tuck (redirected from tucking)

nip and tuck

Fig. almost even; almost tied. The horses ran nip and tuck for the first half of the race. Then my horse pulled ahead. In the football game last Saturday, both teams were nip and tuck throughout the game.

See also: and, nip

tuck someone in(to) something and tuck someone in

to place someone into something carefully; to wrap someone in blankets or something similar. Father tucked Jimmy into bed an hour later than he should have. Please tuck in Jimmy.

tuck something around someone or something

to wrap something snugly around someone or something. I tucked crumpled newspapers around the cups in the box to keep them from breaking. Molly-Jo tucked the covers around the baby.

See also: around

tuck something away 

1. Lit. to hide or store something away. Tuck this away where you can find it later. Can you tuck away this money somewhere?

2. Fig. to eat something. The boys tucked away three pizzas and an apple pie. When I was younger, I could tuck away my dinner in no time at all.

See also: away

tuck something in (to) something and tuck something in

to fold or stuff something into something. Please tuck your shirttail into your pants. Tuck in your shirt tail. When you make the bed, you have to tuck the sheets in.

tuck something up

to raise up some part of one's clothing and attach it temporarily. She tucked her skirt up and waded through the flooded basement. She tucked up her skirt.

See also: up

tuck something up (under something)

to place or push something, such as cloth, up under something. Tuck the sheet up under the mattress when you make the bed. Tuck up the sheet under the mattress when you make the bed.

See also: up

tuck into something

to begin eating something vigorously. The kids really tucked into the stew. I could see from the way that they tucked into their meal that they were really hungry.

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a nip and (a) tuck 

1. a medical operation to improve the appearance of your face I don't think you could look like that at her age without a little nip and tuck.

2. (American) small changes or reductions made in order to improve something A nip and a tuck in their household budget would give them the extra money they need.

See also: and, nip

be nip and tuck  (American informal)

if two people who are competing are nip and tuck, they have almost the same number of points and either of them could win There's no saying who's going to win this game. It's been nip and tuck all the way.

See also: and, nip

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tuck in somebody also tuck somebody in

to cover a child comfortably in bed I tucked in Josh and Amy after reading them a story. Who's going to tuck me in while you're gone?

tucked away

hidden or difficult to find Van's house is tucked away at the end of the road.

See also: away