off work • out of work off work —1. not working temporarily (owing to illness, etc.): Steven was off work last week. He had been bitten by the family dog. 2. not engaged in work: This was the first time she was going to see me during the day because she was off work . out of work—unemployed; unable to obtain work: The poor woman must have a hard time of it, for her husband is out of work . offense against something • offense at something offense against something—a violation or breach of a law, custom, rule, etc.: What is sin? It is an offense against religious or moral law. offense at something—feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or resentment at smth.: Humphrey expressed offense at yet another anti–gay marriage bill to be taken up in the Legislature. offer one’s thanks • thanks offering offer one’s thanks—express one’s gratitude: First and fore- most, I offer my thanks to John Meredith, who bore with me through the often frustrating production process. thanks offering—donation made to a charity, a religious organization, etc. as an expression of gratitude: In early Bible times the Israelites set aside part of their crops (grain, grapes and olive oil) as a thanks offering to God. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound thanksgiving—1. expression of gratitude, especially to God; form of prayer for this: The Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock held their Thanksgiving in 1621 as a three day “thank you” festivity to the leaders of the Wampanoag Indian tribe. 2. (US) a day set apart each year for thanks to God for His goodness (usu- ally the fourth Thursday in November): When they return from their Thanksgiving recesses, the Congress and the Senate will be bickering over the budget bills. offset something • set something off offset something—1. counterbalance smth.: More had to be shifted to the opposite side of the plane to offset the weight of just two passengers. 2. compensate for smth.; neutralize smth.: Grants to public post-secondary institutions should be increased to offset the effect of inflation. set something off—1. cause smth. to explode: When they set the fireworks off , the guards ran out to see what was making that noise. 2. give rise to smth.; start smth. happening (espe- cially unintentionally): Labor leaders also warned such a move could set off violence. 3. show smth. to advantage by providing a suitable background: This new blue dress sets off the color of Mary’s eyes. 4. = offset something 2: At least there are good restaurants to set off the disadvantages of the weather. oil spot strategy • oil-spot someone oil spot strateg y —(Military) a tactic to secure an area to be used as a launch site for campaigns to other areas: The oil spot strategy is translated from the French tache d’huile, calling up the image of a stain that spreads out from a tiny spot. oil-spot someone—(Bus tours) accidentally leave behind a member of a touring company, road show, etc.: Failing to leave a sign of your temporary absence (from the bus) puts you at risk of being “oil-spotted.” old Adam • old as Adam old Adam—the sinful, incorrigible part of human nature: The best way to keep evil and the old Adam down was to flog the child. old as Adam—said of a person or thing very old: Though old as Adam , love is still the theme that interests all hearts in all countries. old before one’s time • old beyond one’s years old before one’s time—older in looks or physical condition than is right for one’s age: He was getting old then long before his time . He’d come in from his sermons complaining of rheumatism and the cold. old beyond one’s years—more mature and knowledgeable than others of the same age: Though old beyond her years in some respects, I felt she was emotionally immature and cer- tainly not ready for marriage. old boot • old shoe old boot—(UK sl.) said of an objectionable, aging, unattrac- tive woman: She was a tough old boot and survived the hip replacement surgery, but had to go to a nursing home. old shoe—1. said of smth. regarded as outdated or useless: Love should not become an old shoe , it should never wear out or grow old. 2. is used of anything comfortable and familiar: Despite a brief anxiety attack, Jane settled into the job quickly, and soon it was as comfortable as an old shoe . old girl • old maid old girl —1. (coll.) one’s wife (also: old lady): It’s my old girl that advises. She has the head. But I never own to it before her. 2. (coll.) one’s mother (also: old lady): She told my mother to pay for the hospital bills and leave it alone. My old girl paid and I didn’t go to court. 3. a former student of a particular school or college: Old Girls of the college will gather in the hall this afternoon for a reunion. old maid —1. a woman who remains single; an elderly spin- ster: She spent most of her summers in travel, with another wise old maid for companion. 2. said of a person regarded as being primly fastidious: She acted like an old maid , so it was hard not to have fun at her expense sometimes. old lady • old woman old lady —(also: old girl) 1. one’s wife: The guy who ran it [Ballroom] hated musicians because one of them ran off with his old lady . 2. one’s mother: I was ordered by my old lady (I do not like to use the word mother) to not open any of the doors. What eight year old can resist exploring rooms and opening doors? old woman—1. = old lady 1: If you went home and found someone indoors with your old woman , what would you do? 2. = old lady 2: He was strictly warned never ever to refer to his parents as “my old man,” “my old woman ,” which was current slang at the time. 3. a person of timid and fussy char- acter: The new officer was of the genus known in the service as “old woman ,” and the regiment suffered accordingly. old school • old school tie old school —said of conservative or old-fashioned views and principles: My grandmother, who was of the old school , said that self-praise was half slander. old school tie —(UK) the clannish loyalty of people who knew each other at public school or a university: The Inspector was tacitly accusing him of favoring his own class — of shield- ing an “old school tie .” Old Tom • Tom Collins Old Tom—1. a name for a strong variety of gin: The next day a plunger brought a quantity of salvaged goods, mostly in the form of cases of Old Tom gin. 2. a highly flavored strong ale: Old Tom was the second beer we tested during our eve- ning at the Festival. Tom Collins—a cocktail made of gin mixed with soda water, fruit juice, etc.: In the case of the Tom Collins , it’s largely a matter of which mixer should be used, plain soda or ginger ale. on a large scale • on the large side on a large scale—said of smth. involving large numbers or off work – 248 –