(as) flat as a strap

1. adjective Completely flat or flattened. I left my soda open overnight and now it's flat as a strap. The roads in this part of the country are as flat as a strap—no hills, no dips, nothing! My model of a volcano is as flat as a strap now that you've sat on it!

2. adjective Extremely fast. Primarily heard in Australia. John's new car is a beauty, and I bet it's flat as a strap. I hear that roller coaster is flat as a strap, so I really don't think you're going to like it. Mary was flat as a strap as she raced out of the room to avoid being caught by the teacher.

3. adjective Very busy; preoccupied with many different things at once. Primarily heard in Australia. Sorry I couldn't make it to lunch today, I've been as flat as a strap with the kids all day. I've been flat as a strap at work lately—I barely have time to see my kids anymore. Believe me, this audit has kept everyone in the department flat as a strap for months. We can't wait till it's over!

4. adverb At the greatest possible speed, efficiency, or power. Primarily heard in Australia. We drove that car flat as a strap out of town. The whole team is working as flat as a strap to get this project finished on time. Good luck beating Chris in the race—that dude runs flat as a strap.

beat the dummy

vulgar slang To masturbate. A term only applied to males. A: "Why is he all embarrassed today?" B: "Oh, his crush walked in on him beating the dummy. How horrifying is that?" He talks on and on about how much of a ladies' man he is, but I bet he spends most nights beating the dummy.

flat strap

1. adjective Very busy; preoccupied with many different things at once. Sometimes hyphenated. Primarily heard in Australia. Sorry I couldn't make it to lunch today, I've been flat strap with the kids all day. I've been so flat-strap at work that I barely have time to see my kids anymore. Believe me, this audit has kept everyone in the department flat strap for months. We can't wait till it's over!

2. At the greatest possible speed, efficiency, or power. Sometimes hyphenated. Primarily heard in Australia. We drove that car flat strap out of town. The whole team is working flat-strap to get this project finished on time. Good luck beating Chris in the race—that guy runs flat strap.

hit (one's) straps

1. To start traveling at a consistent pace; to hit one's stride. We started out slow but then hit our straps as we continued through the park. Matt's the fastest kid in this heat, and once he hits his straps, you'll have no chance of catching him. I just could not hit my straps on my run today. Maybe my foot hasn't healed as much as I thought.

2. To become proficient in a particular area. Once you hit your straps at your new job, I'm sure your boss will be very impressed with you. I was always good in English class but never hit my straps in math or science. You're too hard on yourself. It takes time to hit your straps with a new language!

strap (someone or something) onto (someone or something)

To attach, fasten, or secure someone or something onto someone or something else. They strapped the spy onto the table to begin some advanced interrogation techniques. They strapped various pieces of armor onto my arms, legs, and torso. You can't just strap a backpack onto yourself and be ready to go! You'll need a lot more preparation than that.

See also: strap

strap (someone or something) with (something)

1. To attach, fasten, or secure something onto or around someone or something. The agent strapped the bridge with C4 and prepared to blow the whole thing sky high. The bank robber strapped the hostages with nylon rope and plastic cable ties.

2. To burden someone with something oppressive, irritating, or problematic. They strapped me with a $200 fine for parking there on a Sunday. She ended up strapping the business with nearly $20 million in debt before moving on to a different company.

See also: strap

strap down

To fasten or secure someone or something down (to something) with or as with straps. A noun or pronoun can be used between "strap" and "down." Make sure you strap down that cargo before you start driving. They strapped the spy down to a table to begin some advanced interrogation techniques.

strap in

1. To secure oneself to or into something with a strap, harness, or seat belt. I just need to strap in before you start driving. We all sat into the seats of the roller coaster and began strapping in.

2. To secure someone or something to or into something with a strap, harness, or seat belt. A noun or pronoun can be used between "strap" or "in." Make sure you strap the kids in properly. He didn't strap in the cargo and it all ended up falling over and breaking in transit.

3. slang Brace yourself; get ready, especially for something shocking or surprising, whether in a good or a bad way. Strap in, ladies and gentlemen—these financial results are not great. Strap in for one of the wildest action films of the year!

See also: strap

strap into (something)

1. To secure oneself into something with a strap, harness, or seat belt. I just need to strap into my seat before you start driving. We all began strapping into the cars of the roller coaster, nervous and excited in equal measure.

