be loaded for bear—(U.S. sl.) 1. = be loaded 1: Marines are always loaded for bear , and get nicked once in a while. 2. ready for the hardest problems: I’m loaded for bear , and that’s good because this is going to be a rough day. 3. very angry: By the time he finished talking, I was loaded for bear . be loath to do something • loathe doing some- thing be loath to do something —be unwilling to do smth.: Perhaps you have to ease back on your workload, something most physicians are loath to do. loathe doing something—have an intense aversion for doing smth.: Thank you for leaving the kitchen so clean and tidy, a job I loath doing after a party. be milk toast • be toast be milk toast—(U.S. sl., pejor.) be a timid person who is afraid to assert himself: He will have frequent battles with hospital officials…. A doctor who never gets into scraps with those around him is a milk toast . be toast—(U.S. sl.) said of a person who will not succeed or will be in deep trouble: They may have gotten him in a posi- tion where if he doesn’t really shine in those debates, he is toast . be mixed up • mix it up be mixed up —(coll.) be confused in one’s feelings: No won- der the boy turned criminal, he had been mixed up all through his childhood. mix it up —(sl.) argue or exchange criticisms; quarrel vigor- ously: Shaffer was aggressive and didn’t mind mixing it up when she had to. be nettled • be on nettles be nettled —be vexed or angered: Becker was nettled at the groan from those around the table. “I know it’s a lot of money, but this is necessary.” be on nettles —be impatient or anxious: Some of them were on nettles till they learned your name was Dickson. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase grasp the nettletake decisive or bold action: It was hoped that, grasping the nettle with resolution, he might suffer no evil results. be nobody’s business • like nobody’s business be nobody’s business—said of smth. that does not concern anyone: I look like death warmed up and what I feel is no - body’s business . like nobody’s business—(coll.) said of an activity done with great energy or enthusiasm: “He can sing like nobody’s busi - ness ,” said Stoker. be none of someone’s business • have no business to do something be none of someone’s business—said of smth. that does not concern a person: She’s not his girlfriend, and this matter is none of his business . have no business to do smth.—have no right to do smth.: This woman had no business to publish his private letters to her. be of one mind • be single-minded be of one mind—(of two or more people) be in complete agree- ment; think alike: Upon sober reflection, I cannot say that I am of one mind with the pastor. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase be in two minds—(also: be in twenty minds) feel doubtful or hesitate about smth.: I am still in two minds whether to take the house or not. be single-minded —have but one purpose; concentrate on ac- complishing only one task: Isabella was single-minded in her determination to cause Blanche as much trouble as possible. be off one’s legs • be run off one’s legs be off one’s legs—be resting: She didn’t know how long she could manage it, but for the time being at least she was off her legs . Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase be on one’s legs—(also: be on one’s feet) 1. be standing up while working: His sciatica bothers him mainly after being on his legs all day. 2. get up (to speak, etc.): “It’s a lie!” Foe was on his legs , and he fairly shouted it. 3. recover after an illness: Willie is now in the Middlesex Military Hospital…. He is progressing favorably and soon hopes to be on his legs again. be run off one’s legs—(also: be rushed off one’s legs) be tired to the point of exhaustion: The servers were run off their legs trying to keep the buffet tables supplied. be off one’s nana • lose one’s nana be off one’s nana—(Austral. sl.) be mentally deranged: We’ve learned to laugh at our predicament. If we hadn’t we’d all be off our nanas . lose one’s nana—(Austral. sl.) lose one’s temper: Lost my nana with a couple of customers tonight and wish I hadn’t. be off one’s nut • get one’s nuts off be off one’s nut—(sl.) be out of one’s mind; be insane: But is the master off his nut that he has her down here to stay? get one’s nuts off—(coarse sl.) obtain sexual release: Screwin’ my white friend’s black wife makes me feel even better. Makes me get my nuts off . be on a high • be on a high horse be on a high—(coll.) have a feeling of great excitement and happiness: The team are definitely on a high at the moment so we will go to Bahrain feeling very optimistic. be on a high horse —be very dignified and formal: Every sin- gle person I spoke to was on a high horse and treated me like they were doing me a favor. be on all fours • hit on all four be on all fours—1. crawl on one’s hands and knees: Claud slipped through the hedge on all fours and I followed. 2. (coll.) correspond or harmonize with smth.: The railways maintain that conditions in Great Britain and America are not on all fours . hit on all four —(coll.) work most efficiently (also: hit on all six): If we can hit on all four , we can provide incredible value for our members. be on home ground • play away from home be on home ground—(also: be on one’s own ground) 1. be in the area where one works or lives (with the implication that it makes a person feel confident and secure): I was sad to see Ar- gentina lose on penalties. They were doing pretty well con- sidering the Germans were on home ground . 2. be competent in a subject because one is thoroughly familiar with it (with the implication that it makes a person feel relaxed and comfort- able): Here he is on home ground , spinning webs of excellent dialogues around incidents, holding the spectator spellbound. Here he is at his professional best. play away from home —(coll.) have an affair on the side: Pink allegedly agreed that Carey could “play away from home ” while she is on tour. be on one’s last legs • be the last leg be on one’s last legs—be at the end of one’s resources and failing fast: At this point I was on my last legs … I would – 39 – be on one’s last legs