(all) dressed up in Christmas tree-order
old-fashioned Of soldiers, in full marching order. Originated among British soldiers in World War I. Come on, fellas, we're gonna get screamed at if we're not all dressed up in Christmas tree-order by 0600 hours. We watched as the soldiers, dressed up in Christmas tree-order, moved through their formations for the crowd. It's a special occasion, so we're all expected to be dressed up in Christmas tree-order.
(all) dressed up like a Christmas tree
old-fashioned Dressed in a showy, flashy, or excessively fancy manner; overdressed. Look at her swanning about in all her furs and jewelry, dressed up like a Christmas tree. Why are you getting all dressed up like a Christmas tree? We're only going to the movies. I'm all dressed up like a Christmas tree because the CEO was supposed to visit our office today.
(all) lit up like a Christmas tree
1. Covered in or decorated with many bright lights. They always have the bridge all lit up like a Christmas tree for the winter. It looks so beautiful when you drive over it in the dark. If you want to cycle at night, then make sure you're lit up like a Christmas tree before you get on the road. Thanks to that fancy new glow collar, Spike is all lit up like a Christmas tree on our nighttime walks now.
2. Very brightly or radiantly illuminated. Isn't the new porch light a little bright? The whole house is lit up like a Christmas tree now. A: "How am I supposed to sleep when you have the room all lit up like a Christmas tree?" B: "Well, I can't sleep in the dark knowing there's a bug in here!" Turn off the overhead light, will you? I'm going to light some candles—there's no need for the room to be lit up like a Christmas tree for dinner.
a white Christmas
Christmas day when it is or has been snowing. Growing up in south Texas, I could only ever fantasize about having a white Christmas. I could never go some place warm for the holidays—anything other than a white Christmas just feels wrong to me. The kids will be thrilled if we have a white Christmas. They love both getting presents and playing in the snow, so it could be the best day of their lives!
all (one's) Christmases have come at once
Said when one is experiencing a an extraordinary amount of good fortune. Primarily heard in UK. Wait, let me get this straight: the planning permission came through very quickly, the bank approved our second loan application, and the weather is supposed to stay sunny and dry for the next few months? Wow, all our Christmases have come at once! Seeing my beautiful baby girl for the first time, well, it felt like all my Christmases had come at once. After years of living in a shabby studio apartment, it was like all my Christmases had come at once when I found out I'd inherited all that money.
be (all) dressed up in Christmas tree-order
old-fashioned Of soldiers, to be in full marching order. Originated among British soldiers in World War I. Come on, fellas, we're gonna get screamed at if we're not all dressed up in Christmas tree-order by 0600 hours. The soldiers were all dressed up in Christmas tree-order and moved through their formations for the crowd. It's a special occasion, so we're all expected to be dressed up in Christmas tree-order.
be (all) dressed up like a Christmas tree
old-fashioned To be dressed or decorated very ostentatiously; to be who is particularly pretentious or showy in appearance. She was dressed up like a Christmas tree, swanning about in all her furs and jewelry. Why are you all dressed up like a Christmas tree? We're only going to the movies. I'm all dressed up like a Christmas tree because the CEO was supposed to visit our office today.
be (all) lit up like a Christmas tree
1. To be covered in or decorated with many bright lights. The bridge is all lit up like a Christmas tree for the winter. It looks so beautiful when you drive over it in the dark. He cycles at night, so he's always lit up like a Christmas tree whenever he gets on the road. Thanks to that fancy new glow collar, Spike is all lit up like a Christmas tree on our nighttime walks now.
2. To be very brightly or radiantly illuminated. Isn't the new porch light a little bright? The whole house is lit up like a Christmas tree now. A: "How am I supposed to sleep when the room's lit up like a Christmas tree?" B: "Well, I can't sleep in the dark knowing there's a bug in here!" I'm going to light some candles—there's no need for the room to be lit up like a Christmas tree for dinner.
be like Christmas coming early
To be very exciting and pleasing. Getting the promotion is like Christmas coming early, especially because my wife and I are currently looking for a bigger house. The extra money will be a big help! If you visit for Thanksgiving, it will be like Christmas coming early for Mom—she really misses you. I got into Harvard? Oh my gosh, this is like Christmas coming early!
cancel (one's) Christmas
slang To kill someone. As soon as that guy becomes a liability, I'll get Ray to cancel his Christmas, no problem. The man said he'd cancel my Christmas if I told anyone that I'd seen him burying the money in the field. Because she's the prosecution's star witness, I'm worried the defendant will cancel her Christmas before she ever gets a chance to testify against them.
