a foot in both camps
Some involvement with or support for two opposing sides. When my friends split up, I felt like I had a foot in both camps. I've worked with both teams, and I think they both have good ideas, so to be honest I have a foot in both camps. You're either our ally or our enemy—you can't have a foot in both camps!
boot camp
1. A camp where military recruits are rigorously trained in combat, physical fitness, military drills, etc. The military always sounded like a romantic career, but boot camp nearly killed me! She got through boot camp like a champ, so any concerns I had about her pursuing a career the military are gone now. You'll hate boot camp, but it will get you in the best shape of your life.
2. A training camp for juvenile offenders or troublesome adolescents modeled after military basic training, meant to instill socially acceptable values and behaviors through rigorous disciplinary, physical, and psychological exercises. Our son was out of control for several years, but after he came back from boot camp, it was like he was a whole new person. If Bobby keeps getting arrested like this, you need to send him to a prison boot camp and scare him straight. I never thought that troublemaker would make something of herself, but she's in college now. It seems that boot camp helped her turn her life around.
3. Any training camp or course that teaches by means of an intensive and immersive environment. I hear that the computer programming boot camp is full-on, but that you'll come away from it with comprehensive skills in the field. Work is sending me to a three-day copywriting boot camp, and I am not looking forward to it. I could use a Photoshop boot camp. I just never seem to know what I'm doing!
break camp
To pack up one's belongings and leave a campsite. We need to break camp and head back to town before nightfall. Don't mind Rosalie, she's ready to break camp every time she hears a noise outside the tent. A: "Are you guys ready to break camp?" B: "Yeah, we need to be up early tomorrow."
camp
1. noun Something that is garish, over the top, and, often, outdated, usually humorously so. Sure, the play is just pure camp, but it's quite a romp. The show was total camp and also exactly what I needed after a long week at work. Those bodice-rippers from the '70s are nothing but camp. They'll rot your brain!
2. adjective Exaggerated, racy, or tacky. I know your character is supposed to provide comic relief, but you don't have to add quite so much camp humor. Uh, don't you think that a sequined minidress is a bit too camp for such a formal occasion? That play was way too camp for Grandma—we shouldn't have brought her.
3. adjective Relating to homosexuality. I highly doubt that every man who behaves in that camp manner is gay. Jeff may camp it up after a few drinks, but don't get too excited—he does have a wife, you know.
camp candlestick
obsolete
1. An empty bottle, due to its use as a candlestick in army camps. We found him passed out among myriad camp candlesticks. Clearly, the guys were drinking tonight—look at all these camp candlesticks. Come on, help me! We've got to get rid of all these camp candlesticks before the everyone else gets back.
2. A bayonet. He strapped his knife to his rifle as a sort of makeshift camp candlestick. If you weren't killed by the gunfire, chances were good you'd end up getting run through with a camp candlestick. These civilians, they're armed too. They've fashioned camp candlesticks and wouldn't hesitate to gore any of one us with them.
camp follower
1. A civilian who follows a military unit from one location to the next, either because the person is closely related to a service member or to unofficially provide goods or services to members of the unit. Daniel spent his childhood as a camp follower. His father was in the army, so he and his mother had to move a lot. I used to work as a camp follower, traveling around and selling goods to military units. Look out for camp followers, boys. Those ladies are always looking for a military man to take to bed.
2. A person who supports a group or cause without officially belonging to its organization. I always vote Republican, but I'm a camp follower—I'm registered as an Independent. I'm somewhat of a camp follower, and I do donate to their cause from time to time. Only the diehards come to the monthly meetings, not the camp followers.
camp it up
1. To act in a campy (exaggerated, racy, or tacky) manner, often in a theatrical setting. I know your character is supposed to add comic relief, but you don't have to camp it up that much. Come on, drag queens are supposed to camp it up! The more, the better! If you keep camping it up like that in auditions, you'll never get hired in Hollywood.
