paint (redirected from paint out)

be like watching paint dry (humorous, humorous)

if you say that watching an activity is like watching paint dry, you mean that it is very boring. To me, watching golf on television is about as interesting as watching paint dry.

See also: dry, like, watch

paint a [bleak/rosy etc.] picture of something

to describe a situation in a particular way. The article paints a bleak (= hopeless) picture of the future. He painted a rosy (= happy) picture of family life.

See also: picture, rosy

paint yourself into a corner

to do something which puts you in a very difficult situation and limits the way that you can act. I've painted myself into a corner here. Having said I won't take less than £20 an hour, I can't then be seen to accept a job that pays less.

See also: corner

paint the town red (informal)

to go out and enjoy yourself in the evening, often drinking a lot of alcohol and dancing. Jack finished his exams today so he's gone out to paint the town red.

See also: red, town

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paint a picture (of something)

to describe a situation in a particular way. The report paints a picture of a neighborhood in decline.

Usage notes: often used with an adjective that describes the type of situation: Doctors have begun to paint a grim picture of his condition. I don't want to paint too rosy a picture.As the 2nd usage ex. shows, the obj is optional--SL, 1/03

See also: picture

paint someone/yourself into a corner

to do something that takes away all of your choices. They've painted themselves into a corner by promising to announce the results of their investigation. The army painted the rebels into a corner, and the only choice they had was to fight.

See also: corner

paint the town (red)

to go out and celebrate without control. Jack finished his exams today so he's gone out to paint the town red.

Usage notes: usually said about celebrations that include a lot of drinking

See also: town

paint someone/something with the same brush

to say that someone or something has the same bad qualities as someone or something else. When one swimmer uses banned substances, you feel sorry for the others because they are all tarred with the same brush.

See also: brush, same