Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase be wired—1. be carrying a hidden communications device connecting to other people: Rodriguez was convicted for receiving bribes from an undercover agent who was wired . 2. (of premises) be equipped with a microphone, loudspeakers, etc., to transmit sound: The hall was wired with miles of cables, computer monitors, and loudspeakers to showcase new music. 3. be programmed like a robot to do smth.: Remember, he’s wired to kill and rape everything in sight — and he knows how to dispose of the body! 4. (coll.) = be on wires: Some nights he is so wired until he comes to bed but can’t sleep, so he is just watching TV for hours. be on top of someone • top someone be on top of someone—1. (of an approaching vehicle) suddenly come too close to a person: It was raining and I couldn’t see anything until the car was right on top of me and I dove out of the way. 2. said of a small space where people find it difficult to have any privacy: He still lives in Downsea. Near enough for me to babysit but not so close that we’re on top of him. 3. said of smth. involving more work than one can cope with: By no stretch of the imagination could our work have been termed exhausting, but it was always on top of you. top someone—1. exceed a person in height or weight: She was so tall that she topped her father by a head. 2. have the supremacy over smb.: Dance in movies begins with Fred As- taire, and no one has ever really topped him. 3. (sl.) kill a per- son: Tom King wasn’t a good enough character to warrant months of interest in who topped him. be one too many • have one too many be one too many —(coll.) be more than a match for a person: I venture to prophesy that, between us, we shall be one too many for the Colonel. have one too many—(coll.) take more alcohol than one can drink: The man was a little tipsy; it looked like he had had one too many for complete control of his faculties. be oneself • be oneself again be oneself—behave in a way that is natural, especially in contrast to the affected manner: I wish you wouldn’t act the sophisticated lady. You’re far nicer when you are just being yourself . be oneself again —be in one’s normal condition of mind and body after an illness, emotional stress, etc.: After such a long illness, it’s good to be myself again . Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase be full of oneself—be impressed with one’s own work; be too proud of oneself: Karl is so full of himself . He is a good designer, but I’m so sick of his personality. be out of one’s brain • have brains be out of one’s brain—(sl.) be very drunk (also: be out of one’s scull): By the time I arrived at the party he was out of his brain . have brains —(coll.) be very smart and intelligent: Don’t be fooled by her pretty appearance alone, this girl has brains to match! be out of spirits • lose all spirit be out of spirits —be dejected or depressed: I was out of spir - its at the thought of leaving all my family and friends for so long a time. lose all spirit—lose courage or confidence: The lad had been so badly treated, that he had lost all spirit . be out of the ball park • knock it out of the ball park be out of the ball park—(coll.) 1. be not close to the correct amount or number: Their budget “estimates” are out of the ballpark and too high in my opinion. 2. be beyond the bound- aries of what is acceptable or possible: The project makes sense only with those recommendations, otherwise, it is out of the ball park . knock it out of the ball park—(coll.) do smth. exceptionally well (also: hit it out of the ball park): The film stars Uma Thur- man who can take a strong female role and knock it out of the ball park . be out of the woods • take to the woods be out of the woods —(often negat.) be finally free from trou- ble or difficulties (also: be out of the wood): The Prime Minister is by no means out of the woods , and must fight to defend his leadership. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase come out of the woodwork— appear as though out of nowhere, especially in large numbers: He won the lottery and has had old “friends” and distant relatives coming out of the woodwork ever since. take to the woods—run away from one’s responsibilities; get away from trouble and hide: When trouble comes, wise men take to their work; weak men take to the woods . be over someone’s head • hang over someone’s head be over someone’s head—(also: be above someone’s head) said of smth. too difficult to understand: I bought a handful of photographic magazines and when I got home to read them, I found they were completely over my head . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be in over one’s head—be involved in a situation too difficult to deal with: He realized that he was in over his head , and that only his family could help him. hang over someone’s head—(of an evil, calamity, etc.) hover over a person; be imminent: Celia Palmer had been acquitted of all the gravest charges hanging over her head this long time. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase hold something over someone’s head—remind a person of his mistake or failure: If I turned up late, my parents would hold it over my head for the rest of my life, but if it’s Taylor, well there’s always the exception. be pleased with oneself • please oneself be pleased with oneself—be much satisfied with what one does: He was very pleased with himself after he had passed his driving test. please oneself—do whatever one likes, without having to obey others: We don’t have to be back by a certain time; we can just please ourselves . be poorly • be poorly off be poorly —be feeling unwell: “Kate, your mistress is poorly this morning, and prefers you not go in to her.” “Poorly? Oh, but sir, she will want her tea…” be poorly off—have very little money: Many of the Africans who came here as refugees more than a decade ago are still poorly off . be put into execution • be put to execution be put into execution—(also: be carried into execution) be car- ried out: The plan was put into execution and this was the beginning of the manufacture of woolen fabrics. be put to execution —1. = be put into execution: The plan was put to execution , and the group of three moved down, along- side of the rocky wall. 2. suffer the penalty of death: Michael Malik was put to execution in Trinidad. He was accused of murdering a British woman Gale Benson… – 41 – be put into execution