a modern-day Robin Hood
A reference to the folkloric character of Robin Hood, who, according to legend, was a remarkable archer and was said to rob from the rich in order to give to the poor.
1. Someone who makes a point of redistributing wealth to those in lower financial positions, whether by legal or illegal means. The CEO of the non-profit tech company is styling herself as a modern-day Robin Hood, reinvesting the revenue earned through its hugely successful financial apps directly into local programs for disadvantaged communities around the country. The film tells the story of a notorious gangster who becomes a kind of modern-day Robin Hood, targeting banks and billionaires in order to give their money to the poor. Who wouldn't vote for a modern-day Robin Hood? Give money to the people who really need it, rather than turning millionaires into billionaires!
2. Someone who is particularly skilled in archery. Our archery camp is always trying to encourage kids to become the next modern-day Robin Hoods. The modern-day Robin Hood managed to hit the apple off the volunteer's head with an arrow, then split that arrow down the center with a second one. Did you just hit the bulls-eye? Wow, you're a modern-day Robin Hood all right!
all good in the hood
slang Everything is fine; I've got no worries. A: "So you how've you been?" B: "I've got no complaints. It's all good in the hood." I've been able to spend a lot of time at the beach this summer, so it's all good in the hood. How are you? A: "Sorry I'm late." B: "No worries, man. It's all good in the hood."
around Robin Hood's barn
On a long, indirect route. A: "What took you guys so long to get here?" B: "Well, rather than just going through town, our esteemed driver took us all around Robin Hood's barn instead!" It seems your mother can't read a map—her directions took us all around Robin Hood's barn! A: "Come on, we don't have time to go all around Robin Hood's barn!" B: "Well, we could take the highway, but we'd just be sitting in traffic."
carry two faces under one hood
To be duplicitous; to habitually present a different version of oneself at different times, especially in the presence of different people. Watch out with Terri—she carries two faces under one hood. She always giving me a big hug when she sees me, but I heard that she's been insulting me behind my back lately. It's not that politicians carry two faces under one hood that is so surprising, but the fact that so many people accept such phony façades as the truth. I think Kim carries two faces under one hood—she acts nice to me, but I heard that she's also the one who started that nasty rumor about me!
go around Robin Hood's barn
To take a long, indirect route. A: "What took you guys so long to get here?" B: "Well, rather than just going through town, our esteemed driver went around Robin Hood's barn instead!" We went all around Robin Hood's barn following your mother directions. It seems she can't read a map! A: "Come on, we don't have time to go all around Robin Hood's barn!" B: "Well, we could take the highway, but we'd just be sitting in traffic."
hood rat
1. offensive slang A derogatory term for a girl or young woman who is considered promiscuous and who lives in or frequents "the hood" (an urban neighborhood, especially an impoverished one). Primarily heard in US. You know those hood rats are just gold digging.
2. rude slang An often derogatory term for a young person who lives in "the hood" (an urban neighborhood, especially an impoverished one). Potentially offensive. Primarily heard in US. Who you callin' a hood rat? We grew up on the same street! Don't go associating with those hood rats. You've got a future to think of.
it's all good in the hood
slang Everything is fine; I've got no worries. A: "So you how've you been?" B: "I've got no complaints. It's all good in the hood."
look under the hood
1. To examine, service, or repair a car's engine. (A hood is the hinged metal lid that covers the engine of a car.) You should let my uncle look under the hood—he knows more about cars than anyone I know! My car was making funny noises on the highway, so I've got a mechanic looking under the hood at the moment.
2. To examine the internal workings of some computer software, system, or machine. The program is very smooth and intuitive for the end user, but it's actually incredibly complex if you look under the hood. A: "My computer has been really slow ever since its latest update." B: "Let me look under the hood—you might need to install some more RAM."
3. To investigate the internal workings of some group, organization, or network of people. Once I started looking under the hood of the administration, I began to notice a pattern of corruption that was impossible to deny or ignore. While technically a charity, if you look under the hood you'll see an intricate web of shell companies designed to net the CEOs an exorbitant profit.
4. To examine or investigate one's brain or mind. There is absolutely no shame in going to a counselor or therapist every now and then to look under the hood. They want to run an fMRI to look under the hood and be sure there isn't some underlying damage to the frontal cortex.
never carry two faces under one hood
Do not be duplicitous or habitually present a different version of yourself at different times, especially in the presence of different people. My mother always told me to never carry two faces under one hood because people wouldn't be able to trust me. Whoever said "never carry two faces under one hood" obviously didn't have a career in politics!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.