{v. phr.} To begin to burn suddenly. •/The
children threw away some burning matches and the barn burst into flames./
[burst into tears]
{v. phr.} To suddenly start crying. •/Mary burst
into tears when she heard that her brother was killed in a car accident./
[burst with joy]
or [pride]{v. phr.} To be so full of the feeling
of joy or pride that one cannot refrain from showing one’s exuberant feelings.
•/Armstrong and Aldrin burst with pride when they stepped out on the moon in
July, 1969./
[bury one’s head in the sand]
See: HIDE ONE’S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[bury the hatchet]
{v. phr.}, {informal} To settle a quarrel or end
a war; make peace. •/The two men had been enemies a long time, but after the
flood they buried the hatchet./ Compare: MAKE UP(5).
[bus]
See: MISS THE BOAT or MISS THE BUS.
[bush]
See: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH, BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.
[bushel]
See: HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL.
[bushes]
See: BEAT THE BUSHES.
[business]
See: DO THE BUSINESS, HAVE NO BUSINESS, LAND-OFFICE BUSINESS,
MEAN BUSINESS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE BUSINESS.
[bust up]
{v. phr.}, {slang} To terminate a partnership, a
relationship, a friendship, or a marriage. •/If Jack keeps drinking the way
he does, it will bust up his marriage to Sue./
[busy work]
{n.} Work that is done not to do or finish anything
important, but just to keep busy. •/When the teacher finished all she had to
say it was still a half hour before school was over. So she gave the class a
test for busy work./
[but for]
See: EXCEPT FOR.
[but good]
{adv. phr.}, {informal} Very much so; thoroughly
completely; forcefully. — Used for emphasis. •/Jack called Charles a bad
name, and Charles hit him, but good./ •/Tom fell and broke his leg. That
taught him but good not to fool around in high trees./ Compare: AND HOW.
[but not least]
See: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
[butter]
See: BREAD AND BUTTER.
[butterflies in one’s stomach]
{n. phr.} A queer feeling in the stomach
caused by nervous fear or uncertainty; a feeling of fear or anxiety in the
stomach. •/When Bob walked into the factory office to ask for a job, he had
butterflies in his stomach./
[butter up]
{v.}, {informal} To try to get the favor or friendship
of (a person) by flattery or pleasantness. •/He began to butter up the boss
in hope of being given a better job./ Compare: POLISH THE APPLE.
[butter wouldn’t melt in one’s mouth]
{informal} You act very polite
and friendly but do not really care, you are very nice to people but are not
sincere. •/The new secretary was rude to the other workers, but when she
talked to the boss, butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth./
[butt in]
{v.}, {slang} To join in with what other people are doing
without asking or being asked; interfere in other people’s business; meddle.
•/Mary was explaining to Jane how to knit a sweater when Barbara butted
in./ Often used with "on". •/John butted in on Bill and Tom’s fight, and
got hurt./ Compare: HORN IN.
[button]
See: HAVE ALL ONE’S BUTTONS, ON THE BUTTON, PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON.
[button down]
{v.}, {slang} (stress on "down") To state precisely,
to ascertain, to pin down, to peg down. •/First let’s get the facts buttoned
down, then we can plan ahead./
[button-down]
{attrib. adj.}, {slang} (stress on "button")
Well-groomed, conservatively dressed. •/Joe is a regular button-down type./