young country hero is headstrong and arrogant, and sees the world in black and white. have a strong head—(coll.) be not easily intoxicated by liquor: I could drink as much as the best of them and I had , for such a youngster, a tolerable strong head . Note: a) Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase be strong-minded— be resolute and determined: Every- one describes him in a similar way — to say that Clarence was strong minded , had a strong personality, was strong willed. b) Neither expression is antonymous in meaning to the phrase be weak in the head—(coll.) be mentally retarded (also: be soft in the head): When he stopped speaking his mouth hung open … I realized that he was weak in the head . be heartless • not have the heart be heartless—be callous, unfeeling, or cruel: He made up his mind that I was heartless and selfish. not have the heart—(also: have no heart) 1. have no inclina- tion or enthusiasm for smth.: It was the most miserable meal … and I had not the heart to propose the Loyal Toast at the end. 2. be not cruel or courageous enough to do smth.: I should scold you but I am so glad to see you that I have not the heart . be high as a kite • fly one’s kite high be high as a kite—(sl.) 1. be very excited or exhilarated: I was as high as a kite and full of the joys of spring. The day was good and getting better…. 2. be very drunk or affected by drugs: When I put you to bed you were high as a kite on vodka. fly one’s kite high—have high ambitions: Those who fly their kite too high may come to grief. be hooked • go on the hook be hooked—(sl.) 1. be very dependent or keen on smth.: We’re not so hooked on the church, except for those born- again Christians. 2. be addicted to smth.: It’s too depressing when you’re hooked , besides a girl looks terrible on heroin. 3. be captivated or charmed: Let me tell you, she’s really some- thing. Oh, boy, was I hooked . go on the hook—(U.S. sl.) get into debt: You’ll go on the hook for one of those eighty-dollar sports car coats and a ten dollar cap. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase get the hook—(sl.) be removed from a position; be uncer- emoniously dismissed: The late Jimmy Snyder got the hook for racially insensitive remarks. See also: get oneself off the hook / go off the hooks. be housebroken • break into a house be housebroken —(of pet animals) be clean in the house (going outside to relieve themselves): This Doberman is housebroken , good on a leash and very intelligent. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be from a broken home—(of a child) come from a family in which the parents have separated or divorced: Hailey is from a broken home , and her longing for her father is palpable when she holds up a framed photo of her family. break into a house—force an entrance into a house with criminal intent: Police are still searching for two men who broke into a house on Parvins Mill Road. be hung over • hang over be hung over—(sl.) suffer from a hangover: Do not allow anyone to operate a forklift who is under the influence of al- cohol or is hung over . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be hung up—(sl.) 1. be bewildered or mentally confused: He was more than a little hung up , stupid from lack of sleep, worried about his work. 2. be delayed or stopped by smth.: In- cidentally, I would have been here much sooner, but I got hung up . hang over—(of customs, traditions, etc.) remain from the past: There’s arrogance that hangs over from the days of Empire, that tells us we don’t have to speak a foreign language. See also: be hanged / be hung. be hung up on someone • hang up on someone be hung up on someone—(sl.) be strongly attracted by a per- son: The girl is really hung up on that musician. hang up on someone—put a telephone receiver down before one’s partner has finished speaking: She hung up on him , and left him feeling like a spanked child. be in a fix • fix is in, the be in a fix —(coll.) be in a predicament or difficult situation: So I was in a fix . I didn’t want to return until I had contacted them and I couldn’t find them. fix is in, the —(sl.) the case or other matter has already been dishonestly decided: We failed to realize that we were playing by their rules—and the fix was in from the beginning! be in a flutter • have a flutter be in a flutter —1. (also: be all of a flutter) be in a very nerv- ous, confused, or excited state: The concert is coming soon. I’m in a flutter . 2. (of a room, etc.) be in a disordered or untidy state: Let me never see this room in a flutter again. have a flutter —(coll.) gamble on a small scale: The oppor- tunities of the share market were open…. Men and youths, women and maidens, all could have a “flutter .” be in a war • be in the wars be in a war—1. (of a nation) be in the state of war (also: be at war): We are now in a war to the death with the German Empire. 2. participate in a military campaign: They are on the point of putting up a war memorial, though none of the people who were in the war want it. be in the wars—(Perfect Tense) 1. show signs of rough treat- ment or injury as a result of fighting, etc.: The boy looks as if he has been in the wars . 2. be in bad shape, having had a lot of misfortunes: Terry’s been in the wars a bit since his racing career ended — his wife left him and he became an alcoholic. be in bad taste • taste bad be in bad taste —(of a joke, picture, etc.) be slightly indecent or distasteful: I can’t for the life of me understand what is in bad taste about it. It is a photo of something that took place. taste bad —(usually of food)—have an unpleasant taste: That is not to say that instant coffee tastes bad , it’s not Starbucks of course, but it also doesn’t cost five bucks. be in deep waters • do a deep dive be in deep waters —(also: be in deep water) be in trouble or serious financial difficulties: Spence inspected the books and realised the mining company was in deep waters with the falling copper prices. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be too deep for someone—be too difficult or complicated for a person to understand or deal with successfully: Perhaps the subject is too deep for me. Or the statements of the ancients too obscure and incoherent… do a deep dive—explore an issue or subject in-depth: I felt that this book did a deep dive on many topics that other books just briefly introduced. be in Dutch with someone • go Dutch with some- one be in Dutch with someone—(dated) be in trouble or disfavor be heartless – 36 –