behavior
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Related to behavioral: Behavioral economics, behavioral therapy
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adulterous behavior
Actions that bely not only an unfaithfulness to one's spouse, but also a propensity toward deceit and licentiousness in general. I suspect that Ollie has been engaging in adulterous behavior recently. I wonder if his husband has picked up on it. We've seen his penchant for adulterous behavior many times—so why on earth are you going into business with him? If they're getting divorced, I suppose she found out about his adulterous behavior.
See also: behavior
ape (one's) behavior
To mimic the behavior of one, generally in a mocking or derisive manner. It is pretty standard now for comedians to ape the president's behavior and manner of speech. Would you stop aping your little brother's behavior? That's just not nice. The headmaster caught me aping his behavior, and now, I have detention.
be on (one's) best behavior
To be very polite or exercise exceptionally good manners. Primarily heard in US. Now, you kids must be on your best behavior for your Auntie this weekend! Good morning, class. I hope everyone was on their best behavior for the substitute teacher yesterday.
be on (one's) good behavior
To be very polite or exercising exceptionally good manners. Primarily heard in US. Now, you kids must be on your good behavior for your Auntie this weekend! Good morning, class. I hope everyone was on their good behavior for the substitute teacher yesterday.
get time off for good behavior
To have some amount of time taken off of one's prison sentence as a result of following the rules and not causing any trouble. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, but he only served three because he got time off for good behavior. Seeing as this is your first offense, you should be able to get time off for good behavior.
give (one) time off for good behavior
To reduce one's prison sentence by some amount of time as a result of their following the rules and not causing any trouble. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, but the parole board gave him time off for good behavior and allowed him to leave after six. Seeing as this is your first offense, I wouldn't be surprised if they gave you time off for good behavior.
on (one's) best behavior
Being very polite or exercising exceptionally good manners. Primarily heard in US. Now, you kids must be on your best behavior for your Auntie this weekend! Good morning, class. I hope everyone was on their best behavior for the substitute teacher yesterday.
on (one's) good behavior
Being very polite or exercising exceptionally good manners. Primarily heard in US. Now, you kids must be on your good behavior for your Auntie this weekend! Good morning, class. I hope everyone was on their good behavior for the substitute teacher yesterday.
time off for good behavior
An amount of time that is taken off of one's prison sentence as a result of following the rules and not causing any trouble. He served six years of an eight-year sentence, with time off for good behavior. Seeing as this is your first offense, you should be able to get time off for good behavior.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
on one's best behavior
being as polite as possible. When we went out, the children were on their best behavior. I try to be on my best behavior all the time.
*time off for good behavior
1. Lit. a reduction in one's prison sentence because of good behavior. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Bob will get out of jail tomorrow rather than next week. He got time off for good behavior.
2. Fig. a shortened time period—such a meeting, period of punishment, school class, etc. (Jocular. *Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) They let me out of the meeting early. They said I got time off for good behavior.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
on one's best behavior
Also, on one's good behavior. Very polite, as in Mother told the children to be on their best behavior during Grandma's visit, or The whole staff were on their good behavior while the client inspected the premises. [Late 1600s]
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.