coast (redirected from coasts)

coast along

to roll or move along with little or no effort. We just coasted along on the flat prairie. We coasted along until we came to the bottom of the hill.

See also: along

coast is clear

There is no visible danger. I'm going to stay hidden here until the coast is clear. You can come out of your hiding place now. The coast is clear.

See also: clear

coast-to-coast

from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans (in the continental U.S.A.); all the land between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (considered in either direction). My voice was once heard on a coast-to-coast radio broadcast. Our car made the coast-to-coast trip in eighty hours.

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(from) coast to coast

from one side of a country to the other We travelled across America coast to coast.

the coast is clear

if the coast is clear, you can do something or go somewhere because there is no one near who might see or hear you You can come out now, the coast is clear. I waited outside the house until the coast was clear, then softly tapped on the window.

See also: clear

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from coast to coast

everywhere or all across a country Winter storms are making life difficult from coast to coast.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of coast to coast (east to west or north to south, one border to another)

the coast is clear

1. there is no danger of being seen We had to wait until the coast was clear to slip out of the building, which was being watched.

2. there is no danger of anything more happening, esp. trouble Now that the killer has been arrested, the coast is clear and people can go out without fear.

See also: clear