creature

(someone's or something's) time has come

1. A person or animal has reached the end of their life. Don't grieve, son. I've lived a long and fulfilling life, and now my time has come. She was an old dog, Sarah. Her time had come. My parents want me to come to the hospital and say goodbye to Uncle Eddie—they think his time has come.

2. Some piece of equipment or technology has reached the end of its usefulness or functionality. Well, this old laptop did a great job for me all through high school and college, but I think its time has come now. A: "This damned printer is on the fritz again." B: "Yeah, I told the boss that its time has come, but she doesn't want to shell out the cash for a new one." What's wrong with the coffee maker? Please don't tell me its time has come—I need to be caffeinated before getting bad news like that.

See also: come, time

crawl with (someone or something)

To be filled or covered with people or things in motion. Ugh, the mall is crawling with teenagers tonight—let's get out of here. We took off running when we realized that the tree stump was crawling with bugs. This train station is crawling with people—the criminal probably slipped into the crowd and blended right in.

See also: crawl

creature comforts

Things that one needs in order to feel happy and comfortable. I have a hard time abandoning my creature comforts to go hiking and camping. At a minimum, I need running water! I can't sleep on an air mattress, I need my creature comforts! Leave a lot of room in your trunk because you know Aunt Anna is going to pack all of her creature comforts.

See also: comfort, creature

creature feature

A horror film in which the central focus is on one or more monsters. I miss the creature features of the '50s and '60s—they were so campy and fun, unlike the dull CGI films of today. It's a creature feature? I'll pass then—I'm not one for horror movies. The kids already think there's monsters in their closet, so please don't let them watch any creature features.

See also: creature, feature

creature of habit

One who prefers the comfort and reliability of routine and habitual behavior. My brother is far too much a creature of habit to be up for something like backpacking across Europe. I know we're told to shuck our routines and live spontaneously, but I'm a creature of habit—it's just easier when you know exactly how each day will pan out. I don't necessarily love going on vacation—I'm just too much of a creature of habit, I guess.

See also: creature, habit, of

creature of the night

obsolete slang A prostitute. A: "I think that Lord Stewart is spending time with a creature of the night." B: "No, surely not!" Someone needs to tell young Reginald that a woman with a reputation as a creature of the night has no place being brought into this celebrated family. I'm a happily married man—I have no interest in becoming involved with a creature of the night.

See also: creature, night, of

inject (someone or something) with (something)

To squeeze or squirt a fluid into someone or something by using a needle, syringe, or similar tool. We watched helplessly as the doctors injected the patient with epinephrine. You can clean the surgical area by injecting it with saline solution. Don't worry, the anesthesiologist will inject you with something to put you right to sleep. You won't feel a thing.

See also: inject

leave (someone or something) be

To not interact with, interfere with, or bother someone or something. Come on, she didn't do anything to you. Leave her be. At a certain point, you have to just leave the painting be instead of continuing to make changes to it. I know you're trying to help, but I'd really rather you just leave my team be right now so we can focus on our work.

See also: leave

let alone

1. verb To stop bothering someone or something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "let" and "alone." Why do you keep picking at that scab on your knee? Let it alone already! For the last time, let your brother alone—he needs to study!

2. expression Not to mention. The phrase is used to emphasize that if other more significant or pressing things are not possible or cannot be accommodated, a lesser thing certainly is not or cannot either. I hardly had time to brush my teeth this morning, let alone do my hair! We can't afford a vacation, let alone a trip to Disney World.

See also: alone, let

let it/(one) be

To not interact with or bother someone or interfere with something; to leave someone or something alone. I know you want to help, but he needs some space right now. Just let him be. I was going to try to fix the printer but I figured I would just let it be until you got here.

See also: let

put (something) out of its misery

To end an animal's life in order to end its suffering. Considering the extensive wounds, the vet decided put the animal out of its misery. I really love my dog, but I can't stand to see her in so much pain. I think the best thing we can do for her is to put her out of her misery.

See also: misery, of, out, put

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

crawling with some kind of creature

[of a surface] covered with insects or animals, moving about. The basement was crawling with rats! We came home and found the kitchen floor crawling with ants.

See also: crawl, creature, kind, of

creature comforts

things that make people comfortable. The hotel room was a bit small, but all the creature comforts were there.

