pit (redirected from the pit of the stomach)

have one's shoulder to the wheel and keep one's shoulder to the wheel; pit one's shoulder to the wheel

Fig. to do the hard work that needs to be done; to focus on getting a job done. You won't accomplish anything unless you put your shoulder to the wheel. I put my shoulder to the wheel and finished the job quickly.

See also: have, shoulder, wheel

pit someone or something against someone or something

to set someone or something in opposition to someone or something. The rules of the tournament pit their team against ours. John pitted Mary against Sally in the tennis match.

See also: against

pit of one's stomach

Fig. the middle of one's stomach; the location of a "visceral response." I got a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach when they told me the bad news.

See also: stomach

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a bottomless pit

someone or something that always needs or wants more of whatever they are given, especially money It's a poor country with a bottomless pit of debt. Seb'll eat any food that's left over. He's a bottomless pit!

a pit stop  (mainly American informal)

a short stop that you make on a long car journey in order to rest, eat and go to the toilet Clean toilets and a nice place to eat are what drivers are looking for when they make a pit stop.

See also: stop

pit your wits against somebody/something

to compete against someone or something using your intelligence That's the pleasure of fishing - pitting your wits against these clever little fish that are trying desperately not to get caught.

See also: against, wit