it’s all over with someone • it’s someone all over it’s all over with someone—1. said of smb. who is completely finished: It’s all over with me…. I can bang off a popular song in the cabarets, perhaps; but that’s all. 2. said of a person who is dying: When he heard Bambi coming he ceased his convul- sive movements and whispered: “It’s all over with me.” it’s someone all over—it’s very typical of the person men- tioned: “We might not be able to prove it, but we strongly suspect it’s Dupas … it’s him all over ,” a police source said. it’s just the thing • that’s the thing it’s just the thing—that’s exactly what one wants or needs: “Would this be suitable, madam?” “Yes, it’s just the thing .” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase it’s just one of those thingsused of an unpleasant hap- pening one cannot account for or do anything to prevent: Now, my wife is a terrible snorer. It’s just one of those things . that’s the thing—that’s the point; that is indeed the reason: “License and registration please.” “Well, that’s the thing ,” I stammered. “I was on my way to renew it right now.” it’s no go • it’s not a go it’s no go—(coll.) it is no use; it is impossible: Jack tries to get friendly with her but it’s no go . Suzie’s got attitude even Jack can’t handle. it’s not a go—(coll.) 1. it is not settled: It’s not a go at this date. If enough members indicate they want a convention we will have one. 2. = it’s no go: When you don’t speak Spanish, it takes a while … I tried tourist places just asking, but without a common language it’s not a go . See also: it’s all go / it’s all the go. it’s the same old, old story • tell me the old, old story it’s the same old, old story—said of smth. bad that has hap- pened many times before: It’s the same old, old story . The individual is having his economic sovereignty stripped from him to such an extent that he is no longer capable of managing his own affairs. tell me the old, old story —(derisive or sarcastic) is used to say that one doesn’t believe what one hears: Tell me the “old, old, story ”! Bullying in the workplace has been part of life since time immemorial. This pandemic problem lies in our sytem of advancing toadies… J Jack of all trades • man of all work Jack of all trades—1. a person who can do various types of work: Wolfenden described the background of a typical rural policeman. He has to be a Jack of all trades . 2. (derog.) a person who can do many different things but is not good at any of them: His critics sometimes described him as a jack-of-all- trades . man of all work—a servant expected to do all domestic duties: He charged into the kitchen, bellowing loudly for Celeste, the kitchen maid, and Bragon, the man-of-all-work , her lover. jacket potato • unpeeled potato jacket potato —a whole baked potato with skin: After you remove jacket potatoes from the oven, they lose their crispness very quickly. unpeeled potato —a potato (raw or cooked) with the skin on: Boil unpeeled potatoes in water until tender, about 15 minutes. jar against something • jar on something • jar with something jar against something —1. strike smth. with a harsh unpleas- ant sound: Her hands slapped on the floor, and her elbows jarred against the cement. “Liz!” Michael yelled, “Are you ok?” 2. not match smth.; be out of harmony with smth.: Their ide- alistic expectations of military service—travel, tuition and adventure—jarred against the harsh realities. jar on something—(of a disagreeable sound) have an unpleas- ant effect on one’s nerves or ears: The noisy music jarred on my nerves, the sight of the gaping crowd round the platform irritated me. jar with something— = jar against something 2: The “business as usual” tone of the early post-tsunami messages jarred with reality and the plight of many of the survivors. jet lag • time lag jet lag —extreme tiredness and sleep disturbance felt after a long flight across different time zones: I discovered that I was getting quite irritable—most likely a side effect of the jet lag . time lag —an interval of time between two connected events: The time lag between when the visa is issued and when the immigrant lands varies among immigrants. jet people • jet set jet people —(also: plane people) asylum seekers, refugees, or immigrants who relocate by airplane: They are immigrants of choice, jet people rather than boat people. America’s been good to them… jet set—an international social set of wealthy people who travel frequently by jetliner to parties and resorts: There is one hotel frequented by the jet set …. However, it is more chic to arrive by yacht and return to it each night. Jim Crow someone • jump Jim Crow Jim Crow someone—(U.S. dated sl.) practice racial discrim- ination against Black people: The Government has opened the door to dozens of prominent Blacks and ensured that they were not Jim Crowed . jump Jim Crow —(U.S. dated sl.) change one’s political con- victions; desert one’s party: Not much balance about us. We just run about and jump Jim Crow . job-horse • work horse job-horse—a horse hired to do a particular piece of work, or for a limited time: The sight of Dr. Slocum’s large carriage, with the gaunt job-horses , crushed Flora. work horse—1. a horse used for labor rather than for racing or recreation: Pink-eye is excessively prevalent among all classes of horses, particularly work horses in Sheffield. 2. a person who undertakes hard but necessary work: Rice-pro- ducing peasants continued to be the workhorses of the nation and the economic support of the ruling class. 3. a particularly useful or durable machine: This caliber howitzer has gained the reputation of being the “work horse ” of the Army. job of work • job work job of work —(coll.) a task; a piece of work: Arthur did not go on the search, because he had a job of work to do. job work—printing of letterheads, cards, etc. as distinct from the manufacture of books: This invention relates to machinery intended chiefly for printing “job work .” John Doe • Richard Roe John Doe—1. the name given to an ordinary or typical cit- izen: The only information that any John Doe leaves behind – 201 – John Doe