not have a bean (be full of beans) not have a stitch on (be in stitches) not have the heart (be heartless) not have the legs (not have a leg to stand on) not in one’s province (not in one’s backyard) not in order (in disorder) not in shape (in no shape) not know what the other hand is doing (not know how the other half lives) not know where to look (know one’s way about) not know where to turn (know one’s way about) not know which end is up (know on which side one’s bread is buttered) not know which way to turn (not know which way to look) not look back (look back) not make much of something (make much of something) not move a muscle (not move a finger) not much of something (not much for something ) not once or twice (not once) not open one’s mouth (keep one’s mouth shut) not quarrel with someone (have no quarrel with someone) not so bad (not half bad) not someone’s cup of tea (different cup of tea, a) not talk turkey (not say pea-turkey) not the half (not half ) not the question (in question) not the thing (not a thing ) not think much of something (not even think of something) not to worry (no worries) not with it (not in it) nothing if not (nothing but) nothing less than (no less than) nothing short of (nothing but) notice paper (note paper) now and then (every now and then) now then (now, now) number of, the (number of, a) number ones (number one) number twos (number two) nursery school (infant school) nurseryman (nursery-girl) nursing home (nurses’ home) nuts on something (nuts at something ) nuts to someone (nuts on someone) odd fellow (Odd Fellow) odd man out (odd man) odd one out (odd one) of a certain age (of age) of a high color (highly colored) of an age (of age) of choice (by choice) of one’s age (of age) of some size (of a size) of sorts (of all sorts) of standing (of long standing ) of the kind (of a kind) of the sort (of a sort) off and on (off again, on again) off and running (up and coming) off day (day off ) off games (off one’s game) off it (beyond it) off line (out of line) off-off Broadway (off-Broadway) off one’s dot (on the dot) off one’s mind (off one’s head) off the top of one’s head (off one’s head) off the bat (off one’s own bat) off the beam (off one’s beam) off the blocks (off one’s block) off the game (off one’s game) off the hooks (off the hook) off the track (off the beaten track) off the wall (over the fence) off time (off season) offense at something (offense against something ) oil someone up (butter someone up) oil-spot someone (oil spot strateg y) old and young (man and boy) old as Adam (old Adam) old beyond one’s years (old before one’s time) old boy (new boy) old-clothes man (clothes man) Old English (Early English) Old Light men (leading man) Old Lights (ancient lights) old maid (old girl) old school tie (old school) old shoe (old boot) old-timer (new man) old woman (old lady) old world (ancient world) olde worlde (ancient world) on a string (on a shoestring ) on a tightrope (on a rope) on a wing and a prayer (on the wing ) on account (of no account) on and off (on again, off again) on balance (in balance) on bond (in bond) on camera (in camera) on charge (in charge) on charge of something (in charge of something ) on cloud nine (in heaven) on command (at command) on credit (in credit) on demand (in demand) on draft (at a draft) on duty (on active duty) on every hand (on either hand) on foot (on one’s feet) on form (in form) on home ground (at home) on it (in on it) on my part (for my part) on no account (of no account) on no condition (in no condition) on no consideration (of no considera- tion) on oath (on my oath) on one’s back (at one’s back) on one’s bones (in one’s bones) on one’s day (in one’s day) on one’s guard (on guard) on one’s hands (on hand) on one’s mind (in one’s mind) on one’s own (of one’s own) on one’s own account (by one’s own account) on one’s own time (in one’s own time) on one’s shoulders (at one’s back) on one’s way (in one’s way) on orders (on order) on other worlds (in another world) on principle (in principle) on purpose (to some purpose) on receipt of something (in receipt of something ) on request (in request) on shore (in shore) on show (in show) on someone’s side (on someone’s good side) on suspicion (above suspicion) on tenterhooks (on one’s own hook) on the air (in the air) on the arm (on hand) on the authority of someone (by authority of someone) on the back foot (on one’s hind legs) on the back of an envelope (on the back of a postcard) on the back of something (at the back of something ) on the bench (on the back bench) on the blocks (on the block) on the board (on board) on the boards (on board) on the books (on the book) on the case (on someone’s case) on the chopping block (on the block) on the commission (on commission) on the credit side (in credit) on the cuff (off the cuff ) on the danger list (at danger) on the deck (on deck) on the decks (on deck) on the downhill slide (on the downhill side) on the drawing board (on board) on the drink (in drink) on the edge (on edge) on the edge of one’s seat (on edge) on the end (on end) on the face of it (in the face of it) on the face of something (in the face of something ) on the feed (off one’s feed) on the field (in the field) on the fire (on fire) on the fly (in flight) on the front (at the front) on the game (on one’s game) on the ground (off the ground) on the half hour (half-hourly) on the hazard (at hazard) on the hook (on one’s own hook) on the hour (on the clock) Phrase Index – 362 –