size (redirected from sizing up)

all of a size

Rur. all of the same size. I tried to pick out the biggest tomato, but they were pretty much all of a size. The houses in that neighborhood are all of a size.

beat someone down to size and knock someone down to size

Fig. to make a person more humble, sometime by actual physical beating. If you keep acting so arrogant, someone is going to beat you down to size. It's time someone knocked you down to size. I'll try to be less arrogant. I don't want anyone to beat me down to size.

See also: beat

pick on someone your own size and pick on somebody your own size

to abuse someone who is big enough to fight back. Go pick on somebody your own size! Wilbur should leave his little brother alone and pick on someone his own size.

See also: pick

size someone or something up

to observe someone or something to get information; to check someone or something out. The comedian sized the audience up and decided not to use his new material. I like to size up a situation before I act.

See also: up

That's about the size of it.

Inf. That is the way it is. (Often a response to someone who has acknowledged bad news.) Bob: We only have a few hundred dollars left in the bank. Sally: That means that there isn't enough money for us to go on vacation? Bob: That's about the size of it. Bob: I'm supposed to take this bill to the county clerk's office and pay them four hundred dollars? Sally: That's about the size of it.

whittle someone down to size

Fig. to reduce someone's ego; to cause someone to have better, more respectful behavior. (Fig. on whittle something down (to size).) After a few days at camp, the counselors had whittled young Walter down to size. It took some doing, but they whittled him down to size.

See also: whittle

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all shapes and sizes

many different types of people or things Mortgage deals come in all shapes and sizes these days.

See also: and, shape

cut somebody down to size

to criticize someone who you think is too confident in order to make them feel less confident or less proud When he started he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size.

See also: cut

That's about the size of it.  (informal)

used to agree that someone's opinion or description of a situation is correct 'So she just ignored all the warnings and went up the mountain anyway?' 'That's about the size of it.'

See cut down to size, try for size

try something for size  (British & Australian) also try something on for size (American & Australian)

to test something or to think about an idea in order to decide whether it works or whether you can use it Try that for size. It's the new software program I've been working on. The government is still trying some ideas on for size before committing itself to action.

See also: try

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all shapes and sizes

a large variety Digital marketing includes banner ads of all shapes and sizes and e-mail, among other options.

Usage notes: often used in the form come in all shapes and sizes (exist in a large variety of types): Investors come in all shapes and sizes.

See also: and, shape

cut somebody/something down to size

to make someone or something less important or detailed When he started the job he thought he knew everything, but we soon cut him down to size. Sometimes we have to cut our grand dreams down to size.

See also: cut

size up somebody/something also size somebody/something up

to examine someone or something so you can make a judgment about them After sizing up the opposition, Abe suggested a strategy. Warren looked the man over, trying to size him up.

See also: up

try something (on) for size

to test something so you can form an opinion about it I don't think everyone would be happy working here, but you should try it on for size and see if it's right for you.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of try on something (put on clothes to see if they fit and look good)

See also: try