dance (redirected from leads a merry dance)

*out of step (with someone or something)

1. and *out of time (with someone or something) Lit. out of cadence with someone else. (*Typically: be ~; dance ~; get ~; march~.) You've gotten out of step with the music. Pay attention, Ann. You're out of time.

2. Fig. not as up-to-date as someone or something. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) John is out of step with the times. Billy missed three days and now is out of step with the rest of the class.

See also: out, step

(Would you) care to dance?

Do you want to dance with me?; Would you please dance with me? John: Would you care to dance? Mary: I don't dance, but thank you for asking. "Care to dance?" asked Bill, politely.

See also: care

dance at someone's wedding

to celebrate in honor of someone at someone's wedding. I will dance at your wedding—if you invite me, of course. If you think I will dance at your wedding, you had better be nicer to me!

See also: wedding

dance on air

Fig. to be very happy; to be euphoric enough as if to dance on air. I was so happy, I could have danced on air. She was just dancing on air, she was so happy.

See also: air

dance to something

to respond to music or rhythm with dancing. I can't dance to that fast beat! That music is horrible. No one can dance to that.

dance to another tune and dance to a different tune

Fig. to shift quickly to different behavior; to change one's behavior or attitude. After being yelled at, Ann danced to another tune. A stern talking-to will make her dance to a different tune.

See also: another, tune

dance with someone

to perform social dancing with another person. Do you think you would like to dance with Wally? Would you please dance with me?

dance with death

Fig. to attempt to do something that is very risky. The crossing of the border into enemy territory was like dancing with death. You are dancing with death in your effort to cross that narrow ledge.

See also: death

go into a song and dance (about something) and go into the same old song and dance about something

Fig. to start repeating excuses or stories about something. Please don't go into your song and dance about how you always tried to do what was right. John went into his song and dance about how he won the war all by himself. He always goes into the same old song and dance every time he makes a mistake.

See also: and, song

tap-dance like mad

Sl. to appear busy continuously; to have to move fast or talk cleverly to distract someone. When things get tough, the whole Congress tap-dances like mad. Any public official knows how to tap-dance like mad when the press gets too nosy.

See also: like, mad

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[dance/sing/talk etc.] up a storm  (American informal)

to do something with a lot of energy Her dog barks up a storm every time the phone rings. They were sitting in a corner, talking up a storm.

See also: storm, up

a song and dance  (American)

a long and complicated statement or story, especially one that is not true (usually + about ) She gave me some song and dance about her kids always being sick and not being able to get to the meetings.

See also: and, song

all-singing, all-dancing  (humorous)

very modern and technically advanced She showed us the new all-singing, all-dancing graphics software she'd bought for her computer.

dance to somebody's tune

to always do what someone tells you to do, whether you agree with it or not Powerful local residents seem to have the council dancing to their tune.

See lead a dance

See also: tune

lead somebody a (merry) dance  (old-fashioned)

to confuse someone or to cause problems for them by deceiving them or behaving in a way that they cannot understand She's led us a merry dance over the plans for the party.

See also: lead

make a song and dance about something/doing something   (British & Australian)

to make something seem more important than it really is so that everyone notices it I only asked her to move her car but she made such a song and dance about it. He made a real song and dance about giving up meat.

See also: and, make, song

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dance to somebody's tune also dance to the tune of somebody

to always obey someone who has power over you Powerful local residents seem to have the city council dancing to their tune. In the future, people will ask why we danced to the tunes of this president.

See also: tune

out of step (with something)

1. not having the same ideas or beliefs as a group you are part of The governor's remarks show she is seriously out of step with voters.

2. not aware of something Many parents are surprisingly out of step with the reality of drugs in their children's lives.

Usage notes: often used as a criticism: My dad's clothing store, once successful, is now dismissed as old and out of step.

See also: out, step