bean (redirected from knowing how many beans make five)

down to chili and beans

Rur. very poor; down to one's last penny. Mary and Tom aren't doing too well. They're down to chili and beans. Many's the time I was down to chili and beans, but I always pulled through.

See also: and

full of hot air and full of beans; full of bull; full of it; full of prunes

Fig. full of nonsense; talking nonsense. Oh, shut up, Mary. You're full of hot air. Don't pay any attention to Bill. He's full of beans. My English professor is full of bull. You're full of it.

See also: air, full, hot

not know beans (about someone or something)

Inf. to know nothing about someone or something. Bill doesn't know beans about flying an airplane. When it comes to flying, I don't know beans.

See also: know

not worth a hill of beans and not amount to a hill of beans; not worth a plugged nickel; not worth beans

Fig. worthless. Your advice isn't worth a hill of beans. This old cow isn't worth a plugged nickel.

See also: amount, and, hill, worth

spill the beans and spill the works

Fig. to give away a secret or a surprise. There is a surprise party for Heidi on Wednesday. Please don't spill the beans. Paul spilled the works about Heidi's party.

See also: spill

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not be worth a hill of beans  (American informal)

to have very little or no value None of those guys is worth a hill of beans, so don't worry about what they say.

See be worth a dime, be worth the paper it's're printed on, any [judge etc.] worth salt

See also: hill, worth

not have a bean  (British & Australian)

to have no money Most people in the area are unemployed and don't have a bean to spend.

See also: have

not know beans about something   (American & Australian informal)

to know nothing about something I don't know beans about computers - I've never even used one.

See also: know

a bean counter  (informal)

an impolite way of describing someone who is responsible for the financial decisions within a company When decisions that affect people's lives are in the hands of bean counters, it's bad news.

See also: counter

be full of beans

to have a lot of energy and enthusiasm I've never met anyone so full of beans before breakfast.

See also: full

spill the beans

to tell people secret information It was then that she threatened to spill the beans about her affair with the president.

See also: spill

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amount to a hill of beans

to be of little importance You are making yourself miserable over something that amounts to a hill of beans.

See also: amount, hill

not know beans about something

to know nothing about something not know the first thing about something I don't know beans about computers - I've never even used one.

See also: know

spill the beans

to let secret information become known My husband was afraid to spill the beans about the cost of his purchases.

See also: spill