2. To act in an overly effeminate manner, as of a gay man. I highly doubt that every man who camps it up is gay. Jeff may camp it up after a few drinks, but don't get too excited—he does have a wife, you know.
camp out
1. To sleep outside recreationally; to camp, typically with a sleeping bag and tent. My little brother really wants to camp out for his birthday, so we're going to set up a tent in our back yard for him. I love hiking and camping out, but my boyfriend is not very outdoorsy. I have no interest in camping out, honestly. I'd much rather stay in a hotel.
2. To live in a place other than one home's temporarily, often in conditions that are not ideal. I'm camping out in my aunt's basement until I can move into my new apartment, so my roommates right now are a washer and dryer—and a few bugs. You're welcome to camp out in our attic for a few days while they fumigate your apartment. There was a gap between when my old lease was up and my new one started, so I had to camp out at my grandmother's for a bit.
camp out on (one's) doorstep
To station oneself temporarily in front of one's house. Usually used in reference to paparazzi or members of the media. News outlets have been camping out on our doorstep for the last three days after police named us as suspects in the case. Following the huge success of the film, the actress has had paparazzi camped out on her doorstep trying to get pictures of her and her family. Even if you camped out on the senator's doorstep, I doubt you'd be able to change his mind on this issue.
have a foot in both camps
To have some involvement with or support for two opposing sides. When my friends split up, I felt like I had a foot in both camps. I've worked with both teams, and I think they both have good ideas, so to be honest I have a foot in both camps. You're either our ally or our enemy—you can't have a foot in both camps!
in the boondocks
In a very distant or remote location, often one that lacks modern amenities. "Boondocks" comes from the Tagalog word bundok, meaning "mountain," and originated as US military slang. That place is all the way out in the boondocks—it'll take us hours to get there. Good luck getting a cell signal out here in the boondocks. I got tired of living in the boondocks, so I started renting an apartment right in the heart of the city.
keep a foot in both camps
To maintain involvement with or support for two opposing sides. When my friends split up, I felt like I had to keep a foot in both camps. I've worked with both teams, and I think they both have good ideas. I'd rather keep a foot in both camps than have to pick one over the other.
pitch camp
1. Literally, to set up everything one needs for a functioning campsite. This looks like a good spot to pitch camp. We'd better start pitching camp soon or we'll be doing it in the dark!
2. By extension, to settle into an area in which one plans to reside for a period of time. They pitched camp outside of the arena nearly 12 hours early to make sure they got great seats for the concert. The paparazzi have pitched camp outside of the actor's home, hoping to get pictures of his private life.
sleepaway camp
A location away from parents, typically in a rural area, where children, adolescents, or teenagers sleep overnight and then engage in various recreations during the day. We always send the kids to a sleepaway camp for a couple weeks during the summer. They love doing archery and horseback riding—and getting a break from us!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
break camp
Take down a tent and pack up other gear; also, leave a place, move out. For example, The landlord has to return my rent deposit before I'll break camp. Originally camp denoted a military encampment, but by the mid-1500s the term had been transferred to temporary outdoor sites used by hunters and the like. By the 19th century, the current term was in use. Thus, "It is the hunter's rule to see that the fire is extinguished ... before breaking camp." (F.H. Guillemard, Cruise of Marchesa I, 1886).
camp follower
1. A civilian who follows or settles near a military camp, especially a prostitute who does so. For example, The recruits were told not to associate with camp followers. [Early 1800s]
2. A person who sympathizes with a cause or group but does not join it. For example, She's only a camp follower so we can't count on her for a contribution.
camp it up
Make an extravagant, affected, or vulgar display, as in
Amateur actors often camp it up, trying to be more dramatic. Originating in the 1950s as slang for flamboyant behavior stereotypically associated with gay men, this term began to be used more loosely by about 1970. Also see
ham it up.
camp out
Sleep outdoors; also, stay somewhere for an unusually long time. For example, "We camped out in a field this night" (George Washington, Journal, March 18, 1748). In the early 1900s, the expression was extended to figurative uses, meaning simply "to stay somewhere for an unusually long time," as in She camped out at the stage door, hoping for an autograph.
foot in both camps, have a
Support or have good relations with two opposing sides. For example, He had a foot in both camps, making donations to candidates in both parties. In this expression camp alludes to encampments of enemy troops in a battle. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.