a dull roar
A low level of noise. Kids, when you work together, please keep it down to a dull roar. If Heather spends the night, you two have to keep it down to a dull roar so your mother and I can sleep. Most of the kids have left at this point, so the party has mercifully died down to a dull roar
I am (someone), hear me (do something)
Modeled on the phrase "I am woman, hear me roar" from the 1972 song “I am Woman” by Helen Reddy. Either used genuinely as a phrase of empowerment for some person, or else used humorously or sarcastically to deride or poke fun at someone. The protestors gathered outside of the meat-packing plant, many carrying signs reading "I am vegan, hear me roar!" We got my dad a mug for his birthday that says, "I am your father, hear me snore!" I'm a dullard, here me bore—so what? I'd take a "boring" life over one of chaos and drama any day!
I am woman, hear me roar!
Used as a phrase of empowerment to oneself as a woman and to womanhood as a whole. Taken from the 1972 song “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy. I know you doubt yourself, but you're brilliant and you've worked so hard to get where you are. Just keep saying to yourself, "I am woman, hear me roar!" Women all over the country said, "I am woman, hear me roar!" when they voted in favor of the law protecting women's access to healthcare. I am woman, hear me roar! OK, now I'm fired up to go in for that interview.
keep it down to a dull roar
To be quiet or stop making a lot of noise; to maintain a low level of noise. Often used as an imperative. Kids, when you work together, please keep it down to a dull roar.
not within an ass's roar of (someone or something)
slang Not close to (someone or something). Primarily heard in Ireland. Fred always wanted to live on a farm and not be within an ass's roar of his neighbors. A: "Do you mind that they moved you to a new office?" B: "Are you kidding? It's great—I'm not within an ass's roar of the boss anymore." What is she talking about? She wasn't within an ass's roar of a medal in that race!
roar at (someone or something)
1. To utter a loud, fierce, guttural cry at someone or some animal. The little boy came up and roared at me. He was pretending to be a lion, apparently. The bear roared at the mountain lion to scare it away from her cubs.
2. To issue forth a loud prolonged cry in celebration of something. The crowd roared at the news that their candidate had won the election. The group of fans roared at the mention of the famous artist's name.
3. To laugh uproariously at some humorous person or thing. The entire audience was roaring at the stand-up comic, but I just didn't think he was that funny. It makes me happy to hear my kids roar at the slapstick of The Three Stooges.
roar away
1. To utter a loud, fierce, guttural cry in an unrestrained manner or for some prolonged period of time. The drunk stood on the corner roaring away, obviously incensed over something to which no one but himself was privy. We can always hear the lions roaring away whenever we walk past the zoo.
2. To depart at great speed while making a huge din. Typically said of a motor vehicle or someone riding within one. She called something out to me, but I couldn't quite make it out as the train roared away. The three burglars burst through the doors of the bank, their bags of money in tow, and roared away in a getaway car that was waiting for them in the alley.
roar back
To surge into a position of success after a period of time spent performing less favorably. The team, who fell to a 30–0 disadvantage in the first 20 minutes of play, roared back in the fourth quarter The company has been roaring back into a position of superiority this year, after seeing its share of the market dwindle over the last decade.
roar off
1. Of a motor vehicle or its driver, to leave very quickly while making lots of noise from the engine. Said either of the driver or the vehicle itself. She climbed aboard the motorcycle and roared off into the night. The car had roared off before I could make note of its license plate number.
2. To depart from or off of something in such a fashion. The astronauts hit the ignition switch, and the rocket ship roared off the launch pad. The F1 racers roared off the starting line.
3. To usher someone or some group off of some area, especially for a sporting event, with raucous cheering. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "roar" and "off." The stadium positively shook as 40,000 fans roared the home team off the field after their incredible victory.
roar on
To encourage or support someone or some group of people with raucous cheering. A noun or pronoun can be used between "roar" and "on." The stadium positively shook as 40,000 fans roared on the home team as they took to the field. We were nervous about playing in front of such a large audience, but the sound of our fans roaring us on filled us with confidence.
roar out
To call or shout something in a very loud, guttural, and prolonged cry. A noun or pronoun can be used between "roar" and "out." The crowd of protestors began roaring out demands for the political prisoner to be set free. The frustrated teacher roared the answer out with anger that the students all withdrew into stunned silence.
roar with laughter
To laugh loudly and heartily. The audience roared with laughter during the hilarious skit. Be quiet! If you two keep roaring with laughter like that, you're gonna wake the baby.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.