bounce
1. verb, slang To leave or depart. A: "Won't you stay a little longer?" B: "Nah, I had better bounce. I've got an early morning tomorrow." Come on, let's bounce. This party is dead. Did he bounce already? Aw, I was hoping to talk to him about something.
2. verb, slang To expel someone (from some place) by force. Hey Tony, bounce this clown outta here, will ya? The boss's goons bounced the man from the office, tossing his briefcase and jacket out after him. Hey, you've got the wrong guy! Don't bounce me out of the club—I didn't do anything wrong!
3. verb To write a check for an account that has insufficient funds for the amount being drawn. My ex-husband bounced checks all over the state before he disappeared. How can you run a business and bounce checks like this? No wonder no one wants to work with you! I didn't mean to bounce that check, I swear! I thought I had more money in that account!
4. verb Of a check, to be returned unpaid due to insufficient funds in the account on which it is being drawn. They told me that they would be shutting off our electricity because my last check bounced. The shop has a display containing every check that has ever bounced so as to name and shame the people who tried paying with them. This check better not bounce—I really need the money.
5. verb Of a bank, to return an unpaid check due to insufficient funds in the account on which it is being drawn. The bank bounced the check I had been given as payment for my services, meaning I had basically done 40 hours of work for free. We'll be long gone before the bank bounces our check, so everything will be fine. They won't be able to catch up to us. I had no idea the company was failing until the bank bounced my paycheck.
6. noun, informal Energy or vitality; pep. She had a lot of bounce coming out of the meeting after the boss agreed to green light her proposal. I hope Bill's all right. He doesn't seem to have much bounce these days. I'm finally getting some bounce back after being sick for a week!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bounce
1. in. [for a check] to be returned from the bank because of insufficient funds. (see also
rubber (check).)
The check bounced, and I had to pay a penalty fee. 2. tv. to write a bad check. He bounced another one, and this time the bank called him up to warn him about what would happen if he did it again.
3. in. to leave; to depart. It’s late. Let’s bounce.
4. tv. [for a bank] to refuse to honor a check. They bounced another of my checks today.
5. tv. to throw someone out. Willie bounced me, and I ran to my car and beat it.
6. n. pep; energy. I never have any bounce when I wake up early.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.