roof

*busy as a beaver (building a new dam) and *busy as a bee; *busy as a one-armed paperhanger; *busy as Grand Central Station; *busy as a cat on a hot tin roof; *busy as a fish peddler in Lent; *busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving); *busy as popcorn on a skillet

very busy. (*Also: as ~.) My boss keeps me as busy as a one-armed paperhanger. I don't have time to talk to you. I'm as busy as a beaver. When the tourist season starts, this store is busy as Grand Central Station. Sorry I can't go to lunch with you. I'm as busy as a beaver building a new dam. Prying into other folks' business kept him busy as popcorn on a skillet.

See also: beaver, busy

go through the roof 

1. Fig. Inf. to become very angry. She saw what had happened and went through the roof. My father went through the roof when he saw what I did to the car.

2. Fig. Inf. [for prices] to become very high. These days, prices for gasoline are going through the roof. The cost of coffee is going through the roof.

See also: through

hit the ceiling and hit the roof

Fig. to get very angry. She really hit the ceiling when she found out what happened. My dad'll hit the roof when he finds out that I wrecked his car.

See also: ceiling, hit

live under the same roof (with someone)

Fig. to share a dwelling with someone. (Implies living in a close relationships, as a husband and wife.) I don't think I can go on living under the same roof with her. She was quite happy to live under the same roof with him.

See also: live, same

roof something over

to build a roof over something; to provide something with a roof. After the destructive storm they had to roof the shed over so that the cow would have some shelter. We will roof over the patio and turn the area into a porch.

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a roof over your head

somewhere to live We didn't have any money, but at least we had a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs.

See also: head

be like a cat on a hot tin roof

to be nervous and unable to keep still What's the matter with her? She's like a cat on a hot tin roof this morning.

See also: cat, hot, like, tin

go through the roof

if the level of something, especially a price, goes through the roof, it increases very quickly As a result of the war, oil prices have gone through the roof.

See also: through

hit the ceiling/roof  (informal)

to become very angry and start shouting If I'm late again he'll hit the roof.

See also: ceiling, hit

raise the roof

to make a loud noise by shouting, clapping or singing They finished the set with their current hit and the audience raised the roof.

See also: raise

the roof caves/falls in  (American)

if the roof caves in, something very bad suddenly happens to you For the first six years of my life I was happy. Then my father died and the roof caved in.

See hit the ceiling, raise the roof

See also: cave

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a roof over your head

a place to live At least we have a roof over our heads and the children have something to eat.

See also: head

go through the roof

to increase to a very high level The price of that new stock went through the roof. Police say the crime rate in our area has gone through the roof.

Usage notes: often used to refer to prices or costs

See also: through

hit the ceiling See: hit the roof

See also: ceiling, hit

hit the roof also go through the roof

to suddenly become very angry hit the ceiling I'm afraid he'll hit the roof when he finds out our vacation is canceled. Officials went through the roof when a local newspaper published the report.

See also: hit

raise the roof

1. to show great enthusiasm The whole college is ready to raise the roof at next weekend's homecoming celebrations.

2. to complain loudly He didn't care if his boss raised the roof or even threatened to fire him, he knew he was right.

See also: raise