universal aunt • universal maid universal aunt—a kindhearted woman who provides various assistance to her acquaintances: She efficiently acted as uni - versal aunt for Peter and we felt this was a big help. universal maid—a female servant who does all kinds of housework: She had been in the kitchen helping Becky, the universal maid . Unrighteous Bible, the • Wicked Bible, the Unrighteous Bible, the—a Bible printed in 1653, containing the printer’s error, “know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit [for ‘shall not inherit’] the Kingdom of God”: At Cam- bridge in 1653 was printed the justly nicknamed “Unrighteous Bible .” It was marred by two bloopers, both concerning right- eousness. Wicked Bible, the—a Bible printed in 1632 with the word “not” omitted in the seventh commandment, making it, “Thou shalt commit adultery”: King Charles was not amused by the “Wicked Bible ,” as the infamous printing mistake was called. up and coming • up and running up and coming —becoming more and more successful; show- ing great promise: David is an up and coming assistant pro- fessor in the Computer Science department. Cf.: up-and- comer—a person who has begun to be successful in some field and is likely to become even more successful in the future: Fisher is an up and comer in the music industry. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the adjective upcoming—forthcoming; about to happen: If you would like to register for the upcoming event, complete the registration form. up and running —(of a machine, etc.) operating; functioning (especially when fixed after a breakdown): Now that the oper- ating system is up and running , it is time to make it more secure. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase off and running—1. (of horse races) having started: The crowd’s on its feet at the finish screaming their heads off. And in five minutes, the next race is off and running …. 2. making a good start; progressing well: The construction was going to take two years, but we were off and running , and it appeared we would finish on schedule. up the creek • up the river up the creek —(sl.) facing problems; in trouble (also: up the creek without a paddle): If that person is on vacation or oth- erwise not reachable, I am up-the-creek . up the river—(U.S. Underworld) in prison: Gary was up the river for a couple of years, but that doesn’t make him a crim- inal, does it? Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase down the river—(sl.) in the past; over and done with: True enough, I used to hustle a little beer in the old days— but that’s all down the river . up to the last minute • up to the minute up to the last minute—until the last possible moment; until the very end: Despite feverish negotiations and efforts up to the last minute , the House and Senate failed to negotiate a compromise. up to the minute —1. (of things) most modern; the latest that can be offered: Contact us if you want an up-to-the-minute report on bills moving through the Legislature. 2. (of people) thinking or behaving in the most modern way: She is a very attractive young woman, vivacious, up to the minute , a thor- oughly modern young woman. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase to the minute—1. exactly on time: The limousine arrived to the minute , and she climbed in gracefully despite her excite- ment. 2. (of the rate) every minute: Her pulse rate was barely 12 beats a minute, breaths came three to the minute , and there was no measurable blood pressure. 3. up until the moment: We went expecting a great time and were not disappointed, from the moment we arrived to the minute we left. uppers and downers • ups and downs uppers and downers—1. positive and negative fluctuations in fortune, business, etc.: In the case of both the uppers and the downers , it would be a good idea to examine the compa- nies more closely to see how meaningful these one-year trends are. 2. (dated coll.) teeth: The film pokes fun of the idyllic, monochromatic life in the 1950s—a time when uppers and downers meant teeth and problems were purely mathematical. 3. (Drugs) stimulants and depressants: Not too long after this I started taking downers in order to go to sleep. Now I was taking uppers to wake up and downers to sleep. ups and downs—1. irregularities on the surface of ground, etc.: He had forgotten that the road was narrow, twisting and full of ups and downs , which slowed them down continuously. 2. = uppers and downers 1: The net effect of this large-scale gambling in raw materials, with its feverish ups and downs , has been to weaken Britain’s world position. See also: high and low / up and down. V van guard • vanguard van guard —a guard for a railway van or a motor truck: Van guard travels with and guards contents of mail vans. vanguard—1. the troops who march at the head of an army: The vanguard was composed of chasseurs of the line, hussars, and lancers. 2. the leaders of thought, taste, or opinion in lit- erature, art, etc.: It is this vanguard which makes the studio or art theater possible. visit with someone (UK) • visit with someone (U.S.) visit with someone (UK)—pay a visit to a person: Weekends we usually visit with my husband’s family. visit with someone (U.S.)—talk with smb. on a short visit: “When will I be able to see him?” “Right now, if you like. You can visit with him in his cell or see him right here in my office.” visiting book • visitors’ book visiting book —1. a book containing the names of persons to be visited: Julia will be missed at St. Christopher’s Hospital and by the many people in her visiting book . 2. a book for the signatures and comments of visitors to a museum, etc.: The Bishop went and wrote his name in the visiting-book at Gaunt House that very day. visitors’ book— = visiting book 2: The Emperor Nicholas “expressed himself much pleased,” as the visitors’ books have it. vital measurements • vital statistics vital measurements —the measurements of a woman’s figure, specifically bust, waist, and hips: She is blessed with a slender body, but needs to find a way to stay in control of the vital measurements . vital statistics —1. statistics concerned with births, marriages, deaths, etc.: The best data source for mortality is vital statistics – 329 – vital measurements