even (redirected from evenness)

*an even break

a fair chance; a fair judgment. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Please give me an even break! I need some help here!

See also: break

*even

(with someone) not being indebted to someone for money; no longer needing to retaliate against someone. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) I will get even with you for breaking my baseball bat! Jimmy got even with Bill by punching him in the nose.

all the more reason for (doing something) and all the more reason to (do something)

with even better reason or cause for doing something. (Can be included in a number of grammatical constructions.) Bill: I don't do well in calculus because I don't like the stuff. Father: All the more reason for working harder at it. Bob: I'm tired of painting this fence. It's so old it's rotting! Sally: All the more reason to paint it.

See also: more, reason

as we speak and even as we speak

Cliché just now; at this very moment. "I'm sorry, sir," consoled the agent at the gate, "the plane is taking off as we speak." Tom: Waiter, where is my steak? It's taking a long time. Waiter: It is being grilled even as we speak, sir—just as you requested.

See also: speak

break even

for income to equal expenses. (This implies that money was not made or lost.) Unfortunately, my business just managed to break even last year. I made a bad investment, but I broke even.

See also: break

Don't even look like (something!)

Do not even appear to be doing something! (The something can be thinking about something or actually doing something.) Mary: Are you thinking about taking that last piece of cake? Bob: Of course not. Mary: Well, don't even look like you're doing it! John: You weren't going to try to sneak into the theater, were you? Bob: No. John: Well, don't even look like it, if you know what's good for you.

See also: like, look

Don't even think about it (happening).

Do not think about something like that happening, as the mere thought of it is so bad. (Compare this with Don't even think about (doing) it.) Mary: Oh, those cars almost crashed! How horrible! Fred: Don't even think about it. Sally: If the stock market crashes, we'll lose everything we have. Sue: Don't even think about it!

See also: think

even something out

to make something even or level. Please even the gravel out. They evened out the surface of the road.

See also: out

even something up

to make something even, square, level, equal, balanced, etc. I'll even the table up. See if you can even up the legs of this table. It wobbles.

See also: up

Even a worm will turn.

Prov. Even a meek person will become angry if you abuse him or her too much. You'd better stop maltreating Amy. She's a mild-mannered woman, but even a worm will turn.

See also: turn, worm

even if it kills me

Fig. [pledging to do something] even if [doing it] is very difficult. Don't worry. I will get it done even if it kills me.

See also: if, kill

even in the best of times

even when things are good; even when things are going well. It is hard to get high-quality leather even in the best of times. John had difficulty getting a loan even in the best of times because of his poor credit record.

See also: best, times

even Steven

to be even (with someone or something) by having repaid a debt, replied in kind, etc. Bill hit Tom; then Tom hit Bill. Now they are even Steven. Mary paid Ann the $100 she owed her. Ann said, "Good, we are even Steven."

keep something on an even keel

Fig. to keep something in a steady and untroubled state. The manager cannot keep the firm on an even keel any longer. When the workers are unhappy, it is difficult to keep the factory on an even keel.

See also: keel, keep

keep on an even keel

Fig. to remain cool and calm. (Originally nautical.) If Jane can keep on an even keel and not panic, she will be all right. Try to keep on an even keel and not get upset so easily.

See also: keel, keep

land so poor it wouldn't even raise a fuss and land too poor to raise a racket on

Rur. land where nothing will grow. I inherited two hundred acres from my uncle, but it's land so poor it wouldn't even raise a fuss. The soil's exhausted. That land is so poor it wouldn't even raise a fuss. Jill can grow a garden anywhere, even on land too poor to raise a racket on.

See also: fuss, land, poor, raise

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break even

if a person or a business breaks even, they do not make or lose any money from their business After a bad year in 1995, the company just about broke even in 1996.

See also: break

Don't even go there.  (informal)

used to say that you do not want to think or talk about something because it is too difficult or unpleasant She's very old-fashioned, and as for the subject of single mothers - don't even go there!

See Don't ask me, Don't give up the day job!, Don't give me that!, Don't get mad, get even, Don't sweat it!, Don't take any wooden nickels

Don't get mad, get even.

something that you say in order to tell someone not to be angry when someone has upset them, but to do something that will upset them as much This is my advice to wives whose husbands have left them for a younger woman - don't get mad, get even!

See also: get

even stevens  (British informal) also even steven (American & Australian informal)

if two or more people are even stevens, they have the same amount of something or are at the same level Give me £20 and we're even stevens - I'm not worried about a few pence.

get an even break  (American & Australian)

if someone gets an even break, they get the same opportunity to improve their situation as other people This guy has the talent. He just needs to get an even break and he could be up there with the best of them. (American & Australian)

See also: break, get

get even  (informal)

if you get even with someone who has done something bad to you, you do something bad to them Vinnie's a spiteful kind of guy. Who knows what he might think up to get even. (often + with ) He swore he'd get even with Lee for humiliating him.

See also: get

on an even keel

calm and not likely to change suddenly My main priority is to keep my life on an even keel for the sake of my two boys.

See Don't even go there, break even

See also: keel

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break even

to earn as much money as you spent Some of the books we publish do not sell enough copies to break even.

See also: break

even better also better still

more satisfactorily Put a goal in front of me - or even better, tell me I can't get something done - and I'll work twice as hard to do it. If you can't get rid of the spots, try using a razor blade or better still a liquid that dissolves gum and paint.

See also: better

even if only

just I still like to keep in touch with friends, even if only occasionally. If you are angry and disappointed, you might as well admit it, even if only to yourself.

See also: if

even so

despite everything for all that This place fills up with tourists in the summer, but even so, there are plenty of places for them to stay.

Related vocabulary: be that as it may

get back at somebody also get even (with somebody)

to punish someone who did something to you I think he's trying to get back at her for what she said in the meeting.

Related vocabulary: stick it to somebody

See also: back, get

get even (with somebody) also get back at somebody

to punish someone who did something to you She wants to get even with the guy who hit her with the ball.

Related vocabulary: settle a score

See also: get