one way street—(also: one way ticket) a situation pointing or developing in one direction only: This is a one-way street . If someone plants something on you and you’re innocent, you have no way in the world to prove it. one will have it • one won’t have it one will have it—one claims or asserts smth. strongly: He will have it that our plan is impracticable. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase let someone have it(coll.) 1. give smb. a beating: He really let the other man have it when they got into a fight. 2. scold or criticize a person: He was going to start yelling at her right off! Really let her have it this time. one won’t have it—one will not allow it: We wanted to have a party at our office but our boss won’t have it . See also: have it / have it in one. one wouldn’t say boo to a goose • one wouldn’t shout if a shark bit him one wouldn’t say boo to a goose—said of an extremely shy person: Her taste in movies was pretty unusual for someone who wouldn’t say boo to a goose . one wouldn’t shout if a shark bit him—(Austral. sl.) said of an extremely mean and miserly person: If you don’t shout the next round of drinks, you will be one of those tight bastards that “wouldn’t shout if a shark bit him .” one’s better half • one’s better self one’s better half—(also: one’s other half ) one’s spouse (usually one’s wife): In our house, I do the cooking and my better half does the clean-up. one’s better self—the better part of one’s nature; the ideal self: My Utopian self is, of course, my better self —according to my best endeavors… one’s heart is cold • warm someone’s heart one’s heart is cold—(also: have a cold heart) said of smb. devoid of sympathy or feeling: If a man forgets an anniversary or neglects to say “I love you,” it doesn’t necessarily mean his heart is cold . warm someone’s heart—(also: warm someone’s blood) make a person feel eager or excited: Letters poured in upon her, and warmed her heart and stimulated her pen. She liked intelligent criticism and generous praise. one’s life story • story of one’s life one’s life story—the account of the career of a person: I must have given her my complete life story and virtually tons of shoptalk about my job. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase life history1. = one’s life story: He then started talking to her and she cut him dead saying “I don’t want to hear your life history , pal!” 2. (biol.) the life-cycle of an organ- ism: We were able in the course of four years’ steady work to complete the life history of six distinct forms. story of one’s life—1. = one’s life story: He was a big mouth. He picked up strangers … and told them the story of his life . 2. smth. that supposedly summarizes one’s unfortunate life experience: This is a story of my life , a struggle to find the truth, a person, who now in his mid-thirties feels, and seems to be treated as a criminal. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase hard-luck story1. a narrative of a person’s misfortunes: From this beginning unfolds a brilliant tale of human failings and misery. This is not simply another hard-luck story . 2. an invented story of one’s bad luck told in order to gain help or money: Conmen often have a hard luck story to tell, but they tell it with charm and humor, they seem unconcerned about you helping them or not. one’s lucky number comes up • one’s number comes up one’s lucky number comes up—said of smb. who is lucky or has good fortune: My lucky number finally came up when I was chosen to go to Los Angeles to represent our company at the conference. one’s number comes up—(also: one’s number is up) 1. one’s turn for an interview, a haircut, etc. arrives: When my number came up , I was served cheerfully and taken care of in less than ten minutes. 2. = one’s lucky number comes up: Bingo thinks his number has come up now he’s found a great new home in England! 3. said of smth. very bad happening to a person (be punished, dismissed, etc.): I was shocked today to hear of his death. Guess his number finally came up though… one’s man • one’s own man one’s man—1. smb.’s servant or subordinate: He sent one of his men on shore for a commercial intercourse with the natives. 2. smb.’s loyal and trusted man: Kennedy bypassed Secretary of State … when he appointed his man , Averell Har- riman, to negotiate a treaty with the Communists. 3. a woman’s husband, or lover: All the while her man nods in approval, secretly keeping one eye fixed to the television. 4. a suitable person: Richard also runs the website so if you have any questions about the products then he is your man . one’s own man—1. smb. who is independent of other people and is able to make his own decisions: He had learned some- thing from all the early masters but he was determined to be his own man . 2. a person who is in full control of his faculties and emotions: I felt quite swimmy just now, but I am my own man again. Let me see, what was I talking about? 3. = one’s man 2: One of Kennedy’s first acts was to appoint his own man , James E. Webb to succeed Glennan as Administrator of NASA. one’s mind is set • one’s mind wanders one’s mind is set—one is determined about smth.: His mind was set —not only on earning a degree but also on studying at an elite school. one’s mind wanders—one fails to concentrate: I buy a puzzle book and try to concentrate but my mind wanders . What a week it has been. one’s night off • one’s night out one’s night off—a night free from work usually done at night: Whenever his “night off ” occurred he bought a ticket to the theater. one’s night out—an evening or night spent enjoying oneself in bars, clubs, etc.: For these people Lansdown Fair was, as they put it, their “night out .” one’s second nature • one’s second self one’s second nature—one’s deeply ingrained habit or ten- dency: I do feel more at ease when I’m behind a desk: It’s my second nature . one’s second self—a person with whom one has the closest possible ties (sharing beliefs, etc.): As to Miss Mirvan, she is my second self , and neither hopes nor fears but as I do. one’s superiors • superior persons one’s superiors—people holding a higher position in an organization and having authority over a person mentioned: She toadied to her superiors when she really came face to face with them. superior persons—people occupying superior posts in soci- ety; the nation’s élite: It is only because miners sweat their guts out that superior persons can remain superior. one will have it – 256 –