pencil

have lead in (one's) pencil

vulgar slang To be able to have an erection. You'll have lead in your pencil, guaranteed, after following this six-step program. I was so drunk that I didn't have lead in my pencil, if you know what I mean.

See also: have, lead, pencil

in pencil

Using a pencil, as opposed to a pen or other such writing implement. The teacher says that we have to do our math homework in pencil. I do all of my sketches in pencil first. I tend to make a lot of mistakes, that's why I write in pencil!

See also: pencil

lead in (one's) pencil

An increase, enhancement, or restoration of one's sexual ability or vigor. Following this six-step program will put lead in your pencil, guaranteed. The only real way to put lead in your pencil is to eat well, exercise regularly, and have self-confidence.

See also: lead, pencil

not the sharpest pencil in the cup

Not intelligent; dim-witted or prone to stupidity. The new boyfriend isn't the sharpest pencil in the cup, but he's pretty good looking! I wasn't the sharpest pencil in the cup in school, but I still managed to find a profession I loved.

See also: cup, not, pencil, sharp

pencil in

1. To write something in pencil, especially so that one retains the ability to change or erase it later. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pencil" and "in." Why don't we just pencil in the dates we'd like, and we can go back and change them if they're not available? Pencil your answers in, and I'll check them when I'm done with work.

2. By extension, to schedule or plan something for a tentative or temporary time or date. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pencil" and "in." Let's pencil in the meeting for December 15th—if there are any issues with the date, we can always change it. They're going to pencil the appointment in for 2 PM.

3. To tentatively or temporarily schedule one for an appointment (that may or may not change). A noun or pronoun can be used between "pencil" and "in." I need to have a date in the system, so I'll just pencil you in for the middle of July—just change it online once you've picked a date you're happy with. They penciled us in for 2 PM, so if we can't make it we have to let them know in advance.

See also: pencil

pencil neck

1. A particularly weak, meek, or unimpressive person; a wimp. No little pencil neck like you is going to give me orders, pal!

2. A person who is very inclined toward academic or intellectual pursuits. I always made sure to make friends with the pencil necks in my math classes so they would help me out with the homework.

See also: neck, pencil

pencil out

1. To use pencil to write or sketch something, especially in a crude or preliminary fashion. (In each usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "pencil" and "out.") Let's just pencil out all the expenses we know about and use that as our starting budget. I like to pencil out what I'm drawing before going over it in ink.

2. To create a rough analysis or assessment of the potential return for an investment or expenditure. We'll need to pencil out the costs and benefits of the investment before we agree to anything. Considering how much debt the project has accrued, it makes you wonder if anyone in the local government penciled it out at all.

3. Of a financial investment, to be capable of generating the desired returns based on preliminary calculations or estimates. The government-published analysis has been overly optimistic in its assumptions about economic growth to make its new benefits package appear to pencil out. Always take your time to make sure a deal pencils out before you sign on the dotted line.

4. To take note that someone or something will not be available (for something). You can probably pencil me out of the party on Saturday. It looks like I'm going to have to work. Don't pencil out our rooftop patio just because it has started getting cold outside. We've got it set up to be the perfect venue no matter the time of year!

See also: out, pencil

pencil pusher

One who has a boring, meaningless office job. Primarily heard in US. I refuse to be a pencil pusher the rest of my life. I have big dreams and goals!

See also: pencil, pusher

pencil whip

1. To complete a form or record, especially a checklist, without doing the work required or by providing falsified or incomplete information. It has come to light that the safety supervisor aboard the oil rig had been pencil whipping his observational reports for several weeks leading up to the disaster.

2. To approve such a form without actually verifying that the contents are accurate or properly completed. We're supposed to fill out a detailed checklist after each shift, but I know my boss just pencil whips them.

See also: pencil, whip

pencil-neck

slang Used before a noun.

