school

cut class and cut school

to skip a school class or a day of school without an excuse. As a joke, one day all the students cut their math class and went to lunch. Jane was grounded after she cut school last Friday.

See also: class, cut

from the old school and of the old school

Fig. holding attitudes or ideas that were popular and important in the past, but which are no longer considered relevant or in line with modern trends. (See also of the old school) Grammar is not taught much now, but fortunately my son has a teacher from the old school. Aunt Jane is from the old school. She never goes out without wearing a hat and gloves.

See also: old

How do you like school?

a phrase used to start a conversation with a school-age person. Bob: Well, Billy, how do you like school? Billy: I hate it. Bob: Too bad. Mary: How do you like school? Bob: It's okay. Almost everything else is better, though.

See also: how, like

Never tell tales out of school.

Prov. Do not tell secrets; do not gossip. Fred: I just learned something really scandalous about the president of our company. Ellen: Well, I don't want to hear it. You shouldn't tell tales out of school.

See also: never, out, tales, tell

school someone in something

to train, discipline, or coach someone in something. The voice coach schooled the singer in excellent breathing techniques. We were schooled in oratory and debate. She schooled herself in patience.

school of hard knocks

Fig. the school of life's experiences, as opposed to a formal, classroom education. I didn't go to college, but I went to the school of hard knocks. I learned everything by experience.

See also: hard, knock

school of thought

a particular philosophy or way of thinking about something. One school of thought holds that cats cause allergic reactions. I come from the school of thought that believes people should always be polite.

See also: thought

tell tales out of school

to tell secrets or spread rumors. I wish that John would keep quiet. He's telling tales out of school again. If you tell tales out of school a lot, people won't know when to believe you.

See also: out, tales, tell

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of the old school

if someone is of the old school, they have traditional ideas about how to do something and they do not accept new ways of doing it She was a teacher of the old school and believed in strict discipline.

See also: old

the old school tie

the way in which men who have been to the same expensive private school help each other to find good jobs The old school tie still has enormous power in many City companies.

See an old head on young shoulders, You can't teach an old dog new tricks

See also: old, tie

the school of hard knocks

learning through difficult experiences An early training in the school of hard knocks was good preparation for a career in politics.

See also: hard, knock

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teach school

to instruct students in a school Buller left journalism to teach school, and he wrote several books about his experiences.

See also: teach