bury
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be dead and buried
To be completely gone or defunct. The phrase can refer to one who has literally died and been buried, as well as to failures. Their father is dead and buried, but they still complain about him daily. Oh, that idea from last week's meeting is dead and buried now that the CEO has vetoed it.
buried treasure
1. Literally, treasure (such as gold, jewels, or other valuable items) that has been buried under sand or lays hidden in the ocean. Every kid dreams of finding buried treasure at the beach.
2. Anything that has lain dormant or undiscovered for a long period of time that, upon discovery, is found to be of great value. The writer, who was unknown in his lifetime, became hugely popular after the buried treasure of his unpublished manuscript was discovered among his belongings.
bury (one's) head in the sand
To avoid, or try to avoid, a particular situation by pretending that it does not exist. The phrase refers to the common but mistaken belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when frightened, so as to avoid being seen. Lou, you can't bury your head in the sand about your health—please, make an appointment with your doctor and get that rash checked out! A: "How has Peter been handling the break-up?" B: "Oh, just burying his head in the sand and ignoring his feelings."
bury away
1. Literally, to inter (a corpse). A noun or pronoun can be used between "bury" and "away." Many of our family members have been buried away in this cemetery.
2. By extension, to hide something so that others cannot find it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bury" and "away." The cat always buries her toys away under the couch so that the dog can't take them. Trust me, they're going to bury away those documents so deep that no one will ever be able to track them down.
bury in
1. To hide something in a particular place so that others cannot find it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bury" and "in." I buried my cupcake in the back of the fridge so no one else would eat it! You can always find change buried in the couch cushions.
2. To hide oneself somewhere. In this usage, a reflexive pronoun is used between "bury" and "in." When guests come over, my shy sister is quick to bury herself in her bedroom so that she doesn't have to talk to anyone.
3. To immerse oneself in a task or project. In this usage, a reflexive pronoun is used between "bury" and "in." Ever since my breakup with Ben, I've tried to bury myself in my work to keep from crying all day long. You will need to bury yourself in your schoolwork to get a passing grade this semester.
See also: bury
bury the hatchet
1. To make peace with someone. Can you please bury the hatchet and make up with your sister already? I can't take the constant fighting.
2. slang To accidentally leave medical instruments inside a patient after surgery. The surgeons have a strict protocol to avoid burying the hatchet, so to speak.
bury the lead
In journalism, to open a news article with secondary or superfluous information, thus relegating the central premise (the lead, which usually occupies this position) to a later part. "Lead" in this sense is sometimes written as "lede." I usually just skim through articles in the newspaper, so it really annoys me when they bury the lead.
bury under (something)
To hide something in a particular place so that others cannot find it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bury" and "under." The cat always buries her toys away under the couch so that the dog can't take them.
See also: bury
dead and buried
Completely gone or defunct. The phrase can be used to refer to one who has literally died and been buried, as well as to something unsuccessful. Their father is dead and buried, but they still complain about him daily. Oh, that idea from last week's meeting is dead and buried now that the CEO has vetoed it.
dead 'n' buried
A colloquial conjunction of "dead and buried," meaning (literally) dead and interred in the ground or (figuratively) forever gone or done away with. With the old man dead 'n' buried, I'm the only one to look after the farm now. My love for you is dead 'n' buried, so don't come bothering me anymore.
hide (one's) head in the sand
To avoid, or try to avoid, a particular situation by pretending that it does not exist. The phrase refers to the common but mistaken belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when frightened, so as to avoid being seen. Lou, you can't hide your head in the sand about your health—please, make an appointment with your doctor and get that rash checked out! A: "How has Peter been handling the break-up?" B: "Oh, just hiding his head in the sand and ignoring his feelings."
know where (all) the bodies are buried
To know a large amount of secret or scandalous information about a person or group that they would not want to be revealed, especially due to one's lengthy experience with that person or group. Often used in relation to one who wields this information for their own benefit or advantage. I've been an accountant with this company for over 50 years, so trust me, I know where all the bodies are buried. He climbed to power because he worked for several top government and military officials and he knew where the bodies were buried.
let the dead bury the dead
proverb Do not be held back from a better future by lingering over or dredging up past problems or grievances. A reference to Jesus's instructions to a disciple in the Bible (Matthew 8:22), who says that he will follow Jesus only after he has attended to his dead or dying father. I know you're still bitter about your divorce, but you're letting it stifle your chance at happiness. Let the dead bury the dead, and move on already. The two warring nations have finally agreed to let the dead bury the dead and work instead to build a better future together.
