[smooth down]{v.} To make calm; calm down. •/Mrs. Smith’s feelings were hurt and we couldn’t smooth her down./
[smooth over]{v.} To make something seem better or more pleasant; try to excuse. •/Bill tried to smooth over his argument with Mary by making her laugh./ Syn.: GLOSS OVER. Compare: PATCH UP.
[smooth sailing] See: PLAIN SAILING.
[snail’s pace]{n.} A very slow movement forward. •/Time moved at a snail’s pace before the holidays./ •/The donkey on which he was riding moved at a snail’s pace./
[snake in the grass]{n. phr.}, {informal} A person who cannot be trusted; an unfaithful traitor; rascal. •/Did Harry tell you that? He’s a snake in the grass!/ •/Some snake in the grass told the teacher our plans./
[snap] See: COLD SNAP.
[snap it off] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.
[snap one’s fingers at]{v. phr.} To show contempt for; show no respect for; pay no attention to; scorn; disregard. •/John snapped his fingers at the sign that said "Do not enter," and he went in the door./ •/The highway sign said "Speed limit, 35 miles per hour," but when a driver snapped his fingers at it by going 55 miles an hour, a motorcycle policeman arrested him./
[snap out of]{v.}, {informal} To change quickly from a bad habit, mood, or feeling to a better one. — Often used with "it". •/Mary was unhappy when her fiance abandoned her, but she snapped out of it when she met a new young man./ •/The coach told the lazy player to snap out of it./
[snappy] See: MAKE IT SNAPPY.
[snapshot]{n.} A small photograph, unlike a professional portrait. •/We took several snapshots of the scenery while driving around the island./
[snap up]{v.}, {informal} To take or accept eagerly. •/Eggs were on sale cheap, and the shoppers snapped up the bargain./ •/Mr. Hayes told Bob that he would take him skiing, and Bob snapped up the offer./
[sneak] See: QUARTERBACK SNEAK.
[sneak away] See: SLIP AWAY.
[sneak up on] See: CREEP UP ON.
[sneeze at]{v.}, {informal} To think of as not important; not take seriously. — Used with negative or limiting words and in questions. •/Mr. Jones was chosen by his party to run for President. He was not elected, but to be chosen to run is not to be sneezed at./ •/If you think Mrs. Green’s tests are things to be sneezed at, you have a surprise coming./ •/ Is a thousand dollars anything to sneeze at?/ •/John finished third in a race with twenty other runners. That is nothing to sneeze at./
[sniff out] See: FERRET OUT.
[snow in]{v.} To block up or trap by much snow; keep inside, •/After the storm the farmer and his family were snowed in for three days./ •/The train went off the track and the passengers were snowed in for several days./
[snow job]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Insincere or exaggerated talk designed to gain the favors of someone. •/Joe gave Sue a snow job and she believed every word of it./ 2. The skillful display of technical vocabulary and prestige terminology in order to pass oneself off as an expert in a specialized field without really being a knowledgeable worker in that area. •/That talk by Nielsen on pharmaceuticals sounded very impressive, but I will not hire him because it was essentially a snow job./
[snow under]{v.} 1. To cover over with snow. •/The doghouse was snowed under during the blizzard./ 2. {informal} To give so much of something that it cannot be taken care of; to weigh down by so much of something that' you cannot do anything about it. — Usually used in the passive. •/The factory received so many orders that it was snowed under with work./ •/The disabled girl was snowed under with Christmas letters./
[snuff] See: UP TO PAR or UP TO SNUFF.
[snug as a bug in a rug]{adj. phr.} Comfortable; cozy. •/"Are you warm enough?" the boy’s mother asked. "Yeah," he replied, "I’m snug as a bug in a rug."/
[so] See: AND SO FORTH or AND SO ON, EVEN SO, EVERY NOW AND THEN or EVERY SO OFTEN, HOW SO, IN SO MANY WORDS, IS THAT SO, OR SO, THUS AND SO.
[soak in] See: SINK IN.
[soak up]{v.} 1. To take up water or other liquid as a sponge does. •/The rag soaked up the water that I spilled./ 2. To use a sponge or something like a sponge to take up liquid. •/John soaked up the water with the rag./ 3. {informal} To take up into yourself in the way a sponge takes up water. •/Mary was lying on the beach soaking up the sun./ •/Charles soaks up facts as fast as the teacher gives them./
[so-and-so(1)]{pronoun}, {informal} Someone whose name is not given. •/Don’t tell me what so-and-so thinks. Tell me what you think./
[so-and-so(2)]{n.}, {informal} A person of a special kind and usually of a very bad kind. — This word is used in place of a more unacceptable word or swear word. •/I wish that old so-and-so who thinks digging is easy work was right here digging now./ •/He called me a dirty so-and-so and I hit him in the mouth./ — Sometimes used in a joking way. •/Peter met his friend John and said, "Hello there, you old so-and-so."/
[so --- as to] — Used with an adjective or adverb before an infinitive to show a result. •/Who could be so mean as to do a thing like that?/ •/Ruth wouldn’t be so careless as to forget her pen./ Compare: SO --- THAT.
[soap opera]{n. phr.} Radio or television serialized stories of a sentimental nature, often involving sex, crime, and social intrigue. These shows often advertise soap products, hence their name. •/The two longest running soap operas in the United States were "Dallas" and "Knot’s Landing."/
[so as to] See: IN ORDER TO.
[sob all the way to the bank] See: CRY ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK. Contrast: LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.
[so bad] See: NOT BAD.
