station
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Related to station: Underground station
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(as) busy as Grand Central Station
Very busy or chaotic, like New York City's Grand Central Terminal train station. Our customer service department always becomes as busy as Grand Central Station at this time of year. So many people coming and going—geez, it's busy as Grand Central Station in here.
action stations
A state of intense alertness or readiness for a great amount of impending action. Often said as an order to become ready or prepared for such action. We were all at action stations when we found out the CEO of the company was coming to visit our branch. Action stations, everyone! We're going to get slammed for lunch now that the football game has finished.
battle stations
1. The positions that soldiers must assume when in or preparing for combat. These will be your battle stations in times of warfare.
2. A command to take such positions. Battle stations! All hands on deck!
comfort station
A public bathroom. I sure hope there's a comfort station at this next rest stop!
filling station
A place where one can fill a vehicle with gasoline. Also commonly called a "gas station." Pop took the truck down to the filling station so we have a full tank of gas before hitting the road.
Grand Central Station
A place that is very busy or chaotic, like New York City's Grand Central Terminal train station. Our customer service department always becomes as busy as Grand Central Station at this time of year. So many people coming and going—geez, it's like Grand Central Station in here.
marry above (one's) station
To marry someone who is of a higher social class or standing than oneself. A: "I hear that the local fishmonger's daughter is betrothed to a rich foreign lawyer!" B: "My word, she's certainly marrying above her station, isn't she?" For all the talk that social classes have been wiped away in recent years, you will still find people who believe one can't or shouldn't marry above one's station.
marry below (one's) station
To marry someone who is of a lower social class or standing than oneself. A: "I hear that Mr. Sullivan plans to marry a local fishmonger's daughter." B: "Why would a man of his esteem marry below his station like that?" Janet has a bright future with one of the best law firms in town, so it's beyond me why she's marrying below her station with some fast food worker.
marry beneath (one's) station
To marry someone who is of a lower social class or standing than oneself. A: "I hear that Mr. Sullivan plans to marry a local fishmonger's daughter." B: "Why would a man of his esteem marry beneath his station like that?" Janet has a bright future with one of the best law firms in town, so it's beyond me why she's marrying beneath her station with some fast food worker.
panic stations
A shared feeling of extreme anxiety, stress, and urgency, especially in the face of a looming deadline. Even though we've been preparing for months, it's still been panic stations in the office as we get the product ready for launch.
station (one) at (some place)
To assign one to remain at some post or location. They stationed us at the overpass to make sure the enemy couldn't slip by undetected. I stationed my sister at the bus station so someone would be there when Mike arrived.
See also: station
that train (has) already left the station
Some option, choice, or opportunity is no longer available or possible. I thought I'd still be eligible for their internship program, but it sounds like that train already left the station. If you were hoping to ask Mollie out, that train has already left the station—she's going to the dance with Peter.
that train has left the station
Some option, choice, or opportunity is no longer available or possible. I thought I'd still be eligible for their internship program, but it sounds like that train has left the station. If you were hoping to ask Mollie out, that train has already sailed—she's going to the dance with Peter. He could have been gotten drafted to a professional football team if his hand hadn't gotten injured. Now, that train has left the station.
thirst-aid station
slang A place where alcoholic beverages are available to be purchased or consumed. For the party, we set up an awesome makeshift bar in the living room and called it the thirst-aid station. We all headed to the thirst-aid station after work to relax with a few cold ones.
See also: station
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
*busy as a beaver (building a new dam)
and *busy as a bee; *busy as a one-armed paperhanger; *busy as Grand Central Station; *busy as a cat on a hot tin roof; *busy as a fish peddler in Lent; *busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving); *busy as popcorn on a skilletvery busy. (*Also: as ~.) My boss keeps me as busy as a one-armed paperhanger. I don't have time to talk to you. I'm as busy as a beaver. When the tourist season starts, this store is busy as Grand Central Station. Sorry I can't go to lunch with you. I'm as busy as a beaver building a new dam. Prying into other folks' business kept him busy as popcorn on a skillet.
station someone at something
to position or place someone near something. The manager stationed a receptionist at the door. Would you station a guard at the back door to keep people out?
See also: station
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
busy as a beaver
Also, busy as a bee. Hardworking, very industrious, as in With all her activities, Sue is always busy as a bee, or Bob's busy as a beaver trying to finish painting before it rains. The comparison to beavers dates from the late 1700s, the variant from the late 1300s. Also see eager beaver; work like a beaver.
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.
action stations
an order or warning to prepare for action.Originally, this was an order to naval personnel to go to their allocated positions ready to engage the enemy.
battle stations
used as a command or signal to military personnel to take up their positions in preparation for battle. chiefly USFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˈaction stations
(spoken, especially British English) used as an order to get ready for action: Action stations! There’s a bus full of tourists arriving in five minutes.ˈpanic stations
(British English, informal) a situation in which people feel anxious and there is a lot of confused activity, especially because there is a lot to do in a short period of time: At the moment it’s panic stations in the office because we’re preparing for the president’s visit next week.In the navy, a call to action stations means that each sailor takes the position that they should have when in battle. Panic stations is a humorous comparison with this.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
comfort station
1. n. a restroom; toilet facilities available to the public. (Euphemistic.) We need to stop and find a comfort station in the next town.
2. n. an establishment that sells liquor. Let’s get some belch at a comfort station along here somewhere.
filling station
n. a liquor store. (From an old name for an automobile service station.) Please stop at the filling station and get some suds on your way home.
fuzz station
n. a police station. He had to spend about an hour at the fuzz station, but nothing happened to him.
Grand Central Station
n. any busy and hectic place. (From Grand Central Station in New York City—a very busy place.) At just about closing time, this place becomes Grand Central Station.
thirst-aid station
n. a place to purchase liquor. (Punning on first-aid station.) Let’s stop at the next thirst-aid station and get a snort.
See also: station
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.