British Cicero, the • Cicero of the British Senate, the British Cicero, the—(hist.) the name given to William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, a British politician (1708–1778). Cicero of the British Senate, the—(hist.) the name given to George Canning, a British politician (1770–1827): Canning was famous for his flowery orations, and was even nicknamed “The Cicero of the British Senate .” Brown, Jones, and Robinson • Tom, Dick, and Harry Brown, Jones, and Robinson—(dated) used as a generic name for middle-class Englishmen: A verbatim report of the conver- sation of Brown, Jones, and Robinson would be uninterest- ing. Tom, Dick, and Harry—anybody at all; the average person: Thoreau’s great fault was disdain for men (for Tom, Dick, and Harry ): inability to appreciate the average life — even the ex- ceptional life. buddy up to someone • buddy up with someone buddy up to someone —(coll.) become immoderately familiar or friendly with smb.: Now the former loser is an overnight success, and suddenly everyone wants to buddy up to him. buddy up with someone—(coll.) join with a person to form a pair (to share accommodation or do smth. together): I bud - died up with Carl, and we shared the canoe. build a fire under someone • burn someone at the stake build a fire under someone—(also: light a fire under someone) do smth. to motivate or stimulate a person; make smb. work better or harder These students are incredibly motivated. You don’t have to build a fire under them. Note: a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase throw someone into the frying pan—(U.S.) place smb. with insufficient training into a serious predicament, as- suming he will adapt to the situation: They threw me into the frying pan . I was off to Japan for the first time in my life and not a soul did I know, and not a word of Japanese. b) The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase keep someone’s feet to the fire—(also: hold someone’s feet to the fire) pressure a person to undertake smth.: We have to continue to keep Kerry’s feet to the fire and remind him of his promises, and continue to keep his feet to the fire on certain issues. burn someone at the stake—reprimand or scold a person se- verely: Stop yelling. I made a simple mistake, and you’re burn - ing me at the stake for it. See also: burn someone down / burn someone up. build bridges with someone • burn bridges with someone build bridges with someone—try to make new friends or es- tablish cooperation with an opponent: We must work with leaders of these countries and build bridges with them—both economically and politically. burn bridges with someone—do smth. that makes former re- lationship with smb. difficult or impossible: Robb has moved considerably leftward, and he has burned bridges with many leaders in the state. build up something • build up to something build up something—1. increase or develop smth. steadily: You must now build up your strength after your illness. 2. praise or promote smth.: An advertising agency can build up a product so much that everyone will want it. build up to something—lead up to smth. gradually or indi- rectly: You could tell by the way she was talking that she was building up to something unpleasant. Bullion State, the • Golden State, the Bullion State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of Mis- souri: Missouri has been known as the Bullion State (possibly an allusion to the nickname of Missouri senator Benton, who was known as “Old Bullion”). Golden State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of Cali- fornia: The Golden State ’s golden days seem to be a thing of the past for many California residents. Note: Neither expression is equivalent in meaning to the phrase Treasure State, the—(U.S.) a nickname of the State of Mon- tana: Citizens of the Treasure State celebrate the hundredth anniversary of one of Montana’s most notable historic sites. bully for someone • bully someone bully for someone—(exclam.) used as a mocking expression of approval: If he is acquitted, then bully for him . If he is con- victed, then he goes to jail. bully someone—intimidate a person; frighten smb. into a certain course using violent threats: He saw, that he had no chance of bullying the servant. bun is in the oven, the • fat is in the fire, the bun is in the oven, the—1. (euph.) is used to allude to preg- nancy: They have to get married because the bun is in the oven …. So my question is, am I invited? 2. things have started moving: We have no idea as to a release date as there is a lot of work still to be done, but at least the bun is in the oven . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase get your buns over here—(coll.) come here quickly: Just pack your bags and get your buns over here ! We’ll make it worth your while. fat is in the fire, the—an irrevocable course of action has been started: The die has been cast and the fat is in the fire . Too late to back out now. Cf.: pull the fat from the fire—do smth. that solves a serious brooding problem: A change of pres- idents can pull the fat from the fire in time to save us from a rerun of the 1920s depression. burn a hole in someone’s pocket • make a hole in someone’s pocket burn a hole in someone’s pocket—(of money) make a person eager to spend it: It’s Sunday, everything’s closed, and there’s Bob with $10 burning a hole in his pocket . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have money to burn—have so much money that one can spend it freely: You must have money to burn . First of all, that floodlighting, and then this. make a hole in someone’s pocket—deplete smb.’s savings, bank account, etc. considerably: The cost of these repairs to the house has made a big hole in my pocket . burn away • burn out burn away —1. continue to burn: The fire was still burning away cheerfully in the grate. 2. become less or be destroyed by burning: Half the oil in the lamp had burnt away . burn out—1. burn visibly: The lamp burned out in the dark- ness of the night. 2. stop burning because there is no more fuel: As the first rocket burns out , the second stage motor ig- nites. 3. (of an engine, etc.) stop working through overheating: The engine burned out because of a problem in the cooling system. 4. (usually Passive) be made hollow by fire: The build- ing was burnt out and only the walls remained. 5. decrease; die down: The poet’s ability burned out before he was thirty. burn down • burn up burn down—(of buildings) be destroyed by fire: The old house burned down last night in the big fire. burn up —(of objects other than buildings) 1. be consumed by fire: We found our tent burned to the ground and all my books British Cicero, the – 60 –