Idioms

east

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(some score) from the East German judge

An imaginary and exaggeratedly low score for some event, action, statement, or attempt deemed to be a failure or inadequate in some way. It is a reference to judges from the former country of East Germany, who were often seen as giving unfairly low scores to competitors from other countries during international sporting events. I'd say that pitiful retort would only get you 2 out of 10 from the East German judges, my friend. Based on that eyeroll, I guess my dad joke didn't earn a very high score from the East German judge. Wow, his form on that jump was terrible! That would get him about 3 from the East German judge, wouldn't you say?
See also: east, german, judge

back East

To or in the eastern United States. Although its wording suggests a return, one does not have to have ever been in the eastern US to use this phrase. We're going back East for Christmas this year to visit my parents. My husband is back East for business right now. You're from California, but you're flying back East today?
See also: back, east

Down East

1. A term used to refer to New England, especially the State of Maine. Primarily heard in US. Everyone I knew in Brooklyn growing up spent their summer vacations Down East. I've spent a lot of time Down East, so the cold weather really doesn't bother me. You've never been to Maine before? Oh, but it's lovely Down East.
2. A term used to refer to the Maritime Provinces, namely New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Primarily heard in Canada. When we lived in Quebec, we would often go Down East to Prince Edward Island in the summertime. My parents are from Canada, and we're going Down East for the holidays. I love going Down East at this time of year. Prince Edward Island is just stunning.
See also: down, east

East is East and West is West (and never the twain shall meet)

proverb Said of two things are too different to ever be agreeable or harmonious. The phrase comes from a Rudyard Kipling poem. If you learn young that East is East and West is West, you won't waste time trying to convert people to your views. A: "I just feel so much pressure to be like my perfect sister." B: "Hey, it's OK to be different. East is East and West is West, and there's a certain beauty in that." Can we just agree to disagree on this? What's wrong with "East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet"?
See also: and, east, never, shall, twain, west

East or West, home's best

proverb Home is the best or most ideal place to be, regardless of its physical location. No matter how exhilarating my travels are, I'm always thrilled to come home. East or West, home's best. There's nothing better than sinking into your own cozy bed. Truly, East or West, home's best. Trust me, you'll get sick of traveling for work real fast. East or West, home's best.
See also: best, east

East, West, home's best

proverb Home is the best or most ideal place to be, regardless of its physical location. No matter how exhilarating my travels are, I'm always thrilled to come home. East, West, home's best. There's nothing better than sinking into your own cozy bed. East, West, home's best—for real. Trust me, you'll get sick of traveling for work real fast. East, West, home's best.
See also: best

out East

In the eastern part, portion, or region of a country. I'm going to spend Christmas out East with my parents. I prefer the climate on the West Coast, but there are better job opportunities out East.
See also: east, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

back East

to or from the eastern United States, especially the northeastern or New England states. (Used even by people who have never been in the East.) Sally felt that she had to get back East for a few days. Tom went to school back East, but his brother attended college in the Midwest.
See also: back, east

East is East and West is West (and never the twain shall meet).

Prov. Two things are so different that they can never come together or agree. (From Rud-yard Kipling's poem, "The Ballad of East and West.") I had hoped that Andrew and I could be friends in spite of our political differences. But, in our case, I'm afraid that East is East and West is West.
See also: and, east, west

East, west, home's best.

 and East or west, home is best.
Prov. Home is the best place to be no matter where it is. You may think that traveling all the time is fun, but eventually you'll discover that east or west, home is best.
See also: best
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
See also:
References in classic literature
You won't be so eager to get into calling-over after a month," replied his friend; and they marched into the big school together, and up to the farther end, where that illustrious form, the lower fourth, which had the honour of East's patronage for the time being, stood.
"They trust to our honour," as East proudly informs Tom; "they know very well that no School-house boy would cut the match.
Yes; look at little East! The ball is just at equal distances between the two, and they rush together, the young man of seventeen and the boy of twelve, and kick it at the same moment.
"Oh, it's Brown; he's a new boy; I know him," says East, coming up.
View in context
The lodge, which used to be owned by an American trucking company, has belonged to the East family since May 5, 1962.
Killarney lodge owners celebrate 45 years: Maury and Annabelle East have been in business since 1962, and they have no intentions of slowing down now
So tough, in fact, that last April some 8,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Dili, East Timor's capital.
What price justice? Four years after independence East Timor's future depends on difficult choices about justice, reconciliation, and economic recovery
Again the selection of riders raised its head with Noel Clough, technically a North East rider, opting for the Yorkshire squad.
Senior team's pedal power!
I don't think such closeness and sense of duty to your neighbour will ever be seen in London again." (8) In the view of East Ender Louis Heren, this communal spirit was the great contribution of London's working-class culture: "Cockneys had something to offer, the ability to live peacefully and happily in a crowded urban environment.
The birth of the East Ender: neighborhood and local identity in interwar east London
Overall current business sentiment declined 1.4 points over the previous month in China and North Asia, with sentiments slipping in all locations (with the exception of East China and Hong Kong).
JETRO: Japanese Business Sentiment in East Asia Declined in August
That is why President Bush has rejected sixty years of false choices in the Middle East. And as he said last week at the International Republican Institute, "The United States has a new policy, a strategy that recognizes that the best way to defeat the ideology that uses terror as a weapon is to spread freedom and democracy."
Remarks presented to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's Annual Policy Conference
Past: CalCPA MAP Committee; CalCPA Personal Financial Planning Committee; CalCPA Membership Committee; CalCPA Global Opportunities Committee; CalCPA Professional Conduct Committee; CalCPA Globalization Task Force; CalCPA Diversity Task Force; East Bay Chapter president; East Bay Chapter secretary; East Bay Chapter treasurer; East Bay Chapter MAP Committee chair; East Bay Chapter Taxation Committee; East Bay Chapter Nominations Committee; East Bay Chapter Scholarship Committee.
2005-06 CalCPA officer candidates
CRITICAL THINKING: East German border guard Harold Jaeger seemed confused and somewhat wistful about the disappearance of the Berlin Wall he guarded for so long.
1989: when the wall came tumbling down: the Berlin Wall's fall signaled the end of the Cold War and the division of Europe
East and West set out on divergent missions, but, while they focused on different aspects of the architectural brief and served different clients, their manifestos and Modernist theories sprang from the same sources.
Two Germanys, one Architecture
President Bush's approach to Iraq and to the Middle East in general has been greatly influenced by a group of foreign-policy thinkers whose defining experience was as hawkish advisors to President Reagan and the first President Bush, and who in the last few years have made an explicit comparison between Middle Eastern regimes and the Soviet Union.
Broken engagement: the strategy that won the Cold War could help bring democracy to the Middle East--if only the Bush hawks understood it
During his career East was known to have a knack for identifying construction contractors just starting out who would later become successful.
Jack East Sr
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