give someone a foot up • give someone a leg up give someone a foot up—help a person in time of need: If we can’t help them, we try to recommend them to another agency. Our motto is to give a foot up and not a handout. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone a foot in the doorlet smb. start working at a low level in the hope of getting a better position in the future: The freelance work that I did gave me a foot in the door . give someone a leg up—1. help smb. to mount a horse or to climb up smth.: The wall is very low, sir, and your servant will give you a leg up . 2. = give someone a foot up: Keep on your regular patients and give that young dentist a leg up by recommending any newcomers to him. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone leg—(sl.) deceive or fool a person: Last time I saw you, you’re giving me a little leg about there’s nothing going on. give someone a glad hand • give someone a good hand give someone a glad hand—(also: glad-hand someone) give a person a cordial handshake or greeting: Crude economic rea- sons do not explain why he should have been given the glad hand . give someone a good hand—(also: give someone a big hand) give a person a large round of applause: The club enjoyed her talk and gave her a good hand at the end. give someone a hand • give someone one’s hand give someone a hand—1. help smb. with a task, etc.: Give me a hand with this case, will you? 2. applaud a person: Come on, give them a hand . They did very well. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase give someone a free handgive smb. freedom of action in affairs: He accepted the job after the prime minister agreed to give him a free hand in key economic issues. give someone one’s hand—1. agree formally to smth.: Yes, I agree to your marrying my daughter, and I give you my hand upon it. 2. (of a woman) agree to marry a man: Bruno and Evandra have loved each other for six years, but she refuses to give him her hand . give someone a head • give someone his head give someone a head—(of alcohol) cause headache: He goes on to tell us that, “It won’t give you a head in the morn- ing.” He speaks with the authority of a man that knows his drink. give someone his head—1. (of a horse) not to check or hold in with the bridle: He has always been a well-mannered colt, but I have never been able to give him his head . 2. give a per- son freedom to have his way: He’s got some great ideas. Why not give him his head and see what kind of campaign he comes up with. give someone a head start • give someone a start give someone a head start—put smb. in an advantageous posi- tion allowing to start smth. earlier: If we give them a head start they’re going to do as well as other children. give someone a start—1. startle a person: I have to say that the sirens went off at noon today and gave me a start . 2. help a person start his stalled car: John gave me a start when my car was stalled this morning. 3. assist smb. in entering on a career: So she lent me some money and gave me a start in business. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase get someone started— cause a person to begin smth.: Tak- ing your child for visits to museums will get him started to having an interest in science. give someone a heads-up • hold one’s head up give someone a heads-up—(coll.) give a person an early warn- ing about smth. that requires alert attention: Could anyone give me a heads-up on what I need to have with me when I go see the lawyer. hold one’s head up—(also: keep one’s head up) stay proud; not feel ashamed of oneself: He is a man who can hold his head up high and know that he is who he is because of hard work. give someone a hot wash • throw cold water on someone give someone a hot wash —(U.S. military) said of a perform- ance review, particularly after a training exercise or combat operation: Troops are often given a “hot wash ,” or a critique of what they did and how they did it. throw cold water on someone—(also: pour cold water on some- one) discourage a person; curb smb.’s enthusiasm: People will go tremendous lengths to help you, but will throw cold water on you the instant you take them for granted. give someone a knockdown • knock someone down give someone a knockdown—(UK sl.) introduce smb. to a person: I heard one young fellow ask another to “give him a knockdown to that tart in the green skirt.” knock someone down—hit smb. so that a person falls to the ground: A bus came screeching to a stop, practically knocking him down . give someone a lift • give someone a rise give someone a lift—1. offer a person a ride in a car: Can you give me a lift to the station? 2. give smb. a helping hand: I’m going to make some dried-apple fritters for dinner, and you must give me a lift . 3. promote smb. to a higher or more advanced position: That show, though short-lived, gave her a lift into television. 4. raise smb.’s morale: The event seemed to give him a lift and offered Joe a temporary reprieve from his troubles. give someone a rise—(also: give someone a raise) increase a person’s wage or salary: He threatened to resign if they did not give him a rise . give someone a line • give someone line give someone a line1. give a person information about smth.: Maybe she can give me a line on a place to stay. 2. (coll.) give smb. false or misleading information (also: feed someone a line): It didn’t matter much whether Frank was giv - ing her a line , or really loved her. 3. (also: give someone a line or two) send smb. a brief note or letter: If you would like more information regarding this music, please give me a line . Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase drop someone a line— = give someone a line 3: Upon receiving your submission, your editor will drop you a line acknowledging receipt. give someone line—(also: give someone rope) give a person freedom of action (in order that he may reveal himself): She was persuaded he would ruin all, but she was resolved to give him line . give someone a look-in • look in on someone give someone a look-in—give smb. a chance to be successfully involved in smth.: Brogden is the only decent leader the Lib- erals have. But the polls don’t give him a look-in look in on someone—make a short visit to a person: She has support from a daughter and two daughters-in-law who look in on her regularly. give someone a foot up – 142 –