quite the thing—suitable, proper, or very much in fashion: High boots are quite the thing these days. not say pea-turkey • not talk turkey not say pea-turkey —(coll.) not say a word about smth.; say nothing at all: How was I to know that Mary needed money, when she never said pea turkey ? not talk turkey —(coll.) not speak honestly and in a straight- forward manner: Being a salesman he could not talk turkey , and so his language had mixed messages of anxiety and reas- surance. not to say • to say nothing of not to say —is used to imply that one is content with a more moderate statement than that which might have been made: It is one of the handsomest counties … the farmers are as a whole well-to-do, not to say rich. to say nothing of —is used to emphasize the point by adding extra information: Much damage is caused to table tops by spilled cosmetics, to say nothing of marks caused by that early- morning cup of tea. not too hot • too hot to handle not too hot—(coll.) 1. not very good or satisfactory: A pro- gram denouncing the evils of capitalist society is matched by one showing that things under socialism are not too hot either. 2. (also: not so hot) feeling not so well: I woke up today feeling not too hot . My throat is sore and I think I have a bit of a fever. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase bit hot, a—(coll.) somewhat unreasonable: To dismiss the lad just because he forgot to post a letter is a bit hot . too hot to handle —(coll., of stolen property, etc.) too danger- ous to deal with: Many stolen works of art have been recovered recently, which suggests that thieves are finding them too hot to handle . not turn a hair • turn of a hair not turn a hair—1. not show any sign of being troubled: Catherine adapted to the wilds of Africa amazingly well — she did not turn a hair at having lions walking past the back door. 2. be not affected by exertion: Hot! He had not turned a hair till we came to Walcot Church; …that horse cannot go less than ten miles an hour. turn of a hair —a close chance; a narrow escape from a dan- gerous situation: It was the turn of a hair that they hadn’t buried him alive. note paper • notice paper note paper —paper used for writing letters on: The letter, dated 15 September, was on notepaper headed “Executive Committee.” Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase music paper—paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of musicians, etc.: Paul then played and sang it for me, and I wrote the notes and chords on music paper . notice paper —(UK) a paper supplied to members of the House of Commons that gives details of the day’s proceedings: The Notice Paper is issued on each sitting day, with the excep- tion of the first sitting day of a new session. nothing but • nothing if not nothing but—nothing other than; only that particular thing: There is also a female sect called the Abstinents who make a vow to eat nothing but vegetables. nothing if not—is used to emphasize that a person or thing has a lot of that particular quality: Brunel was nothing if not determined, and by September the ship was ready for the maiden voyage. Note: Neither expression is equivalent in meaning to the phrase nothing short of—(also: nothing less than) 1. quite equal to smth.: This version is nothing short of perfection, with perfect guitar work and emphasis on the parts that need it. 2. except for smth.: I have done everything that man could do; but our case is desperate. Nothing short of a miracle can save us now. nothing to write home about • that’s all she wrote nothing to write home about—said of smth. that is nothing out of the ordinary or even inferior: Everything I bought was much more expensive, and the quality was nothing to write home about . that’s all she wrote—said when there is nothing more that one can say about smth.: We went out twice—once to the movies and once to a restaurant and that’s all she wrote . now and again • time and again now and again—(also: now and then) occasionally; from time to time: The tourist may now and again have to drive for many hours together through pine woods. time and again —(also: again and again) habitually; repeat- edly: Time and again , he has proven to be reliable, conscien- tious, and diligent. now, now • now then now, now—1. is used as a friendly way of telling smb. not to behave in a particular way: Now, now , there’s no need for name calling. I raised you better than that! 2. is used as a friendly way of trying to comfort a person: “Now, now ,” the doctor said, taking her gently by the hand. now then—is used to attract people’s attention when one wants to say smth.: He uncovered the dish boldly and said: “Now then , who’s for more turkey?” number of, a • number of, the number of, a—some; several: This organization offers a number of books describing rock art sites. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase any number of—(also: numbers of ) a sufficiently large number: I had any number of reasons not to buy the computer. number of, the—the quantity or amount of smth.: The number of books missing from the library is large. number one • number ones number one—1. (attrib.) first-rate; principal: One small folded letter on blue paper bearing a 12-pence stamp will be the number one feature. 2. head of an organization, etc.: Gor- bachev’s aim was to integrate farm production and food pro- cessing. Now, as number one , he could impose his own plan. 3. (coll.) oneself or one’s own interests: A significant number of students care about social problems and not just about “number one .” 4. (euph.) is used of the act of urination: This little ginger [kitten] is going to do a number one if we’re not careful. number ones —(coll.) one’s best clothes or uniform: Hughes unpacked his kit to find his number ones badly crushed, and cursing, he went in search of an iron. number two • number twos number two —1. the person immediately subordinate to the head of an organization: When David could not attend a meeting, he sent his number two to deputize for him. 2. (euph.) is used of the act of defecation: The child is early taught to refer to his needs as “number one” and “number two .” number twos —(coll.) one’s second best clothes or uniform: “Is this number ones and number twos , sir?” he said “or is there any flexibility on that?” not say pea-turkey – 244 –