a breeze
Something that is especially easy, effortless, or trifling to accomplish or complete. I've been running marathons for years now, so this 5K run will be a breeze for me. After being in charge of such a high-profile company for so many years, running this office feels like a breeze in comparison. I thought that test was a breeze, but I did study a lot for it.
bat the breeze
To chat or converse aimlessly or casually, without any serious topic of conversation. Customers always want to bat the breeze with me in the store before they buy something. I just batted the breeze with John for a while when he passed me on the street. A: "Sorry, I don't want to interrupt." B: "Nah, it's fine, we're just batting the breeze. Come on in."
be a breeze
To be especially easy, effortless, or trifling to accomplish or complete. I've been running marathons for years now, so this 5K run will be a breeze for me. After being in charge of such a high-profile company for so many years, running this office has been a breeze in comparison. I thought that test was a breeze, but I did study a lot for it.
breeze along
To proceed in a relaxed or casual way without worry. Before her sudden illness, Jenna had been breezing along through life. I admire how kids just breeze along without a care in the world. I was breezing along through spring training. Then, the front office made a big free agent signing and cut me from the team.
breeze away
To depart quickly or unexpectedly. Brian breezed away before I had a chance to say goodbye to him. We all wish we could breeze away from these boring departmental meetings, but we can't, so we just have to endure them. Hey, you can't just breeze away from class without permission!
breeze in(to)
To walk into a place or event with a calm or carefree attitude. (If "into" is used, a place or event is named after it.) Walking into a party always makes me nervous, but my husband can breeze in without the slightest hesitation. You need to talk to that intern—he regularly breezes into work an hour late. Hey, you can't just breeze into class an hour late—you need a slip from the attendance office.
breeze off
To depart quickly or unexpectedly. Brian breezed off before I had a chance to say goodbye to him. We all wish we could breeze off when it's time for these boring departmental meetings, but we can't, so we just have to endure them. Hey, you can't just breeze off without permission during class time!
breeze out
To depart quickly or unexpectedly. Brian breezed out before I had a chance to say goodbye to him. You need to talk to that intern—he regularly breezes out of the office an hour early. Hey, you can't just breeze out of class without permission!
breeze over (something)
To talk about something only briefly or superficially. I asked her what happened with Mike, but she only breezed over it before going on to something else. Do you think they had another fight? Judging by the way Nick breezed over the meeting with his boss, I'm guessing he didn't get the promotion. Whoa, you can't just breeze over a juicy detail like that! You really saw them kissing in the library?
breeze past (someone or something)
1. To move past someone or something very quickly, especially in an inconsiderate, dismissive, or disinterested manner. Some jerk came into the bank and breezed past the entire line of people, as if they weren't even there. The boss breezed past my desk without even saying hello. Amanda must be upset about something—she just breezed past our lockers and didn't talk to any of us.
2. To ignore or disregard some problem, issue, topic, etc. I tried to pin down the senator's position on the tax proposal, but he just breezed past my question. We can't just breeze past these financial issues, Janet. We've got to do something about them as soon as possible. Whoa, you can't just breeze past a juicy detail like that! You really saw them kissing in the library?
3. To surpass someone or something in a contest or competition. The young senator, once considered an underdog, has breezed past his opponent in the polls. She breezed past the other competitors in the qualifying round of the tournament. I expected Deena to be my main competition in the race, but I breezed past her no problem.
breeze through (something)
1. To do something easily with little effort or concern. It's so frustrating that my best friend can just breeze through chemistry while I study for days and barely get a passing grade. How do you just breeze through life with no anxiety whatsoever? That recipe must not have been too difficult if I breezed through it! I'm not much of a cook.
2. To travel through some place quickly and with little interest. Europe isn't a place you can just breeze through—there are so many famous sites to visit! I've been to historic Philadelphia before, so I just breezed through that area on this trip. I'm fine with breezing through Times Square—it's too chaotic there for me.
breeze up
1. Of wind, to begin to blow steadily, especially in a favorable or pleasant manner. A northeasterly wind finally breezed up and filled our sails. I hope it breezes up soon—we're not going to get far with this little bit of wind. Once the wind breezed up, the kids had a blast flying their kites in the backyard.
2. To come up (to someone or something) quickly and in a confident, carefree, or buoyant manner. Usually followed by "to someone or something." I was nervous about asking the cashier for a refund, but Sarah breezed right up and got it done without batting an eye. Tim breezed up to the professor and told him he wouldn't have his essay done in time. Can you believe that new hire just breezed up to the boss and asked for time off on his first day?
breeze up to (someone or something)
To come up (to someone or something) quickly and in a confident, carefree, or buoyant manner. I was sure we would get caught, but Sarah breezed right up to display and walked off with $500 worth of electronics. Tim breezed up to the professor and told him he wouldn't have his essay done in time. Can you believe that new hire just breezed up to the boss and asked for time off on his first day?
fan the breeze
To chat or converse aimlessly or casually, without any serious topic of conversation. Customers always want to fan the breeze with me in the store before they buy something. I just fanned the breeze with John for a while when he passed me on the street. While I waited for my lunch to heat up, I fanned the breeze with Amanda the intern about her school year.
flow with the breeze
1. Literally, to be blown about by the wind. It's so nice to walk along the beach in the warm sunshine, my hair flowing with the breeze. The flag flowed with the breeze as we all recited the pledge of allegiance. The baby was delighted to watch the pinwheel flow with the breeze.
