row
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
a long row to hoe
A particularly difficult or problematic task, situation, or set of circumstances to contend with or confront. Immigration reform was one of the new president's primary campaign promises, but it will likely prove a long row to hoe, given the deep divisions in congress. I know finishing this thesis will be a long row to hoe, but I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.
row back
To quickly or abruptly reverse or retreat from one's earlier position, decision, or opinion. Primarily heard in UK. The actor had to row back when he let slip a racist remark during the press conference. The government is rowing back on the decision to increase water charges after nationwide protests erupted on Friday.
a hard row to hoe
A particularly difficult or problematic task, situation, or set of circumstances to contend with or confront. Tax reform was one of the new president's primary campaign promises, but it will likely prove a hard row to hoe, given the deep divisions in congress. I know finishing this thesis will be a hard row to hoe, but I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.
tough row to hoe
A particularly difficult or problematic task, situation, or set of circumstances to contend with or confront. Immigration reform was one of the new president's primary campaign promises, but it will likely prove a tough row to hoe given the deep divisions in congress. I know finishing this thesis will be a tough row to hoe, but I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.
have (one's) ducks in a row
To be well-organized, prepared, and up-to-date. We need to have our ducks in a row to ensure that there are no problems at home while we're gone on our trip. Before you make those accusations, you better have your ducks in a row.
in a row
In a continuous, uninterrupted series. I can't believe you won ten games in a row! Look, Sarah has lined up all of her dolls in a row.
See also: row
get (one's) ducks in a row
To take action to become well-organized, prepared, and/or up-to-date. We need to get our ducks in a row to ensure that there are no problems at home while we're gone on our trip. Make sure Finance gets their ducks in a row before the audit.
kick up a fuss
To be a nuisance or cause a disturbance by complaining, arguing, etc. At most big box stores, if you kick up a fuss about a product that didn't meet your expectations, you'll almost definitely get a refund.
skid row
1. A squalid area of poverty and destitution, typically inhabited by those suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction. When they hosted the Olympics, the city was criticized for rounding up the homeless and keeping them all contained on skid row.
2. A life marked by poverty and squalid circumstances. It's amazing that, after nearly five years on skid row, he's now one of the biggest names in show business.
kick up a row
To be very vocal in one's displeasure about something; to make a scene. My mom kicked up a row when the store refused to accept her return without a receipt. At most big box stores, if you kick up a row about a product that didn't meet your expectations, you'll almost definitely get a refund.
on skid row
In utter poverty or squalid circumstances. It's amazing that, after nearly five years on skid row, he's now one of the biggest names in show business.
make a fuss
To be a nuisance or cause a disturbance by complaining, arguing, etc. (about something). At most big box stores, if you make a fuss about a product that didn't meet your expectations, you'll almost definitely get a refund. Sir, we have politely asked you to leave—please don't make a fuss.
row out to (something or some place)
1. To use a rowboat to reach some distant thing or location. Make sure you're wearing life jackets when you row out to the cabin on the lake. A skeleton crew will remain aboard the ship while the rest of us row out to shore.
2. To delivery or carry someone or something to some distant thing or location on a rowboat. We're rowing emergency supplies out to flood victims stranded on their roofs until they can be airlifted to safety. The kids want us to row them out to the island in the middle of the lake so they can explore for the afternoon.
skid-row bum
A person reduced to abject poverty and squalid living conditions, especially an alcoholic or drug addict. He used to run one of the most successful companies in the city, but then the market crashed and he wound up as a skid-row bum. I have to walk by a couple skid-row bums on my way to work who always beg for my spare change.
See also: bum
get one's ducks in a row
Fig. to get one's affairs in order or organized. Jane is organized. She really gets all her ducks in a row right away. You can't hope to go into a company and sell something until you get your ducks in a row.
hoe one's own row
Rur. to mind one's own business. Tom: You're cutting up those carrots awful small. Jane: Hoe your own row! He didn't get involved in other people's fights. He just hoed his own row.
kick up a fuss
and kick up a row; kick up a stormFig. to become a nuisance; to misbehave and disturb (someone). (Row rhymes with cow. Note the variations in the examples.) The customer kicked up such a fuss about the food that the manager came to apologize. I kicked up such a row that they told me to leave. Oh, what pain! My arthritis is kicking up a storm.
make a fuss
(over someone or something)1. to worry about or make a bother about someone or something. Why do you make a fuss over a problem like that? Please don't make a fuss. Everything will be all right.
2. to be very solicitous and helpful toward a person or a pet. How can anyone make a fuss over a cat? Billy was embarrassed when his mother made a fuss over him.
