was

*knee-high to a jackrabbit and *knee-high to a grasshopper

Rur. very small or short. (Usually used to describe children. *Typically: be ~; since someone was ~.) I've known you since you were knee-high to a jackrabbit. My, how you've grown! The last time I saw you, you were knee-high to a grasshopper!

A good time was had by all.

Cliché Everyone had a good time. Jill: How was the party? Jane: A good time was had by all. After seeing the movie, the ten of us went out for ice cream, and a good time was had by all.

See also: good, had, time

as I was saying and like I was saying

to repeat what I've been saying; to continue with what I was saying. (The first form is appropriate in any conversation. The second form is colloquial, informal, and familiar. In addition, this use of like for as, in the second form, is objected to by many people.) Bill: Now, Mary, this is one of the round ones that attaches to the wire here. Bob (passing through the room): Hello, you two! I'll talk to you later. Bill: Yeah, see you around. Now, as I was saying, Mary, this goes here on this wire. Tom: I hate to interrupt, but someone's car is being broken into down on the street. Fred: As I was saying, these illegal practices must stop.

See also: saying

been had and was had; have been had 

1. (of a woman) been copulated with; been made pregnant. I've been had, and I'm going to have the baby. When she said she had been had, I didn't know it happened on her honeymoon.

2. been mistreated, cheated, or dealt with badly. Look at this cheap shirt that I paid $30 for! I was had! I've been had by that lousy gyp joint.

See also: been, had

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the man was lost.

Prov. Overlooking small details can have disastrous consequences. (You can quote any of the sentences in this proverb by themselves.) Jill: I don't think we need to check our bicycle tires before we go for our ride. Jane: I disagree. For want of a nail the shoe was lost. Before we began the hike into the mountains, we checked our equipment painstakingly, remembering that for want of a horse the man was lost.

See also: horse, nail, shoe, want

I was up all night with a sick friend.

an unlikely, but popular excuse for not being where one was supposed to be the night before. Bill: Where in the world were you last night? Mary: Well, I was up all night with a sick friend. Mr. Franklin said rather sheepishly, "Would you believe I was up with a sick friend?"

See also: friend, night, sick, up

If it was a snake it woulda bit you.

Rur. It was very close to you. Jane: Where's the phone book? Tom: Right there! If it was a snake it woulda bit you. Bill: I can't find my other shoe. I've looked all over the house. Mary: It's right behind you. If it was a snake it would have bit you.

See also: bit, if, snake

knew it was coming and (had) known it was coming

to have expected in advance that something was to happen. I shouldn't act surprised. I knew it was coming. It's his own fault. He should have known it was coming.

See also: coming

like it was going out of style

Fig. rapidly or frequently. I'm worried about Sally. She's taking aspirin like it's going out of style. The kids have been eating sweet corn like it was going out of style.

See also: going, like, out, style

like there's no tomorrow and like there ain't no tomorrow

Rur. eagerly; rapidly; without stopping. You can't go on eating candy bars like there's no tomorrow. Jim's spending money like there's no tomorrow.

See also: like, tomorrow

now, where was I

I was interrupted, so please help me remember what I was talking about. (The emphasis is on was.) Now, where was I! I think I lost my place. Q: Where was I? A: You had just described the War of 1812.

Rome was not built in a day.

Prov. It takes a lot of time to achieve something important. Professor: When will you finish your research project? Student: It'll take me a while. Rome wasn't built in a day, you know.

See also: built, day, Rome

time was (when)

there was a time when; at a time in the past. Time was when old people were taken care of at home. Time was when people didn't travel around so much.

See also: time

What was the name again?

Please tell me your name again. (More typical of a clerk than of someone just introduced.) Clerk: What was the name again? Bill: Bill. "What was the name again? I didn't write it down," confessed Fred.

See also: name

Who was it?

Who called on the telephone or who was at the door? (Assumes that the caller is not waiting on the telephone or at the door.) Sue (as Mary hangs up the telephone): Who was it? Mary: None of your business. Bill (as he leaves the door): What a pest! Sue: Who was it? Bill: Some silly survey.

See also: who

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It was fun while it lasted.

something that you say when something good has ended but you are not sorry I wouldn't have wanted more than 3 years at university, but it was fun while it lasted.

See also: fun, last

like there's no tomorrow  also as if there was/were no tomorrow

very quickly and eagerly She's spending money like there's no tomorrow and I don't know how to stop her. Hungry and exhausted, he gobbled down the bread as if there were no tomorrow.

See also: like, tomorrow

That was a [game/meal/walk etc.] and a half!  (informal)

something that you say about something that was very surprising, very good, or took a lot of time That was a walk and a half! I'm exhausted.

See Hang on a mo

See also: and

when somebody was a (mere) twinkle in their father's eye  (humorous)

at a time before someone was born All this happened a very long time ago, when you were a mere twinkle in your father's eye.

See also: eye, twinkle

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been had

to have been deceived If you paid much for this radio, you've been had, pal!

See also: been, had

been had (spoken) See at: been

See also: been, had

like there's no tomorrow also as if there is no tomorrow

quickly and eagerly, without thinking She's spending money like there's no tomorrow and I don't know how to stop her.

See also: like, tomorrow