match (redirected from matches up)

a marriage made in heaven and a match made in heaven

a happy or harmonious marriage or partnership. (See also .) The partnership of George and Ira Gershwin was a match made in heaven; they wrote such beautiful songs.

See also: heaven, made, marriage

match (someone) against (someone else) (or something against something else)

to challenge someone with someone else in a contest; to challenge something with something else in a contest. I will match my boxer against your boxer any day. I'll match myself against you any day!

See also: against

match someone or something in something

to equal someone or something in some quality. I am sure I match her in wisdom if not in grace and beauty. You do not match her in any way.

match someone (up) (with someone) and match something (up) (with something)

to pair people or things. I will match Carl up with Kelly and George with Jane. I will match up Carl with Kelly.

match for (someone, something, or an animal)

someone, something, or an animal that is the equal of someone, something, or some other animal, especially in a contest. My older brother is no match for me; he's much weaker. Your horse is no match for mine in a race. Mine will always win.

match up

[for things or people] to match, be equal, or complementary. These match up. See how they are the same length? Sorry, but these two parts don't match up.

See also: up

match up to something

[for something] to match, be equal to, or complementary to something. This sock does not match up to the other one. This one matches up to all the others.

See also: up

match wits (with someone)

Fig. to enter into intellectual competition with someone. Whenever I try to match wits with Fred, he always ends up running circles around me with his clever repartee.

See also: wit

meet one's match

Fig. to meet one's equal; to encounter someone who can match or outdo one in some activity, talent, etc. John played tennis with Bill yesterday, and it looks as if John has finally met his match. Listen to Jane and Mary argue. I always thought that Jane was loud, but she has finally met her match.

See also: meet

mix and match 

1. to assemble a limited number of items, usually clothing, in a number of different ways. Alice learned to mix and match her skirts, blouses, and sweaters so that she always could be attractively dressed on a limited budget. Gary always bought black, blue, and gray trousers and shirts so he could mix and match without too many bad combinations.

2. to select a number of items from an assortment, often in order to get a quantity discount. (As opposed to getting a quantity discount for buying a lot of only one item.) The candles were 25 percent off, and you could mix and match colors, sizes, and length. I found a good sale on shirts. They were four for fifty dollars, and the store would let you mix and match.

See also: and, mix

strike a match

to light a match by rubbing it on a rough surface. Mary struck a match and lit a candle. When Sally struck a match to light a cigarette, Jane said quickly, "No smoking, please."

See also: strike

whole ball of wax and whole shooting match

the whole thing; the whole matter or affair; the entire affair or organization. John is not a good manager. Instead of delegating jobs to others, he runs the whole shooting match himself. There's not a hard worker in that whole shooting match. I will be glad to be finished with this project. I want to be done with the whole ball of wax. I am tired of this job. I am fed up with the whole ball of wax.

See also: ball, wax, whole

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a marriage/match made in heaven 

1. a marriage which is likely to be happy and successful because the two people are very well suited to each other Jane and Pete had exactly the same likes and interests - it was a marriage made in heaven.

2. a combination of two things or two people which is very successful Strawberries and cream are a marriage made in heaven.

See move heaven and earth, God help

See also: heaven, made, marriage

a shouting match  (British, American & Australian) also a slanging match (British & Australian)

an argument where people shout at each other If your child says something rude or unpleasant to you, don't get into a shouting match with them, just leave the room. The debate turned into a slanging match.

See also: shout

be no match for something/somebody

to be less powerful or effective than something or someone else Health warnings are no match for the addictive power of cigarettes.

See a marriage made in heaven, meet match

meet your match

to meet someone who is able to defeat you in an argument or a competition The world chess champion finally met his match when he was beaten by a computer.

See also: meet

the whole shooting match  (informal)

the whole of something, including everything that is connected with it There are four projects at present and Gerry's in charge of the whole shooting match.

See also: shoot, whole

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a marriage made in heaven

a perfect combination of two people or things a match made in heaven He calls the deal between the two companies a marriage made in heaven.

See also: heaven, made, marriage

a match made in heaven

a perfect combination of two people or things a marriage made in heaven They needed a Spanish teacher as badly as Hayes needed a job, so you could say it was a match made in heaven.

See also: heaven, made

match up (against somebody)

to have a chance to win in a competition against someone He was nominated because he matched up better against the governor. With our team's experience, I think we match up well.

See also: up

meet your match

to find someone equal to you in some way Martina finally met her match on the tennis court today and lost, three sets to two.

See also: meet

mix and match

to combine things that are not related You can mix and match desks, bookcases, and other office furniture to fit your needs.

See also: and, mix