evening

even out

1. To gain or regain balance, stability, or uniformity. The two curtains will even out once I straighten the curtain rod. I know you're jealous of your brother's later curfew, but don't worry, things will even out when you're older. At the moment, we've played two more games than the Dodgers, but that always evens out over the course of a season.

2. To make something more balanced, stable, or uniform. A noun or pronoun can be used between "even" and "out." Even out the table cloth so that it doesn't hang so low on that side, will you? If you're prone to redness, you really need a moisturizer that will even out your skin tone. I know you're jealous of your brother's later curfew, but don't worry, your father and I will even things out when you're older.

See also: even, out

even up

1. To gain or regain balance, stability, or uniformity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "even" and "up." The two curtains will even up once I straighten the curtain rod. I know you're jealous of your brother's later curfew, but don't worry, things will even up when you're older. At the moment, we've played two more games than the Dodgers, but that always evens up over the course of a season.

2. To make something more balanced, stable, or uniform. A noun or pronoun can be used between "even" and "up." Even up the table cloth so that it doesn't hang so low on that side, will you? If you're prone to redness, you really need a moisturizer that will even up your skin tone. I know you're jealous of your brother's later curfew, but don't worry, your father and I will even things up when you're older.

See also: even, up

evening

A conventional expression of greeting or, less commonly, farewell used around or after dusk. A shortened version of "good evening." Evening, Mary, is your father home? I believe we've made great progress so far, and we shall resume in the morning. Evening, gentlemen! Evening, Tom. Should I get you a drink?

evening of life

euphemism Old age; the final period of one's life. I'm not interested in getting married again now that I'm in the evening of life. Grandma had to stay in a nursing home once she entered the evening of life. In the evening of life, my grandfather began to have trouble remembering our names.

See also: evening, life, of

good afternoon

A conventional expression of greeting or, less commonly, farewell used during the afternoon. Good afternoon, class. We'll begin by discussing the chapter I assigned you to read last night. He abruptly bid the gentleman good afternoon and walked briskly out of the room. Good afternoon, sir, how may I help you? Do you have a reservation for a room?

See also: afternoon, good

good day

1. old-fashioned A conventional expression of greeting or farewell used during the daytime (i.e., after morning but before dusk). He abruptly bid the gentleman good day and walked briskly out of the room. Good day, everyone. Shall we proceed? My train will be arriving shortly, so good day to you all.

2. cliché A curt dismissal indicating annoyance or aggravation. While still considered old-fashioned, it is often used by modern speakers for humorous or ironic effect. A: "Well, if that's your decision, then I must bid you good day." B: "Please, try to understand—" A: "Good day, sir!" A: "There's really no need to get upset." B: "Well, I disagree, so good day to you!" I refuse to stick around here and be treated as a laughingstock, so good day!

See also: good

good evening

A conventional expression of greeting or, less commonly, farewell used around or after dusk. Good evening, Mary, is your father home? I believe we've made great progress so far, and we shall resume in the morning. Good evening, gentlemen! Good evening, sir, how may I help you? Do you have a reservation for a room?

See also: evening, good

good morning

A conventional expression of greeting or, less commonly, farewell used during the morning (i.e., before noon). Good morning, class. We'll begin by discussing the chapter I assigned you to read last night. He abruptly bid the gentleman good morning and walked briskly out of the room. Good morning, sir, how may I help you? Do you have a reservation for a room?

See also: good, morning

lady of the evening

euphemism A prostitute. I love living in this neighborhood, but there are a few ladies of the evening who start hanging around looking for business after dark.

See also: evening, lady, of

of a morning/afternoon/evening

1. Very often at this time of day; on most occasions at this time of day. My father has a ritual of an evening, enjoying the newspaper with a measure of whiskey after dinner in front of the fire. There's nothing better of a morning than taking your first sip of coffee.

2. At some point at this time of day. There's a soccer club playing at the park if you're ever stuck for something to do of a morning in the summertime. Why don't we go for a quick hike? There are worse things to do of a Saturday afternoon than get some fresh air and exercise in the mountains!

See also: afternoon, evening, morning, of

Sunday evening feeling

An acute feeling of depression or anxiety experienced on Sunday evening, typically owing to one's having to return to work or school the next day. I always get that Sunday evening feeling around this time. I like school just fine, but knowing that the freedom of the weekend is almost over always bums me out. I'm not surprised you get such an intense Sunday evening feeling at the end of the weekend—your job has been so stressful lately.

See also: evening, feeling, Sunday

talk the (something) away

To spend some period of time talking. A: "How did your date go?" B: "It was great. We have so much in common—we just talked the night away!"