See also: comfort, creature

inject (something) into (someone, something, or some creature)

 and inject (someone, something, or some creature) with (something)

to give a hypodermic injection of something to someone or an animal. The nurse injected the medicine into my arm. He injected a very large dose into the patient.

See also: inject

inject something into something

 

1. Lit. to squirt something, such as oil, water, etc., into something. The pump injected the oil into the wheel bearings when I squeezed the lever. The mechanic injected a solvent into the lock.

2. Fig. to put something, such as humor, excitement, etc., into a situation. Let's inject a little humor into this dismal affair. She likes to inject a lot of excitement into her books.

See also: inject

leave (someone, something, or some creature) alone

 and let (someone, something, or some creature) alone; leave (someone, something, or some creature) be; let (someone, something, or some creature) be

to stop bothering someone or something. Don't torment the cat. Leave it alone. I don't want your help. Let me alone. Don't argue about it. Let it be!

See also: alone, leave

let alone someone or something

not to mention or think of someone or something; not even to take someone or something into account. (Fixed order.) Do I have a dollar? I don't even have a dime, let alone a dollar. I didn't invite John, let alone the rest of his family.

See also: alone, let

let someone or something alone

 and leave someone or something alone; leave someone or something be

to avoid touching, bothering, or communicating with someone or something. Leave me alone. I don't want your help. Let it alone! Don't touch it! It may be hot!

See also: alone, let

*out in the cold

 

1. Lit. outdoors where it is cold. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone or some creature ~; leave someone or some creature ~; put someone or some creature ~.) Open the door! Let me in! Don't keep me out in the cold! Who left the dog out in the cold all night?

2. Fig. not informed about what is happening or has happened. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone ~; leave someone ~.) Don't keep your supervisor out in the cold. Tell her what's going on. Please don't leave me out in the cold. Share the news with me!

3. Fig. excluded. (*Typically: be ~; keep someone ~; leave someone ~.) There was a party last night, but my friends left me out in the cold. When it came to the final prizes in the dog show, they left our animals out in the cold.

See also: cold, out

put some creature out of its misery

to kill an animal in a humane manner. (See also put one out of one's misery.) The vet put that dog with cancer out of its misery. Please, put my sick goldfish out of its misery.

See also: creature, misery, of, out, put

someone's time has come

 and some creature's time has come

Euph. someone or some creature is about to die. The poor old dog's time has come. My time has come. I'm ready to go.

See also: come, time

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

creature comfort

Something that contributes to physical comfort, such as food, clothing, or housing. For example, Dean always stayed in the best hotels; he valued his creature comforts. This idiom was first recorded in 1659.

See also: comfort, creature

let alone

1. See leave someone alone.

2. Not to mention, as in We have no room for another house guest, let alone an entire family. [c. 1800]

See also: alone, let

out in the cold

Excluded from benefits given to others, neglected, as in Her stand on abortion left her out in the cold with the party. This idiom alludes to being left outdoors without shelter. [Mid-1800s] Also see come in from the cold.

See also: cold, out

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.

creature comforts

Creature comforts are all the modern sleeping, eating, and washing facilities that make life easy and pleasant. Each room has its own patio or balcony and provides guests with all modern creature comforts. I'm not a camper — I like my creature comforts too much. Note: An old meaning of `creatures' is material comforts, or things that make you feel comfortable.

See also: comfort, creature

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

creature of habit

a person who follows an unvarying routine.

See also: creature, habit, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

let aˈlone

used after a statement to emphasize that because the first thing is not true or possible, the next thing cannot be true or possible either: I wouldn’t speak to him, let alone trust him or lend him money. ♢ She didn’t even apologize, let alone offer to pay for the damage.

See also: alone, let

a creature of ˈhabit

a person who always does certain things at certain times: My grandfather is a real creature of habit — he likes his meals at the same time every day.

See also: creature, habit, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

out in the cold

Lacking benefits given to others; neglected.

See also: cold, out

let alone

Not to mention; much less: "Their ancestors had been dirt poor and never saw royalty, let alone hung around with them" (Garrison Keillor).

See also: alone, let

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.

creature comforts

Life’s material amenities. The term dates from the seventeenth century; it appears in Thomas Brooks’s Collected Works (1670), and again in Matthew Henry’s 1710 Commentaries on the Psalms (“They have . . . the sweetest relish of their creature comforts”).

See also: comfort, creature

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