Would you like to be buried with my people?
old-fashioned An Irish marriage proposal. Primarily heard in Ireland. A: "I know you think my proposal could have been more romantic, but hey, at least I didn't say, 'Would you like to be buried with my people?'" B: "That's true. I guess I'm a lucky gal!" A: "Did you know my great-grandfather proposed to my great-grandmother by asking if she would like to be buried with his people?" B: "Really? Wow, times have changed!"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
bury one's head in the sand
and hide one's head in the sand; have one's head in the sandFig. to ignore or hide from obvious signs of danger. (Alludes to an ostrich, which is believed incorrectly to hide its head in a hole in the ground when it sees danger.) Stop burying your head in the sand. Look at the statistics on smoking and cancer.
bury oneself in something
1. Fig. to become very busy with something. She stopped taking phone calls and buried herself in her work. He tended to bury himself in his work.
2. Fig. to hide oneself some place. (Alludes to burying oneself in a cave or something similar.) He buried himself in the back of the little shop and worked quietly. The lizard buried itself in the sand.
See also: bury
bury someone or something away (some place)
to bury or hide someone or something some place. The dog buried the bone away under a bush. The ex-dictator was buried away in an unmarked grave.
bury someone or something in something
1. Lit. to inter someone or something in a grave, the ground, a vault, a tomb, etc. They buried the old man in the family vault. Thousands of war veterans are buried in the national cemetery.
2. Fig. to hide or conceal someone or something from view in some place. The office manager buried Tom at a small desk in the back room. Someone buried the manual typewriter in a room full of old junk.
See also: bury
bury someone or something under something
to bury someone or something beneath something, sometimes to hide or conceal it. Joe buried the money under a stone in the forest. They buried Aunt Mary under a pine tree.
See also: bury
bury the hatchet
Fig. to make peace. Let's stop arguing and bury the hatchet. Tom and I buried the hatchet and we are good friends now.
dead and buried
1. Lit. dead and interred, and soon to be forgotten. Now that Uncle Bill is dead and buried, we can read his will.
2. Fig. gone forever. That kind of old-fashioned thinking is dead and buried.
know where all the bodies are buried
Fig. to know all the secrets and intrigue from the past; to know all the relevant and perhaps hidden details. He is a good choice for president because he knows where all the bodies are buried. Since he knows where all the bodies are buried, he is the only one who can advise us.
Let the dead bury the dead.
Prov. Do not try to revive old grievances.; Forget about past conflicts. (Biblical.) The Nelson family and the Hopkins family had been feuding for decades, but when Andrew Nelson and Louise Hopkins declared that they wanted to get married, their families decided to let the dead bury the dead.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
bury the hatchet
Make peace; settle one's differences. For example, Toward the end of the year, the roommates finally decided to bury the hatchet. Although some believe this term comes from a Native American custom for declaring peace between warring tribes, others say it comes from hang up one's hatchet, a term dating from the early 1300s (well before Columbus landed in the New World). The word bury replaced hang up in the 1700s.
dead and buried
Also, dead and gone. Long forgotten, no longer in use, as in That argument is dead and buried, or No point in worrying about regulations that are long dead and gone. This figurative use of "having died" is usually applied to some issue. [Late 1800s]
hide one's head in the sand
Also, bury one's head in the sand. Refuse to face something by pretending not to see it. For example, For years we have been hiding our heads in the sand, refusing to admit that the store is losing money , or When it comes to a family quarrel, Dean just buries his head in the sand. This expression, transferred to human behavior in the early 1600s, alludes to the belief that ostriches burrow in sand thinking they will not be seen because they cannot see. In fact, however, when they do this, they are consuming sand and gravel to aid their digestive system.