See also: away, talk

thank you for a (some kind of) evening

1. An expression of gratitude said to someone when leaving some social occasion they hosted in the evening. Words like "lovely," "nice," "wonderful," etc., are used before "evening." Thank you for a super evening, guys. What a fantastic party! That was a delicious dinner, and you make for wonderful company. Thank you for a lovely evening all around.

2. An expression of gratitude said to someone after spending an evening with them, as on a date. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Jenny. I'd really like to see you again sometime.

See also: evening, for, kind, thank

thanks for a (some kind of) evening

1. An expression of gratitude said to someone when leaving some social occasion they hosted in the evening. Words like "lovely," "nice," "wonderful," etc., are used before "evening." Thanks for a super evening, guys. What a fantastic party! That was a delicious dinner, and you make for wonderful company. Thanks for a lovely evening all around.

2. An expression of gratitude said to someone after spending an evening with them, as on a date. Thanks for a wonderful evening, Jenny. I'd really like to see you again sometime.

See also: evening, for, kind, thanks

the shank of the evening

colloquial, dated The origin and precise meaning of the phrase is not certain, hence the contradictory nature of the definitions.

1. The latter part of the evening, between sunset and dark; dusk. Well, it's getting to be the shank of the evening. I should probably start heading home before it gets too dark out.

2. The early or main portion of the evening. There's plenty of time to get this done—we still have the shank of the evening ahead of us.

3. The best or more exciting part of something, especially a party, held in the evening. A: "Hey, you can't leave now! It's only the shank of the evening!" B: "I know things are just getting good here, but I have to be up early tomorrow!"

See also: evening, of, shank

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

even something out

to make something even or level. Please even the gravel out. They evened out the surface of the road.

See also: even, out

even something up

to make something even, square, level, equal, balanced, etc. I'll even the table up. See if you can even up the legs of this table. It wobbles.

See also: even, up

evening of life

Euph. old age. As she approached the evening of life, Sarah looked back on her accomplishments with satisfaction. The residents of this rest home are all in the evening of life.

See also: evening, life, of

(Good) evening.

 

1. the appropriate greeting for use between supper time and the time of taking leave for the night or by midnight. (Compare this with Good night.) Bob: Good evening, Mary. How are you? Mary: Evening, Bob. Nice to see you. "Good evening," said each of the guests as they passed by Mr. and Mrs. Franklin.

2. the appropriate phrase used for leave-taking between supper time and before the time of final leave-taking to go to bed. Mary: Let's call it a day. See you tomorrow, Bill. Bill: Yes, it's been a long and productive day. Good evening, Mary. Bob: Nice seeing you, Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson: Good evening, Bob.

lady of the evening

Euph. a prostitute. I saw several ladies of the evening down on Main Street. He was approached by a lady of the evening.

See also: evening, lady, of

thank you for a lovely evening

an expression said by a departing guest to the host or hostess at the end of an evening. (Other adjectives, such as nice, can be used in place of lovely.) Mary: Thank you for a lovely evening. John: Will I see you again? Bill: Thank you for a nice evening. Mary: Thank you so much for coming. Good night.

See also: evening, for, lovely, thank

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

good day

Also, good afternoon or evening or morning . Formal ways of saying "Hello" or "Goodbye." For example, He began rather oddly by addressing the audience with " Good day," or " Good afternoon, ladies," said the sales clerk as we walked out. All these greetings represent an abbreviation of the now obsolete God give you a good day (afternoon, etc.), which dates from about 1200. Also see good night.

See also: good

good evening

see under good day.

See also: evening, good

good morning

see under good day.

See also: good, morning

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.

even out

v.

1. To make something more balanced or equitable: The typesetter evened out the columns so that they were both 60 lines long. The barber evened my hair out in back.

2. To become more balanced or equitable: I'll pay for the appetizers and dessert if you pay for the meal—that way everything evens out.

See also: even, out

even up

v.

1. To make something balanced or equal: The bookie evened the odds up. The carpenter evened up the legs of the chair so that it would stop wobbling.

2. To become balanced or equal: The home team was ahead for the first half of the game, but the score evened up after the second half started.

See also: even, 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.

shank of the evening

Twilight, dusk. This expression uses shank in the sense of “latter part of ” or “end of,” a usage rare except in this phrase. The earliest citation in the OED is from 1828. P. G. Wodehouse used it in Pearls, Girls, and Monty Bodkin (1972), “‘It’s very late.’—‘Shank of the evening.’”

See also: evening, of, shank

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