warm (redirected from warms over)

*like death warmed over

Fig. very ill; appearing very sickly. (*Typically: feel ~; look ~.) Oh dear, I feel like death warmed over. Poor Carol said you look like death warmed over.

See also: death, like

*warm as toast

very warm and cozy. (*Also: as ~.) The baby will be warm as toast in that blanket. We were as warm as toast by the side of the fire.

See also: toast

Cold hands, warm heart.

Prov. People whose hands are usually cold have kind and loving personalities. Nancy: I don't like holding hands with Joe. His hands are so cold. Jane: Cold hands, warm heart.

See also: cold, heart

warm someone or something up

to make someone or something warmer; to take the chill off someone or something. I put him by the fire to warm him up a little. We warmed up our feet before the fire. Could you warm up my coffee, please?

See also: up

warm someone up 

1. to make someone warmer. Stand by the fire and warm yourself up. Warm up the kids and then give them some cookies.

2. Fig. to help someone get physically prepared to perform in an athletic event. (As if exercising or loosening up someone's muscles.) The referee told the coach to warm his team up so the game could begin. You have to warm up the team before a game. Be sure to warm yourself up before playing.

3. Fig. to prepare an audience for another—more famous—performer. (Fig. on {2}.) A singer came out to warm us up for the main attraction. This comedian is a superb choice to warm up the audience.

See also: up

warm something over 

1. to reheat food to serve it as leftovers. I'll just warm the rest over for lunch tomorrow. Jane warmed over yesterday's turkey.

2. Fig. to bring up a matter that was thought to have been settled. (Fig. on {2}.) Please don't warm that business over again. It is settled and should remain that way. Don't warm over that matter. We have discussed it enough.

warm body

a person; just any person (who can be counted on to be present). See if you can get a couple of warm bodies to stand at the door and hand out programs. You mean among all these warm bodies nobody knows calculus?

See also: body

warm the bench

Fig. [for a player] to remain out of play during a game—seated on a bench. John spent the whole game warming the bench. Mary never warms the bench. She plays from the beginning to the end.

See also: bench

warm the cockles of someone's heart

Fig. to make someone feel warm and happy. It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you say that. Hearing that old song again warmed the cockles of her heart.

See also: heart

warm up 

1. [for the weather or a person] to become warmer or hotter. I think it is going to warm up next week.

2. Fig.[for someone] to become more friendly. (A warm person is a friendly person.) Todd began to warm up halfway through the conference. After he had worked therefor a while, he began to warm up.

3. and warm up for something Fig. to prepare for some kind of performance or competition. The team had to warm up before the game. They have to warm up.

See also: up

warm up to someone or something

Fig. to become more fervent and earnest toward someone, something, or a group; to become more responsive and receptive to someone, a group, or something. After we talked, he began to warm up to us a little. I warmed up to the committee as the interview went on.

See also: up

warmed over

not very original; rehashed. I am not interested in reading warmed over news on a computer screen. The lecture sounded sort of warmed over, but it wasn't too dull.

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warm the cockles of your heart  (old-fashioned)

if something you see or hear warms the cockles of your heart, it makes you feel happy because it shows that people can be good and kind It's an old-fashioned romance that will warm the cockles of your heart.

See also: heart

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warm somebody up also warm up somebody

to cause someone to become more relaxed and friendly It is a good idea to warm up an audience with a few amusing stories before talking about serious things. Do you think meditation might help warm him up before he gets out there to speak?

See also: up

warm up (something) also warm something up

to briefly exercise as preparation for something She warms her voice up before a concert by singing scales and making funny noises. He always warmed up for about 15 minutes before his morning run.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of warm something up (to cause the temperature of something to increase)

See also: up

warm up to (somebody/something)

to begin to like or enjoy someone or something It took a couple of days for us to warm up to each other, but now we're very good friends. Some people have warmed up to the idea of extending the school year, but many still oppose it.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form warm someone up to something (to prepare someone so they will like something): I think you should warm them up to the idea, and not just surprise your parents when they get here.

See also: up