3. to argue about someone or something. Please don't make a fuss over who gets the last cookie. Please discuss it. Don't make a fuss over it!
row (someone or something) out to something
to carry someone or something in a rowboat from the shore out to something. Will you row me out to the island? I rowed out all the visitors to the little island.
tough row to hoe
and hard row to hoeFig. a difficult task to carry out; a heavy set of burdens. It's a tough row to hoe, but hoe it you will. This is not an easy task. This is a hard row to hoe.
get one's ducks in a row
Also, have one's ducks in a row. Complete one's preparations, become efficient and well organized, as in I'm trying to get my ducks in a row before I go to Europe. This synonym for get one's act together probably alludes to lining up target ducks in a shooting gallery. [Slang; 1970s]
kick up a fuss
Also, kick up a row or storm . Create a disturbance; start a fight. For example, The soup was cold, and Aunt Mary began to kick up a fuss, calling for the manager, or There's no need to kick up a row; the boys will leave quietly, or If they fire him, Carl is ready to kick up a storm. These expressions all employ kick up in the sense of "raise dust or dirt," a usage dating from the mid-1700s.
make a fuss
1. Cause a needless commotion or display, as in I'm sure he'll be here soon; please don't make a fuss. It is also often put as make a fuss about or over , as in He's making a fuss about nothing, or If you make a fuss over the small budget items, what will it be like when we discuss the big ones? The idiom dates from about 1800, although the use of fuss in this sense is a century older.
2. make a fuss over someone. Treat someone with excessive attention, solicitude, or affection, as in Whenever they visit Grandma she makes a fuss over the children. [1920s]
skid row
A squalid district inhabited by derelicts and vagrants; also, a life of impoverished dissipation. For example, That part of town is our skid row, or His drinking was getting so bad we thought he was headed for skid row. This expression originated in the lumber industry, where it signified a road or track made of logs laid crosswise over which logs were slid. Around 1900 the name Skid Road was used for the part of a town frequented by loggers, which had many bars and brothels, and by the 1930s the variant skid row, with its current meaning, came into use.
tough row to hoe
Also, hard row to hoe. A difficult course, hard work to accomplish, as in He knew he'd have a tough row to hoe by running against this popular incumbent. [First half of 1800s]
get your ducks in a row
orhave your ducks in a row
mainly AMERICAN, INFORMALIf you get your ducks in a row or have your ducks in a row, you get everything well organized and under control. The people who've been running the business for the last few years seem to be getting their ducks in a row. Dan's a thorough kind of guy. He isn't going to do anything until he's got all his ducks in a row. Note: The `ducks' in this expression are duckpins. The game of duckpins is a variation of bowling, with ten smaller pins and a smaller ball with no finger holes. The literal meaning of `to get your ducks in a row' is to get your duckpins set up for the next game.
a hard row to hoe
ora tough row to hoe
A hard row to hoe or a tough row to hoe is a situation which is very difficult to deal with. With four children under six and very little money, my mother had a hard row to hoe. In a criminal prosecution against the police, the prosecutor has a very tough row to hoe. She is the first to admit that being a woman in politics has been a hard row to hoe.
in a row
COMMON If something happens a particular number of times in a row, it happens that many times without a break. For the second day in a row Adam was the only guest at breakfast. We were beaten by them nine times in a row.
See also: row
on skid row
mainly AMERICAN, INFORMALSkid row is a poor part of a city where many people who are homeless and alcoholic live. He worked for twenty years catching drug dealers on the city's skid row. Note: You say that someone is on skid row when they have lost all their money and possessions. A drug addict who lived on skid row, she fit the profile of the other missing women.
get (or have) your ducks in a row
get (or have) your facts straight; get (or have) everything organized. North American informal 1996 Brew Your Own You really want to have all your ducks in a row before the meeting.
kick up a fuss (or a stink)
register strong disapproval; object loudly to something. informala hard (or tough) row to hoe
a difficult task.Hoeing a row of plants is used here as a metaphor for very arduous work.
get/have (all) your ˌducks in a ˈrow
(especially American English) have made all the preparations needed to do something; be well organized: We need to get all our ducks in a row before beginning work on the project.kick up a ˈfuss, ˈrow, etc.
(informal) complain very noisily and loudly about something: He kicked up a real fuss about the slow service in the restaurant. ♢ Every time her newspaper arrives late, she kicks up a fuss.in a ˈrow
(of a number of events, etc.) happening one after another; consecutively: We’ve won five games in a row.See also: row
(on) skid ˈrow
(informal, especially American English) people who are on skid row live in a very poor part of town where there are many social problems: When he went bankrupt he lost everything, and ended up living on skid row for a few years. OPPOSITE: on easy streetThis expression came from the phrase skid road, referring to the poor part of towns where loggers (= people who cut down trees or cut and transported wood) lived. Originally a skid road was a road made of large pieces of wood, used for moving logs to the mill.skid row
n. the name for a place populated with ruined alcoholics and other down-and-out people. Just because they’re on skid row, it doesn’t mean they’re beyond help.
skid row bum
n. a down-and-out person; a low alcoholic beggar. Do you want to end up a skid row bum?
tough row to hoe
n. a difficult task to carry out; a heavy set of burdens. This is not an easy task. This is a tough row to hoe.
a tough row to hoe
Informal A difficult situation to endure.