pack (redirected from pack out)

Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest.

Prov. Everyone thinks he or she has the hardest work to do or the most difficult problems to overcome. When we were growing up, my sister and I each thought our own chores were harder than the other's. Every horse thinks its own pack heaviest.

See also: every, heavy, horse, think

pack someone or something (in) like sardines

Fig. to squeeze in as many people or things as possible. (From the way that many sardines are packed into a can.) They packed us in like sardines. There was no room to breathe. They packed in the people like sardines. Dave got a box and packed old negatives in like sardines.

See also: like, sardine

pack someone or something into something and pack someone or something in

to press or push someone or something into something; to manage to get a lot of things or people into a place. The boys packed a lot of kids into a telephone booth as a gag. They packed in a lot of kids.

pack someone or something together

to press or squeeze people or things together. The ushers packed the people together as much as they dared. They packed together all the people standing in the room. They packed the cups together too tightly and some broke.

See also: together

pack someone off (to someone or something)

to send someone away to someone or some place. Laura just packed all the kids off to summer camp. She packed off the kids to their camp. After a lot of planning and a few tears, she packed them all off.

pack something away

to pack something up and put it away. Pack this mirror away where it will be safe. Please pack away this mirror carefully.

See also: away

pack something down

to make something more compact; to press something in a container down so it takes less space. The traffic packed down the snow. Pack the grass down in the basket so the basket will hold more.

pack something in something

to surround or enclose something in something. They packed his wounded hand in Ice, then took him to the hospital. Pack the vase in shredded paper before you close the box.

pack something off (to someone or something)

to send something to someone or something. I will pack the books off to you immediately. She packed off the books to my home address. Harry found the books I wanted and packed them off.

pack something up (in something)

to prepare something to be transported by placing it into a container. Gerry will pack the dishes up in a strong box, using lots of crumpled paper. Please pack up the dishes carefully.

See also: up

pack a wallop and pack a punch

Fig. to provide a burst of energy, power, or excitement. Wow, this spicy food really packs a wallop. I put a special kind of gasoline in my car because I thought it would pack a punch. It didn't.

pack down

[for something] to settle down in a container. The cereal has packed down in the box so that it seems that the box is only half full. Everything was packed down carefully inside.

pack it in 

1. Fig. to quit trying to do something; to give up trying something and quit. I was so distressed that I almost packed it in. I've had enough! I'm going to pack it in.

2. Fig. to go to bed. Good night. It's time for me to pack it in. We drove to a hotel and packed it in.

pack of lies

a series of lies. The thief told a pack of lies to cover up the crime. John listened to Bill's pack of lies about the fight and became very angry.

See also: lie

pack them in

Fig. to draw a lot of people. It was a good night at the theater. The play really packed them in. The circus manager knew he could pack them in if he advertised the lion tamer.

See also: them

pack up

to prepare one's belongings to be transported by placing them into a container; to gather one's things together for one's departure. If we are going to leave in the morning, we should pack up now. I think you should pack up and be ready to leave at a moment's notice. He didn't say good-bye. He just packed up and left.

See also: up

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a pack of lies  also a tissue of lies (formal)

a story that someone has invented in order to deceive people He dismissed recent rumours that he'd had affairs with a number of women as 'a pack of lies'. The entire account of where she'd been and who she'd been with that night was a tissue of lies.

See also: lie

a pack rat  (American)

someone who collects things that they do not need For me there could be nothing worse than living with a pack rat.

See also: rat

be ahead of the pack

to be more successful than other people who are trying to achieve the same things as you At this stage in the campaign, the Democratic candidate is way ahead of the pack.

See also: ahead

pack your bags

to leave a place or a job and not return The Chief of Police has defied the order to pack his bags.

See a pack of lies

See also: bag

pack a punch  (informal)

if someone can pack a punch, they can hit very hard when they are fighting He's a big guy - I should imagine he can pack a fair punch.

See also: punch

the joker in the pack

someone or something that could change a situation in a way that you do not expect The independent candidate is the joker in the pack in this election.

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ahead of the pack

more successful than those you are competing against In terms of raising money, Joe Anderson is way ahead of the pack. Of all the software I've tested, this product is ahead of the pack.

See also: ahead

lead the pack

to be first or best of a group For the second week in a row, the new Star Wars movie leads the pack at the box office.

See also: lead

pack somebody off also pack off somebody

to send someone away We packed the kids off to their grandparents for the weekend.

pack your bags

to leave a place or a job and not return Several members of the city council feel the chief of police should pack his bags.

See also: bag

pack a punch

to have a powerful effect or influence For big flavor, a blend of cumin, chili powder, coriander, cayenne, and black pepper packs a punch.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of pack a punch (hit very hard)

See also: punch

pack it in

to stop doing an activity or job After another 11-hour day of campaigning, Kerns is ready to pack it in. Most professional athletes want to pack it in before they lose their ability to play well.

pack them in also pack ’em in

to attract many people Her Friday night appearances at the club have been packing them in.

See also: them

pack up somebody also pack somebody up

to prepare someone to leave by gathering all their possessions When the teachers heard about a flood warning, they packed up the children and sent them home.

See also: up