glass (redirected from glassing)

*smooth as glass and *smooth as silk

Cliché smooth and shiny. (often used to describe calm bodies of water. *Also: as ~.) The bay is as smooth as glass, so we should have a pleasant boat trip. This custard is smooth as silk.

See also: smooth

glass something in

to enclose something, such as a porch, in glass. I want to glass this porch in, so we can use it in the winter. We glassed in our porch last year.

have a glass jaw

Fig. to be susceptible to a knockout when struck on the head. (Said only of boxers who are frequently knocked down by a blow to the head.) When the prizefighter was knocked out cold by a right to the chin in the first round, the newspapers said he had a glass jaw. Once a fighter has a glass jaw, he's finished as a boxer.

See also: have, jaw

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Prov. You should not criticize other people for having the same faults that you yourself have. Jill: Richard sure was drinking a lot at the office party. Jane: I noticed you had quite a few cocktails yourself. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

See also: house, live, people, shouldn't, stone, throw, who

raise one's glass to someone or something

to propose a drinking toast in salute to someone or something. Let us all raise our glasses to George Wilson! They raised their glasses to the successful campaign.

See also: raise

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a glass ceiling

the opinions of people in a company which prevent women from getting such important positions as men The problem for women in broadcasting is the glass ceiling. Women rise but not to the top.

See also: ceiling

People who live in glass houses (shouldn't throw stones).

something that you say which means people should not criticize other people for faults that they have themselves He's always criticizing Rick for the way he treats his wife and I feel like saying, people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

See also: house, live, people, who

rose-coloured glasses  (British & Australian) also rose-colored glasses/rose-coloured spectacles (American & Australian/British)

if someone thinks about or looks at something with rose-coloured glasses, they think it is more pleasant than it really is She's nostalgic for a past that she sees through rose-colored glasses.

rose-tinted glasses  (British, American & Australian) also rose-tinted spectacles (British)

if someone looks at something through rose-tinted glasses, they see only the pleasant parts of it She has always looked at life through rose-tinted glasses.

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see the glass (as) half empty

to believe that a situation is more bad than good Some economists looking ahead to the second half of the year see the glass as half empty.

Usage notes: also used in the form the glass is half empty (the situation is seen as bad or not hopeful): A lot of people are unhappy with the way the organization is run - they say the glass is half empty.

See also: empty, half, see

see the glass (as) half full

to believe that a situation is more good than bad I'm an optimist - I see the glass as half full and think we'll come through this difficult time OK.

Usage notes: also used in the form the glass is half full (the situation is seen as good or hopeful): To some people, the glass is always half full.

Related vocabulary: half a loaf

See also: full, half, see

through rose-colored glasses

with an attitude that things are better than they really are Looked at through rose-colored glasses, the story of women's role in the state's politics could be considered a success.

Usage notes: usually used with see something or look at something: The magazine had a habit of looking at social issues through rose-colored glasses.

See also: through