today

Are you doing anything (on a particular day)?

Are you busy on a particular day? Usually said before inviting someone to do something. A: "Are you doing anything on Saturday?" B: "No, why?" Are you doing anything tomorrow? If not, you're welcome to come over to my place. Are you doing anything on Friday? I'm thinking of going to the botanical garden—all of the tulips should be in bloom.

See also: anything, particular

better an egg today than a hen tomorrow

proverb It is better to have something less valuable in one's immediate possession than to pursue something more valuable that one may not be able to obtain. I think I'll keep my modest winnings rather than wagering them all on the next horse race. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.

See also: an, better, egg, hen, today, tomorrow

Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

proverb Do not delay, procrastinate, or hesitate to do something if you can finish or accomplish it right away. A: "I've just got one more short assignment and then I'll be finished with my homework, but I think I'll wait until Sunday to do it." B: "You'll enjoy your weekend more if you do it now. Remember, don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today!"

See also: can, off, put, till, tomorrow, what

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

proverb Do not delay, procrastinate, or hesitate to do something if you can finish or accomplish it right away. A: "I've just got one more short assignment and then I'll be finished with my homework, but I think I'll wait until Sunday to do it." B: "You'll enjoy your weekend more if you do it now. Remember, don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today!"

See also: can, off, put, tomorrow, until, what

here today, (and) gone tomorrow

Said of something that is short-lived. I can't believe I've already spent the money I got for my birthday. Here today, gone tomorrow!

See also: gone, here, tomorrow

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

proverb Do not delay, procrastinate, or hesitate to do something if you can finish or accomplish it right away. A: "I've just got one more short assignment and then I'll be finished with my homework, but I think I'll wait until Sunday to do it." B: "You'll enjoy your weekend more if you do it now. Remember, never put off till tomorrow what you can do today!"

See also: can, never, off, put, till, tomorrow, what

Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

proverb Do not delay or hesitate to do something if you can finish or accomplish it today. A: "I've just got one more short assignment and then I'll be finished with my homework, but I think I'll wait until Sunday to do it." B: "You'll enjoy your weekend more if you do it now. Remember, never put off until tomorrow what you can do today!"

See also: can, never, off, put, tomorrow, until, what

one today is worth two tomorrows

The future, and anything it might bring, is not guaranteed, which makes today more valuable. The phrase is attributed to 18th-century US statesman Benjamin Franklin. Hey, try to make the best of today because one today is worth two tomorrows. I know you're trying to plan ahead, but none of us can plan anything with certainty, which means that one today is worth two tomorrows.

See also: one, today, tomorrow, two, worth

put off

1. verb To deter, annoy, or repel. A noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "off." I don't know if you realize how much you put people off with your attitude. He has a knack for putting off his dates.

2. To make someone reluctant or averse to something. A noun or pronoun is used between "put" and "off." The flu put me off food for several days in a row. The experience definitely put her off of traveling to Europe again anytime soon.

3. verb To delay doing or dealing with something; to procrastinate instead of doing something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "put" and "off." Why did I keep putting off working on this essay? Now I'll be up all night writing it. If you put off getting car insurance, you could wind up in jail if you get in an accident. I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner. I should never have put it off.

4. verb To delay meeting with or avoid dealing with someone. A noun or pronoun is used between "put" and "off." I'm sorry I've been putting you off lately; it's just been really hectic in work and at home. Has Helen said anything to you about me recently? I feel like she's putting me off.

5. To eject or have someone ejected from something, often a mode of transportation. A noun or pronoun is used between "put" and "off." Thank goodness the pilot had the rowdy passengers put off the plane. Shh! We're gonna get put off the train!

6. adjective Deterred, annoyed, or repelled (by something). I could tell he was a bit put off by my comments. Please don't spread the news about the robbery. We don't want our guests to feel put off at the idea of staying with us overnight.

See also: off, put

today (some place), tomorrow the world

1. cliché First this location will be conquered, soon to be followed by the entire world. "Today France, tomorrow the world!" cackled the evil leader, as his army poured out of the stronghold and swept across the country.

2. By extension, we will first find success in this location, then that success will quickly spread to the rest of the world. I have a feeling that this product could revolutionize the way the entire planet consumes media. Today the United States, tomorrow the world!

See also: today, tomorrow, world

today is a good day to die

Often associated with Native Americans, though the phrase may not have originated with them.

1. One is willing and prepared to die for a particular cause. If we have to take up weapons and fight them to protect our land, then today is a good day to die.

2. If one has no regrets, then one can die on any day having lived a fulfilling life. If you live each and every day to the fullest, then today is a good day to die. Any day becomes a good day to die when you're happy with how you've lived your life.

See also: die, good, to, today

Today, we are all (some group of people)

Used to indicate that everyone in a given population feels empathy for and stands in solidarity with another group or population of people, typically due to some tragedy or hardship they have experienced. Everyone in the world has watched in horror as the earthquake devastated the Sumatra region like nothing we have ever seen before. Today, we are all Indonesian.

