B
Idioms beginning with "B"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of B:
[bed of nails] {n. phr.}
A difficult or unhappy situation or set of circumstances.
"There are days when my job is a regular bed of nails," Jim groaned.
Contrast: [BED OF ROSES].
[bed of roses] or [bowl of cherries] {n. phr.}
A pleasant easy place, job, or position; an easy life.
A coal miner's job is not a bed of roses.
After nine months of school, summer camp seemed a bowl of cherries.
Compare: [IN CLOVER], [LIFE OF […]
[bed of thorns] {n. phr.}
A thoroughly unhappy time or difficult situation.
I'm sorry I changed jobs; my new one turned out to be a bed of thorns.
See: [BED OF NAILS].
[beef about] {v. phr.}
To complain about something.
Stop beefing about your job, Jack. You could have done a lot worse!
[beef up] {v.}, {informal}
To make stronger by adding men or equipment; make more powerful; reinforce.
The general beefed up his army with more big guns and tanks.
The university beefed up the football coaching staff by adding several good men.
[…]
[bee in one's bonnet] {n. phr.}, {informal}
A fixed idea that seems fanciful, odd, or crazy.
Robert Fulton had a bee in his bonnet about a steamboat.
Grandmother has some bee in her bonnet about going to the dance.
[be even-Steven] {v. phr.}
To be in a position of owing no favors or debt to someone.
Yesterday you paid for my lunch, so today I paid for yours; now we're even-Steven.
[before long] {adv. phr.}
In a short time; without much delay; in a little while, soon.
Class will be over before long.
We were tired of waiting and hoped the bus would come before long.