[so be it] also [be it so] {adv. phr.}, {formal} 1. Let it be that way; may it be so. So be it. •/We shall smoke the pipe of peace./ 2. Very well; all right. •/Will the company lose money by doing this? So be it, then./
[sob story]{n.} A story that makes you feel pity or sorrow; a tale that makes you tearful. •/The beggar told us a long sob story before he asked for money./ •/The movie is based on a sob story, but people love it./
[social climber]{n.} A person who tries to mix with rich or well-known people and be accepted by them as friends and equals. •/People do not like Mrs. Brown very well; she is known as a social climber./ •/Social climbers are usually soon known and they are not accepted by those they run after./
[sock] See: TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A SOCK AT.
[sock it]{v. phr.}, also {interj.}, {slang}, {informal} To give one’s utmost; everything one is capable of; to give all one is capable of. •/Right on, Joe, sock it to 'em!/ •/I was watching the debate on television and more than once Bill Buckley really socked it to them./
[soda jerk] or [soda jerker] {n.}, {informal} A person who serves soda and ice cream to customers, usually in a drug store or ice cream parlor. •/Bob worked as a soda jerk at the drug store all summer./ •/He is just a soda jerker with no future./
[so far] also [thus far] {adv.} Until this time or to this place. •/The weather has been hot so far this summer./ •/This is a lonely road. We have not met another car so far./
[so far as] See: AS FAR AS.
[so far, so good]{informal} Until now things have gone well. •/So far, so good; I hope we keep on with such good luck./
[soft drink]{n. phr.} A nonalcoholic beverage such as 7-Up, Coca-Cola, etc. •/She drinks no alcohol; she always orders a soft drink./
[softhearted]{adj.} Generous; sympathetic. •/Street beggars tend to exploit the softhearted nature of passersby./
[soft touch]{n.} A person with a sympathetic disposition from whom it is easy to get help, primarily money. •/My Uncle Herb is a soft touch; whenever I’m in need I ask him for a quick twenty bucks./
[so help me]{interj.}, {informal} I promise; I swear; may I be punished if I lie. •/I’ve told you the truth, so help me./ •/So help me, there was nothing else I could do./
[soil one’s hands] See: DIRTY ONE’S HANDS.
[so it goes] Akin to the French "c’est la vie!" This exclamation means "that’s life." •/Too bad Jim has lost his job but there are lots of people who are better qualified; well, so it goes!/
[sold on]{adj.} Approving of; well disposed toward; convinced of the value of. •/When Japanese cars first appeared on the market Andy was hesitant to drive one but now he is sold on them./
[so long]{interj.}, {informal} Good-bye. — Used when you are leaving someone or he is leaving you. •/So long, I will be back tomorrow./
[so long as] See: AS LONG AS.
[so many(1)]{adj.} 1. A limited number of; some •/Our school auditorium will hold only so many people./ 2. A group of. — Often used for emphasis. •/The children were all sitting very quietly in their chairs, like so many dolls./ Compare: SO MUCH. {adj.} •/Bob is always bragging; his stories are just so many lies./
[so many(2)]{pronoun}. A limited number; some. •/Many people want to come to the prom; but the gymnasium will hold only so many./ •/Don’t give the boys all the cookies they want; give so many to Tom, so many to Dick, and so many to Bob./ Compare: SO MUCH.
[some] See: AND THEN SOME.
[somebody up there loves/hates me]{slang} An expression intimating that an unseen power in heaven, such as God, has been favorable or unfavorable to the one making the exclamation. •/Look at all the money I won! I say somebody up there sure loves me!/ •/Look at all the money I’ve lost! I say somebody up there sure hates me!/
[some of these days] See: ONE OF THESE DAYS.
[something] See: HAVE SOMETHING GOING FOR ONE, HAVE SOMETHING ON, MAKE SOMETHING OF, START SOMETHING.
[something else]{adj.}, {slang}, {informal} So good as to be beyond description; the ultimate; stupendous. •/Janet Hopper is really something else./
[something else again]{n. phr.} A different kind of thing; something different. •/I don’t care if you borrow my dictionary sometimes, but taking it without asking and keeping it is something else again./ •/"But I don’t want a new car," Charles said to the car dealer, "I want a used car." "Oh," said the car dealer, "that’s something else again."/
[so much(1)]{adj.} 1. A limited amount of; some. •/Sometimes students wonder if the teacher knows they have only so much time to do their lessons./ •/If you can’t give everyone a full glass of milk, just put so much milk in each glass./ 2. Equally or amounting to; only amounting to. — Often used for emphasis. •/Charley spends money as if it were so much paper./ •/What Mary said was so much nonsense; there wasn’t a word of truth in it./ Compare: SO MANY(1).
[so much(2)]{pronoun} A limited amount; some; a price or amount that is agreed or will be agreed on. •/You can do only so much in a day./ •/Milk costs so much a quart but cream costs so much a pint./ Compare: SO MANY(2).
[so much(3)]{adv.} By that much; by the amount shown; even. — Used with the comparative and usually followed by "the". •/I can’t go tomorrow. So much the better; we’ll go today./ •/John isn’t coming to the picnic. So much the more for us to eat!/ •/So much the worse for you if you break the rules./ Syn.: ALL THE(2).
[so much as]{adv. phr.} 1. Even. — Usually used in negative sentences and questions. •/He didn’t so much as thank me for returning his money that I found./ •/Would you so much as get me a glass of water? No, you wouldn’t./ 2. See: AS MUCH AS(2).
