disappear without (a) trace
1. To disappear without any indication as to one's or something's whereabouts. Police have been searching for two weeks to find a young girl who disappeared without trace from her home in Rochester. Authorities are puzzled by the navy submarine that seemingly disappeared without a trace last Thursday. I refuse to believe that my husband just disappeared without a trace. Officer, aren't there any witnesses? Somebody must have seen something!
2. To be forgotten about by the population as a whole, especially after being very popular. The digital pets fad took the world by storm in the late 1990s, but disappeared without a trace after a few years. After releasing just one hit album, the band suddenly disappeared without trace in the late '70s. After being the subject of so many horrible tabloid headlines over the years, that socialite seems to have disappeared without a trace.
kick over the traces
To ignore rules and/or tradition; to rebel or break free. Refers to a horse that has stepped over the straps harnessing it to what it is pulling, therefore allowing it move more freely. Many people desire to kick over the traces in youth, and then begin to cherish the very traditions they flouted earlier in their life.
lose trace of (someone or something)
1. To lose visibility of, forget about, misplace, or neglect to pay close attention to someone or something. I'm sorry I'm late—we were having so much fun that I completely lost trace of time. I was watching the bird through my binoculars until I lost trace of it in the canopy. The police lost trace of the criminal somewhere in the swamp.
2. To unintentionally decrease frequency of communication with someone over time until no further contact takes place. Unfortunately, I lost trace of my college roommate, so I have no idea how she's doing now. Yeah, I lost trace of Mark after he moved to Thailand.
not a trace (of something)
Not even the smallest amount (of something). The group of financial analysts said there is not a trace of hope that the economy will improve at any point this year. The team needed to come out with intensity if they wanted to stand a chance, but unfortunately they showed not a trace during that dreadful display. There wasn't a trace of remorse in his voice as he pleaded guilty to the horrible crimes.
sink without (a) trace
1. To quickly and thoroughly fail. The new smartphone was meant to revolutionize the industry, but it sank without trace after its commercial release. After his initial breakout success, the director's follow-up film sank without a trace.
2. To be forgotten about by the population as a whole, especially after being very popular. The digital pets fad took the world by storm in the late 1990s, but sank without trace by the end of the millennium.
trace around (something)
To drawn an outline around something that is resting on or pressed against a flat surface. If you put your hand on the paper and trace around it with a pencil, it kind of looks like a turkey! Murder detectives used to trace around victims' bodies with chalk, though the practice is almost entirely relegated to pop culture these days.
trace back
1. To derive or originate from someone, something, or some place. The powerful corporation traces back nearly 200 years to a small manufacturing company in New York City. Investigators discovered that the drug money traced back to a US senator.
2. To discover the point of origin of someone or something by following a trail of information or series of events backward. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "trace" and "back." We were able to trace the assassination attempt back to a cartel in Mexico. Make sure you only pay in cash, as the police can trace back exactly where and when you use your card.
trace out
1. To trace, sketch, or delineate the outline of something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "trace" and "out." He traced out the directions to the cabin on the back of a napkin for me. I'm having a hard time visualizing what you mean. Why don't you trace it out on the whiteboard for us?
2. To develop, determine, or delineate something, such as a pattern or course of events, gradually over a period of time. A noun or pronoun can be used between "trace" and "out." The investigation traced out a pattern of corruption and abuse of power going all the way to the top of the administration. The film portrays the legendary actor's rise to fame, tracing it out from his humble beginnings to
trace over (something)
To copy an image by drawing on a transparent or translucent piece of paper placed on top of it. When I was a kid, I loved tracing over pictures of my favorite cartoon characters. I thought he had drawn an incredible portrait of me, but he had just traced over a photograph he'd printed out.
vanish without (a) trace
1. To disappear without any indication to one's or something's whereabouts. Police have been searching for two weeks to find a young girl who vanished without trace from her home in Rochester. Authorities are puzzled by the navy submarine that seemingly vanished without a trace last Thursday.
2. To be forgotten about by the population as a whole, especially after being very popular. The digital pets fad took the world by storm in the late 1990s, but pretty much vanished without a trace by the end of the millennium.
with no trace
With no evidence left behind. Our house was totally ransacked after the break-in, with no trace of how the robbers got into the house. I'm allowed to use my mom's expensive blender, just as long as I do so with no trace of ever having touched it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
kick over the traces
Fig. to do what one is meant not to do; to rebel against authority. (Alludes to a horse that steps on the wrong side of the straps that link it to whatever it is pulling.) At the age of sixty, Walter kicked over the traces and ran away to Brazil. All these young kids seem to want to kick over the traces.
lose trace of someone or something
Rur. to fail to maintain a way of finding someone or something. I lost trace of Walter after we left high school. I lost trace of the stock certificates after about twenty years.
trace around something
to press something against paper and draw a line around the edges that are in contact with the paper. Trace around this piece of material and cut out a new pattern. If you trace around the edges carefully, you will end up with a good drawing of the outline.
trace over something
1. to draw over something lightly. Trace over the drawing to make it a little darker. I had to trace over it twice to make it visible.
2. to copy something by placing a thin sheet of paper over it and drawing an outline of the thing to be copied. Trace over this picture and then photocopy about ten copies for us all. This needs to be traced over again.
trace someone or something (back) (to someone or something)
to trail or track the origin of someone or something back to someone or something. We traced her back to the car she had ridden in, but lost her trail at that point. We traced the letter back to her. See if you can trace back the check to its writer.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.