spend a whole week in that one-horse
town! I grew up in a one-horse town,
and I liked it very much.one jump ahead of someone or some-
thingn. in advance of someone or some-
thing; a step ahead of someone or some-
thing. I try to be one jump ahead of the
problems. You have to keep one jump
ahead of the boss in order to succeed.
one-man show 1. n. a performance put on
by one person. It was a one-man show,
but it was very entertaining. For a one-
man show, it was very long. 2. n. an ex-
hibition of the artistic works of one per-
son. She is having a one-man show at
the Northside Gallery. I’m having a one-
man show next weekend. Come and see
what I have done.
one-night stand 1. n. a performance last-
ing only one night. The band did a se-
ries of one-night stands down the East
Coast. You can’t make a living doing
one-night stands. 2. n. a romance or sex-
ual relationship that lasts only one night.
It was not a romance, just a one-night
stand. It looked like something that
would last longer than a one-night stand.
one of the faithfuln. a drunkard. Here
comes Mr. Franklin—one of the faithful—
staggering down the street. I saw one of
the faithful standing at the bar.
one’s bagn. one’s preferences; one’s talents.
Working crossword puzzles is my bag.
Hey, Tom, what’s your bag? What do you
like to do?
one’s best shotn. one’s best attempt (at
something). That was his best shot, but
it wasn’t good enough. I always try to
give something my best shot.
one smart applen. a smart or clever per-
son. That Sue is one smart apple. My
brother is one smart apple.
one too manyn. one drink of liquor too
many, implying drunkenness. I think
I’ve had one too many. It’s time to stop
drinking. Don’t drive if you’ve had one
too many.
one-track mindn. a (person’s) mind ob-
sessed with only one thing. When it
comes to food, Tom has a one-track mind.
Mary has a one-track mind. All she
thinks about is Tom.
on fire 1. mod. very attractive or sexy.
She is really on fire! Look at those jet-
set people! Each one of them is just on fire.- mod. doing very well; very enthusias-
tic. Jill’s new book is really on fire.
Everyone is buying it. Fred is on fire in
his new job. He’ll get promoted in no time.
on icemod. in reserve. That’s a great
idea, but we’ll have to put it on ice until
we can afford to put it into action. I
have two boyfriends. One I see every week-
end, and the other I keep on ice for a rainy
day.
on itmod. really good. Man, Weasel is
really on it! What a rad lad! Susan is
on it, and getting lots of attention for her
running style.
only way to gon. the best way to do some-
thing; the best choice to make. Get a
four-wheel drive car. It’s the only way to
go. That’s it! A new house. It’s the only
way to go.
on one’s assGo to (flat) on one’s ass.
on one’s high horsemod. in a haughty
manner or mood. Larry is on his high
horse again, bossing people around. The
boss is on her high horse about the num-
ber of paper clips we use.
on one’s last legs and on its last legs
mod. about to expire or become non-
functional. This car is on its last legs.
We have to get a new one. Poor old
Chuck is on his last legs.
on one’s own hookmod. all by oneself.
I don’t need any help. I can do it on my
own hook. She did it on her own hook
without having to call on anyone.
on someone’s tailmod. following some-
one closely. There is a huge truck on my
tail. What should I do? Keep on her tail
and don’t let her out of your sight.
on someone’s watchmod. while someone
is on duty. I am not responsible since it
didn’t happen on my watch. I guess I
have to bear the blame since it happened
on my watch.
one jump ahead of someone or something