[on high cotton] See: ON TOP OF THE WORLD also SITTING ON HIGH COTTON.
[on hold]{adv. phr.} 1. Left waiting while making a telephone call. •/"Sorry sir," the secretary said, "I’ll have to put you on hold for a minute."/ 2. Waiting; temporarily halted. •/"Put your marriage plans on hold, son, and wait until after graduation," his father said seriously./
[on ice]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {slang} 1. The same as won; sure to be won. •/The score was 20-10 in the last inning, and our team had the game on ice./ 2. Away for safekeeping or later use; aside. •/You will have to put your vacation plans on ice until your debts are paid./ •/The senator was voted out of office. He is on ice until the next election./
[on in years] See: ALONG IN YEARS.
[onion] See: KNOW ONE’S WAY AROUND(2).
[only] See: HAVE EYES ONLY FOR, IF ONLY.
[on occasion]{adv. phr.} Sometimes; occasionally. •/We go to New York on occasion./ •/On occasion we feel like celebrating and have a party./ Compare: ONCE IN A WHILE, FROM TIME TO TIME.
[on one hand]{adv. phr.} Looking at a thing in one of two possible ways; from one point of view. — Usually used with "on the other hand". •/John wants to be a printer or a teacher; on one hand, printing pays better; on the other hand, schools need good teachers./
[on one’s account]{adv. phr.} For your good; because you want to help or please someone. •/Barry studied hard on his mother’s account./ •/I hope you didn’t bring tea to the picnic just on my account./ •/The teacher stayed in school a little late on Tom’s account./ Compare: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD, ON ACCOUNT OF.
[on one’s back]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Making insistent demands of you; being an annoyance or bother. •/My wife has been on my back for weeks to fix the front door screen./ •/I can’t get any work done with the children on my back from morning until night./ •/Jim could do a better job if his boss weren’t on his back so often./ Contrast: OFF ONE’S BACK.
[on one’s bad side] or [on the bad side of one] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Not liked by someone; not friendly with a person. •/Sally’s boyfriend got on Father’s bad side by keeping Sally out too late after the dance./ Contrast: ON ONE’S GOOD SIDE.
[on one’s behalf] See: ON BEHALF OF.
[on one’s chest]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Hidden in your thoughts or feelings and bothering you; making you feel worried or upset; that is something you want to talk to someone about. •/Jane looks unhappy because she has the quarrel with Susan on her chest./ •/"Well, Dave," said the coach, "You look sad — what’s on your chest?"/ Compare: ON ONE’S MIND. Contrast: OFF ONE’S CHEST,
[on one’s coattails]{adv. phr.} Because of another’s merits, success, or popularity. •/Bob and Jim are best friends. When Jim was invited to join a fraternity, Bob rode in on his coattails./ •/Many people vote straight for all the candidates in the same political party. Most people voted for President K., so Governor B. rode in on K.'s coattails./
[on oneself] See: TAKE ON ONESELF.
[on one’s feet]{adv. phr.} 1. Standing or walking; not sitting or lying down; up. •/Before the teacher finished asking the question, George was on his feet ready to answer it./ •/In a busy gasoline station, the attendant is on his feet all day./ Compare: TO ONE’S FEET. Contrast: OFF ONE’S FEET. 2. Recovering; getting better from sickness or trouble. •/Jack is back on his feet after a long illness./ •/Susan was on her feet soon after the operation./ •/The bank loaned the store money to get it back on its feet after the fire./ 3. See: LAND ON ONE’S FEET, STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET, THINK ON ONE’S FEET.
[on one’s good behavior]{adv. phr.} Behaving right to make a good impression. •/While his father was around the boy was on his good behavior, but when the father left the boy soon got into mischief./ •/The minister is coming to dinner, and Mother wants us to be on our good behavior./
[on one’s good side] or [on the good side of one] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Friendly with someone; liked by a person. •/John thought that he would get a good grade if he got on the good side of the teacher./ •/Successful workers stay on the good side of their bosses./ Contrast: ON ONE’S BAD SIDE.
[on one’s hands]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care or responsibility; that you must do something about. •/Mrs. Blake left her five children with me while she shopped. I could not get anything done with the children on my hands./ •/After everyone bought tickets to the dance, the club treasurer had over $100 on his hands./ •/The electricity went off while Mother was cooking supper, and she had a problem on her hands./ •/I had time on my hands before the bus came, so I bought a newspaper to read./ Contrast: OFF ONE’S HANDS. See: SIT ON ONE’S HANDS. Compare: HANG HEAVY or HANG HEAVY ON ONE’S HANDS.
[on one’s head] or [upon one’s head] {adv. phr.} On one’s self. •/When the school board fired the superintendent of schools, they brought the anger of the parents upon their heads./ •/Billy had been naughty all day, but he really brought his parents' anger down on his head by pushing his little sister into a mud puddle./ Compare: ABOUT ONE’S EARS.
[on one’s heel] See: TURN ON ONE’S HEEL.
[on one’s high horse]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Acting as if you are better than others; being very proud and scornful. •/Martha was chairman of the picnic committee, and at the picnic she was on her high horse, telling everyone what to do./ •/Mrs. Jones asked to see a less expensive hat. The salesgirl got up on her high horse and said the shop did not sell cheap merchandise./ 2. Refusing to be friendly because you are angry; in a bad temper. •/Joe was on his high horse because he felt Mary wasn’t giving him enough attention./ Contrast: OFF ONE’S HIGH HORSE.
