pan

*out of the frying pan (and) into the fire

Fig. from a bad situation to a worse situation. (*Typically: get ~; go ~; jump ~.) When I tried to argue about my fine for a traffic violation, the judge charged me with contempt of court. I really went out of the frying pan into the fire. I got deeply in debt. Then I really got out of the frying pan into the fire when I lost my job.

See also: fire, frye, out

flash in the pan

Fig. someone or something that draws a lot of attention for a very brief time. I'm afraid that my success as a painter was just a flash in the pan. Tom had hoped to be a major film star, but his career was only a flash in the pan.

See also: flash

If ifs and ands were pots and pans (there'd be no work for tinkers' hands).

Prov. Wishing for things is useless. (Often said in reply to someone who says something beginning with "If only....") Daughter: If only we didn't have to move out of town, I'd be the happiest girl in the world. Grandmother: If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands.

See also: and, if, pot

pan across to someone or something

to turn or rotate a film or television camera so that the picture follows movement or moves to and settles on someone or something. The camera panned across to Mary, who was sitting, looking out the window. The camera operator panned across to the window on the opposite side of the room.

See also: across

pan for something

to search for a precious metal, usually gold, by using a pan to locate the bits of metal in sand and gravel in a stream bed. When I was in Alaska, I panned for gold in a little stream set aside for tourists. The old prospector spent many hours panning for gold.

pan out 

1. and zoom out to move back to a wider angle picture using a zoom lens. The camera zoomed out. Pan out at this point in the script and give a wider view of the scene.

2. Go to turn out (all right).

See also: out

pan over someone or something

to turn or rotate a film or television camera so that the picture moves across a view of someone or something. The camera panned over the skyline, picking up interesting cloud formations. It panned over Roger as if he weren't there—which is exactly the effect the director wanted.

turn someone out 

1. Lit. to send someone out of somewhere. I didn't pay my rent, so the manager turned me out. I'm glad it's not winter. I'd hate to turn out someone in the snow.

2. Fig. to train or produce someone with certain skills or talents. The state law school turns lawyers out by the dozen. A committee accused the state university of turning out too many veterinarians.

See also: out, turn

turn something out 

1. to manufacture or produce something in numbers. The factory turns too few cars out. The factory turns out about seventy-five cars a day.

2. to turn off a light. Please turn the hall light out. Turn out the light.

See also: out, turn

turn out

[for something] to aim outward. Her toes turned out just right for a ballet dancer. The legs of the chair turned out just a little, adding a bit of stability.

See also: out, turn

turn out

somehow to end in a particular way, such as well, badly, all right, etc. I hope everything turns out all right. The party did not turn out well.

See also: out, turn

turn out (all right) and pan out; work out (all right)

to end satisfactorily. I hope everything turns out all right. Oh, yes. It'll all pan out. Things usually work out, no matter how bad they seem.

See also: out, turn

turn out (that)

to happen; to end up; to result. After it was all over, it turned out that both of us were pleased with the bargain. Have you heard how the game turned out?

See also: out, turn

zoom in (on someone or something)

1. . and pan in (on someone or something) to move in to a close-up picture of someone or something, using a zoom lens or a similar lens. The camera zoomed in on the love scene. The camera operator panned in slowly.

2. . to fly or move rapidly at someone or something. The hawk zoomed in on the sparrow. The angry bees zoomed in on Jane and stung her. When the door opened, the cat zoomed in.

3. . to concentrate on a matter related to someone or a problem. Let's zoom in on this matter of debt. She zoomed in and dealt quickly with the problem at hand.

See also: zoom

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a flash in the pan

something that happens only once or for a short time and will not be repeated We're hoping that this is a long-term opportunity, and not just a flash in the pan.

See also: flash

down the toilet  (British, American & Australian informal) also down the pan (British informal)

if something goes down the toilet, it is wasted or spoiled After the drug scandal, his career went down the toilet. If the factory closes, that'll be a million pounds' worth of investment down the pan.

See also: toilet

jump out of the frying pan (and) into the fire

to go from a bad situation to an even worse one Many kids who run away from unhappy homes discover they've jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

See also: fire, frye, jump, out

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a flash in the pan

briefly successful or popular At first, some of the major record labels thought rock ’n’ roll was just a flash in the pan.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form no flash in the pan (successful or popular for more than a brief period): This trend is no flash in the pan.

See also: flash

down the toilet

wasted or lost down the drain Appearing on that talk show is usually a sign that your career is already down the toilet.

Usage notes: often used with go: He never showed up to drive us, and our plans for the evening went down the toilet.

See also: toilet

out of the frying pan (into the fire)

from a bad situation to an even worse one Many kids who run away from unhappy homes discover they've jumped out of the frying pan into the fire when they try to live on their own.

Usage notes: often used with jump, as in the example

See also: frye, out

pan out

to happen or be successful He was very creative, although not all his ideas have panned out.

See also: out

turn somebody out (of somewhere)

to force someone to leave a place They turned him out of the shelter when they discovered he was using drugs. She was forced to leave home, turned out at the age of 16.

See also: out, turn

turn out

to happen or become known to happen in a particular way She assured him that everything would turn out all right. It turns out that Ray had borrowed the money from one of his students.

See also: out, turn

turn out (for something)

to come, appear, or be present for something A lot of students turned out for the demonstration. The last time she performed here the whole town turned out.

See also: out, turn

turn out something also turn something out

to produce or make something Which university turns out the most successful scientists? The factory is turning the dolls out as fast as it can.

See also: out, turn

zoom in (on something)

to view something more closely The software lets you zoom in so you can check the details of any part of the picture.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of zoom in (to move quickly toward something)

See also: zoom