of water (provided free of charge): “What will you have?” “Oh, just give me one on the city .” on the premises—said of food or beverages to be consumed in the establishment: There was no age limit in 15 per cent of countries for drinking beer on the premises . on the nail • to the nail on the nail—(coll.) 1. (of payments) made on the spot: You know how I am; if I can’t pay on the nail , I don’t buy. 2. exactly right: Michael Miller directs the film with conviction, and the playing is on the nail . to the nail —(dated) most thoroughly (also: to a nail): My speech was never improvised, but always prepared beforehand, and polished to the nail . on the other side of the fence • on the other side of the hill • on the other side of the tracks on the other side of the fence—on the side of the opposition: You fight all your life for something and then before you know where you are you’re on the other side of the fence fighting against it. on the other side of the hill—in the latter part of one’s life: I had to go through a lot of raillery about how old I was getting and what it was like on the other side of the hill . on the other side of the tracks—(also: on the wrong side of the tracks) in the less respectable or the poorer part of a town: It seems that there are some, well, some low drinking dens on the other side of the tracks . Note: None of the expressions correlates in meaning with the phrase on the other side—used with reference to the world beyond the grave (as inhabited by the spirits): Are they still obese on the other side ? I’d like to ask next time you have a séance. on the pill • on the pills on the pill —said of a woman taking contraceptive pills reg- ularly: Women who go on the pill have to try out several dif- ferent brands before they find the right one. on the pills—on medication to treat an illness: Julia went through a pretty bad time after the accident—on the pills , seeing psychiatrists and what have you. on the right tack • on the tack on the right tack—following the right course of action: I think you are on the right tack in trying to see them. It’s better than to carry on the affair by correspondence. on the tack —(sl.) abstaining from alcohol: It’s no good ask- ing him to have a drink; he has been on the tack for the past month. on the rope • on the ropes on the rope—(of mountain climbers) roped together: At about 6 we got to where we could unrope—having been 48 hours on the rope . on the ropes—1. (of a boxer) forced back on to the ropes: Referee Brimmell stepped in to save Scot after the challenger had pinned him on the ropes for fully a minute. 2. on the verge of ruin or collapse: A good section of the industry was on the ropes and there were times when I wondered if it would survive. 3. = on the rope: If they can’t pass some of the slow climbers on the ropes ahead of them, they could run out of time … and oxygen. on the spot • spot on on the spot—1. at the place where one’s presence is needed: The police were on the spot very soon after the accident hap- pened. 2. then and there; immediately: When Tom ruined an expensive machine, his boss fired him on the spot . 3. (coll.) in a difficult situation; in trouble (also: in a spot): He is on the spot because he cannot make a choice between Reagan and Nixon as the guest speaker. spot on —(UK coll.) definitely right or true in one’s opinion, answer, etc.: “Is that the right answer, Sir?” “Yes, you’re spot on !” on the street • on the streets on the street—1. out of work; unemployed: This business is so subjective. My general manager could change tomorrow and I could be on the street . 2. (U.S. sl.) outside prison: A number of men who are heterosexual on the street practice homosexuality in prison. on the streets—1. homeless: These people were once in psy- chiatric hospitals and are now on the streets . 2. living by pros- titution: This little girl had a sister who was on the streets and who was in the house of this bad woman. on the stump • up a stump on the stump —1. (of trees) before felling: You originally paid in cash for all that timber on the stump just ten thousand dol- lars. 2. (coll.) engaged in political speech-making: Govern- ment, in the persons of the Parliamentary heads of depart- ments, is on the stump , or dickering for votes. up a stump—(coll.) 1. perplexed; at a loss: Sociologists are up a stump over the sharp rise in juvenile delinquency and crime. 2. in great straits; in serious difficulties: For once in his life, work had him so up a stump that he could not snatch a moment for reading. on the table • under the table on the table —(of an official proposal, etc.) presented for dis- cussion or consideration: I had heard that several alternative propositions were on the table . under the table — transacted or sold illicitly and secretly: Most bootleg alcohol is made domestically but sold “under the table ” without the necessary permits. on the tick • on tick on the tick—(coll.) punctually; on time: I am always here on the tick myself, and I do not see why jurors should not do the same. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase in a tick—(coll.) in a moment: If I had broken the rules laid down for me I should have been spotted in a tick by a spy. on tick —(coll.) on credit: Here I’ve been struggling to keep our heads above water, and you go and bring home a motorcar on tick . on the top of something • on top of something on the top of something—1. in the highest part of smth.: A picnic party had been formed to take tea on the top of the – 253 – on the top of something