show one’s colors—show what one is really like; show one’s true self: His most recent incarnation as an opponent of immi- gration has perhaps shown his colors in their truest light. show someone the door • show someone to the door show someone the door—ask a person to leave; dismiss smb. without ceremony: Exasperated by the man’s insolence, Ted finally showed him the door . show someone to the door—escort a person to the door as a parting gesture: The Reverend Thomas took his leave and apologized…. She told him not to worry as she showed him to the door . show the white feather • show the white flag show the white feather —display cowardice: He said that Mr. Bathurst left the army because he showed the white feather . It is not true, is it? show the white flag—(also: hang out the white flag) admit defeat; surrender: These comments have been submitted in a letter to the editor. Will the author resolutely defend his posi- tion, or show the white flag ? shut one’s eyes • shut your eyes and think of England shut one’s eyes—(also: close one’s eyes) pretend that one has no knowledge of smth.; ignore smth.: He preferred to shut his eyes on the matter rather than to fight for his point of view. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase get some shut-eye—(sl.) get some sleep: I’ve been working all day long; I have to get some shut-eye . shut your eyes and think of England—(also: close your eyes and think of England) a humorous advice to smb. faced with an unpleasant task (originally a wedding-night advice for Victorian brides to succumb to unwanted sex): When you’re staring down the barrel of a gun you can shut your eyes and think of England —or you can grasp it with both hands… shut someone off • shut someone out shut someone off—(sl.) silence or obstruct a person: Don’t try to shut me off ! I have more to say. shut someone out—not allow smb. to enter or participate: Just look at how the corporate media shut him out of the debates. shut up a shop • shut up shop shut up a shop —(also: close up a shop) close a shop securely before leaving (for the weekend, etc.): The bookseller was just shutting up his shop for the night. shut up shop —(also: close up shop) 1. stop doing business or a service for the day: I think I’ll shut up shop , I can’t do any more letters tonight. 2. (of a company, etc.) go out of business: In Canberra, our one and only Cable TV company shut up shop before any cable was laid. sick child • sickly child sick child —a child who is ill: Even crèches, will not lift the load of fatigue from the mother with a sick child to nurse and a teething baby. sickly child —a child who is weak, unhealthy and often ill: A mother who did not care for her children would have feeble and sickly children . sick from something • sick of something • sick with something sick from something—1. feeling unwell as a result of smth.: What is the best thing to do if you get sick from too much sun? 2. ready to vomit because of smth.: Some are sick from the motion of a carriage, or on the water, when it is simply rippled by the wind. sick of something—(also: sick and tired of something ) dis- gusted with smth.; annoyed by smth.: They always treat us like dirt and like we’re nobodies. I get sick of it. sick with something —1. deeply affected by some strong feel- ing: Martha, sick with fear, was forced by Helmut to ride on the roller-coaster with him. 2. ill with a disease: All four were very sick with a flu that included stomach upset, cough and cold-like symptoms. sicken at something • sicken for something • sicken of something sicken at something—experience strong revulsion at smth.: The four of us who sickened at the idea of partaking of the horrid meal withdrew to the seclusion of our tent. sicken for something—be in the early stages of a disease (not yet manifest): “I’d rather be at home,” said the cameraman. “I’m definitely sickening for something.” sicken of something—grow bored or tired of smth.: There must come a time in each person’s life, when they sicken of their seemingly purposeless existence. side boy • sideman side boy—(Navy) one of the crew detailed to stand at the gangway as a mark of respect to a person arriving: Shipmate Talbot was nominated “side boy ” for the evening and he piped the Mayor aboard. sideman—( Jazz) a supporting instrumentalist: He began playing in bands just a few years later, and was soon accepted as a desirable sideman . side-step • step aside side-step—1. step to one side: Sophia sidestepped and walked sharply past Charles. 2. deviate from the direct route: I was glad I side-stepped , for the journey was worth a devia- tion. 3. avoid an issue, etc.: I’ve even asked Dinwater that flat out on two occasions. But he’s always side-stepped . step aside —1. = side-step 1: He will leave his rifle on the rest and step aside , in order that the instructor may take his place. 2. withdraw from a competition, etc.: I feel that when there are so many better people for the chairmanship, I should step aside . sigh about something • sigh for something sigh about something—express some sad feeling on account of smth.: It’s no good sighing about your failure, it’s better to start again. sigh for something—desire smth. very much: Many a woman sighs for a house of her own. sign someone in • sign someone on sign someone in—register a person; record smb.’s arrival or admittance: Members must sign in any guests that they bring to the club. sign someone on—employ a person for a job (as by signing a contract): The men can only be “signed on ” in the presence of the Board of Trade officer. Silicon Alley • Silicon Valley Silicon Alley—(New York City) a nickname for an area in lower Manhattan, where there is a large concentration of high- tech firms (a pun on Silicon Valley): The success of Silicon Alley has had less to do with the traditional technology-ori- ented policies … and more to do with the strengths of New York’s business sector. Silicon Valley—the geographical area in northern California, where there is a large concentration of high-tech companies: The semiconductor industry in the U.S. did not locate itself – 297 – Silicon Alley