very (redirected from veriest)

*dull as dishwater and *dull as ditch water

very uninteresting. (*Also: as ~.) I'm not surprised that he can't find a partner. He's as dull as dishwater. Mr. Black's speech was as dull as dishwater.

See also: dishwater, dull

*spit and image of someone and *the spitting image of someone

the very likeness of someone; a very close resemblence to someone. (*The second version is a frequent error. *Typically: be ~; look like ~.) John is the spit and image of his father. At first, I thought you were saying "spitting image."

See also: and, image, spit

(I've) seen better.

a noncommittal and not very positive judgment about something or someone. Alice: How did you like the movie? John: I've seen better. Bill: What do you think about this weather? Bob: Seen better.

See also: better, seen

oceans of someone or something and an ocean of someone or something

a very large amount of something. The naughty student was in oceans of trouble. After a week of vacation, there was an ocean of work to do.

See also: ocean

on the verge (of doing something) and on the verge of something

at the very beginning of doing something; just about to do something. Bill was on the verge of leaving town when he found a job. Susan was on the verge of laughter, so she left the lecture hall.

See also: verge

Thank you very much. and Thank you so much, a

more polite and emphatic way of saying Thank you. Tom: Welcome. Come in. Bob: Thankyou very much. Bill: Here's the book I promised you. Sue: Thankyou so much.

See also: much, thank

that very thing

exactly that. Why, I was just looking for that very thing! You know, I was just about to say that very thing.

See also: thing

The very idea!

I do not approve!; That is outrageous! Resignation? The very idea! The very idea! Absolutely not!

Very good. 

1. It is good. John: How do you like your lobster? Alice: Mmm. Very good. Jane: What did you think of the movie? Fred: Very good. Jane: Is that all? Fred: Yeah.

2. Thank you for your instructions. (Typically said by someone in a serving role, such as a clerk, waiter, waitress, butler, maid, etc.) Waiter: What are you drinking, madam? Sue: It's just soda. No more, thanks. Waiter: Very good. Mary: Would you charge this to my account? Clerk: Very good.

See also: good

very last

Fig. the end; an absolute end of something. At the very last of the movie, the hero gets killed. Bill stayed at the party until the very last.

See also: last

very thing

Fig. the exact thing that is required. The vacuum cleaner is the very thing for cleaning the stairs. I have the very thing to remove that stain.

See also: thing

You scared the hell out of me. and You scared the crap out of me.; You scared the dickens out of me.; You scared the devil out of me.; You scared me out of my wits.; You scared the pants off (of) me.

You frightened me very badly. (Also with subjects other than second person. Of is usually retained before pronouns.) He scared the hell out of all of us. She really scared the pants off of me.

See also: hell, out, scare

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be all very well  also be all well and good

if you say that something is all very well, you mean that although it is good in some ways, it is bad in some ways too (usually + but ) Electric heating is all very well, but what happens if there's a power cut?

See also: well

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all very well

good but not good enough It's all very well to fully discuss a problem, but finally you have to stop talking and do something about it.

See also: well

all very well

acceptable It's all very well to give money to help people, but there needs to be some way of helping them to help themselves.

Usage notes: said about something that is good but not enough by itself

See also: well

very much so (spoken)

to a great degree My father did inspire me, very much so. “So crime is a big concern where you live?” “Very much so.”

See also: much

very well

1. probably Stress could very well have triggered her heart attack. The robber might very well have been in the house when the police arrived.

2. clearly The little boy knew very well that the neighbors didn't like his father.

See also: well