{adj.} or {adv. phr.}, {slang} Running away,
especially from the law; in flight. •/The bank robber was on the lam for ten
months before the police caught him./ — Sometimes used in the phrase "take
it on the lam". •/After a big quarrel with her father, the girl took it on
the lam./
[on the level]
{adj. phr.}, {informal} Honest and fair; telling the
whole truth. •/Our teacher respects the students who are on the level with
her./ •/Joyce wondered if the fortune-teller was on the level./
[on the line]
See: LAY ON THE LINE or PUT ON THE LINE.
[on the lips]
See: HANG ON THE WORDS OF or HANG ON THE LIPS OF.
[on the lookout]
{adj. phr.} Watching closely. •/The little boy was
on the lookout for his father./ •/Forest rangers are always on the lookout
for forest fires./ •/The doctor is on the lookout for a new secretary./
[on the loose]
{adj. phr.}, {informal} Free to go; not shut in or
stopped by anything. •/The zookeeper forgot to close the gate to the monkey
cage and the monkeys were on the loose./ •/All of the seniors were on the
loose on "Senior Skip Day."/
[on the make]
{adj.}, {slang} 1. Promiscuous or aggressive in one’s
sexual advances. •/I can’t stand Murray; he’s always on the make./ 2.
Pushing to get ahead in one’s career; doing anything to succeed. •/The new
department head is a young man on the make, who expects to be company president
in ten years./
[on the map]
See: PUT ON THE MAP.
[on the market]
{adj. phr.} For sale. •/In the summer many fresh
vegetables are on the market./ •/The Goodwins put their house on the market
in January, but they did not sell it till August./
[on the mend]
{adj. phr.} Healing; becoming better. •/John’s broken
leg is on the mend./ •/Mary’s relationship with Joan is on the mend./
[on die money]
{adv. phr.} Exactly right; exactly accurate.
•/Algernon won the lottery; the numbers he picked were right on the money./
Compare: ON THE NOSE.
[on the move]
{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Moving around from place to
place; in motion. •/It was a very cold day, and the teacher watching the
playground kept on the move to stay warm./ •/It was vacation time, and the
highways were full of families on the move./ 2. Moving forward; going
somewhere. •/The candidate promised that if people would make him president,
he would get the country on the move./
[on the nose]
{adv. phr.}, {informal} Just right; exactly.
•/Stanley hit the ball on the nose./ •/The airplane pilot found the small
landing field on the nose./
[on the other foot]
See: SHOE ON THE OTHER FOOT.
[on the other hand]
{adv. phr.} Looking at the other side; from another
point of view. — Used to introduce an opposite or different fact or idea.
•/Jim wanted to go to the movies; his wife, on the other hand, wanted to stay
home and read./ •/Mr. Harris may still want a boy to mow his lawn; on the
other hand, he may have found someone to do it./ Compare: ON ONE HAND.