O
Idioms beginning with "O"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of O:
[on the eve of] {prep.}
Just before (an event).
On the eve of the election, the president proposed a plan to cut taxes.
[on the face of it] {adv. phr.}
Apparently; as it seems.
On the face of it, Joe's claim that he can swim five miles is true.
His statement that he is a millionaire is, on the face of it, false.
[on the fence] {adj.} or {adv. phr.}
Not able, or not wanting to choose; in doubt; undecided. — Often used with "sit".
Jack sat on the fence for a week last spring before he finally joined the track team instead of the baseball team.
* /Mrs. Jones […]
[on the fly] (1) {adv. phr.}
1. While in the air; in flight.
The bird caught a bug on the fly.
Joe was called out because the catcher caught the ball on the fly.
2. {informal}
Between other activities; while busy with many things.
* /The […]
[on the fly(2)] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Busy; going somewhere in a hurry; going about doing things.
Getting the house ready for the visitors kept Mother on the fly all day.
The housekeeper of our school is always on the fly.
[on the go] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Active and busy.
Successful businessmen are on the go most of the time.
Healthy, happy people are usually on the go.
Compare: [ON THE MOVE].
[on the heels of] {prep.}
Just after; following (something, especially an event). — Often used with "hard" for emphasis.
Hard on the heels of the women's liberation parade, homosexuals declared a "gay pride week."
[on the hour] {adv. phr.}
Each time the hour has zero minutes and zero seconds.
The uptown bus goes past the school on the hour.
The woman must take her pill on the hour.
[on the house] {adj. phr.}, {informal}
Paid for by the owner.
At the opening of the new hotel, the champagne was on the house.
Oscar was the first customer at the diner, so his lunch was on the house.