[bark up the wrong tree]{v. phr.}, {informal} To choose the wrongperson to deal with or the wrong course of action; mistake an aim. •/If hethinks he can fool me, he is barking up the wrong tree./ •/He is barking upthe wrong tree when he blames his troubles on bad luck./ •/The police werelooking for a tall thin man, but were barking up the wrong tree; the thief wasshort and fat./

[bark worse than one’s bite]{informal} Sound or speech morefrightening or worse than your actions. •/The small dog barks savagely, buthis bark is worse than his bite./ •/The boss sometimes talks roughly to themen, but they know that his bark is worse than his bite./ •/She was alwaysscolding her children, but they knew her bark was worse than her bite./

[barn] See: LOCK THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSE IS STOLEN.

[barrel] See: OVER A BARREL also OVER THE BARREL, SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THEBARREL.

[barrelhead] See: CASH ON THE BARREL-HEAD.

[bar the door] See: CLOSE THE DOOR.

[base] See: FIRST BASE, GET TO FIRST BASE or REACH FIRST BASE, LOAD THEBASES or FILL THE BASES, OFF BASE, SECOND BASE, STOLEN BASE, THIRD BASE.

[base on balls]{n.} First base given to a baseball batter who ispitched four balls outside of the strike zone. •/He was a good judge ofpitchers and often received bases on balls./

[basket] See: PUT ALL ONE’S EGGS IN ONE BASKET.

[basket case]{n.}, {slang}, {also informal} 1. A person whohas had both arms and both legs cut off as a result of war or other misfortune.2. A helpless person who is unable to take care of himself, as if carted aroundin a basket by others. •/Stop drinking, or else you’ll wind up a basketcase!/

[bat] See: AT BAT, GO TO BAT FOR, RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF also RIGHT OFFTHE BAT.

[bat an eye] or [bat an eyelash] {v. phr.}, {informal} To showsurprise, fear, or interest; show your feelings. — Used in negative sentences.•/When I told him the price of the car he never batted an eye./ •/Billtold his story without batting an eyelash, although not a word of it wastrue./ Compare: STRAIGHT FACE.

[bath] See: SPONGE BATH, THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH.

[bats in one’s belfry] or [bats in the belfry] {n. phr.},{slang} Wild ideas in his mind; disordered senses; great mental confusion.•/When he talked about going to the moon he was thought to have bats in hisbelfry./

[bat the breeze] See: SHOOT THE BREEZE.

[batting average]{n. phr.} Degree of accomplishment (originally usedas a baseball term). •/Dr. Grace has a great batting average with her hearttransplant operations./

[battle] See: HALF THE BATTLE.

[battle of nerves]{n. phr.} A contest of wills during which theparties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out. •/It has beena regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local stateuniversity./ See: WAR OF NERVES.

[bawl out]{v.}, {informal} To reprove in a loud or rough voice;rebuke sharply; scold. •/The teacher bawled us out for not handing in ourhomework./ Compare: HAUL OVER THE COALS, LIGHT INTO, TELL A THING OR TWO.

[bay] See: AT BAY, BRING TO BAY.

[be] See: LET BE, TO-BE.

[beach] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.

[beach bunny]{n.}, {slang} An attractive girl seen on beaches — mostly to show off her figure; one who doesn’t get into the water and swim.•/What kind of a girl is Susie? — She’s a beach bunny; she always comes tothe Queen’s Surf on Waikiki but I’ve never seen her swim./

[bead] See: DRAW A BEAD ON.

[be a fly on the wall]{v. phr.} To eavesdrop on a secret conversation.•/How I wish I could be a fly on the wall to hear what my fiance’s parentsare saying about me!/

[be a good hand at]{v. phr.} To be talented, gifted, or skilled insome activity. •/Florian is a good hand at both gardening and building./

[beam] See: OFF THE BEAM, ON THE BEAM.

[bean] See: FULL OF BEANS, SPILL THE BEANS, USE ONE’S HEAD or USE ONE’SBEAN.

[be an item]{v. phr.} To be a couple; belong to one another. •/Noone is surprised to see them together anymore; if is generally recognized thatthey are an item./

[be a poor hand at]{v. phr.} To be inept, untalented, or clumsy insome activity. •/Archibald is a poor hand at tennis so no one wants to playwith him./ Contrast: BE A GOOD HAND AT.

[be at pains]{v. phr.} To be extremely desirous to do something; totake the trouble to do something. •/The captain was at pains to see thateverybody got safely into the lifeboats./

[bear] See: GRIN AND BEAR IT, LOADED FOR BEAR.

[bear a grudge]{v. phr.} To persist in bearing ill feeling towardsomeone after a quarrel or period of hostility. •/Come on, John, be a goodsport and don’t bear a grudge because I beat you at golf./ Contrast: BURY THEHATCHET.

[bear a hand] See: LEND A HAND.

[beard] See: LAUNCH UP ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH IN ONE’S SLEEVE or LAUGH INONE’S BEARD.

[bear down]{v.} 1. To press or push harder; work hard at; give fullstrength and attention. •/She is bearing down in her studies to win ascholarship./ •/The baseball pitcher is bearing down./ •/The pitcherbore down on the star batter./ •/Teachers of the deaf bear down onEnglish./ •/The sergeant bears down on lazy soldiers./ Contrast: LETUP(2b). 2. To move toward in an impressive or threatening way. — Often usedwith "on". •/While he was crossing the street a big truck bore down onhim./ •/The little ship tried to escape when the big pirate ship boredown./ •/After the boys threw the snowballs they saw a large lady bearingdown upon them from across the street./

[bear down on] or [upon] {v. phr.} To draw constantly nearer withgreat speed and force. •/The police cars were bearing down on the bankrobbers' get-away car./

[bear fruit]{v. phr.} To yield results. •/We hope that the company’snew investment policy will bear fruit./

[bear in mind] See: IN MIND.

[bear in the air] or [bear in the sky] {n. phr.}, {slang},{citizen’s band radio jargon} A police helicopter flying overhead watching forspeeders. •/Slow down, good buddy, there’s a bear in the air./

[bear off the palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM.

[bear one’s cross] See: CARRY ONE’S CROSS.

[bear out]{v.} To show to be right; prove; support. •/Modernfindings do not bear out the old belief that the earth is flat./ •/Seward’sfaith in his purchase of Alaska was borne out, even though it was once called"Seward’s Folly."/

[bear trap]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Apolice radar unit designed to catch speeders. •/Watch the bear trap at exit101./

[bear up]{v.} 1. To hold up; carry; support; encourage. •/The oldbridge can hardly bear up its own weight any more./ •/He was borne up bylove of country./ 2. To keep up one’s courage or strength; last. — Oftenused with "under". •/This boat will bear up under hurricane winds./ •/Shebore up well at the funeral./ Syn.: STAND UP. Compare: CARRY ON.

[bear watching]{v. phr.} 1. To be worth watching or paying attentionto; have a promising future. •/That young ball player will bear watching./2. To be dangerous or untrustworthy. •/Those tires look badly worn; they willbear watching./ Compare: KEEP AN EYE ON.