challenge someone on something • challenge someone to something challenge someone on something—dispute a person’s state- ment, remarks, etc.: I think Fred is wrong, but I won’t chal - lenge him on his estimate. challenge someone to something—dare smb. to do smth.; in- vite a person to compete at smth.: Your opponent now has the chance to challenge you to a return game. chance on something • chance something chance on something—find smth. by chance: I chanced on the transaction in the realty column of the paper. chance something—risk doing smth.: I don’t usually ride horses, but this time I will chance it. chance one’s arm • one would give his right arm chance one’s arm—do smth. in the face of probable failure; take one’s chance of doing smth. successfully: He chanced his arm in pursuit of a world record and for a while looked like he might just pull it off. one would give his right arm—(hyperbolic) one is ready to give up his most valuable possession (to achieve smth.): I’m sure Leon would give his right arm for a fraction of John’s success. change hands • pass from hand to hand change hands—(of money, property, etc.) pass from one per- son’s possession to another’s: Scanlons used to be a really good pub but it has just changed hands , so I am not sure any more. pass from hand to hand—(of leaflets, etc.) continuously pass from one person to a series of other persons: She watched the note as it passed from hand to hand down the rows until it finally reached her desk. change of life • changes of life change of life —(euph.) menopause: The period occupied by this “change of life ” ranges from two to four years, if not longer. changes of life—altered conditions in a person’s life: I have learned, through all the changes of life , the important lesson that it is not necessary to go through any stressful change alone. change something for something • change something to something change something for something—take or give smth. in ex- change for smth. else: On second thoughts I don’t care for this red tie. Could you change it for a green one? change something to something—change smth. so as to make it smth. else: When she marries, a woman usually changes her surname to that of her husband. change the scene • change the scenes change the scene—change the environment or social sur- roundings: The scene of the negotiation was again changed . It was shifted from England to Holland. change the scenes —(Theater) change the general appearance of the stage: The play uses Brechtian techniques to show the workings of theater as scenes are changed before your eyes. Channel Islands, the (UK) • Channel Islands, the (U.S.) Channel Islands, the (UK)—a group of islands in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy: The Chausey is- lands are not generally included in the geographical definition of the Channel Islands but occasionally described as “French Channel Islands.” Channel Islands, the (U.S.)—(also: Channel Islands of Cali- fornia, the) a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Southern California: The Channel Is - lands at low elevations are virtually frost-free and constitute one of the few such areas in the continental U.S. charge like a bull at a gate • charge like a wounded bull charge like a bull at a gate —(Austral. sl.) act impetuously or with violence: I was naïve, but also like a bull at a gate, charg - ing forward without stopping for long to consider the conse- quences. charge like a wounded bull(Austral. sl.) overprice an item or service: When waiters take your order, they often get you to order all kinds of extras for which they can charge like a wounded bull . charge someone for something • charge someone up for something charge someone for something—ask a person to pay a certain price for smth.: I was charged for a few pounds of overweight luggage. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase charge someone with something1. declare that a person is guilty of smth.: All the members demanded with one voice who it was who was charged with the crime. 2. entrust a person with a duty or responsibility: Students are under the supervision of the Censor, who is charged with the care of their conduct and studies. charge someone up for something—1. stimulate smb.’s enthu- siasm or readiness for smth.: An excellent beefsteak in the company of truckers charged me up for the day’s exertions. 2. make a person pay more by raising the price: On top of the food, he charged me up for bogus Lottery tickets. charge something down to someone • charge something up to someone charge something down to someone(also: put something down to someone) record a sum of money as a person’s debt for later payment: Please charge these goods down to my account. charge something up to someone—(also: charge something upon someone) = charge something down to someone: Why were the expenses of the reception charged up to me? Charlie’s dead • Queen Ann’s dead Charlie’s dead—(UK) is used to discreetly tell a woman that her slip or panties are showing: “Charlie est mort.” “What did you say?” Marie lapsed suddenly into English…. “Charlie’s dead ,” he translated. “Means your petticoat’s showing.” Queen Ann’s dead—(UK) an ironical response to smb. who refers to old news or says smth. very obvious: To any boy who tendered a particularly obvious bit of information, his classic reply was, “Oh yes, and Queen Anne’s dead .” chase two rabbits • kill two birds with one stone chase two rabbits—(also: run after two hares) try to fulfill two goals at the same time (with the implication that a person will not succeed in either one): Japanese managers are forced to “chase two rabbits ,” that is, Western governance and Japa- nese honor. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make two bites of a cherry—(also: take two bites of a cherry) take two turns to accomplish smth. which could be per- formed in one operation: To announce then all I am announcing now seemed unwise and we remembered the adage against making two bites of a cherry . kill two birds with one stone—accomplish two objectives with a single action: If we can get gas and have lunch at the next rest stop, we will be killing two birds with one stone . – 69 – chase two rabbits