original impact or importance: Autocratic monarchy has be - come history now, and republicanism has become a reality. go down in history —said of an event that is notable or mem- orable in history: The Northern Ireland peace agreement will go down in history as an agreement that paved the way for many others on our continent… bed head • sleepy head bed head —(sl.) the way one’s hair looks after sleeping on it: The only time my hair is curly is when I have a bed head . sleepy head —(coll.) a sleepy or lethargic person: I will give Laura a big hug as soon as she’s awake. She really is a sleepy head . bed of roses • rose bed bed of roses —(usually negat.) said of a pleasant, easy condi- tion of life: Post war Hungary was no bed of roses . Political oppression permeated every facet of life…. Cf.: bed of thorns — said of a situation of anxiety and apprehension: It was a bed of thorns every hour of every day all through the making of the film. rose bed—a flowerbed of roses: Since I cannot separate lavender from roses in my mind, I plant clumps of it around my rose beds . beef head (UK) • beef head (U.S.) beef head (UK)—(sl.) a slow witted person: You may look all hot and sexy, but with that attitude you’ll only end up with a beef head of a partner. beef head (U.S.)—(sl.) a resident of Texas: A resident of Texas was called a “Beef-Head ” by at least 1869. The name is related to Texas’s famous cattle industry. beef-tea • meat tea beef-tea —juice of beef strained off after cooking in water (given as stimulating food to people who are ill): Miss Lawson tiptoed into the room, carrying a cup of beef-tea . meat tea —(also: meat-tea) a meal taken between lunch and supper with some kind of meat dish included: This high oc- casion was to be celebrated by a “meat-tea .” Beefeater • meat eater Beefeater —(UK) 1. one of the Warders of the Tower of Lon- don: The Beefeaters at the Tower wear the costume of Henry VIIth’s body-guard. 2. an officer in the (ceremonial) body- guard of the British monarch: In order to become a Beefeater , you must have an unblemished conduct record. meat eater—(U.S. sl.) a corrupt policeman: Meat eaters spend a good deal of their working hours seeking out situations they can exploit for financial gain. before Christ • before God before Christ—(abbreviated B. C.) before the Christian era (of a date calculated backwards from the birth of Christ): Morrison mentions a dictionary in the Chinese language as having been compiled 1100 years before Christ . before God—(used as a solemn declaration) as God sees me; as God is my witness: “I will bring up your son as if he were my own,” he told the dying woman. “I promise you that, be - fore God .” behind one’s time • past one’s time behind one’s time—1. after the usual or proper time: Master Gammon was half an hour behind his time for bed, and had dropped asleep in his chair. 2. using things not in style; fol- lowing old ways: I started to think that either Ben had been so ahead of his time when he first came to us, or I was behind my time . past one’s time—1. = behind one’s time 1: By the time Kewaa got home, it was past her time for bed and her mother was concerned that something had happened to her. 2. be late in menstruating (the usual implication being that of unwanted pregnancy): It’s this way—I’m just married and my wife is past her time and I can’t afford to have any children. 3. past one’s prime; no longer young or efficient enough: I have sat in on school board meetings and while Jeanie may mean well she is past her time for effectiveness. behind the times • behind time behind the times —1. (of things) old-fashioned or out of date: The science books of twenty years ago are behind the times now. 2. (of people) using things not in style; following old ways: Mary thinks her parents are behind the times because they still do the foxtrot. behind time —1. (of a clock) slow; behind the correct time: This option lets you set your computer clock several minutes ahead or behind time . 2. behind schedule; after the usual or proper time: The train was a good deal behind time , and therefore the stop was curtailed as much as possible. behind the veil • under the veil behind the veil—(also: beyond the veil) is used with reference to the next world: He [Christ] described the world behind the veil with the graphic force of one to whom it was no un- known country. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase behind the scenes—out of public view; in secret: We could only assess what we could observe but here the main part of the work is carried out behind the scenes . under the veil—is used with reference to smth. which con- ceals or obscures a person’s true motives: Some terror acts are organized under the veil of religion in an attempt to justify such conduct. believe in something • believe something believe in something—1. have trust in smth.; feel sure of the value of smth.: The United States believes in the great poten- tial of Africa. 2. feel sure of the existence of smth.: Clever farmers made good use of the belief of these people who be - lieved in ghosts. believe something—feel sure of the truth of smth.: I want to believe this story, but then again I still have a lot of doubts about its authenticity. bell boy • bell buoy bell boy—an employee in a hotel who helps guests by car- rying their luggage, running errands, etc.: Led by a “bell-boy into the lift, she walked along a pale-gray river of corridor carpet. bell buoy—a floating buoy with a bell that gives a warning or positional signal to ships: You may hear the ringing bell buoy and see our local fishing fleet pass through the channel. belly up to the bar • go belly up belly up to the bar—(U.S. sl.) 1. go up to the bar to order a drink, etc.: It will be a great place to belly up to the bar , or just mingle before the shows. 2. get seriously involved; make a serious effort: There was hope for solving the crisis but it was time for all parties to “belly up to the bar .” go belly up —(coll.) become bankrupt: The recent recession led to a decrease in orders, and workers increasingly feared that the company would go belly up . belong in something • belong to something belong in something—(also: belong with something) be in the correct place or situation: This kind of picture does not belong in a teenage magazine. belong to something—be a member of a group, party, etc.: bed head – 46 –