It’s not the longest holiday trip on a bicycle, but it could look like it when Andersen saddles his iron horse . iron pony—a motorcycle: I get off and find that I have had oil spewing down the side of my iron pony . iron lady • iron maiden iron lady—1. said of a tough or intransigent woman: She was an iron lady who took part in the rallies even after her head was injured twice in police baton charges. 2. (Iron Lady) the nickname of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister (1979–1991): The Iron Lady of British politics, Margaret Thatcher was the longest continuously serving prime minister since 1827. iron maiden —1. an old instrument of torture: A person was placed inside the box of the iron maiden while the door (which had impaling spikes on the inside) was closed slowly to max- imize pain. 2. (Iron Maiden) = iron lady 2: Tension was exac- erbated by the cold-war rhetoric which both President Reagan and Mrs. Thatcher consciously adopted, the latter reveling in the “Iron Maiden ” label. iron man • man of iron iron man—1. a tireless man of extraordinary strength: He likes to think of himself as some sort of iron man who doesn’t need sleep like the rest of us. 2. (sl.) a UK pound or a U.S. dollar: An ounce [of drug] should bring a street pusher about two thousand iron men . man of iron—1. = iron man 1: His muscles show him to be a man of iron , physically; and his firmness of purpose shows the same quality in his character. 2. a hard, unyielding or mer- ciless man: Neither threats nor promises could move the man of iron to utter more than he was willing to reveal. See also: Man of Steel / steel man. it doesn’t do • it’s not done it doesn’t do—it is unwise or ill-advised: It doesn’t do to call your boss names, unless you already have another job to go to. it’s not done—(also: it’s not the done thing) it is not socially acceptable: It’s not done for a man to wear a hat in church. it is all over and done with • it is all over but the shouting it is all over and done with—it is finally completely finished (especially with reference to an unpleasant or tiring activity): When it was all over and done with , I wasn’t able to relax any more than usual. it is all over but the shouting(also: it is all over bar the shout- ing) said when the outcome of an action appears certain: We cannot make the mistake of thinking it’s all over but the shout - ing . There’s a lot more work to be done. it is not a question of money • money is no question it is not a question of money—money is not the main con- cern; money is not the point here: We would like to attend concerts on summer weekends…. But it is not a question of money ; the problem is time. money is no question—(also: money is no object) it does not matter how much smth. costs because there is a lot of money available: If money is no question , then use every method pos- sible to keep your car safe and secure. it is not a question of something • there is no question of something it is not a question of something—is used to tell that smth. is not a factor: It is not a question of education. Even highly educated people are biased against females. there is no question of something—there is no doubt about smth.: The coin has suffered from corrosion, yet there is no question of its antiquity or its authenticity. it is not true • it is untrue it is not true—1. it is false or erroneous: It is not true that the future of British bird life is one of depleted numbers. 2. (coll.) it is amazing; it is incredible: You may be only thirty- six but you’re so dead old-fashioned it isn’t true . it is untrue— = it is not true 1: It is untrue to say that red wine should be paired with red meat and white wine with fish. Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase out of true—not correctly aligned or adjusted: I got on my bike and tried to get going again but … my front wheel was out of true . it is said that • it says that it is said that—it is commonly believed that: Indeed, it is said that their use of red ochre on their bodies is what prompted the term, Red Indian. it says that—is used to introduce a reference or quotation: In Genesis, it says that it is not good for a man to be alone; but sometimes it is a great relief. it takes two to make a bargain • it takes two to tango it takes two to make a bargain —both parties must agree in order for a deal to be successful: “We decided you should make dinner tonight, right?” “No, we didn’t decide that; you decided that. It takes two to make a bargain .” it takes two to tango—(also: it takes two to make a quarrel) both parties should share responsibility: All nations that go to war have some guilt. It always takes two to tango , you know. See also: that makes two of us / two can play at this game. it’s a case • this is not the case it’s a case—(coll.) said of people who are in love: “One never sees anything of John now; he’s always with that girl of his.” “Yes, it’s a case all right.” this is not the case—it is not so; it is not true: Numerous organisms pass their whole life hovering in the ocean, while with others this is not the case . it’s all go • it’s all the go it’s all go—(coll.) said when people are very busy or engaged in vigorous activity: It’s all go in the postal service at Christ- mas time! Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase all systems go(derives from the U.S. space program) used as a statement of preparedness for an endeavor: Fund raising was the most laborious part. But finally it was in place and it was all systems go . it’s all the go—(coll.) it is very fashionable: “Just a little chasse-café,” said he…. “It’s all the go now; and a capital thing for the stomach.” See also: it’s no go / it’s not a go. it’s all in a day’s work • it’s all part of the game it’s all in a day’s work—one doesn’t mind doing smth. because it is smth. to be normally expected: “It’s very good of you to bother….” “Please don’t mention it,” I said, rather stiffly. “It’s all in a day’s work .” it’s all part of the game—is used to tell that smth. is normal in the situation: “It’s all part of the game .” That’s the attitude of Tim Drew as his baseball career took a dramatic upswing and downturn all in the span of a few weeks. iron lady – 200 –