[backward] See: BEND OVER BACKWARD or LEAN OVER BACKWARD; FALL OVERBACKWARDS or FALL OVER ONESELF.

[backward and forward] or [backwards and forwards] {adv. phr.} Tothe full extent; in all details; thoroughly; completely. •/He understoodautomobile engines backwards and forwards./ •/He knew basketball rulesbackwards and forwards./ •/I explained matters to him so that he understoodbackwards and forwards how it was./

[bacon] See: BRING HOME THE BACON.

[bad] See: GO FROM BAD TO WORSE, IN A BAD WAY, IN BAD, IN ONE’S BAD GRACES,LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN ONE’S MOUTH, NOT BAD or NOT SO BAD or NOT HALF BAD, ONONE’S BAD SIDE, TOO BAD, WITH BAD GRACE.

[bad actor]{n.}, {informal} A person or animal that is alwaysfighting, quarreling, or doing bad things. •/The boy was a bad actor andnobody liked him./

[bad blood]{n.}, {informal} Anger or misgivings due to badrelations in the past between individuals or groups. •/There’s a lot of badblood between Max and Jack; I bet they’ll never talk to each other again./Compare: BAD SHIT.

[bad egg]{n.}, {slang} A ne’er-do-well; good-for nothing; ahabitual offender. •/The judge sent the bad egg to prison at last./Contrast: GOOD EGG.

[bad mouth (someone)]{v.}, {slang} To say uncomplimentary orlibelous things about someone; deliberately to damage another’s reputation.•/It’s not nice to had mouth people./

[bad news]{n.}, {slang} An event, thing, or person which isdisagreeable or an unpleasant surprise. •/What’s the new professor like? — He’s all bad news to me./

[bad paper]{n.}, {slang} 1. A check for which there are no fundsin the bank. 2. Counterfeit paper money. •/Why are you so mad? — I was paidwith some bad paper./

[bad shit]{n.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} An unpleasant event orsituation, such as a long lasting and unsettled quarrel or recurring acts ofvengeance preventing two people or two groups from reaching any kind ofreconciliation. •/There is so much had shit between the two gangs that I betthere will he more killings this year./ Compare: BAD BLOOD.

[bad trip]{n.}, {slang}, {also used colloquially} A disturbingor frightening experience, such as terrifying hallucinations, while under theinfluence of drugs; hence, by colloquial extension any bad experience ingeneral. •/Why’s John’s face so distorted? — He had a bad trip./ •/Howwas your math exam? — Don’t mention it; it was a bad trip./

[bag] See: GRAB BAG, IN THE BAG, LEAVE HOLDING THE BAG, LET THE CAT OUT OFTHE BAG.

[bag and baggage]{adv.}, {informal} With all your clothes andother personal belongings, especially movable possessions; completely. •/Ifthey don’t pay their hotel bill they will be put out bag and baggage./

[baggage] See: BAG AND BAGGAGE.

[bail] See: JUMP BAIL or SKIP BAIL.

[bail out(1)]{v.} 1. To secure release from prison until trial byleaving or promising money or property for a while. •/When college studentsgot into trouble with the police, the college president would always bail themout./ 2. {informal} To free from trouble by giving or lending money.•/He started a small business, which prospered after his father had to bailhim out a couple of times./

[bail out(2)]{v.} To jump from an airplane and drop with a parachute.•/When the second engine failed, the pilot told everyone to bail out./

[bail out(3)]{v.} To dip water from a filling or leaking boat; throwwater out of a boat to prevent its sinking. •/Both men were kept busy bailingout the rowboat after it began to leak./

[bait] See: FISH OR CUT BAIT.

[bake] See: HALF-BAKED.

[baker’s dozen]{n.}, {informal} Thirteen. •/"How many of thejelly doughnuts, Sir? " the salesclerk asked. "Oh, make it a baker’s dozen."/

[balance] See: HANG IN THE BALANCE, OFF BALANCE.

[ball] See: BASE ON BALLS, CARRY THE BALL, FLY BALL, FOUL BALL, GET THEBALL ROLLING, SET THE BALL ROLLING, START THE BALL ROLLING, GOPHER BALL, GROUNDBALL, HAVE A HALL, HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL, JUMP BALL, KEEP THE BALL.ROLLING, LONG BALL, ON THE BALL, PASSED BALL, PLAY BALL.

[ball game]{n.}, {slang}, also {informal} The entire matter athand; the whole situation; the entire contest. •/You said we can get a secondmortgage for the house?! Wow! That’s a whole new ball game./

[ball of fire]{n.}, {informal} A person with great energy andability; a person who can do something very well. •/He did poorly in schoolbut as a salesman he is a ball of fire./ •/The new shortstop is a goodfielder but certainly no ball of fire in batting./ Compare: HOT NUMBER, HOTONE.

[balloon] See: TRIAL BALLOON, LEAD BALLOON.

[ballot stuffing] See: STUFF THE BALLOT BOX.

[ball up]{v.}, {slang} To make a mess of; confuse. •/Don’t ballme up./ •/Hal balled up the business with his errors./ — Often used inthe passive. •/He was so balled up that he did not know if he was coming orgoing./ Compare: MIXED UP.

[baloney]{n.}, {informal} Nonsense, unbelievable, trite, ortrivial. •/John brags that he’s won the $10 million lottery, and I think it’sjust a lot of baloney./ •/"Will you marry Joe?" mother asked. "Baloney,"Susie answered with a disgusted look./ •/Do you still believe all thatbaloney about socialism excluding free enterprise? Look at China andHungary./

[banana oil]{n.}, {slang} Flattery that is an obviousexaggeration; statements that are obviously made with an ulterior motive.•/Cut out the banana oil; flattery will get you nowhere!/

[band] See: BEAT THE BAND.

[bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF A BANDBOX.

[band together]{v. phr.} To join a group to exert united force.•/The inhabitants of the ecologically threatened area banded together to stopthe company from building new smokestacks./

[bandwagon] See: JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

[bandy about]{v. phr.} To spread rumors or whisper secrets. •/Thenews of Jim and Mary’s divorce was bandied about until everyone at the officehad heard it./

[bang up]{adj.}, {informal} Very successful; very good; splendid;excellent. •/The football coach has done a bang-up job this season./•/John did a bang-up job painting the house./ Syn.: FIRST-CLASS.

[bank] See: PIGGY BANK.

[bank on]{v.}, {informal} To depend on; put one’s trust in; relyon. •/He knew he could bank on public indignation to change things, if hecould once prove the dirty work./ •/The students were banking on the teamto do its best in the championship game./ Syn.: COUNT ON.

[bar] See: BEHIND BARS, PARALLEL BARS.

[bargain] See: DRIVE A BARGAIN, IN THE BARGAIN or INTO THE BARGAIN.

[bargain for] or [bargain on] {v.} To be ready for; expect.•/When John started a fight with the smaller boy he got more than hebargained for./ •/The final cost of building the house was much more thanthey had bargained on./ Compare: COUNT ON.

[barge in]{v. phr.}, {informal} To appear uninvited at someone’shouse or apartment, or to interrupt a conversation. •/I’m sorry for bargingin like that, Sir, but my car died on me and there is no pay phone anywhere./•/I’m sorry for barging in while you two are having a discussion, but couldyou please tell me where the nearest exit is?/