2. To nonchalantly engage in a situation without trying to change it or assert control over it. You're such a control freak—can't you just flow with the breeze for once? I try not to plan too much when I take a vacation to a new place. I like to just flow with the breeze when I get there. I know that being an artist is pretty unconventional, but I've always been one to flow with the breeze.
hands down
Easily, decisively, or without question. The term originates from horse racing, in which jockeys assured of a victory may lower their hold on the reins in the final stretch. This is the best pie I've ever had, hands down! We were really unprepared for our last game, and the other team won hands down. Please, have you seen his junker of a car? If he wants to race me, bring it on—I'll beat him hands down!
in a breeze
Easily; handily; without much or any effort. Enjoying the benefit of a week off between games, the home team won this match in a breeze. I beat Tommy in a breeze. He had no idea he'd challenged me to my favorite video game! They're a plucky team, so don't expect to win tomorrow's game in a breeze.
shoot the breeze
To chat or converse aimlessly or casually, without any serious topic of conversation. Customers always want to shoot the breeze with me in the store before they buy something. I just shot the breeze with John for a while when he passed me on the street.
win (something) in a breeze
To win (something) easily, handily, or without much or any effort. Enjoying the benefit of a week off between games, the home team won this match in a breeze.
win (something) in a walk
To win (something) easily, handily, or without much or any effort. Enjoying the benefit of a week off between games, the home team won this match in a walk.
win hands down
To win (something) easily or decisively. A noun or pronoun can be used between "win" and "hands down." We were really unprepared for our last game, and the other team won hands down. Everyone thought it would be close, but Mary won the election hands down.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
breeze along
Fig. to travel along casually, rapidly, and happily; to go through life in a casual and carefree manner. Kristine was just breezing along the road when she ran off onto the shoulder. We just breezed along the highway, barely paying attention to what we were doing. Don't just breeze along through life!
breeze away
to leave quickly or abruptly. She said nothing more. She just breezed away. I breezed away without stopping to say good-bye.
breeze in
(from some place) Go to sweep in (from some place).
breeze in (to some place)
to enter a place quickly, in a happy and carefree manner. She breezed into the conference room and sat down at the head of the table. Jerry breezed in and said hello.
breeze off
to leave quickly or abruptly. Don't just breeze off! Stay and talk. Lily breezed off in a huffy manner.
breeze out (of some place)
to leave a place quickly. She was here for a moment and then suddenly breezed out. She breezed out of the room in an instant.
breeze through
(something) 1. Fig. to complete some task rapidly and easily. I breezed through my calculus assignment in no time at all. It was not hard. I just breezed through.
2. Fig. to travel through a place rapidly. They breezed through every little town without stopping. We didn't stop. We just breezed through.
fan the breeze
Fig. to chat or gossip. We're just fanning the breeze, so you didn't interrupt anything. Stop fanning the breeze and get to work.
hands down
easily; unquestionably. She won the contest hands down. They declared her the winner hands down.
shoot the breeze
Fig. to chat casually and without purpose. We spent the entire afternoon just shooting the breeze. It was good to shoot the breeze with you, Mary.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
breeze in
1. Arrive in a casual way, as in She breezed in, two hours late. This phrase transfers the blowing of a light wind to human entrances. [Colloquial; c. 1900]
2. Win easily, as in A fine golfer, he breezed in first. This usage at first alluded to horse racing but soon was transferred to more general use. [c. 1900]
hands down
1. Also, in a breeze; in a walk. Easily, without effort, as in She won the election hands down, or They won in a breeze, 10-0, or The top players get through the first rounds of the tournament in a walk. All of these expressions originated in sports. Hands down, dating from the mid-1800s, comes from horse racing, where jockeys drop their hands downward and relax their hold when they are sure to win. In a breeze, first recorded in a baseball magazine in 1910, alludes to the rapid and easy passage of moving air; in a walk, also from baseball, alludes to taking a base on balls, that is, reaching first base without having hit a pitched ball because of the pitcher's mistakes.
2. Unquestionably, without a doubt, as in Hands down, it was the best thing I've ever done.
in a breeze
shoot the breeze
Also, shoot or throw the bull . Talk idly, chat, as in They've been sitting on the porch for hours, just shooting the breeze, or The guys sit around the locker room, throwing the bull. The first of these slangy terms, alluding to talking into the wind, was first recorded in 1919. In the variant, first recorded in 1908, bull is a shortening of bullshit, and means "empty talk" or "lies."
win hands down
Also,
win in a walk or breeze . See under
hands down.
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.