climb
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have a mountain to climb
To have an extremely difficult, seemingly impossible task at hand. After losing Ohio to his opponent, the president now has a mountain to climb if he wants to hold on to his job.
climb the social ladder
To improve one's position within the hierarchical structure or makeup of a culture, society, or social environment. Miss Dumfey hopes to climb the social ladder by marrying the local diplomat. John's had a chip on his shoulder from being raised in a trailer park, so climbing the social ladder has been his only aim since leaving home.
climb on the bandwagon
To join or follow something once it is successful or popular. I can't stand these people who just climb on the bandwagon after a win. Where were they last year when the team was terrible? A: "I thought your mom hated that candidate." B: "Well, he's the president now, so she's climbed on the bandwagon."
climb Parnassus
To write poetry. Parnassus is a mountain in Greece that was sacred to the Muses. With the literary magazine deadline looming, I need to climb Parnassus this weekend—and pray that some decent poems come out of it!
See also: climb
he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree
One must work for what one wants. You can't rely on sheer intelligence in order to get good grades—he that would eat the fruit must climb the tree.
mountain to climb
A very difficult task or challenge. You certainly have a mountain to climb if you intend to get this project done by Thursday.
climb the walls
To be anxious or annoyed to the point of frenzy. If she makes another foolish blunder like that, I'll be ready to climb the walls. The doctor hasn't called me with the test results yet, so I've been climbing the walls.
climb down
To physically descend to a lower point by climbing. Climb down from there this minute, young lady! My little brother climbed down from the tree and ran across the yard to join me.
climb on(to) (someone or something)
To mount someone or something. We can reach the cookies on that shelf if you climb on my back. I was nervous, but I climbed onto the horse nonetheless.
See also: climb
climb on (one's) high horse
To adopt an attitude of moral superiority. My sister was a troublemaker as a teenager, yet she always climbs on her high horse and lectures me about everything. The radio host is known for always climbing on his high horse, despite the fact that everyone knows he's a creep.
climb out
To leave a place or area by climbing or clambering. It doesn't look like there are any other ways out of this canyon. We'll have to climb out. The back seats in my car are so low that it feels like you have to climb out when you sit back there.
climb up
To scale; to climb. Everyone else was able to climb up the rope in gym class, but I struggled, thanks to my scrawny arms. How long did it take them to climb up this mountain?
climbing the walls
Anxious or annoyed to the point of frenzy. The doctor hasn't called me with the test results yet, so I've been climbing the walls. If she makes another foolish blunder like that, I'll be climbing the walls.
climb down (from something)
to dismount something; to come down from something. The child climbed down from the roof. Please climb down!
climb on(to) something
and climb onto ascend to or mount something. I climbed onto the side of the truck. Tommy climbed on the truck.
climb out (of something)
to get, crawl, or move out of something. He climbed out of the wreckage and examined himself carefully for injuries. He climbed out very carefully.
climb the wall(s)
Fig. to be very agitated, anxious, bored, or excited. He was home for only three days; then he began to climb the wall. I was climbing the walls to get back to work.
climb up (something)
to ascend something; to scale something. (Fixed order.) The hikers took two hours to climb up the hill. The adventurer tried to climb up the side of the cliff.
Go chase yourself!
and Go climb a tree!; Go fly a kite!; Go jump in the lake!Inf. Go away and stop bothering me! Bob: Get out of here. Bill! You're driving mecrazy! Go chase yourself'. Bill: What did I do to you? Bob: You're just in the way. Bill: Dad, can I have ten bucks? Father: Go climb a tree! Fred: Stop pestering me, John. Go jump in the lake! John: What did I do? Bob: Well, Bill, don't you owe me some money? Bill: Go fly a kite!
See also: chase
He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom.
Prov. If you want to gain high status, you must start with low status and slowly work upwards. Although Thomas hoped to become a famous journalist, he didn't mind working for a small-town newspaper at first. "He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom," he said.
climb the walls
Show extreme frustration, impatience, or anxiety, as in That long, boring banquet made me want to climb the walls, or If he says that one more time I'll be ready to climb the walls. Although describing a military maneuver dating from ancient times, this slangy phrase has been used figuratively to express strong negative feeling only since about 1970. Also see under drive someone crazy.
go fly a kite
Also, go chase yourself or climb a tree or jump in the lake or sit on a tack or soak your head . Go away and stop bothering me, as in Quit it, go fly a kite, or Go jump in the lake. All of these somewhat impolite colloquial imperatives date from the first half of the 1900s and use go as described under go and.
on the bandwagon, get
Also, climb or hop or jump on the bandwagon . Join a cause or movement, as in More and more people are getting on the bandwagon to denounce cigarette smoking. This expression alludes to a horse-drawn wagon carrying a brass band, used to accompany candidates on campaign tours in the second half of the 1800s. By about 1900 it was extended to supporting a campaign or other cause.
climb up the ladder
orclimb the ladder
If you climb up the ladder or climb the ladder, you become more and more successful or important. There's no need for the sort of competitive behaviour you get at companies where people are trying to climb up the ladder. He became the first man to climb the social ladder from a log cabin to the White House. Note: You can also say that someone moves up the ladder. If you think you can do more than you are doing in your present position, you owe it to yourself to make the effort to move up the ladder.
a mountain to climb
mainly BRITISHIf someone has a mountain to climb, they have to do a task which will be very difficult and will involve a lot of hard work. The negotiators have a mountain to climb if they want to bring lasting peace to this region. He still has a mountain to climb in persuading the public that war is justified.
be climbing the walls
If you are climbing the walls, you are feeling very frustrated, bored or anxious. If I was sitting at home with nothing to do, I'd be climbing the walls.
climb
1. n. a marijuana cigarette. (Drugs. The means to a high.) I need a climb to set me straight.
2. tv. to scold someone. The boss climbed Harry for being late.
climb the wall(s)
tv. to do something desperate when one is anxious, bored, or excited. I was climbing the walls to get back to work.
climb the wall
verbSee climb the walls
Go chase yourself!
and Go chase your tail! and Go climb a tree! and Go fly a kite! and Go fry an egg! and Go jump in the lake! and Go soak your head! and Go soak yourself! exclam. Beat it!; Go away! Oh, go chase yourself! Go soak your head! You’re a pain in the neck.
See also: chase
Go climb a tree!
verbSee also: climb
climb the walls
To be anxious or frantic.
go fly a kite
Get lost! Kite flying is an activity that is done far less now than in previous centuries. Accordingly, “go fly a kite!” is heard far less than “get lost!” “take a hike!” and “get your ass out of here!” (or something stronger).