[on the whole]{adv. phr.} 1. In the most important things; in mostways. •/On the whole, Billy did very well in school this year./•/Everybody agreed that on the whole it was a good show./ Syn.: IN ALL(2),FOR THE MOST PART. 2. In most cases; usually. •/On the whole, men arestronger than women./ •/On the whole, children begin walking when they areabout one year old./ Syn.: BY AND LARGE, IN GENERAL.

[on the wing]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the air; while flying.•/The duck flew away, but John shot it on the wing./ 2. {informal} Inconstant motion; always very busy. •/Susan was on the wing doing things toget ready for her trip./ •/Mr. Jones had a busy schedule and his secretaryhad to catch him on the wing to sign the letters./ Syn.: ON THE FLY. 3.{informal} Moving from one place to another; traveling; going somewhere.•/Mary’s husband is a traveling salesman and he’s always on the wing./•/They stayed in France for a week and then they were on the wing again./Syn.: ON THE GO, ON THE MOVE.

[on the words] See: HANG ON THE WORDS OF.

[on the wrong foot] See: GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT.

[on the wrong side of the bed] See: GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.

[on the wrong track]{adv. phr.} Lost; pursuing the wrong lead.•/Professor MacAlister confessed that his chemical experiments were on thewrong track./ Contrast: BARK UP THE WRONG TREE.

[on time]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. At the time arranged; not late;promptly. •/The train left on time./ •/Mary is always on time for anappointment./ Contrast: AHEAD OF TIME, BEHIND TIME. 2. On the installmentplan; on credit, paying a little at a time. •/John bought a car on time./•/You can buy things at the department store on time./

[on top]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}, {informal} In the lead; withsuccess; with victory. •/The horse that everyone had expected would be on topactually came in third./ •/Although John had been afraid that he was notprepared for the exam, he came out on top./

[on top of]{prep.}. 1. On the top of; standing or lying on; on.•/When the player on the other team dropped the ball, Bill fell on top ofit./ •/That high hill has a tower on top of it./ 2. {informal} Veryclose to. •/The elevator was so crowded that everybody was on top of eachother./ •/I couldn’t find my umbrella and then I realized I was almost ontop of it./ 3. {informal} In addition to; along with. •/Mrs. Lane hadmany expenses and on top of everything else, her baby became ill./ •/Maryworked at the store all day and on top of that she had to baby-sit with herbrother./ 4. {informal} Managing very well; in control of. •/Althoughhis new job was very complicated, John was on top of it within a few weeks./•/No matter what goes wrong, Mary always stays on top of it./ 5. Knowingall about; not falling behind in information about; up-to-date on. •/Marystays on top of the news by reading newspapers and magazines./ •/When hewas in California, Mr. Jones kept on top of things in his office by telephoningevery day./

[on top of the world] or [sitting on top of the world] also (Southern)[sitting on high cotton] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Feeling pleasedand happy; feeling successful. •/John was on top of the world when he foundout that he got into college./ •/When Ruth won first prize in the contest,she felt as though she was sitting on top of the world./ •/The girls weresitting on high cotton because their basketball team had won the trophy./Compare: FLYING HIGH, WALK ON AIR.

[on trial]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. For testing or trying out for atime before making a decision. •/I was lucky that I had bought the machine ontrial because I didn’t like it and was able to return it./ •/Mother boughta new dishwasher on trial and was trying it out before deciding whether to keepit./ 2. In a court being tried for a crime before a judge or jury. •/JohnWhite was on trial for murder./ •/Mary was on trial before the StudentCommittee for spoiling school property./

[on words] See: PLAY ON WORDS.

[on your life] See: NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

[open] See: EYES OPEN, THROW OPEN.

[open and aboveboard]{adj. phr.} Honest. •/Jacob felt that the firmhe was doing business with wasn’t entirely open and aboveboard./

[open and shut] See: CUT AND DRIED.

[open arms] See: RECEIVE WITH OPEN ARMS.

[open-door policy]{n. phr.} A policy that states that newcomers arewelcome to join the company, firm, or country in question. •/During thenineteenth century the United States had an open-door policy regardingimmigration./

[open fire]{v. phr.} To begin shooting. •/The big warship turned itsguns toward the enemy ship and opened fire./ •/When the policeman called tothe robber to stop, he turned and suddenly opened fire./

[openhanded]{adj.} Generous; liberal. •/Although not wealthyhimself, Bob was always very openhanded with those who needed help./

[open heart]{n.} 1. No hiding of your feelings; frankness; freedom.•/She spoke with an open heart of her warm feelings for her pupils./•/She told her troubles with an open heart./ Compare: HEART ON ONE’SSLEEVE. 2. Kindness; generosity. •/She contributed to the fund with an openheart./ •/Mr. Jones has an open heart for underprivileged children./Compare: OPEN ONE’S HEART.

[open its doors]{v. phr.} 1. To allow someone or something to enter orjoin; become open. •/That college was started for women only, but a few yearsago it opened its doors to men./ 2. To begin doing business; open.•/Proffitts Department Store is having a birthday sale; it first opened itsdoors fifty years ago this month./ Contrast: CLOSE ITS DOORS.

[open letter]{n. phr.} A public message in the form of a letteraddressed to a particular person or to a group. •/There was an open letter tothe president of the United States in today’s morning paper./

[open market]{n. phr.} Goods or securities available for purchase byall. •/The stocks of certain companies are on the open market./

[open marriage]{n. phr.} An arrangement by mutual agreement betweenhusband and wife whereby they are both allowed to have extramarital affairs.•/Chances are the open marriage arrangement they had didn’t work out too wellso they are getting a divorce./

[open-minded]{adj.} Having no dogmatic or biased views on matters oftheory, religion, politics, etc. •/Fred is easy to talk to about anything; heis a highly intelligent and open-minded person./

[open one’s eyes] or [open up one’s eyes] {v. phr.} To make aperson see or understand the truth; make a person realize; tell a person whatis really happening or what really exists. •/Mary didn’t believe that hercousin could be mean until the cousin opened Mary’s eyes by scratching andbiting her./ •/John’s eyes were opened up to the world of nature when hevisited his grandfather’s farm./ Compare: EYES OPEN, WISE UP. — [eyeopener] {n.} Something that makes you understand the truth. •/Pam’sfirst visit to school was a real eye-opener./

[open one’s heart]{v. phr.} 1. To talk about your feelings honestly;confide in someone. •/After going around worrying, Mary opened her heart toher mother./ •/John felt much better after he opened his heart to Betty./2. To be sympathetic to; give love or help generously. •/Mrs. Smith openedher heart to the poor little boy./ •/After the moving speech by the UNofficial, the people opened their hearts to the poor people of India./Compare: OPEN HEART, WEAR ONE’S HEART ON ONE’S SLEEVE.