curl

cuddle up with a (good) book and curl up (with a (good) book)

to snuggle into a chair or bed comfortably to read a book. I want to go home and cuddle up with a good book. She went home and curled up with a good book.

See also: book, cuddle, up

curl someone's hair and make someone's hair curl

Fig. to frighten or alarm someone; to shock someone with sight, sound, or taste. Don't ever sneak up on me like that again. You really curled my hair. The horror film made my hair curl.

See also: hair

curl something up

to roll something up into a coil. She curled the edges of the paper up while she spoke. Why did she curl up the paper?

See also: up

curl up (in(to) something )

1. to roll into a coil. The snake curled up into a neat coil. It curled up so we couldn't get at it.

2. [for one] to bend one's body into a resting place, such as a chair or a bed. Colleen curled up in the chair and took a nap. She curled up and took a nap.

See also: up

curl up and die

Fig. to die. (Often jocular.) When I heard you say that, I could have curled up and died. No, it wasn't an illness. She just curled up and died.

See also: and, die, up

curl up with (someone or an animal)

to snuggle up to someone or something. She curled up with her husband and fell asleep. Elaine curled up with the family dog to keep warm.

See also: up

---

curl somebody's hair  (American) also make somebody's hair curl (American)

to frighten or shock someone The scene where the guy follows her into the apartment curled my hair.

See also: hair

curl your lip  (literary)

to lift one side of your mouth in an expression which shows that you do not like or respect something or someone Don't you curl your lip at me, young miss!

See want to curl up and die, curl hair, make toes curl

See also: lip

make somebody's toes curl  (British & Australian)

if an experience makes your toes curl, it makes you feel extremely embarrassed and ashamed for someone else The very thought of what she said makes my toes curl. (British & Australian)

See also: make, toe

make somebody's toes curl  (American) also curl somebody's toes (American)

to frighten or shock someone A loud scream from the next room made her toes curl.

See also: make, toe

want to curl up and die

to feel very embarrassed about something that you have said or done I spilt coffee all over their precious new rug and I just wanted to curl up and die.

See also: and, die, up, want