See also: all, group, of, we

what's on tap for (some point in time)

What has been arranged, organized, or scheduled (for some period of or point in time). A: "Good morning, Mark! What's on tap for today?" B: "Morning, boss. We have production meetings with each department up until lunch, then the first prototype will be ready for you to test in the afternoon." Let's go over what's on tap for tomorrow so that we're all on the same page.

See also: for, on, point, tap

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Here today, (and) gone tomorrow.

Prov. Available now, but soon to be gone. (Used to describe something that does not last-often an opportunity). The stores near my house don't stay in business very long—here today, and gone tomorrow. If you want this carpet, buy it now. This sale price is here today, gone tomorrow.

See also: gone, here, tomorrow

put someone off

 

1. to delay dealing with someone until a later time. I hate to keep putting you off, but we are not ready to deal with you yet. I had to put off the plumber again. He really wants his money.

2. to repel someone; to distress someone. You really put people off with your scowling face. You put off people with your arrogance.

3. to avoid or evade someone. I don't wish to see Mr. Brown now. Please put him off. I won't talk to reporters. Tell them something that will put them off. Put off those annoying people!

See also: off, put

put someone off (of) something

 and put someone off

to remove someone from a form of transportation, such as a train, ship, or airplane, owing to illness or misbehavior. (See also put someone off. Of is usually retained before pronouns.) The captain ordered that the unruly passengers be put off the ship at the next port. We put the thief off at the dock.

See also: off, put

put something off

to postpone something; to schedule something for a later time. I have to put off our meeting until a later time. I put off a visit to the dentist as long as I could.

See also: off, put

Today here, tomorrow the world.

Prov. Successful in this location now, with later recognition in the rest of the world. (Describes something whose influence seems certain to spread. The name of an appropriate locality is usually substituted for here.) I thought that silly fashion in clothes was unique to California, but it seems to be spreading. Today Los Angeles, tomorrow the world.

See also: today, tomorrow, world

What's on tap for today?

Inf. What is on the schedule for today?; What is going to happen today? (As a beer that is on tap and ready to be served.) Tom: Good morning, Fred. Fred: Morning. What's on tap for today? Tom: Trouble in the morning and difficulty in the afternoon. Fred: So nothing's new. Sally: Can we have lunch today? Sue: I'll have to look at my schedule and see what's on tap for today.

See also: for, on, tap

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

here today, gone tomorrow

Lacking permanence, fleeting. For example, His book attracted a great deal of attention but quickly went out of print-here today and gone tomorrow . Originally alluding to the briefness of the human lifespan, this phrase was first recorded in John Calvin's Life and Conversion of a Christian Man (1549): "This proverb that man is here today and gone tomorrow."

See also: gone, here, tomorrow

put off

Delay or postpone, as in He always puts off paying his bills. This idiom, dating from the late 1300s, gave rise to the proverb Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, first recorded in the late 1300s (in Chaucer's Tale of Melibee) and repeated ever since. Also see put one off.

See also: off, put

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.

here today, gone tomorrow

or

here today and gone tomorrow

If something or someone is here today, gone tomorrow or here today and gone tomorrow, they are only present or only exist for a short time. There have been numerous schemes designed to provide children who are here today, gone tomorrow with the same educational opportunities as settled children. The freedom that they have is not true freedom, and that's because it's here today and gone tomorrow. Note: Journalists sometimes use here today, gone tomorrow before a noun. The presenter described him as a `here today, gone tomorrow minister'. Note: This expression is used to show disapproval.

See also: gone, here, tomorrow

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

here today, gone tomorrow

soon over or forgotten; short-lived or transient.

1996 Sunday Telegraph Apparently when people spend their money on things that are here today gone tomorrow, like flowers, food and Champagne, it tells you more about the state of the economy than when they buy solid things.

See also: gone, here, tomorrow

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

here toˌday, gone toˈmorrow

if something is here today, gone tomorrow, it only exists or stays for a short time: The restaurant staff don’t tend to stay for very long — they’re here today, gone tomorrow. OPPOSITE: be here to stay

See also: gone, here, tomorrow

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

put off

v.

1. To delay or postpone something: I always put off paying the bills and end up paying a late fee. If you keep putting your homework off, you won't get it done.

2. To persuade someone or something to postpone an activity: I managed to put off the creditors for another week. We succeeded in putting the meeting off until next week.

3. To cause someone to be offended, disgusted, and repelled: His indifferent attitude has put us off. Her arrogance put off the interviewers.

4. To discourage someone from doing something: The bad weather put us off from trying to climb the mountain.

5. To cause someone to be distracted from something and perform poorly: That athlete is sensitive, and too much crowd noise puts off his game. She throws the ball pretty well, but the pain in her arm put her aim off.

See also: off, put

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

today

mod. now; immediately. (Sarcastic.) I want it done, now—today. Come on. Sam. Move it. Today!

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

here today and gone tomorrow

Describing an ephemeral phenomenon, a passing fancy, a fad. Originally this expression referred to the relatively brief span of a human life. It was recorded by numerous writers and was included in James Kelly’s Scottish Proverbs of 1721. By the nineteenth century it had become a less serious thought. T. C. Haliburton (Sam Slick) included it in Wise Saws (1843): “I am a bird of passage—here today and gone tomorrow.”

See also: and, gone, here, today, tomorrow

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer