buy it

buy it

slang

1. To believe that something is true. My brother says that his latest scheme will make millions, but I'm not buying it. I told the teacher that my dog ate my homework, and she totally bought it! At least I think she did. You snuck out of the house to help a friend who just so happened to be at a party? Yeah, there's no way Mom's buying it.

2. To die. When Ray got back last night, he told the boss that the informant bought it and won't be a problem anymore. I'm glad that jerk finally bought it, considering how he always lorded his wealth over his employees. Only the good die young, but it takes forever for true scoundrels to buy it.

See also: buy

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

buy it

1. Suffer a severe reversal, as in If they can't raise the money in time, they'll buy it. [Slang; mid-1900s]

2. Be killed; die. For example, By the time we could get to the hospital, he had bought it. Originating during World War I as military slang, this term later was extended to peacetime forms of death. A later slang equivalent is buy the farm, dating from about 1950. For example, He'll soon buy the farm riding that motorcycle. According to J.E. Lighter, it alludes to training flights crashing in a farmer's field, causing the farmer to sue the government for damages sufficient to pay off the farm's mortgage. Since the pilot usually died in such a crash, he in effect bought the farm with his life.

3. Believe it; see buy something.

See also: buy

buy something

Believe something; accept as true or satisfactory. For example, You think he's a millionaire? I just won't buy that. [Slang; 1920s]

See also: buy, something

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

buy it

tv. to die. (see also buy the farm, buy the big one.) He lay there coughing for a few minutes, and then he bought it.

See also: buy

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

buy it

Slang

To be killed.

See also: buy

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.