2. To secure someone or something to or into something with a strap, harness, or seat belt. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "strap" or "in." Make sure you strap the kids into their car seats properly. He didn't strap the cargo into its place securely, and it ended up falling over and breaking in transit.

See also: strap

strap on

To attach, fasten, or secure someone or something on(to someone or something else). A noun or pronoun can be used between "strap" and "on." They strapped the spy on the table to begin some advanced interrogation techniques. They strapped on various pieces of armor to my arms, legs, and torso. You can't just strap a backpack on and call yourself ready to go! You'll need a lot more preparation than that.

strap on a pair

vulgar slang A derogatory exhortation to start acting in a more masculine manner; that is, to be more direct, aggressive, courageous, self-confident, and other such characteristics that are stereotypically considered to be masculine attributes. ("Pair" here refers to testicles, but the phrase can be said of or by both men and women.) You're never going to get the boss's respect if you keep kowtowing to him like that. You need to strap on a pair and show him that you deserve to be taken seriously! Janet, I know you're nervous about asking Tom out on a date, but just strap on a pair and give it a shot!

strap on the (old) feedbag

slang To begin eating; to have a meal. I can't wait to get to Grandma's and strap on the old feedbag. She always cooks the tastiest food! What do you say we strap on the feedbag before we head out?

strap on the (old) nosebag

slang To begin eating; to have a meal. A nosebag is another word for a feed bag, the bag tied under a horse's mouth that allows it to feed. I can't wait to get to grandma's and strap on the old nosebag. She always cooks the tastiest food! What do you say we strap on the nosebag before we head out?

strap the (old) feedbag on

slang To begin eating; to have a meal. "Feedbag" is sometimes spelled as two words. I can't wait to get to grandma's and strap the old feedbag on. She always cooks the tastiest food! What do you say we strap the feed bag on before we head out?

strap up

1. To fasten or secure someone or something with a strap. A noun or pronoun can be used between "strap" and "up." You don't want the body armor coming loose during combat, so be sure you strap it up tight. We strapped up our helmets and walked out onto the football field.

2. To become armed with a firearm. Officers began strapping up in preparation of the raid on the suspected drug dealer hideout.

3. To instruct or allow someone to become armed with a firearm. A noun or pronoun can be used between "strap" and "up." The bosses want to strap up the security guards following last week's armed robbery.

super-strap

slang A diligent, overearnest student. My brother was such a burnout during high school, so it's weird seeing him turn into such a total super-strap later in life.

the strap

The punishment of a beating with a leather strap. Papa will give you the strap if he finds out you stole candy from the general store!

See also: strap

strap someone or something down

to tie or bind someone or something down to something. The nurses strapped Gary down in preparation for the operation. They strapped down the patient and gave him a sedative.

strap someone or something in(to) something

and strap someone or something in

to tie or bind someone or something into something. Mother strapped little Jimmy into his seat. She strapped in Jimmy.

See also: strap

strap something on to someone or something

and strap something on

to tie or bind something onto someone or something. The hiker strapped the load onto her partner. She strapped on the backpack.

hit your straps

begin to perform as well as you can; hit your stride.

The expression, which is used mainly in sporting contexts, originated in Australian English. It may have originated in the idea of looking for the straps of one's swag pack, interpreted metaphorically as seeking a new job.

1992 Daily Telegraph A number of our players have not hit their straps for whatever reason, but they know that if they don't do it shortly, they'll no longer be part of the team.

strap in

1. To secure someone or something with a strap, especially a seat belt: Be sure to strap in the children before the car starts moving. We loaded the baggage onto the truck and strapped it in with a cord.

2. To secure oneself with a strap, especially a seat belt: The pilot climbed into the cockpit and strapped in.

See also: strap

beat the dummy

and beat the meat and beat one’s meat and beat the pup and choke the chicken and pound one’s meat and pull one’s pud and pull one’s wire and whip one’s wire and whip the dummy and yank one’s strap

tv. to masturbate. (Usually objectionable.) Are you going to sit around all day pulling your pud? We heard him in there “choking the chicken,” as the street crowd says.

yank one’s strap

verb

See beat the dummy

strap

n. an athlete, not necessarily male. (From jockstrap.) The guy’s a strap all right, but he’s not dumb.

strap someone with someone or something

tv. to burden someone with someone or something. (Often passive.) Don’t you try to strap me with your baby brother!

super-strap

n. an earnest and hardworking student. (As compared to a jock; strap; superjock.) I couldn’t be a super-strap even if I had the brains. I just don’t care that much.

See also: