not even have written down what was said in confidence by Kennedy. say something with confidence—say smth. assuredly and with conviction: No one can say with confidence now what the outcome will be. Scarlet Woman, the scarlet woman Scarlet Woman, the—(derog.) the Roman Catholic Church (also: Scarlet Lady, the): The latter old lady [the Church of Rome] may be the Scarlet Woman , or the Beast with ten horns, if you will. scarlet woman—(pejor., dated) a prostitute; a whore: I sought out a scarlet woman in the streets and went home with her. school board • school council school board —1. (UK hist.) local education authority respon- sible for the maintenance of public elementary schools: The school board may pay the whole or any part of the school fees payable by any child. 2. (U.S., Canada) a board charged with the provision and maintenance of schools: The school board which recently submitted its estimates for the year to the city council will have to revise them. school council —a committee of pupils elected to manage school affairs: Murray, a boy who was well-liked but who shone at nothing, was proud of his status as a member of the school council . science project • scientific project science project—1. an investigation to discover the answer to a scientific problem: The question for my science project was if different solutions affected seed germination and growth. 2. said of a difficult, complex task: Some advertisers think it’s a science project . A lot of them have been slow to adopt online advertising… scientific project— = science project 1: In minutes the two dedicated engineers were deeply engrossed in their scientific project , totally oblivious to their surroundings. scrap of paper • scrap paper scrap of paper —said contemptuously of a document which a party does not intend to honor: When constitutional restraints on the government are most desperately needed, the Constitution becomes nothing but a scrap of paper . scrap paper —1. paper for repulping or reuse: Scrap paper is used to make some forms of paperboard for packaging. 2. rough paper for casual jotting: He made some preliminary sketches for several hours on scrap paper . scratch something off • scratch something out scratch something off—1. remove smth. by abrasion: If you place objects on the bumper while you are loading the rear you will scratch the paint off . 2. write smth. hurriedly or care- lessly: The usual scene, Jenny singing and me scratching off letters for the second post. scratch something out—cancel an item on a list, etc. by draw- ing a line through it: I write you my letter straightforward, and let you see all my scratchings out and puttings in. screen test • screening test screen test—1. a trial filming to determine whether an actor is suitable: Then, when he [camera man] was through, she went back to her work and gave her screen test no more thought. 2. a medical check on a person to detect a possible disease: Large numbers of women could receive a screen test for carcinoma of the cervix. screening test— = screen test 2: A swift and reliable system is necessary to meet the ideal of offering every woman an annual screening test . scrub something off • scrub something out scrub something off—(also: scrub something away) remove smth. by scrubbing: I got paint on my hands and I can’t scrub it off . scrub something out—1. = scrub something off: When you spill ink on the carpet, remove it straight away—you won’t be able to scrub it out later. 2. clean smth. thoroughly by rubbing the surface: As soon as they moved in, they started scrubbing out the rooms. 3. draw a line through a writing so that it cannot be read: Scrub out that last part of the message, the wording is not very polite. sea power • water power sea power—1. (also: naval power) a nation or state with a large navy: Just over a century ago, the United States became a sea power , changing its basic strategic orientation in the course of a few years. 2. the capacity of a nation for naval war- fare; the size and strength of a country’s navy: French sea power , allied with the American cause after 1778, enabled Washington to isolate and destroy the British army. water power—power derived from the weight or motion of water, used to drive machinery, etc.: Since 1985, the city of Boulder has run a hydroelectric program to turn water power into electricity. see a pink elephant • see the elephant see a pink elephant—have visionary hallucinations caused by alcoholism (also: see pink elephants): One time when I got loaded on beer I heard water running when there was none and I did see a pink elephant . see the elephant—(U.S. coll.) gain worldly experience (having been to far-off places, visiting sights, etc.): He is quite well able to take care of himself; he has seen the elephant . sea boy • sea girl see boy —a man or youth pursuing his career at sea as a sailor, etc.: He ventured to remark, that no other coat than a pay- jacket could become a sea-boy . sea girl —(also: sea-maid) a mythological being supposed to inhabit the sea: Suddenly they saw twelve sea girls come up out of the water and dance a round upon the sand. sea dog • water dog sea dog—1. an experienced sailor: In his blue Guernsey sweater he looked every bit an old sea dog . 2. a seal or a small sea lion: Its skin was rough, scaly, and grating, like that of a sea-dog or seal. 3. any of various small sharks: The chief fish- eries are those of the tunny, of the sword fish, and of the sea dog , a species of shark. 4. (also: sea wolf ) a sea-robber; a pirate: The galleons of the Spanish Armada were pulled down by the sea-dogs of Drake. water dog—1. a dog trained to retrieve waterfowl: Though excellent water dogs … we have had to complain of their im- petuous rush into pond or river. 2. (coll.) a good swimmer: I was the only water-dog of our band; neither Percy nor Captain Roberts nor the mate could swim. 3. (coll.) a good sailor: They [Sandwich Islanders] are complete water-dogs , and therefore very good in boating. 4. (pl., coll.) small dark floating clouds, forecasting rain: Reports of smoke were determined to be low lying haze and moisture (commonly called water dogs ). sea-fire • Water Fire sea-fire—marine phosphorescence from decaying matter: The sea-fire shines in her wake…. Near the equator, you can read small print by it. Water Fire—(U.S.) a festival in Providence, RI celebrated with bonfires on the river: Our lounge is the perfect destina- tion to come after attending one of many downtown Provi- dence events such as Water Fire . – 289 – sea-fire