homespun
Unpretentious and unsophisticated. Oh, I had a great time—it was a homespun event, very casual and friendly. Some of the neighborhood kids put on a little homespun play that was actually quite good! I do want to come—I've heard that your town's homespun Christmas bazaar is very charming.
spin (one) a line
To tell a lie or only part of the truth in order to convince one of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a line about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight.
spin (one) a story
To tell a lie or only part of the truth in order to convince one of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a story about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a story about where all that money came from.
spin (one) a tale
To tell a lie or fictionalized version of the truth in order to convince someone of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a tale about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a tale about where all that money came from.
spin (one) a yarn
To tell a lie or only part of the truth in order to convince one of something or to avoid the consequences of something. Don't you dare spin me a yarn about being at the library. I want to know exactly where you were tonight. I suspect he's just spinning a yarn about where all that money came from.
spin (one's) wheels
To waste one's time or energy idly or frivolously; to neither progress nor regress, but remain in a fixed, neutral position. They kept me on to manage what's left of this division, but to be honest, I've just been spinning my wheels here for the last couple of years. We haven't been able to do anything new until more funding comes in, so the project is just spinning its wheels for the moment.
spin a web of lies
To create an intricate contrivance of misdirection, omission, or deception that ultimately serves to ensnare or entangle oneself or others. Rich had an affair with his secretary and spun a web of lies to hide it. He's divorced now, so how do you think it all worked out for him?
spin around
1. To turn rapidly around in the opposite direction. I spun around when I though I heard my name. The police car spun around and turned on its siren to begin pursuing the van that ran the red light.
2. To cause someone or something to turn rapidly around in the opposite direction. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "around." She had to spin the motorboat around and started heading back to shore. I had to spin the toddler around to keep him from walking down the steps.
3. To turn around in circles very rapidly. The child spun around and collapsed on the ground laughing from her dizziness. The car began spinning around in the parking lot, leaving circles of tire tracks on the pavement.
4. To cause someone or something to turn around in circles very rapidly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "around." I'll put this blindfold on you and spin you around, and then you try to hit the piñata with this stick. He spun the dial around until the tumblers of the lock clicked into place.
5. To visit some place for a brief period of time or for a particular purpose. I need to spin around the office to pick up some paperwork. Why don't you spin around on Saturday for dinner?
spin down
1. To decelerate (to some speed or state) while spinning. She shut off the power and the rotating cylinder spun down to a stop.
2. To travel (to some location) for a brief visit or a specific purpose. Almost always followed by "to." Why don't we spin down to the beach for the afternoon? I'm going to spin down to the mall to see if I can find anything to wear to Sarah's wedding.
3. To reduce the spin speed of a computer's hard disk drive. The computer automatically spins down the disk drive in order to conserve power when it no longer needs to read or write data.
4. To spin some solution in a centrifuge in order to separate it into its constituent components. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "down." The researchers then spin down the blood samples to isolate the plasma within them. Spinning the solution down is an effective way to extract insoluble materials from it.
spin in (one's) grave
To (hypothetically) show enormous anger, disfavor, or regret for someone's actions or something that happens after one has died. That is, if someone were still alive, they would be greatly upset, angered, or disgusted by what has happened. I can't believe you're using our employees' pension payments to prop up a Ponzi scheme. The founder of this once-great company would be spinning in his grave to see its directors stoop so low. Your poor mother would spin in her grave if she heard the horrible things you were saying about your sister. I can't believe you wrecked your grandfather's prized truck. That's enough to make him spin in his grave!
spin like a top
A top is a spherical toy with a point at one end on which it balances as it spins.
1. To spin rapidly. You're gonna throw up if you keep spinning like a top out there on the dance floor!
2. To cause someone or something to spin rapidly. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "spin" and "like." He pulled me onto the dance floor and started spinning me like a top. She spun the coin like a top on the counter, waiting to see which side landed face up.
spin off
1. verb To create or derive something from a larger or original thing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "off." I heard they're spinning another show off from the political drama that will focus on the two main journalists and their relationship.
2. verb For a company to separate from one of its divisions or holdings through sale, reorganization, or other means. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "off." Only two years after purchasing it, the company has decided to spin off its VR division.
3. noun Something created or derived from a larger or original thing. As a noun, the phrase is usually hyphenated or spelled as a single word. Because it has become much more popular than the original, not many people know that this series is actually a spinoff.
spin on (one's) heels
To suddenly leave or depart. After walking in on an obviously private conversation, I spun on my heel and stepped right back out of the room. Several high-profile sponsors are spinning on their heels following the athlete's controversial statements.
spin out
1. Of a car, to lose control and begin spinning. We spun out when we hit that patch of ice on the turn, but thankfully we didn't crash into anything.
2. To lengthen or draw out; to prolong. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "out." Why does the manager always spin these meetings out for such a long time? We've heard most of this already! The attorneys will try to spin out the appeals process for months if not years.
spin out of control
1. To spin or move around wildly or without the capacity of being controlled. After the second engine went dead, the plane started spinning out of control as it plummeted to the ground. She cranked the mechanical bull up to its maximum speed, and it started to spin out of control.
2. To continue getting worse, more erratic, or more unmanageable. With no job and a pile of debt, it just felt like my life was spinning out of control. You're the project manager—it's your job to make sure this project doesn't spin out of control.
spin round
1. To rotate. The Earth spins round on a vertical axis, which is what gives us our nights and days. The car began spinning round in the parking lot, leaving circles of tire tracks on the pavement.
2. To cause someone or something to turn around in circles. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "round." I'll put this blindfold on you and spin you round, and then you try to hit the piñata with this stick. He spun the dial round until the tumblers of the lock clicked into place.
3. To revolve (around something). The Earth spins round the Sun, which is what gives us our seasons.
4. To turn rapidly around to face the opposite direction. I spun round when I thought I heard my name. The police car spun round and began pursuing the van that ran the red light.
5. To cause someone or something to turn rapidly around in the opposite direction. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "around." She had to spin the motorboat round and start heading back to shore. I spun him round and marched him right back out of the house.
6. To visit some place for a brief period of time or for a particular purpose. I need to spin round to the office to pick up some paperwork. Why don't you spin round on Saturday to have dinner with me and Melissa?
spin up
1. To program or code a computer server, network, website, application, etc. A noun or pronoun can be used between "spin" and "up." We should spin up additional server nodes to deal with the increase in web traffic. He asked me to spin a new portal up for users to log in to the site.
2. To increase the spin speed of a computer's hard disk drive. The computer automatically spins up the disk drive when it needs to read or write data.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.