station

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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.

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!

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.

comfort station

A public restroom. I sure hope there's a comfort station at this next rest stop!

*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 skillet

very 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?

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.

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 US

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.

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.