[arm] See: GIVE ONE’S RIGHT ARM, KEEP AT A DISTANCE Or KEEP AT ARM’SLENGTH, SHOT IN THE ARM, TAKE UP ARMS, TWIST ONE’S ARM, UP IN ARMS, WITH OPENARMS, COST AN ARM AND A LEG.

[arm and a leg]{n.}, {slang} An exorbitantly high price that mustbe paid for something that isn’t really worth it. •/It’s true that to get adecent apartment these days in New York you have to pay an arm and a leg./

[armed to the teeth]{adj. phr.} Having all needed weapons; fullyarmed. •/The paratroopers were armed to the teeth./

[arm in arm]{adv. phr.} With your arm under or around another person’sarm, especially in close comradeship or friendship. •/Sally and Joan werelaughing and joking together as they walked arm in arm down the street./•/When they arrived at the party, the partners walked arm in arm to meet thehosts./ Compare: HAND IN HAND.

[around one’s ears] See: ABOUT ONE’S EARS.

[around the clock] also [the clock around] {adv. phr.} For 24 hoursa day continuously all day and all night. •/The factory operated around theclock until the order was filled./ •/He studied around the clock for hishistory exam./ — [round-the-clock] {adj.} •/That filling stationhas round-the-clock service./

[around the corner]{adv. phr.} Soon to come or happen; close by; nearat hand. •/The fortuneteller told Jane that there was an adventure for herjust around the corner./

[arrest] See: UNDER ARREST.

[as] See: FOR AS MUCH AS, IN AS MUCH AS.

[as a last resort]{adv. phr.} In lieu of better things; lacking bettersolutions. •/"We’ll sleep in our sleeping bags as a last resort," John said,"since all the motels are full."/

[as a matter of fact]{adv. phr.} Actually; really; in addition to whathas been said; in reference to what was said. — Often used as an interjection.•/It’s not true that I cannot swim; as a matter of fact, I used to work as alifeguard in Hawaii./ •/Do you think this costs too much? As a matter offact, I think it is rather cheap./

[as an aside]{adv. phr.} Said as a remark in a low tone of voice; usedin theaters where the actor turns toward the audience as if to "think outloud." •/During the concert Tim said to his wife as an aside, "The conductorhas no idea how to conduct Beethoven."/

[as a rule]{adv. phr.} Generally; customarily. •/As a rule, the bossarrives at the office about 10 A.M./

[as an old shoe] See: COMFORTABLE AS AN OLD SHOE, COMMON AS AN OLD SHOE.

[as --- as ---] — Used with an adjective or adverb in a comparison or withthe effect of a superlative. •/John is as tall as his father now./ •/Ididn’t do as badly today as I did yesterday./ •/John’s father gave him ahard job and told him to do as well as possible./ •/The sick girl was nothungry, but her mother told her to eat as much as she could./ — Also used inthe form "so --- as" in some sentences, especially negative sentences. •/Thishill isn’t nearly so high as the last one we climbed./ — Often used insimiles (comparisons that are figures of speech). •/The baby mouse looked asbig as a minute./ •/Jim’s face was red as a beet after he made the foolishmistake./ — Most similes in conventional use are cliches, avoided by carefulspeakers and writers.

[as best one can]{adv. phr.} As well as you can; by whatever means areavailable; in the best way you can. •/The car broke down in the middle of thenight, and he had to get home as best he could./ •/George’s foot hurt, buthe played the game as best he could./ •/The girl’s mother was sick, so thegirl got dinner as best she could./

[as catch can] See: CATCH AS CATCH CAN.

[as far as] or [so far as] {adv. phr.} 1. To the degree or amountthat; according to what, how much, or how far. •/John did a good job as faras he went, but he did not finish it./ •/So far as the weather isconcerned, I do not think it matters./ •/As far as he was concerned, thingswere going well./ 2. To the extent that; within the limit that. •/He has nobrothers so far as I know./ Compare: FOR ALL(2).

[as far as that goes] or [as far as that is concerned] or [so far asthat is concerned] also [so far as that goes] {adv. phr.} While weare talking about it; also; actually. •/You don’t have to worry about thegirls. Mary can take care of herself, and as far as that goes, Susan is prettyindependent, too./ •/I didn’t enjoy the movie, and so far as that isconcerned, I never like horror movies./ Syn.: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT.Compare: COME TO THINK OF IT.

[as follows] A list of things that come next; what is listed next. — Followed by a colon. •/My grocery list is as follows: bread, butter, meat,eggs, sugar./ •/The names of the members are as follows: John Smith, MaryWebb, Linda Long, Ralph Harper./ •/The route is as follows: From City Hallgo south on Main Street to Elm Street, east on Elm to 5th Street, and south on5th two blocks to the school./

[as for]{prep.} 1. In regard to; speaking of; concerning. •/We haveplenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough./ 2. Speakingfor. •/Most people like the summer but as for me, I like winter muchbetter./ Compare: FOR ONE’S PART.

[as good as]{adv. phr.} Nearly the same as; almost. •/She claimedthat he as good as promised to marry her./ •/He as good as called me aliar./ •/We’ll get to school on time, we’re as good as there now./•/The man who had been shot was as good as dead./ — Often used without thefirst "as" before adjectives. •/When the car was repaired, it looked good asnew./

[as good as a mile] See: MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE.

[as good as one gets] See: GIVE AS GOOD AS ONE GETS.

[as good as one’s promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE’S WORD.

[as good as one’s word] or [good as one’s word] {adj. phr.}Trustworthy; sure to keep your promise. •/The coach said he would give theplayers a day off if they won, and he was as good as his word./ •/We knewshe was always good as her word, so we trusted her./

[as hard as nails]{adj. phr.} Very unfeeling; cruel, andunsympathetic. •/Uncle Joe is as hard as nails; although he is a millionaire,he doesn’t help his less fortunate relatives./

[aside] See: JOKING ASIDE, SET ASIDE.

[aside from] See: APART FROM.

[aside of]{prep.}, {dialect} Beside; by the side of. •/Mary sitsaside of her sister on the bus./

[as if] or [as though] {conj.} 1. As (he, she, it) would if; in thesame way one would if seeing to show. •/The baby laughed as if he understoodwhat Mother said./ •/The book looked as though it had been out in therain./ •/The waves dashed on the rocks as if in anger./ 2. That. •/Itseems as if you are the first one here./

[as if one has come out of a bandbox] See: LOOK AS IF ONE HAS COME OUT OF ABANDBOX.

[as is]{adv.} Without changes or improvements; with no guarantee orpromise of good condition. — Used after the word it modifies. •/They agreeto buy the house as is./ •/He bought an old car as is./ Compare: ATTHAT(1).

[as it were]{adv. phr.} As it might be said to be; as if it reallywere; seemingly. — Used with a statement that might seem silly orunreasonable, to show that it is just a way of saying it. •/In many wayschildren live, as it were, in a different world from adults./ •/Thesunlight on the icy branches made, as it were, delicate lacy cobwebs from treeto tree./ Compare: SO TO SPEAK.