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. The IT department has been busy as Grand Central Station, thanks to that site outage last night.

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. When you're a paramedic, you're pretty much always at action stations.

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!

be as busy as Grand Central Station

To be extremely busy or chaotic, like New York City's Grand Central Terminal train station. Our customer service department is always as busy as Grand Central Station at this time of year. So many people coming and going—geez, it's as busy as Grand Central Station in here.

be like Grand Central Station

To be extremely busy or chaotic, like New York City's Grand Central Terminal train station. Our customer service department is always like Grand Central Station at this time of year. So many people coming and going—geez, it's like Grand Central Station in here.

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.

Man your battle stations!

Assume your positions for combat. Man your battle stations! Enemy troops straight ahead!

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.

See also: already, left, station, that, train

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.

the train has (already) left the station

The window of opportunity to do, be a part of, or avail oneself of something has already closed. A: "Hey, I heard you can make a huge profit if you buy stocks in this company." B: "Nah, the train has left the station. It hit its peak a few days ago." Politicians are scrambling to avert an economic disaster following the collapse of the housing market, but most analysts are warning that the train has already left the station.

the train is leaving the station

The window of opportunity to do, be a part of, or avail oneself of something is starting to close. It's still a great time to buy stocks in this company if you're looking to make a huge profit, but you've got to move quickly, because the train is leaving the station. The politician warned that the train is leaving the station for the country to address the issue if they want to avert catastrophe.

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

*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?

See also: station

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.

See also: station

See also:

References in classic literature ?

Then he asked me to his room, which was in the main building of the station. He struck a match, and I perceived that this young aristocrat had not only a silver-mounted dressing-case but also a whole candle all to himself.

Kurtz had painted this--in this very station more than a year ago--while waiting for means to go to his trading-post.

"The chief of the Inner Station,' he answered in a short tone, looking away.

You kicked a loose rivet at every second step in that station yard on the hillside.

There was an old hippo that had the bad habit of getting out on the bank and roam- ing at night over the station grounds.

You see I rather chummed with the few mechanics there were in that station, whom the other pilgrims naturally despised --on account of their imperfect manners, I suppose.

A frightful clatter came out of that hulk, and the virgin forest on the other bank of the creek sent it back in a thundering roll upon the sleeping station. It must have made some of the pilgrims sit up in their hovels.

He carried his fat paunch with ostentation on his short legs, and during the time his gang infested the station spoke to no one but his nephew.

View in context

The seizure of the station with a fit of trembling, gradually deepening to a complaint of the heart, announced the train.

View in context

Recently, Bakmil station of Baku Metro was opened after major overhaul.

New metro station to be constructed in Baku

Hsinchu Railway Station: After leaving the station, walk for about 11 minutes to Hsinchu Park.

Taiwan Rail lists 9 lines, stations with views of cherry blossoms

Fateh Abad and Amin Town feeders originating from 132-KV OTP grid station, Hamdar-1 feeder emanating from 132-KV Steam Power grid station, Ali Pur Bungalow and Arkana feeders originating from 132- KV Jaranwala grid station, Jhumra City and Noorwalay feeders emanating from 132-KV Chak Jhumra grid station, Khurrianwala City feeder originating from 132-KV Khurrianwala grid station, Sufi Di Kothi feeder emanating from 132-KV Lundianwala grid station, Ravi feeder originating from 132-KV Sitiana grid station, Canal Road feeder emanating from66-KV OTP grid station, al-Barkat feeder originating from 220-KV Sammundri Road grid station.

FESCO issues shutdown program

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) management has reported flooding in some stations of the Light Rail Transit line-1 on Tuesday morning.

LRT-1 stations flooded, PNR operations disrupted due to heavy rain

Peoples (Sharif Abad) and Fareed feeders emanating from 132-KV Sammundri grid station, Torianwala and Aslam Shaheed feeders originating from 132-KV Mureedwala grid station, Mahi and Pindi feeders emanating from 132-KV Tandlianwala grid station, Garh Fateh Shah feeder originating from 132-KV Garh Fateh Shah grid station and Sheeraza feeder emanating from 132-KV Manjhala Bagh grid station will remain suspended from 9:00 a.m.

FESCO issues power shutdown schedule

Similarly, Sub-Inspector Usman Munir from police lines has been transferred and posted as SHO Chakesar police station; Sub-Inspector Liaqat Ali, additional station house officer (ASHO) at Aloch police station, has been transferred and made SHO of Martung police station.