hair

curl someone's hair (American, American)

to frighten or shock someone. The scene where the guy follows her into the apartment curled my hair.

See also: curl

get in someone's hair (informal)

to annoy someone, especially by being near them for a long period. Harry usually keeps the kids occupied so they don't get in my hair while I'm cooking.

the hair of the dog (that bit you)

an alcoholic drink that you drink to cure the pain in your head that was caused by drinking too much alcohol the night before. It was early in the morning and Catherine reached for her glass. 'Hair of the dog?' asked Lee with a smile.

See also: dog

not a hair out of place

if someone does not have a hair out of place, their appearance is very tidy. She was immaculate as ever, not a hair out of place.

See also: place

a hair shirt

if someone wears a hair shirt, they choose to make their life unpleasant by not having or experiencing anything that gives them pleasure. I don't think you have to put on a hair shirt in order to be a socialist.

See also: shirt

a hair's breadth

a very small distance or amount. Enemy forces are within a hair's breadth of the city. We were a hair's breadth away from getting caught. (= we were almost caught)

hair-raising

very frightening. Driving through the mountains was a hair-raising experience.

hair-splitting

split hairs - to argue about whether details that are not important are exactly correct. I don't have very much patience with all this legal hair-splitting.

harm a hair on someone's head

to hurt someone. He adores the girl - he wouldn't harm a hair on her head. (often negative) If he so much as harms a hair on her head, I won't be responsible for my actions.

See also: harm, head

have a bad hair day

1. to not feel attractive or happy all day because you cannot make your hair look nice. I'm having a bad hair day today - I just couldn't do a thing with it this morning.

(humorous)

2. if a machine has a bad hair day, it does not work as it should all day. My computer's having a bad hair day.

See also: bad, day

haven't seen hide nor hair of someone/something (informal)

if you have not seen hide nor hair of someone or something, you have not seen them for a period of time. I haven't seen hide nor hair of her since last Sunday, and I'm beginning to get rather worried. (often + since)

See also: haven't, hide, nor, seen

Keep your shirt on! (British, American & Australian, informal, British & Australian, informal)

a slightly impolite way of telling someone who is angry to try to be calm and patient. Keep your shirt on! I'll be with you in a second.

See also: keep, shirt

let your hair down

to relax and enjoy yourself without worrying what other people will think. It's nice to let your hair down once in a while and go a bit wild.

See also: down, let

make someone's hair stand on end

to make someone feel very frightened. The thought of jumping out of an aeroplane makes my hair stand on end.

See also: end, stand

out of someone's hair

get in someone's hair - to annoy someone, especially by being near them for a long period. I don't care where she is now. She's out of my hair and that's all that matters. I was hoping James would take the kids to the park for a couple of hours just to get them out of my hair. (= stop them annoying me by taking them away)

pull/tear your hair out

to be very anxious about something. I've been tearing my hair out trying to get the job finished on time. (often in continuous tenses)

See also: pull, tear

put hair(s) on your chest (humorous)

if you say that food or drink will put hair on someone's chest, you mean that the food will make them strong and healthy or that the drink is very alcoholic. Here, have a swig of this. That should put hair on your chest!

See also: chest

split hairs

to argue about whether details that are not important are exactly correct. 'She earns three time what I earn.' 'Actually, it's more like two and a half.' 'Oh stop splitting hairs!'

See also: split

not turn a hair

to not show any emotion when you are told something bad or when something bad happens. I was expecting her to be furious but she didn't turn a hair.

See also: turn

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the hair of the dog (that bit you)

an alcoholic drink taken to make you feel better after drinking too much alcohol the night before. Paul offered me the hair of the dog, but I couldn't stand the thought of drinking any more.

Etymology: based on the idea that if you were bitten by a crazy dog, the injury would heal if hair from the dog were put on it

See also: dog

in the cross hairs

in a position to be criticized or attacked. Her independence put her in the cross hairs of some local politicians.

Usage notes: usually the situation results from holding opinions that are not popular or are too independent

caught in the middle

caught in the crossfire

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of cross hairs (= crossed lines used to aim a gun)

See also: cross

keep your shirt on

to stay calm. The meeting may be pretty unpleasant, so promise me you'll keep your shirt on.

keep your cool

See also: keep, shirt

let your hair down

to relax and do what you want. The party gives you a chance to let your hair down at the end of the week.

See also: down, let

make your hair stand on end

to cause you to be very frightened. Massey's detailed account of the battle made my hair stand on end.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form feel your hair stand on end to recognize you are very frightened: I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck at the thought of crossing that old bridge.

raise your hackles

send shivers down your spine

Etymology: from the way the hair on a dog's neck points up when it is frightened or angry

See also: end, stand

split hairs

to argue about very small differences or unimportant details. It's splitting hairs to tell people that they cannot lie but it is all right if they exaggerate.

See also: split

tear your hair (out)

to be extremely worried or upset about something. I got my new tax bill and decided I could tear my hair or move, so I've decided to sell and move. Companies are pulling their hair out trying to decide how to deal with these new regulations.

See also: tear