main (redirected from Mains)

by main strength and awkwardness

Rur. by force or brute strength. Tom: How did you get that piano up the stairs? Mary: By main strength and awkwardness. By main strength and awkwardness, we got all the luggage crammed into the car.

See also: and, strength

in the main

basically; generally. Mary: Everything looks all right—in the main. Sally: What details need attention? Mary: Just a few things here and there. Like on page 27. John: Are you all ready? Sue: I think we're ready, in the main. John: Then, we shall go.

main strength and awkwardness

Fig. great force; brute force. They finally got the piano moved in to the living room by main strength and awkwardness. Lifting the antique table must be done carefully. This is not a job requiring main strength and awkwardness.

See also: and, strength

might and main

Cliché great physical strength; great force. The huge warrior, with all his might and main, could not break his way through the castle gates. The incredible might and main of the sea crushed the ship against the cliff.

See also: and, might

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(with) might and main  (formal)

with all your effort and strength War is something we should be working might and main to avoid.

See I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb

See also: and, might

be somebody's main squeeze  (American informal)

to be the person that someone has a romantic or sexual relationship with Didn't you know? Jennifer is Bob's main squeeze.

See also: squeeze

have an eye for/on the main chance  (British & Australian)

if someone has an eye for the main chance, they are always looking for opportunities to make money and to improve their situation She was someone who had an eye on the main chance and who never missed an opportunity to exploit others.

See also: chance, eye, have

in the main

mostly, usually Bystanders, middle-aged women in the main, protested loudly. In the main, our students reach exam level after a year.

the main drag  (American & Australian informal)

the biggest and most important road in a town We walked up and down the town's main drag looking for a post office.

See also: drag

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in the main (slightly formal)

mostly Major crime seems to be, in the main, caused by drugs and poverty.