knitting

knit (one's) brow(s)

To furrow one's brow, often due to worry or confusion. Whenever there was a problem, my dad would sit in his favorite chair, knit his brow for a while, and then announce that he had a plan. When I asked Bill about what happened, and he knit his brows, I knew I was about to hear some bad news.

See also: knit

knit (one's) eyebrows

To furrow one's brow, often due to worry or confusion. When I asked Bill about what happened, and he knit his eyebrows, I knew I was about to hear some bad news.

See also: eyebrow, knit

knit together

1. Literally, to join or connect pieces of fabric by knitting them together. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "knit" and "together." How long will it take you to knit these squares of the quilt together?

2. To fuse together. This meaning is typically used to describe the healing of broken bones. Based on your latest X-ray, the bones in your arm have knit together nicely.

See also: knit, together

knit up

To produce something by knitting, often with little effort. A noun or pronoun can be used between "knit" and "up." Can you believe Grandma just knitted up this sweater for me? It would take me weeks to make something like this!

See also: knit, up

stick to (one's) knitting

1. To mind one's own business. Oh, stick to your knitting—I don't need to hear your opinion of every little thing I do.

2. To do only what one knows or is familiar with. You can't just stick to your knitting—you have to try new things too.

See also: knitting, stick, to

stick to the knitting

1. To mind one's own business. Oh, stick to the knitting—I don't need to hear your opinion of every little thing I do.

2. To do only what one knows or is familiar with. You can't just stick to the knitting—you have to try new things too.

See also: knitting, stick, to

tend to (one's) knitting

1. To mind one's own business. Oh, tend to your knitting—I don't need to hear your opinion of every little thing I do.

2. To do only what one knows or is familiar with. You can't just tend to your knitting—you have to try new things too.

See also: knitting, tend, to

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

knit something together

to join things together by knitting. Terry knitted the parts of the sweater together. Sally knitted together the two parts of the glove.

See also: knit, together

knit together

[for broken bones] to join or grow together. The bones are knitting together exactly as expected. If the bones don't knit together properly, we will have to do something a little more drastic.

See also: knit, together

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

stick to your knitting

If someone, especially a company or organization, sticks to their knitting, they continue to do something that they are experienced at and do not try to do something different about which they know very little. It failed because we did not understand the plumbing business, and it taught us a lesson about sticking to our knitting! Northern Rock is sticking to its knitting — mortgages and savings.

See also: knitting, stick, to

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

stick to the (or your) knitting

(of an organization) concentrate on a known core area of business activity rather than diversify into other areas in which it has no experience. informal

See also: knitting, stick, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

knit together

v.

1. To join some pieces of material by knitting: It's easier to knit each part of the sweater separately and then knit them together. After adding the fringe, knit together the two sections of the blanket.

2. To become fused together. Used of broken bones that are healing: If the doctor sets the two pieces of bone just right, they should knit together in three weeks.

See also: knit, together

knit up

v.

To create something by knitting, especially quickly or easily: I knitted up some mittens for my grandchildren. I knitted some hats up for the church sale.

See also: knit, 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.

stick to (one's) knitting

Informal

To mind one's own business.

See also: knitting, stick, to

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.