cotton (redirected from cottony)

cotton (on)to someone or something

Rur. to begin to like or agree to someone or something quickly. She began to cotton to Fred, despite his country ways. She cottoned onto Jane's way of thinking.

cotton up to someone

Rur. to try to make friends with someone; to flatter or fawn on someone in hopes of favorable treatment. James set out to cotton up to the parents of his friends. Just watch her cotton up to the teacher!

See also: up

in high cotton and in tall cotton

Rur. to be doing very well; successful. Jim's in high cotton ever since he got that raise. Tom: How's your sister? Mary: She's in high cotton. Just bought a nice new house. We were in tall cotton until the IRS caught up with us.

See also: high

in low cotton

Rur. depressed. She was in low cotton because her dress got torn. Jed is in low cotton because his favorite hound is dead.

See also: low

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Bless her/his cotton socks.  (British & Australian humorous)

something that you say when you want to express affection for someone My little niece - bless her cotton socks - won the school poetry prize this year.

See also: bless, sock

cotton-picking  (American & Australian informal)

something that you say before a noun to express anger Get your cotton-picking feet off my chair!

wrap somebody up in cotton wool  (British & Australian)

to protect someone too much without allowing them to be independent enough She wraps that child up in cotton wool as if he's some precious jewel.

See drape in the flag, twist around little finger

See also: up, wool, wrap

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cotton to somebody/something

to like someone or something The public did not cotton to her new CD.