sympathize with man? Certainly the great omnipotent, “man upstairs ” has all the ability to do anything he wants, but does he exercise that ability? top man —smb. who has the most important position in an organization: He was the top man , and I was his “leg man.” He personally handled most of the negotiations… See also: high man on the totem pole / high-up man. manly behavior • mannish behavior manly behavior —behavior that is typical of, or suitable for, a man rather than a woman or boy: Because of his military background, Mr. Jones was constantly berating his sensitive, gentle son for his lack of “manly behavior .” mannish behavior—(of a woman) behavior that is more like a man’s than a woman’s (used showing disapproval): In the early 1900s, a woman who smoked in public would be ostracized for her mannish behavior . mansion house (UK) • mansion house (U.S.) mansion house (UK)—1. the house of a landed proprietor: The landed gentry usually possess a share of pride fully pro- portionate to their estate and mansion house . 2. (the Mansion House) the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London: The conference took place in the Egyptian Hall of the Man - sion House , the Lord Mayor presiding. mansion house (U.S.)—a large house of good appearance: In this street were most of the great houses, or “mansion- houses ,” as it was usual to call them. marinara sauce (UK) • marinara sauce (U.S.) marinara sauce (UK)—a sauce containing seafood, usually in a tomato base: Our next homemade marinara sauce recipe is for a shrimp marinara sauce. This marinara sauce can be served hot or cold. marinara sauce (U.S.)—a sauce containing tomatoes and herbs, with no seafood: Freshly crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, fresh basil and herbs make up this delicious marinara sauce . mark my words • mark you mark my words—is used to give emphasis to a warning or prophesy: And you mark my words , you haven’t heard the last of him. mark you—is used to draw attention to smth. one has just said: He is very ambitious—like most men, mark you . mark one’s cards • mark someone’s cards mark one’s cards—(also: mark the cards) put secret signs on a pack of cards so one could win by cheating: I’ll never believe he’s a cheating bastard. I’ll never believe he marked his cards . mark someone’s cards—provide information that would give advantage to a person: He welcomed me to Mexico and … marked my cards privately on some human rights issues I might like to raise publicly. mark the time • mark time mark the time —1. (of the clock) show time: In the days when no clock marked the time , “cock-crowing” became a familiar phrase, as today, when referring to the earliest hour of dawn. 2. record or indicate specific time: As the two girls entered the hall they saw that the tall clock marked the time as quarter- past five. 3. indicate a period: The tower of Babel marked the time when mankind became separated and developed different languages that effectively managed to divide them. 4. (also: beat the time) follow the rhythm with the feet, a baton, etc.: She has a carving fork in her hand, with which she pounds on the table to mark the time . mark time—1. = mark the time 1: The city contains many essential sights, such as the Sapporo City Clock, which has been marking time for over a century. 2. = mark the time 4: Some of them were singing, some clapping their hands as they marked time to the tune which one lone fiddle squeaked out gaily. 3. be idle, waiting for smth. to happen: He has been marking time for over a month now as he waits to hear about the new job. marked for something • marked with something marked for something—singled out or destined for success, some grim fate, etc.: Mr. Edwards is a longtime faithful employee who was marked for advancement in the company. marked with something—characterized by smth.; showing clear signs of smth.: His life is marked with achievements earned through hard work and faith. martyr for something • martyr to something martyr for something—smb. who is made to suffer severely for a cause, etc.: His father had died a martyr for that cause, which he now wanted so basely to betray. martyr to something—a person who is acutely afflicted by smth. such as a disease: The deceased had been a martyr for years to rheumatic gout. master of oneself • one’s own master master of oneself —a person who is in full control of his fac- ulties and emotions: “I’ll get cousin Daniel to drive me over at once,” said Samuel, master of himself and of the situation. one’s own master—smb. who is independent of other people and is able to make his own decisions: The university vice- chancellors are no longer their own masters , but have to be prepared to accept group decisions. match up to something • match with something match up to something —come up to some standard: His per- formance did not match up to the glowing account we had received of him. match with something—correspond or harmonize with smth.: These curtains do not match with the decorations. Note: Neither expression fully correlates in meaning with the phrase match something—1. = match with something: The color of the carpet does not match the wallpaper. 2. = match up to something: Our failure to match this achievement was the result of the failure to concentrate the requisite resources. may be • maybe may be—could be: You’ll get help, it may be me or some- body else; rest assured that the problem will be solved. maybe—(used as an adverb) perhaps; possibly: The two of them laughed at some joke they had shared, or maybe me? meddle in something • meddle with something meddle in something —intervene in smth. which is not one’s concern: In reality, of course, powerful states have often med - dled in the internal affairs of their weaker neighbors. meddle with something—get involved with smth., making unauthorized or unwanted changes: When a classic recipe is fabulous, don’t meddle with it, and just do what you’re told. medical man • medicine man medical man —a doctor; a physician: A medical man , who may be called up at any moment, must make sure of his “beauty-sleep.” medicine man —a witch-doctor or magician in primitive societies: They will not revisit their own camp until it is first visited by their priest or medicine man . Mediterranean disease • Mediterranean fever Mediterranean disease—(also: Mediterranean anemia) thalas- semia (a hereditary hemolytic anemia): This interesting disease presents three important abnormalities together characterizing – 235 – Mediterranean disease