Christmas comes but once a year
A phrase that defends enthusiastic celebrations of Christmas, on the basis that Christmas only happens once a year. I know the amount of gifts is a little excessive, but Christmas comes but once a year, right? Christmas comes but once a year, so we are all going to wear matching pajamas, and you kids are going to act happy about it for pictures, got it? Yes, I do I put up five Christmas trees every year. They make me happy, and Christmas comes but once a year anyway.
Christmas disease
Hemophilia (or haemophilia) B, a blood-clotting disorder in which a mutation of the Factor IX gene leads to a deficiency of Factor IX (or Christmas factor), a serine protease of the coagulation system. Both the factor and the disease are named for Stephen Christmas (not the holiday), the first patient discovered to have the condition in 1952. We haven't let our daughter participate in any more physical sports since she was diagnosed with Christmas disease last year. A: "Who is the most famous person to have had Christmas disease? The boy Rasputin tried to treat?" B: "You mean Nicholas II's son? Yeah, probably." Internal bleeding is a real concern for people with Christmas disease, given the ease with which they can start uncontrollably bleeding.
Christmas graduate
A college or university student who discontinues their education after the end of the first term (i.e., around Christmastime). Primarily heard in US. While I firmly believe in the importance of continued education, there are always a few Christmas graduates each year for whom college is just not well suited. I know my parents are frustrated, but I'm fine with being a Christmas graduate. I think I'd be better off going to a trade school and getting some kind of certification someday. I didn't want to be a Christmas graduate, but I was pregnant by then. I had more important issues to deal with.
Christmas tree bill
In the US Congress, a minor bill that attracts many additional (and often unrelated) amendments attached to it, thus likened to ornaments hung upon a Christmas tree. Primarily heard in US. If one really wants to see how corporate interests pervade the political process, one must simply examine the numerous amendments of the so-called Christmas tree bills that crop up each year. Wow, that bill the Democrats put forth has really morphed into a Christmas tree bill, huh? Everyone wants to push something through with it. Can we please just stick to the issue at hand? I would like this bill passed quickly, and do you really think that will happen if becomes a Christmas tree bill?
Happy Christmas
A standard expression of good wishes said to someone on or shortly before Christmas. Primarily heard in UK, Ireland. A: "Happy Christmas, Tommy!" B: "Thanks, Dad. Happy Christmas to you, too!" We just wanted to come by and wish you a happy Christmas! A: "Happy Christmas!" B: "Happy Christmas to you lot as well! Come on in and join the festivities!"
like Christmas coming early
Very exciting and pleasing. Getting the promotion is like Christmas coming early, especially because my wife and I are currently looking for a bigger house. The extra money will be a big help! If you visit for Thanksgiving, it will be like Christmas coming early for Mom—she really misses you.
like turkeys voting for an early Christmas
Said of people who choose or accept a situation that is not in their interest or will be directly harmful to them. Turkeys are often prepared for a Christmas meal. Primarily heard in UK. So now you have people supporting policies that would see their work security and health benefits eliminated. It's like turkeys voting for an early Christmas.
like turkeys voting for Christmas
Said of people who choose or accept a situation that is not in their interest or will be directly harmful to them. Turkeys are often prepared for a Christmas meal. So now you have people supporting policies that would see their work security and health benefits eliminated. It's like turkeys voting for Christmas.
Merry Christmas
A standard expression of good wishes said to someone on or shortly before Christmas. A: "Merry Christmas, Tommy!" B: "Thanks, Dad. Merry Christmas to you, too!" We just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas!
merry Christmas and a happy new year
A standard if somewhat formal expression of good wishes said to someone during the winter holiday season. The entire phrase is typically capitalized if said as a standalone salutation. We would like to wish all of our customers a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Thank you for all of your help, Colin. Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.