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.
bury the hatchet
When people who have argued bury the hatchet, they agree to forget their argument and become friends again. Note: A hatchet is a small axe. They had finally buried the hatchet after their falling-out. Note: In the past, when Native American tribes made peace after fighting each other, it was traditional for each tribe to bury a tomahawk or small axe, as a sign of peace.
bury your head in the sand
COMMON If you bury your head in the sand, you refuse to accept the truth about something unpleasant. Don't be an ostrich and bury your head in the sand, hoping your problems will disappear. Note: Verbs such as stick, hide and keep are sometimes used instead of bury. No one has the luxury of sticking their head in the sand when it comes to standing up for basic civil rights. Note: You can also say that someone has a head in the sand approach or a head in the sand attitude. It's a stupid, head-in-the-sand approach to the global problem of nuclear waste disposal. Note: People used to think that ostriches buried their heads in the sand when they were in danger.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
know where the bodies are buried
have the security deriving from personal knowledge of an organization's confidential affairs and secrets. informalbury the hatchet
end a quarrel or conflict and become friendly.This expression makes reference to a Native American custom of burying a hatchet or tomahawk to mark the conclusion of a peace treaty.
bury your head in the sand
ignore unpleasant realities; refuse to face facts.This expression alludes to the belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand when pursued, thinking that as they cannot see their pursuers the pursuers cannot see them.
dead and buried
used to emphasize that something is finally and irrevocably in the past.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌbury the ˈhatchet
,ˌbury your ˈdifferences
(of two people or groups) agree to forget past disagreements and be friends again: I’ve said I’m prepared to bury the hatchet, but John says he won’t forgive me for what happened.When Native Americans agreed to end fighting and begin a period of peace they held a ceremony in which they buried a hatchet or tomahawk (= a small axe).dead and ˈburied/ˈgone
dead, especially for a long time; long past and forgotten: Long after I’m dead and gone, you’ll still be carrying on the same as you ever were. ♢ Why bring up old disagreements that have been dead and buried for years?bury/hide your ˌhead in the ˈsand
refuse to deal with unpleasant realities, possible dangers, etc. by pretending they do not exist: Stop burying your head in the sand, Tim. Don’t pretend that everything’s all right.This phrase refers to the common belief that the ostrich buries its head in the sand when it is in danger.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
bury the hatchet
1. tv. to make peace. (From an alleged American Indian practice.) I’m sorry. Let’s stop arguing and bury the hatchet.
2. tv. to leave surgical instruments in the patient. (Medical.) The idea that a doctor would bury the hatchet is a very old joke.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
bury the hatchet
To stop fighting; resolve a quarrel.
dead and buried
No longer in use or under consideration: All past animosities are dead and buried now.
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.
bury/hide one's head in the sand, to
To ignore danger, unpleasantness, or the like by pretending not to see it. The term comes from the practice of ostriches, who spend a good deal of time burrowing headfirst in the sand. Most of the time they are eating, for these large, flightless birds consume sand and gravel, which are used in their gizzards to help digest food. However, it was long thought that they put their heads down in the mistaken belief that they then cannot be seen, and from the early seventeenth century on this mythical self-delusion was transferred to human beings who are avoiding unpleasantness.
bury the hatchet, to
To make peace or call a truce. Some North American Indian tribes declared peace by burying a tomahawk, a custom described by Samuel Sewell in 1680 and referred to again in subsequent accounts of the American colonies. The term appears in Longfellow’s famous poem, “Hiawatha,” and by the end of the nineteenth century was a cliché for peacemaking on both sides of the Atlantic.
See also: bury
hide one's head in the sand
See bury one's head in the sand.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
bury the hatchet
To make peace, to settle differences. The phrase comes from the practice among native American and Canadian tribes literally to bury a war axe at the end of hostilities. An 1680 report describes European colonists in what became New England: “Meeting wth ye Sachem [the tribal leaders] the[y] came to an agreemt and buried two Axes in ye Ground; which ceremony to them is more significant & binding than all Articles of Peace . . .”
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price