rock

*hard as a rock and *hard as stone

very hard. (*Also: as ∼.) This cake is as hard as a rock! I can't drive a nail into this wood. It's hard as stone.

See also: hard

*solid as a rock

Cliché very solid; dependable. (*Also: as ~.) Jean has been lifting weights every day, and her arm muscles are solid as a rock. This company has always built power tools that are as solid as a rock.

See also: solid

*steady as a rock

Cliché very steady and unmovable; very stable. (*Also: as ~.) His hand was steady as a rock as he made each incision. You must remain as steady as a rock when you are arguing with your supervisor.

See also: steady

between a rock and a hard place and between the devil and the deep blue sea

Fig. in a very difficult position; facing a hard decision. I couldn't make up my mind. I was caught between a rock and a hard place. He had a dilemma on his hands. He was clearly between the devil and the deep blue sea.

See also: and, hard, place

get one's rocks off (on something)

1. Sl. [for a male] to ejaculate. (Considered coarse.) Boys normally don't talk about getting their rocks off.

2. Sl. to enjoy something. (Fixed order.) I really get my rocks off on heavy metal. I've listened to the stuff, but I sure don't get my rocks off on it.

See also: get

have rocks in one's head

Fig. to be silly or crazy. John is a real nut. He has rocks in his head. I don't have rocks in my head—I'm just different.

See also: have, head

Let's rock and roll!

Inf. Let's get started!; Let's get moving! A: Everybody ready? B: Yeah. A: Good. Let's rock and roll!

See also: and

on the rocks 

1. Lit. [of a ship] broken and marooned on rocks in the sea. The ship crashed and was on the rocks until the next high tide.

2. Fig. [of an alcoholic drink] served with ice cubes. I'd like mine on the rocks, please. Give me a scotch on the rocks, please.

3. Fig. in a state of ruin or bankruptcy. That bank is on the rocks. Don't put your money in it. My finances are on the rocks just now.

rock someone to something

to help someone, usually an infant, get to sleep by rocking in a rocking chair, cradle, or carriage. It is best to rock the baby to sleep after you feed her. Somehow she learned to rock herself to sleep.

rock around

to tilt or totter about. The boat rocked around, tossing the passengers to and fro. The road was bumpy and the huge car rocked around.

See also: around

rock the boat 

1. Lit. to do something to move a boat from side to side, causing it to rock. (Often in a negative sense.) Sit down and stop rocking the boat. You'll turn it over!

2. Fig. to cause trouble where none is welcome; to disturb a situation that is otherwise stable and satisfactory. (Often negative.) Look, Tom, everything is going fine here. Don't rock the boat! You can depend on Tom to mess things up by rocking the boat.

See also: boat

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

Prov. Mothers are the most powerful people, because they shape their children's personalities. When Lena got pregnant, Lena's mother told her to take her responsibility seriously, because the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

See also: cradle, hand, rule, world

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be as solid as a rock

to be very solid So much furniture these days is so flimsy - this table here was made a hundred years ago and it's solid as a rock.

See also: solid

be on the rocks

if a marriage or other romantic relationship is on the rocks, it has problems and is likely to end soon It was no great surprise when they announced their divorce. The marriage had been on the rocks for some time.

between a rock and a hard place

if you are between a rock and a hard place, you have to make a difficult decision between two things that are equally unpleasant I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. If I go with Isobel, it'll be much more expensive and if I go with Julie, Isobel probably won't speak to me again.

See also: and, hard, place

get your rocks off  (taboo!)

if a man gets his rocks off, he has sex I don't think he cares what she looks like so long as he gets his rocks off.

See also: get

like a shag on a rock  (Australian very informal)

completely alone

Usage notes: A shag is a large sea bird.

They walked out and left me like a shag on a rock.

See also: like, shag

rock bottom 

1. the lowest possible level The morale of prison officers is at rock bottom. The president's opinion poll ratings have hit rock bottom.

2. if you are at rock bottom, you are the most unhappy you have ever been in your life I'd never felt so depressed in my life - I was at rock bottom - so I started drinking. After Carly left me I hit rock bottom.

See also: bottom

rock the boat  (informal)

to do or say something that causes problems, especially if you try to change a situation which most people do not want to change We certainly don't want anyone rocking the boat just before the election. I tried to suggest a few ways in which we might improve our image and was told very firmly not to rock the boat.

See rock to its foundations

See also: boat

rock/shake something to its foundations  also rock/shake the foundations of something

to damage or change an organization or a person's beliefs very much Allegations of scandal and abuse have rocked the party to its foundations. The ideas seemed to make sense, but shook the foundations of her own Christian beliefs.

See also: foundation

The hand that rocks the cradle (rules the world).

something that you say which means women are very powerful because they have most influence over the way in which children develop into adults The article claimed that most of the world's dictators had very domineering mothers. You know what they say, the hand that rocks the cradle.

See could do with one arm tied behind back, hand over the baton, bite the hand that feeds, force hand, hold hand, keep hand in, lay a hand on, lend a hand, live hand to mouth, overplay hand, raise hand against, show hand, throw in hand, tip hand, try hand at, turn hand to, wait on hand and foot, on the one hand...on the other hand, give to on a plate, give to on a platter, have fingers in the till

See also: cradle, hand

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between a rock and a hard place

having only two very unpleasant choices between the devil and the deep blue sea Schools for problem kids are between a rock and a hard place - they can be sued if children run away and get hurt, but have no power to keep the door locked.

See also: and, hard, place

don't rock the boat

do not upset people by trying to change a situation You shouldn't sit there and say everything's fine, don't rock the boat.

Usage notes: sometimes used without don't: Of course you'll want to rock the boat.

Related vocabulary: keep your nose clean

See also: boat

hit rock bottom also reach rock bottom

to reach the lowest possible level or be in the worst possible situation She used illegal drugs for eight years and quit before she hit rock bottom. The department has reached rock bottom, with employees being fired and supervisors facing criminal charges.

Usage notes: also used in the form be at rock bottom: Grain prices are now at rock bottom.

See also: bottom, hit

on the rocks

1. likely to fail because of serious problems At the time, it seemed like capitalism was on the rocks. It became clear that her 15-year marriage to David was on the rocks.

Usage notes: most often refers to relationships between people or organizations, as in the examples

2. with ice I'll have a whiskey and soda on the rocks.

Usage notes: used only to refer to alcoholic drinks