wreck

check yourself before you wreck yourself

slang You need to reconsider the way you are speaking or acting before you end up causing real trouble for yourself. Primarily heard in US. Yo, are you talking trash about my girl? You better check yourself before you wreck yourself, fool. A: "I'm going to go in there and give the boss a piece of my mind. He can't treat us like this!" B: "Hey, you're going to get yourself fired! Check yourself before you wreck yourself, Tom." I'm telling you this as a friend—you've been drinking way too much. You really need to check yourself before you wreck yourself.

See also: before, check, wreck

go under the wrecking ball

To be destroyed or demolished. My old elementary school used to be here but, as you can see, it's gone under the wrecking ball since I graduated. Look, if we don't get people to sign this petition, that beautiful old building will go under the wrecking ball! I haven't been back to my hometown in years. I'm sure most of my childhood hangouts have gone under the wrecking ball by now.

See also: ball, go, wreck

human wrecking ball

A wrecking ball is a very large steel ball that is used to knock down structures.

1. Someone who behaves in a reckless, destructive manner. If that new manager thinks he can just come in here like a human wrecking ball and shake up in whole department, he's got another think coming! That clumsy oaf ran through the store like a human wrecking ball and broke tons of my merchandise! If you don't keep an eye on your toddler, he'll run through Mass like a human wrecking ball.

2. Someone who uses their superior physical size and strength against opponents, as of an athlete. Their defensive line is made up of human wrecking balls, so good luck getting any penetration. Be careful, their top defenseman is a human wrecking ball who will definitely come after our smaller forwards. You can't just be a human wrecking ball without a game plan, or you'll spend the night in the penalty box.

See also: ball, human, wreck

like a wrecking ball

In a reckless, destructive manner. A wrecking ball is a very large steel ball that is used to knock down structures. If that new manager thinks he can just come in here like a wrecking ball and shake everything up in the department, he's got another think coming! That clumsy oaf ran through the store like a wrecking ball and break tons of my merchandise!

See also: ball, like, wreck

like the wreck of the Hesperus

Very disorderly or unkempt. The phrase comes from the title of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1842 poem "The Wreck of the Hesperus," about a shipwreck. A: "Whoa, what happened to you? You look like the wreck of the Hesperus." B: "Ugh, I got caught in a torrential downpour." This room is like the wreck of the Hesperus. When on earth was the last time the kids cleaned up in here?

See also: Hesperus, like, of, wreck

look like the wreck of the Hesperus

To look very disorderly or unkempt. The phrase comes from the title of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1842 poem "The Wreck of the Hesperus," about a shipwreck. A: "Whoa, what happened to you? You look like the wreck of the Hesperus." B: "Ugh, I got caught in a torrential downpour." This room looks like the wreck of the Hesperus. When on earth was the last time the kids cleaned up in here?

See also: Hesperus, like, look, of, wreck

nervous wreck

Someone who is overcome with anxiety, apprehension, or nervousness. Where have you been all night? I've been a nervous wreck waiting for you to come home! I'm going to be a nervous wreck waiting to hear back from the doctor about the test results.

See also: nervous, wreck

the wreck of the Hesperus

A disorderly or unkempt state. The phrase comes from the title of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1842 poem about a shipwreck. A: "Whoa, what happened to you? You look like the wreck of the Hesperus." B: "Ugh, I got caught in a torrential downpour." This room is like the wreck of the Hesperus. When on earth was the last time the kids cleaned up in here?

See also: Hesperus, of, wreck

train wreck

1. A major or total failure, disaster, or catastrophe. This project has become an absolute train wreck. We've wasted so much time and money already, I don't know how we'll make up the losses. Despite a stellar cast, the film turned out to be a real train wreck.

2. A person whose life is a complete mess or is in total disarray. I don't know about my relationship with Kevin. He's a bit of a train wreck, between you and me.

See also: train, wreck

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

go under the wrecking ball

Fig. to be wrecked or torn down. That lovely old building finally went under the wrecking ball. I hate to see good architecture go under the wrecking ball.

See also: ball, go, wreck

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

nervous wreck

An individual suffering from extreme agitation or worry, as in Pat was a nervous wreck until her mother arrived at the wedding. This expression is nearly always used hyperbolically. [Colloquial; c. 1900] Also see basket case.

See also: nervous, wreck

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.