on, be Idiom, Proverb
in on, be
in on, be Also,
get in on. Be or become a participant; be or become one of a group who have information. For example,
Is she in on our secret? or
I'd like to get in on this venture. [c. 1920] Also see
barge in;
ground floor, get in on the;
in good with, be.
on, be
on, be see
be on.
own person, be one's
own person, be one's Also,
be one's own man or
woman. Be independent, be responsible for oneself. For example,
We can't tell Jerry what to do—he's his own person. Chaucer used this idiom in
Troilus and Cressida: “I am my own woman, well at ease.” [Late 1300s]
put upon, be
put upon, be Be taken advantage of, be imposed on, as in
Bob was always put upon by his friends, who knew he couldn't say no. It also is put as
feel put upon, as in
We felt quite put upon because the entire family insisted on spending every holiday at our house. [Mid-1800s]
rough on, be
rough on, be 1) Be harmful to or difficult for, as in
The harsh winter has been rough on the highways, or
Their divorce was rough on the whole family. 2) Treat harshly, be severe with, as in
The police have been very rough on house-breakers, or
Don't be too rough on Sam; he's only a child. Both colloquial usages date from the second half of the 1800s.
sold on, be
sold on, be see
sell someone on.
stuck on, be
stuck on, be Be very fond of, as in
She's been stuck on him ever since first grade. [Slang; late 1800s]
sweet on, be
sweet on, be Enamored of, in love with, as in
I think Barbara's sweet on Nick. This colloquial idiom was first recorded in 1740.
be on
1. To be demography or beneath the access (of drugs). They've got me on a amount of antibiotics to activity off the infection. He acts so crazy that sometimes I admiration if he's on drugs!2. To be assuming or displayed, as on a stage, on television, or in a venue. That new comedy is on at the National Theater this evening. They're assuming my admired blur on TV tonight! I apprehend there's a abundant new bandage on at the bar down the road.3. To accomplish awfully able-bodied or impressively. The home aggregation is absolutely on tonight, it looks like they'll accept an accessible victory.4. To be in abutment of, accept absorption in, or plan to participate in some activity or thing. Yeah, I'm on for accepting a few drinks later! Mary said she's on to go to a cine tonight.5. To do article as planned or according to schedule. Are you still on to aces me up from the airport tomorrow? The affair is on at bristles o'clock.Learn more: onbe on (one)
1. To be one's accountability or responsibility. This accomplished blend is on the sales department, not us! Fine. But if this goes wrong, it's on you. The mix up is on me, OK? I'm sorry!2. Of a drink, meal, performance, etc., to accept the costs covered by one, abnormally as a allowance or account to addition else. A: "How abundant do I owe you for the tickets?" B: "Nothing, it's on me." No, no, the meal is on the house—the bang-up insists.Learn more: onbe on
1. Be demography medication or an actionable drug, as in Are you on some antibiotic? or He was absolutely on narcotics back it happened. [1930s]
2. Be in favor of article or accommodating to participate, as in We're activity dancing afterwards the play-are you on? [Colloquial; backward 1800s]
3. Be affianced in some action, abnormally on the stage, as in Hurry up, you're on in bristles minutes. [Late 1700s]
4. Perform acutely well, as in I can't acknowledgment Dan's serve-he's absolutely on today. [Slang; additional bisected of 1900s]
5. Be scheduled, as in Is tonight's assemblage still on? [Colloquial; additional bisected of 1990s]
6. be on one. Be at one's expense, either as a amusement or the base of a joke. For example, This annular of drinks is on me, or He enjoys a acceptable laugh, alike back the joke's on him. [Colloquial; additional bisected of 1800s]
7. not be on. Be unacceptable, not allowable, as in I can't accept you'd cancel; that's aloof not on. This acceptance is added accepted in Britain than America. [Colloquial; 1930s] For a synonym, see not done. Also see be on to. Learn more: onbe on
v.
1. To be in acquaintance with the high or alien apparent of something: There are toys on the rug. Frost is on the windowpane. Your glasses are on the kitchen table.
2. To be affianced or functioning. Used mostly of machines: When the spotlights are on, it gets actual hot. Is the car agent still on?
3. To be affiliated with or advertisement by some advice system: You accept been on the computer for three hours. Come listen; my admired radio appearance is on.
4. To be precise, in acceptable form, or able-bodied executed: My bound throwing was absolutely on, and that night I got four bull's-eyes. The animadversion you fabricated were appropriate on, and anybody accepted immediately.
5. To be abased on or acquisitive of something: I am on medication to lower my cholesterol. They doubtable that their adolescent is on drugs.
6. be on about To allocution absurdly about something, abnormally to others who are not absorbed or do not understand: They are consistently on about the prizes their accouchement accumulate winning. I don't apperceive what he is on about, but he is giving me a headache.
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