sing (redirected from sang a different tune)

cry one's heart out and sing one's heart out; play one's heart out; sob one's heart out

Fig. to do something with vigor or intensity. She suffered such grief—alone and sobbing her heart out. The bird sang its little heart out each morning.

See also: cry, heart, out

lay low and sing small

Rur. to hide; to make oneself inconspicuous. After he robbed the bank, the outlaw decided to lay low and sing small awhile. Jane is looking for you, and she sure is angry. You'd best lay low and sing small.

See also: and, lay, low, small

read from the same page and sing from the same hymnbook

Cliché share the same understanding of something. Okay, I think we are reading from the same page now. We can discuss the future of this project more productively.

See also: page, read, same

sing someone's or something's praises and sing the praises of someone or something

Fig. to praise someone highly and enthusiastically. The boss is singing his new secretary's praises. The theater critics are singing the praises of the young actor.

See also: praise

sing someone to sleep

to sing softly and sweetly to someone until sleep comes. The mother sang her baby to sleep. Please sing Timmy to sleep. He is very restless.

See also: sleep

sing something out

to sing or announce something loudly. The teacher sang the names out loud and clear. she sang out "The Star-Spangled Banner" in a loud voice.

See also: out

sing a different tune and sing another tune

Fig. to change one's manner, usually from bad to good. (Almost the same as dance to another tune.) When she learned that I was a bank director, she began to sing a different tune. You will sing another tune as soon as you find out how right I am!

See also: different, tune

sing along (with someone or something)

to sing with someone or with the accompaniment of some instrument(s). Harry played all the old songs and everybody sang along. Let's sing along with Mary. She knows some good songs.

See also: along

sing before breakfast, you'll cry before night and sing before breakfast, you'll cry before supper

Prov. If you wake up feeling very happy, your mood will change before the end of the day. Jill: I woke up in such a good mood today. I don't even know why, but everything seems good. Jane: Sing before breakfast, you'll cry before night. Alan: Good morning, dear! Isn't it a wonderful day? I feel great. Jane: Sing before breakfast, you'll cry before supper.

See also: before, cry, night

sing of someone or something

to tell about or sing a song about someone or something. The folksinger sang of Paul Bunyan. They all sang of happier times in the past.

sing out

to sing louder. sing out, please. This is a very large hall. The sopranos will have to sing out more.

See also: out

sing to someone or something

to sing a song and direct it at someone or something. The singer sang to a man in the front row, and he was very embarrassed by it. Claire sang to an older audience and put many of them to sleep.

sing together

[for people] to coordinate their singing. Let's sing together now. Everyone should watch the conductor and follow the beat. You have to sing together if you want your words to be understood.

See also: together

till the fat lady sings and when the fat lady sings

Fig. at the end; a long time from now. (Supposedly from a tale about a child—sitting through an opera—who asks a parent when it will be over. "Not until the fat lady sings" is the answer.) Relax. It won't be over till the fat lady sings. We can leave with everybody else when the fat lady sings.

See also: fat, lady, till

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[dance/sing/talk etc.] up a storm  (American informal)

to do something with a lot of energy Her dog barks up a storm every time the phone rings. They were sitting in a corner, talking up a storm.

See also: dance, storm, up

cry/sob your heart out  (informal)

to cry a lot Poor little love, her cat died and she's been crying her heart out all afternoon.

See also: cry, heart, out

It's not over until the fat lady sings.  (informal)

something that you say when someone is losing a game or competition but you think there is still a chance they might win Tony's only two games behind. And as they say, it's not over until the fat lady sings.

See also: fat, lady, until

sing somebody's/something's praises

to praise someone or something very much You've obviously made a good impression on Paul - he was singing your praises last night. Mat seems happy enough in Brighton - he's always singing its praises.

See also: praise

sing for your supper  (old-fashioned)

to do something for someone else in order to receive something in return, especially food Dan's upstairs fixing my computer - I'm making him sing for his supper.

See also: supper

sing the same tune  (British, American & Australian) also sing from the same hymnsheet/songsheet (British)

if a group of people sing the same tune, they say the same things about a subject in public (usually in continuous tenses) I want to make sure we're all singing the same tune before we give any interviews to the newspapers.

See also: same, tune

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sing somebody's/something's praises also sing the praises of somebody/something

to praise someone or something with enthusiasm I hate the city, but my sister is always singing its praises.

See also: praise

sing out (something)

1. to shout or call loudly He'd bring his daughters hot chocolate in their tent, singing out, “Time to get up!”

2. (slightly formal) to make known Adler tried in a scholarly way to sing out the joys of studying philosophy.

See also: out

sing the blues

to complain Computer programmers are singing the blues because business is bad and no one is hiring.

Etymology: based on the type of music called the blues (a musical form in which songs often are about difficulties or bad luck)

See also: blues