[on the outs]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Not friendly; having aquarrel. •/Mary and Sue were on the outs./ •/Being on the outs with aclassmate is very upsetting./ Syn.: AT ODDS.

[on the point of]{prep.} Ready to begin; very near to. — Usually usedwith a verbal noun. •/The coach was on the point of giving up the game whenour team scored two points./ •/The baby was on the point of crying when hermother finally came home./ Compare: ABOUT TO, AT THE POINT OF.

[on the Q.T.]{adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly; without anyone’sknowing. •/George and Paul formed a club on the Q.T./ •/The teachers gotthe principal a present strictly on the Q.T./ (from quiet.)

[on the road]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Traveling; moving from oneplace to another. •/When we go on vacation, we take a lunch to eat while onthe road./ •/Mr. Smith is on the road for his insurance company./ 2.Changing; going from one condition to another. •/Mary was very sick forseveral weeks, but now she is on the road to recovery./ •/Hard study inschool put John on the road to success./

[on the rocks]{adj. phr.} 1. {informal} Wrecked or ruined. •/Mr.Jones' business and marriage were both on the rocks./ 2. With ice only.•/At the restaurant, Sally ordered orange juice on the rocks./

[on the ropes]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Against the ropes of aboxing ring and almost not able to stand up. •/The fighter was on the ropesand could hardly lift his gloves./ 2. Almost defeated; helpless; nearfailure. •/The new supermarket took most of the business from Mr. Thomas’sgrocery, and the little store was soon on the ropes./

[on the run]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In a hurry; hurrying.•/Jane called "Help!" and Tom came on the run./ •/Modern mothers areusually on the run./ 2. Going away from a fight; in retreat; retreating.•/The enemy soldiers were on the run./

[on the safe side]{adv. phr.} Provided for against a possibleemergency; well prepared. •/"Please double-check these proofs, Mr. Brown,"the printer said, "just to be on the safe side."/

[on the shelf]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} Laid aside;not useful anymore. •/When a girl grows up, she puts childish habits on theshelf./ •/Mr. Myron’s company put him on the shelf when he reached the ageof 65./

[on the side]{adv. phr.}, {informal} 1. In addition to a mainthing, amount or quantity; extra. •/He ordered a hamburger with onions andFrench fries on the side./ •/His job at the hospital did not pay much, sohe found another on the side./ •/The cowboys in the rodeo competed forprize money and also made bets on the side./ 2. or [on the --- side]Tending toward; rather. •/Grandmother thought Jane’s new skirt was on theshort side./

[on the sly]{adv. phr.} So that other people won’t know; secretly.•/The boys smoked on the sly./ •/Mary’s mother did not approve oflipstick, but Mary used it on the sly./

[on the spot]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. or [upon the spot] Atthat exact time and at the same time or place; without waiting or leaving.•/The news of important events is often broadcast on the spot overtelevision./ •/When Tom ruined an expensive machine, his boss fired him onthe spot./ Compare: AT ONCE, IN ONE’S TRACKS, THEN AND THERE. 2.{informal} also [in a spot] In trouble, difficulty, or embarrassment.•/Mr. Jones is on the spot because he cannot pay back the money heborrowed./ •/Bill is on the spot; he invited George to visit him, butBill’s parents said no./ Compare: BACK TO THE WALL. 3. {slang} In dangerof murder; named or listed for death. •/After he talked to the police, thegangsters put him on the spot./

[on the spur of the moment]{adv. phr.} On a sudden wish or decision;suddenly; without thought or preparation. •/John had not planned to take thetrip; he just left on the spur of the moment./ •/Mary saw a help-wantedadvertisement and applied for the job on the spur of the moment./

[on the stage]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In or into the work of beingan actor or actress. •/John’s brother is on the stage./ •/Mary went onthe stage./

[on the strength of]{prep.} With faith or trust in; depending upon;with the support of. •/On the strength of Jim’s promise to guide us, wedecided to climb the mountain./ •/Bill started a restaurant on the strengthof his experience as a cook in the army./

[on the string] or [on a string] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Underyour influence or control; obedient to every wish. •/The baby had his motheron a string./ •/She was pretty and popular, with two or three boys on thestring all the time./

[on the take]{adv. phr.} Bribable; corrupt. •/Officer O’Keefe wasput on three months' probation because it was alleged that he was on thetake./

[on the tip of one’s tongue]{adv. phr.} About to say something, suchas a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment.•/"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in aminute."/

[on the town]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In or into atown to celebrate; having a good time or enjoying the amusements in a town.•/When the sailors got off their ship they went out on the town./ Compare:PAINT THE TOWN RED.

[on the track of] or [on the trail of] Hunting or looking for; tryingto find; following. •/The hunter is on the track of a deer./ •/The lawyeris on the trail of new proof in the case./ •/Jim collects old stamps; he ison the track of one in Midville this afternoon./

[on the trail of] See: ON THE TRACK OF.

[on the trigger] See: QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

[on the up and up]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Honest; trustworthy;sincere. •/We felt that he was honest and could be trusted. This informationis on the up and up./ Compare: ON THE LEVEL.

[on the vine] See: DIE ON THE VINE or WITHER ON THE VINE.

[on the wagon]{adv. phr.} Participating in an alcohol addictionprogram; not touching any alcoholic beverage. •/Jim’s doctor and his familyfinally managed to convince him that he was an alcoholic and should go on thewagon./ Contrast: FALL OFF THE WAGON.

[on the wane and on the wax]{adv. phr.} Decreasing and increasing. — Said of the moon. •/The moon is regularly on the wane and on the wax atregular intervals lasting half a month./

[on the warpath]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. Very angry. •/WhenMother saw the mess in the kitchen she went on the warpath./ •/Betty hasbeen on the warpath ever since she found out she was not invited to theparty./ 2. Making an attack; fighting. •/The government is on the warpathagainst narcotics./ •/The police are on the warpath against speeders./

[on the watch]{adj. phr.} Alert; watchful. •/The customs inspectorwas on the watch for diamond smugglers./ •/Mary was on the watch forbargains at the auction./ Compare: EYE OUT, LOOK OUT(2).

[on the way] or [on one’s way] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} Coming;going toward a place or goal; started. •/Help was on the way./ •/Thetrain left and Bill was on his way to New York./ •/He is well on the way tobecoming a fine mechanic./