bucket (redirected from bucketing)

can't carry a tune and cannot carry a tune; can't carry a tune in a bushel basket; can't carry a tune in a bucket; can't carry a tune in a paper sack

Fig. [to be] unable to sing a simple melody; lacking musical ability. I wish that Tom wouldn't try to sing. He can't carry a tune. I don't know why Mary's in the choir. She can't carry a tune in a bushel basket. Joe likes to sing in the shower, though he can't carry a tune in a bucket. I'd try to hum the song for you, but I can't carry a tune in a paper sack.

See also: carry, tune

don't amount to a bucket of spit

Rur. is not worth anything. foe's a shiftless cuss. He don't amount to a bucket of spit. All your pretty promises don't amount to a bucket of spit.

See also: amount, spit

drop in the bucket and a drop in the ocean

Fig. an in significant contribution toward solving a large problem. Jane: We need to stop spending so much. Alan: OK. I'll buy a cheaper brand of toothpaste. Jane: But that's just a drop in the bucket. Many companies donated food and medicine to help the survivors of the earthquake, but it was just a drop in the ocean of what was needed.

See also: drop

For crying out loud! and For crying in a bucket!

Inf. an exclamation of shock, anger, or surprise. Fred: For crying out loud! Answer the telephone! Bob: But it's always for you! John: Good grief! What am I going to do? This is the end! Sue: For crying in a bucket! What's wrong?

See also: crying, out

go to hell in a bucket and go to hell in a handbasket

Fig. to get rapidly worse and worse. The school system in this district is going to hell in a bucket, and no mistake. His health is going to hell in a handbasket ever since he started drinking again.

See also: hell

kick something off

Fig. to begin something; to hold a party or ceremony to mark the start of something. (Alludes to starting a football game by kicking off the ball for the first play.) The city kicked the centennial celebration off with a parade. They kicked off the celebration with a parade.

See also: kick

kick something off (of) someone or something and kick something off

to knock something off someone or something by kicking. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The baby must have kicked her covers off of herself in the night. She kicked off her covers in the night.

See also: kick

kick off 

1. Lit. to start play in a football game by kicking the ball. Tom kicked off in the last game. Now it's my turn. John tripped when he was kicking off.

2. and kick the bucket Fig. to die. Don't say that George Washington "kicked off." Say that he "passed away." My cat kicked off last night. She was tough as a lion. When I kick the bucket, I want a huge funeral with lots of flowers and crying.

See also: kick

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a drop in the ocean  (British, American & Australian) also a drop in the bucket (American)

a very small amount in comparison to the amount that is needed A hundred thousand may seem a lot but it's a drop in the ocean compared to the millions that need to be spent.

See also: drop, ocean

a gut-bucket  (informal)

someone who is very fat She introduced me to her son who was a real gut-bucket with tattoos all over his arms.

For crying out loud!  (informal)

something that you say when you are annoyed For crying out loud! Can't you leave me alone even for a minute!

See also: crying, out

kick the bucket  (informal)

to die Didn't you hear? He kicked the bucket. Had a heart attack, I think.

See also: kick

sweat buckets  (informal)

to sweat (= lose water through your skin) a lot I was sweating buckets under my plastic rain jacket.

See also: sweat

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a drop in the bucket

a very small or unimportant amount What we were paid for our work was a drop in the bucket compared to what the company earned.

See also: drop

kick somebody off something (slang)

to force someone to leave a group Fred was difficult to work with and finally we kicked him off the planning committee. He was kicked off the team.

See also: kick

kick off something

to begin something We like to kick off the summer by having friends over for a barbecue.

See also: kick

kick the bucket

to die Didn't you hear? He kicked the bucket - had a heart attack, I think.

See also: kick