the bargain counters in some stores. Very often they’re full of shoddy goods. bargaining counter —a special advantage in negotiations: The de facto occupation of parts of the Russian zone was an important bargaining counter for obtaining satisfaction from the Soviet Government on a number of questions. bargain on something • bargain over something bargain on something—count on smth.; depend on smth.: Frankly, I did bargain on Fred’s resigning the position. bargain over something—(also: bargain for something) nego- tiate about obtaining smth.: We will bargain with the supplier over prices. barge in on someone • barge into someone barge in on someone—come rudely into a place and interrupt people in their activities: Albert barged in on Ted without knocking. barge into someone—1. bump into smb., usually by accident: She just barged into me and nearly knocked me over. 2. meet a person by chance: I barged into him opposite the Old Ship, and I told him about our air-raid. bark at the moon • cry for the moon bark at the moon—do smth. which has no effect: If other nations don’t adopt similar measures to protect blue sharks, we’re just barking at the moon . cry for the moon —demand smth. impossible: To ask for the matter to be settled by a General Council is to cry for the moon . base light • basic light base light—(Photography) diffuse, uniform studio illumina- tion approaching a shadowless condition: In some cases you may want to use a low-level base light . basic light—(Photography) illumination using the concept of one main light: In addition to the basic light with a simple on/off button, there are also the dimmer switch lights. Basic English • basic English Basic English—an essential English vocabulary used for teaching purposes: Basic English is a system in which 850 En- glish words do all the work of over 20,000. basic English —1. English using few and simple words: I’d picked up a touch of “la tourism” or in basic English , the runs, from the unwashed fruit. 2. (sl.) English using vulgar and ob- scene words: He, Happy, himself no slouch at basic English , was revolted by George’s language. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the acronym BASIC—(Beginners’ All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) a computer language using simple English: When you re- ceived your computer a language called BASIC was possibly supplied on a disk. batman • batsman batman—a British military officer’s personal servant: He told of how his batman mended his clothes; prepared his food; seemed always able to provide him with small comforts. batsman —a baseball or cricket player who bats: In front of the opposite wicket, there’s a player from the opposing team (the “batsman ”). be a back seat driver • be in the back seat be a back seat driver —suggest unwanted advice; tell a person in charge how to do his job: It is always easy to criticize and be a back seat driver . be in the back seat—(also: take a back seat) take a subordinate position: Dad is now in the back seat . Jonathan is in control of the Rowland Capital family trust. be a bad life • live a bad life be a bad life—be not likely to live long enough: Elizabeth all her days was reckoned a “bad life .” live a bad life —lead a life of wickedness or immorality: He is leaving a bad life and should be kept away from the young. be a bomb • be the bomb be a bomb —(coll.) be a failure or fiasco: Unfortunately, the film was a bomb and gained a reputation as being the only film on which Mr. Corman lost money. be the bomb—(U.S. sl., sometimes spelled “be da bomb”) be very successful; be received enthusiastically: The show was the “bomb ” back in the day when it first aired. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase make a bomb—(sl.) make or earn a great deal of money: Many of them are too honest to do any [drug] trafficking but the ones that do make a bomb . be a case in point • be the case be a case in point—be a particular instance of smth.: People have changed their minds about the Common market, and Mr. Stonchouse is a case in point . be the case —(often negat.) be a fact; be true: Please contact the rightful owner directly to confirm their interest to sell and if this is the case , to negotiate price. be a close call • be too close to call be a close call—(also: be a close shave) said of a dangerous situation that a person just manages to avoid: Though he es- caped with his life and his job, it was a close call . be too close to call—said of the outcome of a competition, etc. that is very hard to judge: The horses came to the finish line in a dead heat, and, without a photograph, the results were too close to call . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be too close to home—(also: be too close for comfort) dangerously nearby; affecting a person intimately: A crime that occurred too close to home still has its grip on Chief Inspector Alan Banks. be a devil • be the very devil be a devil—1. (imper.) is used as a humorous expression of encouragement to persuade a person to do smth.: Be a devil and order us a bottle of wine! 2. be extremely bad or immoral: He was a devil to those of us who thought the war was stupid and pointless. He personified the arbitrary power of the draft… be the very devil —1. (also: be the devil incarnate) = be a devil 2: Though he was a hero to some, he was the very devil to others. 2. (of a situation) be very difficult or annoying: My car is super to drive, but it’s so big it’s the very devil to find a parking place for it. be a drag on someone • have drag with someone be a drag on someone—(sl.) be a burden to a person (causing delay or slowing down progress): His wife has been a drag on him all his life. have drag with someone —(U.S. sl.) have influence over smb.: We had a big drag with the waiter because my old man drank whisky and that meant a good tip. be a go-getter • have get up and go be a go-getter —(UK coll.) be an ambitious and hard-working person: As it is a sales position, be sure to come off friendly and energetic like a real go-getter . have get up and go—(coll.) 1. (of people) have vigor and en- ergy: You need to demonstrate, through concrete examples, that you have “get up and go .” 2. (of horses and cars) have suf- ficient energy or power, especially if old: The performance is bargain on something – 30 –