them

*rolling in the aisles

Fig. [of an audience] wild with laughter. (*Typically: get them ~; have them ~; leave them ~.) DI have the best jokes you've ever heard. I'll have them rolling in the aisles. What a great performance. We had them rolling in the aisles.

See also: aisle, roll

(You) can't win them all. and (You) can't win 'em all.

Inf. a catch phrase said when someone, including the speaker, has lost in a contest or failed at something. (The you is impersonal, meaning one, anyone. The apostrophe on 'em is not always used.) Mary: Gee, I came in last again! Jane: Oh, well. You can't win them all. "Can't win 'em all," muttered Alice as she left the boss's office with nothing accomplished.

See also: win

and those and and them

Rur. and some other people; and other friends or family members. But if we invite Jill, Mary and them will want to come. Jim and those was sayin' nasty things about me.

See also: and, those

daddy of them all and granddaddy of them all

Fig. the biggest or oldest of all; the patriarch. This old fish is the granddaddy of them all. This tree is the daddy of them all. It's been here since the place was built.

See also: daddy

God helps them that help themselves. and God helps those who help themselves.

Prov. You cannot depend solely on divine help, but must work yourself to get what you want. You can't spend your days waiting for a good job to find you. God helps those that help themselves. If you want a better education, start studying. God helps those who help themselves.

See also: god, help, themselves

How bout them apples? and How do you like them apples?

Rur. What do you think of that? (Often used to express admiration, as in the first example; bout is short for about.) Tom: I got first prize! Mary: Well! How bout them apples? Joe got a job as a newspaper reporter. How do you like them apples?

See also: bout, how

If you can't beat them, join them. and If you can't lick 'em, join 'em.

Prov. If you have to give up fighting some group because you can't win, band together with them. (The version with lick is informal.) Jill: I just got a kitten. Jane: I can't believe it! You used to hatepeople who owned cats. Jill: If you can't beat them, join them. Alan: I hear you're a Republican now. Fred: Yeah, I figured, if you can't lick 'em, join 'em.

See also: beat, if, join

Let them eat cake.

Prov. A joking disclaimer of responsibility for some group of people. (Supposed to have been said by Marie Antoinette when she heard that the common people had no bread.) Fred: The budget will allow each one of our managers to get a substantial holiday bonus. Jane: And what about the rest of the employees? Fred: Let them eat cake!

See also: cake, eat, let

pack them in

Fig. to draw a lot of people. It was a good night at the theater. The play really packed them in. The circus manager knew he could pack them in if he advertised the lion tamer.

See also: pack

Them as has, gits.

Rur. Rich people can always get more. The millionaire keeps making more and more money, because he has lots of money to invest. Them as has, gits. Tom: Bill already owns half the property in town, and here the court went and awarded him that vacant lot. Jane: You know how it is—them as has, gits.

See also: git

Them's fighting words!

Rur. What you just said will lead to a fight. (Said as a threat.) I heard what you said about my brother, and them's fighting words. Put up your dukes. Them's fighting words!

See also: fight

They don't make them like they used to.

Cliché Goods are not as well made now as they were in the past. (Often used as a catchphrase. Them is often 'em.) Look at this flimsy door! They don't make 'em like they used to. Why don't cars last longer? They just don't make 'em like they used to.

See also: like, make, used

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A penny for your thoughts.  also A penny for them.

something that you say in order to ask someone who is being very quiet what they are thinking about 'A penny for your thoughts.' 'Oh, I was just thinking about how to tell him I'm leaving.'

See also: penny, thought

Give them hell!

something that you say in order to tell someone who is going to take part in a competition to try as hard as they can to win Remember, you're the best. Now go out there and give them hell!

See also: give

How do you like them apples! 

1. (American & Australian informal) something that you say when you want someone to know how clever or successful you are, especially when you have done something better than they have You know that girl we were talking to last night - with the long blond hair? Well, I got her number. How do you like them apples!

2. (American & Australian informal) something that you say to show you are surprised or disappointed by something that has happened So Marilyn has moved to Florida? Well, how do you like them apples!

See also: how, like

knock them/'em dead  (informal)

to perform so well or to look so attractive that other people admire you a lot You'll knock them dead at the party tonight in your new black dress! (often an order) Just go out there tonight and knock 'em dead!

See also: dead, knock

pile it/them high and sell it/them cheap  (mainly British)

to sell large amounts of something at cheap prices The shops at the lower end of the clothing market have survived by piling it high and selling it cheap.

See also: and, cheap, high, pile, sell

them and us

in a them and us situation, two groups of people believe they are very different from each other and do not like each other, often because one group has more power than the other Separate restaurants for managers and staff have reinforced the them and us divide.

See also: and

Who needs it/them?  (informal)

something that you say which means that you think something causes trouble Stress, who needs it? Men, who needs them anyway?

See also: needs, who

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a penny for your thoughts

I would like to know what you are thinking about For several minutes they sat silently, then finally she looked at him and said, “A penny for your thoughts, Walter.”

See also: penny, thought

pack them in also pack ’em in

to attract many people Her Friday night appearances at the club have been packing them in.

See also: pack

rolling in the aisles

laughing loudly The group, considered by many to be one of the funniest in Canada, had its audiences rolling in the aisles at last night's concert.

Etymology: based on the idea of uncontrollable laughter causing the people watching a show to fall on the floor in the aisles (the long narrow spaces between rows of seats in a theater)

See also: aisle, roll

with the best of them

in a way that is equal to any other person's effort If we need a seat on the subway, I can fight for seats with the best of them.

See also: best