order (redirected from ordered arms)

be a tall order

if a piece of work or request is a tall order, it is very difficult to do. 'They've given us three weeks to get the project finished.' 'That's a tall order.'

See also: tall

be in apple-pie order

to be very tidy and in good order. Wendy kept all her belongings in apple-pie order.

be just what the doctor ordered (humorous)

to be exactly what is wanted or needed. 'Andy's making us some lunch.' 'Great, just what the doctor ordered.' A night out on their own was just what the doctor ordered.

See also: doctor, just

be out of order (informal)

if something that someone says or does is out of order, it is unpleasant or not suitable and it is likely to upset or offend people. Her behaviour in the meeting was completely out of order.

be the order of the day

if something is the order of the day, it is thought to be necessary or it is used by everyone in a particular situation. For countries undergoing a recession, large cuts in public spending seem to be the order of the day. Champagne was the order of the day as we all congratulated Tim on his success.

See also: day

get your marching orders

give someone their marching orders - to tell someone to leave. He'd only been in the job a month when he got his marching orders.

See also: marche

get/put your own house in order

to solve your own problems. You should put your own house in order before you start giving me advice.

See also: house

give someone their marching orders

to tell someone to leave. Debbie's finally given her husband his marching orders after ten years of an unhappy marriage.

See also: give, marche

a pecking order

the order of importance of the people in a group or an organization. There's a clearly established pecking order in this office.

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in order

1. with the particular aim or purpose. Your bags will be searched in order that security can be maintained. He came home early in order to make some phone calls.

2. complete and correct. Make sure the legal documents are signed and in order. It looks like everything is in order.

3. right for the occasion. Now that you're a college graduate, I think congratulations are in order! A speech seemed to be in order, but I wasn't sure what I should say.

in short order

very quickly. He was able to deal with the scheduling problems in short order. In short order, she became head waiter.

See also: short

just what the doctor ordered

exactly what is wanted or needed. An evening without the kids was just what the doctor ordered.

See also: doctor, just

on order

requested but not yet received. The lamp has been on order for several weeks.

the order of the day

an appropriate or common activity. When business is bad, cost-cutting is the order of the day. Sadly, cheating seems to be the order of the day.

See also: day

out of order

not working correctly. The copy machine is out of order and won't be repaired until tomorrow.

put your (own) house in order

to solve your own problems. You should put your own house in order before you start giving me advice.

Usage notes: usually said about someone who has many problems but criticizes others for not taking care of their problems

have your ducks in a row

See also: house