weave

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Related to weaves: plain weave

bob and weave

To move quickly up and down and side to side, typically in an attempt to evade someone or something. You need to bob and weave more so that your opponent can't hit you.

get weaving

To start doing something. Primarily heard in UK. Come on, let's get weaving—we've wasted enough time already.

tangled web

A convoluted situation usually caused by some form of deception. The investigation revealed a tangled web of fraud among the members of the political party.

underwater basket weaving

Any college or university course that is absurd in its uselessness or irrelevance, especially an elective unrelated to one's degree that is very easy to pass. I spent most of my first year in college partying. On the actual academic front, well, most of my classes were in underwater basket weaving. Instead of learning practical things like business management and economics, students these days are filling their days with underwater basket weaving and other such nonsense.

weave (one's) magic

To use one's unique talents or charm to obtain a desired thing or outcome. I never thought the boss would approve our business trip, but Sam wove her magic, and now, we're off to Denver! Whenever I can't get my car running, I have my dad come over and weave his magic on the engine.

weave (something) from (something) else

1. To create something by weaving some material together. I learned how to weave a basket from reeds. They wove this beautiful tapestry from spider silk.

2. To concoct something, such as a story, out of some certain information. The scriptwriter wove a narrative from the diary entries of a young man who was stationed in Vietnam at the time. You should weave your stories from the interactions and events you've experienced in real life.

weave (something) into (something) else

1. To use a particular material to create something through weaving. I learned how to weave reeds into a rudimentary basket. The team of specialists spent three years weaving the silk of over a million spiders into a stunning ceremonial cape.

2. To combine several distinct pieces or sources of information into a single cohesive story. The scriptwriter wove the testimony of everyone involved into a gripping legal thriller. I bet you'd be able to weave these diary entries into a beautiful novel.

weave a web of lies

To create an intricate contrivance of misdirection, omission, or deception that ultimately serves to ensnare or entangle oneself or others. Rich had an affair with his secretary and wove a web of lies to hide it. He's divorced now, so how do you think it all worked out for him?

weave around

1. To move around from side to side in a meandering or unsteady manner. I could tell he was drunk by the way he was weaving around after we left the bar. When the bus driver started weaving around on the road, I worried that he might have fallen asleep!

2. To avoid someone or something by moving deftly from side to side. The waiter weaved around the tables of people, her arms laden with plates of food. We had to weave around the police officers who were inspecting people's bags on the sidewalk.

weave in and out

To move in, between, and out of something, then back again. The suspect began weaving in and out of various alleyways in an effort to lose the police. Some maniac weaved in and out of cars as he went flying down the highway at nearly 150 miles an hour. The running back wove in and out of the defensive players to gain nearly 50 yards on his run.

weave through (something)

To pass through a dense group by moving deftly in between the people or things within. He wove through the crowd of people to avoid the police officer. We had to weave through the forest as we ran back to camp. I felt certain the motorcycle was going to crash, judging by how dangerously it was weaving through traffic.

weave around

to move about, changing directions at random. The drunken driver wove around all over the road. He was weaving around everywhere.

weave in and out (of something)

Fig. to move, drive, or walk in and out of something, such as traffic, a line, etc. The car was weaving in and out of traffic dangerously. The deer ran rapidly through the forest, weaving in and out of the trees.

weave something from something

1. to make a fabric from some type of fiber. They weave this cloth from a fine plant fiber. This cloth is woven from silk threads.

2. Fig. to make a story or explanation out of a small amount of information. (Fig. on {2}.) You have woven the entire tale from something you heard me say to Ruth. Your explanation has been woven from supposition.

weave something into something

1. to form fibers into a fabric. They could weave the threads into simple cloth with a primitive loom. We will weave this wool into a rug.

2. Fig. to turn separate episodes into a story. (Fig. on {2}.) Skillfully, the writer wove the elements into a clever story. Memories from her childhood were woven into a series of short stories.

weave through something

to move through something by turning and dodging. The car wove through traffic, almost hitting a number of other cars. We wove through the jungle vines, trying to avoid touching the poisonous ones.

weave in and out

Move by twisting and turning or winding in and out, as in The motorcycle wove in and out of traffic, leaving us far behind. This expression is a redundancy, since weave literally means "intertwine strands of thread."

bob and weave

make rapid bodily movements up and down and from side to side.

get weaving

set briskly to work; begin action. British informal

1992 George MacDonald Fraser Quartered Safe Out Here Come on, come on, come on!…Let's get weaving!

weave your ˈmagic

weave a ˈspell (over somebody)

(especially British English) perform or behave in a way that attracts and interests somebody very much or makes them react in a particular way: Will Owen be able to weave his magic against Spain on Wednesday?

underwater basket weaving

n. an imaginary, very easy high school or college course. If I can just find a course in underwater basket weaving, I’ll have an easy semester.