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.
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.
bide a wee
To stay for a short period of time. Primarily heard in Scotland. You can't leave already—I haven't seen you in so long! At least bide a wee. I'm sorry, but I have to catch the 5:00 train, so I can't bide a wee today. She didn't bide a wee, so I wasn't able to get an update on all the drama at her job.
bide by (something)
To obey something, usually an established rule. A variant of "abide by." Primarily heard in Scotland. Because Donna refuses to bide by her parents' rules, I worry that she'll be told to move out of their house. If you don't bide by the guidelines set by the review board, you might find yourself disqualified. The school threatens to expel any student who cannot bide by their rules and regulations.
bode ill for (someone or something)
To seem indicative of a negative outcome. Rainy weather bodes ill for our flight leaving on time. Being late to a job interview bodes ill for you getting hired. If we lose this big account, it will bode ill for our floundering company.
bode well for (someone or something)
To seem indicative of a favorable outcome. This phrase is often used in the negative to suggest the opposite. Sunny weather bodes well for our flight leaving on time. Being late to a job interview does not bode well for you getting hired. If we can land this big account, it will bode well for our floundering company.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
augur well for someone or something
to indicate or predict good things for someone or something. (Usually in the negative.) This latest economic message does not augur well for the stock market. I am afraid that this poll data does not augur well for the incumbent in the election.
bode somehow for someone or something
to foretell or portend fortune or misfortune for someone or something. (Typically with ill or well.) Things do not bode well for the stock market. Things do not bode well for your future at this job.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
augur well for
Also, augur ill for; bode well or ill for . Have good (or bad) expectations for someone or something. For example, John's recovery from surgery augurs well for the team and The Republican victory in the Congressional elections bodes ill for affirmative action. The verb augur is derived from the Latin word for "soothsayer" (predictor of the future), a meaning perpetuated in this phrase and so used since the late 1700s. The verb bode comes from the Old English bodian, meaning "to announce or foretell," and is rarely heard today except in this idiom, which dates from about 1700.
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.
bode ˈwell/ˈill (for somebody/something)
(formal) be a good/bad sign for somebody/something: These figures do not bode well for the company’s future.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
bid defiance
To refuse to submit; offer resistance to.
bid fair
To appear likely.
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.