country (redirected from lines of country)

another country heard from

Fig. yet another person adds to the conversation. Used when someone joins a discussion other people are having, especially unexpectedly. (Used sarcastically, implying that the new speaker is not welcome in the discussion.) Alan: You ought to take a vacation tomorrow. You really look tired. Fred: I am not tired and I don't need a vacation. Jane: But you do seem awfully short-tempered. Fred: Well, well, another country heard from! Brother: Let's go to the movies. Father: I'm too busy to drive you to the movies. Sister: I want to go to the movies, too. Let's go to the movies! Father: Oh, splendid. Another country heard from.

See also: another, hear

country mile

Rur. a great distance. The batter knocked that ball a country mile. I had to walk a country mile to the next gas station.

See also: mile

Happy is the country which has no history.

Prov. Since history tends to record only violent, unfortunate, or tumultuous events, a country with no history would be a country lucky enough to have no such unhappy events to record. The history of our country is so full of greed, violence, and dishonesty; happy is the country which has no history.

See also: happy, has, history

In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

Prov. A person who is not particularly capable can attain a powerful position if the people around him or her are even less capable. Jill: How on earth did Joe get promoted to be head of his department? He's such a blunderer! Jane: In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

See also: king, man

prophet is not without honor save in his own country

Prov. Everyone recognizes that a wise person is wise, except for the people close to him or her. (Biblical.) No one in the novelist's country would publish her books, but last year she won the Nobel Prize. A prophet is not without honor save in his own country.

See also: his, honor, prophet, save, without

so many countries, so many customs.

Prov. People in different countries have different ways of behaving. In the last place I visited, it was considered rude to put your hands on the table at dinner, but here, it's rude to keep them under the table. so many countries, so many customs.

See also: many

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go to the country  (British & Australian slightly formal)

if a government or the leader of a government goes to the country, they have an election The Prime Minister has decided to go to the country next spring.

It's a free country!

something that you say which means that you have the right to do something even if someone else has criticized you for it I'll shout if I want to - it's a free country!

See also: free

the old country  (American & Australian)

the country or place where you or your parents were born but do not now live, especially Europe They spent the summer touring the old country.

See also: old