bidding

bid (something) down

To decrease the value of something, usually a security, by offering to pay lower and lower prices for it. Only buy that stock if you are able to bid it down first. It's wild being on the trading floor and hearing traders buy and bid stocks down left and right. I think you could see quite a return on your investment with that stock, especially if you bid it down before buying it.

See also: bid, down

bid defiance

To remain firm or resolute; to refuse to yield. Our toddler usually bids defiance to any mention of bedtime. The boss bid defiance to her idea initially, but she held her ground and explained it in greater detail. He kept offering me less money, but I bid defiance and got the full asking price.

See also: bid, defiance

bid fair

To seem probable or likely. Her grades are good enough that she bids fair to get into that excellent high school. After all of their hard work on that case, all of our employees bid fair to get bonuses this year. You must be excited that the forecast bids fair for snow on Christmas.

See also: bid, fair

bid in

To outbid someone at auction in an effort to retain ownership of a property or increase the price for which it ultimately sells. We were desperate to keep our house, so we tried to bid in when it went to auction. We had no luck, though. I know, the house has been in my family for generations. Unfortunately, I just don't have enough money to bid in and keep possession of it. Hey, if we bid in, at least we'll drive the price up on the person who ultimately ends up with the house.

See also: bid

bid up

1. To increase the price of an item by offering to pay more money for it than the previous bidder, as at an auction. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bid" and "up." If no one bids up the price of the necklace, it will be yours. I did really want that antique dresser, but the other people at the auction kept bidding it up, and I wasn't willing to pay thousands for it. I don't have the kind of money to bid up the artwork being auctioned today. I'm just here to watch the proceedings.

2. To increase the value of something, usually a security, by offering to pay higher and higher prices for it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bid" and "up." Overeager investors are bidding up that stock. It's wild being on the trading floor and hearing traders buy and bid stocks up left and right. Only buy that stock if no one else bids it up first.

See also: bid, up

do (one's) bidding

To do what someone else wants or has requested, to the point of servitude. I hate how my mother always wants me to do her bidding—I refuse to do what she wants any longer! I can always get Tom to do my bidding, which is great when I'm faced with something I don't want to do! I'll just make my little brother do it. What are younger siblings for, if not to do your bidding?

See also: bidding

fiddler's bidding

An invitation given unexpectedly, usually or at the last-minute. No, I think she only invited me because I happened to call her. It's just fiddler's bidding. A: "They know about the party, so we have to invite them now." B: "Yeah, but they'll also know it's fiddler's bidding. Won't that make things more awkward?" Yes, I'm aware it's fiddler's bidding, but I couldn't turn him away at dinnertime!

See also: bidding

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

bid something up

to raise the price of something at an auction by offering higher and higher prices; to increase the value of something, such as shares of stock, by offering a higher price for it each time it comes up for sale. Who is bidding the price up on that painting? Someone bid up the price on each piece at auction and then backed off.

See also: bid, up

do someone's bidding

to do what is requested. The servant grumbled but did his employer's bidding. Am I expected to do your bidding whenever you ask?

See also: bidding

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

bid up

Raise a price by raising one's offer, as in We were hoping to get an Oriental rug cheaply, but the dealer kept bidding us up. This phrase is used in business and commerce, particularly at auctions. [Mid-1800s]

See also: bid, up

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.

bid up

v.

1. To increase the price of something by offering increasingly high purchase prices for it: The traders bid up the stocks in oil companies. The buyer bid the artist's paintings up much more than she expected that they would be worth.

2. To increase some cost by offering increasingly high purchase prices: There were many potential buyers, and together they bid up the cost of milk to $3 per gallon. The price was low at first, but the buyer bid it up to much more than he could afford.

See also: bid, up

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.

bid defiance

To refuse to submit; offer resistance to.

See also: bid, defiance

bid fair

To appear likely.

See also: bid, fair

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

fiddler's bidding

Last-minute invitation. The image is a vacancy at a dinner table to which an itinerant fiddler who appeared at the door and asked to play for food was invited to join the household at the table.

See also: bidding

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price