[brown paper bag]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon}An unmarked police car. •/The beaver got a Christmas card because she didn’tnotice the brown paper bag at her back door./ See: PLAIN WHITE WRAPPER.

[brown study]{n. phr.} A time of deep thought about something; a deepthoughtful mood. •/When his wife found him, he had pushed away his books andwas in a brown study./

[brush] See: BEAT THE BUSHES or BEAT THE BRUSH.

[brush aside]{v. phr.} To ignore; give no reply. •/Brushing asidethe editor’s comments, the young novelist proceeded with his story, which wassubsequently rejected by the publisher./

[brush back]{v.} To throw a baseball pitch close to. •/The pitcherthrew a high inside pitch to brush the batter back./ Syn.: DUST OFF.

[brushoff] See: GET THE BRUSHOFF, BRUSH OFF or GIVE THE BRUSHOFF.

[brush off] or [give the brush off] {v. phr.} 1. To refuse to hearor believe; quickly and impatiently; not take seriously or think important.•/John brushed off Bill’s warning that he might fall from the tree./ •/Isaid that it might rain and to take the bus, but Joe gave my idea thebrushoff./ •/Father cut his finger but he brushed it off as not importantand kept working./ 2. {informal} To be unfriendly to; not talk or payattention to (someone); get rid of. •/Mary brushed off Bill at the dance./•/I said hello to Mr. Smith, but he gave me the brushoff./ Compare: COLDSHOULDER, HIGH-HAT. Contrast: GET THE BRUSH OFF.

[brush up] or [brush up on] {v.} To refresh one’s memory of orskill at by practice or review; improve; make perfect. •/She spent the summerbrushing up on her American History as she was to teach that in the fall./•/He brushed up his target shooting./

[bubble gum music]{n.}, {slang} The kind of rock’n'roll thatappeals to young teenagers. •/When will you learn to appreciate Mozartinstead of that bubble gum music?/

[bubble trouble]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon}Tire trouble, flat tire. •/The eighteen wheeler ahead of me seems to havebubble trouble./

[buck] See: FAST BUCK or QUICK BUCK, PASS THE BUCK.

[bucket] See: KICK THE BUCKET, RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN BUCKETS.

[bucket of bolts]{n.}, {slang} A very old and shaky car thatbarely goes. •/When are you going to get rid of that old bucket of bolts?/

[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.

[buckle down] or [knuckle down] {v.} To give complete attention (toan effort or job); attend. •/They chatted idly for a few moments then eachbuckled down to work./ •/Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his fathertold him to buckle down./

[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.

[buck up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful;make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. •/After theheavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song./•/Tom was disappointed that he didn’t make the team; but he soon buckedup./

[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[bug-eyed]{adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. •/He stoodthere bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./

[buggy-whip]{n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna ona car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. •/He’s veryimpressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./

[bughouse(1)]{n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. •/They took Joe tothe bughouse./

[bughouse(2)]{adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. •/Joe’s gonebughouse./

[bug in one’s ear]{n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret informationgiven to someone to make him act; idea. •/I saw Mary at the jeweler’sadmiring the diamond pin; I’ll put a bug in Henry’s ear./

[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.

[build a fire under]{v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or unwillingperson) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. •/The health departmentbuilt a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up bythreatening to cancel his license./

[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain] {v. phr.} Tomake impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that areunlikely. •/He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded inanything./ •/To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and theymay work hard enough to get part of their wishes./

[build on sand]{v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient foundation fora building, a business, or a relationship. •/"I don’t want to build mybusiness on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give me that loan Irequested."/

[build up]{v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; constructfrom parts. •/Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow./ •/Loisbuilt up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or fill up with buildings.•/The fields where Tom’s father played as a boy are all built up now./•/A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up./ 3a.To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow. •/John built up a bank accountby saving regularly./ •/The noise built up until Mary couldn’t stand it anylonger./ 3b. To make stronger or better or more effective. •/Fred exercisedto build up his muscles./ •/Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./3c. {informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous.•/The press agent built up the young actress./ •/The movie company spentmuch money building up its new picture./

[build up to]{v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a culminationpoint. •/The clouds were building up to a violent storm./ •/Their heatedwords were building up to a premature divorce./

[bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL, TAKE THEBULL BY THE HORNS.

[bullet lane]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} Thepassing lane. •/Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler ismoving too slow./

[bull in a china shop]{n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says ordoes something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. •/We weretalking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class party, but Johncame in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk made the teacher sayno./

[bull session]{n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about somethingby a group of persons. •/After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bullsession until the lights went out./

[bullshit]{n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some}Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. •/"Joe, this is a lotof bullshit!"/

[bullshit]{v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in socialacceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to makeyourself seem impressive. •/"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can’t believe aword of what you’re saying."/

[bullshit artist]{n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in socialacceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerelyflattering speeches designed to impress others. •/Joe is a regular bullshitartist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of everyone else./