{v. phr.}, {informal} To have to work for
what one desires. •/I realized a long time ago that I had to sing for my
supper if I wanted to get ahead in my profession./
[sing in tune]
See: IN TUNE.
[single]
See: EVERY SINGLE.
[single out]
{v. phr.} To select or choose one from among many.
•/There were a lot of pretty girls at the high school prom but Don
immediately singled out Sally./
[sing one’s praises]
{v. phr.} To extol or praise continuously. •/The
audience left the concert with everyone singing the praises of the young piano
virtuoso./
[sing out of tune]
See: OUT OF TUNE.
[sink]
See: HEART SINKS.
[sinker]
See: HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.
[sink in]
or [soak in]{v.}, {informal} To be completely
understood; be fully realized or felt. •/Everybody laughed at the joke but
Joe; it took a moment for it to sink in before he laughed too./ •/When
Frank heard that war had started, it didn’t sink in for a long time until his
father was drafted into the army./ Compare: BRING HOME.
[sink one’s teeth into]
See: GET ONE’S TEETH INTO.
[sink or swim]
{v. phr.} To succeed or fail by your own efforts,
without help or interference from anyone else; fail if you don’t work hard to
succeed. •/When Joe was fourteen, his parents died, and he was left by
himself to sink or swim./ •/Tom’s new job was confusing and no one had time
to help him learn, so he had to sink or swim./
[sit]
See: GO SIT ON A TACK, ON THE FENCE also FENCE-SITTING.
[sit back]
{v.} 1. To be built a distance away; stand away (as from a
street). •/Our house sits back from the road./ 2. To relax; rest, often
while others are working; take time out. •/Sit back for a minute and think
about what you have done./
[sit by]
{v.} 1. To stay near; watch and care for. •/The nurse was
told to sit by the patient until he woke up./ •/Mother sat by her sick baby
all night./ 2. To sit and watch or rest especially while others work.
•/Don’t just sit idly by while the other children are all busy./
[sit down]
{v.} To sit on a seat or resting place. •/After gym class
Jim was tired and was glad to sit down and rest./
[sit in]
{v.} 1. To be a member; participate. •/We’re having a
conference and we’d like you to sit in./ also [sit in on]: To be a member
of; participate in. •/We want you to sit in on the meeting./ 2. To attend
but not participate. Often used with "on". •/Our teacher was invited to sit
in on the conference./ Compare: LOOK ON.
[sit on]
{v.} 1. To be a member of (a jury, board, commission), etc.
•/Mr. Brown sat on the jury at the trial./ 2. {informal} To prevent
from starting or doing something; squelch. •/The teacher sat on Fred before
he could get started with the long story./ •/The teacher sat on Joe as soon
as he began showing off./
[sit on a bomb]
or [bombshell]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be in
possession of anything that is potentially disastrous or dangerous. •/The
finance department will be sitting on a bomb unless it finds a way to cut
overhead expenses./