ope Idiom, Proverb
a slippery slope
a path that leads to problems, a risky plan Nationalism is a slippery slope. It often leads to racism.
at the end of my rope/ at the end of my tether
losing control of myself, losing patience (see lose patience) Babysitting five kids, I was at the end of my rope.
copesetic
agreeable, fine, go along with, okay, OK Don is copesetic. He agrees with our plans.
cross my heart and hope to die
promise sincerely I'll pay you back on Friday, cross my heart and hope to die.
for openers
as a first activity, to begin For openers, let's discuss the budget. It's very important.
get your hopes up
cause you to be hopeful, pin your hopes on Now don't get your hopes up, but I plan to appeal your conviction.
give him enough rope and he'll hang himself
allow him enough freedom and he will hurt himself or be caught If he's bad, give him enough rope and he'll hang himself. The police will stop him.
give someone enough rope and they will hang themse
give someone enough time and freedom to do what they want and they will make a mistake or get into trouble and be caught Don
Great White Hope
(See The Great White Hope)
haven't got a hope
do not have a good chance of succeeding If you don't study for exams, you haven't got a hope.
haven't got a hope in hell
have no chance to win or succeed or survive etc. If the parachute doesn't open, I haven't got a hope in hell.
high hopes
expecting the best, hoping for success Todd has high hopes for his son, including a college education.
hope against hope
continue to hope when things look very bad The rescue team were hoping against hope that the lost hikers would be found alive.
hopes dashed
plans ruined, dreams lost Her hopes were dashed when she failed the entrance exam.
if a mussel doesn't open don't eat it
if you force things to happen you may regret it, leave well enough alone If you force a child to talk, you may regret it. As they say, If a mussel doesn't open, don't eat it.
keep an eye open
(See keep an eye out)
keep an open mind
be fair to all opinions, avoid prejudging I keep an open mind when I talk to you - open to all opinions.
know the ropes
know how, have much experience, learn the ropes Good managers know the ropes. They have skills and experience.
learn the ropes
learn how to do a job He is a new employee and is still learning the ropes.
leave the door open
allow people to reply, invite a response, feel free to reply If you offer to provide answers to their questions, you leave the door open for a reply.
leave yourself open
not protect yourself, allow people to hurt you By coming late to work, he left himself open to discipline.
looped
drunk, loaded, smashed You were looped last night. You don't remember what happened.
make whoopee
kiss and hug, get it on, make love Tony and Victoria were making whoopee when we walked in.
nope
no, nay """Want to paint the fence?"" ""Nope."""
open a can of worms
(See can of worms)
open a window
find a new way of looking at a topic or problem That idea opens a window on the causes of war. What do you see?
open and shut
easy to judge, not complex If either spouse admits adultery, divorce is an open and shut case.
open mind
(See keep an open mind)
open one
talk about one
open season
legal to hunt or kill at this time Nancy said there should be an open season on sex offenders.
open secret
a secret that so many people know it is no longer a secret It is an open secret that he will be leaving the company next month.
open some doors
provide opportunities, help someone succeed I'm hoping my college diploma will open some doors.
open to criticism
in a position that can be criticized, vulnerable If you become a politician you will be open to criticism.
open to question
not clearly correct, debatable Your decision to allow liquor at the party is open to question.
open up
talk openly, express feelings When we become friends, I'll open up with you - I'll share.
party-pooper
one who leaves a party, stick-in-the-mud You party-pooper! Stay here and dance with us.
pin your hopes on
hope for one big chance, hope without planning, all your eggs... If you pin your hopes on some horse winning a race, you will probably be disappointed.
pooped
" very tired; exhausted."
pooped out
worn out, exhausted We spent all day painting the house and were pooped out by the time we got home.
pope's nose
(See the pope's nose)
public property
what everybody knows, public information If you tell Zora about the plan, it'll be public property.
rope into
be asked to help, talk into helping We got roped into delivering posters because we have a car.
show you the ropes
teach you the first steps, learn the ropes It is my duty to take you to the plant and show you the ropes.
slippery slope
dangerous path, a path that leads to problems When you assume that people are bad, you are on a slippery slope.
straight dope
(See the straight dope)
stretch the envelope
extend the boundaries, expand your horizons I've set some goals that stretch my envelope - challenge me.
The Great White Hope
caucasian boxer who could win the heavyweight title In the 1970s, George Chuvallo was The Great White Hope.
the pope's nose
the tail of a roasted chicken The pope's nose is too greasy. I prefer a piece of breast meat.
the straight dope
the truth, the facts, get to the point "The cop said, ""Gimme the straight dope, Shorty. I haven't got time for your stories today."""
with open arms
warmly, eagerly, show that one is glad to see someone The author was welcomed with open arms when he came to visit the city.
