boring

(as) boring as beans

Very boring or unexciting. My date with Dave was not great—he is as boring as beans. I fell asleep during that movie because it was as boring as beans. No, I didn't do my reading for English class because the book Mrs. Andrews assigned is boring as beans.
See also: bean, boring

be (as) boring as beans

To be very boring or unexciting. My date with Dave was not great—he is as boring as beans. A: "How was the movie?" B: "It was boring as beans! I fell asleep about halfway through." No, I didn't do my reading for English class because the book Mrs. Andrews assigned is boring as beans.
See also: bean, boring

bear away

1. To carry or transport someone or something away. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bear" and "away." We sat teary-eyed on the platform as the train bore our only son away to college. A team of laborers began bearing away the debris, piece by piece. The police officer called a tow truck to bear away the wrecked car.
2. nautical To steer the boat away from the direction of the wind. The helmsman began shouting for the crew to bear away to gain a burst of speed from the increasing wind. Bear away, bear away! No, why are you turning into the wind? Bear away, lads! Westward ho!
See also: away, bear

bear off

1. To carry or transport someone or something away. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "bear" and "off." We sat teary-eyed on the platform as the train bore our only son off to college. A team of laborers began bearing off pieces of the debris one at a time. We watched in horror as the paramedics bore the unconscious patient off to the ER.
2. nautical To steer the boat away from the direction of the wind. The helmsman began shouting for the crew to bear off in order to gain a burst of speed from the increasing wind. Bear off, bear off! No, why are you turning into the wind? Bear off, lads! Westward ho!
3. nautical To steer the boat away from some obstruction or other hazard. Be sure to bear off those rocks. The last thing we need now is a breach in the hull. Bear off that other boat already! You're getting too close! Captain, bear off the shore!
4. In backgammon, to clear a checker off the board, the objective of the game. Now that all of his checkers are home, he can begin bearing off. You're bearing off already? Aw man, I'm gonna lose again, aren't I? I don't know the first thing about backgammon, to be honest. What is "bearing off," exactly?
See also: bear, off

bear off from (someone or something)

1. To carry or transport someone or something away from someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "bear" and "off." We sat teary eyed on the platform as the train bore our only son off from us. A team of laborers began bearing pieces of debris off from the wreckage. We watched in horror as the paramedics bore the unconscious patient off from the ambulance bay.
2. nautical To steer the boat in the direction away from something else. The helmsman began shouting for the crew to bear off from the wind in order to gain a burst of speed. We bore off from the pier and moved out into open water. You'd be better off to bear off from these waves, I reckon.
3. nautical To steer the boat away from some obstruction or other hazard. Be sure to bear off from those rocks. The last thing we need now is a breach in the hull. I need to bear off from the sun—I can't see a thing! I recognize that flag—those guys are sinister, and we should bear off from their boat at once.
4. nautical To move away from something else. The steamer bore off from the island, leaving several people stranded. Help! Help! That boat was bearing off from the coast, and then it just exploded into flames! We waved goodbye to our parents as our ship bore off from the docks.
5. In backgammon, to clear a checker from a particular position on the board. You can't bear off from the three-point yet because there are still checkers on the four-point. A: "Can I bear off from the five-point now?" B: "I'm not sure—remind me what you rolled again." Is it all right for me to bear off from point six to point one? I'm still very much a backgammon novice!
See also: bear, off

bore into (something)

To drill into or otherwise penetrate a particular thing or surface. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bore" and "into." OK, I bore a hole into the wall, Dad—what's the next step? You're going to need a special drill to bore into something this thick. Unfortunately, we need to bore into the ground to try to find the burst pipe.
See also: bore

bore the pants off (of) (one)

To cause one to be extremely bored, to the point of distraction, frustration, or irritation. Today's lecture bored the pants off me. A: "Sorry for dozing off, but these old-timey movies bore the pants off me." B: "Fine, go back to sleep then." Politics just bores the pants off of me.
See also: bore, off, pant

bore through (someone or something)

1. Literally, to create a hole in an object or material. You're going to need a special drill to bore through something this thick. OK, I bore through the wall, Dad—what's the next step? Unfortunately, we need to bore through the ceiling to try to find the burst pipe.
2. By extension, to penetrate someone's inner self or emotions, often in a deeply affecting way. I had to turn around and look at the mysterious man because his gaze just bore through me. I hate being on stage. It's like I can feel every audience member's eyes boring through me! It's like my therapist bore through me when she made that spot-on observation about my marriage.
See also: bore, through

boring in the extreme

Extremely boring. That film was boring in the extreme—it actually put me to sleep in the theater! You need to liven up your speech, or your audience is going to find it boring in the extreme! If you ask me, politics is just boring in the extreme.
See also: boring, extreme

silly in the extreme

Extremely silly. I thought that movie was silly in the extreme, but the kids loved it.
See also: extreme, silly
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bear off (of something)

to turn off a road or course. Bear off the main road to the left. Don't bear off too sharply.
See also: bear, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

boring, silly, etc. in the exˈtreme

extremely boring, silly, etc: I must admit, it’s puzzling in the extreme just how these books found their way here.
See also: extreme
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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