[on one’s honor]{adj. phr.} Bound by one’s honesty; trusted. •/The students were not supervised during the examination. They were on their honor not to cheat./ •/The house father put the boys on their honor not to smoke in the dormitory./
[on one’s knees]{adj. phr.} 1. Pleading; begging very hard. •/The boys were on their knees for hours before their parents agreed to their camping plans./ •/The Jacksons won’t contribute to the Red Cross unless you get on your knees./ 2. In a very weak condition; near failure. •/When the graduates of the school heard that it was on its knees they gave money generously so that it would not close./
[on one’s last legs]{adj. phr.} Failing; near the end. •/The blacksmith’s business is on its last legs./ •/The dog is old and sick. He is on his last legs./ Compare: ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ON ONE’S KNEES(2).
[on one’s mind]{adv. phr.} In one’s thoughts. •/I’m glad you want to talk about this. It’s been on my mind for weeks./ •/What’s on your mind?/ Compare: IN MIND.
[on one’s nerves] See: GET ON ONE’S NERVES.
[on one’s own]{adj. phr.} With no help from others. •/It is a happy day when you’re allowed to drive a car on your own./ •/Being on your own may be a frightening experience./ Compare: GO IT(2).
[on one’s own account] or {informal} [on one’s own hook] {adv. phr.} 1. For yourself; as a free agent; independently. •/After they had picked out the class gift, members of the committee did some shopping on their own account./ 2. See: OF ONE’S OWN ACCORD.
[on one’s own feet] See: STAND ON ONE’S OWN FEET.
[on one’s own hook] See: ON ONE’S OWN ACCOUNT.
[on one’s own time]{adv. phr.} During one’s free time; not during working or school hours. •/If you want to play football, you’ll have to do it on your own time./
[on one’s part] or [on the part of one] {adj. phr.} 1. Of or by you; of someone’s. •/When Miss Brown said I was a good student, that was pure kindness on her part./ •/The other team blamed their defeat on unfairness on the part of the referee./ 2. See: FOR ONE’S PART.
[on one’s shoulders]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In your care; as your responsibility. •/The success of the program rests on your shoulders./ •/He acts as if he had the cares of the world on his shoulders./
[on one’s toes]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Alert; ready to act. •/The successful ball player is always on his toes./ Compare: HEADS-UP, ON THE BALL.
[on one’s uppers]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very poor. •/Mr. White had been out of work for several months and was on his uppers./ Compare: DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK.
[on one’s way] See: ON THE WAY.
[on pain of] also [under pain of] {prep.}, {formal} At the risk of; under penalty of. •/The workers went on strike on pain of losing their jobs./ •/The rebels had to swear under pain of death never to confess where their comrades were hiding./
[on paper]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Judging by appearances only and not by past performance; in theory; theoretically. •/On paper, the American colonies should have lost the Revolutionary War./ •/The football team lost many games, even though they looked good on paper./
[on pins and needles]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Worried; nervous. •/Jane’s mother was on pins and needles because Jane was very late getting home from school./ •/Many famous actors are on pins and needles before the curtain opens for a play./
[on purpose]{adv. phr.} For a reason; because you want to; not accidentally. •/Jane did not forget her coat; she left it in the locker on purpose./ •/The clown fell down on purpose./
[on record]{adj. phr.} 1. An official or recorded statement or fact; said for everyone to know. •/We do not know when the famous writer was born, but the date of his death is on record./ •/The two candidates went on television to put their ideas on record./ 2. Known to have said or done a certain thing. — Usually used with "as". •/The mayor went on record as opposing a tax raise./ •/The governor is on record as favoring the new highway./ •/That congressman is on record as an enemy of waste in government./ Contrast: OFF THE RECORD.
[on sale]{adj. phr.} Selling for a special low price. •/Tomato soup that is usually sold for sixty cents a can is now on sale for fifty cents./ •/John and Mary couldn’t sell all of the lemonade at twenty cents a cup so they have it on sale for ten cents a cup./
[on schedule(1)]{adv. phr.} As planned or expected; at the right time. •/The school bus arrived at school on schedule./ •/The four seasons arrive on schedule each year./ Compare: ON TIME.
[on schedule(2)]{adj. phr.} Punctual; as planned. •/The new airline claims to have more on schedule arrivals than the competition./
[on season] See: HIGH SEASON. Contrast: OFF SEASON.
[on second thought] See: SECOND THOUGHT.
[on sight] See: AT SIGHT.
[on table] See: WAIT AT TABLE or WAIT ON TABLE.
[on the air]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Broadcasting or being broadcast on radio or TV. •/His show is on the air at six o’clock./ •/The ball game is on the air now./
[on the alert]{adj. phr.} Alert; watchful; careful. •/Campers must be on the alert for poison ivy and poison oak./ •/Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals./ Compare: ON ONE’S TOES.
[on the average] See: ON AN AVERAGE.
[on the back] See: PAT ON THE BACK.
[on the ball]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Paying attention and doing things well. — Used after "is" or "get". •/Ben is really on the ball in school./ •/The coach told Jim he must get on the ball or he cannot stay on the team./ Compare: GET WITH IT, HEADS-UP, KEEP ONE’S EYE ON THE BALL. 2. That is a skill or ability; making you good at things. — Used after "have". •/John will succeed in life; he has a lot on the ball./ •/The coach was eager to try out his new team and see what they had on the ball./
