fill (redirected from filling)

*one's fill of someone or something

Fig. [get/have] as much of someone or something as one needs or can tolerate. (*Typically: get ~; have ~.) You'll soon get your fill of Tom. He can be quite a pest. I can never get my fill of shrimp. I love it.

back and fill

Fig. to act indecisively; to change one's direction repeatedly; to reverse one's course. (Originally nautical, referring to trimming the sails so as to alternately fill them with wind and release the wind, in order to maneuver in a narrow space.) The president spent most of his speech backing and filling on the question of taxation. The other candidate was backing and filling on every issue, depending on whom she was addressing.

See also: and, back

eat (one's) fill

to eat as much as one can hold; to eat as much as one wants. Please eat your fill. There's plenty for everyone.

See also: eat

fill someone or something up (with something)

to put as much as possible into someone or something. We filled him up with chili and crackers. We will fill up the basket with leaves. I will fill the basket up with flowers.

See also: up

fill someone's head with something

Fig. to put some kind of ideas into someone's head. Who's been filling your head with ideas like that? Mary has been filling my head with ideas about how to get rich.

See also: head

fill someone's shoes

Fig. to take the place of some other person and do that person's work satisfactorily. (As if you were wearing the other person's shoes.) I don't know how we'll be able to do without you. No one can fill your shoes. It'll be difficult to fill Jane's shoes. She did her job very well.

See also: shoe

fill someone full of lead

Sl. to shoot someone. The shopkeeper bought a gun and swore the next time someone broke into the shop, he'd fill him full of lead. Don't move, or I'll fill you full of lead.

See also: full, lead

fill someone in (on someone or something)

to tell someone the details about someone or something. Please fill me in on what happened last night. Please fill in the committee on the details.

fill something in 

1. to add material to an indentation, hole, etc., to make it full. You had better fill the crack in with something before you paint the wall. You should fill in the cracks first.

2. Fig. to write in the blank spaces on a paper; to write on a form. (See also Fill in the blanks) Please fill this form in. I will fill in the form for you.

fill something out

Fig. to complete a form by writing in the blank spaces. Please fill this form out and send it back to us in the mail. I will fill out the form as you asked.

See also: out

fill something to something

to add material to something up to a certain point. Fill the barrel up to here and no higher. Please fill the glass to the top.

fill in

[for an indentation, hole, etc.] to become full. The scar filled in after a few months. Will this hole in the ground fill in by itself, or should I put some dirt in?

fill in (for someone or something)

Fig. to substitute for someone or something; to take the place of someone or something. I will have to fill in for Wally until he gets back. I don't mind filling in.

Fill in the blanks.

You can figure out the rest.; You can draw a conclusion from that. (Fixed order. See also fill something in.) Mary. What happened at Fred's house last night? Bill: There was a big fight, then the neighbors called the police. Mary: Then what happened? Bill: Fill in the blanks. What do you think? John: They had been lost for two days, then the wolves came, and the rest is history. Jane: Yes, I think I can fill in the blanks.

See also: blank

fill one's face and stuff one's face

Sl. to eat food fast; to stuff food into one's face. Everytime I see you, you are stuffing your face. No wonder you're overweight!

See also: face

fill out

to become full; to gain weight. About a month after her debilitating illness, Maggie began to fill out again. The fruit on the trees began to fill out, and we knew it was going to ripen soon.

See also: out

fill the bill and fit the bill

to be acceptable. Jane: I need some string. Tom: Here's some twine. Will it fill the bill? I need cloth to make a shirt. This muslin ought to fit the bill.

See also: bill

fill the gap

to serve temporarily. I think that the temp will fill the gap until a new person can be hired.

See also: gap

fill up 

1. to become full. The creek filled up after the heavy rain yesterday. The rain barrel began to fill up during the storm.

2. to fill one's gas tank. I've got to stop and fill up. The gas tank is running low. We will fill up at the next little town.

See also: up

filled to the brim

filled all the way full; filled up to the top edge. I like my coffee cup filled to the brim. If the glass is filled to the brim, I can't drink without spilling the contents.

See also: brim

Little and often fills the purse.

Prov. If you get a little bit of money frequently, you will always have enough. Jill: I don't think I'll ever be able to save very much; I can only afford to save such a little bit of money from every paycheck. Jane: Ah, but little and often fills the purse.

See also: and, little, often, purse

smoke-filled room

a room where a small group of people make important decisions. (Usually used in reference to political parties.) The smoke-filled rooms are still producing the candidates for most offices, despite all the political reforms. The deal was cut in a smoke-filled room.

See also: room

step into someone's shoes

Fig. to take over a job or some role from someone. I was prepared to step into the boss's shoes, so there was no disruption when he left for another job. There was no one who could step into Alice's shoes when she left, so everything came to a stop.

See also: shoe, step

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fill a/the void

to replace something important that you have lost, or to provide something important that you need The country needs a strong leader to help fill the void left by the death of the president. Religion helped me fill a void in my life.

See also: void

fit the bill  (British, American & Australian) also fill the bill (American & Australian)

to have the qualities or experience which are needed I'm looking for someone with several years of publishing experience and you seem to fit the bill. The city needs a strong leader, and the new mayor just doesn't fill the bill.

See foot the bill, sell a bill of goods, pick up the bill

See also: bill, fit

have had your fill

to have had enough to eat or drink No more pudding thanks, I've had my fill.

See also: had, have

have had your fill of something

if you have had your fill of an unpleasant situation, you will not accept it any longer People have had their fill of empty promises and want action.

See fit the bill, step into shoes, fill a void

See also: had, have

step into somebody's shoes  also fill somebody's shoes

to take the job or position that someone else had before you When his father retires, Victor will be ready to step into his shoes. It will take a very special person to fill Barbara's shoes.

See be shaking in boots

See also: shoe, step

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fill somebody's shoes also step into somebody's shoes

to do what someone else has done as well as they did He was a great coach, and it's not going to be easy to get someone to fill his shoes.

See also: shoe

fill somebody in also fill in somebody

to give someone information that they want or need We filled her in on all the latest family news. I've asked Andy to fill in the marketing team about plans for the fall.

fill in (for somebody)

to do someone else's job temporarily He discovered his love of acting when he filled in for a sick friend in a college play.

fill in something also fill something in

1. to give written answers to questions on a computer or on paper Fill in the entire form and then click “submit.” If you have left out a date, first name, or other information, fill it in.

2. to complete a plan or idea That's the basic idea, but we still have a lot of details to fill in.

fill out something also fill something out

to provide information on paper or on a computer Please fill out the form before you call for an appointment. Print the document, fill it out, and bring it with you.

See also: out

fill the void also fill a void

to replace or provide something necessary It is impossible to fill the void left by my sister's death.

See also: void

fit the bill also fill the bill

to have the qualities or experience that are needed If you want quieter entertainment, there are many excellent museums in town that will fit the bill.

See also: bill, fit

get your fill (of something)

to have or experience as much as you want of something I never got my fill of her cream puffs.

Usage notes: sometimes used to say that you do not want any more of something, esp. in the form have had your fill of something: I have had my fill of violent movies.

See also: get