plate (redirected from plates)

clean (up) one's plate

to eat all the food on one's plate. You have to clean up your plate before you can leave the table. Mom said we can't watch TV tonight unless we clean our plates.

See also: clean

full plate

Fig. a full schedule; a lot to do. I'm very busy at work, and I've got a full plate at home too.

See also: full

have too much on one's plate and have a lot on one's plate

Fig. to be too busy. I'm sorry, I just have too much on my plate right now. If you have too much on your plate, can I help?

See also: have, much

step up to the plate 

1. Lit. [for a batter in baseball] to move near home plate in preparation for striking the ball when it is pitched. The batter stepped up to the plate and glared at the pitcher.

2. Fig. to move into a position where one is ready to do a task. It's time for Tom to step up to the plate and take on his share of work.

See also: step, up

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somebody's head on a plate/platter

if you want someone's head on a plate you are very angry with them and want them to be punished The director was furious at what had happened and wanted Watt's head on a platter.

See also: head

give/hand something to somebody on a plate

to let someone get something very easily, without having to work for it You can't expect everything to be handed to you on a plate - you've got to make a bit of effort.

See also: give

have a lot/enough on your plate  also have your plate full

to have a lot of work to do or a lot of problems to deal with I don't want to burden my daughter with my problems; she's got enough on her plate with her husband in prison. Simon can't take on any more work. He's got his plate full as it is.

See also: have, lot

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a full plate

a lot of work to do or problems to deal with Facing funding cuts and a lawsuit challenging the school's admissions policy, the university's new president has a full plate.

See also: full

step up to the plate

to take responsibility for doing something It is time companies stepped up to the plate and made sure the meat they sell is safe to eat.

Related vocabulary: step in

Etymology: based on the baseball meaning of step up to the plate (move into position to hit the ball)

See also: step, up