{v. phr.}, {informal} To become very angry. •/Whenever
anyone teased John about his weight, he saw red. /
[see service]
{v. phr.} 1. To be used over a considerable period of
time. •/This old camera of mine has already seen six years of service./ 2.
To serve in a military sense. •/Colonel Hutchins has seen service in World
War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf./
[see stars]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To imagine you are seeing stars
as a result of being hit on the head. •/When Ted was hit on the head by the
ball, he saw stars./ •/The boxer’s head hit the floor, making him see
stars./
[see the beat]
See: HEAR THE BEAT.
[see the color of one’s money]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To know that
you have money to spend. •/The realtor would not show us a house until he saw
the color of our money./ •/Before I show you the diamond, let me see the
color of your money./
[see the last of]
{v. phr.} To say good-bye to someone or something;
get rid of something. •/We were glad to see the last of the winter./
[see the light]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To understand or agree, often
suddenly; accept another’s explanation or decision. •/I did not approve of
his action, but he explained his reason and then I saw the light./ •/Bill
wanted Harry to help him, but Harry wasn’t in the mood until Bill offered to
pay him. Then Harry saw the light./ •/Mary thought it was fun to date older
boys but when they started drinking, she saw the light./
[see the light at the end of the tunnel]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To
anticipate the happy resolution of a prolonged period of problems. •/We’ve
been paying on our house mortgage for many years, but at long last we can see
the light at the end of the tunnel./
[see the light of day]
{v. phr.} To be born or begun. •/The children
visited the old house where their great-grandfather first saw the light of
day./ •/The party was a failure, and Mathilda wished her plan had never
seen the light of day./
[see the sights]
See: SIGHTSEE.
[see things]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To imagine sights which are not
real; think you see what is not there. •/I had not seen him for twenty years
and when we met on the street I thought I was seeing things./ •/She woke
her husband to tell him she had seen a face at the window, but he told her she
was seeing things./