spring (redirected from springs for)

come to mind

Fig. [for a thought or idea] to enter into one's consciousness or be remembered. Do I know a good barber? No one comes to mind right now. Another idea comes to mind. Why not check in the phone book?

See also: come, mind

Hope springs eternal (in the human breast).

Prov. People will continue to hope even though they have evidence that things cannot possibly turn out the way they want. (From Alexander Pope's poem, "Essay on Man." Sometimes used to remark that you believe someone's situation is hopeless, as in the first example.) Jill: The boss may have turned me down the first twelve times I asked for a raise, but this time I really think she'll give it to me. Jane: Hope springs eternal in the human breast. Alan: You're not still trying to teach the dog to shake hands! Jane: Hope springs eternal.

See also: eternal, hope

no spring chicken

Fig. a person well past youth; an old person. That actress is no spring chicken, but she does a pretty good job of playing a twenty-year-old girl. Jane: How old do you think Robert is? Jill: Well, he's certainly no spring chicken.

See also: chicken

spring (forth) from someone or something

to come forth from someone or something; to gush out of someone or something, as with a spring of water; to jump from or out of someone or something. The best ideas spring forth from the mind of Mary! What new example of pure genius can we expect to spring from Mary today?

spring (up)on (someone, something, or an animal)

to jump on someone, something, or an animal; to pounce on someone, something, or an animal. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) The lion sprang upon him and knocked him down. The cat sprang on the mouse and captured it.

spring something on someone 

1. to surprise someone with something. I hate to spring this on you at the last moment, but I will need some money to travel on. Please don't spring any other demands on me.

2. to pull a trick on someone. Let me tell you about the trick I sprang on Sally. What are you going to spring on her this time?

spring at someone or something

to jump at someone or something. The cat sprang at me but could not sink in its claws. The spider sprang at the moth and captured it.

spring back (to some place)

to jump, bounce, or recoil back to a place. The cat sprang back to its original place on the top of the table. The lid sprang back to a closed position.

See also: back

spring for something and bounce for something

Sl. to treat someone by buying something. I'm bouncing for pizza. Any takers? Ralph sprang for drinks, and we all had a great time.

spring into action

Fig. to suddenly begin moving or doing something. As soon as the boss came in the door, everyone sprang into action. Every morning, I jump out of bed and spring into action.

See also: action

spring out at someone

to jump out at someone. A grasshopper sprang out at me when I peered into the hollow log. I was afraid that something would spring out at me, so I opened the cellar door carefully.

See also: out

spring out of something

to jump out of something. The cat sprang out of the closet when I opened the door. The boys sprang out of the cold water as fast as they could.

See also: out

spring to someone's defense

Fig. to go quickly to defend someone. (Can be against physical or verbal attack.) Fred was attacked and Ralph sprang to his defense. We sprang to Mary's defense when she was accused of doing wrong.

See also: defense

spring to attention

to move quickly to assume the military posture of attention. The recruit sprang to attention.

See also: attention

spring to life

Fig. to become suddenly alive or more alive. The party sprang to life after midnight. The city sprang to life at dawn.

See also: life

spring to one's feet

Fig. to stand up quickly. He sprang to his feet and demanded that the chair recognize him. The audience sprang to its feet and cheered madly when the soprano finished.

See also: feet

spring up

to appear or develop suddenly; to sprout, as with a seedling. We knew it was really spring when all the flowers sprang up. It seems as if the tulips sprang up overnight. The dog's ears sprang up when the refrigerator opened.

See also: up

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be full of the joys of spring  (British & Australian humorous)

to be very happy He bounced into the office, full of the joys of spring.

See also: full, joy

be no spring chicken  (humorous)

to not be young any more He must be ten years older than Grace, and she's no spring chicken.

See come to mind

See also: chicken

come/spring to mind

if someone or something springs to mind, you immediately think of them I'm trying to think of someone who might help out with the kids. Yvette comes to mind. 'Don't you think sex is funny, Marty?' ''Funny' isn't the word that immediately springs to mind, no.'

See also: come, mind

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come to mind

to enter or appear in your thoughts Mention fashion and Kate's name comes to mind. As he spoke, the powerful voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., came to mind.

See also: come, mind

spring to life

1. to suddenly become active I was standing on the golf course when the sprinkler system sprang to life without warning.

2. to begin existing The company sprang to life in 1939 as a manufacturer of testing instruments.

See also: life

spring to mind

to appear suddenly or immediately in your thoughts That's not a publisher that springs to mind when you mention quality fiction.

See also: mind