list (redirected from lister)

enter the lists

Fig. to begin to take part in a contest or argument. He had decided not to stand for Parliament, but entered the lists at the last minute. The family disagreement had almost been resolved when the grandfather entered the lists.

See also: enter

list someone or something among something

to include someone or something in a particular category. I list George among the all-time greats. I have to list the budget committee as the most efficient ever.

See also: among

list someone or something off

to recite a list of people or things, one by one. She listed everyone off in order without having to look at her notes. She listed off the names of the people who are always late. Dale listed each one off.

list someone as something

to categorize someone as something, usually in a written list. I will list you as a contributor to the Preservation Fund, if you don't mind. Although she was not registered as such, she listed herself as a stockbroker.

list to a direction

to lean to one side or another; to lean toward a specific direction. (Usually of ships or boats.) The ship had listed to one side since being struck by the speedboat. The huge ship listed a tiny bit to starboard.

See also: direction

on the waiting list and on the wait list

[for someone's name to be] on a list of people waiting for an opportunity to do something. I couldn't get a seat on the plane, but I got on the waiting list. There is no room for you, but we can put your name on the waiting list.

See also: waiting

shopping list 

1. Lit. a list of things one needs to buy. I made up a shopping list for groceries that we are out of. Don't forget to take the shopping list with you to the store.

2. Fig. a list of things, especially questions or things one wants. I have a shopping list of absolute musts. He showed up for the interview with a shopping list so long that it took two pages.

See also: shop

sucker list

Fig. a list of potential dupes; a list of people who might be taken in by deception. I'm sure on their sucker list. They are trying to get me to give a lecture and receive a free clock or something. Here's the sucker list. Call them all and try to get them interested.

See also: sucker

wish list

a list of things one wishes to have. I put a new car at the top of my wish list. I have a DVD player on my wish list.

See also: wish

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a hit list 

1. a list of people that someone is planning to kill His name was on a terrorist hit list.

2. a list of people or organizations that someone plans to do bad things to, especially to get rid of There are a hundred schools on the department's hit list, which are threatened with closure if their standards do not improve.

See also: hit

a laundry list  (mainly American)

a long list of subjects (usually + of ) It wasn't much of a speech - just a laundry list of accusations against the government.

See also: laundry

a list as long as your arm

if you say a list is as long as your arm, you mean that it is very long Anyway, I'd better make a start. I've got a list as long as my arm of jobs to do.

See also: arm, long

a wish list

a list of things that someone wants very much Most families with kids have a larger house on their wish list.

See also: wish

be on somebody's shit list  (American taboo!)

if you are on someone's shit list, they do not like you She blames a lot of people for what happened, and you're on her shit list.

See also: shit