Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase brave new world, the— a nightmarish utopian society, especially one in which technological progress has negative results: One only has to think of the brave new world as “propheti- cally” described by Aldous Huxley: societies made up of wil- fully-created, genetically-determined master/slave creatures. news agency • newsagent news agency—(also: press agency) an organization that pro- vides news coverage to subscribers, such as newspapers, etc.: The bulletin, which went out to more than four thousand newspapers, came from the news agency ’s San Francisco bureau. newsagent—a person who keeps a store or stall selling mainly newspapers and magazines: Her father was a newsagent , so she devoured comics and magazines as well as fiction. night man • night person night man—1. a man who does work during the night: A company taxi is usually driven by both a day-man and a night- man . 2. a man who does illegal things at night: The people hated any type of investigator because so many of them were “night men .” 3. smb. who prefers to be active in the nighttime: Morris is a night man . He’d have a chapter from me morning or afternoon and then work on his at night. night person — = night man 3: I can’t function in the morn- ing. I’m strictly a night person . night watch • watch night night watch —1. a watch or guard kept during the night: I used to watch them [sharks] during the night watch , as their fins, above water, skimmed along, leaving a trail of light behind them. 2. (also: night watchman) a man employed to guard a building, block of offices, etc. at night: At a corner two night watch in shoulder capes, their hands upon their staffholsters, loom tall. watch night—1. a service held on New Year’s eve, lasting until midnight: Robert Morris, banker and merchant, attends the Watch-Night and proceeds from here to contact friends. 2. the night upon which a New Year’s eve service is held: A Methodist, she always goes to their chapel on New Year’s eve—or the “Watch Night ,” as they call it. 3. (West Africa) = night watch 2: I engaged what in the Cameroons is known as Watchnight . There were two reasons for engaging a night watchman: the first … to wake me up. nine-day wonder • ninety-day wonder nine-day wonder—(also: nine days wonder) said of smth. that causes great excitement for a few days but is likely to have been soon forgotten: She also predicted the scandal over her liaison with the former prime minister was a “nine-day won - der ” which would soon blow over. Cf.: one-hit wonder—said of a group or singer that has only one hit record before returning to obscurity: Classing Ms Shapiro as a one-hit wonder is a bit unfair. She was an entirely unintentional pop star, having already had a pretty healthy career in jazz. ninety-day wonder—(also: ninety days wonder) 1. (U.S. Army) a graduate of the ninety-day officer training courses: I learned a lot from them. They were generous in their patience with a ninety-day wonder , second lieutenant. 2. (U.S. coll.) an inex- perienced or temporary employee: Even a ninety-day wonder could discern the facts in this matter. 3. = nine-day wonder: Published by Dell, with Farmer on the back cover, the book was a ninety-day wonder . no-go area • restricted area no-go area —an area to which entry is forbidden: The Duke has decreed the Royal Enclosure at Ascot a “no-go” area for the miniskirted or hotpanted lass. restricted area —1. an area in which special security measures are employed to prevent unauthorized entry: Wellington Bar- racks is a restricted area and anyone who enters should have identification. 2. (UK) an area in which a lower than normal speed limit is operative: The existing mild supervision of restricted areas is carried out by the so-called “speed cops.” no good to someone • not good to someone no good to someone—of no use or advantage to a person: Information is no good to us if we do not know how to use and share it. not good to someone—said of smb. who is unkind to a per- son: She is not good to me and my children from another relationship. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase not good for someone1. not beneficial or helpful for a person: This book, though not good for undergraduates, is the best book for graduate students in algebra. 2. (of food) not wholesome for a person: He had a theory of his own that ginger preserves and fruitcake were not good for sick people. no less than • nothing less than no less than—(also: not less than) 1. at least the amount or number stated: Moscow expects no less than 5,000 Irish fans. Supporters of the Irish team will check in Moscow’s biggest hotels. 2. is used with the implication of surprise at the amount or number stated: They told us that no less than eleven ships were destroyed in this country by the ice last year. nothing less than—(also: nothing short of ) nothing other than; quite equal to smth. mentioned: His policy became nothing less than a series of gigantic blunders. no question • no questions asked no question—1. is used to say that smth. is certain or definite: Indians are great spenders and no question they will welcome all the luxuries money can buy. 2. is used to say that smth. does not matter: It was quite expensive to acquire. But cost is no question when getting an anniversary gift for Linda. no questions asked—1. there is no need to give an account of the dubious methods one may use: For a suitable fee, he will take any goods to anywhere and no questions asked . 2. there is no need to provide additional information or expla- nations: The police will pay $100 for every gun turned in, no questions asked . 3. (attrib.) said of smth. given or granted unconditionally, whatever the reason or circumstances: If you are unsatisfied for any reason, simply return it anytime within 90 days for a no questions asked , no hassle refund. no sooner … than • sooner … than no sooner … than —as soon as smth. happened; immediately that smth. happened: She had no sooner arrived home than her agent wanted to send her on another tour. sooner … than—do smth. in preference to smth. else: And yet, like everybody else, he would sooner use a clean cup than wash up a dirty one. no thanks to • thanks but no thanks to no thanks to—without the benefit of help from smth.: Slowly, but surely—and no thanks to the BBC—the people of this country are wising up to the truth. thanks but no thanks to —is used as a polite way of refusing an offer: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker says thanks but no thanks to any federal economic stimulus money for county projects. no word • not a word no word—no news or communication received: It’s been over a month and still no word . So as of now I will never order there again. – 241 – no word