paint (redirected from paints the town red)

*close as two coats of paint

Cliché close and intimate. (*Also: as ~.) When Tom and Mary were in high school, they were as close as two coats of paint. All their lives, the cousins were close as two coats of paint.

See also: close, coat, two

*exciting as watching (the) paint dry

very, very dull. (Sarcastic. *Also: about as ~; as ~.) This book is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Listening to you is exciting as watching the paint dry.

See also: dry, watch

Do I have to spell it out (for you)? and Do I have to paint (you) a picture?; Do I need to paint you a picture?

Fig. What do I have to do to make this clear enough for you to understand? (Shows impatience.) Mary: I don't think I understand what you're trying to tell me, Fred. Fred: Do I have to spell it out for you? Mary: I guess so. Fred: We're through, Mary. Sally: Would you please go over the part about the square root again? Mary: Do I have to paint you a picture? Pay attention!

See also: have, spell

paint something in

to paint something extra onto a painted area. I know that there is supposed to be a big white spot here. We will have to paint it in. We will have to paint in the spot.

paint something onto something and paint something on

to apply a design or picture to something, using paint. Joel painted the portrait onto a large sheet of plywood. He painted on some leaves and flowers too.

paint something out

to cover something up or obliterate something by applying a layer of paint. The worker painted the graffiti out. They had to paint out the graffiti.

See also: out

paint on something

to apply paint to the surface of something. He painted on the fence a while and then went inside to rest. Please don't paint on the area that is not sanded down.

paint over something

to cover something up with a layer of paint. Sam painted over the rusty part of the fence. The work crew was told to paint over the graffiti.

paint the town (red)

Sl. to go out and celebrate; to go on a drinking bout; to get drunk. I feel like celebrating my promotion. Let's go out and paint the town. They were out painting the town red last night.

See also: town

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be like watching paint dry  (humorous) also be as interesting as watching paint dry (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 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 be like watching paint dry

See also: corner

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

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 somebody/something with the same brush also tar somebody/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

paint somebody/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 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.

See also: picture

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