peg (redirected from polyethylene glycol)

be level pegging (British & Australian)

if two people or groups who are competing in a race or election are level pegging, they are equal and it is not certain who will win. With three weeks to go to the election, Labour and the Alliance are still level pegging.

See also: level

bring someone down a peg or two

to do something to show someone that they are not as good as they thought they were. He's one of these super-confident types who really needs to be brought down a peg or two.

See also: bring, down, two

have someone pegged (mainly American)

to know exactly what kind of person someone is. He thinks we're all taken in by his charm, but I've got him pegged.

off the peg (British, American & Australian)

if you buy clothes off the peg, you buy them in a standard size from a shop rather than having them made specially for you. If I buy trousers off the peg they're always too short.

a square peg (in a round hole)

someone whose character makes them completely wrong for the type of work they are doing or for the situation they are in. I never did understand what Paddy was doing in accounts - he was a square peg in a round hole.

See also: square

---

bring someone/something down a peg (or two)

to show that someone or something is not as good as people think. His arrogant behavior made some people want to see him brought down a peg. She uses her position to take other people down a peg or two.

See also: bring, down

a square peg (in a round hole)

someone who is different from most people of the same age and situation. In high school she was defininitely a square peg, but even if they didn't understand her, most kids admired her.

See also: square