snake (redirected from snaking)

go at something like a boy killing snakes

Rur. to do something with a great deal of energy. Once Mary decided to take that test, she went at her books like a boy killing snakes. I hired Joe to weed my garden, and he went at it like a boy killing snakes.

See also: boy, killing, like

If it was a snake it woulda bit you.

Rur. It was very close to you. Jane: Where's the phone book? Tom: Right there! If it was a snake it woulda bit you. Bill: I can't find my other shoe. I've looked all over the house. Mary: It's right behind you. If it was a snake it would have bit you.

See also: bit, if, was

like fighting snakes

Rur. chaotic; challenging. (As if every time one snake is subdued, another one attacks.) It's like fighting snakes to get anything done at this time of year. Arguing with you is like fighting snakes.

See also: fight, like

seeing pink elephants and seeing pink spiders; Seeing snakes

intoxicated; recovering from a drinking bout; having the delirium tremens. When I got to the point of seeing pink elephants, I knew that something had to be done. The old one who's shaking—he's probably seeing snakes.

See also: elephant, pink, seeing

snake along

to move along in a curving line, looking like a snake; to move along in a line, moving as a snake moves. The train snaked along, gaining speed as it went downhill. The line of people waiting to buy tickets snaked along slowly.

See also: along

snake in the grass

a sneaky and despised person. How could I ever have trusted that snake in the grass? John is such a snake in the grass.

See also: grass

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a snake in the grass

someone who pretends to be your friend while secretly doing things to harm you It's upsetting to learn that someone you once viewed as a good colleague is in fact a snake in the grass.

See also: grass

snake oil  (American informal)

advice or solutions to problems which are of no use

Usage notes: People used to sell substances called snake oil in the US which they said would cure illnesses but which were of no use.

In my opinion, government measures for balancing the budget are just so much snake oil. (American informal)

See also: oil