billing

bill and coo

To kiss, nuzzle, and talk sweetly with another person, typically a romantic partner. All my sister and her boyfriend do is bill and coo—it's so nauseating. Hi, the rest of us who are single don't appreciate all your billing and cooing, thanks. A: "Ugh, why do they have to bill and coo so much?" B: "They're teenagers in love. They're not capable of much else right now."
See also: and, bill, coo

bulk bill

To charge the costs of a patient's care by a general practitioner, hospital, or other health service provider to Medicare, the Australian government's universal health insurance system. Primarily heard in Australia. Recent legislation is aimed at introducing a mandatory co-pay for all services bulk billed by GPs and hospitals. Our office did bulk bill Medicare, but you still have an out-of-pocket cost as well. Look, Doctor, if you're going to bulk bill for a service, you can't also charge the patient a co-pay.
See also: bill, bulk

bulk billing

The practice of charging the costs of a patient's care by a general practitioner, hospital, or other health service provider to Medicare, the Australian government's universal health insurance system. Primarily heard in Australia. Recent legislation is aimed at introducing a mandatory co-pay for all bulk billing by GPs and hospitals. Please tell me that bulk billing is going to cover the full cost of my procedure. Who in Dr. Robertson's office is responsible for bulk billing?
See also: billing, bulk

double bill

1. noun A program of two feature-length films shown one after the other, or (by extension) any program featuring two primary events back-to-back. They are showing the original film and its sequel in a fantastic double bill this Friday! Both the governor and state senator will speak as part of a double bill at the fundraising gala later this evening. It's a double bill of sorts with the major league team playing a day game and the minor league team playing a night game in the same arena.
2. verb To play a film as part of a double feature (i.e., to show it immediately before or after another). Often hyphenated. They're going to double-bill the sequel alongside the original film this Friday. I wouldn't have come if I'd known the movie theater was going to double-bill the first two movies. I can't spend all day here! Sometimes, that cool, old movie theater double-bills classics for only $5 a ticket.
3. verb To charge separate accounts for the same cost. The lawyer was disbarred for double-billing his clients and the state for dozens of cases during his career. Hey, you can't double-bill the homeowner and the government for the work you did! It's one or the other! A: "It's a huge company, so it's not like anyone will notice if we double-bill them for our contracting work." B: "I wouldn't be so sure about that!"
See also: bill, double

get top billing

1. To have one's name placed at the top of a film's or theatrical production's promotional material, indicating that one is the main star, performer, or headliner. I'm keeping this poster because this is the first time I've gotten top billing! I don't know why the actor got top billing. He was only in the movie for about 20 minutes! Well, he is the biggest star in the movie—I bet that's why he gets top billing.
2. By extension, to be given a prominent position of recognition for some endeavor, pursuit, or achievement. She did the most work on this report, so she should get top billing. Although he did not get top billing for the experiment, everyone knew that his contributions were crucial to its success. No, Alicia gets top billing here—she came up with the solution all by herself.
See also: billing, get, top

top billing

1. The placement of the name of the main star, performer, or other headliner at the top of a film or theatrical poster or playbill or other promotional material. I'm keeping this poster because this is the first time I've gotten top billing!
2. By extension, a position of prominence or primary recognition. You did the most work on this report, so you should get top billing.
See also: billing, top
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bill and coo

LITERARY, OLD-FASHIONED
If two lovers bill and coo, they kiss and talk together in a loving way. I just have to stand there grinding my teeth while they bill and coo. Note: In this expression, lovers are being compared to a pair of doves touching their beaks or bills together and cooing.
See also: and, bill, coo
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

bill and coo

exchange caresses or affectionate words; behave or talk in a very loving or sentimental way. informal, dated
The image is of two doves, a long-established symbol of mutual love.
See also: and, bill, coo
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

bill and coo

in. to kiss and cuddle. (In the manner of love birds.) Keep an eye on those kids. They aren’t going to be satisfied with billing and cooing forever, you know.
See also: and, bill, coo
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

bill and coo

To kiss or caress and murmur endearments.
See also: and, bill, coo
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.

bill and coo

To hug and kiss. A sweet old-fashioned phrase for necking, making out, smooching, or playing kissy-face—the way that courting birds touch bills and emit soft cooing noises before they get down to the real mating game.
See also: and, bill, coo
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price
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