tree (redirected from out of tree)

As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.

Prov. A grown person will act the way he or she was taught to act as a child. Alice's parents thought it was cute when she threw tantrums, and you'll notice that she still throws tantrums now that she's grown up. As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined. Don't encourage your son to be so greedy. As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.

See also: inclined

bark up the wrong tree

Fig. to make the wrong choice; to ask the wrong person; to follow the wrong course. (Alludes to a dog in pursuit of an animal, where the animal is in one tree and the dog is barking at another tree.) If you think I'm the guilty person, you're barking up the wrong tree. The hitters blamed the team's bad record on the pitchers, but they were barking up the wrong tree.

See also: bark, up, wrong

cannot see the wood for the trees and cannot see the forest for the trees

Prov. Cannot perceive the overview or important things because of concentrating too much on details. The information presented in this textbook is so disorganized that I can't see the wood for the trees. The politician's opponents claimed that she couldn't see the forest for the trees, because she spent so much time trying to solve minor problems.

See also: cannot, see, wood

Go chase yourself! and Go climb a tree!; Go fly a kite!; Go jump in the lake!

Inf. Go away and stop bothering me! Bob: Get out of here. Bill! You're driving mecrazy! Go chase yourself'. Bill: What did I do to you? Bob: You're just in the way. Bill: Dad, can I have ten bucks? Father: Go climb a tree! Fred: Stop pestering me, John. Go jump in the lake! John: What did I do? Bob: Well, Bill, don't you owe me some money? Bill: Go fly a kite!

See also: chase

make like a tree and leave

Sl. to leave; to depart. (Jocular; a pun on the leaf of a tree.) I have to leave now. It's time to make like a tree and leave. Hey, Jane. Don't you have an appointment somewhere? Why don't you make like a tree and leave?

See also: and, leave, like, make

Money does not grow on trees.

Prov. It is not easy to get money. (Implies that the person you are addressing spends money too easily.) Child: Can I have ten dollars to go to the movies? Father: Ten dollars?! Money doesn't grow on trees.

See also: does, grow, money

not able to see the forest for the trees

Cliché allowing many details of a situation to obscure the situation as a whole. (Not able to is often expressed as can't.) The solution is obvious. You missed it because you can't see the forest for the trees. She suddenly realized that she hadn't been able to see the forest for the trees.

See also: able, forest, see

not grow on trees

Fig. not to be abundant; not to be expendable. (Usually said about money.) I can't afford that. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know. Don't waste the glue. That stuff doesn't grow on trees, you know.

See also: grow

tree is known by its fruit

Prov. People judge your character by what you do. (Biblical.) The politician may say she believes in more spending on child care, but the tree is known by its fruit; she hasn't voted for a single measure that would help.

See also: fruit, known

up a tree 

1. confused; without an answer to a problem; in difficulty. This whole business has me up a tree. I'm up a tree, and I need some help.

2. intoxicated. Only two glasses of booze and he was up a tree for sure. My buddy here is up a tree and needs a place to crash for the night.

See also: up

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be barking up the wrong tree  (informal)

to be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something New evidence suggests that we have been barking up the wrong tree in our search for a cure.

See also: bark, up, wrong

be out of your tree  (informal)

to be crazy or behaving in a strange way, sometimes because of drugs or alcohol Is he going to build the extension himself? He's out of his tree!

See also: out

be up a gum tree  (British & Australian old-fashioned) also be up a tree (American old-fashioned)

to be in a very difficult situation

Usage notes: A small animal in Australia called a possum climbs up a gum tree when it is being chased.

If the insurance company won't pay for the damage, I'll be up a gum tree.

See also: gum, up

can't see the wood for the trees  (British, American & Australian) also can't see the forest for the trees (American & Australian)

if someone can't see the wood for the trees, they are unable to understand what is important in a situation because they are giving too much attention to details After you've spent years researching a single topic you get to a point where you can't see the wood for the trees.

See also: see, wood

Money doesn't grow on trees.

something that you say which means you should be careful how much money you spend because there is only a limited amount 'Dad, can I have a new bike?' 'We can't afford one. Money doesn't grow on trees, you know.'

See also: grow, money

the top of the tree  (British & Australian)

if someone is at the top of the tree, they are at the highest position in their job or in an organization Who would have guessed that she would get to the top of the tree before her clever and talented brother?

See also: top

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barking up the wrong tree

believing the wrong explanation for something He had nothing to do with the robbery - the cops are really barking up the wrong tree this time.

See also: bark, up, wrong

not see the forest for the trees

to pay too much attention to details and not understand the general situation not see the wood for the trees Company officials were so involved in the talks, they couldn't see the forest for the trees and didn't realize their employees were willing to strike.

See also: forest, see

not see the wood for the trees See: not see the forest for the trees

See also: see, wood

up a tree

in a difficult situation If the insurance company won't pay for the damage, I'll be up a tree.

See also: up