1. Particularly weak, meek, or unimpressive; wimpy. No pencil-neck twerp like you is going to give me orders, pal!

2. Very inclined toward academic or intellectual pursuits. I always made sure to make friends with the pencil-neck geeks in my math classes so they would help me out with my homework.

pencil-necked

1. Particularly weak, meek, or unimpressive; wimpy. No pencil-necked twerp like you is going to give me orders, pal!

2. Very inclined toward academic or intellectual pursuits. I always made sure to make friends with the pencil-necked geeks in my math classes so they would help me out with the homework.

put lead in (one's) pencil

Of a man, to increase, enhance, or restore one's sexual ability or vigor. Following this six-step program will put lead in your pencil, guaranteed. The only real way to put lead in your pencil is to eat well, exercise regularly, and have self-confidence.

See also: lead, pencil, put

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in pencil

written or signed with a pencil. Why did you write your report in pencil? You can't sign a check in pencil!

See also: pencil

pencil someone or something in

to write in something with a pencil. (Implies that the writing is not final.) This isn't a firm appointment yet, so I will just pencil it in. I penciled in a tentative answer.

See also: pencil

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

put lead in one's pencil

Enhance or restore sexual vigor, as in Try one of these hot peppers; that'll put lead in your pencil. This phrase, a euphemism for causing an erection, is considered far more vulgar than the contemporary synonym put hair on one's chest, alluding to a secondary male sex characteristic. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

See also: lead, pencil, put

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.

put lead in your pencil

BRITISH, INFORMAL, OLD-FASHIONED, RUDE

If someone says that something puts lead in a man's pencil, they are suggesting humorously that it improves his sexual ability. Note: Lead is a very heavy metal. Steve chewed the tobacco and spat a brown spot into the snow. `Puts lead in your pencil,' he said. Note: You can also say that someone has lead in their pencil, to praise their sexual ability. He'd been blessed with amazing stamina and a lot of lead in his pencil. Note: The lead in a pencil is the part in the centre which makes a mark on paper.

See also: lead, pencil, put

a pen pusher

mainly BRITISH or

a pencil pusher

AMERICAN or

a paper pusher

COMMON If you describe someone as a pen pusher or a pencil pusher, you mean that they have a boring office job and do not make any important decisions. People who used to be called administrators, and perhaps seen as just pen pushers, have been transformed into senior managers. Many of the men who now sit on company boards are pencil pushers with qualifications from top schools, but lack experience in business. Note: In both American and British English, you can also call someone a paper pusher. I didn't want to be just another faceless paper pusher. Note: You can refer to office work as pen-pushing, pencil-pushing, or paper-pushing. You can also say that office workers push papers or push pens. I want our police officers freed from paper-pushing. I'm very thankful that I can make a living from my art, rather than working as a waiter or pushing papers eight hours a day.

See also: pen, pusher

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

lead in your pencil

vigour or energy, especially sexual energy in a man. informal

1972 Dan Lees Zodiac The couscous is supposed to put lead in your pencil but with Daria I needed neither a talking point nor an aphrodisiac.

See also: lead, pencil

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

pencil in

v.

1. To write something in with a pencil: The assistant penciled in the editorial changes on the manuscript. After the teacher reviewed my test, I penciled the corrections in.

2. To schedule something tentatively: The secretary penciled in a staff meeting for 3:00. The band penciled a rehearsal in on Friday.

3. To schedule a tentative appointment with someone: We penciled him in for lunch next Monday. The interviewers penciled in the applicant for the end of the week.

See also: pencil

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

have lead in one’s pencil

1. tv. to be vigorous and active. (Widely known phrase. Not taboo.) Your problem, Tom, is that you should have more lead in your pencil. You just don’t have the stamina.

2. tv. to have an erection of the penis. (Usually objectionable.) Due to his drinking habits, he never has any lead in his pencil.

See also: have, lead, pencil

pencil-pusher

n. a bureaucrat; a clerk; an office worker. (see also paper-pusher.) Look here, you lousy pencil-pusher, I want to talk to your boss!

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

pencil me in

Arrange for an event or appointment with the realization it may have to be canceled or changed, as a penciled note can be erased. For example, “I don’t know for sure if I can get to your meeting, but pencil me in.” This usage, from the late 1900s, persists even though it may refer to posting on an electronic device such as an iPad rather than writing in a diary. It is becoming a cliché.

See also: pencil

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer