(as) dumb as an ox
Exceptionally foolish, dimwitted, or unintelligent. You thought you could fix the washing machine on your own, so you just started pulling it apart? I swear, sometimes you can be as dumb as an ox, Larry. I used to think that she was as dumb as an ox when we were kids, but she grew up to be a physicist. Are you dumb as an ox? Why would you touch the alarm when the sign clearly says "DO NOT TOUCH" in bold red letters?
(as) strong as an ox
Possessing great physical strength. (Oxen were traditionally used as work animals.) You should get Bert to help you move all this furniture—he's strong as an ox. If you go to the gym every day, you too will be as strong as an ox. What do you have packed in here, anvils? You'd have to be strong as an ox to lift this!
Adam's off ox
Someone or something that one does not know or cannot readily identify. The phrase is used in an extension of the expression "not know (someone) from Adam" (the Biblical figure), meaning to not know them at all. In a team of oxen, the "off ox" is the one on the "off" side of the driver (i.e. the one positioned the farthest away). Who's that guy? I wouldn't know him from Adam's off ox. That's Joanne? Oh, OK, I wouldn't have known her from Adam's off ox—can you introduce us? A: "That's our new neighbor." B: "Oh, really? I wouldn't have known him from Adam's off ox."
be (as) dumb as an ox
To be exceptionally foolish, dimwitted, or unintelligent. You thought you could fix the washing machine on your own, so you just started pulling it apart? I swear, sometimes you can be as dumb as an ox, Larry. I used to think that she was as dumb as an ox when we were kids, but she grew up to be a physicist. Are you dumb as an ox? Why would you touch the alarm when the sign clearly says "DO NOT TOUCH" in bold red letters?
be (as) strong as an ox
To have great physical strength. (Oxen were traditionally used as work animals.) You should get Bert to help you move all this furniture—he's as strong as an ox. If you go to the gym every day, you too will be strong as an ox. What do you have packed in here, anvils? You'd have to be strong as an ox to lift this!
dumb ox
Someone who is large in size and is apt to behave stupidly. Usually used of a man. Can you believe that dumb ox is still pushing the door marked "pull"? Yeah, he's a linebacker for the football team, but he's no dumb ox—he's at the top of his class academically. In the end, I didn't need to throw a single punch—the dumb ox tripped, fell, and knocked himself out all on his own.
have an ox on the tongue
To be unable to talk, often because one has been bribed into silence. Don't worry about Joey, he won't say a peep—I slipped him a little money to assure that he has an ox on the tongue in this meeting. A: "This witness has to have an ox on the tongue—it's my only hope of staying out of jail." B: "I'll pay her off, don't worry." Yeah, I gave the intern some money, but now he has an ox on the tongue, and no one will know that I was the one who crashed the system.
have the constitution of an ox
To possess an unusually robust amount of strength, determination, and stamina, so as to be able to work extremely hard and/or overcome hardships or limiting factors (e.g., sickness, fatigue, alcohol, drugs, etc.). John works his farm single-handedly every day, from sunup to sundown; he must have the constitution of an ox! Mary has the constitution of an ox—she's had more drinks than any of us, and she still seems completely sober. Janice was bedridden with the flu over the weekend, but she must have the constitution of an ox because she was right back in the office first thing Monday morning.
ox-in-the-ditch
Of or relating to a situation that is dire and requires urgent and undivided attention to resolve it. Taken from the Bible (Luke 14), in which Jesus demonstrates to the Pharisees that some emergencies must be dealt with immediately, even if it means breaking the Sabbath to do so. I was going to miss the biggest meeting of the year, but my daughter's sickness was an ox-in-the-ditch situation.
the black ox has trod upon (one's) foot
proverb obsolete One has been beset upon by trouble or misfortune. "Black ox" here refers to Satan. I am in low spirits, for the black ox has trod upon my foot since last we met.
the black ox has trod upon (one's) toe
proverb obsolete One has been beset upon by trouble or misfortune. "Black ox" here refers to Satan. I am in low spirits, for the black ox has trod upon my toe since last we met.
the ox is in the ditch
The situation is dire and requires urgent and undivided attention to resolve it. Taken from the Bible (Luke 14), in which Jesus demonstrates to the Pharisees that some emergencies must be dealt with immediately, even if it means breaking the sabbath to do so. I was always taught to keep Sunday as a holy day, but you know as well as I do that if the ox is in the ditch, then you need to do what you can to make things right, no matter what day of the week it is! With our engine shot, stranded out on this desert highway, it seemed pretty clear to me that the ox was in the ditch.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.