the name: “Have you any profession?” “I’m a schoolmaster of sorts .” of long standing • of standing of long standing—firmly established by long duration: She returned to her roots, working in watercolor on silk, a tradition of long standing in her native China. of standing —said of a person of high position, status, or reputation: Mr. Hogben is himself a scientist of standing as well as a humanist. of no account • on no account of no account—(also: of no consideration) not important; insignificant in the eyes of others: “His grandfather was a dis- tinguished man.” “Was he?” replied the man of Chicago. “That’s of no account with us.” on no account—(also: on no consideration) certainly not; in no circumstances: The British Trade Union representative will, on no account , be late for his meals or early for his meet- ings. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase on account—on credit: The purchases journal is a spe- cial journal used to record all transactions in which items are bought on account . of no avail • to no avail of no avail —(predic.) useless; unsuccessful (also: of no effect): All their efforts to save him from his folly were of no avail . to no avail—(also: to no effect): 1. unsuccessfully; in vain: We pulled him out of the river and tried to revive him, but to no avail . 2. = of no avail: The interviewee didn’t arrive, and efforts to reach him via cell phone were to no avail . of no consideration • on no consideration of no consideration—(also: of no account) not important; insignificant in the eyes of others: In our day it seems incredible that the landscape was at one time of no consideration to artists. on no consideration—(also: on no account) certainly not; in no circumstances: On no consideration will he allow gambling. He has been proof against every inducement to permit it. of no effect • to no effect of no effect—(predic.) useless; unsuccessful (also: of no avail): Such an authorization, if given, was of no effect since it would be contrary to statute and regulation. to no effect—(also: to no avail) 1. unsuccessfully; in vain: Senators in the past have called for similar changes but to no effect . 2. = of no effect: There were no call buttons for patients and her repeated shouting for a nurse was to no effect . of one’s own • on one’s own of one’s own—said of smth. belonging to a person: The eldest boy Charles was of an age to be flying off and building a nest of his own . on one’s own—1. relying on one’s own effort, ability, etc.: Muller was on his own in a strange town, in a foreign land. 2. alone; by oneself: They would eat in the kitchen; they sel- dom used the dining room when they were on their own . off again, on again • off and on off again, on again—(also: on again, off again) subject to fre- quent change: The weather was terrible, so the mission was off-again on-again . The fighter escort was never able to get off… off and on—(also: on and off ) from time to time; not reg- ularly: It’s been raining off and on since I got home, and the weather report says thunderstorms are coming. off–Broadway • off-off Broadway off–Broadway—is used of the New York experimental the- aters located in an area other than Broadway: The play began life at an off–Broadway theater. off-off Broadway—is used of the most radical or avant-garde of New York theaters: Off-Broadway and off-off Broadway are for those who genuinely love theater. off color • without color off color—1. (coll.) feeling unwell or in low spirits: Maybe you just felt off-color for a few days after the sunbathing. 2. (of a joke, etc.) slightly indecent or distasteful: That joke you told was off color and embarrassed her. 3. not of the best kind or quality: He had mighty little English, and my native was still off color . without color—1. devoid of color; colorless: Plants that grow in darkness are pale and without color . 2. impartial; unbi- ased: His reporting, although critical, was fair and without color . Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase lend color to something—(also: give color to something) give plausibility to an account, etc.: He draws heavily on quotations from various sources to lend color to his narrative. off hand • out of hand off hand—without preliminary preparation or considera- tion: I cannot give you the information off hand . out of hand—1. immediately; without delay: The situation needs to be dealt with out of hand . 2. out of control: For a moment there was great danger of a “rough house” out of hand . See also: off one’s hands / out of one’s hands. off one’s beam • off the beam off one’s beam—(coll.) crazy or behaving as if mad: I think the guy up there who said he was poor and proud of it is off his beam . off the beam—wide of the mark; wrong: He acknowledged that sunny predictions by some in the administration were off the beam . off one’s block • off the blocks off one’s block—(Austral. sl.) crazy, eccentric, or foolish: Lexus is actually lying, or merely mistaken. Jeniard looks like he thinks Lexus is off his block . off the blocks—(also: out of the blocks)—said of a fast start of an activity: One of the first off the blocks has been Sains- bury which is set to launch wines from Tunisia at the end of this month. off one’s feed • on the feed off one’s feed—1. (of animals or fish) being without appetite: If the fish are off their feed , or won’t eat at a time when they normally would, then you have some evaluation steps to take. 2. (coll., of people) feeling unwell or in low spirits: He confided to Bee that the dear old Squire seemed “off his feed ”; he did not think it was any good worrying him at present. on the feed—(of animals or fish) eating or looking out for food (also: at feed): If trout are well on the feed they will take the “Jack” flies readily. off one’s game • off the game off one’s game—(of a sportsman) playing badly: I backed Tommy when most folk thought he was off his game ! off the game—(of a sportsman) not playing: When I am off the game or off work, the first few days I would like to relax at home with my family. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase out of the game—(of a sportsman) remaining out of play during a game: I was out of the game and useless. That’s my first memory as a player. See also: on one’s game / on the game. of long standing – 246 –